As an author, I’m always trying to find new ways to reach potential readers. It can be a bit to manage, as each vendor has their own rules, back offices, and the like, which can become burdensome if one does not take care. Until now, my standard practice has been to release new works on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, and then to put that content up on other vendors when the Kindle Unlimited term has run its course. My standard…
Image by Claximoli from Pixabay December is here, so in keeping with Rowland family tradition, I’m going to start celebrating the season early. To be honest, I’m far from the first of my brothers and sisters to do this; my eldest sister started decorating before Halloween. But don’t worry, I have no plans to get sentimental right out of the gate. Instead, I came across an AI joke generator that I decided to try out. While the results aren’t side-splitting, with a few…
Photo by Chris Sansbury on Unsplash I confess to feeling a little morose on this particular Monday. November 11 or “Remembrance Day” as it’s called here in Canada, is a day of reflection and gratitude for me and my family, as it is for many across the world. The day brings somber memories of my father, who passed away in November 2011. Dad served in the US Marine Corp during WW II. He spent the war in the South Pacific, and was on…
https://www.themusicman.uk/voiceplay/I As I’ve said before, ad nauseum, I love music. With few exceptions, my interests vary, from fifties country to sixties pop and emerging heavy rock to classical masterpieces both old and new. A beautiful and harmonious blend of instruments, with or without voices, has been known to bring me to tears. A cappella, though, occupies another level of musical splendor. Many of us can carry a tune when we have a melody to follow, but few can do that…
Image by Pepper Mint from Pixabay As the last days of summer slip away one more time, I struggle with a mix of nostalgia and surprise. Wasn’t it just June? The long, sunny days passed in a seeming blur, leaving me to wonder, where did they go? Here’s a look back at summer’s highlights and the memories that keep me going as the season fades and winter seems impatient for its turn. 1. Chasing Long Days and Warm Nights Time Outdoors: Summer means…
Image by Tibor Janosi Mozes from Pixabay I want to introduce you to Lana Del Rey, a singer I found last week. A couple of her videos were included in an article I was reading and, in a rare moment of inspiration, I decided to listen to one called Video Games. I’m not sure what I expected, but this song was a pleasant surprise: This song is one of few recent releases I would bother listening to again. The arrangement is beautiful and…
Meet my friends Haley, the border collie on the left and Daisy, the German shepherd mix on the right. I love them like family, but sometimes can’t help but wonder if they’re actually geniuses in disguise or just the universe’s way of keeping me humble. Whether it’s a dog that seems to have mastered the art of selective hearing or the other who stares off into space like they’ve unlocked the secrets of the cosmos, these girls have a way…
Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay As my 68th birthday looms on the horizon like a cake topped with far too many candles (seriously, do fire extinguishers come as standard with those things now?), I’ve found myself reflecting on the curious passage of time. At least, I assume that’s what we’re supposed to do as a milestone birthday approaches, right? Reflect? Contemplate? Ponder the mysteries of life? I’ll get right on that… after I’ve spent an hour or two feeling sorry for myself,…
Image by Steve Johnson from Pixabay I’m an author, or at least that’s what I tell people who ask what I do with myself since I retired. That’s true, if you care to stretch the definition almost beyond reason. I have published thirteen books and coauthored one, all of which are available for purchase on Amazon, in case you’re interested (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). I published my last novel, “If Not for the Entail”, October 15 of last year. With that complete and…
Image by dlsd cgl from PixabayFirst, First, let me apologize for the delay in preparing my post. I let other tasks get in the way and forgot all about it. I’d like to say it won’t happen again, but I am pathetic at predicting the future. The beautiful city of Medicine Hat and, indeed, large portions of southern Alberta, are in the midst of a heat wave, with temperatures hitting 38° (100° f) yesterday and today. If not for my new efficient windows…