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Friday, September 30, 2011
Hannah Alexander-Author Interview and BOOK GIVEAWAY
We will be talking about their newest book The Wedding Kiss and the giveaway follows the interview.
Here is the review link of that wonderful book. http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2011/09/wedding-kiss-by-hannah-alexander-review.html
Tell us about The Wedding Kiss, the featured book.
The Wedding Kiss is set in the year 1901, when a young woman, Keara McBride, loses her home, farm, everything she's ever known because her father was tricked in a card game, and then accused of murder. Desperate, she asks Elam Jensen, her neighbor and the widower of her best friend, to marry her so she can help him with his three children and have a place to live. A match made out of necessity becomes something totally different when they share their first kiss in the wedding ceremony. Enter Elam's sister-in-law, Susanna, who has been shot and is lying on their front porch when they arrive from the wedding in Eureka Springs. As Keara tends to Susanna, using the herbs and home-medicine knowledge taught to her by her mother, Elam runs interference and tries to find out who shot Susanna. Neighbors and family rally around as danger comes to White River Hollow and a wicked man and his followers close in. With prayers and faith, God's will is done, and love shows itself in many ways.
We know Hannah Alexander is the pen name for the husband-and-wife writing team of Mel and Cheryl Hodde. Would you tell us how you came up with the name Hannah Alexander?
When Mel and I got married, I'd been writing for 14 years, though nothing had been published. Since he's an ER doc, he would come home at night excited about the cases he'd had. They were so interesting that I suggested we work together on a new book. Since he provided a great deal of input--we wrote medical romantic suspense with a lot of ER scenes--I suggested we come up with one name to describe us. I chose Hannah because I identified with pre-Samuel Hannah in the Bible. Mel chose Alexander, because it means Servant of Mankind. Mel doesn't provide as much medical for me anymore, but he still edits and reads everything I've written, so the name will continue.
Can you tell us how many books you have in print in the Christian market?
All of our books are in the Christian market, and at last count that's 22. We have more coming soon, so that number will continue to change.
Is there a particular book among those you've written that you would especially recommend to our readers? If so, why?
I would probably recommend Hideaway, not only because it launched a ten-book series of Hideaway novels, but I took more time writing that novel and getting it right than any I've written before or since. It won the Christy award, and I still find myself thinking about the characters who began from that book and continued on through the rest of the series.
The Christian fiction field has rapidly expanded over the past few years. What would you like to see happen in this field in the years to come?
I would love to see more reviews without the words, "typical Christian fluff" because I don't see much of that these days. Christian fiction is taught, hard-hitting, truth-telling stories that change hearts and minds. What some might call fluff, others would call warm and tender stories that heal the heart. I'd love to see that reflected in reviews.
How can readers and fans encourage you as you pursue what is sometimes a challenging and solitary job?
Prayer is vital. Also, I love to hear from readers and I answer all emails. Also, if a reader likes a book I've written, a quick review on Facebook, a word or two on Twitter, or reviews on Amazon, B&N or Christianbook.com and Goodreads will go a long way toward sharing the stories with others as well as making it possible for me, or your other favorite writers, to continue writing.
Many writers are also avid readers. Do you have any favorite authors? If so, could you name a few?
Oh, my goodness, I have so many favorites! Lately I've read the wonderful Miralee Ferrell, Athol Dickson, James Scott Bell, Denise Hunter, Diann Hunt, Kristen Billerbeck, Terri Blackstock, Angela Hunt, Margaret Daley, and I know I've left out dozens more, those are just off the top of my head.
If you could only take five books with you on a journey of ten years, which ones would you take?
The Bible, Dean Koontz Watchers, and three reams of blank paper so I could write, write, write.
If you had 48 hours to hang out with any TWO people (besides Jesus), alive or dead in the history of the world who would you hang out with and what would you do?
I think I'd like to hang out with Enoch, because he walked with God. I love to walk with God, as well. I think I would also like to spend time with Mary Magdalene, because she was so close to Jesus, and I think I'd have understood her. She was rescued from great evil, and so was I.
What three things are you most thankful for in your life?
I'm thankful that God puts up with me no matter how angry or thoughtless or whiney I get. I'm thankful for the way of women with women, the friendships they develop and the nurturing they do for each other. I'm also thankful for the husband I've been given. He is totally God's blessing to me.
What is the most fun thing you have ever done?
I love to hike. The most fun hike Mel and I and ever took was a place in the Canyonlands National Park, a trail called Syncline. We thought it would be an easy eight mile hike. We ran out of water halfway through. We found ourselves clinging to chains as we rock-climbed. It was most challenging for us, and I didn't get sick. Every time I've hiked the Grand Canyon, I've gotten sick, so it was nice to be challenged without the extra handicap.
What are you writing now?
I'm working on another historical novel titled Against the Wind set in 1855, where a group of people on a wagon train are traveling to Kansas to ensure it becomes a free state. Oh, and they'll be smuggling thirty former slaves with them.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.hannahalexander.com is the best way to find us. I Twitter on occasion. I also have a blog called Sunroom Reflections, and I blog with GirlsWriteOut, but mostly, you can find me on my website.
Thanks to much for having me!
Followers Hannah Alexander has agreed to give one of you their newest book The Wedding Kiss.
A fantastic book!
Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
Here are the ways to get extra entries:
~Be or become a follower +1
~Be or become an email subscriber +1
~Be or become a networked blog follower +1
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE October 15, 2011
Posted by Trinity Rose at 5:49 PM 18 comments:
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy * A Review
If what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, why is Audrey growing weaker by the day?
When her husband Geoff, a pastor, lost his job after a scandal rocked their congregation, Audrey's never lost faith.
They decide to resurrect a failing bakery as a way to heal family wounds and restore their place in the community.
Running late to the bakery one foggy morning, Audrey strikes a vehicle. Emerging from her car into the fog, she discovers she hit a motor scooter. But there's no rider in sight. Just blood.
The absence of the driver is a mystery, especially to Sergeant Jack Mansfield, the detective and church member responsible for firing Geoff from his pulpit. The scooter belongs to Jack's wife, Julie, a teacher at the local high school, who has vanished…like morning fog.
Though there is no evidence to support Jack's growing suspicion that Audrey and Geoff were involved in Julie's disappearance, the detective is convinced of their guilt. When he takes the tiny bakery and its patron's hostage, Audrey must unravel the secret of Julie's disappearance and her own mysterious suffering before Jack hits his breaking point.
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Gilbert Morris, Frank Peretti,Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.
She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding storiesbefore their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She lives with her family in Colorado.
This is the first book I've read that Erin Healy wrote alone. I've read her other books she wrote with Ted Dekker and loved those as well. The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy is just a superb book.
Audrey and Geoff have such a strong faith and know God will see them through everything. They have been through so many hard times and experiences that trusting in God with it all was just natural.
Diane another character in this book just got out of prison and goes to her home town to see if any of her family or former friends are still there. She has people to ask to forgive her, but she isn't a Christian.
Jack blames Audrey and Geoff for everything bad that has happened and wants them to pay. Even though he is a police officer can he get justice?
Then Jack's wife Julie is missing and he blames Audrey and Geoff.
These are just a few of the plots in this magnicient story. The last half of the book is such a suspenseful ride that you won't put this book down. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat hoping that all things would work out for the best, but I couldn't see how that would happen.
The Baker's Wife is about family, love and forgiveness, but also shows us what we do in our lives doesn't just affect us, it affects everyone around us. We can help to make or break another person's life. Also you really don't know or realize what other people are going through. We need to see others with a lot more compassion. I believe The Baker's Wife shows all of this and much more in this book.
I highly recommend this five-star book. Another keeper!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I receive books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program/BookSneeze. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express are my own. This is true of any book I review for any publisher or author; I will not review books where a positive review is required and I will always express my own opinions of each book received and read.
Posted by Trinity Rose at 5:02 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Book Reviews, Erin Healy, The Baker's Wife, Thomas Nelson
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
The Chair by James L. Rubart * A Review
ABOUT THE CHAIRIf someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them?
When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?
As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin's destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why?
Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What's more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: B&H Books (September 15, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in Seattle, Washington.
The Chair is the third book James L. Rubart has written and it's the third book of his that I've read and reviewed, and all I can say is Mr. Rubart is a born storyteller and has many stories to tell.
His books are not like your regular books. James L. Rubart puts really meaning and feeling in all of his books. I really enjoyed the story, but also the spiritual insight. He really makes you feel what the characters are feeling, whether it be hate, indifference, sorrow, fear or love, peace and forgiveness. You really get into James books and you will be reading them really fast.
