The first books of my To Be Sinclair series are now available in paperback!
DIGNITY: https://www.createspace.com/4526888
MAJESTY: https://www.createspace.com/4531497
FEALTY: https://www.createspace.com/4531505
ROYALTY: https://www.createspace.com/4552220
I have the other four in various stages of development. I anticipate two being ready by Christmas, and the other two before New Year's:
DYNASTY: https://www.createspace.com/4559046
LOYALTY: https://www.createspace.com/4559052
Evan's Ladies: https://www.createspace.com/4559054
(waiting for correction to the cover files; the colors are 'off')
NOBILITY: https://www.createspace.com/4559056
(web page will not be available until certain files are approved)
I certainly hope readers of my ebooks who know people who only read print books will spread the word! Thanks for all your support, past, present, and future!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
30 Days of Gratitude!
Nov. 30th -- To sum up my month of gratitude, I would like to express my utmost appreciation to people I have never met. To all those who try out natural cures and tell us what works; to spiritual men and women who pray for us, whether we know of them or not; to thoughtful people who watch those in power and expose their misdeeds; to anyone who works to help us understand complex documents, like insurance forms or proposed laws or bills; to the unsung heroes like food inspectors, crash test scientists, and hosts of others who assure our products meet reasonable standards; the list is really too long. I would like to think that everyone who has read these posts will pursue their own expressions of gratitude. I like to imagine a fellow listening to (say) his uncle or even a complete stranger bitching about his job, and then saying to him (or her), "You know, I never realized how important your work is to society as a whole. Has anyone ever thanked you for it?" And then thanking them profoundly.
Nov. 29th -- I am so glad I own a car! Maintenance, insurance, and gas are a pain, but I love knowing I can just jump in and take a road trip. I used to drive cross-country on trips, though I have not done so for a long time (many reasons, mostly physical). But it's still great to take a weekend trip here or there. One thing I think most people in this country do not realize is how far apart our cities are, how sparsely populated the U.S. actually is. Europe, for example, has been well-settled for thousands of years; the U.S., nary a few hundred past the Appalachias. I love the freedom of controlling my own movements, and not having to take public transportation. Windows down, singing at the top of my lungs (provided there are no other passengers), cooler and food to hand, I used to be able to drive all day without thinking twice about it. The oddest thing I guess I ever did on the road was strap my panda on top of my cooler; when I would drive by other cars, the kids would point at Boozer riding shotgun and laugh!
Nov. 28th -- I am forever grateful that I was born an American citizen. Our country is not perfect, but it's far and beyond so many others. I've visited three other countries, and even felt mild 'culture shock' returning from one highly developed European country. So many people in the U.S. have little empathy for those who survive day-by-day, when they do not realize they can learn valuable lessons from them all, even from those living on American streets. I am grateful for what I have, I am grateful for the compassion others have shown me, and I am absolutely grateful to be living in the Land of the Free, where I can believe anything I want, take any job I want, celebrate any holy day I want, live wherever I want, consort with saints and sinners as I want, and do almost everything I want. Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow U.S. citizens, and be grateful for the blessings available in this great country!
Nov. 27th -- I'm going to get a li'l silly today and tell you why I am so grateful for blankies! All blankies are wonderful, whether for simple insulative purposes or works of art. Comforters, quilts, throws, doesn't matter to me; I luv 'em, one and all. My winter fave is a thick comforter, corduroy on one side and microfiber fleece on the other; my summer faves are two thin quilts two different sisters-in-law made us. I adore the many fabrics they come in, such as velour, and I covet these two throws I gave my mom once that I bought at an alpaca show; I should have kept one for myself! Blankies mean comfort and love as much as warmth, the ultimate considerate gift (in my opinion) to show you care to spiritually nourish your loved one by wrapping them in your protection as they sleep. Of course, the best part is snuggling with your Beloved under a nice, big blankie...!
Nov. 26th -- Although I complain about it entirely too much, I am grateful for my body and my health. I'm getting better, slowly but surely, and a large part of that is due to changing my health habits. I'm eating real food nowadays, i.e. nothing from a place that advertises on TV, and preferably as 'raw' as I can, such as no overcooking the vegetables. I'm using healthy spices, too -- my 'Magic Medicine Mix' consists of equal parts of turmeric, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne, with a small amount of black pepper (to make the curcumin in the turmeric vastly more effective). I'm not ingesting aspartame, but after being addicted to Diet Mountain Dew for some 20-25 years, I know it will take time for my body to recover from that damage. When I do have the energy to get up and move, I am trying to include walking, not just housework or yard work, and one of these seminars at the expo I went to last weekend has inspired me to get back into stretching, though nothing close to 'yoga' yet! I think I'll start on the 5 Tibetan Rites again, soon. Here's a PDF; there are YouTube videos, too.http://www.freedivers.net/documents/The%205%20Tibetans.pdf
Nov. 25th -- I am so grateful to have a home. Sure, there are trials to home ownership, but to know you have a 'room of your own', a place you can arrange with all your most favorite comforts, protection from the elements, room in which to pursue your amusements and store your books, is a blessing beyond measure. I love my yard and its mini-forest, and although it has a number of things I would correct if I could (foundation, minimal insulation), I love coming home to my snug li'l farmhouse and burrowing in with my hubby and doggies on cold nights. I pray that everyone find a decent, warm domicile this winter, preferably one they can permanently call their own and develop into a sweet retreat from society and the brutal weather.
Nov. 24th -- I am so grateful for the Elders. I love speaking to older people just in general, since they've experienced life lessons they are (usually) more than willing to pass on. But the Elders, such as the Native American elders or even specialists in new fields who go out of their way to (say) teach at conferences, make me grateful I live in a society and time in which we have the resources to find each other, for many elders have been given permission to teach to whoever would absorb their teachings. I think of the dark ages in Europe during which about the only people allowed to learn anything had to become religious clerics or, at a minimum, an apprentice to a craft (on sometimes near-slavish terms). Appreciate the elders in your life; ask them about things they would teach you. At the very least, get some of the old-time stories from your parents and grandparents and other relatives before they get lost for all time!
Nov. 23rd -- I am very grateful for the 'convention' and 'fair' culture in the U. S. I have a huge number of interests, but although I do not always get a chance to indulge them, sometimes I get to go to a fair or convention, for a weekend or even an entire week, and immerse myself in some particular kind of fandom. I met my hubby at a science fiction convention, for example (married him at one, too! well, just before; it was our honeymoon). My dad and I both love barbershop music, so if I want to go to the yearly international barbershop quartet convention, he pays my way. This weekend I'm at a psychic fair/expo, with all the fabulous panels, gorgeous New Age jewels and jewelry, and 'readers' galore. I went to my first Tibetan healing ceremony and have been slavering over getting my own Tibetan singing bowl, but opted for some Douglas Blue Feather flute music, instead. (I must have spent half an hour lusting for one of the flutes at his booth, too.) Oh, and I am TOTALLY waffling over the decision to buy a Himalayan pink salt cooking slab -- yes, you put it directly over the flames and cook your fish right on it! Just wipe with a paper towel and season with olive oil after, and it lasts for years (just don't use water). At the very least, at these fairs and conventions you can always find lots of flyers, cards, brochures & so forth, to order things later if you wish!
Nov. 22nd -- I am grateful for word processing programs. Yep. If I had to write everything longhand, I'd have permanent writers cramp up to the middle of my back. I use Word '07, and with all the publishing I've been doing, I feel like I understand about a tenth of the entire program. When I first went to college, I was thrilled just to have an electronic typewriter with a white correction strip. I can't imagine having to type up a million words and edit them on sheets of paper -- how many reams would I have gone through by now? I had a computer by the time I studied for my masters in education, and although I had to devise and write the formulas into the master boxes, all I did was put in the data, and boom! Two correlations I could analyze! Thanks to all the genius coders out there, making our lives easier!
Nov. 21st -- Please don't come down too hard, but I am so very grateful for Amazon.com! Not only can I order just about anything I want, I can earn money by publishing my ebooks AND selling my own stuff, though I've not signed up for that yet. I check reviews and prices on things there all the time, and I'm now setting up with their CreateSpace print-on-demand publisher. I know everyone's rather wary of their monopolistic tendencies, but hell, they wouldn't have gotten so huge if they weren't doing a lot of things right! I just wish I had purchased stock when I first heard about Amazon years ago!
Nov. 20th -- I know it sounds rather trite, but I am so grateful for my bed! We have an extra-firm memory foam mattress, the 2nd and only kind we buy, and it is heavenly. Non-allergenic, the biggest advantage besides comfort is its insulative value; it warms to your body's temperature and holds the heat all night long. Spending a third of your life on a horrible spring mattress is a damn shame -- go try out a memory foam mattress! The prices have come way down in recent years, so do some comparison shopping online and treat yourself and your Beloved to the perfect Christmas gift!
