Book Two of the Cobweb Bride Trilogy Is Out!!

And the Kindle edition of book one, Cobweb Bride  is FREE right now!

Check this out, Vera Nazarian has already published books one and two, and book three is due out on CHRISTMAS DAY!! So you can get book one for free, or even give it as a gift, and then get books two and three in time for Christmas. What a great gift for the epic fantasy lover in the family!

So, here's book two, Cobweb Empire

Book description:
"In a world where no one can die, she alone can kill...
 
"COBWEB EMPIRE (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book Two) is the second book of the intricate epic fantasy flavored by Renaissance history and the romantic myth of Persephone, about death's ultimatum to the world.

"Now that she's Death's Champion, what will Percy do?

"In a world where all death and dying has ceased, and only one person can kill, everyone can only expect a miracle. But what if it's just the tip of the iceberg? Percy Ayren must make her way south, despite all odds, to the place where the death shadow of the Cobweb Bride calls her. With the help of her companions and the invincible black knight, Lord Beltain Chidair whose enigmatic presence disturbs her in a way she cannot explain, Percy must continue her quest, while the mortal world falls apart around them.... 

"Meanwhile, the Marquis Vlau Fiomarre faces the truth of his impossible feelings for Claere Liguon, the Emperor's daughter. He had cruelly taken her life, and now he must serve her until his last dying breath -- it is no longer a matter of honor but secret passion.

"And now, the world itself is changing.... A new dark witch rises, and she will make your heart freeze with her beauty and power....
 
"Empires clash, kings and emperors and gods vie for supremacy, the living and the dead are at war, while love stories play out in amazing directions, and new mind-blowing mysteries are born."

Available editions:
Cobweb Bride (Cobweb Bride Trilogy) Hardcover -  Cobweb Bride Paperback - Cobweb Bride (Cobweb Bride Trilogy) Kindle

Cobweb Empire Hardcover - Cobweb Empire Paperback -  Cobweb Empire (Cobweb Bride Trilogy) Kindle -

Book Review - Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone

Three Parts Dead 

by Max Gladstone

 

I just read this book a few nights ago and let me say "WOW!" Original, complex, mysterious and I never saw the ending coming! The world building was excellent and the characters were consistent, nothing wishy washy about this book.

I've read a lot of science fiction and fantasy and it's rare that an author "gets it right" straight out of the gate. Not only were the loose ends tied up, but the ending was quite satisfying, with the door open for a second book.

I highly recommend Three Parts Deadto anyone who's interested in a strange new world filled with magic, gods, good and evil.

Writing for Yahoo Voices

I've started trying to diversify, so I've added a couple of articles to Yahoo Voices.

The nice thing about Yahoo is that if you have enough articles, or "hit" with one really popular article, you get paid for the views. So in time, this can add up to a nice chunk of change every month.

So far, I've added "How to Fertilize Your Pomegranate Tree" and "Detached Retina - a Personal Story."

I have a bunch of old articles that I chose not to sell, so I'll add a few here and there to build up a body of work on Yahoo.

In the meantime, back to writing for my main client!

New Books on Alien Star Books!

I've added a few new books to Alien Star Books.

Feel free to come by and check out my little book website, where you can find science fiction and fantasy for teens and young adults of Color, featuring protagonists outside of the stereotypical mold of the "white guy saves the world/universe."

Now, don't get me wrong here. There's nothing wrong with having a white protagonist or white characters. It's just that, well, do they ALL have to be white? And I do have a place for white protagonists too, because Alien Star Books is all about INCLUSION, not exclusion. There's plenty of room for new authors, established authors and the classics.

If your teen (or you) is looking for something different in speculative fiction, there just might be a book that'll take his/her/your fancy as you peruse the pages of Alien Star Books.


Alien Star Books

Sad News

Donald Edward Griffith

The Illinois Valley has lost another of the silent pillars of the community, the unsung heroes who step up when there’s work to be done and stick to it until the job is finished.

Don Griffith passed into the hands of the Great Architect with his boots on, on the morning of August 17, 2013 after nearly 82 years on Earth and 58 years of marriage. His work here is done.

Survived by his much loved wife, Hazel Pate Griffith; his children and their spouses, Ruth de Jauregui, Karen and Robert Blaettler, Donna Thompson, and Edward and Joni Griffith; grandchildren, James Erin and Courtney de Jauregui, Lofeeya Darden, Terrence Cheeseboro, Thomas and Karen Blaettler, Krystal and Walter Hulsey, Brian Griffith, Becky Griffith, and Bruce Griffith; great-grandchildren, Avellana Jolie de Jauregui, Dominiq Hulsey, Rayna Hulsey, and Khloe Hulsey; his brother and his wife, Kenneth and Dioney Griffith; and numerous other family members, dear friends, and brothers in Masonry.

Don went on ahead to join his parents Edward Carter Griffiths and Clara Oaks Griffiths Blanchard, brother Ralph “Teddy” Griffith, stepfather Jack Blanchard, and great-granddaughter Joselyn Hulsey.

