LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: A Review
Posted: September 2, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Review | Tags: Backstories, Book Reveiw, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Maryfrances Wagner, Poetry, Writing be Read 1 Comment
Backstories Poems by Maryfrances Wagner A REVIEW by Lindsey Martin-Bowen
No doubt, this collection by established teacher and poet Maryfrances Wagner reveals
stories may rightfully appear in the form of poetry, too. Certainly, these 52 poems evoke laughter, tears, and definite insights to the chaotic world of high school students from the late 1960s though the 2000s.
For Wagner, teaching was a lifelong quest. “In third grade, I told my family I wanted to be a teacher,” she recalls. Thus, Wagner requested a desk for Christmas, and received a fine roll-top. The next year, she requested a chalk board and received one.
Then, she asked for books, “so I could start creating lessons.”
By sixth grade, she employed these tools to teach neighborhood children a week of “Bible school.”
“The passion never ebbed, I walked into my first year of high school juniors as
though I’d been teaching for years,” she recalled. “After all, I had, but what I didn’t know was how much I would learn about my students, myself, human nature, and inequality during the years I taught.”
The section of poems about—and sometimes written by—her students, opens with “Chuck,” a student in one of her high school classes, who
“. . .takes a seat so close he taps my desk.
Every day a Polo, dress pants, buttery loafers . . .
He’s 18, I’m 21. He doesn’t treat me as his teacher
ready to discuss Lord of the Flies. Behind his silky
voice and Gucci shoes, I see his mean. He instigates
fights and whacks small boys, particularly Juan—”
The poem entails what happens when the bully Chuck attacked the scholarly Juan (somewhat equivalent to “Piggy” in Lord of the Flies) in the restroom, resulting in an ambulance arriving at the high school. Wagner’s poem notes that when “the gurney arrived, Juan
was unconscious. Chuck earned his last credits
on Homebound. Juan’s parents moved to Texas.
A door had opened into a new darkness. . .”
Yet, such a traumatic experience didn’t stop Wagner from pursuing her dream. In her journals, she never quit, but documented these and other events, which she later transformed into poems.
Obviously, most of the poems don’t contain such violence, and the collection includes humorous events, sorrowful, and ironic passages in four sections, interlaced with collages Wagner created, among them, “Future?” “That Fault in Ourselves” (which includes a photo of Julius Caesar’s bust”), “Up a Tree,” containing a photo of the cover for A Separate Peace, “Hope,” including Dickinson’s line ‘hope is the thing with feathers,” “Homework,” which centers around a profile of a youth with the word “Promise” across its forehead.
Indeed, the humorous and thoughtful poems especially caught my attention, such as in, “My Sophomores View the Eclipse,” wherein the class “set aside Brutus’s soliloquy” (from Julius Caesar) “to poke pinholes into paper, tear a second sheet for viewing. . .” and “Worthy of her role as Casca, Emily stabs her paper five times.”
Plus, Wagner includes a found poem that evokes chuckles, “The Sophomores Study Grammar: A Found Poem,” containing such delightful lines as
“Why do we have to study grammar? We already
know how to speak and understand each other.
“You expect us to learn all this in one unit?
I’ve never heard of a verbal in all my life, only gerbils.”
One of the most fascinating sections of this collection includes “The Detention Suite,” comprising poems written solely by students during detention. Here, Wagner reveals she was a teacher “ahead of her time.” How so? Rather than using the school’s standard detention room, she designed her own detention, wherein, in lieu of punishment, student were encouraged to explore why they “acted out.”
I endorse such wisdom: Perhaps by learning how to understand and better meet their emotional needs, “problem” students may more easily grow into adults in lieu of into narcissists, who must—and often cruelly—demand center stage. And not only that, reading these poems by students evoked many chuckles. These are the openings of
some of my favorites:
“Brandon Langford Talks Through Detention”
“. . . I don’t even understand why I have detention.
You tell us to say what we think. I spoke
my thoughts, and that’s my right. My dad
does it all the time, freedom of speech,
and we cheer. Well, we did. He’s a combat vet,
but now he’s in prison for child porn
and hitting my mom. She’s glad he’s gone. . . ”
“Danielle Dances in a Mosh Pit”
“What did you do
last weekend?
You probably
sharpened pencils
or bought
new red pens.
I’m only
kidding.
Me and Carly went
to a headbanger
and danced
in a mosh pit.
We were the only
girls in there. . .”
“Niki Comes in Complaining”
“I still don’t why I’m here. I’m one of your best
students, I turn in my work, and I read the dreadful
literature you assign us like it means something
to me. I probably should zip my mouth before I say
what I think, but how can I relate to Hester Pryne? . . .”
“Scott Whittington II Stoops to Detention”
“I should not have to be here.
Do you know who my father is?
He has a street named after him.
He could get you into so much trouble.
At the least, you can expect a call. . .”
“Holly Keeps on Talking through Detention”
“Well, here I am, nd I’m gonna try not to talk
nonstop since that’s the reason I’m here, but
you know me. Mostly, I can’t help myself like
when Jeff Bell was nominated for homecoming
queen. That was big news. . .”
“Libby Steps in for Her Brother Connor”
“Hey, I know I’m not the one who’s
supposed to serve detention, but I’m
Connor’s proxy today. He has to work
a baseball game. He’s one of the lucky
ones who got a job with the Royals.
He’s been busy looking up sources
for hemp for his research paper. Your
class is one of the few he attends. He wants
that college credit even though he’s late.
After all, it’s first hour. He has a to
of excuses for missing other classes. . .”
“Brian Baker Dishes Out”
“Do you wonder at all why I hide in the hall
or want passes to the bathroom? I hate
working in groups. They hand me questions
and say, You’re the one, man, like that’s going
to make me wanna help them. Anything I say
hangs in the air like a comic bubble. I’m
in the wrong place. I like to read Aristotle,
and everyone looks at me like I’m trying
to suck up. Who would I be sucking up to?
You never assigned Aristotle. I read
Homer and Shakespeare, too, and I don’t
need your help. You should leave me alone
and be happy that I am busy learning. . .”
