The most delicious pear I ever tasted...

Practicing with Pen & Ink...

Phenomenal Flora

Saturday morning cartoons were interrupted with an emergency news broadcast.

Newscaster Tom Dickenherry reported.

"We interrupt the normal broadcast to bring you the following breaking story. This just in. A young man is missing following what appears to be an astonishing and incredulous appearance of unnatural flora in the town of Biggending, Kansas. 

"Witnesses described the scene earlier in the day. The Bakerson farm, owned and operated by Peg Bakerson and her son, Jack appeared normal. Young Jack had been observed as he opened the gate of the pasture and was led their only cow through the gate and down the gravel road. Later in the day, neighboring witnesses reported that they heard a loud argument between Jack and a woman who they confirmed to be Jack's mother. Witness also stated that they saw the woman go outside, throw some small items into the front yard, just over the porch railing. They observed her as she threw up her arms, shook her head, and then went back inside, slamming the door. Jack reportedly went outside appearing angry, as evidenced by his flailing arms, shaking fists and stomping feet. He was seen entering the barn.

"Just after dusk, witnesses throughout the town reported signs such as seeing and feeling furniture moving, cupboard doors opening, dishes rattling, and even window panes cracking, all thought to be associated with a possible earthquake. Seismic graphs showed very little movement. Then, as was stated, an explosion was heard throughout the neighborhood. Witnesses stated that the explosion began as approximately thirty seconds of rumbling, not unlike thunder in the distance, followed by the loud reverberating boom.

"Astounding is what happened following the alleged quake and explosion. Eyewitnesses from a nearby farm spoke to our reporter Bob Telltale who is at the scene. Bob?"

"Tom, we're here in Biggending, Kansas at the Bakerson farm. We are speaking with Carl and Doris Fibbers, neighboring farm owners. Doris, tell us about what you heard and saw at the Bakerson's."

"Well, we knew something was wrong all day. Peg Bakerson never gets mad, but she was some angry at her son, Jack. Maybe it was because he took the cow away. He never brought Daisy back. That's when Peg was yelling.

After supper, Carl and I were sitting on the porch; we do that every night until dark. We like to watch the fireflies. But, oh, what happened just before we went inside. The windows started rattling and inside I heard a couple of dishes fall and break. It lasted about a minute, I think. I ran inside to pick up the mess."

Carl joined the conversation, "You should've seen it. After what we thought was a quake, there was this sound, loud, like a train running under the ground and then, boom! I yelled to see if Doris was okay, and when she came out onto the porch, that's when we saw it together."

"Oh my land! We did! This thing, a plant or something just shot straight up out of the ground. Up and up and up! We didn't know what the heck it was! That's when we called for help. Look! See it over there?"

 

“I don’t know but it looks like, well, a beanstalk, but I’ve never seen a beanstalk that gigantic! The thing is humungous!"

"The last time Jack was seen was when neighbors reported observing him entering the barn on farm property. Police are investigating the disappearance of Jack Bakerson. FEMA has been informed of the alleged earthquake. During the investigation and until further notice, Bakerson Farm Road is closed to the public. This is Bob Telltale in Biggending, Kansas. Back to you, Tom."

"Thank you, Bob. We have been live with Bob Telltale in Biggending, Kansas. He is there and has been reporting on the disappearance of 18 years old, Jack Bakerson, following an alleged earthquake, explosion, and the unnatural growth of a gigantic beanstalk in the yard. We will bring you up to date with this breaking story on NewsCastNow at noon today. 

"Thank you. Now, we take you back to the regularly scheduled programming."

Introducing Sarah's Saga.. It begins with Eyes of a Pagan Queen by Jeffrey Underwood & Kate Taylor

In the hoary myths of time out of mind, there is the legend of a vengeful warrior queen, an Ethiopian queen, who conquered a kingdom and radically changed the course of world history.  Ethiopia, as the land of the first human beings, has been critical to this species development.  As such, what Queen Isat accomplished was huge.  But did she achieve anything?  Did she actually exist?  Was she Hebrew?  Was she Pagan?  Was she the cruel savage she was purported to be by Christians of the tenth century in northeastern Africa?  Did she lay waste to Christians and their churches, slaughter Aksumite princes, and establish her own unique dynasty, the Zagwe.  The Zagwe were real.  Was she as their founder or was she already a member of their royal court?  Or possibly neither? 
 The kingdom that she conquered was Christian and powerful.  It spanned even to the old empire of Egypt.  Within it, the history of Sheba, the Ark of the Covenant, the earliest written system in Africa, of Ge’ ez, flourished; coins as circular metal pieces for exchange of goods were initiated by powerful King Ezana; pagan religion was banished and left to drift on the boundaries of civilization.
 A young woman, Sarah, of present day Seattle, stumbles into the clutches of exactly this period of Ethiopian history.  Her father is white and American while her mother is black and Ethiopian.  Sarah has graduated college and is prepping for law school boards when a maelstrom of events moves her into treacherous spaces and alien places.
 The goddess Astarte craves resurrection in the pantheon of gods and goddesses worshipped.  She has that in times past but will she in Sarah’s present?
An idiosyncratic and totally unexpected world is created in Eyes of a Pagan Queen.  The tapestry blends the fraught and suspenseful with accurate and vivid history as well as heated erotic encounters and characters that are deeply three dimensional. 
 It is a very engrossing, twisting, and suspenseful read that is spirited and horrific.  So as soon as you, the reader, has settled in and are relaxing with the flow of the pages, it is then that, yes, the Queen’s eyes will fasten on yours and within the reflection of her pupils, you will wonder if Sarah’s fate and your fate are intertwined.

