#Alexander is easy to find in shows and books

[yvisoul]

A list of Eliza Hamilton in fictional books.

I, Eliza Hamilton by Susan Holloway Scott

Alex & Eliza (A Love Story, Love & War, All for One) by Melissa de la Cruz.

Hamilton's Choice by Jack Casey

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie

A Master Passion by Juliet Waldron

Hamilton's Heart & Hamilton's Hope by Mercy Madison

Elizabeth Schuyler: A Story of Old New York by Mary Elizabeth Springer

Sharing Hamilton by Brian L. Porter, Diana Rubino

Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio Of Romances by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole

The Lace Widow: An Eliza Hamilton Mystery by Mollie Ann Cox

President Hamilton by Lewis Ben Smith

(will be updated if i find more) + (and if you know another book, let me know!)

[metvmorqhoses]

Hi! I never read the original trilogy before watching the show, only the crows books, but I agree with a lot of what you’ve said about Alina & Aleksander. It’s obviously a cruel and poorly fitting match. May I ask what kind of person you think would truly match Aleksander better?

So, here is the deal: while the right answer to this question might appear pretty obvious, since pretty much everyone in the fandom agrees that Aleksander deserves an equal, I have to confess that I've always found a big flaw in this otherwise, well, flawless reasoning.

Albeit I obviously agree with everything you said about Alina's (especially show!Alina) lack of... personality (to express it kindly), I think dismissing the general concept of book!Alina, at least in the way she should have been written had her writer any sense of artistic potential, might actually be a dire mistake in the proverbial grand scheme of literary things.

I'll explain.

It's indeed pretty easy to sketch out Aleksander's ideal match. He himself would tell you he'd need a mirror image of who he is in order to finally, finally, feel complete: someone to match him in power, but above all in his understanding of power; someone to match him in immortality, but above all in his experience with it; someone who shares his predatory eagle-view on existence and therefore sharp-sighted enough to look in his same direction and see the same clash of colors in dawns and sunsets turning morality and philosophy unforgiving black.

In short, Aleksander would need someone who shares his unique condition, but most importantly having already lived through each and every single stage of it (the same despair, the same fear, the same loneliness) and therefore being someone who just gets what it means, what it feels, to be him.

There's no doubt in my mind this is what the Darkling dreamt about in the dead of night, what he prayed for before actually finding the Sun Summoner. He prayed she had been out there all along somehow, each year he himself had existed, going through the same centuries of unforgiveness, of solitude, of horror, through the same desperate quest for an equal, for him, just as he had been looking for her, all that time, all along.

I've seen many amazing people believing this very same thing while exploring the possibility in both meta and fanfiction, and I absolutely get where they are coming from. But I'm afraid I have to disagree. As poets say, there's a huge difference between what someone thinks they need and what they actually do need.

Aleksander's perfect match should indeed be his mirror image, but the mirror image of the boy he once was (the boy who was in love with "all the colors one cannot see in the dark", the one who was moved by the mere idea of companionship and intimacy, who was brave enough to risk his own life for the sake of a little girl he had just met), and not of the eternal and lost creature he had become, no matter how shocking the mere notion would be to him.

Aleksander would need a person who reminds him of the unspoiled self that was torn away from him, of his original unmarred idealism, his profound appreciation for living before he became a mere stubborn and bitter habit, of the humanity he was forced to shed. And, above all, Aleksander would need to be able himself to perform this act of saving, protecting and cherishing this twin heart for the sake of that heart of his no one had cared to save in time.

I think seeing himself, his truer, unspoiled self, in his equal and being able to shield her from everything he endured, as a single beam of light in endless oceans of darkness, would be virtually the only thing able to save him in turn, finally giving his life a meaning no war nor time could steal away from him.

And this is precisely why I think the concept of Alina had real literary potential, had it been used wisely, because Alina was supposed to be exactly that - an Alexander who can still, materially, be protected, saved, someone with the strength of not treding her own humanity for comforting numbness and disillusion, not even while crushed by the weight of eternity, and, in doing so, allowing him to be human and bearably so for the first time in his eternal detached yet still excruciating exististing.

It's a pity, because at fleeting times both books and show did touch on this very topic, almost giving in, only to idiotically shy away from it for reasons that will always be beyond me.

[jeannereames]

Hello, I hope you're well :D I have some questions related to Olympias.

Was she "de facto leader of Macedonia" as it says on wikipedia? She was also regent for her cousin Eacides, and for a few months also regent on behalf of Alexander IV?

I’ve actually written a fair number of entries on Olympias. But in most, I refer to THE leading authority on her life: Elizabeth D. Carney. The number of articles (and books) this woman has written is a just a little scary!

If you are interested in Olympias, ignore everything on the internet (even me) and go and buy Beth’s book: Olympias: Mother of Alexander the Great. It’s been out a while, so you can probably find it used at a fair price, or find it in a library, especially a university library. If you can’t find it or afford to buy it, ask the library to get it for you via “interlibrary loan.”

Bonus. She’s easy to read, has a very good narrative style (imo). And yes, when she gives lectures, she talks just like she writes. Ha. (Not all authors do.) When I’m reading Beth’s stuff, I can almost always “hear” her voice in my head, amusingly.

Anyway, just start there; she will answer every question you have, and some you never would have thought of. Very rarely can I give such a singular “Go read this” suggestion as with Beth’s book on Olympias. She has several other good ones, including on Macedonian women generally, and on Eurydike, Philip II’s mother (e.g., ATG’s grandmother).

Now, as for my own posts on Olympias, here are some. I mention her quite frequently (as a search of “asks” + “Olympias” will show), but these are some of the longer ones.

Olympias’s role in Macedonia was complicated, and she was not de facto leader except in some respects, especially as it involved religion. When it came to war, and politics, that was Antipatros. That may be one reason Olympias eventually retreated to Epiros later in Alexander’s campaign, where she had more influence. But again, Beth’s book is much better about explaining all of that.

How Old Was Olympias When She Married Philip? A general post on Olympias herself and her background, that should help contextualize where she came from and what expectations she may have had, for her role as Philip’s 4th or 5th wife.

Olympias’s Relationships with Philip’s Other Wives. This discusses dynamics in a polygamous household like Macedonia.

Did Philip and Alexander of Epiros Have an Affair? While this is more about Olympias’s younger brother, it addresses, again, family dynamics in Epiros and Olympias’s role at the court (both courts).

Finally, a pair of posts on Philip’s murder, and Alexander and Olympias’s (non-)role in it. IMO.

Who Killed Philip of Macedon?

Did Alexander and Hephaistion (and Olympias) Know about the Plot?

Hope all this helps!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Music For the Soul by Alexander MacLaren

Memorials of Victory

"Ye are our glory and our joy" – 1 Thessalonians 2:20

Paul’s name was that of his first convert. He takes it, as I suppose, because it seemed to him such a blessed thing that at the very moment when he began to sow, God helped him to reap. He had gone out to his work, no doubt, with much trembling, with weakness and fear. And lo! here, at once, the fields were white already to the harvest.

Great conquerors have been named from their victories: Africanus, Germanicus, Nelson of the Nile, Napier of Magdala, and the like. Paul names himself from the first victory that God gave him to win; and so, as it were, carries ever at his breast a memorial of the wonder that through him it had been given to preach, and that not without success, amongst the Gentiles " the unsearchable riches of Christ."

