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Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Monday Musings: Letting Go and De-cluttering

We (my husband and I) are downsizing and moving into a smaller home. It seems like no big deal, right? Except that I have trouble letting go of material things. It took me years to get over my first truck after I sold it, and I didn’t start to finally get rid of clothes I couldn’t possibly wear now until this move. If we weren’t moving, I’d still be hanging on to them. I had panic attacks over things I sold at a recent garage sale, stuff I don’t use or need any longer. Worthless stuff.

I think these are signs of hoarding. I’d laugh but it’s not really funny and kind of alarming. Reality can affect you that way.

I’m learning to let go. It’s a slow process, but I don’t want to be the strange lady who dies in her house and can’t be found beneath her pile of stuff that fell and buried her. That would be funny except it actually happened to someone. Not kidding. Seeing that story on the news was a huge wake-up call for me.


I’m learning that de-cluttering is improving my creativity. My mind is “de-cluttering.” It’s weird, but I don’t feel so weighed down. I feel free. Wow. I should have done this a long time ago.

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Weird Word Wednesday

bubble and squeak
      noun
: a meal of potatoes, cabbage, and sometimes meat mixed together and fried
Full Definition of BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

:  a British dish consisting of usually leftover potatoes, greens (as cabbage), and sometimes meat fried together
First Known Use of BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

circa 1785


Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        



Monday, January 18, 2016

Monday Musings: Wind, my nemesis in the desert

I don’t like the wind. Other areas have bad weather like blizzards or below zero temperatures, but here in the Arizona desert, we have wind. Harsh, biting, gusting, unrelenting wind.

Wind trashes my yard and swimming pool.
Wind yanks the car door out of my hand and I dent the car door next to me.
Wind snatches papers out of my hand and makes me look ridiculous as I chase them while the wind keeps blowing them down the street.
Wind ruins my hairstyle.
Wind blows trashcans and other debris into the road.
I hate wind.

In the book, A Witch’s Guide to Faery Folk, the ones associated with wind/air are particularly nasty. One example is the Spriggans of England and Cornwall, where they are believed to be bodyguards for the Unseelie Court. They are described as “dangerously malevolent.” They can command destructive winds at their will. Contact is not advised. Hmm, I wonder if these little demons often travel to Arizona.

My least favorite days are the windy ones. You learn really fast here in the desert not to leave anything outside that might blow away. And that’s usually after something blows away, something big that you couldn’t possibly imagine losing in a wind gust not produced by a tornado. Wind is tricky that way. Stay away, you wind spirits. Find someone else to torment.

Did I mention I hate wind?


Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed









Saturday, January 16, 2016

Review for The Wolf Queen by Long and Short Reviews

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/book-reviews/the-wolf-queen-by-kelley-heckart/

5 stars! Review quote: "A read any paranormal reader could love and one I highly recommend." Click on the above link for the full review.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Kelley's interview at Characters Behaving Badly

http://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/characters-behaving-badly-11419371?post=4706616449&group=0&frame_type=a&context=&context_ids=&blog=11419371&frame=1&click=0&user=0&viewer=true

Weird Word Wednesday

Bubba
      noun Bub·ba \ˈbə-bə\
Definition of BUBBA

often disparaging
:  redneck
Origin of BUBBA

from Bubba, a stereotypical nickname of Southern white males

First Known Use: 1979

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, January 11, 2016

Monday Musings: Arizona Jet Streams








Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed


Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Weird Word Wednesday

brabble
      verb brab·ble \ˈbra-bəl\
brab·bledbrab·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Definition of BRABBLE

intransitive verb
:  squabble
— brabble noun
Examples of BRABBLE

Origin of BRABBLE

perhaps from Middle Dutch brabbelen, of imitative origin
First Known Use: circa 1530

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        





Monday, January 04, 2016

Monday Musings: Arizona Backyard Wildlife

Roadrunner in the tree probably hunting my lizards.


A snake swimming in the pool.



Baby Godzilla.

