Blog Archives
SMASHWORDS – End of Year E-book Sale 2025!
From December 8th 2025 – January 1st 2026, I’m excited to announce that my Ebooks will be available as part of the Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale! This is a chance to get my books, along with books from many other great authors, at a promotional discount.
Join thousands of readers – find great book titles from your favorite authors and discover new authors in your preferred genres. Books are discounted from 25% – 50% – 75% – and even FREE! You can locate the Dragomeir Series (adventures with dragons), Vengeance of the Wolf (a horror/thriller), Tinker Smith and the Conspiracy of Oz (genetically altered children in a world of espionage and the wizard of Oz), Between Two Worlds (a rip in the fabric of time and space, and The Atrium (a psychological adventure in science fiction) at SMASHWORDS.
If you check out my website you’ll find other books – The Larger World Series in including a new release, The Forces of the Universe. For anyone who could use an assist in becoming a writer, there’s even a book to guide you on your journey – The Triple Threat (how to write a novel and stay sane in the process), plus books filled with Digital Artwork and many interesting extras.
I hope you’ll visit Smashwords 2025 end of year sale. Enjoy the holidays – MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!
Solitaire
Surprising Facts You Never Knew About Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is generally a celebration of family, friends, and food; a time to be thankful for the blessings in our lives. The real history of Thanksgiving is a bit more complicated than mashed potatoes and gravy and pumpkin pies. If you’ve ever wondered why we celebrate Thanksgiving, or where some of our Thanksgiving traditions come from, you’re about to find out.
A woman named Sarah Josepha Hale lobbied Congress for years to make Thanksgiving an official holiday. If it wasn’t for this very determined woman, Thanksgiving wouldn’t exist today. She lobbied Congress for many years to make this holiday official. She wanted to make this a permanent American custom based on national pride. It wasn’t until 1863 that President Lincoln finally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. Thanksgiving is considered by many people to be an attempt to bring some peace back to the country after the Civil War. Lincoln made the holiday on the last Thursday in November.
Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to change it to one week earlier. Franklin thought the turkey should be the United States’ official bird rather than the bald eagle. By 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill making the fourth Thursday in November the official date for Thanksgiving nationwide to help alleviate the effects of the Great Depression.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924 and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo – live bears, elephants, camels and monkeys, unlike the huge balloons we have today. They did have floats, celebrities, bands, and Macy’s employees in costumes, as well as Santa Claus. About 3.5 million people attend the parade, and nearly 50 million watch it on their televisions at home.
Did you know that TV dinners came about because of Thanksgiving? In 1953, the Swanson Food Corporation got creative with leftover turkey as a result of overestimating how much turkey would be eaten on Thanksgiving Day. They used aluminum trays and created a complete Thanksgiving meal which sold for around ninety-eight cents. They sold ten million TV dinners and started the prepackaged frozen meal industry.
People have been cooking pumpkin pies since the 1600’s. The dessert has been an important part of Thanksgiving meals since the 1700s. One Connecticut town even postponed the holiday in 1705 due to a molasses shortage that prevented people from making pies.
The “pardoning” of the turkey has been an annual White House tradition. President John F. Kennedy was the first to pardon a turkey and President George H. W. Bush was the first to make pardoning a turkey an annual event in 1989, after he noticed the 50-pound bird at his official Thanksgiving proclamation looked nervous. Every president has upheld the tradition ever since.
In the 1870’s Thanksgiving Day football games began, although they were not on television yet. In 1876, Yale played Princeton in the very first Thanksgiving Day game. In 1920 when the National Football League was founded it began hosting games every year.
Here is an interesting fact: The day after Thanksgiving is amazingly busy for plumbers, according to a very well-known plumbing company. So, we need to be extra careful with turkey grease, potato peels, rice, and stuffing as they can clog your kitchen drain or garbage disposal.
The British have an unusual take on Thanksgiving Day, as they call it Britts-giving. Whatever they want to call it, it still represents the spirit of thankfulness and giving.
How many places in the United States have the name “Turkey?” Texas, Louisiana and North Carolina.
How many turkeys are prepared for Thanksgiving each year in the United States? 46 million
Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day everyone!
Solitaire
Exploring the Beauty of Poetry
THE TREES
My ears detect the sigh of trees.
The smell of salt from the ocean breeze
That touches sweat upon my brow,
And brings my thoughts to here and now.
The leaves have sung a sweet refrain,
Of spoken love and conquered pain,
That only comes to those who dream,
Though never knowing what it means.
The branches filter out the sun
And cool the day until it’s done.
But dropping garments on the ground,
They float and fall without a sound.
Profuse they stretch to meet the sky
And touch the clouds that chance sends by.
Living in a plaintive maze
While watching nature through her days.
A solitary vigil here
That cloaks the world throughout the year.
A living carpet that forever stands,
In every heart…In every land.
