In honor of the approaching creepiest night of the year, I thought it would be fun to do a post with some of your favorite Hallowe’en tunes! Hallowe’en is admittedly not one of my favorite holidays, but I still remember trick-or-treating as a kid, or more recently going out with my children. The sudden infusion of tasty sweet treats is fine, though I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, and it’s certainly not good for my waistline or general…
Image by TAI-Design from Pixabay Here are some fascinating trivia tidbits about the Regency Era in England (1811–1820), a period known for its distinctive social, cultural, and artistic developments: 1. Prince Regent’s Extravagance The period is named after George IV, who served as the Prince Regent due to his father George III’s mental illness. The Prince Regent was known for his lavish lifestyle and love of extravagant parties, often plunging the royal family into debt. His indulgent lifestyle made him both popular and…
For those interested in audiobooks, I have a few new ones, including several coming up. One of those audiobooks, The Challenge of Entail, is now being offered for sale at a heavily discounted price. If you have not yet given this book a listen, now is the time to have a look. From now until November 9th, it is on sale for 60% discount. I hope you enjoy it! https://www.audiobooks.com/promotions/promotedBook/773562/challenge-of-entail?refId=158977
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…
For today’s post, I thought I would do a bit of a recap of recent audiobook releases and what is coming in the future. I tend to focus much less on audiobooks, and there is a specific reason for it. Once I provide Tantor with the manuscript, they run with it and do everything else. By contrast, as an independent author, I handle all aspects of the process for eBook and physical formats, though of late I have farmed out…
Above image by Ryan KLAUS from Pixabay Welcome to Trivia Thursday. Today, we’re diving into some iconic travel destinations, each known for its unique golden glow—whether it’s a sunset, landmark, or natural wonder. Can you guess them based on a single golden clue? Test your knowledge, and don’t forget to check the answers at the end. Clue #1: “A Sea of Golden Sands, Larger Than Some Countries” Hint: This desert is home to some of the most expansive dunes in the world,…
The process of coming up with new ideas, even for books based on Pride and Prejudice is one I do not find all that difficult. As I have written more than fifty of these, I must assume that most of those out there reading this will understand that. There are so many different ideas to explore, so many instances where if a different path had been taken the ending (and indeed the middle and even the beginning if you go back…
This one is a bit out there, as Neil Sedaka is a bit (or a lot) before my time, but his tunes are so memorable that they persist to this day in being favorites to many. His jumpy, catchy tunes in the 60s and late 70s made him a huge star, and his songwriting talent provided material for many other stars of his time. Neil Sedaka was born in 1939 and began to show aptitude, specifically for the piano, at…
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,…