Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine October 2021 by Mom’s Favorite Reads

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5. The ubiquitous Desert Island Discs Question – which three books would you take to a desert island?

This is what Alex Gray and I believe - the characters know what they are doing. Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham say we are talking rubbish and the keyboard is in control. But basically, the bottom line is that we agree, we just think about it in a different way. A new character I’m writing turned to me and said, ‘I can’t afford to do this.’ She was ordering something to eat in a trendy West End café. She was right. The way I’d written her situation, she’d be careful with her pennies. Hasty little rewrite followed.

Definitely the book ‘How to escape from a desert island’! Plus, the Children of Man (PD James). Can I have all the books in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy counting as one, especially the original trilogy of five. Probably Black Beauty, such a life affirming book. I’d sit on the beach and still cry when Beauty falls on Ludgate Hill and breaks his knees. 6. Which author do you think has most influenced your writing?

9. How important is characterisation in your books? Would you say they were plot driven or character driven and why?

Probably too many to mention to be honest. I never wanted to be a writer, it just happened after my fracture. The biggest influence now is definitely my colleagues in the writing group I take. It tests my sense of what is right and what is off; makes me think hard about why it’s not right and how we could fix it.

I think modern crime fiction has to have emotionally intelligent characters as well as a good going plot. I think it’s been well proven that readers follow the character rather than the plotting skills of the writer. Authors who have got bored with a character and started a new series often see their sales drop, and they get a phone call from their publisher to get the old one out of retirement!

7. Do you have a favourite book on Writing and if so, what is it? There’s a good book called How Not To Write A Novel. It’s very funny and 100% true.

10. Do you have an ideal reader in mind when writing your books? If so, who are they?

(Wendy butting in – I would have to agree with that. Spot on.)

I always have an ideal reader in my head. Me! You can only write the book that excites you. Anything else would ring a little untrue.

8. Back to your writing (yes, I know we are all over the place; I like to keep the surprises coming) I love the Anderson and Costello books and they are fabulous characters. How did you come up with the characters?

11. I have recently read The Sideman which has an intricate plot that, like a diamond, has many facets, yet you pull them together beautifully. Do you plot your novels meticulously and if so, what is your method?

To tell you the truth, the characters come up with themselves. I don’t have to sit and create them in my head. It’s as if an actor walks on the stage and says ‘actually I would do it like this.’ And they argue with me every step of the way.

I think I will send that question to my editor who wishes that my novels were intricately plotted -9-

before I start. But they are not. I write like PD James. I write the good bits then string them together. I use a lot of post it notes, the extra sticky ones and move them around on a space on the wall. The Sideman is really the second half of the story started in The Suffering Of Strangers. I had no idea that that was going to happen. And then the book was long listed for the Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.

12. Your books are set in Scotland. Why Scotland? Because Scotland is marvellous. Yesterday it was 26 degrees, today it’s pouring and the dog won’t come out from under the radiator. Anything can happen here. And, huge boon to crime authors, it’s easy to lose a mobile phone signal up here. We are a civilisation dangerously close to wilderness. 13. Tell us a bit about your writing space? I am lucky enough to live in a haunted house. My writing room in a kind of turret that looks on to the tops of some large trees where steroid squirrel used to do his acrobatics. And I look down on to a messy front garden with an ancient bird bath where the wood pigeons do their daily rituals. It’s a total mess but I know where everything is.

14. If you could go anywhere in the world to write, where would it be and why? I don’t really care. I would go somewhere with no internet where nobody could annoy me and probably a wood burning stove and a comfy chair. Space for the dog of course. In the middle of nowhere. You can tell why I love Scotland!

15. Let’s get personal, what would be your perfect meal. Ha, I once put on Facebook a picture of my dinner which was baked potato filled with potato salad and a side order of chips. I think that might be a Scottish thing. I’ve been a vegetarian for over 45 years, I tend to see food as fuel not as an entertainment so I might be a bit weird. Really don’t see the point in going somewhere posh and spending a fortune. (Typical Scot). I fling things at the tele when Heston Blumenthal comes on, telling him that there are starving folk in the world.

16. On holiday do you prefer beach, city, or wilderness? Why? We tend to go abroad to the Bouchercon (Big book event in the states) then spend 3 days in Florida on a remote beach. During the year I’m all over the highlands, so the answer is really all three but for more than 3 or 4 days I would say wilderness. - 10 -

17. My final question, which one of your books would you recommend Mom’s Favourite Reads readers, read? My that’s a tongue twister. Here’s a tongue twister back. “She stood on the balcony inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping and amicably welcoming him in.”

Thank you, Caro, it has been an absolute pleasure chatting to you and getting to know you better. I love your books and am always excited when a new one is on the horizon. All the best with your new book, I am sure it will be a best seller.

Absolution as that was my first so that has a special place in my affections. The Silent Conversation, as that’s out next and should technically be the best novel as any author should become more skilful as they write. When I was asked that question once from the audience at an event, Sophie Hannah asked me ‘But of them all, which is your favourite book?’ I would have to say Singing to the Dead it’s a real nasty wee book that one!

More About Caro

Caro was born in Govan, on Glasgow's south side. A graduate of the British School of Osteopathy, she runs a large osteopath centre in West Scotland, treating animals and humans, and writes in her spare time. Her first novel Absolution was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger 2008 and her second Singing to the Dead was longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2010. The third in the series, Dark Water, was published on 4 August 2010, and the fourth book The Blood Of Crows was published on 30 August 2012. Critic Cathi Unsworth in The Guardian opined that Ramsay's series "excels in sense of place, realism, plotting and caustic humour", describing it as "Bleak, black and brilliant".

They are a series, except for The Cursed Girls and that one has attracted some film interest so that in itself suggests it has a little something different.

Ramsay was the subject of a 2007 BBC documentary film, and appeared on STV show The Hour in 2010. - 11 -

I’m sure you enjoyed finding out more about Caro Ramsay. Now it’s time to find out more about her books. I love her Costello and Anderson series, so I thought I would review the latest three for you, including The Silent Conversation which was released yesterday in hard cover and will be released on kindle on 1st November. It’s exciting to get an Advance Reader Copy of any book and I am pleased to be able to share my thoughts with you today. The Sideman

The blurb for the sideman starts with ... ‘Meet your next favourite Scottish detectives: DI Colin Anderson and DS Winifred ‘Freddie’ Costello.’ I must admit they have fast become my favourite Scottish Detectives. They are cracking characters with quirks, foibles, and all the other traits that make characters seem human. So, you can imagine my surprise when the blurb tells me that Costello has resigned from the force over a conviction that an innocent man has been set free. What? Then the bodies start to pile up and there is a suspicion that Costello could be involved. In much of the book Costello is missing and Anderson is picking up the slack. However, this does not detract from the book and Ramsay handles the storyline well, so one does not feel that there is something missing. This is a gritty Scottish thriller, which at times can be disturbing, yet the writing is such that it entertains and engrosses, rather than horrifies. I found myself immersed in the story and genuinely wanting to know what happens next. We do get to know a bit more about the characters and their private lives which adds, rather than detracts, from the overall story arc. Setting is a large part of Ramsay’s books and there is a real sense of not only place, but time. I could picture everything perfectly and almost felt I was there. This is a gripping read with a real page turner feel to it, so much so I was reading far too late and far too early, yet I didn’t mind.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09D8LPF5V

The Red Red Snow This has to be one of the best openings to a book I have ever read – A family man is stabbed to death at a crowded Christmas Ice Show. Murdered in plain sight. No clues, no witnesses, no known motive. Two further bodies are discovered at an isolated holiday cottage in a remote Scottish Glen. What secrets are hiding within the community and how are Costello and Anderson going to solve this seemingly impossible crime. And through it all the snow keeps coming, an eerie background to the grisly proceedings. This book is multi-faceted, perfectly plotted masterpiece with each scene not only moving the action forward but keeping the reader engrossed and interested. The characterisation is spot on and I found myself liking them more and more as - 12 -

through in every taut and well written scene in the book. There are two separate storylines one the death of a young female police officer, the other the four-year-old cold case of a small child who had gone missing. There are many strands to the narrative but as the book unfolds the author weaves them together seamlessly leaving the reader wandering why they did not see that all along. Ramsay uses her trademark short scenes which change direction like a kaleidoscope, but which have the reader eager to know more. The characters are developed further, the dialogue is authentic, and the setting perfectly drawn with a closed room feeling even though not in a closed room. Throw in a storyline plotted to perfection and you have all the ingredients of an enthralling murder mystery. It is, like all the authors other books, gritty and does not pull any punches. Yet it is enjoyable and entertaining. When I say I could not put this book down, I mean it. I genuinely did not guess the ending and was stunned. Well done Caro Ramsay for pulling yet another page turner out of the hat. Bring on the next one is all I can say.

they became what felt like comfortable friends; a friend with an acidic tongue in the case of Costello but one you cannot help but spend time with. The setting lends a real frisson of fear as snow blankets the area and chills the air lending itself to a tale as chilling as the air itself.

The Silent Conversation I was looking forward to this, the thirteenth, offering in Caro Ramsay’s Anderson and Costello Series. I was delighted to receive an Advanced Reader Copy and I am even more delighted to say the book did not disappoint. Ramsay is an expert wordsmith using every word to its full advantage and this shines

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09CR1MJJF

Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. As copy editor for Mom’s, she works hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/ - 13 -

Singing Bowls and Healing Sounds by Val Tobin Vibration, the third sacred principle of the Kybalion, the book written by unknown hermetic teachers and interpreted by Doreen Virtue in her book Divine Magic, states that “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” In sound therapy, singing bowls, the voice, or even music use this principle and the science of entrainment to encourage healing in the body.

Resonance and Natural Vibration

Entrainment and Cymatics

In the book Healing Sounds, Jonathon Goldman defines resonance as “the frequency at which an object most naturally vibrates.” He then points out that since everything is vibrating, that would include the organs and everything in the body, which would vibrate at their own frequency.

Entrainment refers to the use of one object’s vibration to change another object’s vibration to match the first object’s vibration. In other words, the objects synchronize. Dr. Hans Jenny developed an area of study called Cymatics, which was the study of waveform phenomena. The late Dr. Peter Guy Manners built upon Jenny’s work and developed an instrument called a “Cymatic Instrument,” which he used in the therapy that he developed called “Cymatics.”

Much as a piano or other instrument needs to be in tune, all the components of the body need to be in tune, or they will become diseased. According to Goldman and other proponents of sound therapy, bringing the affected organ or body part back into its natural vibration should return it to a state of health. One way to accomplish this is with the use of sound.

The Cymatic Instrument uses electronically created tones set to the frequency required to cause healing. Research has shown that this instrument has successfully healed injured tissue. According to Goldman, the Cymatic Instrument can also be used to heal emotional and mental issues.

To use sound to return an organ or body part to a harmonious frequency, one needs to know what the healthy frequency for the specific organ or body part is. Then, an instrument that resonates to that frequency can be sounded and projected onto that diseased organ, and by entrainment, it should return that diseased part to its healthy frequency.

One instrument that is commonly used in sound therapy is the singing bowl. In his book The Healing Power of Sound, Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor describes his success with the principles of entrainment using singing bowls, often in combination with chanting.

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Singing Bowls

Cymatic Instrument have the potential to heal on all levels, not just the physical. One must keep in mind, though, that before trying sound therapy for healing, it is important to seek the counsel of a licensed healing professional who is qualified to diagnose and supervise the treatment of health problems.

In healing, the bowl is placed on the affected area or is used in a meditation. Gaynor says that by entraining the sound of the voice with the sound of the singing bowl, the pulse is slowed and breathing normalizes. He also believes that the brain can be synchronized to achieve deep states of relaxation and that changing the vibration of a diseased body part to its natural harmonious frequency will heal that part.

References

Singing bowls are bowls that are sounded by running a mallet around the outside edge of the bowl. Moving the mallet around the bowl causes vibration and sound. Different bowls will vibrate at different frequencies, and will, therefore, sound with different tones. Bowls vary in size, composition (such as brass or crystal), and thickness.

Image: Crystal Singing Bowl — By DieKlangschale via Wikimedia Commons “Research Update on the Sound Techniques of Cymatechnologies,” (Accessed September 3, 2021). Gaynor, Mitchell L., M.D., The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music, Boston: Shambhala, 2002. Goldman, Jonathon, Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics, Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 2002.

Goldman says that Edgar Cayce, who went into trance states to find cures for his clients’ illnesses, “predicted that sound would be the medicine of the future.” The future for sound therapy looks positive, as studies are showing that instruments such as the

Virtue, Doreen, Divine Magic: The Seven Sacred Secrets of Manifestation, Carlsbad: Hay House Inc., 2006.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or healthcare professional. Before beginning any health or diet program, consult your physician.

