Thursday 12 May 2016

Follow Me: Botswana Mashatu Day 1



source: Google Maps
The time for our vacation has finally arrived. We are packed - as usual camera gear first, and ready to go and have fun for five days in a game reserve in Botswana, our neighbour to the West.
When Francois asked if I wanted to go on another photographic safari, my answer was something like, duh! you have to ask?
It was planned and booked months ago, and I cannot wait. We need the break, and what better way to enjoy ourselves.
As with my previous trips away from home, I will try to post every day (internet access permitting) about what we were up to, and some of the shots we had taken that day.
Stick around, I think it is going to be a blast!

Tuesday 10 May 2016

The Friendship Affair

The Friendship Affair by Linzé Brandon, blog serial
Not all long lasting marriages are happy. But what do you do if divorce is not an option?
University friends, Stephanie and Nick, meet again after twenty years. But life has not been easy or simple for either of them. Will this friendship affair stand a chance against reality?


CHAPTER 18
The rest of the weekend she spent trying not to be depressed about everything. It was difficult, but she managed by keeping busy. She ended up having dinner with a girlfriend she hadn't seen in a while. Then she did some work on two clients accounts anyway and ended up painting her nails a deep rose colour.
It was the sexiest colour she had and afterwards, she smiled. Somehow she had made peace with her life. Marriage would not happen for her, but that didn't mean that she had to give up having a loving relationship. It would take a man of exceptional patience and understanding to be in a relationship with her.
By Wednesday, her life was back to normal. Normal being dull and boring.
Nick had called the previous day and asked that she meet him tonight. He gave her the name of a very classy restaurant.
“I made reservations for us at seven.”
She hesitated for a long moment but then decided that another night alone at home, was only going to drive her crazy.
A quick online search told her the restaurant had a dress code, so she had been staring at her closet for the past half an hour. Things didn't look better the longer she looked.
Oh, she had an outfit or six that was suitable, but suitable was no longer what she needed. She needed more. Glancing at her watch told her she had about four hours to find a dress before she had to get ready.

Car keys in hand, she didn't waste any more time. It was time to do something purely because she could. It was time to embrace life.

The story is also available on Wattpad

Sunday 8 May 2016

Linzé's Mischief: 8 May 2016

One book read and review done, and three more to go.
With our holiday to Botswana coming this week, I started packing today. Clothes sorted, so it is only the gear left. Gear in my definition includes my Kindle, my journal, a few sketching pencils, camera and of course, my computer.
I will probably spend most of my free time either writing or reading, but if the opportunity arises to make a sketch or two, I will be prepared.
Since it is a photographic safari, I will also be taking photographs with my husband. I asked if I could go as a 'plus 1' since these things are a bit pricey. The answer: nope, no plus 1 prices. So I am going as a photographer. Not that it will be torture to do so, I assure you.
And to make it even more fun, I will also be doing my usual Follow Me Tour on my blog, so keep an eye out during the week for those posts - internet access permitting, of course.
I did the 23rd of the 24 forms in my Tai Chi course this past week. With one more form to learn, I am very happy that I started this martial art. While I had been practicing the last few weeks, I had an idea for a new series of books. I made notes of my idea, but I will not be writing them until the stories already on my todo list are published. It is exciting though to look forward to a new series, with one series coming to an end.
Project JOURNEY is also in the final month for the authors to complete their stories before the formal editing starts. Three of the authors have already completed their stories, with the remaining five busy with their final touches.
I will be interviewing the authors taking part in the project with me, so keep an eye out for those posts coming in June and July. I asked each author to tell us a bit about their story, just to whet your appetite for what is to come.
Also part of the interview, you will get a peek at the cover of the book as I will be using it as the banner graphic for each interview post. To see the whole cover, you will have to wait until the ebook is ready to be revealed to the world - planned for October 2016.
On that note, I have more editing to do.
Until next week!


Tuesday 3 May 2016

The Friendship Affair

The Friendship Affair by Linzé Brandon, blog serial
Not all long lasting marriages are happy. But what do you do if divorce is not an option?
University friends, Stephanie and Nick, meet again after twenty years. But life has not been easy or simple for either of them. Will this friendship affair stand a chance against reality? 

