There is still time to enter your poem in the Diverse Verse 3 poetry collection. Closing date: 31st December.
#SundayBlogShare A Christmas Thought – Hoping for Ordinary Kindness and Love This Year
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a Happy New year.
I’d like to spare a thought this Christmas for all those who are lonely, or devastated by terrible news. Not everyone is surrounded by family and friends at Christmas. Perhaps someone you know will be at home eating baked beans alone. I know someone who is. His partner works shifts as a hospice carer, she will be working Christmas day, so he will be alone. Fortunately, they are having their celebration the day after on Boxing Day with a big family get together.
My heart goes out to my daughter’s friend this Christmas. Her mum is terminally ill with cancer and will not live much longer. I feel for her and her brother who are overwhelmed with much responsibility and sadness at such a young age. To add to their plight their parents are separated and they are young adults living alone.
Reflecting upon these overwhelming emotions are perhaps one of the reasons why I became a writer – to express those emotions that are not always easy to understand or to live with. Life can be cruel, but it can also be wonderful. So, I am going to spare a kind thought for her family this Christmas, and hope she finds the strength to deal with the ordeal that will surely follow. From what my daughter has told me she is a resourceful, admirable young woman, and I am sure her mother would be so proud of all she is doing.
2017 hasn’t been the best of years, has it?
There has been much senseless violence, sadness and loss of life, but I discovered a wonderful tweet from one of my writing hero’s: Stephen King which lifted my spirits …
Wishing for you all acts of love and ordinary kindness this holiday season. In the end, you know, most people are good.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 22, 2017
Let’s hope that 2018 is a better year and that ordinary kindness and love will prevail.
Do enjoy the festivities, smile a lot, drink and be merry for life is short, but make it sweet.
I will be taking a bit of blogging break for a few days but I’ll be back in the New Year.
Much love, xxxx
#SundayBlogShare Writespiration #146 52 Weeks in 52 Words Week 51
I haven’t had much chance recently to have time for writing. Oh, that makes me so sad! So I thought it would be nice to have a go at Sacha Black’s Writespiration by writing a story in just 52 words.
The prompt – Write about the night you spent in a cemetery really got me thinking…
This is my entry… Be prepared … this ended up being definitely in the horror/dark humour genre!
Marti and I didn’t want to appear chicken, so we accepted a dare – A night in a cemetery, alone, partying with the dead. Nothing creepy happened or so we thought, until I awoke with a freshly dug grave next to me with the inscription: Dig Marti out quick, if you dare, Chicken.
© M J Mallon 2017. All Rights Reserved
To join in Sacha’s Writespiration follow the link below:
https://sachablack.co.uk/2017/12/20/writespiration-146-52-weeks-in-52-words-week-51/
Sorry that wasn’t very Christmassy! Lol… I did get my writing analysed ages ago and it said I wrote like Stephen King (I wish! So this is just my tribute to him!)
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and Joyful New Year. No walking late at night in cemeteries folks!
Oh, by the way my YA Novel is currently on special offer … on Amazon Kindle.
Bye for now,
My Social Media Links:
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends – Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies
Author/Blogger Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Author/Blogger Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC Read and Review – Goodreads
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge no. 63
This weeks prompt words from Colleen are cover and precipitation and the challenge is to use only synonyms. I’ve chosen cloud-burst for precipitation and masquerade for cover.
This weeks prompt words from Colleen are cover and precipitation and the challenge is to use only synonyms. I’ve chosen cloud-burst for precipitation and masquerade for cover.
And the following is an extract of Puzzle Piece 28: Leanne’s Warning from my YA fantasy novel – The Curse of Time Book 1 – Bloodstone which is currently on special offer price, so grab a copy!!
I knocked and waited to enter. The door creaked open. I took that as my invitation to slip through the opening and breezed inside. As before, my eyes searched out the sparkling crystals, and for a moment I almost forgot why I’d come. I stood motionless, in awe of the surrounding beauty.
In the corner, I spotted Leanne, unpacking new stones that must have recently arrived. As I watched Leanne at work, the crystals freed themselves from her protective hands. They flew across the room, whizzing, creating a trailing rainbow of spectacular light, and sound. In no time at all they found their allotted places, embedding themselves with ease in the walls.
At last, I drew my eyes away from this amazing sight. I turned to face Leanne. ‘I need to speak to you.’
‘What can I help you with?’ replied Leanne, in a dream-like voice.
‘Recently things have been happening that are beyond my usual level of acceptable peculiarity. I wondered if you could help.’
Leanne’s eyes widened, and she nodded her head. I explained about how my new paint set seemed to have a mind and purpose all of its own. I described the strange events that had happened since I used my aunt’s gift. She listened but made no comment.
