Blog Archives
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
Exploring the Beauty of Autumn with the Poetry of John Keats and Robert Louis Stevenson
Autumn is a great time to settle down in a comfortable chair and read some of your favorite poetry. Below are some classics you might enjoy. You might also want to check out Tapestry by Solitaire, which has been compared to the style of Edgar Allen Poe, having a classic medieval tone.
TO AUTUMN
John Keats (1795-1821)
SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep,
Drows’d with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,—
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.Autumn Fires
Robert Louis Stevenson
In the other gardens
And all up in the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over,
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
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
Become a Traveler in the Larger World
A Review
“I have read many books dealing with Astral Travel and the Astral Planes. I found this book (Beyond the Astral Planes) to be the most complete and detailed book on the subject. I would list it in a highly recommended reading category.”
– Jan Ross
“The Altar Shields the renderings” is the companion to the Larger World Books – “Beyond the Astral Planes”, “Threshold of Perception.”, and “Patterns of Existence”. It illustrates the visual renderings of the thirteen Altars within the Larger World. Each one is a full color, digital rendering in the form of a shield, with its individual symbols, colors, and polarities.
For an in depth look into these uniquely different forces that coexist in our universe, check out the information in the above mentioned books to explore and discover which one of these shields represents you!
All the books are up on my website, available in different formats and places for you to grab a copy.
Solitaire
Unraveling the Chilling Mystery of the Dream Assassin
What triggers your most evil nightmares? What if someone wants you dead, but you have no idea who or why? If you love horror books or movies, this one will make you think twice about falling asleep – particularly if you are alone.
In my horror/thriller, Vengeance of the Wolf, you are drawn into the world of dreams. It’s the story of a shocking assassin who works through dreams using a technique that seems physically impossible, to end the lives of those deemed responsible for an untimely death. Detectives are completely baffled, and just as they appear to get closer to determining the person’s identity, they are completely thrown off and their efforts take them nowhere. Extremely shaken at the horrific scenes to which they are led, the question remains – why is this happening and where is it leading? Only the assassin has the answers to their questions – answers that are too unsettling to be revealed.
You can find the answers to these unnerving questions in my book Vengeance of the Wolf available at my website, where you can read the first chapter. This book will have you sleeping with the lights on!
Review – “You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time you are enveloped by the author’s mind. It is brilliantly written and is a pleasure to read.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great suspense filled story. It is truly a great book; one, in which, I shall enjoy re-reading.”
Review – “I enjoyed this story very much. I received the book as a gift but will eagerly await his next one. This story caught me up right away and carried me along with the detectives in it. The plot was well thought out, the action was intense, and the ending was very satisfying.”
Solitaire is presently working on the sequel book to the Dorian Saga – A Distant Howling. Does the nightmare finally end or will it start all over again?
Meet Author Solitaire Parke at Half Price Books, Mesa, Arizona
I would like to invite you to a book signing event on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, from 11:00 to 4:00 pm, at Half Price Books in Mesa, Arizona. Here is the address:
Superstition Springs Center
6339 East Southern Avenue
Mesa, Arizona 85206
I would love to meet you and introduce you to my Science Fiction/Fantasy books – Between Two Worlds (a time travel adventure), The Dragomeir Series (for those who love adventure and dragons), Tinker Smith and the Conspiracy of OZ ( a contemporary twist on the Wizard of OZ), and an action/psychological thriller – Vengeance of the Wolf.
My book, The Atrium – a journey of self-reflection where the protagonist is forced to confront the traumas and decisions that have shaped his existence while inside an atrium that transcends the boundaries of time and space will also be available.
For those who are interested in “out-of-body” – The Larger World Series may be of help in your journey of knowledge. And there is something for all those who love poetry as well – Tapestry – a glimpse inside the mind of a poet, with a slightly medieval tone depicting a world of inspirations, hopes, fears, loves, and successes to ponder in the wee hours of any long and lonely night.
For those writing their first novel or are in need of some information about writing, check out my book called The Triple Threat – How to write a novel and stay sane in the process.
I’ll be at HALF PRICE BOOKS on Saturday, August 3rd, and I am looking forward to meeting you, giving some insight about my books and signing copies for Readers. Come visit me!
Happy Reading!
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.
New Book Available – The Triple Threat
For those who have always wanted to write a novel, but had no idea what the process includes – Here is a book that will give you the information you need to make that dream a reality.
The Triple Threat (How To Write A Novel And Stay Sane In The Process) gives you the answers to your questions plus much more, including examples and helpful templates to make your writing experience easier. It will also keep you from making many of the mistakes that first-time authors have made, myself included. Click on the book below to locate a copy –
I hope this book is helpful in your writing journey.
Solitaire
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
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 