Like in the novel The Chair God will let things happen to you to get you to come to Him. Through pain, fear or complete loneliness. Sometimes when we have nothing left that's when God can talk to us.
The Chair is so very interesting, and the characters are intriguing. The characters are very strong and well-developed.
I just enjoyed The Chair so very much and highly recommend it to you.
Personal Note: If anyone has the paperback copy of James L. Rubart's first book Rooms, I would love to swap books with you. I have Rooms in ebook form, but want it for my bookshelf. If anyone is interested send me an email at wandaelaine at gmail dot com and I will send you the list of books I have. Thanks everyone!
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Thank you to the author for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 4:55 PM 1 comment:
Labels: B H publishing, Book Reviews, James L. Rubart, The Chair
Theo Presents DVD
winners are Patsy and Annette
Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon
winner is janemaritz
Posted by Trinity Rose at 4:45 PM No comments:
Labels: book winners, Deadly Pursuit, DVD winner, Irene Hannon, Propeller, Revell, Theo Presents
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The Wedding Kiss by Hannah Alexander* A Review
A kiss can be life-changing.
When Keara and Elam Jensen share their first kiss on their wedding day, a marriage of convenience
becomes much less convenient! It also becomes more than they expected when God shows them
what He really has in store for their lives. Will their mysteriously injured visitor ruin their future, or will
her influence—and her personal battle—draw them into deadly danger?
Visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in 1901, and discover for yourself what excitement and romance
await along the White River Hollow.
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Summerside Press (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
HANNAH ALEXANDER is the pen name for the husband-and-wife writing team of Mel and Cheryl
Hodde, who began collaborating on their first blind date. Cheryl is the wordsmith, and Mel is the
medical expert who helps her with the medical plotlines and edits everything she writes.
Hannah Alexander are great authors. I've read many of their books and this one is just one of the best. The cover of the book is so beautiful and it just makes the book come alive.
The Wedding Kiss tells the story of two people who need each other and end up getting married, to solve all of their problems. They didn't realize they loved each other until the kiss at their wedding.
At home the same day of their wedding problems come, not in their marriage, but outside. One after another things keep happening to shake up this couple. No matter what their faith in God gets them through.
The Wedding Kiss is full of action, adventure, mystery, love, hope and forgiveness. This is a novel that will keep you reading, because it is captivating. The characters are beautifully developed and the whole book is altogether entertaining.
Hannah Alexander is a master at storytelling and painting pictures in your mind, and gives you a satisfying and meaningful ending.
I don't keep many of the books I read, but you can be sure that I will be keeping The Wedding Kiss. Hannah Alexander is one of my favorite authors. So, I highly recommend this amazing novel. You won't be able to put it down and The Wedding Kiss deserves a five-star review.
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Thank you to the authors for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 1:53 PM 3 comments:
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A REVIEW * The Light Bringer by Chris DiGiuseppi and Mike Force
When police sergeant Alan Crane is on duty, who he "protects and serves" reaches far beyond the world of the living...
Sixteen people will die on Police Officer Alan Crane's watch. But while tragic and untimely death is no stranger to the jaded ex-Marine, his newfound supernatural ability to lead these people to their spiritual fates sends him on a sensational and frightening saga that will ultimately answer: Why these sixteen? What do they have in common? And why has Alan been chosen to bring them to the light?
COPS meets The Ghost Whisperer in this mysterious story about sixteen lives inexplicably and suddenly extinguished and the man chosen to be their Light Bringer.
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
Chris has over nineteen years in Law Enforcement at various levels up to and including Assistant Chief of Police. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University School of Police Staff Command. He is trained in various aspects of Law Enforcement and holds degrees in Human Resources and Business Administration. Chris lives with his wife and children in Missouri.
Mike has spent over 30 years in Law Enforcement, the last 19 as a Police Chief Mike has numerous certifications in various areas of law, forensics, investigations and criminology. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and served 22 years in the U.S. Marines where he retired as a Captain. He oversaw operations for twenty-seven military installations worldwide. He holds degrees in Political Science and Human Resources. Mike lives with his wife in Missouri and has three grown children and a granddaughter.
The Light Bringer is an excellent book about the supernatural. It's a very good make-believe book about Heaven and earth. I liked getting to know the sixteen people who died. It was interesting to see their life before and how it ended up. I enjoyed seeing how the main character got along with his family and friends. How he was compassiate for all people who lost loved ones.
The Light Bringer put a different spin on how people got to Heaven. It made a good story, but if a person doesn't really know the Bible it could confuse them.
I believe this is the first book these authors wrote and it is a superb one. I read this book through in just two days and that is fast for me. I as quite captived with the story and the characters.
To me it seems more of a fantasy book than suspense or mystery.
The Light Bringer makes you think about what is to come. We live so much for the moment, but forget what is ahead for us Christians. We need to live each day as unto the Lord. That is what I got out of this book. It really made me think and appreciate life and death, because with death we will have a much better life.
I highly recommend this wonderful book. It is full of surprises, adventure and joy. Mostly it will get you to thinking.
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Thank you to the authors for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 7:29 PM No comments:
Labels: Book Reviews, Chris DiGiuseppi, HCI books, Mike Force, The Light Bringer
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker * A review
Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man. Soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate.
Danny Hansen is a Bosnian immigrant who came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest who lives by a law of love and compassion. It is powerful men and hypocrites who abide by legal law but eschew the law of love that most incense Danny. As an avenging angel, he believes it is his duty to show them the error of their ways, at any cost.
Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in that pursuit.
But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.
Judge not, or you too will be judged.
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Center Street (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
Ted Dekker was born to missionaries and grew up among cannibals of Indonesia, and his peculiar upbringing gives him a unique perspective outside the cultural bubble, allowing him the freedom to share provocative insights in his fiction. After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States, earning his B.A. in philosophy and religion, and then went into business.
In the early nineties, Dekker decided to pursue his desire to write fiction, selling his company, moving his family to the mountains of western Colorado, and writing full-time. Two years and three books later his first novel, a supernatural thriller called Heaven's Wager, was published. Dekker proceeded to write 6 more supernatural thrillers, rising to the top of many bestsellers lists and earning himself critical acclaim and legions of fans. "Thr3e" heralded his launch into mainstream fiction and was followed by "Obsessed," "Skin," "Adam," and "BoneMan's Daughters," all of which hit the New York Times bestseller list.
Ted Dekker's fans are comprised of readers of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems who love his compulsively readable stories, authentic characters, and universal and relatable themes that he explores from a unique point of view.
He resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and children. You can find him at Teddekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker.
All of Ted Dekker's books are fantastic, but this one is one of the best. I was pulled in even before the first chapter.
Ted's books are so smooth and it's like reading about something that really happened, because it seems so real.
I always am amazed at how Ted's books end. I'm always surprised and the ending is never as I would expect them to be.
The Priest's Graveyard is different than most books I've read, because the main characters are the murders and you get to really care for them and want them to be happy. I know it's weird, but Ted writes in such a way that you understand them and can imaigine yourself doing as they did. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't ever do anything that was wrong, but when someone is pushed too much they snap.
The characters are very strong and it keeps the story moving at a very fast pace. There isn't a dull moment in this story and you will hate for it to end.
The last few chapters things get so mixed up you wonder what will happen. Will things work out or will everything end in catastrophe? I would never have had things to end as they did, but it was just a perfect ending.
If you love books full of suspense and much excitement you will love this book. The Priest's Graveyard, I highly recommend and will be keeping this book on my bookshelf.
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I received my free copy from Sarah Reck at Center Street/HachetteBookGroup, for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 7:09 PM No comments:
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz,
which is Gwendolyn. We are very happy for you.
Thanks to all of you my followers I appreciate
each and every one of you!
which is Gwendolyn. We are very happy for you.
Thanks to all of you my followers I appreciate
each and every one of you!
Posted by Trinity Rose at 9:39 PM 1 comment:
Labels: book winners, Laura Frantz, Revell, The Colonels Lady
Animal Adventures The Beginner's Bible Review
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Zonderkidz; Brdbk edition (August 17, 2010)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
Mission City Press is a Christian publishing company dedicated to teaching kids to live a life of faith with passionate devotion to Jesus Christ.
This four board book set is just fantastic. I love the big colorful pictures and the simple stories from the Bible that young children can understand and learn from. The Beginner's Bible is so wonderful to teach and entertain your children. They will understand stories before they get old enough to understand the Bible and won't forget what they have learned.
The four stories are:
Daniel in the Lions Den
Noah's Ark
The parable of the lost sheep
Jonah and the Whale, but have really neat name for the children to understand. Here's a little about each story.
