Michael W. Smart's Blog, page 2

4 Star Book Review – Wolf’s Bane by Dyane Forde

[image error] An Enjoyable Read

Wolf’s Bane, book 2 in the Rise of the Papilion Trilogy, moves the Papilion lore forward, transporting the reader on a fabulous journey with characters introduced in The Purple Morrow, and an intimate exploration of evil, sacrifice, and destiny. Author Dyane Forde once again makes delightful use of poetic-like prose to paint colorful scenes, vivid characters, and the fantastical world of Marathana.

All the more reason to lament Wolf’s Bane frequent lapses into weak verb a...

Two new interviews published this week

Read about my writing journey and the Bequia Mysteries by hopping over to Goodreads author Candi Silk's A Taste of Candi blog , and Goodreads author Allan Hudson's South Branch Scribbler

KILL THESE WORDS! 10 easy rules to enliven your writing

Lessons learned in a writing journey…

The use of weak verbs, plentiful adverbs, and unimaginative words, is a malady I encounter with increasing frequency among many indie-published authors. This weakness contributes to tepid sentences, dull narratives, and tedious unable-to-get-past-chapter 1 reading.

In our everyday lives, we all use a functional vocabulary, words we employ regularly and frequently in conversation and correspondence. In creative writing however, authors need to reach beyond t...

Threesomes, the magic of 3

I enjoy the delight of a threesome when I’m writing. And if I manage to conjure a three-word alliteration, so much the better. I didn’t realize its significance initially. It wasn’t something I’d been taught. Rather I seemed to have assimilated the magical allure of threesomes through a lifetime of reading, discovering only later, I’d been subconsciously practicing the “rule of three”. What is the rule of three? And why is it so magical?

Since the dawn of public oratory and literature, someone...

Logbook Tales – Rogue Wave

The wave appeared out of nowhere, on a calm sea. It broke above the deck, flooding the bilges and soaking everything below…

A conversation with cruising sailors, or avid surfers who chase waves around the globe, will invariably include at least one tale of an encounter with a rogue wave, especially if they’ve sailed the southern oceans, the Madagascar straits, or the Mona Passage between Jamaica and Cuba. You think you’ll never actually encounter one, or hope you never do. They can be terrifyi...

Discover St. Vincent and The Grenadines - Nine Mornings

Different cultures around the world celebrate the approach of Christmas day in different ways, none more unique than the Nine Mornings festival on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The festival is celebrated during the nine mornings from December 16th to December 24th, when Vincentians awake early each morning to kick off the festivities around 4:00 am. 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of celebrating Nine Mornings on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. View the full post on Michael Smart's website

Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Nine Mornings

Different cultures around the world celebrate the approach of Christmas day in different ways, none more unique than the Nine Mornings festival on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The festival is celebrated during the nine mornings from December 16th to December 24th, when Vincentians awake early each morning to kick off the festivities around 4:00 am. 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of celebrating Nine Mornings on St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Excerp – Deadeye Chapter 18: The origin of ‘Ni...

Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Botanic Gardens

As you stroll its tranquil grounds, you fall under the alluring spell of its magnificent sights, vibrant colors, and exotic scents. Palm tree branches rustle overhead, the fronds of different species spread in variegated colors, sizes and shapes, from trunks tall and graceful, short and bushy, or sheathed in red. The dazzling yellows, blues, pinks and purples of hibiscus, bougainvillea, flamboyants, apple blossoms, poinsettias, and petreas, capture and enchant the eye. The seductive fragrances of ylang-ylang, lady of the night, coffee, citrus, and a variety of flowering trees and shrubs, perfume the air. View the full post on Michael Smart's website

Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Botanic Gardens

As you stroll its tranquil grounds, you fall under the alluring spell of its magnificent sights, vibrant colors, and exotic scents. Palm tree branches rustle overhead, the fronds of different species spread in variegated colors, sizes and shapes, from trunks tall and graceful, short and bushy, or sheathed in red. The dazzling yellows, blues, pinks and purples of hibiscus, bougainvillea, flamboyants, apple blossoms, poinsettias, and petreas, capture and enchant the eye. The seductive fragrance...

Discover St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Carnival

Carnival is a festive and colorful celebration of St. Vincent’s rich history, diverse heritage and culture, and its proud identity. Vincy Mas, as Carnival is known locally, is a showcase of Vincentian artistry in music, dance, folklore, costume design, and stage production. It is an annual national festival, a premiere cultural event celebrated over 12 days in homes, stadiums, and in the streets.

The origin of Carnival in the Caribbean, and on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has its roots duri...