I recently posted my newest podcast on Grief the Real Talk. I somehow missed May as it zoomed along and I was busy working on other things – and getting out into the sunshine. In this episode, I’m discussing the ‘real’ stages of grief. As I begin the post, I inform listeners that the original five stages of grief written by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her book On Death and Dying, were originally written for the patient given the terminal news. The actual stages of grief are a whole different kettle of fish. Yes, the five stages are definitely part of the grieving process too, but their are others. And today I’m discussing two big ones – Shock and Numbness, and Guilt. The latter is one that is a most difficult stage to pass through, and I openly admit, I’m far from digging out of.
As I know there are many who prefer not to think about end of life and what’s left behind, but inevitably, we are all going to experience it at some point in our lives. So for those of you who are curious to know all the things one can expect when we lose a loved one, as well as those who are now or still dealing with grief, I hope my Grief podcasts are helpful.
Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Lisette Brodey’s psycho-thriller/romance – All That Was Taken.
Emotionally damaged John Hennessey leaves his rented home on Catalina Island with his dog Kono, and moves to Teal Beach Bay to escape his past. While waiting for his new home renovations to be done, he stays at the Sundial Inn where he befriends the owner, Sunny Harrison, and there’s where this story begins.
A slow burn in the beginning as we get to know the two protagonists and a peek into their pasts, which of course, made them the people they are now.
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Blurb:
All That Was Taken is a contemporary fiction novel that delves deeply into love, loss, and healing but comes with a suspenseful twist.
For eight years, John Hennessey has lived in near-solitude on Catalina Island. He keeps his world small, for every precious thing in his life has been taken from him. But when his peaceful existence is threatened, he buys a cottage farther up the California coast in the sleepy town of Teal Beach.
There he meets Sunny Harrison, owner of the Teal Beach Sundial Inn where he stays until his cottage is ready for move in. The connection between them is magical, though both are surviving painful pasts and are afraid to trust … especially as an undercurrent of darkness dwells in their midst.
In no time at all, their quiet lives explode. Sunny receives ominous phone calls while John grapples with his own unsettling communications. Their bond strengthens as dangerous enemies threaten.
New guests at the hotel appear to have ulterior motives, and with each passing day, more and more feels eerily out of place. As tensions escalate and the enemy comes into focus, John and Sunny know they face grave danger from people with no conscience. Yet, they have no idea what diabolical plans lie in wait for them.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR I write characters as I hear them speak to me. Some of these stories contain non-gratuitous expletives and sexual references. This book also contains several situations that may be triggering to some readers. If this is not to your liking, please don’t read this book. Thank you.
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My 5 Star Review:
Emotionally damaged John Hennessey and his dog Kono move to Teal Beach from Catalina Island to run away from his past. There he meets Sunny Harrison, owner of the Sundial Inn where he stays while his new beach cottage is being renovated. Sunny is a widow who has never been with anyone else since her husband Grey was murdered. A friendship develops between John and Sunny, and although they are both aware of the sparks flying between them, tread carefully into a relationship as grief and fears keep this relationship a slow development.
With many minor characters in this story to add suspense to the story, it wouldn’t be a story if there wasn’t trouble in paradise as some ‘shady’ guests check in to the hotel.
The author brings in quite a few shady, but minor unsavory characters who show up from the character’s past to heat up the action. And secrets will all come to the forefront, tying in both the lives of Sunny and John. A great mixup of romance and evil plots which adds great mystery to this, no longer, sleepy beachtown read.
I was thrilled when Resa McConaghy of Graffiti Lux Art and More, contacted me to tell me that she enjoyed my latest book, Fifteen First Times, and wanted to write a review in her usual artistic manor, and asked me a few questions about parts she’d read, and my answers ultimately, ended up in her review post. Resa is an artist in her gown designs, and an avid, and fabulous photographer. The butterfly images are her captures in her street art, graffitti mural art searches – right here in our city of Toronto.
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Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye
It’s easy to read these memoirs, and think of your own first times. I kept thinking of my first times.
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Nonetheless, these are D.G.’s first times gleaned from the garden of her life.
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Whether it’s a commonality, such as diets, shoes or learning to drive, I see we are each alone, unique in our experiences.
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First boyfriend or first kiss are times when we are not alone during the experience. Yet, are we not experiencing the same things, each in our own way and own world?
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I was struck with all the humour in these memoirs.
I thought…”Does D.G. know how funny she is? Even when in reality sometimes things aren’t so funny”?
Then at the end of the book re: “First and Last Love”, she says “Humor. It’s the one thing that always got me through some of the darker moments in life.”
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Resa – D.G., My question was before I read that, and still is – Did you know you were being funny when you wrote this? I mean did you have to think about adding the humour after it was written, or were you consciously being aware that you should write humor as you wrote?
OR – Did you just write, and the humor presented itself naturally?
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D.G. – My motto as a writer is – eclectic conversationalist. I write like I speak (of course with edits). I’m afraid my personality is always present in all my books – despite the content. I’m a storyteller, and this my friend, is my voice. Thank you for noticing and picking that out.
