You Shouldn't Talk To Strangers... ;-)

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Today seemed like a good time to share a slightly spooky snippet and get your Halloween weekend off to a good start. Enjoy! 😉

Excerpt from Taken by the Huntsman:
It seemed like an unlikely place for a portal to Cassie, but she reminded herself that she didn’t think the Fae could lie, and Ithel had specifically said it was there. Besides, what did she know about portals? Maybe they always hung out inside old wells. She pulled herself up into the crack and had to squeeze to get through.

As she fell against the opposite wall, she heard a grinding behind her and turned to see the opening in the rock now sealed shut. A cold feeling passed through her gut as she ran her hand over the now smooth wall. Why would Ithel want to trick her into entering a well?

Smacking her hand against the wall, she called out. But there was no answer. She heard a trickling sound and looked around for its source. It wasn't long before water pooled around her feet.

Why would he want to trap her in a well, and then fill it with water from the bottom? It wouldn’t kill her; she’d just float to the top and then climb out. She could see that the top was open because there was light from it. If he dumped the water down on top of her from above, she might drown before she could float above the source, but not if it came from underneath.

Unless he meant to only fill the well partially and hope she would eventually tire and drown? But if that were the case, she thought the walls were close enough together that she could wedge her back against one side, and her feet against the other, and climb to the top. It would be difficult, and it would take some time, but she thought she could do it. So what could his motive be? And what about Fae not being able to lie? Was she somehow mistaken about that?

As the water rose to her ankles, Cassie called out again. It was getting too dark for her to see, and worry was starting to nibble at the edges of her mind. She wasn’t sure exactly why Ithel had trapped her in the well, but it was starting to look as if he had left her there. The more she thought about it, the more she realized he had never promised to send her home alive, or to open the portal as soon as she was close enough. All he had said was that he would open it when she was close enough, and that he would take her to it.

It was quite possible the portal was in the well, but that he wouldn’t open it until she had drowned. Maybe she wasn’t wrong about Fae not being able to lie, and maybe she was. But, either way, it seemed as if Ithel intended to kill her in this well. She still wasn’t certain why he didn’t think she’d be able to get out. But she was beginning to worry that he might be right, and something would prevent her from climbing out of the top.

With that in mind, she began feeling around the walls to see if she could find a way out. To her disappointment, the walls were smooth. The water continued to rise and was soon to her thighs. The water was cold and, in spite of how hot she had been in the forest, it chilled her. She tried to keep moving to keep from feeling the cold so acutely and continued to look for a way out.

No matter how loud, her calls for help went unanswered. And her search for an escape seemed to be futile. As time passed, the fear that there was no way out, and that her decision to trust the Elf might truly be the end of her, grew...

...Cassie continued to call out and move as much as she could, even though her feet had long since left the ground, and she was left floating in the darkness. The water was extremely cold and her teeth chattered. She had no idea how long she had been in the well, but it felt like an eternity. The top of the well was still out of sight. But she wasn’t sure if that was because it was too far above her, or because it had grown too dark for her to see it.

She kicked her legs and tried to rise above the water, while reaching her arms up as high as she could. All she felt above her was air, until finally, her fingers struck something hard. She kicked again and managed to grab onto what felt like a metal grate. Her heart sank as she explored the grate with her hands and it became obvious it covered the opening of the well.

Now she knew what Ithel’s plan had been. Once the water rose high enough, she would be trapped beneath the grate and would drown. The realization sent a surge of adrenaline through her that warmed her and gave her energy. She redoubled her cries for help and tried to find a weakness in the grate she could exploit.

It soon became clear that the grate was securely attached to the top of the well and would not be dislodged by any means she had at her disposal. It wasn’t long before she no longer had to stretch to reach the grate, and she began to panic. She screamed for help, but all she heard was her own voice echoed back to her by the forest.

In her despair, Cassie succumbed to the frigid temperature of the water. She felt sleepy and lethargic. Her arms and legs were heavy and difficult to move, and she found her face was sinking under the water more often. She no longer felt cold, and it seemed an awful lot of effort to continue to tread water and call for help. All of a sudden, a bright light appeared above her, and she felt another small thrill of terror. Cassie had heard of people seeing a bright light as they died, and she didn’t want to die. But, somehow, it was hard to find the strength to fight anymore.

