Patrick O'Scheen's Blog, page 11
July 12, 2013
Read It or Eat It!
Having devoured several apple trees and a few pilfered delights from the farm, the Dragon would like dessert. There are always books he could devour. Pie: An Old Brown Horse by Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo is positioned within reach. A loud noise from the Dragon’s belly indicates his appetite. The Dragon considers his options. Should he read it or eat it?
Let’s consider the more savory aspects of the story. The book takes a horse-eye-view of humans and life. Pie is a skilled cattle horse who survives near death injuries while corralling a bull. He finds himself discarded by the cowboys that have been the corner stones of his world to be stabled and sold. However, this is by no means the end of his story but rather the beginning as he finds his human and continues to have adventures.
The book has many horses…and the Dragon thinks they might be tasty, but he knows there is a social stigma attached to eating horse meat…
via businessweek.com
Besides…they are very pretty.
Cooking Pros and Cons-
Pros-
There are many animals in the story.
The horses point of view gives a unique perspective reminiscent of Black Beauty.
The complexity of the story rests on small adjunct stories within the body of the big picture.
The language is readable and appropriate to the horse point of view.
Cons-
There are no dragons in the story.
Many parts of Pie’s life seem very real and very sad.
Animal and horse lovers will consider this tale a treasure. The Dragon says save this book for reading. Although a tasty treat, it will be much better consumed by the heart. Buy it! !!!!ROAR!!!! It can be found at Amazon and where large animals books are sold.
You can locate Kandy at all the usual stables facebook and twitter and her blog. To copy a phrase she likes to use: Happy Trails!
What Have I Learned From You?
Sometimes I think my behavior teaches the wrong things to the people around me. I am in pain, so I become easily angered. I am tired, so I have no interest. I am trying to focus on my writing, so I ignore your needs. I am not always the person I want to be…
Maybe these are not the things I want to convey at all.
What do I learn from you?
July 10, 2013
July 9, 2013
Proud Child
This is a response to a Write Tribe cue – a short story under 700 words containing:
– postcard
◾ coin
◾ tidy
◾ wild
◾ help
◾ calendar
◾ responsibility
Just for fun, I thought I’d try it.
“Jose?” Maria poked her brother stiffly. “Don’t just stand there staring at the postcard! Let me see!” The small girl wriggled herself between her brother’s arms and placed her nose within inches of the suspect mail. “Turn it over,” she demanded, stomping one tiny foot.
The young man pulled the paper away and frowned. Maria needed no new, wild ideas. The girl was already in enough trouble. “It’s just a note from Dad…”
“Just? How can you say just? Where is he? Give it!” Maria smacked him in the shins and when he bent to protect himself, she snatched the card from his fingers. Drawn in a tidy hand on the reverse side was a calendar with a circle around the fifth and below that a single word—“Help!”
“Look Maria, I know you think it’s some sort of cry for a rescue…but you’re my responsibility now, not his. And you don’t need to be traipsing half way around the country because of a stupid message.” Jose squared his shoulders and held his ground. He had objected to becoming Maria’s guardian at first, being only nineteen himself, but life followed its destined course. In the last three years he had watched Maria blossom from a troubled little girl into a young woman, and he had worked harder than ever before in his life.
“Jose…don’t you see? I need to do this.” The plea in her eyes almost made his heart burst.
“What I see is a girl who needs to…”
“I know,” she interjected placing a hand on his lips to hush him. “A girl who must first find the coin to pay for the damage to Mr. Cecil’s car.” The air seemed to flood out of her all at once and Maria looked at the ground.
“Yes.” Jose had made a promise. No charges had been pressed against his sister and she would pay for the joy ride by working. He took a deep breath and studied her tear filled eyes. He put a hand on Maria’s shoulder. “And when it’s done, I’ll take you to the sanitarium to see our father myself.”
Maria met his gaze and tilted her head in a proud stance. “He might be in trouble. Can we go on the fifth?”
Do you think they go to see their father on the fifth? Is he in trouble? Is he crazy?
July 8, 2013
Monday Monday
Wasn’t that a song? I think most people don’t like Monday because they leave their weekend and go back to work. My Mondays are the same as any day…and YES, I work in my pajamas. However, that’s not why I’m a writer.
There is nothing like doing what you love. It isn’t easy always to know what that entails. I have thoroughly enjoyed many occupations. The trick is to know yourself and stay on a chosen course. Determine what you love and never give up.
So today is Monday. I’m at home, sitting at my desk. Yes, I think I’ll stay in my pajamas. I am going to write. Where are you and what are you doing?
July 7, 2013
A Moment’s Expectation…
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Some of my favorite words….
The shepherd is an image of total safety, acceptance and love. I can not help but wonder if we are not tasked to be the shepherds of those around us…
Would a world of shepherds be a better place?
Have a wonderful Sunday!
July 6, 2013
Do You Like a PARTY??!!!!
Dreamer Review Party!!
I am offering a little pay back to Dreamer fans!!! Drop in and check out the party!! http://tinyurl.com/DreamerReviewParty
Weekend Warriors 7/7/13
A little excerpt from Kris– Kris has been sent to the genetic testing clinic a second time to confirm his identity.
Imagination running wild, Kris envisioned his parents as rebels, rock stars and time travelers…always coming back to the same conclusion. It was more likely that his genetics were tied with a set of criminals serving life sentences in maximum security.
As he stared up toward the dropped ceiling, the boy wished that he was somewhere else. He really did not want to learn that his father and mother were akin to Bonnie and Clyde. “Next,” the nurse called his name after reexamining his forms. “Kris Cane.” Looking up from the hallway chair, he wondered why she bothered. There was no one there except him.
For more of the weekend warriors —- A link to http://wewriwa.com/
Read It or Eat It!
The Dragon rubs his empty belly and considers his well stocked book shelf. No he is not desperate…but some of the titles look very tasty. The Curse of the Salute a thriller by Anastacia Moore has fallen near the cook pot. Should he read it or eat it?
A loud growl from his belly indicates his interest.
Let’s digest the story a little. The Salute is a small fishing boat owned by a man named Charles Frank and his son Dick. They hire a friend of the old man’s named Pete during tuna season…and the scary begins. The characters are very real and the descriptions of the fishing are amazing. Although the Dragon is a fire dragon…
What’s on the menu…
Tuna has many possibilities!!
via about.com
The story takes us down a path of evil that threatens to take everything from Dick including his sanity.
—Cooking Pros and Cons—-
Pros–
the descriptions of the vessel and the fishing are amazing.
the language is simple and totally in keeping with the story, the prose is readable
the characters are well developed
the relationship between the father and son is nicely detailed
the tension builds well
the plot keeps the reader’s interest throughout
Cons—
there are no dragons in the story…
there is ocean everywhere
The Dragon says save this book for reading. Although a tasty treat, it will be much better consumed by the mind. This is an entertaining novel. Buy it! !!!!ROAR!!!! It can be found at amazon and wherever fine seafood books are sold.
You can find Anastacia underwater in all of the usual aquariums – facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, and blog.
