Wormhole Week Blogfest

2014 Second Annual National Wormhole Week Blogfest: 

Presented by Stephen Tremp and hosted by

Captain Ninja Alex Cavanaugh, and L. Diane Wolfe 

In this blogfest we are to name one thing where science advances mankind, and one where technology, with unforeseen consequences, will go too far and set mankind back. Example: De-Extinction, or bringing back extinction species through back breeding, genetic engineering, and cloning. Something where science takes a huge leap forward, but also backfires.  With all the breakthrough discoveries mankind is on the cusp of, are we playing God?

I think the work being done with DNA in discovering the causes and cures of genetic diseases is one of the greatest advancements in medicine that we are seeing happen in our lifetimes. It's a wonderful thing.

There are also things being done with genes that are quite interesting, like spider genes in goats. Their milk has a protein in it which, when processed, produces spider silk, the strongest fiber known to exist. If this kind of silk can be produced cheaply and plentifully its uses will be numerous.

However, I think there's a danger in taking genetic engineering too far, particularly in humans. Should we allow parents to pick and choose the genetic qualities they want in their children? How far should we let genetic manipulation go? The line between "good" and "dangerous" science seems hazy and gray to me. We could inadvertently create monsters if we aren't careful. 

This week just happens to coincide with the release of Stephen Tremp's new book and third in his series, ESCALATION.

Escalations Synopsis: "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein I.

In Escalation, the final installment to Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Trilogy, a seemingly innocent discovery in Einstein-Rosen Bridges, or wormholes, becomes a Pandora’s Box—opening doors to other unexpected and unpredictable realities such as parallel universes, time/space travel, and an evil hitchhiker from another dimension.

Chase Manhattan has survived attempts on his life from numerous sources in his effort to destroy the technology. But he is far from safe. Now Chase and his comrades must not only break world renowned physicist Professor Nicholas Fischer out of prison a second time, but also smuggle him across hostile borders in Europe and the Middle East to prevent events threatening to spiral into World War III.

Congratulations, Stephen!

Click HERE to join and learn
all about the challenge!

As a member of M.J.'s AZTechs, I'm here to remind you about the A to Z Challenge.

We are just FOUR WEEKS away from April 1st. Have you got a theme? Do you have any of your posts scheduled? 

Come on people! JOIN THE FUN. Sign up and go insane with the rest of us.

Insecure Writer's Support Group

The brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh, the purpose of the Insecure Writer's Support Group is: to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting is the first Wednesday of every month.

You can sign up HERE.

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My contribution this month is a quote of C. S. Lewis.

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."

Write what you want, tell your own story, quit looking over someone else's shoulder. Look over your own fingers and write out your own arrangement of words. At some point you will find your own voice, your own story.

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A special WILDFLOWER bouquet and THANK YOU

to EVERYONE who stopped by Monday and Tuesday with their Happy Blitz comments. I can't even begin to tell you what a wonderful feeling it was. I even got teary-eyed. 

Don't ever doubt the positive impact a blitz can have on a person. Be assured you're time, your words, are not wasted. I so wanted to thank each of you individually, to visit each of your blogs and comment back, but I couldn't... I tried, but I just couldn't say "Hi," back to all of you. And to DL Hammons who thought up the idea and made it all possible, HUGS to you. I'm humbled and honored.

Gilded by Christina Farley

I'm thrilled to announce that this Saturday the 1st

 Christina Farley's book, GILDED, was released to the world.

I watched this book unfold as Christina, one of my earliest followers, went through the whole process of writing, rewriting, submitting and now this... finally in print. 

I'm VERY excited for her.

Congratulations, Christina!

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About the book:
Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

Gilded: The Book Trailer

It's in stores everywhere! 
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

You can also find Christina on Facebook.

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And here's what Anansi and I have been up to.





Natalie Aguirre over at Literary Rambles had an interview with Terry Johnson (author of Dogsled Dreams) and they were giving away Terry's latest book, Ice Dogs, and I won it!  I read Dogsled Dreams and really enjoyed it. So having this chance to read Ice Dogs is a thrill. Besides, the cover is just so beautiful.

