Author: macjam47

I am an avid reader who loves to share my thoughts about the books I read. Other activities I enjoy are doing things with my grandchildren, baking and cooking, gardening, Pilates, and deep water exercise.

As if..?

Published on by macjam479 Comments

a very insightful post by Sue Vincent.

Sue Vincent's avatarSue Vincent's Daily Echo

Sculpture by Rob Mulholland

“You should write about it,” said my son. “It would make a good subject for a blog post.” He was right, but it wouldn’t make for a  comfortable one. We had been discussing the assumptions people make based upon appearances. It is not an uncommon topic when my son faces the world from the level of a wheelchair. The variation in the way he is spoken to by strangers is wide, ranging from those who just speak to the human being, to those who feel they have to treat a 32 year old man as a backward child.

We all experience this instant assessment every day, both as its focus and as the assessor. Most of us give little thought to such casual interactions, from either perspective. It is just the way we are built and probably stems from a very early mechanism for survival. For…

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4 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Mailchimp

Published on by macjam4711 Comments

Do your emails and newsletters end up in someone’s spam folder? Do you spend too much time writing and sending newsletters? Check out these tips on Sacha Black’s blog.

Sacha Black's avatarSacha Black

Mailchimp mistakesIf you try something new for the first time and you don’t fuck it up, you’re probably not doing it right. Mistakes are natural, normal and help us learn to get better. I’m doing a monthly newsletter full of even more writing tips, competitions, handy writer hacks and news on my progress towards publishing. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can tick that off your list by clicking here. HINT!

I made mistakes. But I’m a writer. So standing up, dusting myself down and picking up the proverbial pen again is in my blood.

When I wrote the post on creating your perfect Author Newsletter I’d already found Mailchimp hard to set up and master. But SO many people said the same thing I knew I had to regroup and share some of the lessons I’d learnt doing my own newsletter.

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12 signs you have a book addiction and why it matters #mondayblogs

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Do you have a book addiction?

Sue Vincent's avatarSue Vincent's Daily Echo

There is a strange urge to turn into that scruffy looking shop… a calling that drags at your gut until you succumb.Dust and grime covers everything; there is nothing in there that you would touch without a hazmet suit and yet… there in the corner is a rusting metal basket full of foxed and battered paper. You spot a title you have been searching for since your youth. Suddenly the world is a beautiful place.

You may have a problem…and there are other signs…

  1. Waiting in queues becomes quality time with your mobile phone. The Kindle app is a godsend…
  2. You hope the appointments are running at least two chapters late.
  3. Flu is welcomed as a six-book-a-day event.
  4. Decluttering means throwing out the TV to add another bookshelf.
  5. Getting an early night means a few extra hours reading and even less sleep. (Well, you only had another couple of chapters…

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Fairy Tale Freebie…

Published on by macjam475 Comments

I love fairy tales, and this is one you don’t want to miss.

Michelle R. Eastman's avatarMichelle Eastman Books

April is Rhyming Picture Book Month, so I thought I’d celebrate by giving away my newest picture book, Dust Fairy Tales: Absolutely Aggie.

Download the ebook for FREE, this week, on Amazon. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0155J4Q7I/

I just discovered that UK Amazon customers are eligible for the free offer as well.

Happy Reading!

aggie_cover_front_r-1Here are some other literacy celebrations going on this month:

National Poetry Month

This April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, which was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

National Library Week  April 10-16, 2016

http://www.ala.org/nlw

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It…

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Alexander Pig Goes Camping (Volume 1)

Published on by macjam4711 Comments

By Eva B. Kids

Alexander Pig Goes CampingMy Review

Alexander Pig Goes Camping is the story of three friends from the Little Green Forest who decide to go off on an adventure to Dog-Rose Camp.  Alexander Pig, Mycroft Zebra, and Pim Hedgehog set off.  They all agree to meet at the train station after going home to pack.  Alexander, who thinks he is the bravest pig of all and exceptionally clever, packs nearly everything he owns and is late, almost missing the train.  Alexander likes to talk in singing rhymes. So he makes up a song about going camping.  Pim is afraid of m-m-monsters. He is actually very timid and doesn’t like traveling, nor does he like anything scary. Mycroft always has the answer to everything.

According to Mycroft, an adventure is “when you experience something new and different or go somewhere you have never been before. Some place that is perhaps just a bit scary.”  What adventure will these three friends find at Dog-Rose camp? 