I highly recommend these sweet books for your precious child/grandchild/friend.
The Lion's Big Sleepover (and Daniel's Scary Night) is the story of how Daniel was put in the lions' den. It tells how Daniel prays and is protected by an angel, and it ends with the king wanting to tell others about Daniel's God.
Little Lamb's Big Scare (and the Shepherd's Great Care) is the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd calls out the to the lost sheep to stop playing hide-and-seek, which helps bring it down to a child's level.
Fish's Big Catch (and Jonah's Second Chance) is the basic retelling of how Jonah disobeyed God's instructions to go to Nineveh and was swallowed by a big fish. Of course, in the end Jonah did obey.
Elephant's Big Ride (and Noah's Stormy Adventure) shares the story of Noah, focusing on the animals. It's a cute book, but I would have liked more of the biblical facts to be included because even a two year old can enjoy learning about 40 days and 40 nights.
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Thank you to Zonderkidz for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 9:20 PM No comments:
Labels: Animal Adventures, Book Reviews, Childrens book, Zonderkidz
Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn* A Review
Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq--kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight--a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation.
Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?
Paperback: 378 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.
Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.
Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt.
A sought-after speaker in the art of writing, Davis serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
I've read many of Davis Bunn's books and have enjoyed them all. Davis Bunn is a great storyteller and this book Lion of Babylon is very suspenseful. It's amazing how it talks about the Middle East in such a way that it brings peace and happiness to everyone.
The Lion of Babylon is about kidnapping, governments against each other, bombings, friends-old and new, being a Christian and just about everything else. This books is full of action and really keeps you interested until the very end.
This isn't one of your light, fluffy reads that can be read in an afternoon, this book is full of events and history that take extra reading and understanding. It isn't hard to understand, but has substance and real essence in it.
I like how Marc goes to Iraq and makes some wonderful friends and finds people he can trust and ones who are willing to help him when some in his own government don't want to. Marc works with and becomes friends with Sameh. They have many things in common and many differences, but work together like they have known each other all of their lives. Sameh is a Christian and holds the respect of many people in his country and government.
I really recommend this book. It is full of suspense and keeps you reading.
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Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 8:29 PM No comments:
Labels: Bethany House, Book Reviews, Davis Bunn, Lion of Babylon
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall* A Review
The Harvest of Grace: Book 3 in the Ada's House Amish Romance Series (An Ada's House Novel)
Reeling from an unexpected betrayal, can Sylvia find relief from the echoes of her past…or will they shape her future forever?
Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus—tending and nurturing the herd on her family's dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she decides to concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving another family's debt-ridden farm.
After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed's failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron's parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.
Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger picture— a path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love.
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (August 9, 2011)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal
She is the author of the Sisters of the Quilt series, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, and a nonfiction work, Plain Wisdom, which was written with her closest Old Order Amish friend.
Cindy, her husband, their three sons and two daughters-in-law reside in Georgia.
The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall is a sweet Amish story. The main story is about Aaron and Sylvia, but also about several other couples. It was easy to follow along and keep up with the different families. One thing Cindy did that I like is have a list of characters and told a little about each of them. That really helps to keep everyone straight especially when you first start a book. This is also the 3rd book in the Ada' House series and I would have been lost without the list of characters. This is the first book I've read of Cindy's and enjoyed it very much.
I like Amish stories where the author makes them to be like real people. Some authors when they write Amish stories the Amish are like on a pestal and can't do any wrong, but make the English do everything wrong, but Cindy Woodsmall tells it like it is. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes.
The characters are quite open and honest in The Harvest of Grace. This book has heartbreaks and healing to couples as well as to parents and children. A very good story that makes you want to read another one in the series. Glad a found another great author. I recommend this book to everyone who love Amish stories.
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Thanks to WaterBrookMultnomah for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 9:37 PM 1 comment:
Furious by Jeremy Riddle music CD review and GIVEAWAY
Jeremy Riddle is a songwriter and worship leader. He first hit the scene in 2007 with the critically acclaimed record, Full Attention. This project had the radio hit Sweetly Broken, which was the number one song on the radio station K-Love for over 40 weeks in 2007. Other singles from that record were Stand in Awe and God of All Glory. Since then Jeremy has toured extensively all over the US. The Riddle Band has opened for Rebecca St. James, Big Daddy Weave and has played events with Brenton Brown as well.
In 2009 Jeremy released his second project, The Now and Not Yet with the radio singles Bless His Name and Christ Is Risen. in the fall of 2010 his first full length live project Prepare the Way will be released, which will include tracks from live shows in 2009.
Jeremy comes from a family of 7 children and was homeschooled all the way through high school. He graduated from Cal state Fullerton with a BA in political science. Jeremy attended and later served as a youth pastor at the Anaheim Vineyard. Riddle is married with 4 children and now lives in Redding California and is part of the worship ministry at Bethel Church.
Track Listing:
1. Fall Afresh
2. Furious
3. Love Came Down
4. One Thing Remains
5. Acquitted
6. You Are Good
7. Walk In The Promise
8. One Thirst
9. Glory To The Lamb
10. The Lord Is My Shepherd
11. Here
12. Always
Furious is the newest CD by Jeremy Riddle. This is a fantastic CD of sweet Christian music. This CD has some old favorites and new music. It is soft and refreshing music to really lift your spirit. I'm listening to Furious right now and greatly enjoying it, as I write this review.
Jeremy Riddle describes Furious saying, "It's hard to come up with words that depict the magnitude of Christ's love-the depth and width of it. Furious doesn't work outside of the contest of love; we tend to translate the word as angry, but I see it as a super-powerful force; stronger, deeper, broader than our vocabulary can fully describe."
It's just wonderful to see and hear younger people who really love the Lord and want others to know all about Him.
I know you will really be blessed with this CD Furious. If you want to hear a little of Furious go to this website. http://www.vineyardmusic.com/vm/
I recommend this CD for your worship library. It will be a great addition to your praise life.
Order from Vineyard
"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
We have the CD Furious from Jeremy Riddle to giveaway.
Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
Here are the ways to get extra entries:
~Be or become a follower +1
~Be or become an email subscriber +1
~Be or become a networked blog follower +1
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE October 3, 2011
Posted by Trinity Rose at 9:17 PM 7 comments:
Labels: CD giveaway, CD review, Furious, Jeremy Riddle, Propeller, Vineyard Music
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A Killer Among Us book WINNER
ybutler, winner of the book A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason.
This is a fantastic book and I'm glad you won.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
This is a fantastic book and I'm glad you won.
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Posted by Trinity Rose at 4:42 PM No comments:
Labels: A Killer Among Us, book winners, Lynette Eason, Revell
The Shunning DVD Review and GIVEAWAY
The last two giveaway winners won with an extra entry comment!
Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead. Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her, she's adopted.
The film is based on the celebrated first novel of the best-selling "The Heritage of Lancaster county" book series from author Beverly Lewis. Stars Danielle Panakaker & Sherry Stringfield.
Actors: Danielle Panabaker, Sherry Stringfield, Bill Oberst Jr., Sandra Van Natta
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 13, 2011
Run Time: 88 minutes
Author Beverly Lewis
Danielle Panabaker as Katie
Sherry Stringfield as Laura(Real Mom)
Sandra Van Natta as Rebecca(Adopted Mom)
Bill Oberst Jr. as Samuel(Adopted Dad)
If you love books by Beverly Lewis you will love this movie made from her book The Shunning. This DVD is excellent and a must watch. The characters are very authentic and brilliant. You just feel like it is real, the characters and places feel very genuine.
I was pulled into the story and was enthralled with it. The story is very heart-warming while being heart-breaking at the same time.
You will be drawn into two different worlds, Amish and English.
Katie found out she was adopted as a baby. Her whole world seems to be falling apart. She loves singing and playing her guitar, but Amish frown upon musical instruments and will only allow singing from their hymn books. What will she choose, what will she do?
The actors/actresses in The Shunning are wonderful. They played their parts exceptionally well. You know how some Christian films really lack in the acting abilities! Well that isn't the case with The Shunning. The casting is just superb.
In this DVD you will find such love, goodness and tenderness that it is unbelievable. I love the way the Amish family wants to keep everyone close and keep them from going astray. I'm really glad to have this DVD and highly recommend it. Another DVD every person should have in their library.
Order from Amazon
"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
I'm able to giveaway The Shunning DVD to one of you followers.
