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Rugby in Russia

'Rugby' in Russian is 'regbi', while rowing is 'grebli'. Some confusion there! Rugby isn't understood by many Russians because until recently it was banned in that country.

Rugby was banned in the Stalin era because it was considered bourgeois and decadent in Soviet states. Football is far more popular.



Rugby has made a comeback in Russia, though.

The Independent reports that "That is starting to change, however, as the national side made an appearance at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, and Moscow hosts the World Cup Sevens next weekend, at Luzhniki Stadium, the main venue for the 1980 Olympics, and the stadium that hosted the 2008 Champions League final..."
Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Rock from Space

Did a blast from space like Tunguska shape the solar system and our primeval Earth? This infographic courtesy of Karl Tate and SPACE.com, as well as the Russian Emergency Ministry photos, gives us fascinating information on the meteor explosion in Russia in February 2013, which injured more than 1,000 people and shattered glass and buildings in populated areas.

The "rock from space" that exploded in Siberia in 1908 was the largest meteor blast recorded.



Was it something like this that wiped out the dinosaurs and changed the course of the Earth before man appeared? CREDIT: YouTube

Is there an infographic you'd like to see? Please let me know and I'll put something together or find one for you, with my comments.

Kenna thinking


Please understand my comments are simply my opinion, unless backed up by irrefutable fact. Yours are just as valid and just as important to me. Please feel free to comment on any post.

Thank you to my Russian readers for your generosity of spirit and your readership over the past few months. That is important to me.



Find out about the huge meteor that exploded over Russia in this SPACE.com Infographic.
Monday, August 26, 2013

ALISON BRUCE INTERVIEW WITH A CON

SPACEHIVE eBook 99 cents till the end of the week, including Aug. 31. Get it here.

Excerpt from interview on Alison Bruce's blog:

Kenna, you are a fascinating woman. You are open about your schizophrenia and reach out to help other people dealing with this mental health issue. What impact has this had on your writing career and the stories you choose to tell?

It' s had very little impact other than I suspect the illness has given me a scope of living experience and glimpses of creativity and imagination that made me who I am today, and thus the writer I am. I think I'm more tolerant as a result and hate to see racism or bigotry in any form, as I've been the victim of it too often in the past, and others like me have also been victims of discrimination and ignorance.

You must realize, Alison, that I'm almost 69 years old and have been ill for almost 40 years, part of that unmedicated and misdiagnosed. I haven't always been as open about the schizophrenia nor as well as I am today. However, I've always had a great thirst for learning and new experiences, and this has served me well in carving out a path of recovery, often without a great deal of assistance. That being said, the proper medication is essential, and adhering to a medication schedule and developing a therapeutic relationship with an excellent psychiatrist. This has not always been the case, and only recently have medications and the medical community been more open to admitting the hope and growth that's possible with mental illness.

I've written my story with the assistance of a friend, Austin Mardon, PhD, CM (Order of Canada), who also has schizophrenia. It's a book called The Insanity Machine and is available on Amazon and select bookstores. The book includes the latest research at the time of writing (2012) and anecdotes from our lives including somewhat chilling renderings of manifestations of the illness, reactions from family, friends, and medical personnel, and advice to caregivers. Note I have never had a caregiver nor a great deal of support until now, after I committed in 2009 a criminal act and received help from the legal system to address the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusions, and obsessive ruminating.

Any comments, gentle readers? Those of you in another time zone, another country, another culture, what is your reaction to a senior Canadian author who has struggled with a mental illness for the better part of her adult life, and has to show for it a successful life? (Well, almost)...I'd love to hear your comments and any kudos or slams as a result of my honesty.



Monday, August 19, 2013

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KAT FLANNERY

INTRODUCING CANADIAN AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE -- KAT FLANNERY

Interview with this fascinating young Albertan author, who is part of Imajin Books' Summer Sizzle Sale from Aug. 15-31.