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed


Friday, January 01, 2016

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite fantasy movie trilogy

Favorite fantasy movie trilogy
Lord of the Rings

This needs no explanation. If you don't know about this fantasy trilogy, you have been living in a hole. :)





Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly



Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

bizarrerie
      noun bi·zar·re·rie \bi-ˌzär-ə-ˈrē\
Definition of BIZARRERIE

1
:  a bizarre quality
2
:  something bizarre
Origin of BIZARRERIE

French

First Known Use: 1747

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, December 28, 2015

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: A new book release and beastly heroes

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: A new book release and beastly heroes: I finally have a new book out. My hero is a little different from the normal romance hero. He is half-wolf and half-man. Does that make him ...

Monday Musings: Moon photographs

Blood Moon rising.



Moon reflection.



Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed


Friday, December 25, 2015

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite bodice ripper and silliest vintage romance

Bold Blades Flashing by Lorinda Hagen

Book description:
Garnet Shaw was only sixteen, but she was a diminutive spitfire, as Happy Jack Muldoon, captain of the pirate ship Dancing Lady, quickly learned when he claimed her as his prize on a sea-going raid.

Garnet found that a life of piracy appealed to her, as did dashing Captain Jack, whose mistress she became.

But then the Dancing Lady was boarded by the beautiful and arrogant Dell Fields. Her mysterious relationship with the pirate captain soon bound all three in a strange alliance whose links were forged in passion and in blood!

This romance was published back in 1979 when purple prose reined and so did TSTL heroines. LOL I loved this book when I read it all those years ago. Wow, how times (and me) have changed. I would most likely throw this book against the wall if I read it today, but for some reason I’ve held on to it. Perhaps Captain Jack (yes, not kidding, that’s his name) made an impression of my young inexperienced mind. If you want to travel back in time to when silly romances were popular and probably get a good laugh out of it, then check this book out.




Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

bivouac
      noun biv·ouac \ˈbi-və-ˌwak, ˈbiv-ˌwak\
: a temporary camp or shelter
Full Definition of BIVOUAC

1
:  a usually temporary encampment under little or no shelter
2
a :  encampment usually for a night
b :  a temporary or casual shelter or lodging
Examples of BIVOUAC

Origin of BIVOUAC

French, from Low German biwacht, from bi by + wacht guard

First Known Use: 1819

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, December 21, 2015

Friday, December 18, 2015

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite book on Irish folklore

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by W.B. Yeats

About the Author
William Butler Yeats, June 13, 1865 - January 28, 1939 born and educated in Dublin, an Irish poet and dramatist. Beginning in his youth, he studied poetry and from an early age was intrigued by both Irish legends and the occult. Yeats is known as one of the foremost figures of 20th Century literature.


This is a great source of information on Irish mythology and Ireland’s relationship with the fairy realm. Very insightful and highly recommended to anyone interested in Irish folklore and fairy magic.


Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Kryssie Fortune: Five Facts Thursday - please welcome Kelly Heckart...

Kryssie Fortune: Five Facts Thursday - please welcome Kelly Heckart...: Five facts about me I have an obsessive compulsive habit of straightening things and double checking door locks, both of which drive my...

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

bivariate
      adjective bi·var·i·ate \(ˌ)bī-ˈver-ē-ət, -ˈva-rē-\
Definition of BIVARIATE

:  of, relating to, or involving two variables
First Known Use of BIVARIATE


1920

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, December 14, 2015

Friday, December 11, 2015

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite fantasy book

Favorite book
The Last King by Robert E. Howard

Amazon description:
From Robert E. Howard’s fertile imagination sprang some of fiction’s greatest heroes, including Conan the Cimmerian, King Kull, and Solomon Kane. But of all Howard’s characters, none embodied his creator’s brooding temperament more than Bran Mak Morn, the last king of a doomed race.

In ages past, the Picts ruled all of Europe. But the descendants of those proud conquerors have sunk into barbarism . . . all save one, Bran Mak Morn, whose bloodline remains unbroken. Threatened by the Celts and the Romans, the Pictish tribes rally under his banner to fight for their very survival, while Bran fights to restore the glory of his race.

Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Gary Gianni, this collection gathers together all of Howard’s published stories and poems featuring Bran Mak Morn–including the eerie masterpiece “Worms of the Earth” and “Kings of the Night,” in which sorcery summons Kull the conqueror from out of the depths of time to stand with Bran against the Roman invaders.