Leave a comment with your name and email address. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
Here are the ways to get extra entries:
~Be or become a follower +1
~Be or become an email subscriber +1
~Be or become a networked blog follower +1
Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE September 30, 2011
Posted by Trinity Rose at 4:26 PM 34 comments:
Labels: Beverly Lewis, DVD giveaway, DVD Review, Hallmark, Propeller, The Shunning
Monday, September 12, 2011
WINNER of the DVD The Grace Card
Charlotte Kay!
The Grace Card!
Thanks to everyone who entered.
Two more giveaways going up this week.
Make sure to stop by and enter.
I appreciate each and every one of you my followers.
Have a blessed week.
The Grace Card!
Thanks to everyone who entered.
Two more giveaways going up this week.
Make sure to stop by and enter.
I appreciate each and every one of you my followers.
Have a blessed week.
Posted by Trinity Rose at 8:16 PM No comments:
Labels: DVD winner, The Grace Card
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins*A Review
Detective Boone Drake has just masterminded the most massive sting in Chicago history, bringing down the heads of not only the biggest street gangs in the city but also the old crime syndicate. The story is the biggest in decades, and the Chicago Police Department must protect the key witness at all costs. Despite top secret plans to transfer the witness ahead of his testimony before the grand jury, an attempt is made on his life. And the person suspected of leaking this information may be one of the CPD's own.
List Price:$24.99
Release Date:September 2011
Page Count:400
Trim Size:6 x 9
Dr. Jerry B. Jenkins, former vice president for publishing and currently writer-at-large for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, is the author of more than 160 books, including the 63,000,000-selling Left Behind series.
Also the former editor of Moody Magazine, Dr. Jenkins's writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Jerry and Dr. Tim LaHaye were profiled in a May 24, 2004 cover story in Newsweek magazine entitled "The New Prophets of Revelation."
Jerry's non-fiction books include as-told-to biographies with Hank Aaron, Orel Hershiser, Walter Payton, Nolan Ryan, and many others.
Jenkins also assisted Dr. Billy Graham with his memoirs, Just As I Am, also a New York Times bestseller.
Jerry owns Jenkins Entertainment, a filmmaking company in Los Angeles, and also the Christian Writers Guild, which aims to train tomorrow's professional Christian writers and has nearly 2,000 members worldwide.
This is book 2 in the Precinct 11 series and it is a fantastic book. Jerry B. Jenkins writes books that are full of truth, honesty and plenty of mystery and suspense. I've loved all the books I've ever read of his.
In The Betrayal book 2 took off right where book 1 left off and it was at a very suspenseful moment.
One thing I liked about this book was I didn't know who was betraying whom until close to the end of the book. I thought it could be this person, than I thought it might be someone else. I didn't know who was the betrayer for quite a while, which I really thought was fantastic.
In The Betrayal Boone gets closer to the Lord and seeks to do his will. He keeps witnessing to his friend and former partner Jack.
Even though Boone was greatly wounded, he didn't give up, didn't want others to feel sorry for him and kept investigating the case. It really shows his determination and how much the police force means to him.
This is one action-packed, fast-paced read that you absolutely won't put down until you find out who the betrayer is and the one/ones being betrayed. It is a surprise right up to the end. If you want to read a book that you will really enjoy, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this 5-star book, The Betrayal.
Order from Tyndale
Order from Amazon
Thank you to the author for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Posted by Trinity Rose at 6:23 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Book Reviews, Jerry B. Jenkins, The Betrayal, Tyndale
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Business & Real Estate
El Dorado Hills startup HomeZada launches "homeowner lifecycle" platform
El Dorado Hills-based tech startup HomeZada announced the launch of its online "homeowner lifecycle" platform designed to help real estate agents better serve a coming wave of young buyers and sellers.
HomeZada's platform manages information during the typical buy-own-sell homeowner cycle. HomeZada touts the solution as an economical way for young clients to manage the large volume of diverse information involved in buying and selling residential real estate.
With the platform, agents can provide clients with services that include analysis, photos, videos, specialized documents, individual home data, listing assistance and home buying/ownership/selling instructions.
The local startup cited Forbes statistics showing that millennials will become the largest segment of homebuyers, with 42 percent wanting to buy a home in 2015 compared with 31 percent of Gen Xers, Nearly half of the young buyers are expected use the Internet in an effort to save costs and bypass traditional agent services.
HomeZada believes that its platform will enable real estate agents reach young buyers and sellers by offering them a solution that dovetails with their digital/online expertise.
In October, HomeZada closed its first round of financing, pulling in more than $2 million in capital over the summer.
For more details, see homezada.com.
Call The Bee's Mark Glover, (916) 321-1184.

subset: commoncrawl


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Around 18 million households in the United States use heating oil during the winter. The majority of these homes can be found in the Northeast. With heating oil being such a prevalent source of heat for many homes in the U.S., people still are unsure about it and have questions. Here is a list of facts you may not know about heating oil.
- Heating oil is created from the refinement of crude oil; Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel and jet fuel are also created from this process.
- It is a very safe oil. If you were to drop a lit match into a pool of heating oil, you would expect it to combust- that is not the case. The match would extinguish as if dropped into water. In the liquid form, heating oil is non-explosive (due to its high vaporization temperature.)
- There is a low possibility of carbon monoxide entering your home from using heating oil. Accidental inhalation of oil fumes is not fatal.
- There is 35% more BTU's per gallon of heating oil than natural gas.
- Heating oil is the hottest burning oil. It will heat your home faster than any other fuel type.
- It is 90-95% more clean than it was during the 1970's. It's suffer content has also been reduced 93% since the 80's.
- If properly maintained, new heating oil systems create no soot, dirt or odors.
- An oil burning heating unit runs at 83-95% efficiency. On average, households use 25% less heating oil than in 1989.
Thank you to Shipley Energy for the original information. You can read more here.


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Where to Find the Best Engagement Rings
For how many centuries, engagement rings have been considered as a symbol of both commitment and love. They bring about a lot of joy to when a person gives their beloved someone this ring. And most of the time when serious relationships are formed, it always goes in the direction where the woman expects to get an engagement ring as a sign of security and commitment.
Today, it is undeniable that the market offers several choices when it comes to engagement rings. There is a wide selection of sizes, styles, as well as various kinds of stones. You can even opt to have your engagement ring personalized or customized.
There are a lot jewelry stores in the market that are on top of their game and have a wide selection of engagement rings. These highly competitive jewelry stores have surely given a new meaning to the entire engagement ring trend. This is one of the reasons why there is a constant increase in demand for engagement rings.
Interesting Research on Jewelry – What You Didn't Know
Though a lot of people consider the diamond engagement ring to be one that is the most ideal, there are other people from various countries who prefer buying one of various metals and stones. Some opt to get engagement rings comprising different stones such as emeralds, sapphires, star sapphires, and rubies. Utilizing semi-precious stones to be placed on the engagement ring is also very common. In several countries, band made of platinum and gold is also being utilized in engagement rings.
Why People Think Sales Are A Good Idea
On the other hand, silver is not typically ideal when it comes to engagement rings. This is because such a metal is not as durable. Therefore, if you do not want to get a silver or gold engagement ring, then you can always choose one that is made of platinum.
Engagement rings are considered a symbol of never-ending cycle of faith and love. It just happens once in your life where you present your loved one this very special ring. Engagement rings are being worn throughout one's lifetime. This is the reason why purchasing one entails a lot of concern and care. Any woman who gets to wear it is surely proud of the man that she loves.
During ancient times, the kind of engagement ring the groom-to-be gets is thought to reflect his superiority and wealth. In recent times, though, this is not the case. However, in some extent, it still gives the woman an opportunity to show off how much her groom-to-be or husband loves her.
This is why for every relationship, engagement rings play a significant and vital role. And you must only choose one carefully by making sure that it suits the personality of your beloved best.
With the emergence of several online jewelry stores, you do not necessarily have to have a hard time choosing one for your beloved. They cater to numerous engagement ring needs made of different gem stones and metals. You may even get an engagement ring that is customized.


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My Brilliant Recruitment Career – Sophie Vickers
'I love hearing the stories once the placement has started, finding out about the clinic as well as the local area'
What was your earliest dream job?
I always wanted to be a sports physiotherapist or work in ex-military rehabilitation.
What was your first job in recruitment and how did you come into it?
This is my first role in recruitment. I found out about [veterinary recruitment agency] A1 Locums from a customer when I was working in retail. I came in for an interview, but I was about to go travelling for three months. At that point, they decided 'no'. But while I was abroad, travelling in Zambia, they decided they did want me, and I was lucky enough to be offered the role.
