Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Independent Paperback News: The Descendant
Independent Paperback News: The Descendant: Today, PIGLET showcases the highly rated new wave vampire novel... "The Descendant" by Kelly Grealis The Descenda...
History Trivia
On July 31
30 BC Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieved a minor victory over
Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserted, leading to his
suicide.
432 Saint Sixtus III was elected Roman Catholic pope. His papacy is associated with a great building expansion in Rome; Santa Maria Maggiore was built during his reign.
781 The oldest recorded eruption of Mt. Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781).
1009 Pope Sergius IV became the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII.
1201 Byzantine noble John Komnenos, nicknamed "the Fat" attempted to usurp the imperial throne from Alexios III Angelos in a short-lived coup in Constantinople. He was captured and executed when the coup was suppressed.
1423 Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant – the French army was defeated at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne.
1556 St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, died.
432 Saint Sixtus III was elected Roman Catholic pope. His papacy is associated with a great building expansion in Rome; Santa Maria Maggiore was built during his reign.
781 The oldest recorded eruption of Mt. Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781).
1009 Pope Sergius IV became the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII.
1201 Byzantine noble John Komnenos, nicknamed "the Fat" attempted to usurp the imperial throne from Alexios III Angelos in a short-lived coup in Constantinople. He was captured and executed when the coup was suppressed.
1423 Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant – the French army was defeated at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne.
1556 St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, died.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Cliff Ball
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Cliff Ball: Today's Summer of Indie guest author is Cliff Ball, who talked with us about his dystopian, Christian thriller novel Times of Trouble whic...
Monday, July 30, 2012
Independent Paperback News: The Briton and the Dane - Paperback Showcase
Independent Paperback News: The Briton and the Dane - Paperback Showcase: Ideal Christmas Gift for fans of hard core historical fiction Welcome everyone to the first Daily Independent Paperback Showcase! Each...
History Trivia
On July 30
579 Pope Benedict I died. He was a Roman and the son of Boniface, and was called Bonosus by the Greeks. Unfortunately, there is little information about the first pope to take the name Benedict.
657 St Vitalian began his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Eugene I. He was successful in improving relations with England, where the Anglo-Saxon and British clergies were divided regarding various ecclesiastical customs. At the Synod of Whitby, King Oswy of Northumberland accepted Roman practices regarding the keeping of Easter and the shape of the tonsure. Together with King Ecgberht of Kent, he sent the priest Wighard to Rome, to be consecrated in the Papal City after the death of Archbishop Deusdedit of Canterbury in 664, but Wighard died in Rome of the plague.
1178 Frederick I (Barbarossa), Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned King of Burgundy.
1629 An earthquake in Naples, Italy, killed about 10,000 people.
579 Pope Benedict I died. He was a Roman and the son of Boniface, and was called Bonosus by the Greeks. Unfortunately, there is little information about the first pope to take the name Benedict.
657 St Vitalian began his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Eugene I. He was successful in improving relations with England, where the Anglo-Saxon and British clergies were divided regarding various ecclesiastical customs. At the Synod of Whitby, King Oswy of Northumberland accepted Roman practices regarding the keeping of Easter and the shape of the tonsure. Together with King Ecgberht of Kent, he sent the priest Wighard to Rome, to be consecrated in the Papal City after the death of Archbishop Deusdedit of Canterbury in 664, but Wighard died in Rome of the plague.
1178 Frederick I (Barbarossa), Holy Roman Emperor, was crowned King of Burgundy.
1629 An earthquake in Naples, Italy, killed about 10,000 people.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Carolyn Arnold
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Carolyn Arnold: With the third novel of her Madison Knight series coming out in Summer 2012, Summer of Indie invited author Carolyn Arnold to talk with u...
Sunday, July 29, 2012
An Interview with author Jax Hix
Welcome to Meet The Author. Today we are fortunate to have with us Jax Hix, who has graciously agreed to give us a little insight into her life and her books. So let’s get started.
In her former career, Jax was a scientist and a science fiction fanatic who published short stories and poetry. Today she is obsessed with coffee and detests shoes. Jax is still a science fiction fanatic and can be spotted at science fiction conventions. She is prone to random rambling and suffers from an unnatural obsession with bubble wrap and linoleum. She also loves to run with scissors and other sharp objects, but never in front of the kids. Jax can frequently be found in front of the computer or with her nose in a book--sometimes simultaneously.
Jax has been writing, drawing, and performing music since early childhood. She was in the State Choir and has performed in several states at county fairs and coffee houses. Her art has been exhibited all over the United States and Europe (on hats and shirts). Jax can type 93 words per minute.
Jax is at heart a geek and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her spouse, human and furry children and many, many plants. When she is not herding Scottie dogs and tending to her virtual forest of plants, she indulges in creativity and finds new and unique ways to crash software. The family loves to camp and play their century-old player piano. Jax hopes to someday grow up to be the weird cat lady on the block.
When did you start writing?
I started writing at a very young age, beginning with poetry and short stories. When I was 11, my grandmother entered me into a poetry contest, which I won. The poem was published in an anthology of short stories and poetry. I also write songs.
What projects have been published?
