Since I didn’t have a chance to do my usual excerpt from “Sapphire Crucible” on Sunday, I am doing it today.  I hope you like it.
In the poorly lit cells of the prison, Anvar and the twins rested as Linvin sat against the wall opposite Miri and picked at the straw on the floor.  For her part, Miri leaned against the far side of the same wall.  She held her knees tightly to her chest and rested her head upon them.  “Do you know what I really miss seeing since I’ve been here?” she asked Linvin.  “There is only one thing?” Linvin answered with a laugh.  She chuckled before answering, “Alright Captain Sarcasm, you know what I mean.  I miss seeing the sky.  At home the sky just seemed to go forever.  When there were clouds, they were always so high and distant.  When the sun would set, brilliant hues of peach, yellow, red, silver and a host of other colors painted the sky like an ever- changing canvas.  Every sunset was a spectacle to see.  As much as I enjoyed watching them, I don’t think I really appreciated their majesty until I no longer had the opportunity to view them.”  “I too have seen my share of gorgeous sunsets,” Linvin agreed.  “One would think the sunrises would be as marvelous.  Perhaps they were.  For me, though, sunrise usually involved trepidation on my part.  It often signaled the start of a march, or battle.  More recently it meant the beginning of another day of a journey into the unknown.”  “That’s not a very positive way to see something so wonderful,” Miri noted.  “I suppose,” Linvin answered.  “Many times it seems one’s perspective is colored by the end of the sword they see before them.” Miri added to his thought, “Or perhaps it is colored by the fact that you see every day involving a sword?”  Linvin’s voice strengthened and he spoke with pride.  “I did not choose the road I have traveled.  Nor have I shirked the responsibilities given to me.  Someone must hold the sword and fight so others can view sunsets.  For a time I was ashamed of my past.  Now I see it was simply part of my training for a greater purpose.  I only hope I have the opportunity to finish my mandate.”  Miri felt guilty for her ignorant statement.  She struggled to find the words to make the situation right once again.  “I know we agreed not to divulge too much information in here,” she said.  “Whatever your goal may be, I hope you attain it.”

Instead of posting an excerpt today, I have another great review on “Mary’s Cup of Tea” web site.  Here is the link: http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com/2014/07/the-sapphire-crucible-book-review.html


Here is the link to the review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2X45BK46QM41E/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1625260504


Here is the link to the review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/994939908


And here is the link to purchase the book: http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Crucible-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00JL0P6IG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405288724&sr=1-1&keywords=sapphire+crucible


Thank you to Mary for the outstanding review!

