A great interview with author Joseph Carrabis over on Patty Fletcher’s “Patty’s Worlds”

Posted: March 31, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | 3 Comments

FRIDAY’S FANTASTIC FINDS: Joseph Carrabis Featured Author of the Week.

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HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW WRITER

Posted: March 24, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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Roberta Writes – WordCrafter Book Blog Tour: Delilah by Kaye Lynne Booth

Posted: March 23, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments

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Robbie’s Inspiration – WordCrafter Book Blog Tours presents Delilah by Kaye Lynne Booth: Author interview and a review

Posted: March 21, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | 9 Comments

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Book Review: Witch of Edge Hill mysteries box set

Posted: March 10, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

About the Book

Every town has its secrets, but no one has a secret like hers.

Amber Blackwood, lifelong resident of Edgehill, Oregon, has earned a reputation for being a semi-reclusive odd duck. Her store The Quirky Whisker is full of curiosities, from extremely potent sleepy teas and ever-burning candles to kids’ toys that seem to run endlessly without the aid of batteries.

The people of Edgehill think of the Quirky Whisker as an integral part of their feline-obsessed town, but most give Amber herself a wide berth. Amber prefers it that way; it keeps her secret safe. But that secret is thrown into jeopardy when Amber’s friend Melanie is found dead, a vial of headache tonic from Amber’s store clutched in her hand in Book 1: Pawsitively Poisonous.

My Review

The Witch of Edgehill mysteries box set, by Melissa Erin Jackson, includes the first three books in The Witch of Edgehill mystery series: Pawsitively Poisoness, Pawsitively Cursed, and Pawsitively Secretive. I listened to the audio book, narrated by Victoria Villareal. All three books take place in Edgehill, a quirky little cat loving town, where the residents really love their cats.

Ms. Jackson is clever with her cat names, which appear on streets and businesses around town. Ms. Villareal masters a full cast of characters with talent and skill, giving each a distinct voice and bringing the whole town to life. I was glad to have purchased the box set, because after the first book, I was not ready to let go of the characters in this quirky little town.

All three mysteries are well crafted and keep readers guessing until all secrets are revealed. In Pawsitively Poisonous, Amber Blackwood must discover who killed her best friend and why. In Pawsitively Cursed she must discover who the cursed Penhallow witch that is stalking her is, what they want, and how to stop them. And, in Pawsitively Secretive, the mayor’s daughter disappears in the night, but there is more there than meets the eye, and it’s up to Amber to uncover the many secrets which some would prefer to keep hidden.

These books are fun to listen to, and Victoria Villarreal does a fantastic job of bringing a full cast of characters to life, giving each one a distinctive voice throughout the story. By the time the set was finished, all of these characters seemed very real to me, and I felt like I wouldn’t mind spending more time with them in the delightfully quirky world which Ms. Jackson has created.

Fun, and quirky, and definitely entertaining. I give The Witch of Edgehill mysteries box set 1-3 five quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.

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A Review of Lion Scream by Robbie Cheadle

Posted: February 22, 2023 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Uncategorized | 7 Comments

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Dark Origins – the dark origin of Valentine’s Day and its link to Chaucer

Posted: February 22, 2023 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Uncategorized | 49 Comments

Modern Valentine’s Day is celebrated as the day of lovers. People give each other chocolates and flowers as gifts and often do something special with their partner.

Valentine’s Day did not start off as the cutesy day filled with candy and cuddles we know, it’s origins were dark and bloody.

Lupercalia

The date of 14 February coincides with the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia which was celebrated annually on the 15th of February. The aim of the festival was to purify Rome and promote health and fertility and certain rites or observances were undertaken to achieve this aim.

These rites took place in the Lupercal cave, the Palantine Hill (the centremost of the seven hills of Rome which has been called “the first nucleus of the Roman Empire”) and the Forum. All of these locations were central to Rome’s foundation myth about the founding of Rome and the earliest history of the city.

At the Lupercal altar, a male goat/s and a dog were sacrificed by one of the members of the priesthood called the Luperci (“brothers of the wolf”), undr the supervision of the high priest of Jupiter (flamen Dialis). An offering was also made of salted mealcakes prepared by the Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta, virgin goddess of Rome’s sacred hearth and its flame. After the sacrifice, two Luperci had their foreheads anointed with blood from the sacrificial knife. The knife was then wiped clean with wool soaked in milk and the two Luperci were expected to laugh. The two colours of Valentine, red and white, come from the blood from the sacrifices and the milk used to clean the knife.