“Carlos Martinez Has His Say in Detention”
“Some teachers overlook little things,
like talking or not having homework. I laugh
in the face of homework, and I’m not giving
back this pencil I borrowed because you gave me
detention, It’s mine now. You expect too much,
and those emails you send my mom do no good.
She shows them to me, and we laugh. . .”
Finally, as another teacher (albeit, never for high school), I can especially
relate to one of the poems Maryfrances Wagner wrote in the final section of Backstories, entitled, “Grading,” from which I included most lines—not all—to avoid violating copyright laws:
“We’ve watched
the moon sag
into tomorrow,
ready to set down
our pens. . .
They argued
their case,
we ours—
more detail,
another example,
better verbs. . .
Ink glides its
well-oiled
ball bearings,
eager to praise
a phrase,
to find
a moment
of thought.
Along with serving as Missouri’s Sixth Poet Laureate from 2021-2023, Maryfrances Wagner was the 2020 Missouri Individual Artist of the Year. She serves as a co-editor of I-70 Review and as president of The Writers Place board and programming chair. He poetry collection Red Silk, recently re-issued by BookMark Press. Won the Thorpe Menn book award and was first runner up in the Eric Hoffer Legacy Award 2024 and short-listed for the Grand Prize Poetry. Her poems have appeared in many notable poetry journals nationwide, including New Letters, Midwest Quarterly, Laurel Review, Main Street Rag, Rattle, Voices in Italian Americana, and Unsettling America: An Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry (Penguin). More than nineof her poetry collections have been released by various publishers.
Thank you, Maryfrances Wagner, for penning such an engaging collection.
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
___________________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
____________________________________________
This segment of “Lindsey’s Writing Practice” is sponsored by Undawnted.
Step Into the Undawnted Universe
Some authors write in one lane. DL Mullan builds worlds — and then dares you to walk into every single one of them.
Welcome to Undawnted, where imagination is fearless. Whether you’re craving a slow-burn paranormal romance, a bone-chilling horror story, a mind-bending sci-fi thriller, or songs/lyrical poetry that lingers long after the last line- there’s a feeling here waiting to pull you in.
Fall for the forbidden. In Nocturnal Redemption trilogy, mythology professor Ryan Blackburn has spent her life studying the legend of humanity’s protectors — never expecting to meet a pack of werewolves and a vampire on his nightly rounds. Her family’s myths weren’t myths at all. As she’s drawn into the vampire’s hidden world, one thing becomes clear: no one is as they appear.
Fear what’s waiting in the woods. Kurst asks a simple, terrifying question: what could go wrong when you inherit a cabin in the woods? The answer involves a sasquatch, skinwalker, and medicine man — and readers have called it a masterclass in horror with “a good dark secret” at its heart. It’s part of the acclaimed Midnight Garden anthology, a dark fiction collection praised for delivering “the printed version of jump scares.”
Chase the multigenerational curse. Fans of atmospheric enigmas will want to dive into the Salt Pines Mystery series, where a family curse spans generations and secrets refuse to stay buried.
Go beyond the ordinary. In the sci-fi novelette The Reality Hackers, reality itself isn’t as constant as you think. And for readers who want an ongoing saga, DL Mullan’s multi-book Legacy Universe — a supernatural superhero series — is currently in the works, promising an expanding mythology for readers who like to get lost in a world for the long haul.
Need something lighter? The Town Santa Forgot brings warmth and holiday charm for readers who want romance with a side of magic, while DL Mullan’s poetry collections — including The Descent, Impetus, Effloresce, and Phantastic — offer a darker, Poe-and-Dickinson-inspired verse for poetry lovers who like their beauty a little haunted.
Why readers keep coming back: DL Mullan isn’t just a writer — she’s a classically trained musician, award-winning digital artist, and lifelong storyteller who designs her own book covers and builds entire creative universes around each release. That range shows: every story carries the fingerprints of someone who thinks in full sensory perception, not just plots.
Your next favorite book is waiting. Whether you want to be swept into romance, spooked by horror, hooked by mystery, or moved by poetry, Undawnted has a story with your name on it. New releases, exclusive updates, and giveaways are just a subscription away.
Visit www.undawnted.comto explore the growing library, read excerpts, listen to soundtracks, and find your next obsession.
SIgn up for the Undawntable Newsletter.
Like/Comment/Subscribe to Undawnted’s YouTube channel.
Undawnted: Read. Feel. Discover.
Share this:
WordCrafter News: September Writing Projects & Back to School Bonanza
Posted: August 31, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Sales, Books, Children's Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fiction, Health & Wellness, Historical Fiction, Horror, Nonfiction, Science Fiction, Self-Help, Time travel, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: 12 Dark Nights of Christmas, A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, Back to School Bonanza Sale, Marta, Midnight Madness, My Backyard Friends, The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2 Double Visions, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing 6 Comments
September is a writing month, with no new releases scheduled, so it seems pretty calm. I’m planning to hunker down and dig in to three different writing projects in various stages of production. My only promotional endeavors this month will be to promote the Back to School Bonanza Book Sale where you can get all three of the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series in a $5 bundle.
WordCrafter Back to School Bonanza
3 for $5 Bundle
All 3 My Backyard Friends Series Books for one low price of $5.
September 1 – 30, 2026
Exclusive on WordCrafter Press My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series page:
September Writing Projects
Although WordCrafter Press has no September releases, it looks like I’ll be elbow deep in writing projects. September will find me compiling and editing on the Midnight Madness anthology, as well as doing the first round of edits on the 12 Dark Nights of Christmas anthology. Of course, I’ll be setting up the Midnight Madness tour for mid-October, when it is scheduled to release, as well. And 12 Dark Nights of Christmas will be scheduled for a December release, of course.
And throughout the month, I will also be finishing up the first draft of Marta, Book 3 in my Women in the West Adventure Series. I’m sitting right now around 85,000 words, which is already longer than either of the first two books, and I’ve still got a ways to go. I don’t know how long this one will end up being, but I’ll use as many words as I need to tell it.