Nov. 19th -- I am grateful for my doggies! I 'rescued' them when they were 8 weeks old, from a litter that was going to be dumped in the countryside, wishing I could have adopted all five (but I knew the hubs would never go for that). Taking responsibility for them has occasionally been the only routine I could maintain. I wonder if they think of me as their goddess, and how I rate in their minds. I have little songs about their names, a particular tone of voice when I speak to them, and set phrases I use when speaking to them. "No Mommy Noms for you!", "You are the precious!", and "The best girls in all the land, and the Mommy doesn't lie about important stuff like that!" There is considerable debate about the origins of dog domestication, too -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Nov. 18th -- I will not be making a public post today. Instead, I will be writing a letter to a teacher who was a tremendous influence on me, expressing my appreciation directly. I hope you all consider doing the same at some point in your lives, because teaching is a heart-wrenching profession, never knowing whether you have positively influenced anyone and/or helped them prepare for the nebulous future.
Nov. 17th -- I am utterly grateful for what passes as 'everyday science' now. 100 years ago, the best weather prediction you could get was Grandma's knees or Grandpa's once-broken bone; now we have meteorologists that put out the call hours or days ahead of time of tornado/hurricane/blizzard conditions. Gardeners can find just about every possible soil amendment for their finicky plants in home improvement centers, complete with instructions on the box or bag, and even hydroponics mixes to grow without soil entirely. Cooks can find recipe books that describe why overmixing the batter makes their quickbreads and pancakes tough, or the proper way and length to cook eggs and meat safely, not to mention things like how the pH of food combinations affects their palatability or nutrition! We have electrical devices and batteries and lights and portable gas-powered appliances barely imagined even 50 years ago. And, naturally, the creation of 'intuitive' interfaces allows a noob like me to do something as artistic as come up with book covers -- for a gal who can barely draw stick figures, I can assure you I adore playing with my image manipulation programs! To all the scientists out there, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Nov. 16th -- I am so very grateful for 24-hour stores! Whether it's the local mega-mart or the gas station convenience store, I absolutely appreciate businesses that cater to us 'night owls'. I love going grocery shopping at 3 a.m. to avoid the crowds, as well as filling up my car. I'm so glad we live in such a safe country that can support 24-hour stores, too. I've told people before, "This IS the land of milk and honey -- you can go out your door this very instant and buy milk and honey in the smallest mini-mart open in the middle of the night!" And I try to thank the people working those hours, too, at the very least with pleasant conversation to make their jobs easier. It pleases me to know that businesses are open for those who must work night shifts, too, like hospital workers, EMS, utility companies, and police. If only we could do business 24/7 with the government!
Nov. 15th -- I am grateful for city services! If I had to harvest all my own water, chop wood all day, and repurpose every single bit of garbage that could not be composted, I'd never get anything done. I'm absolutely grateful for postal services, because I order and receive more items through the mail than I do going out to shop. I am super-grateful for road maintenance, especially during winter, though Louisville tends to be hyper-vigilant about using salt on the roads. Still, there have been many times I needed to travel and the trucks were out scraping the roads. Now if I can only get the metropolitan sewer district to admit they screwed up our drainage years ago such that our driveway keeps washing out, and get them to fix it, I'd be a happy camper!
Nov. 14th -- I have always appreciated music, so I am utterly grateful for the explosion of technology that can provide me with centuries of expressive music, even from cultures I've never heard of or hardly explored. I used to sing and play several instruments, but horrific depression has kept me from my music for many years, now. I've totally lost my singing voice, due to the alpha-inspired social pressure of teaching through weeks of a terrible chest cold in which I could feel my vocal cords grotesquely twisting through every cough. My guitars languish in corners of my house, for I would usually only play them to accompany my singing. I am grateful for, of all things, these cheap plastic recorders I play; although I may not be accomplished at them, the sound of flutes, recorders, and piccolos stimulate my heart chakra. I love going on YouTube and having 'thons', like a Luciano Pavarotti/Three Tenors evening, a night exploring East Asian music, or a 70's funk-a-thon. Cello and pipe organs are my favorite instruments; I can't begin to say who my favorite vocal performers are unless you give me a category, and they are always subject to change. Favorite quote: Victor Hugo — 'Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to remain silent.'
Added 11/19: Listen to this AMAZING instrument! http://m.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/leonardo-da-vincis-wacky-piano-is-heard-for-the-first-time-after-500-years-20131118-2xpqs.html
Nov. 13th -- I am very grateful that I have learned the value of dreaming, and in so many ways. In sleep, most dreams are chaotic mash-ups of experiences of a day, but we can learn to 'command' our dreams to bring us solutions to problems and insights into the greater issues of our lives. Prophetic dreams do occur, though I cannot say with certainty that I've had them (just several too-eerie 'coincidences'), but there are plenty of confirmed ones you can find online. In addition, dreams teach the language of the soul, the deep, inner symbolism by which your subconscious mind (and Higher Self, if you trust that kind of thing) can teach valuable lessons. I just woke up from a dream this morning that brought me great understanding of at least half of the problems of my life, so I will take the time to re-evaluate those problems in that new light and devise new 'approaches' to them. Last but DEFINITELY not least: understanding the power of dreams means you can use those deep symbols to actively imagine situations in a theta state while you are still awake, and then COMMAND your subconscious to bring those things into being! This is called manifestation, aka 'the law of attraction'! The trick is that, once you command them, you have to 'forget' about them so your subconscious can 'work' them into being. Instead of nagging the Universe, once you command a process, you need to stay out of the way so it can manifest!
Nov. 12th -- I am grateful for trees, the 'lungs' of our planet. Food from nuts, medicine from bark, leaves, fruits, and roots (sassafras tea from my own trees!), shelter, firewood, clothing, sweetener (xylitol from birch, maple syrup), musical instruments, paper and books, a myriad of products from cellulose. But once again, the most important part: OXYGEN. And nowadays, with the concerns over global warming, carbon sequestration. Most heartbreaking statistic: we have destroyed over half the trees on the planet since the Industrial Revolution. Second most heartbreaking statistic: the Amazon rainforest continues to be harvested. Massive plantations of monoculture fast-growing pine trees will not help nearly enough, not to mention the fact that those are all 'destined' to be used as lumber within 50 years. We need broad plantings of deciduous (leaf-bearing, not needle-bearing) forest trees, as thoroughly mixed as possible, just to clear the air of pollution. Hubby & I planted tulip poplars, burr oaks, black locusts (highest BTU's of any wood), and all kinds of seeds, although many did not come up. No matter; our tiny forest is thriving, and one of my many lottery dreams is to help people reclaim old strip-mined land by planting trees. When I die, I want to be cremated and have a redwood or a giant sequoia planted with my scattered ashes. I wish I could afford to support the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive to spread cultivars of the most ancient trees from around the world!
Nov. 11th -- I frankly don't have the words to express my gratitude for veterans. In my series, particularly book 3 Fealty, I describe a society that actively cares for them, as well as a Service with training methods I feel would contribute to a Serviceman's deep understanding of his true value. One of my lottery dreams is to build small living communities to get homeless veterans off the street, get them treatment if they need it, and help them re-integrate into society. I even wrote a poem the other day that I sent to a contest, called Phantom Pain. And although I often ask them about their Service, so few veterans care to talk about it to outsiders; I don't want to offend them, but I still offer, just so they know a random stranger cares for their pain and sacrifices. I pray the divine beings watching over them can 'get through' to them, with warnings and intuition and outright signs, to indicate when extra caution is needed against the terrible intents of their enemies. Hail to the great-souled who offer their lives for their people!
Nov. 10th -- Although I have pronounced criticisms of the current U.S. educational system, I am profoundly grateful for the educational opportunities I have had or made. The system is flawed in many ways, and although its compulsory nature engenders a considerable amount of the demotivation of students, in truth we desperately need every citizen to be educated BEYOND their abilities. We need a citizenship aware of all possible careers, as well as opportunities to socialize with and learn from people outside their limited neighborhood influences and daily lifestyles. We need students to be exposed to ideologies and arguments that affect vast populations, even the entire planet, so they will at least be aware of them, possibly to find solutions from others to solve their personal problems, or even develop solutions that can spread worldwide. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CCxdkOng Above all, we need a populace aware of methods of resolving conflict that do not entail violence, for war is a failure of (unnamed persons) to achieve civil working agreements, leading to tragedies of blood and infrastructure and contamination that warp entire societies for a lifetime, and beyond.
Nov. 9th -- I am thoroughly grateful for peace, and not just the peace that armies bring our nations. I love the peace I feel when writing on my laptop as my doggies snore away on the couch. I am thankful for the peace of waiting in long lines, where everyone chats lightly with each other in order to keep patient, instead of blaring their frustrations out and causing us all to have a bad day. I relish the peace of the woods, with no sounds of tractors, chain saws, or heavy equipment cutting them down. I adore the peace of suburban neighborhoods, with children unafraid to ride their bikes on the streets, with parents and older siblings doing things out in the yard and meeting up with neighbors, all keeping watch on the younglings. I love knowing that people like Gandhi, MLK Jr, and the Dalai Lama have set the standard of peace as the true meaning of civilization. To all those souls who set aside their aggravations and outright offenses in order to demonstrate and promote peace, I give great thanks.
