Friday, February 17, 2017

HOW ARE YOUR SAILS SET?


A changing sky for your enjoyment.



"One ship drives east, and another drives west,
With the self-same winds that blow.


"Tis the set of the sails, and not the gales
Which tells us the way they go.


"Like the waves of the sea are the ways of fate
As we voyage along thru life.


"Tis the set of the soul which decides its goal
And not the calm or the strife."

                                     - Ella Wheeler Wilcox


Photo's were all taken Friday, February 17, 2017 as the sun made his appearance.
All pictures Copyright 2017 by Yolanda Renée

Monday, February 13, 2017

WEP - ARE YOU READY?



A SEMI-MONTHLY FLASH FICTION/ARTISTIC CHALLENGE

ARE YOU READY?

Jenny threw her keys on the credenza and stormed upstairs to the attic where she kept her luggage. She’d just lost her dream job, and when she called her boyfriend, Hugh, he claimed to have car trouble. Except, Jenny heard a woman giggling in the background. Jenny’s heart sank. Recent doubts verified. Hugh was seeing someone else. Jenny knew it was time for a change!

“When the world decides to dump a load on you, why not on your twenty-fifth birthday?” Jenny shouted to the dust bunnies scurrying across the floor as she trampled to the back of the attic. She sneezed as the disturbed dust tickled her nose and decided maybe less frenzy would be wiser. She stopped. Closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, behind her sleeve, to calm her rage.

Eyes open, she spotted her Grandmother’s desk. It looked pristine, not a speck of dust anywhere. She pulled out the chair and sat down. Running her hands across the hand-hewn wooden planks, she remembered doing her homework while sitting at this small but impressive work of art. Instead of placing this part of her inheritance in the living room, Hugh had put his stereo in the chosen spot. “That will change.”

Jenny opened the drawer in anticipation of finding hidden treasure, but there was nothing. Disappointed, she closed the drawer, but it wouldn’t shut. She wiggled it, tried again, to no avail. She pulled the drawer out and stuck her hand inside.

“Aha!” She pulled out a stray document. Her name was written across the envelope.  Jenny recognized her grandmother’s stationery.

White with pink flowers. She held it close to her heart. “I knew there’d be a surprise!” She carefully undid the flap and pulled out a crisp sheet of stationary. She read.

Dearest Jenny:

          “Happy 25th! I’m sorry life has failed to meet your expectations, but I’m also glad. Because at this moment in time you’re ready for a new adventure. Am I right? (Smiley face) I’m always right!”

Jenny laughed.

It was as though her grandmother was right there in the room with her, and knew her thoughts and emotions. “Yes, Grandma, you’re right!”

Jenny finished reading:

          “Pack, go to the airport, and introduce yourself to the gentleman at the information desk, and he’ll take care of everything. Do you trust me?

          “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Jenny laughed. “Exactly! What am I waiting for?” She did as instructed.

The man at the information desk smiled when he heard her name. He took her by the elbow and led her through the airport.

“Welcome to Galaxy Airlines, Miss Evans.” He hurried her to a private jet. Your flight is ready. Enjoy.”

Jenny boarded a converted 747 with all the comforts of home.

The pilot announced, “Please be seated, Miss Evans. You’re welcome to take advantage of the bedroom once we’re in the air. We’ll arrive in Antarctica in nineteen hours.”

          “Antarctica?” she said in surprise.

          “Yes, Miss,” the pilot responded. “Please fasten your seat belt.”

          Jenny scrambled into a seat and buckled up.

          “If you need anything just use the intercom. Enjoy your trip.”

*****

The plane landed between two snow-covered mountains and taxied into a large structure. The pilot opened the exit door for her and bowed.

“Thank you,” she said, and descended the steps. A man in a tux greeted her. She felt underdressed in jeans, boots, and sweater.

“Miss Evans, welcome. Please, follow me.”

He didn’t offer her his hand, and she quietly said, “Thank you.”

He led her to an elevator and down a long hallway. She gasped when he opened a door into a large room filled with shelves of books at least twenty feet high. In the center sat a large desk, and behind that a sitting area with a massive fireplace.

The fire crackled, and Jenny was shocked to see her grandmother moving toward her. “You’re dead, this isn’t possible.” Jenny backed away. She felt joy and fear all at once.

“Don’t worry, dear. I’m just a hologram. You can put your hand right through me.”

Jenny reached out. Her grandmother's image fluttered but didn’t disappear.

“How? Why”

“Questions, so many questions. Please, sit. They’ve provided tea and a snack. That plane is comfortable, but there’s nothing like being on solid ground, is there? How do you feel?”

“Fine. Curious. What is all this?”

“Your inheritance.”

Jenny’s mouth fell open. “Inheritance?”

“You’re an immortal, dear. A descendent of the Galaxy Sisters. It’s time to fulfill your destiny.”

“Immortal? Galaxy Sisters? Destiny?”

“Yes, you’ll live forever, looking just as you do today, all to serve the cause. Unless you decide to marry and have children, then and only then, will you begin to age in a normal progression just as I did. The universe has nine populated planets. The role of the Galaxy Sisters is to guide each planet to be its best.”

