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.