D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 24
March 2, 2018
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Escape the winter cold & travel to foreign lands: Cambodia #ExpatLife #TravelingGirl #Travel
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What better time to discuss traveling to foreign lands than when the artic winds blow, rattling the windows and causing the cold to creep through the cracks (old houses are fun, aren’t they?). Last week, I briefly outlined some tips and tricks to visit Vietnam. If you find yourself in that corner of the world, don’t waste any time booking an excursion to Cambodia. It was always my intention to visit Cambodia while we were touring Vietnam. My husband, on the other hand, was not as aware of these plans. He was a bit surprised when I booked us a private bus transport from Saigon to Phnom Penh.
Traveling to Cambodia from Vietnam is a non-issue. Hotels and travel agencies advertise bus trips and private tours, and there is no requirement to get a visa in advance. You can get a visa upon entry into the country. Our guide arranged our visas when we crossed the border. It was a bit confusing as the guide spoke three words of English, but everything worked out fine.
While most tourists climbed onto other transportation to head to Angkor Wat, we booked a hotel in Phnom Penh for a few days. As a history fanatic, there were a few places in the city and surrounding area that were on my must-see list. We started our visit at the very impressive Royal Palace complex, a series of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. Visitors are allowed to visit only the throne hall and a clutch of buildings surrounding it. Considering the grandeur of the areas visitors are allowed, it’s worth the visit. Next door to the Royal Palace is the National Museum of Cambodia. It’s housed in a terracotta structure of traditional design. The museum houses the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. If you have any interest whatsoever in Cambodian culture, you should stop here.
Our second day in the capital was spent visiting two locations, which will absolutely break your heart: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. The museum is housed in a local high school, which Pol Pot’s security forces took over and turned into Security Prison 21. It was the largest detention and torture center in the country. Prepare to be outraged, distressed, and teary-eyed. You may even get so caught up in the history that you scare yourself while walking through the dark, dank former prisoner cells. The Killing Fields stand testament to the horror brought upon the population by the Pol Pot regime. If you’ve ever wondered how history can be so cruel, you need to visit the killing fields.
I recommend hiring a tuk-tuk to take you to both locations but be sure to negotiate a price upfront. Go for a little luxury in Phnom Penh. Although you can travel on a shoestring budget in Southeast Asia, I recommend spending a little more for your accommodation in the capital. Unfortunately, the city has more prostitutes than the Red Light District of Amsterdam, and they tend to congregate near cheaper hotels. Trust me, you want to spend more on your hotel.
After feeling absolutely devastated at the how cruel humanity can be (and not getting much sleep due to not following my own advice regarding hotels), we jumped on a van to Angkor Wat. It goes without saying that if you only have one day to visit Southeast Asia, Angkor Wat is the not-to-be-missed location. If you have time, though, you should plan to spend three days here. You can buy a ticket for one or three (or more) days at the ticket booth. Plan to spend one day biking around, but you should hire a tuk-tuk for at least one day of your visit to see the outlying temples which are less crowded but no more less worth the visit. Make sure you wear proper clothing covering your shoulders and knees if you want to enter temples.
Even as a certified history geek, you can’t spend all your time crawling over temples and holding back tears at memorials, you need to eat as well! You’ll find the food is fabulous nearly everywhere you go (I continue to say this despite contracting dysentery). Just follow the golden rule of street food: make sure your dish is made fresh instead of choosing something pre-made that’s been sitting for who knows how long in the sun.
Enjoy your trip! If you need a traveling companion, give me a call. I’d love to go back.
February 28, 2018
Will their plan to stay clear of love backfire on them? Read an #excerpt of Secret Tryst from @VictoriaPinder #contemporaryromance
Contemporary Romance
Date Published: Feb 27, 2018
Damien Morgan learned a long time ago that love was just a figment of someone’s warped imagination and good girls simply didn’t exist because women were master manipulators. Nonetheless, he’s happy to wish his brother well when he decides to take the plunge.
