A few weeks ago, my blogging friend, Rebecca Budd, shared a post about Claude Monet’s Nympheas collection of paintings. I have been admiring these paintings and have it in my head to try and replicate one as a birthday cake for my husband. Every since Rebecca’s post, I’ve had my eyes open for ‘”nymphaea”. During our recent two-day trip to the Pilanesberg National Park I was lucky enough to spot a few and get some great shots.
Thank you for sharing my new release on your blog today, Robbie. It’s deeply appreciated!
A few years ago, a regular customer of my restaurant lost her husband to suicide. It shocked our small community and devastated her family. They seemed like a happy, loving couple, so what happened?
The same occurred to a famous, well-loved dancer called tWitch. He and his wife had three children, the youngest only two years old. And yet, he, too, is gone.
This led me to wonder (and worry) about the children left behind. How do they handle the loss of their father? Do they blame themselves? Each other?
The Defiant Sisters Duet is an exploration of two sisters, Renée and Izzy, affected differently by the loss and how it eats at the family’s dynamics.
Finding Me
Izzy
My life is not like I dreamed it would be. I had the foolish fantasy of finishing high school, going to college, making something of myself- maybe even becoming famous.
Instead, I’m the infamous kid of the father who killed himself in the family’s backyard.
How’s that for a legacy?
Renée
I came home for my mother’s funeral, but I’m staying to mend bridges with my sister. We have another chance, and whatever it takes, we need to come together as a family or live the rest of our lives knowing we let our brother down.
They say pride goes before a fall, but it doesn’t tell us how to avoid the scrapes along the way.
Excerpt:
Izzy
Renée is trying to make me lose my mind. This partnership she dreamed up isn’t going to succeed if she keeps undermining my authority at every turn. I’ve repeatedly mentioned the importance of having a qualified electrician come through and update all the wiring. The building is old. We need to protect our investment—my investment. I’m not sure where she got her down payment, but I had to use my share of the equity in the house to cover my portion. If it fails… well, it can’t.
I kick a loose stone on the sidewalk and watch it roll into the gutter, my shadow marking time as I walk past the Willoughby’s store and wave at Helen through the window. Renée can buy her own damn salad if she wants one. She had no right to give Ben permission to break his grounding, especially after I expressly told him no. What kind of message does that send to a belligerent teen already pushing boundaries to see how far he can go?
She makes me crazy. It’s been that way our whole lives. Renée’s way is to act all kind and caring while she methodically shoves the shiv into your spine. I’ve seen her in action too many times to be taken in by her crap, which makes me wonder how I got myself tangled up in her new crusade—saving our family one good deed at a time.
Picture caption: Promotional image for Finding Me by Jacquie Biggar featuring the book cover on a white background with pink roses
About Jacquie Biggar
Picture caption: Author picture for Jacquie Biggar
Jacquie Biggar is an award-winning author of romance who has been listed on USA Today’s bestseller list. Her writing is centered around tough, alpha male characters who fall for strong and independent contemporary women. She resides on Vancouver Island with her husband and would love to hear from readers worldwide!
In her own words: “My name is Jacquie Biggar. When I’m not being a klutz, I’m a wife, a mother of one, a grandmother, and a butler to my calico cat. Watching reality TV shows such as The Voice and Amazing Race is one of my guilty pleasures. Every Monday night, you can find me laughing at the judge’s shenanigans as I’m plastered to my armchair. I love hanging out with my husband at the beach, taking pictures, and reading romance novels (what else?). I have a slight obsession with Tim Hortons, enjoy gardening, everything pink, and talking to my friends.”
Lion waking up from his day-long resting. My, what big teeth he has.Female cheetah snoozing in the veldThis juvenile male lion is yawningOkay, woman, I’m getting up …That’s it, I’m going without you.
Lethal-looking, sharp thorns protect its juicy leaves –
the favourite food of the giraffe which uses its
long, maneuverable, black tongue and tough lips [Note 1]
to access this delectable, life-sustaining treat [Note 2]
Note 1: Giraffes have dark purple or blue tongues that look black. This is because they have a high amount of melanin to protect them from the hot African sun.