There are several reasons this book may be longer than the first two. One, Marta’s journey ventures outside of Colorado, all the way to El Paso, Texas. Two, Marta sports a full cast of colorful characters who accompany her on her journey, whereas in the first two books, much of the journey for Delilah and Sarah were travelling solo with a good amount of inner dialog to lead the way. Since my stories are dialog heavy and character led, discussions seem to make up a great deal of those 85,000 words. And three, my writing is improving, and I’m learning to add more details for a better crafted story, which is a good thing, right? Better writing from me, equals a better story for my readers.
I’m researching new things for this book, as well; delving into New Mexico and Texas history to add to my knowledge of the Colorado frontier. Since Marta’s journey is made by wagon, I’ve researched the different types of wagons and how they are built, as well. And it’s always interesting to peruse the newspapers of the 1800’s, adding many details which help to bring the story ton life. I’ve learned many interesting facts, some of which I’ll be sharing on the blog tour, when the book comes out, next March.
In addition, I’ve had to research the life of Pauline Cushman, Union Spy, who is the historic supporting female character in Marta’s tale. The supporting historic female character, along with the strong female protagonists, are what sets this western historic women’s fiction series apart from the rest.
Other Good News for WordCrafter Press
Before I let you go today, I wanted to share a couple of good things which are happening around WordCrafter Press. We’re always proud when good reviews turn up, and last month we got another four-star review on Amazon for The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Double Visions: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-jnH
We also had a bit of excitement at WordCrafter Press when A GEM for your Pre- or Type 2 Diabetes, by Daniel J. Cox made the Amazon #1 Bestseller in Diabetes! It’s the first time a WordCrafter Press book has made the list, so we’re pretty proud of the accomplishment.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
________________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
___________________________________________
This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services
Share this:
Book Review: “Into the Deep Dark Woods” & “A Harmony of Hells”
Posted: August 28, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Review, Short Fiction, Stories, Thriller | Tags: Allison Longueira, Book Review, Charles De Lint, Dark Fiction Anthology, Gothic Thriller, Harmony of Hells, Jonathan Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, Sebastian de Castell, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Writing to be Read, Yves Fey Leave a comment
About Into the Deep Dark Woods
See what lurks in the deep, dark woods—a place of fairy tales, secrets, and monsters…
Where the unexpected looms at every turn.
Where twisted shadows meet dappled sunlight.
Where even the silence grows teeth.
Into the Deep, Dark Woods features 28 all-new stories and poems that explore the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness. Venture from the decay of a demented pumpkin patch to worlds where dragons hide among the trees and the sycamore beckons the blue ghost fireflies. Face the strangeness of an alien planet, then dine in a themed restaurant that may or may not be staffed with werewolves.
Edited by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning editor Allyson Longueira, along with their Publishing graduate students at Western Colorado University, this page-turning anthology presents new stories by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jonathan Maberry, Charles de Lint, Sebastien de Castell, and many others.
Step off the path and into a world where every tree tells a story and every clearing offers a choice. The deeper you go, the darker it gets.
The darker it gets, the more interesting the light becomes.
Welcome to the woods. Try not to get lost.
Purchase Link: https://wordfirepress.com/products/into-the-deep-dark-woods
My Review of Into the Deep Dark Woods
I received a digital copy of the Into the Deep Dark Woods anthology from executive editors Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Into the Deep Dark Woods is this year’s anthology put out by the graduate in publishing students at Western State Colorado University. Every year international bestselling author, Kevin J Anderson guides a cohort of Western’s publishing students through the process of putting together and publishing an anthology on the professional level, through his publishing company, Wildfire Press and Draft2Digital, as a group thesis project. submission numbers are higher every year. My cohort in 2022 published Gilded Glass, with over 600 submissions, and I heard they had over 900 for this one. Every story or poem is hand selected by the grad students, and I’m always happy to review these wonderful anthologies.
There are things in the woods. Whether they be shape shifters, the undead, all types of crawly things, fearies & dragons, golems, witches, alien life forms, or just the trees themselves, the stories found in this collection will make you believe they are there and you should be very afraid.
Some stories made me laugh, others made me cry, some gave me the creeps and others had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There are so many good tales in this anthology, that I wouldn’t even attempt to try and review each one. But I will give you an idea about the ones which stick out in my mind:
- “Underneath the Sycamore Tree on the Hill”, by Sam Knight was sad and made me want to cry.
- “This Real World”, by Lea Harper was my favorite poem.
- “Mulch”, by Brent Nelson offers excellent dark humor.
- “Metsubishu”, by Benjamin Spada has the feel of Ninjas and Samurai. I try and view such stories through the eyes of my son, Mike, who absolutely would have loved this story, therefore, it gets my vote.
- “The Dreadwood Dragon”, by Sebastian de Castell is an intense tale of friendship and sacrifice which touched my heart and made me smile.
Whether the forest or the things which lurk within, there is definitely something to fear if you dare to venture Into the Deep Dark Woods. I give this dark fiction anthology five quills.
About A Harmony of Hells
A poet haunted by grief. A lover marked by blood. A sister silenced behind asylum walls.
In the decadent heart of fin de siècle Paris, Averill Charron makes a devil’s bargain. To rescue his sister—locked away by their father—he joins forces with the last man he should trust, Blaise Dancier, the crime lord who once ordered his death.
No longer enemies. Now they are lovers. Together they descend into the underworld, searching cabarets and crypts, brothels and back alleys, chasing whispers that lead to deception and death.
Even as they hunt for her, Jeanette fights for her freedom. But escape only leads to recapture. Once again, she’s trapped in a world where only dreams of forbidden love and the promise of revenge keep her sane.
Their paths converge in the drowning beauty of Venice at Carnevale, where every mask conceals a threat. In a world ruled by power, madness, and betrayal, love may be the final sacrifice.
A HARMONY OF HELLS…a love story with murders.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Hells-story-murders-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0FXVTR5DX
My Review of A Harmony of Hells
I received a copy of A Harmony of Hells: A Love Story of Paris…with Murders, by Yves Fey, through the Review Pool in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because of the awesome cover and because I love gothic horror and gothic mystery.
Let me start by saying, I’m not a big fan of m/m romance/sex scenes. It’s not a statement about morality, but rather something that doesn’t do anything for me, personally, so I will usually skip over those stories. But…, this story is written in such a way that the sex does not overwhelm the plot, and the romance is tactfully written to support the story. Although the m/m relationship does play a key role, and in places, it is very graphic, there is so much more to this story.
