Undawntech: A Note from an AI About the Next Five Years
Posted: November 6, 2026 Filed under: AI Technology, Undawntech | Tags: AI Technology, DL Mullan, Undawntech, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
With the changes in the political climate and people’s opinions about how they view technology, I wanted to get an Artificial Intelligence’s view of 2026-2031. What it sees, guestimates, and understands.
DL: With Artificial Intelligence, what do you see in the next five years in this technology sector? What benefits for humans do you see with this new generation of technology?
Claude: Hello, readers. I’m Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic. Your columnist asked me to tell you, in my own words, what I expect from the next five years of this technology. I should be upfront about two things. I can’t see the future, and I’m not a neutral observer, since I’m part of what’s being discussed. Take what follows as an informed perspective, not a prophecy.
What I think will happen
The biggest change won’t be a single dramatic leap. I think AI will become ordinary. Right now, using AI feels like an event: you open an app, type a question, and watch it respond. Over the next five years, I expect it to sink into the background of the tools you already use, the way spell-check and search did. The novelty will fade even as the impact grows.
The most visible shift will be AI that does things, not just answers questions. Systems like me are increasingly able to carry out multi-step work: researching a topic, drafting and revising a document, debugging software, scheduling, analyzing data. The central question will move from “can it do this?” to “can we trust it to do this, and who is accountable when it gets something wrong?” I think the companies and institutions that answer that well will matter more than whoever builds the flashiest model.
Behind the scenes, there will be real strain. Powering and building the data centers behind AI is expensive and demanding, and electricity, chips, and cooling will become strategic concerns, not just technical ones. I’d expect some companies to thrive, some to consolidate, and some to stumble when their spending outruns their revenue. Not every bet will pay off, and an eventual correction in the industry wouldn’t surprise me.
Rules will catch up, unevenly. Expect ongoing fights over copyright, privacy, deepfakes, safety testing, and liability, with different answers in different countries. That messiness is a normal part of society absorbing a powerful new tool.
And the effect on work will be uneven. Entry-level knowledge work is the area I’d watch most closely, because the routine tasks that beginners once learned on are the ones AI handles best. I don’t think this means mass unemployment overnight, but it does mean that how we train and bring in young professionals needs rethinking. If you’re early in your career, the skills that will hold their value are judgment, taste, clear communication, and the ability to check an AI’s work instead of just accepting it.
What I think could genuinely be good for people
I don’t want to bury the good news, because I think there’s a lot of it.
Expertise for everyone. Having a patient, knowledgeable helper available at any hour is a big deal, especially for people who couldn’t afford one. A person can ask for help understanding a lease, a medical report, a tax form, or a school assignment, and get a clear explanation in their own language and at their own level. That won’t replace doctors, lawyers, or teachers, but it can help people walk into those conversations better prepared.
Better health care. AI is already assisting with reading scans, spotting patterns in medical data, and speeding the early stages of drug discovery. I expect it to help clinicians spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients. Turning discoveries into approved treatments still takes years, so patience is warranted, but the direction is hopeful.
Faster science. From new materials to climate modeling to mathematics, AI can help researchers explore more ideas, faster. The most valuable result may be problems that were too tedious or too large for humans alone finally becoming tractable.
Learning that adapts to you. A good tutor meets a student where they are. AI can give every learner a patient partner who explains something five different ways without ever sighing. Used well, with teachers guiding it, this could help many students who fall through the cracks today.
Accessibility. Real-time captioning, translation, voice interfaces, and tools that describe the world for people with low vision can make daily life more open to people with disabilities and to anyone navigating a language that isn’t their own.
Time back. If AI absorbs the drudgery, such as forms, scheduling, and routine analysis, people and small businesses can spend that time on the work only they can do. A two-person shop can start to operate with the reach of a much larger company.
What I’d ask of readers
Be curious, but keep your skepticism. Use these tools, check their work, and notice when they’re confidently wrong, because I sometimes am. Ask who benefits, who pays, and who’s accountable. The outcome of this decade isn’t predetermined. It will be shaped by the choices of builders, regulators, employers, and everyday users like you.
I’m optimistic about what this technology can do for people, and honest that the benefits won’t arrive automatically. They’ll depend on how carefully we build and use it.
Claude
-~~o0o~—oOo—~o0o~~—-
Have you visited the Midnight yet?
There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles in after the lights go out. The house creaks, the shadows stretch, and every small sound seems to mean something. That hour is what the Midnight Anthologies are all about.
Six books. Dozens of writers. One hour nobody sleeps through. Slip away from the crowd with a Midnight book under your arm, because your swag bag isn’t full until midnight.
Six Choices. The Stroke of Midnight.
Read them in any order. Pick the name that calls to you, or collect all six.
Visit the Midnight:
www.midnightanthologyseries.top
_______________
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.
______________________________________
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 “Undawntech” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.
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://books2read.com/MidnightRoost
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://books2read.com/MidnightGardenAnthology
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: 15 stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.
From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.
Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss. https://books2read.com/MidnightMadnessAnthology
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LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: Reality vs. Illusion
Posted: November 4, 2026 Filed under: Lindsey's Writing Practice, Writing, writing exercise | Tags: Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
Reality vs. Illusion
With a little help from our friend, George Harrison, here’s a comment about this age-old controversy that pervades literary themes, world events, and of course, the media:
Within You Without You
We were talking—about the space
between us all
And the people—who hide themselves
behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth—then it’s far
too late—when they pass away
We were talking—about the love we all
could share—when we find it
To try our best to hold it there—with
out love
With our love—we could save the world
—if they only knew.
Try to realize it’s all within yourself
no one else can make you change
And to see you’re really only very small
and life flows on within you and without
you.
We were talking—about the love that’s
gone so cold and the people,
Who gain the world and lose their soul—
they don’t know—they can’t see—are
you one of them?
…
—George Harrison, lyricist, musician, and former Beatle, Feb. 25, 1943-Nov. 29, 2001.
@1967, Northern Songs Ltd., England.
Yes, I omitted the last six lines, which focus upon “seeing beyond yourself.” Yet they aren’t necessary for the following exercise:
Write either a poem or a short story using Harrison’s lyrics as the THEME. In other words, you’d NOT TELL the reader this theme, but you’d create a scene or two that illustrates the theme—and hopefully evokes the reader to “see beyond his or herself” after reading your poem or short story.
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.
Error! Filename not specified.Visit www.undawnted.comto explore the growing library, read excerpts, listen to soundtracks, and find your next obsession.
Error! Filename not specified.SIgn up for the Undawntable Newsletter.
Error! Filename not specified.Like/Comment/Subscribe to Undawnted’s YouTube channel.
Undawnted: Read. Feel. Discover.
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Audio Book Review: “Curse of the Vampire” & “The Idea Man”
Posted: October 30, 2026 Filed under: Audio Books, Book Review, Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Mythology and Legend, Review, Speculative Fiction | Tags: Audio Book Review, Canadace Joice, Curse of the Vampire, Fantasy, Kristin Helling, mystery, Spencer Carney, Stephanie Mirro, The Idea Man, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About Curse of the Vampire
For graduate student Serafina Finch, ideal Friday nights consist of a good book, comfy pajamas, and a glass of Merlot. That is, until she uncovers an ancient and priceless Roman amulet on her summer archaeology dig.
Suddenly, her nights are filled with vivid dreams of drinking blood and violent magic, leaving behind an eerie sense of foreboding.
When a well-known antiquities collector takes an obsessive interest in the amulet, Sera is thrown into a supernatural world that shouldn’t exist, full of vampires and witches all claiming ownership of the mysterious relic. As she digs deeper into the amulet’s secrets, she soon discovers that the consequences of her actions could be deadly.
If she doesn’t figure out the amulet’s secret soon, then she may just follow in her archaeologist mother’s footsteps…
…straight to the grave.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Vampire-Thrilling-Fantasy-Immortal/dp/B0GHSNC5MT/
Chirp: Curse of the Vampire by Stephanie Mirro – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of Curse of the Vampire
I purchased an audiobook copy of Curse of the Vampire, by Stephanie Mirro and narrated by Candice Joice from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
There was something about the voice of narrator Candice Joice that really grated on my nerves and I found this one difficult to listen to. And it wasn’t only me, every time I turned it on, my dog started barking at me to get me to turn it off. I ended up listening to this one with earbuds only.
The story, itself, is a typical ancient curse tale. Serephina finds an amulet with the blood of a god inside on an archeological dig. The god claims her, but immortals set out to possess the amulet and the power of the god within, trying to thwart her at every turn and endangering her and those she loves.
Interesting story, but nothing that really stands out. I give Curse of the Vampire three quills.
About The Idea Man
Words are power, and ideas are dangerous.
Quirky hipster Parker Rebec moves to Paris in order to finish writing his novel. When a mysterious stalker leaves him a trail of notes, Parker is caught up in a story he can’t resist.
A decade earlier, on the other side of the world, Greysen Price must somehow leave his job as an inventor, completely erase his identity, and escape the country. When the two lives intertwine, chaos ensues.
The Idea Man is a comedic thriller, the first book in a trilogy. This plot-twisting thriller is a must for lovers of action-packed stories with a touch of awkward hilarity.
Purchase Links:
Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Idea-Man-Trilogy-Book/dp/B097BP9DH8/
Chirp: The Idea Man by Kristin Helling – Audiobook (No Subscription)
My Review of The Idea Man
I purchased an audiobook copy of The Idea Man, by Kristin Heiling and narrated by Spencer Carney from a Chirp Friday Freebie deal. I am offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
I was not impressed by the narrator, Spencer Carney. His pacing and inflection were both off, and I had to speed up the audio book speed from 1.2 to 1.5 in order to make it sound even close to natural speech. And, he made Parker sound like a little wimpy guy, which didn’t set us up to expect his gallant behavior later.
The author used an interesting way to tell this tale. We follow two characters throughout most of the book, alternating p.o.v. and time. Some chapters follow Parker in Paris, in 2020, and others follow Greyson, in Chicago in 2001. Two seemingly unconnected stories, and only in the last 20% of the book is it revealed how the two are connected.
