Questions 3: Pick Your Mount

Dragonriders of Pern

An interesting question came up in Sunday’s TWUBS Chat.  A simple one too, which I’ll divide into 3 and let everyone have fun.  As usual, you can answer in the comments or on your blog with a link to here.  Enjoy.

  1. What type of magical beast would you want as a mount?
  2. What would be your primary use for it?  Work, play, errands, etc.
  3. What would you name it?
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Tolkien’s 10 Tips for Writers Infographic

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Thursday- A Little Personal – Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio #RRBC

John W. Howell's avatarFiction Favorites

a spotlight-honors11

Today I am happy to host an interview on Rave Waves BlogTalk Radio/Spotlight Honors with Rachel Pruchno the author of Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets. Tune in at 11:00 CDT today. Here is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravereviewsbookclub/2015/08/20/rrbc-rave-waves-blog-talk-radio-spotlight-honors-with-guest-rachel-pruchno-1 You can also go to Twitter #RRBCSpotlightHonors and be part of the show with questions for Rachel. Click live after the hashtag. You can also visit Rachel on Facebook and on twitter @RachelPruchno

Red Sweater

Rachel Pruchno is Director of Research at the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging and Endowed Chair, Professor of Medicine at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University. Dr. Pruchno has been the Principal Investigator on numerous research grants funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Aging, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National…

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Discover new authors and win stuff.

M T McGuire's avatarM T McGuire Authorholic

At loose end? Bored? Wishing you were still on holiday? Wishing you could have a holiday? Things not as relaxing as you would like? Looking for a way to escape Real Life?

20130329_080920 I’ve nothing to read and there has been no shiny stuff in my life for at least an hour. I am bored.

If any of those applies to you relief is at hand – or at least, it is if your modus operandum, escape-wise, is to bury yourself in a book.

“But nothing is tickling my fancy right now,” I hear you say.

Pish and tottle! There is a whole stack of exciting books to discover in of Brain to Book blog tour. Lots of authors, lots of books, different lengths, different genres… new worlds to travel, people creatures and beasts to meet and places to escape to. Something for everyone! This is beginning to sound like…

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August Interview: Dariana the Psionic

(Dariana doesn’t have a picture like the others, so we’ll go with her debut appearance.)

  1. If you had the choice of any occupation, what would you actually like to be?
    .
    I enjoyed my time in the Zarian Orphanage.  While my abilities might not be aimed at such a job, I think I’d like to take care of kids.  Not so much a teacher, but someone that helps them for a home.  I’m sorry, but I don’t know the title.
    .
  2. Do you have any hobbies that you would like to be able to spend more time on?
    .
    I’ve spent a lot of time asleep, so I never developed hobbies.  Perhaps collecting tiny trinkets would work.  I could gather items that have strong memory residues and find their previous owners.  If those owners are dead then their next of kin.  That sounds like an answer to the first question.
    .
  3. What’s your favorite meal?
    .
    This world has so many good foods that I don’t think I could pick a favorite.  Roasted chicken with this pungent, red spice is very good.
    .
  4. Do you play any musical instruments–if so, what? If you don’t, what would you like to play?
    .
    One of my caretakers taught me how to play the violin.  I never owned one, so I might be rusty.
    .
  5. Is there any one in particular that you wish you didn’t have to be around?
    .
    Isaiah makes me rather uncomfortable.  Sorry, that’s mean.  He is only doing his job.
    .
  6. Have you ever been strongly attracted to someone and it never developed?
    .
    I’m sorry, but I don’t plan on having such a relationship.  Due to my abilities and past, I feel it is best that I avoid anything that could continue my lineage.  One could say that I am cursed, so I erase such emotions as soon as they appear.
    .
  7. Are you surprised about what you have become? Is this what you expected when you were a child?
    .
    I spent much of my childhood not knowing who or what I was.  It took a long time to get my telepathy under control, but even that didn’t help.  So I never had any expectations and knew that I would always be different.  Finally having friends is a pleasant change.  I only hope that I don’t make a mess of that.
    .
  8. What is your biggest fear?
    .
    Going back to sleep.  Though I can easily turn my fear off.  Death isn’t even a problem if that’s what I have to do.
    .
  9. If you could change places with another person in Windemere, who would it be and why?
    .
    I have tried that in an attempt to escape my destiny.  It didn’t go well and I got several people killed.  So I will stay as I am for the safety of all.
    .
  10. What makes you happy?
    .
    Having friends and being trusted.  I’m still getting used to what you call friendly ribbing.  That confuses me more than Sari and her pranks.  I’ve been told that if a person is smiling or laughs after an insult then they are being friendly.  Yet I’ve seen cruel people do the same.  It’s very confusing.
    .
  11. What does teamwork mean to you?
    .
    Knowing your part in a group and doing the best you can in that role.  Every piece of a team is necessary.  If one person falters then the others will fall too or be forced to adapt to the opening.  Trust and understanding are important because this is what will create a natural base for the group dynamic.
    .
  12. How would you define honor?
    .
    A refusal to give up and a willingness to sacrifice for others.  I’m sorry, but that sounds more like defiance.  It would be cheating if I read someone’s mind for an answer.  I know what honor is, but I don’t know how to define it.  I’ve seen so many people claim to have it, but do evil things.  Others act honorably while denying that category. Maybe it’s something that can’t be perfectly defined.
    .
  13. What’s the best way to hunt monsters?
    .
    Only if you have to.  If you must then knowing what you’re hunting would be the best option.  That way you can form a team and strategies specifically for your prey.  Maybe draw it into a trap.  No matter what, you should never go after something unprepared and blind.
    .
  14. What’s your first response when someone makes you really, really mad?
    .
    I would make them forget the incident and erase it from my own mind.  Unless I had to get involved and then I would do my best to incapacitate them with the least amount of pain.
    .
  15. What’s it like working for Charles?
    .
    I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize the name.