Born in the original Rexford, Montana, a town now under Lake Koocanusa, Don moved all over the Pacific Northwest with his parents and brothers as a child until his family settled in Point Arena, California. He graduated from Point Arena Joint Union High School in 1949.

Don was a Korean War Veteran, having spent 1952 to 1954 in the Army.

As a young man, he worked in the woods and lumber mills in California and Oregon. While working in Oregon, he met and married Hazel Ione Pate in Brookings, Oregon, in 1955.

Don worked for CalTRANS for 33 years in Point Arena, San Diego, Santa Maria and retired from District 7, Los Angeles, CA. Having retired at midnight, January 16, 1994, he didn’t miss the Northridge earthquake on January 17 at 4:31 a.m., but he got to stay home and take care of his family and house in Downey instead of going out to work on the damaged freeways.

He retired to Cave Junction, Oregon, where he was an active member of the community.

A 43-year Master Mason, Don was the Worshipful Master of Belt Masonic Lodge #18 twice and was the current Treasurer. He was a recipient of the Hiram Award. He also chaired the annual Crab Feed, the Bikes for Books program at Evergreen Elementary School, and the Annual Labor Day Breakfast at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction.

Don was on the Board of Directors of the Kerby Union High School Commemorative Park, the Medford Gun Club, and the Pacific International Trapshooting Association’s Hall of Fame.

He was the President of the Retired Public Employees Association of California, Chapter #102 of Grants Pass, Oregon.

He was also a member of the NRA and the Amateur Trapshooting Association.

An avid trapshooter, Don received his 50,000 target certificate at the PITA Grand Pacific Trapshoot in Evergreen, Washington, in July 2013.

Above all, Don was a dedicated family man, who loved his wife and family with all his heart. He will be missed by all who love him dearly.

A Masonic Memorial was held on September 25, 2013, at the Belt Building in Kerby, Oregon.

Donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Shriner’s Transportation Fund/Emergency Transportation Fund, Attn: Margaret Bryan, 2425 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95817 or to the Belt Masonic Lodge #18 Scholarship Fund, PO Box 3091, Kerby, OR 97531.

West Sound Warriors

Well, I'm an empty nester already.

Yes, my youngest went off to play Junior Hockey in Washington. Wow.

Nose to the grindstone now, no more part-time working at writing because hockey is freaking EXPENSIVE!!

Speaking of, those articles are calling me...

Farewell, my friend, you were taken from your family and friends too soon.

For Chano:
My heart burns with pain, knowing that I can't be there with the family at this sad time. It hurts so much, knowing that Chano was taken long before his time.

Let me tell you what Chano was to our family. We lived next door and Chano and Shirley took us under their wings. We spent holidays and celebrations with our lovely neighbors. I have family, but they live hours away and I couldn't always be there for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, Easter or birthdays. But to Chano and Shirley, we were the little family next door and they adopted us.

Chano was a real man. He took all the young people under his wing, and he showed my youngest son how a real man lives. Taking care of and loving his family, not running the streets and acting a fool. Family was everything to Chano and he treated my son like family. I will forever be grateful for his influence on my boy, and the other fine young men and women that he helped bring up.

And not just my son. My daughter also saw how a real man treats his family -- with love and respect. He was always ready to give a hand, whether it was taking a sink apart to fish her friend's grill out of the trap, or give us a jump when I left the headlights on. Again.

Chano was one of those real men who influence all those around him, not by flaunting money or power, but by being the strong family man.

I believe that we all belong to the Great Spirit, to God, and Chano has only stepped from our plane of existence and on into the next. Energy doesn't disappear. The spirit doesn't disappear. He has only abandoned the mortal shell that ties us to this earth.

And now that Chano has his wings, he can spread them and fly wherever all the family is, birth, blood, and adopted, whether in Texas or Oregon or West Sacramento, he is still with us. He is still watching over his family, his children, and all the rest of us.

His essence remains with his beloved Shirley and his children, and his memory remains with us all.

His mortal shell is laid to rest, but his spirit has been set free.

Let me say, thank you Chano, for all that you've done for us all.

Fly free my friend.

Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarian

OK, check this out.

The first new book in over a decade from two time Nebula nominee Vera Nazarian. You have GOT to get her latest, and best, book!!

The first of a trilogy, the Cobweb Bride (Cobweb Bride Trilogy) is already ramping up the standard for the fantasy genre. Romantic, with flawed characters and a fascinating glimpse of a world where Death has went on strike.

OMGoodness!

The book's description:

Many are called... She alone can save the world and become Death's bride.
 
COBWEB BRIDE (Cobweb Bride Trilogy, Book One) is a history-flavored fantasy novel with romantic elements of the Persephone myth, about Death's ultimatum to the world. 

What if you killed someone and then fell in love with them?
 
In an alternate Renaissance world, somewhere in an imaginary "pocket" of Europe called the Kingdom of Lethe, Death comes, in the form of a grim Spaniard, to claim his Bride. Until she is found, in a single time-stopping moment all dying stops. There is no relief for the mortally wounded and the terminally ill.... 

Covered in white cobwebs of a thousand snow spiders she lies in the darkness... Her skin is cold as snow... Her eyes, frozen... Her gaze, fiercely alive...
 
