• Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
HEN HOUSE PUBLISHING
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact

Hens Lay Eggs

food for thought

The devil made me do it - #MFRWAuthor 52-week blog challenge

1/31/2019

 
The vocabulary we know frames our thoughts and our thoughts frame and inspire everything else we do. That ties in with this week's blog prompt: "How books can influence daily life."

Where would the world be without the philosophical inquiries of Plato and the nihilist philosophies of Freidrich Nietzche? Without the mind-breaking insight of Charles Darwin or W. Edwards Demming? Without Mein Kampf and the Magna Carta? In some instances, the world might be a much better place; in others, not so much. These types of books affect daily life, from the subjects taught in schools to how we treat others to the practices that keep business humming. 

Because words frame what we think and, therefore, what we do, literature truly occupies a place of critical importance in human life. Even if one cannot read, one hears stories. The ancient oral traditions lasted centuries, perhaps millennia, before someone had the bright idea, the skill, and the supply of parchment and ink to write them down for lasting posterity. In the greater scheme of things, yes, books really do influence our daily lives in profound ways.

However, we don't always recognize that effect, because it's so ingrained into what we believe, what we think, and how we act. The devout may refer daily to their religious scriptures, a conscious effort that they use to maintain a desired level of spirituality. Newspapers, especially for those who live in regions prone to harsh winter weather, affect daily lives in a more direct way--or they did before everyone started checking their cell phones for weather information. I remember checking the paper each morning to see what adjustments I'd have to make according to the predicted weather. 

Perhaps we're looking for something a little more intimate than deciding whether the weather forecast means we ought to bring an umbrella to work or throw snow chains in the car. The prompt specifically refers to books. The words "daily life" bring to mind the little things we do, the mundane. Books influence major life decisions. I knew a woman who read a book that convinced her to divorce her husband. Cookbooks influence what you might make for dinner, perhaps coq a vin instead of chicken cacciatore. Their mundane influence goes deep into our lives.

I wouldn't have latched onto the admittedly arbitrary preference for Morgan horses if it weren't for Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. (My second favorite breed is Arabian, influenced--of course--by Marguerite Henry's King of the Wind.)

Fairy tales and Greek and Nordic mythology can be held responsible for my enduring fascination with otherworldly creatures, magic, and high adventure.

Books, especially those in the fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and romance genres, feed my imagination and inspire me to make writing a viable career option.

My mother introduced me to literature, from Sydney Taylor's stories about a working class Jewish family in the early 20th century to, yes, the frontier stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald to the improbably perfect heroines of Barbara Cartland's historical romances to the cut-glass mysteries of Dick Francis. Her influence led me to a lifetime of reading that framed my oftentimes subversive thinking and, yes, led to some occasionally weird and inexplicable decisions and actions.

Did the devil make me do it? Or was it Mom all along?

Perhaps Freud was right: everything can be blamed upon one's mother. Boy, have I got a lot to answer for.

Visit Syd Ryan at the #SpringfieldOHBookFair

1/31/2019

 

Promotions From Vendors Attending The 2019 Winter
​Springfield OH Book Fair 

​https://www.henhousepublishing.com/2019-winter-book-fair.html

Picture
Syd Ryan works as a qualified mental health specialist with troubled youth in a teen mental health residential facility. Concussions, aches, and pains don’t stop her. Syd works sixteen-hour shifts and her best writing happens after midnight. Syd is married, and a mother to three boys. She holds two college degrees: in nursing and exercise science. Syd is the author of two full length novels Stronger and Worthy, and  a novella Unexpected Gift in the Spiced Holiday Kisses Anthology.

She read over 300 romance books in her Goodreads challenge last year and a desire to write a novel wouldn’t leave her head. She developed her love of romance novels watching her mom reading romance and drinking Coke when she was little. She rekindled her love of books after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. She enjoys her free time surfing social media, reading books, and being a crazy baseball mom. ​
Syd's books are available on Amazon and Free in Kindle Unlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/Syd-Ryan/e/B0757QND76/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Syd loves stalkers, please check out all her social media pages. 
Newsletter Sign-Up:  https://www.subscribepage.com/s3f8y0 
Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/authorsydryan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17132808.Syd_Ryan
Website: https://www.authorsydryan.com
Picture
Authors Alyne Hart, Kara Liane, Syd Ryan, Kelsey Cheyenne, Harlow Layne and debut author Larissa Gail come together to create a sizzling collection of holiday-inspired stories. Outside the weather is getting colder, but these stories have all the heat and spice you need to stay warm!