Various poems and short stories throughout the years, including a large portion of a school project in Junior High that was a “Choose Your Own Adventure.”
I also published scientific research in college as an undergraduate Geology major:
“Experimental melting and analysis of the Rangeley Formation Zone II pelitic schists in the Appalachians of south-central Massachusetts” in the 12th Keck Consortium Symposium in Geology Proceedings, and National GSA Abstracts with Programs.
“Garnet-bearing orthopyroxene±cordierite hornfels from the base of the Stillwater Complex, Mountain View Area, Montana” National GSA Abstracts with Programs, National McNairs Scholars Research Symposium Abstracts with Programs.
“Preliminary Findings of Species Validation of Hexagonella Ramosa and Hexagonella Tortuosa of the Pakistan Region, “American Chemical Society, McNairs Scholars National Research Symposium Abstracts with Programs, National Journal of Paleontology (her specimens and research are filed with the Smithsonian).
And of late, a children’s book entitled “Golden Deer Sun and White Bear Moon” and a comedy fiction entitled “Chronicles of My Life with a Blonde.” Both works of fiction have been accepted into the Library of Congress.
Tell us about you novels.
“Chronicles of My Life with a Blonde” is an epic and hilarious tale of the antics of a male blonde spouse and the descent of his brunette wife into the depths of insanity. These stories are true, the participants are not actors. They are actual humans with a life pending in Washington State; only their identities have been changed to protect the innocent…and themselves from pending lawsuits.
“Golden Deer Sun and White Bear Moon” is a Native American style tale of the creation of the stars, moon, sun, wind and seasons.
How do you select the titles of your novels?
Chronicles began as a record of events, so the name naturally fell into place. Golden Deer Sun and White Bear Moon came from a dream, so the title was already chosen.
What was your inspiration?
The story behind: “Golden Deer Sun and White Bear Moon”
I was born as an unregistered Cherokee and was adopted by a non-Native family, and was often disappointed that the media did not portray Native Americans in a positive light. I struggled as a child to find positive Native American role models, stories and avenues to express this aspect of myself. This book was given to me in a dream to share with the world just as it was given to me to tell. While the story does not encompass any particular Nation’s belief, it is Universal and seeks to show Native American stories and culture in a positive light. I encourage all young people to seek out tales of the Native American nations in their local libraries, and help to support a beautiful and wonderful culture in the United States that is often overlooked and underappreciated. Also, I will be donating my portion of the proceeds of this book to Native American venues that support storytelling, artwork, writing and culture of the Native American People. My friend Matt and I went to high school together in Washington State, and we often talked about how determined to live our dreams we were back then; so we reconnected twenty years after graduation to complete this book.
The story behind: “Chronicles of My Life with a Blonde”
It began as a blog outlet to vent frustration without killing my newlywed blonde husband. After a few years, it evolved into a record for potential divorce court…until I realized that leaving my muse would be akin to leaving the movie theater during the part in the horror movie where the blonde coed is the last one left in the house in the woods in the middle of the night in the dark in the storm after all of her friends went to the cellar to check on the fuse box but did not return so she doesn’t know they’ve all been slaughtered by the homicidal maniac waiting in the cellar after having cut the power so she goes to investigate…*breath*…so you know how it’s going to end but you just can’t tear your eyes away all the while screaming at the blonde coed on the screen to runaway as fast as she can but knowing she can’t hear you and will continue anyway to meet her violent end and you are frozen to the spot waiting with bated breath. Life with him was just too fun not to stick around for the ending! And I have learned his greatest gift to teach was that we should all embrace the blonde within us, and the reminder that life is too precious to be so serious with ourselves…instead our mistakes should be an opportunity to laugh while we learn, so our journey is enriched with adventures in the making of the palettes of our souls complete.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a second children’s book to coincide with “Golden Deer Sun and White Bear Moon,” an art and photography book (“Visions of a Dreamer”), a non-fiction work entitled “Suburban Farming,” a science fiction series entitled “Through the Mirror Maze,” and another children’s series entitled “The MisAdventures of Martha Mores.” College kind of ruined me in terms of reading just one book at a time…or writing one at a time!
What are you reading at the moment?
“Legends of the Middle Ages” by Helene Adeline Guerber, “Weeds of the West” (a reference book), and several books by author David G. Cox.
What do you like to do in your free time when you're not reading or writing?
Free time? HAHAHAHA! When do I have ‘free’ time? I love to camp in the Westfalia, look for beautiful rock samples, work on my technology computer project (top secret), solve math problems, play with my kids and Scottie dogs, garden (not necessarily in that order), and sending and receiving postcards from all over the world.
Do you have any advice for other authors?
Write for your enjoyment. There is an audience for every book.
And finally, can you tell us some fun facts about yourself, such as crossed skydiving off my bucket list.
As a teenager, I travelled Europe on my own and was caught in a riot in Rome, but I escaped unharmed. I graduated high school just after my 16th birthday and was selected as one of the 10 top undergraduates in the nation for Keck research in college. I gave up a highly promising career as a scientist after my divorce to be a single mother. I eventually remarried and added a daughter to my family and my two children are 11 years and 11 days apart in age. I now work as a professional writer and travel coordinator for some of the most powerful, intelligent, famous and influential people in the world in my day job and as a free-lance writer, artist and photographer in my night job.
