Ancient Ink

Welcome to Rudan Thursdays where we talk about…things! Anything from books and movies, to blog posts and authors, to food and drink ~ and everything in between!

My Aunt, a.k.a. Super-Snoop, snitched to my dearest Granny my desire and intention to get inked.

This, of course, sparked a huge debate between them, myself, and my dad (who, being a navy veteran, has tats himself).

My Granny was horrified…my Aunt gleeful that she got me in trouble…and my dad did his parental duty by telling me not to get them – then proceeded to share stories of how he’d gotten his own art.

None had any viable reason against getting tattoos, other than telling me repeatedly not to get a “tramp stamp.” My admonition that I am a grown woman – in my thirties – and can do what I like with my body fell on deaf ears.

*Sigh*

So, in honor of my uninformed and unimaginative family – whom I love with all of my heart – I offer this documentary from the History Channel: Ancient Ink.

You watching, Auntie?

So talk to me. What is your opinion on tattoos? How do you express yourself?

~*~ Psst…remember that Author Spotlight with James Hutchings? Well, he picked a winner! FUONLYKNEW – please send your contact info to celticsenaxi@gmail.com to receive your free copy of THE NEW DEATH and others!! Woo hoo! ~*~

Celts were Fair, Sophisticated, and Civilized

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays, where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

Below is the final part of Terry Jones’ series on the Ancient Celts. If you’re just  jumpin’ in, check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Ok, kiddies, I’ve got to go finish packing…watch this and then tell me what you think!

So talk to me. Pretty interesting stuff, eh? Boadicea is the perfect example of a Celtic woman! I think the Druids are one of the most fascinating aspects of Celtic culture.

Now, don’t be shy ~ I didn’t get many comments last time. Speak up! Where are my history buffs? Where are my Celtic fans?  Did you enjoy this series? Are there other things you would like to see here? What about Celtic history interests you?

Lost Gods ~ Celts

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays, where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

Pardon my migraine…

Please enjoy this interesting video from The History Channel about the “lost” history of the Celts:

So talk to me. What do you think of the information shared here? Do you think the Celts were really blood thirsty barbarians, as Julius Cesar says? What do you think about the Firbolg or Tuatha de Danaan? How about the tale of the Roman Bishop Patrick ~ had you heard that one before? What did you think?

Ever Heard This Story?

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

Please enjoy this brief, yet entertaining, Scéal na Gaeilge, or Story of the Irish Language by rosgireland:

Click the links to learn more about Ireland’s own production company, ROSG.

So talk to me. What did you think of the video? Have you heard of the independent production company before? Have you watched any of their other videos or feature-length movies? What did you think?

The Other Atlantis

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

According to Celtic mythology, and some explorers from the distant past, there is a mysterious, perhaps phantom, island in the northern Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland.

It is known today as Hy-Brasil.

courtesy of historicmysteries.com

(Also known as Uí Breasail, Insula de Brasil, St. Brendan’s Island, San Borondon)

You’ll recall in my last post my recent obsession with Ancient Aliens; a series on the History Channel, which explores the possibilities of aliens visiting and interacting with our ancestors hundreds, even thousands of years ago.

In the episode titled, Alien Contacts, the History Channel reveals the story of an alien encounter that occurred in December 1980. I’ve embedded a clip for your enjoyment:

As I’ve discussed with you all in the comments section of the last post, I’m naturally a skeptic: I’ll believe it when I see it.  So I’m not ready to jump on the oh-my-god-it’s-true! bandwagon just yet.

However…

What if it were true?

What would it mean?

What if there really is a mysterious island, sunken or phantom, that the aliens use as their base of operations?  What if they really do land every seven years to watch us and take notes?

What if…

So talk to me.  What do you think? Have you ever heard of Hy-Brasil?  Do you think it’s possible that James Penniston touched a UFO and was somehow telepathically given binary code which translated into an actual alien communication?

Ancient…Aliens?

Welcome to Rudan Thursdays where we talk about…things! Anything from books and movies, to blog posts and authors, to food and drink.

I’m still here! You may have noticed something missing from Tuesday’s post…more accurately, the post itself.. (add rim shot here)

In the days since my last post I’ve been busy with family, the holidays—and world building for my new series.  In all of the excitement, I literally forgot which days were which and, yesterday morning, found myself realizing I’d totally forgotten about the tursan, or journey, I’d promised.

Whoops.

Allow me to correct this immediately.  As I said, I’ve been in a frenzy of world building.  I LOVE the History Channel.  Something I’ve always loved doing, and only recently starting using as a plotting method, is watch the History Channel.

You may not have noticed, but I sort of have a thing for history.

Anyway, on said channel a year or so ago I’d stumbled upon a program all about aliens visiting our planet thousands of years ago, and I found it fairly entertaining.  Then, over the holidays, I discovered that the producers have created an entire series based on these so-called happenings and call it, Ancient Aliens.

