Connections eMagazine May 2024 Edition

Connections eMagazine

Volume 10 Issue 2

Message from the Editor The Purpose of this eMagazine is to connect readers and bloggers with authors. This is a FREE eMagazine that is produced quarterly. Spring is in the air — well, theoretically. Here in Utah, we just had a late snow storm.

Mother Nature likes to mess with our heads. Freak storms aside, for me, spring signals lazy days with a good book and outdoor adventures. With that in mind, this edition is dedicated to new growth, summer fun and easy reading. I hope you’ll take the time to look around. I think you’ll enjoy it.

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– Cicero

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Subscribe Memma the Cavewoman — Interview with Sarah Day, aka Memma the Cavewoman, on her epic Stone Age expedition down the Thames.

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Author Interviews…

In this issue Adam Wilson (Page 24), Bill Hemmig (Page 58), Brent Olson (Page 84), Glenda Benevides, (Page 98), and Patrick Greenwood (Page 108).

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Interview with Memma the Cavewoman AKA Sarah Day

Memma is an experimental archaeologist with almost 2 decades of experience in bushcraft and primitive survival.

Her previous experience includes working for Ray Mears for 13 years and Will Lord of the Stone-Age for over 3 years.

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Together, with experimental archaeologist Theresa Emmerich Kamber, she embarked on a Stone Age Adventure to paddle the full length of the River Thames hoping to reveal more about ancient peoples’ lives.

Firstly, please tell me how your cavewoman persona came about, and the work you do.

I’ve been interested in ancient technology for a long time, but I didn’t always think of it in terms of the Stone Age. I got interested in Bushcraft when I was little, maybe 7, and that combined with my even longer running obsession with fossils became an interest in ancient technology. If I couldn’t find arrowheads along with my fossil sharks’ teeth, then maybe I could learn to make my own! Reenactments became part of my life at that time too; through Tudor events at Kentwell, I’ve been fortunate to meet and learn from a huge variety of very skilled people from potters, to carvers, spinners, felters, weavers and many more. There is a lot of overlap with what I do now, and it has been a very important part of my life.

Around the same time, I happened across a book by Ray Mears in a bookshop with mum. I was drawn to it – it had everything I was fascinated by in ONE BOOK! That book was my bible. It’s now very dog eared, but one of my most treasured possessions. At age 17, I was hired to work at Ray’s company, Woodlore, working on and eventually running bushcraft courses in Sussex. I was there for 13 years before I felt the pull in a slightly different direction. On the first page, it has an inscription ‘from mum, Christmas 95’ and on the next page a message from Ray: ‘welcome to the Woodlore Team’.

The detective that interviewed

The ‘Memma’ name came about through working with Will Lord. He started the company I now own, which runs Stone Age school visits. On my first day, he christened me Memma. It was based on an old theory about Neanderthal brains, that they had such huge occipital lobes because they remembered everything, rather than learning anything new (it’s since debunked, but was a key theme in the ‘Clan of the Cave Bear series’ by Jean M Auel) Detective Dennis Couch (Left) and Sheriff Pete Hayward (Right) — Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office

I became Memma, short for ‘the rememberer,’ because of my love of plants and knowledge of their uses. It stuck! We visit the same schools again and again, and the children remember our names – I couldn’t change it if I wanted to.

When you are not educating children about Stone Age living, you have some pretty unusual hobbies, can you tell us about them?

Most of my hobbies are linked to my work one way or another. I am fortunate to be able to make a job out of something that started as a hobby. I enjoy beachcombing which gives me materials such as amber, shells, and driftwood. I enjoy carving, foraging, pottery, tanning (making leather, not the one that involves sunbeds) and a lot of other crafts.

I also pick up and process an unholy amount of roadkill – it’s partly that I don’t like to see a beautiful animal die needlessly, and be left to rot.

I derive a lot of satisfaction from making beautiful things from something that might otherwise be wasted, or at least unappreciated.

Picking up roadkill also gives me access to some parts that are hard to get hold of through normal channels, such as bones, bladders, hearts sacs etc – and of course it keeps me and the ferrets in free meat! I also enjoy gardening, particularly growing food and other things I can use, and sewing.

Last year, when I met you at The Bushcraft Show in England, it was fascinating to watch you doing a demonstration of how to prepare hides as part of the boatbuilding process. What inspired you to take on this project

I love travelling by canoe; it’s such an elegant mode of transport. Being in a canoe makes me feel very free too. Back in 2020, My mum and I paddled the Thames (UK), all the way from Cricklade (the highest navigable (ish) stretch) to Datchett. It was a really wonderful few days. It felt like the kind of adventure I dreamed about as a child – Swallows and Amazons-esque. We camped on islands, used fairly basic minimal kit, and were fairly self-sufficient.

I think the idea of doing the same journey in Stone Age craft, with Stone Age equipment, came out of two things, firstly that the Thames is a river steeped in history. In the Palaeolithic it flowed a different route, across what’s now the Dogger Bank area and joined the Rhine. Tools from all three Stone Ages and virtually every other bit of history can be found along its banks.

The second reason is that I love a BIG project to work towards. There is a daunting list of things I want to make, but NEEDING them as equipment for a trip gives me a reason. It’s also a really wonderful way to get closer to the landscape. Modern kit has a tendency to separate us from our environment. But when the moisture in the air makes a palpable difference to the sogginess of the boat, and you can feel every eddy and current passing underneath, you are really part of the river.

Who partnered you on this adventure?

Theresa Emmerich Kamper is an honorary research fellow at Exeter University – a place synonymous with Experimental Archaeology. Her specialism (and her doctorate) is in ancient hide processing technology. She travels the world teaching tanning and other related skills, and will soon be starting a research centre in Sweden. (Link at the end) She was also a contestant on series 8 of Alone, and travelled with a collection of other Stone Age/ primitive tech experts to Bulgaria for a 6-week expedition, which was filmed for the Channel 4 programme, Surviving the Stone Age. I met Theresa briefly at the Great Outdoors Festival, and on the Living by Nature winter course in The Netherlands. She stayed over at mine one weekend, en-route to a course tour in Europe. Offhand, I mentioned the river trip with mum, and my growing desire to do it again but in Mesolithic boats. I had seen the boat she made for the Surviving the Stone Age series, and knew her reputation as the authority on leather and tanning. I hoped that I might at least be able to pick her brain about how to build a workable boat.

Rather than just being someone I could pepper with questions, she jumped at the idea of the trip, and we spent the rest of the weekend and many subsequent conversations ironing out details. She’s a very busy lady, as am I, so there was only one 10-day period when the trip was possible and we didn’t actually meet in person between that first conversation, and arriving at the start point!

Find out more about Theresa Emmerich: www.theresaemmerich.com www.instagram.com/traditional_leather www.facebook.com/TheresaEmmerichKamper

Can you describe how the boats were constructed?

They are basically baskets covered with dried, untreated cowskins, aka rawhide – the same as you’d use for a drum, or a coracle.

They are constructed upside down by bending green wood (we used willow and hazel) into hoops which are poked into the ground and become the ribs of the boat. We took slightly different approaches, Theresa’s boat was made mostly of willow, and the ribs were interwoven with willow withes, just like a basket. Mine was lashed, the longitudinal stringers and keels forming a grid pattern.

The rib ends are then pulled out of the ground and cross pieces (seats, thwarts and handles) are added for strength. Once the frame is finished, two cow skins are prepared by fleshing (scraping all the fat, and flesh off) and dehairing. This is no mean feat! They are huge, heavy and have to be processed very carefully so we don’t end up with weak spots or holes. In the heat of summer, it is a smelly, slimy and very sweaty activity.

The two skins are then sewn (back end to back end) using a special overlapped stitch invented by the Inuit, and the skins are draped over the outside of the frame, cut to shape and lashed on. Because they shrink considerably as they dry, they add a lot of strength and rigidity to the structure. However, if the hides are put on too tightly, the shrinkage can literally twist the frame apart or bend it the wrong way – it was a bit nerve-wracking trying to guestimate how much it would change!

What preparations did you make for the trip? What food and equipment did you take with you?

Theresa already had a full working set of kit, so she didn’t have too much to do (apart from major repairs on her boat!) My equipment is fairly extensive too, but because I take it around schools, some of it is aimed a bit more towards being a ‘prop’ than a working item; however, because it was summer, we didn’t actually need a lot.

Most of my preparations involved getting food ready. I was massively over keen; we probably had enough food for about 20 people! I processed acorns into flour, dried meats and mixed them with fats and berries to make pemmican (the original survival food – keeps for years and contains everything you need), dried fruits to make fruit leathers, mushrooms to add to stews and also dried fish.

It was summer so while we had warm layers, our main issue was sunburn. We wore buckskin dresses (or in Theresa’s case her iconic halter top and skirt) and not a lot else. It’s a wonderful material – soft, breathable ‘wicking’ so it adapts well to a wide range of temperatures. I don’t think either of us wore shoes the whole trip! There were a few days where we not only needed woven rush sunhats but wet buckskin capes draped over our shoulders to keep us cool! I did brew up some homemade sunscreen with some ‘Stone Age’ ingredients, though I’m not sure how effective it was!

Tell me about the journey; how far did you plan to paddle and which route did you take?

We stated at Cricklade which is just a few miles downstream from the official source, and really the furthest you can go in a canoe. We eventually finished on day 9 at Isleworth where we were given a place to camp by the local sea scouts.

There were a lot of unknowns. Theresa has made and used several hide canoes, but not on multi-day trips. We didn’t know how much distance we could cover in a day. Mum and I managed 20-30km, but that was with two of us paddling one (albeit heavily laden) modern canoe.

Theresa and I would be ‘soloing.’

We wanted to experience the whole river – from what is little more than a stream, to the bustling commercial section below Putney bridge. The original idea was to paddle the WHOLE riverfrom Cricklade (near Swindon) to the Greenwich meridian line. The beginning and end of time had a nice ring to it. The tidal section (from Teddington) is a serious proposition, we would need lifejackets, a safety boat, communication equipment, identification tags on the boats and some other sensible precautions.

However, that was not to be. We suffered delays; The wind, which would normally have been blowing with us, was on our nose almost all the way. It reduced our day’s travel from 20-30 km to around 12-20km most days. We had a limited window for our attempt on the tidal stretch, and in any event, it wouldn’t have been much fun with a head wind. We eventually ended the trip just past Teddington, at Richmond – a grand total of around 216km!

How did the boat hold up? Did you face any problems along the way?

It’s funny really, going into the trip, I did have visions of my canoe sinking midstream with all my worldly possessions (the Stone Age ones anyway), while I vainly bailed with one hand and waved a flag emblazoned “FOR SCIENCE” … but that thankfully was not the case. We did have small problems, but the thing with Bushcraft, and especially ancient technology, is that once you realise just how much nature can provide, problems become very surmountable.

Theresa’s canoe leaked. It was made using the hides from her original ‘StSA’ canoe, but mounted on a new frame. The old frame had become badly warped and twisted because it dried out too quickly. The original sewing had been done with dried, twisted gut, which had since weakened. However, it was repairable. Between the two of us we restitched the hides using a far simpler ‘saddle stitch’ and the canoe was ready to go!

Most of the problems we had weren’t really issues with the boats; they were issues with the fact that the Thames is NOT a wild river. Every inch of its banks and islands are owned and managed.

There are rules. The canoes really needed to dry each night, and ideally, we’d have built a long log fire at each campsite to encourage the water to leave. Open fires, certainly huge ones, are not allowed in the UK without landowners’ permission. Neither is Wild camping, so finding bits of bank where we could lift the boats out, and sleep safely wasn’t always easy. Our other issue was the wind, and our time limit. We found that really the boats could manage 3-5 days on the

The snowy photos were taken by Thetford Photography. https://www.facebook.com/ThetfordPhotos

water without properly drying before the skins began to deteriorate (rot!) If we didn’t have such a tight time limit, I think we’d have taken more rest days and let the canoes dry fully. The one day we started early, with fully dry boats, we managed 30km easily, and stopped not because we were tired, but because it got dark. Dry boats added 10km to our daily travel. Were it not for our time restrictions, we might have waited until the winds were more in our favour too!

Could you describe what an average day was like?

We made a decision not to run ourselves ragged, we wanted to learn as much as possible from the journey, not simply cover ground. It was also a holiday of sorts, albeit a very interesting one.

Typically we woke up around 7 am, made breakfast (nut and berry porridge cooked on a clay pot is highly recommended), packed up and loaded the boats and were on the water by 9 am. The Thames covers a lot of distance, but also drops a lot of height, so there were several locks each day, fortunately we were able to go through them, rather than unpacking and repacking the boats. The break while we waited for the lock to fill with boats and let us through, generally gave us a welcome break and an opportunity to stretch our legs. Often, we ate at the locks, chewing fruit leather, dried venison or chunks of pemmican. Around 3 pm, we’d start eying up potential campsites and aim to stop by 5 pm at the latest to give the boats a little warm daylight to dry. We did forage once or twice, but we had so much food it wasn’t really necessary.

And, of course, hunting or fishing with primitive means would have been very illegal.

We only had to use Theresa’s reindeer tent once, the other nights we slept under the stars; sometimes, with the canoes as windbreaks around a small fire. The simplicity was incredibly liberating.

All experiences are valuable, but tell me about some of the highlights, and some of the worst parts of the trip.

For me seeing, feeling the boat ‘come alive’ was very special. I’ve never made so much as a working coracle before, so to paddle a canoe that I knew every knot, every stick and every stitch of was just magical. I loved the way the light shone through the rawhide like golden stained glass, the way the eddies of water from my paddle made the rawhide flex, almost as though it was breathing. For me, making the boat from scratch, and completing the longest river trip I’ve done (so far), all with basically Stone Age equipment was incredibly satisfying.

I’ve practiced these skills, studied and loved them for years, but to put them all together, and for it to work, was hugely fulfilling, and I suppose a vindication of sorts. The skills work, our guesses and suppositions were right. I/ We CAN do it, anything’s possible!

How close was the adventure to a Stone Age journey? I can imagine that the restrictions of modern life, travelling on the Thames posed problems a Stone Age woman wouldn’t have faced.

We did have to bow to modernity in some small ways. We took a folding metal firepit which meant cleanup of fires was easier, and less likely to cause problems with landowners. We also decided not to mess about purifying Thames water, it would have taken a lot of fuel, a lot of time and a lot of energy, besides which, I imagine purifying water is not something our Mesolithic ancestors would have routinely had to worry about. Water is available at some of the locks; we carried 2 x 5l cans, though we also used waterbags made authentically from cow bladders.

Part of the idea of the journey was to document it and report on our progress, so we had to take a certain number of phones/ solar panel/ chargers- enough that we could keep in contact with various people, and update our social media accounts as we went. Aside from that, we actually didn’t take a lot of modern kit. We had lifejackets, but we barely used them until we passed Teddington, and changes of modern clothing for logistical train journeys. Neither of us took modern waterproofs, or a reserve emergency tarp. Most of the kit was wrapped in oiled leather or baskets, though some of my rations were in assorted ziplocs, some was in tanned cow intestine bags.

How did you cope with being outside for all that time, and what motivated you to continue while facing the worst of our British weather could throw at you?

There’s a sort of understanding in outdoor circles, that there’s type 1 fun experiences that are enjoyable at the time, and type two fun experiences that are miserable at the time, but afterwards, and from a distance can be seen as valuable or perversely enjoyable, or at least a good story in the pub.

The line between the two depends partly on how tired you are, and other pressures such as hunger etc, but it also comes down to attitude. We wanted to know everything, and so even some of the more disagreeable moments were exciting, or interesting rather than wholly unpleasant. That’s not to say there weren’t moments that bordered on type 2 fun. Being caught in not one but two incredibly fierce thunderstorms while on the water was dangerous, and more than a bit ‘hair raising.’ But it was also exciting, and my main memory is of us laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, while we sat in 10cm of cold water and bailed with our mugs, holding increasingly saturated leather tent hides over us with the other hand. There’s always the likelihood that the worst moments, will make good stories once you’re back home!

Did you gain any new insights into Stone Age living, from your experience? What did you learn about your own capabilities?

My canoe performed better than I could’ve dreamed really – it tracked well, turned easily, was lighter than my plastic boat (at least when dry), leaked less than I feared it might… and was really a joy to be in.

One realisation was just how much you could transport with relative ease in a canoe, that I guess would take two people a couple of weeks at most to make with Stone Age tools.

It raises possibilities that might’ve seemed farfetched. The idea that you could take a hunting party after a herd of animals; kill several and while the meat dries, fashion two of the skins into boats (which actually wouldn’t negate them being turned into something else later on), then paddle the whole lot back to camp, while the rest of the party walks, hunts or forages more.

You could even use one canoe to tow a coracle loaded with more food! It paints a picture of a life that was not ‘on the edge of survival,’ but one where travel, and trade were possible.

One of the things we wanted to test was the potential for long journeys. We know people crossed to Australia 70,000 years ago. They didn’t swim, and there doesn’t seem to be a plausible land bridge, so some sort of boat would have been necessary, even if they island hopped. What might it have looked like? What might’ve been capable of such a journey?

I think another realisation was that we are so driven by the need to rush nowadays. I think given the opportunity, the canoes would have set a different pace; paddle for 3 days, stop, hunt, forage, repair, then move on. That was one way in which we couldn’t leave the modern world behind – we had a time limit. Perhaps it explains some of the stress of modern life, worrying about meeting a constant stream of arbitrary deadlines is not quite the lifestyle we evolved for. Seasons and the movements of animals imposed a pattern on the year, but not a ridged or even completely predictable one.

Photo Credits: Some of the best photos of the trip were taken by SallyAnn Spence, of Berrycroft Hub, who followed us for the first week and did a lot of the social media coverage. https://www.berrycrofthub.com/

You can see more photos and videos of the trip on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/BerrycroftHub

I can imagine you attracted a lot of attention from the public; how did people react to two women clad in buckskin dresses paddling in handcrafted canoes?

We both really enjoyed interacting with the public, conversations at locks and with passing boats; I’m sure we caused a few near misses with joggers and cyclists doing exaggerated double takes as we passed!

Seeing people’s reactions whether bewildered, amused or enchanted gave us both a lift during the miles of paddling. We often had shouted conversations with people on the bank as they speed-walked to keep pace. I think the boats (and our appearance) did appeal to people’s imaginations – looking like something out of Robinson Crusoe or The Clan of the Cave Bear.

There’s a reason Bushcraft is such a popular hobby – people are becoming more aware of a need to get to the roots of who and what humans really are and reestablish our relationship with nature. It’s a yearning people can’t quite put a finger on, I think seeing the boats will have awoken a few ancient souls, or perhaps just the childlike wonder at something so unusual. I never get tired of seeing that spark kindle in people.

Would you do it again, or have you got any new adventures lined up for the future?

It would be great to finish the bit of the journey we ran out of time for; I can’t shake the deliciously incongruous image of a hide canoe and two buckskin clad women paddling past the London Eye. We are also making plans to try one of the rivers in France in new boats, that use all the knowledge we gained from our 9 days on the Thames. I want to make some better kit for travelling – a hide tent, rain cape etc.

Where can people follow your latest adventures and learn about your skills and activities? www.prehistoricexperiences.co.uk Facebook and insta @memmathecavewoman YouTube @memmathecavewoman I will be running a few 1-2 day workshops this year from near my base in Suffolk (details on the website), but I will also be teaching on the LIVING BY NATURE year course which is running in the UK for the first time. It’s going to be great; the students learn a huge range of ancient and traditional skills then use the knowledge (and clothing, equipment and tools) to live as a hunter gatherer tribe for 10 days in Sweden.