While kings and emperors send expeditions to search for a suitable Bride for Death, armies of the undead wage an endless war... A black knight roams the forest at the command of his undead father... Spies and political treacheries abound at the imperial Silver Court.... Murdered lovers find themselves locked in the realm of the living... 

Look closer -- through the cobweb filaments of her hair and along each strand shine stars...
And one small village girl, Percy -- an unwanted, ungainly middle daughter -- is faced with the responsibility of granting her dying grandmother the desperate release she needs. 

As a result, Percy joins the crowds of other young women of the land in a desperate quest to Death's own mysterious holding in the deepest forests of the North... 

And everyone is trying to stop her.

You can get this great story in paperback or Kindle. And I have even better news! The next two books are planned for publication by the end of the year! YES! You aren't going to have to wait a whole year for the next book!

Can you tell I'm excited about Vera's new books? Yes, yes, I am!

Happy 4th of July!

May you all have a wonderful day as we celebrate our country's birthday!

Book Review: Cat Tales and Whiskers

Book Review:

Cat Tales and Whiskers: A Young Adult Paranormal Christian Novelette (Ages 10+)
by Ciella Naden

Book description: "When fourteen-year-old Ash is forced to move, the world as he knows it turns upside down. Soulville is a strange town, and the house his mom inherited from a distant relative should be condemned. It’s spooky. Possibly haunted. What Ash initially believes to be a string of bad luck has nothing to do with luck at all and everything to do with a demonic curse on his family. Does Ash have what it takes to break the curse, or will his life be cut short like those before him?"

I bought this book this morning, after a friend and fellow author on Facebook recommended it.

Written by a 13-year-old, all I can say is charming!! A few little formatting issues, nothing worse than extra blank lines now and then and I only noticed one misspelled word. A charming little Christian tale of generational curses and forgiveness. As long as you're still breathing, you CAN make that U-turn and this young author expressed it wonderfully in this short, interesting and easy to read paranormal story. I don't give many 5-star reviews, but this tale really caught me and kept me reading through the entire story. I hope to see more of this author. (RDJ)

Book Review - Waters of Darkness

I have been neglecting my blogs and my book reviews!
-------------------------------------------------------
Waters of Darkness 
4 Stars!


The dynamic duo of New Pulp action adventure -- with pirates!

Authors David Smith and Joe Bonadonna provided a copy of Waters of Darkness for review. To be honest, I've never really been into pirate stories, so I probably would've passed this by. I would have been wrong. Dead wrong!

This multicultural adventure on the high seas was another riproaring homage to old style pulp with a huge swirl of classic Edgar Rice Burroughs mixed with a dollop of Robert Louis Stevenson. Pirates, magic, revenge, horror and a little love mixed by the creative genius of this dynamic duo of the New Pulp movement made this a fast and fun read. This tale of cursed treasure and ancient evil is tightly woven together, with twists and unexpected turns as Captain Bloody Red Buchanan, his first mate Mose Cooper, Captain Crimson Kate O'Toole and their crews face destruction, dismemberment and death while unraveling the mystery of the lead coins, alchemy, demons and unavenged betrayals.

With plenty of battles between "me hearties" and "my uglies" against monsters, the undead and other pirates, the action is non-stop. My only uncomfortable moments were when the pirates called the Arab pirates "dogs." That did give me some pause, as there are some pretty deep and ugly connotations with that term. I had to get a grip and remind myself that it was and still is a common term used in reference to sailors and pirates. So I set aside my 21st century mores and simply enjoyed the tale for what it is -- a great story.

I'd rate this tale at "PG-13".

Spotlight Author!

Wow!

I have been honored as the Spotlight Author on Reading In Black (https://www.facebook.com/groups/readinginblack/) for the week of February 18-22!

I was very surprised when I was invited to participate, as the facebook group is focused on Black authors' works. However, Deatri was so kind and invited me because I participate and post regularly. In addition, I maintain a book website focused on science fiction and fantasy for Teens and Young Adults of Color (http://www.alienstarbooks.com). So I have a huge interest in books that feature protagonists of Color.

Anyway, I'm truly honored. 

No Time to Turn Around!

I have been so darn busy!

First, I finished the first cookbook in the series, "The Soul of California" featuring recipes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Super Bowl Sunday. It's available through a number of e-retailers, including Smashwords, Amazon Kindle and in a paperback edition. 

But what really has me jazzed is what I saw the other day. I was researching plants for an article and saw THIS! Check out the ad on the right side of the page!

 

Ohmygoodness, check that out. My little cookbook is being featured in ads on major websites! Now how cool is that? LOL, now lets see if it generates any sales!

Paw Nation!

I've been approved to write for Paw Nation! Whoot - whoot!

I'm really excited about it, a whole new world of critters to write about. This is going to be fun!

Speaking of critters, here's a cute little picture of my poopies...

As you can see, I have a whole little pack of my own!

The Exotic Erotic Ball Returns in 2013!

That's great news!

I was totally shocked when I heard that they'd canceled the event last year. People fly in from all over to attend.