CHAPTER 17
Stephanie parked the car and looked in the rearview mirror. Quickly digging inside her purse for her trusty backup kit, she fixed her hair and applied some lipstick.
She was dressed in jeans and lavender blouse, but it would have to do.
Taking a fortifying breath, she got out.
She followed the nurse to the social area. It was only called that because visitors were allowed here, but there were still several nurses and assistants keeping an eye on the patients.
She spotted him in a corner, reading. It was the one thing he still loved, despite the illness.
He stood up when she approached and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He had never been overly affectionate, especially in public.
It took her a moment to get her emotions under control. He seemed so...normal. Casually dressed in jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt, it was as if they were having a quiet afternoon at home. But it wasn't normal.
How are you?”
She offered a genuine smile. “I am well, thank you.”
Are you still coping with the business?”
She never told him about selling it and saw no reason to upset him now. “It is doing well,” she replied. It was no lie. The new owner had kept her services as the forensic accountant, so she knew the business was doing well. Much better than she would have done.
He nodded. The silence stretched for a few moments, but she was reluctant to ask any questions since the simplest things could upset him.
She made the mistake once to ask him how he was doing. Very bad idea.
So she waited.
Eventually, he talked about his mother and his sisters, and she just listened. She knew he didn't remember how they treated him, so she said nothing. She also knew they had never visited him. Visitors were required to register and the primary caregiver, her in this case, had to give permission for visits. She had never been asked.
Would you do me a favour?”
If—” She caught herself in time. “Yes, of course. What do you need?”
He leaned forward and took her hand. “Promise me you will get married again? You need someone to take care of you. You always wanted children, remember?”
She refrained from saying that she had been taking care of both of them for almost twenty years and that she was past the age of diapers and homework. Instead, she smiled and squeezed his hand gently. “If it will make you happy.”
If she hadn't been watching him, she would have missed the moment when his eyes changed. Quickly releasing her grip, he nonetheless jerked his hand away.
Who are you?”
Swallowing the helplessness, she got up and backed away.
What do you want?!”
His shout caught the attention of two nursing assistants, and they rushed over. They didn't ask questions, only took care that he didn't hurt himself when he tried to pull away.
Another nurse came closer and put her arm around her shoulders.
Come, dear, there isn't anything you can do.”
She nodded and wiped her eyes. “I know. After all this time...”
She didn't say more and allowed the nurse to escort her back to her car.
It will be okay,” she nurse said as they reached her car.

The woman left to get back to her duties. She sat in the car staring out of the window for long minutes. The nurse had it wrong. Some things will never be okay.

The story is also available on Wattpad

Sunday 1 May 2016

Linzé's Mischief: 1 May 2016

It has been a busy month of April, but Camp NaNoWriMo has been a good one for me. I managed to finish the first draft of my contemporary novel, We, the One. I also finished the first draft of the fifth (and final) story in the Third Gender series, entitled Breathe.
I hate editing, but yeah, I do spend some time editing my own work before sending it off to a professional editor. Galen's Hope, my story for Project JOURNEY, has left my email outbox a few minutes ago to start its journey towards publication as part of the anthology.
It has been a journey for sure. Three authors had withdrawn from the project while another has joined about two weeks ago. I have been privileged to read one or two of the stories (still first drafts) of the other authors and it still amazes me what people come up with. I give them a small brief, and the variety of the stories that result is nothing but worth the effort on my part.
My JOURNEY story is part one of a trilogy, if you like, entitled THE LAST GRYPHON. Part one is called, Galen's Hope, and starts the journey of Galen Surov, the last Gryphon, to find hope after losing everyone in an unexpected attack on their planet, Xyridia. The second story is Richard's Choice, with the conclusion entitled, Galen's Destiny. THE LAST GRYPHON trilogy will be published at the same time as the JOURNEY anthology, round about September 2016.
I decided to do that, not to keep people waiting on the outcome.
My next challenge, yeah it is a challenge, is to edit Waiting for Adrian, the fourth novel in the Nations of Peace series.
You might recall the difficulties I had with coming up with a title for the story, well that problem struck again with the cover. I simply couldn't get it sorted. Even my husband, who does the actual graphic work for me, had no solution for the problem of the design I came up with. After several attempts, we abandoned the design and I went back to my original idea. Such is the life of an indie author!
I have taken the plunge and committed myself to review three books in the next two months. The first is the debut romance novel of a local author, Aziza Eden Walker. I hope to have it read and reviewed before Francois and I go on our annual holiday in the middle of May. Since we are going to Botswana again, I will be doing another Follow Me tour where you can enjoy the experience with me.
The second book is a science fiction novel, by Ed Kurst. It has been a while since I have read a full-length sci-fi novel and I am looking forward to it. It looks intriguing from the description.
The last book is a romance novel about second chances. Keep an eye out for my impressions if these genres interest you.
The last chapters of The Friendship Affair will be posted during May. My next blog serial, The Billionaire Baritone, will start in June. It will also go on Wattpad if you would rather follow it there.
Since tomorrow is a public holiday, I will have a short working week. Always something to look forward to.
May your week be filled with success in whatever your choose to do.


Theme reveal: My A-to-Z blog challenge 2024

  It's been a while since I have taken part in the blog challenge. The problem is always coming up with new ideas so it isn't boring...