I’ve been consumed with running the school visits for the last few years, and it will be brilliant to be teaching on courses again! The course starts in March, but we will be running it next year, you can find out more here: https://www.howlbushcraft.com/bushcraft-courses/year-course-with-living-by-nature Part of the reason for doing the Stone Age canoe trip was to raise awareness and funds for Theresa’s project. If you want to find out more, or contribute: https://gofund.me/787ba047 ‘Please help me to build a unique Centre for teaching Ancient Skills! I am in the process of looking for a plot of land in Sweden on which to develop this school. I would deeply appreciate a hand in getting the Centre for Ancient Technologies on its feet!’ - Theresa

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Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name’s Adam Wilson and I’m a comic writer and one of the founding members of Read Furiously. I’ve been writing all my life; in fact, I wrote my first movie at age seven and made my family and friends act it out. In college, I started self-publishing mini-comics I wrote with friends where we’d print them out in the school’s computer lab and have stapling parties on the floor of our dorm room. From there, I just didn’t want to stop. I started writing short stories that got accepted into a few different anthologies; and before long, had my first graphic novel published Brian & Bobbi. I haven’t stopped since then. Besides being a writer, I currently work as the Director of Production at Read Furiously with my partner, S. Atzeni, where I handle all our design, printing, and digital work. We published our first title together almost ten years ago, and we’ve just continued to grow with each passing year, which has given us the opportunity to work with some amazing creators and showcase some really amazing work.

Interviewed by Melanie P. Smith

@amwilson81

https://www.lifeinasplashpage.com

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author?

How did you decide what types of books you would write?

When it comes to genres, I’m a little all over the place. Mediums, I typically write primarily for comics and graphic novels. I have published one or two prose stories and a novella titled What About Tuesday, but those are few and far between.

But if we are talking about genres, I’ve done Young Adult, superheroes, science fiction,

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

My favorite things to write are the stories where it’s a mashup of different genres. My first graphic novel, Brian & Bobbi was an equal parts superhero and YA coming of age story. Or my book Helium is this dystopian science fiction story but also a love story about long distance relationships - and also about the chemical properties of Helium atoms.

I think, for me, that’s where a lot of the fun in writing lies, pulling together all these different pieces from all these different places and trying to put them together in a way that makes them work.

dystopian/post apocalyptic stories, coming of age stories. My upcoming book is an epistolary graphic novel about music.

As far as deciding what books I wanted to write, it usually just starts with an idea or a theme I’ve been turning over in my head for way too long.

There’s something I need to make sense of and a story starts forming around it. Different moments will start becoming more prevalent than others and that’s usually when the type of story or the genre comes into view. I start seeing the circumstances by which I can make sense of what I’m trying to understand and the story starts coming together.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

To some degree, I’d always been writing, as far back as I can remember. Like I mentioned before, I wrote my first movie at age seven, and I was always experimenting with writing songs, or scripts, stories, poems, things like that. Trying on all the different hats, I guess. I wrote and drew my first full comic issue for a fifth grade school assignment.

It wasn’t till I was almost out of college that I really looked at writing as more than a hobby. A friend and I were in our last semester before graduation and having one of those late night “I don’t know what I want to do with my life” conversations. He was an art major and I remember I had just seen the movie American Splendor which reinvigorated my love of comic books as a reader. So I’d been doing this deep dive into underground comics, reading everything I could from Topshelf, Fantagraphic, Drawn & Quarterly, all those publishers really pushing the boundaries of what comics can be. And so as my friend and I were having this conversation about our future it eventually turned into, if I wrote a comic would you draw it? Not that I think either of us saw it as a solid plan for the future. But it was something we could do.

So we started self-publishing mini-comics and while he eventually left to go do other things. I stuck with it and over time was able to connect with publishers who were interested in my work, find other artists who wanted to collaborate, and establish a nice little place for myself as a writer.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

A lot of my plots tend to develop from taking scenarios to wild extremes and trying to figure out how they might play out. For example, with Brian & Bobbi I was having a conversation one night with a friend about how much parents should be pushing their kids with their hobbies. Like, is it just enough to let a kid enjoy playing piano or soccer, or do you have to get them to be the best one out there, no matter what. I kinda took that idea and ran with it and created the two main characters. Brian, whose parents are so hands off, they never even noticed he had superpowers - and as a result doesn’t care that he can fly and has superstrength. Then Bobbi who is the daughter of a superhero and her mother is pushing her so hard to be just like her father that she fails to realize her daughter is just a regular kid.

Or in my book Helium, that came from when my wife and I first started dating, we were long distance for the first year and then decided to move in together. It was a tough transition, because neither of us were really in a stable enough place to uproot our lives to move to the other person. But we did it anyway, because we wanted to be together. I took that to an extreme of, what if two people were on opposite sides of a world that was completely destabilized by war and took a chance to try and be together.

An entire day of the week has disappeared. That's normal, right?

In What About Tuesday? Adam Wilson reminds us that should you ever wake up to find a day of the week missing due to a freak abnormality in the nature of space-time, it's probably a good idea not to mention it to anyone. Seriously. Just leave it alone. Definitely don't hire a private investigator. Oh, and definitely don't ask questions. Forget anything happened. Because, technically, nothing did.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BBY9LX8S

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a panster? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I guess I am a bit of a plotter. For me, it usually starts with a theme that I’d really like to explore. For example, with Brian & Bobbi it was thinking a lot about the idea of potential and how people’s perception of our potential can impact who we become as people. Or in Helium, I wanted to look at the parallels between the idea of love and the chemical properties of a helium atom. Based on that, I’ll start finding these moments I want to include in the story that really epitomize what I’m trying to say or understand about the different concepts.

In terms of research, that’ll vary a lot depending on the story. I didn’t really do much for Brian & Bobbi because it was very anecdotal, it focused a lot on the interactions between two people who were coming from opposite extremes of a spectrum a person whose potential got completely overlooked growing up, and a person who everyone had such high expectations for.

But then in a case Helium, I definitely did a lot of research on that one. I had a very “high school chemistry” level understanding of Helium, so in order to make sure the metaphor I was trying to push actually worked, I did a really deep dive to understand its properties, its uses, how it’s formed, all of that.

Research or not though, once I have all of these pieces, it’s usually just a collection of moments or ideas, bits and pieces of dialogue I’ve jotted down. So it becomes like a big puzzle that I then have to put together. Flushing out all moments into full fledged scenes, building out the characters so the dialog I’ve written makes sense, figuring out everything that happens between what I already know so that it starts to actually take shape into a story.

Tell us your latest news That would definitely be the release of my upcoming graphic novel, Last of the Pops. It's a book I’ve been working on for about seven years now, and I’m really excited for it to finally be released. It’s being published by Read Furiously Publishing and it’ll be hitting shelves this October. It’s six loosely interconnected stories that revolve around the last ever radio broadcast, and it’s a chance for me to talk about all these things I really love like music and street art, technology, radio, urban legends. Kind of taking all these seemingly different things and trying to find the throughline that connects them all to really touch on our personal connection to them.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yeah, Last of the Pops, at its core, really ended up being a story all about the loneliness that comes with growth and change. I didn’t necessarily set out to write that kind of a story I initially just wanted to write a book about music and how it impacts people’s lives but as it took shape and I started diving into the character’s lives that ended up being the journey they all found themselves on - from people who were left behind because the world moved on without them, to people who are finally figuring out how to be their authentic true selves but have to leave behind parts of their past to get to that point. And bitter or bittersweet, it can still be tough to come to terms with those feelings of loneliness that come up. But if you dig deeper, you can kind of see it as this shared experience. Because change is the one constant, it’s something that we’re all going through in some way or another, so that loneliness can actually be this shared experience that brings us together at the same time.

And thinking about myself as a millennial, it makes sense a story about music would end up really being about something like change and loneliness. We are the generation that watched music go from vinyl to cassettes to CDs to mp3s to streaming in real time. We lived through MTV going from Music Television where we discovered our first favorite artists to just MTV that leaned heavy into reality television. Our generation’s soundtrack is one of change and loss and growth, for better or for worse.

How much of the book is realistic?

The story itself is completely fictional, but there are tons that I pulled from the real world. One of the main characters draws a lot from my personal experience growing up, so much so I tell stories directly from my childhood with that character. Another is kind of an amalgamation of musicians who passed too young, the whole idea of the 27 Club and the allure of that unfulfilled potential.

And overall, the whole idea of the last radio broadcast itself came from my time working at the New Jersey Press Association. It was one of my first jobs out of college, and I got it just in time to watch the newspaper industry collapse in on itself. Papers were being bought up by big conglomerates, smaller ones were being shut down, absorbed, merged, and a lot stopped printing. What was once the fourth estate was now just a line item in a company’s ledger. And the same thing is happening right now on the radio. The majority of stations are owned by one of four (I think four) big companies. They’re going around buying up whatever they can get their hands on and slapping their logo and branding on it, dictating what music they play, and in some cases just gutting the station themselves and using the towers as signal boosts for their nationally syndicated programs. I saw the parallels between what happened in print journalism and just decided to take it to its natural conclusion. When you start looking at radio from such an extreme corporate bottom line, eventually it’ll just be too expensive to maintain radio broadcasts and it’ll get cut. Especially in an age where digital is becoming such a viable option. So the story really explores what happens after that.

What books have influenced your life the most?

There have been a bunch, creatively I think of people like Harvey Pekar, Jen Van Meter, Craig Thompson, Fabio Moon, Gabriel Ba, Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Ariel Schrag really showed me how comics could be used outside the traditional superhero medium I grew up with. Personally, writers like Kurt Vonegut, Sandra Cisneros, Tracy K Smith, were always people whose work really helped me kind of understand the world and the type of person I wanted to be in it.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

I’ve never really had a mentor, but there have definitely been people who have gone above and beyond to help me in my writing career. Most notably of course being my partner, S. Atzeni. Wholeheartedly, I don’t think I’d be the writer I am today without them.

What are your current projects?

Right now I’m finishing up the final editorial leg for Last of the Pops to get ready for its release in October. But we've also just started work on the third volume of Read Furiously’s award winning anthology series Life in the Garden State which we’re really excited about. And I’m in the very early stages of planning for a graphic novella I want to pitch to our One ‘n Done series. But that’s quite a ways off for now.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

I would have loved to meet Harvey Pekar. He was really the first person who got me back into comics in my twenties; and I remember hearing once that if you were in Cleveland and reached out to him, he was always one for meeting up, even if he’d never met you before. I always had plans to head out there one day and get in touch with him; but sadly, he passed away before I got a chance to do that.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

So I think this is kind of the opposite of what you’re asking, but also not at the same time. See, initially, with Last of the Pops there was a character who was never meant to appear in the book. He was originally just the estranged brother people talked about as part of a blended family I explore with two of the characters. That was supposed to be it. And I liked the idea that he was kind of a phantom presence in this newly forming dynamic.

But the more the story evolved, the more I realized he had a storyline worth telling. It was a chance to explore the idea of having a really positive change in your life, and still having to accept that there are things you need to give up for it to happen. It was not only this whole new perspective on the themes of change and loneliness I was looking at in the boo;, but he also proved a great counterpoint to another character, one who had a similar journey but with much different results.

So taking him from a character who really didn’t know anything about, and really flushing out who he was, really added a whole new dimension to the story that I was really happy about.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I don’t know if I’m the best person to be giving advice to, since I’ve kind of been making this up as I go along. Though over the years, in talking with other writers and creators, I’ve found that a lot of them are doing the same.

There isn’t really a set path to becoming a writer, you just have to be willing to try and fail and then try again. Like the adage says, a writer writes. You just have to keep writing, some level of success will eventually find you.

It may not be the way you expected, or even the type of success you were hoping for. But if you just keep trying to grow as a writer there will come a point where you can look back at what you’ve done and be happy with where you ended up.

Really, I’d just like to say thank you. I’m sure a lot of people would do that. But genuinely, writing is something I’ve been doing since I was a little kid, and never really thought of as a viable life path.

So the privilege of being in this position where there are people out there who want to read what I am creating is never lost on me.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

Here’s one of my personal favorite scenes from Last of the Pops. It actually came about when someone asked me why I listen to so much sad music. At the time, I didn’t have an answer; so I spent a lot of time thinking about it, and eventually the explanation made it into the book.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

I keep going back and forth on whether this is in bad taste or not, but I like the idea of having something on my headstone that you can scan which would open up a playlist of songs for people to listen to. I don’t know what songs I’d put on there yet, but it just seems like something nice I could do for people who stop by to say hello.

Yeah, I tend to be a collector of hobbies.

Over the years I’ve picked up different instruments for a period of time. My partner and I also used to go to the movies almost every weekend (not so much since we’ve had kids, but it’s something we’ll get back to once they’re older to join us). I also love exploring new places, I have a dedicated Google Drive account that’s just entirely my photography - mostly street art from all the places I’ve traveled - New York, Los Angeles, London, Warsaw.

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy?

What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

So I’m not really a big Christmas person, but this is a tradition that S. Atzeni introduced us to it and it’s something I look forward to every year.

For Christmas eve, we do a Book Flood. It’s an Icelandic tradition where we exchange books, and just settle in for the day and read them while we drink hot chocolate. We both do a lot of research throughout the year and try to find the perfect books for the other person. Then we just have a relaxing day as a family and enjoy reading.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

I’d probably have to go with the mountain lake.

I grew up surrounded by forests and the woods, so I’d feel right at home there.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Sure, my personal website is lifeinasplashpage.com. That’s got info about all my work, and for the most part, I primarily use Instagram for social media. My handle there is @amwilson81.

Scarred Survival

by Jackie Williams Fantastic Reviewed by Kindle Customer I swear each book in this series is more powerful than the last.

Gemma is a true heroine in so many ways. In this part both of the leads are dealing with scars inside and out and they have real, hard obstacles between the stirring emotions. Aaron like Gemma has injuries but he also has devastating secrets. Wow that deception!! The power in the story is palpable from the start and grows more intense as you try to piece things together. I enjoyed the dynamic of them both being military and scared since it provided with a deeper understand of each and also a deeper set of issues to overcome. If you haven't read this series, start now. They are beautiful, powerful stories that can be read in any order. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B00RW8WSQM Beta (Diaries of the Cwn Annwn Book 2)

by Katie Vincent Another Great read from this author Reviewed by Diana — 1D82 Many Think I liked this book more than the others I've read from the series. Love that the pack are far more than mere shifters and Bran's pain was palpable as he blamed himself for the wrongs of the past. Loved the prologue. An insightful, heartbreaking read in itself that threaded its way through the rest of the book. The author's style is interesting and very descriptive. Could actually feel the tension between Bran and Alix as they realised they were mates. Their reisistance was futile and beautifully cemented. Lots of twists to this tale of good v evil while Bran and Alix try to unravel the disapperance of several missing women. A great read, full of passion and romance. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01KB20OL6

When I Died (Archangel Series Book 1)

by Elizabeth Eckert An Interesting Tale Reviewed by Trudie Collins This book is certainly different. It’s set in a place somewhere between Heaven, Hell and Earth. Each character is unique and given a personality and background not just a description, although the way finding out about the history of one of them is dragged out does become a little annoying. The story is told in both first person as well as third person and a lot of emphasis is placed on what characters are thinking and feeling rather than doing. The start it good. The way she reacts to her death is interesting and well thought out. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07FTV364M

Fool’s Desire (Club Risqué Book 1)

by Poppy Flynn Roller coaster of emotions!

Reviewed by JB This book is a roller coaster of emotions. *sigh*. I'm looking at you, Joel. From closed off, damaged people trying to heal to total misunderstanding this book will bring to to the brink of heartbreak and back. While it is and entertaining, erotic read, what I really liked was that it portrayed the BDSM lifestyle in the correct, positive light, including dealing with some of the prejudices from it. I'm looking at you here, Anita.

The book ends with everything wrapped up, but leaves it open for a sequel and leaves it open for several books to be told from several different character's points of view, which is the mark of a good series in my point of view. I would love to see where this goes with Jake and that last scene with Charlotte https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CRR7R731

Up and Down Down-Under

By Suzanne Downes https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037757172678

We had some great entries for our last challenge. If you didn’t get a chance to read them, you should take a minute to check them out. Congratulations to Suzanne Downes for getting the most reader votes on her submission. You can read the winning story as well as the other entries here… https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-1st-quarter-2024/page/32 1st Place — Up and Down Under — Suzanne Downes 2nd Place — The Ring — Sylva Fae 3rd Place — Vacillating — Melanie P. Smith

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Go on.”

“It was Ken McGregor who killed the Glasgow bank manager and accessed the systems—” “I hope you haven’t been hacking—”

“I’ve traced the transactions … oh, shit, I’ve been pinged. I’ll have to run—” “Jimmy! … Jimmy!” The call had ended. “Jesus H. Christ.”

Harriet rapidly dismissed the idea of contacting the Glasgow force. This was her brother.

A short while later, dressed and ready to go, she grabbed her unofficial Walther PPK and confirmed it was loaded.

She stuck reflective film over the number plates of her BMW 3-Series and headed north. As she joined the motorway, other vehicles became a blur of lights. Instead of considering her exam and promotion, Harriet was thinking about her only relative, Jimmy, who would shortly graduate from his computer programming course. His ambition was to be an analyst with the London Met. He didn’t want to be a regular detective because he was skilled with computers.

Harriet drove mile after mile at excessive speed, her thoughts continually returning to the brief call she’d had from her sibling two days earlier. Jimmy had created a programme that allowed him to select and follow transactions between bank accounts. His enthusiasm had caused his big sister to listen, but she’d warned him he’d created something that could be dangerous for the user.

‘Fatigue kills - Take a break’ appeared regularly, but the signs were a blur at one hundred miles per hour. Another sign snapped Harriet into alertness. It was also blue, but with a large white X, depicting the saltire, St Andrew’s flag, and it proclaimed, ‘Welcome to Scotland.’ Harriet glanced at the clock, rubbed her tired eyes, and pulled into the next services. She’d driven over three hundred miles, but was mobile again within minutes, a black coffee seated in the console. *

Kelvinside Glasgow At 05:28, pulse racing, Harriet parked in a street where several houses were rented to students.

She approached the front door, noting the splintered area around the lock.

“Shit.” She pulled on her leather gloves, drew her Walther, and pressed her back to the wall as she cocked the weapon. Harriet had only seen the house in photos, but she had some idea of the layout and knew there were three occupants.

It took two minutes to clear the ground floor before she crept upstairs, her automatic pointing where her gaze fell. The bathroom door was open, the room empty. The next door was open too, and the room tidy, apart from the crumpled bedding. On the wall was a picture of Jimmy in a

suit and Harriet in police uniform, accompanied by their proud parents. Harriet’s graduation from Hendon.

The second bedroom was open, and a glance at the mess suggested a struggle. When she pushed the next door open, she saw two young men in their underwear, sitting on the floor, bound back to back, gagged, and blindfolded. The floor beneath them was sodden.

“Don’t panic,” Harriet said. “I’m a friend.”

The two heads turned left and right rapidly.

“When I remove the gags please don’t shout or scream.”

The dark-haired man trembled and sobbed, but both young men nodded understanding, headbutting each other.

Harriet untied the gags. “I need to know where Jimmy has gone and if he was followed.”

The blond man said, “Jimmy said he was going to the Bardowie ruin, whatever that is.” He paused. “When the two men tied us, one told the other that they could trace Jimmy’s laptop … and one guy had a gun.”