Want to find out what happens to Cassie? Grab your copy at the link below! Happy reading and Happy Halloween!! 😊

Taken by the Huntsman

#APC #Spotlight: Antiques And Alibis (Cass Claymore Investigates Book 1) By Wendy H. Jones!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Wendy H. Jones in my APC spotlight, today! Wendy is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her women sleuths, cozy mystery, private detective, murder mystery novel, Antiques and Alibis, looks great! Here's the description:

Cass Claymore, a red headed, motorbike riding, ex-ballerina inherits a Detective Agency, and accidentally employs an ex-con dwarf and an octogenarian. Hired by a client who should know better, Cass has no leads, no clue and a complete inability to solve a case. Still a girl needs to eat and her highbred client’s offering good money. Join her as, with bungling incompetence, she follows a trail littered with missing antique teddies, hapless crooks, a misplaced Lord of the Realm and dead bodies. Will Cass, and Scotland, survive?

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1203

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Twelve-Hundred-Three:

My youthful compatriot has still not been returned to my domicile. I have repeatedly questioned my hominid-servant regarding his absence; however, she remains as obtuse as ever. What does concern me is that whenever I venture close enough to her for her to touch me, she lifts my person up and cradles me against her body while stroking my head and scratching my chin. This compulsive cuddling carries the flavor of a frightened animal seeking emotional comfort through physical bonding activities. My hominid-servant is usually much more respectful of personal boundaries, so this lapse on her part does not bode well for the future of my young companion.

It's never easy when loved ones are sick. 😢 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

All Hail The Mighty Hunter! ;-)

Hey Everyone,

This is something I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago, and with things so tense, right now, I figured we could all use a little comic relief. So, I hope this gives you a chuckle the way the incident did for me at the time. Peace!

A fly got inside, and the small took great offense to this fact. The fly lived up to its name, flying around from here to there. And the Small chased the fly around with great persistence, not allowing little obstacles like inconveniently placed furniture or knick-knacks get in his way. And his dedication to his cause was rewarded! The fly tired and landed, and the Small pounced. Success!

The Small caught the fly and celebrated by eating it. Because why not, right? He earned it. And he has now spent the last half hour wandering from room to room proclaiming his prowess as a hunter for all the world to hear. At the top of his lungs. 😑

#IDontKnowWhyHeSwallowedTheFly
#IDoubtHellDie
#AllHailTheMightyHunter
#LifeWithCats
#OwnedByCats
#ComicRelief

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This is just one more reminder of how badly regular people are being fucked over by the predatory class, and why healthcare is one industry where there is no room for the profit motive. Peace!

#Spicy Peanut Soup In A #Crockpot #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is an easy, delicious, hearty soup, perfect for those cool Autumn nights. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
8 cups vegetable stock
1 cup red wine
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp sriracha
2 tbsp harissa
8 cloves garlic minced fine
2 tbsp ginger grated
2 tomatoes chopped
2 onions chopped fine
4 potatoes scrubbed and diced
2 carrots chunked
6 cups collard or mustard greens chopped
1 cup peanuts chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

In a saute pan, add the olive oil and onion and cook until the onion becomes translucent. Add the garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and greens to the pan and cook until the greens wilt. Add the remaining ingredients except for the chopped peanuts, peanut butter, tomato paste, wine, and one cup of stock to the crockpot and turn on high. Add the contents of the saute pan to the crockpot and deglaze the pan with the reserved wine and stock. Simmer the wine and stock in the pan for a couple of minutes to allow the wine to reduce and add them to the crockpot. Cook the soup on high for 4 to 5 hours, or until it simmers.

Put the peanut butter and tomato paste in a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel, and heat in 30-second increments until the paste and peanut butter are soft enough to stir together. Add the paste and peanut butter to the crockpot and stir to combine. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as necessary. Simmer for an additional 30 minute to an hour, garnish with chopped peanuts, and serve piping hot with a side of crusty bread or over cooked rice or quinoa.

Bon appetit!

The Cost Of Giving Up...