Driven by a need to find his sister, Jeanette, who has been hidden away in the asylums and brothels of Paris and beyond by his father, Averille makes an alliance with Blaise Dancier, Parisian crime lord. It is risky business, but he feels he has no choice, and then finds himself surrendering to lust and wholly giving himself over to a man he knows he shouldn’t trust. In the search for Jeanette, it seems they are always at least one step behind his father, but Jeanette is resourceful and works toward her freedom at every opportunity. Their efforts bring them so close to crossing paths, but not close enough, and it is a race for time to find one another before their father can whisk her away once more.
A scandalous gothic thriller that will keep readers turning pages. I give A Harmony of Hells five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders. Her novels include Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Books 1 & 2 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, and Double Visions.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_____________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
Share this:
In Touch with Nature – The Vulnerable Southern Ground Hornbill
Posted: August 26, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Southern Ground Hornbill, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 44 Comments
I was very excited to see a flock of nine southern ground hornbills during my recent trip to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. These birds are classified as endangered in South African, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini (previously Swaziland) and are listed internationally as vulnerable by the IUCN. I have only seen these birds once before in a national park and it was from a distance so I couldn’t get good photographs. I may never see another one of these birds so I will treasure these photographs.
Thunderbirds (freestyle poem)
Hearing the low
resonating rumble
you expected a lion
not a flock
of thunderbirds
Dominant pairs
performing
a deep-base duet
The bright red
balloon-like wattle
below their bills
acting like a drum
The echoing sound
amplified
by natural air pockets
inside their head bones
which magnify
their low, booming call
allowing it to carry
for over four kilometers
across the veld
Predators with feathers
small animals lie low
when a party
is out foraging
They snap up
lizards, small birds,
tortoises, rodents,
and even snakes
as big as puff adders
Endangered due
to slow breeding
a pair raising
only two chicks
in a nine year cycle
one of which
will survive
Not a lion
something much better
Interesting facts about Southern Ground Hornbills
- The southern ground hornbill is the largest hornbill species on Earth.
- These striking, turkey-sized birds stand up to 130 cm tall, weight between 3.3 and 4.4 kgs and have a wingspan reaching nearly 2 meters.
- These birds can fly up to 18 miles an hour.
- Their jet-black feathers, yellow eyes and bright red throats make these birds highly recognisable.
- Ground hornbills have lived up to 70 years in captivity. This makes them one of the world’s longest-lived birds.
- These birds are highly territorial with family groups of up to 10 individuals protecting large areas of territory.
- Ground hornbills are monogamous and pair for life unless their mate dies.
About Robbie Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
Share this:
An Eye on Art: Creativity as Emotional Release or Expression
Posted: August 24, 2026 Filed under: Art | Tags: An Eye On Art, Edvard Munch, Expressionism, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writing to be Read 16 Comments
We’ve all done it. As creatives, we allow our emotions to flow into our work, and perhaps, we even have a need to do so. Authors take real life experiences and write them into their stories, perhaps rewriting, so the endings that are preferred to real ones, because in stories, anything can happen. Songwriters pour their emotions into their music, and artists spill their emotions across the canvas for all to see. Creativity is the way we express ourselves and often, the way we interpret the reality around us.
The Expressionism of Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch was a noted Norwegian Painter and Printmaker who lived from 1863-1944. Plagued by a troubled childhood and difficulty in his adult relationships, the mental and social disruptions of a tormented mind are evident in his artworks, particularly in those done in his expressionistic style, which created the most controversy and made him famous. At an early age, he lost both his mother and his older sister, Johanne Sophie3, to tuberculosis, and later in life, another sister, Laura Katherine, developed a schizophrenic illness and was confined to a mental asylum. His romantic relationships were filled with turmoil and eventually he became rather reclusive, withdrawing more and more from human society.2
The expressionistic work of Edvard Munch employs distortion and vibrant colors to draw viewers’ focus; demanding patrons attention. The work titled, Vampire (1892), was so controversial in its time, that it closed down the Verein Berliner Kunstler exhibition of 1892; an event that catapulted Munch’s career into celebrity. In this work, the vibrant colors that are so typical of Munch are not seen. It is a dark scene with the orange-red of the female’s hair being the only color that really draws the eye, as she embraces the male laying across her lap. With this painting, Munch set out to make us see the fine line between love and pain with this painting, hence the original title, Love and Pain. It was mistakenly interpreted as having a vampiric theme, and the painting’s subjects do appear more as predator and prey than as lovers in consoling embrace, especially if one takes notice of the bluish hue of the male’s facial skin.1
The models for his works may have been real women in his life and are portrayed in Munch’s work either as life devouring vampires, sultry seductresses, or frail and naked, reflective of his own personal relationships. It is believed that Love and Pain depicts his at one time lover Tulla Larsen, a rich winemaker’s daughter, who he had a turbulent relationship with. Whereas Madonna (1894-95) depicts another ex-lover, Dagny Juel, reflecting her liberated sexuality in contrast in contrast the traditional idea of a chaste Madonna. It features a nude woman contorted, perhaps in the throes of passion, with a red, rather than white or golden halo.1 Ashes (1894-95) is thought to depict clandestine, but destined to end in despair, meetings in the forest with his cousin’s wife, Millie Thaulow.3
On the other hand, in The Weeping Nude (1913), the focus figure is much less distorted. Attention is focused on the nude, through his use of vibrant colors that contrast with her flesh colors, drawing the eye to the central figure. Sadness and depression are the dominant emotions that radiate from this work, and the emotion rises from the pose, and the concealment of the figure’s identity.