Note 2: Giraffes, like their relative the camel, can go a long time without drinking water. This is partly due to their consumption of acacia leaves which have a high-water content. In Afrikaans, a giraffe is a kameelperd which means camel horse.
The prompt
Hellooooo, Poets! De Jackson here, aka WhimsyGizmo, happy once again to be hosting my favorite prompt, the Quadrille. This funky little poem-dance is a creation of our own making here at dVerse, and it’s as easy as a sharp 1-2 punch: 1) We provide a word. 2) You include that word in a poem of precisely 44 words.
Picture caption: A giraffe with its (I think this one is male as the ossicones look bald) long black tongue sticking out. Picture by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: A trio of giraffes at sunset. Picture by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: a group of giraffes watching two lions sleeping in the shade. Picture by Robbie CheadlePicture caption: coloured pencil drawing of a baby giraffe behind an acacia by Robbie Cheadle. This picture is from my children’s book Neema the Misfit Giraffe and is copywrited by Robbie Cheadle
Picture caption: Blog Tour banner for A Beggar’s Bargain featuring the book cover against a landscape of crops growing under a big blue sky
Thank you, Robbie, for turning your blog site over to me today so I can talk about my new book, A Beggar’s Bargain.
Sara Beth is my female protagonist in the story and she has a pet rabbit that she takes with her everywhere she goes. While her father only wants to get rid of the rabbit, Layken Martin accepts it as part of Sara Beth. Here’s an excerpt where he meets Cuddles.
When he shot her a glance, she quickly swiveled toward the window.
“What’s your bunny’s name?’ he drawled.
“Cuddles.” Her heart thudded. She prayed he wasn’t about to insist that she make him into a stew.
‘Is Cuddles a boy or girl?”
“Boy.”
“Seems pretty special to you.”
Cuddles chose that moment to hop out of Sara Beth’s arms and onto the seat. She reached for him. “Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“He got out of my arms.”
“So?”
“So, my father would have tried to toss him out the window.”
Layken rubbed the bunny’s long ears, then angled toward her. “Let’s get one thing straight here and now. I’m not your father. I’m nothing like him. From what I’ve seen, he’s a poor excuse for a man. He should be ashamed of the way he treats you.”
***
I love giving pets to characters and the more unusual the better. I’ve never written any chracter who had a pet rabbit, so this was fun. It gave the opportunity for a little comic relief and in certain situations upped the tension (when an owl tried to snag it for breakfast). At the same time, it can get repetitive since the bunny can’t make any sounds and only hops around. So, I had to get creative. Still, it added to the story.
What’s the most unusual pet you’ve ever given any of your characters? Let’s talk.
Picture caption: Promotional banner featuring the book cover and a picture of a young girl holding a rabbit
Book blurb
A shocking proposal that changes everything.
Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.
Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.
Only the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?
Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the bargain.
Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.
If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.
Picture caption: Book cover depicting a rundown barn, an old farm truck and a dog
For this, my third Story Empire post, I’m diving a bit deeper into some of the writing decisions I’ve had to make for my own historical writing. My current approach to writing historical fiction is based on trial and error and a lot of rewriting.
When I was a young girl, and my sister, Catherine, was a very small girl, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. As Cath was my primary playmate, this meant that she got to be Carrie and play Little House on the Prairie everyday with me.
Mom made us both dresses with high waists and fairly long skirts. We both had a pair of ankle books. What we lacked were bonnets and nightcaps. I solved the bonnet problem by converting my mom’s pageboy evening caps into bonnets with ribbons to tie them on. The nightcaps were a bit beyond my ingenuity and the dress-up materials I had available.
And so I did a very naughty thing. I told Mom that I need two nightcaps for a school play. I procured some material (quite unsuitable as it comprised of four triangles and thus two pieces had to be joined with a seam down the middle to make a square) and prevailed upon my mother to make me the nightcaps. Mom did this although she complained about the poor quality and design of the material. I got my nightcaps but they filled me with guilt. I never derived any pleasure from those nightcaps and I hardly ever used them. It certainly taught me a life lesson.
TC and I among the Cosmos last yearA pair of while rhino – mom and babyA pair of cheetah cubs – one is yawningA pair of white rhino malesA lion and a lioness mating. A pair of elephants swimming
roberta-writes.com 