Time with Friends

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend time with my former critique group. It was wonderful! We spent time catching each other up on what was happening for them. Most of all, they celebrated with me the up-coming release of my new book, PRINCESS KANDAKE.

These are the people that were with me from the very beginning. They listened to each and every chapter offering ways to make each line better. What great friends, talented and supportive! They have even included my book launch in their blogs, tweets, and on the Facebook news feeds.  It was only appropriate that they should get the first peek.

Now that I have relocated to Arizona, I miss meeting with them and getting their input. We will forever be connected. Every time I come to town they allow me to sit in with them at their critique gatherings.

Please join with me in my excitement of the release of  PRINCESS KANDAKE, available February 1, 2012.

I'm so sorry. I'm playing with my grandchildren and we're having a blast. I'll be right back. I have something cool to tell you!

Egypt’s 25th Dynasty

You might ask what has Egypt to do with Nubia and particularly it’s 25th dynasty. My answer would be, “Quite a bit!” And this is why.

Around 750 B.C. Egypt was in cultural and religious turmoil having been routed by Libya and several other kingdoms. Egypt was lost in a period of, what history describes as, decadence. 

Piye, the ruler of Nubia, believed the only way to save Egypt from itself was to conquer it. Following a year-long campaign every leader in Egypt yielded to his authority. Thus, Piye became the first of the black pharaohs and the beginning of Egypt’s 25th dynasty.

For three-quarters of a century this series of rulers brought reunification to a worn-torn Egypt, reinstituted their religious culture, and “filled the landscape with glorious monuments, creating an empire that stretched from the southern border at present-day Kartoum all the way north to the Mediterranean Sea. They stood up to the bloodthirsty Assyrians, perhaps saving Jerusalem in the process (Robert Draper,National Geographic, February, 2008, p. 38).”

After conquering Egypt, Piye went back to Nubia and never returned. When he died, his burial wishes were honored. Piye desired to be buried in an Egyptian-style pyramid with 400 horses. He was the first pharaoh to be entombed in this way for over 500 years. This is the line of the 25 dynasty: Piye, who took the Egyptian name Thutmose III, ruled for 35 years. Following his death, his brother, Shabaka, ruled and took up residency in Memphis (the Egyptian capital) and took the name Pepi II. Piye’s son, Taharqa, followed Shabaka to the throne and proved to be not only a military genius, but chose to spend his political capital to create “a panorama of architectural wonderment” from Napata to Thebes,” according to Draper. This pharaoh can be credited with restoring both military might and cultural/religious notoriety to the kingdom of Egypt, setting the stage for all pharaohs to follow.

Fridays R 4 Fun!

Well, it’s that time of year again. The day after Thanksgiving usually ushers in the Christmas season. That’s also the day that most people (if they aren’t out shopping) put up their tree.

Just so you know, there’s more than one style of tree. For those of you that aren’t stuck in the ‘olden days’ and expect a tree to be pine and conical, I thought I’d enlighten you. Maybe this year you could try something different.

This first one is for those of you who can’t get away from the typical pine and conical shape. It’s the same as usual…just flipped. If you’re tired of the back-breaking chore of picking those needles out of the carpet by hand( because the vacuum cleaner never gets them all), this is for you. Now they’ll fall onto the table cloth. Just bundle it up and take it outside and shake. Don’t worry about them getting into you food. After all, the surgeon general says we all need to add a little more fiber to our diet.

Okay, okay, so you don’t like the idea of an upside-down tree or one hanging from the ceiling. How about we don’t do pine and skip the needle problem. This one’s on the floor and it’s not pine. I don’t know what it is…but it’s not pine. Don’t like this one? How about we try something different.   This one put me brings the movie Tron to mind. Want something not quite as heavy? What about a tree made from paper. Not good either? Sheesh, there’s just no pleasing some people. This is my last option. It’s pine, with lights, and a little bit of whimsy.

See you next Friday!