FFF #32: Haiku Month readings part 1 and The Woman In Green

This episode contains several haiku that I had written this past Haiku Month, as well as a reading of The Woman in Green from "Strange Stories from the Lodge of Leisures," a public domain book available on Gutenberg.org. A goddess visits a man, but what is her true form? A dragonfly is fleeting, and what is the expression of a divine love?

Music track: Shiro (Instrumental) by Aussens@iter (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/tobias_weber/56795 Ft: Hans Montgomery Atom

Hear the audio podcast by clicking here.
Video backing not yet created to be loaded to Youtube channel.

Website Updated, and Podcast Uploaded

Regarding the Main Web Site

The main website has been updated and the publication catalogs made current. It will now be easier for me to update when new things need to be added. Also on the main site itself I have added a specific page to list all the print, ebook, or audiobook projects I have taken part in either as a staff member of another publisher or as a freelancer. I have done this in the spirit of cross promotion as every time a copy of those titles finds another reader or listener is goo for all parties concerned in the production.

If I have taken part in a project of yours and you want it listed please feel free to contact me.

Since the main site is now able to be more dynamic you will notice the links in the side of this blog changing as I work through choosing what to redirect, collapse, or delete. My goal is to tie them together more organically.

Podcast Episode

I have not had a chance to write any flash fictions that I am satisfied with, although I have been submitted another provocative one by Maxaxle that it slated for next week. This week I have chosen to release an episode reading from Arthur Waley's translation of "One Hundred Seventy Chinese Poems" or "170 Chinese Poems" which is freely available on Gutenberg.org.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42290

Entry and exit music clips are from Spynge's "Moonset" used under  Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
Hear the full instrumental!
https://audiograb.com/C8nSNvFRnj

Audio: https://www.podcasts.com/mythical-minstrelsy-flash-fiction-fridays-and-ames-bookshelf-1a06920c4/episode/Ame-Reads-170-Chinese-Poems-Reading-7-ba0c

Elizabeth Buckley's Poetry "The Beast, The Hope, and the Only Sun" now available on Audible

The Beast, The Hope, and the Only Sun is finally available in audio for Amazon, Audible, and iTunes

Elizabeth Buckley gathers a collection of poems from the points of view of some of her characters. The Beast, the Hope, and the Only Sun provides snapshots into their development. Written as a high school student, the poems also reflect a journey out of depression, from start to the shining light at the end. Who are the Beast, and the Hope, and who or what is the Sun? Written by Elizabeth Buckley and voiced by her aunt and publisher Teresa Garcia of THG StarDragon Publishing, it is their hope to help others realize that they are not alone and the Sun always rises.

If you purchase a copy through one of the links for Audible below and it is your first purchase we get a bounty. The royalties are split between myself and the author.

US Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B081G8Z5S9/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-172576&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_172576_rh_us

UK Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B081GFYZ12/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-172576&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_172576_rh_uk

France Audible: https://www.audible.fr/pd/B081GKMYXP/?source_code=FRAORWS022318903B-BK-ACX0-172576&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_172576_rh_fr

Germany (DE) Audible: https://www.audible.de/pd/B081GG9GG2/?source_code=EKAORWS0223189009-BK-ACX0-172576&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_172576_rh_de

You don't have to buy only through Audible though! You can look for it on Gumroads, and Findaway Voices has helped me with getting it distributed to a wider range of outlets as well so keep checking your favored outlet for it. Or perhaps you'd like a physical copy, in which case I would prepare and burn that to disk in house. I'll of course happily take preorders closer to the time for the Lumberjack Fiesta so that I don't have too many to worry about damaging... and as Liz lives only a few miles away it is a very fast job to procure a SIGNED copy of the audiobook if directly ordered.

FFF # 16: Devotion (and poetry)

Audio Podcast

Story Text

Mythical Minstrelsy volume 2 print edition now available

It has been a very busy several days (several months). In addition to The Ian's Realm Saga part 1 going live on Dianne Gardner's Gumroad store I came to the computer to the notice that the print edition of Mythical Minstrelsy, volume 2 has gone live and available for sale on Amazon, to join the kindle edition. I see that they have not yet been linked, but I expect that to be done sometime soon by the system.

The price is a bit higher than I would like, but it is due to the fact that color print costs a bit more, and there are indeed color images, although the divider images are grey scale.

I am particularly pleased with the cover. It printed darker than expected (always hard to tell how dark something will print) but it suits the mood of the Second Life photography shoot that I did to obtain the images to work with for the cover.