Serenity Hanscom is shocked that she’s been invited to the wedding a year after her sister played matchmaker for the groom and had an active role in a plot to murder his sister-in-law. Despite the rather unusual circumstances, Serenity accepts the invitation because it’s an opportunity to mingle with Miami’s elites. But the second she catches sight of Damien, she’s reminded of the horrible events that led to her father’s imprisonment, all because of him. Determined to ignore him, as the evening goes by, she finds herself drawn to him more and more.
Will their plan to stay clear of love backfire on them and instead become the first step to an unexpected happily-ever-after?
Excerpt
This is an UNEDITED sneak peak version!
Once everyone stood up and cheered for the bride and groom’s kiss, Serenity sunk in her seat and tried to hide. Her glass was almost empty but it sounded like the ceremony was finished. She stood and joined the crowd of people clapping their hands. Soon, the yacht would return to shore and she’d run.
The bride and groom walked past her fast. The captain said, “Please wait in your seats for five minutes while we transition to the reception. Waiters will offer everyone a glass of champagne for this short intercession.”
More champagne might help her survive this. She slumped into her seat and held her hand high to signal she wanted a glass. The waiter handed her glass to the man at the end of the row and her neighbors passed it. Once everyone in her row had a glass, the server moved forward and she nodded her head at the people next to her then took a sip. The champagne tasted sweeter without staring at people her sister almost killed or the man that set her father up. Her skin grew goose bumps and the air grew warmer. There was something tasty in the air itself. A second later, Damien turned around and as he stared at her, he winked, “This will be over soon, sweetheart.”
“Don’t be sexist.” She swallowed her sip and took a deep breath. Damien had no right to say anything like that, to her. She turned her nose in the air. “I’ll never be your sweetheart.”
“Relax.” He then motioned for the man next to him to change seats. Without another word to her, he came and sat beside her. “I’m here to make amends.”
“How?” He clicked his glass with hers. She refused to drink and shook her head. “Damien Morgan, that’s impossible. You and I can never be friends.”
“Why?” He raised his eyebrow.
Tonight he insulted her. Years ago he ruined her life and he had no shame about any of it. She sipped her champagne as steel ran up her spine. “I know who you are and how you knew my father.”
He sipped his own glass. “Neither of our father’s were boy scouts, sweetheart.”
“Perhaps I wasn’t clear. Don’t patronize me with the nickname ‘sweetheart.’ It’s insulting.” Her free hand formed a fist at her side. Damien Morgan was the last person on earth to insult her, again. She knew better than to get riled up. She forced her hand to uncurl itself and gulped another sip. In one minute, she could get up with the crowd and lose Damien.
“I’ll happily be your sweetheart.”
“Never going to happen.” Sometimes she wished she was a guy who could tell another to back away and be respected. She folded her hand over her waist. “Forget this conversation.”
“Serenity…”
“Wow.” Her eyebrows both raised as she shook her head. “You do know my name?”
“I should not have insulted you earlier. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.” Sorry echoed in her ear. If it was anyone else, she’d close her eyes, say a prayer and then wish him well. However Damien wasn’t anyone else, and he had no idea. She finished her drink and then waved for the waiter to get another. Once she had her drink, she squared her shoulders and stared hard toward the now empty altar. “You didn’t know I would walk in on your conversation about me earlier. You didn’t know I remembered you at my father’s house. And for the record, you say what you want about me. I don’t care.”
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston before moving to the Miami sun. She’s worked in engineering, after passing many tests proving how easy Math came to her. Then hating her life at the age of twenty four, she decided to go to law school. Four years later, after passing the bar and practicing very little, she realized that she hates the practice of law. She refused to one day turn 50 and realize she had nothing but her career and hours at a desk. After realizing she needed change, she became a high school teacher. Teaching is rewarding, but writing is a passion.
During all this time, she always wrote stories to entertain herself or calm down. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, and Victoria spent too many years living other people’s dreams, but when she sat down to see what skill she had that matched what she enjoyed doing, writing became so obvious. The middle school year book when someone wrote in it that one day she’d be a writer made sense when she turned thirty.