Basically, the entire premise is about the theory that aliens not only visited our planet in ancient times, but directly contributed to our various cultures.  The believers call it the Ancient Astronaut Theory.

This theory proposes “that historical texts, archeology and legends contain evidence of past human-extraterrestrial contact.”

They’ve even said there was a huge evolutionary jump approximately 3000 bce and the cause for this was these aliens having direct, intimate contact with our ancestors—by somehow changing our DNA in order to make us more intelligent.

More advanced.

More like them.

True?  Who knows.

There are plenty of historians and scientists who call this theory, and any related to it, pseudoscience and pseudohistory.  They state the believers in this theory take historical events, texts, and so forth and reinterpret them to suit their own purposes.  They further intimate that closely regarding these theories and holding them up to the light reveals the fragile substance and lack of foundation.

True?  Again, who really knows?

The fact is, none of us was alive thousands of years ago and so cannot say for sure who did what to whom and when.

I am no scientist…I didn’t make it past biology in high school, and I certainly have no designs on interpreting historical evidence and proclaiming it either fact or fiction.

I simply love a good story.

What I can say for a fact—this show got my creative juices flowin’.  Right from the start my imagination began creating hundreds of different scenes and quests and journeys.  The last few days have been quite the adventure

So talk to me.  What do you think?

Was our planet visited by alien beings thousands of years ago?

courtesy of thesmokingjacket.com

Did these ‘people’ teach our ancestors how to build the Egyptian pyramids…

courtesy of listverse.com

…and create mysterious places like Stonehenge?

Could the Gods in various mythologies have been aliens visiting our planet, imparting their wisdom and teaching us their technologies?

Or, is this all fantasy dreamt up by wild imaginations?

courtesy of shadowness.com

A Very Special Tabhartas (tribute)…

Welcome to Rudan Thursdays where we talk about…things! Anything from books and movies, to blog posts and authors, to food and drink.

I’m taking a break for a bit to enjoy my family and catch up on my novels ~ the ones I’m writing   So, for the final time in 2011 I’d like to pay tribute, or tabhartas, to those posts I’ve enjoyed recently.

Without further ado…

Marcia Richards shares a real life love story in her post, A Love Story.

The gals over at WITS ran a short series of inspiring posts featuring bodily fluids titled, Inspiration vs Perspiration In Writing, and Sweat Equity. Must read, as always.

Jami Gold explains fast drafting and how it might work for you in her post, “Can You Fast Draft?”

Ashley March posted a fantastic blog on Letting Your Character in on The Secret over at Roni Loren’s site. Check it out!

Victoria Mixon posted Story Climax: The Whole Point over at Jami Gold’s place.

Pam Hawley posted a very inspiring blog over at Marcia Richard’s site about goals and aspirations…it’s really stuck with me. Check it out: The Pink House.

Kristen Lamb wrapped up her invaluable series on structure with Structure Part Eight: Balancing the Scenes that Make Up Your Novel.

Kerry Meacham posted the uplifting, Our Entire Life is Still Ahead of Us, on his Sweet Tea Tuesday blog. This post came at the perfect time for me…hopefully now is the perfect time for you!

Sierra Godfrey brings it home for you in her guest-post at Roni Loren’s place, How Low Can You Go? The Important ‘All Is Lost’ Moment. Nice.

Diana Murdock calls to your soul in her post, Who is the Better Half? Me or Me?

Amber West will have you giggling under your desk with her post, How To Brighten Your Day By Annoying Others. Seriously, I laughed so hard…literally LOL’d

Carrie Spencer Woodie The Woodchuck-finally!-explains Press This. Yes!

Jenny Hansen brings a little common sense to the table with her post, Are You Playing to Your Strengths?

Jen Talty breaks down Kindle Fire vs Nook Tablet in her recent post.

Art Holcomb guest-posted over at Storyfix.com about how we writers need to get out of our own way. You said it brother!

Laura Drake over at WITS recently posted about Writing and Hershey Kisses, my two favorite things

Kristen Lamb posted this gem, How To Hook A Reader and NEVER Let Go, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I guess she really knows what she’s talking about

Jami Gold recently asked, Are All Cheap eBooks Crap? A thought-provoking post, as is Jami’s usual style.

To Marcia, the Gals @ WITS, Jami, Ashley, Roni, Victoria, Pam, Kristen, *breath* Kerry, Sierra, Diana, Amber, Carrie, Jenny, Jen, Art, Larry, and Laura ~ Slàinte…your health!

~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~

Here are two blogs I follow quite closely, and are easily my favorites.  Both are entertaining, informative, and brilliantly written.  I could not decide which of their numerous posts I wanted to highlight, so I said the hell with it – post their entire blogs!

And here they are:

Gene Lempp ~ Unearthing the Future. Gene posts Designing From Bones on Wednesdays, where he bring the past to life, and Blog Treasures, wonderful posts from around the blogosphere, on Saturdays. One of the very few blogs I follow where I dig everything I find in my inbox. Slàinte to you Gene ~ May 2012 shine on you.

