Robbie Cheadle's Blog

Tanka Tuesday

Selma is the host of this week’s Tanka Tuesday and her prompt is to write haiku like Basho. You can find out more and join in here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/09/30/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-26-haiku-like-basho-09-30-25/

unseen by the lonely and i-centric

we continue to write our love story

into middle age and beyond

***

brush heavy with wet colour

sweeps across my blank canvas

bringing about silent change

***

light dancing

across silky petals

caught by my camera

W3

Michelle is the host of this week’s W3 challenge. She has asked poets to write a series of Hay(na)ku poetry. You can join in here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/10/01/w3-prompt-179-weave-written-weekly/

marriage

two hearts

united as one

***

cries

new baby

changes our lives

***

eyes

soulful emeralds

watching my movements

***

parents

aging badly

bitterness tinges all

***

choices

drive wedges

splitting family apart

My Spring GardenPicture caption: Magenta and yellow iris in the sunlightPicture caption: Yellow iris in the sunlightPicture caption: pink iris after the first rains of the seasonPicture caption: white roses are in bloomPicture caption: I think these are wild violetsPicture caption: Pink roses are coming into flowerPicture caption: yellow roses are in flower

Thank you to Melissa, editor of Collaborature Journal for hosting me with this interview about my art and poetry.

https://collaborature.blogspot.com/2025/10/gift-of-imagination-rc.html?m=1

Overview Carmilla is set in Austria during the late 1800s and is the original vampire story. Le Fanu’s writing is steeped in sexual tension and …

Halloween month… Book Review: Carmilla / J. Sheridan Le Fanu By Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour banner

It’s Day 2 of the WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour and our gracious host today is Robbie Cheadle of Robbie’s Inspiration. Thank you, Robbie for hosting this stop and helping launch Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

Today, you’ll get to meet contributing authors Kaye Lynne Booth and Joseph Carrabis and learn more about their stories in the Curses anthology. Plus, Joseph Carrabis shares a reading of each of the two stories which he contributed here, and on the second stop of the day, over at Undawnted, DL Mullan will share her interview with Joseph. Don’t forget to leave questions and comments for both stops here to enter in today’s drawing for chance to win a digital copy Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

Giveaway

We’re giving away 5 digital copies of Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

All you have to do to enter is follow the tour and leave a comment.

About Curses: Chronicles of DarknessPicture caption: Cover of Curses featuring three female demons

There are all types of curses.

Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.

Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which are brought upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.

Eleven tantalizing tales of curses and the cursed. Includes stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel, and Denise Aparo.

Pre-Order and Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/CursesChroniclesofDarkness

Meet Author Kaye Lynne BoothPicture caption: author photograph of Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

Inspiration for “Cavern Del Oro (Cave of Gold)”

My story, “Caverna Del Oro (Cave of Gold)”, is based on an ancient Indian curse in my area. According to local legend, the top of Marble Mountain was a burial ground for the ancestors, cursed by the gods and the Ute tribes in the area refused to go there. But in the sixteenth century, three Spanish Monks came with a band of soldiers and, upon finding gold there, forced the natives to mine and process the gold into gold bars or coins to be taken back to Spain.

The cavern entrance is marked by a red Maltese cross painted on a rock just below it. The top of Marble Mountain has an altitude of 12,000 feet and so, the time when the cavern could be accessed lasted only a few short months. During that time, the Indians rose up against the Spaniards in revolt, killing two of the monks and many of the soldiers. The remaining Monk and the soldiers which were left packed up the gold they had processed, heading out for Spain with plans to return the following year with reinforcements to retrieve the rest. But, the remaining Monk died of a mysterious illness on the trip back to Spain, and being the only one who knew the location, the remains gold is still there.

There has been several Spanish artifacts found on Marble Mountain over the years as well as a couple of skeletons, reportedly chained there, which would seem to back up this story. Many have explored the cavern, which consists of a series of drops to multiple levels and no evidence of any mining, which would be quite difficult because of the difficulty of access, so I doubt the truth to this story, but it’s also fun to wonder, what if it is true?

Meet Joseph CarrabisPicture caption: Author photograph of Joseph Carrabis

Joseph Carrabis is a master storyteller with a sharp sense of humor and deep linguistic expertise. Hailing from New Hampshire, USA, his passion for writing began at the age of seven while washing dishes with his older sister, Sandra. She’d read ‘Mission to the Heart Stars’ for a book report and shared her fascination and excitement over the story. Joseph, a plate in one hand and a dish towel in the other decided, “I want to give that joy in the written word to people.” With a career deeply embedded in evolving technologies, Joseph served as Chief Research Officer, Chief Neuroscience Officer, and Senior Research Fellow at several institutions and agencies while earning numerous awards for his journalism and trade technical writing.
Joseph refers to himself as boring – something loudly debunked by his readers and peers – and weaves wildly imaginative stories that dance on the boundary of the known and unknown sciences where natural, preternatural and supernatural intersect. Fans’ comments regularly mention Carrabis’ ability to bring together advanced mathematics, quantum physics, cybernetics, and neuroscience with believable multi-dimensional characters and spellbinding future technology.
Joseph has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, recommended for a Nebula Award, and received an honorable mention in ‘Writers of the Future’.