Val Tobin writes speculative fiction and searches the world over for the perfect butter tart. Her home is in Newmarket, Ontario, where she enjoys writing, reading, and talking about writing and reading. Discover more about Val on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/val-tobin

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Get ahead — Get a Hat! by Maggie Cobbett

“Have you ever been to Royal Ascot, Auntie Jo?” Looking into my niece’s artless blue eyes, I knew that this was no casual question and answered cautiously, “No. Why?” “Well, it’s only about half an hour on the train from here and could be well worth it for research purposes, don’t you think? My tutor calls it a microcosm of the British class system and I thought we might treat ourselves to a day out tomorrow. How about it?” I sighed. This impromptu visit to my student niece, fond as I am of her, was intended mainly to reassure her anxious parents up in Aberdeen that she’d been eating properly and devoting enough time to her work. Emails, phone calls and even Skype could only ever tell them as much as Anika wanted them to know. “We can’t,” I said firmly. “For one thing, it would cost a fortune. For another, I’ve seen it on television often enough and I haven’t brought anything suitable to wear.”

posh people will be turning left. As for suitable clothes, haven’t you heard of charity shop chic? There’ll be plenty of time this afternoon to do the rounds and get ourselves kitted out ready for an early start tomorrow.

Anika brushed my protests aside. She already had a couple of tickets for the Silver Ring, passed on by a friend whose plans had changed at the last moment.

We hadn’t been on the racecourse long before I discovered that Anika was planning to storm the social barricades. Slightly giddy after the glass of Pimm’s that she’d pressed into my hand, I had no option but to leave the Silver Ring and follow in her wake. We attracted a few wolf whistles as we headed for the main grandstand.

“Going through the main entrance,” she joked, “will be just like getting onto a plane. We’ll be turning right into economy class and all the

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Well, Anika did, anyway and I didn’t think I looked too bad in my new ensemble. The patent leather high-heeled sandals had already begun to chafe on the walk from the railway station, but the floral print fitted me quite well and my niece had delved into a bargain box of hats to find me a passable straw boater. For £2.99 it was mine. The smiling lady behind the counter had helpfully ripped off the navy blue grosgrain band and found me a piece of ribbon that almost matched my new dress.

The fact that our progress had so far been unchallenged encouraged my niece to venture further. “Let’s have a giggle and crash the Royal Enclosure,” she suggested.

It made the hat look slightly less like the school uniform cast off that it was. I knew that, because a label stitched into the back told me that it had once been the property of a certain Wilkinson Minor.

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She snarled at him and poked my straw boater disdainfully with the pointed toe of one shoe.

“You must be joking! We’d probably get ourselves arrested.”

“And a tatty thing like this would be more acceptable?” For a moment, I thought she was going to stamp on my hat, but then she picked it up disdainfully between a finger and thumb and headed straight for me. Wrenching off her silver bow to expose its thin headband and comb arrangement as well as a very famous designer’s name on the label, she held it out to me and raised a thin eyebrow.

“Oh, come on! Where’s your spirit of adventure, Auntie Jo?” We’d just got close enough to hear the champagne corks popping and catch a glimpse of some minor royals, when a gust of wind blew off my hat. It landed at the feet of a young woman whose language that day was much less elegant than her outfit. Her long red hair and perfect bone structure were familiar even to me from the covers of celebrity magazines, but they were cutting no ice with the bowlerhatted steward barring her way. “I’m very sorry, Madam,” he was saying patiently, “but I can only repeat that your headgear does not meet the required standard for entry to the Royal Enclosure.” I could see his point. It appeared to be nothing more than a silver lurex bow, invisibly anchored to her glossy and luxuriant locks.

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“Swap?” How could I turn down an offer like that? A few moments later, wearing my straw boater at a rakish angle, she strode past the astonished steward to join the elite. Anika, helpless with laughter, abandoned her plan to challenge the class system on that day at least and we returned to the Silver Ring to toast Wilkinson Minor in champagne. With the amount my new fascinator was going to fetch online, we could well afford it!

A Yorkshire girl through and through, Maggie Cobbett lives on the edge of the Dales. With five books to her credit, she also writes short stories, features and even the occasional poem. Her many travels, as well as careers in modern language teaching and television background work, have furnished an inexhaustible supply of inspiration. http://maggiecobbett.co.uk/ - 19 -

Autumn Cooking Submitted by Mom’s Authors Easy (relatively) and quick flaky biscuits Cherame McFarlane This is a very old recipe. It originated in the Appalachia hill country. I found it in a book years ago, over fifty. Because it’s an old one, I’ve made a couple of adjustments. Still, it’s the simplest one I know, and I’ve tried quite a few. The only real ‘tool’ I use is a pastry cutter. A young, strong cook could use a big fork. Oven at 375 to 400F (190 to 200C) 1 Cup all-purpose flour 1 Teaspoon salt (use half a teaspoon if on restricted salt diet or eliminate) 1 heaping Teaspoon baking powder 4 Tablespoons of butter, or vegetable shortening (If you use oil that defeats the flaky part) 1/2 Cup milk or (a healthy sprinkle of powered milk and a half cup water NOTE you may not use all the liquid) Combine the dry ingredients. Mix well then add the butter or shortening. Here’s where the pastry cutter comes in, use it to mix the dry ingredients. The mixture should look much like very tiny pebbles or fine meal. Add the liquid in small amounts, mixing gently. If the dough cleans up all the mixture and forms a stiff ball, stop there. Remove from the bowl and put on a lightly floured surface to pat out or roll if so inclined. I usually simply pat it out to about a quarter inch thick, cut with a jelly jar and bake. Depending on the oven it will take 12 to 15 minutes. Don’t let them get too brown. Remove from the oven, split, slather with butter, and enjoy.

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Homemade Chili Melanie P. Smith This recipe was created by my husband who could never find the perfect chili recipe. So, he decided to make his own.

INGREDIENTS 3 Cups 2 lbs 1 lb 1 Quart 2 Cans 1 can 1 1 can 1 tsp 1 tbsp. 2 tbsp. 3 tbsp. 1/2 cup

Dry Pinto Beans Ground beef Hot Italian Sausage, ground Home processed tomatoes or 2 (28 Oz) cans of whole tomatoes (Sliced into quarters) Diced tomatoes (15 oz) Or, 3-4 fresh tomatoes. chopped Tomato paste (16 oz) Yellow onion, chopped Beef broth (15 oz or 2 Cups fresh) Garlic powder Cumin Paprika Chili powder Brown sugar

Chopped jalapeno peppers (optional)

INTRUCTIONS

Add tomato paste

Place beans in a large pot. Add just enough water to cover completely. Boil for approximately 30 minutes or until semi-soft (Do not drain off the bean broth)

Chop and add onion Add beef broth (you can add additional broth to reach desired thickness)

Braise Ground Beef in frying pan and add to pot

If you like your chili hot, add finely chopped jalapeno peppers to taste

Braise Italian Sausage in frying pan and add to pot.

Add seasoning (Garlic powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder and brown sugar)

Add tomatoes. •

•

If you don’t have a quart jar of home canned tomatoes, use two large cans (including juice) If tomatoes are large, quarter before adding to the pot (you can also substitute additional diced tomatoes if whole tomatoes are not available)

Cover and simmer on low heat for 6 hours. You can also make this recipe in a slow cooker. Follow the same instructions but cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours in slow cooker.

Add diced tomatoes (including juice) you can substitute fresh tomatoes but you may need to add more broth to get desired thickness

You can garnish with shredded cheese and/or green onions. - 21 -

Europe by Book by Hannah Howe

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman Everyone remembers the smell of their grandmother’s house. Everyone remembers the stories their grandmother told them. But does everyone remember their grandmother flirting with policemen? Driving illegally? Breaking into a zoo in the middle of the night? Firing a paintball gun from a balcony in her dressing gown? Seven-year-old Elsa does. Some might call Elsa’s granny ‘eccentric’, or even ‘crazy’. Elsa calls her a superhero. And granny’s stories, of knights and princesses and dragons and castles, are her superpower. Because, as Elsa is starting to learn, heroes and villains don’t always exist in imaginary kingdoms; they could live just down the hallway. As Christmas draws near, even the best superhero grandmothers may have one or two things they’d like to apologise for. And, in the process, Elsa can have some breath-taking adventures of her own...

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The Woman on the Orient Express by Lindsay Jayne Ashford Hoping to make a clean break from a fractured marriage, Agatha Christie boards the Orient Express in disguise. But unlike her famous detective Hercule Poirot, she can’t neatly unravel the mysteries she encounters on this fateful journey.

Filled with evocative imagery, suspense, and emotional complexity, The Woman on the Orient Express explores the bonds of sisterhood forged by shared pain and the power of secrets.

Agatha isn’t the only passenger on board with secrets. Her cabinmate Katharine Keeling’s first marriage ended in tragedy, propelling her toward a second relationship mired in deceit. Nancy Nelson— newly married but carrying another man’s child—is desperate to conceal the pregnancy and teeters on the brink of utter despair. Each woman hides her past from the others, ferociously guarding her secrets. But as the train bound for the Middle East speeds down the track, the parallel courses of their lives shift to intersect—with lasting repercussions.

Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann's War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah's books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audiobooks, and are being translated into ten languages. Discover more on Mom's Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe

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The Girl by Stan Phillips Long ago, as day turned to twilit evening I stood beneath a street lamp watching flying creatures of the night, erratic, in the weak glow cast by an inadequate flickering bulb. Waiting for a girl to appear as she had promised. Hour after hour I waited. Watching others walk along that busy cobbled street. But she never showed. And I never saw her again. I recall being there. The street. The lamp. The hurrying by people.

All so vividly. But the girl? The girl? She is lost to the passing years. Her face. Her voice. Even her name. All gone to history. Only the broken promise scars my soul. Stan Phillips © Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part-time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up — but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/stan-phillips - 24 -

Maisy the Witch Submitted by Poppy Flynn Written by Maisy Age 10 Maisy the witch loved to dance. She danced everywhere and dancing made her magic powers stronger.

Maisy sang so that she had music to dance to, but her singing wasn’t very good and it scared away all the animals where she lived and none of her friends liked it and it meant she always had to dance on her own.

underground. Maisy was scared and didn’t know what to do, so she decided to dance to stop herself being so scared. She sang and the noise made all the spiders and bats run away. And she danced and that made her magic strong enough so she didn’t need her wand.

Sometimes too much dancing meant Maisy got distracted. And sometimes she didn’t take any notice of where she danced. One day, she danced at the edge of the black forest. The Black forest was where the demons lived. The demons were mean and grumpy and always had a scowl on their faces. They hated everything that was happy. They hated music and they hated singing and most of all they hated dancing.

Maisy made a spell to open the door of the dungeon. Then she sang and danced all over the underground city while she tried to find the way home. The demons put their hands over their ears and got really mad because Maisy was dancing.

Maisy wasn’t looking where she was going and she danced into the forest. The grumpy demons were angry when they found out and decided to catch her. They threw a big net over her and carried her back to their underground city.

Stop it, they shouted. Maisy shook her head. I am going to sing and dance all the time and you can’t stop me. The demons hated it so much they decided to take Maisy back home but before she left the underground city Maisy put a spell on the demons so they had to be nice to everyone, otherwise, they started to magically dance and sing themselves. And because they hated dancing and singing so much and didn’t want that to happen, they were nice to everyone forever.

Maisy shouted and kicked, but she couldn’t get away because the demons were bigger and stronger than her and there were more of them and she dropped her magic wand when they caught her in the net. The demons threw Maisy into a dungeon. It was dark and scary and it had bugs and there wasn’t any light because it was - 25 -

Ready and Waiting by Father Ian Maher Matthew 24.36-51 It would seem from the drastic events unfolding across our world – forest fires, heat bubbles, floods, mudslides, and the like – that we are reaching a tipping point for human life on our planet. In fact, our climate deterioration might already have passed the point of no return, with global temperatures soaring and the icecaps melting.

however, a deep-seated human trait. In the gospel reading’s reference to the story of Noah and the flood, most of the people were carrying on as if nothing was changing around them. When the rains came and the water began to rise, they had already missed the boat (pardon the pun).

What seems too hard to comprehend is that scientists and environmentalists have been warning about this for decades. All the time, their voices have been drowned out by climate change sceptics and deniers; their concerns ignored by politicians and global corporations. Only now, with just a small window of opportunity left in which to act, are undeniable climate change events focussing the minds of governments. Let’s hope it is not too late.

