Watch RWISA Write Blog Tour – Wendy Scott #RWISA #RRBC

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

Rave Reviews Book Club. One of the objectives of the club is to recognize outstanding talent in its membership. A literary group has been established within RRBC named Rave Writers – International Society of Authors (RWISA). This month the club is featuring these authors on a tour. I will be hosting them throughout the month and I hope you enjoy being introduced to some excellent writing.

RWISA

Wendy Scott

Navigator by Wendy Scott

Luke’s body whirled through the portal in a kaleidoscope of starlight and rainbows. Burnt ozone stung his nostrils, and his stomach roiled as if live dragonflies flitted inside. He clutched his grandfather’s palm tighter, the only connection anchoring them together while they spun into the void, guided by the compass in his grandfather’s other hand.

“We’re here.” His grandfather’s words whistled with wheeziness.

He released Luke and turned away, pocketing the compass, but his old man’s movements weren’t…

View original post 1,059 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Week of Legos Comes to an End

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Well, it took all week to make the 8 sets and here we are.  Going to try to put them in order and add a few notes.  Hope everyone enjoys the fruits of our labors.  Now, to go back to icing my thumbs because those studs are rough on the pads.

A Wall of Lego

This is the birthday haul.  Where to begin?

The Lego Batcave

This was the big one.  1,047 pieces and a lot of moving parts. The suit rack spins, the Bruce Wayne to Batman section spins, the platform at the front goes up, Alfred’s spot spins, the back of the penguin cage can get knocked out, and that’s not even counting the vehicles.  I’d say it took 3-4 hours.

The Joker Lowrider

This was done on the same day as the Batcave because he gave up most of his night time fun stuff.  He really wanted this because it had another Harley Quinn figure, so he now has good Harley and evil Harley.  This thing actually bounces like a lowrider because of rubber bands on the bottom.  Also, the folded Batman blanket on the couch in the back is so soft that we want cold weather just so he can use it.

Brainiac Attacks

This was the Monday project and it definitely felt like an older set.  Mostly because the directions weren’t as detailed as the newer ones.  Now, the reason he loves this set isn’t because of Brainiac (left), Supergirl, or Superman.  It’s that green guy up top named Martian Manhunter.  Somehow, that character has claimed one of the top spots along with Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Star Sapphire, Black Canary, Zatanna, and Flash.  Only three of those are easy to find merchandise for.

Spider-Man Bank Heist

This is a Spider-Man Bank Heist one that we did on Monday too.  Rather simple, but he got confused on why the bad guys had Hulk and Captain America faces.  Tried to explain they were wearing fake masks when robbing the bank, but it didn’t fly.  He did love that one guy with the chain gun.  This is his evil Spidey too.

Wolverine and Magneto Racers

He did get some Marvel heroes like these two.  They’re Mighty Micros and he does know a little about the X-Men to recognize the characters.  This was a quick build on Tuesday before his first swim class.

Avengers Truck Battle

We managed to do this the same day since both sets were fairly simple.  This is from Civil War, so it’s Captain America and Hawkeye vs Vision and Spider-Man.  Turning a dial on the truck has those flames pop out and open the whole thing up.  Vision drew most of his attention though.  Then promptly got defeated by Martian Manhunter and good Harley Quinn.  Not sure about his face there.

Iron Man and Thanos

‘Give a big smile’ led to this.  He was more excited about his swim class.  He really didn’t have a major interest in these two.  Putting them together was fun, but they haven’t shown up in his scenarios much.  At least Iron Man doesn’t.  Thanos does and apparently has the voice of a teenage girl that doesn’t want to do her homework.  Think I’d be more excited about Infinity War if Thanos ended up talking like this.

Lego Batman Clayface

First, that is his 8th Lego Batman figure.  3 more and he’ll have a Batman only football/soccer team.  Sadly, Clayface came with a part missing, so I emailed Lego and its on the way.  The plus side is that Clayface’s hands are interchangeable.  He has two gatling gun fists and one hammer.  The missing piece was for the second gun fist, so we were still able to do this picture.  Clayface is also fairly fragile because all of his limbs, his head, and his mouth move.  You can also switch the eyes to make him either angry or sad.

