Thursday Thirteen This Or That

  

 

This Thursday Thirteen takes a fun look at options. Introducing "This or That." Just remember this is for fun. Add your own choice or this or that in a comment.

1. Star Trek or Star Wars (depending on the movie or series will flip from one to the other)
   
2. Captain Kirk or Han Solo (Han Solo)
   
3. Farscape or Firefly (Firefly)
4. Captain Picard or  Captain Malcom Rogers (Rogers)
5. Ice cream: vanilla or chocolate (vanilla)
6. Pie: Apple or shoo fly pie (yes, please)
7. SeaView or Sea Quest (sailed first with the one, then travelled deeper with the other  As far as vessels, Sea Quest gets the nod.)
8. Dog or cat (Grew up with dogs on our family farm and am still an honorary member of a pack, but a cat stole my heart.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Spaghetti or lasagna (Although spaghetti is a go-to meal when I don't feel like cooking, prefer lasagna.)
   
10. Ebook or print (ebook to-be-read piles may take up less space, but print is preferred.
    
11. Beach or mountains (mountains)
12. Roses or orchids (Doesn't matter, I can kill them both.)
13. Magic or dragons  (I like to hang out with mages and fly with dragons. I won't choose one and anger the other. One can turn you to stone, the other to ash.

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen and that you will come back again. If any of my published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

~till next time, Helen


http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/

Thursday Thirteen - Lines from the Dragshi Chronicles

 

This Thursday Thirteen are teaser lines from the Dragshi Chronicles. More than just a man or woman, the dragshi are humans with a twinned dragon soul, able to change forms with each other at will. 

 

1. Legend said that if you think of a man or wish for love beneath a solstice moon, your desire will be granted and you will meet your mate within a season. (Dragon Destiny)
   
   
2. The chill stare Eirwen turned on him felt like being peeled to the core. (Dragon Destiny)
   
   
3. His connection to Anastasia exploded into a mist of shimmering motes. (Dragon Destiny)
   
   
4. In the short time it had taken to administer aid, a dozen men armed with pikes neared her small sanctuary.(Dragon Destiny)
   
   
5. Thick silence changed the shadowed woods into a sepulcher. (Hatchlings Curse)
   
   
6. An evil chortle floated over a figure chained on the wet sand below the high tide line. (Hatchlings Curse)
   
   
7. Feather-light touches teased his senses pulling him deeper into maelstrom. (Hatchlings Curse)
   
   
8. The berserker rage of his ancestors washed over Branin and he leaped from the saddle. (Hatchlings Curse)
   
   Eirwen’s stare raked Branin to the core. The sensation passed leaving Branin wondering what the lady ruler found.(Hatching's Mate)
   
   
9. Weaving against the effect of the drugs, she kept her blade lifted. (Hatchling's Mate)
   
   
10. The twang of their arrows release was lost in the sounds of wounded animals, but the scream of the man who windmilled in the air proved the accuracy of the strikes. (Hatchling's Mate)
    
    
11. From the darkness just beyond the entrance, a single torch flickered into being, then another and another until a solid line of light streamed across the opening. (Hatchling's Mate)
    
    
12. Neither the food nor the notebook awaiting the latest tale requested by the ceoltiers worked to overcome the tension in the room—and her body. (Hatchling's Mate)

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen and that you will come back again. If any of my published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

And of course, be sure to visit the other thirteens.

~till next time, you're invited to fly with dragons. Helen

ThursdayThirteen - Why I Love Dragons

This Thursday Thirteen are a few thoughts on flying, and why I love to fly with and write about dragons.

1. 
   I come from an aviation family. My father trained as an airplane mechanic, then became a flight engineer.
   
   
2.  I always wanted to fly.  My farm had a back 40 acres planned for a landing / takeoff strip. When in school my after-school activities included private pilots training.
   
   
3. Despite the legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who served as ferry pilots in World war II and the trailblazers of the  Ninety-Nines Organization, which included Amelia Earhart as one of their founders, at the time of my search for the sky, the main path to a uniform and wings for a woman was as a stewardess. Let's just say I was strongly encouraged not to become what several family friends (all flight crew members or stewardesses themselves) called a glorified waitress. Good thing I listened. You can only dump hot coffee on someone so many  times before you get fired. (just kidding.)
   
   
4. I was fortunate that I have lived where airplanes were a common sight. My childhood farm was in the traffic pattern for Newark Airport. On clear days the planes flew low enough you could tell their airline by the tail insignia and colors. There were two small airports within a few miles.
   