“Is Jimmy on foot?”

“No, he’s got my old red Fiesta.”

“Don’t mention me or the ruin to anyone, including the police.” She untied them and left before they saw her. *

Bardowie Castle Thirty minutes later, Harriet arrived at a small loch and could see the castle and nearby ruins not far away. A silver Saab was parked behind a red Fiesta among the trees ahead. She parked, drew her automatic, fitted the suppressor, and stealthily approached. A big, bearded man with a knife dashed forward from the undergrowth.

‘Phutt!’

She glanced at the body. “Never bring a knife to … ah, never mind ….”

Harriet ran along the narrow woodland path. She was crossing a stream when something caught her eye. Partially submerged, resting against a grassy mound, was a laptop. She retrieved the computer, and saw the initials JW on the lid. She slipped the machine into the long grass and set off for the gamekeeper’s cottage ruin. As she crept closer, she heard voices.

Jimmy said, “You’re too late because I’ve emailed all the evidence to the police.”

“You’re fucking bluffing, son,” a man said. “Tell me where the computer is, or you die.”

Harriet said, “Move away from him, McGregor.”

The gangster stepped behind Jimmy, still aiming his gun at the younger man’s head. “Aw, it’s the heroic big sister.” He grinned. “Drop the gun, copper, or risk killing your little brother.”

Harriet slowly knelt down, lowering her weapon, but brought it up quickly.

‘Phutt! … Phutt!’

Both men fell among the years of decay, rubble and wild vegetation.

Harriet dashed forward, glanced at McGregor, and shook her brother. “Jimmy … Jimmy, talk to me.”

“Harriet,” he gasped, blinking.

“Have you emailed the evidence to the police, or were you bluffing?”

Jimmy sat up, and swallowed. “I was bluffing.”

“Well played, little brother. Now, I’ll need your help to get two bodies and a car into the loch.”

She grinned, recalling her Chief Constable’s opinion of her.

“Harriet, you’re shit with regulations, but at only thirty, you’re a great detective.”

She’d laughed. “I treat the law as a guide, Sir.”

***

http://www.tombensonauthor.com

Tom Benson is a creative writer who has published novels, novellas, short story anthologies and a series of five poetry anthologies. He started his writing career in 2007, but in his words, “By then, I had learned enough about people and life to make my writing credible.”

Apart from writing, Tom was a founder member of the international Indie Author Support and Discussion group (IASD) on Facebook. He remained an Admin for several years.

He also mentors fellow writers who are at various stages of their creative writing journey. More information about all of Tom’s projects can be found on the News page of this website, and on the Work in Progress menu of Tom’s blog.

https://tombensonauthor.com/news https://tombensoncreative.com/work-in-progress/

Constance By

Tom Benson Tom Benson is a creative writer who has published novels, novellas, short story anthologies and a series of five poetry anthologies. He started his writing career in 2007, but in his words, “By then, I had learned enough about people and life to make my writing credible.”

Author: http://www.tombensonauthor.com

Artist: https://www.tombensonartist.wordpress.com Blog: http://www.tombensoncreative.com

Also in Series:

Most police officers assume the mantle of a law enforcement warrior and expect to follow a multitude of rules, guidelines, and strict routines.

DC Constance Armitage worked undercover in Glasgow before her transfer to the Metropolitan Police in London. There, she met DS Jason Knight, who helped shape how she would perform her role.

Constance already understood that law and justice were not always in concert, and occasionally, the rules would have to be broken.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CZT1NHC8 https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BZTKX941

77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs

By Ronesa Aveela

Lady’s Mantle Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature. This article is taken from the book 77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs, which is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden. You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well. This unique herbal book is an essential guide for tapping into the power of herbs. It highlights centuries of lore and historical facts about healing and magical uses of herbs from Slavic and other traditions.

Please see the medical and magical disclaimers before you try any of the recipes from the book. ***

Alchemilla vulgaris Lady’s mantle Description: The plant grows in mounds or clumps to a height of around 12 to 20 inches

(30 to 50 cm) on a slender stem. Its leaves give the plant its distinguishing feature: edges cut into five to nine kidneyshaped to semicircular lobes that are broad, shallow, and finely serrated (earning it the name “nine hooks”). Deep veins run through the center of the lobes.

The plant is covered with soft hairs and is green throughout.

Numerous yellowish-green flowers lack petals, and they form in highly branched clusters.

The seed it produces is an achene. Its creeping rhizome is short, black, and woody.

History and Traditions: The genus name comes from the Latin word for “alchemy,” because the dew collected on the leaves was considered one of the magical substances that made up the Philosopher’s Stone. Alchemists believed the water droplets could turn metals into gold.

It was also believed the foliage gave magical powers to the dew and could cure any disease and restore virginity. The common name was given to the plant by the sixteenth-century botanist, Jerome Bock in his History of Plants, published in 1532. The plant was once associated with goddesses of love and motherhood, but with the spread of Christianity, it became connected to the Virgin Mary. Legends say people adorned statues of her with the plant because the shape of its leaves resembled the scalloped edges of her cloak. Other common names of “lion’s foot” and “bear’s foot” likely refer to the spreading root-leaves.

Habitat and Distribution: Native to Europe and Greenland. The plant grows in cool regions, wet fields, mountains, forests, and along roadsides. It is also a popular garden plant.

Growth: Perennial. The plant blossoms from June through September, depending on the location. It grows well in low temperatures and can tolerate frost. Lady’s mantle prefers full sun but grows in partial shade as well. It adapts to various soil types (sandy, clay, loamy) as long as they are moist and well-drained. It’s best to propagate the plant from cuttings and root divisions rather than from seeds.

Harvesting: Leaves and roots are used. Harvest the leaves around midsummer, June and July, while the plant blossoms. Harvest the root from a two-year-old plant in early spring or late fall. It can be used fresh or dried. To dry, hang a bouquet of the cuttings upside down in a well-ventilated room. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Medical Use: The plant is called a “woman’s herb,” because many of its applications in folk medicine are for women’s ailments such as menopause and menstruation, as well as for endometriosis, infertility (if taken regularly for fifteen days), encouraging contractions when labor is slow, strengthening the uterus, and tightening the abdomen after childbirth. Other uses include healing wounds, skin problems (rashes, acne), insect bites, mild diarrhea, stimulating metabolism, and muscle atrophy. Clinical studies of the plant have shown it has antioxidant, anticancer, and inhibitory enzyme activities and possesses high potential for pharmaceutical applications. Although it’s promising, more research is needed.

Rituals and Magical Use: Alchemilla means “little magical one.” In folklore, fairies drink the dew that collects in the leaves as a magical elixir. For humans, drinking the dew will restore youth and beauty. The herb is used in fertility magic, for protection, to restore hope, and to encourage creativity. Carrying the flowers will attract and keep love, repel unwanted love, and improve self-love. People will also place the leaves under their pillows so they sleep better. The herb enables women to move away from the past and learn from painful experiences in order to gain courage and become the person they are supposed to be.

It also brings courage in childbirth matters. The herb can improve the strength of other herbs, and the dew collected from it can strengthen potions.

Other Use: A garden plant and used in dried flower arrangements. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach, and added to salads, soups, and sandwiches. The herb is an ingredient in tea blends.

Other Names: Common lady’s mantle, lion’s foot, bear’s foot, nine hooks.

Aromatic: The leaves have a mild, fresh scent and a bitter taste.

CAUTION: Although the plant is used during labor, it’s not advisable to take the herb at other times during pregnancy, as it encourages contractions. Always consult with a medical professional before taking the herb.

Lady’s Mantle Tea This tea is good for stomachaches, cramps, sore throats, and after a tooth has been extracted. It tastes similar to green tea.

Steep about 2 teaspoons of the chopped herb in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink. Add raspberry leaves, lemon verbena, angelica root, or rose petals for extra flavor and health benefits (Health Embassy).

Lady’s Mantle Skin Lotion You can make a skin lotion that’s good for minor inflammations and acne, and to remove benign scars.

Add 1.5 oz (50 g) of the dried plant to 1 quart (1 liter) of boiling water. Apply as needed (Nature’s Garden).

*** Herbs are powerful, but they can also be dangerous.

MEDICAL LIABILITY DISCLAIMER: The information in this article, in the book and on our website is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it claim that the herbs listed are safe or effective to use in the manners described.

It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It is merely a brief summary of various herbal folk remedies and how they have been used in the past and may still be used today. With the exception of a few personal recipes, we have not tried any of these remedies and cannot verify their effectiveness or safety.

MAGICAL DISCLAIMER: Magical ingredients and spells are for entertainment only. We have not tried any of these remedies, nor do we make any claims as to their effectiveness or safety.

77 and a Half Herbs?

The wheels in your mind have probably been turning as you think, “77½ herbs is an odd number.” And you’re right. But it’s a special, magical number, referring to herbs gathered on Eniovden, June 24, when Bulgarians celebrate Midsummer’s Day. If you want to find out the secret of the half herb, you’ll have to read the book. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronesa-aveela/77-1-2-magical-healing-herbsthe-secret-power-of-herbs Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.” Two authors that is. The main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more. Her writing partner was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures. She’s learned so much about Bulgarian culture, folklore, and rituals, and writes to share that knowledge with others.

https://melaniepsmith.com

Intervention

By Melanie P. Smith “Come with us to the lake,” they said.

“It’ll be fun,” they said.

Actually, I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to start at the beginning. I’m an executive at a financial planning firm. I work sixty hours a week and rarely have the energy to do more than throw together a quick meal at the end of the day and crash — then, get up in the morning and do it all again.

I’ve tried dating, but boyfriends tend to expect quality time in a relationship. They like to go to dinner and attend concerts; and, most of all, they need attention — a lot of attention. I just don’t have time for that. So, when my latest attempt to dip my toe in the dating pool failed — miserably — my friends staged an intervention. Or tried to, anyway.

I still have no idea how I got myself into this. Well, yes, I do. Her name is Jessica. I met Jess when I was eight and we’ve been joined at the hip ever since. The best way to describe her is to say she’s the devil on my shoulder. She’s an evil sorceress that can simply whisper in my ear and get me to do things — crazy things — that are so far outside my comfort zone, afterwards, I’ve wondered if I was possessed by a demon. Or maybe Jess is the demon. And yes, she is that bad, but I still love her and always will.

So, after Brad dumped me — by email — yesterday afternoon, Jess rallied the gang. They were gathered on my back deck when I arrived home from work just after eight. Tony was grilling burgers, Amanda was fussing with the place settings on my ancient patio table, and Jess was lounging in her favorite chair, sipping wine, and relaying a story that had them laughing so hard they were near tears. Have I mentioned I have amazing friends.

So, we had this delicious dinner and before I knew it, one bottle of wine turned into two — or five — and when I was good and tipsy — not drunk, okay a little drunk — they sprung it on me.

“We’re heading to the lake tomorrow,” Tony topped off my wine before he refilled his glass and took a sip.

“You’re coming with us,” Jess added.

“I brought home a ton of work that I need to finish this weekend,” I gave my usual reply.

“Shocker,” Amanda grabbed her glass and dropped against the back of her lounge chair.

“And still,” Jess said casually. “You’re coming with us. It’s Saturday and you need a break. After dealing with that idiot Brad, it’s time to commune with nature — balance your chi, or whatever.”

“Come on,” Amanda pushed. “It’ll be fun.”

“I know that’s not a big word,” Tony grinned. “But if you need a dictionary, I can loan you my phone.”

I flipped him off. Then, to my surprise, agreed to join them. Note to self, never — ever — consume more than two glasses of wine when the three musketeers ascend to gang up on the pathetic workaholic. The result can be dangerous.

This morning, I woke in a panic. Bolted upright, knocked my already aching head on my headboard, grabbed my phone, and sent Jess a cancellation text.

She informed me they’d be waiting at the curb, in front of my house, at ten. She followed that up with a warning to get my butt out of bed — now.

I was showered, wrapped in a towel, standing in front of my closet, when my phone chimed. I grabbed it off my nightstand, read the text and sighed before I dropped onto the edge of the bed, scrolled through my contacts and selected Jess.

“You’re not cancelling,” Jess greeted.

“I have to,” I dropped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I just got a text from my boss.

He scheduled a video conference with one of our top clients at noon today. It wasn’t a request.

The client is angry and threatening to take his business to our competitor.”

“It’s a video conference,” Jess brightened. “Shove something that you can pull over your suit into your bag and let’s go.”

“Jess,” I objected.

“We’re on our way,” Jess blew on the phone. “I think I’m losing you. Don’t be late.” She disconnected.

I sat up and planned to call Jess back, then hesitated. I could pull that navy blue mini dress with the long sleeves and the tiny belt on, sit through the meeting, then enjoy the rest of the day at the lake with my friends. The sturdy cotton shouldn’t wrinkle — much.

I dressed before I changed my mind, flipped through hangers until I found what I was looking for, held up the dress, then carefully folded it into my bag. Finally, I slipped into my favorite sandals, slung my computer bag over my shoulder, and rushed out the door. Day at the lake — here we come.

So much for best-laid plans. We reached the lake, but there was no service. I wandered around for twenty minutes, holding my cell phone in the air and looking like a complete idiot before I found enough bars to make my hotspot work. That was the good news. The bad news — I would have to sit on a large rock, in the middle of the adjacent river, to get a strong enough signal to make this work. Anything for a client.

Just before noon, I settled onto the rock in my stupid mini dress, feet dangling over the side, with my laptop perched precariously on a second rock when my boss’ face filled my screen. I plastered on my best smile and prayed this would work. It didn’t. I guess that’s what I get for having a demon for a best friend.

My boss prattled on for several minutes before he shmoozed the client enough to start the meeting. He just finished asking me to explain a transaction when my phone slipped. I lunged for it, let go of my laptop for just a second, then watched in horror as it slid off the rock and landed in the middle of the river. I saved my phone, plucked my computer out of the water, and stared in horror at the lines streaming across the screen. My boss was gone. My computer was dead. And I was so getting fired. ***

Melanie P. Smith — Long before she delved into the world of fantasy and suspense, Melanie served nearly three decades in the Special Operations Division at her local sheriff’s office; working with SWAT, Search and Rescue, K9, the Motor Unit, Investigations, and the Child Abduction Response Team. She now uses that training and knowledge to create stories that are action-packed, gripping, and realistic. When Melanie’s not penning her next adventure, she can be found riding her Harley, exploring the wilderness, or capturing that next great photo.

COMING 2024

Artifice

IMMORTALS SERIES BOOK 2 The gathering is complete and training has begun. Soon, the Chosen will face the enemy — will they survive?

FANTASY MYTHOLOGY ADVENTURE

melaniepsmith.com

The Healer

by Penny Luker https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09B2MYJYH

Chapter One Aley was walking back from the city of Mizair, one of the three cities in the known world. He was tired, having used his energy saving lives, after the short, but fierce battle there. The former ruler Grettison and his wife, Medina had been trying to regain power, but when Grettison had ruled, he’d let his people starve.

Many had been injured in the recent fighting on both sides and Aley had spent days, healing and helping in the hospital. Now he was enjoying the fresh air and pale sunshine on his long walk home.

He was beginning to feel re-energised, being out in the open. The wasteland, he was walking through, was filled with areas of forest and shrubs and greenery. There were main tracks and smaller ones. None were made up roads, as there were few vehicles that ventured out of any of the three cities, due to an extreme shortage of fuel.

Being a healer, or indeed having any gift, made life dangerous in this unstable world.

Healers, truth finders and visualizers, were all at risk of exploitation by greedy and evil people. Until the last few years, Aley had managed to keep his gift a total secret, and worked as a farmer and scientist, designing new, more productive crops. He was successful at his job and loved the work.

The wasteland wasn’t always a safe place to walk alone, however Aley was a tall, strong man, who could look after himself. He was eager to be back home with his partner, Mooley and was thinking about their planned trip, to explore the unknown, and possibly uninhabited, part of the world damaged by nuclear wars.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear the two men who crept up behind him. Suddenly, out of the cover of some nearby trees, the two men threw a sack over his head and held him fast. He struggled, but not being able to see, soon found himself tied up and bundled into the back of a cart.

‘What’s going on? Is this Medina’s work?’ he thought. She’d wanted to use his healing powers in the past, to make her more powerful. ‘No, I can’t believe that she’d kidnap me for a second time, especially when she’s just lost her husband, Grettison, in the battle for Mizair.

No this is someone else.’

He tried to ease the ropes from his wrists but it was no good. ‘I’ve been careless,’ he thought. ‘By helping heal those injured in the war, I’ve let someone know of my gift.’

Was he now going to become one of those being exploited? The visualizers had only just been released from captivity in the city of Mebsuta, where they’d been used to make that city look more affluent than it actually was. Now someone was going take his freedom, probably to make money out of him.

He must try to contact Vrail, his truth finder friend. At least Vrail could read his mind if he focussed hard. His friend would be able to track where the abductors were taking him.

Then Aley’s brother, Baley could organise a rescue.

Aley couldn’t protect himself from being thrown about in the cart on the bumpy tracks.

The sack stank of some kind of earthy mould and he could hear the men muttering to each other, although their words were unclear. He listened as carefully as he could to the noises around him in the hope that there’d be clues as to his whereabouts.

After what seemed like hours, but was probably only half an hour, the cart stopped.

‘Get out,’ shouted one of his kidnappers.

‘How can I, when I can’t see where I’m going?’ Aley replied.

A hand grabbed his shoulder and hauled him from the cart. He was guided down a path and then shoved in a dark room. The man removed the sack and told him to sit on the floor. None of it looked clean but Aley thought it best not to argue.

‘You’re going to stay here tonight and start work tomorrow.’

‘What sort of work? What can you want with a farmer?’

‘Don’t be funny, lad. We know you’re a healer.’

There seemed little point in denying it.

‘And do you know how healers work? What they need? If you take money off people expecting me to heal them, they’re going to get really annoyed if I can’t.’

‘Don’t you mess us around. You’ll heal who we tell you to.’

‘It doesn’t work like that,’ persisted Aley. ‘I’m exhausted from working in Mizair. The healing comes from within a healer. If you don’t give me food and somewhere comfortable to sleep, I literally won’t have the power to heal anyone. I also need a good first aid kit and access to clean water. Some people don’t need a healer, just basic first aid. It’s best not to use a healer’s energy where other methods will do and finally even if I’m a hundred per cent rested, there are still some illnesses I can’t cure, however much you bully me.’

‘You’ll do as you’re told or you’ll die. It’s that simple,’ the man said as he slammed the door shut leaving Aley in the dark.

Aley still had his hands tied, so couldn’t do much. He decided to try and contact Vrail. Slowly his eyes got used to the darkness. There was a shuttered window that let in a small amount of light. He made his way over there but the window was barred. Aley closed his eyes and concentrated hard, telling Vrail he needed help and at first received no response. Then he heard someone speaking into his mind.

‘I hear you Aley. It’s me Grace. I’ll help you but it may take a little while.’

Aley was so pleased to hear from Vrail’s only living relative. Grace was wise, having lived for hundreds of years, and he was relieved to have made contact.

‘As soon as I’ve located your whereabouts, I’ll contact your brother. Are you in immediate danger?’

‘I don’t think so, Grace. I think I’m going to be put to work healing people for money. I’m in a dark room with a barred window. I think I’m still somewhere in the wasteland, probably between Delamont and Firstop, but I can’t see them bringing people here for me to work on. I expect I’ll be moved.’

‘Stay calm and strong, Aley. We will find you.’