Nov. 8th -- My gratitude knows no bounds for emergency workers, and not simply because I have EMTs and ER physicians in my family! Anyone who trains in any emergency procedure holds my highest regards, for such people have not only dedicated their time and attention to put others first, they have also made a commitment to cope with devastating situations that could easily take their own lives. Firefighters, EMS, Servicemen, police, even teachers now receiving security training -- remember the Sandy Hook school shooting? -- and others such as Fukushima and other nuclear scientists, biohazard response teams, search-and-rescue workers, and quarantine nurses: they all show a dedication to solving horrific problems so that no one further must suffer. I wish everyone honored them more than they honor celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and rich people, for they deserve more of life's treasures than the pompous, greedy show-offs who capture so much attention. SALUTE, one and all!
Nov. 7th -- I would like to give thanks for and to all my friends, especially family-friends. You make life bearable, intriguing, exciting, sometimes aggravating, often funny, and always meaningful. I try to support you to the best of my abilities, so I desperately hope you all forgive my shortcomings. It saddens me when I cannot help someone, especially if a person takes just one episode of my inability to help as a rejection of their friendship or some such. I suppose such a thing is what differentiates 'acquaintances' from 'true friends', but I would truly hope even my acquaintances would understand, say, my disability or health problems or money issues or whatever might have been the cause of some disagreement or lack of support on my part. I pray everyone takes advantage of every contact with their friends to treat them as if they may never see them again, for fate can be unutterably swift and cruel. That is why I strive to offer the best of myself to you all.
Nov. 6th -- I am exceedingly grateful for the Internet! Anyone with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge understands that feeling, of running searches all night long until you collapse in exhaustion. Now that I have been writing full-fledged novels these past several years, access to virtually instant information has upped my productivity several times over, for how much enthusiasm gets dampened by the need to go to the library the next day and gather a dozen books to peruse over a period of hours or weeks? In addition, social utilities such as email and Facebook keep me connected to family and friends I would not otherwise go out of my way to contact, because we are all so busy it tends to take gravely important circumstances for us to even pick up the phone. Now, it's a quick note to everyone on your contact list, or a FB post, and many of the most important people in your life can brief all the others not online! Although I don't have the need to do so very often, one of my favorite things to do is comparison shop online. I will never buy a big-ticket item again by relying on a salesman's word; car, appliance, computer, equipment, tools, what have you, if it's over $100, I will not only look for the best price, I will also research the product made with the best materials, overall value, customer satisfaction, you name it. I hope everyone understands, and fights for, one of the biggest issues coming up in the near future: maintaining net neutrality!
Nov. 5th -- I am extraordinarily grateful that I occasionally feel a link to, and am developing an understanding of, Spirit. This is not 'God', nor 'dead people', nor angels nor guides nor anything that can be said to have a personality; this is more like what scientists search for as zero-point energy, vacuum energy. The substrate of the universe is an energy that sustains, permeates, possibly creates, all matter. Some even call it Mind, because intelligence can be 'found' there, but those who clairvoyantly or telepathically or by some other means such as pendulums can access information are simply 'tuning in' to (in my mind) the residuals of material reality, such as the Akashic Records, and occasionally tuning in to beings of personality like those mentioned above. To me, Spirit is the essence that we learn to tune in the first place, the force through which we can access other people or realms, like TVs and radios can be tuned to waves of electromagnetic energy. I feel the connection is like daydreaming or imagination, but with that deep certainty with which you know the 'truth' of everyday life. That 'link' starts with subtle knowledge, a sureness beyond words, and is the only way we can grow to understand the vastness of the universe, the potential of miracles, and the power we hold in ourselves as divine beings. See http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/03/06/the-field-and-us/
Nov. 4th -- How could I mention gratitude without mentioning my dad? I owe him my intellectual drive. I owe him my 'bash away at it until it's perfect' attitude. I owe him my love of nature. I owe him for things I can barely conceptualize, much less verbalize. He is a rock, a self-made man of deep integrity who may not consider some of the things I do important (I doubt if he's read a book in 20 years, much less a novel), but is nevertheless proud of me, supportive of me, and has treated me as equally as if I were the son he never had. Every moment with him is precious, respectful, enlightening, and humbling. I can only hope to achieve his level of soul-greatness someday, for he is well-loved by everyone, and for good reason: he brings out the best in us all.
Nov. 3rd -- I am so grateful for my mother! Imagine the utter confusion of a classy lady trying to raise a daughter who bounced between 'Earth Mother' and 'tomboy'! Yet still she supports me, reading my books despite the science fiction, buying me things like fancy clothes, purses, and makeup, and reminding me at every turn that personal, social, and emotional reality is more important to most people than 'logic' or 'reasoning'. Any social influence I may ever attain will be due to her, and I can only hope to achieve such benevolent grace as she exudes. Today is her birthday, and I pray she gives me her good guidance for several more decades!
Nov. 2nd -- I am grateful for modern medicine! Although I concentrate on finding the most natural methods to maintain my health, sometimes they are not enough. Thank God for antibiotics, for example! I am particularly grateful that my doctor considers some natural healing methods to be just fine; he cannot prescribe them by law, but when I describe what I do, he will nod, smile, give me a 'thumbs up', or some other positive gesture to show he appreciates my efforts to maintain my health.
Nov. 1st -- I am so grateful for my husband. He can fix anything but my health. He takes such good care of me, I wouldn't be here if I did not have him in my life. I used to be proud of my independence, but since I married him, I realized independence can still include commitment. Now that I AM dependent on him, my gratitude for him can barely be described with mere praise. He has already long earned his angel wings, and I wish I could find a way to repay his dedication to me.
Nov. 29th -- I am so glad I own a car! Maintenance, insurance, and gas are a pain, but I love knowing I can just jump in and take a road trip. I used to drive cross-country on trips, though I have not done so for a long time (many reasons, mostly physical). But it's still great to take a weekend trip here or there. One thing I think most people in this country do not realize is how far apart our cities are, how sparsely populated the U.S. actually is. Europe, for example, has been well-settled for thousands of years; the U.S., nary a few hundred past the Appalachias. I love the freedom of controlling my own movements, and not having to take public transportation. Windows down, singing at the top of my lungs (provided there are no other passengers), cooler and food to hand, I used to be able to drive all day without thinking twice about it. The oddest thing I guess I ever did on the road was strap my panda on top of my cooler; when I would drive by other cars, the kids would point at Boozer riding shotgun and laugh!
Nov. 28th -- I am forever grateful that I was born an American citizen. Our country is not perfect, but it's far and beyond so many others. I've visited three other countries, and even felt mild 'culture shock' returning from one highly developed European country. So many people in the U.S. have little empathy for those who survive day-by-day, when they do not realize they can learn valuable lessons from them all, even from those living on American streets. I am grateful for what I have, I am grateful for the compassion others have shown me, and I am absolutely grateful to be living in the Land of the Free, where I can believe anything I want, take any job I want, celebrate any holy day I want, live wherever I want, consort with saints and sinners as I want, and do almost everything I want. Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow U.S. citizens, and be grateful for the blessings available in this great country!
Nov. 27th -- I'm going to get a li'l silly today and tell you why I am so grateful for blankies! All blankies are wonderful, whether for simple insulative purposes or works of art. Comforters, quilts, throws, doesn't matter to me; I luv 'em, one and all. My winter fave is a thick comforter, corduroy on one side and microfiber fleece on the other; my summer faves are two thin quilts two different sisters-in-law made us. I adore the many fabrics they come in, such as velour, and I covet these two throws I gave my mom once that I bought at an alpaca show; I should have kept one for myself! Blankies mean comfort and love as much as warmth, the ultimate considerate gift (in my opinion) to show you care to spiritually nourish your loved one by wrapping them in your protection as they sleep. Of course, the best part is snuggling with your Beloved under a nice, big blankie...!
Nov. 26th -- Although I complain about it entirely too much, I am grateful for my body and my health. I'm getting better, slowly but surely, and a large part of that is due to changing my health habits. I'm eating real food nowadays, i.e. nothing from a place that advertises on TV, and preferably as 'raw' as I can, such as no overcooking the vegetables. I'm using healthy spices, too -- my 'Magic Medicine Mix' consists of equal parts of turmeric, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne, with a small amount of black pepper (to make the curcumin in the turmeric vastly more effective). I'm not ingesting aspartame, but after being addicted to Diet Mountain Dew for some 20-25 years, I know it will take time for my body to recover from that damage. When I do have the energy to get up and move, I am trying to include walking, not just housework or yard work, and one of these seminars at the expo I went to last weekend has inspired me to get back into stretching, though nothing close to 'yoga' yet! I think I'll start on the 5 Tibetan Rites again, soon. Here's a PDF; there are YouTube videos, too.http://www.freedivers.net/documents/The%205%20Tibetans.pdf
Nov. 25th -- I am so grateful to have a home. Sure, there are trials to home ownership, but to know you have a 'room of your own', a place you can arrange with all your most favorite comforts, protection from the elements, room in which to pursue your amusements and store your books, is a blessing beyond measure. I love my yard and its mini-forest, and although it has a number of things I would correct if I could (foundation, minimal insulation), I love coming home to my snug li'l farmhouse and burrowing in with my hubby and doggies on cold nights. I pray that everyone find a decent, warm domicile this winter, preferably one they can permanently call their own and develop into a sweet retreat from society and the brutal weather.
