Click on the cover for the Amazon US purchase link:

What Amazon says

Priscilla Bettis draws on real life experiences in the Alaska wilderness (grizzlies) and the Texas plains (wildfires) to pen these two short stories.

A vampire in Alaska.
In ‘Vampire of the Midnight Sun,’ Frasier and his best friend, Billy, are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a rafting accident: grizzlies, arctic water, frozen nights, soggy tundra, no food, no matches, no civilization. And no one is coming to rescue them.

Plus Billy is convinced he’s a vampire. It’s a five-day hike to civilization. Billy claims he can only go three days without human blood.

Will the men survive the harsh Alaskan elements? If so, can Frasier survive Billy’s vampiric delusions, or will Frasier have to take his best friend’s life in order to save his own?

A showdown between an Old West cowboy and a fire witch.
In ‘The Fire Witch and the Cowboy,’ Henderson is the yellow-bellied coward of Dusty Bend, Texas. His wife is ashamed of him. Kids tease him. And he’s terrified of wildfires.

But when a wildfire threatens Dusty Bend, it is Henderson who brokers a deal between the townfolk and the wealthy but formidable Widow Vandermeer, to use her resources in order to fight the fire.

“There will be sacrifices,” she says. If the widow learns Henderson’s decades-old secret, he might be the sacrifice.

Will Henderson grab his wife and run, leaving town while he can? Or will he stay and risk falling into Widow Vandermeer’s clutches?

Meanwhile, the wildfire grows closer…

(cover by Adrian Baldwin)

My review

This book comprises of two stories, both with unusual and deliciously creepy plots.

The first story is about two men, born and raised in Alaska, who like to hike in the wilderness. A series of unfortunate events result in their being stranded in a location that differs from their logged trail. With nearly all of their possessions lost, the friends must hike on until they reach the closest village. The larger and stronger of the pair, Billy or Vlad as he calls himself, claims that he is a vampire and can’t go for an extended period without human blood, a discussion that his companion, Frasier, who is suffering from an infection, finds highly improbable and annoying. The friends must find a way to work together if they want to survive the ordeal.

I really enjoyed the realistic descriptions of two men lost in the Alaskan wilderness and the difficulties they experience in hiking across the adverse terrain without their equipment. Frasier is the narrator and the combination of his deteriorating health and mental well being make him an unreliable narrator. As a result, the I was left uncertain as to whether the facts as reported by Frasier were entirely true.

The second story is about a pioneer with an unfortunate family connection and a terrible secret and a vengeful woman who has sold her soul to the devil. This story had an eerie and frightening tone so I knew terrible and ungodly events were going to occur early on in the story. The tone and foreshadowing did not disappoint and I thought this was an excellent piece of paranormal fiction.

People who enjoy clever paranormal stories with dark and foreboding tones will enjoy this book.

About Priscilla Bettis

Priscilla Bettis read her first horror story, The Exorcist, when she was a little kid. She snuck the book from her parents’ den. The Exorcist scared Priscilla silly, and she was hooked on the power of the horror genre from that moment on.

Priscilla is an excellent swimmer, which is good because vampires are terrible swimmers.

Priscilla shares a home in the Northern Plains of Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members.

Find Priscilla online at https://priscillabettisauthor.com.

During our recent trip to KwaZulu-Natal, we visited the Blood River Heritage Site.

This is what Wikipedia says about The Battle of Blood River:

The Battle of Blood River (16 December 1838) was fought on the bank of the Ncome River, in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa between 464 Voortrekkers (“Pioneers”), led by Andries Pretorius, and an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Zulu. Estimations of casualties amounted to over 3,000 of King Dingane’s soldiers dead, including two Zulu princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu throne. Three Voortrekker commando members were lightly wounded, including Pretorius.

Blood River is of particular interest to me because my husband is a direct descendant of Andre Pretorius.

I mention this landmark battle in my book, A Ghost and His Gold. This is the relevant extract:

Pieter watched the young messenger, whose name was Adrian Opperman, part from his mother, who was one of the women brave enough to have accompanied her husband and son to the laager.

“Goodbye my son. Let your ways be in the fear of the Lord. If I do not see you again on earth, I pray to find you again in heaven.”

His heart constricted at this touching parting and he wondered if they would see each other again. He thought of the wording of the vow taken by his pioneer ancestors, the Voortrekkers, before the Battle of Blood River on the 16th of December 1838 when four hundred and seventy Voortrekkers, led by Andries Pretorius, fought against ten thousand Zulu warriors on the bank of the Ncome River.

