Church of the Old Mermaids, by Kim Antieau - Book Review

Purchase this book on Amazon

What a sweet, sweet read!  Kim Antireau's storytelling skills are like sweet music to this readers ear.

When Myla Alverez caught her husband in bed, her bed, with the neighbors wife she went into a downward spiral. Then she had a dream about a mermaid that gave her a feeling of hope and purpose. Stories about Mermaids began flowing out of her mouth as though she was some sort of medium to the mermaid spirit world. These stories were told to people who would come to the Church of the Old Mermaids, which was a table Myla sat up every Saturday in front of the Antigone bookstore on Fourth Avenue, in Tucson, Arizona.

Myla got solace from walking the dry wash by the Old Mermaid

Rosetta Translation - My New Writing Tool

I have been intrigued lately how some authors are able to lay down on the page their character’s native language. The latest intrigue came from the author Elizabeth Gilbert in her book THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS. My recent book review is found here - Book Review.

Alma Whittaker’s nanny, and head housekeeper of the Whittaker estate, Hanneke de Groot would speak to Alma in their native Dutch language when the most consequential times in their lives occurred, adding to the intimacy of that scene, so best described the close relationship those two characters had. As a reader this impressed me as very good writing.

The obvious solution as to how authors accomplish foreign language verbiage in their texts is they must use a translation service. I began researching for available resources, and found an impressive translation agency that meets this need. What is perfect about this particular translation company is that I can submit snippets of my manuscript and get a free quote on what it will cost. I find that a very cost effective advantage to a not yet successful struggling writer! (That would be me.)

Another little writer’s jewel I found on the Rosetta Translation company website is a new (to me) word: Chuchotage [shoo-shoh-tazhi], a translation service called ‘whispered interpreting’. A small group, four or less, who find themselves in a foreign country, taking a tour lead by a tour guide who doesn't speak their native language, would hire a translator to chuchotage for them. As a writer who spends most days alone in my room at my desk playing with words, finding this odd little word was absolutely titillating. This word is now filed in my writer’s word party box.

And the Rosetta Translation company is permanently bookmarked and filed in my writer’s toolbox file now.

This is an advertisement. I wouldn't advertise a company on my blog if I didn't endorse it. Just saying.

WHAT THE ROBIN KNOWS - Book Review

Amazon Books

This is not a novel. It is closer to a bird field guide book that all the birder's I know carry around. The birder's I know write the place and date beside every bird they have "sited" in their bird field guide book. What makes this book a little more readable than the field guide is it includes the authors backstory. The author being Jon Young, who from the young age of ten was influenced by his great-aunt Carrie, his mother, and his great-grandma Novak. All lovers of nature.  Then went on to be
mentored by Tom Brown, (here comes a big native american influence) Jake & Judy Swamp, Gilbert Walking Bull, (then british influence) Ingwe.

Jon Young is more than a birder, he is a naturalist, and this is a textbook of the science he has spent his life studying. His book explains how listening to the birds, and watching their behavior, can teach you about the movements, and nature of all the animals in the forest, and more. He lays out this universal bird language, aided by an online audio Collection of Bird language vocalizations found here - AUDIO COLLECTION OF BIRD VOCALIZATIONS

Jon Young founded the Wilderness Awareness School, and can be found on Facebook. I have visited both of these sites, and I must say they look enticing even to a bookworm like me. For those of us who like to observe nature through the living room picture window, I noticed he offers webinars. I may just put my bug bucket hat on and watch one of those!

I may even open the windows during the webinar!

The Signature of All Things: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Gilbert doesn't need me to tell everyone how good "The Signature Of All Things", her latest novel, is. There is a reason it made the New York Times bestseller list. It's a great novel. I especially love how, in the beginning, she tells us the story is about Alma Whittaker, then tells how Alma's toddler years are not