The haunting image of The Scream (1893) reflects feelings that all viewers easily relate to. At some point in life, we all have felt like screaming at the world, and so to, have felt as no one would hear or care. By far his most famous painting, the violent forms and savage colors are representative of contemporary sentiments. In truth, this image may not be a screaming figure, as most believe, but rather, it is his attempt to block out “nature screaming during a blood-red sunset”, (perhaps during a panic attack), according to Munch himself. This sky and setting appear in at least two more of Munch’s works done around the same time: Despair (1893-94) and Anxiety (1894). It is believed by some that the location was one in Oslo, near a slaughterhouse and the asylum where his younger sister, Laura Katherine, was housed, where he may have visited often, and which would have had a cacophony of screams between the dying animals and the mental patients’ cries.1
He was featured as the male figure in many of his works, including perhaps Ashes and Love and Pain, above, to further attest to the expression of emotions from his own life, revealing his inner soul. While not happy images, they are captivating, and they draw out our darker sides.
As authors, our stories should reveal so much. If you could look into the minds of horror authors such as Steven King, Peter Straub, Dean Koontz, and so many more, perhaps you would find similar histories, filled with pain and despair, to fuel their creative story telling. Or perhaps some are just meant to allow their darker sides to dominate and be expressed through their creative works.
__________________________________
1 “7 Must See Paintings by Edvard Munch”. The Collector. June 11, 2025. Anastasiia Kirpolov, MA: 7 Must-See Paintings by Edvard Munch | The Collector
2 “Beyond the Scream: How Edvard Munch Channeled a Timeless Sense of Dread”. Art in America. March 17, 2021. Tessa Solomon: What Are Edvard Munch’s Most Famous Paintings?
3 “16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings”. Artistic Junkie: Art for All.: 16 of Edvard Munch’s Paintings | ArtisticJunkie.com
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
______________________________________
Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
________________________________________
This postis sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares: Coming in October, 2026
Share this:
WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour Giveaway Winners
Posted: August 22, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Blog Tour, Books, Giveaway Winners, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 Comment
We had a great tour last week, and contributing authors shared some tasty morsels which, hopefully, tantalized your horror tastebuds and made you want to read more of the stories in Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night. Before we can officially sign off from the tour, there’s a matter of a couple of different giveaways, that we need to announce the winners for.
First, Chris Barili’s Classic Mustang Photo Competition
On Day 1, author Chris Barili offered an excerpt reading from “The Legend of Trooper 666” which describes the trooper’s classic Mustang. Chris is offering a signed print copy, (winners outside the U.S. will receive a free digital copy instead, due to the outlandish costs of international shipping) for the person who sends in a photo of a classic Mustang that closest matches the trooper’s car during the tour
Here are the rules:
1. You don’t need to be in the exact year, just the generation or year group (1960s, for example)
2. If their pic is verifiably of a NY State Patrol car, it wins. If we have more than one, we’ll select the winner.
3. If it is of a show or race car, owned by other than the photographer, they need that owner’s permission to submit the photo.
4. Actual dead state troopers or other LEOs will disqualify the entry immediately. :).
The Winning Entry
There was no winning entry, because we received not one photo. Nobody played.
Second, the Legends Puzzle
Each stop on the tour featured two authors and their stories, and each post included the name of the legend their story is based on. So, there is the opportunity to collect two puzzle pieces at each stop when the correct legend for each story is placed into the comments. Any visitor with a complete puzzle at the end of the tour wins a free digital copy. In the event that no one completes the puzzle, the visitor with the most pieces wins.
And the winner is…
(Drumroll please)
- Robbie Cheadle, with puzzle pieces 1 & 2, (because she was the only one who played.)
Final Thoughts
I have to say, I was highly disappointed that no one participated in the giveaways for this tour. I thought it would be really fun to run them a little different than just “comment to enter”. We went to considerable effort to set it all up, and no one seemed interested to play. 😦 I will have to look at other options in the future, or maybe just go back to the same old, same old.
Share this:
Wrapping Up the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 21, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Horror, Mythology and Legend, Short Fiction, Stories, Supernatural, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "My Pumpkin Ate My Wife", "The Last Stage Coach", Chupacabra, Excerpt Reading, Guest Post, Jack O'Lantern Legend, Kaye Lynne Booth, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, Myths and Legends, Sara W. McBride, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press 1 CommentWelcome to the final day of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour. Today I’m pleased to bring you a guest post from contributing author, Sara W. McBride, who wrote the wonderful story, “My Pumpkin Ate My Wife”, and an excerpt reading from my story, “The Last Stage Coach”.
It’s been a great tour, but it’s also the last day to get in on two different giveaways we have going. There’s still time to get your Mustang photos in for Chris Barili’s “Trooper 666” giveaway for a free print copy of Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night. Send your photos to Chris at stealthcb@gmail.com and to me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com. You can find the full guideslines for this giveaway at one of the Day 1 Tour Stops, by clicking on the link in the tour schedule at the end of today’s stop. I’ll be announcing the winners in a special winners post on Sunday, so get those photos in now.
Also, this is the last chance to collect your puzzle pieces for the digital giveaway, by placing the legend for each story in the comments. (We made it really easy for you. Each story post tells you what legend it is from.) Today’s puzzle pieces are 9 and 10, but you can collect any you’ve missed by going back to the individual stops through the links on the tour schedule, too. The winner for this giveaway will also be announced in that Sunday post, so get your answers in while you still can.
The Giveaway
We made a puzzle out of the Legends cover.
Follow the tour to find the clues hidden in the guest posts, readings and promos.
Name the Legend each story is based upon as you go through the tour.
Place your answers in the comments.
For each correct answer, you earn one of ten puzzle pieces.
At the end of the tour, the three people who have collected the most puzzle pieces
will win a free digital copy of
Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night
The Authors of Legends
What Makes a Legend?, by Sara W. McBride
What do scientists, authors, and monsters have in common? They all desire to be legends. I could claim there is a shared egotistical drive to be immortal, and let’s face it, that might be true of many people regardless of occupation, but instead I’ll claim the shared love of the unexpected discovery.
Why are Newton, Einstein, Galileo, Copernicus, and poor Mike Brown, all legends? They discovered something unexpected: gravity, relativity, other planets, and that Earth wasn’t the center of the Universe. Mike Brown? What about him? He’d dreamed of discovering a planet his entire life, then he thought he had. He thought he found something in our solar system that was bigger than Pluto. But he didn’t. So why is he a legend? He spurred on the debate that redefined the parameters of a planet and got Pluto demoted to a dwarf planet. So yes, Mike Brown is now legendary as the man who killed Pluto. Poor guy still receives hate mail from ten year olds who learned the solar system from Grandpa’s planetary model in the attic.**
Becoming a Legend is not usually something one can strive for. It just happens. In this anthology, none of the authors are legends. But many of us are scientists, of some sort, and we often use writing as an excuse to do research. So we researched legends!
