Category Archives: Quotes

New release, The Last War: Book Four, fantasy

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The Last War has ended and the next is about to begin!

Weapon of Tyrants, Book Four, just released. Can a criminal enforcer be trusted to protect a woman on the run?

Buy now! books2read.com/WeaponOfTyrants

Damian Stuke was an enforcer for a gamer, but now he is in training as an undercover agent for the Khandarken military. Then he encounters a fascinating woman with a hidden agenda. But when he discovers what she is hiding, his protective instincts kick into high gear.

Fanny Master is from the elite in Khandarken, and when both her parents are murdered, she is forced to run for her life, or be the next victim of her hunter. Amid the chaos of the International Head Ball Games and as Emperor Carlton ramps up his plans for invasion, her attacker makes another attempt on her life. Will Damian save her from her unknown enemy, or is he still working for the other side?

New sci fi/ fantasy from Sylvie Grayson

Hawaiian stop, Time to recharge

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2017,Jan

I am in Hawaii, having a chance to recharge my batteries. It’s been a busy year, and it took a good week to unwind before I began to relax and really enjoy myself. Nothing like taking a break, but especially in such a fabulous place and climate.

Have I been doing any writing? Not much. Going to the gym every second day, and taking a swim every day, except when the wind blew so strongly the waves were fierce and dangerous. Otherwise, into that fabulous water.

I’ll be back in time for the end of the month. Hope you have a fabulous rest of January.

Full Monty – movie, Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson

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Unemployed men in the north of England are willing to try anything to scrape together a living and at the same time, uphold their dignity. The plan is to hold a fund raiser in the bar, with male strippers.

This is a compelling story on many levels, for there’s more at stake than a bit of money and having some fun. Fatigued and out of work, the men wonder if they’re still men. Dave is afraid of losing his wife, Gaz is already divorced, and their suicidal pal Lomper is living a dreary celibate life

Given the programme, the film seems oddly innocent. It’s a comedy about male full-frontal exposure, or, as one character puts it, men prancing around Sheffield with their widgers hanging out. Rife with nudging and guffawing, the steelworkers turned male strippers are less raunchy than awkward and well-meaning.

What The Full Monty is, though, is political, in a gentle way. Great characters and very good acting by Tom Wilkinson and Robert Carlyle, among others. Worth watching even now, sixteen years later.

Stand By Me – movie, River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland

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No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1617242a) Stand By Me, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'connell, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix Film and Television

This movie is thirty years old now, yet still resonates with me. It is the story of four boys, all troubled and disturbed in some way with life and loss. Unexpectedly they set out on a journey to find a dead body, which leads them into all kinds of trouble and danger, yet through it all they stick together.

The movie is inspiring as you watch the challenges they face individually with their familes and face together on the trip. Kiefer Sutherland plays a teenage bad guy, and River Phoenix is excellent as the de-facto leader of the small group.

But the whole story is seen from the point of view of one of the boys as an adult, with a son of his own. Richard Dreyfuss plays this role, and as he looks back, he sees what they gained and lost through this adventure.

Based on a Stephen King novella, Stand By Me is worth a watch, for sure.

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Cruise to Spain via Portugal

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Our cruise to Spain was exactly what we wanted — kind of like the slow boat to China. We left Fort Lauderdale, Florida on a Sunday and spent twelve days at sea. It was eight days from departure for our first stop – the Portuguese island of Madeira. By then we had begun to unwind and felt like we were finally on vacation.

P1040170The ancient barricade wall at Funchal

P1040159Painted on the barricade

The capital of Madeira is Funchal and that is where our ship docked. What a beautiful place. The trip up to the peak of the mountain in a taxi allowed us to stop at some spectacular gardens.

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Then we rode the cable-car back down to the city. It was hair-raising but worth it for the fabulous views. Old buildings, beautiful churches, tiny gardens clinging to minute spaces on the steep hillside. Definitely a must see.

P1040219A resident of the gardens

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