Aley sat still in the darkened room. He longed to be with Mooley. He thought again of their plans to explore the uninhabited part of the Earth together; the parts damaged by nuclear war from two centuries before. Recently there’d been some evidence that the Earth had been repairing itself, which would mean that humans wouldn’t need to be squashed into three cities and the surrounding villages. Aley also wished to find plants, that could be cultivated, to bring more variety to the edible foods available to his village, and the three cities.

www://pennyluker.wordpress.com

Angela van Breemen

Angela van Breemen is delighted to have completed her first novel, Past Life's Revenge, a crime thriller with a twist of spiritualism. She is an avid writer of poetry, belongs to the Wordsmiths Writers' Group based out of New Tecumseth, Ontario and is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the South Simcoe Arts Council. Angela is a Soprano Soloist.

A firm believer in giving back to the community, she often sings for different charitable organizations.

Music and poetry have been an integral part of her life, and in early 2024 she launched her debut album, In The Breeze. Celtic in nature, it includes three original pieces of music, based on her poetry.

Angela volunteers for Procyon Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, a group dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and safe release of orphaned and injured Ontario wildlife. More information can be found about Angela at: https://angelavanbreemen.ca/

Angela is a Soprano Soloist. A firm believer in giving back to the community, she often sings for different charitable organizations. Music and poetry have been an integral part of her life, and she is excited to announce her first CD, In The Breeze, will be released to the public on April 16th, 2024. The album is inspired by Celtic music and, includes three original pieces of music, based on her poetry.

Coming soon from Angela!!

Have you ever had a dream that was so real, you were sure it was from a past life?

Since childhood, David Harris has suffered from debilitating nightmares. He has sought the advice of psychiatrists and other health professionals without obtaining any relief. When he meets an attractive young psychic, Emma Jackson, she encourages him to seek the help of her friend Anna Tungsten, a hypnotherapist. During an emotionally charged past-life regression, David learns he was murdered in his most recent reincarnation, thirty years earlier. When David realizes his murderer is still alive, he cannot move on and build a new life with Emma until he has exacted revenge and stopped the murderer from killing again.

PREORDER NOW https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CW1FNT3L

https://valtobin.com/wp

Rapid Release

By Val Tobin Daphne took a seat on a bench under an old oak tree to wait for her best friend, Beth, who’d called to say she was running late. Daphne hadn’t sat there long when a giggle made her look up.

The child, about five, a baseball cap covering her golden curls and wearing jeans and a T-shirt, smiled and held her arms out to Daphne. “Follow me.”

“Are you lost?” Daphne stood and stepped toward the girl, who immediately retreated.

The kid grinned. “I have something you want.”

“I don’t think so.” Daphne shook her head. “What’s your name? Where are your parents?”

The girl giggled again, turned away, and strode toward the trees.

Daphne couldn’t remember giving chase, but somehow, like Alice rushing after the White Rabbit, she had. The pursuit ended at the river’s edge, moss-covered rocks roiling the rushing water into rapids.

The child entered the water, sure-footed in her sneakers.

Daphne gasped. “Come back! You’ll fall.”

The girl glanced over her shoulder. “It’s right here.”

Daphne stared down at her shoes—low-heeled but inappropriate for navigating moss-coated, water-slicked rocks. She kicked them off, dropped her purse, and entered the river, carefully stepping on the largest and most exposed rocks.

Are you insane? She wasn’t dressed for this. Her navy, off-the-shoulder blouse and matching miniskirt were more appropriate for dinner at the pub with Beth than chasing a kid through rapids.

It wasn’t until she reached the mid-point that she realized the kid had vanished. She’d heard no splash or scream, so the child hadn’t slipped in. Even if she had, Daphne would spot her.

Daphne lost her footing and dropped into the icy water, but only to her calves. She sat on an exposed rock and scanned both directions along the river.

No sign of the child.

I imagined her? That had to be it. What alternative existed? A ghost? Ludicrous.

Water, fresh and earthy, splashed her. She sucked in a breath, invigorated. A wave reared up, and on it rode—a laptop, silvery and new. Instinctively, Daphne grasped it and tugged it to her chest.

I have something you want.

Daphne stared at it. An overwhelming urge to power it up had her heading to shore, all thoughts of meeting Beth gone.

She set the laptop on the grass and turned it on, not registering the impossibility of it all. A blue desktop appeared, only one file icon visible: a video titled “Watch Me.”

Daphne did as directed.

At first, the scene was blurry, but the moans accompanying the two people frolicking in bed were unequivocal. The picture gained focus. Daphne recognized the woman as Beth. She caught the man’s face and, in horror, realized Beth was in bed with Edward, Daphne’s husband.

I have something you want.

Beth and Edward. An affair. Daphne tried to think. Had she missed the clues?

She shook her head vigorously. No, he loved her. Beth loved her. They were like sisters.

“Daphne?” Beth’s voice cut through Daphne’s shock.

She looked up and met her friend’s gaze. “Hello.”

Beth shifted from one foot to the other and tugged at her miniskirt. She’d worn an outfit similar to Daphne’s. They could’ve been sisters, except Daphne’s brown locks contrasted with Beth’s blonde ones.

“What are you doing here? I almost left when I couldn’t find you,” she said.

“Watching a video.”

Beth’s eyes widened. “What video?”

Daphne waved a hand toward where she’d left the laptop, but when she glanced down, it was gone.

That means nothing. I saw them.

“What’s wrong?” Beth squatted next to her friend. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.” Her tone was light, and she smiled, making the statement a joke.

“How’s Ed? Seen him lately?”

Beth’s expression turned to puzzlement. “Not since we got together last weekend.” She and her husband, Andrew, had joined Daphne and Edward at the movies for a double date.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. What’s going on?”

Daphne stared at the empty grass. Was she losing her mind? If the laptop wasn’t real, then the video couldn’t be real. Could it?

She stood and smiled reassuringly. “Nothing. It’s fine.” She slipped her shoes on and picked up her purse. “Let’s get to the pub.”

Dinner with Beth went splendidly, even though Daphne’s mind kept returning to the video and the disturbing images it had shown her. She convinced herself she’d imagined it, but at home, she watched Edward for clues. Every time he called to say he was working late during the following week, she made a point of calling Beth to chat.

Each time, Beth cut the conversation short with an excuse.

Daphne’s dreams—more nightmares, really—woke her often during the night with scenes of Beth and Edward coupling. Daphne couldn’t even tell where.

At the end of the week, she met with Andrew, who worked with Edward at the law firm, and told him their spouses were cheating. He accepted the accusation without question over beers at the pub where she and Beth had eaten dinner that fateful day.

“We need to do something about it,” he said, and when he handed her a gun under the table, she slipped it into her purse. “It’s Edward’s fault, which is why you bought this gun,” he added, and she accepted that. *** Two days later, Andrew watched the news. Of course, the police arrested her. Daphne had never been too bright. Now that his greatest rival was out of the way, he’d make partner. Get the money and recognition he deserved. He only needed to do one more thing to gain complete freedom.

Andrew went to the basement and stood in the centre of the pentacle he’d set up.

Footsteps upstairs told him when Beth arrived home.

He concentrated, calling the demon to him. He heard the child’s voice.

“I have something you want.”

“Who are you?” Beth replied. “Where are your parents?”

“Downstairs.”

Andrew smiled, picked up a butcher knife, and waited.

The Empress A Promise of Rain Tales From the Unmasqued World Available June 28, 2024 Pre-order Now

Val Tobin Dhampir Dakota Lawson seems to have it all: beauty, intelligence, wealth, and a prince of a husband. But her past just won’t let her live happily ever after, and when it comes calling, she risks losing it all. Will her actions forever destroy the love and trust she and Culain have built?

Meanwhile, Kelsey Davis and Philip Belanger struggle with their new life together and Kelsey’s crisis of faith. When her son’s actions threaten to trigger an international incident, the trio’s very existence is threatened. Can they find a way to appease the mob and the fae without losing their lives? https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CVYSRXL1 Set in a familiar yet different Toronto, The Empress: A Promise of Rain is an intriguing and riveting glimpse into the lives of characters you’ll love to follow. Continuing the story begun in The Fool: New Beginnings and carried through two other sequels, The Empress: A Promise of Rain spans two worlds and follows star-crossed and fate-kissed characters on their continuing fool’s journey. Each story in the Tales from the Unmasqued World series takes inspiration from a different card in the tarot’s major arcana.

https://valtobin.com/wp

Bill Hemmig is the author of Americana: Stories and Brethren Hollow, both published by Read Furiously. His short stories appear in Read Furiously’s Life in the Garden State anthologies, The World Takes and Stay Salty, and in the Toho Publishing anthology, The Best Short Stories of Philadelphia, 2021. He has had stories published in the journals The Madison Review, Philadelphia Stories, and Children, Churches and Daddies (cc&d), and he is a three-time finalist in the New Millennium Writing Awards. By day he is the Dean of the Learning Resources & Online Learning at Bucks County Community College in Pennsylvania.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Find Bill Online at: https://www.bucksarts.org/bill-hemmig/ https://www.instagram.com/billhemmig https://twitter.com/billhemmig

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

I was born and raised in Reading, PA, and now I’m back in PA (Bucks County) by way of New York City, New Haven, CT, and the New Jersey side of the Delaware Valley. I started my writing career as a playwright and had several Off-OffBroadway and regional productions, but for the past 15 years or so I’ve been writing short fiction exclusively. I have two published books and my stories also appear in two anthologies and several literary journals (see the link to my webpage, later in this article). By day I’m a community college administrator. I live in a rural-ish cottage with my senior cat, Duchess.

Are you a multi-genre author or a singlegenre author? How did you decide what types of book you would write?

My stories fall into the category of literary fiction, which is more or less a catchall for no genre. I never made a conscious decision to write literary fiction, that’s just what comes out. However, some of my stories have genre conventions, such as action/adventure, true crime, or horror, lurking under the “literary” surface. My editor calls my work “absurdist;” I don’t quite see it, but maybe my brain works in absurd ways and having always had the same brain, it seems perfectly normal to me.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I like to say I took to writing because it’s the only thing my parents never made me do, but I really don’t remember; I’ve written stories since I first learned to make words appear on paper. In middle school, my two favorite things were the works of Shakespeare and the supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows. And the two writing projects I worked on then— neither of which I finished—was a novel about seventh graders based on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, and a five-act play about vampires. It was certainly Shakespeare who first gave me the playwriting bug.

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

I would like to write a murder mystery some day; I’m an avid reader of them. Since I have a full-time day job, writing time is at a premium and writing short stories—and to date one novella—allows me to complete something in a manageable stretch of time and while the themes I’m exploring remain immediate concerns. Once I’m retired from my day job I’ll try my hand at a novel,

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

Lots of places. My own life, my friends’ lives, fleeting thoughts, sometimes ideas I get from reading nonfiction. My published novella, Brethren Hollow, has an interesting back story. When I lived in New Jersey, there was an abandoned one-room church across the road from my house with a graveyard behind it. One day I was wandering in the graveyard when I noticed a relatively recent tombstone with a portrait of the deceased, a young woman, etched into it.

On the front were her name and her birth and death dates and the words “beloved daughter and sister.” Wandering around to the back of the stone, I saw another inscription: “Shot in the back of the head by her husband,” followed by his name. The whole novella sprang from that tombstone.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a panster? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

Yes. I’m mostly a panster, and just dive into the first draft to see what happens. But occasionally some advance planning is necessary. Most of my story “Cutthroat Alley” (in the anthology The World Takes: Life in the Garden State) involves some motorists battling it out to be in front of the others during their evening commute. I literally had to draw a map to plot out the action, complete with stop lights, slower-moving vehicles, and other obstacles.

Tell us your latest news.

My first short story collection, Americana: Stories, was published by Read Furiously last summer. But the most recent news is that a more recent story of mine, “Cornflower Requiem,” was just accepted for publication in the Spring 2024 issue of The Madison Review. It will be my second publication in that journal and I’m very excited about it.

The many faces of curiosity. Which one do you see?

Welcome to Bill Hemmig's Americana, a collection of snapshots that capture the everyday American experience. From filling the bird feeder to a realtor conference (behind) the happiest place on Earth to the picturesque canals of Venice, each story celebrates the eccentricities hidden inside the fabric of an ordinary life.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/ B0CW376BT2

Is there a message in your stories that you want readers to grasp?

It varies from story to story. Brethren Hollow is about the characters’ various relationships with the idea of The American Dream, and I hope the readers reflect on their own place in that continuum. Mostly I want my readers to learn things about themselves by going on my characters’ journeys.

How much of the book is realistic?

I think “realism” is a slippery term. Every work of art is realistic in the mind of the artist because it’s a reflection of the artist’s inner life. In my story “Nobody Likes to Be Sick” (included in Americana), a children’s librarian comes down with an undiagnosed illness that causes visual and aural hallucinations that become a surreal mashup of his feelings about his family, his pets, his job, the pop culture of his youth, and children’s literature. My editor would say this is my most “absurdist” story and far from what most people would consider realism, but to me it’s perfectly realistic.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

I have had a few. My ninth-grade English teacher had my class collaborate on a contemporary-language adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar that really jolted my interest in playwriting. My late partner steered me in the direction of writing short stories as a means of being more productive with my limited writing time. A colleague at the college I work at who taught English composition brought me, in my capacity as a writer, to speak and read to her students, and was the first person to consider me a writer above all else. A writer friend living in the UK serves as my second set of eyes on all my first drafts and gives almost unerringly good feedback.

What books have influenced your life the most?

In no particular order: Orlando and Mrs. Dalloway (Virginia Woolf); The Magic Mountain (Thomas Mann); The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Our Town (Thornton Wilder); Heartbreak House and the introduction to Androcles and the Lion (George Bernard Shaw); The Hot L Baltimore (Lanford Wilson); Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Julia Child, et al.); Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking (Marcella Hazan).

What are your current projects?

I’m chipping away at my second short story collection. I have three stories completed so far, two of which have been published in online journals.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

Happy to! Here’s a selection from my most recently published story, “Merry Go-Round.” In it two men visiting New Orleans find each other on a meetup app and arrange a face-to-face meeting…

The famous Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone is indeed modeled after an old, grand carousel, Barnum and Bailey chic and hundreds of lightbulbs, fantastical animals, and it revolves, slowly and surely, past the Old South hotel interior and then the windowed view of an active Rue Royal. Total Top is seated with his back to the lobby, chatting with a bartender, dressed in a white linen suit, a white Panama hat occupying the next seat over. There’s a lion painted on the back of his chair and something resembling a gazelle on the back of the hat's. Unable to call his name, you simply take up the hat and replace it with yourself, feeling gauche in mere cargo shorts and a Minnesota Vikings tee shirt.

Gratefully, he looks very much like his photo. Handsome but far from classically so. He introduces himself as Raymond, looks you over, and thanks you for having an honest profile.

Well, you shrug, if I said I was six-three and one-ninety and left my age out altogether you’d be pretty disappointed right now.

The bartender approaches and Raymond orders two Sazeracs. You look like a beer guy to me but have one. It’s what all the better tourists drink here and I’m told this bar’s are the best in town.

Best Sazeracs and tourists, that is. I never tap anyone who leaves out their age. By the way, it’s endearing of you to hold my hat but unnecessary. And he takes it from you and hangs it from a brass hook under the bar. His backdrop is currently the boisterous non-rotating depths of the barroom, and the white suit is an oasis amidst all the activity. You remark that he looks very southern.

And yet I’m a life-long Berkeleyite, or Berkeleyan, depending on whom one talks to, and dress this way routinely. You see I teach a course at UC Berkeley on Restoration comedy, and find that behaving like a modern-day fop brings the material alive for the students.

And so you’re here on your summer break.

My husband is an author of absurdly butch cookbooks on barbecuing. He’s here doing appearances in bookshops, signing copies of his latest in a sleeveless tee-shirt with grease spots and about eight days of five o’clock shadow. I’m killing time hanging out at the Carousel Bar with a hot new acquaintance.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

The story “You and I,” which is included in Americana, is probably my most obviously autobiographical to people who know me because it’s based on the aftermath of the death of my longtime partner. In reality his family, and in particular his sister, played a huge role in the clearing and sale of his house, but that role didn’t add anything to what I wanted to say and so the deceased character’s family is never mentioned in the story. They do turn up, modified, in my soon -to-be-published story “Cornflower Requiem,” one scene of which is based on the burial of my partner’s ashes at sea.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Dive headlong into a new piece with no agenda. Don’t worry about the subject matter in the first draft; I frequently don’t know fully what I’m up to in a piece until after the first draft is complete, sometimes well after. In “You and I,” the main character, who’s recently lost his partner, is clearing out their house in preparation for selling it. I also wove into that narrative fictionalized memories, in the form of flashbacks, of my youthful days doing community theater, when the striking of the set (destruction, for you non-theater types) was a deeply emotional experience for the cast and crew after everything they went through together to get the production up and running. I thought these two events juxtaposed would complement and emotionally reinforce each other, and I was correct. But

well after the collection was published, I looked at the story and I saw something I hadn’t seen before. After my playwriting career dried up, I became—fairly or not—disenchanted and distrustful of the professional theater establishment, which is one of the big reasons why I turned to short fiction. So now, looking at that story, I ask myself if, rather than using the flashbacks only to complement the present-day story, I was using the story to not only say goodbye to my partner, but to finally say goodbye to the theater. It would never have occurred to me to consciously write a valedictory to the theater, but there it is. So don’t concern yourself with figuring out what you’re up to in the first draft. Figure out what you did later, and then on to the hard part—revisions.

Get some distance from your story before submitting it. As you could probably tell from the previous example, that story took me into some rough emotional territory and, unlike my usual practice, I started to write it while I was still living some of it. I got to a point when I thought it was ready to face the world. I started submitting it all over the place, only to get a lot of rejections in return. I had another look at the manuscript and realized it hadn’t been ready; it still needed a lot of work. I should have gotten some emotional distance before deciding it was ready, and by not doing that I missed out on a bunch of potential publication opportunities.

Don’t sweat those rejection notices. All editors have different tastes, and a rejection does not mean that your story isn’t worthy of publication; it’s just not right for that particular journal or publisher. Acquaint yourself with a journal’s content if you can. Keep good records of your rejections and whether they were encouraging or

just boilerplate. Most journals accept simultaneous submissions (sending to more than one journal at a time), but make sure of that on their website. Follow their formatting requirements to the letter.

And let those rejections roll right off your back. It’s nothing personal.

Self-promote your butt off. Most of us are introverts or we wouldn’t be comfortable sitting alone in our rooms imagining other worlds. But painful though it may be, put yourself out there. Use social media. Get some good head shots. It’s my least favorite part of being a writer, by far, but I’m out there, promoting myself on Facebook, Instagram, I even tried TikTok. (I can’t seem to play nice with Twitter or whatever they’re calling it these days, but I’m making more of an effort.) I joined a regional arts organization that gives its members profile pages on its website. I’ve even gotten used to—and this is the worst—walking into bookshops and asking them if they’d carry my books or even do an author event.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I have a full-time career that pays the bills and ensures a reasonable retirement income, in addition to my writing career which so far does not. I don’t have time to wait for the inspiration fairy to show up. I have evenings, weekends, and holidays. I write way too much between Christmas and New Year. If your situation is anything like mine, you can’t afford to wait for the muse to strike. Self- discipline is everything. Make the best use of the time you have.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

George Bernard Shaw. His entire career was about provoking people into exercising their critical thinking skills, without falling back on preconceived notions and conventional wisdom (which is probably why his plays are not nearly as popular today as they should be). He was also very kind and had an outstanding and very unique wit.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

Well, certainly not “Shot in the back of the head by his husband!” I used to think that my headstone would read, “He was just starting to have fun when it was time to go home,” but I no longer entertain that superstition. “Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature” would be nice, but I’ll settle for a simple “author.”