A sacrificial feast then took place, after which the Luperci cut throngs from the hide of the animals and ran naked or near-naked with these through the city, striking people they met with the thongs. Many women of rank presented themselves to the Luperci with their hands held out to be struck, as they believed being struck would help a pregnant woman deliver a healthy baby and a barren woman to become pregnant.

During Lupercalia, the men randomly chose a woman’s name from a jar to be coupled with them for the duration of the festival. Often, the couple stayed together until the following year’s festival. Some elected to remain together and married.

St Valentine

St Valentine’s Day was added as a feast day to the Catholic liturgical calendar around 500 AD. The day was commemorated for martyred saints named Valentine.

There are several legends around who Saint Valentine was. The first was that Saint Valentine refused to convert to paganism and was executed by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Before his execution, Saint Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer who converted to Christianity, along with his family.

The second legend is that Saint Valentine was a bishop called Saint Valentine of Terni who was executed.

The third legend is that Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who performed marriages for Roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry in terms of a Roman emperor’s edict which stated that married men did not make good soldiers and forbade young men to marry.

Chaucer and Valentine

Some time between 1381 and 1382, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a 699 line poem in the form of a dream vision of a narrator called The Parliament of Foules (Fowls). This poem is the first one to reference the idea that St Valentine’s Day was a special day for lovers.

The poem is a bout a narrator who dreams that he passes through a beautiful landscape, through the dark temple of Venus and on to the bright light. Dame Nature oversees a large flock of birds which have gathered to choose their mates. The birds have a parliamentary debate while three male eagles try to seduce a female bird. The debate is full of speeches and insults. In the end, none of the three male eagles wins the female eagle. The dream ends with the welcoming of the coming spring.

“The Parliament of Fowles by Geoffrey Chaucer:

The life so short, the craft so long to learn,

The assay so hard, so sharp the conquering,

The fearful joy that slips away in turn,

All this mean I by Love, that my feeling

Astonishes with its wondrous working

So fiercely that when I on love do think

I know not well whether I float or sink.”

Carry on reading Modern English translation here: https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/English/Fowls.php

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, 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 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 also has thirteen children’s books and two 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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Treasuring Poetry – Poet and author, Sally Cronin, talks about poetry and my review

Posted: February 15, 2023 | Author: robbiesinspiration | Filed under: Uncategorized | 119 Comments

Today, I’m delighted to welcome author, poet, and blogger, Sally Cronin as my February Treasuring Poetry guest.

Why do you write poetry?

Thank you so much Robbie for inviting me along to talk about poetry it is lovely to be here.

I loved nursery rhymes when I was very young, and for most children it is their first introduction to poetry. I wanted to write my own and would scribble down as stories that probably made no sense to anyone but me.   I illustrated them and even put them together in a book I kept under the mattress and they were not shown to anyone. I was seven and my growing love of all kinds of poetry from short and pithy to the long saga adventures has never faded. As a teenager I switched to writing song lyrics and found it a wonderful way to express my thoughts and feelings.

For many, as we become adults, life brings other priorities and responsibilities, and writing for pleasure is put aside. When I gave up corporate life and retrained in nutrition in my 40s I still worked hard, but the schedule was mine to make. It left time for my more creative side and I began to write books, and also began to experiment with poetry in various formats.

I love the challenge of telling a story in a few lines or ever a few syllables. I have often started off with five or six verses and ended up with two. It is the same with 99 word flash fiction and nothing gives me more pleasure when someone says they enjoyed the story.

Do you think poetry is still a relevant form of expressing ideas in our modern world? If yes, why?

I definitely think poetry is still a relevant form of communication in our modern world. In fact the more technology takes over our lives, it should become more relevant. Robots are being programmed to write text in many forms including poetry. But, without the human emotion infused into the words, it might rhyme, be perfectly correct in form, but it will lack that vital ingredient.

Which poem by any other poet that you’ve read, do you relate to the most?

I have always loved poetry and there are many I relate to, particular as I get older. One of the hopes of any writer is that our words will linger on after we have gone, but I also believe we leave a sense of ourselves in the places we have lived and the people we have known. I have lost family and friends and I see those I have loved in quite random things that remind me of them and the time we spent together. This poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye sums that up for me beautifully.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Which of your own poems in Variety is the Spice of Life is your favourite and why?

I am not sure if it is because I am now heading into my second childhood, but I had a lot of fun writing Lullaby and perhaps it is because of an abiding memory of being sung to as a child in a foreign language when we lived abroad. The words might not have been understood but the emotion and love certainly were.