Also included are previously unpublished stories and fragments, reproductions of manuscripts bearing Howard’s handwritten revisions, and much, much more.

There are very few books about the mysterious Picts of ancient Scotland. I’m a fan of Conan the Barbarian and decided to read this one about Bran Mak Morn, the leader of the Picts, a race that had descended into darkness and barbarism. Highly recommended.


Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        



Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

bivalent
      adjective bi·va·lent \(ˌ)bī-ˈvā-lənt, ˈbī-və-\
Definition of BIVALENT

1
:  divalent
2
:  associated in pairs in synapsis
First Known Use of BIVALENT


1869

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, December 07, 2015

Monday Musings: Arizona cloud formation pics # 14







Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        


Friday, December 04, 2015

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite TV series

Favorite TV Series
Fargo

Show Description:
The all new “true crime” case in Fargo’s latest chapter takes you back to 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Luverne, Minnesota. “Lou Solverson” (Patrick Wilson), a young State Police Officer recently back from Vietnam, investigates a case involving a local crime gang, a major mob syndicate and a small town beautician “Peggy Blumquist” (Kirsten Dunst) along with her husband “Ed” (Jesse Plemons), the local butcher’s assistant. Helping Lou piece things together is his father-in-law, “Sheriff Hank Larsson” (Ted Danson). The investigation will lead them to a colorful cast of characters that includes “Karl Weathers” (Nick Offerman), the town lawyer of Luverne, Minnesota. A Korean War vet, Karl is a flowery drunk blessed with the gift of gab and the eloquence of a true con artist. Three-time Emmy® winner Brad Garrett will play “Joe Bulo,” the front man for the northern expansion of a Kansas City crime syndicate. The new face of corporate crime, Joe’s bringing a Walmart mentality to small town America. His number two is “Mike Milligan” (Bokeem Woodbine). Part enforcer, part detective, Mike is always smiling – but the joke is usually on you. Bulo and his crew have their sights set on the Gerhardt crime family in Fargo, currently led by matriarch “Floyd Gerhardt” (Jean Smart). With her husband at death’s door, Floyd takes over the family business, frustrating her eldest son, “Dodd Gerhardt” (Jeffrey Donovan). An impatient hothead with a cruel streak to match his ambitions, Dodd can’t wait for both his parents to die so he can take over and expand their business from kingdom to empire. “Bear Gerhardt” (Angus Sampson) is the middle son, an intimidatingly large man who, although inarticulate, is the most decent of his clan. “Rye Gerhardt” (Kieran Culkin), the youngest of the Gerhardt clan, views himself as a big shot, but in reality he’s just a small dog with a loud bark.


Emmy Award winning Executive Producers Noah Hawley (showrunner/writer), Joel & Ethan Coen, Warren Littlefield and John Cameron all return for the second installment. Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions, with MGM Television serving as the lead studio.


This is the most bizarre and compelling show I’ve seen in a while. Great acting and writing makes this one of the best shows this season. Highly recommended.


Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

biunique
      adjective bi·unique \ˌbī-yu̇-ˈnēk, -yü-\
Definition of BIUNIQUE

:  being a correspondence between two sets that is one-to-one in both directions
— bi·unique·ness noun
First Known Use of BIUNIQUE


1941

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday Musings: Arizona cloud formation pics # 13






Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        


Saturday, November 28, 2015

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: Thanksgiving: It's all about the food

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: Thanksgiving: It's all about the food: Thanksgiving is the time to get together with family and friends, and to be thankful for everything you have, but it's also about eating...

Friday, November 27, 2015

Favorite Friday: Sharing a favorite Thanksgiving dessert

Since Thanksgiving is here, I thought I would share my favorite Thanksgiving dessert:
Pumpkin swirl cakes. Yummy. Walmart usually has them this time of the year. They are a little tricky to make because you have to get the cream cheese swirl inside.




Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Weird Word Wednesday

bitchery
      noun bitch·ery \ˈbi-chə-rē\
plural bitch·er·ies
Definition of BITCHERY

:  malicious, spiteful, or overbearing behavior; also :  an instance of such behavior
First Known Use of BITCHERY


1936

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com        
My author page at amazon.com with all my books listed