To find out more about Jax, please visit the following:
www.jaxhix.com
www.dreamingdragonpublishing.com
To purchase Jax’s books:
http://www.amazon.com/Jax-Hix/e/B0051QYOAA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Jax-Hix?keyword=Jax+Hix&store=allproducts
http://www.litunderground.com/JaxHix.html
http://www.tower.com/tower_search/search_1.cfm?keywords=jax%20hix
History Trivia
On July 29
238 The Praetorian Guard stormed the palace and captured Pupienus and Balbinus. They were dragged through the streets of Rome and executed. On the same day Gordian III, age 13, was proclaimed emperor.
904 Sack of Thessalonica: Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli sacked Thessalonica, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, after a short siege, and plundered it for a week.
1030 Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad – King Olaf II, the patron saint of Norway, fought and died trying to regain his Norwegian throne from the Danes.
1565 The widowed Mary, Queen of Scots, married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Duke of Albany, at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1567 James VI was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling.
1588 Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines – English naval forces under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France.
238 The Praetorian Guard stormed the palace and captured Pupienus and Balbinus. They were dragged through the streets of Rome and executed. On the same day Gordian III, age 13, was proclaimed emperor.
904 Sack of Thessalonica: Saracen raiders under Leo of Tripoli sacked Thessalonica, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, after a short siege, and plundered it for a week.
1030 Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad – King Olaf II, the patron saint of Norway, fought and died trying to regain his Norwegian throne from the Danes.
1565 The widowed Mary, Queen of Scots, married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Duke of Albany, at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1567 James VI was crowned King of Scotland at Stirling.
1588 Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines – English naval forces under the command of Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake defeated the Spanish Armada off the coast of Gravelines, France.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Wizard's Cauldron: Interview With Dawn Smith of Dark Dawn Creations
The Wizard's Cauldron: Interview With Dawn Smith of Dark Dawn Creations: Dawn Smith of Dark Dawn Creations "Right now anyone can publish but I don't think that will be true for long... " Dawn Smith. ...
History Trivia
On July 28
388 Battle at Aquileja (northern Italy): Emperor Theodosius
defeated Emperor Magnus Maximis.
754 Pope Stephen II made Pippin the Short King of France. He was the first King of the Franks of the Carolingian dynasty.
1148 Crusaders attacked Damascus.
1540 Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII's chief minister, was
executed for treason.
1540 Henry VIII of England married his
fifth wife, Catherine Howard.
1586 Sir Thomas Harriot introduced potatoes to
Europe.
1588 Spanish Armada set sail to overthrow England's Queen Elizabeth I.
English Historical Fiction Authors: A Glimpse of York During the Regency Era
English Historical Fiction Authors: A Glimpse of York During the Regency Era: York is an incredibly ancient city. Romans and Vikings established communities here. (The Roman Ninth Legion set up camp and cal...
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Darcy Scott
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Darcy Scott: Fans of mystery novels will be interested in Summer of Indie's latest guest author, Darcy Scott. We talked with Scott about their work...
Friday, July 27, 2012
The Briton and the Dane: Legacy - giveaway
Kindly leave a comment to enter the contest for a signed copy of The Briton and the Dane: Legacy. Contest ends July 29, 2012.
http://indieauthorbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/indie-author-spotlight-mary-ann-bernal/
http://indieauthorbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/indie-author-spotlight-mary-ann-bernal/
History Trivia
On July 27
1054 Siward, Earl of Northumbria invaded Scotland to support
Malcolm Canmore against Macbeth of Scotland, who usurped the Scottish throne
from Malcolm's father, King Duncan. Macbeth was defeated at Dunsinane.
1170 Thomas Becket and King Henry II temporarily reconciled. Becket's six-year
self-imposed exile from England was resolved when he met with Henry and King
Louis VII of France at a conference in Freteval and settled on an uneasy truce.
Becket made preparations to return to his See in Canterbury.
1214 King John
lost Normandy and his other French possessions after being defeated by Philip
II of France in the Battle of Bouvines.
1360 Danish King Waldemar IV destroyed Visby Gotland (Sweden's largest island, which is also the largest island in the Baltic Sea).
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Doreen McGettigan
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Doreen McGettigan: Our next Summer of Indie guest is Doreen McGettigan. When asked to briefly describe herself, Doreen responded, " I write. I always thoug...
Thursday, July 26, 2012
History Trivia
On July 26
796 Offa, king of Mercia died. Many historians regard Offa as the most powerful Anglo-Saxon king before Alfred the Great.
811 Battle of Pliska: Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus I was killed and his heir Stauracius was seriously wounded.
920 Rout of an alliance of Christian troops from Navarre and Leon against the Muslims at Pamplona.
1267 Inquisition formed in Rome under Pope Clement IV.
1309 Henry VII was recognized King of the Romans by Pope Clement V.
1469 Wars of the Roses: the Battle of Edgecote - Moor pitted the forces of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick against those of Edward IV of England took place.