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I’m an avid gardener and cook, I love nature, hiking, and going to the beach (or as New Jerseyans say, “Down the shore”). And I read—slowly, so my TBR (to be read) pile is dangerously tall.

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

I listen to music pretty much every waking moment when I’m at home and in the car— mostly classical but also rock and jazz. Most of my inspiration as a writer comes from music rather than from other authors. For me, writing is no different from musical composition. You establish themes and motifs, repeat them, develop them, transform them, until you arrive at a conclusion. It also helps determine a piece’s structure. Holidays? I traditionally avoid going out on New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Halloween: too many amateur partiers getting messy. My three favorite movies are Mary Poppins, A Clockwork Orange, and Fargo; if you can find a common theme I’d love to hear it.

My favorite authors over the course of my lifetime have been Edgar Allan Poe (late elementary and early middle school), Shakespeare (middle school), G.B. Shaw (high school and beyond), and Virginia Woolf (the past couple decades).

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

Beach bungalow all the way. I love the ocean, the beach, and the sunshine. That’s my happy place. Luckily I can get there in an hour and fifteen minutes when traffic’s light.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

My web page is here: https://www.bucksarts.org/bill-hemmig/ You can reach me on Facebook from there or at https://www.facebook.com/ bill.hemmig/.

I’m @billhemmig on Instagram and Twitter.

I’m also on LinkedIn but don’t always think to post there.

https://aspirebookcovers.com/ Aspire Book Covers is a website that offers inspirational book covers and formatting services at affordable prices. The website, located at aspirebookcovers.com, is run by Sharon Brownlie, who warmly welcomes authors to her site. Whether you have finished your book or are in the final stages, Aspire Book Covers provides customized covers to meet your specific requirements.

Prices for pre-made covers are listed on the website, and keep a lookout because occasionally, some covers may be on sale!

For custom book covers, Sharon Brownlie will work closely with you to ensure that your book's cover design reflects your vision accurately. She will collaborate with you closely, engaging in discussions about your book description and understanding your requirements.

By Defiance, age 16

Love Is Constant I was recently told by someone I'm very close to that I write about love so much, I think I do too.

I love to love, I cannot sit with mundanity and I can't stand with the idea we're destined to be alone.

Love is not a side effect it's a constant, it's the person feeding birds seeds because they heard bread is bad for them, it’s the little girls plait circle and that teacher who treats you like a person.

Love is a promise, love is the change from a grimace to a smirk, it's the warmth of a blanket on a cold day, it's the instant connection with another person and the spark you get listening to that one song.

Love is movement, it's the way my lungs breathe without instruction and my heart beats without permission.

I love love because it is entirely and wholly human.

Defiance is a young writer in love with live music, all types of art and writing poetry. Poetry is a way of releasing their emotions in a healthy way to make it into a more beautiful form.

You can connect with Defiance on Instagram: 2defiance2

https://mybook.to/LavvuLenny

Lenny’s Lavvu Adventure – picture book for 3 to 6 year-olds

By Sylva Fae This children’s story came about after my friend, John Kelenfoldi asked if I’d consider doing a story about a Lavvu. ‘What’s a Lavvu?’, you may ask. Well, in simple terms, it’s a small green tent, but the Lavvu community would explain further that it’s a canvas tent created by connecting two Polish Army ponchos. They would also argue that this is the only way to camp!

It was a challenge, and I wondered how a Lavvu could be the main focus of a fictional story that would appeal to children. I chatted with John, he runs a big Lavvu group (Lavvu Owners Worldwide), and he was a great source of information. But what could the story be? I was pondering this as I was cleaning my kitchen, and a squirrel popped up at the window to steal the food from the bird feeder. I suddenly had the perfect character, and Lavvu Lenny was born.

The basic story is a Goldilocks type theme. Lenny is looking for somewhere to sleep and the places he tries are too big, too closed in, or too noisy. Then he spots the Lavvu hidden between the trees and it’s the perfect place for a sleepy squirrel to curl up for the night. It’s a story about making friends and enjoying exploring the countryside in a little Lavvu.

At first, I thought this was a very niche story, only appealing to the Lavvu community, but it seems it also appeals to anyone who enjoys camping, and those who love nature and woodland wildlife.

https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae

The Pitch

By Sylva Fae “So you know the plan?”

“Yes, yes, we’ve been over it at least five times already, Beth. Trust me!” Dan reassured his nervous wife.

“I know, but I just want to talk it through one last time. It has to be perfect to secure the development grant. You know how much this means to me. This is five years of research and hard work, and it all hangs on their decision today.”

“OK, but I do know what I’m doing. I have the notes on my laptop, but I know them off by heart now.”

“So, you go before the board, at 1.30pm, you do the presentation, run through the different phases of the prototype...” Beth started.

“Then dazzle them with the science,” Dan cut her off, “then at exactly 2pm, you appear for the demonstration. See, I got it. Trust me.”

“Are you sure you have the coordinates of the place programmed in correctly?” Beth fussed.

“Yes, we’ve gone through it many times. Look, you’re just nervous but it will be fine.”

“I guess you’re right. I’m just so excited to see how this goes. Now, you better get going. Good luck and I’ll see you at 2.”

Beth watched as Dan put his laptop and the device in the car, then gave him a final hug.

She had just enough time to check her outfit and makeup; she wanted her appearance to make a huge impact on the board. She’d chosen a long-sleeved navy blue dress, figure hugging but not

too tight, with a skirt that fell to just above her knees. She’d tried several, but both her and Dan agreed that this one was the perfect balance to stand out amongst the grey suits of her competition, yet still show her as a serious business woman.

1.26pm. Dan would be setting up the device and logging into the laptop in readiness. She toyed with the idea of sending a good luck text but she didn’t want to distract him from the task.

Killing time, she ran a brush through her long hair and checked her makeup - it was perfect. The waiting was killing her. For the millionth time, she checked her device - it was charged, and the coordinates box, paired with the one on Dan’s device, filled the screen. In the corner, the timer was set to 10 seconds just waiting to be activated.

1.43pm. Dan would be onto the science bit now. They’d deliberately scripted it to sound technical, while keeping it vague enough to not divulge crucial details until the funding was secured.

Dan had joked that it read like a Star Trek episode, and rehearsed the pitch in his best Dr Spock voice. She’d laughed but she knew that when she appeared for the demo, the wow factor would outweigh any confusion over Dan’s explanation. His speech was merely to build suspense until it’s capabilities were revealed.

The last fifteen minutes seemed to drag on for hours but she couldn’t take her eyes off the clock.

1.29pm. Beth took a deep breath, picked up the device and stood in the middle of the living room. Her arms ached as she mentally counted down the seconds; this prototype was quite large, built into the case of an old laptop, but with the funding, she’d be able to modify the design to be the size of a regular mobile phone.

Finally the timer clicked and the ten second countdown started. Beth took another deep breath and prepared herself. ***** Dan tried to read the room as he went through the pitch he’d rehearsed so many times. The board was made up of four women and three men. Their faces didn’t give much away, attentive and curious, but whether he was convincing them, he didn’t know. Still, it didn’t matter, Beth would be the one to seal the deal.

It was time. Dan turned on the big screen behind him, which projected an image of his device screen, then he hit the button to start the timer.

Ten Nine

Eight Seven Six... ***** Beth counted down.

Five

Four Three Two...

The familiar scene of her living room faded as she was enveloped in a bubble of white light. Her earlier worries dissipated instantly. Despite many trial runs, this serene sensation still took her by surprise, it wasn’t unpleasant but it was a strange feeling nonetheless. Outside her bubble she watched a vibrant kaleidoscope of colours whizz by so quickly she couldn’t grasp their form, just the perception of great speed from the stillness of the bubble. It felt like an eternity but she knew from the trials it was only one second.

She smiled, ready to dazzle the board, but as the bubble dissipated, an icy splash of water hit her legs and she slipped back, landing on a large rock. Shock was quickly replaced with panic as she lifted the device out of the flowing water. ‘Damn it Dan! How the hell did you manage to program me to land in a river?’ she cursed.

She scrambled to the bank and frantically assessed the damage. The device was thankfully still working, its screen open to receive new coordinates, her appearance was not so fortunate though.

Quickly, she poured the water from her shoes, squeezed the worst of it from her damp dress and finger combed her tousled hair. No time to worry, she sent a hurried text to Dan:

Correct coordinates, now! ***** ...Three Two One! Nothing happened. Dan fumbled with the device, it appeared to have worked but where was Beth? A message flashed across his laptop screen. Thinking quickly, he addressed the board, “My apologies for the temporary glitch, my wife is the technical genius, I’m just the pretty face!”

It got a giggle from one of the ladies and a few smirks from the others. Good, he hadn’t lost them. While smiling calmly at his audience, his fingers frantically hit the keyboard as he checked and sent the actual coordinates to Beth.

“Shall we try that again?” Dan giggled, cringing inwardly as he restarted the timer.

Three Two One...

There was a swirl of light behind him and suddenly Beth appeared. She stepped forward, and took a bow.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the world’s first teleportation device.”

By Sylva Fae

Finding suitable names can enhance a story, adding depth to the character and leaving a memorable impression on the reader long after they’ve finished the book. Similarly, a name that doesn’t fit the character’s personality, can leave a reader confused or make the story bland and uninteresting. If you consider some of the most memorable character names, just hearing the words creates a clear picture of the character in your mind. Harry Potter is such a simple name for an ordinary boy, yet it conjures up an image of the extraordinary wizard he became. JK Rowling didn’t pick fancy magical names, she chose everyday names that children could relate to, and the name rolls off the tongue easily. Scrooge is another great example; saying the name out loud causes you to scrunch up your face in a similar expression to one of disgust and disdain (you tried it, didn’t you?). The name fits his cold-hearted miserly character perfectly.

Your characters are your creation and naming them is almost like finding a name for your new baby or pet – it has to be right and it has to be something you will be comfortable with forever.

Defining the Character The name gives the reader the first clues about the character before they see their personality develop through dialogue and how they deal with the situations they find themselves in. For instance, choosing a name popular from a particular era can suggest the age of the character without the writer having to state their age. In one of my stories, I used my own nana’s name, Annie, for a homely granny character. In another story I use Jackson for a teenage boy, I never mention his age but the modern name suggests he’s of a younger generation.

Choosing traditional names from different countries can also create a picture of the nationality of a character. Readers will make assumptions about the culture of the character based on the nationality of the name. It also serves to give the reader an accent and speech pattern as they read dialogue in the character’s voice – does everyone read like this or is it just me?

Quirky, unique and made-up names can be very effective to create a memorable character, providing it is done well. Fantasy and sci-fi are genres that often use this technique, moreover, seeing an unusual name in the blurb can instantly give the reader an indication the genre. The downside of this is when authors create names with complex or confusing spellings. If a reader is unable to pronounce the name, or there could be various ways of pronouncing it, it will stall the reading process each time the name is encountered. One way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to follow logical spelling patterns and rules.

Different Naming Techniques A name has to be easy to pronounce, memorable and reflect the personality of the character, and this is not an easy task. I have two main techniques for naming; I start with the story and the character ‘names themself’, or I research a name and the character forms around it. Every author has their own techniques, but here are some of mine: •

The character names themselves – this may sound bizarre, but it does happen, and it’s the easiest technique. I have a picture in my mind of the character and have them introduce themself to another character – “Hi, I’m ….” – then a name pops into my mind to finish their greeting. Subconsciously, I’ve already applied the rules above regarding a name suitable for the gender, age, nationality and genre, so the first name suggested generally fits perfectly.

•

Researching the meaning of a name – or rather the reverse of this, names with a certain meaning.

The main attribute of a character’s personality can give a starting point in the search for a name.

There are many baby naming sites, I used to use a book, but it’s quicker and easier to search online nowadays. Searching for names that mean peace / strength / fiery / kindness etc, can bring up an interesting selection of names to choose from.

For example, when I wanted to name my girl character in my Woodland Warriors children’s story, I wanted a name with links to nature. I ended up with Ayla. It’s short, simple to pronounce, unusual but not an obscure name, and it means; moonlight, oak tree or deer depending its country of origin. My young readers may not realise the meaning, but the search process narrows down the choices, and knowing the deeper meaning gives me satisfaction.

•

Choosing words that aren’t usually names but sound like they could be. To find inspiration, I search for lists within a category. For example, the faeries in my story tend to have wildflower and plant names, but I avoid common ones, like Lily and Daisy, opting for more interesting names like, Yarrow, Campion, Celandine or Betony.

•

Humorous names for children’s books can be fun to create, but it helps to have a child’s input.

Some of my favourite character names are in my book, That Pesky Pixie. My main character is pixie, Violet Puddledust, and her hedge ogre sidekick, is Bramble Bottomly. With Violet, her surname came from stringing two simple words together for a character just like my middle daughter, who was often falling in puddles, getting in a muddle and often messy. Bramble’s name came from my daughter asking what hedge ogres do, I explained and she said, “wouldn’t he get a brambly bottom from sitting in the hedge?”

•

Using character name generators can be fun to get the imagination flowing, but I always worry that other authors may have chosen the same name. I had a play with some of these and they seem quite good for romance, sci-fi and dystopian genres, not so much for children’s stories.

•

Choosing names that can be shortened is a clever way of showing the relationships between characters. Take the name Cassandra, it is quite versatile in terms of variations of nicknames. Maybe only her mum calls her by her full name, she introduces herself as Cass, her partner calls her by a more endearing nickname, Cassie, and her daft mates call her Caz. All variations are easily recognisable as nicknames, but each one suggests a different aspect of her personality.

Authors, how do you name your characters? Do you make notes of fabulous names you hear, ready to be used in a story? Or do you spend hours researching meanings for your own satisfaction, even knowing your reader may never realise? Or maybe your characters speak for themselves like mine sometimes do.

Readers, how important is the character name for your reading experience? Do you prefer simple everyday names, or quirky unique ones? Which character names still stick in your mind?

Sylva Fae owns a wood where she and her husband run survival courses and woodland craft days. She escapes to the woods at every possible opportunity to enjoy the peace and fresh air. She takes the girls off on adventures in their own enchanted woodland, hunting for fairies and stomping in muddy puddles.

You can connect with Sylva through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae

Declining Years

By Pearl Oliver

When we reach the top of our mountain And we start down the other side Our steps are much slower The pain we cannot hide

A lot of good memories Down through the many years There also were heartaches Some laughter and some tears

We’re not sure anymore Of the things we do or say Did that happen last week Or was it just today

When we see the young people With energy to spare Our memories takes us back To the time when we were there About the author in her own words: I was born April 22, 1920, the third child in seven of Arthur S. and Florence M. Jones. They homestead some land in Colorado. Cut trees from the land and built a log cabin. Dad worked for some farmers for $1.00 a day and his dinner.

We cleared land a little at a time to farm, no machinery, just two horses and a walking plow. We attended a one-room country school. One teacher taught first - eighth grades.

I wrote a few poems when I was in my teens but was afraid I would be made fun of so I wouldn’t show them to anyone, and later destroyed them.

Pearl Jones Oliver 1920 - 2005

Welcome to Diversity Doodles!

By Briony Isaacs

Well, I guess the first question to answer would be 'what is Diversity Doodles?' Diversity Doodles is an ever-growing collection of hand drawn memes that contain important messages about neurodiversity. They were born out of desperation, as my primary school aged son struggled endlessly at school and eventually received his diagnosis of both autism and ADHD a year ago. Although my misplaced belief was that this diagnosis would be the key to unlocking the understanding, support and accommodations he so urgently needed, this was not the case.

And despite thriving with support outside of school, at home, social gatherings and clubs he attends, the firm belief held by those overseeing his education were that he would just learn to fit in to mainstream education, without any further assistance on their part. My seemingly endless attempts at explanations as to why this wasn't working was falling on deaf ears and so, out of sheer desperation, I attempted to draw what I was clearly failing to describe in words. Diversity Doodles became the result.

So, here we are, now putting out these doodles on the internet and hoping that the messages they contain help as many people as possible to both give and receive information about what it is like to be neurodiverse and the challenges that are faced in our daily lives. My son's

diagnosis gave rise to the realization that I too am neurodiverse, and so these doodles are given from the perspective of someone who has faced such situations in my own life and now recognizes them in the lives of others. My only wish is that they play a small part in bridging the gap in understanding, acceptance and support for neurodiverse people in a neurotypical world.

The first of the doodles I would like to introduce you to is, in fact, the first doodle I drew. It was partly a response to the overwhelming sadness I felt after my son's assessments, in as much as all I now held in my hand was a list of his deficits. His failings. His limited abilities.

No one wanted to know that while he failed to make good eye contact, he also has a deep love of animals. While he appears shy, was late to speak at all, and is often unwilling to talk to people, he is both bilingual and has an excellent vocabulary and barely pauses for breath in the right company. While he learns new things in a different way to neurotypical people he has a passion for electronics, which he is determined to teach himself. This list of deficits was read over by his teachers at school and the assumption was he'd just struggle until he either overcame, or got left behind. This was just his 'deficiencies' and there was little that could be done.

So, what is it that I wanted the world to know? Firstly, that the deficits are only a judgement against what is assumed to be

'normal'. And honestly, there is no such thing. I don't believe that there is any 'right way' to be, only a series of societal expectations into which people are judged to either fit or not. Not fitting into one or all of them is not a 'deficit', it is simply a different way of being. And with this different way of being come endless positive possibilities of being authentically you.

Do neurodiverse people need accommodations and support at times? Of course they do. And those differ from person to person in different situations and times in their lives. For some it is constant and for others only occasional. For most it is somewhere between. And this was the second message behind this particular doodle. That list of so called 'deficits' should have a purpose beyond trying to give the impression that someone simply isn't enough. They are simply areas in which the neurodiverse person may need support, assistance, accommodations, or simply patience in the right environment. Nothing more, nothing less.

So how can we reframe these assessments to give more positive meaning to them?

The areas identified within an assessment are those observed within the assessment process itself. They may differ from what is observed within the home, school or social environments. Therefore, it is important to identify how those environments impact the areas identified so that they can be altered as far as possible to meet the individual’s needs. Does the person have specific needs regarding communication? How can they be helped to communicate and express their needs and wants in a way they need to do so? Do they have specific sensory triggers? How can they be reduced so as to become manageable? In exactly the same way that the needs of a person with a physical disability are identified so as to make places accessible to them and enjoyable for them, the same train of thought should be applied to those who are neurodiverse.

Secondly, those areas in which the neurodiverse person may show strengths and abilities or even excel in, that are not taken into consideration by the assessment for neurodiversity, need to be recognized, given credit for and actively encouraged. This can not only help them to develop the skills they have but

prevent them seeing themselves as inferior, not enough, or lacking in every expectation of them.

Of course, it is the external presentations of neurodiversity that are most easily observed, and therefore the most judged by those who do not understand the behaviour’s origins or the

reason for it. This is what brought about this particular doodle. Some of my son's behaviour is simply seen as 'quirky'. His need for his shoes to line up perfectly when he takes them off. His quiet vocal stims, like clicking his tongue or making hushed repetitive noises. They are usually ignored or shrugged off as they do not actively upset anyone else's day. But his inability to stand or sit without fidgeting constantly? His interruptions to conversations when thought pop into his head that absolutely have to be spoken allowed immediately? His emotional dysregulation that often leads to complete melt down? Those are judged. And often harshly so because they do interfere with other people. And this is where the negatives begin. The disruptive boy, the rude and disrespectful child, the attention seeker, the defiant behaviour, the 'naughtiness' generally. And those judgements can easily become what is deemed the entire character of that person, when in fact those behaviours cannot be controlled by the individual themselves. They do not, in fact, define a neurodiverse person’s character, nor should they be used to do so.

