Thank you to lovely Sally Cronin of Smorgasbord Blog Magazine for sharing this extract from my book, A Ghost and His Gold. If you don’t know Sally you really are missing out. She has an amazing blog where she shares book reviews, updates about authors and new books, articles about health and recipes, as well as interesting posts about her life. She shares some great joke posts too. Sally also has several excellent books of poetry and prose, as well as some non-fiction books on good health and diet.
In this series you are invited to share an extract of 500 words from your most recent book published within the last 12 months. Details at the end of the post.
The aim of the series
To showcase your latest book and sell some more copies.
Gain more reviews for the book.
Promote a selection of your other books that are available.
The next extract is from the historical novel set in South Africa during the Boer War, A Ghost and His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle – Another book that I can recommend.
About the book
After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summonses a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904. Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom…
Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
During our brief 24 hours in Graaf-Reinet in January this year, we visited Reinet House which is now a museum.
Reinet House was originally a Dutch Reformed Church parsonage and was built in 1812. The most well know of the ministers who occupied the parsonage were Rev Andrew Murray and his son Charles. Rev Andrew Murray was a writer and teacher in addition to being a minister.
Reinet House which was built in the traditional H shaped Cape Dutch style of the time (1812)A selection of doors in the courtyard and belonging to various outbuildings
Charles Murray planted a Black Acorn grapevine in 1870 which still survives today. This is the second oldest grapevine in South Africa. The oldest is a Gross Chenin Blanc sown in 1771 that still exists in the central business district of Cape Town.
Black Acorn vine at Reinet House – Picture credit: Trip Advisor
We visited a local restaurant in Graaf-Reinet called Pioneers.
It was a great restaurant with lots of character. This picture is of the back doors out onto the verandah
I had a traditional bobotie which is a South African casserole with curried ground beef at the bottom and a thin layer of egg custard on top.
My Dark Origins post today provides some insight into the religious beliefs of the San (Bushmen), rock art and a YT video of a San Moon Dance. Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Today, I am sharing a bit about the traditional religious beliefs of the San.
God and the afterlife
The bushmen traditionally believe in a greater and a lesser Supreme Being or God.
The greater God first created himself and then the land and the food it produces, the air and water. He is generally a positive power and protects, wards off disease and teaches…
Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
During our January road trip we visited the town of Graaff-Reneit in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa for 24 hours.
Graaff-Reneit is the fifth oldest town in South Africa and was the starting point for two of the groups which participated in the mass migration of the Afrikaner people into the interior of South Africa to escape British rule in 1836, know as the Great Trek. These two parties were led by Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief, both well-known Great Trek leaders. Piet Retief and a delegation of trekkers were massacred by the Zulu King, Dingaan, during a negotiation meeting. The Zulus went on to exterminate several Voortrekker camps in the area. These circumstances led to the famous Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838 when 464 Voortrekkers successfully defended their camp against an estimated 10,000 Zulu warriors. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blood_River
The song, The Warrior, included in the musical Ipi Tombi memorializes this famous battle. You can listen to it here:
The Town of Graaff-Reneit is shaped like a wagon wheel and you can see it clearly from viewing points in the Camdeboo National Park which also features the famous Valley of Desolation.
An original house in Graaff-ReneitAnother original houseDutch Reformed ChurchClose up of the door of the Dutch Reformed ChurchGate to the Camdeboo National Park
Are you ready for the Valley of Desolation?
Viewing point for The Valley of Desolation
The town of Graaff-Reneit shaped like a wagon wheel
This review was supposed to go out on Wednesday this week, but the wheels fell off the work bus and I had to work late. Better late than never, so here is my review of No Such Luck by Staci Troilo.
What Amazon says
Seeds of luck usually wither. The rare one grows and blooms.
Piper Seidel has one thing going for her—a red carnation given to her by Tommy Burnett in the tenth grade. It might have dried over the years, but it’s still her good luck charm. Losing it sets her life in a downward spiral, forcing her to return to her hometown where she comes face to face with her high school crush.
The years have been kind to Tommy, who looks better than ever. Unfortunately, Piper is at her worst, continually embarrassing herself whenever he’s around. The only plus? Her long-time friend, Jack Rhodes, still lives in town. Since she last saw him, his legs have grown longer, his biceps thicker, and his shoulders broader. He was always the brother she never had, but now she can’t help noticing him in an unsisterly way. Jack is every bit as caring as he’s ever been—until her bad luck drives him away, maybe forever.
Piper needs a new good luck charm, and fast, before she loses her final chance at happiness.
My review
No Such Luck is a delightful romance about a young woman coming to terms with a teenage romance and finding adult love.
Piper is a feisty character who is very good at her job, but bad at office politics and the ‘playing the game’ necessary to get on in an office job. She firmly believes that her skills and excellent journalistic skills are enough to secure her place in a financially stressed job environment, but she is wrong. An inability to work well with others proves to be her downfall and Piper is fired. I related well to Piper and felt bad for her when a cherished momentum is lost when security pack up her desk and she is left feeling she has lost everything. Piper decides to go home to her father and her step-mother for the Christmas holidays.
Back in her home town, Piper runs into her best friend from school, Jack, and an old flame, Tommy. Piper must reassess her past relationships in order to plot her own best path forward.
This book is well writing and the story is enjoyable with a satisfying conclusion.
Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
Entrance hallMaster bedroomDoor from the green roomCupboard in the sitting roomDoor into the green room from the sitting roomRed doorDoor to storage roomJars of crushed glass in storage roomDoor into the bathroomFireplaceCeiling in kitchenKitchen door
Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
This week, I’m sharing some pictures of the lodge, which really was very nice.
Door from the dining roomEntranceDoor to the outside showerGreg outside the door to the vehicleDoor to our room
We saw some wonderful animals, including this warthog.
Last week I mentioned that the single young elephant bull got a fright when the vehicle started. This is the story in 99-syllables.
Elephant scare
The bull elephant stands Passive aggressive Perceiving no threat from the six vehicles The people drawn like flies To view real nature *** He continues to feed Desecrating trees Trying to satisfy his ceaseless hunger One eye on the people One eye on the leaves *** The engine turns over It’s time to move on No regard for the animal – he takes fright Rears and trumpets his shock Driver reacts fast
In case you’ve forgotten, this is how close the elephant was – the vehicle roof support can be seen to the side of the picture. These vehicles are open.
One of my favourite sightings was seeing a dung beetle rolling a ball of dung across the road. You can watch my short video here:
Be it born to darkness and sacrifice, or be it raised amidst love and hope; for those who dwell under light and freedom, and those who are shackled to ways preordained, the cruellest curses stem from our greatest blessings. And yet some are cursed, so that others may be blessed.
Kamau is born to a people who repress all emotion, but his first experience of grief shakes the foundations of all his beliefs. It thrusts him on a journey for answers, and ultimately pits him and a few unexpected companions against an ageless power.
My review
Realms of the Mist is a fantasy story set in the beautiful and majestic mountains of eastern Africa. The writing has a lyrical and poetic style which suits the mystical subject matter of the book.
The protagonist, Kamau, is a member of a tribe of people called the Hadiza. They are the Guardians of The Veil which separates the afterlife from life on earth. Their positions as Guardians come with gift and the Hadiza are able to transform into animals. There is also a price to be paid and they are expected to control their emotions and serve the spirits without emotional burdens. To this end, siblings are separated from their parents and from each other and grow up cared for by communities of people. This system failed for Kamau and his younger sister who accidently end up in the same community. Kamau succumbs and takes on the responsibilities of an older brother despite this being contrary to the beliefs of his people. The unexpected death of Kamau’s sister unbalances him and results in him nearly committing a terrible sin. Despite his failing to remain detached from his sister and his near failing, he is chosen to go on an important mission to save The Veil and his people. It is believed he is the only one who can fulfil this mission and his relationship with his sister and her death influence his behaviour and decisions.
I enjoyed Kamau’s character and his growth from a temperamental and selfish young man to a more mature and responsible man. With his best friend and guide, Irina, at his side, he sets off to overcome the forces of evil working to destroy his world. During his travels, he meets another lovely young woman called Ninuwe, who is of the Femi tribe. Her gift is to incite love and lust in others and she competes with Irina for Kamau’s affections. This competition makes for some fun and interesting dialogue and exchanges.
This is a great adventure with lots of excitement and action. It’s African setting and interesting mythological components make this an extraordinary read.
Jude Itakali was born and lives in Kampala, Uganda. He is publishing his first collected works, “CROSSROADS (Winds of love)
When not being an athlete on the rugby field, or crunching down numbers on a computer for work, he delicately pens the epiphanies from life and its different relationships and encounters.
He writes about all sorts of topics, finding a way to relate them with each other, because no one theme exists in a vacuum.
Empathy is sometimes considered a gift, and Jude has it in abundance
I am over at Writing to be Read with Part 2 of posts about the San (Bushmen) of southern Africa. Today, I am reading a poem from IXam mythology and sharing about the Bushman Heritage Centre in Nieu Bethesda, South Africa. Thank you for hosting me, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Today, I am going to share a poem from the extinct IXam tribe and a little more about the San.
San hunting methods
The San are excellent hunters. They do some trapping of animals but hunting with a bow and arrows is their preferred method. The San arrows are smeared with a deadly poison that kills the animal slowly. As the animal takes a long time to die, the hunters have to track it sometimes for a few days.
The San make their poison from a caterpillar called ka or ngwa or from the larvae of a small beetle. Sometimes they use poison made from plants or snake venom. San poisons are highly toxic. In order to prevent accidental contamination, they reverse their…
About the book
roberta-writes.com 