Joseph has two brief stories featured in Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, both regarding curses upon humanity: “Grafton’s Ghost-Child” & “A Man’s World”. We are fortunate today, since he is sharing a full reading of each one.

Reading of “Grafton’s Ghost-Child”

Grafton’s Ghost Child – YouTube

Reading of “It’s A Man’s World”

Reading from “It’s a Man’s World” by Joseph Carrabis – YouTube

You can learn more about Joseph Carrabis and his stories in his interview with DL Mullan on the second of today’s tour stops over at Undawnted. Since Ms. Mullan’s blog doesn’t accept comments, you can drop back over here to leave any questions or comments and enter for a chance to win a free digital copy of Curses: Chronicles of Darkness.

Tanka Tuesday

Tanka Tuesday this week is hosted by Yvette and she has asked poets to write about how impactful one day, or in my case one hour, can be.

I have chosen to write about a Candlelight Concern I attended last night. There are some of my YT videos at the end.

It Floats (butterfly cinquain)

music

floating gently

on currents of warm air

notes delicately dancing

upwards

an ordinary day becomes

extraordinary

captivating

soundwaves

W3

You can join in the challenge here: https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/09/24/w3-prompt-178-weave-written-weekly/

Sounds of Silence (double cinquain)

silence

submerges thoughts

in its thunderous roar

displacing hospital hum

blackout

***

stillness

not possible

pacing the corridor

achieves some sort of mental peace

quiet

CFFC

This week’s theme is subjects framed by something. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/09/22/subjects-framed-by-things-cffc/

These are my pictures of the Candlelight Concert featuring the works of The Beatles and Queen.

Picture caption: the stage and candles framed by the archway of the alcove in the churchPicture caption: Two of the musicians framed by the candlesPicture caption: Another picture of a musician framed by candlesPicture caption: church window framed by stonework

A few of my YouTube videos of the evening:

A Sister Is … (a metaphorical poem) by Robbie Cheadle a thief, stealing attention that’s rightfully yours;a port in a storm, when your house of cards…

A Sister Is … (a metaphorical poem) by Robbie Cheadle

Today, I bring you two different books that are both fascinating in their very different ways.

The first is The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers by Teagan Riordain Geneviene which takes the reader on an enthralling fantasy adventure based on the historical Cornelis Drebbel, 16th century Dutch engineer and inventor, and his advanced inventions.

The second book, Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt, by Dawn Pisturino, is an intriguing delve into life in ancient Egypt told in freestyle poetry.

The Alchemist and the Women in Trousers by Teagan Riordain GenevienePicture caption: Cover of The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers featuring a woman in a Victorian dress holding a skull and a man looking through a microscope attached to his top hat

This story is a highly imaginative fantasy adventure incorporating real details of a late 15th century/early 16th century Dutch engineer and inventor called Cornelis Drebbel. This book was my introduction to this astonishing man, and I enjoyed the details about him that the author skillfully wove into this story.

The woman in trousers, aka, Felicity, is the possessor of Cornelis Drebbel’s skull which is all that remains of him after an accident of alchemy. Cornelis is able to manifest in human form and has some unusual powers as a result of his unusual fate but is not technically either alive or dead. It is hinted in the story that should something untoward happen to Cornelis’ skull, he would come to a sticky ending.

Felicity is a strong female character of the author’s invention and rails against the suffocating conventions of the time for Victorian women. She prefers to wear practical trousers rather than the long dresses of the day, but she does conform when she must.

This is a rollicking adventure that involves the disappearance of another inventor, abandonment of his daughter, and death of a stranger, all mysteries that need to be resolved to say the daughter, Copper, from being institutionalised and secret papers held by her father falling into the wrong hands.

The story involves plenty of unusual creatures, mystical landscapes, real inventions, and both good and bad people which all come together to form an exciting and fast paced story.

Purchase The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F1KWXJ5P

Find all of Teagan Riordain Geneviene’s books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/author/B00HHDXHVM

Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt by Dawn PisturinoPicture caption: cover of Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt depicting a cat against an ancient Egyptian styled artwork

This collection of freestyle poems collectively tell the story of the civilization of ancient Egypt. Each poems delves into a separate concept about life, love, and worship in this era and the book collectively unveils an enormous amount of history. The research done by the poet is comprehensive and fascinating.