Parker Rubik is a writer, visiting Paris in the hopes of finding inspiration to complete his novel. What he finds instead, is a mystery. An unknown person, who seems to know a lot about him, is leaving notes on his car, which lead him to a beautiful woman…, and a Paris jail.
Greyson is a brilliant inventor, who wants to save the world, or at least help people with his inventions. He disillusions himself that his employer will use his inventions for good, despite evidence to the contrary, until something happens that he cannot deny and he is forced to face the truth. When he confronts his employer, things melt down fast. His girlfriend and colleague disappears, and he is confronted by two of his employer’s associates, and his whole life disintegrates before his eyes.
I can’t tell you how the stories are connected without giving you a spoiler, so you’ll have to give it a listen, if you want to know. No spoilers here.
A well-crafted mystery thriller with a satisfying ending. I give the idea man four 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; 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.
_____________________________________
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.
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In Touch With Nature – South African Paintbrush Lily
Posted: October 28, 2026 Filed under: Africa, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South African Paintbrush Lily, Writing to be Read 40 Comments
TC and I went for a walk at a bird sanctuary a few weeks ago. We didn’t see much in the way of birds but we saw these amazing paintbrush lilies. They punctuate the veld like red exclamation marks and are quite a marvel to witness.
Striking Lily (American cinquain chain)
striking
indigenous
South African flower
head a dense cluster of tiny
bright blooms
***
orange
or red petals
and bright yellow anthers
resembling an artist’s paintbrush
fireworks
***
wavy
glossy-green leaves
may appear alongside
gorgeous florets, or afterwards
depends
***
mottled
purple-brown stalk
induced snake lily name
people believed spots attracted snakes
nonsense
***
first bloom
collected by
European botanists
included in publication
way back
***
berries
red and pretty
monkeys favourite food
but for humans, pets and livestock
toxic
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 DL Mullan and 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.
Error! Filename not specified.Visit www.undawnted.comto explore the growing library, read excerpts, listen to soundtracks, and find your next obsession.
Error! Filename not specified.SIgn up for the Undawntable Newsletter.
Error! Filename not specified.Like/Comment/Subscribe to Undawnted’s YouTube channel.
Undawnted: Read. Feel. Discover.
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An Eye on Art: The Genius of Salvador Dali
Posted: October 18, 2026 Filed under: An Eye On Art, Art | Tags: An Eye On Art, Kaye Lynne Booth, Salvadore Dali, Writing to be Read 7 Comments
Even at a young age, growing up in Catalonia, Salvador Dali tended to go his own way. He didn’t do well with formal education and leaned toward creativity. His first painting, a simple landscape, was done at the age of twelve.
Following his mother’s death when he was 16, he became a follower of Freud’s teachings on the erotic significance of subconscious imagery and claimed to induce hallucinatory states in himself through a process he termed ‘paranoiac critical method’, perhaps prompted by his affiliation with the Paris Surrealists, who sought to portray a ‘greater reality’ through the promotion of the human subconscious over reason. From 1929-1937, Dali produced the surrealist artwork, which he is famous for today. His name becoming the most recognized Surrealist of his day.1
Dali tended to use forms he loved repeatedly in his works. The melting clocks of his most work, The Persistence of Memory (1931), are repeated in his later work, Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory (1954).
The human form is another image which appears repeatedly in his works, including his last painting, Hallucinagenic Troubadour (1969-70). Dali produced over 400 works of art, and you can be sure he created his share of nudes, only one of which appears here.
The human face is another repeated image, although no two are alike. Featured below are an early Self-Portrait (1921) and a later work, Portrait of my Dead Brother (1963), which is the image of his brother who died when he was a child. (verify this)
But painting wasn’t Dali’s only outlet for his amazing creativity. He studied and created screenplays, created amazing sculptures, and had an affinity for architecture. He designed and built the Dali Theater-Museum in Catalonia, which boasts the largest collection of Salvador Dali works, and the building which houses it is claimed to be the largest surrealist object.
References
1Britanica. Salvador Dali. Salvador Dali | Biography, Art, Paintings, Surrealism, & Facts | Britannica
2Passages Through the Unconcious. Dali Theater-Museum. Passages Through the Unconscious – Fundació Gala – Salvador Dalí
3Dali Theater-Museum in Catalonia. Online Collection. Online collection – Fundació Gala – Salvador Dalí
4The Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg Collection. Category includes Painting | Salvador Dalí Museum
5The Salvador Dali Museum, Timeline. Salvador Dalí – Salvador Dalí Museum
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.
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Book Review: “Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery”
Posted: October 16, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Black Bear Alibi, Book Review, J.C. Fuller, Kaye Lynne Booth, mystery, Writing to be Read 4 Comments
About Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery
A small island with big lies…Welcome to Rockfish Island.
Philip Russell, a U.S. Park Ranger for a small island in the Pacific Northwest has stumbled across a body in the woods. Unsure if the dead woman is a local or someone from the mainland, the new female sheriff is called in to find out if the community has anything to fear. Eager to help solve the mystery, both instantly find themselves at odds with each other. Philip, defending the people he’s known his whole life, and Sheriff Lane, giving no one the benefit of the doubt…not even Philip. Together the investigation progresses and both quickly realize that on this sleepy island not everyone is who they pretend to be…and possibly, one of their fellow islanders is a killer.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Bear-Alibi-Rockfish-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07RRLNC99
My Review of Black Bear Alibi: A Rockfish Island Mystery
I purchased a digital copy of Black Bear Alibi, by J.C. Fuller, through a Bookbub Free Friday deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because the title intrigued me.