Resa – Well, D.G. don’t be afraid! (I’m being funny there!) Your personality’s voice is a queen. (not being funny here)
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Now, one might ask, “What’s with all the butterflies?”
Please continue reading over at Resa’s artistic blog. I love how she created a page banner with fifteen copies of my book. 💚
Welcome to my best picks in helpful articles for writers and bloggers for June. In this collaboration we have three helpful tools from the Kindlepreneur – Reader Scout, Book Categories, and Blurb Generator, as well as Writer Scams to beware of, How to add a Reuseable Block in WordPress, and Converting videos to MP4.
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The Kindlepreneur offers a new Free tool to track book reviews – Reader Scout
It’s been a while since I shared a ‘let’s have a look post’. I named the series this for when I come across something that makes me go hmmm. This article about an author’s dilemma makes me wonder what side of the argument I stand on when there are pros and cons on both sides of the argument. I always tend to put myself in someone else’s shoes, and I can only imagine our blood, sweat, and tears going into a book, only to discover that the political climate of the world will affect distribution in order to appease reader’s sentimental and political values.
So, I came across this article on NBC news, where author Elizabeth Gilbert – famously known for her book then movie, Eat Pray, Love, had to face a dilemma of whether or not to publish her new book, Snow Forest, set for February 2024. The story takes place in Russia and her Ukranian reader fans are not happy about her choosing Russia for the setting.
“It is not the time for this book to be published. And I do not want to add any harm to a group of people who have already experienced, and are continuing to experience, grievous and extreme harm,” Gilbert added.
Gilbert’s book is set in the 20th century, Siberia, Russia. The book is about a group of people who wish to remove themselves from society to resist Soviet government.
The book has been on pre-order, now taken down and reimbursing purchasers after more than 500 reviewers gave it one star, citing Gilbert with accusation that she is ‘romanticizing Russia’. And this is ALL without even reading the book!
“We hope Gilbert might reconsider and we urge others to rally around the on-time publication of her book, and the principle that literature and creativity must not become a casualty of war,” CEO Nossel continued.
Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer of the free expression group PEN America, called Gilbert’s decision, both “regrettable” and “well-intended,”
As an author myself, I honestly don’t know how I would handle this situation. What would you do? If you read the article, the setting of the book is Siberia, Moscow, about Soviets who disagree with their system, yet, readers are saying Gilbert is romanticizing Russia. Are these readers just against writing anything about Russia, jumping the gun because of their politics, or are politics over-ruling the whole meaning of her story? That’s a toughie.
Read the full article about what Elizabeth Gilbert had to say about why she decided not to publish her new book.
Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Alex Craigie’s latest book release – The Rat in the Python, book 1 – The home. This was such an interesting read I would classify this book as memoir on nostalgia. Alex takes us back to the United Kingdom in the 1950s and gives us a grand tour back into those times when homes had no modern appliances or fittings. She brings us into her own life as a child as she goes through descriptions of every day living with comparisons to to the luxuries we have today.
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Blurb:
If you haven’t heard of a liberty bodice, believe that half-a-crown is something to do with impoverished royalty and never had the experience of slapping a television to stop the grainy black and white picture from rolling, then this series might not be for you. Please give it a go, though – I suspect that most of it will still resonate no matter where you were brought up!
The Rat in the Python is about Baby Boomers who, in the stability following the Second World War, formed a statistical bulge in the population python. It is a personal snapshot of a time that is as mystifying to my children as the Jurassic Era – and just as unrecognisable.
My intention is to nudge some long-forgotten memories to the surface, test your own recollections and provide information and statistics to put it all in context.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then I’ll begin…
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My Five Star Review:
From fireplaces to blankets, stoves, floors, furniture and painting, Craigie takes us through the times of the 1950s in the United Kingdom, sharing what life was like back then when she was a young child. The author draws a picture of her home growing up that helps us visualize what things were like back then. With no electrical heating and no indoor plumbing, we get a feel through her words, for how it would feel to have to go outside in the cold, dark, or rain just to relieve yourself. No power bars to aid multiple plug sockets. Craigie takes our minds with her precise imagery, right into the 1950s daily life.
In this memoir of time and lifestyle in the 1950s, the author shares her childhood conveniences and inconveniences with great detail and many photos to accompany described items. We’ll learn the purpose of each room, as homes were small, some with big families. We’ll learn about decor and decorum. We’ll learn about the dangerous substances used in building materials, such as: asbestos, arsenic, and coal. We’ll learn about the aftermath of England after WWII, living conditions, and that food rations actually began after WWII and ran well into the 50s. Modern housing introduced formica in the kitchen, brighter colors and checkerboard floors. It was interesting to learn that there really was some kind of manual for housewives – How to run your home, with chores slotted in a daily calendar – cleaning, cooking, laundry, errands. And, we’ll learn why it took England longer than it did North America to bounce back with progress or a strong economy, after the war, which is so weird to think now that it’s usually Europe who is more advanced than us here on this North American side of the pond.
The author comes full circle taking us through the changes from housing to life and times in U.K. living. This was a great and educational read, and a good reminder to be grateful for all we have in advancement in our modern world.