This enchanting story of friends sticking together is perfect for children ages 4-6.  The beautiful illustrations are beautifully done in watercolor and include maps of the Little Green Forest. Character and story development are written as though through the eyes of a child, ensuring that children will love Alexander Pig Goes Camping. I know I did.

Alexander Pig Goes Camping is an enjoyable book for parents to read to young children.

My Ratingfivestarts

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

About the AuthorEva B. Kids

Eva B. Kids resides in a bohemian paradise with her wonderful husband, adventure-loving son and an eccentric dog.

Connect with the author on

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

 

Buy Alexander Pig Goes Camping on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Smorgasbord Health – Heart Attack warning signs and symptoms men vs. women.

Published on by macjam474 Comments

Valuable information that everyone needs to know about heart attacks explained for both men and women.

Learning to Speak Greek

Published on by macjam472 Comments

Author Linda Fagioli-Katsiotas tells a humorous story about learning Greek, as well as a few anecdotes of the misunderstandings some of her non-English speaking students had.  Check out her blog post at http://truestorythenifi.blogspot.com/2016/04/learning-to-speak-greek.html.

Linda’s books, Your Own Kind (you can read my review here) and The Nifi, are available in paperback and ebook. And for a short while, Your Own Kind is featured in a 99 pence book promotion on Amazon.co.uk.

15 Women Scientists You Should Know…

Published on by macjam476 Comments

A powerful collection of minds.

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

Excerpt from an interesting article on ‘A Mighty Girl’ website:

For centuries, women have made important contributions to the sciences, but in many cases, it took far too long for their discoveries to be recognized — if they were acknowledged at all. And too often, books and academic courses that explore the history of science neglect the remarkable, groundbreaking women who changed the world. In fact, it’s a rare person, child or adult, who can name more than two or three female scientists from history — and, even in those instances, the same few names are usually mentioned time and again…

To read the full article and find out more about these brilliant women, click on the link or logo below:

15 Women Scientists You Should Know…

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Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows

Published on by macjam4720 Comments

By Cynthia A. Morgan

 

Dark Fey Standing in ShadowsBook Blurb

Gairynzvl escaped captivity among the DemonFey, who had abducted him as a child through a daring act of treason and was rescued by Light Loving Fey.   Now, he wants to return to the dark realm of The Reviled to attempt a rescue of the innocent Childfey trapped there.

It will take more than one Fey to breach the borders of The Uunglarda and to slip past the legions of Dark Fey who abide there.  It will take magic and strength, courage and military strategy, and it will shake the foundations of everything The Fey of The Light have accepted as truth for thousands of years. But Gairynzvl knows the secret ways in and out of the dark realm; he is able to open portals and through his gifts of telepathic empathy he can find the Childfey standing, waiting, in the shadows.

Slipping into the darkness through darkness is easy.  Escaping out again with terrified Childfey is another matter.  If they are captured his band of liberators will pray for death long before it comes and their success could spark a full-scale war, unleashing the barbaric hatred and viciousness of The Reviled upon the peace-loving Fey of The Light.

Can Gairynzvl convince the Fey of the Light to allow him to return to the Uunglarda, the realm of The Reviled?  Who will join him to aid the Innocent Childfey trapped in the realm of shadows and fear? And Will the Fey of the Light risk a savage war to rescue them?

My Review

Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows is book number two in the Dark Fey trilogy.  Because Standing in Shadows gives light to the characters and the plot, I would recommend that Dark Fey: The Reviled be read first.

The story opens with an introduction to The Uunglarda and the torment found there inflicted upon Childfey by the Reviled, a grotesque, loveless, and evil population that lives in the realm of dark shadows.

On the other side, in the mystical realm of Jyndari, where the Fey of Light live, we learn of a former Dark One, who has undergone the Integration, the process to renounce the Reviled and join the Fey of Light. Gairynzvl enlists the help of the confidence of the Temple Elders and Ayla, a Guardian of Childfey, to rescue those kidnapped, neglected, and tortured Childfey living in The Uunglarda against their will.

What I loved about this second book is that the characters have developed greater maturity.  Yes, we see some jealousy between Marden and Gairynzvl, but they are able to rise above that and work together. Ayla has found an inner strength she didn’t previously possess for the sake of the Childfey.  The descriptions are rich and detailed though not to the point that the reader becomes bored. On the contrary, they give depth to the story so the reader can visualize Jyndari and The Uunglarda and those who live there.  I loved the easy flow of words in this and the previous book, which is so characteristic of the author, whether writing fiction or poetry or, just telling about her day.

What I didn’t like about Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows is the manner in which the Child Malefey and Shefey were treated, even though a lot was through intimation, such treatment was difficult reading, but this is my personal view and it does not impact my review. There are a lot of movies that I don’t watch for the same reason.  I won’t go into more detail to avoid giving away spoilers.

I recommend Dark Fey: Standing in Shadows to anyone who enjoys fantasy or young adult fantasy.  On a scale of 1-5 stars, I would award this book 4 ½ stars.  I am looking forward to reading book three in the Dark Fey Trilogy.

This is my honest review.

About the AuthorCynthia Morgan 2015

Cynthia A. Morgan is the creator of the mythical realm of Jyndari and author of the epic fantasy, Dark Fey: The Reviled, Book One of the Dark Fey Trilogy.  “The Reviled” draws the reader into a mystical realm of primordial forests, magic and the lives of Light-loving and Darkness-revering Feykind.  Not to be confused with pixies or “Tinkerbell” type fairies, the Feyfolk of Jyndari are winged beings the size of any human who live in a realm where tradition, magic, and spirituality are fundamentals of everyday life.  Reviews of Dark Fey continue to earn 5 stars by lovers of fantasy as well as readers who do not typically enjoy that genre.  Compared to a fantasy version of a play by Shakespeare, Dark Fey The Reviled is a brutally beautiful story of Love, Hope, and finding Peace in the Darkness.

Dark Fey:  Standing In Shadows, Book Two of the Dark Fey Trilogy continues the story of Gairynzvl, who escaped captivity among the DemonFey, who had abducted him.  Now, he wants to return to the dark realm of The Reviled to attempt a rescue of the innocent Childfey trapped there, but it will take more than one Fey to breach the borders of The Uunglarda and to slip past the legions of Dark Fey who abide there.  It will take magic and strength, courage and military strategy and it will shake the foundations of everything The Fey of The Light have accepted as truth for thousands of years.  Can Gairynzvl convince the Fey of the Light to allow him to return to the Uunglarda, the realm of The Reviled?  Who will join him to aid the Innocent Childfey trapped in the realm of shadows and fear? And Will the Fey of the Light risk a savage war to rescue them?

Morgan is also the author of the popular blog “Booknvolume” where her over 15K following is regularly treated to Morgan’s own brand of poetry, English Sonnets, and musings about life.  She is a current member of the Poetry Society of America; is ranked among the top authors on the Independent Author Network; has had poetry published on numerous poetry websites and is rapidly becoming an Author to keep your eye on.

Some of her other interests include a deep love of animals and the environment. She loves music; is frequently heard laughing; finds the mysteries of ancient times, the paranormal and the possibilities of life elsewhere in the cosmos intriguing, and Believes in the power of Love, Hope, Peace and Joy, all of which is reflected in her lyrically elegant writing style.

You can purchase both books in the Dark Fey Trilogy in these locations:
Dark Fey: The Reviled is available on Amazon and B&N  
Amazon/Kindle:    http://goo.gl/iRl5pZ
Barnes and Noble:   http://goo.gl/OxNr6M

Dark Fey: Standing In Shadows is available in e-book and paperback on Amazon
US –  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018HF4HSA
UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018HF4HSA

You can find Morgan through social media in the following places:
Blog:  www.booknvolume.com
Website:  http://allthingsdarkfey.wix.com/feyandmusings 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/booknvolume
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MorganBC728 & https://twitter.com/DarkFeyMorgan29
Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/cynthey728

Publisher:  Kindle/ CreateSpace
Pub Date:  December 4, 2015
Page Count:  205 pages
Genre:  Fantasy / YA Fantasy

Links to the sample readings available on the author’s blog:  
http://wp.me/P3C4k1-304 & http://wp.me/P3C4k1-37q

Book Three:  Breaking Into The Light is currently underway.

Thanks for reading! To return to the FICTION WRITERS BLOG HOP on Julie Valerie’s website, click here: http://www.julievalerie.com/fiction-writers-blog-hop-mar-2016