Sunset Over The Villerouge by Jeffrey Underwood & Kate Taylor

"Sunset Over The Villerouge." An intellect's murder/mystery. Fascinating history of the Cathar faith included. The issue of female ordination within the Catholic Church is highlighted as well. But mainly it is a get down figure it out saga of who does what to whom and how. quite the twisty ending. Bet none will figure it out.

The Bath by Kate Taylor

Child of Slavery by Kate Taylor

Sunset Over The Villerouge by Jeffrey Underwood & Kate Taylor

This free photo slideshow made with Smilebox"> Sunset Over The Villerouge." An intellect's murder/mystery. Fascinating history of the Cathar faith included. The issue of female ordination within the Catholic Church is highlighted as well. But mainly it is a get down figure it out saga of who does what to whom and how. quite the twisty ending. Bet none will figure it out. - Jeff Underwood

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