The clock ticks.
Upstairs an ogre sleeps.
Paralysed by fear, a child sits waiting for the monster to awake.
Hands of terror traverse the clock’s face.
A creak. The child glances fearfully upwards, praying for deliverance.
The clock ticks.
Upstairs an ogre sleeps.
Paralysed by fear, a child sits waiting for the monster to awake.
Hands of terror traverse the clock’s face.
A creak. The child glances fearfully upwards, praying for deliverance.
Happy Easter to everyone. Currently there is no sun in the environs of Upper Norwood. Perhaps he will graciously consent to put in an appearance later today. Well at least it isn’t cold!
Have a wonderful Easter one and all.
Kevin
PS; as I was about to post this, the sun has indeed sailed into view and is currently shining on the walls of the room which I dignify with the name of study or, to put it another way – my spare bedroom!
A post arguing that authors who self-publish should forget print on Demand. According to the writer, the quality of Createspace books is poor (he goes so far as to say that this does, perhaps mean that if authors still wish to use POD they might consider the much maligned “vanity” publishing model. For the post please see, http://www.derekhaines.ch/justpublishing/where-self-publishers-will-continue-to-lose-out/.
I would be interested in hearing the views of anyone who has published with Createspace or anyone who has read a book produced by them regarding the contention of the article.
Kevin
Jason is generously offering the opportunity to share one of your posts. Kevin
I came across this entertaining piece on the rules of poetry while browsing the web, (http://www.improve-education.org/id49.html). The writer argues there are, in fact no rules or rather if the poet does follow rules they should be of their own making. Rules do, in the view of the writer stifle creativity, replacing vibrancy with the dead hand of uniformity.
Midnight, black as pitch.
No scheming demon, ghost nor witch
Only the darkness which in the human heart resides, manifests itself in cruelty and pride.
Beautifully EXPRESSED. kevin
View original post 1,176 more words
As those of you who follow this blog will know, I, together with fellow authors have produced an anthology to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, a registered charity which provides highly trained working guide dogs for visually impaired people. GDBA receives no funding from the government and relies entirely on the generosity of members of the public to continue it’s work of providing guide dogs thereby enabling visually impaired people to live and work independently.
The anthology is free to download but we ask that you please make a donation to Guide dogs when downloading.
Many thanks to everyone who has donated thus far. As of now the amount received stands at £111.25. To donate and download the anthology please visit here, (http://newauthoronline.com/anthology-to-raise-money-for-guide-dogs/).
Many thanks,
Kevin
I was interested to read about a new organisation, Foxes for the Blind which has recently launched. As those of you who have knowledge of the world of canines will be aware, foxes fall under that classification. They are, in effect a dog albeit of the wild variety.
My first instinct on reading of this new charitable venture was a certain amount of scepticism. How could what is, essentially a wild beast be trained so as to furnish much needed assistance to visually impaired persons. However, as pointed out above, foxes are classified as canines and, if socialised from very young cubs behave rather like our four-legged friends.
The inspiration for this venture came from a group of farmers in Cornwall who (as with most farmers) became fed up with foxes attacking their livestock so, rather than culling Mr fox they determined to take fox cubs and train this most wiley of creatures to provide assistance to those with a visual impairment.
Farmer Michael Giles comments as follows,
“One day I came into my farmyard to find a fox attempting to gain entrance into my hen coop. My instinct was to reach for my trusty shot gun. However I hesitated. It was a young fox and had, potentially many years before it. It struck me how there exist a potentially huge source of cheap animals to provide guides for those with little sight. I know that breeding guide dogs can be expensive so, I thought why not start training this plentiful source of fox recruits.
Things are going well, however some blind fox owners complain of a highly pungent scent eminating from their fox. I recommend they spray the animal with aftershave or some other variety of perfume. However, for some unaccountable reason the foxes object to such treatment and have been known to escape back into the wild.
There is also an issue with dogs setting off in hot pursuit of the guide foxes but, in general everything is progressing well. In fact I am talking to a farmer in Africa with plans to train guide lions. The plan is at an early stage. There is, however no reason in principle why guide lions for the blind should not prove to be equally viable. Tomorrow guide lions, next week, who knows, wolves for the blind? Well dogs are descended from wolves which are, as with foxes part of the canine family”.
I will dig out a link for the story later today when I have more time to devote to researching this fascinating topic.
May I close by wishing you all a very happy All Fools or April Fools day.
A great post promoting the anthology to raise money for Guide Dogs, together with Sally’s wonderful story about the love that binds dog and human. Kevin