Who is your role model – in life or in recruitment?
In netball, former Australian player Sharni Layton and England international Sasha Corbin, who are two of my idols. Corbin used to play for England, but then snapped her cruciate ligament. That's why I stopped playing netball – I completely ruptured my cruciate ligament as well. I was about 11 when I started playing, and was en route to playing at a higher level when I had my accident. That was why I didn't carry on playing, so now I'm coaching.
Layton is one of the best defenders the world has ever seen. She's just taken a year out because of mental health issues. She is doing a lot with mental health and sport and young girls, which I think is excellent.
What do you love most about your current role?
The variety of people, from both the UK and overseas, whom I speak to on a daily basis. I love hearing everyone's stories.
Working in the veterinary sector means every day is different. We get sent a lot of pictures of people's new 'fur babies' from the locations we send them to all over the UK and the Channel Islands. A lot of our candidates pop over the pond for volunteer work, which I love hearing about as I have done two stints volunteering in Africa.
What would you consider to be the most brilliant moment of your career?
I would say every time I make a placement. I love finding people their dream permanent role or a long-term locum stint. I love hearing the stories once the placement has started, finding out about the clinic as well as the local area.
What's your top job to fill at the moment?
I have an amazing client in London looking to fill a 24-hour shift in Belgravia, London.
What is your signature dish?
Any things that involves cake – I'm an avid [Great British] Bake Off fan. This week I have made apple and blackberry crumbles, pies and infused gin.
Laugh or cry, what did your most memorable candidate make you want to do and why?
Laugh and then cry. A clinic in St Lucia purchased two horses for a riding school and was shipping them over from Portsmouth, so they needed a vet on board. The vet I found for the client sent me a lot of photos. While they were on the boat, it was all good. Then they arrived in St Lucia. Seeing the photos of the Grenadines islands, the beach parties, the rooftop bars and the food made me want to cry a little.
What's the best or worst interview question you've ever heard?
We don't really get involved in the interview process.
What would you regard as your theme tune?
Shake it Off by Taylor Swift.
Sophie Vickers, senior recruitment consultant, A1 Locums, and netball coach


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At WomenBuild TechEd09 — LEGO Serious Play #tela09, originally uploaded by !!! :: jozjozjoz :: !!!.
That's right. I am playing with LEGOs and meeting cool women (and men).
Pecked out on my iPhone. Sorry for any typos.
Thanks for rating this! Now tell the world how you feel - Share this on Twitter and on Facebook.
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EleumM. Member
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About Eleum
- Birthday April 14
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5 Words To Your Perpetrator
Eleum replied to Z09's topic in Public: Pretty Good YearDespite you, I am happy.
Thank you so much @phoenixxx, I'm glad you've made progress! Certainly gives me hope that I'm on my way to moving forward too.
Thank you so much for the warm welcome @patriciag, @MeBeMary and @reglois. I honestly believed for so long that I would always have to bear this burden of pain and shame, on my own until my grave. I had no idea the options to reach out existed until recently. I'm really relieved that there's people here who can understand, and that I'm not alone, but at the same time, the fact that I'm not alone in this, is also sad. There really is a lot of people out there like me, isn't there? I'm really sorry for everything you all went through.
Hi there! Another newbie.
Eleum posted a topic in Public: Welcome!Hello, I'm not exactly sure where I should begin, I'm just happy that I found you guys and that I'm now here apart of this community. I'm sort of a beginner on his "healing track" I've mostly been doing it on my own, or rather I've been just trying to ignore and forget it all, keep everything a secret... which I suppose isn't working. It's been nearly 11 years now. Though I'm trying to put myself in the right lane now. I should be starting therapy for the first time, which I'm nervous as hell about haha, but hopefully it will help. And I hope that I'll also find the strength and courage to talk about things here, and to give support to all of you people as well So uhh, I guess that's it for now, again thanks for letting me join, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all.


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to share
I wasn't planning on being so MIA this week. Part of starting this thing back was promising myself that I wouldn't post just to post. But, these little Friday round ups are a favorite of mine.
+ Design rules you should follow, these are great!
+ How to dress your age according to J. Crew.
+ I added a new page to the site. I will keep it up to date with my picks for you and your home!
+ This week made me really excited for summertime with my girl. Her excitement when I took her to the beach for the day was so fun to watch!
+ One of my favorite Charleston shops on instagram, a favorite follow.
+ OP at fashion week, she always looks so good!
+ I could eat brussel sprouts every day! No fail recipe: halve or quarter your sprouts, spread them out in a cast iron skillet, drizzle with olive oil, sea salt, fresh garlic. Stick them in the oven for 45-60 minutes on 400. Broil at the end for desired crispiness. I am telling you, they are like candy.


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Mental health: an uncomfortable talk that should not be uncomfortable
It's the conversation many want to have yet nobody dares to take the first step to initiate it. As the title suggests this is about mental health and, by extension loneliness, but I'll probably discuss the two interchangeably. Fortunately and unfortunately, I've met many people during my life that are around my age that struggle with these problems in their lives and/or are depressed – sometimes in a lesser degree, sometimes in a more worrying degree. Fortunately because I've learned more than I could ever imagine from these people and they inspired me to research and understand the topic of mental health more. Unfortunately because, well, I hate to see people suffer, especially emotionally. I feel for these people, I genuinely, genuinely do. Simple people living simple lives that have no support system of friends that they can honestly and fully connect to.
The more I talked to and learned from them (mostly males, mind you), the more I recognized a pattern emerging: it was almost embarrassing for them to speak of their deeper emotional struggles or dissatisfactions in life. They're stuck in their own worlds because they cannot connect with others about what worries them, what exhilarates them, what they feel when they're alone, or what they feel when they think about the future. I guess the problem is that we generally assume that if you have a solid roof over your head, a good education, enough food and drink to keep you alive, a computer, and stable access to the internet, you should be happy/satisfied enough, right? Or to phrase it differently, what right do you then have to feel unhappy or sad about life? Now, before I continue, I do want to clarify something because this is a delicate topic. In no way am I condoning or standing up for people that feel entitled to happiness or success just because they are "Daddy's little princess" or because they always got things their way in life. I'm speaking in defense and support of those that feel scared or embarrassed to discuss their personal struggles because displaying emotional vulnerability, especially for men, is such an uncomfortable conversation that should not be so uncomfortable.
Stuck daydreaming in your own little world
I always used to wonder, very stupidly and naively, why these people didn't just go find new friends that understand them. Just, you know, go talk to people! Then I realized how saying this is literally like telling a depressed person to "just be happy" or a procrastinator to "just stop procrastinating." I do, however, believe that everyone has at least one person they truly trust with their heart, soul, and lives no matter what happens. Talk to this person. Seriously, if you're struggling with something in your life, be it depression, anxiety, loneliness, anything; give them the chance to help you out. This cannot be a conversation you're ashamed of having, it's simply unfair to feel ashamed for being vulnerable or talking about your struggles with someone else. Now I know that if someone mentions the word 'therapy', people get all uncomfortable and freaked out, but even deciding (and having the courage) to go to therapy is absolutely not something we should ashamed of doing.
On the other hand, you may not have a trusted confidante in your life that you can trust without question. This, inevitably, will create a painful feeling of loneliness. The question, then, is why? As Kira Asatryan defined it in her podcast interview with the Art of Charm, loneliness spawns from a lack or absence of closeness with those around you. She absolutely hit the jackpot though, in the way she defined closeness: Direct access to another person's inner world through knowing what's going on in a deeper way and caring about it. This one sentence is both a brilliant definition and a sharp description of a problem and definitely resonated with me.
You're lonely because people cannot access your inner, mysterious world; a world where you dream of days of future past, of that poignant scene in Kingdom Hearts (spoiler alert), or of other surreal things that emotionally touch you. They don't have access to that world because they don't know or understand why such quirky snippets that seem so trivial on the surface have such a strong emotional impact on you. This kind of "lost in translation" feeling is one I see so often in people that feel marginalized in their social contexts. It's literally like speaking a foreign language to someone; it simply does not compute.
So look, I'm not going to say that I understand all your struggles, disappointment you have in yourself, or regrets you have for your past failures. What I can and will say is that you have to remember and grasp those feelings of old. You have to remember those times that you… felt. Be it from videogames, TV shows, or movies, hold onto those feelings. Remember those nostalgic times and harness those emotions when you feel like saying "screw this, I'm done with this shit." But don't feel ashamed to feel like shit once in a while. It frikkin happens. And when it does, it will probably seem impossibly difficult to do anything at all. There's a time to be happy and there's a time to be sad; don't feel bad to take the time out to just feel. But you absolutely have to set a time limit to this and eventually move on, if not what was a speedbump will turn into a perpetual state of depression.