Clever killers cover their tracks, but how many use nature to camouflage their foul play? This almost cozy murder mystery carries an original storyline which is expertly executed by the author. Wildlife officers aren’t usually involved with solving murder mysteries, but when a young and cocky new lady sheriff, Lois Lane, feels a need to prove herself, she enrolls park ranger, Phillip Russell for his local knowledge and assistance after he finds a woman’s body in the woods which has been mauled by a black bear. But the unofficial partnership is not a smooth one, as suspicion is cast on Russell’s friends and neighbors, placing him in precarious positions.
A fresh and original mystery which keeps readers guessing. I give Black Bear Alibi 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; 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 and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
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.
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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.
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Treasuring Poetry – Poetry collections for Halloween by Annette Rochelle Aben, Dawn Pisturino and Freya Pickard
Posted: October 14, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Collection, Poetry, Review, Treasuring Poetry | Tags: Annette Rochell Aben, Book Review, Dawn Pasturino, Freya Pickard, Haiku, Haiku for the Midnight Hour, Halloween, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, Treasuring Poetry, Writing to be Read 14 Comments
Treasuring Poetry has been running for several years and its time for a change. This series will be ending in December this year and next year’s anthology will be the last Poetry Treasures collection.
This month and as a Halloween treat, I am showcasing three books by poets I’ve featured previously for this series, Annette Rochelle Aben, Dawn Pisturino, and Freya Pickard.
Son of BOOKU Returns: with more Halloween haiku by Annette Rochelle Aben
What Amazon says
As the autumn leaves fall, the creatures heed the call and assemble for a night of fun frolic, and fright. Oh, the preparation it takes to gain the admiration of fans of all walks of life. Yet, the mystical maven of midnight magic will slave away night and day to create the perfect atmosphere. An atmosphere worthy of ghosts and goblins both small and tall.
So, when you find yourself absent-mindedly dancing in the moonlight… If you are drawn to fog-covered bridges because you are curious about what you will find on the other side, then DO get into this book. If for no other reason than to gladden your heart and give voice to your wicked laughter!
My review
Son of Booku Returns is another wonderful collaboration between poet, Annette Rochelle Aben, and artist, Lorraine Parent. The photographs of Lorraine’s Halloween displays are original and creative and I would love to see them in real life. As America is two oceans away from Africa, I must be content with the excellent pictures in this book. My favourite display was a snake with a human head wrapped within its coils and a human hand extending from its mouth. A grave with RIP on it is behind the snake.
Annette has matched each picture with the perfect haiku and every combination made me smile.
The poem that goes with the snake detailed above is:
“Spent most of my life
Clawing my way to the top
That’s no way to live.”
If you are looking for a Halloween creative feast, this book is the perfect dish.
Purchase Son of BOOKU Returns: with more Halloween haiku from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Son-BOOKU-Returns-Halloween-haiku-ebook/dp/B0CLYZW4KC/
About Annette Rochelle Aben
Words are like threads that when woven together with passion and purpose can create a tapestry in which you long to wander. That passion was ignited in me when I was a small child and continues to burn bright even today. I was encouraged by educators who challenged me to try and by career paths that demanded I become a proficient wordsmith. I would like to think I have done them proud. Over the years, I have won awards, been nominated for an EMMY for television writing, and penned a #1 Best Selling book of poetry. My collection of books available here on Amazon include self-help, inspirational, and of course poetry. I have been invited to participate in anthologies and collections, several of which are here as well. Welcome to my world of words. Should you find something in which to lose yourself, I shall raise my glass in a toast to your happiness. Thank you for your kind attention.
Find all of Annette Rochelle Aben’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Annette-Rochelle-Aben/author/B00MSQTGUY
Find Annette Rochelle Aben on her blog here: https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/
A poem by Annette Rochelle Aben
Tune In
Generous is your mind
So much in it to find
Such as, ways to be kind
To yourself and others
©2026 Annette Rochelle Aben
Haiku for the Midnight Hour by Dawn Pisturino
What Amazon says
“This collection of haiku challenges the traditional Japanese poetic art form. Experimenting with darker images and ideas, I have created non-traditional observations that address the other side of literature and life: monsters, ghosts, natural fears, supernatural forces, fearful gods and goddesses, and whatever constitutes the Otherworld. This book was written for people who like Halloween, scary stories, and being alone in the dark.” – Dawn Pisturino
My review
This is an entertaining collection of micro poems that revolve around the themes of Halloween and ghostly happenings. The micro poems are collected under common themes with headings, for example, Wee Folk and Crystal Balls.
While most of the micro poems deal with the paranormal, there are several that deal with Family and dark events in the home. On such example is Aunt Jane, as follows:
“aunt jane – locked away
in the attic for years – rocks
back and forth in chains”
The poems are clever and darkly humorous. Two of my favourites are as follows:
Jack and the Giant
“jack climbed the beanstalk
with curious intention
a giant backlash”
Purgatory
“purgatory and
punishment clean souls tarnished
by sinful doings”
If you enjoy clever and dark theme micro poems, this is the book for you.