Nov. 24th -- I am so grateful for the Elders. I love speaking to older people just in general, since they've experienced life lessons they are (usually) more than willing to pass on. But the Elders, such as the Native American elders or even specialists in new fields who go out of their way to (say) teach at conferences, make me grateful I live in a society and time in which we have the resources to find each other, for many elders have been given permission to teach to whoever would absorb their teachings. I think of the dark ages in Europe during which about the only people allowed to learn anything had to become religious clerics or, at a minimum, an apprentice to a craft (on sometimes near-slavish terms). Appreciate the elders in your life; ask them about things they would teach you. At the very least, get some of the old-time stories from your parents and grandparents and other relatives before they get lost for all time!
Nov. 23rd -- I am very grateful for the 'convention' and 'fair' culture in the U. S. I have a huge number of interests, but although I do not always get a chance to indulge them, sometimes I get to go to a fair or convention, for a weekend or even an entire week, and immerse myself in some particular kind of fandom. I met my hubby at a science fiction convention, for example (married him at one, too! well, just before; it was our honeymoon). My dad and I both love barbershop music, so if I want to go to the yearly international barbershop quartet convention, he pays my way. This weekend I'm at a psychic fair/expo, with all the fabulous panels, gorgeous New Age jewels and jewelry, and 'readers' galore. I went to my first Tibetan healing ceremony and have been slavering over getting my own Tibetan singing bowl, but opted for some Douglas Blue Feather flute music, instead. (I must have spent half an hour lusting for one of the flutes at his booth, too.) Oh, and I am TOTALLY waffling over the decision to buy a Himalayan pink salt cooking slab -- yes, you put it directly over the flames and cook your fish right on it! Just wipe with a paper towel and season with olive oil after, and it lasts for years (just don't use water). At the very least, at these fairs and conventions you can always find lots of flyers, cards, brochures & so forth, to order things later if you wish!
Nov. 22nd -- I am grateful for word processing programs. Yep. If I had to write everything longhand, I'd have permanent writers cramp up to the middle of my back. I use Word '07, and with all the publishing I've been doing, I feel like I understand about a tenth of the entire program. When I first went to college, I was thrilled just to have an electronic typewriter with a white correction strip. I can't imagine having to type up a million words and edit them on sheets of paper -- how many reams would I have gone through by now? I had a computer by the time I studied for my masters in education, and although I had to devise and write the formulas into the master boxes, all I did was put in the data, and boom! Two correlations I could analyze! Thanks to all the genius coders out there, making our lives easier!
Nov. 21st -- Please don't come down too hard, but I am so very grateful for Amazon.com! Not only can I order just about anything I want, I can earn money by publishing my ebooks AND selling my own stuff, though I've not signed up for that yet. I check reviews and prices on things there all the time, and I'm now setting up with their CreateSpace print-on-demand publisher. I know everyone's rather wary of their monopolistic tendencies, but hell, they wouldn't have gotten so huge if they weren't doing a lot of things right! I just wish I had purchased stock when I first heard about Amazon years ago!
Nov. 20th -- I know it sounds rather trite, but I am so grateful for my bed! We have an extra-firm memory foam mattress, the 2nd and only kind we buy, and it is heavenly. Non-allergenic, the biggest advantage besides comfort is its insulative value; it warms to your body's temperature and holds the heat all night long. Spending a third of your life on a horrible spring mattress is a damn shame -- go try out a memory foam mattress! The prices have come way down in recent years, so do some comparison shopping online and treat yourself and your Beloved to the perfect Christmas gift!
Nov. 19th -- I am grateful for my doggies! I 'rescued' them when they were 8 weeks old, from a litter that was going to be dumped in the countryside, wishing I could have adopted all five (but I knew the hubs would never go for that). Taking responsibility for them has occasionally been the only routine I could maintain. I wonder if they think of me as their goddess, and how I rate in their minds. I have little songs about their names, a particular tone of voice when I speak to them, and set phrases I use when speaking to them. "No Mommy Noms for you!", "You are the precious!", and "The best girls in all the land, and the Mommy doesn't lie about important stuff like that!" There is considerable debate about the origins of dog domestication, too -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Nov. 18th -- I will not be making a public post today. Instead, I will be writing a letter to a teacher who was a tremendous influence on me, expressing my appreciation directly. I hope you all consider doing the same at some point in your lives, because teaching is a heart-wrenching profession, never knowing whether you have positively influenced anyone and/or helped them prepare for the nebulous future.
Nov. 17th -- I am utterly grateful for what passes as 'everyday science' now. 100 years ago, the best weather prediction you could get was Grandma's knees or Grandpa's once-broken bone; now we have meteorologists that put out the call hours or days ahead of time of tornado/hurricane/blizzard conditions. Gardeners can find just about every possible soil amendment for their finicky plants in home improvement centers, complete with instructions on the box or bag, and even hydroponics mixes to grow without soil entirely. Cooks can find recipe books that describe why overmixing the batter makes their quickbreads and pancakes tough, or the proper way and length to cook eggs and meat safely, not to mention things like how the pH of food combinations affects their palatability or nutrition! We have electrical devices and batteries and lights and portable gas-powered appliances barely imagined even 50 years ago. And, naturally, the creation of 'intuitive' interfaces allows a noob like me to do something as artistic as come up with book covers -- for a gal who can barely draw stick figures, I can assure you I adore playing with my image manipulation programs! To all the scientists out there, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Nov. 16th -- I am so very grateful for 24-hour stores! Whether it's the local mega-mart or the gas station convenience store, I absolutely appreciate businesses that cater to us 'night owls'. I love going grocery shopping at 3 a.m. to avoid the crowds, as well as filling up my car. I'm so glad we live in such a safe country that can support 24-hour stores, too. I've told people before, "This IS the land of milk and honey -- you can go out your door this very instant and buy milk and honey in the smallest mini-mart open in the middle of the night!" And I try to thank the people working those hours, too, at the very least with pleasant conversation to make their jobs easier. It pleases me to know that businesses are open for those who must work night shifts, too, like hospital workers, EMS, utility companies, and police. If only we could do business 24/7 with the government!
Nov. 15th -- I am grateful for city services! If I had to harvest all my own water, chop wood all day, and repurpose every single bit of garbage that could not be composted, I'd never get anything done. I'm absolutely grateful for postal services, because I order and receive more items through the mail than I do going out to shop. I am super-grateful for road maintenance, especially during winter, though Louisville tends to be hyper-vigilant about using salt on the roads. Still, there have been many times I needed to travel and the trucks were out scraping the roads. Now if I can only get the metropolitan sewer district to admit they screwed up our drainage years ago such that our driveway keeps washing out, and get them to fix it, I'd be a happy camper!
Nov. 14th -- I have always appreciated music, so I am utterly grateful for the explosion of technology that can provide me with centuries of expressive music, even from cultures I've never heard of or hardly explored. I used to sing and play several instruments, but horrific depression has kept me from my music for many years, now. I've totally lost my singing voice, due to the alpha-inspired social pressure of teaching through weeks of a terrible chest cold in which I could feel my vocal cords grotesquely twisting through every cough. My guitars languish in corners of my house, for I would usually only play them to accompany my singing. I am grateful for, of all things, these cheap plastic recorders I play; although I may not be accomplished at them, the sound of flutes, recorders, and piccolos stimulate my heart chakra. I love going on YouTube and having 'thons', like a Luciano Pavarotti/Three Tenors evening, a night exploring East Asian music, or a 70's funk-a-thon. Cello and pipe organs are my favorite instruments; I can't begin to say who my favorite vocal performers are unless you give me a category, and they are always subject to change. Favorite quote: Victor Hugo — 'Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to remain silent.'
Added 11/19: Listen to this AMAZING instrument! http://m.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/leonardo-da-vincis-wacky-piano-is-heard-for-the-first-time-after-500-years-20131118-2xpqs.html
Nov. 13th -- I am very grateful that I have learned the value of dreaming, and in so many ways. In sleep, most dreams are chaotic mash-ups of experiences of a day, but we can learn to 'command' our dreams to bring us solutions to problems and insights into the greater issues of our lives. Prophetic dreams do occur, though I cannot say with certainty that I've had them (just several too-eerie 'coincidences'), but there are plenty of confirmed ones you can find online. In addition, dreams teach the language of the soul, the deep, inner symbolism by which your subconscious mind (and Higher Self, if you trust that kind of thing) can teach valuable lessons. I just woke up from a dream this morning that brought me great understanding of at least half of the problems of my life, so I will take the time to re-evaluate those problems in that new light and devise new 'approaches' to them. Last but DEFINITELY not least: understanding the power of dreams means you can use those deep symbols to actively imagine situations in a theta state while you are still awake, and then COMMAND your subconscious to bring those things into being! This is called manifestation, aka 'the law of attraction'! The trick is that, once you command them, you have to 'forget' about them so your subconscious can 'work' them into being. Instead of nagging the Universe, once you command a process, you need to stay out of the way so it can manifest!
