I want to mention just to start with that I have posted the first chapter of “The Sapphire Crucible” on my website at  http://www.rivalgates.com/chapter-11.html  In my day job I am a salesman and I take great pride in my ethical portrayal of that role.  One thing I know, however, is if someone is trying to sell me.  Enter my youngest daughter.  While I love all my children equally, she is like a big cube of sugar.  She is that sweet.  I know it.  Her mother knows it.  And I am saddened to say, she knows it all too well.  That girl can work the cute angle like no one I’ve ever known.  It scares me for when she’s old enough to date.  But that will be a blog years from not.  I’m only just adjusting to her older sister having a boyfriend.  Back to my point.  My youngest daughter usually finds a method of getting her way.  We had a great dog for about 12 years and then she pasted about a year and a half ago.  I really do like dogs but right now is just not a good time to have one for a number of reasons.  Ever since then my daughter has been on the “I want a puppy” bandwagon.  There are several methods she uses.  The first one I call the Heartstring Approach.  She brings out pictures of our old dog and reminds us of fond memories of her.  Then she tells us how much she misses having a pet to love.  She even found a friend whose dog just had pups and was giving them away.  This was compelling and my wife caved but I did not budge.  From then on I was labeled “The Dog Hater”.  After a few months of that, my daughter moved on in full force to what I call The Guilt Approach.  She pointed out that her older brother was able to get a puppy all those years ago and it was always “his” dog.  Going a step further, she pointed out that both my wife and I grew up having dogs and it was unfair that she couldn’t have one.  My wife buckled (she loves animals) but stood firm.  I maintained my new name and told her I didn’t care.  We were not getting another dog.  Undeterred, my daughter moved on to The Onion Approach.  As a parent you have to be on your toes with this one.  This is the argument where she asks for all the reasons we can’t have a dog and then proves why they are invalid arguments one after another.  They are peeled away like layers of an onion.  She liked to pull this one out when we were tired from work.  We told her that our yard in the house we are in right now is not fenced and a dog would be running away all the time.  So, for her birthday that year she asked for a fence.  That wasn’t exactly in the birthday budget and didn’t happen.  She knew that would be the case and filled the rest of her birthday gift list with the word “Puppy” over and over with pictures of puppies copied from the internet and placed in strategic locations.  Then she pointed out that we just kept out previous dog on a chain when she needed to go out and we could do it again.  No sale.  We told her that a dog was hard on the house; particularly the carpets.  She promised to keep the dog exercised and clean up after her.  We explained that my wife was allergic to all dogs to some degree.  My daughter pointed out that our beagle previously gave her few problems and we could get one again.  I told her they were very expensive dogs and she turned around and said she wouldn’t need another Christmas or birthday gift.  Whatever excuse you give her, she will overcome it.  I admit even I am running out of reasons not to get a new dog.  It has reached the “Because I said so” phase which only reinforces my dog-hater persona.  We are at a test of wills and I don’t know how long I can hold out.  I still think I can outlast her

This is the story of Sadie.  She is a normal young woman who starts the novel on a dreadful note.  On the eve of her trip to Jamaica to marry the man of her dreams, he stands her up.  Sadie is devastated and the author does an amazing job of describing just how “broken” Sadie is by the event.  It is an experience thankfully few of us will ever endure but the hurt is so deep and so total that one cannot help but empathize with her.  Then the writer throws a twist in.  She uses clever flashbacks to show just why she was so in love with Radley Cole.  At times I actually found myself liking his character.  It was difficult to tell if he was toying with her emotions or he was just afraid of commitment.  Either way you look at it, he had some redeeming qualities in Sadie’s eyes.  This is a lustful, steamy romance that will take you to the highest highs and the lowest lows.  You will love the two main characters one minute and then be disgusted by them in the next.  One thing is for sure.  The story keeps you reading.  This one’s a definite 5 star book! 

Otherplanet Review

 

I have had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of “Otherplanet” by Helen Alexander.  It is a science fiction story about two unsavory salesmen who hear about an alien flower called the Stella Mars.  It is said to bring happiness to anyone possessing it.  A very rich man is willing to pay any sum in order to have the plant.  The two companions decide to steal the flower and make their fortune.  Things go off track for the two of them from there.  The ingenious story takes part on both Earth and a mystical planet called Otherworld. There are elements all science fiction fans will love.  The story has magical creatures and special powers.  This story moves at a brisk pace but it keeps your attention quite well.  It is complex, yet easy to follow.  I certainly will not spoil anything for you but the end has an interesting twist.  This is a great piece for anyone who loves to exercise their imagination.  Helen Alexander has really outdone herself.

I realized as I was rereading “The Sapphire Crucible” in order to send an excerpt to a blogger that I have not placed one in my own blog for a while.  Here is one I enjoy quite a bit.  I hope you do as well.
“Now, where are the prisoners’ possessions” he asked in a normal tone of voice.  Several of the goblins ran outside and pulled the cart with the items to the door.  Necromancer approached the cart and sifted through the materials.  His face lit up with a wicked smile as he produced the gold chain and key Linvin had been wearing.  He discarded the chain and placed the key in the folds of his robe.  “Take the rest of this lot to the top floor storage area.”  “Lord Necromancer,” asked Hugon.  “Should I inform Lord Mandrean of the prisoners’ arrival?  They are his captives after all.”  “No need to bother him,” Necromancer replied.  “I will tell him when the time his right.  For now they are my prisoners and you would do well to remember that.”
 “As you command,” assured Hugon.  “What level do you want me to take our guests down to for lock-up?”  Necromancer walked over to Linvin and observed his condition.  “Take them up to the second floor.”  “But My Lord...” began Hugon.   Necromancer slowly turned his head toward the goblin and he stopped talking.  “Let me say this one last time.  The prisoners are to be well treated and cared for.  I want them fed as I have instructed and their wounds treated by our physicians.  My patience in this matter has been exhausted.  Now all of you help them to their feet and follow me.”  Gently the goblins assisted the frail elves to their feet, save for Linvin who required four soldiers to carry his frame.  The goblins formed a line behind Necromancer and ascended the stairs.  Everyone but Hugon came.  He remained on the floor and quivered as he took stock of his injuries.     On the second level were cells in good condition with straw on their floors.  Though the stairs continued up they were staying where they were.  The bewildered elves were carried past several cages and halted by one at the end of the hall.  A large cell door was opened and the party was gently laid on the straw.  Necromancer supervised the action.  He ordered the shackles removed from all but Anvar.   Then the door was closed and locked.  He stepped over to the bars and looked closely.  “Yes,” he said, “You shall do rather nicely I should think.  Guard.  Bring the food I had prepared for them.  Also bring the Imperial Physicians.  Their strength must return.”  The guard paused as if to ask a question and then saw Necromancer’s eyes begin to glow with greater ferocity.  “Right away Sir,” he said as he hurried down the stairs.  Linvin rolled over and looked at the strange man at the other side of the gate.  There was something very cold and wrong about Necromancer and yet he saved their lives.  Linvin collected himself and spoke.  “Are you our friend?” he asked.  “No,” Necromancer answered without hesitation.  “As insignificant as you are, you are a means to an end for me.  Besides, I have no friends.  To be someone’s friend you must see them as being equal to yourself...and no one in this world comes even close”  Linvin was confused by his host’s actions but tried not to give much away.  “What do you want with my house-key?”  Necromancer laughed.  “Come now, Grithinshield.  You and I both know it is not your house-key.  Even if it was, I doubt locking your door would have kept them out.”  “Kept who out?” asked Linvin.  “Do not play coy with me, Little Flea.  You know about whom I speak and you know why I need this key.”  Then he paused and thought as he looked at Linvin’s inquisitive expression.  “Perhaps you don’t know why the key is important?  Do you know what it opens?”  Linvin looked at Anvar.  His uncle looked as lost as Linvin.  Necromancer placed his arms on his knees and asked chidingly, “Would you like me to tell you the answer?”  “Yes,” replied Linvin.  “I am sure you would,” Necromancer laughed.  “Perhaps I overestimated you.  No matter.  With any luck I will not need you.  All the same, get some rest.  You may be in need of your strength before all is finished.  We want to be prepared.”  Necromancer turned to leave.  “Why are you doing this?” pleaded Linvin.  Necromancer did not break stride and continued to head for the stairs.  “I grow tired of filling in the gaps in your knowledge.  Try putting the pieces together.  Maybe you will surprise me when I see you next.  I doubt it but you might.  After all, I never thought you would get this far.”  He descended the stairs and left the elves alone.

