SMOOTHIE SATURDAY
I've been investigating smoothie recipes lately and found these. There is something here for everyone. They make a great, healthy breakfast. Enjoy.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
MYTHICAL MONDAY
Cover Reveal
for
Dragon Moon
I am pleased today to turn things over to my friend, Julie Nicholls. She will tell you about her exciting new release, DRAGON MOON. Take it away, Julie. :)
Hi!
Thank you very much for letting me take over your blog today
to reveal the cover for my latest novel, Dragon
Moon.
This is a Teen &
Young Adult Fantasy, and I hope to publish with Amazon’s Kindle
Scout program, if it is accepted.
The story concerns Scarlett, an almost nineteen year old who
is undecided about her future. Throughout her school life she has been the
subject of ridicule and bullying because of her flame, red hair. While college
was easier, because she stood up for herself, she can’t make up her mind if
University is the place she wants to be, and is taking some time out from
studying to decide. She visits the Nottingham Goose Fair, and meets Dizelli, a
psychic, who gives her a gold pendant and instructs her to wear it to bed.
Scarlett wakes up the next morning but she’s not in her bed,
or her home. She’s in a field. In her pajama’s.
Scarlett is thrown into a world of dragons and magic. She’s
the Dragon Mage, and it’s her responsibility to save the dragons from
slaughter, and also bring two warring tribes together.
There are just a few days left before the Dragon Moon
arrives. All the dragons currently asleep, protecting their eggs could die
unless Scarlett finds a way to unite the silver haired, and black haired races
together and to stop Lord Ithel from killing the elder dragon who knows the
secret location of the dragon eggs.
Here’s a sneaky peek!
No matter what Elyan’s surprise is, at least it’s another
lovely day out. The sun is shining and despite the cool breeze, it’s perfect
for riding. We set off at a walk but once outside the city walls, Elyan kicks
his horse and he’s off. I have a hard time keeping up on Sootli; bless her.
Once he reaches the foothills, he slows and when I catch up to him, he pulls
off to the left instead of the path through the mountain.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer and just waves at me as he trots ahead.
He’s in charge again; he can’t help it.
We ride for only a little way, and then the smell hits me.
Vanillian.
Soon we’re looking at a blanket of white flowers. They
stretch along the side of the track as far as the eye can see, and the smell is
amazing. Elyan dismounts and wraps the reins around a fallen tree. He helps me
down and leads me to the huge log where we both sit.
I can’t stop sniffing the air and notice he’s staring.
“What?”
He smiles and I notice for the first time how charming he
looks when he’s not scowling.
“I know how much you like Vanillium and thought you would
like to see where it grows. Am I right?”
“Yes! Thanks.”
I’m smiling as I look at him and see him in a different
light. He can be thoughtful when he puts his mind to it. He stares at me for
several moments, his gaze unfathomable. Do I want to know what he’s thinking?
“I am sorry for my behavior yesterday with Mostyn,” he says.
Wow! Didn’t see that coming.
“I expect learning he and your sister were an item was a bit
of a shock.”
“I learned something else too. From my father.”
“What was it?” I ask as if I don’t know.
“That there was someone else he loved before mother. I am
not angry about that. He expected me to be, though. I have a reputation, it
seems.”
I can see a hint of a grin forming.
“My father relies on me to protect the town. While I have my
warriors to aid, I am constantly on my guard. My responsibility to our people
is foremost on my mind.”
“That’s why you’re so wound up, Elyan. You’re stressed out.”
I know how he feels. In my last year of college I was
worrying over my exams, the bullying, and concerns about my life after college.
My dad said when someone is stressed, they are short-tempered, have trouble
sleeping and are unable to see the positive side of things. Elyan ticks all of
the above. People don’t realize they are stressed, but once it’s pointed out to
them, it becomes clearer.
“What am I to do? This is my life. I am responsible for our
people.”
“I understand you have an important role, but you don’t have
to do it on your own. You have warriors who follow your lead. They are just as
capable as you are. Let them take some of the pressure.”
Elyan narrows his eyes as he looks at me. He’s listening to
what I’m saying rather than spouting off. That’s a good sign.
“But will they then act as I do? Become ‘snippety’ as you
say?” He grins.