Nov. 12th -- I am grateful for trees, the 'lungs' of our planet. Food from nuts, medicine from bark, leaves, fruits, and roots (sassafras tea from my own trees!), shelter, firewood, clothing, sweetener (xylitol from birch, maple syrup), musical instruments, paper and books, a myriad of products from cellulose. But once again, the most important part: OXYGEN. And nowadays, with the concerns over global warming, carbon sequestration. Most heartbreaking statistic: we have destroyed over half the trees on the planet since the Industrial Revolution. Second most heartbreaking statistic: the Amazon rainforest continues to be harvested. Massive plantations of monoculture fast-growing pine trees will not help nearly enough, not to mention the fact that those are all 'destined' to be used as lumber within 50 years. We need broad plantings of deciduous (leaf-bearing, not needle-bearing) forest trees, as thoroughly mixed as possible, just to clear the air of pollution. Hubby & I planted tulip poplars, burr oaks, black locusts (highest BTU's of any wood), and all kinds of seeds, although many did not come up. No matter; our tiny forest is thriving, and one of my many lottery dreams is to help people reclaim old strip-mined land by planting trees. When I die, I want to be cremated and have a redwood or a giant sequoia planted with my scattered ashes. I wish I could afford to support the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive to spread cultivars of the most ancient trees from around the world!
Nov. 11th -- I frankly don't have the words to express my gratitude for veterans. In my series, particularly book 3 Fealty, I describe a society that actively cares for them, as well as a Service with training methods I feel would contribute to a Serviceman's deep understanding of his true value. One of my lottery dreams is to build small living communities to get homeless veterans off the street, get them treatment if they need it, and help them re-integrate into society. I even wrote a poem the other day that I sent to a contest, called Phantom Pain. And although I often ask them about their Service, so few veterans care to talk about it to outsiders; I don't want to offend them, but I still offer, just so they know a random stranger cares for their pain and sacrifices. I pray the divine beings watching over them can 'get through' to them, with warnings and intuition and outright signs, to indicate when extra caution is needed against the terrible intents of their enemies. Hail to the great-souled who offer their lives for their people!Nov. 10th -- Although I have pronounced criticisms of the current U.S. educational system, I am profoundly grateful for the educational opportunities I have had or made. The system is flawed in many ways, and although its compulsory nature engenders a considerable amount of the demotivation of students, in truth we desperately need every citizen to be educated BEYOND their abilities. We need a citizenship aware of all possible careers, as well as opportunities to socialize with and learn from people outside their limited neighborhood influences and daily lifestyles. We need students to be exposed to ideologies and arguments that affect vast populations, even the entire planet, so they will at least be aware of them, possibly to find solutions from others to solve their personal problems, or even develop solutions that can spread worldwide. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CCxdkOng Above all, we need a populace aware of methods of resolving conflict that do not entail violence, for war is a failure of (unnamed persons) to achieve civil working agreements, leading to tragedies of blood and infrastructure and contamination that warp entire societies for a lifetime, and beyond.
Nov. 9th -- I am thoroughly grateful for peace, and not just the peace that armies bring our nations. I love the peace I feel when writing on my laptop as my doggies snore away on the couch. I am thankful for the peace of waiting in long lines, where everyone chats lightly with each other in order to keep patient, instead of blaring their frustrations out and causing us all to have a bad day. I relish the peace of the woods, with no sounds of tractors, chain saws, or heavy equipment cutting them down. I adore the peace of suburban neighborhoods, with children unafraid to ride their bikes on the streets, with parents and older siblings doing things out in the yard and meeting up with neighbors, all keeping watch on the younglings. I love knowing that people like Gandhi, MLK Jr, and the Dalai Lama have set the standard of peace as the true meaning of civilization. To all those souls who set aside their aggravations and outright offenses in order to demonstrate and promote peace, I give great thanks.
Nov. 8th -- My gratitude knows no bounds for emergency workers, and not simply because I have EMTs and ER physicians in my family! Anyone who trains in any emergency procedure holds my highest regards, for such people have not only dedicated their time and attention to put others first, they have also made a commitment to cope with devastating situations that could easily take their own lives. Firefighters, EMS, Servicemen, police, even teachers now receiving security training -- remember the Sandy Hook school shooting? -- and others such as Fukushima and other nuclear scientists, biohazard response teams, search-and-rescue workers, and quarantine nurses: they all show a dedication to solving horrific problems so that no one further must suffer. I wish everyone honored them more than they honor celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and rich people, for they deserve more of life's treasures than the pompous, greedy show-offs who capture so much attention. SALUTE, one and all!
Nov. 7th -- I would like to give thanks for and to all my friends, especially family-friends. You make life bearable, intriguing, exciting, sometimes aggravating, often funny, and always meaningful. I try to support you to the best of my abilities, so I desperately hope you all forgive my shortcomings. It saddens me when I cannot help someone, especially if a person takes just one episode of my inability to help as a rejection of their friendship or some such. I suppose such a thing is what differentiates 'acquaintances' from 'true friends', but I would truly hope even my acquaintances would understand, say, my disability or health problems or money issues or whatever might have been the cause of some disagreement or lack of support on my part. I pray everyone takes advantage of every contact with their friends to treat them as if they may never see them again, for fate can be unutterably swift and cruel. That is why I strive to offer the best of myself to you all.
Nov. 6th -- I am exceedingly grateful for the Internet! Anyone with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge understands that feeling, of running searches all night long until you collapse in exhaustion. Now that I have been writing full-fledged novels these past several years, access to virtually instant information has upped my productivity several times over, for how much enthusiasm gets dampened by the need to go to the library the next day and gather a dozen books to peruse over a period of hours or weeks? In addition, social utilities such as email and Facebook keep me connected to family and friends I would not otherwise go out of my way to contact, because we are all so busy it tends to take gravely important circumstances for us to even pick up the phone. Now, it's a quick note to everyone on your contact list, or a FB post, and many of the most important people in your life can brief all the others not online! Although I don't have the need to do so very often, one of my favorite things to do is comparison shop online. I will never buy a big-ticket item again by relying on a salesman's word; car, appliance, computer, equipment, tools, what have you, if it's over $100, I will not only look for the best price, I will also research the product made with the best materials, overall value, customer satisfaction, you name it. I hope everyone understands, and fights for, one of the biggest issues coming up in the near future: maintaining net neutrality!
Nov. 5th -- I am extraordinarily grateful that I occasionally feel a link to, and am developing an understanding of, Spirit. This is not 'God', nor 'dead people', nor angels nor guides nor anything that can be said to have a personality; this is more like what scientists search for as zero-point energy, vacuum energy. The substrate of the universe is an energy that sustains, permeates, possibly creates, all matter. Some even call it Mind, because intelligence can be 'found' there, but those who clairvoyantly or telepathically or by some other means such as pendulums can access information are simply 'tuning in' to (in my mind) the residuals of material reality, such as the Akashic Records, and occasionally tuning in to beings of personality like those mentioned above. To me, Spirit is the essence that we learn to tune in the first place, the force through which we can access other people or realms, like TVs and radios can be tuned to waves of electromagnetic energy. I feel the connection is like daydreaming or imagination, but with that deep certainty with which you know the 'truth' of everyday life. That 'link' starts with subtle knowledge, a sureness beyond words, and is the only way we can grow to understand the vastness of the universe, the potential of miracles, and the power we hold in ourselves as divine beings. See http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/03/06/the-field-and-us/
Nov. 4th -- How could I mention gratitude without mentioning my dad? I owe him my intellectual drive. I owe him my 'bash away at it until it's perfect' attitude. I owe him my love of nature. I owe him for things I can barely conceptualize, much less verbalize. He is a rock, a self-made man of deep integrity who may not consider some of the things I do important (I doubt if he's read a book in 20 years, much less a novel), but is nevertheless proud of me, supportive of me, and has treated me as equally as if I were the son he never had. Every moment with him is precious, respectful, enlightening, and humbling. I can only hope to achieve his level of soul-greatness someday, for he is well-loved by everyone, and for good reason: he brings out the best in us all.
Nov. 3rd -- I am so grateful for my mother! Imagine the utter confusion of a classy lady trying to raise a daughter who bounced between 'Earth Mother' and 'tomboy'! Yet still she supports me, reading my books despite the science fiction, buying me things like fancy clothes, purses, and makeup, and reminding me at every turn that personal, social, and emotional reality is more important to most people than 'logic' or 'reasoning'. Any social influence I may ever attain will be due to her, and I can only hope to achieve such benevolent grace as she exudes. Today is her birthday, and I pray she gives me her good guidance for several more decades!
