June 11 it’s been 20 years ago my Dad unexpectedly had been called from this Earth. Still I miss him, but I do carry him in my heart and sometimes I still hear his heartily laughter.
What I regret is, that I can’t tell him anymore what an amazing Dad he was to me!!
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
A surprising message in the news has caught my attention today. Plane had to land because of bird strike.
Now: Bird strike? That’s when birds fly into a plane, right? – Oh, wait! No, it’s the other way around. A plane flies into a bird swarm. Of course! Why in all the world would birds hit a plane?
And that moment, I’m afraid, my twisted brain played jokes on me, and I started to laugh.
‘Why would birds hit a plane?’
On a dare?
Imagine the following scene:
• “Hey there… want to join us?”
• “Yeah, okay.”
• “Cool… see that Airbus over there?”
• “Uhm… yes?”
• “Once through the turbine and you’re in.”
Picture courtesy of http://www.google.com
Or what about suicide birds? Of course, it made me laugh too; but after all, we don’t know what birds are thinking.
“I don’t want to live anymore… I hate it to be a bird… I suffer from vertigo!”
Picture courtesy of http://www.google.com
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I had to learn that indeed bird strike is a sincere problem and can in fact damage an airplane.
Seriously, I have been naïve about it. I just thought: “Hey… that’s an airplane, what can a bird do there? Scratch the windshield?”
I was told: “What do you think happens, if up there, 30,000 feet above the ground that little scratch through pressure and speed causes the windshield to break and fly off?”
I thought: “What? – Hmmm. What would happen, if the windshield of a plane actually does fly off?”
And to be honest, my joking brain, of course, thought about the pilot’s announcement: “Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s your captain speaking with some amazing news: We are now flying a convertible.”
My-oh-my… I know I’m bad.
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But honestly: I wish someone could explain to me what bird strike does to an airplane – in particular, a big airplane. I’m almost sure we aren’t talking about a flock of sparrows. How big do the birds have to be to become a danger to an airplane? How many birds would be in a swarm in such a case? If someone knows about it, please, let me know. Thank you.
Dear face,
After all these years of our cooperation, I thought I’d send you a letter. Just in case you’re asking yourself what the reason for this outpour is, there are several.
First, I’d like to say that I know it wasn’t always easy with me. Sometimes I have wanton neglected you, provided you with too much sun, too much snow or salt water. I let you experience dirt, mud, heat, ice, height, wind and air that cold, you nearly froze. I withheld the cream you needed, the humidity and once in a rare while, I paved you with makeup.
We both have come a long way together, and you went through so much with me, I felt I owe you an apology.
It’s time to realize; we’re facing the time when we aren’t silky and smooth anymore.
I discovered one thing today: you provided me with laugh lines. Nobody knows better that I love to smile and it shows. Thank you for them!
You don’t make me look grumpy and old – you make me look radiant, no matter what I put you through.
And I promise you something: no matter how deep these laugh lines get: I will never try to hide them by filling them with powder. There’s no reason. You show my humor. This bone flour is nothing but an agricultural damage.
You and I will be together for another very long time, and my laugh lines will get deeper. Maybe gravity will kick in. (Believe me, you’re not alone; the rest of the body is in that process too.)
But no matter what we’re going to face together, I hope we’ll never be losing our smile, our laughter, the sparkles in our eyes and our laugh lines.
I know I wasn’t always happy with you. But I figure, all in all, I could have gotten it worse.
I want to say thank you for going all the way with me – and I wish us both good luck for the future.
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(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, June 2017)
Picture courtesy of: http://www.google.com
This is the fourth blog post I wrote about Fashion for Characters. The first post I talked about Fashion for Historical Romance, the second about Science Fiction characters and their fashion. The last one was about “my own” genre, fashion for characters in Paranormal Romance.
Today it’s time for fashion in the ‘Fantasy’ genre.
Depending on the characters we’re going to dress, ‘fantasy’ means, we authors are quite free in how to dress our characters.
I impossibly can dress every fantasy character existing in our heads. That’s why I picked just a few.
Let’s start with fairies. What is a fairy to most of us? I would say, a little, thumb sized winged cute nature spirit, able to project herself in human size, if necessary. We can dress her into so many different dresses. I would say: most typical ones would be these:
These, of course, are only examples. Our fantasy is unlimited, and so is our taste. Many other writers might have completely different imaginations of how to dress their fairies.