Unfortunately, it's not likely that I'll be able to attend. I live 7 hours away by car and it's hard to get away. (Self-employment doesn't mean that you can just pick up and go!)

But here's a little memory from the past...

 And yes, I know, you can't see the thigh-high black leather boots that match the jacket.

Who Says Hockey Players Aren't Graceful?

A shot on goal...

Selling ebooks to Libraries!

What a concept!

I LOVE IT!

Joe Konrath has this GREAT idea about selling one copy of his ebook to a library and they can lend out as many copies as they like in whatever format they like. FABULOUS!
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2012/08/ebooks-for-libraries.html

I'm a huge supporter of libraries and I think this is a fabulous idea. Libraries would get one ebook at $3.99 and be able to lend it out to readers. No more waiting for a book, or even going to the library. You could simply download it and read it. Due date comes -- poof, it's gone from your reader. It would save the library an immense amount of money that they currently spend on trying to recover overdue books. It would save the reader money, since he/she doesn't have to worry about returning the book, it's all automated. And authors would get more of their books "out there" for readers, building a larger fan base.

I think this is freaking awesome!

And check out the comments, there are some great ideas on how to do this.

Glowgems for Profit - 5 Stars!

This is another of the books provided to me for review. I really, really liked it and gave it 5 stars! I also added it to my book website, www.alienstarbooks.com, on the "Black" page. I have no qualms about a teen reading this book, what little sex there is, well, it's the "she came to me in the dark" and boom, next chapter. No vivid descriptions of sex. A bit violent, definitely a grittier universe here, but teens see worse on their video games and movies...

Glowgems for Profit (The Profit Logbook)

Let me just plunge right into the review:

I'd read the sample, so I picked up where I'd left off and the next thing I knew, it was very, very late and I was done with the book. All I can say is WOW!

This is the action adventure sci-fi that hearkens back to an earlier era, when science fiction was a rip-roaring, wild ride through the universe. There's not a bit of magic in this book to muck up the science, nor are there long boring explanations of how futuristic gadgets work -- a sci-fi fan's dream of the perfect science fiction novel!

Refreshingly, Davis' universe is diverse, with good guys and bad guys of every ethnicity and race, and often you have to guess by the last name or a bit of a description to figure it out. Zack himself is Black, an unusual feature in science fiction in general -- a Black main character -- and he doesn't even get killed off. I can't call him African-American, he's from Mars. With his crew/partner, Deuce; an intelligent artificial intelligence (AI), Sylvia, running the ship; a wheelchair-bound sidekick/hacker, Rabbit; and an Asian love interest, Cleopatra Lee (hmmm, makes me think of Cleopatra Jones), and an assortment of bad guys, they leap from one situation to the next, never quite stopping between.

I haven't read good, action-packed sci-fi like this in a long time. I liked the main character, Zack. He's flawed, hard-headed, haunted by the past, a war and an experiment that he survived -- more or less intact. He's not perfect, he loses his temper, he gets it all wrong at times and he'll hit a girl. And I still like him. I also like that the nanos inside his body aren't all perfect, he uses them and sometimes they use him, but there's a price to pay, IE pain. The science is just "there", he doesn't worry about how this or that works. No boring explanations in this book, the author jumps right into the story and off you go!

The bad guys are bad guys, his disabled sidekick who also survived the wartime experiment, but not so well, is a computer genius. And the good guys? I questioned as I read, wondering who was a good guy and who wasn't. No spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to see what I mean.

Several times I was expecting the plot to go in one direction and it made a sharp turn, leading in another direction entirely. Interesting! The story kept me riveted until it was over. It's obvious that this is the first of several titles and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

I was so busy reading the story, I didn't really notice the few typos that had crept in despite careful editing by the publisher. The book is well formatted, none of those weird glitches that plague e-books.

(I was provided a free copy of the book by the publisher. Other than the book, I received no compensation for this review.)

Book Review - Children of Destruction

My book website, http://www.AlienStarBooks.com, is doing pretty well, drawing some attention.

In fact, recently a small publisher contacted me, submitting books for inclusion on my website. In addition, he asked me to read and review a couple of books.

I must say, after reading the first book, those of you who are hesitating to dive into the self-published book market, you need to take a deep breath and go for it. Just be sure to read the samples and reviews so ensure that you have an idea of the author's ability to write an interesting tale, and then get the darn book! You can't go wrong, the prices are darn near used book prices and you can read them on a Kindle or Nook, on your home computer, or depending on the publisher, download a pdf that you can print out a few pages at a time and read at your leisure. (Use the fast draft option on your printer and print two sided to save paper!)

One of the books provided to me (I haven't read the other yet), the Children of Destruction by Al Philipson is a good read, coming to a very satisfying conclusion.

Children of Destruction

Here's my review, posted on Amazon.com:

I really enjoyed this adult romp that extends from the deaths of darn nearly everyone on Earth to a distant planet, spanning 200 years. A new beginning for both societies, leading up to a violent and satisfying conclusion.