Nov. 2nd -- I am grateful for modern medicine! Although I concentrate on finding the most natural methods to maintain my health, sometimes they are not enough. Thank God for antibiotics, for example! I am particularly grateful that my doctor considers some natural healing methods to be just fine; he cannot prescribe them by law, but when I describe what I do, he will nod, smile, give me a 'thumbs up', or some other positive gesture to show he appreciates my efforts to maintain my health.
Nov. 1st -- I am so grateful for my husband. He can fix anything but my health. He takes such good care of me, I wouldn't be here if I did not have him in my life. I used to be proud of my independence, but since I married him, I realized independence can still include commitment. Now that I AM dependent on him, my gratitude for him can barely be described with mere praise. He has already long earned his angel wings, and I wish I could find a way to repay his dedication to me.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Futuristic Regency Romance? WTH?
Guest post for the lovely Samantha Holt's blog:
http://samanthaholtauthor.blogspot.com/2013/11/guest-post-futuristic-regency-romance.html Nov. 1, 2013
I burst out laughing at C. E. Kilgore’s description of my To Be Sinclair series. It’s tough enough trying to write science fiction with romantic and erotic elements, but to be labeled a Regency when I have no idea what that actually entails?
More than one reviewer has referred to this as ‘the classic Cinderella story’. Whoa! Wait a minute! The only thing they have in common is royalty! Since I consider my ‘style’ to be something between an artsy ‘minimalist realism’ and a silly ‘bare-bones nitty-gritty’ (as if you were in the head of the main character in a movie), I was even overwhelmed by Beach Bum Books’ Diane Nelson’s description: “Told with the lush prose of a Jane Austen, as well as with that author's incisive, detailed and quite pointed barbs at social strata and the constraints on actors thrust onto stages not of their own choosing, this is science fiction masquerading as historical fiction on the grandest scale.”
Now, that’s more like it. I write science fiction, no question. Majesty, book two of my series, details the first few years of Empress Felice Sinclair’s marriage, but particularly her development of the most dangerous technology in the galaxy: stargate science. Although there are some sexual elements to the story, they play directly into the psychological dynamic between her and her husband, specifically on how to control a person who allegedly has absolute power. Felice suffers repeatedly throughout her dedication to science in many forms, yet she manages to retain her humanity and dedication to become a progressive, benevolent co-ruler with her husband, specifically through his total support.
My third novel, Fealty, is justifiably called futuristic romance, simply because I have very few science elements to it. My other books are perhaps 50/50 science fiction to romance, as I expound upon such things as wormhole travel, stargate science, faster-than-light communication via ‘quantum transmitters’, and even a new science I created called matrixing. However, they are all romances as I describe the lives of the second generation of Sinclairs, with my most recent book Nobility about the grandson who will be Emperor. Why? Because the most important decision you will ever make is choosing your life partner!
As a result of all these fairly-accurate descriptions in reviews, I decided to write a prequel to the series, some 150 years in our future but 400 years in the series’ past, about the two fabulously wealthy men who ‘own’ the planet and must decide how to colonize it. I’m having great fun with it, for at one point I ran a poll asking participants whether they would colonize a planet that chartered for a Royal ruling family – and you cannot imagine the harshly negative responses to that poll!
In this prequel, tentatively titled Undying Dawn, the protagonists reject current political models for their colonial charter and fall upon good old-fashioned vassalage. They realize there are real benefits to the hereditary transmission of power, so they populate the new planet with 50 ‘dukes’ as they become the administrators in the Urban District capital. That work-in-progress, also laced with romance and about 50% complete, should be out in 2014; I am also working on another prequel and a finale to the series.
Nevertheless, I love reading reviews just to see how widely people interpret the words I actually write according to their personal perspectives. From my perspective, the eight books of the To Be Sinclair series are about the problems those in authority have in finding that special person who can withstand the storms, pressures, and dangers of Imperial necessity. I consider science fiction to be on the far end of the spectrum of reason to emotion, and romance the other end. My goal has always been the (sometimes erotically hot!) fusion of the two.
And the reviewer comments that thrill me the most are over how these are not ‘typical’ romances. No ‘unhealthy expectations or desires’. No ‘sappy plot lines’. My favorite review will always be my first, by Amy Dixon at The Geek Girl Project, particularly for these lines:
“I would like to point out (with a certain amount of glee) that the author has managed to write a scifi romance without relying on The Big Misunderstanding of romance, or (as is more commonly seen in SciFi romance) The Inadvertent or Perceived Betrayal for the climax of the story or the major conflict. I was absolutely thrilled about this; while there is nothing wrong with either of the aforementioned tried-and-true plot devices, they are (dare I say it) a trifle overused. And, in this case, using either would have been out of place… disrespectful of the intellect of the main characters and the nature of their strong relationship dynamic. The characters do have misunderstandings, and occasionally hurt each other, but this is not the main conflict, and the resolution is always satisfying, and helps enhance the reader’s respect for the characters.”http://www.thegeekgirlproject.com/2012/09/17/book-review-for-writers-dignity-to-be-sinclair-by-eva-caye/
Excerpt from Nobility, book seven of the To Be Sinclair series:
A watchman approached to announce it was time for lunch, so they headed back to the East Wing along the most direct route. As they were walking, Grandfather put his arm across Matthieu’s shoulders.
“I know you are mindful about considering the perspective of others, but I would like for you to review the Sentinel files on Duke Makov before you pursue Miriel much further. After all, I was raised relying on his grandfather, but then I subsequently and personally executed his father, and Phillip’s Fight Brothers killed his youngest brother that gruesome Midwinter nineteen years ago during the fireworks display. Since Miriel and her family live and work in Makov’s household, they have been subjected to unusual stresses.”
Matthieu thought about that offer. Should he focus on Miriel first, and then consider the panorama of influences on her life, or should he look at the broad picture and evaluate how events had shaped her?
“Thank you, Grandfather,” Matthieu said gravely. “Let’s see how the rest of this week goes before I start perusing Sentinel files. I don’t want anything therein to cloud my judgment.”
“Very wise. And very considerate of you,” Grandfather approved.
◊ ◊ ◊
Tuesday evening, Matthieu showed up at the Makov mansion with a huge bouquet of flowers. They were not roses, but there were 50 of them, one from every single duchy, from a small yellow butterbell to the central glorious white canolus, towering high and proud. The butler once again opened the door before he had reached it, ushering Matthieu and his Sentinels immediately to the salon at the front of the building. Duke Cyril Makov strode in, his Duchess Arnita holding his arm but lagging a little behind him as if he were towing her along. At 77 years of age, he was quite hale, demonstrating the vigor of a much younger man. “Your Highness.” Duke Makov bowed low as the duchess curtseyed. “Welcome to my manse. How are you this evening?”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Matthieu gave him a half-bow before holding up the flowers. “I’m a bit nervous, as you can imagine. I hope Miriel will like them.”
“I’m certain she will.” Duchess Makov smiled, gliding closer to examine them and touch them gently. “A lovely arrangement, to be sure. Gentryman’s work?”
“Ah, no, I had Grandmother’s social director design it. I do not know whom she assigned to perform the arrangement,” Matthieu admitted.
“Fidel tells me you were the best student he ever supervised.” The Duke’s voice was polite but his eyes were beady. “I daresay your career will be cut short like your grandfather’s, though.”
“As well as Uncle Phillip’s was,” Matthieu replied steadily. “I’m certain my Imperial responsibilities will land on my shoulders entirely too soon. I intend to take advantage of my career to learn our defensive capabilities thoroughly. Since I will be the galactic interface of the Empire someday, I can do no less.”
The subtleties of this conversation were unnerving. The duke’s use of the phrase ‘cut short’ definitely referred to his father Andrei and his brother Zachary. Matthieu had not only reminded the duke that he had accomplished relatives like Phillip to guide him, he had responded with ‘responsibilities’ and ‘defensive capabilities’, hopefully showing the duke he knew his own strengths even as they spoke of Grandfather’s inevitable demise. Thankfully the butler showed Miriel into the room.
As Matthieu gloried in her demure but pleasant visage, he unfocused his eyes, trying to see that aura again. As a result, he noticed Duke Makov making a subtle sign to the butler as Matthieu offered her the flowers. More than a little unnerved, he focused on Miriel again and ignored the others.
“You look lovely.” He put his hand on her shoulder and kissed her temple as she took the wide-mouthed vase.
“What a glorious arrangement! Look, there’s even a cerise parrot nest.” She pointed to the spiky, mid-sized flower. “From the southern forests bordering the Gottlieb Duchy.”
“Yes. I asked them to include a flower from every duchy so I could give you the world.” He emphasized those last words; Miriel looked up with a bright smile and a firm blush.
He had her out the door very quickly after that. Duke and Duchess Makov actually escorted them to the entrance, to be framed therein for any outside observers, no doubt.
Once in the back of the ground car, he pulled her into an embrace and whispered, “I saw the duke make a gesture to the butler when I handed you the flowers. It makes me wonder if he will have an eavesdropping device placed on them.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she murmured sadly. At Matthieu’s raised eyebrows, Miriel leaned in to whisper almost inaudibly in his own ear, cheek pressed against his. “Our apartments have always been bugged. At this point I suspect every article of my clothing has, too, for the laundresses spent all day fussing over my wardrobe yesterday while I was at class, Mother said.”
