Auntie Deborah Advises…Concerning Flying Objects

Dear Auntie Deborah,

I’ve suddenly found myself in a land of many colors, where troubles melt like lemon drops. My problem, though, is that this green-faced woman keeps sky-writing love letters to me…for everybody to see! I don’t return her affections, so what should I do?

—Dorothy

Dear Dorothy,

You’ve clearly ended up in a slash version of your own book. My advice is to click your heels like crazy before the flying monkeys get any ideas.

—Auntie Deborah

Glory in the skies

The Carina Nebula: the pillar's convoluted outlines are shaped by the winds and radiation of Carina's young, hot, massive stars. But the interior of the cosmic pillar itself is home to stars in the process of formation. In fact, a penetrating infrared view shows the pillar is dominated by two, narrow, energetic jets blasting outward from a still hidden infant star.





 The Milky Way galaxy is made up of more than just stars and a new series of galactic maps has captured that diversity of gas, dust, particles and magnetic fields in amazing detail.

Making Music, the February 2015 edition

I began studying piano about 8 years ago, the first formal musical education I’d had. Having schlepped two kids through a gazillion lessons (piano, voice, a second instrument), it was finally my turn. I haven’t taken lessons for a few years now but I still play almost every day for 30-45 minutes. I’ll probably never progress much beyond low to mid intermediate level, but since it’s for my own pleasure and there’s plenty of wonderful music within my skill, I don’t care.

Here’s what I’m playing now, both repertoire and new pieces. Some are challenging, some are way too much fun, and some are old familiar friends.

• Chopin: Preludes Op. 28, no. 4 and 6; Waltz in d minor Op. 69 no. 2 post.
• Brahms, Waltz in A flat
• Bach, Fughetta
• Kabalevsky, Novelette and Waltz
• Satie, Gymnopédie No. 3
• O’Carolan, The Queen’s Dream and The Separation of Soul and Body (from Allan Alexander’s The Celtic Collection for Piano)
• Finn, Song of the Lonely Mountain (the Dan Coates easy piano/voice arrangement)
• Türk, Children’s Ballet

Thunderlord snippet - Betrothal

Please remember that this is a work in progress and drafts have a habit of changing drastically from inception to finished book.

From Thunderlord Chapter 3

Kyria found herself seated next to Dom Ruyven at the dinner following the betrothal ceremony. He greeted her formally and then proceeded to eat his dinner, slowly and silently. It was as if, having discharged his duty, he had no further interest in the Rockraven family…or in her. Everyone else was in a subdued mood, as well. In fact, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be one of stunned relief rather than celebration. Kyria swallowed her food without tasting any of it. She could not have sworn whether she’d eaten rabbithorn or dead leaves. The wine warmed her belly and eventually she was able to draw an easy breath. At a sharp glance from Ellimira, she pushed away her goblet. It was one thing to be less tense or even pleasantly relaxed at such a gathering, and entirely another to drink more than was seemly for a promised bride. She glanced her father’s pensive face as he sat isolated at the head of the table, then at Valdir at his right hand and Ellimira opposite her husband.

One more day, and then I will never sit at this table or see these people again.

The thought sent a pang through her breast. To distract herself, she turned to Dom Ruyven. “I thank you for bringing the portrait of Lord Scathfell.”

“It was my duty, damisela.”

“Nevertheless, I do thank you. Tell me, what manner of man is he, beyond his appearance?”

Auntie Deborah Advises…Regarding Pesky Elves

Dear Auntie Deb,

My companions and I are on a desperate mission to save Middle Earth by throwing the One Ring into the fires of Mt. Doom. Our message to the eagles, imploring them to carry us thither, has gone unanswered. Now a misshapen, gangrel creature seems bent on blocking my every move. He insists that “Frodo Baggins must not go to Mordor!” He calls himself an elf, although he bears not the slightest semblance to them. Why have the eagles failed us and what should I do about the creature?

— Frodo

Dear Frodo,

Your creature, Dobby, is a House Elf, quite a different breed from the folk of Lothlorien and the Woodland Realm. Clearly, he suffers from Periodic Saving The Hero Disorder (PSTHD). As a result, he has acquired considerable experience in intercepting missives to helpful fowl, so it is entirely likely that the eagles never received your message. Reasoning with him will do no good, and you have no power to compel him. The only person who can do that is his master, Lucius Malfoy. As you may have suspected from Malfoy’s long, straight, white-blond hair, he is distantly related to the elves you know, although of greatly reduced circumstances, power, and nobility. My advice is to ask Legolas to have a word with Malfoy on the subject of keeping his House Elf in the proper book. You could swear never to go to Hogwarts, but I really think Legolas is your best bet.

— Auntie Deborah