It’s excerpt Saturday.  I like this piece.  It gives you a different perspective than much of “Quest for the Red Sapphire.”
He stood by the window with a snifter of brandy. Swirling the precious liquor in is hand, he called out, “Jelena, could I at least have some ale instead of this lamp oil you’ve served me?” “Anvar,” bellowed the woman, “This is an important occasion and I will not have it sullied by serving that swill you and Dirk took such delight in drinking. You are holding the finest brandy in the land. Savor it and let me see to my tasks.” Anvar inhaled the bouquet and then sipped in a conservative fashion.  His face wrinkled slightly.  “I honestly do not see why you are making such a fuss Jelena.  After all, it is just Linvin coming home.” “You see him?” shouted Jelena as she ran to the window. “No,” laughed Anvar.  “I was merely saying that this gala you have prepared seems rather…extravagant for Linvin’s tastes.  Would you not agree, sister?” Jelena stormed over to Anvar.  “Having been through this past year with me, I would think you of all people would see a need for celebration.  This house has been like a mausoleum since Dirk left.  I have one good thing left in this world and that is my son.  Is it so wrong to shout to the world that he is home?” “It could be,” Anvar said before taking a larger drink from his glass.  “You know how I feel about this.  It is an unwise and unneeded risk.  One that may very well get us all killed.” “The gala will have tight security, I assure you.” Anvar came face-to-face with her and said with frustration, “You know that I do not speak of the gala. Has time blinded you so that you do not see the impending danger?  The risks have not gone away, Jelena.  Bringing us together again and announcing it to the world will only compound those risks.” “Dirk has been gone over a year and there is not the slightest hint of danger.  You are paranoid, dear brother.  Even if there was a danger, it died with Dirk.” Anvar struck his forehead in disbelief.  “Dirk is not what they wanted!  They have just been biding their time.  How can you be so ignorant of the impending doom?” “Because all I can see is my son!  He was practically stolen from me as a boy and sent half way around the world to be raised by strangers.  My boy has lived more years away from me than with me and I want him back!  I want him home!” “Even if it costs us all our lives?” Anvar asked as he held his weeping sister. “I see him!” called a nearby servant. Anvar and Jelena turned, and saw Linvin at the end of the road talking to Mrs. Harnbottom. “With what idle gossip is she filling my boy’s head?  My word!  Never have I met a woman who spoke so much with so little to say.  I must pry her for details tonight at the party.  Fortunately, I think her knowledge of our affairs is limited.” “Listen to yourself Jelena, your fears can be gone if you just tell Linvin the whole story.  The time will come sooner or later when he will need to know and it would be better to come from you.” Jelena composed herself and walked toward the foyer.  “I do not believe that day need ever come Anvar. The matter is closed.  Do you understand me? Closed!  If ever Linvin needs to know of what we speak, then I shall tell him.  It will come from no one else.  Is that clear, little brother?” Anvar’s nostrils flared, but he showed no other outward sign of displeasure.  “I will respect your wishes, dear sister.  I only hope your dream of living in peace comes to fruition.”

We live in the age of the email.  When you turn on your computer what’s the first thing you check?  Email.  It has really transformed our lives and in particular the way we communicate to one another.  Does anyone remember writing letters?  I once had a girlfriend who was apart from me for summer break in school.  We would write one another letters.  After you wrote it you placed it in the mailbox and waited for it to be picked up.  Then you waited a week for her to get it.  If she wrote back immediately it took another week.  If she waited a few days then so did I.  Wow, that was a hassle.  It is so much simpler to sit down at a computer or phone and write your message.  Seconds later the other person has it.  Replies can come in minutes.  Unfortunately, everything that has a good side tends to have a bad one.  Remember all the junk mail from your regular mailbox?  Well it followed you to your email box.  I have tried to unsubscribe from recurring messages but they just come in a slightly different form.  At times I have even had to get a different email address.  Some of the junk are well-disguised viruses or “bloatware.”   You may get what looks like a normal email from a (relatively) trusted source.  When you try to open it you receive a message saying, “In order to see this message you need to update to the latest version of ‘Blank’ software.  Click here to download.”  You know the company and their software is on your computer so you download it.  When it’s done (after about 5 ads) your home page has changed and you can’t get it to change back.  There is a toolbar on your internet browser that wasn’t there before.  Your antivirus program is doing its impression of the robot from “Lost in Space.” (If that reference is too old for you just understand it is a warning.)  Pop ups appear that weren’t there before.  Now you try to uninstall the software you just upgraded.  After doing so, however, the problems are still there.  You try everything you can but the software is so ingrained that you have to call your antivirus company and have them remove it.  If you’re lucky you have a service plan where they will do this for you as many times as is necessary.  If you don’t have one then you are paying somewhere around $80-$200 every time this happens.  Then it takes the technician 2 hours to remove everything.  Once they are done, though, you have to go back and reset all your preferences.  All that was because of a simple, respectable looking email.  The kicker is you didn’t have an infection on your computer.  It was bloatware and is apparently perfectly legal.  I had 3 instances of it in one week!  I feel like the Unibomber is after me and my computer.  I’m even skeptical of most emails and it still happens.  Then there are the ones that you get that simply have to be a scam.  They usually use broken English and tell me either I have a rich relative in some central African country who died and left me money or they have inherited money but need to get to London or wherever in order to receive it.  They never say how they need my help.  That is saved for email number two which I never receive because I instantly delete email number 1.  So we have corporate sponsored scams and your run-of-the-mill personal scams.  That doesn’t even take into account the evil people who think up ways to send you a real virus disguised as something else.  Snail mail was tedious but at least I could throw the junk out.

