A Celebration

A New Year Worth Celebrating

Coming January 6th

Amazon-US

Amazon-UK

Where is the Source of the Nile - Part 2

Interesting history about Control over the Nile:

The Exploration of what is today known as the White Nile and Lake Victoria,

and the Blue Nile flowing down from the Ethiopian Highlands.

Today, we know that 80% of the water flowing into Egypt comes from the Blue Nile out of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. At the end of this tape, the Egyptians still feel safe and proclaim that "there are no project at this time to dam the Blue Nile...."

They have been proven wrong. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (said to go online in 2017) in south-western Ethiopia, close to the Sudanese border, is a rude awakening for downstream countries as it will drastically decrease the flow of the Blue Nile for Sudan and Egypt.

Struggle Over the Nile - Part 1

The Nile Conspiracy

Book 5 of the Legends of the Winged Scarab

This new novel takes the struggle between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Blue Nile waters

as its basis for more action and adventure

to be overcome by Naunet and Jonathan Wilkins.

Available January 6th from Amazon

An Unexpected Award

We all love receiving an award. It is, however, especially thrilling to get one unexpectedly from a much respected and successful colleague.

This morning, I woke up to The Crystal Curse having been chosen for Christoph Fischer's roster as

"Best Dystopian Novel of 2015."

And I feel good crowing about it!

Check out Christoph's blog

for more great books - 

including his own highly acclaimed novels

https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/christoph-fischer-awards-for-romance-poetry-ya-fiction-dystopian-fiction-and-anthology-2015/

Christoph Fischer delves into Another War

A New Novel from Christoph Fischer

Ludwika:

A Polish Woman’s Struggle To Survive In Nazi Germany

now available for pre-order
and will be released on Dec 14th

It’s World War II and Ludwika Gierz, a young Polish woman, is forced to leave her family and go to Nazi Germany to work for an SS officer. There, she must walk a tightrope, learning to live as a second-class citizen in a world where one wrong word could spell disaster and every day could be her last. Based on real events, this is a story of hope amid despair, of love amid loss . . . ultimately, it’s one woman’s story of survival.

Available Now in Print Format at the CreateSpace eStore: 
https://www.createspace.com/5897536

Reblogged from Mr. Fischer's own blog - writerchristophfischer
Read the fascinating background for this story in his own words.

What a Treat!

ENDANGERED EDENS - 
Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,
Costa Rica, the Everglades,
and Puerto Rico
by

Marty Essen

On Pre-Order from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/Endangered Edens

The other day, I received a pre-publication paperback copy of

Endangered Edens by Marty Essen.

The tactile and visual presentation alone of his new book with its 180 stunning color photographs is a treat indeed.

Dr. M. Sanjayan, Senior Scientist at Conservation International, describes it as:

 “A magical, fun journey through some of the world’s hidden and not so hidden Edens…”

Having read Marty’s first book,

“Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents” 

another amazing journey into the leaf litter world of the tiniest—and often deadly—creatures), I was already familiar with Marty’s fluid and humorous writing; and he lived up to my expectations.

Of course, from this new title, I knew he would also rattle my lethargic cage (as he fully intends, always without being preachy) as to what travesties Man keeps inflicting on this precious Earth of ours.

While Marty and Deb Essen possess the courage and conviction “to do something,” they allowed me (a mere armchair traveler these days) to journey with them from the Arctic to Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico.

It reawakened a sense of wonder for our world in me, as well as a sense of renewed responsibility to leave a smaller footprint.

Thank you, Marty Essen, for your beautiful second book.

Endangered Edens is scheduled to be released on January 8, 2016 – 

However, it can be pre-ordered from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/Endangered Edens

In the meantime, watch the stunningly beautiful Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/UpOWWAcybBA

and do check out Marty Essen’s entertaining Blog:

http://marty-essen.com/

Cover Reveal: The Nile Conspiracy

The Nile Conspiracy
Book 5 - Legends of the Winged Scarab

What is this new novel about - other than the obvious?

    Imagine the mighty Nile running dry. Not because of climate change, but due to human interference. Impossible? One day soon, this very threat will become a devastating reality.

Riveting adventure and international intrigue find Naunet and Jonathan Wilkins back in Egypt where the construction of The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam portends a catastrophe of biblical proportions.

    Amidst their archaeological struggle to save ancient artifacts, the couple is caught up in a dangerous conspiracy. Along with Jabari El-Masri, their scientific research becomes a death trap when the desperate Egyptians decide to turn a secret underground maze into an emergency reservoir and further, to eliminate the source of their threatening nightmare.

    If the Ethiopian monster dam is allowed to be brought online, Egypt may cease to exist. Will a daring conspiracy save these ancient lands from another of Man’s folly? Or will it explode in warfare and annihilation?

* * * *

Cover Image Excerpted from an Original Photograph by

Jim Bennett
(with Permission from the Photographer)
* * * * *

I always had my eye on Jim Bennett's fabulous photo and
dreamed of using it for one of my covers.
Check out the original photo on his website -
because I may not be doing it justice.
http://jim-bennett.ca/

Jim Bennett is the Author of a thought-provoking five-book Poetry Series.
The depth and visualizations in his poems are awe inspiring.

Jim Bennett Poetry

Watch my Author Pages for the Publication of
The Nile Conspiracy:
Amazon-US and Amazon-UK

This announcement should give you time to read the preceding volumes.
(While each novel can stand alone, you'd be missing a lot of the story though.)

A Reviewer's 1000th Review

While one of Amazon's top reviewers has taken on to review my

"Legends of the Winged Scarab" series,

After the Cataclysm

was chosen as his 

1000th Review

Thank You for Your Support of Writers

* * *

Please, click on my "Reader Reviews" Page for more.

Armchair Sailor

I just completed a great Blog Hop initiated by the inimitable Helen Hollick. Through it, I came to know that many of their ladies were aboard ship at one time or another, loving a rogue pirate, or trying to regain a tropical inheritance.

(In case you missed those delightful glimpses into their fascinating books, check them out a couple of posts back under "Shining Light On Our Ladies").

Because of all those stories, I'd like to post this little tribute to the many courageous sailors out there.

Armchair Sailor

Don’t be like me!

Don’t waste your life in wishful fantasy!

Last night, I met the sailor

who dared to live my dream.

This Don Giovanni of the Sea,

having beguiled a hundred women

and who would love a dozen more,

has sailed the Seven Oceans, instead of me.

He’s listened to the tenor of his rigging,

and matched the joyous basso-buffo

of his anchor chain,

while harmonizing with his latest curvy mate

in the duets of love.

Quaintly sequestered coves on lushly verdant isles

replenished his bruised sailor’s soul.

Forgetting Neptune’s battering, it was

replaced by new-inspired quest for yet another goal.

He’s haggled with a multitude of tongues

and laughed with many-peopled hosts.

Traversing fatal shipping lanes and lame conventions,

he’s fended off the beckoning of unforgiving water ghosts.

He stole my dream!

I had to stay behind, on land.

How could I do otherwise?

He has a boat. He has no ties.

He also has the courage.

* * *

 (Excerpted from my "Moments of the Heart")