Suz deMello's Blog

It’s the hot topic on everyone’sminds—the renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas. Instead of getting intofruitless arguments on social media, let me present a few facts and a lot ofopinions about the continuing struggle. Disclaimer: I am an atheist from aJewish family and identify as ethnically Jewish. But I have no respect orpatience for arguments that begin and end with mandates from God.

Doing the Deep Dive

The history underpinning theclash goes back a long way—a very long way. About 1000 kilometers away lies theFertile Crescent, long viewed as the cradle of civilization. After theSumerians and other civilizations rose and fell, Egypt came to prominence. Atvarious times, they sought to extend their dominions outward, including to theeast, into the so-called Biblical Land of Canaan. According to the Israelitesarticle in Wikipedia, Israel was first noted in the Egyptian historical recordin about 1200 BCE, which is when they arrived from Egypt. But, if you believethe Bible, they had inhabited the area much earlier, leaving for Egypt generationsbefore due to drought and famine. The Israelites returned from Egypt in approximately1200 BC, and there has been a continual Jewish presence there ever since,despite repeated invasions by, well, everyone—the Assyrians, the Greeks, thePersians, the Romans, the Crusaders—pretty much every nation with imperialisticambitions passed through.

There has also been a long-termArab presence there, also—and therein lies the conflict. Two sets of peoplewith very different customs want to occupy the same property.  During the Iron Age (1200 BC or so) Israeland Judah controlled much of the area, while the other peoples occupied thesouthern coast—this info is from the Wikipedia History of Palestine. And herewe encounter Palestinians—or the ancestors of modern-day Palestinians, perhaps.The term, “Palestine,” according to Britannica.com, derives from Philistia, aterm used by the Greeks to refer to the land of the Philistines, who in the 12thCentury BCE lived in an area between modern Tel Aviv and Gaza. The term has notbeen in continuous use; the Romans revived it in the 2d Century, calling partof the area “Syria Palaestina,” and according to the same source, it’s been inuse since the early Islamic era. But after the Romans, the term wasn’tofficially used until after WWI.

An interesting aside: Britannica.comnotes a connection between “Hyksos,” invaders of Egypt from the east in the 18thCentury BC; Habiru, meaning outsiders; and Hebrews, referring to Jews. So it’spossible that the ancestors of today’s Israelis were the Hyksos, which makestheir claim even earlier—if that makes a difference. And I’m not sure it does.“We were here first” is only one salient point among many.

The later colonizers were theBritish; they captured Palestine from the Ottomans as a consequence of WorldWar I. The area they dominated, known as the Palestinian Mandate, was muchlarger than modern-day Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; it included Jordan aswell, but the Brits administered it separately. Britain issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which favored theestablishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine. I am not surewhy, given Britain’s lengthy and appalling history of anti-Semitism. In anyevent, it was generally recognized that, after the Holocaust, the Jews needed aplace of their own. The British announced that they intended to end theircolonization of the area in 1947. The UN General Assembly recommendedpartitioning the area into two separate states, one Arab and the other Jewish.The Arabs did not accept partition or the lands allocated to them. The Jewsdid, declaring independence in May 1948 upon the end of the British mandate. Asfor how the Israelis got their land, some was purchased, but unhappily, many Arabs were kicked out of their homes. Some left to escape the carnage, hoping toreturn; others were expelled. The “right of return” as well as compensation forlost property remain live issues.

The Palestinians call this traumaticevent “the Nakba.” A useful way to view both parties is to see them as deeplytraumatized by their sad histories.

After partition, the Arabspromptly attacked from all sides. They lost. Other Arab nations tried again,some singly, some with allies, and always lost: 1956, 1967, 1969-70, 1973,1982, and 2006. The area has also experienced “intifadas,” consisting mostly ofviolent riots. Peace efforts have been brokered by various countries, mostnotably by the USA, but none have succeeded except on a piecemeal basis. Egyptmade peace with Israel in 1979; Jordan in 1994; the UAE, Bahrain, and Moroccoin 2020.