Thanks Natalie and Terry!

An Award and a Win!

It's been a while since I won an award. I got the Dragon's Loyalty Award from C. Lee McKenzie. THANKS, Lee!

And the Rules Are:

1. Display the Award on your Blog. 
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you. 
3. Present 15 deserving Bloggers with the Award
4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded. 
5. Write seven interesting things about you.

In no particular order I'd like to pass this award on to...
1. Alex Cavanaugh
2. Robyn Campbell
3. Anne Gallagher
4. Kelly Polark
5. Marcia Hoehne
6. Vijaya Bodach
7. Joy Campbell
8. Liza Salerno
9. Hilary Melton-Butcher
10. Susan Kane
11. D. L. Hammon
12. Carol Kilgor
13. Meradeth Houston
14. Medeia Sharif
15. Klahanie


Okay, 7 interesting (hopefully) things about me.

1. I absolutely cannot stand liver. My mother (a most excellent cook) used to try to disguise it. Her last attempt to get me to eat it was ground up liver mixed with beef in a meatloaf. I about threw up. After that whenever she had liver (because the rest of my family LOVED liver) she'd cook me up a hot dog.

2. In high school I won first place in an interscholastic speech arts festival in poetry for reciting, "The Stolen Child," by William Butler Yeats.

3. I've walked up the steps of the Washington Monument twice and walked down them once.

4. I've broken only one bone, a small one in my right wrist, due to a roller skating accident.

5. I may have grown up on the ocean but I know next to nothing about sailing. I'm all about being a passenger.

6. I may have grown up on the ocean but I never learned to scuba dive. I'm all about snorkeling and free diving. In my prime I could easy dive 25 to 30 feet and tool around for a minute to a minute and a half before making my leisurely way to the surface.

7. In 1970 I went with my senior class to Curacao and Caracas, Venezuela. While in Caracas there were student riots right down the street from the hotel we were staying in. We were able to watch it. Police and military guarded the hotel, outside and in, with machine guns and rifles. It was tense and exciting at the same time.

***

YEAH! I'm a winner!


I have been randomly picked by Melissa Wray of Uncommon YA to win a copy of the book of my choice! I went with The Pitcher by William Elliott Hazelgrove.

Thank you Uncommon YA for having such a great give-away.

The A to Z Challenge

I wasn't going to do the challenge this year, which I've done every year since that mad man Arlee Bird came up with the idea.  I even left a comment on Alex Cavanaugh's blog to that effect. Just goes to show things can change, and one can wind up eating ones words.


Now, I'm not only going to participate in the challenge, I have somehow been hoodwinked into becoming a member of M. J. Joachim's
AZTech Team. I think it was the badge that sold me. :)

You too can join up for this month of mad fun where you post a themed letter for each day. You get Sundays off, which leaves you with 26 days. So it goes like this, on April 1st you post using the letter "A." On the 2nd you post something themed on the letter "B." And you continue right on through April 30th to the letter "Z."

You can think up a theme for the whole alphabet or you can pick something individual for each letter. There are no limit to the possibilities. How about the A to Z of your favorite books? Or the A to Z of flowers, or trees, or birds? Or the A to Z of inspirational favorite words? Or the A to Z of world geography? How about the A to Z of favorite rock bands or favorite songs? Or the A to  Z of National Parks?

Last year my theme was the A to Z of Place Names in the Virgin Islands. I have a theme this year too, but I'm not going to tell you what it is.

You have the rest of this month and all of March to schedule your posts, so there's really no excuse not to join up HERE.

The more the merrier! 

If you're wondering what Anansi has been up to... On Tuesday, the 25th, (that's tomorrow folks) he'll be hanging out with Angela and Becca - of The Emotion Thesaurus fame - at Writers Helping Writers!

I've written a little something about where and how to find NEW ideas for stories from the wealth of world mythologies and fairy tales.

I do hope you'll stop by!



Then there's this.

I got my proof copies in the mail! So of course I had to braid my hair up and try to make it look like eight spider legs. Doesn't everybody?

