Patrick Jones's Blog, page 42

“‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” by Clement Clarke Moore

Clement Clarke Moore (July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) was an American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature, as well as Divinity and Biblical Learning, at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in New York City. Located on land donated by the “Bard of Chelsea” himself, the seminary still stands today on Ninth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, in an area known as Chelsea Square. Moore’s connection with that institution continued for over twenty-five years. He is the author of the yuletide poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, which later became famous as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. 

Thank you Clement Clarke Moore for the most beautiful Christmas poem ever written!

Cover of a 1912 edition of the poem, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith

A Visit from St. Nicholas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar plums danc’d in their heads
And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap —

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,

Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below;

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:

“Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen,

“On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blitzen;

“To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

“Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys — and St. Nicholas too:

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:

He was dress’d all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnish’d with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys was flung on his back,

And he look’d like a peddler just opening his pack:

His eyes — how they twinkled! His dimples: how merry,

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face, and a little round belly

That shook when he laugh’d, like a bowl full of jelly:

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laugh’d when I saw him in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And fill’d all the stockings; then turn’d with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight —

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
—Clement Clarke Moore

Nanowritetips: 30 Writing Tips Inspired by NaNoWriMo

Patrick Jones:

Great suggestions from Julie Israel!!

Originally posted on Julie Israel:

Throughout November I posted craft, structural, and speed writing tips on Twitter and Tumblr to aid those at work on a novel. Now that National Novel Writing Month is over, I present the complete list:

Hook readers from the very first sentence. Keep them hooked with questions, tension, character, fascination, stakes.
Don’t frontload with information. The story should move: start with action, and then quietly weave background throughout the opening chapters.
“Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.” –Kurt Vonnegut
Fewer words pack greater punch.
In high school, my writing class had to describe the sound of snow being stepped on without using the word crunch. Best answer? “Like a camel licking a cactus.” I STILL remember it. Lesson learned: when describing things, make vivid and unusual comparisons.
Verbs and nouns over adjectives. Was it sour, or did it kick like a mule?

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9 Habits of Successful Writers on Twitter

Patrick Jones:

Great suggestions from Doris-Maria Heilmann!

Originally posted on Savvy Writers & e-Books online:

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It’s all about easy ways to optimize your Twitter profile and your Tweets and using Twitter for social networking, marketing your book and your website / blog.
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1. Perfecting your Twitter name

Your bio, along with your name and @name, is searchable on Twitter. This means people can type into Twitter’s search engine and find you, without even having to type the account name. With your @name, try to get the actual name of your small publishing business. Keep it short to give tweeps more space to re-tweet your content or send a DM.

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2. Use 160 characters for your bio wisely
You have only 160 characters for your bio, so make sure your description is clear and concise. Your bio should read like an elevator pitch. The first third of your profile should contain keywords related to your books. Include specific keywords that define your…

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…Lockie Young… a superb lesson in coming to terms with losing a limb… the man keeps on smiling…

Patrick Jones:

An incredible story from Lockie Young!

Originally posted on Seumas Gallacher:

…one of my great scribbling pals is Lockie Young… not only does he pen extremely well, but he also has a lesson for me, and I suspect for more than a few of the rest of we Lads and Lassies of Blog Land… an indomitable spirit, and a deadpan sense of humour to match… read on…

LOCKIE YOUNG

As I look at the blinking cursor on the screen of my monitor, I adjust my new to me office chair so it is just so. My right leg, with the prosthetic on it, is stretched out in front of me under the desk because I still can’t sit with it at right angles to the seat. My thigh is too fat to allow this once normal and seldom thought of position, due to the extra fifty pounds of weight I put on while I was flat on my back in…

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International Directory of Published Authors HOLIDAY EVENT Opens December 1, 2014!!

International Directory for Published Authors is hosting a Holiday Event!  I joined this site in November and have already won a prize as the 5000 Twitter Follower!!  Eileen Register hosts the website with numerous genres featured.  I listed a spot for only $10.00 and wanted to pass along the great contact I found!  Eileen is a person well-versed in the industry as she is a retired English teacher, so watch out for grammar etiquette from this site (sore knuckles may be in order for me)!  The Holiday Book Show begins tomorrow, December 1, 2014.  The first picture will link you to the Facebook page and I am also attaching two pictures of the website, the latter of which features “The Wolf’s Moon!”  Both website pictures will link directly to the website. 

CHECK IT OUT!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1577939262435121/

My Message to Everyone for the Holiday Season: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

THANKSGIVING DAY WELCOMES IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR EVERYONE AROUND THE WORLD. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

  PEACE BE WITH YOU.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Wolf’s Moon

I just wanted to make sure and wish all of you a fantastic Thanksgiving week here in America! 