The dentist appointment yesterday went exactly as I expected.  My blog was right on the money all the way down to the speech about flossing.  At least the results were positive so I have that to be thankful for.  This is blog number 2 for the day.  The first one I wrote was going to be too controversial so it was shelved for some day when I’m really feeling like stirring the pot.  Today’s blog is centered on food allergies.  We discovered a short time ago that my oldest daughter was allergic to wheat.  Not only gluten makes her sick but anything that comes into contact with wheat.  Do you realize how many products have wheat in them?  Products I never expected have it.  It is in things like chocolate, instant rice, french fries, soup and meatballs.  Looking at label after label I see “Contains wheat” on it.  The gluten free foods seem to go down ok for her but the selection of products is not great.  I am told Europe is more evolved in their dietary options.  Before this I had never heard of a wheat allergy.  I only thought gluten was a problem.  Hopefully the choices will expand for my daughter and those like her.  There is not much selection at the grocery store.  My son is lactose intolerant.  He is a different creature all together.  He knows pizza will make him sick but he eats it anyway.  The special pills for his condition make life more tolerable but it is still hard on him.  Then you think of all the foods with lactose: milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream.  Those are hard things to take from a diet but thankfully, the food industry has been better about providing lactose free substitutes.  While they are more expensive there is little choice but to buy them.  At least they have some variety.  So now when we have dinner we have to know what children will be there so we can make the proper foods.  I have been told that there didn’t used to be so many allergies and that it is something about society.  There may not have been a diagnosis years ago, but I am sure a lot of people had these allergies in the past and there was simply no definition for it.  Food allergies simply don’t appear.  They were just not understood correctly.  Society may be changing but I have a feeling these problems have been here all the time.  Let’s hope more food options become available to give my children more variety to eat.

Today is dentist day.  As I have not been well for some time, I am fortunate to have my oldest daughter to drive me there and help me walk.  Being a dental hygienist has to be one of the worst jobs.  For some reason I always brush my teeth before going for a checkup there. It just seems like the right thing to do.   It’s kind of like wearing socks when you know you’re going to be trying on shoes.  I don’t think most people do brush first.  So the poor hygienist has to deal with bad breath, food caught in the teeth, and whatever cold or flu the person happens to have.  Next they take x-rays and you wonder how much radiation you are currently absorbing.  Then they start probing around your mouth with pointy things.  It feels like you’re in the military and someone is inspecting the job you did making your bed.  You just hope they find nothing wrong.  You hear a lot of “Hmm” and “M-Hm” as she works.  Then she takes the torture instruments out and asks “How’s the flossing going?”  What kind of question is that?  That’s like asking someone “Been in trouble with the law lately?” when you’re bailing them out of jail.  She knows the answer.  She just wants to hear you say, “No, I haven’t been flossing unless something gets stuck in my teeth.”  Then the lecture starts and you just nod along while they set to work on your mouth.  (Don’t even mention that you drink diet pop.  That will just start a whole new speech.  “Blah – blah – blah – enamel.  Blah – blah –blah decay…” and so on.)  As they work they take this sharp pointy thing and start scraping your teeth like they have something personal against you.  I swear, to be a dental hygienist you have to be a bit of a sadist.  They seem to enjoy inflicting pain.  If you’re lucky they won’t start a conversation with you during this time.  Otherwise you have your mouth wide open and you’re trying to speak without moving your lips.  That’s not an easy task.  It seems I get a different person every time because she is always amazed that I still have all my teeth.  It never occurred to me that many people need to have teeth removed because of space issues in the mouth.  Then she will invariably have to tell the hygienist in the next booth over who will then have to look.  So I have all my teeth?  What’s the big deal?  After scraping plaque for a while she starts stabbing my gums and calling out numbers.  The process has something to do with your gums separating from the teeth.  She rinses the area a lot so I have to believe it bleeds more than a little.  Then she tries flossing.  This is the time she wishes I didn’t have so many teeth.  She pulls the floss back and forth like a saw to get it between them and spends more time trying to get at the back ones than all the other teeth combined.  Now this person has likely done this for a while and they know if there is good news or bad news but they aren’t allowed to tell you.  She’ll just keep saying, “The doctor will be here in just a few minutes to check you.”  So you sit in terror and wait for the doctor.  When he finally arrives he looks you over for about 30 seconds and says something like, “We need to keep an eye on number 5 and 7.”  That doesn’t sound good but it doesn’t sound like imminent danger.  After a long talk about flossing he says everything is fine and he’ll see me in 6 months.  Talk about drama.  Now I have to go brush my teeth and get ready for my appointment.  Let’s hope it goes this well.   