Jesus goes on to speak about the ‘coming of the Son of Man’, a cryptic reference to the second coming and the fulfilment of human history. He makes the comparison between those who will be prepared, and those who will fail to grasp the opportunity to be living lives in readiness for that

This tendency to put things off and instead maintain a comfortable status quo is,

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This gospel is a timely one, and a spur for all of us to action. May we reflect on our lives and how we are living as citizens of Planet Earth – of which, by the way, there is only one – and each play our own small part in saving it for future generations. May we pay attention to our friendships and relationships and live our lives with the hallmark of kindness and compassion; and may we take time to listen and respond to whatever God might be calling us to do.

moment which comes to all of us. At some point, whether that be at the end of our earthly lives or if the Lord returns in the meantime, we will come face to face with the Risen Christ. As he often does, Jesus uses vivid imagery in his teaching to highlight the importance, and urgency, of living our lives in a way that reflects an awareness that our moment of truth can come at any time. I don’t believe we need to be fearful about that moment. After all, Jesus has set aside God’s wrath and assures us that in him we find our forgiveness. His grace is more than sufficient for all our failings. We will not actually be ‘weeping’ and ‘gnashing teeth’. But we will, surely, be heartbroken at opportunities rejected to live faithfully as followers of Jesus, and not to have done all that we could to help make God’s kingdom a reality on earth.

In all those aspects of life, may we be ready and waiting for that moment when all that our life has been comes together and we come face to face with the glory of the risen Lord, knowing that it has been a life well-lived.

I am a priest and minor canon at Sheffield Cathedral. My last post prior to retirement from stipendiary ministry was as the Multifaith Chaplaincy Coordinator and Anglican Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University, where I worked for 12 years. https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/ Twitter @IanMaher7 - 27 -

Carl Jacobs — Fine Artist Interviewed by Sylva Fae Tell me a little about your background. As a child I always loved drawing and painting, and art was my favourite subject at school. I achieved a Diploma in Graphic Art and Design which led me to a career in art, working in the advertising and publicity business, producing designs and finished artwork for everything from magazine advertisements, to brochures and logo designs. I enjoyed my career tremendously, and eventually went freelance, successfully running my own design and advertising studio for twelve years. I was fortunate to be able to retire at age 57, which gave me the opportunity

to paint full time.

What media / techniques do you use? I love to experiment with different techniques and ideas and include these in my paintings. My background of graphic art has a tendency, I think, to show through in the style of my work. Much of my work now is done using acrylic paints which I find really versatile.

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They can be used as a thin wash, much the same as watercolours, or thickly in a similar way to oils and the other bonus is a fast-drying time which enables me to work spontaneously, without waiting too long for the paint to dry.

the painting takes over and dictates to me how it wants to progress. I find this way of working really exciting and enjoyable.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I have work permanently on show in The Picture House Galleries in Padstow, Cornwall, but also exhibit at local pop-up exhibitions in the north of England.

Where can people see your work?

I have always loved boats and water, so many of my paintings feature harbour scenes. In particular, I’ve drawn inspiration from holidays spent down in Cornwall, walking the coastal paths and taking in the wonderful atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

https://www.picturehousegalleries.co.uk/ artist.php?artist=Carl%20Jacobs&type=originalartwork

I would say that when I begin a piece of work, my aim is not one of total realism, but more of an individual, slightly abstracted feel. I achieve this by fragmenting the image into shapes that echo certain elements in the image, and then

(All images in this interview are copyright of Carl Jacobs)

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator. Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/ - 29 -

Dorset by Maressa Mortimer

Schools have started up again just last week

That evening, I took them to the stage

Leaving the parks deserted, looking bare.

Where youngsters from the entertainment team

So we packed our bags and set off, excited

had my kids alternating between cringe

for Dorset. A glorious holiday off peak.

and bounce, dance and take part or cower down.

The kids were thrilled, planning the weeks we had.

The night went well, the show cheerful and loud.

As we arrived I groaned, but they brightened.

Then tears replaced the smiles, anger the joy.

The caravan was small and a bit dark.

but sleep and hugs brought healing at daybreak.

Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, England with her husband and four (adopted) children. Maressa is a homeschool mum as well as a pastor’s wife, so her writing has to be done in the evening when peace and quiet descend on the house once more. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. All of Maressa’s books are available from her website, www.vicarioushome.com, Amazon or local bookshops.

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Paul’s Puzzles By Paul Godding The Main Challenge You have been given the task of manually numbering a 100-page document from 1 to 100.

The Target Challenge

Which digit will appear least, and how many times?

Can you arrive at 254 by inserting 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 into the gaps below? •

The Factors Challenge

(◯+◯)×◯²–◯×◯ = 254

Which is the only group that CANNOT make 10?

Which of the following numbers are factors of 254? 2

The 7puzzle Challenge

[ Today’s Hint: A number is a multiple of 4 if it is still even when halved ]

The playing board of the 7puzzle game is a 7-by-7 grid of 49 different numbers, ranging from 2 up to 84. The 2nd & 6th rows contain the following fourteen numbers:

The Mathematically Possible Challenge Using 5, 8 and 11 once each, with + – × ÷ available, which are the only THREE numbers it is possible to make from the list below? 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80

5 8 12 17 18 20 28 33 48 49 55 56 63 64 List five pairs of numbers that have a difference of 15. ***

#8TimesTable

Solutions: http://7puzzleblog.com/answers/ Hello, my name is Paul Godding. I am a full-time professional private maths tutor based in the south-east of Wales who delivers face-to-face tuition locally as well as online tuition to students globally. It would be lovely to hear from you, so feel free to click paul@7puzzle.com if you wish to secure maths tuition for you or your child. Alternatively, you can ring/message/WhatsApp me from anywhere in the world:

07970868121 from within Wales and the UK, or +447970868121 from the rest of the world. - 31 -

The Child Who Should Never Have Been by Penny Luker If I’d only listened to my father just a little more carefully; shown a bit more patience. I regret it now of course. Now I can no longer see him. I didn’t know anything about my mother, just that she’d been beautiful and quickly bored. My father said that when mother found she was pregnant, she didn’t want to have a baby, but because he so desperately did, she’d been dutiful and careful and given him the best present that anyone ever could. As soon as she’d delivered her gift, she’d flown away. My father applied to have twenty years off work, which seemed such a long time, but of course it whirred by. ‘Will you stand still for five minutes while I plait your hair?’ he used to say to me when I was little.

‘A little less rush and a little more care and you’ll get things done more quickly,’ I remember him saying. He always had time for me. He showed me the beauty of nature and how to grow food and taught me a love of reading, which held such opportunity for learning. I was always allowed to have friends round and we travelled the world every Summer. I couldn’t have asked for more.

When I was grown up he asked me to visit him at least once a week. I’m ashamed to say, sometimes I found it a nuisance. There was so much to explore. ‘I won’t be here much longer. I don’t have much time left,’ he’d say. It wasn’t a guilt trip. He knew his time was limited. In the last months I spent every minute with him. I was so scared to lose him, but he’d taught me well and there were little reminders of him all over our home.

‘Don’t cry for me little one. I’ll always be in your

heart,’ he said, and so I tried to make a good life. I became an environmental scientist and spent my time monitoring endangered species and trying to put policies in place that would give them time to recover, but I was always aware that the clock was ticking. My job was my life, so I was surprised when I met Geoff, another scientist, who was as dedicated as I was to helping save creatures. Soon we were married and I became pregnant. Deep down I was irritated that I’d have to stop my work for a while, but then I realized what a wonderful parent I’d had and that my baby deserved the same. How my father would’ve loved her if only he’d been allowed to stay. Within a blink of a moment my child was grown and I was back working with Geoff on the impossible task of saving wildlife, restoring habitats and persuading people to avoid plastic, while our daughter was off at university and developing her career. The years whizzed passed. We lived every moment and became happy grandparents. I didn’t understand that I’d grown old and frail. I still felt full of life, with so much still to do. Then my father returned to my side. - 32 -

‘I’ve come to help you cross over, so you won’t be on your own on the journey.’

‘Thank you Father, but that doesn’t explain why I’m not an eternal.’

I hugged him tightly, so pleased to see him again.

‘I don’t know how to say this delicately, so I’ll just come out with it. The powers that be have to give permission for eternals to have children, but when I saw your mother I was completely bowled over by her. We couldn’t help ourselves. They accepted there was no malice on our part and so permitted us to become your parents and they understood your mother could not stay in one place for long, so granted me a short break of twenty years.’

‘I don’t want to leave Geoff, my daughter and the grandchildren. Will they be all right in this ever changing world?’ ‘All of your life I’ve kept an eye on you. You’ve used your life well. It’s been so lovely, as I look out for all humans to have a special human and when you’ve crossed over, I promise I will continue to look out for our family. Geoff will be with you soon. Be patient my child.’

‘How many other children have you had?’ I asked. ‘You’re my only child. That’s why they let me bring you up. It cost them a lot because they had to step in and do all the jobs that I usually do.’

‘And will I meet my mother, when I cross over?’ ‘Good heavens, no. I thought you realised. Your mother is an eternal like me. She is the mistress of the winds. She stormed into my life like a hurricane. That’s why it was so hard for her to stay still to give birth to you. Your mother has visited you on your life’s journey, but never stayed for long. She knew she was not a popular visitor.’

‘Just now you said I was eternal in my own way. What did you mean?’ ‘I meant that you’ll live on in your children and your children’s children and although you’ll not meet them until they cross over, I will call by whenever I can and tell you all their news.’

‘If both my parents are eternals, why am I an ordinary human?’

‘I’m glad I’ll be able to see you now and again. Is it time?’

‘You, my dear child are eternal in your own way. As Father Time I instilled in you all the values I hold dear. To do that, I had to ask the powers that be, to have a brief holiday of twenty years to bring you up. Then of course I had to return to my work. When I could, I slipped you an extra five minutes or even a year, to save some of the beautiful animals you fought for.’

‘Yes, my child. Give me your hand.’ And we walked together, Father Time and the child who should never have been, slowly up the stairs and for the first time, I felt that time was no longer ticking. It was meandering like a river.

Penny Luker is a writer and artist from Cheshire. She writes novels, short stories and poetry for adults, and also writes children’s stories. You can find her work at www.pennyluker.wordpress.com or author.to/PennyLuker

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From the Horse’s Mouth by John Greeves Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, all in the Valley of Death, rode the six hundred. In the Cedar Garden of Tredegar House in South Wales is buried a remarkable horse that took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade on the 25th October 1854. The dedication reads: In Memory of Sir Briggs Favourite charger. He carried his master the Hon. Godfrey Morgan, Captain 17th Lancers boldly and well at the Battle of Alma, in the first line of the Light Cavalry Charge of Balaclava and the Battle of Inkerman, 1854. He died at Tredegar Park February 6th 1874. Age 28.

In one of the greatest blunders of British military history, light armed cavalry were ordered to advance towards the main Russian artillery. During the charge, the Light Brigade came under heavy fire from Russian artillery and infantry crossfire. This resulted in 278 casualties, killed, missing or wounded from the 673 men. Slaughter wasn’t theirs alone, 335 horses were killed in the action or were later put down from wounds. To this day debate rages over who gave the order to charge. Some historians blame it on miscommunication and the clash which existed between Lord Raglan, commander in chief, and his subordinates, Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan. The battle was later immortalised in a poem by the then Poet Laureate, Lord Tennyson. Cardigan gave his name to a woollen garment, Raglan to a type of sleeve and Florence Nightingale to the improvements of military hospital conditions at Scutari, which later formed the foundations of modern nursing care today. - 34 -

Horses played a major part in the campaign; a contribution often underplayed by historians. Sir Briggs was bought in 1851, the same year he won the Hunt Steeple Chase at Cowbridge. He was of unknown pedigree and probably would have remained a hunter had not war intervened. At the age of nineteen, Godfrey Morgan purchased a commission in 1850 and became a cornet in the 17th Lancers. When the Crimea War broke out in 1853, he was a junior Captain aged 23. The 17th Lancers set sail from Portsmouth en route to the Crimea in five sailing ships many of which were never equipped to carry horses. Captain Morgan was on board the Edmundsbury which sailed in late April. He was in command of 80 men and was accompanied by his man-servant John Stokes from Tredegar House. On board were forty horse, four of which belonged to Godfrey Morgan. Later his second charger Artemis would die on the voyage. The ship was dirty, the food poor and the Lascar crew quarrelsome. The horses didn’t fair well, after a gale in the Bay of Biscay they lost one horse from sickness, others soon followed. By the 14th May, the vessel stopped briefly at Malta to replenish its water tank, then sailed on, only to become becalmed. It finally anchored in readiness to go up the Dardanelles and was surrounded by other French and English transports, and allowed for spontaneous choruses of singing to break out. - 35 -