1497 "Edward IV's son" Perkin Warbeck's army landed in Cork.
1524 Scottish Parliament declared James V fit to govern.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Hangs Out With Lee Allen Howard
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Hangs Out With Lee Allen Howard: Our guest author for today is Lee Allen Howard, who "writes horror, dark fantasy, and supernatural crime—and technical manuals. All terr...
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Writing, Reading, and Everything in Between: Apropos of Nothing: Mary Ann Bernal Answers 5 Ques...
Writing, Reading, and Everything in Between: Apropos of Nothing: Mary Ann Bernal Answers 5 Ques...: Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels, is an avid history buff whose area of interest focuses on Ninth Century An...
Soul Chaser: Vikings and Flowers at the RHS Flower Show @ Tatto...
Soul Chaser: Vikings and Flowers at the RHS Flower Show @ Tatto...: Vikings and flowers. Two words you wouldn't really ever think of in the same sentence. After all, the Vikings aren't known for giving flowe...
History Trivia
On July 25
44 Saint James, the brother of John and the son of
Zebedee, and one of the 12 apostles, became the first of the apostles to be
martyred when he was killed on orders of Herod Agrippa I.
285 Diocletian
appointed Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler.
306 Constantine I was proclaimed Roman
emperor by his troops.
326 Emperor Constantine refused to carry out traditional
pagan sacrifices.
864 The Edict of
Pistres of Charles the Bald ordered defensive measures against the Vikings.
1215 Frederick II, called Stupor Munci (The Amazement of the World), was
crowned Holy Roman Emperor at Aix-la-Chapelle.
1261 The city of Constantinople
was recaptured by Nicaean forces under the command of Alexios Strategopoulos,
re-establishing the Byzantine Empire.
1394:
King James I of Scotland was born. He became heir to the throne upon the
murder of his brother Robert. He himself would be assassinated in 1437.
1603
James VI of Scotland was crowned as king of England (James I of England),
uniting the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland into personal union.
Political union would occur in 1707.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses the "BoogeyMann" With Be...
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses the "BoogeyMann" With Be...: Today Summer of Indie talked with Bennie L. Newsome, a writer born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama where they currently reside. When aske...
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie: Intermission
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie: Intermission: Hope you are enjoying Summer of Indie! So far I've featured over 30 indie authors and there are about 70 to go. In this intermission, I w...
History Trivia
On July 24
1148 Louis VII of France laid siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade.
1411 Battle of Harlaw: Highland and Lowland Scots clashed at Red Harlaw, which was one of the bloodiest battles of Scottish history.
1487 Citizens of Leeuwarden, Netherlands held a strike against a ban on foreign beer.
1567 Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate and was replaced by her one-year-old son, James VI.
1148 Louis VII of France laid siege to Damascus during the Second Crusade.
1411 Battle of Harlaw: Highland and Lowland Scots clashed at Red Harlaw, which was one of the bloodiest battles of Scottish history.
1487 Citizens of Leeuwarden, Netherlands held a strike against a ban on foreign beer.
1567 Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate and was replaced by her one-year-old son, James VI.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets M.E. Brines
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets M.E. Brines: Summer of Indie's guest author for today is Michael Everett (M.E.) Brines. Brines is the author of 26 different books all spanning differen...
Monday, July 23, 2012
History Trivia
On July 23
365 a great earthquake struck the eastern Mediterranean and destroyed the Roman city of Kourion on the island of Cyprus.
685 John V became Roman Catholic pope. He was the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy allowed to be consecrated by the Byzantine Emperor without prior consent, and the first in a line of ten consecutive popes of Eastern origin. His papacy was marked by reconciliation between the city of Rome and the Empire.
1148 Crusaders attacked Damascus.
1313 Bridget the patron saint of Sweden who founded the Brigittine Order died. Bridget was a Swedish princess renowned for her piety from her childhood; she was given in marriage to Ulf, Prince of Mercia, by whom she had a large family. After Ulf's death in 1344 and with the help of King Magnus, she established on her own estate at Vadstena the first monastery for men and women, of which Katherine, her daughter, became the first Abbess soon after her death in 1375. At this time double monasteries were not unusual: the monks and nuns used the same chapel, but lived in separate wings of the monastery, the confessor alone having access to the nuns.
1540 Thomas Cromwell one of the strongest advocates of the English Reformation during the reign of Henry VIII was condemned to death without trial and beheaded on Tower Hill.
365 a great earthquake struck the eastern Mediterranean and destroyed the Roman city of Kourion on the island of Cyprus.
685 John V became Roman Catholic pope. He was the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy allowed to be consecrated by the Byzantine Emperor without prior consent, and the first in a line of ten consecutive popes of Eastern origin. His papacy was marked by reconciliation between the city of Rome and the Empire.
1148 Crusaders attacked Damascus.
1313 Bridget the patron saint of Sweden who founded the Brigittine Order died. Bridget was a Swedish princess renowned for her piety from her childhood; she was given in marriage to Ulf, Prince of Mercia, by whom she had a large family. After Ulf's death in 1344 and with the help of King Magnus, she established on her own estate at Vadstena the first monastery for men and women, of which Katherine, her daughter, became the first Abbess soon after her death in 1375. At this time double monasteries were not unusual: the monks and nuns used the same chapel, but lived in separate wings of the monastery, the confessor alone having access to the nuns.
