You have until the 11th of May to order your Blogger’s Bash T Shirts. Just ordered mine…. in a small, hope I don’t eat too much cake in the meantime or I might just need a medium…. Check out this post via Geoff to find out more.
Author: Marje @ Kyrosmagica
Hi.
Welcome to my blog: M J Mallon - Kyrosmagica Publishing. A blog about magic, books, writing, laughter, and much more! I'm a YA fantasy author, poet and reviewer. My first YA fantasy novel The Curse of Time - Book 1 - Bloodstone is set in Cambridge and Book 2 - Golden Healer is now out too. As well as this, I have contributed to several anthologies, created my own with some amazing international writers, bloggers and creatives during the pandemic: This Is Lockdown and written two poetry collections: Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity & Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose. I write book reviews on my blog and on Goodreads, book bub and on my bookstagram. I have a penchant for travel and have relatives in far flung places, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, (my birthplace.) I grew up in in Bonnie Scotland, in Edinburgh, and now live in Cambridge. I love sunny, hot places, particularly Rome, Venice, Portugal, Barcelona, and I forgot to mention the sun drenched beaches of the Caribbean, how could I? I am lucky to have been blessed with two lovely daughters and a husband who I fondly refer to in this blog as my black sheep. Family joke! With my passion for travel, culture, beautiful beaches, good food, books, theatre, writing, and humour, I hope to keep you entertained. I'm loving every minute of this creative journey, please join me.
#WQWWC : Fantasy
For Colleen and Ronovan’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge, #WQWWC – I’m sharing two quotes, one about the nature of fantasy, and the other about Time.
I’ve also written a poem, which I’ve called If Only Time.. The poem is inspired by my current WIP: The Curse of Time.
If only Time …….
A shadow blots my landscape,
Black-hearted drifter,
Daring deceiver,
Handsome fellow,
Beautiful hero,
Blight on my heart.
If only time,
Could drive away sorrow,
Life’s caricature of pain,
Time takes me journeying,
Music fills my heart,
Art enlivens my soul.
At Ten to Three,
Time stands forever still,
Grantchester meadow waits,
Drawing back the veil of Time,
Shutting out the shadowed seconds,
Mighty Krystallos Live.
Two curious invitations,
One beautiful, one not,
Bring me to this cursed moment,
Climb aboard time’s winged creature,
Experience picnic blue skies,
The church bell sings.
The Grasshopper laughs,
A Black cat poses,
The field a painting grows,
The mystery fiddler plays,
A melancholy note lingers,
Capturing a bygone age.
This sublime landscape,
Reveals a fractured puzzle,
Woven in art’s design,
The Golden Grasshopper awaits,
Three joyful, wretched riddles,
Freedom – the precious prize.
Can Amelina halt the shadows?
Time’s merry-go-round of suffering,
The Riddler will decide,
The rollercoaster grinds,
Rips, tears, groans and howls,
In life’s eerie, blissful playground.
If all fails, I’ll surely weep,
Dread buries in my sunken heart,
Sweet treasured home,
Protect the cottage from intruders,
Drive out the minutes of darkness,
Renowned Krystallos Heart.
Mighty Golden Healer Crystal,
Mend the broken path of shadows,
Rid us of Time’s Curse,
Save those captive,
Splinter shatter crystal light,
Treasured Krystallos Soul.
© Marjorie Mallon 2016 – aka, Kyrosmagica. All Rights Reserved.
My Wattpad link is below – at the end of this post – if you’d like to read some of my novel. Do bear in mind that this is a WIP and not the final version .. I’ve been editing my novel….. and it will soon be getting a beta read so I’m getting nearer and nearer to completing it, and readying it for publishing.. EXCITING!!!!!! So do pop over to Wattpad and give me some support. All comments, shares, likes most gratefully received. x
Here’s the link to Colleen’s blog to join in the challenge: WQWWC – Fantasy
The quotes I’m featuring this week are:
Fantasy mirrors desire, imagination reshapes it. Mason Cooley.
Love this quote isn’t it the best?
And the one below is for all us procrastinators – you know who I’m talking about! This quote is the most popular Goodreads quote about Time… I wonder why?….
“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” Marthe Troly-Curtin, Phrynette Married
I hope you enjoyed my poem, and the quotes too.
See you soon, bye for now.
If only Time… would stand still!! Wretched …. stealer of our seconds, minutes, and hours..
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
My Links:
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#ThursdayDoors: A Church Door before the Dentist!
For #ThursdayDoors:
Here’s a tiled image of a door I found in my neighbouring village Histon – it’s the door of Histon Baptist Church on Station Road.
It never ceases to amaze me where you find a door. This one was on the way to the Dentist! I was just about to go for a scale and polish and there she was shouting out for me to photograph her! Isn’t she a beauty?
Here she is in a bigger individual photo – all red and shiny, no don’t worry -it’s not my mouth…
Anyway, the dental hygienist did a fantastic job. It didn’t hurt much at all, but I did get quite drenched… no not the rain… the device to clean my teeth was pretty full on!