   
5. Later, my home was not only across the water from the Twin Towers, but beneath the flight pattern for LaGuardia Airport. More than stars twinkled at night. When walking the boardwalk you could track the ribbon of light formed by the stream of planes heading towards the airport.
   
   
6. A tale written by the young me was put to paper while watching fighter planes land at Clark Air Force Base in the Phillipines. Of course that was before the area was buried with volcanic ash by Mount Pinatubo, shaken by earthquakes, and battered by sheets of rain from Typhoon Yunya. Decades later that youthful effort was unearthed from the bowels of a drawer, reworked and expanded to become FIRST MISSION, FINAL DAY in the anthology, Hearth and Sand: Stories from the Front Lines and the Homefront.
   
   
7. LIVE OR SURRENDER TO TECHNOLOGY, a story based in the near future, honored my father with the tale of a man's final flight. Passengers on tomorrow's trans-continental orbiter discover what can happen when humans abdicate control. When the artificial intelligence pilot changes the flight schedule, one passenger, a holdover from an earlier time in aviation, shows the resilience of human spirit as he overcomes the errant technology to save the doomed flight.
   
   
8. While on my childhood farm, I would watch hawks gracefully soaring above the fields on the thermals.
    

9. 

   Image by kamyk293 from Pixabay

   Flight slipped into my tales in another way besides dragons. Fire and Amulet featured a mythical bird called a helwr. The large black birds with lethal curved talons were inspired by eagles and hawks. Helwr's large orange eyes seem to blaze with energy. The birds also have a sense of loyalty and duty. When Tywyll's mistress was kidnapped, the bird marked her captor with a talon across the cheek. Then it searched for years to find his mistress. More on Tywyll can be found at the post H is for Helwr.
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. 
    And then there are the dragons. In the Dragshi Chronicles, for special humans, the path to dragon wings came from being born with a twinned dragon soul. Once the dragon awakened, the human and dragon share a single form in time and space. The humans gain long life spans and the freedom of the skies. The dragons get a friend to translate the world of humans.
    
    
11. If you are small enough and have a dragshi friend (or been in service to the dragshi) they may make a cage of their talons so you can fly with them.
    
    
    
    
    
12. Another way to achieve the freedom of flight is to have a true dragon willing to put a nugget of his magic into a tearstone. Those possessing the jewel and the appropriate knowledge can take on dragon form. For more, read Fire and Amulet.
    
    
13. I did draw a line about one thing pertaining to flight. I prefer to watch a hot air balloon floating across the hillside rather than going up in one to be subservient to the winds. A standing joke in my family dealt with parachuting  and was the comment, "Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane." To a man, they would prefer to land the plane.
    

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen. I hope you will come back again. If any of my published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

And of course, be sure to visit the other thirteens.

~till next time, you're invited to hang out with mages and fly with dragons. Helen

Thursday Thirteen - The Dark Side

 

This Thursday Thirteen covers a few of insights into the dark side. First to clarify, there are two dark sides.

1. The first dark side is non-fiction. Namely the articles I've written on the topics of American and military history, antiques and collectibles. The reason for the name is that (a) at the time journalists were looked down upon, (b) history was considered hidden in the fog of the past, and (c) writers of non-fiction were told they couldn't write fiction, and vice versa.
   
   
2. When I started writing, my published non-fiction paid more than fiction.
   
   

   

   Using archaeological techniques
   to discover history
   

3. Researching a history book is fun. The pictures are interesting as are the materials uncovered. A problem with researching non-fiction (and could also be a problem for fiction) is falling into a time sink and getting lost in the past.
   
   
4. Researching and writing non-fiction gives me an excuse to dress-up at military re-enactments.

   

   In civilian period clothes
   I could get close to the front
   lines to take pictures.
   

   
   
5. The most unusual greeting my press pass generated.  At an air show in Reading, Pennsylvania, I was met at the entrance gate by a uniformed soldier riding a vintage motorcycle who was there to "present my orders."
   
   
6. Coming from an aviation background, getting paid to attend air shows and watch talented pilots put their craft, both big and small, through their paces was a bonus.
   
   

   

   Although some members of the press laid on
   the grass verge alongside the runway for the best shots,
   I drew the line at being on the pilots side of the fence.
   
   

7. Did you know when a B-17 fires its engines, they give off a deafening roar and black smoke? Even the engines in smaller aircraft can cause a scene. At one event the pilot fired up the engine of his T-6 Texan Trainer in preparation of taking to the sky. The backlash started blowing the smaller planes of an acrobatic team out of line. The pilots scrambled to prevent their craft from crashing into each other or blowing onto the tarmac.
   
   

You are liable to get weird looks when you're riding in the back of a jeep while dressed in a vintage olive drab uniform. Especially when the jeep is part of a convoy of antique and vintage military vehicles.