She’s always been determined. She is amazing, adventurous and assured on a regular basis. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.
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February 27, 2018
Why I use Chapter Titles #WriterWednesday #AmWriting
The majority of fiction novels do not have chapter titles but, rather, stick with a rather boring (at least in my opinion) numbering system. I’ve always used chapter titles for my fictional writing. I started using titles as my first novel, Unforeseen Consequences, is told from the perspective of four different protagonists and has three different timelines. I needed those titles, so I wouldn’t confuse myself while writing! (Yes, writers can literally lose the plot.)
As I increased my online presence, I started getting review requests from other indie authors. I noticed that the majority of these novels did not contain chapter titles. Still, I trudged on using chapter titles. In fact, I started spending more and more time on them. Why? Why waste hours and hours of valuable writing time figuring out chapter titles? What purpose do chapter titles serve?
Attract Readers. This is the most obvious reason to use chapter titles. An interesting title can hook a reader by being entertaining. I started using this method when I decided to try my hand at writing chick lit. I included funny chapter titles, anything from a song title to a funny quote, to get a giggle from the reader. In Fat Girl Begone!, for example, I included a ‘positive thought of the day’ as the chapter title. These were funny, little tidbits that foreshadowed the events to occur in the chapter.
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Direct your storyline. Chapter titles can also aid in moving the plot along. You can string the various elements of your plot together to escalate tension. I tried something like this in my cozy mystery, Bring Your Own Baker. This is how it turned out:
Start with a teaspoon of terror
Mix in a dash of honesty
Stir in some friendship
Spoon in a heap of intruder
Let the mixture rest until bubbling
Beat in a bit of confusion
Fold in a wallop of subterfuge
Add a surprise visit
Pour in a heaping tablespoon of Intervention
Increase the heat until steaming
Combine with a pinch of sneaking around
Add in a hefty dose of annoyance
Mix in an idea
Combine with a bit of snooping
Spoon in a surprise visit
Weigh in a dollop of anger
Beat in a game of chance
Whip the mixture together until a hint of an idea appears
Measure in an arrest record
Throw in a bit of va-va-voom
Whip until the mixture sizzles
Throw in some male posturing
Measure in a surprise girlfriend
Pour in a pinch of attempted control
Level a dose of scheming
Cream together with a secret spy mission
Turn up the heat
Stir in some snooping
Dust with a forced confession
Enjoy with the adult beverage of your choice
Clarify your story. As writers we have outlines, plot charts, and character briefs to keep the story clear in our heads. Readers have none of those visual aids available. If you’re writing a complicated story (perhaps in a fantasy world), using chapter titles can help readers to understand the story more clearly. You can keep the title to something simple such as Germany, 1933 or make it more intriguing by simply stating, Sometime in the past. Now, sometime in the past isn’t that clarifying, but clarifying your story doesn’t mean you have to give away the entire plot!
Do you use chapter titles? If not, why not? If so, how do you chose your titles? Want more about chapter titles? You can read the top 10 chapter titles (according to the Independent) here.
February 26, 2018
When do you identify as an American? #MondayBlogs #ExpatLife
I read an opinion piece this weekend about an American woman raising her child outside of the U.S. who was concerned her daughter wouldn’t feel American as she would be raised almost exclusively outside of the U.S. Her solution to this ‘issue’ was to ensure her daughter had plenty of ‘American’ experiences such as celebrating the Fourth of July and visiting Disney World. (You can read the article here.) As I have lived abroad for the past thirty years, I found the article amusing.
[image error]In my experience, how many years you’ve lived abroad doesn’t necessarily affect a person’s affinity for their ‘home’ country. I’ve met women who’ve lived more than forty years abroad and raised their children abroad, yet they were overwhelmingly (and somewhat embarrassingly) proud of being American. I’ve also met women who spent mere years outside the U.S. and claimed to be German or Dutch or Danish (or whatever).