That is to say, this man Paul thought of it as his highest honour, and the thing best worthy to be remembered about his life, that God had helped him to help his brethren to know the common Master. Is that your idea of the best thing about a life? What would you like to have for an epitaph on your grave, professing Christian? "He was rich; he made a big business." "He was famous; he wrote books." "He was happy and fortunate." Or, "He turned many to righteousness"? "This man flung away his literary tastes, his home joys, and his personal ambition, and chose as that for which he would live, and by which he would fain be remembered, that he should bring dark hearts to the light in which he and they together walked"?

His name, in its commemoration of his first success, would act as a stimulus to service and to hope. No doubt the Apostle, like the rest of us, had his times of indolence and languor, and his times of despondency when he seemed to have laboured in vain and spent his strength for nought. He had but to name himself to find the antidote to both the one and the other, and in the remembrance of the past to find a stimulus for service for the future, and a stimulus for hope for the time to come. His first convert was to him the first drop that predicts the shower, the first primrose that prophesies the wealth of yellow blossoms and downy green leaves that will fill the woods in a day or two. The first convert "bears in his hand a glass which showed many more." Look at the workmen in the streets trying to get up a piece of the roadway. How difficult it is to lever out the first paving-stone from the compacted mass! But when once it has been withdrawn, the rest is comparatively easy. We can understand Paul’s triumph and joy over this first stone which he had worked out of the strongly cemented wall and barrier of heathenism; and his conviction that having thus made a breach, if it were but big enough to get the end of his lever in, the fall of the whole was only a question of time. I suppose that if the old alchemists had only turned one grain of base metal into gold they might have turned tons, if only they had had the retorts and the appliances with which to do it. And so, what has brought one man’s soul into harmony with God, and given one man the true life, can do the same for all men. In the first fruits we may see the fields whitening to the harvest. Let us rejoice, then, in any little work that God helps us to do, and be sure that if so great be the joy of the first fruits, great beyond speech will be the joy of the ingathering.

[pub-lius]

What in your opinion makes a good/well written history book? Can you give some examples?

i miiiight have talked about this before like 6 months ago so you might be able to find more info from me on this but idk. to answer this, im just sitting on the floor in front of my bookshelf HEJWBW

So contrary to popular belief, there are just as many factors that go into a non fiction book as a fiction book, and they all have their different styles. to make the comparisons im making, im gonna keep it between Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin, Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger, The Three Lives of James Madison by Noah Feldman, and John Laurens and the American Revolution by Gregory D. Massey and George Washington’s Indispensable Men by Arthur S. Lefkowitz, just referring to them by their author(s)’ last name. these are all books i have on hand that ive fully read and annotated

Most history books will be in a biographical or chronological style, where they retell events relating to a person or period in order, and others will take a more narrative style, like what Kilmeade and Yaeger have done, but this is often used to enhance understanding by not constantly referring back to previous events. neither one of this is better or worse, but they open different opportunities for how the author will broach certain subjects.

this is where we get into the author. just like in fiction, the author’s opinions, biases, and preferences alter the way the book is written, mainly because they will highlight certain information that they personally believe is important, and their historical reasoning will reflect their personal biases.

the two authors that i think are most different in this respect are Feldman and Chernow. as we all know, i really don’t like Chernow, for the primary reason that his evidence is contradictory and his theories tend to be misogynistic. the contradictions in his book make it hard to take anything he says at face value and it eliminates all chance of his book being easy to read, along with the fact that he is very wordy.

when it comes to Feldman, his biography of James Madison is a lot shorter than anything Chernow has ever touched with a pen, even though Madison lived a great deal longer than Hamilton. this is because Feldman utilizes brevity more in his writing. the thesis of his book is in the title: that Madison’s life can be broken down into three sections, and he spends the book proving that while also describing his life. this book is therefore more academically reliable, but also easier to read and more trustworthy. he also uses sources for each one of his claims and chernow just pulls things out of his ass but thats neither here nor there.

speaking of sources, when you’re buying a book, flip through the index and see if they have both primary and secondary sources listed. they almost always do, but it’s important to make sure. don’t trust a book with no primary sources. there also should be a LARGE index, like enough that when you separate it from the rest of the book you’re like “oh! i dont have as much to read as i thought i did!” not only does this give you hope that you might have a life outside of this book, it shows that the book has been thoroughly and adequately researched

another factor is how much information is in the book. this has less to do with how long it is and more about the subject matter along with the length. for example, Dolin’s book is about pirates, which are largely very obscure historical figures, so you can infer that the book will be less about the individuals and more about the time period, being the Golden Age of Priacy. and it is! and there’s nothing wrong with that, its just going to give you less information on the individuals.

now when it comes to a book like Massey’s, it seems like an adequate length for a biography of one person. however i think a larger issue with Massey’s book is that he doesn’t give you the full picture of a lot of things, and that is my biggest gripe with this book. he doesn’t give the reader a lot of wiggle room when it comes to making their own theories, because he tends to state his opinion first and give minimal evidence afterwards.

im always on here ranting and raving about how good of a job Lefkowitz did, but he doesn’t really fit the criteria ive mentioned here. his book isn’t in formal writing (which isn’t a requirement but i prefer it), he leaves out a lot of details, and his book is pretty lengthy. however i think he can really be praised for just easiness to read. the truth is, history is boring, and its hard to find authors who don’t make it worse. Lefkowiz’s book is well sourced and well written and does give a really good picture of the time period and a good starting point for further research, and that is how you become my favorite book and my most frequent recommendation

its always gonna depend on your personal preferences and biases. studying history isn’t about getting rid of your biases, and more of using them as a tool or at the very least factoring them into your research. my biggest tip: just keep reading! find what you like and what you don’t bc im still doing that. get nitpicky. get funky with it. GO TO THE LIBRARY‼️

and remember kids, Ron Chernow meets his maker when he encounters me in the Denny’s Parking lot, bare fisted and ready to throw down. you can’t outrun destiny, Ron.

(for legal reasons, that’s a joke)

[richardsphere]

My conclusive overall review of RWBY Vol 9

Now that my feelings on the finale have had half a day to settle. I feel it is time to give my opinion on the season overall instead of just the finale on its own.

