SCHEDULE: July 13-17, 2026

 

Monday, July 13 - ART:

Contemporary German Artist

Thiemo Tausendfarben

Tuesday, July 14 - BOOK REVIEW:

Vanished in Bitterroot Mountain

by James Kipling

Wednesday, July 15 - INTERVIEW:

International Bestselling Author

James Quinlan Meservy

Thursday, July 16 - TV TIME:

Thrash

(Netflix)

Friday, July 17 - BOOK:

July Fireworks Sky

by Carol Ann Kauffman

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BOOK: Harper Ross by Carol Ann Kauffman

Harper Ross is a quiet, shy man born to wealth and privilege; not large, not strong, not what you'd call hero material.

Katy Westwind finds herself in danger from the cruel sheriff of Bellwood.

If that's not bad enough, there's a giant monster that flies down into the town once every ten years and devours everyone and everything it finds.

Town council has organized a lottery to choose a man to kill the monster before it awakens.

The lottery is, of course, fixed.

If you’re looking for something different to read, Harper Ross

is a sci-fi western fantasy romance that will fill the bill. It has 

bad guys and romance. It has steampunky inventions and a crooked 

sheriff. It has a historic library and a flying dragon. And it has heart. ♥️ 

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Harper-Ross-Carol-Ann-Kauffman-ebook/dp/B0CG2HZH2Y

EXCERPT:

Prologue

This story unfolds on Belterra, an Earth-like planet set in a time reminiscent of the old American Wild West, around 1880. Long ago, the ancients brought humans to this planet. There were only four tribes: the warriors of magic, the spiritual soul keepers, the brilliant but unscrupulous scientists, and the strong, brutal, but efficient soldiers. However, with decades of intermingling, numbers have dwindled, and only the strongest, most forceful of each tribe have survived. Is it natural selection? Or is it fixed? This story follows the first two books, Belterra and Dark Return. You can blame my father for this sci-fi/romance/fantasy/western mash-up. We used to watch cowboys on TV together. 

Saddle up for something different, Cowboy!

 

Chapter 1

The Invitation

 

 

“Miss Katherine must understand,” bellowed George Powers, Bellwood's large, imposing sheriff. He was a descendant of the old Soldier Guard of Eastwood, the once respected peacekeepers of the territory. Once an elected position, the sheriff’s position is now inherited, passed from father to eldest son. 

“The economy is extremely tight at this time,” the sheriff continued. “Most households simply cannot afford to take in another person. And everybody knows Miss Katy Westwind has quite a reputation. Very outspoken. Overly educated for a woman of her station in life. And extremely headstrong.”

Powers held his head with both hands for dramatic effect. “Who in his right mind would purposely want to assume that kind of headache, responsibility, and aggravation without at least a decent dowry?”

“But because of the failing health of our esteemed citizen and noted healer Barton Westwind, who is loved by all, and in acknowledgement of his decades of service to our community in the healing arts, and the fact there are no other living Westwind relatives left in the area, or maybe anywhere in the world, I am willing to take Miss Katherine into my household as requested by her father. 

“Of course, I do have a few stipulations. I would insist that Miss Katherine resign from all endeavors outside her assigned household duties at Powers House. I would expect her to refrain from her numerous public speaking engagements that do nothing more than rile up our womenfolk and make them irritable, dissatisfied, and hard to handle. And I would also have to insist upon the deed to the Westwind family home. Maybe renting it out would help me offset the cost of having another person to clothe, feed, and house in these lean and bitter times.”

“And where is my very ill, highly esteemed father supposed to live out his days while you are renting out our family home, Sheriff Powers? Under the bridge, perhaps, with the rats and the trolls?” answered the small-framed, fiery blonde Katy Westwind.

“Miss Katherine, is your father not here to speak for you?” blinked George Powers

“Mr. Powers, I think my father may have already spoken too much for me, sir, if he asked you to take me into your household without first discussing it with me.”

“Do you see what I mean?” Sheriff Powers chuckled as he looked around the Council chamber at the other members. “May I remind you, Miss Katherine, you are not getting any younger. Female beauty fades very quickly after fifteen or sixteen. And I do not see any other Council representative here willing to take you in.” 

There was laughter and a low murmur throughout the Council chamber as George Powers puffed out his chest and grinned.

“I’ll take her,” came a voice from the last row. Everyone turned around to see where the voice came from. A tall, slim, impeccably dressed gentleman stood.

“Harper Ross of Ross House, of the Northford Family House of Science. I have known Miss Katherine since primary school. We are the same age, so I don’t feel she’s too old for anything. We were classmates. Katy is indeed very bright and well-educated for any station in life. I do not fear wise women. In fact, I like them.

