Hey! The Never-Dying Man, Book 2 in The Wolves of Vimar series is on sale for only £0.99, $0.99 from today until 27th. Don’t miss this opportunity to get this, especially if you got Book 1 last time. Click the link for your book.http://myBook.to/TheNeverDyingMan
I know this is a bit of a boring post, but I’m short of time. I promise more interesting ones in future!
I have been considering the degradation of words recently.I know words are constantly evolving, but it seems to me that more often than not, they become degraded and lose their meaning.
Let’s take SWEAR WORDS as an example.
When I was growing up, some words that are now considered normal, (and I use them myself on occasion) were definite no-nos, and had I used them I would have been in serious trouble. Words such a damn or b*&&er. (just in case the gremlins in the internet have decided it’s still a bad word.)
The words that are now thought of a swear words, I didn’t know. I never heard them. Such words as the F word and the C word have become commonplace, if what I hear in the street is anything to go by.
These words have become degraded. They are no longer as ‘bad’ as they once were.
This has happened to other words, too. The one that immediately jumps to mind is AWESOME. Things are no longer just ‘good’ or even ‘excellent’. They have to be ‘awesome’. Do things commonly described as such really fill the speaker with awe? I doubt it.
The next word we’re hearing a lot these days. That word is HERO. We hear it applied to all and sundry. According to dictionary.com, a hero is “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character.” Not everybody who is simply performing acts of human decency.
ICONIC is another word that has become degraded. Everything now sseems to be ‘iconic’. Originally an icon was a religious portrait to aid worship. It can also be the depiction of a victorious athlete, soldier, or a sovereign.
Here’s one we were told not to use, when we were in school. NICE.
Once it meant fastidious or scrupulous. Now it just apples to anything that give a bit of pleasure.
A nice garden. She’s a nice person.
Finally, here’s one that can often be left out of sentences. (Writers take note.) It has degraded so much that it is now almost meaningless. That word is ACTUALLY.
Originally it meant something unexpected. Now it’s often only an interjection.
I hope you enjoyed reading these words. This was not what I originally set off to write. I was going to make a list of confused words I’ve come across recently. That will be another post for another day.
Are there any words that you’ve noticed being degraded? If so, add them to the comments in the comments box.
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People just don’t get it!
This virus is highly contagious.
People are dying with it.
The National Health Service is overwhelmed.
Yet they are STILL going out into the parks, and probably to the coast as well.
A group of young lads has been gathering fairly regularly in the park behind where we live.
A neighbour, whose husband has been taken into hospital with the virus is having her daughter come from abroad to be with her at this time.
A woman talking to a supervisor in our local Tesco was not standing 2 metres away, and was even leaning in toward the supervisor.
A man standing in the queue to go into Iceland was not covering his mouth when he coughed.
A woman went to the toilet in a supermarket, left without washing her hands and then went picking up unwrapped tomatoes.
Etc. etc. etc.
These are all genuine cases.
Until people become sensible and realise that what they are doing is making the situation worse, it will go on and on. When will they realise the NHS is under tremendous pressure and that perhaps they will be the one not provided with a ventilator when they become ill?
We were told at the beginning that it was only the elderly and those with underlying health issues who were likely to die, but that has proven incorrect. A 5 year old boy died. A 13 year old girl and a 12 year old boy. Nurses and doctors in their 30s have died, too.
I am so angry at the stupidity of people. If they want this lockdown to continue all summer, and be made even stricter, then they should carry on as they are doing, but if they want it to be over quicker, then they should ABIDE BY THE RULES. They are there to protect us all.
Sorry for this rant. I don’t usually so things like this on my blog, but I am so Angry.
I don’t know how this is going to work, but the reblog button on the original site is missing, so I’m reblogging it from a reblog. if you understand what I mean!
This book continues the saga of P.A.W.S. begun in the book of that name.
Rifka, a young Jewish girl has disappeared from her home in Safed, in Israel. She remembers nothing of her life before except what the man she is with has told her. He says she is his wife, although little more than a child.
The story is about how Rifka is saved from the man, who is the werewolf, Frederick, with the help of the mysterious stomes known as Cotula.
It ranges from Israel to London, and ends up in St Louis and New York via the mysterious shadow land of Umbrae.
Follow the Cotula. The stone will show you the way.
Rifka is lost, far away from home, kidnapped by an insidious werewolf.
Far off in Manus Wu, a plan is set in place. An Old One sends colutae out into the world. These stones when brought together have the power to release Rifka. Yet does she truly want to go home?
Meet an empathic goat, a family of otters, a girl who loves to draw fairies, and a dragon in this new installment of the P.A.W.S. Saga.
The story moves with a good pace. We are carried along with the characters through their various adventures in trying to defeat the werewolf, Frederick.
I enjoyed the tale as it continued with the people we had met in the earlier books and more are introduced, but the author manages to keep them clear in our minds.
The large number of characters is difficult for an author to manage. However, they all seem to be realistic, and have human failings and strengths. They have doubts and query themselves, and some have to fight against their own nature, as in the werewolves who do not want to feast on human flesh.