What was probably my most unusual non-fiction moment was learning that a crowd of thousands of people can be silenced. What did it? A broadcast over the airfield's public address system of the original announcement of the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Even after the attendees realized it was a moment from the past, if you looked around at the audience rather than the PA speakers, you would see the majority of people rubbing their arms to remove the goosebumps. It should be noted that this event took place before 9-11-2001.

My mother-in-law sold my local histories with a very subtle technique. When walking around town she carried whatever of my books was the most recent release in her purse with the cover showing. No pushiness, just a quiet approach, but it was very effective. We used the same approach during the Memorial Day Parade. Dressed in colonial-era garb, we walked on opposite sides of the street carrying wicker baskets with the local history. More than a few were sold that day also.

The best signings were at the town street fair. Not only could you get cotton candy or some other snack of your choice, there was a built-in lure. When people walked over to the table to ask about the artifacts that were on display, it provided the perfect opening to talk about the books.

For many years I carried a favorite cartoon to every history book signing. In the first frame, the writer is interviewing the town old-timers. To a man they all said, "nothing happened around here." Then in the final frame when the book was published, these same gray-beards were bracing the writer asking why this or that event wasn't included.

I had called non-fiction the dark side, but there is another, specifically the dark fantasy, Imprisoned in Stone. Excerpts, blurbs and a free read of the first chapter can be found by clicking on the book's cover in the banner.

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen and that you will come back again. If  intrigued, use the "Non-Fiction / Dark Side" pull-down menu for more information on the published histories, and of course, buy links.

~till next time, Helen



http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/

ThursdayThirteen - He Ruled The House

 

 

This Thursday Thirteen is a list about someone who ruled my house.

1. First, his name is Cat, Tighe Cat. 
2. Because of his tuxedo coloring, he considered himself aristo-"cat"-ic and demanded to be treated as such.
   
3. He let us know there are health benefits to allowing a cat to own you. And that we could thank him later. Preferably with cheese and a snack.
   
   
   
4. Tighe was the inspiration for felines that inhabit the world of the Dragshi and that of the Windmaster Novels. 
   
5. On clear, winter days he would stand at the kitchen door demanding to go outside. Until I opened the door and cracked the screen door. The cold air hit his nose and he turned and tail up strode away giving me the "Are you crazy?" look.
   
6. Would not take as an answer when he thought it was time to get up and we didn't. Of course, his time when when the first bird chirped.
   
7. Tighe loved to explore. During his time as a barn cat, he would often disappear for a day or week ... or two. It turns out he was at the next farm down the road. Apparently he preferred the feed and easier life they provided.
   
   
   
   
   
8. When his original owner moved into an apartment, the tiny ball of fluff that was Tighe as a kitten, went missing. Everyone thought he had fallen off the second floor balcony. It turns out he hid in the box spring and when decided we had fussed enough, popped his head to give us a rasberry.
9. Later, when supposed more mature, he squeezed himself through a hole in the wall where a pipe was being replaced during a bathroom renovation. When tired of exploring the space between floors, he demanded to be let out. But refused his hooman's help, jumping out of reach over beams every time they reached for him. Lured to the edge of the hole cut in the ceiling by a can of tuna fish, he finally lingered long enough to be snatched. 
10. He traveled by plane to Florida. (And did not spend the entire time in his carrier. He was so quiet and stealthy no one knew he had opened the door or objected when he stuck a paw out.) 
11. Going to a kennel was not acceptable. He tolerated being spoiled for a week with his fur grandmother, but preferred camping in New England. Except when there was an attack dog demonstration going on where we were camping. He shrank into a tiny ball and although well-trained to walk on his leash, refused to leave the crook of my arm until the dogs left.
    
12. Tighe's favorite vacation spot was the deck of his fur grandmother's lakeside, mountain cabin.
    
13. Like many a small child, Tighe had his own version of "Are We There Yet?" In additional to the verbalization, he would stand up when a red light was encountered. But he truly showed his "hurry up" attitude when he sensed the salt marshes several miles north of our house.

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen of the feline who ruled our house for more than fifteen years and that you will come back again. 

 

If any of my published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links. And of course, be sure to visit the http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ to see other thirteens.

~till next time, Helen

ThursdayThirteen - Trials and Tribulations of Naming

This Thursday Thirteen is about creating the names of fictional characters. A note. Since I usually write fantasy and science fiction, not all the tips apply to other genres.

1. Keep the names unique. Don't have characters named Jay, Jake, Jacob, and James in the same work. Too similar names can make it too hard to keep the characters straight and confuse them to the point where they are thrown out of the story.
   