The new cast of characters is also somewhat wanting. While one-off characters Jinxy, Herb and the King fulfill their purposes perfectly well. some crucial characters important to the seasons overall narrative (Cat, Lewis, Alyx and Little) were with all either one-note (little), Hollow shells of plot serving to sell a future spin-off book(Lewis and Alyx). The cat was fine though, and fulfilled its purpose well.  For the first half,  Volume 9 suffers from a major disconnect as the plot relies on the characters familiarity with the fairytale. which makes it sort of unsatisfying to watch cause we have no idea how the fairytale even went. As a result we spend half the season wandering around, seemingly aimlessly, while neither characters nor audience have a clue what they are doing besides vaguely advertising an RT’s eventual spin-off book release.  Sort of like the early Sherlock Holmes books, where the plot is moved by sherlock but we only have Wattsons’ knowledge of events to guide us through. Its a clueless mystery with no fulfillment to it. Then moving into the later-half of the season, Where the show attempts to handle difficult topics and, in true RWBY style doesnt always handle it well. While the eventual handliing of ruby’s self-acceptance issues is in the finale is good . The decision to have Jaune’s problems of self-worth be solved by “yes you werent the hero, but would you like to be one now?” leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels like its trying to say “Ruby, your impostor syndrome was a bad thing, you should learn to accept yourself for who you are. You’re actually fine as is dont worry about it you are good enough”. meanwhile to Jaune the tree’s messaging is: “yes you’re right, you do suck major ass. and while we dont have any tips on how to improve yourself as a personi can put you in the right time and place to be usefull for just this once because your woodshell happens to be above the cat RN.” and now for  the origami-paperes elephant in the room. The race of little star-shaped Alexanders-the-Great, who commit mass ennui-motivated suicides because they ran out of acre to conquer and/or decorate, and are portrayed as right for taking the easy way out of their boredom. Now i’ve had someone respond to me on an earlier post about the stars, that they believed the stars were meant to be an allegory for people with terrible wasting diseases that leave them frail and in terminal misery, and the process of them making the difficult choice of euthenasia, as well as the difficult path of a family member to come to acceptance with that choice. Which is a heavy, nuanced and important topic that I do not want to make light of in the slightest. So please take no offense when i say that; While I could see the space in which people with those experiences could project themselves into Jaune’s struggle with Penny’s death. I cant actually see that as being the actual situation facing the paperstars themselves. Because the way the stars explain their problem to RWBY is verry much one of boredom and listlessness rather then any state of terminal misery of which only death could possibly grant relief. So the star-subplot either tried to tackle euthenasia and missed the mark by a mile due to framing issues (which is dangerous), or it just said “Remember suicide is an acceptable cure for boredom” which is actively evil. as messages go. Add onto that the fact that, in the long term their solution doesnt actually work, as they’ll redecorate the acre with gems instead of paper. Run out of acre to decorate again like they did the first time and have find a new way to kill themselves again and this subplot fails critically. And because the latter half of the plot is trying to tie 3-or more such heavy topics together in quick succession all together (Ruby’s attempted suicide, Jaune’s grief over Euthenising Penny, Ruby’s self-worth issues, Jaune’s sisiphean hell, Jaune’s self-worth over failing Alyx) the toxic messaging given by the stars subplot spreads across the adjacent plots like a malignant viral infection. Tainting all of them with a “pro-suicide” undertone that i can only hope was never RT’s intention. Top that all off with a the rather unsatisfying finale, focussed more on loredumping then tying together or resolving the seasons emotional beats and I can only say that, Despite its promise for the tone of the series going forward by presenting hope as an actual thing instead of a mere nebulous concept, This season was in my opinion nonetheless, the worst season of the series so far.

[where-theres-smoak-2]

(Sorry, a piece was missing in the message I sent)

I don't understand those who say that Mal is Alina's great love...

People... in a few months she imagined herself building a future with the Darkling / Alexander. If wrong was supposedly his great unwavering love, it wouldn't have crossed his mind after just a few months. She says so. She literally says that she and Alexander could have been together, had it all, and been equals. It doesn't sound like a band-aid relationship at all to just forget about Mal. She was truly moved on and ready to build a life with another man. She also expresses that Alexander was the first to show / prove to her that she was made for more.

Mal and Alina sound like family, then growing up, Alina developed a crush on him. After that, there was Alexander, the betrayal, and then it went back to Mal. There, that sounds like a bandage relationship.

Even more with the fact that she brings up her romantic love for Mal for the first time in front of Alexander, as if to make him jealous. Then afterwards, she literally sinks into this delirium that Mal is her great love.

To me, this is clearly the equivalent of a band-aid relationship to move on from Alexander. She refuses the idea that she might have wanted to share her life with him.

Mal and Alina, in the show may be kind of a cute romantic relationship, but to say that Mal is his great love / true love, while Alexander is literally coded as his soulmate... And who he's said to be with unambiguously she wanted a future with him... No, sorry, I don't buy into that idea.

" I will never feel such love again " I think Alina said something like that to Mal in episode 6... The joke. Girl, you're just in denial at this point.

There's also this insinuating that this true north between them, this unshakeable sense of family that they had been maybe just because Mal was the fucking firebird !? Mal literally told Alina that he no longer felt that " true north " between them ?!

Not to mention the fact that Alina also seems disturbed by Nikolai at the end of the season. You can see it from the way she looked at him when he talked about kissing. It wasn't just the look of someone general. Again, if Mal was supposedly her one big love / true love... I find that she allows herself to almost develop a new crush very quickly.

Brief. All that to say that it makes me laugh when people say that Mal is Alina's great love / true love, with all those things to consider.

Also, I don't understand those who argue that Mal is the same from the book to the series, when he's a completely different character ! I want to hit the one from the book and give a hug to the one from the series. On the other hand, in both cases he remains the least interesting character. But at least the actor has a presence and charisma.

There is a real interest that the Darklina story is not finished and continues in the series. I want at least one more kiss and a touching conclusion between them. It's not that hard to give anyway.

I mean when its comes to shipping etc everything is subjective and everyone is attracted to different things, that being said I too don't really understand or agree with this take that M*l is her great love. For me I see M*lina's relationship as a combination of trauma bonding and the effects of the amplifier. Their relationship actually reminds me alot of katniss and gale in hunger games where they both share this traumatic experience, their dads both dying in a cave in at the mine, and then become co-dependent on each other in order to survive, they need each other to survive, its very easy when going through something like that to mistake it for love, after winning the games and no longer needing gale to survive Katniss begins to realise that other than that trauma bonding them they didn't really have a whole lot in common, that they didn't really fit together and without that trauma they likely never even would have been friends let alone lovers. I think it is similar with M*l and Alina it was them both being orphans that bonded them, both being outcasts at the orphanage, they needed each other to survive, then there is the added effect of the amplifier which would have made them feel even more bonded and again I think it would be easy to think that you are in love. But the question to ask is, take away that need for survival, take away the amplifier and what it left? I think that was what the show was asking to when they had M*l admit that he didn't feel that true north feeling anymore and wonder if the only reason they 'fell in love' was because of the amplifier.

Also with Alina's 'I'm never going to feel a love like this again' line, I do think alot of this is saying things in the moment that don't always stand up to the test of time. The truth is Alina is immortal and M*l is not, so right now she may believe that but there is no telling if she would gone on after M*l's death and fall in love again. I mean like you pointed out a few months after being separated from M*l in season 1 and she was planning a future with Aleksander. It is obvious that she has some attraction to Nikolai though how deep that runs we'll have to see in season 3. So whilst I'm sure in that moment Alina believed that was the case, and whilst I'm sure some part of M*l will stay with her, I don't think it is necessarily true. I am sure at the time Aleks believed he wouldn't love another the same way he loved Luda but then he lost her, time went on and he eventually fell for others including Alina. But Alina is a young immortal and hasn't quite grasped this possibility, as Aleks said right now she is living in a single moment and in this moment she has convinced herself that she couldn't ever feel this way again.

I do think it is interesting that the first time Alina uses love in relation to M*l is when she is with Aleks and I do think she was trying to make him jealous. I think alot of her draw to m*l this season was because, as you said, she is trying to forget Aleks. Before she met Aleks, M*l was the one that she had a crush on and the one she planned a future with, even if that future wasn't really one that she was thrilled at the prospect of, she doesn't like farms after all. It makes sense that when things fall apart with Aleks that she would go back to what she knows, what is safe. I think her trying really hard to believe she has a future with M*l is part of that defence mechanism she's constructed around herself.

I also agree with you that I don't get when people say that book and show m*l are the same, they are very clearly not, from book to screen M*l's character got the biggest change.

And I agree with you that when it comes to darklina I want at least one more kiss and some kind of emotional conclusion to their story, whatever that conclusion may be, I want it to be clear that these two characters do have love and care for each other.

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Books Into Movies: The Sea Wolf (1941)

First things first ... let me start by saying that this has been one of the hardest posts I've created so far in terms of narrowing down which pictures / videos to use for a Tumblr post. This is a movie that was adapted from a book. One of the main characters is a writer. One of the characters reads a lot of books and finds inspiration in books. Characters discuss books, and there are still shots and loooooong panning shots of books.

