Month: June 2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Building The Beast by Jacqueline Lambert

Published on by dgkaye58 Comments

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m delighted to share Jackie Lambert’s new release – Building The Beast. This book is so much more than just the build as Jackie takes us on her journey of fulfilling her and her husband’s dreams of revamping an old army vehicle into a roadworthy mobile home to tour Europe and Mongolia. Adversity at almost every turn, yet did not flounder.

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.https://hhwww.amazon.com/stores/Jacqueline-Lambert/author/B07L4ZK1CL

Get this book on Amazon

Blurb:

A Vintage Truck: An Amateur Team: An Immovable Deadline
The Comic Memoir of a Crazy Idea
Awarded a Readers’ Favorite 5* Seal!

In this captivating true story, join an intrepid married couple as they take another wild leap into the world of nomadic living.
Four years previously, Jackie and Mark gave up work to embark on a permanent road trip with four dogs. However, one Friday the 13th, forces beyond their control cause them to throw caution to the wind and buy a 30-year-old army truck sight unseen from the internet.

Their goal: to create an expedition truck fit to drive overland to Mongolia.

Follow them as they dive headfirst into the daunting but thrilling task of converting this rugged vehicle into a perfect off-grid tiny house on wheels.

Yet their first ever DIY van conversion proves to be a rollercoaster ride, when they sell their house to fund the build, and Friday the 13th comes back to haunt them.

Is their confidence that, ‘there’s always a solution,’ misplaced?

With their relationship, sanity, and finances on the line, can they navigate the pitfalls of their first-ever build and avoid becoming homeless?

Filled with quirky van life friends and unexpected twists, this is an inspiring tale of perseverance, friendship, and finding the courage to conquer the challenges that face those who dare to chase their dreams.

* The Beast made a guest appearance on Ben Fogle’s New Lives In The Wild

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My 5 Star Review:

This book is an incredible read. It may be called Building The Beast, but this is so much more than the build, and so far away from a ‘how-to’ manual. This is a memoir about the author and her husband and their big dream to build a roadworthy mobile home to travel and live in. It is wonderfully written with rich descriptions about their retirement dream and every single obstacle they encountered from searching for the right vehicle to the many trials and tribulations they faced on the way to the build. They found a thirty-year-old decommissioned Volvo in Rotterdam, which once belonged to the Belgian army. Mark had to travel to Rotterdam to purchase it, and the nasty journey back to the U.K. with it, and of course – Covid setting in, in a most untimely fashion as well as a blizzard, to disrupt all deadlines. The fact that this author can write with such humor about situations that were far from humorous adds to the intrigue and fun of reading the book.

The author details their initial research to find the ‘Beast’ and much more research to learn how to convert the vehicle to adapt to their lifestyle, as well as finding someone who could do the converting task. Details of what is required to build the beast, along with the many characters who helped to put the vehicle together are stories in themselves. With so many delays and interruptions, crises, pandemic, deadlines, right down to the quick of becoming homeless, these two travelers invite us into their world of chaos that will keep us turning the pages and rooting for them all the way.

We’ll also learn some interesting facts from some of the aside chapters where the author states her opinions on her extenuating circumstances, such as: Brexit, another problem that landed in the middle of the build, calling it ‘The Death Knell’ for many Brits’ retirement plans. There is also a wonderful chapter devoted to the economics of the beast, climate change, the flack they took from some for driving such a big machine, a lesson on the evolution of batteries and so much more!

What a great read this book was! It was inspiring to read about the chutzpah and tireless ambition this couple experienced despite the ongoing missed deadlines, agonizing situations, a pandemic, and weathering storms, all for the price of getting out of Dodge and going after their dreams – all of course, with their four dogs.

©DGKaye2024

Writing brain

Why We Love Memoirs

Published on by dgkaye86 Comments

I’m going to step out of my author box for a moment and disregard the fact that I too write memoirs. What is it about memoirs that attract readers – stories involving other people’s lives? It always fascinated me since I was a teenager about people and incidence. I didn’t have to be related to or friends with the people in these memoirs to be curious about their lives, their adventures, their situations and how they overcame them. Yet, once I began writing memoirs myself, my worrisome side kept nagging at me, why would anyone care about the things I experienced in my life when they didn’t even know me? Readers who have no connections to the writers, yet, are fascinated with memoirs. Why?

