Friday, March 25, 2011

Christa Polkinhorn -Love of a Stonemason reviewed by Jacqueline Howett.


I give it 5 Stars. Love of a Stonemason by Christa Polkinhorn is a wonderful book, I highly recommend. Being a bit of a traveler and artist myself, I could really relate to the world of culture, which I really found enjoyably described, and a refreshing change. I especially liked how the heroine's thoughts were conveyed through her brushstrokes on canvass as an artist, giving the story depth. The Stonemason, the artist meets, known for his tombstone's, is also semi famous, creating shiny sculptures that are placed in the nearby towns. You then enter the world of two very different artists in their habitat, going to events and places together and the story of their love unfolds, but in such a realistic way. It's the honesty and the growth of the relationship that really makes this book, and leaves you wanting more. You are so hooked watching them develop. Also, the author managed to bring my expectations of the places visited, so alive. I felt I was really there. This is a well written captivating story that keeps you curiously entertained until the very end.

I hope some of you will think about putting this book on your To-read list, or at least download a sample to check out later, if you're not buying today. Thanks.

Product Description
The talented young painter, Karla Bocelli, is all too familiar with loss. When she was five years old, her mother died in a car crash in the south of Switzerland. Her Peruvian father lives at the other end of the world, and a year ago, her aunt and guardian passed away. Now, at age twenty-four, Karla almost gets hit by a speeding car. As if this wasn’t fateful enough, Andreas, the driver, turns out to be a sculptor and carver of tombstones. In spite of his profession, Andreas is anything but morbid. Quick-tempered and intense, he exudes a rough-and-tumble energy. After a tumultuous start of their relationship, Karla comes to see in Andreas the "rock in her life," the perfect antidote to her fears of abandonment and bouts of depression. Andreas, however, wrestles with his own ghosts: an alcoholic father who abused him as a child and his own fits of anger. Together, the two artists must confront the demons that haunt them.

Love of a Stonemason is a story about the struggle of two artists with their past, their family, their creativity, and their love for each other. Told from the point of view of Karla, it depicts the world through her painter’s sensibility. It takes the reader on a journey full of sights, smells, tastes, and sounds from the south of Switzerland to Italy and the Peruvian Andes.

About the Author 

Christa Polkinhorn, originally from Switzerland, lives and works as writer and translator in Santa Monica, California. She divides her time between the United States and Switzerland and has strong ties to both countries. Her poems have appeared in various poetry magazines. She is the author of Path of Fire, a collection of poems published by Finishing Line Press. Love of a Stonemason is her first novel.



Amazon Buy or download a free sample to your Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Love-of-a-Stonemason-ebook/dp/B003JH84V8/ref=cm_cmu_up_add_glance

Christa Polkinghorn's Blog: http://christa-polkinhorn.blogspot.com/

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Art interval by Jacqueline Howett

Jacqueline Howett is the author of The Greek Seaman. A seafaring novel, on KIndle, the Nook and Sony ereaders and PC's.

Welcome to my little art display, while I carry on editing for a bit longer, my second novel, Cass.




completed giant panels. oil on canvass 12 feet by 6 feet. Some panels larger!
 

I use to stretch canvass and create giant sized panels in my bathing suit, then jump in the pool after!


  All images on sight are copyright and cannot be used without permission.

Thanks for stopping by, Jacqueline

Friday, March 11, 2011

50% off until Sunday only for The Greek Seaman novel

A fiction story based on the authors own true life story in her teens. Down load to your Kindle, or Nook, or Sony Ereader, PC, or other gadget with the free Apps on site. 
Thought you would like to know, The Greek Seaman novel is 50% off at Smashwords all this week. You might want to get a copy of this while you can, as the price has gone up to a fixed price of $4.99 after the 12th March. To get 50% off use code: RAE50 at check out. You'll see it on site. Enjoy the voyage! Please feel free to leave a review or comment once you have read it either at Smashwords or at Amazon. Thanks. http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/21046

Links at Amazon is showing $3.99 during the promo.
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSILSW/ref=s9_simh_se_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=1KWFVWFTYKVA0B1C6WXP&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1263465782&pf_rd_i=B003XF22PU%20

http://www.amazon.com/The-Greek-Seaman-ebook/dp/B003XF22PU     USA
REVIEW The Greek Seaman- UK Amazon - 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this read. It is light and easy to read but not lacking in entertainment and interest. I paricularly enjoyed being made a part of the story (or the feeling that I was) and also how discriptively it is written so that you can see the places and feel like you have visited them, which I find very important in a book. A good all round read! Very well written.

Amazon link UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Greek-Seaman/dp/B003ZSILSW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299882205&sr=1-1

Description to The Greek Seaman novel. A true story, based on the authors own life in her teens.
What is an eighteen year old newly wed doing traveling on a massive merchant ship anyways? Hadn’t she gone to Greece on tour in a ballet as a dancer? These are questions, Katy asks herself while traveling the high seas with Don her chief officer. However, little do they know a smuggling ring is also on board for this ride, on a blue diamond exchange and when explosions and threats to sink the ship also happen, they must try to save themselves.