In conclusion, there are lots of colorful characters, and lots and LOTS of books.

So, that's why I'm going to be outsourcing a little more than usual, because there was SO MUCH about this movie that I wanted to share, and not enough space to share it!

Okay, so I'll start with a quick overview: This movie was one of many adaptations of this classic story by Jack London, but it's also considered one of the best. It stars Edward G. Robinson as "Wolf" Larsen, the captain of the Ghost, a ship with a very bad reputation. His memorable entrance reveals just how cruel of a man he can be.

Joining Captain Larsen on the ship (some more willingly than others), are Ida Lupino as Ruth Brewster, John Garfield as George Leach, and Alexander Knox as Humphrey Van Weyden. Oh, and I'll give special mention to Barry Fitzgerald as Cooky, the character I most wanted to suffer a terrible demise as quickly as possible.

Humphrey and Ruth wind up on the ship after their boat has an accident and the Ghost's crew rescues them. George joins the crew of the Ghost because he has no other options. Ruth and George are both running from the law, which makes them especially vulnerable.

Everyone has their own reasons for despair, but one thing is for sure: Being on the Ghost is bad luck for everyone.

When Humphrey goes into the captain's quarters, he discovers to his surprise that this cruel brute of a man has quite a library in his cabin. This is important because it creates an uneasy relationship between the captain who loves books, and Humphrey the author who has started writing about his own experiences on the Ghost.

One of the captain's books is a fancy edition of Milton's Paradise Lost, illustrated by Gustav Dore (if you're interested in buying one of these today, you'll discover that they cost A LOT!!!):

And this book has some passages underlined that seem to mean a lot to the captain (these lines will later be yelled back and forth between Humphrey and the captain during their arguments):

Meanwhile, Ruth and George are forming a bond of their own. They both have a criminal history, they're both desperate to escape the Ghost, and most importantly, since a transfusion of his blood saved her life ... could you get any closer than that?

Oh, and because I'm entertained by old Hollywood optics, I would like to point out that while both of them are SUPER-DUPER ATTRACTIVE, George is sweaty but Ruth is not. Because, you know ... ladies don't sweat???

And now, here comes another of my favorite sloooooow panning shots! The crew had enough of the captain ruling over them with an iron fist, so they had a mutiny, which FAILED. This shot shows everyone on board waiting to see what the consequences will be:

Time passes, and things get worse. There are only a few people left on the now-sinking ship. The captain is still consumed with Humphrey's book, and how he will be portrayed in it:

In the end, we're left with our two young lovers on a lifeboat, who just discovered that there was an island on the other side of that fog bank. Thank goodness they're saved!

And thank goodness for foundation, or powder, or whatever Ruth is using to keep looking so lovely:

If you would like to watch the 1941 film version of The Sea Wolf, you can check out the DVD from the New York Public Library, you can rent or buy it online, or you can watch it the next time it airs on TCM!

If you'd like to take a deeper dive into The Sea Wolf, you can also read the original Jack London story and learn about the differences between the book and movie versions!

ETA: Of course, I should probably mention that the trailer for this movie BEGINS AT THE LIBRARY!!!

[wordtowords]

The Fickle Fate of Being a Recording Artist

fickle - adjective - changing frequently (Google)

Although I am aware that I am dating myself here, back in the dark ages (late 1960s, early 1970s) of television when channels were few yet not far between, I liked to watch "Ronan and Martin's Laugh-In," a bizarre variety show that was all about comedy. It was oftentimes silly, but creative, satirical, and quite a few names synonymous with humor (such as Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin) became household fixtures because of it. The weekly award known as the "Fickle Finger of Fate" was presented to noteworthy individuals who received media attention for their dubious achievements. We could sure use it today. Right? Not much has changed, yet I digress.

As a recording artist who stands in the same room with 75.9 million music creators (Google) is a fate that is fickle, meaning that since there are so many releasing songs, no one can predict whose music will be embraced by hundreds, thousands, millions - even billions, like artists such as Taylor Swift, who won the lottery and probably has more luck than talent (or just a financier father to back her). Spotify alone reports that it drops 100,000 new songs a day. Will all of them find open ears that will stay alert and stream them more than once? Probably not. But you never know until you take the risk of releasing a heartfelt composition to the entire world.

The aforementioned numeral supports the fact that the competition is just beyond anyone's comprehension. It seems like everyone has a song or even a book to release, and it is easy to do either if you have enough money to pay the right people. But once the product is out there, you must either spend money on just the right public relations persons, or like me, spend a lot of time and a few dollars (way more than you are making) on every social media platform promoting. At the end of the day, I am fortunate to see any results at all. And critics overseas have called me "the real deal." Well, I'm not feeling that moniker, not at all. For example, I may get 2,000 streams a month on Spotify and a minuscule pay check. Imagine one record turning 2,000 times on the radio over the course of one month. Doesn't that seem to be a lot of rotations to you? It does to me, too. However, the amount is only worth a bill with a portrait of Alexander Hamilton on it. He doesn't go far. Thank Goodness I am not depending on Spotify or any of the others to pay my rent.

Still, if my one hundred fans in Brazil like what I am putting out there on Spotify, every one of them counts. If all of them enjoy what I'm doing musically, all of the money that I am investing that I may never see back is worth sacrificing, especially since I could just be changing their worlds for the better in some minute sense. I'm sure all 75.9 million music makers are thinking the same thing except I don't give a you-know-what about fame as it only creates problems, but a little more compensation wouldn't be a bad thing as I could support more charities with it. 

I hope someday the music channels will up the ante on remuneration. Until that happens, check out my tunes on your favorite streaming service, such as YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@gwynnielsen5081) or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qiQLmWs81Zno7WFH4lLiS. My newest single "Another Woman Trying to Wear My Shoes" debuts on Friday, August 23rd. Who knows? You may be able to relate to it. 

Thanks, all! 

[dollycas]

Sticks and Scones: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander #Review @StMartinsPress @BakeshopMystery