So, what can we do?

Well, firstly my hope is that more conversations can be openly had with those who do not understand such behaviours, so that they can become more widely understood and accepted for what they are. They often negatively affect the person with the behaviour far more than those who simply observe it externally, so better understanding and consideration in place of judgement and shame could radically improve the neurodiverse person's self-esteem, acceptance of their authentic self and mental health generally.

Secondly, knowing the support, accommodations and triggers of the individual will go a long way to helping to mitigate some of the behaviours. By accepting, understanding and making accommodations where they can be made, sometimes meltdowns can be lessened or avoided. By accepting stimming can be a form of emotional self-regulation and allowing the person to engage in them without judgement can be incredibly validating for the neurodiverse person and help them enormously. By accepting that fidgeting is often an aid to concentration we can stop shaming a child in class in front of their peers when what they are really attempting to do is give you the attention you are demanding from them to begin with.

So, in conclusion, the message I would really like anyone seeing these doodles to take away with them is that understanding how neurodiversity can be the cause of the behaviour can give rise to acceptance of it, and accommodation for it, and the net result is improved situations for everyone involved, which is all we can really ask for.

This is my, hopefully, first of many forays into bringing you my doodles and insights into the world of the neurodiverse. I hope to be able to further explore different areas of neurodiversity in future editions of the magazine and, with the help of my doodles, bring about improved understanding of what neurodiversity means and what it means to be neurodiverse. In the meantime, Diversity Doodles can be found on my Facebook page if you want to see more or join in some of the discussions that the doodles give rise to. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557677262825 Diversity Doodles also has an Etsy shop: diversitydoodleprint.etsy.com

Briony is a single mum to a neurodiverse seven year old, whose experiences and struggles within the school system gave rise to her creation of Diversity Doodles. What began as a form of creative therapy and messages intended to help her son's school's understanding of both autism and ADHD, has now become messages of hope, information and inspiration to help bridge the gap between the acceptance, understanding, and support of neurodiversity in a neurotypical world.

She is in the process of creating both a book and resources that can be used in a broad range of settings to help achieve a better world for those struggling in it.

You can connect with Briony through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557677262825

Brent Olson

Interview by Melanie P. Smith

Brent Olson’s biggest, boldest, and best book yet is a stunning work of alternative history. Olson has achieved an entirely new script for the world by moving the path of one arrow one inch. Brent Olson, a journalist for a quarter of a century, has published seven books and filed thousands of articles from over twenty countries on six continents. Throughout this time, he couldn’t help but wonder, “Couldn’t we have done better?” Not fully content with his world, he decided to create a new one.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a writer living in western Minnesota. I write a syndicated column, Independently Speaking, which has been published since 1995. I have eight books – 4 collections of essays, a memoir, and three novels.

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author?

How did you decide what types of book you would write? I write multi-genre stuff, and I just write what I find interesting.

https://www.brentolson.online/

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

Not really. I have over a million words in print so I can write about almost anything.

When did you start writing?

Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap? I just decided to take a whack at it. If you look at my resume, you’d see a lot of those types of decisions, leading to many failures.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

We live in a world of wonders. There’s no problem finding plots, just in finding the time to write them all.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

It really depends on what I’m writing.

Between the Helpless and the Darkness and ANGR required tons of research, but no outlines – just sat down and wrote what was in my head.

Tell us your latest news Between the Helpless and the Darkness, my alternative history novel, is the best thing I’ve ever written.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

That you can make things work out.

How much of the book is realistic?

Other than moving the path of one arrow one inch a thousand years ago, it’s as realistic as I can make it.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Too many to count. I read all the time, in all genres.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

The closest thing I had to a mentor was a writer named Bill Holm, but I didn’t even meet him until my second book came out. Jon Hassler and Robert Bly were both kind and generous to me, but I didn’t work with them at all.

What are your current projects?

I have my weekly column, Independently Speaking, and I’m 25,000 words into Neither Collar Nor Crown, the sequel to Between the Helpless and the Darkness.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

Harald Hardrada was a king of Norway in the 11th century. He spent a decade in the personal bodyguard of the Byzantium emperor. It’s alluded to in the book, but would have required another 20,000 words to do it justice

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

I’ll attach a little excerpt from Between the Helpless and the Darkness

“Courage is half of success” Heimskringla, The Saga of the Kings of Norway

Chapter Fifty Harald mastered the ship, he mastered the storm and somewhere, perhaps on the trip across the bay, perhaps when he saved the child from the flames, he mastered himself. The long winter of torment and despair was behind him. He felt his will run back into his body, felt the pain and lethargy that afflicted him drain into the sea, emptying out like a lanced boil. The hot blood poured through his veins and he once again felt himself a king.

He looked down the long length of his ship, crowded with people whose fate rested in the palm of his hand. This is who I am, he thought. How could I have forgotten that? And, God help me, this is what I do.

“We need to come about, and run before the wind,” he shouted to Arnora.

“We cannot! We will broach,” she screamed. “The waves are too high.”

The wind howled through the rigging. Waves crashed over the stern, soaking them.

“NO, we will not! Watch me,” Harald said, willing her to believe. “We have one chance.”

For a moment Harald indulged himself in his wish for the crew that had left Norway for England. The king’s finest, the best sailors in the world, tested by battle and storm; they could have done this maneuver. But that crew was dead. They had stood next to him at Stamford Bridge, and the last of them had fallen protecting what they thought was his dead body.

He looked down the row of benches. The savages had all found places and rowed next to his people. They do not know this ship, but they know the sea, he reminded himself. They will know what we must do.

“Look at me,” he shouted into the wind. “LOOK AT ME!”

He snatched the rear oars from the women closest to him and pulled them inboard. He rowed a few strokes, his people and the pagans focusing on him. He watched the waves, felt them, waiting for the moment.

“NOW,” he screamed, his voice rising over the wind. He dug deep, one oar forward and one back. The thick wooden handles bent beneath his fingers. His nostrils flared as the thick sea air swelled his chest and filled his lungs.

EXCERPT FROM BETWEEN THE HELPLESS AND THE DARKNESS The ship rolled, sideways to the waves, the mast tipping and reaching for the sea. The yards actually touched the water, and then she answered to the rudder and the oars and came around. One last sickening wallow and the ship turned and ran before the wind.

“Set sail,” he ordered, his voice carrying through the storm. The crew scurried to obey and he turned to Arnora. He pointed a massive finger at her and she stared back, transfixed by his gaze.

“Well done,” he said. “Finally, now, you know. Never again, never till the day you die, will you need to say the word ‘cannot’.”

“I could not have done what you did,” Arnora said. Her thick red hair was plastered close to her head and her eyes were wild.

“It matters not how I did it. What matters is that it was done. One day, your time will come. You will be faced with a crisis that cannot be solved, a question that cannot be answered, and you will remember this moment and remember that you were at the helm and then you will find your own way to do what cannot be done.”

He turned and hurried toward the bow, oblivious to the stares of the exhausted rowers. His torn shirt flapped against his arms and he tore it off.

The ship was very crowded. At least a hundred people were on board, nearly half of them pagans.

“The bilge?” he asked the slaves. They stood in the bilge, their heads level with the deck boards. They were standing in water, their faces white with strain.

“The hull is whole,” said one, “but there is much water coming aboard.”

Harald grabbed a half-dozen people, those closest to him, regardless of sex, age, pagan or Christian.

“Bail,” he said. “This ship does not sail under water.”

He grabbed Orm by the elbow and together they went to the bow.

The ship slid sickeningly down the back of a wave and then squatted as she climbed the face of the next. Spray was breaking over the bow in solid sheets.

“Stay here,” Harald said. “There should be naught between us and Norway but open sea. Still, I dislike sailing without a bow lookout. I want your face in the wind and one arm on the dragon’s neck. Do not stir from this spot and watch EVERYTHING. We have no margin for mistakes.”

Orm nodded, his face pale except for two red spots high on his cheeks.

“Boy,” Harald said, “I walked past a hundred people from the stern to the bow, and from them I chose you to keep the watch. My people and my ship are in your hands. Can you take the watch?”

Orm looked at the steady eyes and inclined his head slightly. “Until I go blind, my lord.”

EXCERPT FROM BETWEEN THE HELPLESS AND THE DARKNESS The wind grew stronger yet. Harald ordered the sail taken in and soon he ordered it furled altogether. They sailed under a bare mast. Surrounded by towering waves, the ship rolled from side to side.

Fairly dancing with energy, Harald moved from one person to the next, cajoling, admiring, criticizing. He made his way from the bow to the stern, his will galvanizing all he passed.

Two of the pagans were standing near Arnora, waving their arms and speaking their gibberish.

Harald went to her and asked, “What do they want?”

“I do not know,” she said, her face taut with strain, “but it seems important to them.”

They turned to him. They were of a height, but one was much older. The younger had long scars across his face and both were excited.

What are you saying, Harald thought, is it pointless superstition, or do you see something I do not?

The older one pointed back toward shore and made a sweeping motion with his arm.

Harald shook his head. “No, we can not go back, not in the face of this wind.”

Now the man swept both arms over his head. The ship went into a trough of the wave and all in the stern were soaked again.

The ship wallowed, heavy with water, wavering before the wind, threatening to roll.

“I must tend my ship,” Harald said. “Be patient. With luck we will return you to your home.”

He turned to leave, but his arm was grabbed and held.

Harald slowly turned around and looked into the eyes of the younger pagan. Harald had spent a lifetime reading men’s faces and he could see that this boy was terrified of him.

Harald looked down from his great height, “I am unaccustomed to being grabbed, boy.”

The older pagan spread both hands out in front of him. Then he grabbed the stern of the ship and shook it. He waved his hands in a remarkable imitation of a bird in flight, and pointed at the waves towering behind the ship. As if for emphasis, another wave broke over the railing. The younger pagan still held Harald’s arm and now he shook it.

Arnora looked from one to the other. It was the boy with the scar she’d seen their first day. She couldn’t believe he’d grabbed Lord Harald by the arm. No wonder he had that scar, if he had so little caution around dangerous beasts.

Harald could have screamed from frustration. Both men were scared, of Harald and of something else, but they were not panicked. Harald held his own arm out and waved his fingers in a gentle, come along, motion.

The older man nodded, went through his gestures again, more slowly, but this time he finished by smashing one hand down on top of the other. Then he picked up one of the anchor lines, still attached to a ring in the stern.

“Yes,” Harald yelled, “yes, you are right! Arnora, cut the anchor off that line. We need something to hold us before the wind. A sea anchor will steady us.”

Arnora did, throwing the line over the side to drag through the water. The ship did not slow appreciably. Harald pulled the line back in and tied an old cloak on it then threw it out again the water. The ship slowed and the ride smoothed out. It did not skip from wave to wave as quickly as before and the vast pitching eased.

Harald grinned at his passengers and they smiled back.

“You may be filthy pagans,” Harald said, “but by God you are seaman too!”

Harald tapped himself on the chest and said, “Harald Sigurdsson.”

The older pagan cocked his head, looked at him, then tapped himself and said, “Samoset.”

They ran before the storm for four days. It was two weeks more before they found their way back to camp.

By then, they had all learned a great deal.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Writers need to write, need to let other people read what they’ve written, need to listen to the criticism AND then decide whether or not to ignore it.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I’m a serious guy. I try deeply to be entertaining, but in the end, I’m also trying to say something that matters.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

When Bruce Springsteen was on tour doing The Seeger Sessions, my wife and I were in the front row.

I should have written on a business card, “One of my books was in Peter Seeger’s bathroom, so thanks for doing this.” I think that would have gotten me a meeting, but I was too shy to do it.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

This line was said to me by a carpenter named Dougie when we were sheetrocking my basement, “Brent, you know more shit that don’t matter than anyone I know.”

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I live on a large farm. We have chickens, ducks, an orchard, large garden and a greenhouse. I make most of our furniture AND two of my children own old houses I’ve helped to remodel.

Do you have any holiday traditions?

Two of our children and all our grandchildren live within an hour and we usually have them all over for Sunday dinner.

What kind of music do you enjoy?

Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Guy Clark, John Prine…

What kind of movies do you prefer?

I like movies where things work out in the end. I don’t like movies where people do stupid things.

Do you have a favorite author?

Lois McMaster Bujold, Robert Caro, Will and Ariel Durant

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

I have a house next to a lake. No mountains, but I still never want to leave.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website?

If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress? https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033470858229, https://brentolson.substack.com/p/my-resume https://www.brentolson.online/

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Illustrated Idioms

Inspired story prompts by Susan Faw

When I created my author website at the launch of my authorial career, I was lost as to what to blog about. It is a common problem for authors who are starting out. Most of us feel that no one wants to listen to us talk about our dogs or our families or look at pretty cat pictures. So instead of blogging about what people flock to every day, I decided to write short, quick stories that illustrated something that I had long been fascinated with, the odd words and phrases that make up English idiom.

I bought a copy of The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. With that primer in place, I was ready to bring to life the idioms that we so often use but rarely understand their sources.

Can you guess the idiom in the story?

Familiar Offerings The icy raindrop splashed into the tiny gap between the end of his hair and the collar of his coat. It rolled down to join the others, creating a stream of shivers along the way.

Pete nudged his companion and eased apart the green screen allowing her to glimpse the scene beyond.

Light danced through the hollow. The roaring bonfire cast distended shadows, tall warped images writhing on the smooth stone walls. The hooded figures danced around the fire and around a goat chained to a stake by the fire side.

Pete shifted slightly to avoid the next plop of rain and drew his sister back from their hiding spot, letting the leafy curtain fall.

They scooted back a safe distance, moving slowly and silently until they were out of hearing range.

Pamela threw back the hood of her cloak as she stood and frowned at Pete.

“You think Emilia is with that group of witches?”

“Yes.” “But why would she join them?”

“I don’t think she joined them. I think she was taken by them.”

Pamela brushed a curl from her forehead and gazed back at a screen of trees hiding the ritual from their sight.

“To what purpose? What could they possibly want with her?”

“Emilia said she had stumbled across something she wasn’t supposed to see, remember? She was afraid, terrified that she had been spotted. She locked herself in her room, afraid to go to school, and then she was gone.”

“Yes, but she left a note. She said she was going to go stay with family in Topsfield.”

“Yes, but she didn’t take any clothes, did she? Why would she leave without clothes? Her favourite duffel was still sitting at the foot of her bed. She wouldn’t leave without that packed. You know how she is. Hair, makeup, those supplies alone would stuff it, full.”

“Maybe she was travelling light. She would have walked most of the way or hitched a ride with a farmer.”

Pete crossed his arms and glared at her.

“I tell you; she has been kidnapped.”

She sighed. “It is dangerous to spy on witches. It is even more dangerous for a woman to be seen anywhere near witches! I am not staying around here. You can stay if you want, but I am going back home.”

She pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head and marched off in the direction of Salem.

Pete watched her leave then turned back to the woods and began his stealthy return to the openmouthed cave.

Dropping to all fours, he crawled to the edge of the small break in the foliage that provided a clear view.

The scene had changed. The bonfire still roared, but now the texture of the shadows had softened and a bluish haze hung over the area, opaque clouds gathering along the ceiling of the cave entrance. The haze swirled and bubbled like a pot full of stew and flashes of light sparked in the swirling mass, putting Pete in mind of cloud lightning.

He counted five hooded witches around the fire, chanting and dancing. The goat bleated in terror as one by one the witches stroked its grey horns as they passed.

Pete’s eyes caught a flash of green toward the mouth of the cave. Hidden in the murky shadows of the cavernous opening was huge black cat sitting atop a rounded boulder, tail twitching in time to the proceedings. The cat stretched then leapt down from its perch and padded toward the firelight. As it came closer, Pete realized this was no house cat. It prowled between two of the witches, eyes fixed on the goat. It bleated louder and with rolling eyes began to thrash against the chain holding it in place.

The great cat slunk down to the ground within striking distance of the goat, tail thrashing and glowing eyes fixed on the petrified animal.

With a loud shriek that made Pete jump, the witches clapped their hands together and went still. The silence pressed on his ears, relieved only by the crackle of the bonfire. Pushing back her hood, a woman with long white hair reached within her sleeve and withdrew a long thin knife with an etched bone handle. She walked slowly towards the goat. With her first step, the other witches began to emit a low mesmerizing hum. Pete found his head drooping to his chest and jerked himself awake once more.

The goat was transfixed by the sound and slowly lowered itself onto all fours and then onto its belly, eyes transfixed on the woman and ignoring the panther.

The woman stepped up to the goat, pried its jaws apart and with a swift stroke, cut the tongue out of the goat. She threw back her head and thrust her fists at the heavens, shaking the bloody prize.

Pete gasped audibly, clamping his own hand over his mouth to stifle the sound The goat did not move or react in any way to the removal of its tongue, blood dripping over the sides of its muzzle and puddling on the dirt between its feet. Lightning forked out of the swirling cloud and struck the tongue, blue flame roiling over its surface and then it was gone.

Hair flying about her head as though electrified, the witch approached the cat and placed the offering in front of him.

“Ebony, my familiar, I gift thee with a tongue to bind this creature to secrecy, to seal her lips and to fog her mind, that we may remain safe. Ebony, please accept this gift to bind her heart, her mind, and her soul to our cause. We do not desire her life, only her service. Her life is yours.”

She placed the severed glowing tongue on the ground in front of the cat and stroked its sleek head then returned to her sisters’ circle.

Ebony sniffed at the offering and then in one great gulp swallowed the tongue, whole. At that instant, great rumbling shook the earth and a blinding bolt of lightning struck the center of the bonfire. Pete flattened himself into the earth and clasped his hands over his head, sure that the sky was falling and an earthquake erupting simultaneously. With an extended rumbling and muttering, the thunder faded away until silence reigned.

Pete lifted his head cautiously and peered back into the now dark clearing.

Where minutes before a bonfire had blazed, now there sat a crater of charred wood. Of the witches and the great cat familiar, there was no sign. They had vanished.

The only thing remaining in the clearing was a girl, dressed in a traveling cloak, lying precisely on the ground where the goat had been tethered.

Pete slowly got to his feet and on quaking limbs entered the empty clearing. There was no sound, nothing stirred. She was so still he feared she was dead.

He touched her shoulder. She woke with a start, sitting upright so quickly that Pete jumped back with a yell. Emilia stared up at him with puzzled eyes.

“What am I doing here?” She blinked at him in confusion.

Pete was tongue-tied. “The cat…,” he sputtered “The cat got your tongue! He ate it! How can you talk?”

She looked at him sideways as she got to her feet.

“What cat? Are you feeling all right?” She looked around at her surroundings. “I must have fallen asleep. I came here to pick mushrooms, just a second.” She walked over to the cave and returned with a basket full of mushrooms. “I ate a few because I was hungry. I must have fallen asleep. Come on, it’s dark. We need to be getting back to the village.” She walked away then paused when he didn’t immediately follow her.

“Are you coming?” she demanded, impatient to leave.

Pete nodded mutely and followed her out of the clearing. Perhaps he was the one who had lost a tongue he mused, befuddled by the events he had witnessed, or had it been a dream?