Why does one person cling to her native culture while another jumps into a new country and culture? In my experience, the answer of whether a person identifies as an American despite years living or having lived abroad depends on … well … the person. In my loud but humble opinion (and no, those terms are not mutually exclusive), there are a plethora of reasons why someone does or does not identify with being American. This is my, by far not exhaustive, list of factors that influence whether a person continues to identify with their ‘homeland’:
The reason she originally moved overseas. Was it to follow a fellow American spouse or to marry a foreigner? Or simply because she wanted to spread her wings?
[image error]Language. Did she learn the local language? Or does she still exclusively speak English after two decades abroad? You can’t properly understand a culture without speaking the local language (and yes, that’s a fact, because I said so).
Cultural Immersion. Does she work for a local company? Or for an international conglomerate? Did she send her kids to the local school or an international school? Does she spend hours researching where to buy American products? Does she long to be back in the US? Does she return to the US at every opportunity?
[image error]Open-mindedness. Does she jump into new experiences with new people (including locals)? Or does she cling to other Americans? Is she willing to try new food? Enter into a situation in which she feels completely uncomfortable?
So, dear opinion writer, you can do everything in your power to ensure your daughter identifies as an American, and it still might not matter. Frankly, it’s not up to you (or at least not completely up to you).
Now, you may be wondering where my allegiances, such as they are, lie. At the risk of pissing everyone off (although if you are a regular reader of my blog, I’ve probably already pissed you off a time or two), I align myself more with the Dutch than with my ‘home country’ of America. That said, I will never give up my American passport as I earned that darn thing with my years of military service. Just don’t ask whether I have another passport.
February 23, 2018
Traveling in Vietnam #Travel #ExpatLife
When asked to write a short ‘about the author’ paragraph, I often state that I contracted a ‘wicked case of wanderlust’, which I hope will NEVER be cured, while living in Germany as a high school senior. Although I don’t get to travel as much as I’d like at the moment, one of my favorite regions in the world to visit is Southeast Asia. My hubby loves the food in the region, so it’s never a problem convincing him to book a trip to the region. Me? I’m fascinated with the history. History geeks don’t always hide behind 800-page biographies of Peter the Great!
As I was recently asked to write an article with tips and tricks for traveling in Vietnam and Cambodia, I thought I’d repurpose the article for my blog. Today’s blog post concentrates on traveling in Vietnam. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Getting into Vietnam. Dutch and American citizens will need a visa to enter the country. I recommend applying for a visa with an online service instead of heading to the embassy. Pay a small fee and pick your visa up at the airport upon arrival in Vietnam. You’ll need to pay an additional fee on location. Make sure you bring the exact fee in cash to pay this fee. You can purchase a single entry or multi-entry visa. The multi-entry visa is more expensive, but worth it if you want to travel over to Cambodia (and trust me – you DO want to travel to Cambodia).
We started our trip in Saigon. You can easily spend a week traveling around Saigon. If you’re short on time, however, these are the places you must hit:
War Remnants Museum: This museum documents the horrors of the Vietnam War, which you will find referred to as the Resistance War against America. The materials will horrify you and possibly make a tear or two crawl down your face. The descriptions may also bristle your pride as the U.S. is repetitively described as the aggressor in the conflict. Ignore that. You’ll see a lot more anti-American propaganda in your trip, but the locals themselves don’t seem to harbor any negative feelings.
Chinatown (aka Cholo): Spend a day walking around the various temples, pagodas, and street markets. There’s also a large covered market stuffed full of stalls selling everything you can imagine. It’s so crowded you may find yourself crawling over displays or turned around wondering where in the world the exit is!
Jade Emperor Pagoda: A spectacular colorful Chinese pagoda dedicated to the Emperor of Jade, the supreme Taoist god.
Notre Dame Cathedral: It’s worth a visit for the surrealistic feeling of listening to Catholic hymns in Vietnamese while sweating in your shorts and sandals.