Coming August 20, 2024 Sticks and Scones: A Bakeshop Mystery Cozy Mystery 19th in Series Setting - Oregon Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books (August 20, 2024) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250326192 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250326195 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CPWT7HT9 Audiobook ASIN B0DC752KPJ It’s late spring in Juliet's charming hamlet of Ashland. Spotted deer are nibbling on lush green grasses in Lithia Park, the Japanese maples are blooming, and Torte is baking a bevy of spring delights—lemon curd cupcakes, mini coconut cream pies, grapefruit tartlets, and chocolate dipped almond Tuiles. Meanwhile, Juliet's friend Lance, the artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, is taking center stage with his new theater troupe—the Fair Verona Players. Their performance in Uva's vineyard promises to be a modern, gender-bending twist on "The Taming of the Shrew," but as the curtain rises, so do the strange occurrences. Stage mishaps and internal bickering threaten to derail the production. But the real show begins when the leading actor, Jimmy Paxton, meets his final curtain call. Now, Jules is not only in the mix, but she's going to need to craft the perfect recipe for solving this theatrical whodunit. Dollycas's Thoughts It is a pleasure to be back in Ashland, Oregon. Juliet's friend Lance is taking on a new project —the Fair Verona Players. Instead of performing at the theatre, the new troupe's performance of a "modern gender-bending twist" of The Taming of the Shrew will be in a restored barn at UVA.  It hasn't been smooth sailing though. There have been some weird incidents and not the usual camaraderie among the cast and crew. The curtain goes up on opening night, the cast kills it! Everyone is excited about future performances. Then Jimmy Paxton, the show's leading actor is found dead in the wine cellar. It was a packed house for the play. The cast and crew had access to the building. Jimmy was great on the stage but behind the scenes his "demeanor and disregard for boundaries was unsettling." Did he push someone too far? or did he have other enemies? Jules and Lance will ferret their way through the large cast of suspects to find who ended Jimmy Paxton's career just when it was set to take off. ____ Ms. Alexander has created a wonderful core cast of characters for this series. The whole way Jules and her mother previously run their business creates such camaraderie among everyone working there. Carlos is the same way with his employees. They are one big happy family that revels in each other's success and helps in times of sorrow. There is a little shake-up happening within the pages of this story that proves this perfectly. It is easy to be invested in their lives. I would love to be part of this fantastic group of human beings. The author has penned a very well-plotted and written mystery that she blends effortlessly with all the happenings in Jules's life. She also is an expert at adding humor in all the right places. I swear everyone Jules talked to had secrets, told lies, and/or omitted key details. No one seemed to be mourning the guy's passing. I had a blast following along with each clue and twist. Jules, Carlos, and Lance make a spectacular team, the takedown was great. A lot happens in this book aside from the murder. The ending of the book again tugs at my heart. "That was life. Love, loss, food, family, and sharing a comforting meal around a table while raising a glass in toast to all good things yet to come." I totally agree. Sticks and Scones is a splendid addition to the Bakeshop Mystery Series. Genuine characters with huge hearts inhabit this series and Ms. Alexander gives them top-notch mysteries to solve. This book has that and more. I can't wait for Killing Me Soufflé to be released on February 25, 2025. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Ellie Alexander (aka Kate Dyer-Seeley), is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she's not coated in flour, you'll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research. She is the author of the Bakeshop Mysteries, including Meet Your Baker and A Batter of Life and Death, as well as the Sloan Krause mysteries. Author Links - Website  Facebook     Twitter      Instagram    GoodReads Coming August 20, 2024 Coming February 25, 2025! Find all the books in the Bakeshop Mysteries here.  Also written by Ellie Alexander Written as Kate Seeley  Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” Read the full article

[notebookmusical]

Hi! This is part 2. Wow I just watched the video of him singing since I had a chance and was pretty impressed. His voice was low and Stars is such a hard song to sing so I guess I'm not worried anymore, that he can't pull off the role because of singing. We will see how it goes but hopefully I can watch the proshot of Merrily first lol.

Speaking of pro shots, I also heard about the Bonnie and Clyde one and would love to watch Jeremy in that so hopefully I will at some point but I'm not sure when. Like I'm worried If I rent it, my sister and I won't have time to watch or she will be tired idk. I also don't know whatever happened to the Waitress one either. Btw, for your vibes, my instinct was to go with Les Mis cuz it reminds me of you. Not just because of your name either, but because how much you love it..but your vibes also match with Waitress too! It just makes sense.

Anyway I was able to find an Aaron Sweeney bootleg and a Jeremy Little Shop one so maybe I will watch them this week. After some digging, I guess it's alright or easy to find but I was more interested in ones currently still on Broadway and I'm not sure they will be available yet. However there might be a Gatsby video out there since I think I saw it giffed. I didn't have a chance to watch the Lempicka one yet either or listen to the Gatsby cast album yet, but I'm listening later today and will share my thoughts. Also I just found a copy of the book the other day so maybe I will finally read it! I need to get back into reading again as a better distraction haha. Instead I listened to The Notebook, Illinoise and Water For Elephants. Suffs is fine..I listened to it twice and it has some catchy songs but wasn't into the story or anything and found it slightly hard to follow, but it was also the only original musical the season so I guess that's something. I don't really have too many thoughts about it but people always like different things. Like I love the Outsiders based on the story and music but I know a lot of people absolutely hate it for winning best musical. I would hope you would like it but if you didnt, that's also okay. I think what I loved about the Notebook and The Outsiders is that they feel almost totally separate from the movie to me now, in a good way. Like I love both, and I was using the movie to follow the story listening to the songs, but i wasn't like..this is exactly like the movie..they truly offered something a little different and the songs matched the stories. What are your favorite songs from the Notebook? Also, what did you think of the casting choices and how the parts were swapped with their races with the old couple? At first my sister and I were confused but then they said that was the point. Also are you an Ingrid Michaelson fan? I found out she has an album coming out next month too. If you wanna share more about what watching the show is like, with the rain scene maybe, I would love that too!

I am not as familiar with the Water for Elephants movie..but listening almost made me wanna watch it again to see if it was similar or different. I only watched it once so I couldn't really remember much about it. I'm a fan of Izzy Mccalla, Grant Gustin and Paul Alexander Nolan so I enjoyed it. I'd say it did have parts of a more Broadway sound with some of the circus stuff and in general talk singing dialogue in the show. My sister and I noticed that 3 and a half shows had to do with an affair from the women being taken and we thought that was funny. The Notebook, Gatsby and Water for Elephants lol. Anyway you might like it if you wanna give it a listen. I liked Illinoise but also couldn't get much of the story and it felt like listening or imitating Sufjan so I'm sure it's better to watch since I couldn't get much of the story. Hell's Kitchen I was able to follow some or most of the story and am a fan of the singing and performers too, like Shoshana Bean so it's maybe worth a listen. We also said how there was a mix of stories that were teen and adult, and also a lot they were looking back on the past. That could be cuz a lot of them are based on books though lol.

Omg of course I've watched the Spring Awakening bootleg haha. Sometimes I just pick a few songs to listen to, that's why instead of the whole thing or watching but I love it so much! I love that there's nothing else quite like it. I think the only thing I really compare it to is like Next to Normal, and that could be biased. One because of Aaron and Jonathan who are similar performers to me, and two because these were the first musicals I learned about that werent based on anything and also the first bootlegs I watched lol. I think a performance of the show would be so cool so i'm sorry you didn't like the show! What was so wrong with it if you don't mind saying?

Also happy anniversary to Speak Now TV! I might be a day late but still. How does the album hold up for you and what's your opinion of the vault songs? Idk if we ever talked about it. I haven't really been into Taylor as much but I forgot to mention that she sang Castles Crumbling with Hayley Williams about a week ago and it made me nostalgic for my show. Hayley Williams also posted about it being 1 year and Taylor didn't lol. She also sang Mary's Song! But too bad it was only part of it. I haven't been guessing surprise songs as much but I actually guessed that she would sing a song from debut and mash it up with a song from Red..which was right, but just the wrong songs lol. She also sang a I Can See You and Mine mashup which actually sound a bit similar in the beginning of the songs. It's too bad she already played it instead of doing something to celebrate it. I'm guessing she will be singing Last Kiss tomorrow cuz of July 9th and i am putting it here so I can be right for once! Idk if it will be on guitar or piano cuz it could go either way. I also think she might sing the whole song instead of mashing it up..and maybe she will sing Timeless again since she seems to be in a romantic mood. I just noticed they sort of rhyme so they could be almost mashed up lol but I think that's all I'm gonna guess for now haha. I hope I'm right! I haven't got around to listening to those albums yet but I will next week. I am spending another week on Broadway stuff with Gatsby, a musical cast album called The Violet Hour that Jeremy and other Broadway people sing on, and possibly Lempicka after I watch it this weekend. That also reminds me I need to watch Hazbin Hotel too, which he is a part of. I usually only listen to three ish albums a week so ya. What have you been listening to? Sorry this got kinda long again too but I hope you have an awesome week!!! I hope you enjoy my long messages but you can always take time replying. I guess I missed talking to you! 🩷