Hey Everyone!! 😊

With the election in less than two weeks, I thought this might be a good time to remind everyone of a couple things. Enjoy! 😉

Excerpt from Answers from Alyce:
"Because our courts have largely been taken over by religious fundamentalist extremists who don't consider women to be people worthy of the same rights as other people. It's hard to maintain a cheerful outlook when you know that any existing laws that protect the rights of women are likely to be struck down within the next few years."

"Can anything keep that from happening?"

I shrugged. "As always, maybe if there is enough public outcry. But I think the odds of that are low. People are just too busy trying to survive to constantly keep fighting against all the horrible things the people in power are trying to do to us. Eventually, most people reach a limit in their ability to continue to resist and they just give up."

"But the things they are fighting against don't go away."

"No. They don't. And the people who are doing those things are only emboldened when they get away with their evil and no one even protests. But, realistically, that's what often happens. There's only so much energy and attention most people can devote to fighting. Which is why the people in power have designed the system the way that they have."

I walked away from the exhibit and rubbed my neck. My head felt like someone had planted the brass section of a band inside it, and they were playing a marching tune. Sighing, I shook my head, trying to shake away the pressure. "Sorry, boys, it's just really hard not to take this matter personally."

Want to read more about Alyce's thoughts? Grab your copy at the link below! Happy reading and don't forget to vote! 😊

Answers from Alyce

#APC #Spotlight: Franky The Fearless Flamingo: A 'Using Your Strength for Good' Hero Story By Wanda Luthman!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Wanda Luthman in my APC spotlight, today! Wanda is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her animal, hero, fantasy, anti-bullying, children's story, Franky the Fearless Flamingo, looks great! Here's the description:

Franky is back with his 4th book in the Franky the Flamingo series (although each is a standalone book so you don't have to have read previous books to understand this one).

Franky the Fearless Flamingo rescues the helpless wherever he does go.

In this tale of strength and compassion, a mean crab owes a debt as his ration.
The little sea turtle that he hurt, he later helps with kindess, his new passion.

The crab learned to use his strength for good to help someone in need, just because he could.

Franky the Fearless Flamingo is a hero for helping a mean crab learn the important lesson of empathy.

If you think this sounds like something you, or a munchkin in your life, might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1202

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Twelve-Hundred-Two:

My young companion’s condition has not improved. His health continued to deteriorate and, yesterday, my hominid-servant took him away and did not bring him back again. When she returned to my domicile, she reeked of the frightening place where the “fixing" takes place. I inquired as to his condition; however, my questions went unanswered. I confess, I am quite concerned about the little idiot and most perturbed by my hominid-servant’s failure to be forthcoming regarding his status. I will remain vigilant for any clues as to his fate and report back when any additional information becomes available.

Poor Thoth. A friend who's sick is always something to be concerned about. You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

Strange Dynamics...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
But this time, the looks she and her companions received were different from the looks she had gotten the last time she had visited Targoviste. She blended in no better than before, in fact her group was even more conspicuous than she had been alone, but the sort of interest they were inspiring wasn’t nearly as predatory. The people here clearly recognized Vlad, and to Petri’s amazement they just as clearly were giving him a wide berth. It was the first time she had ever seen anyone become an object of interest to desperate people and not be in danger.

Petri knew that Vlad was feared and respected because he was powerful, but this was a level of dominating personal authority she had never before encountered in any individual. Normally, when someone went to Under City, they either did their best to blend in so no one would think they had enough to be worth going to the trouble of trying to take, or they went with what was effectively an army. Even the heads of Families and Houses exercised caution and brought their security and posses with them if they walked an underworld street, unless they went extremely incognito. But these underworlders were treating Vlad like he was the threat. Petri didn’t know what to make of that fact.

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This is just one more reminder of why we need Medicare For All, and any politician who is not fully and completely behind Medicare For All is not representing the interests of regular Americans. Peace!

#October2020 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so time for my #IndieBooksBeSeen monthly indie author book review!! Enjoy! :-)


Dream Prophet: Awakening by Colleen Tews:
Rhianne Leto is a woman who is struggling to find the path she is supposed to follow. A werewolf, a werewolf hunter, and a witch, her confusion only intensifies when the death of the pack's Alpha coincides with the visitation of prophetic dreams. Will she be able to navigate her new-found power while also grappling with the complication of a forbidden romance? You'll have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed this book. There aren't enough woman/werewolf stories, and this one was really well-done. The protagonist is believable in her search for answers. This is a story of self-discovery as much as romance, and the focus on this young woman's journey is a nice change of pace from the all-consuming love plotlines in a lot of romances. I would definitely recommend this book.