I stomped my foot and thought I would burst with frustration at her lack of response. ‘Leanne, what shall I do?’
‘Embrace these events.’ Cupping her hands together, fingertips touching, Leanne rocked on her heels. She turned back to her unpacking duties.
‘Whatever do you mean?’ I wailed, shocked at her response.
‘This is happening for a reason. You must not be fearful, Amelina. Welcome, all that’s happening, and the truth of who you are will dawn on you.’
The room was quiet except for the rustling of paper as Leanne unwrapped the remaining crystals. I listened but was unsure what to do next. I walked over to the wall of gems, ensnared once again in the magical beauty they exuded. Three crystals twinkled more brightly than the rest and caught my eye. I carefully removed the Black Obsidian, the Bloodstone, and the Merlinite and weighed each gem in the palm of my hand. An aura of light burst from the stones and encircled me. Each crystal’s field of energy exploded in a kaleidoscope of colour and joined together forming a solid beam of brilliant intensity. I felt an invisible energy force rush through me shooting all the way into my fingers. I glanced down, and my fingertips were glowing, the brightest pink I had ever seen.
I had never felt such raw power. I could tell something beyond my comprehension was taking place. I staggered back, filled with wonder, and my mouth dropped open. The experience made me feel complete as if something elemental had been missing from my life all this time, until now. I had no doubt these crystals were the perfect choice to give me the answers I was seeking.
I stumbled over to Leanne who winced from the brightness of my aura. I gently handed her the gems. She inclined her head and pondered over my selection. ‘Interesting… such a choice of crystals, Amelina. I’m sure these gems will set you on the right path towards discovery.’
The sound of rain falling outside, followed by rumbles of thunder, interrupted my thoughts. The cottage darkened, highlighted only by flashes of lightning. The crystals lining the cottage walls shrank into their protective spaces, their colours dull, seeming to hide from the sudden approaching storm.
Leanne’s face darkened, mirroring the impending storm. Thunder boomed above causing her to pause for a moment before she continued. ‘You must take extra care with these stones, for all three hold immense power. Guard the Wizard Stones, the Black Obsidian, and the Merlinite. Keep them safe, and remember, the power they may unleash could overwhelm you.’
The luminosity surrounding me swirled and intensified. I swallowed and asked my question carefully. ‘How?’
Leanne peered at me from the darkness. ‘These are Wizard stones. She pointed to the gems still cupped in my hand. Used without care they can drive you mad, make you hallucinate, or even provoke seizures.’ Her forehead creased and her eyes blinked as the lightning flashed through the windows. ‘You must protect them from damage, taking particular care to avoid scratches, blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperature. Cleanse the Bloodstone Crystal if it comes in contact with anyone else.’
‘What happens if I don’t follow your instructions?’
Leanne leaned in close to my face and whispered, ‘The crystals will become impure, open to evil manipulations, wielded by darkness and used by black-hearted, devious souls.’
I whispered back a scared, ‘I promise.’
© M J Mallon 2017. All Rights Reserved
Continue reading “Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge no. 63”
A HUMUNGOUS THANK YOU!
A big, gigantic, humungous thank you to Colleen Chesebro for creating this wonderful graphic header of our amazing Facebook club – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club which is gathering such incredible support. We now have 173 members!!!!
I’d like to thank, hug, bear hug, the lovely Vashti Vega for producing these amazing graphics of members books and sharing them on twitter:
I created the graphic below for the latest #ABRSC read and review – Brigid Gallacher’s 5 star review of Robbie Cheadle’s– Sir Chocolate and The Strawberry Cream Berries Story and Cookbook.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31378084-sir-chocolate-and-the-strawberry-cream-berries
We now have a group on Goodreads for #ABRSC Christmas/New Year Read and Review a members book – https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/19083848-christmas-new-year-read-and-review.
I’ve just started reading an ARC of Lizzie Chantree’s Ninja School Mum for the read and review..
By the way I’ve just discovered that Lizzie is offering a wonderful prize on her blog at the moment – A £10 Amazon voucher and a week of tweet support for your book/business/Twitter account from @Lizzie_Chantree with over 51.5K genuine followers.
Here’s how – All you have to do to enter is to watch my book trailer in full and leave a comment on the YouTube video. You will then be entered into a prize draw. The winner will be notified a few days later. Click the ad above or this link to be taken to the YouTube video. https://lizziechantree.com/2017/12/17/prize-day/
NEWSFLASH – ARC’s of members books are now included in the read and review!!! I’m really enjoying Ninja Book Mum and will be reviewing on my blog soon. I’m so looking forward to hosting Lizzie on my blog in February 2018.
NEWSFLASH – The Curse of Time is on offer from now to Christmas…
Happy reading!
Bye for now,
My social media links:
Check out this amazing graphic that Colleen made for our group –
Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time