Wednesday, December 4, 2019

INTERVIEW: Poet and Inspirational Writer Rikah Thomas


Rikah Thomas
San Diego, California



Good morning, Rikah, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and authors. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
Heavenly Ink – A book of poetry, prose and original artwork by Rikah Thomas.

Be at War: Battle for Love – Is a fictional piece about Jacob and Emma who learn the value of love and marriage.  Brought together by destiny, they willingly stand strong as they build a life together, and through their unwavering faith and steadfast love they cultivate into an unstoppable force to fight and conquer the battles of life and love.

What is your favorite genre to write?
Poetry, prose, short stories, and inspirational pieces that encourage others and impact personal growth.


Favorite food.
Italian! All the pasta, carbs, cheese, and sauces I can consume. 


Tea or coffee?
Always strong coffee. Mochas are my usual morning routine.
  

Pizza or ice cream?
Ice Cream. Any flavor, not picky. Love Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia and Rocky Road.


Wine or beer?
I enjoy tasting a variety of different and unique beers.


Where would you like to visit?
I would like to visit Paris and the many art museums there (as I am an artist and appreciate the history and uniqueness of art over the ages). 

Favorite musical artist.  
Danny Gokey and Rascal Flatts

Do you listen to music when you write?  
ALWAYS! It sets the tone and gets my emotions and inspiration going 
in the right direction.

What? 
Country or 70’s music

What makes you laugh? 
Baby anything - puppies, kittens, goats, and any humor that speaks truth, makes fun of, and shows the irony of life, marriage, love, family, having children, etc.…

Favorite work of art or sculpture.
A few paintings I created in oils, acrylics, pen and inks.  

How old were you when you started writing? 
I started writing poetry at a very young age, around six years old.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 
I just write. I wrote, Be at War: Battle for Love, with the ending chapter first and then worked backwards.

Describe your perfect evening.
Dating my love of 30 years, my husband Peter. Going to dinner, holding hands, walking, enjoying deep heart to heart conversations, slow dancing, and dreaming of the future.

Where do you get your inspiration?
From seriously anything and anyone. I am a people watcher, life watcher, and take in all the sights, sounds, and experiences and they then invoke such creative flow, thoughts, and emotions which make me want to write and create something to reflect the moment I’m in.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Write anyway or work on a piece of art (oil paintings). 
                                                         
Who is your favorite author? 
Betty MacDonald (The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series author, my favorite books from childhood).

Best book you ever read.
The Five People You Will Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Last book you read. 
A Beautiful Mess: How God Recreates Our Lives by Danielle Strickland

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I would be a full-time artist.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?  
My husband, Peter. Building our life together and living out our love, raising a family, overcoming the challenges of life, and pursuing our dreams together has helped me become the woman I am today. 

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
I would sit down with my dad. I am very much like him (the artist, writer) and yet didn’t get to know him or grow up with him. 

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Write, write, write, and keep writing! Set aside time daily or weekly to write, even if it’s journaling. Have goals and tackle them one step at a time.

Do you have some links for us to follow you? 
Links:





Monday, December 2, 2019

RECIPE: Holiday Cocktails

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Today I have for you the favorite holiday cocktail recipes for your holiday parties.  


GREY GOOSE® CHERRY NOIR

BLACK CHERRY COLA

For an intensely flavorful take on a favorite, GREY GOOSE® Cherry Noir Flavored Vodka unites with cola and a splash of grenadine.
DIFFICULTY
Easy
GLASS
Tall Glass
OCCASION
Brunch, Entertaining

Ingredients

1.5 partsGREY GOOSE® Cherry Noir
3.5 partsCola
0.5 partGrenadine

Method

  1. Fill glass slightly above rim with cubed ice.Pour ingredients in order listed to 1/2 inch from top of glass and stir.Add soda straw and garnish with a cherry.

  2. My personal favorite cocktail is the Peach Bellini.  I first had one in Venice long ago.  I don't know how THEY made it, but I use equal parts Prosecco and peach juice.  I have used white grape juice when I couldn't find peach juice.  Frozen grapes make good ice cubes in this version.  Try one.
These are from FREE-N-FUN Christmas, a part of the Oriental Trading Co.  This site holds a 

plethora of ideas on decorating, homemade gifts for crafters of all ages, and recipes. If you are 

not familiar with this site, you still have time to acquaint yourself
Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Carol


Link:











Sunday, December 1, 2019

SCHEDULE: Dec. 2 - Dec. 6, 2019



Mon., Dec. 2 - RECIPE:
Holiday Cocktails
Tues., Dec. 3 - BOOK SERIES:
The Chronicles of Tonath by Mari Collier
Wed., Dec. 4 - INTERVIEW: Poet and 
Inspirational Writer Rikah Thomas
Thurs., Dec. 5 - ART: Yayoi Kusama's 
Big Red Polka Dot Balloon
Fri., Dec. 6 - BOOK:
I Need Christmas by Carol Ann Kauffman

Friday, November 29, 2019

BOOK: Madison's Christmas by Carol Ann Kauffman


Madison's Christmas
by Carol Ann Kauffman

Christmas is Madison’s favorite holiday, but this year is different. She has to face it alone, without her father and her best friend sometimes-boyfriend Bob, amid the problems of running her own high-stakes business and dealing with family issues.