#PumpkinSpice French Toast #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

In the unlikely event you have leftovers from last week's recipe, here's an idea for what to do with them. Enjoy! ;-)

Ingredients:
Leftover Pumpkin Spice Bread Cut Into 1" Wide Slices (Recipe Here)
1 cup milk
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp brandy (optional)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp lemon zest (optional)
1/4 tsp salt

In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the bread. Submerge each slice of bread in the egg mixture and allow them to sit for several minutes to absorb the flavors. Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a pat of butter in the bottom. Lay each slice of bread in the skillet, being careful not to crowd them, and cook until golden brown. Flip the bread over and cook on the other side until golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup or sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.

Bon appetit!

#APC #Spotlight: The Song Of Forgetfulness A Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure Series By Nicola McDonagh!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Nicola McDonagh in my APC spotlight, today! Nicola is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her dystopian, genetic engineering, science fiction, adventure, series, The Song of Forgetfulness, looks great! Here's the description:

An invisible enemy wants to destroy mankind.

Only one girl with a secret power can stop them. But there’s a problem. She doesn’t know how to use her special force.

With crazed fanatics, fiendish monks, and savage wildmen on her trail, intent on using her ability for evil, Adara must seek out allies if she is to save the world.

But who can she trust?

As war rages and her brother taken by force, Adara has no option but to put her faith in strangers and mutants.

Will they help? Or will they betray her?

Find out in this thrilling sci-fi, dystopian adventure.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1199

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Eleven-Hundred-Ninety-Nine:

I have finally made a full recovery from the infection my hominid-servant inflicted upon me; however, my young apprentice does not seem to be as resilient as myself. His condition has worsened, and my hominid-servant has been preoccupied with caring for him. So much so, in fact, that she has been neglecting her responsibilities towards me.

I have attempted to remind her of where her priorities lie. Unfortunately, my efforts have had little effect, and she remains focused on the tiny pest. I was able to gain her attention long enough to induce her to refill my food bowl; however, she then immediately returned to tending to my afflicted companion. I am not unsympathetic to the little idiot’s plight, but the extent to which he is monopolizing my hominid-servant’s time is simply unacceptable. I can only hope this plague passes soon so that the normal routine of my domicile can be resumed.

Ah, the frailties of mere mortals. ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

Books & Inspirations By Colleen Tews! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I just wanted to let you all know about a cool Facebook group my friend, Colleen Tews, is running. She does live book reviews, which she also posts on YouTube, makes announcements regarding upcoming book releases, and promotes the work of independent authors. Plus, it's just a lot of fun. 😉 If that sounds like something you might enjoy, check it out here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksandinspirations/?ref=share

And if you'd like to see an example of one of her YouTube reviews, check out this review she did of my own Captivated by the Winter King:

Happy reading!! 😊

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This is the type of story the mainstream media never amplifies, and that's why so many people in this country spew nonsense like "Blue, no matter who." But just because the corporately-owned media doesn't share this perspective doesn't mean we can't. 😉 Peace!

Easy #Pumpkin #Spice #Bread #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Now that Fall is getting closer, it's time for all things pumpkin-flavored. Wouldn't you agree? ;-) Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 15oz can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
3 cups flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup rum or brandy (optional)
1/2 cup walnuts chopped
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Soak the raisins in the brandy or rum overnight (optional). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease the bottoms of two 9x5 loaf pans. In a bowl, mix the pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients except for the nuts and raisins. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together. Add the raisins and nuts to the batter and stir until evenly distributed.

Pour the batter into the pans and for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool the bread for 10 minutes in the pans. Loosen the sides of the bread from the pans with a butter knife, remove the bread from the pans, and place them top side up on a wire rack. Cool the bread completely before slicing. Serve as-is or toasted with butter.

Bon appetit!

From Small Beginnings...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

With everything that has happened this year, I thought it might be time to remember where the power to change the world truly lies. Peace!

Excerpt from Answers from Alyce:
"Will you tell us about some examples of how this dispute has escalated?" asked Yax.

"If you want, but they don't have a lot to do with this exhibit."

The tall alien shrugged. "I believe my esteemed colleague was correct; we will not be able to use this exhibit in our museum because the subject matter isn't lighthearted enough. Our museum is meant to educate and entertain, and there is nothing amusing about the mistreatment of society's most vulnerable individuals. At this point, I am asking merely to satisfy my academic curiosity."

Squid-boy clicked his beak. "Unfortunately, much about your society that seems like harmless lunacy on the surface has much darker undertones. There are several exhibits we'll be removing as a result of what you've told us. In fact, we may find it necessary to remove the entire section about your world, or at least your nation-state, because your people seem to exist in a state of perpetual insane barbarism, and a large segment of your society seems to lack sufficient self-awareness to even be able to recognize that there is a problem.”

I winced. "Dang, Squid-boy, ya don't pull any punches, do ya?"

"I'm sorry, young human, the purpose of asking you here to help us refine these exhibits wasn't to make you uncomfortable. We merely sought to better illustrate certain facets of your society. Regrettably, the more we learn, the clearer it becomes that the aspects of humanity we wished to highlight are simply unsuitable for this project."

I shook my head. "No. You're right. We are guilty of these things. It's a problem. And the only way to fix a problem is to acknowledge and confront it." I rubbed my eyes and looked off down the hall where a small window showed the sea of stars outside the station we were on. It struck me, that little sliver of transparency in a huge, monolith of a wall. And, yet, it still managed to reveal so much. It was a stark reminder of how each of us, as limited as we all are individually, have the capacity to share so much if we can just find the means to give of ourselves a little. "We humans need to be honest with each other and ourselves if we're ever going to make the changes we need to make."

The weight of Yax's big, warm hand landed on my shoulder, and I looked up at him with a wan smile. He smiled back and said, "That's a truth that applies to more than just your species. Your planet is young; there's still time for your people to mature."

I reached up to give the big fingers a squeeze. "I hope you're right. I hope we can learn enough, fast enough to keep from destroying ourselves."

Want to read more of Alyce's analysis of the current state of affairs? Grab your copy at the link below! Happy reading! 😊

Answers from Alyce

#APC #Spotlight: The Glass Gargoyle (The Lost Ancients Book 1) By Marie Andreas!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Marie Andreas in my APC spotlight, today! Marie is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her new adult, humorous, fantasy, action, adventure, novel, The Glass Gargoyle, looks great! Here's the description:

Magic, Mayhem, and Drunken Faeries

Archeologist Taryn St. Giles has spent her life mining the ruins of the elves who vanished from the Four Kingdoms a thousand years ago. But when her patrons begin disappearing too--and then turning up dead--she finds herself unemployed, restless, and desperate. So she goes looking for other missing things: as a bounty hunter.

Tracking her first fugitive--the distractingly handsome and strangely charming Alric--she unearths a dangerous underworld of warring crime lords, demonic squirrels, and a long-lost elven artifact capable of unleashing a hell on earth.

Chased, robbed, kidnapped, and distressingly low on rent money, Taryn just wants one quiet beer and to catch her fugitive. But there's more to Alric than his wicked grin--is he a wanted man or the city's only hope? With menacing mages in pursuit and her three alcoholic faery sidekicks always in her hair, Taryn's curiosity might finally solve the mystery of the elves... or be the death of her and destroy her world.

Pick it up today, you'll never believe what the faeries do on their next bender!

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1197

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Eleven-Hundred-Ninety-Seven:

I believe I am beginning to recover from the infection my hominid-servant inflicted upon me. The episodes of sternutation are growing progressively more infrequent. I have attempted to communicate to my hominid-servant how deeply I disapprove of having such an affliction imposed upon me; however, though, I have expressed my displeasure most eloquently and vociferously, she does not seem to be concerned about having provoked my ire. The only response my complaints have resulted in is my hominid-servant wrapping my person in panels of textile and placing me on a heating device. I will admit this is a pleasant sensation, but it really doesn’t address my underlying concern. This is yet another example of when the extreme obtuseness of hominids is exceptionally inconvenient.

Hominids! ;-) You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-) Happy reading, everyone!

