I have loved books and reading ever since I learned to read on my own as a child. I started writing stories at an early age as well.
After five years of Egyptology studies at the University of Manchester, I decided it was time for some "lighter" reading. If ever there is such a thing. In the words of James Bryce: "The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it."
And, as I finally had time in my hands, I began to write down a story that had been developing in my minds for years already. I am weaving human mythology into the series, and of course ancient Egypt is an important part of the story.
You are welcome to read about my writer’s journey, about books, and life.
A fascinating story. The details of the seances were well written. The characters were interesting, though perhaps remained a little distant at times in my mind (slightly more telling instead of showing), which is the only reason I did not give this story five stars. But the characters were well researched and there were certainly moments in the story when I could relate to their emotions.
I enjoyed reading about old Naples and the other locations. The author was skilled in painting the scenery with words – I could imagine the sights, sounds and smells easily.
I would have given this 4,5 stars it that had been possible. WIll read this author’s next book for certain.
If you are looking for a cozy mystery, this is just about as cozy as it can get. Which is exactly what I needed when I downloaded this ebook. I was stressed out (birthing two books before the end of the month when my MA Egyptology studies start). It turned out to be a good choice to calm down my mind – despite being a murder mystery.
There is nothing too scary about Purrs and Peril. it has just the right amount of wondering who-did-it in the midst of cozy baking and knitting (the protagonist has inherited a small café and runs it with the help of her cousin and a Norwegian forest cat.) There is a touch of budding romance – of course there has to be a handsome detective… Cute story. I was kinda waiting for the cat to have her own thoughts and maybe “say” things. She did not, but had an endearing presence nevertheless. I could almost hear in my ears the “brrt” she said when discussing with her human, and while leading the cafeteria customers to their seats – which the cat chose for them.
if I had not been so stressed, I probably would have needed a little bit more action, but as it was, it was the perfect thing to read. I give the book four stars.
What would you do if you woke up one morning with bite marks on your neck and learned you had been chosen as his bride by the cold-blooded prince of a local vampire clan?
That’s what happened to Elena. And the surprises were not over yet – on the brink of turning into a vampire, she also learns she is a Creature with exceptional skills the vampire prince wishes to own through sucking the knowledge from her blood.
She has two options for not turning into a vampire: 1) to drink a foul-tasting medicine only one person knows how to make for the rest of her life while running from Aaron, the vampire prince who will hunt her without mercy, or 2) find the mythical Creator Aaron wants to become by using the skills in Elena’s blood before he does. The Creator, that mystical Creature who can mold reality by writing – and maybe write Elena back to her old self.
Together with a group of other Creatures, she escapes through secret goblin stone spirals and resolves to try and find the Creator first. A handsome demon, a very polite goblin, a pragmatic walker and a soulful vampire who only wishes to die, help her in her search.
Will they find the Creator before Aaron catches them – or finds the Creator and starts writing the reality into what he wants it to be?
The Death of a Vampire is the first book of the Creature Wars -series.
I loved adventure stories when I was young. Still do. Also I find old legends and mysteries absolutely captivating. So it probably isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows me that I wrote a book in the genre. It is now available for preorders on Amazon.
Kaylee and Luke have to follow their parents to a distant mountain village. The lord of the local castle has invited them to work on his Egyptological collection.
So it is goodbye to friends and summer fun, hello to boring summer.
Upon arrival, they learn the castle lord isn’t interested in their parents at all.
It is Kaylee and Luke he wants – to search for seven ancient shabtis, little servant statuettes from ancient Egypt. According to legend, they were brought to the valley by a pharaoh’s daughter fleeing from ancient Egypt. The shabtis hold an unbelievable power – something people have been searching for thousands of years. Something they are willing to do anything for to find – even kill…
The castle lord makes it clear that if Luke and Kaylee don’t find the shabtis, their families will suffer. And the first one to go will be Kaylee’s little sister Ellie. The castle is surrounded by a lake – and Ellie cannot swim.
Luke and Kaylee begin their desperate search with only an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph as a clue. The clock is ticking and their families have no idea they are in danger. Will they find the first shabti in time? Is the legend of the pharaoh’s daughter true? Who is the ghost haunting the castle?
The House of the Morning Sun is the first book in the YA series ‘The Seven Shabtis’. If you like mystery, history and ghost stories, buy this book.
I haven’t read many animal mystery books. Not that I did not like them – been too busy with my own writing and studies, so I haven’t had much time for leisure-reading. I had Moose McGilligutty downloaded for months before I read it. I’m glad I did.
I liked the book. The present tense was something I was not used to in the beginning, but it did not take long to get used to it.
Moose is a fun character. Macho – but in a good way. A little dog with a big personality. Faithful to his friends – and when one of them is in danger, he does not hesitate to act. The whole plot to save his friend from the death row is great – not what I would have thought animals could perform, for sure. But what the hey – it was fascinating to follow where the author’s imagination would lead.
The action is well described and keeps your eyes glued to the page. I chuckled on many occasions. (Perhaps the only thing that caught my eye was animals calling each other ”people”.)
Following Moose’s thoughts sure made you feel you were inside the little mutt’s mind. Clearly the writer knows how dogs behave.
I’m a cat person myself but I do love dogs, so I think I will follow Moose’s adventures in the future as well. A refreshing new acquaintance.
I have published 9 books and 2 are coming out this year. So that is 11 books in 2016-2019. All the while with a 9-5job, studies and other life.
Many people asked me how on earth did I manage to do that. So I decided to write down my tips. I put up a page on my website where you can send me a time-management problem you’d like to see addressed (regarding finding writing time) or your tips on the matter.
If you are interested in horse care, check these “cures” for horses. I have been translating Sven Samuelsson’s horse care book, originally written in Sweden 1775. I got the book from my grandfather who had horses. When translating these I sure hoped he never used these methods… Poor horses! use of mercury and feces, and never ending blood-letting…
My grandfather’s book (in Finnish) is from 1863 and it was missing some pages. Luckily I found the book (in Swedish) from an old book store in Sweden. I’ve been having quite the job when trying to find old Finnish words that are no longer in use, and now I have to translate old Swedish. This should be interesting…
This pair of finely executed limestone reliefs comes from a larger false door emplacement. They entered the Manchester Museum from the collection of pharmaceutical baron Sir Henry Wellcome (1853-1936), whose vast numbers of objects apparently included material acquired from the collection of Victorian socialite Lady Meux (1847-1910) – including the present object. Pieces from the same tomb chapel are now in the Field Museum of Chicago and the Louvre. When first identified in the Wellcome collection, the limestone was marred by salt encrustations. Fortunately it has now been conserved.
The false door of Kha-Inpu
The purpose of the false door was to channel the presence of the deceased (or of a deity in some temples) into a sacred space in order to receive offerings. The eternal needs of the ‘ka’ (the spirit of sustenance) mirrored to some extent the needs of the living to interact with the deceased, and…
The false door of Kha-Inpu 
Leena Maria 