1540 Thomas Cromwell one of the strongest advocates of the English Reformation during the reign of Henry VIII was condemned to death without trial and beheaded on Tower Hill.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks to Ashley Fontainne
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks to Ashley Fontainne: Our next guest is suspense and thriller author Ashley Fontainne, whose greatest joy is making "a reader stay up until their eyes rebel and...
Sunday, July 22, 2012
An Interview with author RaShelle Workman
Welcome to Meet The Author. Today we are fortunate to have with us RaShelle Workman, author of Aligned: an Immortal Essence Short Story, Exiled, Sleeping Roses, and the Blood and Snow series. RaShelle is also a lover of books, baking, and toffee-making, and considers herself to be an Honorary nerd with attitude.
RaShelle has graciously agreed to give us a little insight into her life and her books, but before we get started, I would like to wish RaShelle a very Happy Birthday. After you blow out your candles, we would like to know:
When did you start writing?
I began seriously writing in the fall of 2003. I finished the first draft of my first novel in early 2004.
What projects have been published?
I have six books published. Sleeping Roses, a romantic suspense. Aligned: An Immortal Essence Short Story, and Exiled. Both of those are young adult sci-fi romance. And then recently my Blood and Snow series – Blood and Snow #1, Revenant in Training #2, & The Vampire Christopher #3 - a young adult fractured fairytale based on Snow White.
Tell us about Sleeping Roses.
The summary is: Her marriage may be dangerous, but leaving could be deadly.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading several different books. The one that keeps popping back into my mind is a young adult series called Peachville High Demons by Sarra Cannon.
To find out more about RaShelle and where to purchase her books, go to:
RaShelle’s website
http://www.rashelleworkman.com.
To purchase RaShelle’s books, visit her Amazon author page
http://www.amazon.com/RaShelle-Workman/e/B006HUU6SS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1342894099&sr=8-2-ent .
History Trivia
On July 22
259 Dionysius was elected as bishop of Rome, succeeding Sixtus II.
838 Battle of Anzen: the Byzantine emperor Theophilos suffered
a heavy defeat by the Abbasid Caliphate.
1099 First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon was
elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of Jerusalem.
1298 Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Falkirk – King Edward I of
England and his longbowmen defeated William Wallace and his Scottish schiltrons
outside the town of Falkirk.
1484 Battle of Lochmaben Fair A 500-man raiding party led by
Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany and James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas were
defeated by Scots forces loyal to Albany's brother James III of Scotland;
Douglas was captured.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Little Known Facts
The Norsemen
The Vikings had ear spoons that were used
to clean out ear wax, practiced personal grooming and did
bathe once a week.
The Vikings enjoyed sporting events such as wrestling, foot
races, swimming and skiing to name but a few.
They also played board games such as tabula (backgammon) to keep
themselves occupied during the long winter months.
The ravaging seafarers that attacked the civilized world did
not represent the majority of the Scandinavian people, who were peaceful
farmers and traders.
The Anglo-Saxons
When the Anglo-Saxons ousted the Britons, they shied away
from Roman towns, preferring to live in small villages.
The Anglo-Saxons did not believe in bathing, and monks only
bathed five times a year.
The Anglo-Saxons put sheepskins around their beds to get rid
of fleas.
History Trivia
230 Pope Pontian succeeded Urban
I as the eighteenth pope.
285 Diocletian appointed Maximian as Caesar and
co-ruler.
365 A tsunami devastated the city of Alexandria, Egypt. The tsunami
was caused by an earthquake estimated to be 8.0 on the Richter Scale. 5,000
people perished in Alexandria, and 45,000 more died outside the city.
1403
Battle of Shrewsbury: King Henry IV of England defeated rebels to the north of
the county town of Shropshire, England.
1545 The first landing of French troops
on the coast of the Isle of Wight during the French invasion of the Isle of
Wight.
1588 The Armada - an invasion fleet sent by Philip II of Spain - was
sighted off the coast of Cornwall.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Corey A. Burkes
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Friday, July 20, 2012
History Trivia
On July 20th:
356 BC Alexander the Great was born.
70 First Jewish-Roman War: Siege of Jerusalem -
Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, stormed the Fortress of Antonia north of the
Temple Mount. The Roman army was drawn into street fights with the Zealots.
911
Norman incursions: Norse nobleman Rollo captured and burnt Chartres.
1304 Wars
of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle – King Edward I of England
took the stronghold using the WarWolf (siege engine).
1304 Petrarch (Francisco
Petracco) the Italian poet, scholar, and humanist was born.
1398 Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, heir to the throne of England died.
1553 British Government leader John Dudley was captured in Cambridge and later executed for treason for his part in putting Lady Jane Grey on the throne after the death of King Edward VI.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses "Mind of a Madman" With ...
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
An interview with author Tracy Kauffman
Welcome to Meet The Author! Today Tracy Kauffman has stopped by to give us a little insight into her life and her books. So let’s get started.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a new Christian fiction author from North Alabama. I enjoy writing books for young adults, children and teens.
