Precious Moon

I started writing Precious Moon many years ago while I was travelling around South East Asia, having spent the previous few years alternating working in the UK with long trips backpacking around Europe, New Zealand, India and Asia.  I was on my way to Japan, where I’d just accepted a job teaching English.

The primary theme of my story was displacement - that feeling of not quite feeling at home anywhere, and not really wanting to settle down in your place of origin either.

In Precious Moon, Katie and Alex both feel this, for different, fascinating and touching reasons.  Katie won’t go back to Kenya, Alex stays away from England, and both decide to stay in Argentina, despite warnings from the British government that they should leave.

I initially chose to set the story in Argentina because it was a country I was fascinated with in a romanticised way, probably because of books I’d read and films I’d seen and music I’d listened to.  As I researched more, I realised just how deep and profound the country’s history, and in particular recent history, was.  Argentina was the perfect setting and backdrop for the story I wanted to write and themes I wanted to explore.  The wars I wanted to incorporate in my story tied in perfectly with my aims, as well as the time frames linking it with the back flashes to Katie growing up in Kenya.

The story is set in 1982 and the Falklands War has just broken out.  Living in a remote Andean village far from the hostilities down South, Katie and Alex can have no way of predicting how bitter the war will become, and how it will affect their lives, now that they are citizens of the enemy nation.

The Argentinean military Junta supposedly re-ignited the animosity with Britain over the sovereignty over the islands as a way of distracting its people from their disillusionment with their military rule, and to garner popularity.  Argentina had been suffering under their rule of fear since 1976.  Thousands of innocent civilians disappeared in the dead of night, never to be seen of or heard from again.  The Junta denied the existence of any of The Disappeared, and any involvement with the missing people.

Precious Moon explores the traumatising affect of inexplicable disappearances on those left behind; children, parents, lovers all suffer this unanswerable loss.

But Argentina surrenders in the Falklands War, and its people are left bruised, bitter, humiliated, defeated, and anger towards the Junta leads it to step down, and a new nation free of fear can now rise up.

Katie and Alex’s friendships with some of the Argentinean villagers are tested and strained as they insist on remaining in the Andes, despite the fighting in the freezing South Atlantic Ocean.  Precious Moon’s cast of strong characters are fiercely loyal to the country they believe in, and are prepared to fight for liberty from its oppressors.

As the story unravels with unexpected twists providing suspense and intrigue, the characters reveal their complexities, strengths and motivations, as ordinary people who survive and find a way forward in extraordinary circumstances.

Precious Moon is a light and easily readable read that deals with heavy and powerful issues of war, loss, disappearance, courage, escape and exile.  It fluidly takes you backwards and forwards from Kenya in the 60s to England in the 70s to Argentina in the 80s in a manner evocative of the times and places.

It took me about seven years to complete writing, researching and publishing this story as I had an overwhelming necessity to get every detail right, out of respect to the countries and history I wrote about, and the people who would have lived through these eras.

Writing Precious Moon was a wonderful experience; challenging, enlightening and satisfying. 

Now that I’ve published, I’m enjoying interacting with other readers and writers.  Please feel free to connect with me on www.facebook.com/siobhanprattauthor  or on twitter @siobhan_pratt

Siobhan Pratt

Has Sex Become Taboo ?

I know you’re asking, “WAH?” but think about this.  How many married over-forty-somethings do you know that say they aren’t having sex?

How many friends do you have married 20+ years and they complain they never have sex with their spouse? I know, I know…stress, kids still living at home, activities and commitments wear us all thin. Those are all great reasons but are you feeling less connected to your spouse? Are all your conversations about the kids, making ends meet and the next disastrous expense you’re about to have to pay for? Has sex become an afterthought? When you finally get a relaxing evening are spending it watching an adult TV show, Chinese delivery and asleep by 10?

I’m not saying this isn’t legit but in the realm of taking care of everyone have you neglected each other? When you get an opportunity to fluff yourself up does your spouse even notice? Have you forgotten what intimacy is? Are there days you wish you had some but your spouse just isn’t on the same wave length? Do you even care anymore?

Life has us putting out own basic physical needs on the back burner.  I’m talking food, shelter and feeling connected to someone. We all want it. No one wants to be truly alone but are there days in house full of people you feel alone? Your spouse is doing their part of the work for the household, i.e. working and bringing home a paycheck, cleaning, cooking, laundry, but you feel disconnected. Has being intimate the last thing you think you have time for?

