Ominous Clouds

Ominous clouds on a haunted street, Passers by shuffling quickened feet; Ghosts lurk behind windows, and half open doors; Watching, waiting, squeaking furniture and floors; Their time has stopped, clocks are meaningless pieces; Of a life they once knew, before meeting the reaper; Confused and rattled, they are bound to cold earth; No longer feeling happiness, meaning or worth.

-Diamante Lavendar

Available on Fine Art America at:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/ominous-clouds-diamante-lavendar.html

Pug With A Passport by Marie Story!

Jump into an exciting travel adventure with Kipling, the Pug with a Passport! Ride along with Kip as he travels through the big, busy city of Tokyo. Join him as he learns about the country and culture of Japan with his friend, Taiki. Explore with Kip as he rides the train and learns to play taiko. Tag along as he tries sushi, learns some Japanese, and makes new friends!

Interview with Kip:

1.  What is your name?  Tell me a little about yourself.
My name is Kipling, but you can call me Kip. I'm a five-year-old pug who loves adventure. I travel all over the world, learning about different countries and cultures. I have friends in so many countries, and they teach me a lot about how people live in other places. I also like playing with my friends at the park and taking long naps on the couch. My favorite snacks are bacon and bananas.
2.  You have a passport.  Tell me where you enjoy travelling?
I love traveling EVERYWHERE! I just got back from a big adventure in Tokyo, where I visited my friend, Taiki. On my next big adventure, I'll be visiting a new friend in Mexico City! You can follow all of my adventures on Facebook or Instagram. I like to post a lot of photos of the places I visit.
3.  Why do you like to travel?
Each country has so much to see and do. There are so many different types of food to try, and places to visit. I love to learn new languages as well! It's fun to see how different people are all around the world. I think it would be boring if everybody was exactly the same! Don't you?
4.  Tell me about Marie, your creator.
Marie was born in the Philippines, and grew up in Japan and Mexico. She spent most of her life bouncing around to different continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. She loves to tell kids about how wonderful travel is, so that's why she started writing stories about my travel adventures.
5.  What would you like people to know about Marie?
Marie is a writer, illustrator, and designer. She lives with her husband (author Peter J. Story) and two pugs (me and my sister) in San Antonio, Texas.
Where you can find Traveling Through Tokyo:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MV6OU0D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486613877&sr=8-1&keywords=traveling+through+tokyo
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/traveling-through-tokyo-story-marie/1125924918?ean=9780990749332
Where you can connect with Marie Story:
https://www.facebook.com/pugwithapassport/?fref=ts
https://www.instagram.com/pug_with_a_passport/

Introducing Artist Monika Vijay!

I met Monika on Fuzia.  She is an artist from India-a very talented artist!  I offered to feature her on my blog and social media sites.  Here are a few pieces of her work:

U & Me

Autumn Beauty

Lord Buddha

A Note From Monika:

Hello, This is Monika Vijay. I am from Bihar. I was never into painting and writing until I got older. With my parents' pressure and interest, I was taught painting by Diya Mam when I was in 7th study; but after that I didn't do much work with it until prompted by my husband. Now, after marriage and getting free from studies, my hubby encouraged me to be a painter. He bought colors, brushes, charts and everything required for painting. Now I'm used to it and I love painting whenever I get free time. I have also started taking drawing classes. Next, I'm going to sell my paintings for home decor or for hotel & restaurant interiors. People can contact me as per their painting requirement. I would like to thank my hubby for encouraging me and for helping me to become a fine painter now.

How To Contact Monika:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011561172639

Where To View Monika's Work:

https://www.facebook.com/mvartgallery.in/?pnref=story

Peach Blossoms

The peach blossoms reach And grasp for the sky, Watching graceful birds And insects fly by;

They drink in the essence, Of the winds' lusty breeze, And the sweet scented flowers, Growing nearby their trees.

They watch and marvel, At the vibrant colors, Of the grass, the skies, Flowering sisters and brothers;

All in due season, All in due time, There is no worry or pressure, In nature's rhythm and rhyme.

Available on Fine Art America at:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/peach-blossoms-diamante-lavendar.html

 

Four New Photographs!