Click on the link below to take a journey into what you find in Eyes of a Pagan Queen

A peek inside Eyes of a Pagan Queen

Tranquility in a Silent Retreat

I have planned a writer's retreat for myself April 7th through the 10th. I used to go on a silent retreat once a year, and my senses were acute in the surrounding silence. I wrote a short story about sensually eating a pear during the silence of mealtime. Since that time I have never eaten a pear that tasted so delicious.

Work and family became my focus and it turned to years before I took time to quiet inside and find some peace. The retreat house became unavailable so I had to think of an alternative. That's when I came up with my own few days of near silence. The retreat includes activities that admittedly I don't take time to do. Now that I am single, the time is all mine.

The daily itinerary will include simple but fine food: cheese, fruit, homemade soup, bread, and wine. During my day I will listen to some quiet pleasurable music, create some kind of art project, and take a mindful walk. Following the walk, I will journal what I experienced while outside in sunshine or rain. Later I will settle into the quiet and write.

I smile as I scribble these words, that my three days will not include using the computer. What, no email or Facebook?  Oh, that could be difficult!

If your world becomes too hectic to enjoy writing, you might consider giving yourself the gift of a retreat even if only for one quiet day.

Under the Flannel Sheets by Kate Taylor

The fire was so nice
the wine, the quilt
and you
Oh, my sweet hearted love,
just look at you.
My, my, my...
Are you still done in by our play?
Mmm, I am as well
and need to lie quietly
next to you
Come with me now
as I turn down the covers
and join you
under the flannel sheets
The warmth of you
saturates my soul
and I am so content.
How I love you.
Here...
My goodnight kiss to you
My lips touch your closed eyes,
your cheek,
and the corner of
your softest mouth.
My hand over your heart
feels gently, the rhythm of you
and your breathing
lulls me
into a slumber
where dreams find life.
                                 kate taylor

Long distance writing? But how?

People read our author notes and must wonder how Jeff and I accomplish the task of writing books together. In the notes, we tell our readers, that since 2011 we have written books together via text, email, and phone calls. Sounds unimaginable doesn't it? Here's a peek into a typical writing day for Jeff and me.

I awaken around 6:00AM. I slip a k-cup into the brewer, slide my favorite mug underneath and while the coffee drips, I wake up the computer and get the cream from the refrigerator. The coffee's aroma is earthy and the cream naturally swirls and sinks slowly to the bottom, stirring itself. 

Once I am seated at the computer, I open my emails and check to see if a chapter has arrived from Jeff. As always, the chapter comes with an annotation attached.After a sip or two of coffee, I am prepared for the read.  I read each chapter three times. The first time is to become familiar with the characters and the action that takes place within. The second time, I read with my senses. I am exquisitely sensitive and always affected in some way by Jeff's words. When they have the effect on me that he is hoping for, we both feel successful. The third time that I read the chapter is when I respond to Jeff regarding what I have just read. I may have a question or a suggestion. I always share how I felt while reading him. My responses are sent for him to read later.

Mind you, Jeff and I are 3000 miles apart, so 6:00AM for me is 3:00AM for him! I look at my watch near 11:15AM and know that Jeff is waking and will text a morning hello before he begins his day. We chat via texts for about a half hour and go over what the day will be like and what we will be up to in our writing. We call it a drive-by when we send quick texts through the day. I catch up with him when I arrive home. There may be another chapter waiting for me, or I may have sent him a chapter, and he will respond to my words.

Jeff's full time work now is his writing. He writes throughout the day and into his evening, while I work where I am employed, and then write until about 11:30PM. Throughout the evening we text, email, and often have a chat on the phone. I say my "Good night" and then I crawl between the sheets for some slumber. We spoke just recently about how we often go to sleep with the book, the chapter, or an idea on our minds and we wake up the same way.

Though we are so distanced, we are also unbelievably close. It's the passion, the love affair with the writing that keeps us fresh and alive. When we write, we sit at the virtual desk, side by side, sharing our words and our time together. We will meet face to face when the time is right for us. For now, 3000 miles is not so far apart. As we say to one another in our drive-by conversations,

"I am right here."

JU Admiration and Inspiration

John Updike (1932 – 2009) was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic.


His style of writing and his tales affected me for some time, so in 2004, I wrote to him to express my appreciation and enjoyment of his writing. He wrote back to me and well, I was truly enamored then.
Jeff Underwood's encouragement set me to putting words to paper. I feel John Updike's spirit as it stays near just in case I have a shaky hand when searching for the appropriate words to convey my thoughts.

He would have been 82 this year. I can read him over and over and over, his words remain alive, but it's the man that I miss.

Is is a coincidence that both
John Updike and Jeff Underwood
have the same initials? Hmm...