It is a special time of the year that we can give thanks for all of the wonderful people and amazing life experiences that we see everyday.

  God Bless. 

Who Moved My Chocolate?

Patrick Jones:

Chocolate in short supply? What to do…what to do??

Originally posted on yadadarcyyada:

Stop the presses!  There is something out there so terrifying, so mind-boggling, why this isn’t the headline of the day? The world is running out of chocolate! By as early as 2020 we could be low on chocolate or more specifically cocoa. I don’t mean to be shallow, but this is Cocoapocalypse! Chocolategeddon!

Turns out cocoa farmers are producing less cocoa than we’re consuming. I shouldn’t be shocked, we’re do our best impression of a locust plague instead of a society with everything. Prices are already climbing and will go higher still, and eventually, the world will be chocolateless. The Aztecs, who believed cacao beans were a gift from the God of wisdom, Quetzalcoatland even used it as currency would be all like, what?!?A once bitter drink, chocolate has come a long way, especially after the Europeans added sugar to it and then figured out how to…

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The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy: Kindle Daily Deal – Thursday November 20th, 2014 Only

Title: The Light Who Shines

Author: Lilo Abernathy

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery

Amazon Rating: 4.7 Stars

Amazon Reviews: 153

Regular Price: $4.99

Sale Price: $1.99

Kindle Daily Deal Date: Thursday, November 20th, 2014 (One day only)

BUY LINK

Amazon Kindle: amzn.to/11sqD5Y

BOOK BLURB

When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run; and she vows to catch the killer. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.

Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her sexy Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.

While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?

Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.

PRIMARY CHARACTER PROFILES

Bluebell Kildare: Blue is a Supernatural Homicide Detective and a gifted empath who has a pure spirit and a will of steel. She was orphaned at a young age and has had a tough life so far. Yet, she continually picks herself up by the boot straps and fights to do what is right, regardless of the cost. Just how high will the cost be?

Jack Tanner: He’s Blue’s sexy boss, the head of the Supernatural Homicide Unit in Crimson Hollow. Jack is very old and powerful Daylight Vampire with many layers. He is driven a little crazy by his desire to protect Blue in the face of her independence. Can he keep his cool when Blue needs him most?

Varg: He is a great grey wolf who comes out of nowhere and decides to be Blue’s companion. He seems to have some mysterious magical abilities and uses them to guard Blue’s life. Can he keep her safe?

Maud: She is Blue’s dear friend and mother figure. Maud used to visit Blue in the orphanage and read to her as a child. She can’t cook but she makes awesome Southern beverages. What color is her hair today? Is it blue, fuchsia, scarlet, or peach sherbet?

Alexis: She is Blue’s comrade and neighbor, as well as the sassy owner of a store called Herbal Enchantments. She is gifted in earth magic and if she isn’t busy feeding her friends, she’s telling them what to do. Does she have her hands on her hips right now, or is she waving her finger at Blue?

The Villain: Can he get any more evil? No. He is about as evil as they come . . .

AUTHOR BIO

Lilo Abernathy is a somewhat eccentric, deep-thinking, warm-hearted young woman of at least 43 years. She started out as a restaurant chain hostess and worked her way up to the exciting world of global mergers and acquisitions. She has enjoyed an on again/off again relationship with formal education and has been affectionately referred to as information hound. In the evenings, she fills her writing breaks by scanning the internet for answers to provocative questions, such as: “What causes diamonds to be formed in different colors?”

One thing that never changes is Lilo’s ongoing love affair with books. A born bibliophile, by age ten she finished all the children’s books in the house and started devouring the adult section. By age 15, she was working her way through grocery store book aisles and libraries. Just as Picasso had his blue period, Lilo had her own periods of readership–urban fantasy, paranormal romance, Gothic novels, etc. Now she’s planning on creating a bookshelf for you to enjoy.

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789942.Lilo_Abernathy

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/liloabernathy/

SITE AND BLOG

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/home

Blog: http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/

The Art of Storytelling: “WE ARE HARDWIRED FOR STORIES” by Sarah-Jane Murray, Used by Permission

Storytelling is an art form.  I found a video from Sarah-Jane Murray this morning on Twitter and knew I had to share it!  Sarah-Jane Murray is a dynamic lady who holds a PhD from Princeton University in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature.  Click on the link on her name above for the full details of her career and links to her sites!  The content and the way she presents the art of storytelling is captivating! I found myself listening to every word as she demonstrated the techniques on TedX.  Excellent job Sarah!

Here is another video I found as well.