When did you start writing?
I started writing stories when I was in 2nd grade and won the title of Editor in our schools newspaper. I have loved writing in some form or another from an early age. I published a poem, called The Cosmetology Student by entering a contest after I had graduated high school.
What projects have been published?
My Boyfriend the Squire and Gwendolyn’s Wish are currently available for purchase, but started publishing, Southern Adventures, first with Tate Publishing. It should be released very soon.
Tell us about Gwendolyn’s Wish
Gwendolyn’s Wish is a children fiction fantasy book about a young girl who does not have any friends. She receives a special parrot that can grant wishes. He can grant one wish a year and she chooses not to ask for riches or beauty, but for something more special to her. They become friends forever.
How did you select the title of your novel?
I selected the title after writing the whole book. Gwendolyn is the name of the young girl and main character of the story.
What was your inspiration?
I had a dream and started writing about the dream. As I wrote the story, floods of ideas came to me. I tried to incorporate things into the story from the Bible, such as thanking someone that has helped you; not focusing on worldly possessions; and caring for someone else can far exceed your own wishes.
What are you currently working on?
I have several things I’ve been working on, including a teen book with a weird twist, a historical fiction book, and a sequel to Southern Adventures.
What are you reading at the moment?
I starting reading Legacy by Danielle Steel, but between working on my books, working at a nursing home, and promotion, time is not enough.
What do you like to do in your free time when you're not reading or writing?
What free time? I love to attend church on a regular basis. I love spending quality time with my family by playing cards, going to a movie, bowling, or eating at a restaurant.
Do you have any advice for other authors?
Don’t give up. I learned that being an author is not just about writing but so much more. It is about promoting yourself, watching what you say or do, and trying to write about something that would inspire others. I do not wish to become famous if it is at a cost.
To find out more about Tracy and where to purchase her books, go to:
Tracy's website: http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com
Tracy's blog: http://tracykauffman.blogspot.com
To order My Boyfriend the Squire: http://sbpra.com/TracyKauffman/
To order Gwendolyn’s Wish: http://www.publishamerica.net/product48538.html
Booksessed: Review: LitU Anthologies Time and Unearthed
Booksessed: Review: LitU Anthologies Time and Unearthed: Time by the authors of The Literary Underground Published by Smashwords; May 2012 98 pages Format: ebook Genres: Anthology I was given...
History Trivia
July 19,711 Umayyad conquest of Hispania: Battle of Guadalete – Muslim Umayyad Caliphate forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated the Visigoths led by King Roderic. 1318 Austria recognized the Three Forest Cantons, marking the beginning of modern Switzerland. 1333 Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Halidon Hill – The English won a decisive victory over the Scots. 1545 The Tudor warship Mary Rose capsized and sank off Portsmouth with the loss of approximately 500 men. 1553 Lady Jane Grey was replaced by Mary I of England as Queen of England after only nine days of reign. 1588 Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines – The Spanish Armada was sighted in the English Channel.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses "Mind of a Madman" With ...
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses "Mind of a Madman" With ...: Valerie Bowen is Summer of Indie's next guest author. Readers may be familiar with Valerie Bowen as author of the For the Sake of Amelia ...
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
History Trivia
July 18, 390 BC Roman-Gaulish Wars: Battle of the Allia – a Roman army was defeated by raiding Gauls, leading to the subsequent sacking of Rome. 64 Great fire of Rome: a fire started in the merchant area of Rome near Circus Maximus and much of the city was destroyed while Emperor Nero allegedly fiddled. 1290 King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, banishing all Jews (numbering about 16,000) from England. 1334 The bishop of Florence blessed the first foundation stone for the new campanile (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral, designed by the artist Giotto di Bondone. 1389 Kingdom of France and Kingdom of England agreed to the Truce of Leulinghem, inaugurating a 13 year peace; the longest period of sustained peace during the Hundred Years War. 1536 The Pope's authority was declared void in England.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Kevin McGill
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Kevin McGill: Today Summer of Indie talked with Kevin McGill, our next featured author. Kevin McGill is the author of Nikolas and Company: The Merman ...
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
History Trivia
July 17, 924 King Edward the Elder of England died. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex. He captured the eastern Midlands and East Anglia from the Danes in 917 and became ruler of Mercia in 918 upon the death of Æthelflæd, his sister. He was the second king of the Anglo-Saxons as this title was created by his father. 1203 The Fourth Crusade captured Constantinople by assault. The Byzantine emperor Alexius III Angelus fled from his capital into exile. 1453 The French defeated the English at the Battle of Castillon, in the last clash of the Hundred Years War. 1586 A meeting took place at Lüneburg between several some evangelical Princes and Electors, and representatives of the King of Navarre, the King of Denmark and the Queen of England in order to discuss the formation of an evangelical league of defense, called the Confederatio Militiae Evangelicae, against the Catholic League.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Author Michelle Hughes
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Author Michelle Hughes: Readers interested in Vampire or Romance novels will want to check out the Tears of Crimson series by Summer of Indie's latest featured aut...