The Collection

These are all of his Legos.  Not only the ones from his birthday, but the other Lego Batman ones, the DC heroes, Ninjago, TMNT, Angry Birds, Lego Movie Spaceship, DC Superhero Girls, and a Lego City airplane.  That’s also me going through the pile of manuals to figure out where a fallen part went.  Ended up being the mufflers for one of the Pig Motorcycles.  This picture was a pain to set up and even more of a disaster to put away.  Mostly because Matilda’s house (structure on the left with pink on top) fell apart as I was lifting it.  I stopped to answer my son’s question and the bottom broke off and crashed into the motorcycles below.  Had to piece everything back together.

Can only imagine what the next set will be.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 40 Comments

I Think I’d Rather Have a Hole in My Head

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Writing this on Thursday because it’s been one of those weeks.  I know I promised a Lego picture post, but things had to be said and we still have one more set to build.  I’m hoping to get the photo maven to give me the pictures after lunch and I’ll set the post up for afternoon/evening.  Maybe tomorrow if things go horribly wrong, which is the theme of this week.

Oral Appliance

I went in for adjustments on Tuesday.  Apparently, I shouldn’t be able to flick the bottom part out of my mouth with my tongue.  It was tightened and it feels more secure.  I also didn’t get very good sleep that night.  Wasn’t sure if it was the appliance or the other factors.  I tried sleeping without the next night and found that I stayed asleep longer, but woke up groggier.  People pointed out that the snoring came back too.

The roughest part about this is that it will take time to get used to it.  I don’t really have that luxury since my son wakes at 6:30 AM for school and weekends usually result in me having to be the adult that gets up to tend to the kid.  So, I’ve been doing the whole ‘once I’m up, I’m up’ thing for a few years.  Maybe this trained me to not go back to bed even if I only got 3-4 hours of sleep.  If that’s the case then I have to break that habit in order to get the full effect of the appliance.  It’s going to be a long, hard fight.

Book Sales

Don’t ask.  It’s August.

The Laptop

Anybody remember in June when the sound started going and I had to send my laptop back to Dell for repairs?  Got it back about 19-20 days later with new speakers and things worked fine . . . until Wednesday.  Guess who’s back and it isn’t Eminem.  Lost an afternoon talking to tech support and the laptop goes back next Friday.  I have the label and everything, but I need to finish Bedlam and get other things ready before I give up the tech again.  After next week, the kid is done with summer school, so I won’t be at too much of a loss.  Still, this is really fucking frustrating.  They’re going to replace the sound card and reinstall the whole system, so I hope there’s nothing else like a loose wire or god knows what.

Derailing Bedlam

By the time the weekend hits, I’ll have less than a chapter to go.  This has been a fun story with Lloyd getting couple time and Cassidy trying to come to terms with her impulse control issues.  Ended up putting a hint to the next one and did some very interesting research for this.  Hoping I can muster the funds and interest for a release next year.  It’s getting really tough to rationalize spending so much on this series.  I’m actually considering doing a bundle at one point, but it would be Crossing, Chasing, and Protecting as the set.  That won’t be for another year though.  Funny how I fear that I’ll have to stop and still plan things in advance.

December Post Volunteers

Just throwing it out there that I’m still looking for volunteers to help promote the final book in December.  Yes, I know Path of the Traitors isn’t out yet, but I really want to lock in guest posts.  Mostly because I never know when this computer will need to go to the doctor again.  So, any offers will be greatly appreciated.  As far as the next release, I’ll be sending the ‘Book is Live’ post to the permanent volunteers like before.  That’s not for another month though.

Goals

  1. Finish writing Derailing Bedlam
  2. Schedule posts for September.
  3. Work on guest posts for December.
  4. Finish reading Claymore
  5. The usual stuff
  6. Prepare to go without a laptop again
  7. Check outline for the first War of Nyte book.  That’s the next project that I’ll start in on once school starts again.  Going to be odd starting up the vampire series.
  8. Fiddle with the notebook for the Sin stories.
Posted in Goal Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Watch RWISA Write Blog Tour – Gwen Plano #RWISA #RRBC

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

Rave Reviews Book Club. One of the objectives of the club is to recognize outstanding talent in its membership. A literary group has been established within RRBC named Rave Writers – International Society of Authors (RWISA). This month the club is featuring these authors on a tour. I will be hosting them throughout the month, and I hope you enjoy being introduced to some excellent writing.