Here are some of my new pieces. All available on my art website. The first is entitled After The Rain.

Water falls upon the earth anew.  From morning's mist to setting sunlight's dew.  Cascading upon nature, bringing life again.  Another simple pleasure from heaven's blissful realm.  Celebrate rain and our earth's health!

My photograph entitled Cotton Candy Clouds.

On a warm, winter day as the snow melts away, the clouds came out to shift and play in a cotton candy formed array!

My photograph entitled Purple Rain.

Rain is soothing to the soul.  How much more is purple rain?  The color purple uplifts and calms.  It is the color of royalty and spiritual awakening.  Purple also encourages creativity.  What more could you ask for?

My piece entitled Moonlight Branches.

On a lonely, moonlit night, gnarled branches caught my artist's sight.  Displaying calm and peaceful gloom, their image met my camera's zoom!  I love night time.  I see the most peaceful things in the dark of night.

You can find all of these and more at https://diamante-lavendar.pixels.com/

I Have A Friend On Jupiter by Celine Rose Mariotti

Carlos and Indiana find a website that promises to find them pen pals from outer space. Imagine their surprise and excitement when they are paired with Mannie and Kossie, two children from Jupiter! The two pairs of pen pals are excited to learn about each other and their planets, and are even more excited to learn they may be able to visit! Will the other Earthlings be as open to a visit from aliens from Jupiter, though?

Where you can find I Have A Friend On Jupiter:

https://www.amazon.com/Have-Friend-Jupiter-Celine-Mariotti/dp/1540801020/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493972538&sr=8-1&keywords=i+have+a+friend+on+jupiter

Check out the book trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVeu2m9-iqM

Available through Dreaming Big Publications!

Sea Goddess

My newest piece of fractal/digital art.

Water is one of our most precious commodities.  We need to respect it and take good care of it so that it can continue to sustain us.

Sea Goddess interprets the beauty of water on the planet and acknowledges that it had to have been created by divine guidance.

Available on Fine Art America at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/sea-goddess-diamante-lavendar.html

Angel Of Light

Here is my newest creation entitled Angel Of Light! A combination of digital and fractal art!

Angels are all around us all of the time.  We can feel them in our hearts and see them in our minds' eye.  Sometimes we're lucky enough to see them with our natural eyes and they can be felt too with a cool, prickly sensation or a warm, loving sensation.  They are only a heartbeat away!  (https://fineartamerica.com/featured/angel-of-lilght-diamante-lavendar.html?newartwork=true).

Weeping Well by Angel M.B. Chadwick

Fear is like a looking glass.....

Eva Murphy loses something she'd never thought she'd lose. From that day forward her world changes and her journey begins.

Love and devastation come her way constantly and as she comes of age, her inner strength is tested over and over again.

Interview with Telly Glanville from Weeping Well:

     -Telly Glanville. I'm 18 years old. I'm from the UK. I play centre for the rugby team  at Summerville Boarding School.
     -Keeping afloat in the struggles of life. Embracing the darkness and knowing that there is strength in vulnerability. 
     -Eva Murphy. She's a spitfire. She always lets you know where she stands.
     -She thrives in the darkness. Because of this her works and characters are complex,    authentic and unique as well as relatable. She has a unique insight into mankind. She doesn't  live vicariously through her characters, we live vicariously through her.
     -Because it's her life story. She has an abundance of  her own real life stories to show and tell.  Yes, I agree with her perspective because it's universal as well as extremely personal.
Where you can find Weeping Well:
https://www.amazon.com/Weeping-Well-Mrs-Angel-Chadwick/dp/1541341082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491981014&sr=8-1&keywords=weeping+well
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/weeping-well-mrs-angel-mb-chadwick/1125412278?ean=9781541341081
Where you can find Angel:
https://www.facebook.com/angel.chadwick.10
https://www.amazon.com/Mrs.-Angel-M.B.-Chadwick/e/B00O4KZI8Q/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
https://www.wattpad.com/user/Amaboo

Writer's Retweet Audiobook by Piers Anthony

A new audio book by Dreaming Big Publications!