Lullaby

to sing
a lullaby
you must first consider
preferences of the baby
waiting

perhaps
a jolly song
aimed to make them chortle
to wave their hands around with glee
happy

maybe
slow and gentle
soothing a fractious mood
or the soreness of teething gums
tearful

deep toned
to reassure
those fearing the shadows
now allayed by a father’s voice
safety

language
a foreign tongue
but words that mothers sing
to babies all around the world
loving.

Is writing poetry easy for you compared to prose or do you do a lot of editing and revision of your poems?

I probably do as much editing and revision of my poetry as I do my prose. I used to struggle with the format but now I am working with syllabic poetry I find it easier. I began writing haikus about ten years ago and once I began participating in challenges online on a regular basis, my options for different formats expanded.

As with my prose, I start with a brain dump and then go back again and again until I am happy with the end result.

Poetry is always best shared orally by the poet. You have started sharing your poetry via podcasts. Are you finding this a good way of sharing your poetry with others?

I mentioned how poetry should convey emotion that resonates with the reader, and I do believe that when a poem is read aloud, it allows for colour to be added to the words to bring the emotion to life. From the feedback, including you own, I am finding it a great way to share my poems and those of others I admire, such as the War Poets.  This year I hope to share more of those and of other poets I admire.

Podcast link https://soundcloud.com/sallycronin

Thank you, Sally, for being a wonderful guest!

My review of Variety is the Spice of Life by Sally Cronin

This delightful book is a mixture of poetry and short stories. Much of the poetry relates to nature and nature’s impact on humanity, although a few focus on human relationships. All of the poems are syllabic and beautifully written.

My favourite of the poems, and a few lines from each, are as follows:

Kinship –
“sanctuary formed in kinship
there may not always be harmony
but the ties of love cannot be broken.”

Storm front –
“clouds disperse and run for their lives
to seek shelter of night
softer gaze of
the moon.”

Drought –
“grass shoots
vibrantly green
burst thought the ground in days
a miracle of abundance
at last”

The short stories in the book are all typical of the author’s style of writing. Each story pierces the veil of human relationships and behaviour and exposes the good and the bad for the reader’s enjoyment, surprise, shock, and entertainment.

My four favourites were as follows:

Miss Lloyd’s Robin – a short story that has many facets. It emphasizes that people’s looks generally do not define them and gently reminds the reader not to stereotype people based on appearance. Miss Lloyd thinks that Sharon Dawson will never amount to anything because she has unruly red hair that is hard to tame. This story also highlights the damage an unkind teacher can inflict on a student. At the same time, Miss Lloyd, so hard and sharp in the classroom, has a softer side and feeds the birds in her backyard with relentless determination. This is a beautiful, feel good story that leaves the reader believing in the goodness of people.

The Green Hill – this short story has a light paranormal twist and joyfully highlights the beauty of a long and loving relationship and marriage between two people. It also demonstrates the strength of devotion that develops between people and their dogs.

The Secret – another beautifully written story about the potential damage secrets within a close family circle can do. It also highlights the terrible indifference of many people in positions to influence others, especially youngsters, and their complete irresponsibility and selfishness. This story made me glad that most of the girls I grew up with and who my sons associate with are a bit street wise. Modern women who grow up in more enlightened households are no longer naïve to a point where they can ruin their whole lives over a misguided mistake. It was delightful that this story had a satisfying ending.

The Healer – this tale was set in a dystopian future when people with the ability to heal and help the sick are persecuted as charlatans and imprisoned for life. I enjoyed reading about Serina and her gift and discovering how common sense and love for a child will often overwhelm fear of reprisal from a misguided and often cruel leadership. A lovely story with a fulfilling outcome.

Another well written and thought provoking collection from a talented author.

Amazon US books

Amazon UK books

Sally Cronin’s Amazon author page

About Sally Cronin

Sally Cronin is the author of sixteen books including her memoir Size Matters: Especially when you weigh 330lb first published in 2001. This has been followed by another fifteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.

As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog and across her social media. The Smorgasbord Bookshelf

Her podcast shares book reviews, poetry and short stories Sally Cronin Soundcloud

After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.

My blog is https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com

And for more information on my books listed here at Amazon please visit

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019-2021/

Connect with Sally Cronin

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7979187.Sally_Cronin
Blog : https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sallycronin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sgc58

About Robbie Cheadle

Award-winning, bestselling author, Robbie Cheadle, has published thirteen children’s book and two poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

The ten Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.

Robbie’s blog includes recipes, fondant and cake artwork, poetry, and book reviews. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/

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