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Memoir may be a story about incidence in one person’s life, but its value is in the situations the book presents and lessons taken from, shared with readers who somehow identify with our stories. So many people can relate to memoirs because so many encounter same, or like, situations in their own lives, leaving them curious to learn how the memoirist grew from and resolved same issues. The writer doesn’t have to be famous in order for the reader to have interest. Sure, top traditionally published writers get so much more exposure, but that doesn’t mean their stories are superior to an Indie’s books. We all live lives. And if we can write our stories in an engaging way to take the reader in along with story, that is the magic.

Once upon a time, memoirs were much more in a niche category. One had to enjoy nonfiction, and not everybody was interested in the lives or happenings of people they didn’t know. I feel when more sensationalist ‘true’ stories, confessions, more daring on TV and talkshows, documentaries on any subject, all came along, people became more informed about real things that happen to people, and curiosities grew about wanting to find out more about the people they’d been hearing about. I also feel, as the world progressed and illnesses, abuse, sex, et al, became more prevalent in public, people became more fascinated and interested, and considered memoirs as more of self-help for their own issues. Issues that identified with things they themselves were or had experienced. I know it was like that for me. Curiosity grew as I was always an observant soul from as far back as I can remember.

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Many memoir readers have faced some sort of dilemma or adversity and look for stories as hope that it is possible for them to get resolution. There is hope. The authenticity of real life can be refreshing and compelling for readers seeking genuine stories and emotions. Besides the concept of the story, memoir is a personal telling, and it’s the voice of the author that dictates the mode of story.

Memoirs don’t always have to be serious. In fact, readers enjoy some injected humor to lighten the tone and narrative of story. Memoirs often provoke retrospection in the reader, causing them to reflect on their own situations, choices and beliefs.

We have much to learn from each other.

©DGKaye2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria by Ellis Shuman

Published on by dgkaye36 Comments

My Sunday Book Review is for Ellis Shuman’s – Rakiya: Stories of Bulgaria. Ellis Shuman is an American-born Israeli author, travel writer, and book reviewer who also lived in Bulgaria for two years. Shuman’s books always contain rich settings, and his stories and books all take place in Israel or Bulgaria – or both, as in this wonderfully descript book of short stories encompassing the human condition. I re-connected with this author friend I’d lost touch with and he sent me a copy of his brand new release. The book is currently on pre-order and goes live tomorrow.

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Blurb:

A mother pickpocketing tourists in order to support her daughter. An elderly war veteran ashamed of his actions during the Holocaust. Two brothers hunting a killer bear. A Syrian refugee working in a Sofia bakery. A femme fatale disappearing at an international writers’ conference. And two neighbors competing to see who makes the best alcoholic drink.

This collection of heartwarming and culturally illuminating stories introduces readers to Bulgaria—its majestic mountains; picturesque villages; and rich history and traditions—and leaves them wanting more.

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My 5 Star Review:

These short stories were a delight to read. Stories about everyday people and incidents in life and the rich culture of Bulgaria is woven in through all the stories, taking place in various locales in Bulgaria. I enjoyed every story. The author has an engaging writing style which takes us along story as though we are there watching and listening with his rich and descript settings and characters. Some stories are heartfelt, and others leave you thinking. But all of them bring in the human condition of people of circumstance. Some of my favorites:

The Cave – A young man leads a tour in an ancient cave and is challenged by one of the tourists about his knowledge of the folklore that went with the cave, to the point of becoming irritating. By the end of the tour, the irritating tourist disappeared into the ethers. Or did he?

Rakiya – is the first story in this charming book. Rakiya is a traditional alcoholic beverage in Bulgaria. In this story, two old villagers are getting all excited for the annual Rakiya contest – home made alcoholic Bulgarian beverage competition. Among the comraderie in this event, we learn about how far some will go to win. We will also find Rakiya in all of the stories which follow.

Sozopol – David is in Bulgaria for a writer’s conference and meets up with an elusive woman who envies his work. She follows him back to the hotel he’s staying at, and the last thing he can remember was sitting with the woman at the bar she waited for him at in his hotel. David blacked out from too much Rakiya and thought nothing else of the mystery, until the woman is found dead. And then suddenly, plot twist!

The Bakery – Two Syrian emigrated brothers run a bakery in Sofia, which becomes quite popular with the community of mixed cultures. We’ll learn about the brother’s plan to emigrate to Bulgaria to make a better life, and their ultimate plan to move on to Sweden.