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People’s Committee Building: The building itself is not open to the public, but as a former hotel it has an ornate façade and is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city.
If you have time, there’s plenty to see in Vietnam outside of Saigon as well.
Hoi An: If you want to relax, beaches and quaint seaside villages are plentiful. Hue and Hoi An are popular. We headed for Hoi An – a quaint town with cobbled lanes and historical buildings. A great place to just walk around for a few hours or a day or two.
Danang: We flew from Siem Reap to Danang before taking a taxi to Hoi An. We stayed the night in Danang as I contracted dysentery in Cambodia, but there isn’t much to do. If you find yourself in the city, however, the must visit location is the Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture. It houses 300 artifacts from the Cham culture: an indigenous people who formed an independent kingdom from the 2nd to 17th Centuries in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary: This Hindu temple complex from the 4th through 14th Centuries is short drive from Hoi An and is a MUST SEE. The temple complex is in a valley surrounded by mountains. Unfortunately, much of the complex was destroyed by US carpet bombing during a single week during the Vietnam War. A visit to this site encompasses everything that is great about traveling: history, culture, and impressive nature.
A few tips for your visit:
Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City? Don’t stress about using the proper name of Ho Chi Minh City. The residents use the name Saigon and won’t bat an eyelash if you do too.
Getting around Saigon. Most of the must-see places are in Central Saigon and can be reached by walking. Taxis are also affordable, and we didn’t have any issues with scammers. Taxi drivers speak English for the most part.
Hotels in Saigon range from cheap backpacker hostels to five-star luxury. Most backpacker hostels are located near the night-life. If you want a quiet stay, but are on a budget, you can find some medium-range hotels for a reasonable price in the center.
If you end up with getting tummy issues, head to your local restaurant and tell them you’re not feeling well. They’ll make you up a rice dish that will help with the nausea.
Next week, I’ll travel to Cambodia. I know it’s now politically incorrect to say ‘travel bucket list’, but Cambodia should be on yours!
February 22, 2018
A lonely divorcee… A rancher who can lose everything… With This Click I Thee Wed by @bonnierpaulson #sweetromance #giveaway
With this Click, I Thee Wed by Bonnie R. Paulson
“Uh, oh, what did I do?”
A lonely divorcee…
A rancher who can lose everything…
One website that matches them for marriage…
They have to learn about the importance of decisions and family or lose their one shot at love.
Stuck in a town where everyone knows her and her ex-husband, Rachel is distinctly aware of who chose his side – everyone – and who chose her side – no one. Even her hairstylist won’t schedule her.
But when she finds herself alone with a bottle of chianti and the internet, Rachel stumbles upon Clickandwed.com. The survey is easy and clicking “I Do” seems to be the magic button she’s been searching for.
Before she can snap out of her decision, she finds herself packed and flying across the country to meet her new husband.
Would her new life be better or worse than the hell she left behind?
~ Praise ~
First, there is no cliffhanger!! That is important to me so I am assuming it is important to others as well. This is a very unusual story. it starts off with the heroine being recently divorced from her dirt bag, cheating, lying ex-husband. She has moved back home since she has nothing to show for the years of marriage – he got everything and she is depressed. She moved back in with the two people who should love her and support her no matter what. That is not the case. I have never seen two more hateful and unloving parents as these two. They belittle and do everything in their power to let her know she is nothing more than an embarrassment and a disappointment. It is very easy to hate these two.
I will start by saying that I have not read a book by Bonnie R. Paulson that I did NOT like. I love the way she writes and I love the things she writes about. I find that when I read her books that I get pulled into them and can’t stop until I reach the ending.
Being afraid that happiness is something not for either of them, yet finding it. In the most delightful way makes this a fun read.
~ Excerpt ~
It was amazing what a good night’s sleep could do. I stretched my arms above my head and straightened my legs, stretching my toes. Linen sheets cradled me in smooth warmth. My bare toes slid between the material.
But wait, I had fallen asleep on the chair.