Like another reviewer, I felt like the Matthews family saga dragged a little in the middle of the story, until it jumped 200 years into the future. I would've like to have read about their first contact with other groups of surviving humans. On the other hand, I liked the way the author mixed a bit of social commentary into the mix, in a very Heinlein-like way, and the solutions to their continued survival. I was a bit concerned at how few survivors there were, as I know a lot of very, very intelligent people who have high IQs; it seemed a little unrealistic on that point. But then again, this is science fiction so perhaps some didn't survive due to their mental quirkiness. A little more diversity in the original disaster would've been nice too. Only two children survive to join the Matthews family, one a teen, and they're both white. Hmmm. Surely there would've been more highly intelligent children who lived, some of them children of Color? And no gays or lesbians?

I would've also enjoyed reading a snippet about the alien's evil wife and her reaction when she found out how she'd out-smarted herself. And too bad they didn't take a few slaves along, it would've been cool to see how they'd have adapted to space and a new world. However, the callousness in how they were abandoned highlighted the aliens' brutality and inhuman (and yet all too human) disregard for other species. I did see some irony in the alien protagonist's situation and the end result, 200 years in the future. No spoilers here, you'll have to read the story to see what I mean!

On the formatting and grammar end, there were actually very few typos and misused words. A few places where there was an extra space between a word and a comma, and the smart quote problem where the single quote faces the wrong way on shortened words like 'em. (You have to put two single quotes in, then delete the first one. Write ''em and then change it to 'em) In general, nothing that held up the progression of the story or made me groan in frustration. One more proofreading pass through the book would've taken care of those small issues.

All in all, I'd recommend this very creative and practical science fiction adventure to adult sci-fi fans. Due to the sex, I'd say it's definitely an R-rated adult book. Some scenarios, including the sex and group marriage, may be disturbing to more conservative readers.

Please note that the book was provided to me at no charge and I received no other compensation for reading and reviewing it.

Where Does The Time Go?

I sit at the computer, day after day, week after week, working away at articles. I often wonder where the time goes, how can it take so long to write what appears to be simple little articles.

Well, you know, they really aren't all that simple.

I have to provide reputable references and resources for each article. I have to figure out my own original view for each topic, making sure that I'm writing in a clear, concise and friendly, yet authoritative manner.

It's not as easy as it looks.

Where does the time go? Between researching, thinking, writing and rewriting, it goes very, very quickly.

But the good thing is that I keep writing steadily, so I must be doing this right...

The Move to Oregon Is Finally Finished!

Thank the Good Lord and my parents.

We rolled out of here at 5:35 am, got to West Sacramento, loaded the big trailer in an hour (hey, when everything is in a storage and neatly stacked, it's a whole lot easier than moving out of a house), spent the night in Woodland and drove back here. We did have to stop and tarp the trailer south of Redding. I didn't expect it to not only rain, but come down in buckets.

So, well, honestly, the stuff is still on the trailer. I've decided that Monday, my son and I will dedicate a day to rearranging the entire garage and unloading all the boxes and bins from the trailer.

It's a good feeling.

Although on a sad note, just so you all know, my friends, the freaking bank turned down a CASH offer on my little house. So it's not my little house anymore. They have it up for sale for only 8K more than the cash offer. Are they crazy or what?

I'm going to settle in here for a few years, get my life in order and save money. I WILL buy again. But by then, I'll really just need two bedrooms, an office/library, and a nice big garage for my stuff. A finished attic would be very nice, then I could manage with two bedrooms, one for me and one for my library and set up the attic for my guests/kids.

Life is still good.

The Importance of Your Book Cover

Yes, I know, it's "JUST" for your new e-book.

Don't discount the importance of a flashy cover.

I've been playing with text and simple graphics to make some fun covers for my future projects. (NOTE: These are MY covers! If you want a book cover, you can contact me, if it's a simple e-book, I don't charge much to put it together for you.)

For example, this is a book that I haven't actually written yet. Murder mystery for sure, but urban fantasy with vampires or pseudo-vampires? What do you think?























Continuing with the midnight murder mystery theme:

Of course, some of you might be a little too young to know the Oasis reference. Lets just say, it was a very popular song and I'm showing my age that I even remember it...

My New Website!

OK, this is the project I've been working on ever since I made the mistake of asking for referrals to good science fiction and fantasy for Teens of Color.

Oh my goodness! There was some not-nice comments and one person even accused me of wanting NO White characters at all.

Wahhhht?

Are you kidding me? Are people really that threatened, that they can't share the future with Teens of Color? That all protagonists must be the traditional, stereotypical, White male hero? Really? REALLY?

So amid encouraging private messages and referrals from fellow writers, educators and parents, I took the info and started a website featuring short book reviews of science fiction and fantasy books with protagonists of Color. It's going to take a lot of work, but I've gotten a lot done already and went live because, well, I could work on it forever and it'll never be finished.

Alien Star Books, www.alienstarbooks.com, is all about reading!! I'm reading and reviewing as fast as I can so I can get short reviews of the books up ASAP. Next to the reviews, I have the book cover images that are also links to Amazon. (In the interests of disclosure, I DO get a couple of nickels if you order using my links.)