Poetry is a type of creative writing found in cultures around the world. It is a type of literature or artistic writing that attempts to stir a reader’s imagination or emotions. The poet does this by carefully choosing and arranging language for its meaning, sound, and rhythm. The author is attempting to communicate a message through the piece, and it can be a powerful teaching tool. It is a unique and captivating form of literary art that evokes human emotions and is often interpreted differently by each reader. Poetry, more than any other form of writing, allows the author to convey their ideas and feelings and communicate those expressions to others in a way that may be encouraging or thought provoking.
Poems can be structured, with rhyming lines and meter, the rhythm and emphasis of a line based on syllabic beats. Poems can also be free-form, which follows no formal structure. You can read all about the different forms of poetry here –
My book of poetry is called TAPESTRY, and can be found on my website here –
Review –
“There is as much beauty and wonder inside this book as there is on the cover.
I don’t profess to know a lot about poetry. I just know I like to read it.
It moves me the way a wonderful painting or other piece of art does.
I don’t have to understand it, I just have to feel it.
Tapestry moved me in many ways. It still does.
I keep it on my ottoman and when I’m not busy, I sit quietly and open the book to a random page and lose myself.”
I hope you will take the time to enjoy some poetry now and then. It is food for the mind and soul.
Solitaire
Top Ways to Enjoy October’s National Book Month
October is National Book Month, an observance that celebrates the importance of reading, writing, and literature in the United States. It is sponsored by the National Book Foundation. This initiative encourages people to develop a love of reading by making it a regular part of their day, visiting libraries and bookstores, and sharing their experiences on social media.
Celebrate by visiting your local libraries or bookstores
Share your reading experiences and post about books you love on social media and websites
Make your reading time special by setting up a cozy reading nook in your home
Create a new routine and read out loud to your children
Follow your favorite authors and stay up on their new works
Step out of your comfort zone and explore books in new genres
Give the gift of a book to friends and family
Set up a reading routine or book club with a friend or friends
Take your book to a coffee shop and enjoy a different location and a good cup of coffee
Check out events at your local library or support an independent bookstore in your area
Put up a little “Free Library” in your area. There are many oversized mailboxes filled with books popping up in neighborhoods all around the world. Share with others.
Start writing your own book. Everybody has a story to tell. It may sound daunting, but every great book started with an author sitting across from a blank page. Whether you journal every day or only write text messages, use this month to begin writing the story you want to tell. You never know who needs to hear what you have to say!
Celebrate the power of reading and writing!!!
Solitaire
Best Websites to Boost Your Writing Journey
Listed below are some tools that can be very useful for new writers. This is not by any means a complete list of everything available, but they do contain some of the best information that I’ve found. If you can learn something that will enhance your work or add to your knowledge base, these sites will definitely be worth your time to explore.
The Creative Penn – Home of author Joanna Penn. An award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than 40 books across multiple genres, who shares lessons learned on how to write, publish and market your book, and make a living with your writing.
Helping Writers Become Authors – K.M. Weiland, the award-winning and internationally published author of acclaimed writing guides, such as Structuring Your Novel and Creating Character Arcs.
Jane Friedman – For almost 3 decades, Jane has been working with writers and publishers, giving informed and insightful guidance to those in the writing field.
Nathan Bransford – An author, editor, and former literary agent, helping authors with writing and publishing advice for a successful writing career.
The Book Designer – Everything you need to know about book design, production, and publishing success. Endless helpful articles to teach and inspire the writer.
Dave Chesson – Kindleprenour – Great information on writing, publishing, and marketing, including helpful programs.
Your Writer Platform – Simplifying the process of writing – resources for authors.
Writers Helping Writers – Lists of resources, tools, worksheets and more for writers.
I hope these websites will assist you and clarify the information needed to make your writing career a successful one. Here’s one more book that may help if you’ve always wanted to write a novel but have no idea where to start. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, and hopefully I can keep you from making some of the same ones. I will guide you through the process from the beginning to having a finished book you can be proud of. If your dream has been to become a published author, maybe The Triple Threat will help you to that end.
Click Here: The Triple Threat (How to Write a Novel and Stay Sane in the Process)
Happy Writing!
Solitaire
Exploring the Fascinating Architecture of Stepwells
Step Well Pattern by Solitaire
In my Internet meanderings I came upon something I thought was extremely unusual and quite amazing. It was an ancient architectural marvel that served a very useful purpose and was visually outstanding – a Stepwell.
These structures are located in various parts of India and are water reservoirs created by digging deep into the ground and making use of natural layers in the earth to trap rainwater and groundwater. They are typically many levels deep (at least 25 meters or 82 feet) and can be reached by a series of stone steps.
The construction and use of stepwells went on for centuries under different dynasties. Stepwells provided people with a perennial water source in areas prone to arid climates and drought, such as Delhi and Rajasthan. The stepwells not only provided water for the people in the area, they had magnificent architecture featuring intricate carvings, and provided other social functions. There were often shaded pavilions where people could rest or gather to meet with friends and family.