🩷 i'm so sorry for the awkward delay in replying! my friend showed up early to get me for the basketball game we went to tonight </3 although honestly... if i hadn't been distracted (buying oh mary tickets) i definitely would've had time to answer the rest of this ask before i left. in the time it took for me to answer that last ask and start answering this one i bought tickets to see the thursday oh mary 5pm matinee. bailey loves me and is putting up with me and my nonsense. i also have a packed schedule now. oh well!

i was also impressed when i heard him sing! i was like oh! okay! i am really, really excited for the merrily proshot and i hope it does not take years for it to be released. but at least it's been filmed!

i haven't gotten around to watching it yet but i do need to! loveeee bonnie & clyde! i was listening to the west end cast recording earlier! you could always wait to rent until you know you have time! i did laugh about the les mis thing; i was definitely expecting it to win and was pleasantly surprised when waitress won! waitress is one of my favorites though (obviously) so i am quite pleased with that result.

a lot of the songs on the notebook took a while to grow on me! my days is obviously a favorite, so is iron in the fridge, but there are just so many that really get to me (i always cry when i listen to it). i think it was a bit odd! i remember being like ?????? when i saw it and also when i heard the casting announcement and a lot of the audience was like ??????? but! they are all such good actors. and i am! i love ingrid michaelson's music! the chain is one of my favorite songs of all time. very excited for her album! oh gosh the rain scene is done SO well!! i will elaborate on this after i've seen it again but i remember being SO impressed with it!

i will give water for elephants a listen soon! my friend saw it and liked it but didn't love it :( i think the big sell of illinoise is that it's dance heavy ( i heard it's more like vignettes rather than a cohesive plot of a show ) so i really hope we get a bootleg and that it tours someday!

oh gosh there was so much that went wrong with the production i saw! i have a lot of ... thoughts on that theatre and their artistic direction. i love love loved the revival, and i think the direction + staging + double casting added a lot of complexity to the show. and so i think seeing anything after that would've been a disappointment, but i think my mediocre show experience was really down to two things: 1) a bad show + 2) a bad audience. i think shows do themselves a disservice when they treat their audience like they're stupid. everyone knows that the songs in spring awakening are about ... what they're about. we do not need it spelt out for us. the set didn't do it any favors (it was very bare/minimal — wooden chairs, some trees, and two big rocks that the actors kept tripping over). the casket in the left behind scene was a chair and it was very ... odd. the costumes weren't very great, but the one thing i will not understand is the choice to put wendla and moritz in grim reaper sims-esque outfits (i get why i just think they were very off putting and also jarring in comparison to everything else). a lot of the reviews said the wendla and moritz were terrible; we had an understudy moritz (who admittedly also wasn't great) but i really don't think the wendla was bad at all — she just didn't come off as naive/innocent as i feel like wendla starts off being, but she wasn't like that terrible. the moritz and martha were the saving grace of this show; very clearly talented, out-acted and out-sung everyone else. just very, very good in a very, very mediocre production of spring awakening. a lot of the actors chose (or were told to?) riff as much as they could, which ... well could is a stretch, but also spring awakening is not a show you riff through. and audience etiquette was just absolutely horrid, like why are you laughing at the most inappropriate scenes? why are you hooting and hollering like it's a sports game? it was just ... so deeply terrible. i hate to say it but i understand why one of our local reviewers called it a two dimensional one note show.

happy (incredibly belated) speak now taylor's version anniversary to you too! i haven't actually listened to taylor much lately, but i think the album holds up fine and my favorite vault songs from it still haven't changed (foolish one, castles crumbling, timeless). i still think red has the best vault, and then i would say fearless, then speak now, then 1989. what about you? i really wish she had sung mary's song in full :/ same with a place in this world. i think the mashups are a fun concept, but i don't think i like them all that much — i'd rather hear the songs in full, and i think sometimes they're mashups just for the sake of having a mashup vs. something that has a clear theme + is thought out. if you could hear her do any two mashups (one on piano, and one on guitar), what would you choose?

i haven't really been listening to a whole lot! i listened to the new clairo album today and loved it (i love clairo, so i wasn't shocked that i loved it), and have still been mostly looping brat! aside from that i haven't really been listening to much!

i love your long messages! i always love chatting with you, even if it takes me a while to reply — i usually do read your messages at they come in and then it takes me a while to reply over time but i love it! speaking of, did you know our one year anniversary is coming up? july 14th!! i can't believe we've been chatting for almost a YEAR! happy one year, my friend! 🤍 i hope you're having a good july so far! any fun plans for your weekend or week? sending love!

[europeas20]

Discover Europe's Most Affordable Summer Getaways: Top Five Budget-Friendly Destinations

#ExploreHungary #PolandAdventures #PortugalWanderlust #BulgariaDiscovery #PragueExploration #EuropeanEscapes #CityHoppingEurope Budapest, Hungary Budapest offers a fantastic blend of history, culture, and affordability. The city is known for its stunning architecture, including the iconic Parliament building and the Buda Castle. You can explore attractions like the Fisherman's Bastion, Chain Bridge, and the thermal baths. Budapest also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene and a wide range of affordable dining options.

Prague, Czech Republic: Prague is a popular destination for budget travelers in Europe. The city is renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture, including the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. You can stroll through the charming Old Town Square, visit the Astronomical Clock, and explore the Prague Castle complex. The city also offers affordable accommodation options and inexpensive local cuisine.

Krakow, Poland: Krakow is a hidden gem in Eastern Europe that offers a rich history and a vibrant atmosphere at an affordable cost. The city's main attraction is the stunning UNESCO-listed Old Town, featuring the magnificent Wawel Castle and the iconic St. Mary's Basilica. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, located just outside the city. Krakow also offers great value for money with its affordable accommodations and dining options.

Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon is a budget-friendly destination that offers a mix of history, culture, and stunning views. You can explore the narrow streets of the Alfama district, visit the historic Belem Tower, and take in panoramic views from the hilltop neighborhood of Bairro Alto. Lisbon also has beautiful beaches nearby, such as Cascais and Estoril, which are easily accessible by public transportation. The city is known for its affordable food and drink options, including delicious pastries and fresh seafood.

Sofia, Bulgaria: Sofia is an excellent choice for budget travelers looking to explore Eastern Europe. The city offers a rich history with landmarks like the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the ancient Roman ruins of Serdica. You can wander through the charming streets of the city center, visit the vibrant open-air market at Zhenski Pazar, and enjoy the local cuisine at affordable prices. Sofia also provides easy access to the nearby Vitosha Mountain, offering opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.

These destinations offer a balance of affordability and unforgettable experiences, making them excellent choices for a budget-friendly summer vacation in Europe (excluding Croatia). Travel Resources Hotels and Hostels Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 28 million reported accommodation listings, including over 6.6 million homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel guidance platform. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, and book experiences. Klook is a booking platform on which travelers can book hotels, cars, tours and activities, tickets to attractions, and shows at great prices. Hotellook is a service that helps you find and compare prices on hotels around the world, provided by a leading reservation system. Today, Hotellook.com offered to put together information on more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries. Hostelworld, the global hostel-focused online booking platform, inspires passionate travelers to see the world, meet new people, and come back with extraordinary stories to tell. Hostelworld has more than 13 million reviews across over 17,000 hostels in more than 179 countries, making the brand the leading online hub for social travel. Tours and excursions WeGoTrip is an online service for booking audio excursions and tours on 35+ countries on different languages (mostly english). Travelers can take audio excursions created by professional tour guides and local experts. Tiqets’ innovative technology ensures that travelers can book tickets on their phone at the last minute, receive their tickets directly in a digital form, and show their mobile phones in place of physical tickets to museums, places of interest, and attractions. Offers available passes in Europe and the US.