“Ross House is large with plenty of room. If you, Miss Katherine, would like to come live with me, you are most welcome. You can invite your father to come and live out his remaining days with you, with us, if you wish. Renting out the Westwind House does seem to be a prudent and profitable idea in these challenging economic times. But I would assume no controlling interest over Westwind House. I would leave it in your very capable hands and act only as your advisor when requested.

“I would not ask you to change your habits, schedule, or prominent position in this community as a voice of reason and equality. 

“Miss Katherine, would you consider moving into Ross House, not as a servant, but as my…companion?” Harper asked.

“Thank you, Mr. Ross, for your kind and timely offer. It is very much appreciated. I would like to know what exactly you require of me as ‘your companion’ before I can make a rational decision.”

“May we discuss this in private, Miss Katherine?” A blushing Harper asked as he looked down at the floor before him.

“Of course, Mr. Ross. You may call upon me at Westwind House at your convenience.”

 

Note from the author:

This story began its life on Vella, Amazon’s short-lived but innovative and exciting episodic reading platform, where episodes were released gradually, instead of the whole book at once. Authors could add little notes to their audience as they went along. I kept the author’s notes in this particular story because I realize most of you have not read Belterra and Dark Return. I am hoping these little nuggets of insight will help you enjoy Harper Ross. 

Personally, I enjoyed the Vella platform. It works well in other countries. But sadly, it didn’t work out well here. So, I turned my eight Vella stories into eBooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks.

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TV TIME: Bugonia (Netflix)

 

I generally love science fiction movies.  But this one, Bugonia, was dark and twisted, and hard to watch. Emma Stone played the main character. She did a great job playing a totally unlikable character, but the movie was just creepy.

Two strange cousins kidnap the CEO of  pharmaceutical company because they believe she is an alien. (She is odd, yes. But, is she an alien? They have no proof.) Not only do they think she’s an alien, but they think a giant alien spaceship is coming on the lunar full moon to take over the planet and kill all the human being because they are basically violent, awful people.

So, they chain her up in the basement and share her head, and smear antihistamine cream all over her body so she cannot telepathicly contact her spaceship. It was here I wanted to change the channel. But my husband said he wanted to see it. 

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INTERVIEW: Texas Collage Artist Parker Kaufman

      Parker Kaufman

Houston, TX

Good morning, Parker, and welcome back to Vision and Verse. 

At what age did you know you wanted to be an artist?

    From a very early age, say seven or eight.  There was something magical that happened when I put a pencil to paper and started creating a world as only I could see it.

What medium do you prefer to work in?

    I love the media I'm currently working in, card stock.  I like the fact that it's a less exacting material than say acrylics or pastels.

Favorite food.

    You promised me there would be no difficult questions here! LOL  I like a variety of foods; simple, flavorful, healthy.  If I had to pick one, I'd say edamame...I can eat it like candy.

Favorite color.

    Artists LOVE all colors.  I'd have to say blue is my favorite.

Where would you like to visit?

    Paris, France

Favorite musical artist.

    Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Linkin Park, Neil Young, Big Head Todd & the Monsters.

At what age did you started making art?

    I've made art since I was a child and throughout most of my life.  In the traditional sense, I began seriously in my early forties.

Where do you get your inspiration?

    Everything inspires me.  The world is full of things that give me ideas...music...poetry, books I've read, everyday scenery.  Most of it comes from an overactive mind.  There is no off-switch to my brain.  It's a constant traffic jam in there.

What do you do when you get artist's block?

    I simply walk away from whatever project I'm involved in and enjoy some of my favorite activities...window shopping, walking the dog, cooking, or harassing friends (wink, wink).

 Who is your favorite artist?

    So many...Dali, Matisse, Seurat, Picasso...I could go on forever.

What is your favorite piece of sculpture?

    All of Erte's stunning works.

What is your favorite painting?

    Renoir's "Place de La Trinite."

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

    Without a doubt, my maternal grandmother.  She taught me compassion, grace, and appreciation for what I was given.  She never held me to her expectations, but rather encouraged me to have high expectations for myself and use my talents to surpass them.  She always said that kindness was one of the keys to a successful life.

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

    My first thought was so say Oprah, but in all honesty I'd have to say my great-uncle, Harold Staley.  Uncle "Bub" as we called him, was the greatest influence with regard to me and art.  He was a physically challenged artist who created the most amazing works, some of which hung in the Buttler Museum of American Art in Youngstown, OH and in the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.  He gave me a John Gnagy art kit for Christmas when I was nine years old.  He opened up the world of art for me, passing on his love for the craft.  I cherished the times he would talk with me about his art, and to sit with him now, after all I've learned, would be awesome.

