#February2018 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

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


The Dragon Dreamer by JS Burke:

Arak is a dragon, but he's not like the other dragons. He has a gift that makes him different, and being different is never easy. Wanting to gain acceptance among the other dragons, he sets off on his own to try to help his people and ends up in trouble. Which is when he meets Scree and a beautiful friendship is born. Will these two exceptional individuals overcome all the challenges ahead and succeed in helping their people? You'll have to read to find out!

I loved, loved, loved this story. I literally couldn't put it down and ended up reading through the night. It's not a terribly long book, but it's chocked full of important themes and thoughtful interactions between the characters. Virtues like tolerance, patience, cooperation, empathy, kindness, and open-mindedness are emphasized and celebrated. The characters solve problems by working together and using their differences to complement each other. And, as someone who revels in "exploring" new worlds, the world-building in this book is outstanding. The imagery used to paint a picture of two different worlds, one above the water and the other underneath, is breathtaking. I think this book is perfect for anyone from age 8 to 108 and I can't recommend it enough.

#NewRelease #Announcement: The Crown By Genevieve Raas!

There is no greater wish than for a prince who is brave, strong, and true…
From international bestselling author Genevieve Raas comes a tale of dark enchantments and wicked secrets.
Whoever solves the mystery of why the princesses’ shoes are destroyed each night will inherit the throne. Princes from all kingdoms have tried. All fail. The punishment? Execution.
Only a soldier is now willing to take the challenge.
Ross Daltry was crippled long ago in one of the king’s many wars. The lavish lifestyle of the nobility disgusts him, not to mention the vanity of the princesses. He is determined to win the throne and end the king’s incompetent rule.
However, when he meets the Princess Octavia, he finds himself taken by her intelligence and kindness. She threatens to unravel his heart.
But behind the princesses’ pretty smiles lies a terrible secret that is more than just broken shoes. In a race against time, Ross must navigate intrigue, tricks, and terrors to save his life.
The Crown is a dark and twisted retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Excerpt from The Crown by Genevieve Raas:
She commanded them all. Power and grace exuded from her every step and twirl. A broad shouldered man bowed and slid his hand behind her slim waist. Her lips parted into a smile. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade.

I continued along the edge, careful as I maneuvered between the collection of men that stood like trees. I couldn’t help my eyes falling to Octavia. She fell into the arms of an eager partner, only to spin away into the embrace of another.

It was then I noticed a pearl fall from her shoe. It rolled across the floor, passed the men’s pointed leather boots and beside the princesses’ pointed silk heels. It came to a rest right before me. Kneeling down I picked up the smooth orb and placed it deep within my pockets.

A pink ribbon twirled by next followed by a split heel.

The dance continued.

The clock chimed one. The clock chimed two.

Shreds of silk trailed behind the princesses’ spinning feet. Lace was torn and toes peeked through growing holes. Still they danced. The music grew feverish. It infected my bones and my entire body vibrated with the dark melody. It wanted me to join.

It needed me…

I shook it away, focusing on the glittering hail falling from their shoes. Diamonds, gold, and emeralds bounced off the marble floor and rolled beneath cracking soles. Buckles snapped. Seams popped. Strips of fabric disintegrated before my eyes.

Their cheeks were red and lips plump, almost as if they were drunk. They tugged the jackets of their princes, forcing them closer against their heaving bosoms. The men leaned their faces against their cheeks, their arms and hands skating down every arc and sinew. Some kissed passionately.

I couldn’t stop a rush of jealousy as the man with the scar ran his fingers up Octavia’s neck and into her hair. She laughed musically.

BONG! BONG! BONG!

I covered my ears. Every clock chimed three as if summoning the horsemen of the apocalypse.

The music ceased. The dance stopped. The princesses were escorted back towards the boats, leaving the remnants of their shoes behind.

My heart raced. I ran across the emptying ball room, careful not to trip on an errant ruby or broken buckle. My only hope to avoid discovery was to board the first boat with Octavia.

I squeezed beside the princes and princesses as they filed out of the doors, but in my haste I came too close to Henrietta’s skirts. My shoe tugged on the silk and a distinct rip tore over their chatter.

“Look what you did, Bertram!” Henrietta scolded her prince.

“A thousand apologies, your grace,” he said. “But my foot was nowhere near your gown.”

“It didn’t tear by itself,” she snapped.

She pointed at the frayed fabric. He just bowed his head in surrender like a dog to its master.

“I told you, there is something odd about this place tonight,” Aloysia piped. “I’ve felt watched all evening.”

I froze.

“You’ve been reading far too many novels,” Octavia said. “We can’t waste time worrying about phantoms.”

As they stood in debate, I took the opportunity to slide past them. Their feet thundered behind me as we traveled back through the twisting bushes and to the dock. Octavia stepped in the first boat, and I slunk in quickly after.

I dared not breath the whole time, and my mind kept swirling with splitting shoes and dark melodies.

Once we hit shore, I jumped out at the first available moment and ran. I sprinted back up the bank and through the diamond forest. Their voices were never far behind, causing me to quicken my pace even more.