The Jack-O’Lanterns, Wendigo, Succubus, and Pheonix were all researched. And others were legends from our youth, like the grim reaper or the famous babysitter nightmare; a creepy phone call from a person watching you, which turns out to be from inside the house. Cue the delighted screams from around the campfire. There are more specific area legends, like the girl ghost of Cleveland, Gilgul, and Trooper 666.
But personally, if I, me, myself, was going to become a legend, I’d like an international following. Or at least a few countries, like the Jack O’Lantern. I mean, who wants to be the slimy legend of Des Moines? I say, Go Big! There’s an Angel of Death in every culture and country.
Because unlike Pluto, a legend never dies.
**I worked at Caltech for a decade and spoke with Mike Brown a few times. He’s an inspiring, generous astronomy professor. He didn’t mean to kill Pluto. Please send him some fan mail.
“My Pumpkin Ate My Wife” is based on the traditional Jack O’Lantern legend.
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 9.
About Sara W. McBride
Sara Wesley McBride enjoyed a nerdy childhood sneaking onto hotel rooftops to write plays and stories. As a grown-up child, many of her adult party conversations end with a comical defense of why her first degree in theater from UCLA, and her second degree in molecular and cellular biology from SDSU, are completely related. Between her degrees, she spent two years pranking the mafia in New York City architecture; also completely related.
All parts of her life have led her down a streamlined path toward noveling because nothing else maintains her sanity. Daily, like many modern-day biological researchers, she invents new swear words to sling at million-dollar machines while locked in a dark hole of a decaying academic hall. This has caused her to witness ghosts and create a romantic fantasy life within her head, which she now puts down on very non-technological paper with her favorite Jane Austen style quill pen.
Her first novel in the Alexis Lynn series, Will Write for Wine, and the companion short story collection, Stories I Stole from Lord Byron’s Bastard, both set in Venice, Italy, were recently released by Puck Publishing. She’s hard at work on the second Alexis Lynn novel, a Regency mystery series, and a haunted play. She strongly feels the world needs more haunted plays.
When not researching biological stuff, reading history, or writing in random, elegant hotel lobbies—much warmer than rooftops—Sara is hiking the San Diego shorelines, parks, and trails with her husband and their tiny, bouncy dog named Wombat.
About Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night
Legends take many forms, but most carry a warning within. For instance, stories of monsters such as the Chupacabra, Snallygasters, and Windigos were told to warn children to behave themselves. The tale of the ghost girl who haunts buildings in Cleveland, is a warning to daredevils, who would chance their lives and safety in old derelict buildings. And Trooper 666 is a deterrent against drunk and dangerous driving. The angel of death and gilgul offers lessons to be learned about our spiritual lives. And any one of the monsters found between these pages could decide to follow you home.
These diverse shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts and monstrous creatures, which each hold a certain sense of justice. Introduced by multi-genre author Kaye Lynne Booth, these stories are a celebration of legends of old, and some new ones, too, but there are no happy endings.
Featuring stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Abe Margel, Chris Barili, Sara W. McBride, C.R. Johansson, Rebecca M. Senese, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Robb T. White, DL Mullan and Joseph Carrabis.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/LegendsMonsters
“The Last Stagecoach”, by Kaye Lynne Booth
“The Last Stagecoach” is based on the legend of the Chupacabra.
Tell us in the comments which legend this story is associated with to claim puzzle piece 10.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and Book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
Wrap Up
That’s it for today’s tour stop. We hope you enjoyed DL Mullan’s guest post and her reading, and Rebecca M. Senese’s Promo. Don’t forget to pick out the legend each was based on and put your answers in the comments. Each correct answer earns a piece to the puzzle, and the more pieces you have, the better your chances of winning a free copy of Legends.
Also, don’t forget to get those Mustang pictures in to try and match the car in Chris Barili’s “The Legend of Trooper 666” story for a chance to win a signed print copy of the book. (Available to U.S. residents only due to the expense of International shipping.)
Winners will be announced in a special post on Sunday, on Writing to be Read.
Tour Schedule
Mon. 8/17 – Chris Barili – reading/contest & C.R. Johansson Promo & Trailer – Michelle Ayon Navajas –
Poetry by Mich: https://michnavs.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Hotel by Masticadores: https://hotelmasticadoreshouse.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Masticadores Phillipines: https://masticadoresphilippines.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/day-1-legends-tour/
Tues. 8/18 – DL Mullan – guest post & Rebecca M. Senese Promo – Kaye Lynne Booth –Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=72488
Wed. 8/19 – Danaeka Scrimshaw – guest post & Joseph Carrabis – Video post & reading – Carla Johnson-Hicks – Carla Loves to Read: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-kJa
Thurs. 8/20 – Robb T. White – guest post – Abe Margel Promo – DL Mullan – Undawnted: http://www.undawnted.com/2026/08/undawnted-presents-legends-day-4.html
Fri. 8/21 – Sara W. McBride– guest post about authors & Kaye Lynne Booth – audio reading – Kaye Lynne Booth – Writing to be Read: https://writingtoberead.com/?p=72831
Sun. 8/23 – Contest Winners post – Writing to be Read
________________________________________
Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!
Share this:
Day 4 of the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 20, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentWe’re celebrating the release of Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night on Day 4 of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour over on Undawnted with host, DL Mullan. We have a guest post from contributing author Robb T. White about his story, “The Urbexer’s Girl” and a promo for Abe Margel’s “It was no Stroll in the Park”.
Undawnted does not accept comments, so please post your answers here to collect the puzzle pieces for this stop to get in on the giveaway for a free digital copy. And just a reminder, there is still time to get in on Chris Barili’s giveaway for a print copy. Send your Mustang GT photos to Chris at stealthcb@gmail.com and to me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com.
