Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge #46 – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: HONEY & WINE
I’m participating in Colleen’s challenge and the prompt words this week are perfect to introduce you to my main male character Ryder in my debut novel – The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone.
You can join in Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge by clicking the following link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/15/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-46-haiku-tanka-haibun-honey-wine/
Don’t forget about my online party to celebrate my kindle book release on 26th August which will be held here, on Facebook, and on my social media.
Here’s a buying link to my Amazon UK page:
Bye for now,
My social media hang outs:
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon
Team Awesome at my Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
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Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 45 – #Haiku #Haibun or #Tanka: Hate & Pride
Colleen’s prompt words this week for her poetry challenge are hate and pride.
It brings to mind a conversation I had with my daughter about the Pride Festival in Brighton this August. My daughter has recently left Brighton (having completed her University degree) and missed Pride but some of her friends were at the event and were shocked at some idiots (only a few thank goodness) who’d come along to cause trouble and disharmony. I just can’t understand this kind of mentality. What is wrong with people? Love is love, that’s my view. People are people, whatever their sexual orientation, religion, or colour of their skin.
Fortunately, the event was enjoyed by a huge amount of people and this kind of stupid behaviour wasn’t at large.
To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/08/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-45-haiku-haibun-or-tanka-hate-pride/
Have a lovely Sunday. xxx
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
My link to my kindle book on Amazon:
#SundayBlogShare Invitation to My Online Launch Party 26th August Curse of Time – #1 Bloodstone
Hi. I have some awesome news, my e-book The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone releases on August 26th and you are all cordially invited to my on-line launch party which will be held on Facebook, and here on my blog, etc.
Please share, reblog, tweet this invitation dear friends…..
Summary:
On Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, her father disappears under mysterious circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.
Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.
Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.
With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?
A YA/middle grade fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a curse, magic, deception, crystals, art, poetry, friendships, teen relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, family, puzzles, mystery, a black cat, music, a mix of sadness, counterbalanced by a touch of humour.
An Excerpt from my YA Fantasy:
Opportunity,
An unexpected invite,
Such a mystery,
To explore and discover,
A hidden cottage of light.
I found it to be a mystifying situation. An unnatural stillness seemed to linger after many days of storms. Today, the sky reminded me of a painting. It appeared too perfect, too bright, too still, a picture landscape with no beginning or end. Instead, the vault of heaven spread out toward an endless grey forever, as if seeping around the edges of an untamed watercolour bleeding into the rest of the day. Even so, the sight filled my heart with promise, a ray of hope in an otherwise dull morning.
The quietness of my contemplation came to an abrupt end. I heard the sound of an envelope crashing through the mail box. I jumped at the clatter. The letter landed on the floor as the sound of a thousand crystal chandeliers echoed throughout the house. I rushed to retrieve the envelope and turned it this way and that. I couldn’t find an address label and wondered if the note had been hand-delivered. Who could this message be for?
I stood puzzling over this peculiar circumstance when out of nowhere my name: Amelina Scott appeared in bold writing. I watched wide-eyed as the final character of my surname was spelled out in a delicate font. I tore the dispatch open and inside I discovered a card printed on the finest paper with gilt edges and embossed calligraphy. There were few details, just an instruction to visit:
Crystal Cottage, River Walk, Cambridge, and the following added at the bottom as an afterthought: R.S.V.P – Not required. We promise to be welcoming when you arrive. When you’re ready, you’ll discover us…..
I shook my head in disbelief. Nothing good ever happens to the Scott’s so this invitation might look magical, but surely it must be nonsense. Weird messages from unknown sources count as dubious junk mail, the way I look at it.
I grabbed the envelope and attempted to rip it into pieces, but it wouldn’t tear. With a mind of its own the envelope curled its edges in protest. I searched in a drawer until I found scissors and tried to cut the invite. That didn’t work either. My hand ached, but the invitation endured intact as if mocking me.
Frustrated, I tried to cut the invitation again. A sputtered cursing sound filled the room even though I was alone. On my third attempt, I tore into the card with success. (I think it let me.) And once again, I perceived a noise, an angry murmur, and then nothing. Quiet descended in the room, so I threw the torn parts into the bin.
Finally satisfied that the annoying issue with the strange invite would no longer plague me, I brushed my hands together, and picked an apple out of the bowl on the kitchen counter, polished it on my jumper and then took a bite. In no time my hunger had abated, and as I chucked the core towards the bin, I registered a chuckle. I stopped, my feet rooted to the ground as a feeling of certainty filled my soul. I knew what to expect. I have no idea how I did, but I could see the image in my mind, the invitation had reformed. The invitation was playing games with me! I peered in the rubbish, and there I saw the envelope, connected in one perfect, unblemished piece. What the heck?
