Beginning Again.....

 It's been another long while. Almost feels like starting all over again. I was actually shocked to see the date of the last post that I finished and posted. Way too long....

For anyone who's been wondering - I am still here, and am still writing. Though I have only a handful of people waiting on the third installment of the Society in the Shadow of Civilization, I'm really not trying to pull a GRRM on you. OSAS is coming, just not before winter. I'm aiming for before this time next year. If life would only cooperate.

So much has happened, I could write a novel about it, though I don't think it would be very interesting. Mostly, it's been dealing with loss, and strangely enough for a writer, losing people leaves me at a loss for words. 

Slowly, painfully, the words are returning, and I am putting them down again. I have nothing new for you just yet, but, I'm working on it. In the meantime, I'm going to get back to writing here more often again, and will continue sharing chapters of Quest as I continue rewriting it.

Wait a minute, there is something sort of new - The Shadow Watcher and A Shadow in Doubt are now available as audiobooks through Amazon and Audible. I'm working on the paperbacks as well.

For now, that is all I have. I hope all is well with you Dear Reader, and wish you a beautiful day, night or some time in the between....

Roari

Somewhere, Over the Rainbow Bridge

In memory of Athena, the mighty huntress

May 2008 - January 21st 2022

2021 Reflections

Greetings, Dear Reader! Here we are again... at long last. Believe it, or not, I started 2021 with "The Plan" - a set of writing goals, broken down by month, geared toward finishing a handful of projects I've juggled for way too long, and, maybe, having something new published by now. Well, let's just say 2021 didn't go exactly as I planned....

Oceans

 

Midnight Ramble: In the Heat of....

... the hot, sweaty, panting dog days and tortured, sleepless nights of Summer. Now throw some pandemic in there and slap on a mask. It makes for a lousy few months, doesn't it?

I'm sorry, where did my manners go? Good evening, Dear Reader! I hope you'll forgive my moodiness. I only love summer when I'm near water, and this year has been the driest of my entire life. It's been hot too, with no end to the triple digit days in the ten day forecast. I hope things are a little more tolerable where you are.

Well, here goes....

I've been away, not only from the blog, but Facebook and Twitter too, for what seems like forever. Okay, I've peeked at Twitter here and there. Every site has changed its design. Everything feels like I'm having to learn it all again, and with my inability to really focus on anything for the last couple of years... Yeah. It's been a slow start getting back into it all. 

Not only has everything on the internet changed, but so has the whole world outside. There is so much pain and anger, strength and resilience flying around so fast..... I'm at a loss for words. 

But, I am back at my writing thing. I know it's not going to cure COVID, fix police brutality or remove anyone from office. However, I do hope it might entertain, or at least temporarily distract, someone from their troubles for a little while. So, starting tomorrow, I'll be back to posting weekly chapters from Quest of No Return. And, because I've been away so long, there will be three chapters tomorrow. 

I'm also working on the Society - there are some new Fore Shadows up in my WDC port, if you'd like to check them out. (They're not done, but they are there!) 

Thank you for stopping by, and reading! Please know that I hope you are safe and well, wherever you may be. My usual sign off doesn't seem to feel quite right, given the state of the world - and yet, I still wish for your day, night or sometime in the between to be as beautiful as it can be, in the here and now.

Roari

Artemis, Herself

As you may know, in the fictional world of the Society, Artemis (Sam's/Samuel's cat) is an important figure. She was the one to show Samuel the truth of his work - that he had created a power far greater than he imagined.

In the books, if not for Artemis and her accidental revelation to Samuel, there would be no Society in the Shadow of Civilization.


In reality, if not for Artemis, herself, - aka Miss Mis, Phantom, Her Highness or The Shedder - the books wouldn't exist.

Puppy Love 2018: It's been a Wookiee-ful Year

Last Thursday was a special day in my house -  our one year Wookieeversary! I can't believe a year has gone by since we brought home our sweet, fuzzy Wookiee pup. And, my goodness, how he changed everything....