Bio:
Eva Caye is the author of the To Be Sinclair series, featuring Dignity, Majesty, Fealty, Royalty, Dynasty, Loyalty, and Nobility, with an add-on book of four novellas titled Evan’s Ladies. The first two books cover the romance and first years of marriage of Empress Felice and Emperor Victor Sinclair, set approximately 600 years in the future on the planet of Sinclair Demesne. They particularly feature Felice Sinclair’s development of stargates, a technology so dangerous she must keep it secret, yet so critical she charges billions of dollars to create them, catapulting her into the position of ‘the most important person in the galaxy’.
Books 3-6 and the novellas feature the lives and romances of the second generation of Sinclairs, how they strive to find their true loves. Each book features different Imperials, so they all have unique ‘tenors’ according to the personality of the main characters. Prince Phillip is philosophical and in the Service, so he dwells on the nature of military service as well as fighting. Crown Prince Zhaiden is brilliant but a bon vivant, thus he learns beauty and charm are not precisely what he needs in his future Empress. Stefan, Josef, and Evan are trained by their mother to master her ultra-private stargate science; intellectually capable of handling the work, their personal lives suffer from her demands. Princess Anne and Princes Brian and Christian are dedicated to their careers as Stargate Scientist, Sentinel, and Serviceman; how do they find mates who can handle the extreme security necessities of their lives?
Eva lives with her magnificent husband and two lovely mutts in a tiny, century-old farmhouse in Louisville, Kentucky.
Blog: http://evacaye.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eva.caye
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EvaCaye
Author Central http://amazon.com/author/evacaye
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/evacaye
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523997.Eva_Caye
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Series Summary and New Book Covers!
The greatest ruling family in the history of the galaxy begins with a geek lady and a morbidly paranoid Emperor, as Felicia's plans for her future are overturned!
http://www.amazon.com/DIGNITY-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B0093NW9BI
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263198
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/oTIY
http://www.amazon.com/MAJESTY-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B009QNKSD6
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/245347
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/vfBk
What could be greater than discovering brotherhood among honorable men? Dating their sisters and starting a social phenomenon that inspires the Empire!
http://www.amazon.com/FEALTY-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00AI01W9U
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/263201
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/Dhd5
Preventing political and scientific disaster among the stars? It helps if your fiancée is a psychologist! But will a horrific abduction take her away forever?
http://www.amazon.com/ROYALTY-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00B2MBJSW
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276179
Destined to inherit the Empress' stargate technology, three Imperial Sons struggle to have real lives outside their duties.... How do you handle perceived limitations?
http://www.amazon.com/Dynasty-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00C7OJ4UE/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/303170
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/Brai
http://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00CLDM3MW/
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/311676
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/hyPw
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX76ZC0
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/317944
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/aC7f
When everyone expects you to be perfect, can you expect the same of them? The Heir Second must live up to his Imperial duties while leading his generation to do the same. How will he find a lady able to handle being his Empress?
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331505
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/QtGr
PDF at payhip: https://payhip.com/b/QtGr
Coming in 2014:
Friday, August 2, 2013
We Leave In Disgust
“The
splificator died.” Halea pointed to the corresponding panel.
“Mercies!
Our report is almost done, and we do not have any more filaments to start a new
one. What happened?” Laveriat slipped over to the site monitor and
examined the data.
“A human
destroyed it while taking the antenna’s biggest new amplifier. She’ll
probably die.” Halea had never thought she would grow this dispassionate
about knowledge. “It doesn’t matter; we can always notify the Library for
an emergency pick-up by tanbeam. We are probably done with this mission
anyway, are we not?”
“I would say
not. The humans made it to their fourth planet, but whether the colony
remains viable for twelve solar orbits is the determining factor,” Laveriat
reminded her. “Ask Dano’on what he thinks. He has analyzed their space
program more extensively than anyone.”
Halea put
away her headset to head for the observatory, grateful for a break from the
significant transmissions produced by the peoples on this continent.
Skittering up the external surface, it took her 1.14 seconds longer than usual,
for last night’s storm had dislodged a number of her usual hand-holds.
She found
Dano’on expressing grief, beating his chest as he moaned over the central
controls. “Why, oh why did we get assigned to such an awful
planet?”
“What is
happening?” Halea had never seen Dano’on so profoundly upset.
He motioned
for her to take his place before the 5-D holographic mirror. “That device
is called a ‘laser trencher’ by the Earthlings, used to burn holes in soil that
convert the edges to rock-like consistency. Yet that human is using it as
a weapon.” Indeed, the crowded plaza sported gobbets of singed and bloody
parts exploding among the running humans.
“That must
have started just after the splificator died. 422,844 local channels gone
in one instant. Where is that happening?”
“Europe.
Celtea is beaming it to our catchall.” The murderer on the screen was
quickly captured; Dano’on sighed with relief. “Wars are bad enough, but
these individual acts indicate horrific and widespread mental illness. I simply cannot believe the Originators
seeded this planet with the same genetic stock as ours. I wonder if we
will ever find their home planet? I would do anything to investigate it;
perhaps they had answers to the failures of so many cultures in so many star
volumes.”
Halea
massaged his standard to distract him. “Come, love, let us join together
and forget the humans for a while. You will relax thereby.”
“We all need
to de-stress. And Laveriat is still working on the report. You know
it gets a bit jealous when we don’t include it in our joining, for it always
only joins with us together. Plus, joining with our integral is always
the most exquisite experience.”
“True.
I wonder if human behavioral problems are because they never developed integrals?”
She sighed. “I’m willing to bet Laveriat is ready to relax, too.
When I mentioned we should get the Library to retrieve us, it replied that our
mission is not finished according to the twelve-orbit standard. It
appeared determined to see the data complete, but I am certain it was at
nerve’s end over not being able to send the report.”
“What
happened to the splificator?” Dano’on brow creased with worry.
“One of
Katria’s female acquaintances destroyed it while picking the biggest seasonal
amplifier.”
“No!
Not another piece of equipment damaged!” Dano’on rushed toward the
doorway. “We must consult on this immediately.” Halea had never
seen her antipod move so quickly. She scrambled to catch up, and they
darted down the bark of the tree to the lower knothole.
Laveriat was
communicating with Sengaliat by tanbeam. As the latter described the
essential elements of its 60-orbit report, the drought, starvation, and violent
actions of humankind on that continent, Laveriat shook its head. “The humans
on this continent are so gluttonous, they have been calling their own obesity
an epidemic for 30 orbits. I simply do not understand why they refuse to
take care of their brethren.”
Halea and
Dano’on hovered behind Laveriat as Sengaliat finished its rant. “We need
to call the Library for a pick-up. This mission may not be completed, but
it is finished. I do not believe the human colony will survive, not if
they treat each other like they do on Earth.”
Laveriat
turned to Dano’on. “What is your opinion as to the viability of the Mars
colony?”
“They did
profile the members extensively and tried to guarantee stable, cooperative
personalities. I think the colony will survive. I suspect, however,
it might be the only way humankind itself survives, given the state of the
planet.” Dano’on looked at Halea.
She
considered that thought with her Othermind. “I think you are
correct. I estimate 97% of humans with access to communication devices
recognize that humanity’s survival relies on space colonization. I
estimate 76% of that sub-set see it as a method of escaping the prevalent
attitudes of Earth, an opportunity to establish a more benevolent, nurturing
society with a responsibility to care for all its members.”
“What about
the other 24%?” Laveriat and Sengaliat asked in unison, a skill that made
integrals such excellent mission commanders, able to synthesize reports to the
Library with ease.
“They simply
plan to violate all natural resources in the name of profit, not growth.”
At everyone’s neutral expressions, Halea realized they were all struggling to
care about acquiring further data on this planet. “I say we end the
mission. If the humans make it to other stars someday, we will see which
society prevailed.”
Laveriat and
Sengaliat chorused, “Let’s call a Caucus.”
As soon as
Laveriat shut down the tanbeam, Halea asked if it was interested in some
bonding. Laveriat responded to that suggestion with notable enthusiasm.
***
The Caucus
was unanimous. Each female antipod was to communicate their intent to
leave en masse with her chosen human, while each male antipod was to collect
all equipment for pick-up. “Disclosure to the fullest extent your human
can understand,” the Integrals chanted simultaneously, locked together with
their Otherminds. “The Library will initiate pick-ups at 54.Γ5.36.00.”
The Caucus disbanded, each integral mentally returned to its mates, and
Laveriat set the tanbeam on standby.
Halea
sighed. “I hate putting on that suit.”
“What is
hate?” Dano’on was great with technology, but Halea decided he was immeasurably
lucky he only had to compile real-life visual data. The literature on
this planet would give him screaming horrors.
“The human
word for extreme disgust.” Halea went to the locker and began attaching
accoutrements.
Dano’on
checked the wings, concealment function, and sensitivity shield. “At
least it is the last time you will wear it.”