If you’d like to join in the #ThursdayDoors fun here’s the link up to Norm’s blog: Norm’s Thursday Doors.
Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing it, between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time), by using the blue link-up button on Norm’s blog.
Oh, and I just found this for Thursday Doors enthusiasts: door_embassy on Instagram: Door Embassy
Hope you enjoyed my #ThursdayDoors post.. I wonder where I’ll find my next door…
Bye for now,
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
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BTS: Fire!!K-POP !!
This is for my eldest daughter – she’s a massive BTS fan! Who are BTS you might ask? Unless of course you’re already a fan – and believe me their popularity is not a matter of uncertainty. This band are super popular. A bit like a BLT! No they’re not a relation of the BLT, the bacon, lettuce and tomato sarnie, they’re a Korean pop group! They dance, and sing – pretty impressive, my daughter loves them! They even have a K-pop society at her University dedicated to learning their dances, and celebrating all things Korean pop style: ! Sussex Univ K-Pop Society
This article in The Daily Dot will interest BTS fans, take a look, : http://bit.ly/27aVt0k
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Nominations for Bloggers Bash Awards Are Now OPEN!
We are finally on the count down to the bash, peeps. I am so excited I really ought to be wearing a sports bra what with all the bouncing up and down. So far we have announced the totally-off-the-c…
Source: Nominations for Bloggers Bash Awards Are Now OPEN!
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Still Making Snow Art #22
I just love comic art… so had to reblog this cute snow art by Bob Watterson featured in the Secret Keeper. This love of comic art stems from childhood – huge Tintin, Asterix the Gaul, and Our Willie fan!!
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#WeekendCoffee Share: Ely Eel Festival
If I was having coffee I’d say that I’ve been consuming some interesting beverages recently, a mocktail, comes to mind.
Yesterday I was at Grand Central Ely (my daughter’s recommendation,) an authentic American style restaurant right by Ely waterfront. My daughter and I sampled their tasty burgers and also had some lovely mocktails, (no alcohol!) We both opted for a Cotton Candy – A sweet blend of coconut cream, pineapple juice and grenadine. It was delicious!
I’m not sure if I could replicate that mocktail but I do have a smoothie maker! Otherwise would a humble old coffee do ? Don’t worry I promise not to serve it in a bucket!
Yesterday my daughter and I’s visit to Ely coincided with the Ely Eel Festival. We had quite a day.
We watched Morris Dancers – more about that and our day on my post for: Hugh’s Photo Challenge so do stop there do and take a look!
We saw dancers, young performers, singers, men and women in Medieval costume, Morris Dancers, people eating Eel… the DJ wasn’t impressed – he spat his out! I bought some pot plants, and a cute cuddly cactus which sadly I lost somewhere… either on the grass, Tescos, or the train, I’ve no idea. So if you find my pot plants – do take care of them..
I had to share these particular photos of the event:
Who are these ladies in long black dresses you might ask? I was thinking the same thing until they put their tassels around their hips and then it clicked. Belly Dancers! These are the Elysian Belly Dancers, swaying their bellies and hips in tune to the music. Well done them, so brave to show off their Arabic dancing talents in public.
If you’d like to join in the fun here’s the link to the website: Elysian Belly Dancers. I have to say I was tempted, but I have writer’s meetings once a month on a Thursday evening! I co-coordinate the Cambridge Writer’s writing for children group: Cambridge Writers, so if I want to belly dance I might have to find another class! C’est La Vie!
What else have I been up to?
On Wednesday night I usually go to my Tai Chi class but I was invited by fellow writer – Alex Mellanby – author of The Tregarthur Series: Author Alex Mellanby – Amazon Profile along to an interesting, and enlightening SCIWBI event at Heffers Childrens Bookshop, Trinity Street. The guest of honour – Clair Goodhead, The Bookshop Manager, enlightened us about the history of the bookshop and gave us an insight into how passionate they are about books in general, and championing local authors. These type of events are excellent for networking, and finding out more about the bookselling industry. I met the co-coordinator of the Central East SCWBI network Helen Moss, writer of Adventure Island Books.
More about Helen here: Children’s Author: Helen Moss
This experience has made me consider joining The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, here’s the link to find out more: SCBWI.
More about Diana’s #WeekendCoffeeshare:
Part Time Monster Weekend Coffee Share
#WeekendCoffeeShare Link Up Post
Do you like to eat Eel, belly dance or have any unusual hobbies? Are you a SCBWI member?
Don’t forget to comment, and do have a lovely bank holiday weekend.
Bye for now,
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
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Hugh’s Photo Challenge: Season
Today it’s time for Spring to come our way in a very entertaining and amusing way. For Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge – Season I’ve been on a little journey on a train somewhere….