Horrifying illusions. Classified government operations. Heavily guarded secrets. Cryptic rumors. Dangerous prisoners. Irresistible passion. Demonic magic.

Piers Anthony weaves this and more into Writer’s Retweet, a collection of five short stories abounding in the adventure, magic, and naughtiness that fans have come to know and love from this author.

In “Experiment,” “Discovery,” and “Mission,” painfully average Bigelow Bilge and Paula Plaintiff are thrust unwillingly into a world fraught with terrifying, victim-specific illusions. Who—or what—is the source of these horrifying encounters? Why have Bigelow and Paula been targeted?

A newspaper reporter in “Dull Street Incident” gets wind of a delicious scandal rumored to have punctuated a stale suburban street. Menacing prisoners, conniving teenage girls, and one well-kept secret leads this reporter to the story of a lifetime. But who will believe it?

In “Forbidden Fruit,” dowdy, middle-aged Edith happens upon a mysterious fruit that completely alters her life—and the life of Kent, an attractive, young neighbor. Seduced by her newfound magical abilities and rediscovered sex appeal, Edith plunges into a world filled with demons, pleasure, and unthinkable risk.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:   As a child, Harry Benjamin spent many hours lying on his bedroom floor, reading his favourite novels aloud in time to the accompanying audiobook. Now a young actor with a passion for telling stories, it is only natural that he has made the leap into audiobook narration himself, something he intends to keep doing for a long time to come! In addition to voiceovers, Harry also acts, writes and directs for theatre, and is a member of the recently formed theatre company Colossal Porpoise, who can be tracked down on Facebook and Twitter.

Where you can find Writer's Retweet:

https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Retweet-Piers-Anthony/dp/1535513314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491727480&sr=8-1&keywords=writer%27s+retweet

The Bridge Of The Golden Wood by Karl Beckstrand

"A child with a knack for solving problems helps some hungry fish and finds a treasure. Illustrated folk tale teaches the value of work and comes with ideas for businesses; money-making activities; and online resources ."

My Rating:  3 Diamonds <>  <>  <>

This is a cute and nicely illustrated story about earning a living.  A boy goes on an adventure and learns how to earn money while he is helping a stranger.  This story speaks of being creative when it comes to living life-which is always a good idea!

The illustrations are well done and the story is easy for young children to understand.  This would be a good gift for a child for any occasion.  Plus the book conveys useful information for children in how to be a success in life.

Where you can find The Bridge Of Golden Wood:

https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Golden-Wood-Parable-Money-ebook/dp/B01N0XCPQK

http://www.gozobooks.com/bridge-of-the-golden-wood.php

 

 

 

Music I Created For My Daughter Who Passed

I've always loved music. Twenty years ago I wrote and sang. Now, so many years later, I find myself doing it again. In memory of my daughter who passed only three and a half months ago.

I wanted the music to make the listener feel the unreal, ethereal and disillusioning feeling of losing a child.  I think I succeeded.  Take a listen.  I hope my daughter can hear me and know how much I miss her.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-miss-you-single/id1206898119

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-my-baby-radio-version-single/id1206895872

The (In)Fidelity Factor by Elda M. Lopez

 

Conflicted about the role of (in)fidelity in relationships? Hurt? Angry? Confused? Need simple, sound advice?

The author can relate. She's been on both sides of the fence and addresses infidelity prevention in real terms. This is a much-needed book for those with a desire to know, and those in the throes of desire re: (in)fidelity in a committed relationship. An honest, easy, concise read that gets to the crux of the matter, with bits of humor thrown in for good measure. It offers up plenty of points to ponder; along with valuable information, statistics, commentary, personal stories (including the author's own) and surveys for examination.

Guidelines are given to preserve integrity and respect before falling victim to the harmful backlash of infidelity--and it's a big one. The purpose is to promote awareness, education, personal accountability, and growth. Bottom line: cheating is defeating. Right? This is your call to action, no matter which side of the fence you find yourself. Get healthy, get happy, get reading. This is where the change-up begins!