On the whole, the writing is good, but, like the other books in this series, some errors have slipped through the editing process. Ms Kuyper gives acknowledgement to her editor, but I think said editor has done a less than perfect job. I noted well over 100 errors and word repetitions in the book.
This is more of a YA book, I would say, although it can be enjoyed by adults, too, I am an adult, and I enjoyed it!
The drawback with offering it to a youngster would be the errors in the book.
I have given it 4*. It would have got 5 if there were fewer typos etc.
Please leave your comments in the comments box below. I would love to hear from you, especially if you have read any of Debbie Manber Kuyper’s books.
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These are difficult times. We are all facing unprecedented restrictions to our lives. We are told to stay at home and keep our distance if we do go out.
Some people find this difficult. Some more so than others. If you are used to an active social life, and work with many people, you will undoubtedly find all this hard to do.
For those of us who are used to working from home, like writers, it’s not so difficult to keep on working. We are used to working in isolation, but for people who work in restaurants, cafes, and the like it must be very hard. Some people can work from home, but many cannot. What to do to fill the time?
Some people have decided, stupidly, that this is a holiday. The weather is good and they’ve nothing else to do, so they go off to the seaside, or National Parks. We’ve all seen the pictures of the crowds in these places. What are they doing but risking spreading the disease? It can spread fast enough on its own without stupidity helping it.
This sort of behaviour will force the government to create a lockdown when people are not allowed to go out. Do we really want that?
So what can you do in this self-isolation? Well, read a book. (Of course I would say that, wouldn’t I?) Or even several.
All Carthinal wants is admission to the ranks of the mages. Traveling from Bluehaven to Hambara, where his rite of passage is to take place, he doesn’t expect to end up on a quest to find the long-lost sword of the legendary King Sauvern.
With strangers he meets on his journey, Carthinal sets out on the seemingly impossible quest. Followed by Randa, the snooty aristocratic daughter of the Duke of Hambara, and the young runaway thief Thad, Carthinal and his companions face tragedy and danger.
Watched by the gods and an implacable foe, they will have to accept help from the least likely sources and face their innermost fears. As the fate of their world hangs in the balance, they realize that this is more than an adventure. This quest will change them all.
What have you got to lose? After all, it’s absolutely FREE, and you’ve now got time to read.
What are your opinions on this self-isolation? Will it work, or are there just too many people who are too stupid to understand what it’s all about?
Will this behaviour cause the government to impose even more draconian laws?
Let me know via the comments box.
Some time ago, I posted a poem written by my Mum. I think it’s time for another one. She only started writing them when she was getting on in years, but the family all thought they were great fun.
Everything is so much further
Then it ever used to be.
The little shop around the corner
Seems twice as far to me.
The buses were always punctual
I could go with the greatest of ease.
But now they seem to be early
And my legs do just as they please.
The stairs are made so much steeper
I’m flat out when I get to the top
Amd the print in the papers is so small
That my eyes are beginning to pop.
I can’t do with the way people mumble.
I only hear half of the tale.
They tell me the news in a whisper,
Or shout till I feel I could wail.
The dresses are made so much tighter
Especially round waist and hips.
And diets are all in the fashion.
No goodies, like good fish and chips.
Even people are different this day and age
They all seem to look so much younger.
Yet people my age seem old and withdrawn
And look to be dying of hunger.
I met with a friend the other day.
She really looked old and withered.
I’m sure I look younger than that, I thought,
And I know I’m not half so bothered.
Everything is so much further
Then it ever used to be.
The little shop around the corner
Seems twice as far to me.
The buses were always punctual
I could go with the greatest of ease.
But now they seem to be early
And my legs do just as they please.
The stairs are made so much steeper
I’m flat out when I get to the top
Amd the print in the papers is so small
That my eyes are beginning to pop.
I can’t do with the way people mumble.
I only hear half of the tale.
They tell me the news in a whisper,
Or shout till I feel I could wail.
The dresses are made so much tighter
Especially round waist and hips.
And diets are all in the fashion.
No goodies, like good fish and chips.
Even people are different this day and age
They all seem to look so much younger.
Yet people my age seem old and withdrawn
And look to be dying of hunger.
I met with a friend the other day.
She really looked old and withered.
I’m sure I look younger than that, I thought,
And I know I’m not half so bothered.
I looked in the mirror to see for myself.
For I’m really not ready to go on the shelf.
But a grey-haired old woman was looking at me.
Even mirrors are not like they used to be.
If you enjoyed my Mum’s poem please leave a comment in the comments box.
Feel free to reblog. I would appreciate a link back to my blog if you feel like it.
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It has been reported that the Government of the UK is considering telling all over 70s to stay at home for the next 4 months. What the…?
I also heard, but haven’t had it confirmed (so it might be fake news) that any elderly people found out will be fined.
Are we now in a police state, and with an autocratic government? How can a democratic (supposedly) government even consider this? ‘For their protection’, they are saying. Putting innocent people under house arrest, simply for having been born before 1950 is NOT on.
Can you even think what it will be like to have to stay in your house for 4 months, not seeing anyone but the people you live with—or in many cases, alone?
