Friday, September 25, 2020

BOOK; Sea Witch by Carol Ann Kauffman


Sea Witch 
by Carol Ann Kauffman


Dr. Laura Martin, Chief Extraterrestrial Life Scientist at The Touchstone Institute of Oceanographic Research, noticed troubling but subtle changes in the Atlantic Ocean. Before she could make sense of it all, her longtime assistant abruptly walked out. Laura hired young, handsome Scott Conner to be her personal assistant. Mayhem ensued, mainly because of Zara, the alien-mermaid-siren-monster in the basement of the Touchstone Institute, who eyed on Scott as her possible mate in a plot for total domination of planet Earth.

“The Touchstone Institute of Oceanographic Research is the most fantastic, exhilarating place on the planet to work. It is high energy, exciting, sometimes maddening, often frightening, heart pounding work. It’s not a job. It’s a lifetime commitment. It gets in your blood. It grabs you by the throat and possesses you, body and soul. And it is work. If you’re not prepared to work your ass off day in and day out, weekends, holidays, your birthday, and your mamma’s birthday, leave now.”


Amazon Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XK6DUNA

But wait! Read an except before you buy:

Chapter Four
Boy Meets Fish


“Scott? Tell Vanna to bring down a starfish, please,” Laura called over the intercom.
“Yes, Dr. Martin.” Scott looked around for Dr. Vanna Johanssen.
“Dr. Johanssen! Vanna? Has anyone seen Vanna?” They all said no. Not wanting to disappoint Dr. Martin, Scott scooped out a starfish and placed it in a plastic bag with some water and tied off the top. “Dr. Johanssen?” he called as he headed for the down staircase. “Vanna?” No Vanna. He ran down the steps.

As soon as Scott walked down the steps, Zara became extremely agitated. She beat the glass sides of her tank wildly.
“Zara, what’s the matter? What’s wrong? Calm down and talk to me,” Dr. Martin spoke softly and calmly to Zara, the giant tetrapescahumanoid. Zara attempted to calm down, but she beat her chest and thrashed around in the tank.
“My mate!” she screeched, “My mate is here, Laura. I sense him. And you are keeping him from me. I want my mate. And I want him now!”
“Zara, your mate is not here. I have no other TPH here, you know that. There’s only you. You are the last.”
“He is here, Laura. I sense him. I smell him,” she inhaled deeply. “And I want him. I must have him now. Now!” She pounded her chest and threw herself up against the glass walls of the tank.

“Here, Dr. Martin,” said Scott, handing her the starfish. “I couldn’t find Dr. Johanssen, so I brought it down myself.”
Zara stopped and stared at Scott. Zara pushed herself up against the glass wall. She began to coo and reach toward him.
Scott looked at the giant six and half foot tall tetrapescahumanoid in the tank in amazement.
“Well, hello beautiful!” he said. “Isn’t she amazing? What is this gorgeous creature? A mermaid?”
“A tetrapescahumanoid, a TPH for short. The only one left on the planet, out of the nine who splashed down about twenty years ago in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Laura.
“She’s… she’s… incredible.” Scott stared in amazement.
“Oh, crap! I’ve seen this movie and it gets really messy,” said Sylvia. “Earth guy falls in love with giant alien female. Lots of people die. The planet gets bombed. Except in the movie, she was much larger and …blue. Are you smitten with the big green fish-woman?”
“Well, she is beautiful, I must admit, and her ancestors were undoubtedly the reason for irresistible siren and mermaid legends of long ago, but I’m madly in love with a one hundred percent human woman,” he said eyeing Laura.
Laura glanced over at him.
“Yeah? That’s good, Scott. Is she a geek like you?”
“Well, I’ve never thought of her that way, but yes, I guess you could say that,” laughed Scott, shaking his head, “except she’s a cross between a geek and… Wonder Woman.” He smiled.
“Well, then she sounds like the perfect match for you. Hold on to her and don’t let her slip through your fingers.”
“I’m determined not to let that happen, Dr. Martin,” he smiled, blushing.