And before anyone goes off about the focus of the website, yes, there is an "Everybody Else" page that features good sci-fi/fantasy with protagonists that might be a clone, disabled, female, genderless, Gay or Lesbian or White. Why? Because my purpose is to INCLUDE, not exclude good books that are appropriate for teens and young adults, featuring characters that they can relate to. So yes, that includes Tolkien and Asimov and Bradley and Norton and all the other classic works.

I'd like to invite you to submit referrals to science fiction and fantasy books, including your own published works. But be warned, I will review the book and I reserve the right to speak my mind...

Incredible Cubes in France

These are incredible! I'd love to have one in my backyard as a guest house, or an office. Very cool concept and implementation!

Frederik Pohl's Rules for Writing

1. Write every day. Yes, that means that you must write 365 days a year. No excuses.

2. Write 600 words a day. If it takes you 45 minutes, fine. You are done for the day. If it takes you 18 hours, fine. That's how long your writing required that day.

3. Finish every piece you start. That way, you never fail as a writer since a writer's only real failure is the abandoned piece.

----------

I got this from Writer's Delight blog and it sure resonates!

If you write every single day, you'll have that story finished pretty darn quickly. 600 words multiplied by 30 days is 18,000 words. So in two months, you'll have at least 36,000 words on paper. That's a novella already! In six months, you'll have 108,000 words -- a novel!

And to think, you started your novel with only 600 words a day...

(Note: In general, under 80,000 words is a novella or juvenile fiction and over 80,000 is a novel. Traditional publishers like seeing novels between 80,000 and 120,000 words. However, you should write until the story is done, then worry about word counts!)

 

Making A Few Nickels While Posting Online

Now, I'm not going to pretend that you make a lot of money posting to forums. It's basically pennies per post and to do well, you must write good posts. That means more than one sentence and sharing relevant information and/or opinions in a well organized and well written manner.

Having said that, if you're the kind of person who spends a lot of time online and "talking" in forums, why not get paid for it?

I'm hooked up with PostLoop. If you're interested, hey, I wouldn't mind if you used my link so I could make an extra nickel now and again: http://www.postloop.com/invite/RuthDJ.

There are a number of forums hooked up with PostLoop and a significant amount of activity, so you can select topics that interest you and have some lively discussions. It's actually a nice break from your regular writing routine and a better use of your "spare" time than Facebook or craigslist!


And hey, thanks for looking!

The National Anthem - January 11, 2012

Winter Classic 2011 in San Jose, CA

Our first ice hockey tournament. It was a good experience.

I took snippets of video with my Blackberry and this is what my son put together.

Yes, he's the goalie!



The Hobbit Is Coming!

Oh my gosh, I am so excited!

I still have to wait a year to see The Hobbit, but it's finally on its way to us.

I can hardly wait, if the film is half as good as the trailer, it's going to be 100 times better than the garbage that the studios put out 99% of the time!

Check it out!

"Voodoo Macbeth"

My friend's grandmother, Ethel Johnson-Drayton, was in this play. She was one of the witches, freeze the frame at about 3:15 or so and you can see her pretty clearly.

Her husband was a well-known jazz dancer, Thaddeus Drayton. 

"Voodoo Macbeth":
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fedtp/ftsmth00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_Macbeth
http://www.johncoulthart.com/feuilleton/2006/10/17/voodoo-macbeth/
http://deeperintomovies.net/journal/archives/4065
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul25.html

Thaddeus Drayton:
http://www.streetswing.com/histmai2/d2greenlee-drayton.htm 
http://atdf.org/awards/ClassAct.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=WXrzH6mz4cMC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=Thaddeus+Drayton+dancer&source=bl&ots=GthoNJ9O5b&sig=eRzk1q5oBS0K51VtnT6JYOsunnc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yrbwTr_yA63TiAKxo5iPDg&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Thaddeus%20Drayton%20dancer&f=false
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2306&dat=19150612&id=l6knAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lAQGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4918,5233808

A New Beginning

Well, except for being short on cash, I'm enjoying our new beginning. I have so much to do here and I've GOT to get finished moving so I can stop going to California every couple of weeks.

Oh, yes, I'll be back in Cali. In fact, I'll be in San Jose the week between Christmas and New Years. But running back and forth is killing my budget. I need to be able to settle down and just work for a few weeks to generate more income.

Anyway, this move is a good thing for all of us.

I love the house, I wish it were mine. There's a lot of things I'd do to fix it up. But the best part is the property. This is the view from my kitchen window.

Note the burn barrel in the yard! Yes, I'm not in Cali any more!

RIP Josh

I can't explain why bad things happen to good people.

Josh, you were one of the good kids. We will all miss you terribly, until the day comes that we all go Home. You were taken before your time by a murderer, you and your cousin.

Rest in Peace dear young man. Rest in Peace.

The North Bay Stand Down in Dixon, CA

Yes, Stand Down started today and I'm not there. I have moved to Oregon to begin my "retired" life.

LOL! Retired? Yeah, right. Now I'm self-employed so you know I'm busting behind, writing online content, researching new revenue streams AND still trying to get organized.

I'm only retired from Gov't work. My real work continues...