Now chat with your single forty-something+  friends.  What do they talk about? If they’re in relationships they talk about intimacy. If they aren’t with anyone they’re looking for someone interested in providing it.  Many of the people I’ve talked with mention how they’ve realized how important intimacy and sex are in their relationships. Most are divorced and had lost intimacy with their spouses. A lot of them thought they had hormonal issues or ID and have since discovered this is far from the truth. Not making intimacy and sex a priority caused their lack of desire. Some of them were very surprised to find that 40+ year olds (and 50+) have just as much desire as they did at 30 (hence, 50 is the new 30). For most function isn’t an issue either. 

If sex has become a taboo activity in your home, bring it back! Date night, mini-vacations for just the two of you, and adding toys and flavored lubes can all help bring the spark back.  Remembering what brought you together in the beginning is a good place to start. And never forget to read. I’m not talking Penthouse and Playboy, but blogs or books about intimacy and foreplay. Learn to enjoy one another again. 

Linda Bolton

Linda's first book, a contemporary romance, has a tentative release date of Dec 2012!

www.lindabolton.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/lindaboltonautho

http://www.facebook.com/linda.bowersbolton

www.twitter.com/!#/lindalou42

PAINT-PROCESS-LIFE

 
PAINT-PROCESS-LIFE
Painting one’s life is like telling a story through paint.
As life emerges through channels of color the awareness of its origin is waiting to be discovered.
Paint curves and delves down into the soul's crevices to reveal reality that is hidden there.
Paint moves into the spaces occupying forms and allows an image to appear.
Paint pulls at the edges to bring forth a thought and it can be beautiful and it can be ominous and
it can be layered over to create reality.
Painting abstract reality is simply layering ones thoughts. Colors are thoughts, and time within a
color can create nuances of an idea realized.
Paint creeps into crevices and a surprise element of light may appear.
Paint can add a dimension of one's own self to skate along the surface and be absorbed into an
edge.
Paint can reveal what is beyond an edge and crash into a color revealing solitude.
Painting color into color frees ones’ inhibitions about life, giving us a freedom to
express a revelation onto canvas.
From the Artist’s Book:
PAINT IT! TEAR IT! CREATE IT!
The Art of Collage and the Evolution of a Painting
A work in progress written and illustrated by Linda Bigness
www.bignessart.com

Macaroni

            There were only three times a day while in Army basic training when I was completely alone, and that was in the port-a-johns just outside of the mess hall. It became the only time I would be able to smoke, so I developed the habit of wolfing my chow down then holing up in the crapper hot-boxing a cigarette.

It was a brilliantly blistering July day, and we had just arrived for lunch en masse, standing at attention in our uniforms, web gear and helmets. As was the established routine, at command and in unison, we all took our helmets off and held them in front of us until we heard the barked order to place them on the tarmac between our feet, and it had better be with one sound of fifty helmets clopping onto the pavement or we’d do it again until we got it right. Then came the web suit – a wide, strong utility belt with thick suspenders designed to hold a rucksack, a canteen, a small shovel, two full clips of .22 shells for our M16A1, and various metal loops for grenades - placed around the helmet, also in unanimity.

The drill sergeants had us go into the chow hall in single file, take our plate of food and eat it as quickly as we could. I always tried to be one of the first ones out, just so I could get a prime seat in the portable toilets outside and smoke. This day, as I puffed away, trying not to notice the lung-searing chemical smell wafting up from below, I spotted a pigeon feather caught in the vent. Almost unconsciously, I picked it free and sat twirling it between my thumb and forefinger as I inhaled smoke.

In a couple of minutes I was done, so I hot-footed it over to my position in the platoon and waited. About half the group was already milling about, chatting with each other. As there was nobody close to me, I squatted down and sat on my helmet, absentmindedly putting the feather in an elastic headband wrapped around the helmet’s base, designed to hold the forest-colored liner in place. And then I forgot it was there, plain and simple.

Soon, the drill sergeants sauntered out of the mess hall and the entire platoon stood behind their gear. A couple of commands away, and we had out gear back on and were marching back to the barracks
              when one of the drill sergeants yelled at the platoon to stop, came within an inch of my face and screamed, “Harding, what in the hell are you doing with a goddamned feather in your helmet?”

Without hesitation I stammered, “Whawhat feather?”

The DI yanked it out of my headband and held it out in front of me, and though he didn’t say a word to me, I could feel his eyes burning into me. I’m sure my own eyes must have been as large as frisbees as I felt all the blood drain from my head, threatening to take me down in a white cloud of unconsciousness. My brain screamed Deny!, and I found my voice squeaking, “I . . .duhdon’t know!”