Kat Flannery

Kenna: Hello, Kat. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Kat: I live near Edmonton, Canada. I’ve always loved to write. I used to jot down lyrics, poems and the odd short story when I was younger. As I grew older the need to write intensified and I couldn’t stop. I wrote while I was pregnant with my sons and I’m still writing, only now I am published.

Kenna: What genre do you generally write and what have you had published to date?

Kat: I write Western Historical Romance. However my recent book had a touch of paranormal and I really enjoyed exploring that side of the genre realm. My next book will have paranormal in it. I’ve written two full-length novels, CHASING CLOVERS, and LAKOTA HONOR and a novella HAZARDOUS UNIONS have all been published with Imajin Books.

Kenna: What do you think of eBooks?

Kat: I will always love the smell of a new book, but I do feel eBook is the wave of the future. I love the accessibility of being able to download a book anywhere and read it.  

Kenna: Have you self-published?

Kat: No, I have not.

Kenna: Do you have a favorite of your stories or characters?

Kat: My favorite book is LAKOTA HONOR and Otakatay is my favorite character thus far.
Lakota Honor book cover

Kenna: If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?

Kat: I get asked this all the time. In LAKOTA HONOR I’d have Jason Momoa and Emily Blunt play the main characters. 

Kenna: Which authors did you read when you were younger and did they shape you as a writer?

Kat: I read Linda Lael Miller, Steven King and Jane Austin. But it wasn’t until I was older that I read for pure pleasure.

Kenna: Do you manage to write every day, and do you plot your stories or just get an idea and run with it?

Kat: I do write every day when I’m into a story. I have to. I do a little of both, some plotting and some by the seat of my pants.

Kenna: Do you do a lot of editing or research?

Kat: I do a ton of research, more so than I need. As for editing I do a bit as I go but nothing as extensive as when I’m done. I also use an editor.

Kenna: What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?

Kat: I’m a third person gal. I have a difficult time reading first person and therefore I don’t write it. No, I’ve never tried second person.

Kenna: What’s your favourite / least favourite aspect of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?

Kat: My favourite aspect is getting to do what I love for a living and the least favourite is the long hours and brain overload while doing it.

Kenna: If you could invite three people from any era to dinner, who would you choose and what would you cook (or hide the takeaway containers)?

Kat: I’d choose Jane Austin, JFK and Dean Martin and I'd cook Lasagne.

Kenna: Are you involved in anything else writing-related other than actual writing or marketing of your writing?

Kat: I freelance and write marketing material for other companies.

Kenna: What are you working on at the moment / next?

Kat: I’m getting ready for the release of HAZARDOUS UNIONS, two Civil War tales, one written by myself and the other by fellow author Alison Bruce, September 7th.

Kenna: Where can we find out about you and your writing?


Kenna: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Kat: I love to hear from my readers, so please drop me a line on my Facebook page or via my website.

Kenna: Is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Kat: Yes, Coffee or Tea and if you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?

Kenna: I'm a real tea granny and drink black hot tea frequently during the day. If I could go anywhere in the world I'd go to the Greek islands and take a classical tour.

Kat: Thank you, Kenna, for having me on your blog. I wish you and your readers a wonderful day!!

Thank you again for taking part in this blog interview, Kat. I’m very grateful for you taking time out from your writing to answer these questions and wish you all the best with your future projects.

NOW FOR SOMETHING MORE ABOUT KAT AND HER NOVELS:

 

Bestselling Western Romance author, Kat Flannery takes you on a new journey with her new Historical Paranormal Romance, Lakota Honor.

Fate has brought them together, but will a promise tear them apart?
In the small town of Willow Creek, Colorado, Nora Rushton spends most of her days locked up in her home with a father who resents her and fighting off unwanted marriage proposals from the wealthy Elwood Calhoun. Marked as a witch, Nora must hide her healing powers from those who wish to destroy all the witkowin—crazy women. What she doesn't know is that a bounty hunter is hot on her trail.
Lakota native Otakatay has an obligation to fulfill. He has been hired to kill the witkowin. In a time when race and difference are a threat and innocence holds no ground, courage, love and honor will bring Nora and Otakatay together as they fight for their freedom. Will the desire to fulfill his promise drive Otakatay to kill Nora? Or will the kindness he sees in her blue eyes push him to be the man he once was?