To be fair, Kira offers much better advice in the podcast (the shameless narcissist within me just wanted to sound smart by offering my own first) so you should probably take note of it:
To me, the principle of this advice seems to be rooted in reverse-engineering: take an experience where you genuinely connected with someone (man or woman), deconstruct every element to understand why this was so, and use this knowledge to try to recreate this with other people. Heck, you can even use an experience where you really connected with the main character of a videogame or TV show, as I discussed earlier, if that works better for you. Not comfortable with writing this stuff down because it will feel weird? Remember: how much do you want this, to move forward?
Where to go, what to do?
As a final note, I want to offer another thought that might sound a little contradictory given that it won't actually encourage you to go out and talk to people in real life. My advice is to find online communities/blogs to talk and connect to people about topics specific to your struggles. I often scour the internet for research when I plan a blog post and it often brings me to places like Reddit. It never ceases to amaze me how people share the most profound, deeply personal feelings about their lives. It's absolutely extraordinary; people share some of the most intimate and personal details of their lives with total strangers. What's even more fascinating is to see how much this actually seems to help them, this airing of their pains, struggles, and emotional highs/lows. It's almost like a feeling of "finally, a place where people relate to me instead of giving me the cold shoulder." The danger though – which is why I was reluctant to recommend this method – is that there is a strong chance that you end up in a malicious community that feeds on the negativity in your heart (spoiler alert) to convince you that the world hates you, everybody is bad, and the government is the reason your life sucks. You must find places that lift you up, not pull you down into a never-ending spiral of hate and anger.
Remember everyone, now more than ever, we have to genuinely support one another.
See you, Space Cowboy.


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You might have considered that most of the stuff that happens on here owes a lot to science fiction. If I was REALLY going to write science fiction; I mean, y' know, seriously, I need a serious science fiction type name. So if you should see anything coming up written by 'Screen DeMister', you will know what to expect and take suitably evasive action.
Come to think of, it I could also write westerns under that pseudonym. 'Rainstorm at the OK Corral….by Screen DeMister'. Hmmm…..wonder if Halfords might be interested….?
Charter Flight.
By Screen DeMister.
Through the screen image breakup, she didn't look good. The fortunate hundred million miles between them meant he couldn't see her 'in the flesh', where she looked a lot worse.
"Can you not screech into the audio metaboliser? Please!" The distant audio metaboliser she screeched into cringed; she passed a damp flipper across her fevered brow.
"Is this better?" whispered the brow-beaten prospective client for Canary Charter Flights Inc. A pained moan from a hundred million miles away said it wasn't.
"Try it again from across the room" she insisted. "…And walk quietly please." The debauchery of the night before had taken a heavy toll on the suffering receptionist/metabolist; NGTOP tip-toed backwards until he felt his shoulders against the cold plaster of the furthest wall.
"How's this?" he hissed in a stagey whisper that sliced like a Turkish cymbal through the lady's hangover. She rattled down a half bottle of aspirin.
"Try outside."
"I'd rather not," said the part time detective cum alien, an irascible edge beginning to cut through.
"Why not?" She spluttered through a mouthful of the rest of the aspirin bottle.
"Because I'm twenty three floors up; and" said NGTOP, well on his way to screeching the ceiling down,
"And," he bellowed, "I don't want to broadcast this conversation on a loud-hailer because I'm on a Top Secret Mission. Ooops." NGTOP dropped to his knees and looked furtively about his flat. Satisfied that his mission was still as top secret as it had been prior to his blasting its classified status from the tower block rooftop, he returned, at no more than a whisper, to his abortive conversation with the unfortunate lady.
After his near death experience with Derek Modley and his by now famous Dangerous Greenhouse, NGTOP had decided on an identity and career change. Not that he was convincingly the possessor of either of those things before the changes. The move into the private investigator business had seemed a relatively safe option, compared with his recent brush with the Colyster Generator and Universal destruction.
"Maybe I'll try another charter company. It was the 'Canary Charter Flights go Cheep' advertising campaign that swung it for me. It's just that there's nobody else this cheap." He assumed the Ben Marlin persona that he had recently invented.
"I'll confirm our conversation by cyber-trace, Mr. NG…err…Thingy" said the telephonist, unwilling to risk another brush with strangulation on NGTOP's unpronounceable name.
"What, all of it? No, no. Don't do that!" NGTOP did summersaults.
"Only the booking arrangements Mr. err…Thingy, that's all. It will lessen the risk of a distant suicide. Mine."
The bucket of colour that had drained from Marlin's face filled up again, assuming its traditional tinge of puce while the gangrenous shades of the far distant telephonist scattered across the screen.
"Marlin!" A corrosive voice from the corridor outside rotted the carpet. NGTOP's adopted pseudonym had saved many an alien throat from strangulation by epiglottis reef knot. Such were the pronunciation impossibilities of the name of NGTOP.
"Marlin!" another voice, scarcely less musical than the first, elaborated. "We know you're in there." There would be little point in verbally stripping the paint off his letter box were he somewhere else, thought Ben Marlin, aka NGTOP. And he knew exactly what they wanted. Why they wanted it, was an answer he felt he might more likely stumble across in a mental institution. There seemed no sane explanation.
"We've got the Modley guy. He knows all about the Colyster Generator. So we've got all the information we need."
Ben (NGTOP) mused on this for second. There seemed to be two flaws in their argument. First, Derek Modley knew sod all about the Colyster Generator; that was even though he'd built one by accident. Secondly, the McNasty Brothers' numeracy went little further than the tally of their collective finger count. The idea that they might have a brain cell between them to wrestle with the quantum physics of the Colyster Black Hole Theorem was far-fetched.
The hinges of the door flew across the room just ahead of a plasma ray beam, and Marlin sprinted for the exit and onto the balcony where he jumped off into the darkness. On his way down he found time in his busy schedule to look back at the half dozen pig-ugly black trilbies peering over the balcony in the company of Derek, who happened to be suspended over it by his feet; and also to wonder what had possessed him to jump off.
"We'll get you, Marlin, and the Generator" shouted he of the acid tonsils, after the plummeting form of Ben Marlin. "Death will be no excuse."
Threatened with imminent termination by floor, Ben showed exceptional agility; unprecedented in a life of lethargy. The flash of a grappo-hook split the night as it flew from his sleeve and tore through the decorative tenth floor awning, 'Massage Parlour and Fish Bar'. Having creatively renamed this as 'Fish Massage and Barlour Par', the grappo-hook further rearranged the next six floors awnings into a messy parachute and broke Marlin's fall by guiding him onto a passing group of carousers.
"Sorry." He said unsatisfactorily, as he stood up amid the welter of broken bones that had been his landing pad.
It had all been in the interests of making few extra bucks on his fee as a part time private detective, by travelling cheap. He drew up at the deep space terminal in the esotruck flaunting his 'cool guy' image, stepping out onto the mica shingle in his slick all-in-one grey moonsuit with the suave flashing rubber tassels.
"There you go, feller," said Marlin, sweeping his plastic Credit Toad under the attendant's nose. The Credit Toad was an extraordinary development of ancient credit card technology. The cornerstone of the barter system which followed the great Fiscal Downfall was the Credit Toad.
Inside your trusty Credit Toad were all your worldly goods and chattels; compressed to fit into a plastic Toad. Most of these, in the difficult times after the great fiscal collapse of the early twenty-first century, were of manageable size and would stand in nicely for the rubber duck in your bathtub. There were very few people who had to carry theirs around on a truck. There were few enough left whose finances could stretch to the rubber duck, for that matter.
"Sorry sir, we don't take Toads," said the attendant. NGTOP was incensed.
"You don't take Toads! You can't be serious, man." Actually, the attendant's attitude was not unreasonable. When retrieving one's worldly goods from the Toad, the resulting pile of broken glass and twisted metal was often not worth the plastic Toad that had crushed it to smithereens.
"We've had too many receivership issues, sir."
The trick with a Credit Toad was never to open it. This was the problem that eventually sank the credit card system but for different reasons. The credit card because there was never anything left in it and the Credit Toad because there was always too much.
None of this was helpful to Marlin.
"How about this?" But before Ben could flick back his sleeve, the attendant had revealed two forearms full of ReAltime watches. "Maybe not" said the detective, wondering how he was going to pay for the parking for his flight; preferably before the McNasty brothers arrived.