Enjoy the slideshow of images, and additional poetry – The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone.
Images –
Ryder – (J English) via Georgina Mallon.
Chronopage and Grasshopper courtesy of Dr John C Taylor OBE.
Shadow the black cat – (Lily,) courtesy of Alex Marlowe via
https://samanthamurdochblog.wordpress.com/
Looking forward to you joining me on my very special day.
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 44 – #Haiku #Haibun or #Tanka: HUNT & FIND
It’s my last day in Edinburgh, sigh… Sad to go today, have had a wonderful time visiting my mum, dad, brother, mum in law, and friends. I’m managed to pack a huge amount in six short days. My highlights have been going to see the kelpies, a fantastic theatre show at the Pleasance #EdinburghFringe – The Curse of Cranholme Abbey – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/curse-of-cranholme-abbey
Eating lots of scrumptious food both at home (my mum is an amazing Malaysian cook!) and at local restaurants. Walking around the fun and unusual shopping streets, I’d definitely recommend Cockburn Street for its quirkiness!
It’s fun seeing all the street performers and these young people from Korea – Beyond The Mirror – caught my eye – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/behind-the-mirror
Here’s a spectacular view wouldn’t you agree?
Whilst in Edinburgh during the International Festival and Fringe you inevitably see some extraordinary sights, so with this in mind, here’s my Tanka.
To join in with Colleen’s poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/01/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-44-haiku-haibun-or-tanka-hunt-find/
Have you ever been to the Edinburgh Festival? I love it and always try to go every year.
Bye for now,
My social media hang outs:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Fellow Administrators of The Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club: myself,
https://colleenchesebro.com/ and https://dgkayewriter.com/
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon and @curseof_time
Buying Link – The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone:
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: HEAT & CONFUSE
Colleen’s prompt words this week are heat and confuse.
I reckon I’ll write a passionate Tanka this week! Why? I’m feeling happy having just set up my author page on Amazon: Amazon Buying Link… for my debut novel The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone, even though it was stressful setting it up….
Yes, formatting isn’t my favourite job. It made me confused, hot, headache prone and more than a bit irritable, so let’s have some passionate poetry to make me feel less stressed! Lol…
To join in with Colleen’s wonderful weekly poetry challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/07/25/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-haiku-tanka-haibun-heat-confuse/
Keep an eye out for my next post – my book cover reveal!!! Yippee!!!
Bye for now,
Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Fellow Administrators of The Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club. #ABRSC, myself
Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE 41 – #HAIKU #TANKA #HAIBUN: MUSIC & ART
I couldn’t have asked for better prompt words – music and art.
Both feature as a wonderful source of inspiration in my writing. In our family, there’s always music playing – my husband is a keen guitarist and loves to strum away whenever he can. He serenades me at night in our garden…. Our next door neighbours get cranky about this! We are lucky to have a room dedicated to music with many guitars and an electronic piano too.
Creativity, Photography and Art inspire my writing to such a degree that I have decided to collaborate with one or perhaps two artists/friends to showcase the character/s, and crystal cottage that feature in my book The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone which I intend to release late this summer. More about that to come…
One of my artist friends Catherine S. Walker had her first open studies event last weekend. My friend Timea and I had a lovely time visiting her and viewing all of her awesome art. I’d love for Catherine to create a stunning art piece of the crystal cottage that features in my book…
Take a look at Catherine’s awesome artist page on Facebook: Artist Page: Catherine S. Walker, scroll down her facebook page to see her Acrylic and Watercolour paintings and line drawings: trees, rocks, flowers and landscapes. And detailed buildings too…
So, my Tanka this week… is especially for Catherine, wishing her much success. We spent the day enjoying her art, sitting in her garden, and blowing bubbles!
My good friend Timea looked so wonderfully elegant in these photos…
Bye for now, time for a celebratory cocktail… No bubbles, just a parasol!
My social media links:
Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE # 40 – SUGAR & SPICE
Colleen’s prompt words this week are Sugar and Spice – after her two cute Pomeranians:
So with Sugar and Spice in mind I’d thought I’d introduce you to …
Zog, a little friend of mine who visited us recently. I thought Sugar and Spice might like to hear about this very cute doggy true life Tanka and Tale:
Zog The Gentleman Dog
I’d been in London for the day but knew Zog was coming to stay. What I didn’t approve of was that three rather naughty men, (including my husband,) where going to leave him alone in our house while they went off to the pub. Talk about men behaving badly! Humph…
Guess what? My daughter popped home and in his bid for freedom poor Zog rushed out the door and refused to come back in the house. Can you blame him? He must have thought his owner had abandoned him and he was now being re-housed with a strange new family! My daughter Georgina panicked, believing that Zog would do a runner. So she called me on my mobile, expecting me to miracle a solution in typical wonder mum fashion! I know this blog is often referred to by its original title: Kyrosmagica, (crystal magic) and I still like to think I have some magical skills but this was beyond my white witch capabilities! I couldn’t jump off the train particularly as I now had a bunch of fellow travellers who were now pretending not to listen to my frantic instructions to rescue Zog on my mobile phone! I had no chance of physically helping in the quest to save Zog from escaping, so Georgina called her boyfriend, who popped over, reassured Zog and convinced him to come back in. What a hero! By the time I arrived home poor Zog seemed much happier, and we all had fun taking him for a walk at separate intervals to keep him occupied.
When I had the dog-walking pleasure, I realised that:
- Dogs go crazy excited when you pick up their leads. And leap up your leg in a spectacular fashion (even if they are pretty small.) Their enthusiasm is kind of infectious and enchanting.
- He might look small and cute but he pulls at his lead like a maniac when he sees a cat or another dog! I had to show him who’s boss!
- When do they ever pee or poo? This dog refused to do either? Perhaps the trauma of being away from his owner had caused him to be constipated, and unable to pee? Poor Zog, or maybe he was just being polite. Maybe he didn’t want to do so in view of us ladies!
***
Later that same evening the rascals, (three men behaving badly,) came back from the pub. In, proud Zog fashion he turned his nose up at the idea of forgiving them! Moreover, he had nothing to do with his owner.
By now, Georgina had disappeared – after the stress of nearly losing Zog she needed some respite – besides teenagers are never in… so I became Zog’s new best friend. He followed me all around the house – I couldn’t even take a pee, or have a shower without him coming!
The next morning I opened the patio door to let him out – he was bursting to explore (or do a pee,) I’m not sure which. Later, I realised Zog had been on a mission. A very special mission. He came back with something in his mouth that he deposited on my kitchen floor. Being used to cat’s offerings – dead mice, decapitated mice, etc… I took a step back, somewhat alarmed, but I had no need to be. Zog’s mission had been to gift me a tiny flower, (a pretty weed,) – but in his eyes it must have been the finest specimen of his appreciation that he could find. Isn’t that so lovely? So Zog is my inspiration for my tanka today.
Here he is. Zog the Gentleman dog.
Isn’t Zog so cute? What a sweet dog. I’m smitten!
Hope that Sugar and Spice enjoyed my special Tanka for them, Colleen.
To join in Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge, please follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/07/04/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-40-sugar-spice/
Much love,
My social media links:
Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 38 – FAIRY & MAGIC
Today, my husband and I had a grisly conversation about death… not exactly a cheery morning chit chat but I thought if I have to go one day and no doubt I will…. this is how I’d like to imagine it… Not some black, bleak, meaningless end. No, I’d like a supernatural being to visit me. No vampires please unless you are so handsome and your final bite is worth it! Perhaps a magnificent unicorn to carry me far away on some incredible adventure, or a mermaid to take me swimming in some exotic land… Wait a minute…. What about many supernatural beings, (except zombies – they don’t rock my boat!) plus the delicate kindness of the fairies to see me off?…. Now, that sounds perfect!
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 37 – SMOKE & VEIL #Tanka #micropoetry
The prompt words this week are smoke and veil. They fit in beautifully with a particular character in my book : Book 1 – The Curse of Time – The Bloodstone which I am currently formatting with a planned release date to be confirmed this August…
The particular character I have in mind looks a bit like the young man in the photo below…. I shall be doing a character interview post soon.
Photo courtesy of my keen photographer daughter Georgina. Thank you to J. English, (media studies, drama student,) for agreeing to be our model!
To enter Colleen’s weekly challenge follow the link:
https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/06/13/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-37-smoke-veil/
#Tanka, #micropoetry, #poetry, #5lines,
If you’d like to join my Facebook Club – Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club please get in touch. Administrators: myself, Colleen, and Debby Gies .
Here are my links:
My New Facebook club : Rainbow Support Club/
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon and @curseof_time
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 36 – HAPPY & SAD
This week’s prompt words are Happy and Sad, very appropriate given the situation in the world at the moment. It seems that humanity is doomed to live in a state of happiness one minute and sadness the next. So, to try to lift our spirits I’d like to share with you some happy photos from Strawberry Fair.
Our friends Richard and Catherine…
and my husband David and I….
There are also some videos on my Instagram:
My husband, and our friends were probably the oldest dudes in the music tent joining in the fun! But, the youngsters didn’t seem to mind, everyone was just having fun, forgetting their troubles.
To join in with Colleen’s poetry challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/06/06/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-36-happy-sad/
Bye for now, much love…
My social media hang outs:
My New Facebook club : Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon
