My book Lies He Told Me is being recommended in the Read Freely newsletter going out in a couple of days. You can sign up here to receive the newsletter – http://www.readfree.ly/newsletter.
With all the lockdowns around us, we try to get outside for a walk or bike ride whenever we can to allow some time out of our house. Usually our choices are limited by the amount of rain coming down.
So this morning, we were fortunate to decide on a bike ride. The forecast had indicated rain, but we woke to no rain, just pretty cold– -1 or -2. We headed out to ride around the airport.
One advantage to the airport circle is it’s all paved, which is a vast improvement over the railroad trails we often bike that are gravelled which means more hard pedalling to cover the distance. The disadvantage is there are more hills than you’d think going around the whole air field. We started out, dressed for the cold with wool scarves, lined gloves, toques under our helmets. For some reason I didn’t have any energy, or lung capacity. I had to stop to catch my breath often.
The sky had a huge dark grey cloud overhanging, which seemed to be following us as we started out. (the picture above was taken on a different day!) Right away it started to sprinkle. If you live on the west coast, you soon learn that a sprinkle is not rain, often you don’t even have to turn on your windshield wipers, but it’s still wet. The sprinkle ramped up until I was almost ready to admit it was raining. That’s when I said, “I think I’ll turn around.” My husband said, “No, we never turn around. Besides it’s the same distance to the truck if you go forward or turn back.” I sighed, admitting he was right.
However, by the time we started up the steepest hill to the copper feathers at the top, it wasn’t raining any more. It was hailing. The heavy grey cloud was low overhead and dumping chips of ice on us. No point in turning around, as we were 3/4 of the way through by then. We reached the top of the hill, coasted down, and roared along the bottom slope to the truck. By the time we reached it, the hail was finished, and there was even some sun showing through a gap in the clouds. Quite an adventure for a little bike ride.
What do you do to keep from isolating so much? Send me a note about how you are coping.
Happy New Year!
Why happy? Because it’s not 2020 anymore, and we can all be glad of that!
Dear Reader, Dean Koontz, the writer, once said, "In a world that encompasses so much pain, it is noble to provide a few hours of escape, moments of delight and forgetfulness." As an author, that’s what our stories provide and I’m thrilled to announce—
Khandarken Rising, The Last War, Book One is still FREE, for a limited time.
Son of the Emperor, The Last War, Book Two is still 99 Cents
Weapon of Tyrants, The Last War, Book Three is still 99 Cents.
Get them here https://www.amazon.com/Sylvie-Grayson/e/B00OEIVODG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1609699789&sr=8-1 or here https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/khandarken-rising-the-last-war-sylvie-grayson/1133495979;jsessionid=B69B4D1513A56D79F3E861CBC55C51C8.prodny_store02-atgap04?ean=2940154724446 or here https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1356853346 or here https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/khandarken-rising-the-last-war-book-one
These deals won’t last, they will be coming off sale price very soon.
Looking back on the year 2020 has been amazing.
We had snow at the beginning of the year, which is always difficult to deal with in this climate. It is wet and soon freezes to ice on the roads. I caused a rear-ender at a stop light, put on my brakes but the car just slid down the hill to hit the bumper of the truck in front of me. No damage to his truck, thank heaven.
We managed a getaway to Tofino and Long Beach for a few days. It is always lovely there, rewarding to walk the beach and listen to the waves. We came home refreshed.
Then spring arrived. The blossoms on my crabapple tree are so lovely, each year. Almost as rewarding as the crabapples themselves ?.
The azaleas outdid themselves. But the dahlias did nothing, some managed to bloom by October when I dug them up.
We couldn’t socialize, so did a lot of walking and bicycling. This is Rithet’s Bog where the ducks gather. (What we noticed was the people we passed—at the correct social distance—seemed afraid to make eye contact or greet others, as if you could catch Covid19 by glancing at someone.)
We took the boat out all of three times during the summer. The weather didn’t cooperate. During one trip, the forest fires on the mainland were so vicious, and the smoke in the air so thick, we used our radar to safely find our way back to the harbour without running into any other boats.
During the year, I released two books in The Lies He Told series, Rain Man, and Don’t Move. It was fantastic to finally get them out to the public and the response has been wonderful. Thank you, Dear Readers.
The harvest wasn’t as plentiful as in former years. The spring and summer weather had been cooler than usual so many of the plants were slow to grow. The tomatoes did fine. Cucumbers not so much. Squash not at all.
Blackberries were a bit sparse. I usually make blackberry cordial but the ripe berries were a bit harder to find. Did a few jars of jelly.
Fall arrived. Still out on walks and bike rides, careful of who we encountered and managing to keep our distance.
Guess what? Winter came and so did the snow. Our power lines were down along our long driveway, ripped off by two trees falling across them. We couldn’t leave the premises, either to walk out because of the lines on the drive, or drive out because of the trees. We were without power for four days, but luckily we have a generator. Not much gas though, just enough to run it for a few hours in the morning and evening to keep the fridge and freezers cold, and plug in our phones. Luckily we had a lot of candles, and still managed to get some reading done. ?
So the year ended the way it had begun, with snow.
But this New Year will be different, won’t it? Let's all play to be kind, to be safe, to be the best we can be, in 2021!
Wishing you the finest in all things, Sylvie
What happened in your 2020? Send me a note and let me know.
The Emperor is dead and the Last War is over. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again. But the Emperor’s son has his own ambitions and suddenly nothing is what it seems and no one can be trusted.
The best way to begin The Last War series is to start with Book One, which is free until Christmas, find it here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YSW66P4?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
Now Book Two is on sale until Christmas for 99 Cents. Find it here
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1480620502
Abe Farmer may survive the Sanctuary, but he won’t escape the Emperor
The Last War series is a stunning portrayal of a new world created from fire and consumed at the edges even as the people strive to build a future for themselves …
…a whole new world with some of the same old problems – sci fi and fantasy at its best…
– From attacks by Emperor Carlton to conspiracy in the ranks of the police, Khandarken is in more danger than at any time since the end of The Last War. But when the Young Emperor makes an offer, can Chief Cownden Lanser resist? Khandarken’s future hangs in the balance.
Book Three, on sale till Christmas for 99 Cents
The Young Emperor has been backed into a corner. He holds a bit of land in Legitamia where he marshals his troops, but the skirmishes they’ve launched to expand his empire have had limited success. Now, his ambitions are aimed at overthrowing everything Khandarken has cobbled together since the Last War.
Dear Readers, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year. Enjoy.
I finally got around to filling up the bird feeder and putting it out on the deck for those poor little fellows searching for something to eat.
Then this morning, I was delighted to see four little chickadees flitting about, obviously drawn to the chance of a feast. But were they checking out the seed in the bird feeder? No. They spent their time chasing each other. One bird sat on the top of the hook, waited for others to flit up to the feeder ledge, then dive-bombed them. It looked like fun, but no one was getting much to eat.
The best way to start The Last War series is with Book One, and guess what? Khandarken Rising, Book One is free for the next few weeks.
Major Dante Regiment must find a way to protect Beth, as the Emperor is not the only one causing chaos in Khandarken
The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again.
Bethlehem Farmer is helping her brother Abram run Farmer Holdings in south Khandarken after their father died in the final battles. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.
Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost.
https://books2read.com/u/bQBBq6
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Wishing everyone a much better New Year in 2021.
To follow Sylvie's blog, click on the friendly Follow button on the lower right of the site.