Interview with Elda:

1.  Why did you decide to write this book?
I decided to write this book because infidelity has gone absolutely wild, and it's annoying. High profile people are continuously dropping left and right (it was also a point of contention during the recent presidential campaign), so you can imagine what's happening in our own backyards, and bedrooms. Infidelity is becoming normalized. Why? Why is this acceptable? Prevention is key, so I took to mine and kept typing away.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I know the struggles--not pretty. There is much to be lost when adultery enters a committed relationship: emotionally, financially, psychologically; not to mention the possible extended mayhem: arson, dismemberment, murder--all real! This behavior affects everyone involved. Because infidelity is such a highly emotionally charged topic, most people don't realize there are various backstories; nor the scope of the fallout. I wanted to address infidelity prevention in a manner that would be easy to comprehend and hopefully, make a difference.
2.  What do you hope to accomplish through this book's publication?
My hope is that someone, anyone, will have at least one positive takeaway that can be applied to their life. Better overall understanding, eye-opening moments, and paying the good forward are also welcomed. I emphasize self-awareness, personal accountability, and growth. These aren't easy subjects for people to acknowledge, but they are essential components for infidelity prevention.

When my ex-husband cheated on me, I chose to take a look at myself as well. His actions were definitely of his own doing, but I had contributed to our disconnect on some level. It's difficult for people to look at themselves, much less when they've been betrayed. I get that. However, I didn't want to take unproductive patterns with me into a future relationship. And, I certainly wasn't going to play the victim card. I wanted to get healthy. That's what I wish for others, on a very large scale. My goal is not to eradicate infidelity, my mission is to bring awareness and do some educating while I'm at it. I'd like to switch up legislature too. I have a very long to-do list!
3.  Do you have any other published work?
So far, this is my only book. At some point, I'd like to do a broader version (are you listening lit. agents?). I've learned a tremendous amount during this whole process. I consider myself to be nonjudgmental, but I've had to continuously push back my boundaries to accommodate someone's else's reality with infidelity. It's a huge subject with many tangents. There's still tons of work to do. This particular plate is always full: I've been known to have a hearty appetite.
4.  What is one surprising fact you'd like your readers to know about you?
Surprising fact about me? A million years ago in college, I studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark: one of the best experiences of my life. It's a lovely country. I lived with a Danish family with whom I'm still in contact. We've also exchanged visits. They truly are an extension of my immediate family. Also, I flunked out of two classes due to my love of travel. Hey, life experience is just as important as book experience. Luckily, I had enough credits so that it didn't make a difference. Besides, what I gained was absolutely priceless.
5.  If you could fulfill one wish in life, what would it be?
One wish: That all my wishes will be fulfilled. I'm getting closer!
Where you can find Elda:
http://www.eldamlopez.com/
http://mybook.to/facebookeml
http://amazon.com/author/eldamlopez.com
https://twitter.com/eldamlopez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmvDF58NIik

 

Two New Singles I've Created!

Twenty years ago I wrote and created music. The time has come to start again! What do I write? Easy listening/rock/pop. Sometimes a bit alternative. A combo. I like to mix things up. These two new singles are available on itunes at the present moment. They will also be available on google music, amazon music and more in the upcoming weeks. I'll keep the links updated.

For My Baby and I Miss You were written for my daughter who recently passed. Her death blindsided me. I wasn't expecting it...it was devastating. So as a way to deal with the pain, I've begun writing music again. I've also written numerous poems and posts about my beloved Celby on Niume. Feel free to check it out if you feel so inclined.

Thank you to those who have supported me over the years. Your friendship means a lot. It helps me stay upbeat in this difficult world.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-my-baby-radio-version-single/id1206895872

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-miss-you-single/id1206898119

 

Being Frugal

Whether this concept is an old one to you...or a new one...it's still worth mentioning. I know I need reminders about this frequently myself! Here is a message about money...the material possession which makes our society go 'round! (Whether we'd like to admit it or not!)

Be frugal. Be wise. Life requires wisdom in order to succeed.

Dreams are important-they're necessary-but so is living in the moment according to the means at your disposal. If you get caught up in believing for your wishes to come true in Now, you'll find yourself in debt. Take one day at a time with your heart believing for tomorrow. Slowly build your efforts. It's a lifestyle just like everything else.

If you're patient, your efforts will pay off! And you won't have to pay "big time" for that to happen!