Does grief always win out over joy during the holidays?
Can the spirit of Christmas lift a heavy heart?


Madison's Christmas is the first in a series of three Madison Rand books. 

Amazon Buy Link:
 Madison's Christmas  http://mybook.to/MadisonsChristmas

“This is a sweet, short story about an woman who is emotionally fragile during the holiday season. She finds love in the most unexpected way. I smiled often as the story developed. It was adorable!” 
$.99 #Christmas #mistakenidentity

The second in the series is Christmas at Star Lake, which is already out. I am working on the final book in the series now and hope to have it out in the late fall of 2020. 

Thursday, November 28, 2019

NOTE: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!


Dear Gentle Readers,
From  all of us at Vision and Verse, we wish a very Happy Thanksgiving. We hope you get some rest, spend time with those you hold dear, and eat too much! We hope you are full of love and gratitude.
Please know that each and every one of you who stop by everyday to see what’s happening on this little art and author blog are appreciated.
Hugs,
Carol

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

INTERVIEW: Suspenseful Contemporary Author Cynthia B. Ainsworthe



Cynthia B. Ainsworthe
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA


Good morning, Cynthia, and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us a little about what you've written?
My romance books are steamy, yet not quite erotic. “Front Row Center” is a tome length novel of over 290,000 words.

Four books in the Forbidden Series:
“Front Row Center”, Their attraction is electric. Their affair—explosive. And their love—devastating to those around them.
It starts at a concert. Taylor Allen, a happily married businesswoman, finds herself attracted to world-renowned singer and bachelor, Larry Davis, who feels his only love is his music, is drawn to Taylor in the audience. Sparks fly between them. Is this merely lust, or the beginning of love?

“Remember?”,takes you on a journey fraught with danger, passion, and shocking surprises.
Famous singer Larry Davis’ tour schedule has brought him to London, England, where he continues his desperate search for his lost wife, Taylor. Chances of finding her seem bleak, until he discovers a woman named Lady Tiffany Bradford. She looks like Taylor. Is she a mere illusion?

“Forbidden Footsteps”,Peril lurks in the old-world historic streets and shadowy back alleys of Paris, and brings Cindy to question her sanity and heart. Is finding true happiness worth her life? Fleeing her violent past .Cindy Hastings' bright future turns dark. Her romance with wealthy hot French rock star Jean-Claude LeGrand uncovers his dark secret with his exotic sexual tastes..His friends run the risk of murder.

“Dangerous Reach”,Amelia’s “no fear” approach puts her in deadly peril. Is the chance for a meaningful life worth the risk of devastating consequences? A modern duchess in a loveless marriage trades her salacious London lifestyle for the glamour of the Hollywood red carpet when she agrees to visit famed movie producer, Trenton Lowe. What starts as a carefree sojourn in Malibu turns ugly as evil intent.


Two cookbooks in the Tasty Temptations series:
“Front Row Center’s Cooking With Passion”,Unique gift! Discover the passion for not only cooking, but for enriching the joie de vivre! Recipes that create delicious entertaining and romantic conclusions. Whether cooking for two or more, easy dishes turn an ordinary eating experience into a memorable event. Luscious pictures of recipes, gorgeous photos of men, and a romantic story thread after each recipe spice the cook’s imagination.
“Cooking With Passion”.Want more adventure in your culinary endeavors? More spice to stir up those creative juices? How about a hunky shirtless man in your kitchen? Cooking with Passion has a playful approach to cooking with delicious over 114 recipes that range from American to European. 139 full-color photos. No longer will meatloaf be that boring dish or fish have that same old sauce. Friends will beg for the recipe!

My cookbooks take a light romantic approach. There are hunky shirtless men throughout the serious recipes. At the end of each recipe is a story thread under the heading “Cooking break” that starts after the first recipe and ends after the final recipe entry.

All my books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.



About Forbidden Series:                   
Dive into the maelstrom pool of lust, passion, romance, crime, and psychological danger with any of the books in the Forbidden Series. When the hunger for lust and the quest for power collide into devastating consequences, lives are forever changed. The Forbidden novels provide much more than a typical romance. Characters are just as complex as the plots are developed. Steamy love scenes dangerously change the dynamic and raise the stakes to treacherous levels. As one conflict is resolved, another emerges with striking, and sometimes deadly results. Psychological warfare is not beyond a villain’s grasp. If that doesn’t render the desired result, there is always a bullet, poison, or whatever is handy. 