During the next few days the vessels proceeded very slowly up the Dardanelles. Concern for the horses grew and in a letter to his mother, Godfrey Morgan wrote: “Every day makes a difference in the horses, perhaps in the lives of two or three.” Luckily they were given a tow up the Dardanelles by the steamer Trent towards Gallipoli and eventually anchored at Constantinople for four days. He sent his subaltern and John Stokes to buy a couple of Turkish horses from the “Horse Bazaar” to carry baggage. Godfrey’s main regret while in the city was not seeing the feast of the Valley of Sweet Water where he learnt the Sultan’s harem had been giving away handkerchiefs. On the fourth day the ship departed and was towed up the Bosphorus to the huge Mosque Seraglio barracks which housed over 3000 men. By now the regiment had lost 26 horses but men and officers remained well. The regiment re-embarked on the same vessels for the Bulgarian port of Varna. Landing arrangement for the horses were totally inadequate. Eventually, the cavalry assembled and marched eighteen miles north west to Devna to a beautiful valley. It was intensely hot, they were close to a river, but the horses remained picketed in the open without covering. Little did the cavalry know the Turks shunned the valley, which they called the Valley of Death. Cholera soon broke out. In early September the 17th Lancers sailed for the Crimea. Conditions on board for men and mounts were totally inadequate. On the War Cloud, a similar transport used by another regiment 75 out of 100 horses perished. Troops generally continued to die because of overcrowding, insufficient food and water or poor sanitation.

comparatively docile. Besides this they are, very tired from standing for fourteen days in one narrow box, are rather thin and sickly and must be glad of change of air and position.” Horses perished as they landed from the horse rafts to the shore at Calamite Bay.” After six nights of bivouacking on the Balaclava plains, the Seventeenth finally received some tents. The main business of the cavalry now became that of patrolling until the 25th October when the Charge of the Light Brigade took place. The 13th Light Dragons and 17th Lancers were in the front line of the formation the 11th Hussars in the middle line and the 4th Light Dragoons and 8th Hussars in the rear of the formation. The battle comprised of three phrases, of which, The Charge of the Light Brigade formed the final part. Captain Godfrey Morgan on Sir Briggs was one of the troop leaders. A mile and a half of ground needed to be covered. The Russian artillery and infantry opened fire at this slow moving formation at 800 yards from them. Men and horses began to drop fast in the first line. No trumpet sounded and all the riders could hear was one word “Close-up”

A correspondent of the day wrote: “The horses too are so acclimated to ship life, they are so accustomed to an existence of unstable equilibrium in slings, and to rapid ascents and descents from the tight ropes, that they are, indeed - 36 -

From the heights that day the 17th Lancers must have looked resplendent. All ranks were dressed in dark-blue double-breasted jackets with white piping, collar and cuffs, white pouch-belts, white gauntlets, loose fitting blue overalls with double white stripe and black leather reinforcements , and black wellington boots. Captain Morgan wrote of the charge: On we went, the pace increasing amidst the thickest shower of shell, shot, grape, canister and minie, from front and flanks horses and men dropping by the score every yard. The whistling and cracking of shells was beyond all description.

The charge only took 28 minutes, a transformative event which defined life in so many different ways. The 17th Lancers had comprised of 147 officers and men. After the charge, Captain Morgan was now the senior officer. Of their 147 number, 22 soldiers were reported killed, 33 wounded, with a further 55 missing. Ninety-nine horses were killed and - 37 -

almost every remaining horse was wounded. Sir Briggs had a sabre cut just below his right eye, but had continued to carry his rider to safety. Godfrey Morgan was greatly changed after the event and wrote to his mother “I am heartily sick of these fearful scenes of carnage and blood shed.” He resolved to sell his commission as soon as he could but became seriously ill with a fever in December. Eventually, he made his way home on a mail boat which stopped frequently at major cities like Constantinople, Smyrna, Athens, Trieste, Venice, Pisa and Rome. Sir Briggs stayed in the Crimea. In 1855 Sebastopol fell. Sir Briggs endured the tough conditions of a war that saw many other horses perish from starvation and fatigue. The winter of 18541855 had been devastating for troops and horses

alike. From October 1854 to March 1855, the Light Brigade lost 439 horses dead from illness, which amounted to 38% of those available at the beginning of the campaign (1161)

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Sir Briggs triumphed over all adversaries and even won a military steeple chase at Sebastopol in 1855 when he was ridden by Sir William Gordon of the 17th Lancers. Later in the same year he was reunited with Godfrey Morgan at Tredegar House and ridden for two seasons in Leicestershire. In 1905, Godfrey Morgan, was created Viscount Lord Tredegar. He lived a quiet life devoting much of his time to philanthropic work. Those early images of war never deserted him. Speaking at the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Balaclava at the Willis Rooms at St James, Viscount Tredegar said:

It may interest my audience to know what I was doing this time of day fifty years ago. I was numbering off all that was left of them and it was a very sad duty; comrades were lying about who wanted to whisper into one’s ear last words to someone or othersome girl, mother, sister or daughter while the breath of life was passing away.

John Greeves originally hails from Lincolnshire. He believes in the power of poetry and writing to change people’s lives and the need for language to move and connect people to the modern world. Since retiring from Cardiff University, Greeves works as a freelance journalist who's interested in an eclectic range of topics.

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Cotton Pickin’ by Sue DeCrescenzo newspaper and found my calling, Journalism. I transferred to the University of IA and graduated with a degree in Mass Communication. I also met and married my first husband, a photography student.

Growing up in the suburbs of NJ in no way prepared me for a career in cotton pickin’. First, some background information. I was raised in Northern NJ in the shadow of the George Washington Bridge. The town where I grew up in the 50’s was typical of most small towns in Bergen County. Large families, (I was one of seven kids), yards to play in, and lots of freedom to explore the neighborhood. School and church also played a big part in our lives. Most moms stayed home, dads commuted to work, and life was good for kids growing up in middle class America. Even though NJ was known as the “Garden State”, most of my experience with farming was backyard garden plots.

Graduation from college meant more decisions. My husband and I decided that Des Moines, IA was much less expensive to live in NJ. We stayed with my husband’s family and took whatever jobs we could find until something more lucrative came along. One Sunday, I was pouring over the want ads in the Des Moines Register and discovered a blind ad for a large manufacturing company just north of Des Moines. The ad read something like, “Looking for women and minorities with college degrees to fulfill EEOC requirements.” What could it hurt; I applied?

Time marched on. I completed high school and was facing a big life decision, college? I just wasn’t sure if I should go. I had no money for tuition, and even though education was important in my family, not so much for the girls. Instead, I was encouraged to go to secretarial school, learn to type, marry my high school boyfriend, and start having kids. Yikes! Secretarial school sounded like the lesser of those evils.

Within a short amount of time, I received a call from John Deere Des Moines Works. They asked me if I was interested in coming to the factory for an interview. Of course, I said. And the rest is history. From 1975 to 1986 I worked for John Deere Des Moines Works. The first 3 ½ years, I chased backorder repair parts, became a production controller on the manufacturing floor working nights, and eventually I became lead controller in the primary start department.

I enrolled in the local secretarial school. The Women’s Club even awarded me a scholarship to attend. From day one, I hated it. However, I finished my year, learned to type, and received another scholarship from the Women’s Club, but this time to go to college.

After proving that I could handle the challenges of production control, management offered me a position as a technical writer in service publications. I had no idea what that meant. Management said, “You survived working in the shop and you have a writing background. You can handle this.” “Ok, I said, I’ll take the promotion.”

Now I had to pick a college. My high school boyfriend had gone to a small private college in IA. The next year, I followed him out to the Midwest. My freshman year, I attended the University of Northern IA. I became a reporter for the UNI student - 42 -

My first day on my new job, I got a tour of the engineering department and the engineering experimental shop. I also got a tour of the photo studio. It was a large metal building with an overhead door located on one end. It had no windows. Inside, the interior walls along the back one third of the building were painted white with rounded corners. Two thirds of the floor was also white and in the middle of the white floor was the biggest turntable I had ever seen. All this was designed to take pictures for the service manuals.

inside the studio and parked it in the middle of the turn table. He climbed down from the cab and handed me a large heavy remote control and said, “Push this button.” And I did. The humungous cotton picker rotated on the turn table and the mechanic instructed me to stop when the cotton picker was facing me. “Cool!” I said. Honestly, what I was thinking was, what did I get myself into? However, I remembered two important things. One, a journalism professor told me, “Always act like you belong and you’ll get a better story.” And two, someone on the shop floor told me, “Never let them see you sweat. They can smell fear.”

While I stood there, I could feel the floor rumbling and hear the fuming and farting of a 590 HP diesel engine outside the overhead door. The engineer walked over and opened the overhead door. Ta Dah, trumpets blaring, etc. There was a John Deere Cotton Picker, all three tons of green and yellow metal, with a Sound Guard operator’s cab and four cotton picking units. The mechanic drove it

So, I rolled up my sleeves, put on my safety glasses and shoes and started writing operators manual. I learned from the best, and what I learned, I applied to the first 25 years of my career as a technical writer. Who would have guessed that a kid from the - 43 -

A John Deere Five Row Cotton Picker

suburbs of NJ would have ended up a successful technical writer, writing hundreds of operator’s manuals for farm equipment and eventually various other heavy equipment ranging from off set web printing presses to computer operating systems?

If you want to know how a cotton picker picks cotton, the difference between a cotton picker and a cotton stripper, which state is the largest cotton grower in the US, and which countries are the largest cotton growers, just ask. And as you can imagine, I have a million stories. One of my favorites is demonstrating with Jane Fonda on a UAW picket line!

Sure, I’ve romanticized some of this. There were plenty of people who wanted me to fail. There were sexual harassment incidents, but I survived and even thrived. On the plus side, because John Deere was a UAW shop, salaried employees reaped the benefits too. And I worked there long enough that even today, I get a small monthly pension.

Sue DeCrescenzo, Author Bio Ms. DeCrescenzo grew up in New Jersey and summered on the coast of Maine. On foggy summer nights around beach bonfires, Sue entertained her siblings telling hair-raising ghost stories. Now Sue is happily retired. She lives in northern GA on Lake Lanier with her hubby, Keith Guernsey, and their 2nd rescue dog Zoey, a “Jack Chi” (Jack Russell/chihuahua mix). Sue has contributed numerous short stories to Mom’s Favorite Reads. Body on the Ramp is her first mystery novella, which is available on Amazon.com. If you wish to reach Sue, her email address is writing4youalways@gmail.com

- 44 -

Chess Supplied by Chess.Com Black has just played e5. Can you find checkmate in one?

Supplied by https://chess.com the #1 chess website. Used with permission. For more chess puzzles please visit https://chess.com

You can find answers for this activity on Page 79 - 45 -

Light and Dark in Flash Fiction by Allison Symes Light and dark is a theme I relish given my first book, From Light to Dark and Back Again, encompasses both. The title came about when I reviewed my book prior to submitting it and I recognized the two kinds of story I tend to write. This helped me structure the book better too. I guess light and dark are reflections on life itself and fiction should in its turn reflect that. It is why we read stories. We are reading about characters we can identify with and usually they will not all be sweetness and light or, alternatively, all dark. Too much sweetness turns me off as a reader. Too much darkness leaves me feeling hopeless. The story ends up being far too bleak. There is a case for that kind of story every now and again but I personally can’t take too much of it.

of 500 to the maximum of 1000 here but it is “do-able”). • You can use them to indicate what your settings are like. • The classic fairytales are often dark in tone (after all Snow White feared for her life - nothing light about that), but become lighter later given justice was done, evildoers punished etc (and there is a sense of relief when that happens. All is well again). You can use that same framework for your own story. • You could write a “light” story involving one character and then write a follow-up story where the character has to deal with a “dark” situation so you can have a “side by side” contrast here to see how the character would deal with two different situations. This would work well in a collection. I have a natural tendency to write humorous flash pieces but every so often I write stories that are

What I want are flawed characters who change for the better or for a “bad” character to have a reason for being the way they are, the kind of reason most of us would understand. It’s not compulsory to approve! So I want light and dark in my characters as well then. Light and dark can be taken in several ways for your flash fiction. • •

They can obviously be used to indicate the mood of your characters and stories. You can use them as contrasts in one story - e.g. contrasting a character whose attitudes and actions are dark against another where that isn’t the case. How could those contrasts make a difference to another character, perhaps someone who is deciding which side to join in a dispute or worse? (Probably looking at a flash tale - 46 -

much darker in tone. It is as if I need the contrast.

So what exactly do I mean by light and dark? Light lends itself well to humorous pieces but it can also be taken to mean a story that is “merely” entertaining and isn’t meant to convey a message or moral. Dark lends itself well to crime/horror pieces but it can also be taken to mean a story that does make the reader think more deeply and on themes which challenge. This time, I thought I’d share two flash tales - one light, one dark. Hope you enjoy them. Light : A Long Day Time to hang up the old wand, the fairy godmother thought, as she trudged into her cottage. Nothing has gone right all day. And I still can’t figure out where those glass slippers came from. I swear I said fur. I did swear when those wretched glass things turned up.