What advice would you yo give someone who aspired to be an artist?

    Chase your aspirations and don't give up until you've tackled them.  Pay no attention to the nay sayers and those who put requirements on what is and is not art.  Follow your instincts, jump in with both feet, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...create what YOU like, make art for YOURSELF, not for the masses.  The moment you try to create to please others is the moment the joy and passion all start to fade

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us this morning, Parker. Come back anytime. You are always welcome.

Hugs,

Carol

BOOK REVIEW: The Bookstore Sistersby Alice Hoffman

 

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ART: Transition by Parker Kaufman

 

TRANSITION  came about from my desire to create something that would express my feelings in light of the recent increase in hate and bigotry towards transgender people.  I wanted to depict what I was hearing from the trans community.  I wanted to present what I saw and heard from my personal experience and perspective as an aging gay man.  When I began examining the issue, it hit me that in some way we are all "transitioning".  We are all sifting through this chaotic mess we call life.  We all look to discover who we are, who we want to become, and try to decide how best to get there.  I do not suggest that this is a valid comparison nor in any way do I mean to take away from the significance of their struggle, one fraught with oppression and a blatant attempt to erase their existence.  From this old gay's perspective, folks trying to deal with their gender identity walk a path that is far more difficult and complex than the rest of us can ever imagine.  I cannot begin to fathom the questions, the fear, the loneliness, the intense uncertainty that my trans brothers and sisters are confronted with.

I used straight edges and sharp angles as a background to denote societal thinking regarding gender; how we tend to look at one's gender in black and white terms.  In other words, if you're born with male genitalia you are automatically labelled a boy and we can't see how one could be a female in a male body.  The sharp angles also serve as a metaphor for how that very narrow-minded way of thinking "cuts" and harms those with identity issues.  I used common anatomical details to signify "humaness", allowing the viewer to make their own conclusions. The single tear below the right eye reflects the immense sadness that I feel for the treatment of the trans community, for the inhumanity they  experience as they simply try to be who they are and live a happy life as their true selves.  There is much more packed into this work and my hope is that those who see it, will take time to explore it with their own knowledge and experience and find more meaning in it.

The one final point that was most important to me to  make was in the wording that I added.  It says, "I say who I am, it's not up for debate".  The message should be crystal clear.  It is not up to government, the clergy, the local school board, one's employer, neighbors, or some bigoted snark on social media, to determine who one is, what gender they are supposed to identify as, or how they choose to live their life.  That right, that HUMAN RIGHT, belongs to the individual alone.  My greatest wish is that more people come to that realization, that they come to embrace the wondrous diversity of the human species and the richness that that diversity brings to one's life.

The composition measures 16" x 20".  It is comprised of hand cut poster board and 60lb cardstock, mixed with computer generated lettering.  The design is mounted on foam board.  

 Artist:  Parker Kaufman,  05/31/2026.  Image may not be copied, reprinted, or used in any other way without express written permission.

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SCHEDULE: July 6-10, 2026

 Monday, July 6 - ART:

Transition by 

Texas Collage Artist Parker Kaufman

Tuesday, July 7 - BOOK REVIEW:

The Bookstore Sisters

by Alice Hoffman

Wednesday, July 8 - INTERVIEW:

 Texas Collage Artist

Parker Kaufman

Thursday,  July 9 - TV TIME:

Bugonia

(Netflix)

Friday, July 10 - BOOK:

Harper Ross

by Carol Ann Kauffman

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BOOK: The Captain and the Ambassador by Carol Ann Kauffman

 

Ambassador Tull Redmond is seeking a quick ride home to Earth after concluding her twenty-year mission as a peace negotiator. All she wants is peace, quiet, and to be left alone. She boards the Earth Starship Giuseppe Verdi with its questionable leader, Captain Ben Jacobs, anyway. It's the fastest way home. 

Her quarters has a full bath, a space view window, and a large, real bed! How bad could this rule-breaking, authority-defying Captain Casanova be? High Council hates him, true, but his crew loves him. 

Surely, she's too old and tired to be drawn into this bad boy of the quadrant's personal circus.

 
Will Ambassador Redmond get the quiet, uneventful ride home she craves?

Amazon Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074569BDY

Available in Kindle format, paperback, and audiobook.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

A New Passenger

 

 

Captain Jacobs? Sir, big news. Ambassador Tull Redmond is meeting us at Bridgeport Seven tomorrow and will join us as our passenger all the way to Earth,” said second-in-command Commander Zack Mankewitz of the Earth Starship Giuseppe Verdi.