I ducked beneath a low hanging golden branch. Swiped past the silver leaves, the faintest rustle echoing out in my wake.

Laughter bubbled behind me. I forced myself to move even faster.

I raced up the stairs, skipping two at a time. My lungs started to burn and my heart pounded into my throat. The breath of youth I experienced withered away. The pain returned. My ankle ground into the surrounding tendons. Bones cracked and muscle coiled.

Sweat ran down my temples. My ankle could no longer support my weight. I gripped the stone walls, plunging into the cracks and crevices to help pull myself along. Ten steps I counted, each agony. My nails split as I dug them deeper into the mortar.

Throbbing and pounding, my ankle snapped beneath my weight. I collapsed onto the stairs.

Voices. Laughter. They were right up behind me now.

Social Media/Website links:
https://www.facebook.com/genevieveraas/
https://twitter.com/genevieveraas
https://www.amazon.com/Genevieve-Raas/e/B01LZC4GU8
http://www.genevieveraas.com

Sweet And Spicy Rice And Vegetable #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got another recipe that's definitely hot enough to warm you up on a cold winter night. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
2 cups brown rice or quinoa
4 cups water or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup canola or peanut oil
4 tbsp sriracha
4 tbsp chili powder
4 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp turmeric
2 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp cardamom
2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup basil shredded
8 cloves garlic minced
2 large carrots peeled and chopped
1 cup frozen peas or pea pods
1 zucchini chopped
1 fennel bulb cored and chopped
1 cabbage cleaned and shredded
3 onions chopped
1 20oz package button mushrooms sliced
1 bell pepper chopped
2 jalapeno peppers chopped
1 package frozen spinach thawed and drained
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup regular raisins
1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 cup walnuts chopped and toasted
2 14oz cans chickpeas drained
Salt to taste

Place the rice or quinoa in your favorite rice or quinoa cooking dish or appliance along with the water or stock, 1 tablespoon cumin, 2 tablespoons sriracha, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1 teaspoon honey, and salt to taste. Cook the way you would normally cook rice or quinoa. Cool and set aside.

Heat a large deep-sided skillet or wok to high heat and add the oil, onions, carrots, peppers, fennel bulb, and cabbage. Cook until the vegetables wilt and start to brown. Add the spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, raisins, and garlic. Cook until all the vegetables are wilted and add the chickpeas and the remaining seasonings and spices except for the basil. Deglaze the pan or wok with the vinegar and add the nuts and the coconut. Taste and adjust salt as necessary. Add the basil and then stir in the rice or quinoa one cupful at a time so that the grains are coated with the seasoning. Stir continuously until all the rice is added and remove from heat. Serve hot with a side of yogurt or sour cream and flatbread.

Bon appetit!

#APC #Spotlight: Slither By Valarie Savage Kinney!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Valarie Kinney in my APC spotlight, today! Valarie is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her supernatural, thriller, paranormal romance, horror novel, Slither, looks great! Here's the description:

We're often told tales of the underworlds to feed the darkest corners of our nightmares. We tuck them away with the sunlight and laugh away the fear our minds created. But the daylight offers no relief for Zari. She's hidden her waking nightmare as nothing more than a damaged past. The venom of her secrets consumes her, as well as those she cares for most. Emmett, the love of her life and the only one with a past dark enough to respect her space, becomes a pawn in the war against the demonic force which is her bloodright. Can Zari overpower those out to get her to feed on the innocent? Can she save Emmett from the evil of Slither?

 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 692

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 Six-Hundred-Ninety-Two:

My hominid-servant seems to have taken leave of her senses. She has spent the day hanging pink and red colored paper decorations cut into odd shapes from various anchors throughout my domicile. She has also been burning the wicks in several of her artificially scented wax cylinders, which has left my domicile reeking of chemicals and smoke. I do not believe she realizes how disturbing this is to a being with a superior sense of smell, such as myself, as hominid scent detection equipment is notoriously inefficient.

To make matters worse, she has spent hours making edibles that give off intriguing odors, even through the interference of the wax cylinder scents, but she refuses to share any of them. When I attempted to filch a sample of one, she shooed me away exclaiming that it would poison me! Why, by all that's rational, would any being labor so assiduously over an edible that can't be eaten?

Since I was unsuccessful in my attempts to taste the fruit of my hominid-servant's labor, I will do my best to describe it. It was a dark brown color, not dissimilar to the food she habitually places in my bowl but with a much sweeter scent and glossy shine. The texture appeared firm, though my hominid-servant did not seem to have any trouble cutting through it with her cooking utensils. And the scent, though sweet, was also rich and complex. I believe this substance is likely of vegetable origin, though it is clear that it has undergone much hominid processing.

I am not certain what has prompted my hominid-servant to suddenly engage in such bizarre behavior. Perhaps she accidentally ingested some of her poisonous edibles and is suffering ill effects as a result. I will continue to monitor the situation and report back on any further developments.



Curiouser and curiouser! Happy Valentines Day! ;-) 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!

