The Power of Words

  

    My mother-in-law, God bless her soul had four and a half fingers on her left hand. Her ring finger having been severed near the lower phalange by an industrial steel press in an aircraft factory where she worked during, WWII.

    The finger stump adorned by her wedding ring was a constant source of curiosity to any small child that was in her company. However, the story she relayed to them was not that of the gory details of the unfortunate accident, but a story to deter her little listeners in engaging in bad habits.

   The tale being that she lost it when she stuck it up her nose. Yes, also slightly unpleasant, but something small children do have a habit of doing on regular occasions.

    Having witnessed her telling this story many times, it never ceased to amaze me that each child's reaction was similar. A reaction of horror and bewilderment.

    Yes, words are powerful if you choose the right audience.

   

Never Give Up

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up."

                Thomas Edison

     Thomas Edison made around 1000 attempts at inventing the commercially viable light bulb before he was successful. However, as human beings we're very vulnerable to the feeling of failure.   Therefore, we hold back from trying something new, giving up when we believe that our creation is no longer worth the time and effort, or abandon our project because we are overcome by a feeling of hopelessness.

    There have been many inventors who gave up on their inventions and if they hadn't, life could have been very different for them. There wouldn't just have been the financial gain from their royalties, they would have received the recognition they rightly deserved.

    Two examples of inventors who gave up are, Mary Anderson and Douglas Engelbart. Mary invented the prototype of the windshield wiper in the early 20th century (1902) and Douglas, was the man behind the computer mouse (prototype-1964). Both designers stories are similar, due to lack of interest and investment they allowed their patents to expire.

    Earlier this month the inventor of the Baygen Clockwork Radio and many devices for the disabled, Trevor Baylis, died at the age of eighty years. He started a company, Trevor Baylis Brands, to help inventors develop and protect their rights. 

    He was an ardent campaigner against the theft of intellectual property, something that can be a cause of concern for writers, as copyright is included in this category of intangible property. 

    As writers we have so much in common with inventors and it is impossible to tell when we are very close to success. So never give up.

   

Meet Author Aaron Brinker

 

    In this month's 'Author Spotlight' feature I'm happy to introduce you to US, indie author and writer of multiple genre fiction, Aaron Brinker. I was introduced to Aaron like many of my fellow author friends via the virtual world and I am delighted to have connected with him.

Q&A

• Aaron, what took you on the path of writing fiction in multiple genres?

          Life, literature, and film were my main influences into writing multiple genres. I grew up loving horror movies, as well as movies and shows with dragons and other fantastical beasts. Some of the books I read growing up were, A Wrinkle In Time, Where the Red fern Grows, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
          I have an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and worked for Juvenile Corrections for four years and this is where my interest in potential crime thrillers originates. I also hold a Bachelor's in General Studies with minors in History and English Literature.

• You have written both short-stories and a book for publication to date. For those thinking of writing for publication, what made you take the plunge?

          What pushed me into writing for publication was due to a professor in college. My English Composition professor pulled me to the side one day after I let him read some poetry I had written on a downward spiral. He asked me in which area of study I was majoring in, at the time it was history.
          He told me whatever course I chose, I needed to write, because I had a huge amount of potential. Since then, I have been pursuing writing for publication. I was taking care of an ill parent during  that time as well and I was not able to work due to the level of my father's care, so I started  pursuing it for extra income while caring for him.

• Is your writing aimed at an adult only audience?

         Mane of Redemption, is currently my only story that is directed for younger readers. The Narrative of Benjamin White, could be read by younger audiences, but there are a few scenes that are graphic. Second Chances and Regaining Power are definitely written with adult audiences in mind.

• The first short-story you published 'Regaining Power' I know contains scenes of domestic violence. What made you choose to write about this sensitive subject?

          Strangely enough, Regaining Power's overabundance of domestic violence was a spur of the moment creative decision. Granted, it stems from the Criminal Justice background. It started as an entry for a competition. I ended up not completing the story by the deadline. The premise of the story was supposed to be something that happened in a dark room.
         I automatically thought of a basement, followed by the usual cliche of a murder happening in the basement. From there it just went darker and darker. I finally ended up with a woman torturing and murdering her abusive husband to get free of abuse. For those who have yet to read it, I thought of another dark twist that brings it all too close to the dark reality that often happens in domestic violence situations.

• We know that writing short-stories can help a writer develop their writing skills. Did you find that writing and publishing your short-stories before your novel helped you in any way?

          Publishing my short-stories before my novella helped in the sense it gave me more insight in the editing process. Second Chances, was completed at least before The Narrative of Benjamin White and Mane of Redemption were started. Every time I went back for another round of edits to Second Chances, I would catch something that I had not known before finishing the other two stories.

• The final question I have for you Aaron is one I'm sure my readers would like me to ask. What are you working on at present and will we get a chance to read it in the very near future?

         My current WIP is the story following, Mane of Redemption. I am possibly going to try and get it traditionally published. There are many other stories, that I have on my to do list. One of these (crime thriller) I am dreading in the sense that I'm  sure it will give me issues sleeping at night. I have been thinking about it quite a bit today on whether, or not I should make it first in a series, or standalone.


    Thanks Aaron, for taking the time to answer my questions, so frankly and honestly. Readers click on the links below to find out more about Aaron and where to buy his books.


Twitter   :www.twitter.com/aarondbrinker 

Goodreads Blog :www.goodreads.com/author/show/14780578.Aaron_D_Brinker/blog

Youtube Vlog :www.youtube.com/chanel/UC2KHofPxtwH5LQpufT3KbHQ?view_as=subsciber 

 Books   :https://www.amazon.com/Aaron-Brinker/e/B01N54XF59

Walking on Hallowed Ground

Robert the Bruce

    It has been a long time since I was five-years-old and my recollections are fairly vague of that time. However, I do remember that life inside my home thankfully for me, was mostly a happy time.