About Tasty Temptations Series:
Cookbooks with a difference! Who says a cookbook should follow the same old rules of food illustrations and recipes? Tasty Temptations offers entertainment for the cook as well as delicious recipes with photographs of luscious food, and mouth-watering pictures of hunky men along with a sizzling story thread after each recipe. Reward yourself or that special cook in your life with a culinary book offering serious recipes and entertainment that will cause whipping of that meringue just a bit faster while viewing handsome men and reading an intriguing romance. Multi-award winning author, Cynthia B. Ainsworthe fashions a unique and passionate approach in both her novels and cookbooks. She has received celebrity endorsements from famous actor Terri Garber (of North and South miniseries, playing Ashton Main opposite Patrick Swayze, among other television series such as Dynasty, Law and Order, and numerous others) and renowned Hollywood screenwriter, director, producer Scott C. Brown. 


What is your favorite genre to write?
Suspenseful contemporary romance with a strong criminal thread. Murder or the threat of murder raises the tension and stakes exponentially. I’m also a screenwriter.

Favorite food.
French cuisine with Italian as a close second.

Tea or coffee?
Coffee.

Pizza or ice cream?
Pizza with extra cheese.

Wine or beer?
Wine. Brandy Alexanders for the holidays.

Where would you like to visit?
France. Paris is my favorite city. England runs a close second. I’ve traveled to Paris at least 15 to 18 times in my lifetime.

Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?
What?
Barry Manilow and the late Charles Aznavour are my favorite musical artists. I don’t listen to music during my writing but will play music when 
I’m stumped as to what should happen next in the plot.

What makes you laugh?        
Watching puppies and kittens at play.

Favorite work of art or sculpture.
“The Swing” by Edouard Fragonard. His use of light and dark always draws me in.

How old were you when you started writing?
I didn’t start serious writing until I was 58; it was a bucket list item that just took off. During childhood and teen years, I wrote stories and plays for my friends.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I just write with the basic plot in my mind. As the characters develop, they let me know where they want their story to lead. I keep a separate document where I note the important events for each chapter and list my characters with their brief bios.

Describe your perfect evening.
A quiet dinner with my husband, us reminiscing about all the years we’ve been together.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Family and friends’ positive words are a great impetus for me to create. Barry Manilow’s advice “Do what you love and the rest will follow” was the driving force for me tackling the writing art form. His words turned out to be so true. My debut novel, “Front Row Center”, won the prestigious IPPY Award, and I have since garnered two additional writing awards for other works. Scott C. Brown, renowned Hollywood screenwriter, producer, and director, would like to see “Front Row Center” as a miniseries. I’m working with him on a screenplay for that book. The movie industry is a tough environment to break into. Still, if I don’t put in the effort, I’ll never know what might happen. I also have the support and endorsement of famous actress, Terri Garber of miniseries North and South (opposite Patrick Swayze), Dynasty, Law and Order, and many other appearances.


That is so exciting!!! Best of luck to you for a speedy miniseries. What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I watch a movie or a series such as Downton Abby. Also, House of Cards will awaken my creativity.

Who is your favorite author?
There are so many! I can’t pick only one. On the top of my list are: William Goldman, Herman Wouk, Danielle Steele, Trish Jackson, and John Rosenman.

Best book you ever read.      
Boys and Girls Together by William Goldman

Last books you read.
Way Out of Line by Trish Jackson, excellent and suspenseful and
Dark Wizard by John Rosenman, master at science fiction.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I’m a retired cardiac charge registered nurse.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
My loving husband has always been in my corner, having faith in me and encouraging me.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it 
be and why?
William Goldman. He’s an award-winning author and an Academy winner for his screenwriting. His insight would be invaluable.
                                                    
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Don’t listen to meaningless negativity. Constructive criticism should be valued and the purpose of that criticism should be objective and not subjective. Write what you know. Write from your gut.


Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Monday, November 25, 2019

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY: The Milky Way Over Yellowstone by Dave Lane



"When asked about his astrophotography, Lane practically glows with awe in our astonishing, beautiful universe:
    
    'Get away from the light, drive out 20 -30 miles out of town and look up on a clear dark nite and you may see something that will forever change your life. This is what a galaxy looks like from the inside.'

From gizmodo.com, Mika McKinnon

Sunday, November 24, 2019

SCHEDULE: Nov. 25 - Nov. 29, 2019



Mon., Nov. 25 - ART: Astrophotography,
The Milky Way over Yellowstone by Dave Lane
(Article by Mika McKinnon - Gizmodo.com)
Tues., Nov. 26 - BOOK REVIEW:
100 Wild Mushrooms, Memoirs of the 60's by Eva Pasco
Wed., Nov. 27 - INTERVIEW:
Suspenseful Contemporary Author Cynthia Ainsworthe
Thurs., Nov. 28 - HOLIDAY
Happy Thanksgiving 
from Vision and Verse
Fri., Nov. 29 - BOOK: Madison's Christmas
by Carol Ann Kauffman