2. Track names. Although a pen and paper works, a digital spreadsheet makes sorting names easier. Seeing the characters in alphabetical order helps prevent repetition.
3. A two-part character database based on the spreadsheets forms the basis of my tracking system. Part one is the spreadsheet with a complete list of the characters with a few important pieces of information such as physical description and a brief personal history. The second part features only the mains characters and goes into detail about the main characters and their traits.
   
   



4. Keep a pad close at hand to capture names that catch your interest. If a name from television credits seems appropriate for a current or future project, make a note of it.
   
5. Your character’s name can hint at their personality. One of the ways I do it is to take one of the character's traits, then convert it into the language the world is based upon.
   
6. Careful when choosing a name. You don’t want to give a character a name that sets up the wrong expectation in your readers. Or if you do, then it needs to be clarified in the beginning of the novel. No serial killers called Fluffy, please.
   
7. An exception to the no similar names rule is when a names is used to indicate a family relationship. In the Windmaster Novels, Lord Dal's mother is Eilidh. named after her grandmother. When the grandmother is referenced, it is as MarEilidh. The names are similar enough to accomplish the desired effect, yet different enough that the readers wouldn't get confused.
   

8. Two of my favorite resources for creating the names for a character are a English-to-foreign language dictionary and a baby name book. Sometimes the book is supplemented by an online list of popular baby names. 
9. An online random name generator is another valuable resource.
10. When using a name generator, be careful to select names that not only work with your setting, but can be pronounced by humans without stumbling over their tongues.You want your reader to enjoy the story, not focus on the pronunciation.
11. Don't make all the character names long, multi-syllable. It can exhaust the readers.
12. If you've found a name but it doesn't quite work, reverse a couple of letters to create a new sounding name.
13. A final consideration is whether or not the name has been widely used or is a contemporary popular character. Googling the name can save you embarrassment or possibly even a lawsuit.

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen. I hope you will come back again. Click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and buy links. And of course, be sure to visit the http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ to see other thirteens.

~till next time, Helen

Thursday Thirteen - Backlist, WIP, and More

For a change of pace, this post is trying something new. This Thursday Thirteen is focused on titles. The genres range from fantasy to romance fantasy, science fiction, and non-fiction.  Some are things published. Others are in progress, or merely in my dreams.

1. Fire and Amulet - The 2022 dragon magic release
2. Fire and Redemption - work in progress of the next chapter in Trelleir's search for his own kind


3. Windmaster - A romance-filled, action-packed fantasy described by readers as "a fascinating story that will keep you up all night turning the pages." Revenge set Ellspeth, captain of Sea Falcon, on the path to her destiny, but prophecy controlled the journey.


4. Windmaster Golem - "Ms. Henderson’s prose captivates and paints pictures of the beautiful, and sometimes traitorous, landscapes." 5 stars
   



5. From the Back Street to Main Street: And Beyond - a Chronicle of the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the modern congregation who suffered a loss on 9-11-2001


6. Around Matawan and Aberdeen - my first full-length work is this pictorial history of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan, Aberdeen, Freneau, and Cliffwood
   
   
7. Of Town and Field: Matawan and Aberdeen - this comprehensive history followed Around Matawan and Aberdeen, and included historic pictures not included in the pictorial history complemented by contemporary pictures








8. Dragon Destiny - the first of the Dragshi Chronicles, a major challenge in converting this work from a short story to a full-length novel was aging the main character
   


9. Hatchling's Vengeance - "the story lingered long afterward in my mind and thoughts … a lovely, exciting read," 5 Stars
   
   
10.  First Change: Legends From The Eyrie, a mixed genre anthology, unlike the other works in the Dragshi Chronicles series, not all the tales pulled from the mists of time have a happy ending
    
    
    
    
    
11. Hearth and Sand - one of two mixed genre anthologies, from the past to worlds of tomorrow, stories of those who serve on the front lines or preserve the homefront.


12. Imprisoned in Stone - dipped my toes into the darker aspects of fantasy
    
    
    
    
    
13. Made of Clay - originally planned as the definitive work on the New Jersey industries that used clay as architectural elements. However changes in life, the antiques field, and the intended publishers put the work on the back burner. In the near future, the research collection of art tiles will be sold to allow a focus on fiction.

I hope you enjoyed this Thursday Thirteen.  If any of the published titles intrigue you, click on the cover in the banner or for the series, the pull-down menu for blurbs, excerpts, a free read of the first chapter, and of course, buy links.

I hope you will come back again and don't forget to check out the other Thursday Thirteen posts.

~till next time, Helen




http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/