RWISA

Gwen Plano

Love at First Sight

By Gwendolyn M Plano

“It doesn’t seem real. It just doesn’t seem real.” Mom muttered as she ran her hand over the curves of dad’s headstone. Sighing deeply, she stared blankly into the horizon.

After a few minutes, she turned and faced me. “I tell myself that it must be real.” She seemed to want my approval. “The stone says we were married 70 years. It must have happened; I must have been married. But, but…why can’t I…

View original post 1,262 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Channel 19

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Unknown's avatarDon Massenzio

I am having a blast writing these short stories. This one is a bit different. I’d love to give the background for the idea, but it would give away the story’s ending. Needless to say, the moral is that people are not always what they appear to be and their motives for doing things can come from many sources.

I appreciate those of you that read last week’s story. (Especially those that sent edits). I am going to continue to do this as long as I can come up with story ideas.

Please enjoy this latest effort, Channel 19

chanel 19.jpgErnie Patterson stopped into a Dunkin’ Donuts on Market Street in Philadelphia for his usual, a large regular coffee and a coffee roll. It wasn’t exactly the breakfast of champions, but at 82, he had resigned himself to eating whatever he wanted. Back in 1977, when he had ballooned up to…

View original post 2,903 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Book Spotlight – Traitor’s Prize – Thaddeus White #Fantasy

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

eranamage's avatarLibrary of Erana

Title: Traitor’s Prize (The Bloody Crown Trilogy book 2)

Author: Thaddeus White

Genre: fantasy

Main character description (short). William Penmere is king of Denland, accused of bastardry by the rebellious House of Esden. Facing treachery within his own ranks and outnumbered on the field, he battles to save his throne. And his head.

Synopsis: Internal divisions threaten to rupture both the Houses of Penmere and Esden. William Penmere has to grapple with a barbarian invasion and the joys of buying soldiers with his marriage bed, whilst Stuart Esden is angered to be sent south to deal with the Earl of Hurstwood rather than confronting Black Will.

Bloodshed and betrayal abound, battles rage and cities are besieged, but a knife in the back can be worth a thousand swords.

Brief Excerpt 250 words:

James stepped forward, and heard the men behind him re-forming the line. The noonday sun brightly illuminated the…

View original post 285 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mack’s Haunted Haberdashery

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Hatter M from Looking Glass Wars

Welcome, potential customers!  My name is Bartholomew and I will be helping you today with your purchases.  All of our . . . I’m sorry, but Mack is far too busy to handle the day-to-day operations.  Somebody needs to keep us stocked in supplies such as ribbons, felt, leather, feathers, souls of the deceased, pins, glue, and those crinkly flowers that go so well on bonnets. Oh, the feathers threw you off?  Well, you don’t need to include those if you don’t want them.  Although, I will point out that we have a sale on peacock and dinosaur feathers.  It’s buy one and get a coupon for the cafe down the block.  They have excellent biscotti there.

I see, it’s the souls of the deceased that has you worried.  Well, we can’t very well use the souls of the living because that’s cruel, inhuman, and illegal since we didn’t get the correct licensing.  Forgot to sign the fifth paragraph of page eighteen and we can’t try again for another thirty years.  Anyway, we work with what we have and that includes souls of the deceased.  You didn’t think we were lying about the haunted part, did you?  It even says so on the window that every hat is possessed by a spirit that you choose from our inventory.  Yes, we do have a return policy in case you run into . . . issues.  Now, let’s begin making your hat.

May I recommend a nice wide-rimmed hat since it’s summer.  That will help protect your face from the sun and you appear to be very pale.  Sure, a cowboy hat can work and this is a strange enough city that you won’t get many odd looks.  I’m sorry, but I don’t have time for television, so that reference went over my head.  Speaking of heads, I think you would look very nice in a Gambler’s Hat, which comes in your basic colors.  If you want leather then it’s really only brown and black, but we have more shades in felt.  Brown leather will do nicely, so just let me measure you.

