No Rest for the W...riter

It is too early to celebrate - but I am planning to do so after March 12. On that date, I plan to publish Book 3 of the Legends of the Winged Scarab, "After the Cataclysm."

Meantime, it's back to line-editing the last few chapters, crossing the T-s and dotting the I-s, and making sure everything is in line for the launch.

So, don't give up on me, my friends, because once that is done, "I'll be back." (Wait, isn't there another Austrian who always says that? Wish I'd be as famous as he is - although hopefully for VERY different reasons.

For The Love of The Horse

Ann Jamieson has received dozens of Perfect Five-Star Reviews for her series: For the Love of the Horse.

Ann loves her horses; and her readers love her books as the bond between horse and human shines through the pages of her books.

                                   

Ann Jamieson - Book Overviews

For the Love of the Horse

(Amazing True Stories About the Horses We Love)

For the Love of the Horse honors horses of all breeds, sizes and disciplines, from Minis to Percherons, from barrel racers to dressage and event horses, driving horses to endurance horses and so much more.

Horses have shared a timeless bond throughout history with us, serving as work horses, athletic partners, family pets, and four-legged therapists. No animal has served humans in so many capacities and been so generous with their work ethic, love, and willingness to give all they have.

Volume I:

We meet Iroquois, literally rescued right out of the slaughterhouse, who went on to take his owner and friend, Allene, to the Grand Prix field in Wellington, Florida, site of the most prestigious horse show series in the world.

We laugh at the inexperienced pony owners who, in an effort to prepare for a show, turn their pony pink! We meet Soldier, a moose of a horse who with his kindness and sagacity enabled an elderly gentleman to ride until he died.

And we cheer on the underdog Stonehill team as they overcome obstacles (including a tornado that took out part of their hotel) to be named Intercollegiate Champions. These are just a few of the dozens of inspiring and funny stories in this volume.

Volume II:

We meet Antigua, who taught Will Faudree the ropes of upper level venting. We learn about how the Lippizans of Austria helped a young girl deal with the terrors of encroaching Nazism and how an arrogant stallion turned into Liz Austin’s beloved partner and dressage super star Olivier. Find out how a sensitive and intuitive horse named LT reclaimed a young man discarded for lost. Stacy Westfall and Whizards Baby Doll blew audiences away with their bareback and bridleless reining routine. How did Stacy train “Roxy” to do it? Find out here.

Volume III:

SPECIAL OFFER

 On Friday, January 31, Ann has graciously made For the Love of The Horse, Volume III, available for FREE. Please, do yourselves a favor and get your copy here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006RW9UVA/

 Everyone knows Teddy (Theodore O’Connor), the diminutive pony who showed the big horses how it was done. But no one knows his amazing story. Read it here. How many horses went from slaughterhouse rescue to Horse of the Year? Two of them, Monday Morning and Jamaica, are in this volume. And did you know the first schoolbus was . . . a horse? Read about him here. If you saw Blu Horse Matine’s stunning performance in the World Equestrian Games, you have to check out her story here.

Volume IV:

Lisa Kelly is one of only three women who brave the most dangerous roads in North America as an Ice Road Trucker. She’s also a horse lover with a great story.

Tina Konyot’s family performed in circuses; Tina is now an Olympic dressage rider. Find out how she formed a partnership with a horse that most people didn’t think would get far, and qualified for the London Olympics.

Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton braved a burning barn and saved Neville Bardos. It was the second time Boyd saved Neville; in return Neville saved Boyd, and his family.

People wondered what breed the stunning stallion that won Reserve Champion Stallion at Dressage at Devon was. They were stunned to learn that Padré is an American Mustang. Read it all and more in Volume IV.

Naturally, Ann would appreciate your reaction to her work. Yes, she already has the perfect forty-eight 5-star score, but why not make it an even fifty; or sixty, or a hundred, for that matter. We authors are like that: We truly appreciate feedback to our writing.

Read more about Ann on her Amazon Author Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Ann-Jamieson/

CANNIBAL RATS!

I must be psychic! Because I was right about the rats!

When I took a last look at the Yahoo News before shutting my computer down, I almost had a heart attack--well, maybe not quite. But I did scream, "It can't be! That's MY ghost ship! How dare it still be afloat!"

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/ghost-ship-cannibal-rats-are-swarming-over-twitterverse-2D11985346

Yes, the Lyubov Orlova is the very ghost ship I am breathing new life into in my work-in-progress, "After the Cataclysm." Judging from the research on her, I surely thought she had long since slipped beneath the waves of the Atlantic as there had been no sightings for one year. Hence, I thought I was free to do with her as I pleased. Well, at least I was right about the RATS!

(A helpful person sent me this image of the 'cannibals.'
  That's enough to want that ship sunk.)








I just hope she is not up to any mischief (such as crashing onto shore) before I finish my novel. Because that would surely ruin my plans for her. And they say the life of a novelist is all make-belief.

Celebrating Good Fellowship

In deference to my British friends (especially Viklit who started this blog-hop), I am posting this now since their Friday starts several hours ahead of ours; hopefully with less frigid temperatures (enough, already!).

Today, I celebrate the camaraderie of fellow-writers, their generosity and trust. I have gleaned a lot of information from their blogs, interchanged ideas, and become pen pals with several of them.

When I come across authors who write about animals, I sometimes contact them asking to grant me an interview for this blog. They are always gracious and furnish me with input and pictures that have not only ranged from cats and dogs, but embraced a dolphin, a buffalo, tropical fish, a tortured circus elephant and any other I could get my hands on.

