Making My Year a Great One

  

    Whether, as a newbie author you have decided  to self-publish, or have a publishing contract with a small independent publisher as I have for two of my three books, it's important that you self-promote. It's not easy trying to spin all the plates, however social media I believe makes it simpler.

    I now know, that I should have had a blog, and accounts with Twitter and Facebook long before my debut hit the printing press. Launching myself initially on Twitter and Blogger was a big step as I had previously shunned away from social media.

 
    On a personal basis I do find it all a little intrusive, but my business head tells me it is a necessity. It is a medium to reach a worldwide audience, an audience that I would never reach otherwise.

    This week I have ventured even further into the unknown and opened an, Instagram account. If you are a regular visitor to this blog you will know that I am really into pictures, so for me it is the correct choice I believe.

    Please keep up with me via any of the networking sites I mentioned, I'd love you too. You' make my New Year a great one. 

www.instagram.com/christinarowellauthor

Starry, Starry Night, A Crazy Muse

  

    With all the changes that have taken place over the centuries the world is now unrecognisable. However, there is something that we see, that is more, or less the same as it was hundreds of years ago. That is the night sky.

    The painter Vincent van Gogh told his tumultuous story through his paintings and starry skies featured in several, such as, Starry Night Over the Rhone and Saint-Remy-de-Provence.

   Looking up at the night sky a couple of days ago, I started to think about those planets that shine upon us. Imagining if I lived on one of them, say for example 120 light years away. The view I would see in my twinkling night sky would include Earth. Van Gogh would be painting Starry Night Over the Rhone, as I was sipping my hot-chocolate.

    Yeah, a little crazy musing, but all part of a writers life.






    

    

No Spinning Required

    I decided a few weeks ago that it was time to get rid of my collection of vinyl records. Yes, they are becoming fashionable again, however it's unlikely that I'm going to relive my teenage years and sit crossed-legged in front of a spinning turntable. So, it was time to find them a good home.

    However, looking through the well worn sleeves, there were two that tugged at my heartstrings and I decided the best home that they could have was my own.

    The two I decided to keep hold of were the original, Band Aid single, Do They Know It's Christmas? and the album, Sing It Again Rod, by Rod Stewart.

    I did find a good home for the others and the two I mentioned, now hang proudly on my study wall. Where I can fondly look at them with no cramped legs, or spinning required.

Happy New Year Friends!

   

Goodwill to all Men

 

    The presents are wrapped, the wine rack is groaning and the fridge freezer is bursting at the seams. I believe I am organised for the Sunday. But am I? Who knows. I'll tell you the next time we catch up.

    I have a list written and it's not my wish list for Santa. It's my schedule for the next big event in my household, defrosting and cooking the food. Starting Friday night.


    Christmas, is no longer a religious time for many, however it is a time that we can gather together with friends and family and celebrate humanity. That is if we are blessed to have people around us to do so and of course there are countless people who do not.

    What is humanity? Compassion, kindness, tolerance, benevolence are some of the characteristics. Daily we know that there are many appalling attacks on these. But, while the rest of us can embrace these virtues, it is time to wish, Goodwill to all Men.

    Merry Christmas readers.

   

   

Demon's Story (Book Extract)

Demon’s Story

    It’s 7 am, and JoJo transmutes from her serpent appearance into that of her human form. She dresses quickly into her canteen assistant’s uniform and makes her way into the kitchen at the back of her house. The sun is rising, causing the cacti in her backyard to imitate shadowy figures, which move
desultorily across the ground.

    A transient shadow makes her stop what she’s doing. She lifts up the net curtain, to take a second look out of the window. She can’t see anything incongruous and she drops the window covering back into place.

    She goes into the utility room to get her white leather clogs from the shoe rack. An indistinguishable figure flashes across the opaque glass of the door that leads to the yard. JoJo turns the key in the lock clockwise and then opens the door with some caution. There are no obvious visible signs of her having
uninvited company. But nevertheless, she steps out onto the paved path that circles the house and calls out,
    “Hello, is there someone there?”

    Only the crickets chirp a reply. She laughs raucously and turns to go back inside. Bang, the clatter of a garbage can comes from the side of the house. She moves towards the location of the noise gingerly.

    “Grrr, grrr, grrr.” A male black bear appears from around the corner, causing JoJo to jump back in surprise. The bear stands upright on its long hind legs and begins to walk towards JoJo. Its broad skull and large jaws seem disproportionate to its three and a half foot stature. The curved claws of its leathery soled forepaws gouge at the air, forcing JoJo to backtrack her steps speedily.

    She goes back into the utility room, but she has no time to close the door as the bear is close behind. The black omnivore swipes at her, but misses his target. JoJo commences her mutation, but doing so lessens her ability to stay out of the bears reach. He catches hold of her shoulder, she squeals as the
razor-sharp claws dig deep into her flesh.

    She frees herself from his clutches, she has only partially changed into her demon state. The bear aims a blow at JoJo’s twisting serpent like head. His sharp nails meet with their objective once again.

This time tearing at the scaly skin on top of her head.

    The demon is using up all her energy to fight for her existence, meaning that her full metamorphosis is being delayed. The black bear has the upper hand and JoJo’s powers are all but depleted. She has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. She can only hope that her master can forgive her for her weakness.


Extract from SALVATION NO KISSING REQUIRED https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salvation-Kissing-Required-Christina-Rowell/dp/1608208567

https://www.amazon.com/Salvation-Kissing-Required-Christina-Rowell/dp/1608208567



                                                                                       

Snow is Falling

The snow continues falling

And Bed is calling

The children's eyes are bright

There is likely to be little sleep tonight 

A carrot, a glass of milk and a pie

A twinkle in the northern sky

The sleigh bells will alert them when he is near

A yo-ho-ho they might even hear

In the silence of the house, the stairs creak

They cannot make any noise, especially speak

With excitement they're filled

Opening the door, the room is warm not chilled

The fire it blazes in the grate

Is there a chance he has been late?

The overfilled stockings on the mantel a sight to be seen

Oh, yes, yes, Santa has been

The Cold Moon

As a Full Cold Moon looms

We search for our snow brooms

Astrologers fix their gaze to the night sky

Because in its splendour, the moon will amaze the eye

It can bring irrational feelings and thoughts

Our emotional outbursts causing hurt like ammo from a slingshot

 Coastlines alter as their tide levels rise high

While at this time, myths tell us that fairies cause mischief as they fly

It will be the last of this special moon until next year

The final time, its day side will display itself so clear