Dark: Letting Go

I did warn Cinders not to cut her feet on the things but I don’t think she heard anything I said. I hope she remembers she must leave at midnight. Still it’s not my problem. It will be hers if she doesn’t remember.

The gentleman smiled. ‘Thank you. Most who see me do all they can to resist me. It’s pointless of course.’

Mary nodded at the gentleman in front of her. She knew it was time to move on. No point in hanging on. Wouldn’t help anyone yet alone herself. ‘I am ready when you are,’ she said.

Mary nodded and watched her companion swing his scythe in her direction. She’d been dignified in life. She would be dignified now.

And it’s definitely time for my cocoa and an early night. It has been a long day.

Ends. Allison Symes - September 2021

Allison Symes, who loves reading and writing quirky fiction, is published by Chapeltown Books, CafeLit, and Bridge House Publishing. Her flash fiction collections, Tripping The Flash Fantastic and From Light to Dark and Back Again are out in Kindle and paperback. She has been a winner of the Waterloo Arts Festival writing competition three years in a row where the brief was to write to a set theme to a 1000 words maximum. Website: https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/

- 47 -

Light & Dark

Too Many Wishes By Sheena Macleod They arrived at first light; my daughters, clacking away about their lives and full of plans for mine. The removal men would be here at 8 am. Not that there is much left for them to take. I’d spent days with my girls, sorting through the things to throw out and those precious keepsakes I wanted to pass on to them. I could tell by their faces that they didn’t want any of the ‘old tat’ I’d kept; filled with memories for me, but meaningless to them. No doubt they will cart it all off to some charity shop as soon as I am gone.

words and take their first steps. Wishing for the time my mortgage would be paid off so that I could be free of debt. Wishing for grandchildren of my own and then longing for the day I could retire so I could spend more time with them.

I listen now to my daughters wishing that it was time for them to go away on their holidays, and I smile. Oh, to be their age again with all the time I’d wished away still to come.

I take a last look around the home I’ve lived in for the past fifty years. It’s strange how quickly the years have passed, most of the days wished away. Wishing for each of my children to arrive, then for them to say their first

The removal men are here. Soon, I’ll be sitting alone in my room in the care home, willing the hours to pass until each visiting day arrives. - 48 -

Dark Entertainment By Maressa Mortimer

The overwhelm set in properly, and Dorothy did some wonderful banshee, starving lion and nolonger extinct dinosaur impressions.

She looked at her children’s faces. All three looked up with eager expectation. “It will be very late,” she warned, but they didn’t hear that bit, maybe because she smiled. “You’ll be very tired tomorrow.” The three knew they’d won the battle. After dinner, they set off. She was holding her little boy’s hand. Her two girls skipped ahead.

She sighed, telling herself, “It will all be fine in the morning. Their hatred for all this Dorset, entertainment, and fun will have been slept away and we will have a sweet day tomorrow. Rolling with the tiredness effects until all is back to normal again. Maybe next week they will be up for another fun evening?” Holding Dorothy’s hot, tight hand, she made shushing, calming noises, more to herself than the child, as nothing could be heard by the children just now. Tomorrow she would be ready to smile again. And so would the children. Hopefully.

The stage was lit up by brightly coloured flashing lights, the music made her spine tingle. She glanced at her babies. Jacob was scrunching her hand. Dorothy had her eyes squeezed shut and her hands over her ears. Natalia was off like a shot. Jacob was intrigued by the bright lights and edged over to the platform in front of the stage. Dorothy sat hunched up, hood over her head, arms folded across. Dorothy soon got used to the lights and noise. The three children shrieked and danced to their heart’s content and she started to relax. Until they stepped out in the dark evening. Leaving the room with the thrumming music and flashing lights meant all cheerfulness and holding up was left behind as well. - 49 -

Finally, they reached the main road and collapsed, panting on the pavement. “Do you think she cursed us?” “Nahh, think we got away in time. What’s the evil witch hiding in those woods?” “Dunno, but I’m never going back – ever!” the littlest boy cried, rubbing at the itchy white bumps forming on his bare legs. “Think I ran through every single nettle. That place is definitely cursed.”

Light & Dark By Joy Margetts ‘But they are complete opposites. Light is good; dark is bad. You can’t have light AND dark, it has to be light OR dark.’ My diet hungry stomach was making me moody and argumentative. ‘Well, I disagree. For a start I can be both good and bad.’ He smiled sweetly, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he reached behind himself and produced the most delicious looking chocolate muffin. He placed it right under my nose. ‘See,’ he said, ‘light as a feather, and deliciously dark all at the same time. Good, and so, so bad!’

Light & Dark By Sylva Fae

“Leave now!” she snarled, pointing her crooked staff at the boys sneaking down the overgrown path. “Witch!” the biggest boy yelled. Squealing, they turned and ran, thorny brambles tearing at bare legs as they bolted.

*** The witch grinned as she continued down the path. Gnarly roots reached out of the tangled undergrowth threatening to trip unsuspecting passers-by. She wondered how many scratches the boys endured on their flight of terror. It was unlikely they’d be back. The shady trees soon opened into a sunny glade. She paused, this view always took her breath away. Dragonflies flitted over the pond, competing for a tasty snack with the frogs lazing amid the lilies. Movement on the far bank caught her attention – the female water vole was nibbling on the reeds, while her pups peeped from the burrow. Here, the woodland silence was replaced by the whir of wings, and joyful birdsong. When she moved here ten years ago, the pond was just a stagnant pool filled with litter from the local youths, and ‘Keep Out!’ signs hadn’t deterred the young hooligans. The first time she’d scared the kids away had been accidental, but as they ran from the ‘witch’ in the woods, the seeds of an idea were born. Yes, she didn’t mind continuing with the pretence if it meant a safe haven for many endangered species that now thrived in her secret oasis.

- 50 -

Genealogy: Meet My Ancestors by Hannah Howe

Thomas Strickland

My 12 x great grandfather Thomas Strickland was born on 6 June 1564 in Kendal, Westmorland, the eldest son of Walter Strickland Esq and Alice Tempest, both the products of gentry families. Thomas lacked Walter’s parental guidance for much of his childhood because his father died in 1569. On 24 July 1603 Thomas was made a Knight of the Bath, a special knighthood conferred on important royal occasions such as coronations. This practice died out after the reign of Charles II. Later, George I introduced the Order of the Bath.

Sir Thomas Strickland, 1600, aged 36. Image: National Trust

1. Robert, who succeeded his father 2. Thomas, who left no mark on history 3. Walter, who married Anne Crofts of East Appleton, Yorkshire 4. Dorothy, who married John Fleming of Rydal as his third wife 5. Margaret, my direct ancestor, who married George Preston Esq of Holker Hall

At a date unknown, probably during 1596, Thomas married Elizabeth Symon aka Seymour of Bristol, the daughter of John Seymour of Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire. The marriage produced a daughter, Alice, who married Sir William Webb, Equerry to Henry, Prince of Wales. After Elizabeth’s death, Thomas married, c1599, Margaret Curwen, daughter of Sir Nicholas Curwen of Workington Hall, Cumbria, and Anne Musgrave. This marriage produced five children:

Through his birth and marriages, Thomas enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and in 1584 was made a Justice of the Peace. In 1603 he became a Sheriff and a member of the Council in the North. His roles included overseeing gaols, sewers and charities. - 51 -

Sizergh, castle and grounds. Wikipedia

In the second parliamentary session, Thomas sat on five legislative committees including three concerned with the cloth trade, granting customs allowances to the merchants of York, Hull and Newcastle. Another of Thomas’ committees regulated the wages of spinners and weavers while the fifth dealt with Welsh cottons in the statute of 1604.

Thomas’ ancestors acquired the estate at Sizergh by marriage in 1239. The family regularly represented Westmorland in parliament from 1307 and Thomas was appointed custos rotulorum as soon as he came of age. Margaret Curwen, Thomas’ second wife, was a strong Catholic. However, Thomas remained a supporter of Elizabeth I and her Protestant beliefs. Like his father before him, Thomas served as junior knight of the shire in Elizabeth’s last Parliament, and moved up to the first seat when re-elected in 1604.

As Thomas’ parliamentary career progressed, he considered bills to confirm the endowment of St. Bees grammar school in Cumberland and to strengthen the enforcement of the penal laws. On 19 March 1604, he was granted privilege as a defendant in a trial at York assizes.

In parliament, Thomas was among those named to consider bills to preserve coppices, to reform informers’ abuses and to annex certain property indissolubly to the Crown. He also proffered a bill to extend alnage to narrow draperies, but it made no progress beyond a first reading.

Outwardly successful, the above trial offers a clue as to a flaw in Thomas’ character: he was a compulsive gambler. Even at the time of his first marriage, Thomas was raising substantial loans. Gambling in the Elizabethan era centred - 52 -

£1,274,000 in today’s money. His widow, Margaret, bought the wardship of her eldest son Robert and managed to preserve the Sizergh estate from creditors’ demands until the latter’s majority. Margaret, born c1560, survived Thomas by eighteen years and died in 1630. She did not remarry, but her fortitude held her family and its estates together. In 1629, Margaret’s son, Sir Robert Strickland, sent her a letter advising her how she should proceed with the Commissioners before the President at York, ‘so as to save her estate from sequestration.’

Elizabethans gambling at cards

on cards, dice, backgammon and draughts, and often took place in gambling houses and gambling dens.

During 1623-4, while a young man, Robert Strickland was summond to parliament as a Knight of the Shire for Westmorland. A colonel in the army of Charles I, Robert commanded a troop of horse at the battle of Edgehill, while his son, Sir Thomas Strickland, led the regiment of foot.

At Easter 1607, Thomas invited his wife’s cousin Anthony Curwen to supper where arguments and attempted arrests flared up over debt. However, before Curwen ‘could get any to serve the said Sir Thomas with a subpoena, he being a Parliament man’, Thomas abstracted the lease of Sherburn rectory from his study in New Inn and obtained judgment against him.

Because of Sir Thomas Strickland’s gambling, his family had to fight many battles. However, for them a bigger battle lay ahead in the shape of the English Civil War.

Thomas died intestate on 19 June 1612, leaving acknowledged debts of £9,500, which equates to approximately

- 53 -

Crystal Grids and the Power of Nature by Lisa Shambrook Nature’s energy and beauty has always fascinated me. Childhood meant collecting flowers, pretty stones, and sea glass, and becoming an adult left me obsessed with acorn-cups, leaves, crystals, and gems, anything that enchants me. When I began writing my latest series, The Seren Stone Chronicles due for publication next Spring, I explored geology, crystals, and magic. All are intrinsic elements of the fantasy I was writing, and I got completely lost inside the world of crystals. I was familiar with amethyst, smoky quartz, citrine, peridot, and traditional gems, but my world opened up with rainbow moonstone, chrysocolla, apatite, moldavite, garnet and so many more beautiful stones, and I was hooked. I learned about gems, energies, chakras, myths, and mystical practises. The things I discovered led to magical words, world building, and became the cornerstone of my book series. However, my interest in crystals didn’t stop there. I’ve suffered with anxiety and panic disorder throughout my life, and in an effort to harness some kind of mindfulness and meditation I began making crystal grids. I found a source of peace, energy, and creativity, and I loved it.

placed them with artistic precision and deep felt intention. I felt personal healing, confidence, and peace grow as I instilled purpose and magic into my crystal grid moments. I took quiet moments and made crystal grids with intentions, feeling every day stress flow out of me and peace fill me. Inspired by the full moon, nature, and life experience I made grids to attune with healing, awareness, harmony, and more. Each time, letting the energies of the crystals infuse me as I placed them with artistic precision and deep felt intention. I felt personal healing, confidence, and peace grow as I instilled purpose and magic into my crystal grid moments.

Being a bit of a magpie, I am quite bewitched by shiny sparkly things, who isn’t? My collection of stones grew and, like a witchy hoarder, I filled jars, dishes, glass boxes, flasks, and vials with crystals until every shelf sparkled.

At first, I questioned the idea of crystal healing, of energies and magic, but I studied and discovered a quote from Nikola Tesla – ‘If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.’ Energy exists in every molecule in this universe, and we harness it from many areas, including the earth and its stones. The use of crystals and gems go a long way back in history,

I took quiet moments and made crystal grids with intentions, feeling every day stress flow out of me and peace fill me. Inspired by the full moon, nature, and life experience I made grids to attune with healing, awareness, harmony, and more. Each time, letting the energies of the crystals infuse me as I - 54 -

from Palaeolithic times, with beads of ivory and bone being found amid burial sites, and Baltic amber and jet used for amulets, to Biblical periods and religion – the book of Exodus records twelve jewels used to symbolically decorate priesthood robes. Egyptians, Greeks, and Native Americans have used gems for medicine, magic, protection, and decoration for centuries. In the Middle Ages precious stones were used to aid health but the idea died out in the 17th Century. New Age therapies gained popularity once more later in the twentieth century, and all over the world crystals are looked at more as complementary therapies, but are still used in rituals and symbolic ceremonies. Belief in crystals can also be likened to the use of faith. Metaphysical or supernatural beliefs help people from belief in prayer to just feeling good about themselves, in the same way that positive thinking works for good in your life. I make crystal grids for several reasons. I make them for art, they are beautiful and connect to my love of aesthetics and creative art, but I also make them with intentions and use crystals that honour my intentions for each grid. I make grids to help me meditate, to help ground me, and to enhance my spirituality with the universe. I see it a method of relaxation, an outlet for asking and making intentions – a bit like prayer – and creating something wholly natural and beautiful.

