Roberta Writes – Book Blog Promotion: Poetic Justice, A Rascall Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson #bookblogtour #fiction #readingcommunity

Picture caption: Book Launch banner for Poetic Justice

Hi everyone! Today, I have invited Dan Antion and Willow Willers, co-authors of Poetic Justice, A Rascall Todd Mystery with Brody Thompson, to Roberta Writes to talk about some of the fascinating characters populating this book, including the Poet, Trevor, Brody, Rascal, and Bonkers the cat, he’s very popular, or anyone else you would like.

And on to the interview…

Robbie Question: Tell me guys … Apart from Rascal, Terry, and Bonkers the cat how many of the cast of your previous books are present in this book?

Dan Answer: The regular characters from the newspaper are also in this story, particularly Bernie (the Editor) and Kevin Gowerly (the photographer).

Robbie Question: Dan, who are the new characters and are they likely to still be around if another book comes out?

Dan Answer: The two significant new characters are Trevor Barcroft, the murdered man’s son, and Brody Thompson. Brody is a retired police officer from Rochester, New York. After retiring, he began writing true crime dramas and mysteries. Trevor asks him to help solve his father’s murder. Trevor’s mother is also an interesting character.It’s possible that Brody will appear in a future novel. I like working with him.‌

Robbie Question: Willow, you are new to writing in this series. What do you think of the characters in Dan’s books?

Willow Answer: Robbie, having read all the books including Knuckleheads and the three other books in that series, as well as the previous two books in the Rascal Todd series. I really love the characters and where they live! Writing characters/ people is definitely Dan’s forté. He really brings them all to life and you soon find yourself regarding them as old friends. Did you know there is one character, an FBI agent, Thomas Slocum who has been in the books from the get-go?

Robbie: Question: Willow, do you have a favourite character in Poetic Justice?

Willow Answer: Apart from Bonkers, the cat, I have to say Brody is definitely up there. He’s a dogged and seasoned investigator and he certainly has a great sense of humour. Here is a little snippet that I really like:

“Brody at the hotel in Pittsburgh.

He walked what he considered to be half a mile past an equipment dealer and a trucking terminal before returning to the hotel. It was early enough that he still needed his room key to open the lobby doors. “You’re up early today, Mr. Thompson. ”Brody smiled at the regular morning clerk. “I wanted to get some exercise. “The gym is open twenty-four-seven. “I don’t want to go overboard.””

Oh! And boy does he like coffee.

Arlene too, she’s a really cool character. …she is a real eye opener.

Robbie Question: Dan, do you have any favourite characters and how do they present to you?

Dan Answer: I like Brody Thompson. I expected him to be a minor character, but I came to like working with him and decided that he should be the lead detective. I also like Bernie Bouchard. He’s been around for three books, now, and he helps me navigate some difficult subjects.‌

Robbie Question: What made you want your informant, for want of a better word, to be a poet? That’s a very novel idea, so why?

Dan Answer: The first poem is a funeral card that Brody discovers at Wilson Barcroft’s grave. Initially, that was going to be an ‘in-your-face’ moment. Wilson’s son, Trevor, didn’t want to go to the grave so finding a clue was important. When Willow sent me the prayer card, I knew that poetry, and the Poet, were going to be important. My plans for the book changed at that point.‌

Robbie Question: Willow, how did you find the Poet’s voice? Was it hard to get clues across in poetry that would sit well in a prose book?

Willow Answer: After I received Dan’s request to write a few poems for him, I read the background and what was written of the story so far. I wrote what I thought Dan needed. As I was reading it back, believe it or not, I heard a voice in my head saying, “that’s not quite what I want to say.” I listened, and thought, and re-wrote the poems. I liked them, they made sense. I think Dan liked them too. After that, either I became the Poet, or he just spoke to me.