The People #United Will Never Be Defeated

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got a little more of Alyce's adventure to share with you, today! Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from sci-fi satire novel:
I nodded. "Almost 60 years ago, now, we had a President, named John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated while he was in office. During one of his speeches, he said, 'Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable'. He was talking about other countries, but it's a universal truism when it comes to human beings."

"Who killed him and why?" asked Squid-boy.

I shrugged. "Ostensibly, a man named Lee Harvey Oswald, though there are several theories that either he didn't do it or he didn't act alone or by his own volition. As for why, no one really knows for certain. Oswald was murdered, himself, only two days after he was arrested. And a lot of what he said sounded crazy, so who knows what was true and what was just in his head? Or maybe it was all true and we just lack the context to make sense of it. Or maybe he didn't do it at all, I don't know. No one really knows, except maybe some government spooks, somewhere."

"Do you have an opinion on the matter?" asked Yax.

Sighing, I shook my head. "Not really. I haven't looked into all the evidence enough to really have formed an opinion; I just know the basics that everyone knows."

"Not even a guess?"

"A guess? Well, if I was going to guess, and if JFK wasn't just shot by a crazy person who got his hands on a gun, then I'd guess that it might have been because he was trying to change things. The speech I quoted was about other countries, but JFK had been championing changes in the US, too. Particularly with regards to how people with darker colored skin were treated. He also supported economic policies that helped the poor, so it's possible he pissed someone off who had enough power to do something about it. But I don't know if that's actually what happened."

Yax nodded. "A mystery."

"The convolutions of your history are fascinating," interjected Squid-boy, "but did you mention that quote because you believe your people are headed for violent revolution?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I hope not. But this," I pointed at where the robots dressed like police wielded their batons and shields and faced off against the robots dressed like protestors, "just makes the people who are disenfranchised more desperate. If the government won't give people room to express their discontent peacefully, then it's pretty much guaranteed they'll do so less than peacefully. That's what people who are angry, frustrated, and scared do. And that's how revolutionary wars get started."

"Might that be for the best?" asked Yax. "Wouldn't it allow your people to restructure your political system into something that works for more people?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't think it would be for the best; I think it would be a disaster. Violent, undirected change? Who knows what we might end up with? Who knows if the disenfranchised would even win that war? Yes, there're more of us. But the people in power are the ones with the fancy weapons and the trained military. The underdog rebels always win the in movies, but things don't always work out that way in real life. In reality, the government calls those who take up arms against it 'terrorists' and it wages a propaganda war against them and villainizes them in public opinion before exterminating them while the rest of the world sighs in relief. And then it passes laws to 'protect the public' that makes it even harder to express dissent. We might end up with something far worse than what we have now. And, no matter who won or whether or not the government we ended up with was better or worse, a lot of innocent people would be dead. I hope with all my being that we can be smarter than that."

Yax nodded. "That makes sense. Though, I'm not sure what means that leaves you with for effecting change."

I gestured at the exhibit again. "This. Eventually."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, this will work, eventually, if the protestors are persistent in both their protest and their non-violence. When videos of police beating up unarmed, non-violent citizens go viral on the internet, it makes for a far better narrative with regards to public opinion than if the government is able to post videos of protestors destroying property or hurting people."

"Ah," said Squid-boy. "I see. The protestors will publicize examples of abuse by your law enforcement in an attempt to sway the opinions of enough people that eventually your government will not be able to ignore the matter or refuse to fix it."

I nodded. "Yes. Though, the government will still use misdirection and disingenuousness to attempt to obfuscate the matter."

"That is when they'll pretend that the problem is something other than what it actually is, like you said before," said Yax.

"Yes. Or they'll try to blame the victims or create a lot of hoopla about some other issue to try to distract everyone. They have a lot of methods for deceiving people, and the public tends to have a short attention span. That's why it's such a battle to get any meaningful change. But it has happened before, so with hard work and persistence we can make it happen again."

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share.  I'm not sure how many of you realize this, but depending on the state that you live in, primary elections for your state may be as early as next month. So, you should definitely Google your state and find out when your primary will be, what elected offices are being voted on, and who the primary candidates are. Also, make sure you're able to vote in the primaries you want to vote in, which may require that you change your party affiliation if your state doesn't have open primaries as many states done. And, of course, make sure you're actually registered to vote. In short, make sure you'll be able to vote for the candidates you want to vote for. If the 2016 election proved anything it's that voting matters and primaries matter a lot. So, let's all make sure we're doing our part this year so we don't drop the ball again.

Towards that end, it's important to know who's running and what they stand for. The Young Turks network has created a series where they interview progressive candidates from all over the country running at all levels of government. These interviews are both interesting and informative and might just help you rekindle some hope for our country. One that I particularly enjoyed was with the candidate who is running against Paul Ryan. Randy Bryce is exactly the kind of working-class, everyday kind of dude that just about anyone can identify with. So, I'll leave that video below, but please also go to the TYT Politics channel on YouTube and check out the rest of the Rebel Headquarters series, as well. Peace!