Car Rental You can find the best car rental prices at QEEQ.COM. QEEQ.COM serves road trip travellers from different countries by working with car rental companies all over the world. The company offers its customers the widest set of car rental options and always strives to offer the most competitive price. Read the full article

[art-of-manliness]

Odds & Ends: January 26, 2024

Pumping Iron. A classic docudrama about a subculture — bodybuilding — then in its early and golden era. Pumping Iron, released in 1977, focuses on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and 1975 Mr. Olympia competitions, with a particular emphasis on the showdown between future movie stars Lou Ferrigno and Arnold Schwarzenegger (who’s got charisma and quips to spare). You don’t have to appreciate bodybuilding to appreciate what is really a showcase of the elements of sport and excellence (training, discipline, preparation) and the dynamics of male competition: the mixture of camaraderie and rivalry, physical and psychological warfare, the desire to beat opponents and the ability to admire them, the status-boosting rush of victory and the esteem-crushing agony of defeat. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I first read The Seven Habits of Highly of Effective People back in high school and was blown away by Covey’s ability to create fresh, compelling angles on common sense principles — put first things first; begin with the end in mind — and show how they can be implemented to create a flourishing life. Since then, I’ve re-read The Seven Habits every few years to remind myself of these important fundamentals that I already know but are so easy to lose sight of. My son enjoyed The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, written by Sean Covey. It takes the seven habits and makes them approachable for teenagers. Listen to our podcast about The Seven Habits with Covey’s son, Stephen M.R. Covey, and read our series about each of the habits. Books and Biceps. Jon Finkel is an author who wrote some guest pieces for AoM over a decade ago. He’s got a newsletter I subscribe to and enjoy called Books & Biceps, where he recommends books that dudes might enjoy, along with some workout motivation. Thanks to Jon’s newsletter, I’ve added a few books to my to-read list.  Blackwing 602 Pencils. You might never have thought that there was a difference between pencils, or that there could ever be one that justified paying more than $2 for each. But you thought wrong, and have evidently not tried Blackwings. I was first introduced to the Blackwing 602 by this weirdly interesting guest article all about pencils that we ran several years ago, and was immediately hooked. Made in Japan, the Blackwing 602 features a soft dark core of graphite encased in fragrant juniper wood. It’s a pleasure to write with and glides across the page (the tagline for the 602 is “half the pressure, twice the speed”). It’ll change your opinion of pencils, and maybe even get you to switch out your pens for them.  Quote of the Week False happiness is like false money; it passes for a time as well as the true, and serves some ordinary occasions; but when it is brought to the touch, we find the lightness and alloy, and feel the loss. —Alexander Pope The post Odds & Ends: January 26, 2024 appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/T1x7YY

[booksbydlwhite]

All Episodes Edit Bookcast Episode 65: I thought about doing Vlogmas...

Support the show

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... but I'm boring. 

  I'm DL White, author of 12 contemporary southern and romantic fiction novels featuring Black men and women. I'm also a fanfiction writer and a lover of books. Find all my bookish links at Booksbydlwhite.com. BOOKS ON SALE: HEY LOVER is free at select retail sites AND at my store. Payhip.com/Booksbydlwhite has the links you need. Tap the bar at the top of the page and I think I will add an easy to see link on the front page.  Alternatively you can go to any retail site except Amazon to grab that book. It's a new month, so your Spotify listens renew! Head on over to pick out a new audiobook to listen to if you're a Spotify premium subbie! Stay tuned for STUFF YOUR E-READER   and ALL BLACK BOOK AFFAIR, both are coming up later in December.

LISTEN TO TODAY’S SHOW (Grab an excerpt here)

I talked about the following books in today's episode: A Steele for Christmas (Forged of Steele #9) by Brenda Jackson Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich The Stubborn Kind by Jessica Terry Three Day Weekend (Ideal Arrangements Book 2) by Kianna Alexander Birthday Girl by Brandy Bush Remember the Time: A Thanksgiving Short by Aubreé Pynn A Promise Kept by Anissa Garcia Snow Place Like Home by  Lacey Baker After Dark by Minka Kent Writing Update: I am at 20/30K of my writing goal. I had a very good writing week,  and I'm pleased with current progress. I wrote a lot of cameos of Potter Lake townspeople including Mayor KC. I was going to include a sample sunday recording, but Riverside and I were beefing today and the audio is trash. Next week! But stay tuned to the blog (booksbydlwhite.com/blog) because I will post another Sample Sunday. My Publishing BFF tools mentioned in today's podcast: VELLUM on sale until December 4th! 30% off Dabblewriter-   referral code for a $20 discount: Allauthor.com Canva Deposit Photos Buffer 

[midori-laboratories]

Frozen Ashes: Chapter 17 - Part 3: Homecoming Queens V

Book 3 of The Calendula Chronicles.

Story synopsis: Albert Wesker molded his captive into the perfect, pliable bait for taking out Rockfort Island's paramilitary facility, and cracking open the Ashford family’s secrets. But who’s really in control, once chaos breaks out?

The stakes have never been higher for Marigold, but she may not be fast enough to save everyone.

Book 3 of the Calendula Chronicles series. Written as the other side of The Antarctica Incident.

Want to catch up? The story's a ways ahead on AO3

Chapter summary: Alexia and Marigold move from one extremely awkward topic to the BOW in the room. Meanwhile, Donald McNally prepares for guests.

64.media.tumblr.com

Alexia’s eyes hardened. “Did you know?”

���Know what?”

“How we were made. Alfred found his notes on his Veronica project. Did you know?”

Marigold blinked at her. “No…not the details,” she said slowly. “Your father-”

“He’s not our father,” Alexia hissed. Under Marigold’s grip, Alexia’s hand had tightened, and begun to grow hot.

Marigold stared at her niece, consciously keeping her grip firm on Alexia’s arm. For a moment, Marigold processed her words, then said, “You actually mean that, don’t you.”

Alexia looked back at her, getting frustrated - but the heat in her hand had stopped growing. “Auntie, we were a project. Alfred was a byproduct - you saw how Alexander barely even gave him the time of day. It broke him, Auntie. I know you liked to play at being stupid for the board, but you must have known something.”

Marigold sighed. “I knew your grandfather was helping him with the Veronica project, before…before. I wasn’t involved at all until after I was infected.”

Alexia stilled. “Until after?” There was a dangerous pitch in her voice.

Marigold held steady. If Alexia let her impulses take over to lash out, things would get ugly, but this would be the very worst time to show fear. “Alexia. I can understand being angry, but remember that we both have reasons to be angry. You obviously used the Mold in T-Veronica, and I’m clearly missing quite a bit of context. Do you really want to find out first-hand why Grayson’s mother decided to leave me alone, rather than go on with her plan to kill the messenger? I can handle that sort of pain, but we’d both regret it. Just because I’m not flammable doesn’t mean you wouldn't burn.”

Alexia’s eyes widened. “Are you threatening me?”

“No. I told your brother I wouldn’t hurt you when he found out I knew you’d…” Marigold looked away, composing herself. “That I knew. He needed to hear it. I meant that. But I can’t help what my blood will do to you if you decide to spill it on a whim. Either you can let me tell you what I know, or this ends badly for everyone.” Marigold looked pointedly at the arm in her grasp to underline her meaning. “You’ll have to learn to control your temper much more, now. It’s not an easy thing- you know I say this from experience. People are so much more fragile than you realize.”