Forgiveness – This was probably my favorite story. This story is based on historical fiction with much research that has gone into the story. The story begins with an email. Anna is trying to find Avraham for her grandfather Aleksandar. She finds his grandson in Israel and makes a request for him to come to Bulgaria because her grandfather has some letters to give him. Communistic Bulgaria was the only country in WWII that the Nazis occupied, and not one Jew was taken for extermination, despite them taken to labor camps. Aleksandar’s one letter in response to Avraham’s many through the years, gives us a detailed telling of what transpired in those war years in Bulgaria.These grandfathers were best friends from childhood who lost touch when war came. Their cultural and religious differences led them both to having two very different lives when war broke out, as Avraham was a Jew and Aleksandar was not.

Shuman’s stories about everyday people, precarious situations and well-rounded characters are sure to appeal to readers who enjoy learning culture of other countries, as well as those who enjoy reading stories with the spirit of human compassion.

©DGKaye2024

Writer's Tips

Writer’s Tips – June Edition – #Facebook, Undelete, Head-Hopping, #Blogging

Published on by dgkaye51 Comments

Welcome back to my monthly curated author/blogger tips to keep writers informed. In this edition, Deborah Jay has a warning for us about Facebook, Jacqui Murray shares a Tech Tip – how to ‘undelete’, Anne R. Allen discusses Head-Hopping, and Hugh Roberts with more Blogging Tips.

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Deborah Jay shares a Facebook warning

Warning! #Facebook update to allow #AI to plunder your posts

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Jacquie Murray shares a Tech Tip with us to ‘Undelete’

Tech Tip For Writers #10: How to Undelete

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Anne R. Allen on How to Avoid Head-Hopping for Writers

Mastering Point of View: How to Learn to Avoid Head-Hopping

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Hugh Roberts on Engagement with Bloggers

Blogging Simplified: Engagement. Am I Doing It Right?

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©DGKaye2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – Letting Go by Jacquie Biggar (book 1 in the Defiant Sisters)

Published on by dgkaye52 Comments

Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. Today I’m reviewing Jacquie Biggar’s (book 1 in the Defiant Sisters) – Letting Go. A story about family loss and two sisters who share different opinions about handling what they’ve experienced.

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Blurb:

A coming-of-age novel about the pain of misconceptions and learning from them.

When life gives you lemons…


Izzy

Mom is barely in the grave and the prodigal child is here to pick the bones clean.

I don’t want her here. My sister’s defection is a wound that won’t heal, and her return simply rubs at the scabs covering my heart.

I’ve managed just fine without her. She can go back to her fancy college and forget about us- that’s what she does best anyway.

If only I didn’t need her help. Or miss her so much.

Renee

The day my dad committed suicide I ran. I’ve been running ever since.

Going home is supposed to be the answer. Instead, it makes me question every thoughtless decision I’ve made.

My sister hates me. My little brother barely knows me. And Simon… is engaged.

None of it matters- or so I tell myself. I’m here to make amends and face a past haunted by regret.

As long as I can convince myself to stay.

Letting Go is a new adult romance dealing with tragedy, restitution, and love in all its aspects. The story relates to sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.

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My 5 Star Review:

Grief, hurt, and family. Everyone is affected differently by death. And when the father of this family took his own life, daughter Renee flees the home after witnessing it, leaving behind her sister Izzy and younger brother Ben and their mother. But after the mother dies from cancer, (where the book begins), Renee returns to the unwelcoming arms of her sister Izzy who was left to take care of her brother Ben twelve years of age, and their mother. Renee had fled, and Izzy carried the load. We’ll also learn of Renee’s heart throb Simon, now a paramedic Renee left behind too – unsettled love.

Renee returns for her mother’s funeral and upon her return is faced with confronting all those she left behind, still carrying the torch for Simon too. But Simon is now engaged to Lacey and when Renee comes back to town there is a small accident that happens between Simon’s grandmother and Renee – bringing the two ill-fated lovers back into each other’s orbit – and those unsettled feelings between them bubble up.

It’s evident the two lovers still had feelings for each other, and in this story, the tension between the two is electrifying. Izzy holds a lot of resentment toward her sister Renee for abandoning her in their dire family time. But Renee begins to see the damage she has caused in abandoning her now small family and decides it’s time to move herself and her physiotherapy practice back to her home town to help her sister and raise her brother Benjamin. But Izzy can’t let go of the hurt, and we’ll have to read book 2 to find out how this plays out, and what will become of Simon and Renee.

The story is written from the POVs of Izzy, Renee, and Simon in first person. Each character takes us into their own thoughts, wounds, and aspirations. This book is written as a new age adult genre, which explores many growing up adult situations that the younger gen are faced with – feelings, life decisions, romance, hurt, grief, and love.

©DGKaye2024

Happy birthday to me

The Birthday and What Transpired

Published on by dgkaye101 Comments

Welcome back to the aftermath post of my recent birthday party. It was fun and fabulous and I was in awe at just how far my friend Dorothy went to arrange the beautiful party. From the invites, to her keeping tabs on who is coming and who’s not, setting up the party table and area, full-on decorations, music, food, drink, and good friends. What more could one ask for?

How it began. It began Friday with me at my Body Balance class, gabbing with some of my buddies before class began. Dorothy was off work that day, but she surprised me by coming to gym with her mom and busting in on my class, shouting Happy Birthday, as she pinned the Birthday girl ribbon on me and warned me to be wearing to the party too, lol. I may have been a touched embarrassed as there was a class of twenty-five cheering me from behind the camera. 🙂

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The Party

My friend Mahvash was supposed to pick me up and drive us to the party, except her car was in for service. Yet again. No worries, my friend Ely lives right near us both and picked us both up. When I arrived, most of the women were already there, thanks to the construction everywhere, a five minute drive took almost a half an hour. There were gift bags on a side table, shouts of Happy Birthday from my friends (and my beautiful niece who attended), and a long dining table filled with balloons, a table runner and crayons for writing messages of good cheer on, my own birthday chair, and of course some colorful beverages.

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There were fourteen of us. A wonderful diverse crowd of women of all ages and ethnicity from ages eighteen to seventy-eight! And I am thrilled to have these beautiful women as friends. There was lotsssssssss of gabbing and laughter. I was especially thrilled that my niece and Ely connected instantly and declared themselves ‘besties’ by the end of the night!

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My Stephanie (in the leopard) and my galpal Ely.

Most of the women knew each other from the gym, but some were newly introduced to each other as some of them are gym goers, but don’t participate in classes. My bestie Banan was there too, and sadly, my good friend Alyson didn’t make it that night due to health reasons.

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My bestie Banan (Anna) with me and my good friend Mahvash.

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The Dancing

It was hilarious. Suddenly, the DJ played Pitbull’s Fireball, and my instincts had me up on the floor because that is one of the songs we dance to in Zumba. Nina’s Zumba class, and Nina, not only being my instructor has become a friend of mine, so naturally she was at the party, and naturally, she jumped up to dance with me. Lol, we were cracking up while dancing, and Dorothy joined in to the next Zumba song. Naturally, Nina took the lead.

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It was difficult trying to get everyone in photos so I took many in smaller groups. And many took photos and videos.

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Nina, me, Zahra and Sharon

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Dorothy’s mom Darlene, her daughter Kaitlyn, and my friend Yolande

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Partial group shot

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And of course, the arrival of the cake. And please disregard the huge TV ad for Viagra. Lol.

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When all was said, eaten, danced, and done, it was a fabulous night. All these women now play a big part in my life, and I am so blessed to have them in my tribe.

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©DGKaye2024

Bitmo Sunday book review

Sunday Book Review – The Otford English Dictionary by John Dolan.

Published on by dgkaye68 Comments

My Sunday Book Review is for another book I read by John Dolan – The Otford English Dictionary. I enjoy Dolan’s books, as many are written in a dark satire style, and this one is certainly no different. This book is definitely humorous satire, but don’t expect a story (other than the intro), because this is Dolan’s cynical version of the dictionary using a play on word with the title.

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Blurb:

Not to be confused with The Oxford English Dictionary, this is a reference book for the incurably cynical. Containing hundreds of definitions of a corny or inappropriate nature, it is the ideal gift for that person who hankers after the Good Old Days before political correctness, and who thinks a damn good hiding is still the best cure for anxiety.

If you are easily offended, you should probably buy a proper dictionary; though that won’t make you feel any less depressed about the modern world. But, let’s be honest, what could?

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My 5 Star Review:

This book may not be for everyone. But if you enjoy Dolan’s books, acerbic wit, and a satirical play on words, you will chuckle your way through this ‘revised’ version of what we know from an authentic dictionary. Like his blurb suggests, you will not find anything politically correct in this book, but that is the point. But if you enjoy cynical humor and you have a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this book. As Dolan states in his intro – “If you’re looking for a learned work to assist with your wordsmithing, this is not it. If, on the other hand, you like an unseemly chuckle to relieve an otherwise tedious day, then this might be your thing.”