The print edition of volume three is still in production. I am going through the manuscript compiled into the .doc from Scrivener to ensure that it has all of the high dpi images inserted. Ebooks tend to use a lower dpi than what is suitable for print due to file size issues.

Mythical Minstrelsy volume 2 Print Edition Live

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1095439057

Ame Reads: 170 Chinese Poems Reading #6

This somehow escaped being posted much earlier.

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Three is now also available on Amazon Kindle

Gather under the tree with the traveling bard while she recounts poetry and short stories centering around various mythical and magical creatures. Month by month her project grew as her supporters lent their ears. Here and there she shares some artwork, some snippets about her books, and even a little in the realms of meditation. This is the third year of her Patreon anthology, and this is arranged in month by month format. This anthology is a handy gathering of the year's work, not including the progress made in the "Selkies' Skins: Temple and Skinquest" manuscript which will be provided her patrons separately.

Although some images are in black and white others are in color. Even though they look good in black and white it does not do them justice. For the full effect of the art pieces it is suggested that you view on a color capable device.

Year four's collection ends in August 2019 which will also mark the beginning of year five.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R1T6GL3

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Two now available on Amazon Kindle

Gather under the tree with the traveling bard while she recounts poetry and short stories centering around various mythical and magical creatures. Month by month her project grew as her supporters lent their ears. Here and there she shares some artwork, some snippets about her books, and even a little in the realms of meditation. This is the second year of her Patreon anthology, and this is arranged in month by month format. This anthology is a handy gathering of the year's work, not including the progress made in the "Selkies' Skins: Temple and Skinquest" manuscript which will be provided her patrons separately.

This title contains color art among the leaves and is best viewed on a color capable device. Black and white does not give the full impact.

Year four's collection ends in August 2019 which will also mark the beginning of year five.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QXG2LL8

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Three available now on Smashwords

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Three by Teresa Garcia is now available on Smashwords. This collection of fantasy #Art #Poetry and #ShortStories spans the year of August 2017 to August 2018. http://ow.ly/rlsQ30ousjY Volumes Two and Three are to port to Amazon as well after conversion.

For the curious the cover art incorporates Second Life Photography done in the Nisa parcel (part of the Dreaming Twilight group) in the sim of Ontario by myself (Teresa Garcia) via Amehana Ishtari/Arashi. The figure is "Maria Lightwatch" as represented on my main account. The singing stones have since been relocated to one of the other parcels controlled by the group. Each of the Dreaming Twilight parcels represents another country and/or world in the Dreaming Twilight universe/multiverse/world. Visitors are welcome and encouraged. One can expect to find either Maria or her lute featuring in cover art for this series of anthologies.

Mythical Minstrelsy Volume Two available on Smashwords

The long awaited second volume in the Mythical Minstrelsy anthologies is now available on Smashwords. I have not yet gotten the Amazon Kindle version set up and uploaded yet, nor the print. Volume three I hope to have ready to push later this year after I get the cover ready. Long term Patreon Patrons will be sent the appropriate years in ecopies for their support.

Maria Lightwatch, a three tailed kitsune character of mine is the mascot and "official tale teller" for this series. Each book is a collection of that year's art, stories, meditations, and poetry, not including installations of the Selkies' Skins series or illustrations done for children's books. Each year's anthology will therefore be of varying lengths but will mostly tie in with mythology or folklore in some fashion.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/933783

Mythical Minstrelsy volume one is released in Color Print Edition

Teresa Garcia's "Mythical Minstrelsy" is available in the first volume on Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Amazon also has a paperback copy available for purchase. Fueled as a side project by her Patreon these yearly anthologies are collections of poetry, art, and short stories. Some of these are for within Kirsty, BlowingWind, and Willow AKA Angelina's shared world. These will not contain her progress on the current Selkies' Skins manuscript. Patreon patrons get to have yearly copies of the anthologies as one of their perks. For those more interested in just reading the collected works though there is the anthology itself.

This is the first volume of a series. It is hoped to have the final layout of both the print and ebook editions of volumes 2 and 3 ready within the next few months.
Smashwords
Amazon ebook
Amazon Color Print Edition

Project Updates

Mythical Minstrelsy
Within a week we should be seeing the print edition of Mythical Minstrelsy, volume 1 (the 2015-2016 volume) hitting Amazon. It will take a few days longer generally for the print edition to link to the ebook edition. Hopefully soon I will be able to have layout ready for volume 2 print and ebook as I try to catch up my own backlog (so many projects get prioritized over my own writings). I will post again once I see that it has become available.