It began yesterday, my hubby had gone off sailing for the bank holiday weekend and had inadvertently taken my car keys with him. As you can imagine I wasn’t too pleased, especially as I had to go to Ely to collect my daughter’s prom dress. It had just been altered, the hem only, by a local seamstress. Never the mind we rushed to get the train, but missed it by seconds. So to cheer ourselves up we had some drinks – hot chocolate for me, and a chocolate milk shake for my daughter! The next train arrived and off we went. We had a lovely meal at Grand Central Ely (my daughter’s recommendation,) an authentic American style restaurant right by the waterfront. We sampled their tasty burgers and also had some lovely mocktails, (no alcohol!) We both opted for a Cotton Candy – A sweet blend of coconut cream, pineapple juice and grenadine. It was delicious!
The calories are really piling up – oops – must cut down!
The weather was quite nice so we managed to sit out and had a fantastic view of this:
Morris Dancing!
At the spring Ely Eel Festival:Visit Ely: Ely Eel Festival
This was a bit of an unexpected treat – I hadn’t realised the Festival was on!
As I watched the dancers I grew curious, (a writer’s malady!) Two young men graced this band of Morris Men…. I wondered how does a youngster get into Morris Dancing? Is it passed down the generations? From grandfather to father to son?
Also I wanted to find out more about Morris Dancing. What are its origins?
So I did a bit of a google search and found two very interesting websites, so do have a peruse:
Rattle Jag Morris History of Morris Dancing
‘as with many folk customs, the origins are hidden in the mists of time and coloured by later perceptions, which may or may not have been correct’, Alun Howkins
Quote from The Shakespeare Morris Men :
References to Morris Dancing have been found in literature dating back as far as the 15th century, and even then its was regarded as an old tradition.
Today it is accepted that the Morris was a Fertility Rite, danced in Spring and Summer to ensure a fat and healthy harvest in the Autumn. However this is still a theory -there is no proof, and probably there never will be.
So if the traditions of Morris Dancing are past on from father to son, it has been happening for a very, very long time!
I hope (time permitting,) to do a post for Weekend Coffee Share all about my day out in Ely so keep an eye out for that. Ely is one of those little East Anglian gems of pure quirkiness, they have an Eel Festival!
Don’t forget to pop over to Hugh’s blog to check out his Weekly photo Challenge. Ronovan is currently in residence there, managing Hugh’s blog as Hugh is doing a Spring flit, moving to Wales.
Hope you like my post for Hugh’s Photography Challenge.
Are you a Morris Dancer? Do you know more about it than I do? Do comment I’d love to find out more..
Bye for now,
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
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Thursday Doors: A Bit of Toilet Humour!!
Last week Norm featured some oddball doors on his post : Norm’s Thursday Doors so I thought I’d do something a bit quirky for this week’s Thursday Doors.
Here’s the info from Norm’s blog re: Thursday Doors:
Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing it, between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time), by using the blue link-up button on Norm’s blog: Norm’s Thursday Doors April 28th 2016
I’ve got just the door and accessories in mind…. A toilet door! Sorry I did warn you this was a quirky post.
Well it’s colourful isn’t it, ladies? The image is a bit blurry, no I wasn’t inebriated when I took it! I was stone cold sober I swear! Sorry that it’s a bit out of focus but my phone wasn’t impressed by my taking a photo of a toilet door! Given that the post is a bit bonkers I don’t suppose that the blurry image matters too much.
Perhaps the door isn’t as interesting or as amusing as the unusual signs that live just beyond the toilet door. Someone’s got a sense of humour..
These two images …. certainly made my toilet visit entertaining.
I don’t think I’ll wash my feet in the sink… but thanks for the reminder… we’re in Cambridge not a beach resort!!
I took these photos after having a lovely Thai meal at Thaikun Cambridge. I was with my youngest daughter.
The food and décor are great. Their slogan (From the Streets of Bangkok,) is just right. Both times I’ve eaten there it’s been first class, so do go there, have a lovely meal – but whatever you do don’t forget to visit their unusual loo before you go!
The image to the left (below,) is one you often see but the one to the right…. is this a new yoga pose best perfected on a toilet seat? The hover pose? And the person on the toilet kind of looks a bit like he’s got either a long neck like ET, or no neck at all. In fact I suspect that head is in fact a balloon masquerading as a head! Hope it doesn’t go bang and give the person in the next cubicle a dreadful fright!
So you never know what lurks beyond a door….fascinating things doors.
Hope you like my jokey post for this week’s Thursday Doors! Sorry for being so bonkers Norm! I promise to do something more conventional, and cultural next time!
Do join in the fun at Norm’s blue link up post for this week’s Thursday Doors: Norm’s Thursday Doors
Bye for now,
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
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Ronovan Writes Poetry on Tell Me a Story
Ronovan Writes Poetry will be featuring on Annette Aben’s The Magic Happens Radio Network, Friday 29th of April. Find out more about this blog talk show via this reblog.
M J Mallon YA Author and Poet 
