Category Archives: author blog
Simple Changes for a Happier and Healthier 2026!
New Year’s resolutions – not a huge fan of them. They are often big promises that are meaningless and you are unable to keep. It only sets you up for disappointment. There are no quick fixes or magic formulas for success. Instead of making these over-the-top resolutions, I prefer to be more realistic and come up with things that are achievable and keep you optimistic rather than feeling like a failure. Here are a few ideas you might employ for 2026 that I believe are achievable.
Exercise – here’s a big one. Most people make their expectations much too high and expect too much in too short a time. Put yourself on a program that takes a month at a time. This makes it easier to prioritize what you do rather than procrastinate. Enjoy dancing, hiking, going to the gym, playing sports, etc. Commit to walking 3 to 5 times a week. Short distances at first until your body gets used to this new experience and then increase the distance accordingly. Once you start moving, you’ll feel better, breathe easier and your overall health will thank you. Walking also increases creativity. The conditions around you are changing and your mind can wander to new ideas. We have all become much too sedentary in our lifestyles. We need to move! (And drink more water!)
Eat healthier food – we are all in a hurry these days and eating is one of the things that suffers as a result. Make a few changes in your diet – add more fruit or vegetables each day, cut back on the ultra-processed foods, make simple healthy food choices whenever you can. If you make an effort to do even one or two things differently, you can create change.
Read a book – It’s a fast-paced world we live in, and we need to find a way to slow down. Everyone is interested in something so find a good book that catches your attention and pick a time to read a chapter per day – right before bedtime or during your lunch hour. Find a time that works for your schedule. A good book can take you to world’s unknown or enlighten you about a faraway place in this world. Whatever the subject, learning is always a wonderful thing. Our bodies and our minds will value the effort.
Kindness and gratitude – Develop an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful each day for your family, friends, and life itself. Treat others with respect and kindness. Go out of your way to say “thank you” to those who do so much for you every day. Be kind to those you don’t even know. Smile at people – it might make their day. Send a card to a friend or family member you haven’t heard from in a while. Volunteer at a shelter or food pantry. People need to know that someone cares. If there’s one thing this world needs more of it’s kindness!
Slow down the digital – It’s easy to lose track of how long you spend on digital devices. Try making a conscious effort to put down your phone completely during activities like walking the dog, drinking coffee with friends, socializing with friends and family, or playing with your kids and pets.
Explore new hobbies – Make different kinds of food, take a painting class, try building something, take dancing lessons, take up gardening, learn to play the guitar or piano, or make hiking your new hobby. Do something that feels fun and maybe totally different from what you would normally do!
The healthy resolutions listed above are sustainable ways that can improve your emotional and physical health that can be followed for a lifetime. This New Year 2026 try some of them out to make it the happiest and healthiest New Year possible!
Solitaire
Communicate Effectively – Resonate with Your Reader
Communicating effectively relies on an understanding of the language you’re speaking. It can be potentially frustrating to your readers if they can’t understand what you’re trying to get across to them.
For instance, if the person you’re trying to communicate with speaks German, it won’t matter how beautiful your French sounds. The line of communication is still broken if they don’t understand what you are trying to say.
As a writer, I’m not speaking about literal languages but writing that makes a connection by not leaving out key details or putting in unnecessary ones, leaving the reader very confused or disconnected from your book.
As the author, you know what you’re trying to say and understand it perfectly, but if it leaves your prospective reader feeling overwhelmed without a more understandable explanation, then you may have lost a sale on that book.
When writing a book description or even a book title, it would be wise to consider what you are trying to communicate. Does it connect with the genre of book you’re writing? You’ve all probably read a book title and wondered why it was even in that genre because it didn’t make sense. It all comes down to awareness.
If you’ve ever read book reviews, a simple strategy for finding out what readers like or dislike about books will come to light. They often describe things differently than the writer would and reveal what language resonates with them, which can be very helpful. It may or may not change anything about the way you pen your novel, but it does give you valuable incite into how your readers view things.