Have a great week eBook buying and reading - Jacqueline Howett

PS Hoping to make more comments on blogs to everyone and do some editing with my energy today, so excuse the repost.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

50% off Amorphous Angelic, Selected Poems during Smashwords Promotion eBook week through 6th-12th March



Poetry lovers, Also the price of my poetry eBook will go up to $4.95 after the 12th March, so you might want to get a copy now while you can at 50% off over at Smashwords.  They have all formats there for you to download, such as the Nook and Kindle or to your PC and other gadgets. If you prefer a signed copy at $12, contact me by e-mail or drop me a note: I'll arrange to have a signed copy sent to you by post.


To buy the eBook From Smashwords Use the code RAE50 at checkout
for 50% off . You will see it on site.

Here's the Smashwords link:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/38047


Amorphous Angelic, selected poems by Jacqueline Howett are Metaphysical poems of wisdom, death, rebirth, and the inner workings of the souls journey. They are also 35 selected poems of love, inspiration, wonder, visions, hope, faith and connecting to the higher self as well as with the sad & strange, to elevating out of darkness to reveal the mystery of life that cover an important time factor in the poets life between 1980-1985, and have remained her most memorable as they become the last link with old England before her moving to America.

Written in a timeless language that everyone can relate with at the core of their souls. They also reveal a hint of old England in the poets evolving.

Review from Amazon- USA 5 stars
Just got done reading and re-reading the of poems. I loved so many of them and they held special meaning with me. My favorities are "How Many butterflies Can You Be" and "Until I Rest In Jesus". P.S. After reading this book it gave so much more meaning and appreciation for the author and person as I just finished her book "The Greek Seaman".

For those of you who just prefer to buy from Amazon, here's the link  for the USA:
http://www.amazon.com/Amorphous-Angelic-Selected-Poems-ebook/dp/B004I43TCU

heres the Amazon link in the UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amorphous-Angelic-Selected-Poems/dp/B004I43TCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299882637&sr=1-1


Thankyou everyone who purchased a copy. Please feel free to write a review or a comment. I hope they bring you many years of enjoyment.


Jacqueline Howett

Saturday, March 5, 2011

JUST EAT YOUR FISH

Jacqueline Howett is the author of The Greek Seaman. A seafaring novel, on KIndle and Nook.

A little reminder why eating fish is good for you.

Fish really is the cure all food,   Its in the fatty Omega 3 fish gives you.
Fish it seems is the answer to a healthy brain and body.  Fish also supposedly rids of split border line personality, mood swings and harbors against anger or depression, migraine headaches and is good for your eyes and memory. You can also loose weight regardless of its fatty Omega- 3, and is good for the heart, helps prevent breast cancer apparently and menstrual cramps, lowers blood pressure and raises good  cholesterol. If there’s a bunch of pills on the market you could not afford, or you simply reject taking any kind of drugs, fresh fish or fish oil capsules is the answer, and is probably the only gel capsule your need on your shelf. Now go-- get that tin of salmon and make yourself a sandwich, instead of your usual burger. (Read up also about Omega- 3 and diabetics).
I would love to hear from anyone who is trying this stuff without an angle to it, who might like to share it on this site. Simply E-mail me, and I’ll post it some time. We all need to be reminded of the goodness of fish, and continually promote its awareness from generation to generation.  Fish is a food substance so many of us seem not to eat in this fast food, fast pace world. And for the skeptics, I suggest fish until one can prove otherwise. Oh yes, and as I understand we need plenty of it in a week, twice a week or more is good, so stack up on lots of tins of salmon and any other fish. However, fresh fish like King salmon. Herring and Mackerel for grilling, baking or boiling is far better. (When buying fresh fish, eyes of the fish should be bulging out and clear and under the gills should be a healthy pinkish).  Salmon is mostly mentioned due to having the highest content of the fatty Omega –3 goodness, and only has 15 percent of fat really, which is still less than your burger and some poultry. So what’s in your sandwich today? Isn’t it nice to know your eating a food that really IS good for you?

  • The fish cure to all this….
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • ADD and ADHD
  • Postpartum depression
  • Migraine headaches
  • Schizophrenia
  • Lower triglycerides
  • Reduce blood pressure
  • Raise good cholesterol
  • Reduce insulin resistance
  • Better memory
  • Brain food.
  • good for heart
  • decrease your appertite

As suppliments go :Flax seed if you can't take fish oil capsules, but fresh fish really is the best.


A quick fish soup recipe

chicken stock

cut up small 2 carrots
1 small onion
2 celery sticks
2 potatoes
cook veges until tender


add oregano
dash of olive oil
parsley
pepper
squeeze of lemon
dash of hot sauce if required

cook 20 mins or half hour

add cod or haddock fresh or frozen out fish one or two pieces half way through.


If desired add tomato sauce

or for creamy white texture, omit tomato and add cream or milk and just a snib of butter.

optional herbs   rosemary and thyme

Enjoy.