My eyes snapped open and I stared wide-eyed at the foreign room with a country-style of decorating.
Peach and cream wallpaper graced the walls until it hit an Oak wainscoting. Fluffy cream carpet spanned the length of the room which was lightly furnished with an oak dresser gilded with brass handles, an oak nightstand with a brass lamp and cream lamp covering, long cream and peach-lined curtains hung to the floor over the window, oak-paneled doors led to a large closet, and the bed was four-poster with a peach and cream duvet. Four fluffy pillows and who knew how many other blankets hid under the duvet, creating a cloud sensation around me.
My bags rested neatly beside the dresser, stacked there by size. My shoes and socks had been placed neatly beside them and my coat draped on the handle of the closet. My jeans were folded and resting on the dresser top.
My jeans.
I didn’t take my jeans off.
In fact, I hadn’t taken anything off. I hadn’t even come upstairs.
Author Bonnie R. Paulson
Real people, real loss, real love.
USA Today Bestselling author, Bonnie focuses on the emotional thrill of the romance, the discovery of self and the dynamic forces at play to both pull and push love growth.
With 6 children and her own eternal romance at home, Bonnie lives her own dream every day. She’s spoiled with blessings and wants to share the joy of ever-after possibilities with others.
Whether it’s a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now, the emotions will leave you story drunk for days, if not years.
Feel good romances with sweet twists. Or is it Sweet romances with bold twists? You decide.
You’ll be able to say where you were when you closed the book.
Surviving all things real and coming out better on the other side.
Some of her favorite authors are Robyn Carr, Pamela Kelley, and Christine Kingsley!
Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 3/18/18
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
February 21, 2018
When are you a bestselling author? #WriterWednesday #AmWriting
[image error]It seems everyone is a bestseller these days. Every time I turn around, yet another author has added a large banner proclaiming herself ‘best seller author!’ on her website. I admit to a minor twinge of jealousy (slight understatement) whenever I see the words ‘bestselling author’. In fact, I may become a stalker at that point and go onto Amazon and check the rankings of all the bestselling author’s books. I’m not going to confirm or deny my stalkerish behavior, but I will say this. Whenever I do just happen to take a glimpse at the rankings of a so-called (OMG! Don’t you love that phrase?) bestselling author’s books, they are almost never actually in the top hundred – often these books don’t even make the top thousand. What’s going on?
Being the obsessive person I am, I decided to research the situation. The first blog I read claimed you can call yourself a bestselling author if you have a book reach the top twenty on Amazon (no matter for how long). Um…WHAT? Almost all of my novels have hit that coveted first page of Amazon rankings at one time or another, but I’m most certainly not a bestselling author. Or am I? (*Avoids looking at her current rankings which may have more zeros than her bank account*)
[image error]Let’s get the easy part over first, shall we? New York Times bestseller and USA Today bestseller are easily defined. You are New York Times bestseller, when you are actually on their bestseller list. If you’re anal like me and want an explanation of their methodology, you can find it here. The same definition applies to the USA Today bestseller list. Not tired of explanations yet? You can find their methodology explained here.
[image error]But what about the ever-evasive ‘bestselling author’ or (my personal favorite) ‘international bestseller? How are these defined? Can you call yourself a bestselling author when you’ve had a book hit the top twenty of Amazon book sales for an hour (Amazon updates their bestselling lists by the hour)? If you look to KDP community support for an answer, you’re liable to end up scratching your head and/or developing a headache because NO ONE agrees on the answer. Some claim that yes, you are a bestseller if you have a book that stays in Amazon’s top twenty for a day or two. Others claim that you need to be on the list from the New York Times or USA Today. Others argue it doesn’t matter as they’ll never make it that far anyway (these are my new best friends). Naturally, I continued to look. (Can you say hard head?) Quora, another community support website, contains pretty much the same answers as KDP.