The author also suggests that this book need not be read in any particular order. He refers to the book as “rather like a rancid fondue – is there to be dipped into when you’re really desperate.” Written in British-English spellings, as the author states, in hopes of encouraging his American cousins to get a proper education. Lol. Dolan also adds that his purpose for this book was to amuse, not to offend, and adds that if you do get offended, consider it a bonus. Take this with a grain of salt as there is plenty in the book that may offend, but if you’re a fan of Dolan’s writing and understand his style, there are so many words to chuckle at. And many of the listed words are given new meaning by literal translation.

The definitions in this Otford dictionary are like none other you’d find in your typical dictionary. If you enjoy satire, you are sure to get some laughs from this book.

A few samples to give you a taste of Dolan’s humor:

” Browser: A computer program used to look for information on internet; and which can get you into trouble if you forget to delete your search history.”

“Brothel: A specialized form of hotel where rooms are typically paid for by the hour and include personalized bed-warmers and complimentary STIs.”

“Calligrapher: An individual skilled in the now-redundant art of beautiful writing. See also ‘Dodo’.”

“Canada: Country in North America much favoured by US Army deserters and lovers of frostbite.”

“Christmas: The time of year when the poor are forgotten and weathy toy-and-computer-game manufacturers have huge amounts of money thrown at them to spend on yachts, private planesand prostitutes.”

“Currency: The money of a particular country, of which there is never enough – hence the invention of poverty.”

And one of my favs: “Cesspool: Collective term for a group of politicians.”

I hope I’ve given you some great examples here to demonstrate what you can expect from this entertaining book.

©DGKaye2024

Life Lessons 101

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Life Lessons 101 – Boundaries by D.G. Kaye | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

Published on by dgkaye56 Comments

Welcome back to my Life Lessons 101 series. Today I want to talk about the importance of creating boundaries where necessary. No matter the type of relationship we may share with another, whether family, friends, or colleagues, it’s important to create boundaries where/when necessary to protect against the ones who may not have our best interests at heart, or perhaps, those around us who constantly suck the life out of us. Boundaries are necessary for good mental health and self-preservation.

Being around negativity can become quite a contagious thing. And as much as we’re all subjected to it at some times in our lives, we must learn how to be assertive and create those boundaries when necessary to avoid getting caught up in a tailspin of other people’s dramatics, gossip, or plain, sucking out of our energies. I speak with great experience on the subject.

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Dodging the Clouds

Negativity is like a huge umbrella that has the power to swoop us in unwittingly. As I’ve written about in other articles, energy is a real thing and plays a big part in the vibes we give off to others.  We all give off our vibes and energies into the atmosphere, and if we’re in close proximity to someone negative, we can feel the draining vibe it leaves with us. These vibes can come off from a complete stranger as well as from the people we know. Negativity comes in all varieties. Negativity could even come from a constant naysayer in our circles, or from an acquaintance, friend, or family. There are several terms for these types of people who leave us feeling ill at ease when around them. But the bottom line is that they suck our energies and make us feel quite uncomfortable when around them.

We can avoid these people easily if they are not in our usual circles. We can just remove ourselves from their presence. But other times, like when it comes to family, or even some friends, or maybe a colleague, it can be difficult to navigate around these people and their frequent storms. If these people are constantly bringing us down with their moods, demands, or temperaments, it may be time to re-evaluate the relationship we have with them and decide how much we’re willing to put up with from these people and set some boundaries.

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If someone is always angry, accusing, conniving, inconsiderate, or downright rude, we must take a look at our own self and evaluate whether or not we are going to continue to tolerate the mental abuse, and make a change. Either way, it isn’t easy, but often when it becomes a decision about keeping our own sanity, cords must be severed for self-preservation. I have much experience with this procedure of creating boundaries in my own life. And in all situations, they sadly, involved family.

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Knowing Limitations and Creating Boundaries

When my own family became too much for me to endure, I was faced with making such decisions. For much of my life, my mother was the antagonist in my life. But because she was ‘a mother’, I always respected her, took her rantings daily, and I never raised my voice to her. It took all the discipline in the world not to tell her what I really thought, but I didn’t want to hurt her. It didn’t matter that she hurt me so very much through life, I am not a tit for tat person. But through the years – and decades, the proverbial last straw finally hit the camel’s back one day where fifty years of taking her garbage came to a head. The last dagger had finally hit me, and courage was summoned. I’d taken enough abuse. When I received her last harmful barrage of word bullets, the separation was immediate and forever. And there was no going back because there was nowhere to go to but back on the hamster wheel.

Yes. It took me fifty years until I summoned the courage to stand up to her toxic words; but I did it. . . please continue reading at Sally’s Smorgasbord.

Source: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Life Lessons 101 – Boundaries by D.G. Kaye | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

©DGKaye2024