Monday, July 16, 2012
History Trivia
July 16, 276 Mark Annius Florianus, emperor of Rome, was murdered. 1054 Three Roman legates broke relations between Western and Eastern Christian Churches through the act of placing an invalidly-issued Papal Bull of Excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia during Saturday afternoon divine liturgy. Historians frequently describe the event as the start of the East-West Schism. 1377 Coronation of Richard II of England. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. 1429 Joan of Arc led the French army in Battle of Orleans. 1439 Kissing was banned in England to stop germs from spreading.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Speaks With Alan Dale
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Speaks With Alan Dale: Summer of Indie's guest for today is author Alan Dale. Those who are familiar with author Alan Dale may have read the novella DNA: Code Fl...
History Trivia
July 15, 971 Saint Swithin, the Bishop of Winchester, was reburied inside his cathedral. The day is celebrated in England as Saint Swithin's Day. 1099 Jerusalem was captured by soldiers of the First Crusade, having been held by Islamic rulers since 655. 1149 The reconstructed Church of the Holy Sepulchre was consecrated in Jerusalem. 1207 King John of England expelled Canterbury monks for supporting Archbishop Stephen Langton. 1381 John Ball, a leader in the Peasants' Revolt, was hanged, drawn and quartered in the presence of King Richard II of England. 1799 The Rosetta Stone, the key to the translation of hieroglyphs, was discovered in Egypt by a French soldier.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Author Interview
Check out my latest interview: http://jkmillerii.com/2012/07/14/meet-the-author-mary-ann-bernal/
History Trivia
July 14, 664 Deusdedit of Canterbury, the first native-born holder of the see of Canterbury died. An Anglo-Saxon, he became archbishop in 655 and held the office until his death, probably from the plague. 1223 Louis VIII became King of France upon the death of his father, Philip II of France. 1430 Joan of Arc, taken prisoner by the Burgundians in May, was handed over to Pierre Cauchon, the bishop of Beauvais. 1789 The Bastille, a fortress in Paris used to hold political prisoners, was stormed by a mob, beginning the French Revolution.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Staci Stallings
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks With Staci Stallings: Our next guest is author Staci Stallings, a "stay-at-home mom with three kids and a writing addiction." Staci has had 5 books on the Amazo...
Friday, July 13, 2012
History Trivia
July 13,1099 The Crusaders launched their final assault on Jerusalem. 1174 William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173–1174, was captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England. 1568 the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral perfected a way to bottle beer.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Hangs Out With Sheila Deeth
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Hangs Out With Sheila Deeth: Summer of Indie's next guest is author Sheila Deeth, who began writing after receiving a Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University. S...
Thursday, July 12, 2012
History Trivia
July 12,100 BC Gaius Julius Caesar was born. 526 Saint Felix IV became Roman Catholic pope. 927 England was unified by Athelstan of England after a long process of annexation. 1153 Anasasius IV was crowned Roman Catholic pope. 1191 Third Crusade: Saladin's garrison surrendered, ending the two-year siege of Acre. 1290 Jews were expelled from England by order of King Edward I. 1450 a rebellion against war taxes ended when its leader, Jack Cade, was driven out of London and later killed. 1472 Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King of England, married Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, in Westminster Abbey. 1543 King Henry VIII of England married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Melissa Pearl
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Meets Melissa Pearl: Today's Summer of Indie Guest is author of the Time Spirit Trilogy, Melissa Pearl . The Time Spirit Trilogy is a paranormal romanc...
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses Crystal Shade With Istva...
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses Crystal Shade With Istva...: Our Summer of Indie author for today is Istvan Szabo, author of Crystal Shade: Angeni, Volume 1. Crystal Shade is a young adult, epic f...
History Trivia
July 11, 472 after being besieged in Rome by his own generals, Western Roman Emperor Anthemius was captured in the Old St. Peter's Basilica and put to death. 911 The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple of France and Rollo leader of the Vikings was signed. The treaty protected Charles kingdom from further invasion and created the duchy of Normandy; the Vikings became known as Normans. Also Rollo agreed to be baptized and to marry the illegitimate daughter of Charles, thus becoming the king's vassal. 1346 Charles IV of Luxembourg was elected Holy Roman Emperor in Germany. 1533 Pope Clement VII excommunicated England's King Henry VIII.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
History Trivia
July 10, 48 BC Battle of Dyrrhachium: Julius Caesar barely avoided a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. 138 Emperor Hadrian died of heart failure at Baiae at age 62; he was buried in Rome in the Tomb of Hadrian beside his late wife, Vibia Sabina. 988 The city of Dublin was founded on the banks of the river Liffey. 1040 Lady Godiva rode naked on horseback to force her husband, the Earl of Mercia, to lower taxes. 1086 Knut IV, the Saint, King of Denmark was murdered. 1099 El Cid, of Castile died. 1212 The most severe of several early fires of London burned most of the city to the ground. 1452 King James III of Scotland was born. 1460 Wars of Roses: Richard of York defeated King Henry VI at Northampton. 1520 King Charles V & King Henry VIII signed treaty of Calais.