Check out more of Dariana in
LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE

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Lisa makes a guest appearance

coldhandboyack's avatarEntertaining Stories

Lisa, my robotic assistant, makes an appearance at D. S. Nelson’s place today. Dawn writes about a milliner named Blake Hetherington. Blake solves mysteries and makes and sells hats. I’ve read one of these books and they are quite fun.

Her character makes and sells hats. My character wears hats and shops. It was a natural fit. A hat can say a lot about the character, and even add a bit of mystery under the right circumstances. Please check it out here. Where’d you get that hat?

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Teaser Tuesday: Sheep, Gnomes, & Mischief

A blast from Beginning of a Hero here.  It’s weird going back to the first 3 books, which were written way before the others.  The style is visibly different at times, but I can’t tell if I improvement, weakened, or simply changed.  Anyway, this is a fun scene with the original mischief makers in the same place.  This would be before the group’s first source of common sense, Aedyn Karwyn, joined up.

Fritz & Bessaria By Kayla Matt

Fritz & Bessaria By Kayla Matt

Continue reading →

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August Interview: Fizzle the Drite

By Kayla Matt

By Kayla Matt

  1. If you had the choice of any occupation, what would you actually like to be?
    .
    Fizzle not have job.  Drites live in forest.  No job needed.  Find food and water could be job.
    .
  2. Do you have any hobbies that you would like to be able to spend more time on?
    .
    Fizzle good.  You have hobbies?
    .
  3. What’s your favorite meal?
    .
    Apples with apple pie and apple juice.  Love apple cores.  Love apple skins too.
    .
  4. Do you play any musical instruments–if so, what? If you don’t, what would you like to play?
    .
    Fizzle not sure.  Can play wind with magic.  Fizzle think that count.
    .
  5. Is there any one in particular that you wish you didn’t have to be around?
    .
    Bad man that hurts friends.
    .
  6. Have you ever been strongly attracted to someone and it never developed?
    .
    Fizzle been called for mating twice.  Only chosen once.
    .
  7. Are you surprised about what you have become? Is this what you expected when you were a child?
    .
    Fizzle always know what he become.  Drites always be drites.  This a silly question.
    .
  8. What is your biggest fear?
    .
    Friends dying or being mad at Fizzle.
    .
  9. If you could change places with another person in Windemere, who would it be and why?
    .
    Nope.  Fizzle good.
    .
  10. What makes you happy?
    .
    Apples and friends!  Swimming in lake too.  Fish tickle Fizzle’s wings and tail.
    .
  11. What does teamwork mean to you?
    .
    Many acting as one.  Same goal.  Same path.  Flexible bonds that never break.
    .
  12. How would you define honor?
    .
    Pure heart.  Never faltering when asked to help.  Helping even when one too stubborn to ask.
    .
  13. What’s the best way to hunt monsters?
    .
    Fizzle no like monster hunters.  They think all animals are monsters.  Must make sure it dangerous.  Not nice to kill animal because it acts like animal.
    .
  14. What’s your first response when someone makes you really, really mad?
    .
    Make them go poof!
    .
  15. What’s it like working for Charles?
    .
    No know who that is.

Check out more of Fizzle in
LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE

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#MondayBlogs: Learning SEO: 5 Reasons It’s Now a Must for Freelance Online Writers

Shannon A Thompson's avatarShannon A. Thompson

Intro:

SEO Terms. That single two-word combination probably put knots in someone’s stomach. It’s a necessary evil, a vital tool to use for surviving the Internet game, and today’s guest blogger, Eve Haugen, is here to explain why. She also helps you improve your footing in the SEO-crazy world.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in guest articles are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect my own. To show authenticity of the featured writer, articles are posted as provided (a.k.a. I do not edit them). However, the format may have changed.

…

Learning SEO: 5 Reasons It’s Now a Must for Freelance Online Writers

In the web world where thousands of sites are coming up in a rush, the competition is also getting hotter each day. The role played by SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in beating the competing rivals is undeniable. Also, there are no shortages…

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I’m Back and Raring to . . . zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Bender!

Bender!

So I’m back from the exile, which was cut in half due to something going on at home that left the wife without a car.  Then other things happened such as bad pizza, Wi-fi in the room died, and I just took the signs to go.  That means cutting it in half at the last minute was a good idea.  So, what did I accomplish in 2.5 days?

  • Finished editing Book 11.
  • Prepared all of the September posts.
  • Formatted the special thing.  I’ll put in for the final piece of that tomorrow after errands.
  • Watched the rest of Merlin Season 3, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace.  I did say the Wi-fi cut out on me.

The next two days will be family time in a way.  Tomorrow is going to be hot, so it’s school supply shopping day and family lunch.  After that will be a bit cooler, but not by much.  It might be overcast if we’re lucky.  Either way we’ll do a trip to the big zoo with a lot of water.  So my computer time will be limited until mid-September.

The only time I’ll be leaping onto the computer to do stuff is if I get that last part for The Merchant of Nevra Coil.  Not having that part means I’m at a loss of what to do and I don’t want to make any promises.  We all know this tale.  So I don’t know what I’ll do with the Teaser Tuesday stuff.  Maybe I’ll grab a bit out of ‘Raven’s Hold’ or whatever I called that supernatural thriller.  No idea what to do with that one.  As usual, I’m open to requests and suggestions for teasers and question 3 topics.

And there’s thunder overhead.  Hope to see people at the TWUBS Chat and fingers crossed that my Internet issues are over.

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