It’s interesting to know that gem stones are regularly used in science. Quartz is known for its ability to focus, amplify, store, and transform energy used in watches, ultrasounds, computers, memory chips, and other electronic circuitry. Rubies, both natural and laboratory made, are highly prized for technological use in watchmaking, medical instruments, and lasers for microscopic surgery. Tourmaline is another stone used for tuning and durability amid high frequencies. The value of crystals may be much greater than we currently understand.

Making a grid is simple. Choose your crystals with purpose in mind, there are plenty of books and online resources to learn about the meanings and properties behind each stone. Choose an anchor or central stone and place them in a pattern working from the centre outward. Often patterns are geometric as that helps the flow of energy, but they can be free or intuitive with meaning to you. Set your grid with your intention, maybe write your intention down and place it beneath your centre - 55 -

stone, or just manifest it in your heart, sending energy to the grid. Many will activate their grid using a selenite or clear quartz wand or point. Touch the centre stone and then each crystal creating a link, a line of energy, around the grid and back to your anchor crystal. You can do this once or several times until you feel at one with your grid. It’s great for meditation and mindfulness. Leave the grid for as long as you need it.

Year, the annual cycle of seasonal festivals: Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule. The crystals sparkle and brighten my life alongside nature. You’ll find flowers, twigs, moss, acorns, conkers, leaves, pine cones, chestnuts, and even a pumpkin in these and my other crystal grid designs, as nature means the world to me. I jump from being a magpie to a squirrel, loving shiny treasure and hoarding, and I scamper about erratically, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, collecting treasure – acorn cups in particular – very much at home in nature within forests, wandering through mossy glens beside trickling streams. When I can’t get out, I find solace in creating beauty and meaning within the crystals that come from Mother Earth, and I give back that energy the best I can.

I began sharing my grids on social media, explaining the stones used and the meaning behind the specific grid. People have loved seeing them, and I decided to make art prints so that some of my crystal grids could be shared, both as pieces of art and as pieces imbued with intentions that resonated with others. As autumn arrived I released my latest collection of prints in my Etsy Store: Amaranth Alchemy. These grids were made to celebrate The Wheel of the

www.amaranthalchemy.etsy.com www.lisashambrook.com

Lisa Shambrook is an author, artist, and dreamer who loves dragons. Born and raised in vibrant Brighton, England, living by the ocean heavily influenced her lyrical and emotional writing. She now lives in Carmarthen, West Wales, another town rich in legend and lore. A sensory writer, Lisa delves into sensitive subject matters that will lift your spirit and steal your heart. Find out more at her website lisashambrook.com and her Etsy shop amaranthalchemy.etsy.com

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October Books by Mom’s Favorite Authors Adventures of Hot Rod Todd - My Labor of Love by Adrian Czarnecki Wow, who would have thought it a couple of years ago that now, I would be regarded as a successful author having just published my third, yes, MY THIRD, book that revolves around a litter of 6 Siberian Husky Puppies born March 14th, 2019 to my Dam Empress Maya and Sire Damien Czar.

Hot Rod Todd series of books there’s plenty of ‘factual’ references that I hope encourages the readers, young or old, to investigate, to ask questions about, to be encourage by and to learn from. There are also examples of friendship made under most unexpected circumstances where enemies can put aside their differences and work together for a common cause – peace and harmony perhaps, isn’t life a learning curve – YES?

In this 3rd book in the Adventures of Hot Rd Todd series, ‘Hot Rod Todd Rescue Mum and Dad’, and by popular request, the packs Mum and Dad Empress Maya and Damien Czar are the focus of the story. They have decided to go on a PawTrip from their home in Idaho, USA up through Alaska to the Chukchi Peninsular, Siberia (Russia) to discover their Siberian Husky roots and heritage with the Chukchi People the originally breeders of Siberian Huskies.

The pups aren’t simply just characters in a children’s book. Thanks to illustrator Cameo Anderson’s interpretive skills we were able to create

Needless to say, things don’t go quite as planned when Mum and Dad go off the ‘radar’ during a huge HUGE storm in the Alaska Range of Mountains which cuts off the whole area from the outside world. It goes without saying that the puppies are frantic with worry and immediately go into rescue mode. Without spoiling the storyline - ME BAD - be assured on their rescue mission there are plenty of twists and turns, highs and lows and adventure and of course, plenty of unlikely friendships and family moments with the focus on strong educational and family values. In my humble opinion, be it Fiction or Non Fiction, books should be a wealth of information that we can learn and benefit from. In my Adventures of - 58 -

authentic and very distinctive characters of each character that I hope readers young or old can relate too. As an example, we have BBQ Haku the only girl in the pack and she is very strong willed; well with 5 brothers she has to be. So, she and Eye Patch Echo have a very special relationship – he loves her so much and loves nothing more than to tease her, wind her up as they say … I can see many a parent out there saying “yep, that sounds just like my kids” which is exactly what I wanted to achieve. In this new book, I secretly added in the huskies of one of the books’ biggest fans – a young boy named Ian. His dog, Balto and their new pup Jenna, join the usual team on their new adventure. Ian’s mom, Ashlee shared his reaction when he received a proof copy of the book. Her words pretty much sum up why I refer to them as ‘My Labor of Love’… ‘I cannot begin to express how much this picture means to me and how much gratitude I feel for it. Ian's had some major struggles with reading this year, and the advice has consistently been to get him to read more. Ms. Virginia continues to encourage us to let Ian read about his interests. To have an author hear that recommendation and intentionally include Ian's dogs into a book to keep him reading

absolutely blows me away. I cannot find the words to describe what this means to my family.’ Ashlee K. All the Hot Rod Todd books are available through the website at www.adventuresofhotrodtodd.com

Review of Hot Rod Todd Rescue Mum and Dad By Sylva Fae I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of the book, and for a very special reason – my own pet bunny Fluff, plays a starring role alongside the husky team. I’m a little biased, and I think Fluff is clearly the star of the book, and definitely the cutest character. Perhaps Ian K, owner of Balto and Jenna, will argue his dogs are the best characters, but I think we’d both agree that all the team make for a great story. As with the other books in the series, the bright and fun illustrations of Cameo Anderson bring the words to life and capture the personalities of each husky (and bunny). The story is engaging for children and also encourages teamwork, kindness and and acceptance of all creatures, no matter how big or small. This is a great addition to the series, and I hope there will be more to come. - 59 -

C. Forrest Lundin, award winning author. A lover of everything western, C. Forrest has read everything Zane Gray ever wrote. A recluse by choice, Forrest happily cares for the furry kids, reads, writes, and researches while the rest of the world turns. The amazing things our ancestors did to survive and thrive never ceases to astonish. Each new discovery sparks new ideas.

Escape From Elysian Fields blurb

Other books by C. Forrest Lundin:

The Civil War is over, everything is in flux. Two brothers haven’t given up the fight.

Two Indians and a Dead Man Short Stories: A Cow in Time A Lady Without Means (winner of Indie Lector short story contest 2019) Winter Changes Too Warm For Christmas

Lace fears Izzy won’t make it home. If Buster gets there first, she’s prepared to hide out in the secret room that’s part of the underground railroad. She can’t let Buster find her. Would he really do all he’s been threatening her with for years? Lace doesn’t want to chance finding out. Buster’s only a day behind him. He needs to get to the house and tell everyone the war’s over and they’re free. Finding complete devastation and Mam, Pa, and Satin dead is a hard blow. Izzy hopes Lace is waiting for him in her grandpa’s cabin. If she is, they must get on the move. When Buster finds the place burned to the ground, there’s no telling what he’ll do.

The Healer by Penny Luker Free on Kindle Unlimited or £1.99/$2.74 to pur-

chase. The paperback is £7.00/$9.62 and can be found at: https://bookgoodies.com/a/

B09B2MYJYH This is the third book in the

‘Future Earth Trilogy. It follows the books, The Truth Finder and The Visualizer. These stories tell - 60 -

about the lives of people, in the fifth millennium, who have been born with precious gifts, which make them both powerful and vulnerable.

books of short stories and three poetry books, as well as this trilogy. She plays the piano and ukulele (both badly). She also loves painting, sketching and textile art and occasionally produces some art that is not too bad. You can catch up with Penny at

Aley lives on Earth in the fifth millennium; a world with advanced technology, but limited resources. The known, habitable part of the Earth consists of three cities and the land and villages that lie between them. There are those who think the rest of the Earth is repairing itself, from the damages of nuclear war and pollution. Aley is determined to explore the so-called uninhabitable part of the world to find new plants to help feed the growing population, but will his gift of being a healer be a help or a hindrance? As Aley begins to understand more about his gift, find out how he survives.

www.pennyluker.wordpress.com

Review by Tom Benson

5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting conclusion Once more we are taken to Future Earth; a time long after the bombs have fallen, the planet has almost been destroyed, and the surviving humans are still learning to create a fulfilling environment for the generations to come. Needless to say, there are those who have a private agenda and no interest in the greater good. And so, we continue, where all is not what it seems when you meet those travelling between one populated area and another. In the first two books, the reader is introduced to characters with extraordinary psychic powers, but for me, in all three parts of the overall story, there is much more to absorb. For example, there are still men who believe that the female gender should be submissive and grateful for all favours, great and small. Gender equality is a topic right under the surface in the tale. An overall sense that good will prevail … yes, that’s there too. Good versus evil is a well-trodden route with many authors but here, there is a simplicity to the background and the development which makes the work easy to read and digest. This is not to say that the characterisation, imagery, or dialogue suffer— none of it does. There are occasions when it looks like plans will go awry, and the fear of failure is high on the agenda. This story has no need for bloody violence on every page, or for everything to work out smoothly, so when there is conflict, it’s done with a subtlety seldom seen. This episode has a high feel-good factor and is a fitting conclusion.

Penny Luker lives in Cheshire, UK, with her husband and two beautiful rescue cats. She has been writing for over ten years and has produced a children’s book for each of her grandchildren, three - 61 -

The Mouse Family That Live By The Brambles By Gez Robinson and Victoria Rose

5T Publishing are proud to launch this beautiful little book which is a must for all the family, young and old alike. See the magical mouse family photographs of Gez Robinson and read the enchanting story by Victoria Rose.

This is the enchanting story of the mouse family that live by the brambles at the bottom of Gez Robinson’s garden. The personalities of the mice are brought alive by author, Victoria Rose in a series of short stories that follow the Bramble Mice on a year of adventures, and each story is illustrated with a full-page photograph in this beautiful book.

The book is now available direct from the publishers, 5T Publishing, using these two links:

All the photography is by Gez, and was originally taken for his Facebook page of the same name as the book. The clarity and close up pictures are proof of the amazing trust that Gez has developed with these wild creatures over the last year. They truly are enchanting to look at.

UK Postage: https://buy.stripe.com/bIYg1n5g6bQ5f5K3cf International/European postage: https://buy.stripe.com/6oE9CZ9wm6vLbTy7sz - 62 -

The stories by Victoria Rose are a perfect accompaniment to Gez’s photographs. She has captured the original whimsical spirit and added in her own sprinkling of fun and imagination. As such, this has become a book that will appeal to all ages – I enjoyed it just as much as my children did. I have already

read it several times and know it is the kind of book I will treasure forever.

*** I first discovered this cute mouse family through the Facebook posts, and Gez was kind enough to share his work in two articles for our Mom’s Favorite Reads magazine. In following the Facebook page, I’ve seen just how much joy the Bramble Mice have brought to people all over the world. In particular, Gez’s father, who suffers with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, has loved watching the daily antics of this little mouse family. It is heart-warming to see that £1 from each book sold will be donated to Alzheimer’s & Dementia charities.

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The Power of Radio by John Greeves Never underestimate the power of radio. When “The War of the Worlds” was broadcasted in 1938, announcing a Martian invasion of New Jersey it caused nationwide panic in America. It may surprise you to learn that radio is still the leading reach platform in the USA with 92% of people listening to AM/FM radio over the airwaves which at the time these numbers were published was higher than TV viewership (87%), PC use (54%), smartphones (81%) and tablet use (46%). The rise of new technology has not as predicted, up to now spelt the end of traditional media.

imagination, it drew families together and created images in the mind that still seem unsurmountable today.