Anil Balan ~ Ghost Cities, Tales of Mystery and the Supernatural. Anil posts on everything from media reviews, true stories, and tall tales to urban legends and history. Again, one of the very few blogs I follow where I eat up everything dished out. Slàinte to you Anil ~ Many blessings to you in 2012.

And please, boys, keep posting those awesome blogs!

~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~  ~*~

May you all have a very happy holiday, and safe New Year. I wish you the best in 2012 and will see you January 3^rd!

Your Health!

Welcome to Slàinte Sundays where I give a toast to those posts I enjoyed during the week. Without further ado:

On craft and the technical side of things…

Sonia Medeiros shares her lessons learned on the way to becoming a writer – valuable information.

Bob Mayer introduces us to Natalie C. Markey, a pro when it comes to the fine art of balancing writing and family.

Kristen Lamb reminds us not to treat the writer like a moron in her post, “Deadly Sin of Writing #7.”

Piper Bayard, the Pale Writer of the Apocalypse, shares her story of trials and tribulations on her way to becoming a writer…it’s an awesome reminder that we are all in this together.

What do you know about widgets? Take a quick and painless lesson from Woodie a.k.a. Carrie Spencer with Woodie Knows WordPress.

For fun…

Get ready for an awesome adventure in reading! 33 books…one series…all genres! Steena Holmes has all the deets.

Check out Carrie Spencer’s crafty side here – jewelry, t-shirts, and more!

Natalie Hartford delivers yet again in this hysterical post about the hottest new party trend…you gotta read this!

Come take a look in an ancient kitchen and learn the history of cooking from Gene Lempp.

On diversity…

Kait Nolan makes some great points about how certain traits in a character should not be written out, and about how important it is to give readers characters they can relate to.

Cate Woods talks about allowing kids to feel free to be themselves, and how they can relate to diverse characters in books…a thought-provoking post.

On life lessons…

YOU are the only one responsible for YOU! A must read from Marcia Richards.

A great point: Change doesn’t have to be painful. An excellent post from Diana Murdock.

To Sonia, Bob, Kristen, Piper, Carrie, Steena, Natalie, Gene, Kait, Cate (ok, how many of us are there?? LOL), Marcia, and Diana…

Slàinte…your health!

Oh those Sherbrooke men!

Welcome to Rudan Thursdays where we talk about…things! Anything from books and movies, to blog posts and authors, to food and drink.

Today, let’s talk about Catherine Coulter’s Bride series, featuring the Sherbrooke family. Ms. Coulter (I just cannot call her “Catherine,” it would be much too forward of me…) is one of THE most talented and riveting authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Her humor and wit are a hallmark of her stories. If you have ever read her works, then you know what I mean because each one is truly unforgettable.

One of a myriad reasons Catherine Coulter is my hero is due to the fact that she writes in multiple genres. She has an intense and satisfying FBI Series, each novel features returning characters from a previous book. It’s non-stop action, mysteries and romance. Definitely check them out. Ms. Coulter also has contemporary romance, as well as a diverse historical series selection…check those out as well.

Ahem, now, on to our Feature…

The Sherbrooke Bride introduces us to Douglas Sherbrooke. As head of the family, he must marry and produce an heir; a typical conflict for the Regency male.  I was hooked right from the start by this intriguing and down to earth family. Alexandra Chambers is our heroine, and also happens to be madly in love with Douglas…unfortunately, he’s chosen her sister to marry. Eek! Somehow, by the time they exchange the “I Do’s,” Doug finds himself married to the wrong lass…what’s an Earl to do?

Next, you’ll journey to Jamaica in The Hellion Bride, which gives us Ryder Sherbrooke – a first-rate rake with some pretty heavy secrets, and Sophia Stanton-Greville. Sophia is used to men falling at her feet in adoration and satisfying her every whim, so imagine her surprise when Ryder simply does not comply.  And, c’mon, Jamaica? Can you get more romantic?

Finally, it’s Sinjun’s turn. Sinjun Sherbrooke, the charming and adorable younger sister of Douglas and Ryder, manages to convince Colin Kinross to elope with her, which isn’t too difficult a task since he just happens to have need of an heiress. They travel to Scotland where they marry and settle in Colin’s drafty, old castle. Did I mention there were ghosts? Oh yes, there are ghosts…

The Bride series is actually fairly long, 10 books total, with another coming out in the fall. Why don’t I give you some time to get through these first three before I move on to the rest? Oh, and mark your calendars, the latest Sherbrooke novel scheduled to release this November is Prince of Ravenscar. Now that sounds like fun!

Check out Catherine Coulter’s entire works here.

So talk to me. Have you read Catherine Coulter before? Which book was your favorite? What book or books have you read recently that you just couldn’t put down? Share…you never know who you might inspire!