Reviews:
"Transport back to the old west with this paranormal historical, and its alpha hero, and a heroine hiding her secret talents."
—Shannon Donnelly, author of the Mackenzie Solomon Urban Fantasy series

"Ms. Flannery doesn’t shy away from writing gritty scenes or about unpleasant topics…That’s what good writing is all about—bringing out strong emotions in a reader."
—Peggy L. Henderson, bestselling author of the Yellowstone Romance Series

"Those who relish the conflict of a heroic half-breed trapped between the white man's world and the Indian will fall in love with LAKOTA HONOR."
—Cindy Nord, award-winning author of No Greater Glory

"LAKOTA HONOR weaves a fast paced and beautiful prose that lures you through every chapter and leaves you wanting more."
—Erika Knudsen, paranormal author of Monarchy of Blood
 


Excerpt
PROLOGUE



Colorado Mountains, 1880


The blade slicing his throat made no sound, but the dead body hitting the ground did. With no time to stop, he hurried through the dark tunnel until he reached the ladder leading out of the shaft.
 He’d been two hundred feet below ground for ten days, with no food and little water. Weak and woozy, he stared up the ladder. He’d have to climb it and it wasn’t going to be easy. He wiped the bloody blade on his torn pants and placed it between his teeth. Scraped knuckles and unwashed hands gripped the wooden rung.
The earth swayed. He closed his eyes and forced the spinning in his head to cease. One thin bronzed leg lifted and came down wobbly. He waited until his leg stopped shaking before he climbed another rung. Each step caused pain, but was paired with determination. He made it to the top faster than he’d thought he would. The sky was black and the air was cool, but fresh. Thank goodness it was fresh.
 He took two long breaths before he emerged from the hole. The smell from below ground still lingered in his nostrils; unwashed bodies, feces and mangy rats. His stomach pitched. He tugged at the rope around his hands. There had been no time to chew the thick bands around his wrists when he’d planned his escape. It was better to run than crawl, and he chewed through the strips that bound his feet instead. There would be time to free his wrists later.
He pressed his body against the mountain and inched toward the shack. He frowned. A guard stood at the entrance to where they were. The blade from the knife pinched his lip, cutting the thin skin and he tasted blood. He needed to get in there. He needed to say goodbye. He needed to make a promise.
 The tower bell rang mercilessly. There was no time left. He pushed away from the rocky wall, dropped the knife from his mouth into his bound hands, aimed and threw it. The dagger dug into the man’s chest. He ran over, pulled the blade from the guard and quickly slid it across his throat. The guard bled out in seconds.
He tapped the barred window on the north side of the dilapidated shack. The time seemed to stretch. He glanced at the large house not fifty yards from where he stood. He would come back, and he would kill the bastard inside.

He tapped again, harder this time, and heard the weak steps of those like him shuffling from inside. The window slid open, and a small hand slipped out.
“Toksha ake—I shall see you again,” he whispered in Lakota.
The hand squeezed his once, twice and on the third time held tight before it let go and disappeared inside the room.
A tear slipped from his dark eyes, and his hand, still on the window sill, balled into a fist. He swallowed past the sob and felt the burn in his throat. His chest ached for what he was leaving behind. He would survive, and he would return.
Men shouted to his right, and he crouched down low. He took one last look around and fled into the cover of the forest.

BIO
Kat Flannery has loved writing ever since she was a girl. She is often seen jotting her ideas down in a little black book. When not writing, or researching, Kat enjoys snuggling on her couch with a hot chocolate and a great book.
Her first novel, CHASING CLOVERS became an Amazon’s bestseller in Historical and Western romance. This is Kat’s second book, and she is currently hard at work on the third.
When not focusing on her creative passions, Kat is busy with her three boys and doting husband.

 
 
Saturday, August 17, 2013

Russia may be right

PS Further to my Putin Rainbow themes, I've been rereading the Russian position (no pun intended).