Israel occupied the West Bank andGaza in 1967, to create a buffer between itself and the hostile Arab world.That effort has backfired, leading to the current very messy mess.

I’ve skipped over a lot ofhistory, most importantly, the impact of religion on the issues and conflicts.Many people refer to Israel as “the Jewish State,” ignoring the fact thatIsrael is a multicultural society in which less than 75% of the population isJewish. 20% of the population is Arab. Since the Knesset’s first sessions, Arabshave sat in Israel’s ruling body and continue to do so to this day.  

It is also worth noticing that whendiscussing these issues, there’s a tendency to talk about the Israelis and thePalestinians as solid, unified blocs. Pretty sure they’re not. There haven’tbeen elections in Gaza since 2006, so we don’t know what the Gazans think. Andbefore the current outbreak of hostilities, half of Israel hated their currentgovernment and wanted to change it.

The Palestinian Actors

The Palestinian Authority haspartial civil control over most of the West Bank, led by Mahmoud Abbas. Theyare generally regarded (okay, this is totally my opinion) as ineffective, or atleast, he is. They have been unable or unwilling to pursue peace. Hamas has asa tenet in its charter the destruction of Israel.

The Current Very Messy Mess

So, Israel has been in a bit of apickle ever since they occupied those territories. As stated, after repeatedincursions by the Arabs into Israel over time, Israel decided to take thoseterritories as buffer zones and to create more defensible borders. Fine, butthey kind of screwed it up. What they should have done was create borders thatwere safer for them, put people who preferred not to live in Israel on theother side of that line, and said "welcome to your new country." Somethingsimilar did take place in Gaza after Hamas was elected; Israeli withdrew whilemaintaining tight border control, but Hamas was free to create a vibrantsociety and to help Gazans live fulfilled lives. Instead, they clung to theirideology of destruction, using billions in foreign aid to continue their futileeffort to obliterate Israel.

As things stand, being an occupier forso many years does not sit well with many Israelis…and the rest of the worldhas taken issue with the occupation, which IMO has at times been, well, veryun-Jewish. 

An important concept to Jews is theidea of “Tikkun Olam,” roughly translated as “Heal the World.” The occupationdoesn’t do that. There’s no solution to the current crisis or its underlyingfactors that anyone’s discovered, and no viable alternative to occupation thatanyone has promulgated.

All sides in this matter have sufferedfrom terrible leadership for nearly two decades. Most are religious fanatics. Netanyahuhas been in and out of power since about 2006, and he's a disaster. He's athief and a Trumpian-style fascist who will do anything he can to hold on topower. The result of his radically right-wing policies, encouraged by thereligious crazies, can be viewed as part of the cause of the current crisis.The settlements in the West Bank have gotten out of control, with settlersbuilding unauthorized towns, kicking Palestinians off their property, andsometimes killing them. Netanyahu has destroyed almost all hope for a two-statesolution, which was the only viable long-term option. Even in the midst of war,many Israelis are calling for his ouster based on his visible incompetence.

I've already discussed some of Hamas'sfailures and they've been in power about the same length of time. Abbas isineffective, and Iran ...

The Role of Iran

The true bad actors in this situationare not even Hamas, because they're just stupid—short-sighted, single-mindedreligious ideologues. According to Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas is largely funded byIran—so they’re puppets of the Iranians, who I imagine are backing thisincursion to deflect attention from the fact that their Fashion Police beatsgirls to death for wearing their head gear wrong. Their proxy war in Yemenisn't going particularly well, either. They are deeply threatened by thepossibility of Israel normalizing relationships with more of its Arabneighbors, as well as the United States growing closer to the Saudis. (I doagree with them on that--I loathe the Saudis.) The Iranian people are fed upwith their poor leadership and want to get rid of them.

Questions to Ponder

Why hasn’t Hamas held elections since2006?