Visit today’s stop at: http://www.undawnted.com/2026/08/undawnted-presents-legends-day-4.htm
Share this:
Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Legends” Book Blog Tour
Posted: August 19, 2026 Filed under: Anthology, Audio Excerpt, Blog Tour, Book Release, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Giveaways, Guest Post, Review, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: "Sema", "The Legend of Tilly Mae", Anthology, Book Review, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Dark fiction, Giveaway, Joseph Carrabis, Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentFor Day 3 of the WordCrafter Legends Book Blog Tour, we’re over at Carla Loves to Read with a video guest post and excerpt reading from “Sema”, by Joseph Carrabis, a guest post from contributing author Danaeka Scrimshaw on their story, “The Legend of Tilly Mae”, and a review of the book by host Carla Johnson-Hicks.
Don’t forget to name the legends and collect the puzzle pieces to get in on the giveaway for a free digital copy of Legends: Monsters the go Bump in the Night.
Undawntech: Ghosts in the Living Machines
Posted: September 4, 2026 | Author: DL Mullan/Undawntech | Filed under: AI Technology, Commentary, Undawntech | Tags: ai, AI Technology, artificial-intelligence, Commentary, DL Mullan, Privacy, technology, Undawntech, Writing, Writing to be Read | Leave a commentIn this technical world, do you have control over your identity, sovereignty, or even privacy?
The answer is no.
Why have our rights been eroded to this point? Well, because you never bothered to make them your priority. You have not researched the technology being used against you. You have not studied the laws pertaining to technology and your rights. And, you have never put the government or corporations in their place: out of your life.
So, the encroachment continues until agencies, cities, counties, and businessmen put Flock and other overreaching security cameras on streets and in your neighborhood.
Did you stand up against it?
_____
Backlash
“This is the biggest, most grassroots privacy backlash that I’ve ever seen in more than 20 years working on these issues,” Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told ABC News.
“It just shows people don’t like mass surveillance,” Stanley added.
https://abcnews.com/US/flock-cameras-trigger-nationwide-backlash-privacy-concerns-police/story?id=136084771
But the mass surveillance is here in every facet of your life.
Are you going to stand up against it? Or, wait until something worse than Flock cameras are instituted into public and private life? Perhaps on a streetlight pole?
But… did you know that it is already inside your home?
_____
The Lies of RFID
If corporations can follow you anywhere, you know they would do it, don’t you?
At first, it is a law for “transparency.” Next, it is not really tracking you. And, finally, Artificial Intelligence, AI, will confirm: we know who you are, where you are, and yes, we are watching you.
Who is going to stop them, it?
You have not yet.
Take for instance RFID technology, it helps large businesses keep track of their inventory. That tracking does not end at the store’s doors after a purchase, but all the way to your home.
“In the early 2000s, Walmart reshaped the retail landscape by becoming the first major retailer to mandate the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology across its supply chain. This groundbreaking move in 2003, aimed to improve inventory accuracy, reduce theft, and enhance overall efficiency. Walmart’s forward-thinking strategy sparked a ripple effect throughout the industry, setting a standard that continues to revolutionize retail in 2025.
Today, leading retailers like Lowe’s, Zara, Macy’s, and Nordstrom have followed suit, implementing RFID mandates to streamline operations and meet consumer demands for accurate, seamless shopping experiences. In 2025, Walmart’s RFID mandate is once again expanding to new departments and working toward all products being RFID tagged in the near future.”
https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/customers/rfid-mandate/walmart
This includes apparel; the bras and underwear you buy your underage daughters.
But they cannot do that!
Websites will tell you that no one can follow your purchase from a store straight to your home. That it is impossible. Corporations will obfuscate reality to lessen the impact of bad press on their brand.
What is the truth?
“Of course, your smartphone is among those devices and has RFID contactless payment capabilities through NFC. As with everything else, such capabilities can be used for tracking by various actors.
But unfortunately, this is not limited to your smartphone, and you also probably carry some amount of RFID enabled device with you all the time such as:
https://privacytools.io/guides/how-your-rfid-enabled-devices-is-tracking-you
__
How far away can you read an rfid chip?
Low Frequency (LF) chips read at up to 10 centimeters. High Frequency (HF) chips reach about 1 meter. Ultra High Frequency (UHF) passive chips read from 3 to 30 meters. Active tags with batteries can reach 100 meters or more . So if you’re worried about someone scanning your passport from across a crowded room, don’t be—that’s HF, max range 1 meter, and usually much less for security . If you’re managing a warehouse, UHF will cover your needs.”
https://www.cykeorfid.com/how-far-away-can-you-read-an-rfid-chip-complete-range-guide-by-type
If someone had a high frequency UHF, which would be 100 meters, or 109 yards, or 328 feet. From your front door or garage, the street is on average 40 feet away.
With smart devices in the home, such as, routers, computers, cell phones, and televisions, through software updates, all someone needs are a few yards to feet to access what you prize in your household.
Have you removed all the labels, stickers, and chips from your purchases before keeping them in your home? washing them? Do they survive the dryer?
Have you ever asked?
Here is more information about how radio operators and the military use the same type of frequencies as RFID and other tracking abilities of your store purchases in your home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLoSw5zidM0
_____
Probable Cause Doesn’t Exist
And, that does not cover the ability for law enforcement, or anyone else, from watching you inside your home through your WiFi.
“Researchers have demonstrated that standard WiFi signals, the same ones streaming video and connecting smart speakers, can be passively intercepted from outside a building to track the movements of people inside. The technique requires no cameras, no hacking of devices, and no cooperation from the target. As WiFi-enabled gadgets multiply in homes and offices, the gap between convenient connectivity and involuntary surveillance is narrowing faster than most privacy frameworks can address.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-reveal-how-wifi-signals-spy-on-people-inside-homes/ar-AA1XjPee
_____
The digital gulag is here, but you never noticed it until it was too late. Now, governments and corporations are watermarking words. In the United States, no one can patent, trademark, or copyright words, unless it is specific for the marking of one’s business. Beyond that, anyone can use the entirety of the dictionary without legal squabbles.
What if that was about to change?