My Spiritual Awareness Column for Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Spiritual Awareness – Signs, Synchronicity, and Energy.
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Signs, Synchronicity, and Energy
Welcome back to my Spiritual Awareness series. Today I’m going to talk about energies, and the signs we receive from lost loved ones.
We’ve all heard about the signs we’re always looking for – asking for ‘a sign’ to give us some sort of confirmation when having doubts about whether or not we should do something. We sometimes seek that validation as some kind of a spiritual confirmation to validate that we are on the right track or making a right decision. And then, there are tangible signs that lost loved ones leave for us.
The common items said to be signs left around for us can be anything from a feather or a coin, to hearing a special song randomly, reading something repeatedly on TV, or passing by a license plate that speaks to us. These are just a few to mention – you get the drift. There are also signs from nature, like a butterfly, dragonfly, or even birds that hover near us, leaving us a hello from beyond this earth.
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No, a lost loved one didn’t physically play that song for us at that moment, or turn into that actual bird or butterfly, nor did they pop by and drop a coin or a feather from their pocket.
But how about the idea that a deejay was implanted with a thought to play a particular song at that exact moment we turned on that radio channel, or we randomly walked into a room and heard that special song, or that commercial ad on TV, leaving a message for us to pick up on. This is just one of the ways the universe and spirit use to send us messages. Spirit will often use nature as a means to send forth messages for us here on earth.
Energies can float freely anywhere in the universe. This is why spirits can change a channel on our TV, they can make the lights flicker, turn the power on or off, and even make us feel a sudden breeze when there is in fact, no wind, or fans around us. These are signs that an energy is around, calling our attention. Spirit is energy. Energy cannot be destroyed; it can only change form.
We are made up of energy, so it’s no surprise we can feel energetic vibes. Do you recall ever experiencing moments like when you are somewhere and the vibe is so bad in the room, the saying goes, “You could cut it with a knife?” Energy works with everything we do, like when we are among people vibrating high with positivity and it becomes contagious in that room, just as being around negativity can bring down a good mood. That’s because we can sense when energy is vibrating high. We feel it. We sense it. We are all energy stored in mass particle form and atoms. Life energy is referred to as ‘Chi’ in China, and ‘Prana’ in Sanskrit. Our bodies are really a vessel used to carry our soul on this earth. When we die, our energy is dispersed into the universe.
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I am not a scientist, but just someone who has encountered spirit around me very many times throughout my life. The facts about how energy works is concrete with science. But despite the many who share their own experiences about near death experiences, and despite people like me who can confirm her many experiences with spirit and signs, not everybody is a believer. But to those open to believing, death is not the end of a soul. . . Please continue reading at Sally’s Smorgasbord.
My Sunday book review is for John Maberry’s new release – Jumped by a Deadly Cholla. This is just one of eleven stories with twisted endings in this collection of speculative and science fiction. As many of you will know, I am not a sci-fi reader, but my friend John has recently released this collection of short stories and asked if I’d read and review. He is a wonderful storyteller.
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Blurb:
Cactus roots draw microbes from a meteorite—Lois nearly dies. One of eleven stories in a diverse collection of speculative fiction. A potpourri of fantasy and SF. Humor and horror. Supernatural and time-travel.Quick reads from flash fiction through short works, but a novelette too. Like twists? Find them here.
Jack hears the Dog Star’s Bark; an invite from the sun goddess of Sirius—a funny story. The Wishing Bell—evilreminiscent of The Monkey’s Paw. A sentient (alien) shrub offers gene modification tools in Climate Crisis Changes Humans. Werewolves—good ones and bad, in Dog Is my Copilot.
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My 5 Star Review:
Maberry is known for his speculative and science fiction short stories. In this new collection of stories, he takes us in to some strange environments with his stories, a mixed bag of funny to scary to things that leave you thinking. You will find stories about a deadly Cholla plant, werewolves, vampires, time travel, and a trip into the future after climate change has reached its capacity, if you enjoy futuristic and sci-fi stories, you will enjoy this book.
A few notable stories: A Climate Crisis Changes Humans – In the 22nd century devastation left from the previous century, Grelm says, “The humanoids will listen now.” Melanie and Josh discover a scentient plant. Fencing in The Sky – Big Sky county Montana, nobody needed fences. But a cyber scammer finds a way to sell his “BS Fencing” to the builder to include in the sale of land parcels complete with a digital fence.The Wishing Bell – Smitty is given a wishing bell and told he can make three wishes and must ring the bell after each one and must then pass the bell on to someone else and if not, there will be consequences. But after what happens after the first wish, Smitty decides he doesn’t want anymore wishes and doesn’t want to pass it on to anyone else. Jumped by a Deadly Cholla tells a story about a Cholla cactus plant that has injected some of its spores from a meteorite resting nearby, piercing Lois’s skin. These spores take on life by injecting humans through the Cholla barbs and poking the skin. Their aim is to take over the brain and thinking, but they need a host, and they find one in Lois as she brushed by it.
If you enjoy well written and intriguing themes for sci-fi short stories, you will enjoy this fun read.
DGKayewriter.com 