Probably because they know they'd bethrown out on their sorry asses because they're shitty at governing. They’reextreme misogynists; in fact, a woman can’t travel freely in Gaza without amale by her side. And if you’re queer? Best of luck, and don’t flaunt yoursexuality on the street. You’ll get killed. And their founding charter has as atenet the destruction of Israel, and obviously that is not going to happen. Butwhile they persist in spreading terror instead of seeking peace, and buyingrockets instead of building roads etc etc, they will be a failure. They don'tknow how to govern, and they don't want peace, which would obviously be betterfor the majority of the Gazans. 

Let's look at the situation this way.The United States forcibly seized many hundreds of square miles of propertyfrom the Mexicans, almost the entire southwestern United States. If Mexicostarted lobbing rockets into the United States in an effort to reclaim thoselands, what do you think would happen?

Strategically and tactically, is thisincursion really going to help Hamas achieve its goals? Is it going to help theGazan people? 

The answer to both of those questionsis no. Murdering teenagers and 20-somethings at an all-night ravedoes nothing but piss people off. Boasting about raping and murdering girls,killing grandmas and little kids exposes Hamas's barbarity and does nothing tofurther their cause. Frankly these people are so sickening and so stupid I wantto slap some sense into them. Totally, totally counterproductive and nothinggood is going to come of it. 

What Hamas has done is create apredictable overreaction from the Israeli government. One wonders if that wastheir intent, though some public statements indicate that their leadershipplanned to force Israel into hostage negotiations.

Is what Israel is doing to Gazaconstitute genocide?

No. Unfortunately, genocide is one of those words tossed around by theignorant to bolster their arguments when facts are not on their side. A truegenocide is the utter and complete obliteration of a people, a national,ethnic, racial or religious group.  Hitler’sFinal Solution was a plan for genocide of Jews—he planned to kill every Jewishperson on Earth, and the Nazis murdered a significant percentage. They alsodestroyed the strong physical and cultural presence of central European Jewry.The 1915 Armenian Massacre, conducted by the Ottomans, was a genocide; out ofan estimated 2.5 million Armenians, over one million were killed, and thecarnage, sadly, continues. (These numbers are rough estimates—online sourcesdiffer.)  During the Hutu-Tutsi conflictin Rwanda (1994) about 77% of the Tutsis died—nearly one million people.

This conflict is different. Manycontend that Palestinians are not a distinct national, ethnic, racial orreligious group. Furthermore, Israel does not plan the complete extermination ofall people identifying as Palestinian. Given the fact that Israel possesses themilitary might to reduce the West Bank and Gaza to rubble, and to kill everyoneliving there, their restraint over the decades has been remarkable.

Let’s compare the conduct of theIsraelis over time to the reaction of Americans to 9/11, when a few buildingswere destroyed and fewer than five thousand people killed. The USA invadedmultiple countries, destabilizing much of west Asia. Millions died or weredisplaced in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other nations; the Arab Spring followed.While some of the results were great, as in Tunisia, some were ghastly, i.e.,the Syrian civil war.

Is the current Israeli responseappropriate?

No. While it’s true that Hamas’s actions are beyond appalling, the Israeliresponse has been brutal and heartless. Telling over a million people to evacuatenorth Gaza when few border crossings are available and safe presents Gazanswith an impossible dilemma, and squanders the international groundswell ofsympathy that Hamas’s initial attacks created. 

Israel’s government has stated that itintends to completely obliterate Hamas—an appropriate goal. But to do that, theIDF has to check every building—as well as under them, because Hamas hascreated a network of tunnels beneath Gaza where they hide and store weapons.The tunnels extend into Israel, and Hamas has been known to launch attacks fromthem. So, the Israelis may find it necessary to raze every building in Gazawith bunker-buster bombs or some other alternative that will destroy thetunnels. 

If my neighbor tells me, “I’m gonnakill you,” and brandishes a knife, I have the right to pull out a pistol andshoot him dead.

But that doesn’t give me the right tohurt my neighbor’s kids.

Yet another dilemma in this big messymess.