Picture caption: Poetic tribute to the men who died during the Vietnam War

About Poetic Justic

Picture caption: Cover of Poetic Justice featuring a man in a trench coat on a dark street in the rain

Trevor Barcroft is convinced that mystery/true crime author Brody Thompson wrote the scene in which Trevor’s father Wilson Barcroft was murdered. What should be a simple answer to this five-yer-old crime is one that neither the police nor the FBI want to uncover; and one Bernie Bouchard doesn’t want his young investigative reporter, Rascal Todd, digging into. Warned to stay away from the investigation.. Brody and Trevor begin a dangerous quest, led by the musings of a mysterious poet who has been hiding in plain sight for decades. What does the Poet know that keeps him in hiding? What did Wilson Barcroft know that got him killed? Why can’t Brody walk away from a meaningless and dangerous pursuit?

About Dan Antion

Dan is retired from a 42-year-long career in systems development and other technology and began writing his first book the next day. He’s married, the father of one child, and although there are no pets around today, he and his wife have had four Irish Setters and a handful of Tuxedo cats over time. Dan is the author of the Dreamer’s Alliance Series and the Rascal Todd Mysteries. When Dan isn’t writing, you might find him in his woodshop, working around the house, or walking around with a camera. He also might be having a beer with friends and some of those encounters have inspired the fictional bar stories on his popular blog — Https://noFacilities.com.

Find Dan Antion

Author page: http://relinks.me/DanielAntion

Blog: Https://noFacilities.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ptjdluuxckfau3dnaihh2sn5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/

DAntionYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHXESp0LosdxjU-7elOu3g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danantion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dantion/

About Willow Willers

London born Willow Willers is retired and lives in Berkshire, Southern England. Along with her husband and a steady stream of foster dogs mainly Guide Dogs for the Blind. Willow is mother to three sons all grown and flown and two fast growing grandsons.Writing, poetry and prose have always been her passion in fact she wrote her first pieces before she was eight. After two life changing accidents Willow started writing in earnest and has found it a life saver. You can find willow at willowdot21.wordpress.com

Find Willow Willers

Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Willow-Willers/author/B0DZD1TNZX

Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/share/16AwsHVCqk/

Blog at wordpress.https://willowdot21.wordpress.com

Picture caption: Promo Banner for Poetic Justic featuring a car driving on the street at night, the book cover, and author photographs for both authors.

Roberta Writes – d’Verse quadrille, Quiet and Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge #poetry #photography

This week’s d’Verse Quadrille is to write a 44 word using the word quiet. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/05/19/quadrille-224-walk-quietly-in-my-dreams/

Esther Chilton’s writing challenge is to write a piece about water. You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/05/14/writing-prompts-65/

I have combined these two challenges into my 44-word poem, Mist.

Mist

tiny water droplets

suspended in clouds

above the golden veld

gently embrace

the wild hibiscus

shimmer in rows

along strands of web

the bush is quiet

animals all hiding

deep within thickets

the only sound

splashing of wheels

as the vehicle

squelches through mud

Picture caption: A picture of the wild hibiscus flowers on a rare misty day

Picture caption: A picture of the wild hibiscus and a mist drenched spider web

Picture caption: I was excited to get this picture of a black rhino on that misty moisty morning, even though it was from a distance. It is very difficult to find black rhinos. They are endangered and they also hide. Black rhinos have a much bigger dip in their backs than white rhinos as well as being smaller and darker in colour. Their lip is also pointed because their diet is different to white rhinos. Black rhinos live among trees while white rhinos are plains grazers.

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Sandy Bums on Chewers by Masticadores

Thank you to editor, Nolcha Fox, for publishing my quirky poem, Sandy bums on Chewers by Masticadores.

“Sandy bums” a Quirky Response Poem by Robbie Cheadle

Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors Writing Challenge and Tsukiji Hogan-ji Temple in Tokyo #floating #whitedoors #photography

Two more poems for Dan’s Thursday Doors writing challenge which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2025/

Picture caption: This is my own photographic entry for Dan’s Writing Challenge. It is an artwork by Louise Bourgeois which I saw at the Mori Art Gallery in Tokyo

Floating (shadorma)

ideas float

finding nothing to

adhere to

candy floss

thoughts, discombobulated

and quite meaningless

Picture caption: This door photograph is contributed by Dan, our challenge host

White door

“You want to keep the door white?”

“Absolutely, it’s so pristine and clean”

“I have to rethink this marriage –

I don’t want to spend my life with someone

who wants a white painted door”

“I don’t understand – what’s wrong with a white door?”

“It’s clinical, sterile, and it just looks wrong.”

“Okay, well, what colour door would you like?”

“Buttercup yellow with a blue postbox.”

“You’re right, we need to rethink this marriage.”

Tsukiji Hogan-ji Temple in Tokyo

Picture caption: A peep through the temple entrance door

Picture caption: A man doing the cleansing ritual before entering the temple

Picture caption: The alter at the Tsukiji Hogan-ji Temple in Tokyo

Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Poetics: “I Have No Word in English For” Ubantu #poetry #Zuluculture

Dora gave the poetry challenge ” Use within your poem a familiar word(s) or phrase(s) from a language other than English, transliterated if using a non-Roman alphabet, which you feel expresses a distinctively peculiar thought or emotion.”

You can read other contributions here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/05/13/poetics-i-have-no-word-in-english-for/

I chose the word Ubantu.

Ubuntu is a term from the Nguni Bantu languages of Southern Africa, which encompasses a philosophy emphasizing the interconnectedness of individuals within their communities and the broader world. The word “Ubuntu” is often translated as “I am because we are” or “humanity towards others”.

Ubantu

I am because you are

communal existence is vital

to our collective survival

I am interconnected

to my surroundings

and to all humanity

By showing kindness to others

I make the world more welcoming

My environmental choices

ensure a better future for us all

and gives a voice to the voiceless

through proactivity in political and social matters

I help resolve injustices peacefully

Helping others is important to me

whether through donations or time

it all helps make my society better

Most importantly

by thinking before I act

I am a positive contributor to this planet

South Africa is a melting pot of interesting and vivid cultures.

This is my video of traditional Zulu dancing on New Year’s Eve:

My reading of a traditional Zulu story:

In this video you can hear the undulating call of the women:

Roberta Writes: d’verse prosery: Ada Limón #prose #ostriches

Merril asked poets to write a piece of prosery, no longer than 144 words, using a specified phrase from the poem “The Magnificent Frigatebird” by Ada Limón. I used the phrase as a heading for my piece. I wrote an initial piece and then I edited it down to achieve the 144-word requirement. I have included both pieces as the longer pieces includes a lot more details about one of my favourite birds, the ostrich. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/05/12/prosery-ada-limon/

“I have no skills for flight or wings
to skim the waves effortlessly, like the wind itself.”

This is the 144-word piece:

“Mama, why can’t we fly. We’re birds, aren’t we? All the other birds can fly.”

“Well, Little One, we are ostriches. We don’t need to fly. We have evolved to become flightless.”

“But Mama, I want to fly. I want to be the same as my friends. I don’t like being different.”

“You should be proud to be part of a species of bird that has adapted so well to its desert home. It’s more useful for us to have speed and endurance. We can sprint at over 70 kilometres an hour.

“And we do use our wings, we just don’t use them to fly.”

“I remember how you sheltered me and my siblings from the rain and the sun with your wings, Mama. Thank you for explaining. I feel much better now and I’m going to tell my friends how special I am.”

This is the longer and more detailed piece:

“Mama, why can’t we fly. We’re birds, aren’t we? All the other birds can fly, even my friend the kori bustard.”

“Well, Little One, we are ostriches. We no longer fly because we don’t need to. In the distant past we did fly but over time we have evolved to become flightless.”

“But Mama, I want to fly. I want to be the same as all my bird friends. They say I’m not a proper bird because I can’t fly and my wings are useless. It makes me sad.”

“Ostriches are proper birds, my son. You should be proud to be part of a species of bird that has adapted so well to its desert home. We don’t use our wings for flight because it was more advantageous for us to develop speed and endurance on the ground. You must remember that ostriches breed on the ground and we also take advantage of abundant ground-level food sources. Our main predators are hyenas and lions, so we need to be able to outrun them. And we can outrun them. We are the fastest runners of any bird or other two-legged creature in the world. Did you know that? We can sprint at over 70 kilometres an hour.

“And we do use our wings. We don’t use them to fly, that is true, but we use our wings for many useful purposes. Our wings reach a span of approximately 2 metres and we use them in mating displays, to protect our chicks, and to cover the skin of our upper legs and flanks to conserve heat when it’s cold. We also use our wings as rudders to help us change direction while running.”

Little One cuddles up to Mama. “I remember how you sheltered me and my siblings from the rain and the sun with your wings, Mama. You are right, your wings were very important to protect us. Thank you, Mama, for explaining. I feel much better now and I’m going to tell my friends how special I am.”

Picture caption: Mama ostrich with brown and white feathers

Picture caption: Papa ostrich with black and white feathers

Picture caption: Mana and Papa ostrich together

Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Challenge, Thursday Doors Writing Challenge and the Pilanesberg Volcanic Crater #poetry #photography

Esther Chilton’s writing challenge this week is special place. I know this wasn’t what she had in mind, but this is what came. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/05/07/writing-prompts-64/

Special Place

There’s a special place in my heart

I keep just for you

My youngest, my sunshine boy

The one I kept alive

Through determination and willpower

Every word you say

Every action you take

I wrap in fine tissue

And store in my special place

Where they will be with me always

My treasure trove of memories

Little one,

You are my greatest achievement

This is my eighth poem for Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge which you can participate in here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2025/

Picture caption: The above photograph inspiration was provided by the remarkably creative Resa whose amazing blog you can find here: https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2018/03/27/ocean-life/

Blocky Mindset

“Your style is blocky,” my art teacher said

I was offended by this remark

A misunderstanding; on reflection

He is actually quite right

My art style is blocky

To match how I conduct my life

I paint in small sections of colour

Mapped out in advance

According to my plan: I’ll do this bit today

I don’t jump about like other artists

Each piece is created separately

And is self-contained and complete

Just like everything else in my life

If you are interested in my creation process for my painting: Lion Amid Flowers, you can see my post on my art blog here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/lion-amid-flowers-painting-process-acrylicpainting-art/

Pilanesberg Volcanic crater

The Pilanesberg mountain is an ancient volcanic structure, circular in shape, that rises from flat surrounding plains. It is formed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills, of which the outermost has a diameter of about 24 km.

According to https://pilanesberg-game-reserve.co.za/about_pilanesberg/:

“The crater of a long extinct volcano, where Pilanesberg is set, is a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature.”

It was very cold the morning we stopped at the viewing point for the Pilanesberg volcanic crater lake for tea.

Picture caption: TC and I in front of the lake and volcanic mountain ring view

Picture caption: The temperatures dropped so quickly the lake was steaming

This is my Youtube video of the mountain volcanic ring:

This is a YT short of the same setting:

Roberta Writes – Thursday Doors Writing Challenge and Bridges #poetry #photography

I am sharing two poems today. The first one is for a lovely digital art design by Teagan Geneviene who blogs here: https://teagansbooks.com/2025/05/08/thursdaydoors-tdwc-greatest-of-all-time/

The second photograph is provided by our host, Dan Antion. You can find all the doors for this writing challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2025/

Picture caption: Picture of the inside of a modern caravan with a window to a past scene of caravanning.

Don’t believe everything you see

Don’t make assumptions about other people

What you see, or what you think you see

May not be accurate or complete

In fact, it might be totally deceptive

Don’t say to another “You are wealthy”

Without knowing what burdens they carry

Don’t assume someone is privileged

When you know nothing of their challenges

Don’t presume someone’s life is perfect

Without understanding their traumas

Some people chose to hide their pain

Don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves

Some people elect to make the most of life

Accepting that adversity is part of living

Some people play the cards they receive

Knowing the game includes a roll of the dice

So don’t make assumptions about other people

Because what you see is rarely the truth

It is merely what you want to believe is true

Picture caption: Two small sheep behind a slatted door

What’s That?

“Mom … Mom … What’s that animal?

I’ve never seen one like him before”

“Just a moment, children. I’m helping Granny”

“Mom … Mom … I think he likes us

He staring at us with lovely golden eyes”

“Okay, I’m nearly done. Give me a minute”

“Don’t worry, Mom. He’s leaving.

He’s walking back into the trees

Wait! Mom! He’s running towards the fence

I think he wants to visit us”

“It’s a lion! Run, children, run

He wants to make us his lunch”

Bridges

Lastly, here are a few bridges photographs from my trip to Amsterdam last year. These are for Dan’s CFFC: Bridges and Ferries challenge which you can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/05/05/bridges-and-ferries-cffc/

Picture caption: Red and white stripped bridge across a canal in Amsterdam. There are houseboats to the right of the picture

Seven bridges sighting point on a canal in Amsterdam

A boat coming through an enclosed bridge on a canal in Amsterdam

Roberta Writes – Book review: A Noble Bargain by Jan Sikes #bookreview #adultfiction #readingcommunity

Picture caption: Book cover for A Nobel Bargain by Jan Sikes featuring a young man in old fashioned working clothes with a dog and an old fashioned vehicle.

What Amazon says

A true testament of character, resilience, and the magic of never giving up.

The year is 1948 and folks in the sawmill town of Crossett, Arkansas, work hard and play hard. Oliver Quinn does both. Oliver is the son of Irish immigrants who firmly believe in pursuing the American dream. His deepest desire is to play major league baseball. He only needs one chance to prove himself.

Rose Blaine is living in a nightmare where dreams don’t exist. She’s suffered for years at the hands of her violent moonshiner father and his partner. During a brutal attack, she must fight back or die. The aftermath is devastating.

Fueled by desperation, Rose strikes a life-changing bargain with Oliver. If he’ll take her and her brother to St. Louis, Missouri, she’ll introduce Oliver to her uncle, a baseball legend.

While their journey is fraught with unseen perils, they forge an unbreakable bond and make surprising allies.

When destiny throws them a curve ball, they must find the courage to create a hopeful future out of the ashes of shattered dreams with newfound fortitude.

My review

A Noble Bargain is a delightful tale that starts of with the main character, Rose, in one of the worst imaginable situations for a young woman and lightens and brightens considerably as it progresses, despite some dramatic events.

Rose and her two brothers, Harlan and Jack, are victims of their alcoholic father’s moonshine induced rages, their abused mother having passed away some years previously. Sadly, seventeen year old Rose, is also a victim of her father’s lecherous partner.

Oliver is the son of Irish immigrants who, despite suffering loss, are a loving and close knit family. He has a good job and is working hard to improve his situation and help support his family but he dreams of playing professional baseball. He has no idea how he could go about making this dream a reality.

Oliver meets Rose at a dance and is immediately taken with her. It quickly becomes apparent to Oliver that Rose’s home situation is far from idea and he sets out to try and help her and her brothers.

This is a lovely story about overcoming adversity and achieving dreams. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to all readers as everyone could use some upliftment and happiness in their choice of reading material.

The story is well written and the characters are well developed and believable. Rose is a strong minded individual who has drawn a very poor set of circumstantial cards in life. You just can’t help rooting for her and hoping for the best possible outcome.

I enjoyed the previous book, A Beggar’s Bargain, and it was nice to see those characters making an appearance in this second book.

Purchase A Nobel Bargain from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Noble-Bargain-Bargainer-Book-ebook/dp/B0F6HB5YT8