"Nobody cares what time it is anyway," said the attendant; "I'm more into designer tassels. Like the ones on your suit; they'd look good on my hat." He took his hat off and pushed it into Marlin's chest. Two minutes later the attendant looked resplendent under his wobbly luminous tassels, and Marlin felt undressed without them. The deal done, NGTOP hefted his luggage and broke into a run for the departure lounge as the McNasty brothers spilled from an aging black stretch limo.
"Welcome to Canary Charter Flights, sir." The lady behind the departure desk looked uncannily like the one on the end of the metaboliser. The hour's sleep on the warp trip had done her no good at all.
"Another hangover?" quizzed Ben Marlin as a matter of polite conversation.
"Thought as much" Marlin cast a rapid glance over his shoulder at the heavies stampeding across the departure lounge. "Would you mind if I…?"
"Certainly, Mr. Marlin; please run along to your flight before those morons convert my nice departure lounge into a blood bath using your blood."
"You are very kind," said Ben, spinning on a heel and sprinting towards the door for the takeoff pad.
"Not at all;" she shouted after NGTOP's clean pair of heels, "I'd have to clean it up." Ben Marlin pushed through the exit doors and stopped as if poleaxed.
"Miss; er; miss!" he shouted in a panic.
"Yes?" grated the pained monotone from behind the desk.
"I might be having a mirage; or something. Could you just take a look at the takeoff pad, it seems to have a very large chicken sitting on it." Marlin's eyes boggled.
"No it doesn't," she said evenly.
"But, honestly, it is very large, it is a chicken and it is sat on the pad. I can see it."
"No you can't. It's a canary." The disinterested receptionist turned back to potter with the screen on her desk, and Ben Marlin's mouth wagged up and down like a cat flap in a high wind. A man with a painter's ladder strolled across to the giant canary, which looked down curiously at the little man.
"Cheep" it said to him, deafeningly. The receptionist shouted through the departure lounge.
"This is Canary Charter Flights, and you did want 'cheap'. What did you expect?"
Ben Marlin was suddenly distracted by an unwelcome thought. He watched the approach of the ladder with morbid interest.
"How do I, er, sort of, you know, get in it?" Marlin's vision was not a pretty one.
"Up the ladder to the little pod that's strapped to her back," the receptionist was busy pulling on a suit adorned with a plastic tag. The sparse text on the tag looked alarmingly like 'pilot', in red capitals. The McNasty brothers stood in the doorway to the takeoff pad, gaping at monstrous bird preening under its wings, clearly preparing for its take off procedure.
"Hey you!" said Monty McNasty, either to something he'd picked up on his shoe, or the receptionist/pilot/telephonist. "There's a turkey sat on the take off pad."
"No, there isn't" said the pilot/ receptionist/ telephonist-turned-bouncer, walking with some attitude towards the exit that the McNastys were gathered around; "it's a canary!"
She dealt out a few deft chops of her several flippers, and the McNasty brothers found themselves scattered around on a floor formerly used as a grill pan for fatty burgers. She charged through the doors like a falling tower block, and continued across the tarmac, stopping briefly to crane her neck up to the canary; which was fifty feet high if it was an inch.
"Hello Clara," she said "nice evening for a flight." Clara, distracted from her spray of millet for a second, uttered an affable if glass-splintering
The flight's sole passenger meanwhile had an excellent vantage point from which to witness the conversation; and no interest in it at all. Ben Marlin was completely absorbed in hanging onto the swaying ladder about thirty feet from the ground.
"Cheep" said the cheerful bird.
"Don't do that!" said Marlin as avian vocal cords shook the ladder to its last molecule.
"Cheeep!" It said happily.
"Eeeek!" said Ben.
"Cheep, cheep, cheep!" replied Clara, clearly in raptures with the conversation, whatever it was about. The ladder began a series of bouncing movements as the pilot swarmed up the underside with incredible agility and passed Ben Marlin who appeared to have been nailed to it.
The McNasty brothers nursed their injuries in the decimated departure lounge. Monty McNasty fumed while poking at a tender black eye.
"That guy Marlin loused up our last Colyster deal; he's not going to screw this one up; over my dead body."
"The Martian Colyster Generator deal will settle those two and put us on easy street. We'll be in the 'Designer Asteroid' belt." Monty McNasty allowed himself a sneer. "They're never going to get to Mars on a Canary. The job is in the bag. We'll book the next flight with 'Package Tours Inc.'
The single most valuable possession in the Universe was a Colyster Generator. There was not enough money in a whole planetary system to buy one; these things were then, all but impossible to buy. And just as difficult to steal, as transporting the black hole at its core was not something you might manage in a Transit van.
One Colyster Generator could heat an entire dead planet for nothing; and Mars had been converted from a dust bowl to an Eden in the space of a decade or two by the Generator built by Derek Modley.
Sadly for Derek, he took bad advice on patent issues and signed it away to a plausible guy called Monty McNasty, of 'McNasty's Preloved Armaments Inc.' for a bootleg DVD of 'Happy Days'.
Ben Marlin arrived at his seat and found a plain brown envelope on it. Not at that time feeling up to the challenge of a piece of brown paper, he stuffed it in his inside pocket and rummaged around in his bag for his hip flask of 'Hell's Dregs', downing most of it in one. This stuff imbued super-being confidence and the skill levels of a crustacean. Ben was convinced he could fly without actually being able to walk. He fell in a heap in the aisle and took to swimming a front crawl.
Take-off sobered him up with the cabin bouncing through three hundred and sixty degree rolls as Clara got the hang of it.
"Captain!" wailed Marlin from the floor/ceiling.
"What?" replied the telephonist/ receptionist/ bouncer/ pilot/ Captain; who appeared to be having little effect on the course of Clara.
"We're all going to die!"
The twisting rolls suddenly smoothed and Clara settled into a rhythmic flight not unlike a rowboat on a ski jump. The whistle of wind under Clara's wings petered into silence and the cabin's extreme rise and fall flattened out.
"Can I ask a question, miss?" said Ben Marlin, still untying the knots in his stomach.
"If you must," said the Captain tetchily.
"How do you expect a canary to fly in the vacuum of space?"
"Clara has three boost stages; breakfast, dinner and tea" said the bored Captain.
"I don't understand" said Ben. The extreme G-force of an abrupt acceleration accompanied by a deafening farting noise kicked Marlin between the shoulder blades. "What was that?" he choked, fighting for breath.
"Breakfast" said the Captain.
Back at the terminal, the flight from 'Package Tours Inc.' had just arrived and the McNastys stood on the tarmac around a brown paper package.
"Has everybody gone mad?" remarked Monty McNasty.
"This one is our mini economy flight; you have to blow it up." The steward handed over a foot pump.
"This is your assignment" read the note that Marlin had retrieved from his inside pocket. "The Colyster Generator on Mars will be attacked tomorrow: you must protect it at all costs." Ben Marlin flicked through his regulation issue of 'Code Cracking for Baboons' before he realised it wasn't a code.
"Ridiculous" thought Ben Marlin. "Nobody has ever stolen a Colyster Generator; come to that, nobody has ever seen one to know what they might be trying to steal." The detective read on.
"The attackers have the conversion kit." The note went on; Marlin had heard of the conversion kit that converts the Generator into a bomb; the power of which made fusion physics look like popping popcorn. "We believe the intention to be Universal blackmail."
NGTOP scratched his head, and turned the note over, the surface of which was as blank as the expression on the detective's face.
"Why should anybody want to trade in the whole Universe for a clinker of ash? In what ways could the bomb-terrorists possibly profit? Had they a season ticket for some idyllic afterlife?" NGTOP (aka Marlin) had to concur that blackmail on a vast scale seemed the only plausible purpose. The private dick looked up from his reveries to see the hostess (receptionist/ telephonist/bouncer/pilot/Captain) reeling down the aisle with a tray of drinks and an in-flight meal.
"For your comfort and delight" she read from the 'recommended greeting' sheet; "but discomfort and disgust might be closer to it" she improvised; and handed over the concoction to Marlin. Ben retched and made a break for the toilet.
He returned to his seat in time to hear;
"Fasten your seat belts for landing, please." Ben searched about for a seat belt. "No, ignore that; I forgot this is a budgie flight. Sorry, 'Budget Flight'. Anyway, the budget flight's answer to the seat belt is the brown paper bag behind your seat." There was another short pause. "Please check that this has not been used for, er, anything else, before putting it over your head. Thank you."
Clara's second booster stage kicked in as a retro rocket, and after being strained through the fibres of his seat, Marlin settled down to being merely terrified out of his stomach. The full complement of passenger and crew being absorbed in the hazards of a Martian landing, the brown paper parcel following entered the Martian atmosphere unnoticed.