Feedback from other people is a good way to discover the good and the bad of your novel, which is valuable for future reference. Knowledge is always a beneficial objective!
I welcome your comments. Say hello below!
Solitaire
Veterans Day: Celebrating Patriotism and Sacrifice
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and started as an opportunity to remember the heroism of those who died in the service of our country. On November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the truce that ended World War I, we reflect on those who fought and died for our freedom.
The occasion was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize veterans of all wars. We honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, their willingness to sacrifice and serve for the good of all, and for their love of country.
Many parades and ceremonies are held across the United States and various events are live-streamed, allowing people to participate from wherever they are.
National Ceremonies
In addition to the wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery, several other prominent national Veterans Day ceremonies take place across the United States, including:
- National World War II Memorial: Located in Washington, D.C., this memorial hosts an annual ceremony featuring speeches by dignitaries and veterans, as well as a wreath-laying event to honor those who served during World War II.
- Veterans Day National Ceremony: Also held at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., this event includes the traditional reading of the names of veterans who have passed away in the last year, along with musical tributes and speeches.
- California’s Veterans Day Ceremony: Held at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, this ceremony features a program that includes musical performances, speeches from state officials, and a wreath-laying ceremony to honor California veterans.
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial: This memorial in Washington, D.C., hosts special ceremonies that often include the reading of names of fallen soldiers and other tributes to Vietnam veterans, emphasizing remembrance and reflection.
On November 11, we hold great respect and gratitude for our veterans who selflessly gave their lives for all of us.
Solitaire
Overcoming Stumbling Blocks for Aspiring Authors
The decision to write a novel is not as easy as it sounds and may have taken you a long time to realize creating a story was something to consider. According to me, and many, many other sources, it is normal to have doubts about whether we’re capable of performing at such a daunting level. As it turns out, we are our worst enemies, and if not kept in check, will also become the single judge and jury toward our path to success or failure. The most common stumbling blocks to our writing have been listed below, along with potential methods or solutions to bypass their fatalistic results.
Fear of ridicule from the people around you – 
When writing my first novel, it was difficult for me to tell anyone about the project, mainly because of an innate fear the book would never get finished. I anticipated the potential ridicule due to my failure if the project faltered before completion. Several drafts later and nine months of sweat…I finished. There was considerably less ridicule from acquaintances, so the takeaway here is you need to finish the book no matter how long it takes. The quicker you develop thick skin the better and remember, even the greats of literature had to start somewhere, and you may be the next great author. Bear in mind, not even the greats of literature will receive five-star reviews from everyone.
Motivational Issues –
The previous issues have a habit of seeping into our own values of procrastination and one thing leads to another until the project is placed onto a back burner with mild promises to pick it up again later. Some days simply don’t feel inspired and if you have too many in a row, it’s easier to put the project off than to continue. Creating a schedule, one that can be adhered to daily, is prime so be careful and don’t make it so rigid that it begins to feel like punishment. Life can and will get in the way of even the most well thought out plans, so during these times, we must learn to be flexible. During these times I either re-read the entire manuscript to rekindle fresh new ideas or go back over my outline to get myself back on track. It does not matter if you type the next section, the point is not to allow yourself to lose the inspiration.
Lack of confidence in your project –
This last stumbling block is another three-fold issue because sensing a lack of confidence in your project is, more than likely, a combination of the fear of ridicule, a lack of motivation, and not enough prep work as you geared up to start writing. The less you can visualize the nuts and bolts of your story, the more likely you are to lose interest in writing and then the lack of confidence creeps in around the edges. If you begin your project with abbreviated notes/outline, then it will be reflected in the lack of background for the remainder of the book. Good solid prep work with everything laid out like a road map will be a constant source of inspiration and depth to the story. The result of this is a sense of completeness that translates to confidence in what needs to be written next and gives you the feeling that the project can and will be finished. Lastly, see if you can pre-visualize between chapters or scenes and it will tell you what’s missing. Fill those gaps and watch the story come alive.