If you ask me how I did it I'll tell you floral wire and a lot of bobby pins. :)

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So, are you going to join the A to Z challenge? Come on, say you will. 

Alternatives - Choose

Alternatives is a recurring post in which I give synonyms for an over used word. Click on the tab above for a "complete" list of over used words.

Today's word is:

Choose your words wisely. I am pleased to include "alternative" to the list!

Depending on how you use it, this list may come in handy for finding another way to say the same thing.

accept, adopt, adjudge, adjudicate, aim at, alternative, appoint, arbitrate

ballot, be desirous of, be inclined, be persuaded, between

call for, cast, cherry-pick, chew on/over, cogitate, command, commit oneself, conclude, consider, contemplate, co-opt, covet, crave, cull, cut and paste

debate, decide on, decree, deliberate, delicate, desiderate, designate, desire, determine, discretion, discriminate, division, draw lots,

elect, embrace, entertain, espouse, excerpt, extract

fancy, fastidious, favor, feel disposed to, feel inclined, figure, find, finical, finger, finicky, first come first serve, fix on, fussy

glean

handpick, have designs on

judge

like, love, lust (after)

make a choice, make a decision, make up one’s mind, mark (out for), mediate, mull (over)

name, nice, nominate

opt for, option, optional

particular, pernickety, persnickety, pick (out), pick and choose, please, poll, ponder, predestine, prefer, preselect, put to the vote

question

rather have, referee, reserve, resolve, rule (on), ruminate

see fit, select, separate, set, set apart/aside, settle on/upon, set one’s seal upon, sift, single out, slot, sort, study

tab, tag, take (to), take a decided/decisive step, take for better or worse, tap, think about/fit/good/proper/over

umpire

voice, vote for

want, weigh (in), will, winnow, wish (for), wish to goodness, would fain do


Got a favorite word? I'm kind of partial to persnickety, myself. It's a word my mother used to say... "Don't get persnickety with me!"

I simply could not resist using this song, "Choose Me."

The Rotten Kid on a Road Trip

My mother affectionately called me The Rotten Kid because from time to time I'd pull small harmless stunts. Of course I blamed her because she's the one who taught me to be, at times, unpredictable and/or irreverent.

You can read about a few exploits HERE.

Almost as soon as we Denhams moved to the Virgin Islands in 1955 we began dreaming of the day when we'd take a cross country trip from Florida to California.

In the summer 1970 everything came together and the dream became a reality. Mom, Dad, my sister Erva, and I packed up, flew to Florida and bought a used station wagon. We drove up the East Coast as far as Virginia to visit family. Then we headed out West, crossing West Virginia, Kentucy, Illinoise, and on through the endless corn fields of Iowa and Nebraska. We went through Wyoming and saw Yellowstone. Drove through Montana and across the northern arm of Idaho, stopping in Coeur d'Alene where my father had gone to Navy bootcamp. Then it was on Washington.

Victoria. A beautiful place!

Dad had family in Victoria on Vancouver Island, so we decided to catch the ferry at Port Angeles and go visit.

It was very early in the morning when we went into a Denny's to eat breakfast before before making the crossing.

We settled into a booth and a waitress came over to take our drink orders and give us menus.

The Rotten Kid decided this was a good time to do something unexpected. I picked up the knife and fork and began studying them as if I'd never seen them before. I then looked the waitress in the eye and holding the utensils up I asked in a most intelligent and innocent manner, "What are these for?"

The waitress, obviously flustered, ignored the question and asked us what we wanted to drink. All the while my parents and sister were trying hard not to snort and giggle.

What would your response be? Do you or have you ever played tricks on people?

***

Anansi and I are out and about again. This week we'll be visiting Anne Gallagher at Piedmont Writer. Anansi is hoping for High Tea since Anne is not only a writer of Regency Romance but a chief as well. I've told him to be polite, but I'm not sure if I can keep him from pestering her for some scones with strawberry preserves!

Hope you'll come by and see what we're up to.

PLUS... today Jess and Stephanie over at The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow announce the winner of a free copy of Anansi and Company! It could be YOU!