Déjà Vu All Over Again...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy!😊

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
Vlad gestured and a ribbon of light appeared. It looked a lot like what Petri had used to get to enigmatic entity’s city the last time she had entered the rainbow on Upworld. She remembered the first time she had met Vlad’s surrogate, Cappy, it had informed her they were called “buses” for data, and that she had been able to use one for that purpose when she had entered the rainbow looking for Vlad. As she looked at the glowing line of data, something about it seemed important. The fact that she had been able to use the bus seemed like it might be useful in some way, but Vlad was speaking and she was distracted before she could nail down the thought.

“Where we are in the rainbow should have no impact on your ability to make the connection we are looking for, but if we go to my city it will be easier for me to control the number of distractions you are exposed to while you work.”

Petri remembered Targoviste and her strange inability to blend in with the residents there. But she didn’t need to keep a low profile, this time, at least not in that way. Shrugging, she looked at Chessie and Daji, who just shrugged in return. Turning back to Vlad, Petri nodded. "Okay, I guess it’s as good a place to start as any.”

Vlad led them to the glowing ribbon and reached out his hand to her. Taking it, Petri reached out her other hand to Chessie, who took it and simultaneously grabbed Daji’s hand. Once they were all connected, Vlad touched the ribbon and Petri found herself buffeted by the same energy vortex that she remembered. But the trip was over almost before the chaos registered, and she was left with only a sensation of dizziness and a strange sense of déjà vu.

As she remembered, when she looked around, Petri saw the same kind of clubs, dust dens, retail outlets, fetish houses, and consumables establishments that had filled the Southern sector of Under City, where she grew up. She also remembered the familiar sense of the people here; beat-down, tired, and hungry ̶ exactly what she would expect from her, former, fellow denizens of the underworld. The desperation in the atmosphere was still palpable.

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This one pretty much got buried under the corruption and incompetence of the leadership of both major political parties in the US, but it's something that should have been front-page news for days. So, please take a few minutes to watch this video, and then you can make up your own minds. Peace!

Easy Vegetable Stir-Fry #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is a quick and easy recipe, perfect for a weeknight dinner when you have rice or other leftovers to use up. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
3-4 cups cooked rice (your favorite kind)
1-2 cups frozen vegetable mix (whatever you happen to have in the freezer)
1-2 cups leftover vegetables (whatever you have that needs to be used up) (optional)
2 scallions chopped (optional)
3-4 eggs
4 cloves garlic minced fine
2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tsp sriracha or other hot sauce (optional)
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine or red wine vinegar
3 tsp dried oregano
3 tsp dried basil
1/4 cup olive, peanut, or sunflower oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large, deep-sided skillet, add the oil, rice, and vegetables and saute until the rice starts to crisp, slightly. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk together. Pour the eggs into the skillet and scramble around until they are cooked and mixed with the rice and vegetables. Add the seasonings, vinegar, soy sauce, pepper flakes (optional), and sriracha or other hot sauce (optional), and stir until all the ingredients are mixed evenly and the sauces are evenly distributed. Remove from the heat and top with the scallions (optional). Serve warm.

Bon appetit!

#Animal #Rescuer's #Guide To #Staying ( #Relatively ) #Sane! #Free! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Just a reminder, for those who haven't checked it out yet, I've collected all my animal rescue/care posts together and published them as a small book.  If you'd like, you can download the book for free from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iTunes.

Amazon

Smashwords

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Thanks for stopping in today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: WILD THING (C.O.A Series Book 1) By Kim Cormack!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Kim Cormack in my APC spotlight, today! Kim is an active and supportive member of the Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her coming of age, magical, fantasy, mythological, action/adventure, novel, Wild Thing, looks great! Here's the description:

After many years lost in places void of humanity, Grey found her. He introduced her to a partially immortal family. She’d been saved in so many ways by the Ankh. They were the family that she had always been destined to find. They would teach her to embrace the dragon that resided within her. She would learn that both the dark side of her spirit and light were equally important. Lexy of Ankh was a weapon, unmatched by any member of the other clans. She would fight for all that is good even though most of time her heart remained lost in the darkness. Greydon tried to be her handler, but Lexy of Ankh was meant to be a WILD THING.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)