(If you are a new author or writer and need some helpful hints on writing a book and more, I have something that may benefit your efforts. Check it out HERE.)
Solitaire
Mutineers’ Moon – Book One in the Dahak Series by David Weber
Author David Weber says the genesis for this book began with a question. “Assume that earth doesn’t actually have a moon, but rather a giant starship disguised as our moon which has been there for at least fifty or sixty thousand years. Where did it come from, why did it come here, and why hasn’t it left?”
Weber says the answer to those questions built the foundation for this book and its sequels.
Imagine that an alien race came to earth fifty thousand years ago, had a civil war between two factions of their government and was beaten by their advanced AI ship, Dahak. This ship is also the celestial entity we call the moon and during their last battle for supremacy they find themselves stranded on earth with no way to regain access to Dahak.
The two factions of the crew keep themselves young by using cryo-sleep to maintain their lives. Fifty thousand years later they have influenced the earth to gain space flight to re-enter Dahak, although the human population has no knowledge of the moon’s real purpose.
During one of the first flights to the moon, a human is kidnapped by Dahak and convinced to help get the moon back in readiness for a journey to the alien’s home world.
Dahak also wants information about the original crew and whether all of them were part of the mutiny that caused their present dilemma. Another alien race has been spotted closing in on earth’s solar system and only Dahak’s original crew can stop them.
Dahak’s communications system is unable to contact their home world and that means no help is forthcoming to help save the earth.
The lead characters, Colin MacIntyre, Dahak, and what is left of the original crew will have to find a way to co-exist long enough to defeat an alien fleet with nothing more than a ship the size of a moon, and a handful of humans to supplement the crew.
I quite literally could not put this book down, and was excited to know there were two more installments beyond Mutineers’ Moon. If you’re looking for classic science fiction, Mutineers’ Moon is a great choice for your next read.
Solitaire
The Enchanting World of Dragomeir
Prophecy has foretold of a female child who will liberate the citizens of the Provinces. Katherine, is born to the ruthless Dark Lord and with her dragon, Exxa, she is determined to find her place in a dark and evil world, and fulfill her destiny. In order to do this she travels through time to discover her past and future, where she meets Tanis, an ancient warrior.
Tanis is called by Demios, the first emerald dragon to be born in a thousand years and becomes a dragon rider. He lives at Mt. Drago, where he meets unusual and evil creatures from other worlds.
Led by the Dragon Queen, the Ariella, he and the other riders must retrieve a crystal key that was taken by the Dark Lord of the Provinces in order to protect the dragons and Mt. Drago.
The adventure continues with other dragons, the Aguivas and the Amphiteres on fantastic new worlds and faraway mountain homes.
Who guides them, and will they survive and be able to remedy the anomalies of their travel through time? Follow this exciting fantasy adventure as they battle to fulfill their destinies and save the worlds they love.
At the website you’ll find Extras about each world, including characters and maps.
Explore the books at www.solitaireparke.com
Happy reading, dragon lovers!
Solitaire
Art by Solitaire – Unleashing Imagination
In the ever-changing world of art and technology, online tools have completely revolutionized the art world. It demands a blend of artistic flair, technical prowess, and an unwavering enthusiasm for digital media. Solitaire stands as a prime example of a digital artist harnessing these tools to elevate his craft, express himself, and create exquisite artworks that push the boundaries of imagination. Whether delving into abstract, science fiction, fantasy, or scenic art, these creations find homes in video games, websites, book covers, attire, and are often displayed on the walls of homes and offices. It is a dynamic and captivating medium that holds the power to inspire us all.
Help – How Do I Write a Novel?
Writing your first novel can make you craaaazy!!! Do you have a process , or should you even have one? Maybe you’ve taken a class on writing but are still unclear where to begin. If this is where you’re coming from, then hang onto your hats because I’d like to share something with you.