I have always been interested in the mythology of ancient Egypt and have read books and watched movies about it all through my life. Isis, a female goddess, was of particular interest to me and I enjoyed learning so much more about her, and all the other gods and goddesses through my reading of these poems.

I enjoyed the depiction of Isis “Blessed is she who serves the Great Mother, Isis,

Consort of Osiris,

Who conceived the falcon-headed Horus in her womb

After reassembling her dead husband’s body!

Her magic is too powerful to defeat.

Her motherhood is too powerful to deflate.”

from ‘Asru’

The book explores different experiences by the ancient Egyptians including festivals, droughts and famines, pregnancy, and other activities common to all people.

The gratitude expressed in the poem ‘The Five Fingers of Gratitude’ impressed me:

“In the midst of the festival, I raise my left hand

And count my blessings on my five fingers:

Bread.

Beer.

Onions.

Garlic.

Family.

How I praise Hathor for nourishing my body and keeping me whole.”

This is a message that the modern world of consumers should consider and appreciate.

An intriguing poetic adventure that will appeal to lovers of poetry, history, and the human condition.

You can purchase Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F3JZHL1N

You can find Dawn Pisturino’s other books on Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dawn-Pisturino/author/B0CYM7BV37

Colleen’s challenge this week is to write a poem using a kigo work for September. She suggested dew but I’m using dust as that is what we seem to have in abundance at this time of year. You can read other contributions here: https://tankatuesday.com/2025/09/16/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-39-24-seasons-9-16-25/

Dust

temperatures creeping

upwards at a steady pace

dust blankets new growth

scent of jasmine syrupy

first rainfall a desperate dream

Esther Chilton’s prompt is promise. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/09/17/writing-prompts-83/

I promise

I promised Mother we would not cross the railway line anywhere except at the crossing. I promised Granny Joan too. Granny Joan had a horror of railway line crossings ever since her neighbour’s husband was killed when his brightly coloured Volkswagen Beetle stalled in the middle of the lines when he was coming home late one evening. The car was crushed by a train that didn’t see the vehicle until it was to late. His daughter, a school mate of mine, was left fatherless. At school, the children whispered that it was a suicide. I’d never heard of suicide before and I never wanted to again. The nuns said suicide was a mortal sin that sent you straight to hell.

My intentions were good. We were going to cross the railway line passing the local beach at the crossing. It was the best place to cross anyway as it was just before the parking lot and the beach cafe. The problem was I couldn’t remember where the crossing was. It was Cath and my first visit to the beach on our own and I couldn’t remember the way. We walked and walked. Cath was tired and becoming whiny. I didn’t know what to do. I could see the sand dunes so I knew the beach was close, but there was the railway line with no place to cross it.

Cath sat down and refused to stand. She wasn’t going to keep walking on and on. I made a decision. We would cross the railway lines here.

“Come on, Cath. The beach is just on the other side of the railway line and dunes. All we have to do is cross carefully and climb up the sand dunes. Then we’ll be there.”

I took her small hand and we started crossing. The lines hummed and pulsed like a living thing. I could feel vibrations running up my body. It was scary. I kept checking for trains. The hairs on my arms stood up and my nerves were squeaky.

An eternity later, we reached the other side. In one piece. Not squashed to mincemeat by a huge, fast train.

We clambered up the dunes and there was the beach. The sea a glistening mass of heaving water. A short distance to the right was the asphalt of the parking lot and the gleaming white of the beach cafe. The crossing had been a mere 500 metres away, just around the corner.

so close yet so far

devil tempts weary children

sin for confession

Sunday Stills, Waterfalls

Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge is fountains, waterfalls, and geysers. You can join in here:

Picture caption: this photograph is from 2021 when we visited Fugitive’s Drift in KwaZulu Natal.Picture caption: Waterfall on the Monk’s Cowl short hike in the Drakensberg MountainsPicture caption: Waterfall at The Cavern in the DrakensbergPicture caption: Waterfall with a rainbow in the Drakensberg Mountains

I recently re-read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, a book I read and loved as a pre-teen. This is part 2 of my overview of this famous novel. …

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: book overview part 2 by Robbie Cheadle

Today, I am thrilled to welcome talented Kevin Morris back to Treasuring Poetry. Kevin was one of my inaugural guests when I first started this …

Treasuring Poetry – Kevin Morris shares about his book, Passing Through: Some thoughts on life and death, and a review #poetry #poetrycommunity #…