They fell out of use under British rule in the 19th century. But today many have been excavated and used to divert and store excess rainwater, as well as to improve the groundwater table. They have become tourist attractions and social sites that provide employment and income for the locals. Today stepwells stand as testimony to the traditional knowledge of water systems, engineering, construction methods and craftsmanship of ancient times.
Solitaire
Poetry – Food for the Brain!
The variety of poetry out now is huge. But what is the point? Maybe you like poetry that rhymes, or just something that causes you to feel things that take you away from the daily grind and think deep thoughts. Put simply, poetry is a type of literature, or artistic writing, that attempts to stir a reader’s imagination or emotions. Language is arranged by the poet carefully for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
But why is it good for your brain?
- Like listening to music, poetry triggers an emotional response. MRIs have shown that certain regions in the brain’s right hemisphere light up and are activated, linking reward and emotion.
- Poetry isn’t just about reading words, but it’s also about understanding the sounds, meanings, and emotions of them. When the brain connects all these things at one time, its function peaks and strengthens your overall mental health.
- Encouraging self-reflection and boosting memory is another reason poetry is beneficial. Studies have shown that MRIs display that poetry causes the part of the brain that activates during daydreaming to light up. The reader often re-reads and even memorizes the words. It can help improve a person’s memory making it more receptive to retention of other information as well.
Poetry is everywhere. So how do you get more poetry into your life?
Listen to music
Read greeting cards
Poetry Books (reading them out loud gives you extra brain engagement)
Many calendars have poems for each day
You might try writing your own poetry – just feel and write the words
Each time you read or listen to poetry it’s beneficial to your brain. It provides pleasure, offers wisdom, provides emotional expression, and can be a form of remembrance, consolation, and healing. In any case, you activate brain function, and your overall mental health will thank you!
Solitaire
Surviving the Scorching Summer Heat
Scorching summer heat is currently giving us record-breaking temperatures and intense heat waves across the globe. In Arizona we could probably cook on the sidewalks, as crazy as that sounds! Outdoor barbecue has taken on a whole new meaning! The kids are staying out of the sun in the middle of the day and limiting their outdoor activities to the mornings or late afternoons and evenings when the sun isn’t so intense or has disappeared beyond the horizon. Even my dogs don’t want to be outside for long.
As an author and digital artist, I am perfectly happy to be inside my office where I can be comfortable in the air conditioning with my ceiling fan whirring over my head to keep me cool. That’s the most productive atmosphere for me, and my favorite setting. If I want to see the outdoors I can just look out of the window next to my desk and pull back the curtains to let in the light, without having to deal with the heat.
If you work from home, adjust writing routines when necessary, by working during cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or evenings. Setting realistic goals and focusing on specific tasks like editing or mind mapping during peak heat hours can also be helpful. Writers may need to be especially mindful of channeling and shaping emotions in their work, recognizing the potential for heightened emotional responses during heatwaves. You can also try working from libraries or cafes to make your day more interesting.
Some writers find that the summer heat actually sparks their creativity. Ernest Hemingway embraced writing in the summer heat and his style flourished during these periods. He spent significant time in hot locations like Madrid, Spain and Key West, Florida.
If you’re in one of those excessively hot areas of the world, be kind to yourself and stay hydrated, comfortable, and safe from the effects of the hot sun. Many children are now heading back to school, which will keep them busy for a good part of the day. Stay indoors when you can and protect yourself if you do go outside with sunscreen, a hat or umbrella and wear loose, light clothing that will allow you to stay cool.
Being indoors gives us all a great opportunity to explore our world and other worlds through writing and reading!
Have a great summer!
Solitaire
You won’t want to miss Smashwords 2025 Summer/Winter ebook Sale!
The sale period will run from July 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025.
Hello to all the readers and authors out there!
Why is it called “Summer/Winter”? Here in the Northern hemisphere, it’s mid-summer. Readers are loading their e-reading devices for summer beach reading and long-awaited vacations. South of the equator they are now in the middle of winter. They’re ready to curl up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a great read too!
All my eBooks will be on sale for 50% off, so take advantage and stock up on plenty of books to read over the summer/winter. It’s an opportunity to find exclusive discounts from your favorite indie authors and discover new future favorites. You will find every type of genre, with books from terrific authors all over the world. So, check it out at SMASHWORDS.COM.
You’ll find my ebooks HERE
- The Forces of the Universe
- The Atrium
- Between Two Worlds
- The Triple Threat
- The Dragomeir Series
- Tinker Smith & the Conspiracy of OZ
- Vengeance of the Wolf
Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a great price at Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale!
Whatever genre you like, you can be sure to find it at SMASHWORDS.
Mark your calendar: promo starts on July 1, 2025.
Happy Reading to everyone!
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
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 