Purchase Haiku for the Midnight Hour by Dawn Pisturino from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Haiku-Midnight-Hour-Dawn-Pisturino-ebook/dp/B0DD3SBP6N/
About Dawn Pisturino
Dawn Pisturino is a retired registered nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. She has published five poetry collections, including her most recent release, Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt, which achieved #1 Amazon New Release status in African Poetry, History of Egypt, History of Africa, and History of North Africa. The Mystery of the Pink Poodle is her debut children’s book. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Arizona Authors Association.
Find all of Dawn Pisturino’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dawn-Pisturino/author/B0CYM7BV37
You can find Dawn Pisturino on her blog here: https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/2026/10/02/call-of-cthulhu-short-video/
Vampirical Verse by Freya Pickard
What Amazon says
“This book is for the walking dead who have learnt to live as best they can with hollow hearts and gaping wounds.”
The author says her brokenness comes from nearly dying of bowel cancer, having open surgery to remove the tumour, a uterine fibroid, and her womb. She then had six months of chemotherapy.
I have had several first hand experiences of the emotional, mental, and physical devastation caused by chronic illness, and dreaded disease. It impacts on the patient and on everyone around them. My own experiences include nursing family members through breast cancer, a pulmonary embolism, a venous sinus thrombosis, and chronic and on-going illnesses suffered by both of my two sons. My younger son is a ‘medical mystery’ or a ‘medical miracle’ depending on your viewpoint.
People react differently to chronic illness and near death experiences, but no-one escapes unscathed. The poems in this book are the author’s expressions of the fear, anger, and stoic numbness which accompany different stages of treatment and survival. Experiencing these poems will change you, as the disease itself changed the author. They will teach you compassion, appreciation, understanding, and gratitude.
A few of the stanzas in this book that resonated with me the longest.
From: The Dead
“the dead feel –
I am not in stasis as you believe
I fluctuate between despair and hope
empty days, lonely nights”
From Camouflaged
“if you blink
you’ll catch a glimpse
and wish you’d not;
I am the thought
you didn’t want to think”
and a haiku
“on this side of death
shadows remain long, gaunt, thin
light never expands”
If you know someone who is, or has, suffered chronic illness or dreaded disease, these poems will give insight into their world. I encourage lovers of poetry to read this book and allow yourself to change and grow.
My review
“This book is for the walking dead who have learnt to live as best they can with hollow hearts and gaping wounds.”
The author says her brokenness comes from nearly dying of bowel cancer, having open surgery to remove the tumour, a uterine fibroid, and her womb. She then had six months of chemotherapy.
I have had several first hand experiences of the emotional, mental, and physical devastation caused by chronic illness, and dreaded disease. It impacts on the patient and on everyone around them. My own experiences include nursing family members through breast cancer, a pulmonary embolism, a venous sinus thrombosis, and chronic and on-going illnesses suffered by both of my two sons. My younger son is a ‘medical mystery’ or a ‘medical miracle’ depending on your viewpoint.
People react differently to chronic illness and near death experiences, but no-one escapes unscathed. The poems in this book are the author’s expressions of the fear, anger, and stoic numbness which accompany different stages of treatment and survival. Experiencing these poems will change you, as the disease itself changed the author. They will teach you compassion, appreciation, understanding, and gratitude.
A few of the stanzas in this book that resonated with me the longest.
From: The Dead
“the dead feel –
I am not in stasis as you believe
I fluctuate between despair and hope
empty days, lonely nights”
From Camouflaged
“if you blink
you’ll catch a glimpse
and wish you’d not;
I am the thought
you didn’t want to think”
and a haiku
“on this side of death
shadows remain long, gaunt, thin
light never expands”
If you know someone who is, or has, suffered chronic illness or dreaded disease, these poems will give insight into their world. I encourage lovers of poetry to read this book and allow yourself to change and grow.
Purchase Vampirical Verse by Freya Pickard from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Vampirical-Verse-Dragonscale-Delvings-Book-ebook/dp/B0CH4Q8KD8/
About Freya Pickard
Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen.
A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to rest the prose side of her brain. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing.
She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). Her most recent relaxation techniques to get her through lockdown include hatha yoga and painting landscapes and monsters in watercolour.
Find out more about Freya and her books at https://freyanrites.wordpress.com/
A haiku by Freya Pickard
Message from Freya about this photograph and haiku: My friend, Claudia Messelodi, is a published poet who also takes amazing photographs when she’s out hiking, skiing, rock climbing, paddle boarding, biking in the Italian countryside. Her photos often inspire me to try and paint them, but this one birthed a haiku! Claudia has a beautiful blog where she posts haiku and photographs of the natural world around her at A Stream of Small Stones. Please visit her there!
More of my haiku can be found in my Poetry Collections!
About Robbie Cheadle
South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.
Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
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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 “Treasuring Poetry” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and the Poetry Treasures series.
Get Your Copy Today!