Zara pressed herself up against the glass wall of her tank, eyeing Scott intently.
“Come. Come to me, my mate. Oh, how I have missed you. It has been a long, long time, and I am ready for you,” Zara cooed. She reached for her genitals, pulling her labia back to show him her opening. “I want to hold you up against me and enfold you into my skin and feel you throb. Come to me.”
“Did the big green fish-woman just… proposition me?” asked Scott.
“Yes, and not too subtly,” said Sylvia Washington.
“Her first two layers of skin are gelatinous ectoplasmic vasodilators, capable of keeping her body at the perfect temperature despite her surrounding temperatures in water or air,” said Laura. “Even a splash from that tank water can be EXTREMELY harmful to you as a human male, Scott, so please remember to stay behind the yellow line at all times. And watch out for what appears to be her long, flowing hair. They’re actually masses of tentacles that can pack quite a sting.
“Come to me. Come now,” Zara beckoned to Scott, but not so sweetly this time.
“She certainly can communicate. Dr. Martin, did you teach her to talk?”
“I’ve worked with her. But she has good communication skills and she picks up very quickly. Zara is extremely intelligent. The TPH must be a brilliant species.”
“What are these characters on the side of the tank?” said Scott.
“I believe that is her native language. Sometimes she doodles.”
“They look, uh, oddly familiar.” Scott leaned forward. “I’ve seen these somewhere before.”
“You! Come to me NOW! I command you! How dare you disobey me!” Zara scowled, hitting the glass wall with her body again and again and whipping her hair against the glass. Everyone backed up in fear.
“Zara, calm down. Scott, back up slowly,” Laura said calmly. “Security team, lower level. Emergency,” Dr. Martin called out. A team of six armed guards showed up in moments. “Dr. Conner is in danger. Please escort him upstairs. And tank him. She can’t see him or smell him. Or sense his presence.” They led Scott upstairs.
“Did she say ‘tank me’ or ‘thank me? Must be thank me,” a bewildered Scott asked. “You’re welcome, Dr. Martin,” he called back.






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Thursday, September 24, 2020

ENTERTAINMENT: Radioactive, the Movie



I really like Rosamund Pike. I think she's an excellent actor. 
'Radioactive' did not disappoint in this gripping, sometimes dark,  retelling of the life story of scientist and medical pioneer Marie Curie.  









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Wednesday, September 23, 2020

INTERVIEW: Children's Author Maxine Sylvester





Maxine Sylvester
London-born 
Bali, Indonesia


Good morning, Maxine! And welcome to Vision and Verse, 
the site for art and authors. What have you written?
I have written three books in the ‘Ronaldo the Flying Reindeer’ 
series; they are available as ebooks from Amazon.com. The second 
book, Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher, is coming out soon 
ipaperback.

What is your favorite genre to write?
Children aged 6-10 years. I am very much in touch with my inner 
child so writing and illustrating for this age group comes naturally.



taught that age group for 35 
years. They are my favorite people.  
Favorite food
Pizza! I also have a passion for 
Indian curry.


Tea or coffee?
Herbal tea. Jasmine is my favourite.





Pizza or ice cream? 
Without a shadow of a doubt, pizza! 
I would only eat ice cream if there 
was a fudge brownie buried beneath it.

Wine or beer or soda? 
I don’t tend to drink alcohol or soda but I will
 have the odd glass of wine at Christmas or on 
my birthday.

Where would you like to visit? 
Disneyland, Shanghai. I have been to the other Disney Resorts; 
this is the last one on my bucket list.


Favorite musical artist.
Anything from Guns ‘n’ Roses and 
ACDC to Bruce Springsteen, 
Pink Floyd and James Taylor. I also 
have a wonderful Disney 
soundtrack with all the songs from 
the films and theatre productions.
  


Do you listen to music when you write?  

I listen to music when I am illustrating 
but I find it too distracting when I write.


What makes you laugh? 
Old comedies like ‘Fawlty Towers’. 
I also like ‘Johnny English’ films.






Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
I have a folk art painting which I 
bought in Park Cultury (Gorky Park) 
in Moscow. Not only do I love it 
because it’s a winter scene but it 
reminds me of the time I spent in Russia. I also 
like the Hachiko statue in Tokyo. I saw the film 
and made a point of having my photo 
taken with it while I was in Japan.

How old were you when you started writing? 
Mary Poppins says you should never discuss a woman’s age, 
but I will make an exception this once (ha!) I was 47 years old.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 
I usually have a rough idea in my head how I am going to start the story,
 but then it veers off in a different direction, and then I am thrilled because 
I never saw it happening that way. I always keep a notebook handy 
because once my brain is in writing mode, ideas keep coming at the 
strangest times and I might be in the bath or out shopping.

Describe your perfect evening
I like Saturday evenings at home with my partner, Mark. We usually order 
an Indian curry and watch the Premier League football. (Unfortunately we 
support different teams which have led to minor conflict over the years!)

Where do you get your inspiration? 
From childrenI love to encourage them and each book has a message. 
Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher is about friendship and bravery. 
My first book, Ronaldo: The Reindeer Flying Academy, deals with self 
belief. Ronaldo is a good role model and very relatable; I want children to 
feel they have a friend every time they pick up a Ronaldo book.


What do you do when you get a 
writer's block? 
I have a few sessions of acupuncture. 
I believe that a writer’s block comes 
from the body not functioning to the best 
of its ability. Outside factors like stress 
can have a major influence on how the 
body performs.
Who is your favorite author? 
I’d have to say J.K. Rowling. I devoured 
the Harry Potterbooks. 

Best book you ever read. 
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle; it was 
life changing for me. Whenever I feel anxious, 
I read the shortened version and it reminds me 
to get out of my head.

I have that book sitting on my shelf, 
in my giant "to be read" pile. 
Maybe I'll move it up toward the top.  Last book you read. 
Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull. The author is one of the founding fathers of 
Pixar animation, a tiny little company who created Toy Story and eventually 
merged with the epic Disney. I am obsessed with Disney and Pixar so the 
book is a fantastic read for me and so inspirational!

I've read that one! Excellent! I wished I had read that when I was younger. 
I doubt I would have stayed in the classroom for 35 years. What would 
you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I would probably illustrate for other people. At the moment I only illustrate 
my books. I am a trained Pilates Instructor, so I could teach a few classes 
as well.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most 
and why? 
My partner, Mark. Over the last twenty-three years, he has supported 
every hairbrained idea I have ever had. He helps with my social media 
to give me more time to write/illustrate.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE 
person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be 
and why?
Walt Disney, although I tend to get tongue tied when I am 
in awe of brilliant people. (I once sat at the next table to Roger 
Waters of Pink Floyd – I couldn’t even ask him for an autograph!) 
As to why, Walt Disney has brought so much joy and inspiration 
to my life, I would like the opportunity to say thank you!

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Do it! Believe in yourself but don’t be too proud to ask for help. You want 
your book to be the best it can possibly be, so surround yourself with people 
that have experience in the industry. I would also suggest investing in an 
editor; a good one is worth their weight in carrots!


Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Twitter:      @flyingronaldo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxinesylvester/






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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

BOOK REVIEW: Sinister Goings-on in Room Seven by Alice Simpson and Celia Kinsey






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Sunday, September 20, 2020

SCHEDULE: Sept. 21-25, 2020


Mon., Sept. 21 - ART: 
Condors at Sunset
by Parker Kaufman
Tues., Sept. 22 - BOOK REVIEW: 
Sinister Goings-on in Room Seven
by Alice Simpson & Celia Kinsey
Wed., Sept. 23 - INTERVIEW:
Children's Author
Maxine Sylvester
Thurs., Sept. 24 - ENTERTAINMENT:
Radioactive (Madame Curie)
Fri., Sept. 25 - BOOK:
Sea Witch
by Carol Ann Kauffman



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Vision and Verse does not use cookies. We do not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties.