He rose at dawn and, fired with hope,Shot o'er the seething harbour-bar,And reach'd the ship and caught the rope,And whistled to the morning star.And while he whistled long and loudHe heard a fierce mermaiden cry,"O boy, tho' thou are young and proud...

  Every book is a window into another time, place, reality, or mind. Apparently, just over half of adult Americans read at least one book a year. That's terrible. Every adult should be reading at least a dozen books a year...

 Interview with Deborah JarvisAuthor ofThe Keyralithian Chronicles and Wolves Running  <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US...

In these rapid, restless shadows,Once I walked at eventide,When a gentle, silent maiden,Walked in beauty at my side.She alone there walked beside meAll in beauty, like a bride.--From "The Village Street" by Edgar Allan PoeIn contrast to Poe's romanti...

 For a short period of time, Le Samourai was available for free on Prime. It was a movie I had put on my watch list a long time ago. I came across it last week on some list. As soon as I finished watching, it was no longer available for free...

 Interview with M D BoncherAuthor of Tales From the Dream Nebula, Akiniwazisaga, and more <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US...

Gaily bedight,         A gallant knight,       In sunshine and in shadow,         Had journeyed long,    ...

We had a weekend back at the manor house to battle the green horde and other adversaries. I took the picture above on the ride home. Note I said "ride" rather than "drive." I had to retrieve the steel steed on wheels and take the...

 Interview with Alice IvinyaAuthor ofThe Kingdom of Birds and Beasts Trilogy Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. My current work in progress is The Widow and The Beast, which I'm hoping to get back from my...

Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,   Alone and palely loitering?The sedge is withered from the lake,   And no birds sing....I saw their starved lips in the gloam,   With horrid warning gaped wide,And I...

This weekend found us back at the manor engaged in the battle with the green horde threatening the estate. After major battles with the assailants of both the chemical and mechanical nature, I found time for two other battles with one of Les Freres C...

 Interview with Thomas KastAuthor ofThe Great Convergence <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false X-NONE X-NONE...

They never fail who die  In a great cause. The block may soak their gore;  Their heads may sodden in the sun; their limbs  Be strung to city gates and castle walls;  But still their spirit walks abroad. &n...

 We had a re-watch of Willow (1988, Directed by Ron Howard, staring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and others, including Billy Barty) last week. The movie has some weaknesses but it has a certain charm, its writer (Ge...

 Fun Fact:After subjugating Egypt, Napoleon led his small army toward Syria in February of 1799. The army of 13,000 was divided into four divisions under Generals Kleber, Reynier, Bon, and Lannes. The latter would go eventually become a Mars...