In the meantime, it's not too late to head over to Dixon to volunteer at the Stand Down. They still need YOU to help tomorrow and on Thursday and Friday with closing down and the massive clean-up job. We always need more volunteers to clean the grounds, take out the trash, mop the floors and do a complete scrub-down in the kitchen.

I Am Moving!

Yes, I'm getting ready to move out of state.

It's not easy, but I'm going to do it. I'm a Cali kid, born and raised, so this is going to be a big change.

Well, ok, a change. I'm only moving about 30 miles outside the state, so there's plenty of California people already there. In fact, some of my old co-workers beat me there.

I'm moving closer to family, to a cheaper area, where there's ice hockey at high school level.

So, gotta run! Only another 7 or 8 bookcases to pack. And the rest of my liquor bottle collection. And the California Raisins.

And more, much, much more...

Martha Stewart Wedding!

Yes!

My oldest son, the professional photographer, and his wife shot a wedding in Bali last year and it made it to Martha Stewart Weddings!

Wow!

And check out the next to the last image -- awesome!

The Wedding

The First Week

Well the first week of retirement still feels like a week of Fridays (I used to have every other Friday off). Every day I get up, get a kid off to school, then come back and attempt to write.

I say attempt because my daughter is in the process of moving out! We spent all day yesterday painting the tiny little duplex she's renting (yes, Mom has been bleeding money) and have to go back to finish painting all the trim and the kitchen dining area. I must say that she's doing a good job -- of course I'm following along and touching up.

But, but, but, curses upon whoever used FLAT paint on the window and door trims. And it's a horrible almost brownish beige that looks like they mixed it with whatever was lying around that day. What the heck were they thinking? It's going to take at least two coats of a good semi-gloss to cover that mess. Maybe three. AND they painted the doors that color too!! I may need another can of cream-colored paint...

So, my little singer is also a decorator. The bathroom, a lovely shade of light grey with hints of lilac. Looks great with the grey floor and tiles. The bedroom is orchid. Gorgeous. And the living room is "Homemade Butterscotch". A little dark, hope the landlord doesn't have a cow, but beautiful. It will look fabulous with her leopard print sofa and chair!

She is incredibly excited, as she should be. Her first place and it's not even an apartment and relatively cheap, only about $100 more than a studio would be. Not too shabby.

I really should take pictures...

Retirement - Here I Come!!

I'm both excited and nervous! Only four more working days and I'm officially retired.

Well, retired from THAT job!

I am returning to my other career, as an artist and writer.

I have so much to do!

The New Mercy Thompson - River Marked

Oh my gosh that was good! I read it cover to cover last night and it was great!

Now, some reviewers complained because a lot of the book was just Mercy and Adam. But (no spoilers here), it was freaking awesome and took some twists and turns that will just blow your mind.

Once again, Patricia Briggs has given us an awesome urban fantasy, complete with fae, werewolf and coyote.

This is a must read for the urban fantasy fan. But start with the first book, Moon Called, don't start in the middle of the series. (I HATE it when I find a book I like and realize I've started in the middle. Then I have to hunt down all the rest of the books...)

On a side note: I have a question - How old is Bran? Really, I'm serious. If Asil is 1300 years old and Bran is older, just how old are Bran and his oldest son Samuel? I'd like to see some more info in future books, either the Alpha and Omega series or in Mercy's series.

The West Coast Blues Awards

Sunday – March 27, 2011
6:00 to 10:00 pm

HILTON OAKLAND AIRPORT
Grand Ball Room
One Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621

This years show will induct notables as Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Winton Marsalis, Lonnie Brooks, Lester Chambers (Chamber Brothers), Ben Hodges (Flamingos), Minor Ellis Williams III, Barbara Taylor, Chuck Johnson (Soul Beat), Patrick Brock, Bonnie Simon, Bruno Brunecker, Church of John Coltrain and Arch Bishop Franzo King,
Eddie Wilson, Henry Dalton Williams, Phil Givant and Johnny Winter.

Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Awarded to Vivian Waldrup-Patterson and Julie C. Paisant

TICKETS; $30 in advance; $35 at the door

Purchase tickets at:
Highsierratickets.com

Award Winner List

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Press Release

We are planning on being there, the Leonard Lothlen Gospel Band is receiving an award and are scheduled to perform. Way awesome!

Despicable Me

My daughter and I just watched "Despicable Me."

What a cute and clever movie! I really enjoyed it.

It was a fun take on the classic villain/hero cartoon. I would highly recommend it.

Here's a trailer, check it out!

A Late Night In Oakland

A late night for me, but wow! Well worth it!

Of course, that 5:30am wake-up call (that actually ended up being 6:30am because I overslept -- OOPS!) wasn't easy, but we got to the hockey tournament in Antioch on time.

As I've said before, my little wannabe video camera isn't the best, but it works...

Hockey

Hockey.

Hockey.

We seem to live and breathe hockey at my house. I rarely have much time to myself, I work, take kid to hockey, go with other (grown) kid to performances, and then I work some more.

Hockey.

Gospel.

Music.

More hockey.

