Friday, February 21, 2020

BOOK: Belterra by Carol Ann Kauffman



The Time After Time Series follows a pair of unlikely lovers on their adventures through their many lifetimes together, this time on an alien planet divided into four tribes.

Can one person make a difference?

When Neeka, daughter of the Lord of the Warrior Clan, was out picking lavender in their vast fields of the West, she felt a stirring in her heart. She felt him coming for her, and she was ready for him. 

When Braedon, Lord of the Soldier Clan of the East, rode into those lavender fields, searching for the woman he had dreamed of so often, he had no idea if she were even real. But there she was, standing there looking up at him, smiling. 

He reached his hand down to her. She accepted, thus beginning their new adventures together, changing not only their lives forever, but the course of life, unity, and the political structure on their planet forever. 
An alien planet. 


Or is it?


Amazon Buy Link: 
https://www.amazon.com/BELTERRA-Time-After-Book-ebook/dp/B0072F88NM

But wait! How about a sample before you buy? To set the scene, Braedon plans a feast to welcome Neeka to their village. He begins the party with a speech:

“My people, it is my pleasure to have you all gathered together to welcome my lovely Neeka to our clan. I feel very fortunate she has agreed to come and live with us. It is the first time in ten years we have a medicine woman. I am sure we will all keep her busy.
“On a more serious note, please remember to keep ever vigilant.  Northford and Southland are always ready to devour each other. We must remember that Belterra must be kept in balance. We are like legs of a table; all four must remain strong, not allowing one to take over. Keep strong. Be vigilant. Keep on the lookout for trouble. Stay ready. Thank you.”                                             
Then they ate. It was heavier cuisine than she was used to, and very salty. Her people ate mostly plants. After dinner as he refilled his wine cup, she panicked. She smelled something.  She looked at him and noticed a faint blueness around his lower lip. As he raised the glass to his lips, she reached for his hand and held it away from his lips. She stroked his hair and his earlobe with her other hand and got very close to him.
“Lord Braedon, listen to me carefully,” she smiled and whispered to him very quietly. “Do not show reaction in your face. Do not drink. Pretend to drink. Get a little on your lower lip. Then kiss me so that I may taste it to be sure. I think it is poison,” she whispered in his ear. She brushed her lips up against his ear. 
“Your people already? They are fast!”  He kissed her. She hung onto his lower lip. He kissed her again, holding her tightly in his arm. “Am I going to die?” he whispered.
“Yes, my love, but not this day.” She kissed him again, this time just to kiss him.
“All of my men are very envious of me right now,” he observed. “They cannot take their eyes off of you.”
“Can you get us out of here? I need to tend to you now.” He nodded. They stood up together, still locked in an embrace.
“My people, please stay and continue to celebrate our good fortune. My Neeka and I have some, uh, urgent business to take care of!” He wiggled an eyebrow at them. The crowd roared with laughter as Neeka and Braedon waved and left the table and went back to their small house. 

Thursday, February 20, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT: King Arthur, The Legend of the Sword






Charlie Hunnan said he would like to get another chance to play King Arthur because he felt he missed the mark in this film. He certainly had the right look.

This was a dark, strange movie, but not necessarily a bad one. Cheeky orphan boy Arthur is raised in a brothel. He grew up on the streets and was a successful petty criminal.

Unbeknownst to street thief Arthur, the uncle responsible for the death of his parents (played masterfully by Jude Law) is looking for him.

Once Arthur and Excalibur are reunited, the action kicks in.  If you’re looking for a different, darker, stranger King Arthur tale, this is it. Charlie Hunnan. An unattractive mage. Snakes.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

INTERVIEW: Author Caven Tootell


Caven Tootell
Sydney, NSW
Australia



Good morning, Caven, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for art and authors and the people who love them.  Tell us a little about yourself.
I am currently a Director with Sydney Trains.
In the past I served for over 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy as a Combat Warfare Officer before moving across to Intelligence where I finished my career as Deputy Director Navy Intelligence.  During my career I served in a combat role in Desert Storm II, as well as HQ intelligence staff for the operation to stabilize East Timor.  I also served in exchange postings in Malaysia and Indonesia.
After leaving the Navy I worked briefly in the mining industry as a consultant in Indonesia, then took up several contracts in Afghanistan assisting the UNAMA mission and other contract clients over a seven year period, finishing in 2010 conducting the civilian side of a US counterinsurgency mission, in essence living by myself out in Afghan townships and managing local civil engineering projects with villages (wells, road rehabilitation, farm land clearing etc.) paying locals to encourage them not to take up offers from the Taliban for paying work.  At times though this meant, due to the isolation of this work, having to gain the local Taliban commander’s approval for the work to proceed. I have recently returned from a 2 year contract constructing the new Metro rail system in Doha, Qatar.
At present I am completing my second Master’s degree, but have always felt I could write a historical (colonial) novel in the genre most associated with my favorite authors, Graham Greene, Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling.



What have you written?
1.   Dis’ Taste– fiction
2.   Currently working on post WWII murder mystery in Penang, built on Dante’s Inferno
3.   Several Folklore Tracts
5.   4 x Business Manuals  

What is your favorite genre to write? 
Historical Fiction (not romance)

Favorite food.  
Asian

Tea or coffee? 
Coffee

Pizza or ice cream?  
Pizza

Wine or beer? 
Beer

Where would you like to visit? 
Asia

Favorite musical artist.  
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

Do you listen to music when you write?  
No

What makes you laugh?  
Very dark & black, gallows’ humor

Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
Anything by Klimt

How old were you when you started writing?  
40’s

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?  
Unfortunately, all of the above, but find outline is perhaps the better method.

Describe your perfect evening. 
Watching Film Noir

Where do you get your inspiration?  
Childhood reading of Boys’ Own Adventure stories

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
Walk away and do something different

Who is your favorite author?  
Graham Greene

Best book you ever read. 
Burmese Days

Last book you read. 
Almayer's Folly

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 
Unfortunately what I am doing now – so not a full time author.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?  
Joseph Conrad

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 
Graham Greene



What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 

Just write – anything! But do it every day.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

*SCHEDULE: Feb. 17-21, 2020



Mon., February 17- ART:
Millard Sheets
Tues., February 18- BOOK REVIEW: Mildred 
in Disguise with Diamonds
by Toni Kief
Wed., February 19- INTERVIEW: 
Author Caven Tootell
Thurs., February 20- ENTERTAINMENT:
Film - King Arthur,
Legend of the Sword
Fri., February 21- BOOK:
Belterra
by Carol Ann Kauffman