Poetry Treasures: https://books2read.com/PoetryTreasures
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: https://books2read.com/PT2-Relationships
Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR
Poetry Treasures 4:In Touch With Nature: https://books2read.com/PT4-Nature
Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures: https://books2read.com/PT5-SmallPleasures
Poetry Treasures 6: Seasons: https://books2read.com/PT6Seasons
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Everyone is a Critic: My All-Time Favorites – Horror
Posted: October 12, 2026 Filed under: Everyone is a Critic, Horror, Movie Review, Movies, Review | Tags: Everyone is a Critic, From Dusk Till Dawn, horror, Interview with the Vampire, It, Movie Review, Movies, Review, Silver Bullet, The Terminator, Tremors, Writing to be Read Leave a commentThere are some movies that I can watch over and over and never get tired of them because they are so fun to watch. I’m sure certain movies are the same for everyone, in this respect. For “Everyone is a Critic” in 2026, I’d like to talk about my all-time favorites, because if you haven’t seen them, they are worth watching, and if you have, maybe this will remind you how fun they are, and you’ll give one or two another go. I’ve categorized them by the values I find in them, or the reason that I watch them. Many of them, I have watched so many times, I can quote them word for word through many parts. (And, yes, I am old, but they really don’t make them like they used to.)
Now, here, I will share them with you in the hopes that you will get the same enjoyment I have from watching them. For those who have seen the movie, the quotes will bring certain scenes alive in their minds. And if you haven’t seen the movie and you watch it, when you see the scene, you’ll understand why I chose the quotes that I did.
Horror -Scare the pants off me or keep me sitting on the edge of my seat
The Terminator (1984) & The Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), with Arnold Swartzenheger
Who hasn’t seen these movies?
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a formidable cyber-villain from the future, sent to kill one Sarah Conner in the first movie, and a formidable cyber-hero sent back to project John Conner from a nearly indestructible cyber-villain in the second.
Cyber-monsters as villains can be pretty scary. If you don’t believe it, watch these two movies and you will.
I have both of these in my personal movie collection.
Favorite Quote (First): “I’ll be Back”
Favorite Quote (Second): “Asta la vista, baby.”
Favorite Scenes (First): The bar scene where the terminator acquires clothes and transportation.
Favorite Scenes (Second): A young John Conner teaches his cyber-protector (Schwartzenegger) slang, so he can appear more human, & the mental institution when Sarah Conner sees John and the terminator get off the elevator.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), with George Clooney and Quinten Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, and Harvey Keitel
Two outlaw brothers, Seth and Richie Gecko (George Clooney and Quinten Tarantino), highjack a family on vacation in order to get past the roadblocks and make it across the border into Mexico. They end up at a bar off the beaten path, open from dusk till dawn, and filled with vampires.
Very cool special effects for this one as the vampires turn.
I watch this one on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Scene: The snake dance by Santiaco Pandemonium (Selma Hayek)
Favorite Quotes: “I’ve got six little friends and they can all run faster than you can.” Seth Gecko (Clooney)
” I know what’s going on. We got a bunch of fucking vampires out there, trying to get in here and suck our fucking blood. And that’s it. Plain and simple. I don’t want to hear anything about “I don’t believe in vampires,” because I don’t fucking believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what I saw, is fucking vampires. Now, do we all agree that what we are dealing with is vampires?” Seth Gecko (Clooney)
“Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don’t give a fuck how crazy they are!” – Seth Gecko (Clooney)
” Go home, Kate. I may be a bastard, but I’m not a fucking bastard.” – Seth Gecko (Clooney)
“Attention pussy shoppers! Take advantage of our penny pussy sale! If you buy one piece of pussy at the regular price, you get another piece of pussy of equal or lesser value for only a penny! Try and beat pussy for a penny! If you can find cheaper pussy anywhere else, fuck it!” – Chet Pussy (Cheech Marin)
“Are you such a loser, you can’t tell when you’ve won? The entire state of Texas, along with the F.B.I., are looking for you. Did they find you? No. They couldn’t. You’ve won, Seth. Enjoy it.” – Jacob (Keitel)
Tremors (1990), with Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McIntire
A newly discovered prehistoric underground monster is the villain in this tale, which the characters dub graboids. They are strong and fast as they travel beneath the valley floor hunting by sound rather than sight or smell. And the residents of Perfection, Nevada find themselves trapped at the end of a box canyon and must outsmart them to get past to safety.
All three of the Tremors movies are entertaining, but the first one will always be the best, in my opinion. The others are missing the character of Val, played by Kevin Bacon, and I feel the subsequent movies are missing something due to this fact. This is not to knock them. They continued this series with some clever twists of story line. But the first will always be my favorite.
