As we wait on ‘Ring of Stone’ here’s some pics of Stone’s birth home…

As ‘Ring of Stone’(Book 2 to Mark of Fortune) is being prepared, I thought I’d share a few pics of the place where Stone of the Ice Rings is from. He was born on the “outskirts of Saturn” which can mean the ice rocks on the ring belt on some other place during that ancient time. Either way its beautiful- enjoy!

Click on the “The Basics of Saturn” to enjoy interesting, mind boggling facts on this gas giant!

*Disclaimer: All images are from NASA.org and some may be artist’s concepts.

Dawn on Saturn

Cassini at Saturn’s Bow Shock

Warning for an alien arriving to earth for the very first time

Alien in Spotlight |Microsoft Images

I am not writing a book on aliens, but today while brushing my teeth, a thought bloomed in my mind: With so much going on in the world, what would I tell an alien visiting earth for the very first time? How would I prepare (it?) for its stay? This is assuming the alien is kind and/or objective, of course!

1. When you first arrive, prepare to be explored, poked and prodded. Your ship, family, your dignity(if you have it) will be confiscated. Please watch the movie Super 8 to know what I mean.
2. When you first step on our grounds, yes it is plush green grasses-depending on where you are. If you are in Virginia, Georgia, or some anywhere on the East you will find lush green grass, along with a mountain chain-the Appalachian that stretches in a long yawn going up through Maine. On the West side of North America you will find Nevada, California, New Mexico- dry desert areas. If you land somewhere else, like Europe, Russia, China, Japan you will be brought forth to a time in history that still stands, beautiful cathedrals, hundreds of different languages and more. If you land in Africa…well, it’s dry, hot, colorful and some still say its the hearth of humankind.
3. Prepare to be looked upon in two ways: a) as a savior, or b) as someone different to be used, or feared. If humans choose you as their savior it will come with consequences. First of all we are a very unforgiving, very hotheaded bunch and if you can’t do for us right away we melt in anger and hostility. We feel we deserve so much more in life and yet we hurt each other. Jesus proved who he was in history and performed miracles it wasn’t enough, people did not believe in him and he was killed.  However if we view you as different, we may use you, enslave you and if you decide to breed(if the government allows it) we may treat your kind the same way. Your kind if at first amicable may become mean and hateful after learning from us. That’s just how it is and yes it is tragic. For many years you and your kind will feel the ripple effect of our hate and it will scare us more so than you- so much so that we may arm ourselves or gate up our communities to keep you out. Just a fair warning.
4. On to pleasant stuff: Do you eat food? What kind? Earth has a  plethora of food bearing upon the ground, producing its own seed with much cultivation. Careful though, some plants are poisonous. Animals are available as food too- just heat and eat. Many places called the “grocery store” have food where it is already prepared and so you may microwave and eat. Watch a lot of the travel or cooking channels to know what I mean, or just a good family movie.
5. What is your favorite thing to do? Here on earth, the sky is the limit. If you like to climb, jump from a mountain, barbecue out back, gather friends for a book review, go see a movie, hunt, drink and be merry- you can. Just heed the laws which are ultimately for your protection.
6. Finally, what is your belief system? Many people have their own theories as to why we are here. Do you know why we are here? Maybe you’re the perfect one to ask. Okay, I digress: In America there are many belief systems called religions, ranging from Christianity to Atheism and everything in between. Me? I believe in God and his son Jesus- and I am NOT religious. But you will meet many fine folks who don’t claim a religion but are good, decent human beings.

I hope this helps you out just a little. If you get lost, get a GPS system and you’re probably better off finding my place first instead of landing somewhere on the globe where you will be found and what will happen with you I clearly do not know. Sky’s the limit.

She traveled through time to kiss William Shakespeare in ‘Kissing Shakespeare’

Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miranda is about to act in ‘Taming of the Shrew’. It will be the show of a lifetime. Yet, she is about to play an even bigger role- in 16th Century England as the vixen who will seduce the very real, and very young William Shakespeare.

When Stephen Langford met Miranda, he knew she was the one to come with him through time to help the young William Shakespeare makes the decision to write and not become a Jesuit. Which at that time was a very serious offense, accompanied by execution. Miranda’s job is to seduce William to the other side. But when she and Stephen get closer together with their schemes and conversations about personal life and relationships, Miranda realizes:

She may not want to leave England.

Stephen has become something of a shoulder to lean on and it doesn’t help that he is charming, brilliant, and very handsome as well. It kind of confuses the mission…

Pamela Mingle has written a fine work that is sure to get more youth involved with reading some Shakespeare. The only caution is that there is one vulgar word mentioned at least twice in the story and a couple of situations that are too risqué for twelve year olds to read. Maybe sixteen years and up.

Otherwise a lovely book that I can definitely see as a nice film as well.

View all my reviews

‘Mark of Fortune’ new short story

Nasa

Under the pen name Sheerrain Kase, Mark of Fortune was written. A quick, thirty odd page novella on the meeting between Samosa, a thirty year old community college student and handsome man named Stone of the Ice Rings.

Without giving much away, they meet up and Samosa finds out that this humble guy who helps her in her worst moment, is much more than a man. He has something they both need. What makes the book interesting is the fact that there is no real need for actual sex scenes as what Stone can do to any woman is sensual and…uncomfortable at best.

Stone has his own story to tell and his adventure from Galaxy to Midplane to Earth and his love triangles across the universe before he met the beautiful Samosa- is worth telling. His story will be published this Spring/Summer 2012 and available on Smashwords, Createspace, and Kindle.

Right now, if you are an Amazon Prime Member you can read this book for free!

I can live a thousand times if I do this…

United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang / public domain

I remember a time when time was not an enemy. It was a neutral friend and it held my physique together better than gravity and food…food knew where to go and not sit and develop into something else.

I remember a time when I thought myself immortal and will remain Venus forever under the daystar and night..

I remember a time when I fancied if I sang loud enough to the moon from my bunkbed and ask to be whisked away to it and enter another world, that it would happen-rather than by me going mentally insane or joining NASA.

Then time left me.

It left gravity to me as an ornery asociate, leaving my backside bigger than it was years ago, and each food I crave and eat, ultimately makes a spot ANYWHERE. I am not immortal. Each year brings me closer to a higher twenty something and now I am at the last cargo called 20. Singing loud and praying hard enough did not alleviate pains and frugal living.

However I do have something and it is more powerful than any diet or dreams of running the world.

I have imagination and can live a thousand times in my books.

Can you?

Do you write stories?

You should.

NASA has spoken, ‘The Heavens Proclaim His Glory’

My thoughts on ‘The Heavens proclaim His Glory

Opening a harcover book with beautiful photos is enough to take anyone’s breath away…if they are taken on Earth. This book has wonderful pictures from the Hubble, taken from Space and there are colorful, whirling, fiery, flaming galaxies I have never heard of and even close up shots of little known planets and those which are familiar. Each page includes some scripture from the bible along with a passage from someone’s poetry, business person, or amateur watcher of the sky.  When you begin to turn the smooth pages, you have to mentally prepare yourself for brief explanations of the photo and at other times, there are no explanations.

The downside to the book is that it could not go on forever. Once finished, I had the urge to buy my own telescope. That is how fascinating it is to view creation from the perspective of the Hubble. At the end of the book, there are listed resources and bibliography which helps you to do your own research and find out more about the people who helped make this book possible.

E.J.Smith

*Book provided for review by Booksneeze(a Thomas Nelson Publishing Company)