Green eyes followed their progress as they vanished into the woods.

English Idiom: Cat Got Your Tongue?

“This is the shortened form of the query ‘Has the cat got your tongue?’ and it is the form that is more often used. It is somewhat archaic now but was in common use until the 1960/70s. It was directed at anyone who was quiet when they were expected to speak and often to children who were being suspiciously unobtrusive.”

Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/ meanings/cat-got-your-tongue.html

If you want to read more of Susan Faw’s Illustrated Idioms, the series is available here: https://bookgoodies.com/a/B074ZTK65V

Book nerd and fantasy aficionado, Susan is an award-winning author who also doubles as masked crusader for the fantastical world. Championing mythical rights, she quells uprisings and battles infidels who would slay the lifeblood of her pen. It’s all in a day’s work, for this whirlwind writer.

Winner of the Dante Rossetti Grand Prize for Best Young Adult Fiction of 2016 (Seer of Souls, Chanticleer Reviews) she is actively crafting stories that sing in your memory. Welcome to the quest!

You can find Susan at www.susanfaw.com, on twitter @susandfaw or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SusanFaw.

Glenda Benevides Interview by Melanie P. Smith

glendabenevides.com

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Well, I jumped right into life with music from the beginning. I’ve been a professional singer, songwriter and entertainer since I was 16 and had the fortune to tour all around the world while singing with amazingly talented artists like Toto, Steve Smith from Dirty Vegas and more. I am at the place now where the most important thing is stepping into and embracing what I consider is my deeper purpose. Being a more consciously intentional human and musician, which I believe is the key of excellence and to share my heart bravely. For me this is service. To write music and tell a story that touches someone’s soul, to have them say, Hey, that’s my story! I believe this awakens the heart in a more profound way and has us step into all becoming a healthy human being. I consider all music is connected to spirit and is transformative in some way. I’ll take my song and vocal ideas and dive into the musical colors. For example, the earth, sky, fire and add some water this can give not only visual ideas on where the song wants to lead but an earthy sacredness. This can be a bit abstract but I feel it can feed my soul and the soul of the song too. It’s a lot like painting in some ways. I had different stages of life and now I have created a hybrid of music mixing, Blues, Soul, Roots to express who I am at this stage of life. It has a depth of trials that one can struggle with. The soul of blues is the inner cry of longing, something that speaks to the road you’re on. That’s powerfully transformative. It has been teaching me a lot.

What kind of music do you enjoy?

I love all kinds. I would say it changes with the ages. I love R&B, Jazz & Gospel.

YOUTUBE: youtube.com/c/glendabenevides IG: glendabenevidesmusic LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glendabenevides/ BUY MUSIC: https://glendabenevides.bandcamp.com SPOTIFY STREAM: https://open.spotify.com/artist/ 7iEMzMaMTNsw7uw1Ivq59S

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

Yes and no. As a writer of music I have been doing that since 1990’s but as an book author I started in 2018 with Badass Goddess Magazine and podcast then I gave myself a challenge to actually write my own book to share my life’s journey into the trials and triumphs as an artist. I saw that how I got myself to have courage and confidence was a practical process that I applied to myself. I then wondered if that had enough value to share it with others. If I can help support other women to have their dreams and empowerment - Im in! So, I wrote the draft and shared it with my coach at the time. She asked me if I shared it with anyone and if I was planning to make it into a workbook. I said no I hadn’t considered it. She then told me to publish it. I took her coaching, and “Courage”, was born.

Tell us your latest news?

I'm thrilled to share the latest news with you all! This year, we're embarking on an exhilarating journey of blending music, storytelling, and inspired conversations, all centered around my book, "Courage: Find Your Fire and Ignite Action in Your Life." It's going to be a hybrid experience like no other, weaving together elements that aim to ignite passion and purpose in every individual.

Stay tuned for updates on my upcoming speaking engagements and book tour for 2024. Please join me on this adventure of empowerment and transformation!

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

The building blocks of clarity, courage, confidence, commitment, and community, is where we find the true essence of empowerment and freedom, thus shaping our destinies and inspiring others to do the same. This is what we need most to heal and thrive together.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

Yes, my husband Sunil Bhaskaran who is an author, mentor and amazing teacher.

If you are alive and breathing, you are growing no matter what you believe or what is happening.

“Who am I?” Ask yourself this everevolving, truth-seeking question every day and ponder it with curiosity.

Embracing yourself as you are is a key factor in being able to move anything forward in this world as an empowered manifestation of the honest YOU.

Take the time to step back and reevaluate your life. This action will support your efforts to embrace your own thoughts, inspirations, and honest desires and sort out the inner monologue that is working against you.

Look at your own truth and intentionally let go of others’ opinions.

The walls of fear take the wind out of the sails of courage. Own what are truly your feelings. Speak up and speak out with passion and fervor, and love who you are.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/0578841207

What are your current projects?

Impacting the world to uplift and transform. The long answer is, Im in the recording studio working on two new songs. First on is Pride and the second is called Unbreakable. Then touring the book along with the music.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yes, go deep within yourself, ask those intimate questions and listen for your insightful answers, then go for it. Never let anyone tell you who you are. I know that is a cliche on some level but it is true. Keep going and find the joy!

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

You Are Who You Say You Are Get present and take a moment to ask yourself, “Who am I?” Ask yourself this ever-evolving, truth-seeking question every day and ponder it with curiosity. Embracing yourself as you are is a key factor in being able to move anything forward in this world as an honest, empowered manifestation of the authentic YOU.

Embrace all the parts of yourself as they are and then take inventory.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I urge you, to take a pause and reflect on the profound questions that often slip by unnoticed in the hustle of daily life. Ask yourself, whats next and why am I hear, how can I make a difference with who I am and what I know, to support someone else? This will bring you depth and insights. Kindness, compassion and understanding are paramount, cultivating this depth within ourselves is crucial and this will align us with more joy. This is key right now on our planet.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

Can you share something personal with your readers?

I believe in magic, creating and making magic in life no matter the circumstance you’re in.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

Here lyes Glenda Benevides, Musician, witch, altruist, kind-hearted. Her melodies soared, her magic charmed, In every soul, a spark she sparked. With hands that strummed and spells that wove, She danced through life with grace and love. Her spirit bright, her laughter pure, In memory, she shall endure.Though now she rests beneath the earth, Her legacy, a vibrant hearth. Fondly remembered, forever missed, In hearts she touched, her spirit persists.

Do you have any holiday traditions?

I love Halloween/Samhain and of course Christmas. For me this is a time that magic and love comes alive it’s in the air!

What kind of movies do you prefer?

I love a good thriller, murder mystery or a smart horror. At the top is a good romantic well thought out Rom Com. Do you have a favorite author?

No, there are so many I love and adore. Anything to do with transformation and techniques to better oneself.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

W: https://glendabenevides.com IG: https://glendabenevidesmusic FB: https://www.facebook.com/glendabenevides LINKED: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glendabenevides/Y

YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@GlendaBenevides Courage Book: https://bit.ly/GBGCourage MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/glenda-benevides/39369204 MERCH: https://www.zazzle.com/store/glendamusic

Mckenna O'Dwyer knows she's impulsive. Sometimes reckless. She also knows she's a witch and keeps reincarnating as one, for reasons only her mother, Abby, can help her fully understand.

The Twin Flame K.T. Anglehart’s Epic Young Adult Series Continues…

After weeks of searching, mother and daughter finally reunite—just like Elizabeth Dunlop’s prophecy states—and Abby is keen on helping Mckenna get a firm grasp on her abilities. She teaches her the proper way to channel elemental magic…but Mckenna soon discovers there’s a shortcut, something Cillian fully supports if it means getting quicker, more powerful results.

At first, Mckenna will do anything to thwart the High Priestess once and for all, before her powers are used to wipe out billions of souls. But the white horse Eachna’s devastating vision of Mother Nature continues to haunt her. Is that the future awaiting them if the Scottish Scrolls aren’t fulfilled?

Which is the lesser evil?

Enthralling, passionate, and with twists you won’t see coming, Mckenna’s magical education begins in book II of The Scottish Scrolls.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C4M24F66 Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is an award-winning author from Montreal, with a multilingual prowess in English, French, Italian, and “Spanglish”. A dedicated academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

Inspired by the wizarding world, the land of Narnia, and parallel planes, she penned The Wise One, inviting readers to connect with nature and its everpresent magic. Her exploration of the landscapes and folklore of Ireland and Scotland greatly influenced her debut YA urban fantasy, marking the inception of The Scottish Scrolls series.

More books in the series! https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08GQP7XN5

K.T. Anglehart is a passionate advocate for bunnies, thanks to her late Netherland Dwarf, Magic—the inspiration behind her imprint, The Magic Dwarf Press. When she’s not writing or diving into magical reads, she revels in hiking, antiquing, and Netflix binges alongside her high schoolsweetheart-turned-husband, Andy. They currently live in Toronto with their three pets: Nessie, a mysterious rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and their whimsical bunnies, Onyx and Stirling

What is middle-grade fiction Middle-grade fiction is aimed at readers aged between 8 and 12 years old. This genre is intended to be a bridge between simple children’s stories and stories that are more emotionally or thematically advanced. Importantly, middle-grade is not a genre, it is an age-based categorisation.

Middle-grade fiction comes in all sorts of genres.

Books falling into the middle-fiction category are usually 30,000 to 50,000 words in length and are frequently in the third person point of view. The protagonist is usually between the ages of 10 and 13 years old and there is no graphic violence, sexuality or swearing.

While middle-grade stories can include heavy topics such as death, illness, mental illness, and war, the stories generally focus on dynamics between family and friends and don’t go into introspective discoveries and or social dynamics in the greater world.

Famous examples of middle-grade fiction Holes by Louis Sachar An excellent example of a complex middle-grade book is Holes by Louis Sachar. The main themes of Holes are: The power of fate to determine events; the benefits of friendship; the destructive nature of cruelty; and the importance of history in every day life.

Picture caption: Book cover for Holes by Louis Sachar

This is the blurb for Holes: Stanley Yelnats’ family has a history of bad luck, so when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre (which isn’t green and doesn’t have a lake), it’s not exactly a surprise.

Every day he and the other inmates are told to dig a hole each, five foot wide by five foot deep, reporting anything they find. Why? The evil warden claims that it builds character, but this is a lie. It’s up to Stanley to dig up the truth.

A masterpiece of storytelling that combines sly humour with irresistible, page-turning writing.

Roald Dahl’s books Roald Dahl is synonymous with childhood in my mind. I absolutely loved his dark and quirky books when I was a young reader. I read these books to my two youngest sisters and also to both my sons. When I got the chance, I also read them to my nieces and nephews. I am a Dahl fan!

These are a few wonderful quotes from Roald Dahl’s books: “A person is a fool to become a writer.

His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.” from Boy: Tale of Childhood “So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place, you can install A lovely bookshelf on the wall. Then fill the shelves with lots of books.” from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory “Well, maybe it started that way. As a dream, but doesn’t everything.” from James and the Giant Peach (this is my favourite as it includes an assortment of giant bugs including Miss Spider).

Roald Dahl inspired a few of my fondant creations:

Picture caption: My Fantastic Mr Fox inspired fondant fox.

Toni Pike is a modern Indie author who has captured the same quirky and darkly humorous style of writing as Roald Dahl. You can find her here: https://tonipike.com/

Middle-grade series There are several excellent middle-grade series.

My sons both loved Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson. The first book in the series in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. The hero, Percy Jackson, is half human and half Greek god. A quote from the Amazon blurb: I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to stay alive.

Talented Indie children’s author, Darlene Forster, has a wonderful series of middle-age books featuring a young girl, Amanda, who loves travelling to different countries. Everywhere Amanda goes, she falls into an adventure. https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/ Some writers start out as middle-grade writers and their targeted age group increases as their characters age. A famous example of such a writer is JK Rowling. The first two Harry Potter books were middle-grade stories. As her characters grew older, the books became more complicated, darker and much longer.

Of course, if anyone reading this post hasn’t read Harry Potter I’ll eat Sir Chocolate – haha!

Picture caption: Sir Chocolate wearing a new hat, a fondant creation by Robbie Cheadle

Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with 9 children’s books and 2 poetry books. She has also published 2 books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.

Robbie has 2 adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories in the horror and paranormal genre and poems included in several anthologies.

Connect with Robbie… https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/

Patrick Greenwood

Patrick Greenwood, after military service, he embarked on the 25-year career in the information technology field working in various roles in sales, engineering, support, and design.

Many of his inspirations for writing came via his business travels to places like Vietnam, China, Japan, Taiwan and Portugal. A true believer in listening to one’s passion, Patrick began writing in early 2020 based on several trips he made while cycling in various countries. In this novel, “Sunrise in Saigon”, Patrick draws upon several non-fictional events that happened in Vietnam including the war with the US, the last days of Saigon falling, and the chaos at the US embassy.

His next novel, "Shores of Okinawa" is due to be released on Memorial day weekend, 2024.

Patrick resides in Lake Forest, California.

www.cyclewriterllc.com

Interview by Melanie P. Smith Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Home is Lake Forest California! I am a few minutes away from the beautiful beaches of southern California! In my spare time when I am not writing novels, blogs for clients, promoting my coffee to help support global causes, I love cycling! My company name and logo come from my love for writing and cycling, cyclewriterllc.com!

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author?

How did you decide what types of book you would write?

Multi-genre author! Absolutely. I mix romance, thriller and suspense into every novel I write. I will often select one genre to the main focus for a book while having secondary ones in the storyline. In “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon, “ the book was primarily a romantic story with some historical fiction. In “Shores of Okinawa,” the story is very heavy toward thriller and suspense!

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

Well, wonderful question. I am romantic at heart so there always needs to be a bit of romance. However, I love a good action suspense novel filled with cyber terrorism, Bitcoin hacking, and hackers battling hackers!

I come from a cybersecurity background and of course, I love to write about it! Ultimately, each novel in the Jack Kendall series may have a slightly different genre focus!

When did you start writing?

Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

May 22nd, 2022. I quit my job in cybersecurity after 28 years and decided the next morning to become a fulltime blogger and novelist.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

I often connect my plots with places I have been. I have traveled the world for years and absolutely loved every country I visited. I write about these places both in a fictional and non-fictional manner.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Message from Nam from Danielle Steel, The Hunt for Red October from Tom Clancy, and every Jason Bourne story from Robert Ludlum.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

Great question!! I write from experience!

Many of the plots come from places I have traveled or experiences being in the cybersecurity space for so many years while coming face-to-face with hackers from all over the world. And, I am a true romantic. Many of the romantic plots come from down deep inside!!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

One of the core messages from “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon and Shores of Okinawa,” live life with no regrets. Follow your heart, take chances, and leave nothing on the table of life. Go and see your favorite place, eat your favorite food, and love everything you do.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

Yes, my mentor from a far was Tom Clancy.

He has passed on life, however I admired his writing and his drive in creating amazing stories.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

Well, for starter the “Shores Of Okinawa” is a wonderful fiction novel drawn from many actual events happening today including; China hacking Taiwan, global hackers joining forces against other hackers, and how organized crime uses cyber terrorism to steal data and cyber currency.

In the sequel to “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon,” Jack is off to Portugal with Nella to meet her family, while his nemesis; Travis Jones develops a plan to help China hack into Taiwan by using cyber assets from the Chinese Triads and hackers from Laos and Vietnam.

Jack realizing that Travis is up to something creates unspeakable alliance between the CIA, the Japanese Yakuza hackers, and Taiwanese government to help stop Travis and the Chinese cyber forces from stealing Bitcoin from Taiwan!

Can Jack and Forest stop the hack of the century? I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful sequel! The book will be launching around Memorial day 2024!

Yes ! The next novel in the Jack Kendall series is “Scent of the Lotus” due out April 30th, 2025.

This story picks the days before the fall of Saigon in April 1975 and how Forest Adams and Bui found each other, only to be torn apart by the Vietnam War. The story follows Forest’s 30 year journey trying to get back to Vietnam to find Bui, the only woman he ever loved.

How much of the book is realistic?

Fair question! “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon” well let’s just say more than 75%. In Shores of Okinawa, more like 35%.

Tell us your latest news: Shores of Okinawa – the 2nd novel in the Jack Kendall series is due out Memorial Day weekend 2024! Writers on Writers Over a Triple Espresso Podcast just celebrated its 200 episode with over 30,000 subscribers! And, “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon,” will be re-released in May 2024 in Amazon.com!

What are your current projects?

After the launch of “Shores of Okinawa” in May 2024, I am working the “Scent of the Lotus” due out April 30, 2025!

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

Is Jack Kendall really me portrayed in fiction? Ex-Marine, in loveless marriage at point.

A global technology troubleshooter. Falls in love with beautiful Vietnamese girl, however decides to face reality knowing their will always be a river between them?

Hmmm..could be. https://bookgoodies.com/ a/1649796900

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Love what you do, everyday. Being a writer is about creating something only you can do!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Enjoy the Jack Kendall Series starting with “Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon then Shores Of Okinawa.” There are seven novels in the Jack Kendall series. Each of them is going to be outstanding!

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

Danielle Steel. She is a true woman of mystery. Having an afternoon espresso with her would be a dream come true! I love to understand where her stories come from!

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

For the love of what we do is what we should be doing, and nothing less. Writing is something we can do anytime, anyplace, and anywhere. Never stop!

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

Cycling of course. I also own a coffee company, www.cyclewriter3espresso.com. I sell coffee to help raise money for global charites, “Helmets for Kids in Vietnam and Helpoki.org.”

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions?

I love walking on the beach at Laguna here in Southern California enjoying a wonderful triple espresso and cooking Italian food!. My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving day here in America!

What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

Music? I am a huge U2 fan for several years!. Movies?

K-Dramas on Netflix! Favorite Author? Danielle Steel.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

Cozy beach! Hearing the waves crash is very therapeutic.

One final question...Do you have a blog/ website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Absolutely!

Social media links: Website: www.cyclewriterllc.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ patrick-greenwood-4876a01b8/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ CyclewriterPG/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ patrick_greenwood_author/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UChUQwPH4YvZMRJsDuZSw8Ag Book: https://shoresofokinawanovel.net/

Caught En Femme

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CZGDD67N

Author: https://katyacummingerotica.wordpress.com/ I’m from Edinburgh in Scotland, and work in retail to earn a living. Relationships are for those involved in them, so that’s where mine will stay.

I set out on my erotic literary journey in 2019 and I’ve now got a reasonable catalogue of titles under my (suspender) belt with more to come.

My more recent titles are mainly novellas, and the shorter length appeals to many of my readers. Size does matter.

I brushed my long auburn hair, added a ribbon, and applied eye shadow and bright red lipstick. I got aroused thinking I already looked more like a girl than a twenty-two-year-old guy. After pulling on panties and a bra stuffed with tights, I slipped into a lovely dress and fastened the belt. I felt a special thrill as I pulled on black hold-up stockings. My heart missed a beat when I heard a sigh.

“Hello, sexy.” Greg, my stepbrother, was standing in the doorway, grinning. ***

Lost and Found in Mexico The heartfelt testament of author, Candy Wolff whose memoir is a guide to healing and human resilience In Lost and Found in Mexico, A Widow’s Road to Recovery, delve into the heartfelt narrative of Candy, whose story is an intricate tapestry of love, faith, and resilience. Her romance with Ross is not a fairy tale but a reflection of real-life struggles and triumphs, offering solace and wisdom to those navigating their own relationships.