It’s Sunday so it’s time for an excerpt from “The Sapphire Crucible.”  This piece introduces a new character.
In a great circle covered in sand were four men.  At the very edge sat a frail old man devoid of hair other than a long, pointed white beard on his face.  Murky cataracts obscured nearly all his vision as evidenced by his cane and lack of focus on the others.  He sat with his legs crossed in silence.    The spectacle revolved around the combatants on the sand.  A young man of great stature stood in the center of the circle.  Standing taller than Mandrean, sweat rolled down his chiseled bare chest.  Holding a wooden sword with both hands, he gasped for air to accommodate his excessive exertion.    On either side of the boy were Imperial Guards who also bore no armor.  They were identifiable by their uniforms.  Similar swords were in their hands.  The one directly before the boy jerked to the side and then lunged at him.  Spinning out of the way, the boy was struck in the arm by an attack from the soldier behind.  “Sloppy,” yelled the old man.  “Acreas you must anticipate the attack.  See it before it comes.”  Acreas rubbed his bicep where the strike had fallen and yelled back.  “Master, he was behind me.  How can I see something if my head is turned the other way?”  “I cannot see anything in that circle but I knew it was coming,” the old man scolded.  “Seeing is not only with your eyes.  True sight is in the mind.  Use that sight and you will be victorious.  Ignore it and you will die.”  Angered but undeterred, Acreas re-engaged his opponents.  He struck at one and forced him on his heels.  Then he turned around and parried a low strike from the second man.  While he was successful at blocking the sword, Acreas failed to realize the intention of the attack was merely to leave his body defenseless.  The soldier immediately punched him in the face and sent the towering youngling to the ground.  Before Acreas could collect himself, the soldier stabbed his sword into the sand by the boy’s head.  “Kill,” the soldier cried.  Acreas stared at the victor with furious anger.  For his part, the soldier looked unimpressed.  He held out his hand to help his victim to his feet.  The boy took his hand and regained his footing.  As soon as the soldier turned around, however, Acreas struck the pommel of his sword into the back of the man’s head.  The blow staggered the soldier but did little more than earn his wrath.    Slapping the sword out of the way, the soldier again connected his fist with Acreas’ face.  For his part, the boy returned the attack and the two were quickly wrestling on the ground.  The other soldier took a drink from a bucket of water and happily watched the entertainment.  The old man struck his cane on the ground.  “Enough,” he yelled.  Both men respected the statement and separated.  “Acreas, you allowed pride to motivate your attack.  That is never wise.  Then you attacked him in a dishonorable way.  That is never acceptable.”  “Well there is more than one way to fight, Master,” Acreas snipped.  “Yes,” said the master.  “There is the right way and the wrong way.  You are clearly demonstrating the wrong way.”  “It works for me,” said Acreas.  “If that is true, my student, then why are you the one with all the bruises.  You do not use your mind and you fight with no honor.”  “Honor?” scoffed the pupil.  “Where is the honor in fighting two against one?”  The master shook his head.  “I am not training you to fight duals.  I am training you to reach your potential as an elite warrior.  Such men rarely see odds stacked in their favor.”
“There was no honor in his punching me in the face?” noted Acreas.  “I see no difference in our actions yet you do not chastise him.”  “He struck you in the midst of battle,” the Master answered.  “You attacked him after the match was decided.  Only a coward would do such a thing.  I do not train cowards.  You will change your ways or your training will end.”  Acreas took his sword and stormed over to the Master.  “I will show you what a coward feels.”  The soldiers made no attempt to stop him as he drew near the blind cripple.  “Feel this coward’s wrath.”  As Acreas raised his weapon to deliver a crushing blow, the old man sat calmly.  When Acreas shifted his weight to his right to maximize his down stroke, the master swung his cane into the side of the boy’s right knee.  The leg buckled and collapsed from the impact.  Acreas fell to the ground grasping his knee and writhing in pain.  “You were right,” the Master said.  “You did show me what a coward feels.  Clearly a coward feels pain.  Such pain does not go away quickly.  When your leg and ego permit further instruction, I will continue to craft you into a warrior.  In the meantime…” he inhaled deeply.  “It smells from the perfume like your mother is here.  Perhaps she can mend both your wounds.”

It’s excerpt Saturday.  Here is a piece from “Quest for the Red Sapphire.”
The lady was dressed in a fine yellow taffeta frock with lace trim.  She fell in a somewhat humorous gesture against the red-bricked road.  Her large bustle cushioned the landing initially but then forced her torso to slide back from the force of the fall. With great embarrassment, she rolled back to her feet.  Deliberately pushing the horse’s head out of the way, she stamped by indignantly. “Out of my way, Ruffian!” she said without looking at Linvin.  “You would think a proper lady could walk these streets without being accosted by such vile vermin.  Well, go beg for work elsewhere!” Linvin laughed at the frumpy old woman.  “Could I not even rake your yard for a slice of your cherry berry pie?” The woman stopped immediately.  She turned her head and squinted as she looked at Linvin.  “No,” she told herself, “This can’t be.  Not…little Linvin Grithinshield, coming home at last?”  Linvin smiled widely.  “I’m not so little anymore, Mrs. Harnbottom.” “Well you’re not too big to come down here and give an old woman a hug” Linvin dismounted and hugged the plump matriarch.  “I have been called many things over the years but I must say this is the first time I have ever received the title of ‘Ruffian’ Mrs. Harnbottom stroked his cheek and looked ashamed.  “Dear sweet Linvin, I did not recognize you in these rags and armor no less.” “Well, my road has been a long one and my appearance may indeed show it.” “You were probably the wiser for not appearing of status these days.  What with bandits on the roads and crime on every street.  It is hardly safe for a woman of status to travel anymore.” “I do not recall Fraylic being so dangerous in my youth,” Linvin recalled. Mrs. Harnbottom pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped invisible tears from her eyes.   “That was a long time ago.  The city has more than doubled its size since you left.  With the end of the war, years ago, all the major trade routes began to travel through here. That’s the reason for all of the crime.  With so much wealth passing through these streets, many unscrupulous characters want a piece of it.  Robbers, swindlers, murderers…” She stopped in mid-sentence after realizing what she had said. “Are you speaking of my father’s disappearance?” Linvin asked directly. Mrs. Harnbottom hesitated and used the rare occasion to choose her words wisely.  “No one knows what really happened to your father, but if you asked me, he was killed by one of those trading cartels.  They never could compete with Dirk Grithinshield and the Grithinshield Trading Company.  With him out of the picture, it gives hope to rivals, who otherwise could not compete.” “I don’t mind telling you, your father could trade for goods from all over the world like no one before.  No other trading house could match him.  Dirk was a charming man; shrewd, but fair.  He was an amazing businessman.  It was simply impossible not to like the man.  Well, perhaps I was wrong on that point.” Her voice was at once panicked and embarrassed. “Pay me no mind, Linvin.  I have misspoken.  No one knows of the course of his demise.  Your family’s fortune could have drawn many to do Dirk harm. “Well, I would not say that my family has a fortune,” Linvin said in confusion. Mrs. Harnbottom was taken aback.  “Either you are being falsely modest or you really have no clue of your family’s wealth.” Linvin looked puzzled and remarked, “Mother had said in her letters that business in the store was going well.” “Store?” repeated Mrs. Harnbottom, “Grithinshield Trading Company has stores throughout the city; even different cities throughout the country have stores.  The company has no rival.  I’d wager their worth to be more than the entire treasury of Sartan.” “I had no idea my father’s enterprises had been so lucrative,” Linvin said with bewilderment. It quickly became obvious to Mrs. Harnbottom, as was often the case, that she had revealed more than she should have about business not of her concern.  As was her fashion, she shrugged it off and patted Linvin on the shoulder. “Listen to an old woman carrying on so, when you just want to get home.  Well, I’ll keep you no longer. Give my regards to your mother and uncle.”  With that, she waddled through the gate of her nearby manor. Linvin stood motionless in an effort to absorb what he had heard.  Perhaps, in an effort to deal with the vivid images the conversation had created, he told himself that they were the unfounded ramblings of an old woman, whose only true contribution to society was her cherry-berry pie.

