Who Is Mistral Dawn?

Mistral Dawn is a thirty-something gal who has lived on both coasts of the US but somehow never in the middle. She currently resides in the Southeast US with her kitty cats (please spay or neuter! :-)) where she works as a hospital drudge and attends graduate school. Taken By The Huntsman is her first effort at writing fiction and if it is well received she has ideas for several more novels and short-stories in this series. Please feel free to visit her on FaceBook or drop her a line at mistralkdawn@gmail.com

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

An Open Secret...


Hey Everyone! :-)

I just wanted to write a quick note for all the people in this country who are suddenly so deeply concerned about learning about history. You see, I think there're some facts you should know that you apparently somehow missed all these years. I'm sure you'll be thrilled to learn that there are these buildings all across America. Seriously, just about every city and even small town has at least one. And bigger cities and towns usually have several. Anyway, these buildings are full of these things called "books." And within these books are pages with words written on them. Now, the words in these books cover all different kinds of subjects, but many of them cover history. And an excellent way to learn that history is to read those books. But, do you know what the best part is? The people in these buildings let you read all their books for free! Yep. I'm not joking. You can read any book in these buildings for free.

Now, I'm sure you're asking what these magical places are called. Ready? They're called "libraries." And to make your studies even easier, libraries are staffed with people who have spent years learning how to do research. And those people will help you with your research. The bonus here is that, once again, the professional services of these highly-trained experts are 100% free to you.

So, not only can you read about the history you're suddenly so interested in learning about. The reference librarians at the library will help you find lots of books covering the same historical period and events written from multiple points of view and focusing on different aspects of what you're studying. That way, you can get a more complete picture of what happened and a better understanding of all the different people and ideologies involved. Because clearly, with all the concern you suddenly have about learning about history, you'll want to make sure you have as thorough an understanding as possible about the events in question. And, you know something? Librarians are perfectly happy to help you find books written from whatever perspective interests you. Even books written by voices who don't have official approval. If you ask for it, they'll help you find it. They'll even reach out to other libraries and ask if you can borrow their books, if the library you're at doesn't have what you're looking for.

So, if you really want to stick it to the man, you've got your avenue open for you, right there. And it won't cost you a dime.

But, you're asking yourself, what about the quarantine? Aren't libraries closed? Well, many of them are. But a lot of the libraries that are closed are offering curbside service. You can search for what you're looking for in their online catalog, or call them or email them and ask for help finding what you need, and they'll bring it out to you. That's how dedicated librarians are to helping you fight the system.

So, there you have it, folks! No excuses. No matter what the powers that be do, you'll be able to learn all about whatever history you want. You know what else you can do? Once you've learned about that history, you can tell others. That's right! No one will stop you from telling whoever you can convince to listen to you whatever you like about any aspect of or take on history. So, if your mission is to make sure people are informed, there you go.

Happy reading! ✌





Monday, August 3, 2020

Something Worth Watching?


Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This is just another reminder of why I believe, while Trump is certainly not a viable option to vote for, neither is Biden. But watch the video for yourselves and draw your own conclusion. Peace!





Sunday, August 2, 2020

Don't Forget The Sides #Recipe!



Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is a quick and easy side that goes with most meals and can easily be adapted to being made on the grill. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
20 fingerling potatoes
1/4 cup pecorino romano grated
3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped fine
8 cloves garlic minced
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Clean the potatoes by scrubbing their outsides under cold, running water and then boil them in salted water until fork-tender. Drain and set aside. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Place the boiled potatoes on a baking tray (or on a large piece of aluminum foil if cooking on a grill) and use a fork to smash them into disks. Brush both sides of each of the smashed potatoes with the oil mixture and pour any remaining mixture over the top of the potatoes. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or fold the aluminum foil over and crimp the edges to form a sealed pocket and place on a heated grill) for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown. Serve piping hot as a side dish or mix with other roasted veggies as part of a main course.

Bon appetit!



Saturday, August 1, 2020

#NewRelease #Announcement For Dragon Thunder By JS Burke!


Hey Everyone!! :-)

My Friend, Jenny Burke, would like to tell you all about her new book. Jenny, take it away! :-)

Jenny:

BLURB:
DRAGON THUNDER: Stand-alone Book III of the Dragon Dreamer series.
As Mardor incites a rebellious clan, how can Drakor protect his friends ?

Drakor foresees the doom of dragons, but Mardor refuses to listen. No one thinks the youngster will challenge this huge, powerful ruler! Now Drakor is the unexpected leader in a new world, where deadly problems grow faster than the unnatural storms. And as hard as it was to win that terrible fight, leading is harder.

As Mardor incites a rebellious clan, Drakor questions everything. How can the clan survive if they can’t work together?
And can he survive another brutal fight with that giant?

As the world plunges into winter, Arak and Scree offer their help. But Drakor’s seafaring friends face their own threats. Only one thing is clear: Everyone is in danger.


Science Fantasy for young adults 9 to 99. (262 pages)

BIO:
J. S. Burke is an author, artist, and scientist. She's worked as a marine biologist,  studying creatures of the dark abyss and diving on coral reefs.  Her stories blend imagination with real science and author experiences.  She lives with her family, rescue companions, and dragons!

The Dragon Dreamer series grew from her years at sea, a fascination with the alien, intelligent octopuses, and a love of dragons.

LINKS:
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B49F7SM/
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/099604258X