Candy's unwavering faith in brighter days ahead serves as a beacon of hope amidst the storm, a testament to her profound love for Ross and his unwavering support. Yet, when tragedy strikes and he is taken from her, Candy's endurance becomes her most potent weapon as she navigates the emotional tempest that follows.

https://www.kirkhousepublishers.com/ bookstore

Through the depths of grief and uncertainty, Candy's story becomes more than just a narrative—it becomes a lifeline for readers grappling with their own losses. From the tender moments of love to the harrowing depths of grief, Lost and Found in Mexico is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and a source of invaluable insight for those facing similar trials.

Candy Wolff Candy Wolff, a mother of three grown boys, is not only a hardworking woman but also an inspirational speaker. Her journey took an unexpected turn during a muchneeded vacation to Mexico with her husband. Seeking reconnection after navigating health concerns, financial difficulties, and depression, Candy discovered more than she had bargained for. In her compelling story, Candy shares a poignant narrative of tragedy and, with the grace of God, a triumphant journey from being lost to found in the heart of Mexico. Her experiences serve as a testament to resilience, faith, and the transformative power of hope.

By Sarah Hindmarsh The post was early yesterday. Our usual postie is old and takes ages to walk up the hill. By the time he gets to our house at half past ten my mum has a cup of tea waiting. Yesterday at nine thirty there was a rattle and a thud as a pile of letters landed on the doormat. The new postie was gone before Spartacus even got chance to bark.

“You’ve got lots of friends today Mummy,” said my little brother Jamie.

Mum rifled through the pile.

“It’s bills Jamie, they want money.”

“You need better friends,” said Jamie, skipping back to his trains.

“I wonder where Frank is today,” said Mum. “Probably on holiday,” I said, not even looking up from my bacon and eggs.

“Frank doesn’t take holidays,” said Dad. “Maybe he retired then,” I said.

“He’d have told us,” said Mum. “Well then maybe he’s dead.”

“Ashley! Don’t say things like that,” Mum said glowering at me.

“Could always ring the post office and ask.” I said shrugging.

“I might do that.”

Mum disappeared through the kitchen door phone in hand. When she came back she looked worried.

“Apparently Frank just didn’t show up this morning. First time in ten years he’s not turned up for work, but they don’t seem worried at all. They weren’t very helpful.”

“Well if they’re not worried we probably shouldn’t be either,” I said.

Mum didn’t look convinced.

This morning the post landed at nine thirty again, and there was no sign of Frank.

“Someone should check on him. He lives on Baker Street, by the theatre. Ashley you could take your bike and see if he’s okay.”

“Why me?”

“Well I can’t very well send Jamie can I?” “Dad could go.” I said.

“Dad can’t go,” said Dad. “He has important things to do here.”

Mum had that look on her face that means she’s not really asking and I’d better just do it.

“What number?”

“I don’t know. Knock on doors and ask.”

“You want me to knock on a stranger’s door and tell them we’re worried because we had a different postman the last two days?”

“Yes. Why not?”

I just groaned and stomped towards the door.

“Don’t forget your coat Ashley,” Mum shouted after me.

“It’s August!” I shouted back

I grabbed my bike from the shed and started peddling down the hill. The theatre wasn’t far, but I wanted to be back for the big match on TV that afternoon.

When I reached Baker street, two people were mowing their lawns.

“Do you know which house Frank lives in?” I shouted to an old man with grey hair over the noise of his lawn mower.

“Number 7,” he shouted back, “But he’s not there.”

“Why not? Is he okay?”

The old man just laughed.

“I should say so, he won the lottery on Wednesday, gone to live on some Greek island with a model he rented off the internet this morning. Lucky bugger.”

Sarah Hindmarsh is a vet student turned teacher turned writer. She has won, and been nominated for, multiple awards and prizes for her children’s fiction, short stories and poetry, and also writes revision guides and books of writing prompts. She is currently writing her first novel for grown-ups – an LGBT+ high fantasy. In her spare time Sarah likes to compete in various equestrian sports and nap on the sofa with her dog, Kohla. Sarah is also autistic and ADHD, and writes personal essays about living and working as a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world.

Connect with Sarah Hindmarsh at: https://www.facebook.com/Sarahhindmarshauthor

Life Strikes Back

A hilarious and messy backpacking adventure in the '90s

The Back in a Year series continues with the hilarious mindset of author,

Candace MacPhie

Ahh—here I am—on my dream backpacking trip overlanding from Russia—through Eastern Europe—to Istanbul with my travel partner, Khadejah. Bring on the sunny days of exotic sightseeing, tasty new food, interesting people, and places I can get lost in to soothe my tattered heart.

But …

It rains most days.

Don’t even get me started on the food.

The people are low on smiles but generous with leers and jeers.

And I’m drowning in grief.

But then the sun finally comes out, and with the help of George Michael’s music, we tackle culture shock, mountains, beaches, gropers, changing plans, and uncover gems I never thought I would see with my own eyes.

Through the ups and downs, I heal that little bit more each day.

Although I could do without the penis sightings and public masturbation ... just saying.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C9X7GZG4

About Candace

Born in Montreal, Quebec, I spent years backpacking and working around the world. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an MBA, and worked for twenty years on four different continents and now call Calgary, Alberta home.

I got married, had kids, and things got busy. Time was moving by quickly and my kids were growing up fast. I shifted gears and quit my job to spend time at home. During the COVID lockdown, I had time on my hands, decided to try writing, and started writing the Back in a Year series.

When I’m not at my computer yelling “Just a few more pages, then I’ll make dinner,” I love hiking in the Rocky Mountains, hot yoga, reading romance novels, and making up new cake recipes. I especially like to laugh and spend time with my husband, the selfproclaimed grumpy motherf*%ker, and my three awesome kids.

The Mouse Family That Live By The Brambles

by Sylva Fae Photography by Gez Robinson

Gez Robinson is a talented wildlife photographer from Yorkshire, England. For the last few years, I’ve been following the story of a family of mice, that live in an area of the garden dedicated to wildlife. It has been fascinating to watch the trust that has built up between the mice and Gez, as he patiently sits behind the camera. The photos are stunning, and and show what characters wild mice are, whether it be their quirky antics in their natural environment, or their curiosity as they interact with the props left by Gez for the mice to explore.

*****

Gez has been a wildlife photographer for around fifteen years, and has a passion for wildlife. During the first pandemic lockdown, craving his photography fix, he started taking photos of the birds and other wildlife in his garden. “…and that’s when I spotted a little mouse on the old decking. It was looking at a blackberry on the blackberry bush and just stood there whilst I took photos of it. My passion with the mouse family was born.”

Since the early successes of the Mouse Family That Live by the Brambles facebook page, Gez has published a book of the same name and set up other social media accounts. https://www.facebook.com/bramblemouse https://www.gezrobinsonphotography.co.uk/ Instagram: gez_robinson_photography TikTok: @mousefamilybythebrambles Copyright @ Gez Robinson for all photos featured in this article.

Murder, We Spoke A dynamic new True Crime Podcast series that is changing the way that theatre podcasts are heard today!

Brought to you by Tantrum East

An audio fiction, true crime podcast. The nine-episode series follows three women as they attempt to become podcasting legends with their true crime podcast, “Murder, We Spoke.” Bernie Brown, Paula Anderson, and Jane “Crescendo” Doe cover everything from unsolved murders to iconic serial killers. As the Murder, We Spoke trio chases their dreams of becoming the number one podcast in the world, they discover just how far they’ll go for fame.

About The Team: Mary Glen Fredrick as Bernie Brown Mary Glen is a New York-based writer, actor, and video editor. They grew up moving around the US, then went to high school in Kansas. They received their BA in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity from Stanford University and their MFA in Acting from UC San Diego. They're the third of five kids, probably would love a nap, and definitely want to dance. You can call them MG. @glenniefreddy | www.heymaryglen.com Maria Fernanda Diez as Paula Anderson Maria Fernanda Diez is a multilingual Mexican American New York City based actor, singer, podcaster, producer, director, writer and creator. She attended Columbia University and has worked with Two River Theatre, the Lark, The Civilians, Teatro LATEA, Tantrum East Theatre, The Latinx Playwright Circle, and more. Maria recently won the NBC Nosotros Org Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam. Additionally, Maria was one of the eight fellows in the first ever iHeart Radio NextUP Initiative, which led to her podcast When You’re Invisible being sponsored by Toyota, produced by iHeart Radio and My Cultura Podcast Network. In its first 6 months, it reached over 33,000 downloads. Season 2 is coming soon! @marifer_diez_b | www.mariafernandadiez.com

Hannah Karpenko as Jane “Crescendo” Doe Hannah Karpenko (she/they) is a New York and DC-based actor/craft beer lover. Recent credits include Theatre: Little Shop of Horrors, Magical Thinking (Bristol Valley Theatre), The Sandalwood Box (The Flea). Television: The Equalizer (CBS) & Bull (CBS). They are a proud former member of the PTC at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. One time Tony Shaloub saw her in a show and told her she was very funny. It is the only review she has ever received and, arguably, the only one she will ever need. @hkarpenk | www.hannahkarpenko.com

Luli Gom Teruel as Bailey Luli Gomez Teruel (she/her) is an Argentine actress based in NYC. She got her MFA in performance at the University of Iowa and her BFA at Ohio University. Favorite performance credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena) with the Prague Shakespeare Company, The Winter’s Tale (Emilia/Dorcas/Dion), Three Sisters (Natasha), Orlando (Sasha/Marmaduke), Seven Spots on the Sun (Monica), The Penelopiad (Penelope), a stage reading of Making Charlie (Charlie), and a workshop performance of Monument (4 Sisters) (Mac). @luligomezteruel | www.luligomezteruel.com

Tom Morin as AJ Tom is a Chicago-based actor and educator. He holds a BA in Theatre & Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross and an MFA in Acting from Ohio University. His past acting credits include Tantrum East: Workshops of Ferals by M.r. Fitzgerald, Greater Illinois by Steven Strafford, The Brothers' Chapel by Tyler J.C. Whidden. Off-Broadway/ NYC: Vilna (Theatre at St. Clement's); Measure for Measure (NY Classical Theatre); The Rivals (Pearl Theatre Company); Twelfth Night, A Christmas Carol (Titan Theatre Company), That Lady from Maxim's (Robert Moss Theater). Regional Theatre: Walnut Street Theatre, Centenary Stage Company, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Monomoy Theatre. He recently wrapped filming for the proof of concept of The Pale, a television series currently in development. Head Acting Coach & Co-founder of Polish Your Passion. @tommorin.actor | www.tom-morin.com

Jenna Zhu as Rita, Kat Pouncy, and the ensemble Jenna earned her B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from Swarthmore College and upon graduation, moved to New York City with “three bucks, two bags, one me” and learned from master teachers, especially life. She had the honor of becoming a member of the Professional Training Company at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, where she also discovered her love of anti-racism and equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging work, which she continues to develop as a facilitator. Jenna followed her affinity for visual art and media to Los Angeles, where she is happily pursuing film and TV opportunities. @jennahanbingzhu | www.jennazhu.com Thomas “T-Bone” Daniels as “Himself” Originally hailing from our nation's capital, Thomas has been performing since before he can remember. He earned a BFA in Theatre and a BA in Political Science Acting from Marietta College and his MFA in Acting from Ohio University. And so it was that in May of 2015 with three degrees, one of them terminal, Thomas found himself a permanent resident of New York City. Shortly after, he co-founded Tantrum East Productions and is the current Managing Director. After 8 years in the city he has built a career that he is proud of and hopes to continue adding to! @flomasito_80 | www.thomasrdaniels.com Lisa Bol as “Herself” Born and raised in Minnesota, Lisa Bol is an actress, director, and producer, based out of NYC that loves: traveling, crocheting, bourboning, making people laugh, and The Muppets.

She received her BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, her MFA in Acting from Ohio University, and was a member of the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Professional Training Company in 2015-2016. Shortly after moving to NYC, she co-founded Tantrum East Productions and is now the Artistic Director. She marked her seventh anniversary of moving to New York and is grateful for all of the opportunities, growth, and sometimes wild lessons this city has provided her and her family. @lisaannbol | www.lisabol.com Author: Rachel Bykowski Born and raised in Chicago, Rachel writes plays that raise awareness to social issues while exploring the many facets of her identity. Specifically, much of her writing explores middle-class America, matriarchies, privilege, legacy, and gender roles. Her plays have been produced and featured in festivals across the United States. She is a playwriting alumna with NNPN and a member of the Dramatists Guild. Rachel graduated from the MFA Ohio University Playwriting program where she was the recipient of the Trisolini Graduate School Fellowship. She received her BFA in Playwriting and minor in Journalism from The Theatre School of DePaul University. @rachelbykowskiplays | www.rachelbykowskiplays.com

Director: Lila Rachel Becker Lila Rachel Becker is a Brooklyn-based director of new work. Born and raised in Washington DC, she has worked with theaters all over the country, including Actors Theatre of Louisville, Luna Stage, Woolly Mammoth, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Portland Stage Company, Folger Theatre, the First National Tour of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, and the Source Festival.

Recent productions: WESTPHALIA (Luna Stage); THREE SISTERS, REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN, LINGERING (University of Iowa); and come apart (Portmanteau/The Tank); bad things happen here (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); CLARABELLE, 86 (Cloud City); GOLDEN (Actors Theatre of Louisville). Member, LCT Directors Lab, Directors Lab North. BA Wesleyan University; MFA University of Iowa.

Associate Member, SDC. lilarachelbecker.com

Stage Manager: Olivia Tymon Olivia Tymon is a freelance stage manager that has been working all across the country, with Stage Management credits including Charlotte’s Web at Alabama’s Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Twelfth Night and The Winter’s Tale at Washington’s Island Shakespeare Festival, and The Many Deaths of Nathan Stubblefield at Kentucky’s Actors Theatre of Louisville for the Humana Festival of New American Plays. She has also made her Off-Broadway debut as an Assistant Stage Manager at New York’s Primary Stages with the production of God Said This. @queenofthecativerse

Sound Designer: Derek A. Graham Derek A. Graham (he/him) is a sound designer, composer, and audio engineer based in North Carolina. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Derek holds an M.F.A. in Sound Design from Elizabeth City State University. Some of his notable works include Portland Center Stage’s productions of Protocol (2021) and Redwood (2019). Derek co-founded a multi-media design company with his wife, Jessica, called Life by Design Media & Production, producing a series of podcasts and advertisements for small business owners as well as photography in North Carolina. Derek is invested in using sound and music to encapsulate emotional context and subtexts, thus creating voice for the stories being told. @dgrahamsound

Why True Crime Now? True crime is everywhere – TV, podcasts, streaming, movies, documentaries, books and more. True crime is one of the most popular genres of entertainment.

Entertainment.

That is a morbid way to think of it, but it’s true. In the podcasting world alone, true crime podcasts attract over a third of all podcast listeners with the majority of those listeners identifying as women. (Pew Research Center, 2023). That means out of the 177 million people that listen to podcasts in the U.S., over 60 million favor true crime podcasts.

How Far Would You Go For Fame?

The Murder, We Spoke podcast series is a satirical comedy that dives into this violent obsession. Why do we glorify this violence? What attracts us to these graphic stories? Is it nature or nurture? How far would you go for fame? Why true crime now? No, we believe it is why true crime always.

Tantrum East is a New York City non-profit theatre company and producing studio.

Their mission is to bring new work and new voices to the NYC entertainment scene with a particular focus on artists coming out of Ohio University

For more information about the Murder, We Spoke podcast, please visit the website. https://murderwespoke.com/

THIN BLUE LINE SERIES

IN JULY CRIME | MURDER | MYSTERY

Spend the holidays in Mount Haven, Montana. Reconnect with old friends and meet a few new ones.

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BOOK 4

melaniepsmith.com

“When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.”

– Elon Musk

The web is a wonderful tool. There’s instant access to a wealth of knowledge on any topic - including Self-Publishing. Here are a few examples to help authors along the way.

Author Website: 3 Best Options for a Book-Selling Website Building a website can be complex, but it's arguably one of the most important early marketing steps an author must take. In this digital age, every author needs an online platform to showcase their work, connect with readers, and cultivate a loyal following. https://kindlepreneur.com/author-website

Protecting and Monitoring Your Author Brand Imagine if you had the ability to find out every time someone mentioned your name or your book on the Internet. This would give you access to reviews, or even a random comment on Twitter. You could find situations in which to engage with those that think positively or negatively about your works. https://kindlepreneur.com/protecting-monitoring-author-brand

Book Trailers — How to Make Them in 6 Easy Steps

A book trailer can be an incredibly useful marketing tool for authors, allowing you to give readers a preview of your book in a dynamic video format. But they’ve also, historically, been pretty ineffective and costly. However, recent developments in AI have made book trailers more interesting, as you’re able to get things you wouldn’t normally be able to do, like motion version of your characters, or stunning landscapes that jump straight out of your novel. https://kindlepreneur.com/book-trailers

Spring Clean Your Writing Journey It’s the perfect time of year to spring clean your writing journey! And, as the flower season arrives, it’s not just our homes that could be revitalized. Self-publishing and indie authors can also benefit from a little refresh to their writing careers. https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/spring-clean-your-writing/

No Stranger Christmas A fight against gay discrimination and a story of love and insight in this new novel by critically acclaimed and Award-Winning Author, Dr. Roger Leslie While trying to save Christmas for his financially struggling family, 14-year-old Frankie Lincoln finds the courage to explore his artistry, stand up to gay discrimination, and pursue first love. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CWFCQQDZ

About Roger Leslie: Leslie has won numerous national awards including ForeWord Book of the Year, The Ben Franklin Award, and Writer’s Digest’s #1 Inspirational Book of the Year. At its inaugural event, Leslie received the Houston Literary Award for his body of work.

Dr. Roger Leslie is a scholar in the fields of success and education. Through major literary houses, medium and small presses, and his own publishing house, Leslie has published fiction and nonfiction books in multiple genres: historical fiction, inspirational self-help, spirituality, writing and publishing, movie reference, teaching and librarianship, biography, history, and memoir.

Leslie is in demand as a teacher, coach, and keynote speaker. He leads FLY (First Last Year) courses based on his blockbuster memoir, My First Last Year. He draws from decades as an author, editor, and publisher to coach writers in groups and individually. He is also a sought-after speaker for his lively, entertaining keynotes relating awardwinning movies to any topic or group.

In every book and presentation, Leslie entertains, inspires, and empowers people to live the life they dream and soar toward their own ideal of success.

For more, visit RogerLeslie.com.

THE HIDING Arcane archivist Harper has always been plagued by dreams of grotesque creatures and bloody deaths. When she bumps into a ghostwalker in the Shambles and has a visceral experience of his execution, she knows it’s a foretelling. Yet fear of the Queen’s Guard stops her speaking out.

When her vision indeed comes true, the unusual markings on the ghostwalker’s corpse, combined with his neatly excised vocal cords, send a ripple of terror through York.

https://books2read.com/The-Hiding Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore.

Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. She enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants her stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Her short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website. https://alethealyons.wixsite.com/stories https://www.facebook.com/AletheaRLyons https://twitter.com/AletheaRLyons @AletheaRLyons on TikTok and Instagram

The witch hunt is on. As the body count rises, Harper knows her magic is the only way to find the killer – if she can avoid being hanged as a witch. To protect both human and supernatural, Harper walks the thin line between their worlds. She and her demonhunter foster-sister form a multifaith team with a forensic scientist, a spirit Harper accidentally summoned, and a techno-witch, to catch the killer before more people die.