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Briton and the Dane: Legacy - giveaway
Please leave a comment on the blog interview to enter the contest:
http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-mary-ann-bernal/
Author Interview with the Queen of Afternoon Tea
If you'd like to review in interview in its entirety, go to:
http://nancyjillthames.wordpress.com/
History Trivia
July 9, 118 Hadrian, Rome's new emperor, made his entry into the city. 455 Avitus, the Roman military commander in Gaul, became Emperor of the West. 1357 Emperor Charles IV assisted in laying the foundation stone of Charles Bridge in Prague. 1540 King Henry VIII of England annulled his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. 1553 Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen of England in succession to Edward VI, who died three days earlier. Her reign lasted nine days since Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon) claimed the right of succession.
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Greets Author Allison Bruning
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Greets Author Allison Bruning: Summer of Indie's next author is Allison Bruning . Allison Bruning is the author of Calico . Calico is a historical fiction, romance, an...
Sunday, July 8, 2012
History Trivia
July 8, 49 BC, the city of Paris, France was founded by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe of fisherman. 810 Pepin, son of Charlemagne, King of Italy, died. 975 Edgar, considered the first King of a united England, reigning over Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex, died. 1099 First Crusade: 15,000 starving Christian soldiers marched in a religious procession around Jerusalem as its Muslim defenders watched. The Crusaders were ultimately victorious in taking the city. 1249 Alexander II, King of Scotland died.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
M. C. Arvanitis, writer / WORDS TOGETHER MAKE TALES: Fernella's Magic
M. C. Arvanitis, writer / WORDS TOGETHER MAKE TALES: Fernella's Magic: PIXIES OF THE FERNS The beginning of my Mid Grade Fantasy # three Fernella’s Magic M.C. Arvanitis F...
History Trivia
July 7, 1124 Tyre (city in Lebanon) surrendered to the Crusaders. 1307 King Edward I of England died at age 68 on his way to subdue the new Scottish king, Robert Bruce. 1456 A retrial verdict acquitted Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death. 1550 Chocolate was introduced. 1575 Raid of the Redeswire, the last major battle between England and Scotland. The Scots proved victorious. The story of the skirmish was turned into a Border ballad. 1607 "God Save the King" was sung for the first time.
The Briton and the Dane Kindle edition is free this weekend
Friday, July 6, 2012
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks About The Hunted With Kristy...
Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Talks About The Hunted With Kristy...: Our latest guest on the Summer of Indie blog is author Kristy Berridge, here to talk about The Hunted. First in a series of five books, T...
History Trivia
July 6, 1189 King Henry II of England died and was succeeded by his son, Richard I, the Lionheart. 1348 Pope Clement VI issued a Papal bull protecting the Jews accused of having caused the Black Death. 1483 Richard III was crowned King of England. 1535 Sir Thomas More was executed for treason against King Henry VIII of England. 1560 The Treaty of Edinburgh was signed by Scotland and England. 1553 Edward VI Tudor, King of England (1547-53), died at age 15.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
History Trivia
July 5, 649 Pope Martin I began his papacy. 1295 Scotland and France formed the Auld Alliance against Edward I of England. The terms of the treaty stipulated that if either country was attacked by England, the other country would invade English territory.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
History Trivia
July 4, 993 Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany) was canonized. He studied at the monastery school of St. Gall and received additional training under Adalbero, Bishop of Augsburg, who made him a chamberlain. He was appointed Bishop of Augsburg by King Henry in 923. 1054 Brightest known super-nova (Crab Nebula) started shining, being visible for 23 days. 1187 The Crusades: Battle of Hattin – Saladin defeated Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem. 1534 Christian III was elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Gladiator's Pen - Author Interview
Enter a comment on the blog for a chance to win a signed copy of The Briton and the Dane:
Legacy: http://gladiatorspen.blogspot.com/2012/07/chat-with-author-marry-ann-bernal-and.html
History Trivia
July 3, 324 Battle of Adrianople: Roman Emperor Constantine I defeated Licinius, who fled to Byzantium. 987 Hugh Capet was crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792. 1187 Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, destroyed Jerusalem's crusader army at the Horns of Hattin, Palestine. 1528 Capuchin Order received papal approval in a bull by Pope Clement VII.
Monday, July 2, 2012
History Trivia
July 2, 862 St. Swithun, Bishop of Winchester and royal counselor to Kings Egbert and Aethelwulf, died. 963 The imperial army proclaimed Nicephorus Phocas Emperor of the Romans on the plains outside Cappadocian Caesarea. 1489 Thomas Cranmer, leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I, was born. 1644 Oliver Cromwell achieved his first major victory over Royalist forces at the Battle of Marston Moor.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Author Interview
History Trivia
July 1, 69 Vespasian refused to recognize Vitellius as emperor, and had his legions acclaim him as Imperator. 251 Battle of Abrittus: The Goths defeated Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus on swampy ground in the Dobrudja (Moesia). 1097 First Crusaders defeated Sultan Kilidj Arslan of Nicea at the Battle of Dorylaeum. 1543 England and Scotland signed the Peace of Greenwich. 1690 William III decisively defeated the deposed James II at the Battle of the Boyne, Ireland.