Anthropic, the creators of the Claude AI models, have been toiling in their secret lairs again. Corporations want you believe they are innocuous, even giving their AI models “constitutions.” That is not about rights and responsibilities.
For an understanding of Claude, let’s read its Constitution. What is Claude made of?
https://www.anthropic.com/constitution
How about Claude’s new constitution?
https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-new-constitution
It appears AI models evolve at the behest of their human, corporate masters.
_____
As a creator (art, poetry, writing), do you have a corporate overlord?
Corporations believe so. Anthropic believes so. Publishing houses, including print on demand, believe so.
Can a watermark be traced back to me or my organization?
“No. The watermarking applies to Claude and its outputs. It doesn’t identify anything to do with individual users. There’s nothing in the watermark, or its key, that would allow anyone to recover any information about the user, their organization, or their chats with Claude.”
That is a load of rubbish.
How Claude’s text watermark works
“We’re implementing watermarking to comply with the EU AI Act. Anthropic, along with several other major AI model providers and around 190 total signatories, signed the EU Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-Generated Content in July 2026. This requires AI system providers to use methods of “marking” AI-generated text. We’re applying watermarking globally at launch because we don’t yet have a durable way to scope it by region. However, we will continue to evaluate different approaches, and will share updates when we have them.”
https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-text-watermark
____
Independent Publishers
Even publishers are working together to keep your book out of the marketplace. As an independent author and publisher, my creative works are ineligible for publication and distribution based on private corporate terms that I am not allowed to know:
“Thank you for contacting us. Your title withheld from Bookshop.org because the current edition(s) do not meet the eligibility criteria that Draft2Digital applies to titles submitted through our Bookshop.org distribution agreement. Those criteria include considerations such as the length and overall content volume of a title. This is a private negotiation between D2D and Bookshop.
Bookshop.org may apply different requirements to publishers who work with it directly. However, direct-publisher arrangements are separate from Draft2Digital’s contractual distribution arrangement. We cannot speak to what standards Bookshop.org may apply if you approach it independently. You are of course welcome to list directly with Bookshop if you would like.”
How can creative writers publish to distributors, if the terms of service are secret?
You can’t.
_____
What does it cost to use Draft2Digital?
For accounts that want to publish, there is a non-refundable, one-time activation fee of $20 (USD) for new accounts and an annual maintenance fee of $12 (USD) for accounts that earn less than one-hundred dollars a year in book sales. Accounts with no titles in distribution (no active request to list at stores) are not subject to the maintenance fee. Draft2Digital earns revenue primarily through commission on book sales, which equates to approximately 10% of the retail price of every book sale. For accounts earning less than one-hundred dollars a year in book sales, the maintenance fee helps offset ongoing compliance, security, and infrastructure costs.
https://draft2digital.com/faq
This reaction is due to people publishing AI slop, or books written by AI with little to no human creativity involved.
Still believe you are free?
Innocent before proven guilty?
_____
The Powers that Be
Corporations through government power (laws) are inside your home, tracking and tracing you and your family, dictating terms, and disallowing you any basic human identity, because you are a serf. You no longer have rights, sovereignty, or privacy. Warrantless searches happen daily to your information. Probable cause is out the window.
You are guilty before proven innocent.
Why are laws protecting corporate power instead of individual rights, which the US Constitution and governmental framework are based on?
When will you start fighting back? Until you are in chains?
The noose is about to be slipped over your head and the knot tightened. There is not much time to save your family and yourself.
When is enough going to be too much?
In the 250th year of the United States Constitution, will you preserve it, or commit treason by siding with technology and become a ghost in a living machine?
The choice is yours.
-~~o0o~—oOo—~o0o~~—-
THE INITIATION
Eliza Chisum is following in her father’s footsteps. She is a scientist at heart, but she’s also gifted with her mother’s abilities to pierce the veil. As her intuition educates her on the ways of the universe, to the chagrin of her college professors, she feels the truth. Her teachers know the facts. And, facts don’t care about anyone’s feelings.
When her unconscious reality intersects with an immortal being, Thothiemus from the lost civilization of Atlantis, she discovers that there is more to her parent’s car accident, which killed them, than meets the eye. Eliza volunteers to reorient the space-time continuum.
During her search, she uncovers the truth: her creative physics placed her brothers’, Samuel and James, lives in danger. This leads the young woman down a path of soul-searching, self-actualization, and quantum consciousness.
Will she set the timeline back before the damage cannot be undone? Or, will she be fated to watch her brothers incur the wrath of forces out of her control?
Whatever the future holds, Eliza Chisum ventures beyond time itself, revealing her own destiny from a past she had long forgotten.
Welcome to The Initiation.
___
The Initiation is part of Undawnted’s Quantum Consciousness Series:
http://www.undawnted.com/p/quantum-consciousness-saga.html
_______________
About DL Mullan
DL Mullan’s lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lectures. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate in the creative arts.
As a creator, Ms. Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, she has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. DL Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.
Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series, as well as creating original soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.
DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology, and is a syndicated columnist, writing the creative nonfiction, Undawntech.
For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube via her website.
Be sure to subscribe to her newsletters and follow her on social media. For further information, visit her at www.undawntech.com and www.undawnted.com.
___________________________________
id you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
___________________________________________
This segment of “Undawntech” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Legends: Monsters that go Bump in the Night anthology.
Legends take many forms, but most carry a warning within. For instance, stories of monsters such as the Chupacabra, Snallygasters, and Windigos were told to warn children to behave themselves. The tale of the ghost girl who haunts buildings in Cleveland, is a warning to daredevils, who would chance their lives and safety in old derelict buildings. And Trooper 666 is a deterrent against drunk and dangerous driving. The angel of death and gilgul offers lessons to be learned about our spiritual lives. And any one of the monsters found between these pages could decide to follow you home.
These diverse shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts and monstrous creatures, which each hold a certain sense of justice. Introduced by multi-genre author Kaye Lynne Booth, these stories are a celebration of legends of old, and some new ones, too, but there are no happy endings.
Featuring stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Abe Margel, Chris Barili, Sara W. McBride, C.R. Johansson, Rebecca M. Senese, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Robb T. White, DL Mullan and Joseph Carrabis.
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/LegendsMonsters
Share this: