Back to the thrills and inspiration of fantasy. Welcome to the world of Fae, wonderful fairy creatures who live their own history and culture of magic. What does this creature mean to you, and where does the inspiration take you? Take a look at this photo and let the story unfold. 

Who is trapped inside this lantern? 
What's lighting it up, and where does it lead?
Will this lantern shine on the correct path, or lead you astray?
Would you trust this fairy?


You decide. Let your imagine ponder the possibilities, and write them down. Write them in your notebook, write them in the comments... just write.

Excerpt: His mother had always warned him to beware of the gods. They were a capricious lot, she had said, with little care for the frailty of mortal life. And if one was calling Seva into the temple, then her life was at risk. 


Valdor didn’t hesitate, didn’t take even a moment to think on what might happen, he simply ran. What he hit was not a solid wall, but a sort of thickness. For him, passing the statue was like walking through water with weighted feet. The air pressed against him, trapping the breath in his lungs. And it was cold. So cold what little breath he could manage frosted before his eyes. 

He broke free to the other side as Seva entered the temple. After glancing back once at the other heirs, Valdor sprinted across the open space and up the steps to the door. There, he paused. Before him was a wide chamber, almost every inch of which was covered with a mosaic depicting a bloody battle between figures unlike any creatures he had ever seen. It hurt his mind to gaze too long upon any one of them. 

Instead, he focused his attention on Seva, who was standing in the only clear spot in the chamber. A twisted rope painted on the floor made a circle around this spot and above it a Gari-Za woman in flowing gray robes sat on a throne of flames. A benevolent smile touched the woman’s lips, but her eyes were cold black orbs. 

Seva’s head was tilted back as if she were looking up at the woman, but her eyes were closed. Valdor moved cautiously forward, wincing as his footsteps echoed in the silence. His lips parted and he started to speak her name, but the word wouldn’t come. The feeling in this place was something so foreign to his senses he couldn’t name it. It crawled across his skin and made his ears buzz. 

He came to a stop when he reached the rope circle. Fear was an acid taste at the back of his throat. Much as he wanted to reach out for Seva, there was a deep feeling of alarm inside him that would not allow his feet to move forward. 

If things had gone on much longer, he might have worked up the nerve to do it, because he was not really as much of a coward as his father had made him believe he was. But he didn’t have to. 

Seva’s entire body bucked, her back arching and her neck snapping back. She drew in a gasping breath, then collapsed. Valdor caught her before she hit the floor as her upper body crossed the line to his side. She shivered as if cold, then grew still. Valdor pulled her the rest of the way out of the circle, then lifted her up into his arms. She was light, but he was unused to such labor and staggered under her weight. Still, he managed to carry her out of the temple. 

Once they were down the steps and crossing the open space, Seva stirred and her eyelids fluttered open. Valdor gazed down into her bright blue eyes and was lost. Any uncertainty about his feelings toward her evaporated in that moment. 

“If I put you down, can you walk?” he asked. 

“I...I think so. Yes.” She looked over his shoulder toward the temple. “What happened in there?” 

“Don’t you know?” He carefully put her back on her feet 

Her eyes met his again as she shook her head. “I remember looking up at the statue and hearing Iza talk about the chosen one. Then everything is a blank. Except...” She laid a steadying hand against his arm. “I don’t know. I feel...something, but it’s...” She sighed. “I’m so tired all of a sudden.” 

“Come on.” He slid his arm around her waist. “Let’s get you back to the carriage.”

That sounds great!  And now, for a little about you...

Author Bio: Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of eleven fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow. 

Connect With Her: Facebook      Twitter    Blog    Website     Goodreads   Pinterest      

Watch Her Book Trailers:   YouTube

Buy Her Books: Amazon       

I admit it... my favorite art projects are the ones that incorporate hand and foot prints into their designs. This not only is fun for the holiday or project, but also captures a piece of time. It cements your child's age and attaches a special memory to that artwork.

How often do you let your kids go crazy with paint, or step in it... not too often. So chances are, when you allow your child to do this, this will be something they remember for a long time. And every time you look back on it or decorate for the holidays, you will remember the process with a smile.

These are a few fun options for Halloween that I found on pinterest. I look forward to making these for Halloween (my favorite is Frankenstein).

What I thought:This was a fun story. From the very start, I felt connected to the characters, understanding their feelings desires, relationships. The author writes with an ease that made the world building, characters and story flow. 

The story is clear and precise, balancing the development of the world, the plot and the characters. I never felt a moment if confusion (even with the suspension of belief) or wish for more depth. The author seamlessly blended modern children into an ancient civilization.

When they made it to Atlantis, there was a realism I didn't expect. I expected more mysticism and beauty. But instead felt the realism of Atlantis as a place, and I appreciated that.  This is a nice story that combines adventure, mythology, and friendship. It tells the tale of friendship, using each other's talents and skills, and being brave despite rough circumstances... And that adventure can happen when you least expect it. 

A solid 4 star story! I look forward to the rest of her series.

Today I am happy to introduce you to a friend and his new book. Thomas Rydder is a a one in a million type of guy. Warm, funny, friendly and talented. His website is focused on helping out all writers by passing along industry news, helpful tidbits, personal stories, and other writing promotions. I was thrilled that he hosted me for an interview and information about my new releases.It was with pride that I post and introduce him to you. 

First a little about his new book, then a  little about him.

Restless Souls
Book Descriptions:

1. "Do Unto Others" (short story) - Jeremy is a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he is wronged by a local businessman, it becomes his mission to seek revenge. But his new enemy has friends - ones that don't take kindly to intruders.

2. "Colors" (short story) - Harrison Street. attorney, biker wannabe, coward. When he finds the bike of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. It is.

3. "Simona Says" (novella) - Simona has had it rough. Death, disenchantment, and disappointment are all part of her life. She wants to be happy for a change, and she's willing to do just about anything to find some. Anything.

You can purchase at:
Smashwords
Amazon kindle

Now to get to know Thomas a bit better.

Bio
I was born in 1957 in a small town in Western Pennsylvania that had - and still has - one traffic light. There wasn't a whole lot to do there, and we had few neighbors, so I learned to play quite a bit of make-believe - soldiers, cowboys and Indians, that kind of thing. At the same time, I loved to read and watch old movies. On Saturdays, my dad played in a country western band, and I stayed up to wait for him. It was during that stretch that I discovered the horror movie. You know the ones I mean. Karloff, Chaney, Lee. The masters, right?

Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.

Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.

What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid.

I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand. 

Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time.

Thomas Rydder - writer

You can connect with him at these links:

FACEBOOK
BLOG
GOODREADS
PINTEREST
TUMBLR
TWITTER

Thomas is not a new comer to writing, He already has a fantastic book out. The Clearing. I had the chance to read this, and posted my review here. It is a wonderful 5 star book with a different take on werewolves.

The Clearing

A small town in western Pennsylvania – quaint, simple, peaceful. That is, until The Elder takes up residence. He has an agenda – one that is 1,000 years old, and cannot be denied. One that will change the lives of many – and end the lives of any who interfere.

But it here on Amazon

It's tour time!!! I want to give a big shoutout and thank you to Donna at The Girl Who Reads for putting this together. She is an all star! Her process is easy to follow, professional and warm.

I hope you will join me this week as I introduce this new dystopian short. Follow the links below for character interviews, reviews, and a giveaway.

Oct. 21 Sarah Aisling www.sarahaisling.com 
Oct. 22 Mom With A Kindle http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com 
Oct. 23 To Taste Life Twice Http://jamieadamswriting.wordpress.com 
Oct. 24 Down the Rabbit Hole www.LeighaLCraig.com 
Oct. 25 OlgaNM http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com 
Oct. 26 Larkin's Book Bloggers http://blogs.ellingtonschools.org/larkin/ 
Oct. 27 Cabin Goddess http://cabingoddess.com 
Brooke Blogs http://www.brookeblogs.com 
Oct. 28 Girl Who Reads http://www.girl-who-reads.com 
Oct. 29 Jenn's Review Blog http://www.jennsreviewblog.com/ 


The short story is available here at Amazon for only $0.99

What says Halloween more than slime... add in glow in the dark, and you have a recipe for a weekend of FUN!

Homemade slime recipe:
2 Elmer’s white glue bottles (4oz)
3-4 tablespoons glow in the dark paint
Water
Neon food coloring
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 cup warm water

Directions:
1. Pour the white Elmer’s glue into a bowl. Fill the empty bottles with warm water, place the lids back on and shake the bottles (this will help remove any remaining glue inside the bottle and make it easy to measure your water). Pour the watery glue into the bowl and mix with a spoon.

2. At this point you want to add food coloring to your glue.

3. Stir in the glow in the dark paint into your glue mixture.

4. In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of Borax (the warm water will help dissolve the borax).

5. Mix the borax water and glue mixture together with a spoon, but but don’t be afraid to use your hands to fully mix the two together.

The special ingredient that makes the glue turn into slime is the borax. Play around with the amount to get the perfect consistency, if you prefer a runny slime use less borax. Also, when you first began mixing the glue and borax water the slime will be VERY runny and a weird texture, don’t freak out! The more you play with it the better the consistency will turn out.


Found and re-blogged from FunHomeThings. Take a look for more at home craft ideas.

In honor of Halloween and all things spooky, I decided to go a bit darker for inspiration this week. Take a look at this photo and let the story unfold within you. 

What is happening to this woman? 
Who's hands are on the inside?
Is something trying to get out?
Is something trying to keep her quiet?
Manifestation of a dreadful secret, killing her from the inside?

You decide. Let your imagine ponder the possibilities, and write them down. Write them in your notebook, write them in the comments... just write.

Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you to a wonderful new children's book, Good Morning World!


What the book is about:
Glide gently into the beautiful morning with Baby Thomas and his grandpa. The sun is shining brightly through the wide window and the flowers, trees, birds, and other creatures have already started their day. Brilliant colors of the dawning day wake up the park, and Baby Thomas is ready for a walk. While walking in the park with his grandpa, they see the same things but from a different perspective. Baby Thomas wants to hug the wonderful world around him, but his grandpa has a different opinion. In this book, young readers will easily connect to the wonders of nature and unforgettable characters, playfully interacting with each other. Join happy Baby Thomas and his grandpa for a walk and have a delightful, uplifting morning! 

What I Thought
This was a charming book. Following the differing perspectives of the Grandpa and the child, this book is a wonderful reminder about the importance of a positive attitude. I LOVED the joyful wonder in the child's perspective, and cringed as I recognized some of the grandfather's.  

What I love about all of Mrs. D's books is that they share a message. They teach the adults as much as the kids. This message in particular touched me. It is a reminder about seeing from the eyes of a child. Exploring the world with an open mind, an open heart, and enthusiasm. Life is full of blessings, and sometimes we forget to notice them.

Thank you Mrs. D for another 5 Star children's book!

About the Author
Mrs. D. (Olga D'Agostino), an award-winning author of children's books and member of SCBWI, grew up in western Ukraine, where she finished Lviv business college. She immigrated to the United States in 1992 with her two small daughters and for years worked in her own business. She speaks a few languages fluently and loves reading, writing, gardening, and traveling. Her children's books Carlo the Mouse on Vacation, The Trees Have Hearts, The City Kittens and the Old House Cat, and Carlo the Mouse, Book 1: Too Many Rules for One Little Mouse, are available in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and as e-books for most popular e-devices. The full series of Carlo the Mouse and her new books The Mysterious Life Inside a Closet and Who Is Most Important in the Fridge? are coming soon. Mrs. D. lives in Smithville, New Jersey, with her husband, Patrick, and adorable Nyda the cat. For updates on Mrs. D.'s future books, please visit her websites: mrsdbooks.net or mrsdbooks.com.

It's that time of the year... a time where your creativity is put on display. A time when people will parade around, looking at your carefully carved pumpkins. You know what I mean. 

Yes, they are primarily coming for candy, but they are also looking at your pumpkins.

The pumpkins at our house have transformed with the age and drawing ability of our kids. They have changed from being painted with scribbles, to rough shapes, to clever faces and designs. Each year a new level of depth added with their creativity. I am anxious this year to see what they design. Will it be simple, scary, creative, or a simply a beautiful design.

Whatever they choose, it will be a delight to make, carve, and create memories. So have a fun weekend, pick out a pumpkin, carve it up, and enjoy the fun of the season.