“On this
planet,” Halea reminded him. “Unless we get a team-teaching position at
the University, we will undoubtedly be sent to a new solar system.”
“You have
done a magnificent job,” Laveriat noted magnanimously. “Perhaps our next
assignment will be to a planet on which male antipods would do better with
face-to-face contacts.”
Dano’on
escorted her to the lift. “Those wings are about to give out. Use
the variable-visibility cloak function as soon as you can.” Halea nodded
and entered the lift.
Exiting at
the base of the grandiose oak catchall, Halea consulted her locator.
Katria was in the garden, trying to play with Capitán. After twelve
orbits, Halea was grateful the canine no longer tried to chase her. She
almost regarded the old mutt as a friend, for sometimes, while waiting for
Katria, she and the dog would sit together in quiet companionship beneath the
broad shade of the oak’s limbs.
Halea zipped
over to the garden, initiated her wings, set the cloak to maximum human visibility,
and slowly hovered toward Katria. The girl was nevertheless
startled. “Hello, Katria.” Mindful of the wings, she settled to the
ground and furled them.
“Alea!
I haven’t seen you in so long!” Katria left the dog and scrambled to lie
prone, elbows propped to rest her chin in her hands. Capitán thwacked its
tail upon the nearby flowering strawberry patch, mere spins from producing the
first of this orbit’s crop.
Halea worked
to project just the right amount of sadness. “Sweet Katria, I have been so very busy.
My friends and I are preparing to leave.”
“Leave?
Where are you going?” Katria’s eyes were round with wonder.
“You know
this country is not our home. We are going home soon. I simply
wanted to tell you in person, and I wanted to thank you so much for being my
friend.” She bore a round of Katria’s tears and pleas as her Othermind
calculated this was the 571st human child she would never see again.
Halea’s
conscience reminded her to say, “Oh, Katria. I have something important
for you to do.”
Katria wiped
her face with the sleeve of her dress. “Anything, Alea. I’ll do
anything for you.”
“A lady you
may know picked some mushrooms out in the oak grove. I am afraid she may
try to eat them. If she does, they will make her very sick. She
might even die. Please warn her not to ingest them,” she emphasized as
acutely as possible without trying to scare the child.
“Oh, that was
TÃa Marianela. Don’t worry; she says she knows all about mushrooms.
She was so happy to find a really big one.
She digs them out because the roots are the most important part.” Just
like a human, promise instantly forgotten and confident she had all the data she
needed, Katria chattered merrily as Halea tried not to care about the fate of
humans anymore.
It was
surprisingly easy to do.
Friday, July 5, 2013
To Be Sinclair: NOBILITY, Preview in Tweets!
http://www.amazon.com/Nobility-To-Be-Sinclair-ebook/dp/B00DPWRS50
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331505
Prince Matthieu Sinclair is the near-perfect Heir Second, a tremendous support to his grandparents, but how can he find a lady who will support him mind, body, and spirit? And when turmoils arise over the Attican Reparations Project, will his multitude of skills help him overcome devastating loss? From lessons in authority and responsibility to taking on secret missions, what will he need to do to survive?
Here is a preview of NOBILITY in 46 tweets!
NOBILITY: "How can I [...] trust you in my future government if all I see is you acting out in desperate attempts to gain attention?"
NOBILITY: [H]e realized his future assignment had nothing to do with nepotism [but with] Imperial necessity.
NOBILITY: "...they are living in a fantasy world, to think nobility means we should be more godlike than human.”
NOBILITY: "[you are] taking the most important development of my life to a brand new level. I love you,” he said with no shame whatsoever.
NOBILITY: “You certainly seem to have a high opinion of yourself. What have you done to deserve it?”
NOBILITY: "...trust, responsibility to each other, and love for each other will be the most important qualities [in how] to be Sinclair.”
NOBILITY: “Goddammit, I don’t care if you are a f*cking lord!” He grabbed Rutherford’s shirt for a throw....
NOBILITY: “If I do not get my hands involved in something right now, [ ] my diplomatic training will be for naught.”
NOBILITY: "You have been well-served by the Imperial Family over the years in ways you cannot begin to imagine.”
NOBILITY: Long after Karen had fallen asleep, he did, too, as two tears tracked down his face.
NOBILITY: Matthieu asked permission to teach the youngsters the code-words and action codes [as well as] the Empress’ sporadic disability...
NOBILITY: “We decided to eliminate levels. If the girls are strong enough to perform a dirty trick, they should learn it."
NOBILITY: "Authority is based on proof; you must prove you can handle a position before you are granted [that] authority."
NOBILITY: Even the ladies [saw] him as nothing more than an Imperial stud, instead of a real person with real achievements under his belt.
NOBILITY: He knew now why love was portrayed as an arrow strike, for his heart nearly stopped at the vibrancy of [...] that grin.
NOBILITY: "We could do a lot of good in the Empire if we show everyone we are willing to ignore the past and consider the needs of the future."
NOBILITY: “Knows how to matrix? Mother calls her darling? Face it, Matthieu, you might as well ask her.”
NOBILITY: “Strategic concerns [are] to achieve the mission. The military issue is simply that we have a pulse pistol aimed at [their heads]"
NOBILITY: God. He wanted this assignment so badly he could barely breathe, but that last part gave him the heebie-jeebies.
NOBILITY: "I just wanted you to know how much I truly need you.... You’re the one. If not you, then no one.”
NOBILITY: "5 months of the worst products on the planet being shoved off on us, disgusting food, substandard housing, suffering all around?"
NOBILITY: "Set fire to the others, because we can’t let incidents like this happen ever again.”
NOBILITY: One goal mattered: the healing of the Imperial Family. He would start with one person at a time.
NOBILITY: [H]e had come back to the center of his life, the truest principle by which he lived. The Imperial Family mattered most.
NOBILITY: "For you still gave her the option of saying no, but when she became pregnant, Mother never did.”
NOBILITY: "... consider the lesson learned by everyone at this point. Violence for dangerous situations, not merely offensive situations."
NOBILITY: "I’d hate to think I’d have to work with dukes for the rest of my life who resented me for past indiscretions.”
NOBILITY: "[A]ll Imperial events are for the same purpose: to [...] and to get the business of Empire accomplished.”
NOBILITY: "To know we shared this moment, that we were here together, and that we blessed each other with our love is all that matters.”
NOBILITY: “Dammit, [I'm] the most eligible man on 4 planets, & the 2nd time I ask a lady to marry me, she tells me to think it over AGAIN!”
NOBILITY: "See if anyone can determine whether this was intended to be an attack against me personally."
NOBILITY: "Would you like to run an Empire, knowing you were controlled by any person who could offer you what you would kill to have?”
NOBILITY: "I don’t know [anyone] who has never wanted to be so powerful. She will serve you with every fiber of her being for that offer.”
NOBILITY: “I’m beset by difficult circumstances." Looking at Grandfather’s haunted eyes, Matthieu wondered what it [cost him] to say that...
NOBILITY: “But if you do not return, everyone will be asked to do unwanted things, for We will pursue a war in your names."
NOBILITY: [H]e also wondered whether Gerard would be able to keep his notorious cool during this mission.
NOBILITY: “Is there anything else you wish to say for posterity at this time, Minister?” The threat of that left Minister Williamson gaping.
NOBILITY: The shuttle’s engines whined at a brain-exploding pitch he had never heard before; he could even see the thick blue-white halo...
NOBILITY: "We have to plan our every [move] to keep [them] from bombing the chancery in their ire & taking on the war that would follow."
NOBILITY: "How can you reasonably expect us to meet with your president face-to-face when we are having [our people] flee your volume?”
NOBILITY: [He] had turned into such a hulking menace of Imperial authority that Matthieu [was] ready to slavishly obey his every word.
NOBILITY: Matthieu started to tremble, resonating to Gerard’s suffering. “I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.”
NOBILITY: “This is a battle of the mind and of the soul. You have to find meaning again."
NOBILITY: "Let them have their comfortable truths; it’s all that gets some people through the day.”
NOBILITY: It seemed he had better plan something spectacular to redeem himself in the eyes of the Imperial Family.
NOBILITY: He made what he felt was his 1st true command decision as an Imperial, as Heir Second, and as an officer. He let the matter pass....
A health crisis inspired Eva Caye to become an obsessive writer, completing eight books in her To Be Sinclair series before she could afford an editor. She published Dignity in August 2012 and released her 8th book Nobility in June 2013, thus achieving her goal to publish all eight of her completed novels in one year. She laughingly refers to Evan's Ladies as Book 6.5, an 'add-on' book to the series since it consists of four novellas. The other seven books are full novels, though most have 'Easter egg' short stories as bonuses for the reader.
The To Be Sinclair series is set some 600 years in the future and covers the lives and loves of the greatest ruling family in the galaxy. Her current works-in-progress are a finale to the series, and two prequels set in the TBS universe about 100 years in the future.
Eva lives with her incredibly supportive husband and two lovely mutts in a tiny, century-old farmhouse in Louisville, Kentucky.
Website: http://www.evacaye.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
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