Instead of scorching me with his tongue, the drill sergeant took a step back, held the feather up high for everyone to see, and thundered, “So which one of you shitheads thought it would be a good joke to pull on your platoon leader (me, btw)?” After a few seconds of nothing but fifty scared men breathing and looking around, the sergeant added, “Somebody better come clean, or you’ll all be low-crawling all over the company grounds!”

Nothing.

The drill sergeant had us double time (meaning a jogging run) to our barracks and proceeded to make everyone but me hit the ground and crawl themselves through a maze of dirty obstacles. I stood next to the sergeant as he punished the platoon, reminding them that one of our number had brought this about, and that when he found out who the culprit was, he’d make sure they all found out who the clown was. One of the things he said was, “I’m not going to punish Harding, because he was the object of your little prank!” Knowing I was indeed the one who had done this, I felt shame as I’d never known before, witnessing the entire platoon being grilled in the indomitable heat.

Finally unable to take it anymore, I approached the drill instructor and blurted out the truth, willing to face whatever derision would befall me. To my utter shock, the sergeant made the platoon stop and stumble into formation, then told the ragged lot, “Your platoon leader has just informed me that he’s willing to take the blame for this, and I find that so damned honorable I’m going to show each one of you how unworthy you are to be in his presence! Now back to your bellies and crawl!” If this story happens across the view of any of those poor guys in my platoon, I want you to know that life has a way of balancing everything out, and I’m sure at least three of my own personal hells were in payment for that day. 

Jay Harding  

 http://www.jaytharding.weebly.com 

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jay-T-Harding-Writer/34011897933730

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jaytharding   

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008RM847E

Author Interview

Here's the first author interview on this site done by Wendy Siefken with Ethan Jones


It is with great pleasure to get a chance to interview Ethan for a second time! He has published several books this year and his lates is due out the 9th of October! As a special surprise he will be giving away Arctic Wargames for free October 9th, 10th and 11th! Without further delay here is Ethan!


Blurb from his book:

Justin Hall and Carrie O’Connor, Canadian Intelligence Service Agents, find themselves in lawless North Africa on the trail of an assassination plot. The target is the US President, and the hit is scheduled to take place during a G-20 summit in Libya’s capital, Tripoli. But the source of their information is the deceitful leader of one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the area. Ambushes and questionable loyalties turn an already difficult mission into a dark maze of betrayal and misdirection.

Forced to return to Tripoli, Justin and Carrie dig up new intelligence pointing to a powerful Saudi prince bankrolling the assassination plan. What’s worse, Justin and Carrie realize something crucial is very, very wrong with their plan. The summit is only forty-eight hours away and they still have to stop the Saudi prince, dismantle the assassination plot, and save the life of Tripoli’s target.

Tripoli’s Target promises to take the reader through a great story as it becomes the next international bestseller. Fans of David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, and Daniel Silva will love this high-octane spy thriller.

Q. Now that you have published more than one book, Congratulations by the way, have you changed any of your writing habits?

A. Thanks for the congratulations. I have started to be more organized, in the sense of dedicating a certain amount of time to writing, editing, promoting and marketing my works. In the past, I would go in campaigns, focusing on one aspect and forgetting the rest. Now, I work on making little progress in all fronts at the same time.

Q. What part of writing do you find the most fulfilling?

A. The brewing of the plot in my mind and the beginning of a new novel is always very exciting and very fulfilling. Then, the hard work begins, the writing of the whole book.

Q. Are you going to continue in the self-publishing route or do you also submit to agents or publishing houses?

A. I love the self-publishing route, the freedom, the flexibility, the possibilities. I’m going to continue to publish my works independently. Of course, I don’t know what the future holds, so if an agent comes knocking things may change.

Q. If you could play any part in your books, what part would it be? (Think Stephen King who played parts in some of his books to movies)

A. I’ve never thought of that. I would play a minor role, perhaps of the secondary characters.

Q. What have you done to help build your platform as an author to let others know of your works?

A. I use my blog as a place to connect with my fans, along with my Facebook page and my Twitter. I’m active on various writers’ forums as well and have approached bookstores and libraries for author presentations.

Q. What started you on the writing path? When did you decide to become a published author?

A. I wrote short stories when I was a teen. Then I went to university and had no time for writing, other than exams. After law school, I continued graduate studies and received a Master of Laws degree. A 150-page thesis was the product of my research. Once I finished it, I decided to try to write more stories, this time the ones that I wanted to write. I was blessed with time to work on Arctic Wargame and other novels.