Sunset in the High Desert

10/09/2016

When I moved to the High Desert nine years ago, I knew I would love the wide, open sky. Especially at night, filled with bright stars. I had no idea how spectacular the sunsets would be.

Puppy Love

Smokey

Yesterday (Feb. 13th) marked the 32nd anniversary of my first dog's birth. Though I wouldn't meet him for another seven weeks, in time for my birthday, I often referred to him as my little Valentine. Part yellow Lab, part Golden Retriever, Smokey was 100% my best friend for the next twelve years. 

Hello 2017!

It didn't really feel like a New Year until Monday. It bothers me when January 1st falls on a Sunday, because then they go and push the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl to Monday the 2nd, and it just throws me off. Sorry. It's tradition.

Wonderland of Lights

A week ago Saturday, we took the kids out to see Christmas lights in a couple of neighborhoods known around the Inland Empire for putting up spectacular displays. I took some truly terrible pictures along the way, so, I'll only share the ones that aren't absolutely awful 😀

To Sum It Up....

It's over. Finally. And, while the outcome may not be what many of us expected, I know we must look forward.

This quote from Cast Away came to mind today, and I thought it particularly appropriate. It sums up my feelings in the wee hours this morning pretty well. Honestly, it sums up my feelings from day one of this election cycle.

Escape....

Just a few pics from our trip to the beach, one of my favorite escapes. Was that almost two weeks ago???? This summer's going by too fast!

For the Love of Thor

It's been just over a week now since our mighty Thor moved on to Valhalla. This big guy was starting to show signs of hip trouble, and last Thursday he was suddenly paralyzed. Somehow, he injured his spine. I can't even begin to explain how much my heart hurt for him. (Oh, that face!) Yet, he remained our brave, strong Beastie Boy right up to the end.

Happy Groundhog Day! (Thank you, Phil. We'll take an early Spring, happily....)

It's been quiet in my little corner of the webiverse lately. Okay, more like silent. Except for the choir of crickets singing. Do you hear them? Oh, and the wind from this last storm system howling like a rabid pack of wolves for the last three days - that was exciting.

Snow blew in with the pack for about forty-five minutes Sunday. It wasn't cold enough to stick, but just enough to run around in and have fun with the kids. It also brought a mountain of tumbleweeds to our backyard, which was not as much fun. (Picture this multiplied by ten.)

On this day, in 1911....

On December 8th, 1911, my mother's mother was born. She was a beautiful, loving woman, a protestant pastor's daughter, who married a protestant pastor and raised two incredible daughters. She also played hockey, went to business school, and had a keen fashion sense, which occasionally caused

Yes, sometimes it does.

"When it rains it pours."

This Morton Salt Girl mug once belonged to my father's mother. I didn't really know her, but I do remember the visit to Chicago when she gave me this mug and its sister, an old locket with my brother's baby pictures in it and a tiny little metal box, which I keep the locket in.

On days, like today, when it seems nothing is going right, I'll drink my green tea from one of the mugs, and remember I'm only here because she persevered through much more difficult times. I'm eternally thankful she did. She raised her four children and two foster children during/post WWII, and could only buy as much salt or sugar as her ration books would allow. Dad also mentioned something about a Victory Garden once.... Anyway, it helps me keep things in perspective.

When it rains, it may pour, but I will always try to find a rainbow after the storm.

I hope you're having a beautiful day, night, or sometime in the between....
~Roari

Ready for #NaNoWriMo?

It's almost that time of year again - when writers around the world gather together for the greatest event known to man, er, um, writers - National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo.

A Midnight Rambling: Getting Nostalgic in Novica

LOML and I had an impromtu date night Friday, and wound up in Downtown Novica, of all places. My hometown, the place I love more than any other on Earth - I drive by at least once every couple of months, but almost never pass through downtown anymore. If you're from Novica, you know you don't drive the "main drag" through Downtown - you go around, unless you have all day. But, we had time to kill,