Receiving food by the various supermarket delivery services is not an option for many. Some do not have access to a computer. Also, due to people panic-buying, it’s not easy to get the deliveries. My daughter couldn’t get her usual delivery due to increased demand.
And I just read some comment, that has made me incandescent with rage. Someone posted ‘Good. 4 months without stupid old gits clogging up the roads…’ I can’t remember the exact quote, and can’t find it again. (I did flag it, so it might have been taken down.
On a lighter note, though—if you do either have to, or decide to, self-isolate, there are books to read.
From today, you can get Book 2 of Elemental Worlds, The Stones of Fire and Water as a FREE e-book to help you pass the time. It is FREE from today until 19th March, so don’t miss this opportunity. Click here or on the cover in the sidebar.
If you would like to also buy Book 1, The Stones of Earth and Air, you can get it for £1.99 by clicking here.
Please leave a comment in the comments box if you have anything to say, and feel free to reblog this.
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Before I get going with the verbs, I am puzzled. This, I suppose is a throwback to previously when I did nouns. I also mentioned it in that treatise, too, but it’s beginning to bug me.
So many pieces of writing I see nowadays, that mention our beautiful planet, fail to give it a capital letter. Why? It’s name is a PROPER noun. Proper nouns begin with a CAPITAL LETTER.
I haven’t noticed people writing Mars, Venus, Jupiter, the Asteroids, etc, and not capitalising the first letter, so why don’t people, and people who should know better, too, not treat our own home in the same way?
Writers and other supposedly educated people do it. One writer I read recently (who claimed an editor in the acknowledgements) occasionally used a capital, and sometimes didn’t. (What was the editor doing?)
It’s Earth, folks, if you’re talking about the planet, and earth if you’re talking about the ground or soil.
OK, that’s done, so let’s begin on the problem of verbs.
I propose to do 2 posts on this as there are 2 main problems people have.
Every verb has to agree with its subject. Yes, you know that. I know you know that. But why can’t people get it every time.
The worst is ‘there’s’. This is short for ‘there is’, so we cannot say ‘There’s three of them.’ Yet I hear it all the time, and even see it in writing.
Then there’s another one I mentioned in the last post. Agreement with a collective noun. Collective nouns are SINGULAR.
How many governments does a country have? One? Yes, only one, and so it’s singular. To say ‘the Government are planning to look into this problem.’ is WRONG.
The same goes for ‘team’, ‘herd’, ‘flock’, ‘peloton’ (if you’re a cyclist) All singular. ‘The team are..’? wrong. ‘The flock are…’? wrong.
Finally, some people make the verb agree with something that’s not actually its subject.
e.g. One of the girls ARE going to come with us.
Here, the verb is referring to ‘one’ and not ‘girls’, so it should be:
One of the girls IS going to come with us.
I’m sure you can think of many more examples.
I know I’m not as brilliant at doing these grammar posts as some others, but I hope to be able to help a few people.
It also helps me get things that annoy me off my chest!
If you think this will help others, please feel free to reblog and I would be grateful for any link back to my site.
Please leave a comment in the comments box, and if you would like to receive my quarterly newsletter, and information about new releases and special offers,click the JOIN button on the sidebar.
It is currently number 2 in British and Irish Historical Novels and number 81 in Action and Adventure.
Here are a couple of reviews it got. For some reason, Amazon have taken these down, but they’ve left the stars. (I’ve heard of other writers who’ve had reviews removed for no apparent reason!) I can assure you, they were genuine reviews!
Randall Krzak
5*
Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang is a riveting story set during the period when Rome controlled Britannia. Follow the trials and tribulations of Adelbhert after he and his sister are taken by the Romans from their mother. They eventually end up as slaves in what is modern-day London. Adelbhert performs a nightly ritual to remind himself of the suffering he and his sister have endured, beginning with the crucifixion of their father. He vows to escape and punish those who have wronged him.
V.M. has created a moving story which will keep you turning the pages to find out how Adelbhert and his sister handle their new life. Experience their sorrow, anguish, and finally hope as they adapt to their changing situation. This is the first novel I’ve read of V.M.’s and it certainly won’t be the last! Well done and highly recommended!
D. W. Peach
5*
Adelbehrt keeps a running list in his head of all the reasons why he hates the Romans—they crucified his father, stole him as a child from his mother, and enslaved him. As he grows into his teenage years as a slave, the list gets longer. With the help of a network of Britons, he escapes, determined to exact his revenge, but not everything is as clear cut as he once thought.
The plot is straight forward, and though there are some tense moments, battling and mortal danger isn’t the point of the tale. This story has a strong moral message about the nuanced nature of people and how they treat and judge each other. Ultimately, it’s about a young man’s growth and the events that change his perceptions as he matures.
The pace is moderate with some repetition, but I was engaged throughout. The historical details seem well-researched, adding to the authenticity of the story. Point-of-view focuses on Adelbehrt for most of the book, with occasional shifts to other characters, and all main and secondary characters felt believable to me. Adelbehrt is particularly well-rounded and likeable as the story centers on his thoughts and experiences.
Please add a comment in the comments box.
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Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author) 