After spending more time than I like to admit researching (anything to avoid actually writing, am I right?), I’ve been forced to come to the following conclusion. There is no industry standard definition for ‘bestselling author’. So, go ahead and call yourself a bestseller because your book hit #5 in the Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Cozy > Crafts & Hobbies (true story). I, however, won’t be calling myself a bestseller yet. My law school professors would be so disappointed in me for not jumping on that lack of definition. (*Waves at her professors while mouthing ‘sorry’*)
PS In case you’re interested, you can read about how a book containing a picture of someone’s foot became a ‘bestseller’ here.
February 20, 2018
How do you dethrone a heart when its owner has stolen your kingdom? The War Queen #FantasyRomance from @JMRobison
New Adult Fantasy Romance
Date Published: October 2016
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
How do you dethrone a heart when its owner has stolen your kingdom?
Altarn is used to tolerating the biases of men. It comes with being the first female to secure the political State Head of Blindvar. But Kaelin, the State Head of Ruidenthall, crosses the line when he proposes a merger of their two states. Altarn has reason to believe this is Kaelin’s attempt to make himself king of both. Believing it’s her responsibility to “dethrone” him, she rides to her last ally to ask for aid.
While on the road, she’s kidnapped and taken to Ruidenthall. She wakes from a drug-induced sleep to hear about a foreign army marching upon Blindvar, and Kaelin capitalizing on her kidnap to make himself king. He threatens her life if she tells anyone, but she will suffer tyranny under a king if she does not.
When the final battle forces her hand, she has but one choice: to save Kaelin’s life or let him die. She never expected to dethrone his heart instead.
~ Grab a copy! ~
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Smashwords ~ Ibooks ~ Kobo
~ Excerpt ~
“And what do you think I lack?” she dared ask him, though she feared the answer because her void was empty and he looked sincere enough to fill it.
“Respect,” he said. “Respect is earned. They love you for sure, they trust you for sure…They love you because you smiled at them once, they trust you because their tax money goes right where you say it will, but you have not commanded respect and that is what your nation needs right now.
“Knowing you the short time I have,” he somehow made that statement sound like that time started this morning, “it appears you wield your emotions like a weapon and people have to back away or be stabbed. I don’t think it’s so much a fear of having a female in charge, it’s…having you in charge, and so people make that one and the same.”
The daggered truth stabbed her. She sucked in a sharp breath, which left little room for words to defend herself. His apologetic eyes made it worse, like he was being truthful though she wished he’d said it just to be ugly. She didn’t know how to defend against the truth.
“I fail to see why you care,” she snarled. Her exposed weakness left her more nervous about leading an army, and the bucket of white paint became so obvious now and Japheron’s comment about it laid her entire self open, naked and ready for Kaelin to dress her as he pleased.
“I care,” he said, lifting a finger as if he could shove the understanding into her skull, “because you showed up to a war council in a dress.”
She laughed at the ridiculousness of his concern, but his eyes didn’t change.
“You’ve never had a dress in a war council, so I can see how it would appear odd to you.” He pressed his lips together, and Altarn wished the real concern she saw in his expression wasn’t so earnest. “You’ve never been to a war council, have you?”
“I don’t see how the proceedings are any different than a regular court session where other problems with equal importance are discussed. I have been doing that for a year.”
He exhaled and leaned back, crossing a boot over one knee. “It’s different for Ruids. We discuss war plans every week because of our pirate problem. The mood is different, the light in our eyes is different. It’s life and death we speak of, and that holds a special kind of ceremony we honor in our speech, in our manners, and our dress.”
“Why would my dress not honor this ceremony?”
“It might…except you look like a damn princess. I don’t know about Blindvar, but we killed our princesses long ago. Your people don’t want a princess. They want a war queen. A princess can’t handle the emotional responsibility of sending people off to their deaths, but a war queen can.
“You’d be surprised how willing your soldiers would be to die for you, so long as you did it without crying as they march away. They need to be reassured you’ll hold your ground when they cannot.”