“No, I don’t believe they will. If you divide the tasks
between yourselves, it will be less of a burden. Do you see that?”
“Yes, I do.”
It could be my imagination, but I swear he looks less
stressed already. He’s a smart cookie and I know I whined about him plenty of
times, but he isn’t a bad person. Actually, as he is now--calm and
thoughtful--he’s very attractive. He was already ranking high on my “hot men”
chart, but it was his attitude that stopped him reaching a higher position.
Oh, I know you think I’m mean, but I bet I’m not the only
one who has a score card.
“When we return home after the meeting today, you can gather
your warriors and delegate your duties. Start enjoying your life, Elyan.”
“I like the way you think. You are as smart as my father
said.”
“Did he say that?”
“Yes, last night after you left. I spoke with him for a
while, and he believes you are too wise for your age.” He chuckles.
Ha! I think what the Earl said probably went something along
the lines of “she’s too big for her boots.” But I’ll accept it as a compliment
anyway.
Elyan is looking at me again. Not quite a stare but his gaze
is lingering and I know I’m blushing. My cheeks are on fire. I’d like to know
what he’s thinking. Wait...maybe that’s not a good idea. There’s a glint in his
eye, which isn’t a bad thing, but I’ve got too much to think about at the
moment.
Extremely bad timing.
“Are all the women in your town like you?” he asks.
“No. They are much nicer.” I laugh. “Women are equal to men,
though. They share responsibility, work and some earn such a good wage that the
man plays househusband and takes care of the children.”
“That is a story you have made up.” He laughs. “It is a
woman’s responsibility to tend the children.”
I’m surprisingly calm after that misogynistic statement. In
all fairness, he lives in a world where men are chivalrous and women are
skivvies, and that’s not entirely his fault. However, I will nevertheless
attempt to enlighten him of why a role doesn’t need to be filled by only one
sex.
Here goes.
“Elyan, I’m going to explain something to you which you may
find surprising. Women are quite capable of fulfilling any job a man is tasked
with. The only difference is that some women might struggle depending on the
physical strength required, but that does not mean that some women are not a
strong as some men. There are some who are stronger.”
He’s shaking his head, so I continue.
“Women are in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Where I’m from,
we are ruled by a Queen, as are many other countries. So you see... there’s
nothing a man can do that a woman cannot. As for taking care of children, why
shouldn’t a man look after his child? There’s no rule that says a woman should
be the only person to wipe a baby’s bottom!”
He laughs and shakes his head. “You are making this up,
surely?”
“No, I’m not.”
I look at him and wonder how he would cope if he were to
visit my world. Not only because of the women’s issue but all the technology we
have as well. I don’t think he could take it all in, although he might have fun
playing my X box.
“I should like to see this for myself. Your world sounds
interesting. Do you think I would like it?”
“There are some wonders that would impress you, Elyan, but
just as you have problems here, we also have them. Countries fight one another
and man has built horrendous machines and created poisons that could kill us
all. People starving to death live side by side with people who are so rich,
they will never be able to spend their money before they die.”
He’s listening closely.
“Our world is full of different races and we are not all the
same color. Whole nations have been targeted because of the color of their skin
or religious beliefs. So you see it’s important that we try and resolve the
issues here before they escalate.”
Elyan narrows his eyes. He’s thinking hard, I can see from
his expression. He will be the Earl once his father passes and he could help
implement changes now that would stop future warring.
“This makes you sad, does it not?”
“Yes, very much.”
“We are from different worlds and yet, we are not so
different.”
He takes my hand in his and smiles softly. He’s capable of
becoming a great leader, I feel it. He has already made changes to the way he
acts based on information he’s acquired. He is a smart cookie.
“We have a saying--‘there’s nothing new under the sun’--and
this is so true. Wherever we are in the world, whether we’re black-skinned or
white, if we have black or white hair, or we worship the sun or the moon, we
are all human beings and we have a right to be free and to live.”
“We shall have that here, Scarlett. I promise. I will do
everything within my power to make Lord Ithel understand we must live together
in peace.”
Elyan pushes up and pulls me with him. “You will show us how
to make a start. Will you not?”
Thank you for taking the time to read the sneaky peek... you
can read another on my official website www.julienicholls.com
to the page, Dragon
Moon where a link will be added once the book is available for purchase.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
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