Mind you, in our new digital world, it is a symbiotic relationship as I do hope that the followers of those authors might come over and check me and Pasha out as well (we all do have our little delusions).

Next Friday, I shall feature author Ann Jamieson, who rides and writes about horses. In addition, she promised to make her latest book free especially for our next Friday blog; so mark the date. That’s all I am going to say for now.

Nervous Nelly

It may be just a small thing to celebrate for this blog-hop because our town is small.

Still, this morning, I am as excited as a poodle at the Westminster Dog Show—will I make Best of Show?

Why? Because my Khamsin, The Devil Wind of The Nile,
was January’s choice of our Library’s Readers Club, and today, they are going to discuss it. I am invited to talk to the group. Considering that I am the only author there, my hope is that I will at least make the cut into the Winners Circle.

                           

http://www.amazon.com/Inge-H.-Borg/e/B006QYQKUS

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/505050

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/inge-h.-borg

http://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomInge_H_Borg

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/khamsin-devil-wind-nile/id515801863?mt=11

Just a Four-Letter Word

If we get really lucky in life, we acquire one of those true, true friends who sticks by us through thick and thin (and I am not just referring to a changing waistline).

After I had moved to San Diego, I became one such lucky person. First, my pleasant neighbor turned into an amazing cat-sitter while I went sailing for six months. Then, as if that wasn't enough to earn him brownie-points in cat-heaven, he went on to save me from bleeding to death on my best oriental rug (skip the brownie-points; that earned him a whole Box of Chocolates).

The cat-sitting must have gone well as he now wanted a cat of his own. We went shopping (for him) and saw two adorable littermates. What else? We both came home with a new kitten. That made us ‘related.’

After I moved halfway across the country, I always e-mail a little pat to his Susie? No. Suzie? Wait. Susy?

After enduring my misspellings year after year, my three-letter-friend Dan finally told me:

“For heaven’s sake, even you can use this four-letter word: S u z y !”

* * *

Ode to Suzy

*

I am the swankiest on the block.

The Queen of Tierrasanta.

And though my grooming is ad hoc,

my life is such that I don’t need Mylanta.

My handsome realm, occasionally people-hectic,

is best described as fascinatingly eclectic.

While ancient Bastet comforts me,

My name – by Horus – is S u Z Y.

Not Until Hell Freezes Over

For this Friday blog-hop, I am celebrating my writer’s life. My New Year’s resolution is that I will not stop writing “until hell freezes over.”

Oh, please don’t tell me it just did.....

No. That's Niagra Falls, a heavenly natural wonder. Saved by the ice!

Keep Safe. Keep Warm.

Of course, knowing me, you realize that I am referring to your PETS. With another wintry blast from the Arctic, it might be fun for Buster, Fiffy and Fluffy to frolic in new powdery snow. But just for a little while. Believe me, they’ll be much happier coming back inside, sitting by the fire or watching the weather through the window.

Another of my “pet”-peeves—yes, it’s a pun, but an important one, is to plead with you to keep any Antifreeze stashed safely away from them. It is pure POISON. I just bought some myself today which reminded me of this important topic.

And now that hopefully your sweet and loyal companions are safe and warm, I do wish the same for you.

Happy New Year, Everyone. 

The Moth and the Chameleon

It changes color with its creed

and lurks about in rotting weed.

A tender branch snaps under its fat scales.

A hopeful moth, illuminated by brief joy,

blind to malevolence and spite

flutters toward it seeking literary light.

Out flicks the bulbous forked tongue.

Squashed like flea under thumb

The moth is gone,

its hope turned into ugly stains

of unexplained, uncalled-for pains.

Hence, little writer-moth,

Beware: Of bilious hot breath

spewing forth from fat Chameleons.

A Poet and his Tropical Fish

Besides drinking eggnog and telling fibs about intended New Year’s resolutions, it is a time when some – okay most – of us dream of tropical islands, warm tradewind breezes and ocean surf lapping rhythmically against white sandy beaches ...

Living in the not-so-tropical north, Poet Jim Bennett has created a more practical way to imagine himself in those balmy climes – at least, while he feeds the many colorful fish in his tropical tank.

Is it then an oxymoron that Jim’s poems reflect the cold and deep snow

of his native Canada?

I say not.

His words reflect not his dreams, but his innermost feelings; 

the mark of a true poet.

About Jim Bennett’s evocative writing:

Cold Comes Through

Life is about loss. In the end, we all die. Yet we may face illness and reduced capacity, expected and unexpected, with fear or courage, faith or despair. These fifty poems are about that experience....

Behind the Lime Kiln

This collection is about relationships. These poems were written for human beings living in today's world, that is, for us, and thus for you.

Hard Landing

Fifty-seven unique, sometimes scary, experiences. This selection of poems is not for children, nor is it for squeamish adults. The collection probes unique personal problems of different lives in difficult situations.

The Scroll of the Violin

These poems cover a range of philosophy, religion, belief and unbelief: religious poems, atheist poems, questioning poems, and answering ones.

Jim Bennett’s poetry books can be found at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Bennett/e/B005HSHNLE/

Print versions are available from the Lulu Store in paperback and as e-pubs:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?contributorId=1103364

I urge you to visit Jim Bennett’s website where you will find some great images and also a few interesting observations about life in today’s Canada.

http://jim-bennett.ca/