on being an artist from Eckart Tolle

Merry Christmas

Crossroads Tavern or the Cat Spring Country Club not far from our place

Cats like king beds.

John and I are on the road with the cats, who are behaving very well. We've arrived in Cat Spring and the notable feature of the tiny town is the rail road that goes straight through it with an at grade intersection. We can hear the rumble and whistle of the train from our deck on the horse ranch. Comes through around 7 AM and 5 PM.  We are recovering from the five day trip and have explored Bellville, Brenham, and Sealy all of which have a library and a post office. And lots of Mexican restaurants. I'd forgotten how good Mexican food is in these parts. And then there is barbecue. Yum.

We have beaucoup horses for neighbors. This ranch boards a lot of horses. All kinds plus runs a few cow-calf pairs. Couple of big bulls.  For John's benefit we have hit two catholic churches. I like the one in Sealy because it has comfortable seat cushions. It's the little things in life.

Bellville Library on a sunny morning. Got up to 76 yesterday.

We've visited with our friends Marlis and Ralph and they have beautiful Christmas decorations. See photo. John and I sat on the deck this afternoon and enjoyed the intense sun and cool air. They've had a lot of rain here. Dust of Harney County to mud of Cat Spring. We are not complaining. We're surrounded by lots of pasture, paddocks, fences, and horses. We're about a mile from the hard road.

I've been reading lots. I recommend The Messy Truth by Van Jones about the political situation in the US now.  We have satellite TV, which we didn't have in Harney County.  I've discovered CNN and MSNBC, particularly Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes. What a week in politics but we don't want to get carried away with that commentary. We're on vacation! And it's not snowing and icy!

Our favorite place to hang out. Live oak trees are wonderful.

We hope all of you have a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!  

One of our neighbors

Earth Rising is on sale!

The fourth book in the Deovolante Space Opera series is on sale on Kindle for 99 cents until December 19.  This is the last of the special Christmas offers for my Deovolante Space Opera series.  Look for Earth Risingby searching on Marjorie Thelen in Amazon.com. In this book our erstwhile group of Earth physicists and Deovolante aliens team up to try to help planet Earth rise to a higher vibration but run into opposition from no other than Earth and her inhabitants.  Enjoy!

My very best wishes for a happy holiday season and a joyous new year!

Marjorie

Hoodoo Canyon and Earth Rising Promotions Coming Up Next

Following on the Kindle Promotions for my Deovolante Space Opera science fiction series, the next two books are Hoodoo Canyonwhich goes on sale for 99 cents on Monday December 10 and Earth Rising which goes on sale Monday, December 17. Any of these books can be read as stand alone novels. Hoodoo and Earth Rising are particularly fun because they feature Eloise Bright, renowned theoretical physicist, who meets a professed alien and she has to decide if she really believes her eyes. They are entertaining and filled with the usual memorable characters. Give them a try!

Wings of the Wind is now on Kindle

Last week I announced I have now published a historical romance, Wings of the Wind, set in Galveston Texas in 1850. Mercedes Lawless meets Captain Jean Lafitte when he walks into her emporium and says he is now the owner.  That doesn't sit well with Mercedes. She launches her own investigation of who bet her store, which takes her to New Orleans and back aboard the Wings of the Wind. The story is light, fun, and a picture of life in 1850. 

Lorna Cagle, author of Jenny and Louisiana Picket, read an advance copy and here is what she says, "An exquisite story of intrigue that exposes the underbelly of New Orleans society in the 1850’s, as a courageous woman  seals her fate aboard the Wings of the Wind.   

Wings of the Wind Now Available on Amazon Kindle

Announcing a New Romance Novel by Marjorie Thelen

Wings of the Wind:  A prosperous shopkeeper, a pirate captain, a clipper ship, and uncle who isn't what he seems. A historical romance set in Galveston, Texas, 1850. 

Now available on Amazon Kindle. Search on Marjorie Thelen in Amazon for all my books.  

The Next Universe Over is Now on Sale!

Starting Monday, December 3, the second book in the Deovolante Space Opera will be on sale for three days at 99 Cents in Kindle Store for three days, then $1.99 for four days.  Look for it under Kindle Countdown Deals. In this spoofy tale from the Deovolante Galaxy Space Opera a reformed pirate, a holy person, and crew end up in the Next Universe Over by mistake.

Teaser:  My first romance will be on sale on Kindle this week. Stay tuned.

The Groove

For those of you who fancy yourself writers -- 

Don't be too hard on yourself about when you write.  It takes finding your groove (have you read When Stella Got Her Groove Back?)  When I'm not writing I get grumpy. I need to be writing or editing a project regularly for my Muse to be satisfied.  I'm writing the fifth book in my sci fi series and am about 25,000 words in. I broke off to finish the edit on the romance I've had in the drawer for a number of years. I have a contemporary mystery started, which is about 11,000 words. I have more than one project going at a time. When I get stuck I go to another project.  Some days I sit down at my computer and have no idea what will happen but I just tell myself, "Write!" and I don't worry if it is good or not. All my books require a certain amount of research so that factors in but doesn't count as writing.  For me creative writing counts as writing.  I don't outline. My brain doesn't work that way. I just write and depend on the characters to carry the story. 

A Far Out Galaxy is on Sale!

The promotion has begun! 

A Far Out Galaxy, first book in the Deovolante Space Opera, will be 99 cents on Kindle for three days starting November 26 and then goes to $1.99 for the remainder of the seven days. The next three books in the series will be on sale starting December 3, 10, and 17. A Far Out Galaxy involves a mighty heroine from a utopian Galaxy hell bent on saving Earth and her inhabitants from endless wars. If you haven't read the series yet, try it. Besides memorable characters, the ideas might give you something to think about. Thank you and happy reading!

Promotion of my Deovolante Space Opera Series

(Note: I haven't posted in a long time and some of you will get emails each time I post now. If you don't want to receive simply don't accept the invitation that will go out to you. Thank you. )

It's holiday time and I'm  offering a special promotion of my science fiction books on Amazon Kindle. Starting on Monday November 26, the first book, A Far Out Galaxy, in my Deovolante Space Opera Series will be offered on Amazon.com at a discount for seven days, starting at 99 cents for three days. Look for it in the Kindle Store under Kindle Countdown Deals. The other three books in the series will be offered in the following consecutive weeks. The Deovolante series is about good aliens from a utopian galaxy who are trying to help Earth and her inhabitants. The second book is The Next Universe Over, the third is Hoodoo Canyon, and the fourth is Earth Rising. All these are also found in Kindle Unlimited for free. Let me know if you have any questions. Please share with your friends who like science fiction. 

In December I will be publishing a new historical romance called "Wings of the Wind".  It is set in Galveston, Texas in 1850.  Stay tuned.  

Happy Holidays!