I was looking through Twitter and Facebook in search of inspiration for my blog.   I’m in kind of a relaxed mode where everything seems more amusing.  One person posted that they thought their dog’s rear looked like Jesus.  Then they posted the picture.  That was disturbing on all kinds of levels.  The first question I must ask is why you are looking at your dog in that way?  The next question is, “Out of everything your brain could imagine, you came up with Jesus?”  We don’t even know what he looked like.  It’s not like someone took their camera phone out and snapped a picture of him.  So how do you determine that your dog’s butt has his portrait imprinted upon it?  I guess people see what they want.  On to more serious topics.  I was talking with my 22 year old son yesterday and I came to the conclusion that he still thinks I’m stupid and ignorant as to how the world works.  To give him some credit, he at least acknowledges some things from the past on which I was right.  I am apparently not as feebleminded as I was when he was 18 and knew everything.  Now I am at least right once in a while.  He still thinks my ideas are out of date and out of touch with reality.  I would never wish for bad things to happen to my children but there is a small part of me that wants to be there when everything he has “figured out” blows up in his face.  Maybe he’ll be right this time and rainbows will fill the sky with unicorns frolicking bellow.  I think that’s a pipe dream but it is his life and he obviously only learns by making mistakes for himself.  On another topic, my oldest daughter has a boyfriend.  I knew this day would come eventually but it’s one of those things you can never completely prepare for in advance.  I’ve met this boy twice and looked intently for something to dislike about him.  I have to say, the kid’s played his cards well.  I couldn’t find a thing wrong with him.  The young man was polite and well mannered.   He laughed at my jokes, which means he must really want me to like him because I’m not that funny.   Overall he did a good job and didn’t put his foot in his mouth once.  He showed remarkable composure for a 16 year old boy.  Unfortunately, I was once a 16 year old boy myself and there were certain topics that dominated my thinking.  Those topics had nothing to do with impressing parents.  For that reason I will watch this fellow closely.  Fortunately, my daughter is a most stubborn person.  I think he will have his hands full.  Let’s not start putting him in family pictures just yet.  He is a first boyfriend.  We’ll wait and see how this plays out.  For the time being, I’m just pleased he didn’t say his dog’s butt looks like Jesus!

The sun is out.  The birds are singing and I am back at blogging.  Things could not be better.  Today I want to talk about Spring.  It seemed for a while like it was never going to arrive in the Midwest United States.  As I look out my window I see the neighbor’s trees blossoming.  (No, I still do not have a tree.)  The grass is growing and that ugly yellow color it had while dormant is gone.  The temperatures have been reaching the 70s.  That’s right about perfect for me as far as heat goes.  I have never been a fan of extreme heat or cold.  If I can walk outside in shorts and not be sweating or freezing, that is just right.  My wife prefers the sauna effect.  That’s really not for me.  If I break a sweat looking out the window, it’s too hot.  I find the changing of the seasons to be quite psychological.  For starters, if it is 60 degrees in the spring everyone is wearing shorts.  If it is 60 degrees in the fall, everyone is wearing long pants and jackets.  Strange, isn’t it?  The temperature is no different but people’s perception of it is drastically dissimilar.  Look at the first significant snowfall of the year.  People are driving into ditches and having accidents.  By January, the same amount of snow falls and there is little trouble.  In the summer we have the first really hot day and everyone stays indoors.  After a month of weather like that we go on about our business.  A good deal of the issues with weather is simply based on your recent history.  Change in weather brings about change in actions.  Right now is perfect.  Everyone is working in their yards.  The insects are not yet in full attack mode.  Even the rainy days are seen as speed bumps on the road of blissful weather.  This is a short but magical time every year.  Plants are coming to life and people are generally in a good mood.  Soak it in while it lasts.  Soon summer will be here and all we will have are memories of these perfect spring days.  

Between computer issues and work I have been away from my love of writing for far too long.  My second review for “The Sapphire Crucible” is in and it is another 5 star review!  You can see it on Goodreads here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/926693218?book_show_action=true&page=1 If I have recovered all my writing files I will get back on the promotion circuit shortly.  In the meantime, enjoy this review.

The day has finally arrived when “The Sapphire Crucible” is now available on paperback on Amazon.com!  Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/The-Sapphire-Crucible-Rival-Gates/dp/1625260504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399003300&sr=8-1&keywords=sapphire+crucible  Order yours today.