23 | Feb | 2020 | willowdot21

Today is February 23 rd, 2020 . Our host Jim Adams has given us the prompt words – Ankles/Hands/Feet/Fingers/Toes/Wrist for Song Lyric Sunday.

Ottawan was a French pop music duo, who had the hit singles “D.I.S.C.O.” and “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)” in the early 1980s. Fronted by Caribbean-born Patrick Jean-Baptiste and Annette Eltice, they were masterminded through a cooperation between French producer Daniel Vangarde and Belgian producer Jean Kluger. Information from Wiki

“Toes” is a song recorded by the Zac Brown Band, an American country music band. Lead singer Zac Brown and bass guitarist John Driskell Hopkins co-wrote the song with Shawn Mullins and Wyatt Durrette. It was released in July 2009 as the third single from the band’s 2008 major-label debut studio album The Foundation. The song became their second number one hit and their third Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in November 2009. Information from Wiki

Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were an American all-female vocal group formed in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.

The song Third finger left hand was from 1967.

So I have managed hands toes and fingers .

Happy Sunday everyone.💜

Hi everyone guess who has come to join me today for a cuppa,

and a chat about her latest Blog Tour. Yes it my dear friend Marjorie Mallon.

Marjorie how are you today? Here get comfy, help yourself to some cake and let’s have a nice chat.

Just before we start a little Birdie has told me that your Dad is 91 years young today so let’s wish him a very Happy Birthday!

What gave you the idea for this book?

I think my lunchtime wanders in the Cambridge Botanical Gardens played a considerable part in creating this book. The beauty of the trees, flowers and the magical creatures of the garden: particularly a visit from a robin, and a dragonfly encouraged me to write Mr. Sagittarius. Moreover, my tendency to ‘people watch’ had a huge impact on the creation of my two main characters: Harold and William. I observed two elderly gents sitting in a coffee shop one day on my way to work. There was something so striking about them. Identical twins, both wearing beanie hats, and glasses.I just had to write about them! Their story sits amongst the poetry, prose and photography in a perfect way as if they were meant to be there.

Where do you get your ideas from?

All sorts of ways: observing people who ‘catch my eye,’ listening to conversations, (I love to eavesdrop,) appreciating the beauty of the world around us whether it be in its natural form, or expressed by art.

Do your family have any influence on your writing?

My family are probably sick to the death of my writing! I’m obsessed…

My dad (especially when he was younger,) was a mad keen golfer and talked endlessly about his love of golf. Now, I write and blog I can relate to that obsessive tendency!

I’d say that there are three main influences:

My father who has always had many fascinating tales to tell (he travelled all over the world.)
Also, my mother’s childhood in Malaysia and her move to Britain at the tender age of eighteen when she married my father. Both my mother and father are such interesting characters.
Then, there’s my eldest daughter who reads masses, writes too, and we share an interest in fantasy books. Though, Mr. Sagittarius is a bit different from my usual genre: YA fantasy.

Where do you like best to do your writing?

At home in my office. It is the only place where I have the peace to write. I also like writing at the seaside. I did this one year – went off to Brighton – to write for a long weekend and I loved it. I wrote in cafes, in the library and chatted to lots of interesting people. It was a blast! I’d recommend it.

Do you write better during the day or night ?

Daytime, early morning preferably. I never write at night, I like to sleep!

I think we have all learned a lot about you and how you approach your writing. Would you like another cuppa? Oh! Before I forget I do have another question for you.

It so kind of you to donate some of the royalties of this book to the Australia fund what let you to this.?

I felt so sad to hear about the staggering loss of the unique wildlife and species of Australia and the local people and fire rescue services caught up in such a monumental catastrophe, people losing their lives and homes destroyed too.

It is inconceivable to comprehend that: ‘More than 10 million hectares have been burnt, and this number continues to climb. That’s the equivalent of 40% of the entire UK.

Lives, homes, and an estimated 1.25 billion animals have been affected, including 30% of the entire koala population in mid-north coast of New South Wales. These catastrophic megafires are worsening the extinction crisis we’re already facing.’

Quote from: https://support.wwf.org.uk/australia-bushfires

Australia may be far away from my home in the UK but this is a stark warning. We must care for our planet, the effects of global warming are devastating and will only get worse if we choose to turn a blind eye. Time to take action.

I am delighted to say I have my copy of Mr Sagittarius and I am reading it for the second time, and seeing even more in it this time around.

As I said that is so kind of you Marjorie to help Australia, don’t you think everyone? Now let’s get down to some authorly facts.

Author Bio

I write YA Fantasy/Paranormal novels, Horror/Ghost short stories and multi-genre flash fiction as well as micro poetry – haiku and Tanka. I share book reviews, poetry, flash fiction, photography and inspirational details of my writing journey at my lovely blog home: https://mjmallon.com/

I’m a member of two professional writing groups: The Society of Children’s Writers and Book Illustrators and Cambridge Writers

As well as this I run a supportive group with fellow Administrator D G Kaye on Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club

I work as a Receptionist/Event organiser for an international sixth form and live in Cambridge, England.

Kindle Cover Reveal

Blurb

Who Is Mr. Sagittarius?

And what is his connection to twin brothers, Harold and William?

When Harold dies, he leaves a simple memorial request

Will his sister Annette honour it?

Or, will the magic of the garden ensure that she does.

A magical story expressed via poetry and prose with photographic images.

Mr. Sagittarius is a collection of poetry, prose and photographic images inspired by the botanical gardens in Cambridge. It features a variety of my photos including: trees, a robin and a dragonfly! As well as this there are several stories, and even some Halloween poems!

I doubt I would have created Mr. Sagittarius if it wasn’t for these two amazing ladies: Colleen Chesebro (for her weekly poetry challenges and Charli Mills – Carrot Ranch (flash fiction challenges.) Both ladies have been a huge source of inspiration and encouragement.

Mr. Sagittarius is a magical celebration of the natural world, a story about the circle of life, with an emphasis on the changing seasons of the year and sibling relationships.

Huge thanks to my amazing cover designer and formatter: Rachael Ritchey who has done an amazing job creating the ebook, paperback cover and graphics.

Contents include:

THE GOLDEN WEEPING WILLOW (story and poem plus photo of a dragonfly)

GOLDEN WILLOW TREE (poem and photo)

ROBIN: ETHEREE (poem and photo)

LIFE LESSONS FROM BUDDHA (poem)

LIFE LESSONS FROM CATS – poem – (photo image via Samantha Murdoch)

MR. FROWNING TREE (poem and photo)

RAINBOW CHILD – story – (image of Tourmaline crystal via Samantha Murdoch)

FRIENDS FOR TEA (poem)

THE CANDY CORN MONSTER (Halloween poem)

CANDYFLOSS CRITTER (Halloween poem)