The law is passed for the protection of MINORS.

I agree with that.

We have no business in the politics of other countries, either. And boycotting the Olympics would harm only the athletes from all countries and the broadcasters and sponsors. People from all over the world work at the Olympics to make it as seamless and beautiful an event as possible.

Wake up and fly right.

What is your opinion, gentle reader?


Thursday, August 15, 2013

SCHUBERT'S SERENADE AND A SALE

My eBook YA science fiction/fantasy debut novel, SPACEHIVE, is on sale from August 15-31 for $0.99.

I'm not going to show you my trailer. Instead, I'm going to treat you to something more beautiful than my little book.

Sit back, sip on a cool beer (or a coffee) and enjoy this video.

My beautiful Finland. And a lovely piece of music, lovely photography, and a lovely country.

I attended a symphony on an evening last year. One of the pieces was by a Finnish composer who wrote a score that featured recordings of real birds, recorded by him on a winter day in northern Finland.

Regrettably, I forget the name of the composer or the sonata. Can anyone help me?




Wednesday, August 14, 2013

POEM ON LINKY BLOG


Hey look everybody… I responded to one of the Linky Blog tips and Brent put my poem and link right on the tip for every reader to see. He told me he has done that on several tips for people who have responded with a good suggestion or addition to the tip.
Brent said: "Write a poem. Don't immediately dismiss this idea.
 
Poems might sound a little cheesy to most folks but there are such a wide variety of them you should not immediately dismiss the idea. You can write a poem or find one that already exists.

Poems can be beautiful and inspiring, gut wrenching and tear-jerking, or hilarious. You can often find poems related to just about any topic that are just silly and fun.

Harness the power of Google and see if you can find a poem, limerick, or rhyme that would give your readers a smile or something to think about.
 
Here's a poem by Kenna McKinnon she wrote in response to this tip (visit Brent's blog here):
 
Faeries whispered in my ear
My fingers flew on a brand new post
What fun to write a rhyme, they said
To read and laugh and love and toast."
  
Monday, August 12, 2013

RESULTS WITH TRIBERR

I joined Triberr and am very happy with the couple of members so far who've answered me. It looks great. I found this blog on one of the tribes and took the liberty of sharing it with my readers.

Detroit and Education, can they be saved? You'll recall Detroit declared bankruptcy recently, and education in North America is certainly subject to budget cuts across the board, here in Alberta being no exception.

I also pinned another blog from Cabin Goddess to Pinterest.

I'm going to be posting some infographics soon.

Maybe shake it up and twist it up, eh? Would my readers like that?

What would you like to see? What topics can I glean for you from this rich harvest I've found?

Saturday, August 10, 2013

SUMMER SIZZLES WITH IMAJIN BOOKS





Great things come in threes this August!


  1. 'Share the Imajin Books Buzz' contest- share our events on Twitter and Facebook, and share your pics of our books on your ereaders or you holding one,  and receive entries into a draw for a KINDLE FIRE HD with wi-fi! Open to US, Canada and UK residents. Other prizes include three $20 Amazon or Kobo Books gift cards (winner’s choice). Void where prohibited. Draw will take place the first week of September. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form on our home page from August 1-31.

  1. Imajin Books eBook Sale – www.imajinbooks.com – all ebooks will be priced at $0.99 or $1.99 from August 15-31st.

  1. Twitter Party - for two days, August 9/10, we'll be holding a Twitter Party online and giving away prizes (ebooks and gift cards from Amazon and Kobo.) Join us by searching for #ImajinAuthors. Leave us a question or comment by including #ImajinAuthors in your tweet. The party begins each day at 2:00 PM EST and goes until 8:00 PM EST. Our authors will drop by when they can. Follow us at http://www.twitter.com/imajinbooks


GET SPACEHIVE FOR 99 CENTS ON AMAZON AUGUST 15-31!!!!!

LOOK FOR IT THERE. KNOW A MG/YA TEEN WHO LOVES TO READ? FANTASY/SCI FI, GREAT READ FOR 99 CENTS.