Illustrations
In other news I am working on color for panels 11 through 15 of the Starr Family's Ice Cream Creation with PenIt! Publications. After the completion of that children's book project I will begin the art for the next Moey book, also with that publishing house.

Selkies' Skins
I champ at the bit to get back to the current volume of the series.

The Ian's Realm Saga Trilogy
Work is still ongoing with getting clean tracks for the audiobook version of D.L. Gardner's classic book. It has not been as quiet nor as calm a summer as I needed for the rerecording of the chapters.

Dragon Hearts RPG
There have been a few delays in getting to writing the second part of the current split questline. I need to check in the work tickets to see if the gamesite owner/coder has had a change to work on the code for the first part of this installment in Fetu's saga and if anything is ready for testing.

A Witch's Prayerbook by JoAnne Spiese is now in print

"A Witch's Prayerbook" by JoAnne Spiese

Every Witch has her own journey, every Witch has her own prayers to the Goddess. In this book JoAnne Spiese shares her poems, devotionals and prayers to bring light to others and sing the praises of the Goddess and Nature. Be proud of who you are and grasp what makes you yourself.

This trailer includes a small sample of Ms Spiese's work.

Purchase this book at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, or ask your favorite store to carry it. Her book is set up to flow with the creative and growth cycle. It is not for everyone and does cover topics that should be discussed with maturity.

Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Prayerbook-JoAnne-Spiese-ebook/dp/B00TEQ0M36

Print edition: http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Prayer-Book-Anne-Spiese/dp/1502450941

Smashwords edition (multiple ereader types): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/515867

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-witchs-prayerbook-joanne-spiese/1121201851?ean=2940046567847

Ink Drops and Paint Drips: A Collection of Haiku and Thoughts

The latest ebook released by THG StarDragon Publishing is "Ink Drops and Paint Drips: A Collection of Haiku and Thoughts" by Members of the ASA/Project Catfort and Trotsdale Libraries.

FREE on Smashwords

This booklet is the result of a joint project undertaken in the Second Life sim of Computer, at the amphitheater on the Astral Coalition parcel. Some of the members of two Second Life libraries, the ASA/Project Catfort Library and the Trotsdale Public Library, met to undertake haiku writing workshops. Amehana Ishtari / Arashi (author Teresa Garcia) read selections from “Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey” by former Zen monk and English teacher Clark Strand. The participants then discussed the readings and practiced writing haiku (and some near-haiku) together to create this booklet. Some of the poems are more frivolous than others, a few not suitable for publication in a General rated publication have been removed from the main text but will be available inworld in the ASA library since it is located within an M rated sim. Some of the more interesting text discussion is also provided at the end of each session chapter. Timestamps are left intact to record when a particular poem was put into local chat.

Mother's Day Tanka and a Naming Contest

Happy Mother's Day! Have a Tanka and a contest!

There will be a post later about the current book waiting for paperback release.

The results of The Dragons' Beads party

The release party for the anthology went very well, and we had quite a few people come through. It did go out to three whole hours worth of music and chat which spanned many topics. This of course covered dragons, the book, some of my books, Dragon Hearts and games, and books Grease has been working on.

It was great seeing so many people come together and from different groups. Grease Coakes/John Krauss was busy DJing some great tunes, Methos Anubis one of those that helps to run to club was here, Kino was our lovely hostess... Salaiek, the cover artist was out there dancing with me (my mate was out on the floor with us at one point, that delightful fox over in the corner beyond the purple flouncy dragon that I am)... plus many other people that came by.

Here's a few pictures from the party.

Best part of parties thrown in SL? Cleanup is generally really easy. Soon we'll find out who the two lucky winners of free copies of the book are.

The Dragons' Beads Release

Release day is upon us for volume one of the dragon poetry and short story anthology "The Dragons' Beads: A Treasury." Thank you to the contributors that made this possible. It was very exciting to see how many different views of 'dragon' sprang from the prompt.

“The Dragons' Beads" features the work of Elizabeth Buckley, Niels Van Eekelen, Athena Garcia, Ollie Lambert, Douglas J. Moore, Meghan Proctor, Jo Anne Spiese, Kristina Stumpf & Michael Camp, and Rachel Wookey.

Print editions are available at Amazon and Createspace. Ebook is also available. You can get your copy at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Beads-Treasury-ebook/dp/B00G3KUUN8 (US)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dragons-Beads-A-Treasury-ebook/dp/B00G3KUUN8 (UK)
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dragons-beads-teresa-garcia/1116875147?ean=2940045252256
Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/4404720
Kobo:http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-dragons-beads-a-treasury
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354060

It is also available in notecard format within Second Life:
Inworld: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nemmers/68/38/31
Market: https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dragons-Beads-Boxed-vol-1-no-trans/5452279
The price is set so as to be worked out roughly the same as the other ebook versions.