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Let’s see what we can do about getting our naked elves ready for the public. 😀
What are elves? In my imagination, they’re the taller magic version of fairies, without the wings. (I might, however, be slightly influenced by Mr. Tolkien, but this is not necessarily a bad thing though).
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The next supernatural creature I would like to dress are witches – or magicians. I’m not talking about the fairy tale witch with the pointed hat and the broom. In my head these are more women, using nature and symbols to perform magic.
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Of course, there are many more female fantasy characters. I decided on warriors and hunters to be dressed next. In my imagination they’re mysterious, fascinating and at the same time impressive:
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And last, but not least, there are the princesses, queens, and regents. Of course, we are convinced they’re wearing beautiful dresses. In my head, these might be beautiful dresses for them:
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Let me know what you think how your fantasy women should be dressed, please. I’d love to read your imagination in my comments.
I hope you had as much fun reading these fashion posts as I had writing them.
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(All pictures are courtesy of http://www.pinterest.com)
Memorial Day is extravagantly celebrated as a federal holiday in the United States of America. It is observed on the last Monday of May month each year in order to commemorate all those brave men and women who died while serving in the armed force of United States. Memorial Day 2017 is on Monday, 29th of May.
Picture courtesy of: http://www.memorialdayfacts.com/
Some Gave All
I knew a man, called him Sandy Cane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero, yes was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don’t understand
About the reasons we are free
I can’t forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cried
As he said these words to me
All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All
Now Sandy Cane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo throughout our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood their ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man
Love your country and live with pride
And don’t forget those who died
America can’t you see?
All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Yes recall
Some Gave All
Some Gave All
November 7, 2016, in a phase of deepest sadness and depression, I wrote and published a poem, “Let Your Soul Fly Free To Heaven”.
Until this day I’m very much convinced that this is probably the rhythmically best poem I ever wrote, and even though, its theme is heartbreak and sadness, I’m still proud of it. That’s why I submitted this poem to the Poetry Festival Page and had it read by a professional actor.
Today I was informed that the poetry reading had been published on their Website. I immediately clicked the link and found it, together with some information about myself.
“Let Your Soul Fry Free To Heaven” is performed by actress Becky Shrimpton and she does a fabulous job. Thank you very much, Becky! And thank you to “Wildsound Fest” who published it on their YouTube channel.
Watch it on the Poetry Festival Website:
Poetry Reading: Let Your Soul Fly Free to Heaven, by Aurora Jean Alexander
Or on YouTube:
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This is the third time I venture to lay hands on fashion for our characters. In my first blog post I dared to talk about the difference between some Historical Romance book covers and the truth; in my second post I showed some past and maybe current and future fashion in the Science Fiction genre.
Right now I decided to peek into ‘my own’ genre, Paranormal Romance. It took me a while to find out what genre I write in. According to Wikipedia, Paranormal Romance means, I write about “Supernatural behavior, abilities, and creatures in our current existing world’. I think this covers it pretty much. I’m sure there are similar or other explanations, telling us more or less the same thing. But this is right. At least that’s what I do.
Let’s take the existing world, mixed with ‘supernatural abilities and creatures.’ These creatures might be all kinds of characters, from trolls to orcs, to fairies, ghosts or even, as I introduced you to: shadows like Rapha Golden, demons, like Ethel, or even this one, unique and mysterious humanoid beautiful ‘Simin Arnatt.’
Let me pick Simin as an example. Simin is mysterious. She holds many secrets, and I am not the one to reveal them, except one: Simin is no spoiled princess. She’s a warrior, a fighter, even a hunter, and exceptionally good at what she does. That’s why, during her work, I dress her into something like this:
Picture courtesy of http://www.google.com
Picture courtesy of http://www.google.com
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Of course, Simin is a business woman as well, after all, she’s a freelancer in… – never mind. But occasionally she meets clients, agencies or her lawyer. In such a case she has been seen wearing similar outfits like the ones here:
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
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Simin has the right to be on vacation like other people as well. For these occasions, she has outfits for summer…
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
… and winter.
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
Picture courtesy of: http://www.pinterest.com
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Simin is a unique person, in more than one way. Her life is adventurous and at times dangerous. And still… she’s everywhere and nowhere. She hasn’t known a home for a long, very long time. Her wardrobe is limited. But this doesn’t mean she has no taste or is not fashionable. But I promise, one day, you will find out more about her.
What would you dress your paranormal romance characters in? Do you have published a book in this genre already or are writing one? What are your characters wearing? Please let us know in the comments below.