In many instances radio listening remains free, its form has become adaptable to laptops, computers and smartphones and its appeal wider enough across all demographics to draw in listeners across all ages, genders and ethnicities. It’s portable too, you only need to look across at the local builders to find music blaring from every quarters.

Radio too proved the ideal media for plays like Dylan Thomas’s, Under Milk Wood with its powerful use of alliteration, assonance and an ebbing cadence that swept over you like an incoming tide and placed you instantly among the secret lives of this moonless, starless and bible-black, sloeblack, crowback community of this little Welsh town.

According to ‘The Value of Commercial Radio to the UK Economy’ (May 2016), 35 million people listen to over 300 commercial stations across the UK. Of course there will be detractors who might point to the stagnating of commercial radio advertising revenue and other factors they perceive as negative drawbacks that may also exist.

Whether it was 5’o clock Sport’s Report or the soothing and soporific mantra of the Shipping Forecast with its inherent poetry, conjuring up a long litany of sea areas like ‘Viking, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Fisher, German Bight; the forecast still provided reassurance for those at sea, while sending landlubbers like myself nodding off to sleep.

Let me, however move on and take you back to a nostalgic era when the wireless and not the TV ruled the household; a period when these great sets with humming valves lit up the darkest Sunday night. Families like mine sat around the wireless, listening in anticipation to the stirring melody of Coronation Scott before being transfixed by the weekly antics of Paul Temple, a special investigator. Radio proved a true instrument for moulding the

I could delve further back into Hancock’s Half Hour or The Archers- a radio drama that started in 1951 which was billed as “an everyday story of country folk” which when last I looked had become the world’s longest running radio drama having aired - 64 -

For me Cooke was one of my early influences in generating a real interest in the USA. American authors, TV, film and music played their part too but Cooke’s fifteen minute broadcasts existed as a precursor long before DJs adopted transatlantic accents and Radio Caroline took to the seas.

19,300 episode but instead I want to get to the point if there is a point about my real relationship with radio. For my generation, I believe radio helped to develop preferences and expectations and shape social and emotional growth. Perhaps one of the strongest influence for me in my early teenage years was Letter from America written and presented by Alistair Cooke. Started in 1946 for the BBC, (well before my time) it ran for 58 years enthralling British audience who tuned into this fifteen minute broadcast every week. Cooke’s perfected technique was unhurried, intimate and conversational in style.

My opportunity to visit the states for three months came in the early 1970s when I was still a student. For me it was a chance to generate my own impressions of this divergent land. I had just flown in JFK and was staying in a low budget hotel just off Time Square with easy access to 8th avenue. It was late afternoon and the hotel couldn’t change my traveller’s cheque to the next day. They gave me a voucher and directions to a local eatery. “Take a left onto the 8th and head on down, probably five or six blocks” I was off and after ten minutes found myself side-stepping the advances of human traffic spilling out from 42nd street (the red light area). I moved on, stopping at a group to ask if they knew the restaurant. They seemed more taken by my accent and wanted to take me off to a bar mitzvah in Brooklyn. I declined (my stomach was growling after an eight hour flight) and I eventually reached the eatery, so I thought. The restaurant turned out to be a chain and I was in the wrong place. I off-loaded my tray as best I could and hurried on. Finally I found the right

His opening paragraphs appeared to wander, touching on or recalling fascinating incidents and seemingly not directed at first to the discussion in hand. He led you urbanely down irrelevant bypaths with his mellifluous voice, pausing here and there to make some shrewd observation, or to create some intimate image in passing. He was masterful and built suspense all the time (like a good story teller) and then with a sudden sleight of hand, he took you directly to the true heart of the matter. For many years he ushered his listeners through the American vicissitudes of Korea, Kennedy’s assassination, Vietnam, Watergate and Nixon and Clinton’s scandals. For me it wasn’t necessarily the politics that grabbed my attention but the wider insights he portrayed into the American way of life. Many Britons like myself thought he was American but he was the quintessential Brit and was born Alfred Cooke in Salford Lancashire 1908 and only became an American citizen in 1941.

Allagash Wilderness white water please - Thoreau Visit Maine - 65 -

Thoreau Allagash Wilderness credit Visit Maine

beginning and the end for the presidency of R.M. Nixon -once the Watergate affair brought into question the tactics within the election process.

location, but had to wait as a brawl broke out concerning who was head of the queue. Luckily I was right at the back and realised then a great deal can happen in a single hour in New York.

Perhaps, what I was more aware of at the time was the natural environment and the people I worked with at the time in my summer job. They used biodegradable products, spoke about ecological issues. They talked about acid rain, how the Native Americans had safeguarded the land and made reference to the Tyndall effect. Put simply, this effect showed how rising CO² levels lead to rising temperature- a definite ‘greenhouse effect’ that could be magnified with the burning of fossil fuels. Although people talked very generally about these issues in passing, no-one I believe really conceived of the true devastation of climate changes today.

Later I moved on to New Hampshire and Maine and appreciated the “vastness” of the country, seeing panoramic views stretching out over 80 miles from the Appalachian trail. Once you got above tree lines or the remoteness of some of the wilderness areas that bordered on the Canadian provinces where you were overawed by the natural beauty of the land. I suppose, I was politically shielded at the time and never exposed to true poverty, simmering civil rights issues, racism or the aftermath of the Vietnam war that existed in the early seventies. What I do remember were stickers that said, “Don’t blame me I voted for McGovern.” In 1972, Richard M Nixon had beaten the Democratic challenger George S McGovern. This election would be the

Consumerism in the 1970s was king. Gas guzzling Buicks, Pontiacs Firebirds, Ford Mustangs, Chevies and coupes still ruled the highway. The Pan Am Jumbo Jet, Boeing 747 which I flew to the states in, used approximately one gallon of fuel every second and - 66 -

Campsite on one of the lakes—John Greeves

Sea plane that flew us in to the Allagash Wilderness canoes were attached to the floats—John Greeves

left behind a massive carbon footprint. Technology was moving fast, 1971 was the advent of the microprocessor age of Texas Instruments and included the introduction of the 4-bit TMS 1000 with a calculator. Nothing it seemed was beyond a nation’s grasp, who had put the first man on the moon. While in the States I bought what would seem unremarkable today, a simple electronic calculator, considered hi-tech in those days. For leisure, that summer, I was offered a variety of options at the weekend-nothing seemed impossible

North American Moose drinking in the river

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or unattainable with the 70’s mindset. A 400 mile drive to a beach house- ordering pizza on the way to be delivered on route to the toll booths, or a flight up to Canada on a Saturday morning to play rugby before flying back or a weekend of yachting off Washington as if to consolidate my belief in the American dream. Everything was deemed achievable in this unshakeable belief, resources appeared infinite and not finite as we truly understand today. In hindsight it’s hard looking back to this false optimism but nevertheless there were some tangible

benefits that did accrue. What this encounter did, was to build on the radio landscape of my youth and provide a fleeting snapshot that coupled personal experiences with fresh images of this amazing country. I felt an instant hospitality and warmth from a very generous people who made me feel immediately at home. I was also given an opportunity to see for myself what really existed around me and in time, form my own conclusions of America.

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Fragrant Fields by Sylva Fae

https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/ - 69 -

Mom’s Favorite Reads Author Adrian Czarneck Oh goodness me, where on earth do I begin. So, as stories need a beginning, a middle and an end, lets work on that principle. I was born July 4th, 1950 in Huddersfield Yorkshire. My mum was a Yorkshire lass, my dad came over to the UK from Poland during WWII with the Free Polish Airforce. He was later commissioned into the Royal Air Force. Naturally as a ‘forces brat’ we never stayed in one place for very long. When asked about my education I simply say “travelling the world”. Oh yes, during the 60’s (yes I do remember them) my big brother David had a band so, yep it was natural that I got involved in music playing bass, rhythm and lead guitar for a number of bands over the years but, though I loved it, I really couldn’t take it seriously.

So back to England I went into the Printing Industry working for companies in London and the South East of England which was a lot of fun but you know, I simply wasn’t cut out for the 24/7 wearing suits lifestyle so when the opportunity arose to move out to Idaho in the USA in 2000 I jumped at it. I simply loved the lifestyle, the ‘quality of life’ and, mmmm ended up getting married to this New Yorker whom I tell everyone ambushed me - honestly she did but heck even then she knew what was better for me than I did and, 'she who must be obeyed' as I endearingly call her, totally agrees. http://www.adventuresofhotrodtodd.com/ index.html https://www.amazon.com/Adrian-S-Czarnecki/e/ B082MVV4RL

After graduating I sort of continued ‘travelling the world’ living in many countries where I quickly learned to soak up the culture, “when in Rome do as the Romans do” as they say. Now, I live a semiretired life in Idaho, USA, writing my Adventures of Hot Rod Todd children’s story books that are based on a real life litter of Siberian Huskys born on March 14th 2019 to proud parents, my Dam, Empress Maya and my Sire Damien Czar born. So, on the way to ending up in the USA, I worked as a Press Photographer escalating to Group Chief Photographer for a group of NW England Newspapers. During this period I also freelanced with a number of angling (fishing) newspapers / magazine both in the UK and Europe which was a lot of fun. I then went into a period kinda wandering round Europe doing a bit of marketing here and a bit of marketing there as they say. I loved my time in Portugal, Spain and particularly the Loire Valley in France – omg the wines ………………………… say no more.

Hot Rod Todd: Learning ABC’s Adventures of Hot Rod Todd Learning ABC's' features the main characters from the children's story picture book ‘Hot Rod Todd to the Rescue’ the first in a series of Children’s Picture Story Books revolving round a litter of six AKC Registered Siberian Husky puppies born March 14th 2019. Now as a back up to the Story Book and the coloring Book we have Learning ABC's which again, is Siberian Husky themed.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/1712915967 - 70 -

Adventures of Hot Rod Todd: Hot Rod Todd to the Rescue

Adventures of Hot Rod Todd: Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness

Hot Rod Todd Rescue Mum and Dad

Siberian Husky Puppy Hot Rod Todd helped by two of his siblings, Eye Patch Echo and BBQ Haku are called in by rest of the pack, Siberian Huskys Morse Koda and HRH Simba to search for their brother Rock Star Merc who is lost in the Montana Wilderness. There are adventure, twists and turns, drama, tension and surprises that reveal a feel good message, a story line with a happy ending. There are also some educational values. On their journey into the wilderness, the puppies brave Hunters and get helped from unexpected sources and that's where we find some values.

This, the second book in the Adventures of Hot Rod Todd children's picture story books sees Hot Rod Todd and the pack getting an invitation to visit the UK to race. So, they decided to make it a family vacation with Wild Child Rock Star Merc taking them in his revolutionary eco friendly Tour Jet piloted by Captain Chinook. The pack decided to visit Loch Ness in Scotland and oh my, what ensues on that trip is 'out of this world'. As always with the pups there are thrills and spills, ups and downs, twists and turns but always, ALWAYS, the message is all about friends and friendship, caring about others without question, values and morals. Beautifully illustrated by Cameo Anderson, 'Hot Rod Todd Visits Loch Ness is a children's picture-story book comprising full page colored illustrations with text that parents can read to their youngsters or, if at reading age or learning to read, youngsters can read and enjoy themselves.

Hot Rod Todd Save Mum and Dad is the third in a series of children’s picture story books revolving round a litter of six AKC registered Siberian Husky puppies born March 14th 2019 to Empress Maya and Damien Czar.

https://bookgoodies.com/ a/1686371683

Virtual Todd http://www.adventuresofhotrodtodd.com/ VirtualTodd.html

https://bookgoodies.com/a/ B08KBKRHWB - 71 -

In this adventure, Hot Rod Todd Rescue Mum and Dad, we see the pups mum Empress Maya and dad Damien Czar setting off on a Paw Trip (vacation) up through Alaska to the Chukchi Peninsular, Siberia, Russia to discover their history and heritage with the Chukchi People who were the first people to use Siberian Huskys as sled dogs. Needless to say things don't go to plan which see's the pups heading off to Alaska on rescue mission during which they make many new friends whose help is critical to the search.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/ B09G9N53WL

Coloring Page By Adrian Czarnecki Though I love dreaming up and putting together my Siberian Husky themed children’s illustrated picture story books, Adventures of Hot Rod Todd, I don’t think of myself as an ‘author’ or as a ‘writer’. ‘Story teller’ sounds better. My books are so dependent upon the illustrations. That’s where illustrator Cameo Anderson http:// www.cameoanderson.com/ comes in. Cameo really can see into my mind’s eye interpreting my often rambling page descriptions into works of art; there’s a saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” and with a children’s book that is so important and Cameo nails it every time and then some. So, for your enjoyment, here is a page from the Coloring Book featuring some of the characters and scenes from the books.