“Ambassador Redmond,” repeated the captain. “Oh, I’ve heard of him, Commander. He’s that peace, love, and hope guy. He’s the most successful intergalactic mediator in this quadrant. Wow, my very first five-star passenger. Yes, that is big news. I’m glad I didn’t miss him. High Council’s never trusted me with a bigwig before.”

“Yes, sir. I know.”

“So, the ambassador and I will be going home to Earth at the same time. Well, I’m not sure the Ambassador is Earthite, I just assumed. Is he retiring, too, I wonder?

“Well, sort of. From what I heard, the ambassador refused to sign another ten-year contract, so resigning from intergalactic mediation is the only other option. You two are lucky ducks.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it, Commander. It’s plain, old-fashioned endurance. Any special dietary requests? I heard the ambassador was a vegan.”

“No. No special food requests, but a full bathroom in quarters, and the ambassador is a woman. She’s also requested a room with a space view.”

“You’re kidding me? I’ve seen him, eh, her, from a distance. Short, pale, plump, light-colored hair slicked back or something. Hair was hardly noticeable. Wears a big, long, hooded, monk-like robe. Kind of like a round beige ball. A non-sexual being.”

“Does that matter?”

“No, I guess not. The ambassador gets the job done. A full bath and a view, huh? Well, there is only one accommodation like that aboard this ship, and that’s mine. Damn. My first five-star passenger and she boots me out of my quarters. Oh, well. Go ahead and assign her to Captain’s Quarters, Commander."

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TV TIME: Final Days of Planet Earth (You Tube)

 This series on You Tube was a giant mash-up of a ton of older sci-fi movies, from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, V, to Aliens. The critics hated it. Absurd. Ridiculous. Bizzarre. But me? I liked it!

Darrell Hannah plays astronaut/city official in the mayor’s office who is chilling in her performance, which pulls together this series about “giant six-foot insect aliens who want to take over The Earth”. 

Gil Bellows is a cranky archaeologist who uncovers the alien plot and sets out to save humanity.

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INTERVIEW: Multi-Genre Author Chris Underwood

 

Chris Underwood

Galena, Ohio 

USA

Good morning, Chris, and welcome to Vision and Verse.

 What have you written?

I have a humorous murder mystery, which I have converted to a screenplay and won some awards:  The Creatures of Holden Beach…And the murder they did NOT Commit!

 

I also have a 4-book Disaster Fiction Series about a cyber attack on the Niagara Falls power grid in the wintertime called The Cold Winter. My heroes eventually join a minuteman militia to fight back with vintage military equipment because modern machinery cannot be trusted. The series straddles the genres of Dystopian Future and Historical Fiction. 

 

What is your favorite genre to write?  

I bounce around a little, as you can see above, but humor is my fallback. I try to toss some in there every now and then. 

 

Favorite food.  

Pizza!

 

Tea or coffee?  

Coffee!

 

Pizza or ice cream?  

What's wrong with both?  

 

Wine or beer or soda or what?  

I do NA beer now. 

 

Where would you like to visit?  

Caribbean Islands. Extended stay.

 

Favorite musical artist.  

Meatloaf!

 

Do you listen to music when you write? Exclusively. 

What?  

Instrumental Jazz and hip hop. It's got to have a beat and minimal words

 

What makes you laugh?  

The world.

 

Favorite work of art or sculpture.  

Historical buildings and structures.

 

How old were you when you started writing? 

3rd grade. 

 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards?

Or just write?  

I do a general outline and I stray often but the outline still gives me structure. I update the outline midway through and it helps a lot at that point, after the bugs are worked out. 

 

Describe your perfect evening. 

Writing with some music and a nice view. A chapter started ahead of time and needing finished. 

 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

I find it in everyday things. But also, I volunteer with vintage military groups, so conversations and sights can really get the wheels turning.

 

What do you do when you get writer's block?  

Actually, I haven’t had that. I’ve had wasted junk writing, but no blank page issues.

 

Who is your favorite author? 

Clive Cussler, Ian Fleming, Hemingway.

 

Best book you ever read. 

Not sure I can put a finger on that one. 

 

Last book you read. 

The Last Hitman by Robin Yocum.

 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

Program computers, woodworking. 

 

Who is the one person who has influenced 

your personal life the most, and why? 

My dad did a lot for me. He's still watching, 

I’m sure.

 

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

Jesus.

 

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

Write. Don’t just talk about it. Join a writers club and submit some chapters for critique. 

Put it out there. 

 

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

 

My Books – Chris Underwood

 

The Cold Winter Grid-Down Series (4 book series) Kindle Edition

 

The Creatures of Holden Beach.....And the Murder they did NOT Commit! eBook : Underwood, Chris: Amazon.com.au: Books

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