Category Archives: blogging

An Adventure on a Bike

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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.

Wishing a Great New Year

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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.

Birds at the Feeder and Merry Christmas to All

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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.

Walk Turns Into A Climb

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Went for a nice walk today. The weather had cleared, the sun was actually shining (is this really November?) and I needed some fresh air. This is a road near us, that is very steep. Once at the top, I took this photo, which shows the downward trajectory, and the curve at the bottom that takes you back to the main road. My phone indicated 4500 steps and climbing the equivalent of 19 stories.

Where do you walk?

Book One of The Lies He Told Me is now on sale. Get it now for a great read. What the readers say about it–

“Sylvie Grayson did an excellent job of creating a plausible storyline with believable characters and wrapping it around mystery and romance. An excellent book!”

“This is, without a doubt, one of the most twisted, convoluted, complicated books I’ve ever read. I wish I had as much strength as Chloe does. She successfully pulls her life together after her husband disappears. And, she handles even more when she discovers her husband may not have been the man she thought he was. A thought-provoking story with a tough heroine, a hard-as-nails detective, and an explosive HEA.”

When Chloe Bowman’s husband disappears, never did she imagine that in the midst of the search to find him, she’d discover she didn’t really know this man at all. She’s left alone with her young son and a time bomb on her hands. Lurking in the shadows is the mysterious Rainman.

Police Detective Ross Cullen was already investigating Chloe’s husband when he disappeared. But the deeper Ross digs the less he knows, and the more he’s attracted to the young wife as she struggles to put her life back together. Can Ross break through the Rainman’s disguises to solve the case so he can be with Chloe?

When a police detective falls for his main suspect, life gets complicated.

Buy now –https://www.amazon.com/Lies-He-Told-detective-complicated-ebook/dp/B00TRRRKD2/ref=sr_1_5?

Buy now —dchild=1&keywords=sylvie+grayson&qid=1605551983&s=books&sr=1-5 https://books2read.com/u/mBMM9M

FOLLOW ME on Book Bub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sylvie-grayson

Some Encourgement

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As we hear on TV daily, these are strange times we live in.

Because we haven’t seen times like this in our lifetime, we need new skills to navigate through.

In addition to wearing a mask, keeping a social distance from others, staying home, we also need self-care. Try a walk on the beach, a bit of yoga, some poetry, a bike ride.

Long Beach, Vancouver Island, BC

Walk Slowly

It only takes a reminder to breathe, a moment to be still, and just like that, something in me settles, softens, makes space for imperfection. The harsh voice of judgement drops to a whisper and I remember again that life isn’t a relay race; that we will all cross the finish line; that waking up to life is what we were born for.

As many times as I forget, catch myself charging forward without even knowing where I’m going, that many times I can make the choice to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk slowly into the mystery.

c. by Danna Faulds