“What cause?”

“Before man took over the earth it was ruled by women. Their insistence on making women a slave, a servant, and a whore took years to achieve, but they won the revolution, and we’ve fallen far because of it. Your job here is to rebuild what men have corrupted.

“My major contributions included the Russian Revolution of 1917, the strike for ‘bread and peace’ and Suffrage. And no, you won’t read about my contributions. Your role is to help those who will make change happen. In no way, do we make headlines.” She laughed. “If you’d turned twenty-five sooner we might’ve had a woman for president instead of a clown. Sa la vie, it is what it is, but our attempts at equality just took ten steps backward. So, my dear, what do you say? Do you accept the challenge?”

“I have a choice?”

“Of course, dear. This sort of thing isn’t for all women, even some descendants of the Galaxy Sisters enjoy their subservient role. The universe is made up of all kinds. Are you ready for an amazing adventure?”

Yolanda Renee © 2017
1000 words / FCA



Friday, February 10, 2017

HAVE YOU STARTED?

Every sunrise is different, but
every day holds a
new
opportunity!

Yolanda Renee © 2017



OPPORTUNITY

“For the best verse hasn’t been rhymed yet,
The best house hasn’t been planned,
The highest peak hasn’t been climbed yet,
The mightiest rivers aren’t spanned’
Don’t worry and fret, faint hearted,
The chances have just begun,
For the Best jobs haven’t been started,
The Best work hasn’t been done.
–Berton Braley



Tuesday, February 7, 2017

GREETINGS



This is how the morning greeted me!

Yolanda Renée © 2017

But

What counts, is how I greeted the morning!


"It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the Master of my Fate:
I am the Captain of my Soul."
                                                                                                                         –Henley.


How did you greet the morning?




Wednesday, February 1, 2017

IWSG - READING & WRITING





The brainchild of




Question:

How has being a writer
changed your experience as a reader?



I became a reader and a writer almost simultaneously. Reading increased my vocabulary, and my writing skills have improved with each story, essay, and novel.

I have heard other writers say that they don’t enjoy reading and seldom do. I can’t wrap my head around those kinds of statements.

If I could, I would own a large room filled to the brim with books, I would spend hours each day just reading. I would gladly give up food for the privilege!

FYI: Here's a link to the Funds for Writers website - she posted links to Talking Book Services. Check it out!

**** 

The brilliant co-hosts are  Misha Gericke, LK Hill, Juneta Key, Christy and Joylene Butler!

Be sure to say hello and thanks!

*****
February's WEP Challenge
 Back of the Drawer
is open!
Sign up today!



Tuesday, January 31, 2017

TSUNAMI CRIMES




I'm honored to host Chrys Fey on tour with her latest release. 


The 3rd book in her Disaster Crime Series.
Tsunami Crimes was released on January 20th, so be sure and pick up your copy!
As part of her tour she's agreed to answer one question!


My Question for Chrys: If you couldn't be a writer what other creative outlet would you pursue?

Imagining not being able to write at all is a frightening thing. I can’t fathom a life where I’m not writing. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t even be Chrys Fey! But there are a couple of creative outlets I would love to pursue if I had the time and means.
One pursuit is fashion designing. Ever since I was a teen, I’ve loved to draw dresses. I’ve dreamed of having them made, but I’m not a dressmaker. I can barely stitch. And I don’t have the sort of investment it would take to pay someone.
So, the creative outlet I’d pursue is the one I enjoy doing now . . . photography. I love to capture images with a camera, specifically nature. I’ve fantasized about going on a road trip across the United States to capture stunning snapshots, and also traveling to other countries. Instead of walking around with a pen and notebook, I’d have an expensive camera handing from my neck. That’s a visual I like. The funny thing is, I don’t even have a camera now, and yet, photography is one of my passions outside of writing.


BLURB:
Beth and Donovan have come a long way from Hurricane Sabrina and the San Francisco earthquake. Now they are approaching their wedding day and anxiously waiting to promise each other a lifetime of love. The journey down the aisle isn’t smooth, though, as they receive threats from the followers of the notorious criminal, Jackson Storm. They think they’ll be safe in Hawaii, but distance can’t stop these killers. Not even a tsunami can.
This monstrous wave is the most devastating disaster Beth has ever faced. It leaves her beaten, frightened. Is she a widow on her honeymoon? As she struggles to hold herself together and find Donovan, she’s kidnapped by Jackson's men.
Fearing her dead, Donovan searches the rubble and shelters with no luck. The thought of her being swept out to sea is almost too much for him to bear, but the reality is much worse. She’s being used as bait to get him to fall into a deadly trap.
If they live through this disaster, they may never be the same again.

On SALE for $2.99!
BUY LINKS:
P.S. Hurricane Crimes and Seismic Crimes are on sale for 99 Cents!

Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series. She is a blogger, reader, auntie, vegetarian, and cat Lover. Get Lightning Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2.5) for FREE!
FIND CHRYS:



a Rafflecopter giveaway



How about you readers?
If you couldn't work in your chosen field -
what would you do instead?




Friday, January 27, 2017

MIRACLES

Yolanda Renée © 2017



There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
-Albert Einstein