Coloring Book FREE PDF download available via website www.adventuresofhotrodtodd.com

Adrian S. Czarnecki is a semi-retired writer of Siberian Husky oriented children’s books based on an actual litter of 6 puppies born to his Dam Empress Maya and Sire Damien Czar on March 14th 2019. Born in Huddersfield, England, Adrian has travelled the world extensively pursuing careers in journalism, photography, PR / Marketing as well as print and sales. Adrian now lives in Idaho, USA with his wife Meta and their Siberian Huskies who keep them on their toes. - 72 -

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Homeland by Stan Phillips

And where is that home

Or do we carry

sweet homeland for which we yearn,

it in a secret part of

and of which we sing?

our private places?

And which the poet

Or could it be that

writes tear streaked words that touch our

home sweet home is not a place

faded memories?

but a state of mind?

Does it lie somewhere

Wherein the seeker

in a cobwebbed corner seen

of that lost time feels at one

through rose coloured glass?

with life's reality?

Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part-time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up — but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/stan-phillips - 74 -

Podcast Picks by T.E. Hodden Hello, and welcome to Podcast Picks, as I once again take a trawl through the virtual airwaves and offer some recommendations. This month, the recommendations will all be themed around the supernatural, and ghost stories, so you can stock up on some spooky listening material ahead of Halloween.

For more sceptical chills, Unexplained, With Richard MacLean Smith, has recently started a new season. Covering a wide range of stories, often spreading them over several episodes, to delve into the human stories around the unexplained events, Smith treats the mysteries as just that, offering the theories that have been raised, and the evidence gathered, but balancing them with the cold facts behind the sensational, often reminding us that the names from reports were real people, each with their own lives, and how these were impacted by the mystery at hand, rather than defined by it. My first pick, Paranormal Activity With Yvette Fielding, is, as the name suggests, a weekly slice of the paranormal with the former host of Most Haunted, and ex-Blue Peter presenter, Yvette Fielding. Featuring a mix of her own experiences, and stories sent in by listeners, Fielding is an amiable, enjoyable, and enthusiastic host, who clearly comes from a place of strong belief. - 75 -

American Hysteria, by Chelsey Webber-Smith, is an often thought provoking look at the American Zeitgeist, stripping the sensationalism away from moral panics, urban legends, ghost stories and modern myths, to discover what fuelled these weird tales, and why they took root in pop-culture, to the point that many are believed without question.

The Cryptid Factor, With Rhys Darby, is a much more light hearted look at the world of cryptids, aliens, weird news, and the unexplained, by way of surreal tangents, strange facts from QI Elf Dan Schreiber, and rap-stories. There is nothing here not to love.

For a deep dive on a fascinating ghost story The Battersea Poltergeist , from the BBC uses high quality dramatizations to tell an all too real story of things going bump in the night, when a suburban home is invaded by… something. Led in part by listener feedback, the story explores the science and psychology of hauntings, the evidence of the otherworldly, and tracks down survivors. Even when discussing the mundane explanations, the story remains fascinating, and frankly, unnerving.

Anything Ghost, by Lex Wahl, is a long running, well established monthly anthology of ghost stories, submitted by readers. Every episode is a veritable feast of spooky stories and spine-chills, and if you don’t like one story, you will only ever be a few minutes from the next. Wahl, is a pleasant voice to spend an hour or so with, and tells stories in a way that suggests the twinkling eye of your favourite uncle. - 76 -

Parcast offers a great selection of spooky content over on Spotify. Most notably is Haunted Places that offers fictionalized stories based on the hauntings of real locations, sharing a few stories per location, with brief interludes that cover the real history, and folklore of the sites. It’s stablemates Unexplained Mysteries, Internet Urban Legends, and Conspiracy Theories, offer well researched insights into an array of spooky mysteries, that delve deep enough to be interesting, but not so deep as to outstay their welcome, but, to their credit, Conspiracy Theories, and Unexplained Mysteries always cite their sources, for where you can plunge into much deeper dives.

And finally, Tales From Beyond the Pale, by Glasseye Pictures, is an anthology of horror, science fictions, and thrillers, in the vein of the Twilight Zone, or Tales of the Unexpected, with full casts, atmospheric audio, and often boasting genuine Hollywood talent, well worth a listen, but most definitely for mature audiences, and very much with content warnings for most of the episodes, but… if you want to be terrified this Halloween, there are ample offerings in their back catalogue worth exploring.

As always, if you find a podcast you like, rate it, review it, and spread the word!

T.E. Hodden trained in engineering and works in a specialized role in the transport industry. He is a life long fan of comic books, science fiction, myths, legends, and history. In the past he has contributed to podcasts, blogs, and anthologies. Discover more on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/t-e-hodden/

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Living Well With Cancer by Keith Guernsey I have developed an eight point plan that I follow faithfully. This plan has enabled me to feel healthier (both mentally and physically!) at 69 than at any time since I stopped playing hockey at age 28. Following these eight steps has made a dramatic impact on my physical and mental health. 1) Get the best medical care possible (get a second or third opinion if necessary). You owe it to yourself, your family and friends to get the best care possible!

If you would like more detail on any of these bullet points, please contact me at any time.

2) Surround yourself with family and friends who will help (and provide a support system) when necessary.

Keith D Guernsey For more, please visit us on the web at;

3) Follow your Doctor's instructions to the letter regarding your prescriptions. This to me is the most important of all.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QRB3H3G 2X cancer survivor

4) Get proper nutrition-I eat lots of fruit and vegetables with every meal.

Myeloma Coach

5) Get lots of exercise—walking is great.

thegurns2005@yahoo.com

6) Vitamins—I take 5 different types every day.

Twitter=@thegurns

7) Hydrate, hydrate and then hydrate some more! Medical experts say you should drink 64 oz. of a clear liquid like water (but not Vodka!) per day! 8) Sleep-get some! Again, experts recommend 6-8 hours per night. I shut off my phone and all other electronic devices an hour before bedtime. I then take a long hot shower, shut off all the lights and am off to la-la-land until morning! Michael Phelps gets 7 1/2 hours per night and if it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me! Keith D. Guernsey is retired and living on Lake Lanier with his lovely wife Susan and Zoey, his four-footed daughter thegurns2005@yahoo.com Twitter=@thegurns https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Keith-D-Guernsey/e/B00PR51Q7Y

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World Space Week by Melanie P. Smith

October 4th—10th

Cover design created to honor World Space Week

sparkling against the deep fathomless background. My mind instantly filled with adventurous stories of intrigue and mystery. The sky wasn’t the limit — outer space was, and it was fathomless.

World Space Week was established on December 6, 1999 to “celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.” While I am aware that satellites are essential and the space station, lunar landings, and robots on Mars, have brought about amazing technological advancements for all of us earthlings — I’d rather focus on the mystery and intrigue.

Later, I began to study the constellations and their fascinating history. The images that danced in the dark were said to be Greek heroes and beasts placed there because of their time on earth. Each has a story to tell. Cassiopeia was forced to wheel around the North Celestial Pole on her throne, spending half her time upside-down so she wouldn’t fall off.

Who didn’t fantasize about alien life, a black hole to some enchanted realm, or galactic wars fought in hightech ships equipped with that magic button that, when pushed, catapulted the occupants to another dimension at warp speed? Yes, I grew up feasting on Star Wars, Aliens and Dr. Who (my fathers doing). At the time, I had no idea I would eventually become an author. My imagination was simply captivated as I gazed at the bright lights and visualized the endless possibilities.

The Big Dipper is part of Ursa Major & means ‘greater bear’. It is said that Zeus fell in love with a nymph, angering his wife who turned said nymph into a bear. Ursa Minor is the nymphs son, who nearly shot his mother while hunting. Zeus intervened, placing them both in the night sky forever. There’s Pegasus who flew to Olympus and was transformed by Zeus, Orion the mighty hunter, and of course all 12 of the Zodiacs. Some of the stories are outrageous, some are intriguing, all are entertaining.

I remember being a small child, lying on the cool grass on a hot summer night, gazing at the beautiful lights

I hope, this October, you will take the time to discover… focus on the stars and dream… the adventure awaits.

We are excited to announce that Goylake Publishing has teamed-up with the Fussy Librarian and in partnership we are offering you 20% off your first book promotion with the Fussy Librarian. To qualify for this promotion, your book must be either permafree or listed free during a special offer. In our experience, the Fussy Librarian is the best book promoter in the business. When we promote with him, our free books always reach the top five of Amazon’s genre charts, most often they reach the top three. We promote with the Fussy Librarian every month and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. Prices start from as low as $15, minus our special discount of 20%. Click here: https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake for full details. And, at the checkout, be sure to enter this code: goylake20 to claim your 20% discount. Thank you for your interest. And good luck with your promotion! - 80 -

Brought to you by...

The August issue of Connections eMagazine is dedicated to the winners of our annual Reader’s Choice Awards. We had some amazing books from some talented authors. I hope you will take a minute to check them out.

Marketing seems to be one of those areas that every author struggles with. It’s the same struggle companies world-wide have been dealing with for decades. How do I get my product in front of my target audience? Connections eMagazine can help. The publication is free to readers, bloggers and to authors looking for a little extra exposure. Visit our website for details. https://melaniepsmith.com/ https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine/

Connections eMagazine is a FREE quarterly publication founded by authors Melanie P. Smith and Rhoda D’Ettore. It is currently produced entirely by Editor, Melanie P. Smith. Over the years, the magazine has evolved and it now features promos, freebies, blog articles, and short stories in every issue.

Discover more about Connections eMagazine on their website here: https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine-landing/ - 81 -

Editor In Chief—Hannah Howe The Editor-in-Chief is the key figure in every publication. Hannah Howe works closely with the editorial staff to ensure the success of each publication. She is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann’s War Mystery Series and Saving Grace. Get to know more about Hannah, her projects and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/hannah-howe/

Executive Editor | Graphic Designer—Melanie P. Smith The Executive Editor / Graphic Designer is responsible for developing the layout and design of MFR eMagazine. She also works hard to create new covers each month that captures the essence of each publication. In addition to the editorial staff of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Melanie P. Smith also produces Connections eMagazine. She is a multi-genre author of Criminal Suspense, Police Procedural, Paranormal and Romance novels. Get to know more about Melanie, her projects, and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/melanie-p-smith/

Managing Editor, Art Director & Proofreader —Sylva Fae Our Managing Editor oversees the physical content of the magazine and coordinates the production schedule. She administers the day-to-day operations of the publication, manages submissions, sets realistic schedules and organizes each edition of the magazine. Sylva is is responsible for the amazing graphics that appear throughout the publication each month. She works hard to ensure the images capture the spirit and message our author's convey in their articles and stories. In addition, As Copy Editor, Sylva works hard behind the scenes to correct any grammatical, typos and spelling errors throughout the magazine. Sylva Fae—Mum of three, fairy woodland owner, and author of children’s books. https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/

Copy Editors / Proofreaders — Wendy H. Jones and Sheena MacLead Our Copy Editors for Mom’s work hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Wendy H. Jones is also our Feature Editor and works hard to provide content that is interesting, informative and profession. She’s the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/

Sheena Macleod lectured at the University of Dundee, where she gained her PhD. She now lives in a seaside town in Scotland. Reign of the Marionettes is her first novel. She is currently working on two additional books: Tears of Strathnaver and Women of Courage—A Forgotten Figure—Frances Connolly. You can learn more about Sheena on her website: https://www.sheenas-books.co.uk/

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Story Editor—Allison Symes Allison Symes works diligently each month to generate flash fiction writing prompts that will stimulate creativity in our authors and entertain our readers. As Story Editor, she also ensures each entry is professional and polished. Allison

Symes is an award winning, published flash fiction and short story writer. She also writes a weekly column on topics of interest for writers for online magazine, Chandler's Ford Today. Allison's fiction has appeared in anthologies (CafeLit and Bridge House Publishing) over many years. Allison judges competitions, runs workshops, and is always happy to talk/write about flash fiction writing.

https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com

Marketing Director—Grant Leishman Our Marketing Director, Grant Leishman, oversees marketing campaigns and social media engagement for our magazine. After an exciting career in accounting and journalism, he now focuses on his true calling—writing. Get to know more about Grant on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/grant-leishman/

Young Writer Content Editor—Poppy Flynn Poppy Flynn works hard each month to generate ideas, proofread submitted content, and provide stories, articles, poems and other pieces that are creative and relevant from young writers around the world. Get to know more about our Young Writer Content Editor on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/poppy-flynn/

General Content Writers Our Content Writers are freelance authors who contribute articles, short stories, etc. to the eMagazine on a regular basis. They work hard to make our magazine interesting and professional. Get to know our Content Writers here: T.E. Hodden — https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/t-e-hodden/ Val Tobin — https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/val-tobin/ Stan Phillips — https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/stan-phillips/ Father Ian Maher — https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/