I don't regret this though. My kids will all be grown, just like my oldest, and leading their own lives soon enough. They all grow up way too fast. Way too fast.

Native American Music Awards

THE 12th ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010
SENECA NIAGARA HOTEL & CASINO
NIAGARA FALLS, NY

http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/home.cfm

I wish I could be there. Check out the website.

I'm So Excited!

My daughter did some background work recently and the artist was very happy with it. So she's going to be on an album.

OK, OK, I know, they're CDs now.

I can't say more than that right now. As soon as the CD comes out, I'll post all the details and which track she's on.

Background work is the bread and butter of the vocalist. Luther Vandross, God rest his soul, was a background singer for years before his breakthrough.

Anyway, it's a good start for her. Here we go...

My Novel Is Moving Along

Slowly, very slowly.

I've been writing it, little by little, but I'm sure it's going to be more than one volume at this point. The chapters are flowing but I just write them, they'll be rearranged and put in proper order, tied together in the editing.

It's taking a very interesting turn, I didn't know it was going in that direction until the words were flowing out onto the keyboard. Wow. Just wow.

I have a sample chapter on my website www.ruthdj.com, but it's very much the first draft so, well, I dunno.

I've already written the ending, but there's a whole lot of travel between the beginning and the end. I feel like I've just put my feet on the road...

Genealogy Stuff

Mom said it was OK to post these images, in the hope that they'll be of help to other families looking for information on their ancestors.

1909, Christmas Dinner at Fort Assinniboine, Montana
"L" Company, 2nd U.S. Infantry


1910 Thanksgiving dinner


This menu was very fragile so we didn't try to get it entirely flat on the scanner. It is also too large for the borders to show.





Names:
1909 Christmas
Captain Chas. (probably Charles) S. Lincoln
1st Lt Geo. E. Kumpe
2nd Lt F. A. Barker
1st Sgt Orin H. Rigley
Q.M. Sgt Harry J. Burns
Sargents
Rother McCoy
Michael Andes
Wallis Brumby
Corporals
William J. Smith
John W. Rock
Tilden Ingle
Jack J. Evans
John W. Grey
Patrick Hassen
Cooks
Edward LaTaine
Henry H. Barnes
Musicians
Herbert Hammaker
Anthony J. Lukomsk (Lukomski)
Artificer
William T. Whitteker
Privates
Achenbach
Anglin
Antek, Stefan
Bush, Frederick
Capps, Lester R.
Carson, Ray (Corson, Ray)
Collins
Conner, Fred L.
Cooper, G. L.
Cooper, J. F.
Coyle, Edward
Duffy, Thomas J.
Fletcher, James
Goneau, John A.

Hall, Scott

Hammer, Clarence A.
Hilliard, Harry W.

Hillman, John G.
Himanka, Sam
Hoover

Hudson, Jesse J.
Jones, Ellis M.
Kastner, Reinhold
Kemp, Earl E.
Lantinen, Otto
Mailhoit
Manry, Eugene A.
Matloho
McCauley
McHugh, Patrick J.
Miles, Delmus
Moulton, Charles E.
Parsons, Charles A.
Pate. Marcelles
Polk, Willie
Sanford, Otis E.
Schulze
Schwarz, Edward H.
Vincent
Wilks
Wolfeil
Wells, Estell

Added names at Thankgiving 1910
Sgt Martin L. McGaha
Sgt Martin Brogan
Sgt Eli J. Wells
Corporal James Wilkins
L. Corporal O'Brien
Musician Paul Matloha
Privates
Cooper, Charles S.
Cooper, Giles L.
Corson, Ray
Cummins, Alva T.
Evans, Jack J.
Gillman, William
???, Harry (in the fold, can't read it)
Milligan, James J.
Stewart, Alfred E.

Dreyer's® Fruit Bars: Where Will You Plant Your Vote?

Dreyer's® Fruit Bars: Where Will You Plant Your Vote?

Who should win the orchard?

This is a simple way to support a tribe. I voted for the Yurok Tribe in Hoopa, CA.

Who will you vote for?

My Friend Published An eBook!

My fellow hockey parent has published an eBook.

I really thought I should share his information and website because he has 15 years of experience in the field -- executive recruitment.

Yes, he's one of those guys that got your boss that great job with awesome pay!

Anyway, he decided to write an eBook and share his expertise with us. With his tips, your resume will stand out from the crowd, you'll shine at your interview, and you'll know exactly what to say to the dreaded question, "Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses." (ARGGHHHHH -- actually, mine are the same, I'm articulate, strong, strong-willed, tenatious, and stubborn. Good when you have to bull on through a project. Not so good when the boss is wrong and I know I'm right... LOL!)

Insider Interview Secrets by Steve Schwartz http://www.insiderinterviewsecrets.com/ -- check it out!

The National Anthem at Roseville Speedway

Check her out!

Yes, yes, I know it's not a great camera, but check her out!!

IPad Helps 99-Year-Old Rediscover Reading - Photos - KCRA Sacramento

You can't stop a reader!!

IPad Helps 99-Year-Old Rediscover Reading - Photos - KCRA Sacramento