Alexia gaped openly at her aunt’s warning, and Marigold pursed her lips. “Alexia, I was never supposed to be involved at all. I only knew anything when they realized they could get a comparative baseline for what the virus changed. I can’t imagine Veronica’s genetic material was in pristine condition after all this time - I thought they were using my samples like a map - like flipping switches in a breaker box for memory retention, stronger immune system, that sort of thing.”

Alexia was quiet for a moment. “They…he did, after a fashion. According to his research notes. Not quite the way you’re thinking, but…you really didn’t know.”

Marigold cocked her head, thinking. “He didn’t tell anyone about you two until you were over a year old - I got the birth announcement a week after I got back from that horrid Romania trip - the first time my virus went active in a way that truly worried me. Knowing that we weren’t going to die out was a lifeline for me at the time. I didn’t ask questions.”

“Why the hell not?”

Marigold shrugged. “Habit, mostly. It was always safer for the family if I couldn’t be tricked into telling someone about the work. Did Alfred tell you what I did on Rockfort? To the soldier?”

“He…said you bit someone.”

“I’ve only done that to three people.” Marigold winced at the memory. “When the virus isn’t already involved, there’s a sharp paralimbic mutation that increases suggestibility and creates a connection. It’s more subtle when it’s just something like sharing drinks. It’s also why I stayed in corporate for as long as I did. If Spencer was willing to do that to me without cause, I needed to be ready to..divest him of his influence should he go off the deep end.” Marigold paused. “I was lucky an old girlfriend at the Raccoon City office drove me down to the mansion, at least, even though the rest of it was a disaster. I was able to get her to tell him to run, and then have her do the same. It did my head in, pushing that through my medication. That’s why I stayed away from it after I came back- it was offered a few times, but I couldn’t let myself be weak like that again. Not when it counted.”

Alexia started to retorted, then stopped herself with a slow smile. “So you do understand,” she said, almost to herself. “Even if you don’t want to. Refusing to be a mere tool in someone else’s game.”

Empathy was still not Alexia’s strongest trait, but they were pointed in the same direction again. That had to count for something. Marigold took a deep breath and let it out. “So just how did it come to pass that my little brother, who I practically hand-raised been screaming in a basement for the last fifteen years?”

Alexia finally looked away. “The test went badly. We couldn’t contain him. There…wasn’t any pain.”

“There’s almost nothing but pain, Alexia. I can still feel it. He knows your names.” Marigold pulled her hand away. “He still knows mine. It’s almost a mercy that this place will burn.”

They both went quiet again. Marigold looked up, spotting the old messer blade mounted on the wall. “That used to be in my father’s office,” she said distantly. “I used to look at it all the time. It wasn’t mine to touch, even if your- if Alexander showed no interest.” She smiled a little. “It was still sharp back then. I bet it still is.” Her eyes wandered to the bookcase, and her heart nearly stopped.

She’d told Alexander that she wanted to set up a Teig O’Kane protocol on her last visit to the family. And the book she was looking at didn’t belong there.

Marigold stood suddenly, crossing over to the bookcase. On the third shelf was a leatherbound book that was distinctly out of place amongst the textbooks and ledgers- “Irish Fairy Tales and Folklore of the Isles.” She pulled it out from the shelf- and an envelope fell out.

She froze a moment, glancing at Alexia, who looked equally bewildered- she hadn’t put this here. Marigold bent and picked the envelope up, pulling out a single page. “Oh.”

“What is it?” Alexia looked wary.

“I…it’s something we need. Something Alexander- both of you, actually- were working on.” She looked up at Alexia. “I need to find his work- there’s questions I need answered- but this is an immediate problem that we need to deal with. Do you know about the bunker?”

Alexia frowned. “I know it exists, but not how to get in. Alexander thought it was frivolous.”

Marigold actually chuckled. “Father - your grandfather - started to see the threat, after my accident. They didn’t see eye to eye on the matter, so he started walking me through the plans almost as soon as I could get out of bed again. I’ll need to find the access codes, but I can open everything before it.” She folded the letter in two and slipped it into her pocket. She turned to look at the blade mounted on the wall, and crossed the room to it. “I’ll have go into the facility, then. It will take some time to get everything, and I need you to keep an eye on your brother until I get back.

Alexia stood, clearly relieved to no longer be reliving the past. “Get yourself ready, then- I have a spare access card in my room. I can make you a copy.”

Don cut the transmission. His new contact was an outfit, HCF, led by an ex-Umbrella man. On the one hand, someone smart enough to get out when Umbrella was starting to crumble would be hard to put one over on, especially if things went sour. On the other, it meant that they’d hardly bat an eye at his price, nor what it took for him to keep the place from falling down around their ears.

And make no mistake: keeping Spencer from demolishing the place once the outbreak was fully entrenched would be a feat in itself. He grimaced as he got up from his surveillance station. The cold mingled with age setting into his bones reminded him once again that he was no longer the strapping young man who’d arrived here decades ago. To think that a few short months ago, his biggest concern had been getting out before Spencer had him liquidated for a younger model of Monitor.

Don hadn’t been idle this past year. Alfred had granted him temporary access to the facility’s plans for “repairs” before taking off for Rockfort. Looking over the plans, there were secret passages and access points between the mansion and this level that only the family seemed to know about. Before he’d had access to this level, they’d only been a scant part of a backup plan, an emergency escape route in case he ever needed to twist Alfred Ashford’s arm for a way out of this place before his time was up. But now…

Now things had got interesting. Potentially, they’d also become incredibly lucrative. But the rewards involved carried with it the kind of risk that the average person didn’t come back from. Especially since the…growths coming from the walls had some sort of sensory functionality to them. He’d been so very careful to avoid them, so far. Just because Alexia had been more competent than her brother didn’t suggest that she had a shred more mercy.

He remembered her as a reedy, skittish little thing who’d nonetheless shown a flair for lab administration. Sometime in 1983, when Alexander had vanished, her eyes had lost that skittishness in a situation where it should have been made worse, replaced by something sharp, barbed. The old part of him, that Umbrella had sought out and bade him to keep concealed, instinctively recognized someone who’d had blood on their hands, and had deemed that fact to be an acceptable one.

He’d kept his distance.

The average person with the average moral compass might balk at the cold calculations required to keep this place intact a little while longer, Don thought. Yesterday, he’d spotted a group of maintenance workers holed up in a supply room on the cameras. There wasn’t quite a dozen of them, most of them were middle-aged, worn down. He’d trained most of them himself. They’d trust Don, and would be led where he told them to go.

There was enough to get the germ of a plan in place.

It was amazing what could be accomplished when you were willing to cut a few throats on the way, get your hands dirty. Nosferatu itself would be enough to peak Lord Spencer’s interest for a bit, staying his hand.

HCF would be here in just a few hours - just long enough to **set up **the little sweetener he’d been thinking over, to keep the old man from blowing the place up. From the sound of it, the mercenary outfit had thrown plenty of meat into the grinder at Rockfort Island, and allegedly at Raccoon City before that. Surely they’d be able to spare a little more.

The maintenance workers had been lured down like a pack of fearful, hungry stray dogs. They’d been so grateful to Don for sharing his secured living space, a lab next to his surveillance room set up with blankets and food. They’d been even happier to see the case of Chilean wine he’d scavenged. “Let’s see if this is still any good - might as well drink to the end of the world while we wait for rescue, eh?” Those working in the transport facility had an appreciation for gallows humour. They’d laughed merrily, and drank their fill.

The drugged wine had done its work. Stretching his weary muscles, he grabbed a work cart to select the first of many, whistling a jaunty tune.

Nosferatu was sure to be famished, and it was time to set up the feeding pen. If he did this right, Spencer would have plenty of BOW data to moon over until he could extricate himself from this godforsaken place.