Do you want any accessories on your hat?  Beads and pins are possibly, but we can include other items.  For example, we have a sweatband that we sew into the inside and it releases a faint cologne if it senses that you’re starting to smell. It gives you a small beep to close your eyes because it can sting for a minute or two.  No permanent blindness since we changed the formula. We also have a GPS unit that connects to ear piece and will react to your words.  It’s mostly for online shopping and directions, but it is becoming one of our biggest sellers.  Yes, there is the possibility of you accidentally ordering ridiculous items, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to return them.  People are starting to know about our products causing such accidents. A glow-in-the-dark spider pattern on the front?  That can be done with ease.

Finally, what kind of spirit do you want possessing your hat?  This person will become your friend and act as a guardian.  Depending on the soul, your hat will display some powers.  Going by the hat type, you can gain some help with gambling if you choose a spirit with that experience.  Others are former warriors who will urge you into battle and there is a new shipment of seducers for all lifestyles.  Nothing helps with the dating scene like a ghost whispering in your ear.  A hunter spirit?  For somebody who was shocked about our business, you sure picked a specific and difficult breed.  Mack will have to do a special order and there will an extra waiver.  Please note that hunter spirits can get bored easily and you need to use them at least once every three days.  Otherwise, you might find your hat on somebody else’s head or that you are being possessed to wander the night in search of prey.  Still determined?  Very well then.

I guess that’s everything since cowboy hats aren’t as complicated as other styles.  We do expect half of the payment up front, especially with your new friend.  No, you can’t request someone specific.  That brings up some questions that we have no legal interest in handling at this time.  Now then, here is the paperwork and your biscotti coupon.  I know it says for anything, but I’m telling you that you have to try the biscotti.  It’s simply to die for . . . What do you mean that was eerie?

Posted in Olde Shoppe Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 83 Comments

Watch RWISA Write Blog Tour – Beem Weeks #RWISA #RRBC

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

Rave Reviews Book Club. One of the objectives of the club is to recognize outstanding talent in its membership. A literary group has been established within RRBC named Rave Writers – International Society of Authors (RWISA). This month the club is featuring these authors on a tour. I will be hosting them throughout the month and I hope you enjoy being introduced to some excellent writing.

RWISA

Beem Weeks

Wordless

“What’s that word say?”

“That’s an easy one, Daddy. Just sound it out.”

Levi Bacchus can’t read. 36 years old, and he’d never learned the meaning of a single sentence.

“I just ain’t cut out for this, Jamie Lynn.”

The girl’s countenance dropped in disagreement—just like her mother, that one.

“So, you’re a quitter now?” she bellowed, sounding too much like the woman who’d walked out of their lives two years earlier.

Levi took offense. “Mind your manners, Missy. I ain’t…

View original post 1,155 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Frankie the Fish, on #LisaBurtonRadio

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories


View original post

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Future of Ichabod Brooks

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Charles Yallowitz

Yahoo image search

So, now I have to think about the future.  Not only for the next series since we’re a month or two away from the hopeful release of Legends of Windemere: Path of the Traitors.  That series will come to an end, so I don’t have to worry about that.  I do have to think about Ichabod Brooks.

I have about 10-12 other short stories that didn’t get written for The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks.  People voted on what sounded interesting and I took the top 11.  It didn’t mean the other ones were getting tossed aside though.  I want to write them at some point.  Maybe not next year, but eventually.  2018 still feels like it’s going to be an epic mess to me since I’ll have a new series to start up and it sounds like the natives consider the end of Legends of Windemere to be a sign that I should retire.  So, I definitely have time for this.

Did I have something in mind?  Yes, and I was curious what people thought of these future collections:

  1. Another collection of Ichabod Brooks stories.
  2. A collection of Mrs. Brooks stories.  I’ll have introduced her at the end of the previous collection.
  3. A collection of Ichabod Brooks stories that all connect to a plot against his family and officially ends his tales.
  4. A collection of Morgan stories with an Ichabod Brooks cameo.  Not certain about this one because I’m still considering giving her the lead in the trilogy/one-shot/collection that focuses on a band of cursed monster hunters.

So, what do people think?  Should I even keep going with Ichabod?  I figure I can only do so many Pulp-like adventures before he gets repetitive, which is why a second collection should probably lead to a change.  Putting him in a larger work feels odd too.  Kind of like to give him some closure instead of doing one book and letting him wave in the wind.  So, feedback will always be welcomed in this arena.

Posted in Ichabod Brooks | Tagged , , , , , | 57 Comments