​All proceeds will be donated to The American Cancer Society
Picture
​​​#SpringfieldOHBookFair #Winter #Books #Authors #HenHousePublishing ​​​​​

“The Culebras?” #MFRWhooks

1/29/2019

 
Picture

Russian Lullaby

Kindle Price: $0.99 
Sale Ends January 31st 
Buy on Amazon

A case of mistaken identity lands graduate student Giancarla Bonetti in a heap of trouble, only to be rescued by Bratva interrogator Vitaly Synvolka. Sensing that she's his final opportunity to save what's left of his humanity after a lifetime of brutality, he offers the innocent young woman three options: go back to her life and be killed by the thugs who kidnapped her; go far, far away and start a new life at a new school and hope the thugs don't find her; or, marry him, accept his protection, and finish her degree.

Option #3 isn't as easy as it sounds.

​Latasha expression darkened. “Gia, we won’t make rent without you. I’ve only got one more quarter to go. I can’t quit school now.” 

Gia cast him a pleading glance and Vitaly sighed. With a curt nod, he pulled out his cell phone and placed a call. 

“Pyotr, it’s Vitaly. I need a favor.” Without thinking about it, he spoke in Russian. 

“Vitaly! It’s good to hear from you. What do you need, brother?” 

“I am getting married tomorrow. My wife’s roommates live in an unsuitable neighborhood. They need safe housing. You’ll like the blonde. Treat them with respect and kindness.” 

“You want me to find homes for two girls?” Pyotr’s tone conveyed incredulity. Vitaly wasn’t in the habit of performing good works. 

“They’re college girls.” 

“Why should I give a home to some snooty college girls?” 

“They’re working their way through school, trying to better their futures. Have some respect for their effort, Pyotr. They need a little help and we can give it to them.” 

“What will they give in exchange?” 

“Their rent will be my responsibility, Pyotr. Don’t be foolish.” 

Vitaly’s colleague sighed with regret at the implied denial of fresh flesh for his use. If Vitaly was involving his personal finances, then Pyotr would act the gentleman. If Pyotr did indeed fancy the blonde, then Vitaly’s patronage of the girl would ensure the other man’s good behavior. 

He ended the call with a confirmation that a car would arrive shortly to pick up the girls, who looked at him with questioning eyes as they’d not been able to understand a single word of his side of the conversation. 

“New accommodations will be found for Cecily and Latasha.” He spoke directly to Gia, then turned his attention to the two young women. “A man will be here shortly His name is Pyotr. He will take you to your new home. Pack only what you must. Your new home will be furnished.” 

“Vitaly?” Gia queried. 

“They will be safe.” She nodded, accepting his word. She could do little else. 

“What the hell is going on, Gia?” Latasha hissed. 

“You know, I’m not entirely sure anymore.” She glanced back at Vitaly. “But I trust him. I have to. And I trust his word that you and Cecily will be kept safe.” 

“Pack your things, ladies,” the big man’s deep voice ordered. “Pyotr will be here shortly.” 

“Pyotr?” Cecily repeated the name, tasting it on her tongue. 

“My colleague. He will see you and Latasha to a new residence. Do as he says for your own good.” 

Skinny Latasha bellied up to Vitaly, glaring at him without fear. “And what if we don’t obey orders like good little girls?” 

Vitaly shrugged and said coldly, “Then Pyotr leaves without you and you take your chances against the Culebras.” 

Latasha’s milk chocolate complexion turned ashen. “The Culebras?” 

“Da.”
<<Previous

    Share!

    Picture

    Author

    Hard boiled, scrambled, over easy, and sunny side up: eggs are the musings of Holly Bargo, the pseudonym for the author.

    Follow
    Karen (Holly)

    Blog Swaps
    View Guest Author Posts
    Looking for a place to swap blogs? Holly Bargo at Hen House Publishing is happy to reciprocate Blog Swaps in 2019.
    For more information: 
    Email Us

    Get Your Copy of
    Hen House Publishing Blog via Email:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Categories

    All
    Books By Holly Bargo
    Egg Reviews
    Events
    Guest Author
    Interviews
    Mfrw
    Mfrwauthor
    #MFRWHooks
    Reviews
    #SpringfieldOHBookFair
    Status
    #WinterBookFair

    Share

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

HOME | ABOUT US | SERVICES | PORTFOLIO | TESTIMONIALS | BOOK CATALOG | FREE READS | BLOG | EVENTS | CONTACT
Copyright © 2015 - 2023
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Services
  • Portfolio
    • Ghostwriting
    • Editing
    • Critiques
    • Formatting
    • My Byline
    • Testimonials
  • Free Reads
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact