Merry Christmas!

As this night descended the final candle on Advent wreaths were lit, marking Advents yield to Christmas Eve. While children eagerly await Santa Claus, I await midnight mass at church (though I wouldn't mind a visit from Mr. Claus myself). Christmas tunes softly play in the background, while the dogs have nestled together on the couch. A touch of frost mingles with the air outside with some ice forming on an old patio table and the deck.

The thought of that chill reminds me I should make some hot chocolate tonight as the caffeine will help me stay awake at midnight mass. Elvis is now singing Blue Christmas to me as I type these few words wishing you and yours a warm, safe, and love-filled Merry Christmas!

The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt and my other writing

Just to give everyone a heads up, the paper back version of The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt is now available on amazon.com. Remember it is retailing there for $17.99.

Revolt on Amazon

Through my publisher I'm able to set a discount with them. If you got to lulu.com you can purchase the book for $13.49, which is a 25% savings. Also, Lulu frequently has coupons in the website for another percentage off or free shipping.

Revolt on Lulu

Now that Revolt is back in the world, I have been working diligently on Realizations. I fully anticipate the second book in The Conrad Chronicles to be out by March, if not a bit sooner. My aim now is to have the third book Rejections out by next December. So I will be busy.

While I'm working on all this editing, polishing, and formatting, I am also spending a bit of time on the second drafter of my League of Angels inspired book. Though I must confuse that other than the names of a few characters my friends from the game wanted me to use, the book has nothing to do with the game other than being a fantasy adventure.  Also, though I had not planned it, I ended up setting the book on the planet Karna and gave it a small tie-in with The Conrade Chronicles. No matter what I write, I always seem to end up back on Karna.

Happy reading.

Christmas 2017 Poem

Christmas 2017
by Heather Hobson Lewis


This year’s beautiful autumn in Salem has now
transformed to glorious winter,
yielding to a warm and cozy
holiday season.

Unplanned life changes unfolded when
Tom lost one job on Good Friday,
only to land a prizewinning position on Labor Day.

Revolt found rebirth as a freshly printed book,
and evolved into a new form as an e-book.
The long overdue sequel, Realizations,
shall appear by spring.




Fern’s leg completely healed,
freeing her to play rough and tumble with Boomer,
thus leading to the pairs first Youtube video,
Love and Paws.

With all this now past,
we look forward to a blessed 2018
and a world of peace and joy for all,
especially you.

The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt has been published!

After many hours of toil (or perhaps I should say years), The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt is back in print. Right now the paperback version is available at Lulu.com.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=The+Conrad+Chronicles%3A+Revolt&type=

It takes a few weeks for it to be available for purchase through Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and other books stores as a paper back.  Though currently you can purchase the Kindle version on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Conrad-Chronicles-Revolt-Heather-Hobson-ebook/dp/B076VVD23F/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510815846&sr=8-1&keywords=the+conrad+chronicles%3A+Revolt

If you do go to Amazon and find the Kindle you will see a paperback version for sale. That is the old one by the evil publisher that was retailing it for $27.95. When the new version comes out it will retail on Amazon.com for $17.99. Though if you go to Lulu.com and purchase the paperback copy you get a 25% discount off of the $17.99 so can get it there for only $13.50. In addition Lulu almost always has a coupon for another percentage off or free shipping. So by shopping for the book at Lulu.com, you cut out the middle man and save money.

Happy Reading!

PS: The cover is designed as a puzzle. With the publication of each of the 9 books in the series, a square shall be revealed.

Fern and Boomer's Halloween

Fern and Boomer enjoyed a fun Halloween full of dog cookies, a visit to the dog park, and dressing up in sweater costumes. For a brief time they each donned some head pieces, but it isn't something either likes, so those didn't stay on beyond photo time.

Fern really does enjoy wearing clothes and actually snuggled up in Boomer's Boo (has a ghost of the back that says Boo) sweater for two days. Boomer just prefers to hide under blankets for warmth, so as soon as the tricker-or-treaters were done for the night, he was back to just fur.

Fern as Princess Leia with buns.

Boomer wanting another Halloween treat

Boomer with two sets of ears. Those are Yoda ears growing out of his neck.

The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt, a writing update

Good news: Revolt is almost ready for public sale again. Everything has been uploaded and formatted and the proof copy has been order. If all goes well, Revolt will be for sale by November as a paperback, and possible as an e-book even sooner.

As soon as this novel is up for sale, I will let you know (as well as begin polishing up the second novel in The Conrad Chronicles, Realizations.

Here is the cover, which Charles Berton did a great job on creating for me. Happy reading.

Cover for The Conrad Chronicles: Revolt by Charles Berton

Writing Update-ghost book and The Conrad Chronicles

Writing always provides many challenges, especially on the publishing end. The ghost book I mentioned a few months back still hasn't been printed by the publisher. I was really hoping it would be out before Halloween, but it doesn't look like it will be.

Meanwhile, I have been diligently writing the first draft of a new novel which has now over 300 hand written pages.  This is a sequel to another book I wrote earlier this year that I am in the process of typing up.

While all this is going on Revolt, the first of The Conrad Chronicles which was first published many years ago, will be republished. A wonderful artist is working on a cover for the book, while at the same time the manuscript is being formatted as both an e-book and a paperback.  This will be the first time Revolt will be available as an e-book.

My hope is to follow up the publishing of Revolt with the second book in The Conrad Chronicles, Realizations. The cover art for it is being worked on and it is in the process of one last read through before it gets formatted for printing.  With any luck, Revolt with be available again in November and Realizations should be out by the spring, most likely March.

Happy reading!

Backyard Archaeology: Under the Deck!

With the swampy pond finally cleaned out, I was able to climb under the deck (Well, actually I wedged myself partly under, as far as I could crawl and then used a grabber stick). I knew a few items were under there, but I had no idea what I was in store for when I started dragging stuff out. Besides the obvious trash and aluminum cans, as well as a bottle of leaking weed killer, I found a surprising number of shoes.

Seven Shoes

Seven shoes emerged, one for each of the Seven Dwarfs. The eighth one is possibly still under there, hiding in some corner.

Shoes weren't the only interesting items to see the light of day from beneath the deck. Amongst the items retrieved were an assortment of gardening items, three balls, a brush, a motorcycle toy, part of a bike helmet, a pen, cup, scrub brush, mixing bowl, and a Pringle's chips snack container.

Gardening items found beneath the deck

The Three Balls

Other random deck relics

Though I tried there was one item wedged under the deck I just couldn't manage to dislodge enough to pull out. I figure it will have to remain there until the deck is replaced in the future. That is unless Santa Claus decides to get out the green Christmas tree stand for me!

Oregon State Fair 2017

Yesterday, Friday, was the first official day of the Oregon State Fair. As it is the $2 a person day as well, I headed out there.

Most of the features like the carnival and the vendor booth are as they always were. The Oregon Lottery booth changed things around and instead of giving scratchers out, gave out $2 in free Keno play.  When passing by another booth I was given a free vegetarian cookbook.

Dwight Yoakam performed the opening show for the fair this year. New to the concert stage was a video screen projecting the show. While others may like this feature, I found it distracting from the event. If I want to watch something on a screen I can do that at home.

Dwight Yoakam, Oregon State Fair 2017

Dwight Yoakam, Oregon State Fair 2017

For me the highlight of the fair was the Fire Show they had at 9:40 p.m. in the food court stage. Several performers played with fire on everything from stick to wing shaped objects. I sat close enough I could feel the heat at times.

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fire Show Oregon State Fair 2017

Fair is going on through Labor Day, so if you haven't gone yet, you still have a chance. Also, this coming Tuesday is another $2 day.

P.S. Be aware that if you do go, you may find creatures like these wandering around.

Dragon Running Loose at Oregon State Fair

Solar Eclipse, August 21, 2017: Path of Totality

Lucky for me I was in the path of totality for the Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017. During my life I have seen a solar eclipse and several lunar eclipses, but never really got the full experience until yesterday when I witnessed the full totality. Now I understand why people travel to areas that will provide the full show of the eclipse.

With a tripod, my camera (a 14 mega pixel Kodak), and a pair of solar glasses, one for me, and one I cut in half and used to cover the camera lens, I got some amazing shots. When totality was reached, I took a few amazing shots without the filter, but then covered my camera lens back up. Also, when I wasn't shooting photos, I covered my entire camera with a hat for extra protection.

Here are a few raw photos I took with the camera. Nothing has been edited or enhanced other than what I could do when I set up the shot (which was basically set the camera to distance and adjust the zoom).

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Solar Eclipse 2017-taken by Heather Hobson Lewis

Backyard Archaeology: More from the Swampy Pond

The Swampy Pond has now been drained! All the treasures within have been revealed, and there were more! Unfortunately no magical unicorns were found, but on the positive side neither were any bodies.

The Swampy Pond has been drained!

The amount of stuff to be pulled out was amazing. After photographing the finds they were either cleaned or tossed. The statues from the first archeological venture will make a nice addition in the garden, as well as a bird house that was found. After cleaning what appeared to be a cage from the first finds it turned out to be a candle holder. A lovely little wind chime was found this second time around, but Boomer sneaked off with it and turned it into a chew toy, so only the chimes themselves survive.

More finds: Bird Feeder and Squirrel Number 2

Boomer's Wind Chime chew toy and Carving Knife Blade

To go with the spatula found last time, a fry pan and spoon were unearthed, as well as the blade to an electric carving knife.

Fry Pan and Spoon to go with earlier found Spatula

Once the pond was empty enough we were able to get under the deck, which proved to be its own archaeological despository.

Junk from under the Deck

Most of the items from under the deck were trash or recyclables. Apparently there is more to be dug out from under the planks, but what was found was a welcome mat, shoe, glasses, aluminum cans, and some strange screened object with a whole in it.

Happy Digs!

 

Backyard Archaeology II: The Swampy Pond

When we bought this property it came with three very old human-made ponds. Two were dry and are scheduled to be filled in with dirt and turned into giant planters. One will be kept as a pond, but first it must be drained in cleaned as it looks like a swamp.

Pond in process of being mucked out

As the draining and cleaning began many things were pulled out of this pond. Besides candy wrappers, aluminum cans and the metal part to what we assume was a stove the following items were dredged up: a girl statue, a spatula, several plant pots, a broken bird feeder, an intact cage of some sort, a turtle statue, a squirrel statue, and a light still plugged in to a timer. The mucking of the pond is continuing, as it is so deep cinder blocks have even been pulled out. I am waiting eagerly for the magical unicorn to be found.

Girl Statue and Cinder block from pond

Pond yields up Spatula, Pot, Cage, Squirrel, and a Turtle

Light with timer still attached.

As pond dredging is continuing today, I wonder what new discoveries will be found.

Love and Paws video starring Boomer and Fern

For a while now I've been video taping my two dogs while at play. Finally you can now see the first of a series of videos called Love and Paws starring Boomer and Fern on youtube.  I hope you enjoy it.

Love and Paws 1

Boomer 2017

Fern 2017

Fair Season: Marion County Fair

Fair Season is upon us. Just this Saturday I attended the Marion County Fair in Salem, Oregon. The weather was pleasant as I walked around and enjoyed the many exhibits. I was pleased to find a whole wall of animal rescue groups lined up including OSCAR (Operation Safe Canine Animal Rescue) and Operation D.O.G as well as the county shelter seeking volunteer dog walkers. Then there was a section where the local writers were sitting and selling their books, which included a sci-fi series, historical romance, and kids books.

The best part though, as I discovered last year at the Oregon State fair held on these same grounds, is the evening concert was free with admission. This Saturday I got to enjoy a concert by Diamond Rio for the cost of my entry to the fair, $9. As I listened I realized I knew almost all their songs. I snapped a few pictures.

Marion County Fair 2017, Diamond Rio

Marion County Fair 2017, Diamond Rio

Marion County Fair, Diamond Rio

The evening was capped off with a spectacular moon view over the sky chairs. I did my best to capture this image, but at night, without a tripod, the photo came out a little fuzzy.

Moon at 2017 Marion County Fair Grounds

Now I must save up to go to the State Fair so I can enjoy some other top name bands.

Plane Photos

By now, if you have paid any attention to my blog, you will have noticed I like to have a window seat when I fly in a plane. One of my main motivations is I enjoy taking photos while hovering miles over our planet.  Of course, given airplane windows are double paned  and often have dings in them, the photo quality isn't the best. Then of course, there are the times

when the window seat one gets is by the wing and you end up with the wing dominating all you photos.

Regardless of all this, I just did a flight from Oregon to New Jersey and back. Hogging a window both directions, I took several photos along the journey. Here are a few of them I thought you might like.

Sky and Clouds

Mt. Hood

Great Lakes

Midway Airport

Chicago

Airplane hanging from airport ceiling