The underground labyrinth hummed tunelessly in sympathy with the infinite power of a Colyster Generator in tick-over. The hiss and crackle of an empathy door sent echoes bouncing along convoluted corridors. The creature strode with the brown paper parcel it had collected from lost property, through the door from other dimensions. It stooped and swayed gracefully as if in an undetectable breeze as it stowed the parcel. Its slender limbs flexed in the subtle glow emanating from walls of crystal, as it struggled with the tartan shopping trolley.
"How do they expect anybody to do a professional job without quality kit?" The Caph cast a withering glance at the little trolley, and turned again to drag it along the corridor. The wheel that wasn't there scraped unmercifully on the steel floor. "Aagghhh; my teeth!" The Caph swept a delicate aspen hand to its cheek. "Alright, that does it. They can count me out of the next Universe-destroying mission." It turned back to its course and the trolley resumed its banshee squeal, the Caph mumbling a steady torrent of abuse under its breath.
It plodded through the endless liquid plasma barriers, each one levelling molecule disintegrators at the Caph; which it ignored. The disintegrators could sense it was there, but beyond that had no sense of what it might be. They made enough noise about it though. After the twenty-third barrier of head-splitting bells, the Caph wearily stretched out its limbs into the endless corridor, yawned, and rummaged in the shopping trolley, carefully avoiding the Colyster detonator wrapped in brown paper, to fish out a parsnip for tea break. It munched meditatively while staring at the opposite crystal wall. Subtle reverberations of a distant door circled confusingly and disturbed the Caph. It stood up, repacked its parsnip, and continued its shambling pace towards the destruction of the Universe.
Ben Marlin gazed down the twisting crystal corridor, trying to make out the strange, willow-like figure in the distance. The plasma barriers made it impossible to focus. He hefted a demoraliser ray from his tartan shopping trolley, levelled it on a forearm and sent a long burst into the length of the corridor.
"My mum didn't like me" blubbed the first barrier, utterly demoralised by the ray, ahead of the stream of heart-rending complaints from the succession of barriers. The Caph, way down the corridor, turned towards the commotion.
"You should go home" it called to NGTOP, "it is dangerous here."
"Where is this 'Home' I might go to that isn't dangerous?" enquired NGTOP, not unreasonably. This seemed to be something that the Caph had not much thought about, and it put down the handle of its shopping trolley while considering. Ben Marlin sauntered along without fear. There seemed little point in being terrified as he considered himself as good as dead already.
"Nice trolley" said the Caph. Ben looked around. It was definitely talking to him. He smiled a wan shadow and pointed down to his shopping trolley for confirmation. "Yes" said the Caph. "Nice. Got all the wheels as well." Marlin gulped and nodded.
"Fancy a swap?" asked Marlin tentatively, as he continued to trudge the length of the corridor and up to the Caph. It was dumb ploy to relieve it of the detonator. But then anything dumb enough to consider blowing itself to bits for profit might not notice another dumb ploy. It swayed a little.
"This one squeaks," it said making a suave gesture at its tartan trolley.
"Nice pattern though." Ben Marlin listened to himself and thought he'd already made a swap; from average humanoid brain to Lego windmill.
"Yes it is a nice pattern; how good of you to notice. Unfortunately, it is quite heavy." The Caph shook its head plaintively.
"I don't mind that" quickly interjected the detective, "it will… er…stop me blowing away in high winds."
"I am here to destroy your Universe, you know." The Caph made an apologetic smile. Ben Marlin was a little taken aback by the Caph's candidness.
"Well, I'm actually here to stop you. But nobody seems very sure of what you might gain from blowing yourself to bits." Ben Marlin had discovered the answer to that over the course of his brief conversation. The Caph were in no danger at all from the destruction of this particular Universe. They lived somewhere else entirely.
"Your Universe causes a lot of trouble with our TV reception. This Universe makes it impossible for us to follow the story of the 'Happy Days' programme. A pained expression crossed its face.
"I'm not surprised you can't follow the story in Happy Days. There isn't one." Ben Marlin stared up at the Caph's sylvan form.
"Oh." It said. Then it blossomed into a radiant smile. "Are we still on for a swap?"
Ben Marlin, lugging the alien shopping trolley squealing its objections back through winding corridors, couldn't help but wonder what he might do with a Universe-destroying tartan shopping trolley with one wheel that was giving him a headache. The answer lay around the next bend.
"We said that death wouldn't get you off the hook for this one." Marlin almost walked into the McNasty gang. "We want our shopping trolley back." The detective's trolley contained the destruction of the Universe, and to hand that over to a bunch of bent second-hand shopping trolley salesmen seemed less than sensible.
"This, gentlemen," said Marlin, having decided to brazen it out "is not what it seems."
"We can see you have not treated it with the respect it deserves, Ben Marlin. Where is our wheel?" Monty McNasty pulled out a randomiser-ray with a barrel nearly as long as tartan shopping trolley he pulled it from. "The deal is simple. Give us our trolley back, complete with wheel, or I blow your head off." The rest of the gang were standing around sheepishly, each with his own trolley, and each sporting a subtly different plaid.
"Nice." Said the Caph as it materialised behind the gang, gazing in wonder at the assorted fleet of trolleys. "Don't fancy a swap, do you?" Monty and the gang were surprised, to be sure, but the boss was quick to get his accountant's head together.
"I take it you ain't big on arithmetic where you come from," said Monty with a sneer, "we've got six trolleys, to your one. What sort of swop is that?" Marlin was fascinated. How was the Caph going to talk its way out of that one?
"In here," it said with an air of collusion as it pointed into its shopping trolley, "is the complete set of DVD's for Happy Days." It took a gracious bow for the applause that rippled around. It pointed to Ben Marlin. "His has the Colyster Generator detonator in it."
A quiet descended. The Brothers McNasty went into a huddle. Monty's head surfaced briefly.
"Why don't I just blow you both to bits and take the trolleys?"
"Because you'd wipe out the Universe at the same time?" ventured Ben Marlin. This seemed to settle the quandary and Monty McNasty turned from the scrum.
"O.k. tall guy," he said to the Caph, "you got a deal."
It turned out that the Colyster Generator detonator was an out of warranty OEM version that wouldn't detonate the Caph's parrot out of its 'Beano'. Marlin left it outside the departure lounge as a monument to something.
He checked his Toad for a new deposit. Satisfied that all was in order, he walked across the tarmac to where a very big canary sat, preening.
"We're almost ready for your return flight, Mr. Marlin," said she of the multiple flippers.
"Cheep!" bellowed Clara. Ben Marlin looked up at the soaring canary with a slight shake of the head.
"I've decided to emigrate to Mars" he said.
The End.
In Screen DeMister's stories 'The End' is usually the best bit.


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Basra (disambiguation)
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|Look up Basra in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in Iraq.
Basra may also refer to:
- Basra Governorate, a governorate in southern Iraq
- Basra Province, Ottoman Empire
- Basra International Airport
- University of Basrah
Other places[edit]
- Basra-ye Bala, Mazandaran Province, Iran
- Basra-ye Pain, Mazandaran Province, Iran
- Basra, Morocco, archaeological site in Morocco
- Basra, Pakistan, village in Chakwal District, Pakistan
- Basrah, Yemen, a village in Yemen
- Battle of Basra (1914), a battle between British and Ottoman troops in World War I
- Battle of Basra (2003), one of the first battles of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, involving the British 7 Armoured Brigade
- Battle of Basra (2008), an operation by the Iraqi Army to drive the Mahdi Army militia out of the city
- Al-Hariri of Basra (1054–1122), Arab poet, scholar of the Arabic language and a high government official of the Seljuk Empire
- David of Basra (3rd- and 4th-century CE), Christian Metropolitan bishop
- Geeta Basra (born 1984), Bollywood actress
- Riaz Basra (1967–2002), Pakistani militant
Other uses[edit]
- Basra (game), a card game widely played in Lebanon and Egypt
- Basra (clan), a Jat clan found in India and Pakistan
- Basra (album), a 1965 Blue Note jazz album by Pete La Roca, featuring Joe Henderson
- Basra (2008 film), a 2008 Egyptian film
- Basra, a 2010 Hindi film directed by Navdeep Singh
See also[edit]
- 1991 uprising in Basra, the scene of the beginning of the unrest in Iraq following the Gulf War
- Basra reed warbler, a bird endemic in Iraq and Israel
- Basara (disambiguation)
- Basar (disambiguation)
| disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Basra.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.


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