We stand here before the Holy God of heaven and earth, to make a vow to Him that, if He will protect us and give our enemy into our hand we shall keep this day and date every year as a day of thanksgiving like a Sabbath, and that we shall build a house to His honour wherever it should please Him, and that we will also tell our children that they should share in that with us in memory for future generations. For the honour of His name will be glorified by giving Him the fame and honour for the victory.

The words of this vow gave Pieter comfort.

These are my doors pictures from The Blood River Heritage Site for Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors challenge. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/31/more-from-morgantown/

W3 Prompt #7: Wea’ve Written Weekly

The Gun Tree by Robbie Cheadle

Guns

Bullets

Shiny new

Ready for use

Against dissenters

Regardless of their cause

Women and children punished

For the actions of their menfolk

Innocent blood amply watering

The ground that once sheltered and protected

Staining the earth black, splashing the growing crops

A fresh graveyard of dead animals and owners

Fragile houses riddled with holes – scene of destruction

Savagery wins

Rules unopposed

People succumb

To new regime

Hope disappears

Tree of life falls

This week’s prompt is as follows:

The change of seasons can be tough on us. It can shake our core and disturb our balance. The trees are a perfect example of how to adapt to changes. The branches and leaves flow with the wind and trees get bare or full of leaves, however, a tree’s strength is in the roots. 

Let the words above inspire you and write a poem in “Tree of Life” poetic form about changes, impermanence, and strength.

‘Tree of Life’ poetic form

• An uplifting poem in 19 lines;
• Syllabic: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-4-4-4-4-4-4;
• Unrhymed;
• Alignment: Centered

You can read more about it and/or join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/08/30/w3-prompt-70-weave-written-weekly/

Thank you to Professor Charles French for sharing my commentary and review of Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Charles has a wonderful selection of books so do have a look around while you are visiting his blog.

Here is another entry into the U.L.S., the Underground Library Society by Robbie Cheadle, a long-time member of this unofficial group. I am honored that Robbie Cheadle has written another entry–this one on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

I knew about Grapes of Wrath and had read it was a masterpiece, but I only read it recently. My interest in this story was inspired by my younger son’s studies about the Great Depression in America. I also knew about the Great Depression and had read other books about it, but now was the time to do a deep dive into the horror story of that time. A deep dive that I had possibly been avoiding due to my belief that a lot of the detail in this book would still be relevant now, nearly 100 years later. Reading this book would be rubbing salt into mental wounds.

It was worth it; very worth it. The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most beautifully written and powerful books I’ve read, and I’ve read thousands of books.

Continue reading here: https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2023/08/29/a-u-l-s-submission-by-robbie-cheadle-the-grapes-of-wrath/

I really like Reena’s intriguing prompts. This week, her prompts are as follows:

PROMPT #294

• The dividing line
• Threshold
• Twilight Zone

Choose any one or more of the words to base your piece on.

Dividing the Pie

Society, a giant pie

Neatly cut, into thirds

Haves and have-nots

Educated and uneducated

Males and females

Each piece, sliced up further

The wealth divide:

The one percent

Super rich

Prosperous

Middle class

Working class

Below the poverty line

(What’s that?

Their diminutive piece assigned elsewhere?

A non-slice?)

Educated!

In what?

Sciences, the arts, or commerce

Fully literate, basically literate, illiterate

Sexuality, so complex:

Heterosexual

Homosexual

Bisexual

Gender, slice and diced

The pie pieces overlap

The filling oozes

Dribbles out

A chunk of fruit falls with a plop

Dividing lines

Can’t ever be maintained

A visit to Dundee

Did you know there is a town called Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa? It is a coal mining town and the reason we overnighted there is because it is close to the site of the Battle of Blood River which is a landmark battle between 464 Boers and an estimated 10,000 Zulus on the 16th of December 1838. I will tell you more about that battle next week. I wanted to spend a good few hours at The Battle of Blood River memorial and museum and also visit the Ncome Zulu Cultural Museum on the other side of Blood River where the battle was fought. There is a bridge of reconciliation between the two museums.

We spent our time in Dundee at the lovely and brand new B&B called Bella’s Rest. The B&B was on the edge of a manmade dam and had a nice view.