The image he put in her head gave her pause. She wanted to buck his advice— advice he’d earned through years with boots on the ground in a real fight. But he saw through her. She wasn’t trained on how to earn the respect he spoke of, and to ignore advice from someone who did would stunt her growth as a leader, even if that advice came from the man who expected Blindvar as payment for his services.
“I think you could use advice, too, Kaelin.”
He stood, folding his naked arms. The busy lacework tattoo almost made his other arm invisible. “Enlighten me.”
“I suggest when you send a man to stage an assault on me, you don’t send one who breaks so easily. Turns out, he needed saving.”
He unfolded his arms. “That’s off topic.”
“Brilliant, really, staging those two attacks on me. The Lord of Ruidenthall rushing in at the right time and saving the Lady of Blindvar is quite romantic, going so far as to complete the rescue with a kiss.” She watched that familiar twitch in his jaw, the debate dancing behind blue eyes.
He ducked his head, spinning around to leave the room.
Altarn laughed after him, reveling in her small victory of chasing him out of his own garden. If she had nothing else, she had blackmail since he had just admitted his attempts to woo her on their way to Athenya embarrassed him to the core.
~ About the Author ~
J.M. Robison is a fantasy historian who chronicles the events which force heroes to reveal their mistakes, lead rebellions to dethrone tyranny, and unearth ancient secrets to free the oppressed. She’s quested over lands with the U.S. Army and now works for the king under the honorable title of Deputy Sheriff. She makes her own shampoo, lotions, laundry soap, face wash, and toothpaste. Some day she’ll pack the wagon and roam the mountains in search of dragons.
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February 19, 2018
How I had to travel the world to land right back where I began – where I belonged #MondayBlogs #Traveling #Expatliving
[image error]When I arrived in The Netherlands at Christmas in 1998 for the second time (I’d previously spent a semester studying in Rotterdam), I thought I’d found my home. It didn’t exactly work out that way. I couldn’t settle into my legal career. I jumped from a large law firm to the corporate world to a government position before finally ending up a boutique law firm. Even though I worked at that firm for seven years, I wasn’t happy. In fact, after more than a decade of switching jobs quicker than you can say ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, I was fed up with the law, clinically depressed, and ready to try just about anything to improve my life. Thus, started ten years of switching careers and moving across borders to ‘find’ myself.
First, I tried working in Luxembourg. I lasted a month before I literally walked out and never looked back. Then, I developed a business plan for a weight loss retreat in Germany. I even went back to school and finished a year of university course work in Dutch. Still, those plans didn’t pan out, and I ended up starting a bed & breakfast. Turns out running a bed & breakfast is a lot of making breakfast and cleaning rooms. Not. My. Thing. I decided to develop a side business and spent an unbelievable amount of time trying to figure out what that side business would be. Soap making? Ecommerce? A return to college?
[image error]I was all over the place until my husband suggested I take a manuscript I’d written out of the attic and publish it. Twelve books later and I haven’t looked at another career option since. I have, however, moved across national borders twice. First from Germany to Istanbul and then from Istanbul back to the Netherlands. Not exactly where the entire ‘what the hell should I do with my life’-adventure began – I’m in The Hague instead of Haarlem – but pretty damn close.
I’ve been in The Hague for twenty months on my own while my husband continued to work in Turkey. He’s finally joining me in The Netherlands in 10 days (yes, I’m counting down!). While talking on the phone to him last week, I was mentioning to him – the man who was born and grew up in The Netherlands – all the things there are to do here and how excited I was that we could do them together.
[image error]That’s when I realized (not for the first time) that I’m not only happy, but I’m settled. This is home. I’ve spent the last twenty years switching jobs and careers and staying miserable until I started publishing my writing. But I still wasn’t settled. Even when I was in Istanbul churning out book after book, I was itchy to find my place in the world. Only when I gave up trying to adjust to living in Turkey and returned to Holland did I find my ‘home’. It just happens to be the same place I left over ten years ago to find myself. It really is true what they say – you can travel the world just to end up in the place you originally left.
Where is home to you? How difficult was it for you to find?