I’ve been there! You are not alone, so don’t worry. This writing process is the reason for my next book –
THE TRIPLE THREAT
(How to write a novel and stay sane in the process)
Hi, I’m Solitaire Parke and I write science fiction, urban fantasy, horror/thriller, larger world and poetry books. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes along the way. Hopefully, I can help you avoid some of those same mistakes and your novel can become a reality instead of just a dream.
I believe everyone has at least one good book within them, probably more. But if you don’t know where to start, that’s a problem. So, I’m attempting to share some of the knowledge I’ve gained along my writing journey in the hope that your dream can come to fruition.
The Triple Threat will cover
Where to start
Outlines
Research
Plots and Subplots
Characterization
Dialogue
Showing not Telling
Conflict
Timelines
Helpful Templates
Editing
Cover Art
Publishing
and much more within each chapter – including examples.
Understanding what you’re writing and finding the answers to all your questions will shape what and how your novel is written and ultimately make your readers (hopefully, a lot of them) happy, and anxious to get your next book when it’s published. Not to mention, the satisfaction you receive from being able to put your thoughts down in a paperback (e-book or audiobook) is well worth all the time and effort, and something you can be proud of for the rest of your life.
The TripleThreat is in its final editing stage and will be out very soon. So, stay tuned for further updates. Happy reading to everyone – and hopefully you’ll be writing your own novel in the near future! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me.
Solitaire
Accepting Being Imperfect
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of mending broken pottery by joining pieces back together and filling cracks with lacquer mixed with gold. It highlights the flaws in the repaired item. In our world today there seems to be no end to the broken pieces of our society and we are all a part of it in some way. But these pieces can be put back together again and be made stronger than before with work on our part. I am reminded of this when I look at Kintsugi. It turns into a beautiful piece of art.
Accepting our flaws is a fundamental part of the writing process as well. No author writes a perfect first draft. It reminds me of one of my books written years ago that just never quite hit the mark. I ended up tearing it apart, section by section, and rewriting it at least three times. There was a point when I had almost given up on it altogether and considered scrapping it completely. It was very disheartening and left me wondering why I was even writing it at all.
I’m not one to quit easily, so I took it as a challenge, and reworked the entire story so that it became a cohesive plot filled with much more exciting actions and a richer storyline. As a result of fixing the flaws, it became a much fuller narrative that I was pleased to publish – Tinker Smith & the Conspiracy of OZ.
A group of ten genetically altered children are attempting to save the world
from a technological, power hungry scientist,
the self proclaimed Wizard of Oz,
who is determined to control the world with a computer virus.
Johnny and his father meet Tinker, one of the ten children
and together they forge ahead in the hope of survival
in a strange world of machination and espionage.
None of us are perfect, and in the artistic process of writing it sometimes means tearing apart our ideas, then putting them back together again to be stronger and more engaging.
It’s much like Kintsugi. From imperfect to amazing!
Happy Reading to everyone!
Solitaire
Available Now – “Between Two Worlds”
Society is collapsing before his eyes.
Sixteen-year-old Cross Mundos is trying to survive in a world of nuclear disaster and environmental decay. His parents have disappeared, leaving him with an eccentric uncle, a war zone, and a landscape where death and extinction seem to be the inevitable outcome. But Cross has an intellect far beyond most in his age category, and despite the challenges he faces, is determined to find a way to endure and even thrive.
To his surprise, his Uncle Ferrum reveals an instrument called a torch, enabling him to rip a hole into the fabric of time and space. This changes everything as he can transport to an identical world, with one catch – it is many decades into the past!
To survive in this new world, he must keep his previous life a secret and yet somehow blend in with the current populace. His ultimate goal is to discover what went wrong in his world and somehow change the course of events to stop the future of this new planet from complete destruction.
Will history repeat itself, or will Cross be the one person who can alter its outcome?
My latest science fiction book – BETWEEN TWO WORLDS – is now available for purchase below –
LULU BOOKS (Paperback and Ebook)
Check out solitaireparke.com for further information and books. Happy Reading!
Solitaire
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 