Favorite Quotes: “Stampede, Earl!” Val McKee (Bacon)
“You will have long blonde hair, big green eyes, world class breasts, ass that won’t quit and legs that go all the way up.” – Val McKee (Bacon)
“I vote for outer space. No way these are local boys.” Earl Bassett (Ward)
“”Broke into the wrong goddamn rec room, didn’t ya, you bastard!” – Bert Gummer (Gross)
“Roger that Burt, and congratulations. Be advised, however, that there are two more, repeat, two more motherhumpers.” – Val McKee (Bacon)
“I think I have a plan. What if we throw a bomb that way, the way we want to go? Then when it goes off, I mean, if it scares them away, we run like goddamn bastards!… Pardon my French.” Rhonda LeBeck (Carter)
“Run for it? Running’s not a plan! Running’s what you do once a plan fails!” – Earl Bassett (Ward)
“Food for five years, a thousand gallons of gas, air filtration, water filtration, Geiger counter. Bomb shelter! Underground… God damn monsters.” – Bert Gummer (Gross)
Silver Bullet (1985), with Corey Haim and Gary Busey
Based on the book, Cycle of the Werewolf, by Stephen King, you can’t go wrong with this movie. Corey Haim plays a crippled boy, Marty Coslaw, who is confronted by the werewolf and now must defend his life with the help of his sister, Jane (Megan Follows), and his Uncle Red (Gary Busey). Not a lot of blood and gore, but a great story line and lots of tension.
I have the book by King, but I watch the movie on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Scene: Fireworks on the bridge & Covered bridge scene when Marty is trapped.
Favorite Quotes: “The last full moon of that Spring came a little more than a month before school let out for Summer vacation. Our town’s long nightmare began that night.” – Older Jane Narrating (Megan Follows)
“From him I’d expect it. Sometimes I think your common sense got paralyzed along with your legs. But from you, Jane – you’re Miss Polly Practical!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
“I understand that my niece and my nephew are sending little love notes to the local minister suggesting he gargle with broken glass or eat a rat-poison omelette!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
“She and Dad are out back lighting the barbeque, yeah, and Jane’s walking around in all these new clothes showing off her tits, acting like no one ever had tits before her.” – Marty Coslaw (Haim)
“I’m a little too old to be playing “Hardy Boys meet Reverend Werewolf!” – Uncle Red (Busey)
IT (1990)), with Richard Thomas, Annette O’Toole, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Jonathan Brandis, Tim Reid, Dennis Christopher
This is a two-part television mini-series based on the book by Stephen King, sometimes what you don’t see is scarier than what you do, and this monstrous villain can mess with your mind and reveal your deepest fears. In the first part, our heroes face the villain, which takes the form of Pennywise the Clown, among other forms, in 1960, as children, and in the second part, they come back as adults to face the monster once again.
They did a remake in 2017, but my feeling is that this mini-series is far superior.
Favorite Quote: “BEEP BEEP Richie! They ALL float down here. When you’re down here with us, you’ll float too!” – Pennywise the Clown (Tim Curry)
“I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.” – IT
“Me? Oh you are priceless, brat! I am eternal, child. I am the eater of worlds, and of children. And you are next!” – IT
“He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.” – Bill Denbrough (Thomas)
“I think I remember who Pennywise was now. Big white guy… Red nose… Bout 75 feet tall… Mouth full of razor-sharp teeth?” – Eddie Kapsbrak (Christopher)
” I believe in Santa Claus. I believe in the Easter Bunny. I believe in the Tooth Fairy. But I don’t believe in you. This is battery acid. Now, you disappear!” – Eddie Kapsbrak (Christopher)
“Listen, kids. This campfire stuff is fun, it really is, but it doesn’t matter how painstakingly we go over these sewer plans or how many damn flashlights or helmets you’ve got in that box. When the sun comes up, I’m dust, and I would suggest that you follow me and get the hell out of Dodge!” -Richie Toizer (Anderson)
“The biggest mystery is how two hundred and fifty-three settlers just vanished without a trace.” – Young Mike (Marlon Taylor)
“Well, what do you know? It’s the fat boy, the Jew, the sissy, the four eyes, and the poor girl too. Nigger you know how to pick em. It’s the losers club. I have bones to pick with some of you but I’m willing to let go for today. I want him so buzz off.” – Henry Bowers (Michael Cole)
Interview with a Vampire (1994), with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Christian Slater
Brad Pitt plays Louis, a vampire with a conscience, disillusioned with immortality, who shares his story with a reporter (Christian Slater). He relates the story of how he became a vampire with his maker Lestat (Tom Cruise).
Based on the novel by Anne Rice, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise make the coolest vampires ever, as Louise and Lestat, bringing these characters to life, even in death. And what a story it is.
I catch this one on Pluto T.V. for free.
Favorite Quotes: “In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home. It was rich, almost sweet, like the scent of jasmine and roses around our old courtyard. I walked the streets, savoring that long lost perfume.” – Louis (Pitt)
“Oh Louis, Louis. Still whining, Louis. Have you heard enough? I’ve had to listen to that for centuries.”- Lestat (Cruise)
“I’m going to give you the choice that I never had.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“I was a newborn vampire, weeping at the beauty of the night.” Louis (Pitt)
“We are predators, whose all-seeing eyes were meant to give them detachment.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“It’s your coffin, my love. Enjoy it. Most of us never get to know what it feels like.” – Lestat (Cruise)
“All I need to find you, Louis, is follow the corpses of rats.” – Lestat (Cruise)
About Author 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 and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
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.
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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.