I received a 4 star review on “Quest for the Red Sapphire” on Amazon.com.  You might wonder why I am so happy about only being given 4 stars instead of 5.  One has to remember that, in the world of publishing, not everyone is going to love your writing.  Some might really dislike your writing.  Considering the person could have given me 1, 2 or 3 stars, 4 is a very respectable number.  It tells me they liked my work overall and just found a few things they weren’t as fond of in the book.  That’s not so terrible, is it?  In the review the person even says they would read the sequel.  You would not do that if you hated the book.  So I’ll take 4 out of 5 stars any day of the week.  The whole point of this is to tell a story someone enjoys.  I accomplished that.  Here’s the review.
4.0 out of 5 stars Took a while to read, but worth it, June 27, 2014
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Love2Read (Freehold, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Quest for the Red Sapphire (Sapphire Chronicles Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
Some of the story seems to drag a little bit. There's a lot of characters and some probably don't have to even be in the story for the actual storyline. The story seems to start coming together in the middle/end of the book. If there is a second book, I would definitely be interested in reading it.
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I just finished reading “Tempered Throne” by Ray Owen.  It was a well-conceived piece of literature.  This is actually several stories going on simultaneously running parallel to one another but not intersecting for nearly the entire book.  The main storyline revolves around Stewart Finney, a high level engineer who displays few redeemable qualities.  He is a gambler and thief.  Stewart attempted to steal his friend’s wife, tried to kill the same friend and would seem to have an obsessive compulsive disorder about being clean all the time.  He is being followed and murders keep happening around him.  Then there is a pesky problem he has with birds; particularly blackbirds following him and showing up at the oddest times.
Then there is the story of a young boy named Pig.  If ever there was a dysfunctional family poster child, it was Pig.  His alcoholic father abuses him physically and emotionally without caring for the boy or his basic needs.  The father takes up with Tina, an evil woman who hates Pig even more than his father and makes the boy’s life unbearable.  Both stories continue independently until the very end.  A word of advice to the reader.  Go over the last chapters slowly or you could miss some things.  The author took characters that a person would not usually pull for and makes you care about them.  He leaves clues along the journeys for you to piece the story together.  It’s like a jigsaw puzzle.  You don’t see what you have until it’s finished.  When it is done, though, you will be glad you read it.