I shopped Arctic Wargame around in 2009 and 2010. Those were not good times for the publishing industry. I got great feedback. A few agents asked for a partial manuscript and two or three for a full. Upon the suggestion of a good friend, I dusted off my work, revised it and now everyone can enjoy it and my future novels.

Q. Who is your biggest supporter in your writing career?

A. My wife is very understanding and supportive. I must also thank God for the talent, with which He has blessed me.

Q. Do you have any more stories ready to come out? Do you plan to keep writing in this genre?

A. I’m planning to continue the Justin Hall series with more installments. In Fog of War, the third installment in this series, Justin infiltrates Iran to help extract a defector, a nuclear scientist who can provide information on Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its plans to build a nuclear bomb. Then Justin and Carrie will have to continue their investigation in some of the most dangerous regions of the planet, including Somalia and Yemen, the hotbeds of terrorism in the making. The release of Fog of War is tentatively planned for early summer 2013.

Q. Where can we find your books and sites at? Links?

A. The first spy thriller in the Justin Hall series, Arctic Wargame, can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084FH6M8

Second spy thriller in the Justin Hall series, Tripoli’s Target, can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009M8W5ZY

Twitter: @EthanJonesBooks
My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ethan-Jones/329693267050697

America the BEE you tee ful!

Literati!

“When I find myself in Times of Trouble, Sal Buttaci comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, ‘Let it BEE’.”
Here is Sal’s second entry into our contest You Didn’t Write That.  Unlatch the word CONTEST from the menu bar and let us know what YOU didn’t write!

 PURGE    
by Salvatore Buttaci, Flashsquire

The Skin Head Ethnic War, meant to whitewash an America gone dingy, was short-lived. Horrifically final. Prisons filled beyond capacity, our jailers the huge radioactive wasps that hovered before us, simple eye to eye, beating black transparent wings. Grilling us in polyglot tongues.
“Usted no escribí eso,” one droned, but I would not react. It was simply one more foreign snippet to uncover whatever ethnicity I’d hope to conceal. But the neo-wasps were persistent as their bald masters.
Now closer, antennae brushing my forehead, mandibles testing the softness of my lips, it spoke again. “Tu non hai scritto quello.” Then, “Du hast das nicht geschrieben.” I stood like the proverbial captured fly but I would not yield. I could hear the whirr of the stinger.
Purify America? Liberate from these hellhole prisons only those descendants of colonial America who would this time keep the nation white, shut the doors to and from a truly United States?
You didn’t write that. You didn’t write that. I let it run circles around my head.
The man-size neo-wasp spat the words, “Vous n’avez pas écrit ça,” but I would not break. “I’m an American,” I said, raising a proud middle finger. “Wasp this!”

What? You expected the Green Thornet? Maya Rocks! One of the first shows my kids watched in Singapore more then HOW LONG! ago?

Why I Write Romance Novels

I can’t tell you how many times over the course of my 20-plus year career as a published romance author I have been asked, “When are you going to write a real book? You know, a [insert genre of choice: mystery, family saga, historical, thriller, horror, western, etc].” So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell readers why I write romance novels.
I suffered a lot of tragedy while I was growing up, the worst of which was losing my mother just as I was entering my teens. I felt as though I went from 13 to 35 overnight, and when my friends were off having fun, I was cooking and cleaning and helping my little brother with his homework. Romance novels were an escape for me. The Wolf and the Dove, The Far Pavilions, Whitney My Love, Rebecca, The Thorne Birds…if the book featured one man and one woman falling in love, I read it! Romance novels offered me hope for a happy future filled with love (hokey, yes, but I was young). As a young wife and mother, I discovered Silhouette Romance Novels. These books were short and sweet and uplifting. Each and every story put a smile on my face, and the happily-ever-after endings always boosted my spirits. Are romance novels real? No. Does every relationship end in HEA? Of course not. But if I wanted doom and gloom, I’d watch the evening news.
As an author, I can’t think of a better way to use my talent than to bring pure enjoyment to my readers. I tell people that I write cotton candy for the mind. Think about that. When you were a kid and you put a small cloud of that wispy confection on your tongue, what did you do? You smiled. And maybe you even laughed. That’s the reaction I’m going for with my short, upbeat stories. That’s why I write romance novels. So if you’re looking to get lost for a few hours in a fun, cheery story, I hope you’ll try one of my books.

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Donna Fasano  is a bestselling, award-winning author of over 30 novels that have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide. You can find her on the web at www.DonnaFasano.com, or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor, or on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz. Her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, and Apple iBooks.

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