I was born and educated in the north west of England. I trained as a teacher in Manchester and taught in Salford, Lancashire, Hampshire and Croydon. I write fantasy novels currently. I also make cards, knit, crochet, tat, do cross stitch and
paint. I enjoy walking on the Downs, cycling and kayaking. I do not enjoy housework, but like cooking.
This is my first venture into historical fiction. I really had an amazing time researching it and found out such a lot about the Romans and the way of life of the Celts who lived here when they invaded.
As a special thank you to all my readers, I am publishing an extract from the book on my blog on Thursday to mark the 4 week point.
You can order the book by clicking here, and it will take you to Amazon where you are. Or you can click on the book in the sidebar.
When the Hallowe’en Poetry Contest arrived once more, I was stuck for ideas, having done it for the last 4 years. I needed inspiration.
I didn’t want to go down the ‘isn’t it a fun holiday’ route because I don’t think it is. It’s All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day when the Christian Church celebrates all the saints who have died before.
It’s also Samhain, when the pre-Christian religion celebrated their ancestors and welcomed them into their homes.
My father died when I was very small. I only have a few vague memories of him, and so I decided to write a poem thinking of him, and, if the pre-Christians are right, he would come to visit me every year.
I hope you enjoy this. I know it’s a bit late for Hallowe’en, but never mind!
I Died. I didn’t want to go. I left my wife and daughter so I cried.
I thought
I could no longer see
All their future without me.
I fought.
I found
That each All Hallows Eve,
I could return—I need not grieve.
Not bound.
I come
To them each Hallowe’en.
They do not know. I am not seen.
I’m dumb.
They live And I surround them both With all my love which I’m not loath To give.
Here ends my tale.
I will be filled with endless glee
When they come to dwell with me
Beyond the veil.
Many years ago, I came by a small book that had belonged to my grandmother. In it were some recipes, and at the back, some of her accounts.
Then some years later, when I married, my mother gave me an exercise book in which she had written some of her recipes.
When her eldest sister died, who had no children, I acquired her recipe book.
My grandmother’s book had accounts dated 1909, many of my aunt’s would have been thirties and forties, and I suspect many of those my mother wrote down for me would have been fifties and sixties.
Added to recipes that I had acquired from friends, I thought this would make an interesting read for anyone interested in cooking, especially the kind of things our ancestors cooked.
I put together a book of these recipes that I called Viv’s Family Recipes. I added a few comments about the people who gave them as well, and in my Aunt’s book were some hints and tips for cleaning, which I added alongside some cures for ailments I remember from my Grandmother.
Viv’s Family Recipes is now on offer for the meagre price of $0.99, £0.99 until Thursday 21st November, so Hurry and get your copy. On Friday it will be back to its normal price.
Click here or on the cover in the side bar to take you to Amazon where you are.
Thank you for reading. If you would like to reblog this, I would be most grateful.
There are some words that many people have trouble with. I know there are some that I need to think about, so I decided it might be a good idea to do a series of posts of some of these words.. I hope it helps you with your spelling.
Absence: not Absense.
Accommodate: two cs and 2 ms.
Acquainted: It has a c and a qu.
A lot: not alot (It appears Alot is a town in India!)
Analysis: not analisis.
Beginning: Two ns.
Business: not busness (or even bisness.)
Ceiling: not celing, (or sealing, which is stopping hole.)
Committed: Two ms, two ts
Committee: two ms, two ts and two es.
I hope this helps you. Look out for more next month.
Leave your comments in the comments box. All are welcome as long as they are polite!
A serial killer roams the streets of Brighton, hunting for his next victim. When the case lands on detective David Mallory’s desk, will his personal demon prevent him from bringing this vicious monster to justice? As the body count rises, Mallory finds himself sinking under the weight of his heavy secret – one that could jeopardise his job and his reputation. With the pressure building, can the troubled detective reconcile his issues and solve the case before more women die?
Overview. This is an excellent story that kept me reading, wanting to know what happens next.
Plot.
The plot deals with two detectives trying to solve a series of murders in Brighton, England. But this is not all. Both David and Anna have their own individual problems to solve, and what these are remain a mystery until around half-way through the book. From then on, we follow them in their attempts to resolve both their individual personal problems and find the murderer.
The plot moves at a good pace, keeping the reader’s interest throughout.
Characters.
The main characters of David and Anna are drawn well. They are likeable, but with believable flaws. They develop nicely throughout the book.
Writing.
Sadly, this is where the book falls down. There are numerous editing errors in the text. Although this sometimes makes me not want to finish a book, the story here is strong enough that my desire to know what happens overcame my irritation at the mistakes. There are also a few plot holes. As a result of this, I have only given it 4 stars.
Today, and for the next 5 days, Book 2 of The Wolves of Vimar series, The Never-Dying Man, will be available for a mere $0.99, £0.99. If you got The Wolf Pack in the last offer, take the opportunity to get Book 2 now. Click on this link to go to Amazon where you are. http://myBook.to/TheNeverDyingMan If you missed The Wolf Pack, you can get it from Amazon using this link. http://myBook.to/TheWolfPack
Here’s a bit about The Never-Dying Man
After finding Sauvern’s Sword, the companions set off to help a friend rescue his child from kidnappers. Instead, they stray into Erian and find preparations for war. They are drafted into the Erian army but are recognized by an old enemy, who arrests some of them and takes them to Frelli, the capital of Erian, where they are put in jail.
The Master of Erian frees them and offers them work. Meanwhile, Carthinal has to face some unpleasant truths about himself. Is his desire to further his magical career more important than his friends and country? After they discover terrible truths about the Master and his magical research, they will need to escape in order to tell the leaders of Grosmer about the plans for war.
I am excited to welcome Jaye Marie as part of the blog tour for her new book, Silent Payback. I have been reading her blog for quite some time now, and so it is an honour to welcome her to mine.
Good to have you here, Jaye.
I hear your friends have a nickname for you. Would you like to share it with us?
*Laughs* Yes. My friends often call me the Giant Redwood because I am very tall, just like the tree.
That’s not the only reason, though, is it?
No. I am very fond of trees and the outdoors. I have quite a large bonsai collection and like to spend my afternoons repotting and generally tending to them.
But you obviously don’t spend all your time with your trees.You must go in to write sometimes.
Yes. It’s usually my love for detective mysteries that sends me back indoors.
Have you written any other detective novels?
Yes. In fact, Silent Payback is my fourth book.
Would you tell us the titles of the others?
Yes., certainly. My first book is called Nine Lives, then there are Out of Time and Crossfire. They are all in the detective mystery genre.
What do you do when you aren’t tending your bonsai or writing?
Currently I’m learning all I can about self-publishing. There are a lot of obstacles associated with it, but I’m determined not to give up. *laughs* Some people say I’m as stubborn as a mule when I start doing something difficult, and refuse to give up.
Please visit Jaye’s website. I’m sure you will find it interesting. And thank you, Jaye, for comingto tell us about your new book. I believe it’s now available.
Yes. It was released on October 22nd.
Can you give us a link to it?
And now, what you’ve all been waiting for. A bit about this exciting book.
Silent Payback.
A city on edge – a detective on shaky ground…
A serial killer roams the streets of Brighton, hunting for his next victim.
When the case lands on detective David Mallory’s desk, will his personal demon prevent him from bringing this vicious monster to justice?
As the body count rises, Mallory finds himself sinking under the weight of his heavy secret – one that could jeopardise his job and his reputation.
With the pressure building, can the troubled detective reconcile his issues and solve the case, before more women die?
Click here to go to Amazon where you are and buy the book.
Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 