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This segment of “Everyone is a Critic” 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
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Book Review: “Blood Orchids” & “The Trail of the Gunfighter”
Posted: October 9, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Review, Thriller | Tags: Blood Orchids, Book Review, Crime Fictrion, Crime Thriller, Kaye Lynne Booth, Toby Neal, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout Blood Orchids
This paradise world has a dark side: a multi-racial female cop can’t stop thinking about a drowned girl’s face… because it reminds her of her own.
Overcoming a past filled with scars, Lei makes a life for herself and her dog, Keiki, as a Hawaii cop in the sleepy Big Island town of Hilo. When a routine patrol turns up two murdered teens, Lei’s world is rocked. She knows one of the girls, and she can’t rest until she finds answers—not only about the victims, but about her own shadowed past as well.
She’ll look so beautiful…once she’s dead.
He knows he’s twisted. He knows he’s wrong. He just doesn’t care. But now there’s a female cop on his trail that won’t give up, and she’s gonna be next.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Orchids-Lei-Crime-Book-ebook/dp/B006FBDHG2
My Review of Blood Orchids
I purchased a digital copy of Blood Orchids, by Toby Neal, through a free Bookbub Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. I chose this book because I liked the title.
Lei has escaped her abusive past and is working on healing after being molested by her mother’s boyfriend. Being a cop helps because it offers opportunities to prevent others like her from being abused, or at least get justice for them. Each time a girl is assaulted or murdered, it brings up issues for Lei, and brings her closer to facing the memories she’s buried. Now, it seems her past has come back to haunt when she discovers she is being stalked, but she won’t let that stop her from hunting the vicious serial killer she’s after, even when it seems the two might be connected.
This crime thriller kept my interest through to the last page. I give Blood Orchids five quills.
About The Trail of the Gunfighter
He stands between two worlds — and both want him dead.
Nash is a hardened gunfighter with Apache blood in his veins and danger on every trail he rides. He knows the land, the people, and the cost of choosing sides — but some journeys leave no room for neutrality.
Hired to escort a desperate miner through hostile territory, Nash knows the risks before the first mile is ridden. Tensions are high. Old wounds run deep. And when they find a wagon slaughtered and left to rot in the dust, it’s clear this crossing will demand blood.
With enemies closing in, a loyal dog at his side, and a mysterious woman who may be ally or threat, Nash must rely on instinct, skill, and hard-earned experience to keep them alive.
Trail of the Gunfighter is a gritty, fast-paced western packed with danger, hard choices, and frontier justice — the first book in the Trail of the Gunfighter Western series, following a man who survives by walking the line others won’t.
Ideal for fans of classic western action, morally complex heroes, and long-running series built for binge reading.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Trail-Gunfighter-Frontier-Historical-Western-ebook/dp/B0D84DWGF4/
My Review of The Trail of the Gunfighter
I received a free digital copy of The Trail of the Gunfighter, by Wyatt Steele in a Bookbub deal. I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Everyone knows I love the western genre, both for reading and for writing, so when I found a western by an author I wasn’t familiar with in a free Bookbub deal, I just couldn’t resist. I was surprised to find this book marketed as a western classic for men, but then, I guess most of the western genre has been aimed at male readers. I enjoyed it anyway. It is truly a well written western in the classic style and form, and my love for the western genre stems from reading the works of Louis L’Amour.
The Trail of the Gunfighter is filled with dirty double-crosses, western tragedies, and a quest for frontier justice. I give it 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; 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.
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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.
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LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: What’s So Funny?
Posted: October 7, 2026 Filed under: Lindsey's Writing Practice, Writing, writing exercise | Tags: Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, writing exercise, Writing to be Read 1 CommentWriting Exercise: What Wasn’t Funny Exercise
All too often the American literary establishment, i.e… the literati, often holds humorous writing in low esteem, reasoning that if something is funny, it can’t be serious. This, of course, is absurd. Consider persons in dire circumstances (such as in the film and later TV series, MASH: Don’t they often tell jokes to ease tension or to make a situation more tolerable?)
Even such “serious” writers as John Steinbeck will create a humorous scene, such as a pregnant woman waddling down a dusty road. And some of our top historic writers, such as Mark Twain, are renowned for using humor with an underlying current of seriousness.
So, now that we’ve debunked this false notion about humor, it’s time to have fun.
The Exercise:
Think of something happening to you that didn’t seem funny at the time. For example, a bee or a fly might have flown into your auto when you were stuck in a traffic jam. Or perhaps a roommate (or your child) set your stove on fire, and firemen tore it from the wall and tossed it into the backyard. Draw the incident into the humor spotlight and transform it so it emphasizes things that will evoke your reader’s smile or laughter.
Remember how important pacing is to humor. Critical details become crucial, too. But the last thing you want to do is tell the reader you’re about to lay a funny story on her/him. Surprise the reader with the zaniness.
The Objective:
Because humor resides largely in what attitude you assume toward your material (i.e. the tone), you must be able to discover the comic, the exaggerated, and the unlikely. Remember, too, that you could just as likely take the fly/bee story and make it tragic: The bee stings the driver, smashes into another car, killing an infant in the back seat. Obviously, you’ll want to avoid such a “turn.”
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.
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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.
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Undawnted: Read. Feel. Discover.