    Apart from problems of bullying at school I did manage to get through the rest of my life fairly unscathed so far.

Gatehouse of Dunfermline Palace

    But, what if I had been born in the 14th century and heir to a royal throne? David II Scotland was such a child, born in Dunfermline Palace, March 1324, became King of Scotland at the age of five years. The year was 1329 and he had big boots to fill, being the only son of, Robert the Bruce, one of the greatest Scottish warriors ever.

    It was a  sanguineous time, the constant power struggles between Scotland and England meant that it was dangerous to be the reigning monarch. Although, David was king until his death in Edinburgh Castle in 1371, he spent many years in exile in France like many of  the Scottish monarchy did in the years to come.

The Nave of the Abbey

   The echo of my footsteps on the flagstone in the nave of the Abbey made me feel like an intruder, knowing that many Kings and Queens of Scotland have walked upon the same ground. Would the child David have played here, or cried over the death of his father? Something for the imagination to capture that's for sure.

  

The Nave of the Abbey

 

   
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dunfermline-abbey-and-palace/
   

   

Virtual Tour

    In 2017 Scotland attracted 30 million tourists. Edinburgh Castle and The National Museum of Scotland each attracting 2 million visitors each.

    When we plan our vacations it can be difficult to decide what main cultural, or art attractions we want to include in our visit, especially if we only have two weeks to spend in our desired location.

    We trawl the Internet, read travel guide books for information and most importantly photographs of our planned destination.

    I am very rarely disappointed when I finally arrive at my holiday place. However I have been and that was many years ago before the Internet was around. That's why I think the use of virtual tours is a fantastic idea. While, there are many things the tour cannot capture, as in smells, pollution and noise, initially for most of us it's what our eyes see that grabs our interest.

    The National Museum of Scotland wants to do just that and is the first museum in Scotland to allow us to take a virtual tour. Having visited the museum on several occasions I can recommend it and it is a must if you are visiting Edinburgh. See for yourself via Google arts and Culture's Museum View.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/films/tour-the-national-museum-of-scotland-on-google-streetview/

Celebrating Poetry

   

    Fear, anxiety, happiness, anticipation, sympathy, excitement, surprise, guilt, anger, and sorrow are all emotions that humans share.

    Whether we live in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, or Antarctica, we express our feelings and the questions that we experience in our lives in all sorts of ways.

    Encouraging our children to communicate their emotions in any artistic form, is important in their human development. There is nothing more delightful than listening to kids singing. Or, your son, daughter, niece, nephew giving you a picture drawn in crayon, they did especially for you. Your heart is ready to burst with the pleasure you feel.

    Another such way for us all to demonstrate our thoughts and emotions is in writing poetry. UNESCO recognised the importance of poetry in our cultural identities and adopted March 21 as 'World Poetry Day' during their conference in 1999.

    Now, each year this is a day in which we can all come together to celebrate the art of poetry. A celebration I want to join. As poetry, I believe is one of the most fantastic ways to orally express ourselves.

    I want to honour this special day and the first day of spring with you today, therefore I've included one of my poems from my book poetry, In Deep. The book you can also download free with your Kindle app from March 20 until March 25.

EQUINOX

    Mother nature yawns and opens her eyes,

she can at last silence her yearning sighs.

    It's time to sow her seed.

She's sent out her invitations,

 to join her in March madness to breed.

    Winter should now cease venting its wroth,

as the sun has started its journey moving north.

   Today the hours of light,

equal that of the hours of night.

The sun has crossed the equinoctial line,

and we now move into springtime.

 

 Hopefully saying "goodbye" to the chilly winds,

that cut like a knife.

The warmth that the sun bestows,

helping to nurture the gift that is known as life.

 https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Christina-Rowell-ebook/dp/B01MA4YTUS/



        Happy reading 'World Poetry Day 2018' and Happy Spring!

The Tears of Scotland

Fort George, Inverness. Built for defence against further uprisings such as fought at Culloden

      It was a cold winter's day when I visited Culloden Moor, near Inverness, Scotland. There was no place to shelter from the icy-cold wind that chafed my cheeks on this desolate landscape. 

    The hairs on the back of my neck bristled, my imagination caught up in the ghostly atmosphere. There was a continual feeling that the spirits of the two thousand who lost their lives here, were still roaming on this historic battlefield and burial ground. 

    I awaited the silence that surrounded me, to be broken by the sound of cannon fire, musket shot and the shout of charging Highlanders. But, not even birds can find a song to sing in this sacred place.

    Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army were defeated here, April 16 1746, by the government's red coated forces, loyal to King George. A defeat that ended,  "The Young Pretender's" claim to the British throne.

    While, there will be no more blood spilled on this land, it is becoming a battlefield once again. A war of words and red tape is being used to fight against this historical area becoming a building site.

    The battle now being fought is between planners, builders, local government and those who believe we should honour our dead.

    It seems that builders want to disrespect the fact that this area contains war graves and plan to build 16 houses. Local government has suspended their decision until May approximately.

    We say to them, "Please let Scotland shed no more tears."  https://stopcullodendevelopment.weebly.com/

Mourn, hapless Caledonia, mourn
Thy banished peace, thy laurels torn
Thy sons, for valour long renowned
Lie slaughtered on their native ground
Thy hospitable roofs no more
Invite the stranger to the door
In smoky ruins sunk they lie
The monuments of cruelty

    The Tears of Scotland by Tobias George Smollet (1721-!771) 

    Unfortunately, no Culloden pictures to insert.