These are a few pictures for Dan’s Thursday Doors which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/24/wvu-morgantown/

Shapes in Nature

You can join in Cee’s challenge here: https://ceenphotography.com/2023/08/15/cffc-contrast-2/

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #293

Reena’s prompt last week Thursday was three AI generated images. I’m a bit late posting, but better late than never. You can read other poets responses here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/08/17/reenas-xploration-challenge-293/

AI Madness

Weird designs

Neckless heads; floating

Tricks the eye

Confuses

Brain grapples to unravel

Visual distortion

My poem is based on this picture that was featured on my blogging friend, Meeka’s blog last year. If you enlarge this winning picture, you will see the people have no necks. It is so surreal that it won a prized. You can read Meeka’s article here: https://acflory.wordpress.com/2022/09/10/is-art-still-art-if-an-ai-makes-it/. I have not forgotten this post and artwork.

My August Dark Origins post discusses the English nursery rhyme, “Who Killed Cock Robin”. It never fails to amaze me how far back in time some of these possible origins go. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

“Who Killed Cock Robin” is an English nursery rhyme which is believed to be ancient although the earliest record of the rhyme is in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book published in 1744. This version only contained the first four verses. The longer version was first printed in approximately 1770.

You can listen to a lovely rendition of “Who Killed Cock Robin” here:

Continue reading here: https://writingtoberead.com/2023/08/23/dark-origins-who-killed-cock-robin-an-english-nursery-rhyme-darkorigins-nurseryrhymes/

I took one look at Colleen’s challenge this week and though “no way, this is much to complicated.” I went back later and it didn’t look so bad so I gave it a go.

The challenge as I understand it is to write a syllabic poem using a kigo. What is a KIGO? A kigo is a season word used in haiku and haibun (the haiku portion). For more information please go over and read Colleen’s post (in case I got it wrong – smile!). https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2023/08/22/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-334-8-22-23/

I wrote two haiku about our end of winter or mid summer depending on how you look at 30 degrees Celsius in August.

Plants shocked from slumber

Scorching heat absorbs moisture

New leaves curl and die

***

Relentless sun seers

Apathetic flowers droop

August winds churn dust

I am watering my garden every late afternoon. I hope we get rain and there are no water restrictions. The ground is dry and thirsty.

Signs of summer (we seem to have skipped right over spring):

The male weaver has been hiding. I saw him in the tree and spied on him from where I was watering behind the wall.

I discovered his nests about 20 minutes later.

He flew into the tree in disgust at my nosiness.

I liked this orange butterfly shot.

For Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors, I am sharing a few doors pictures from our 3 days at Babanango Game Reserve. You can join in Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/17/wvu-doors/

For Terri’s Sunday Still’s challenge, I am sharing some pictures with yellow items for her yellow theme. You can join in Terri’s Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/08/13/sunday-stills-monthly-color-challenge-are-you-all-in-for-yellow/

Lastly, Colleen has provided one of Terri’s amazing pictures for her Tanka Tuesday Challenge. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2023/08/15/2023-photo-prompt-template-tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-333-8-15-23/

Sunflower salvation

Sunflowers

Salve for broken hearts

Uplifting

Allowing

Spiritual convalescence

Nature’s floral smile

By Robbie Cheadle

Reena’s poetry challenge this week is During the time travel process, pictures among other things tend to get distorted.

You can join in here: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/08/10/reenas-xploration-challenge-292/

Colourful albums

The photograph albums

Lined up in a neat row

Colourful covers

Designed to charm

Relics from a shared past

Theirs, interwoven with mine

A family history

I open the first book

Onto a new mother’s pride

Two pages of 3D scans

“Your baby’s heartbeat is very fast”

The gynae’s weekly observation

“You are to stressed;

Must try to calm down”

Ah yes, that stress

The international IPO

Of a construction company

Numerous lawyers

With numerous demands

Long nights, longer weekends

And then,

A bridge collapsed

People died

Potential investors fled

“You’re baby’s heartbeat is very fast”

Oh yes,

I know why

Flipping the page

Exposing recollections of the birth

Happy smiling faces

Moments of incredible joy

No baby blues for me

No recordings of medical issues

A baby’s relentless screams

Or the pain of mastitis

Those records kept elsewhere

In brown paper envelopes

Stuffed with x-rays, sonars

And radiology reports

“You have terrible scaring

in your left breast. It looks

like you’ve been in an accident”

The women’s doctor says.

Time travel continues

Birthday parties

My first decorative cake

for a Pooh Bear celebration

Holidays

Swimming parties

Family gatherings

Christmas

Easter …

SNAP!

I close the book

Shut off the memories

Only happy times here

The best of our recollections

Stashed away neatly

With dusty birthday cards

And bent ticket stubs

A time before digitalization

I look at my cell phone

Admire its three large cameras

Gloat over its 15 times zoom

Time to venture forth

Continue the timeline

More happy faces

Records of good times

By Robbie Cheadle

This Is How We Grow: Stories and Poems for Perspective Taking

I am part of a new anthology called This is how we grow. It includes my story, There’s No Return to Sender, which shares a short piece of my personal history dealing with my sons chronic illness.

You can purchase This Is How We Grow here: https://www.amazon.com/This-How-We-Grow-Perspective/dp/B0CCCNBNWV

Blurb

Stories have allowed people to transmit ideas, beliefs, and behaviors throughout history. The underlying premise of this book is that humans can grow by understanding the perspective of someone else. Perspective-taking can help humans develop compassion and concern for others.. One way to attain a deeper understanding of people is by learning about different viewpoints and this book offers material for perspective taking,

Sherri let us feel some California and English culture fusion, with reminders about how close, and connected, we all are in this big ol’ world. Let’s remember this when we feel a spirit of division. Can we put aside what divides and remember that we have more in common than we might not initially see?

Miriam Hurdle shared about going from having no grandkids, to getting the joyful news, to then having the pandemic limit travel to see this growing family. Her chapter left us with uplifting familial warmth.

Yvette Prior shared about the challenges and silver linings that came with a recent move while noting that lessons learned are a gift because it can lead to humility and strength.

Ana Linden shared about perspective changes through the story about her aunt, who had the middle name of Dragonfly. Ana showed the components of perspective and empathy are intertwined and complex, just like Ana’s Aunt Dragonfly was.

Marsha Ingrao shared about her blogging experience that led to soft skill development, friendship, life fuel, and a way to offer customized outreach. She reminded us that when storms come, we do the best we can to respond, cope, stay stable, and grow.

Lauren Scott explored body image while reminding us that empathy consists of both affective and cognitive components. Lauren also reminded us that we cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results.

Mabel Kwong gained a deeper perspective by stopping writing, which made a huge difference in her affect and outlook. Life is not always easy and the obstacles with her writing journey remind us to stay the course and find what we need.

Robbie Cheadle shared her growth over six years as she dealt with illnesses with both of her children. The vulnerable health challenges also came with joy and growth. The beauty is there if we put forth the effort to see it.

Jeffrey D. Simmons used poetry to describe the cadence of his life as he has adapted to different living arrangements. Jeff chooses to adapt and find joy whether he has to anchor or move around.

Trent McDonald used fiction to show us that we humans not only tend to have wrong assumptions, but assumptions are often negative. Maybe we can start assuming the best and clarify sooner to minimize distorted thinking.

Mahesh Nair talked about words and accents with an example of how he once perceived a behavior as snobby to later see that it was not. He also explored how the current digital world is something many of us take for granted but it had to grow, evolve, and mature over many years. Humans are similar in how we advance and grow.

Mike’s chapter offered tips and advice for thriving while in caregiver mode. The physical exhaustion and mental drain can be mitigated and he also let us into his personal life as he shared about how it took time to understand relationship dynamics and then live out what he advised about in a clinical setting.

Cade reminded us that our mental filters will change as the way we view right and wrong will change too. As we learn more about individual bias and faulty thinking, we need to pay attention to other people’s viewpoints.

There is a gap between what is and what we know or think something is. We hope the stories and poems in this book help readers learn about how others see the world and gain a deeper understanding to open the heart and enhance empathy. 

Dan Antion from No Facilities blog shared a lovely review of this book here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/02/this-is-how-we-grow-1linerweds/

This week for Thursday Doors I am sharing the door to the Chinese Candy Dragon’s lair. I was pleased with myself for managing to insert the dragon’s head so he’s peeping through the window. The dragon features in Michael and my new Sir Chocolate high days and holidays book series. This one is all about Halloween.

You can learn more about Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/08/10/things-to-remember/

And, you can find Teagan Riordain Geneviene’s entertaining Thursday Doors post about a magic mirror here: https://teagansbooks.com/2023/08/09/wednesday-writing-thursdaydoors-in-atonement-tn-artifact-notes-the-mirror-of-truth/

This is the cover:

This is the book trailer video Michael and I created:

Sunday Stills this week is all about the lazy, hazy days of summer. But its winter here, so …

You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/08/06/sunday-stills-lazy-hazy-daze-of-summer/