Please show the contributors some love by leaving a review after you've been able to read it. They all worked very hard and I am pleased with what was submitted. Reviews can be left either where you purchased the book, at the Goodreads page, or by dropping a notecard to Amehana Ishtari within Second Life (or in one of the mail slots at the shrine board).

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18430635-the-dragons-beads

Orders can also be placed directly to the publisher by contacting:
THG StarDragon Publishing
Attn: Teresa Garcia
PO Box 249
McCloud, CA 960575

or:
Teresa Garcia
ladyrainstardragon (at) hotmail.com
Subject: Book Order Query

---

Don't forget about the after release party. That can be accessed through Second Life (either the SL viewer or one of many third party viewers... I use Firestorm) at 6 PM SLT/Pacific Time. It was originally scheduled for 6 to 8, but Grease/John has enough music that if it looks like people want it and it gets cleared with the sim owner to extend another hour.

If you come, there are a couple of "dragon eggs" among the songs that I specifically asked to be played. The first one to IM me during the celebration event for each particular "egg" of the two will win 10 Lindens. If someone IMs me with both then they will earn 20 Lindens.

About Saturday's live poetry reading

 Yesterday was a live poetry reading via Second Life at the Makazi HQ for Nova Echelon. I had originally agreed to do it in honor of the 10th anniversary, but then the leader discovered that he had miscalculated the date (It will be the 9th in...February or January, I forget which right now). So instead the festivities went to celebrate the harvest season.

I am still incredibly shy. It is one thing to facilitate a religious ritual or meditation through there. I am used to those and the focus is not on me, even though I do still get nervous at the voice part until I fall into it. When the focus is on me though?

Yipe.

Even with my mild panic attack from speaking and being heard by so many while reading my work for the group, and the coughing fits from the cold I'm fighting (thankfully I HOPE I got the mic off for those), the reading went well. There was audience participation as some of those present volunteered to read individual poems. Dante, Methos, and John Krauss/Grease Coakes were the volunteers. It was really neat hearing how it sounded with others reading them! It was even better knowing that they were being enjoyed.

We even got to hear some of Methos' work after, which was also very cool.

It is a shame that there were people that missed the reading that had expressed interest in going. It was a good gathering just the same though. Something that I like about Second Life for function like this is that once a person has an account and knows the location, or a group to join to ask for the location, it is possible for new people to drop in or wander up. That makes it more open and inclusive, very much like going to a tavern or coffeehouse.

Teresa Garcia's Poetry Reading in SL

I will be reading some of my published and unpublished poetry and discussing/chatting with attendees. This event is one of several that is planned as part of Nova Echelon / Novaya Russia's 10 year celebration.

The culture and arts division of the group has been a big support for me lately, and I have made a lot of friends through them, so it is only fitting that I help and give back some. There are a lot of great creative minds in the group, in all divisions, so please feel free to log in and listen, and bring friends.

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Makazi/173/236/22
Day: Saturday, October 26, 2013
Time: 6 PM SLT/ PDT

All avatars are welcome, although I suggest not rezzing in as a giant dragon.

---

Also, don't forget about the release party for "The Dragons' Beads: A Treasury" at 6 PM November 2nd at The Rose-Club and Lounge.

Rafflecopter for The Dragons' Beads and current Launch Party info

In celebration of the soon-to-be-released first volume of the dragon fantasy anthology "The Dragons' Beads: A Treasury" I am running a Rafflecopter giveaway. This will run from 12 AM September 9, 2013 to 12 AM November 3, 2013. The winners will be contacted after with their claim code to use at Smashwords to obtain their free copy in whichever e-format they need for their reading device.

 Click to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway or view on the THG StarDragon Publishing FB Page.

The book release is November 1st, and the release party will be on November 2nd sometime due to the DJ's (Grease Coakes AKA John Krauss) schedule. The time has yet to be pinned down, but an announcement will be made as to when it will be. For those unable to log into Second Life the url of the music stream will be posted so that they can at least listen to the music too (such as if they are at work and have computer access). The drawing is being done the day after to give party participants time to enter too if they were unaware of the drawing.

Update:
The Party:
November 2nd
6PM to 8PM (maybe to 9PM if Alex OKs an extended set and people want to stay so long)
The Rose Lounge in Second Life (search The Rose Lounge in the search tab, or join Arashiryuu Productions (our SL Partner/Outlet) for the LM)