Conclusions

Perhaps I should leave this areablank, as I have nothing helpful to offer.

But:

Nothing good for anyone is goingto result from this latest clash.

The Gazans hope to stay alive,and some will. Many won’t. Hamas wants to get some of its imprisoned fightersback, but their ultimate aim is the destruction of Israel. That won’t happen,at least not for the foreseeable future. Israel hopes to eradicate Hamas. Doubtful.

The most unsettling aspect of thecurrent conflict is that fights in this part of the world tend to spread like runny noses in kindergarten. To the north, Hezbollah, also funded by Iran, has launchedseveral missiles into Israel from Lebanon since the Hamas attack took place. 

Thisset of skirmishes could easily explode into regional war.  

Taking a broader view:

There is no prospect for atwo-state solution. Every peace proposal made has failed. Some were generous tothe Palestinians, including options for trains and highways connecting the WestBank and Gaza; locating their capital in Jerusalem; a structured right ofreturn and reparations.

Both sides have wearied of thepeace process, which has limped along for over seventy years. The Israeli responseto the stalemate has been to build settlements in the disputed West Bank as theirpopulation has grown. Palestinians, understandably, are angered by thisencroachment.

The violent religious right-wingsof both groups have been emboldened and strengthened, with the voices for peacegrowing weaker.

***

I invite anyone who reads thisblog to comment with helpful, thoughtful suggestions. Statements like “Justicefor Palestine!” and “Hamas are terrorists!” are unhelpful and will be deleted. There’senough conflict in the world.

Let’s try to create constructivesolutions.

       For the last couple of years, I have run a beautiful little Christmas shortie by one of my author buddies, Catherine Cavendish. I was lucky enough to edit Cat professionally, and not only is she very agreeable to work with, she's also a very creative writer. I love her work and hope you do too.



Dance Me To The End Of Time
by
Catherine Cavendish


          I’ve always loved Christmas. The tree, tinsel and a roaring fire… Candles flickering and the sound of carollers striving to hit the top register in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

           This year’s no different. Of course, there’s no roaring fire anymore. That’s been replaced with one of those living flame gas affairs. Quite nice, but you never could beat the real thing.

            “Penny for them.” My husband, Charles, interrupts my reverie.

            “Oh, nothing. I was just musing and remembering Christmases past.” I smile at him.

             
He adjusts his tie and smoothes his glossy black hair, all  gestures I have seen him perform countless times. “Do you think it will snow this year?” he asks, studying his reflection in the mirror.

            I turn to look out of the window. “It’s too dark to tell, but it looks damp out there. It must have been raining earlier.”

            “I didn’t notice,” Charles says, “but then I suppose I wouldn’t, would I?” He smiles at me and takes my hand, brushing it against his lips. Then I catch him examining my dress.

            “Something wrong?” I ask and instinctively look down at my white, floor-length gown. I see some creases in the silk which I attempt to smooth away.

            “That’s better. It was just a little wrinkled.”

            “Hardly surprising,” I say. “It only gets an outing once a year.”

            We laugh, and Charles strokes away a long, dark brown lock of hair which has escaped my elaborate coiffure and has wandered across my cheek.

            “Shall we dance, Emily?” he asks.

            “Certainly, Charles, it will be my pleasure.”

We waltz to a phantom orchestra. In my head I can
hear the strains of the Blue Danube, and I am transported back to another time and place. I can see a young girl and her young man, their eyes locked in an embrace as they swirl around a ballroom in Vienna while a conductor, violin in hand, steers the orchestra through his latest composition.

            “I miss the scent of roasting chestnuts,” I tell Charles.

           His mouth widens in a grin. “But can’t you smell them, Emily?  Concentrate really hard.”

            I close my eyes and let him lead me round
and round as the music grows louder, and now I can smell them. Chestnuts, little fried potatoes and the warming aroma of cinnamon from the Glühwein.  I can hear the bells of St Stephen’s Cathedral and feel the chill of the night air on my cheek. Little flecks of snow are falling onto my face, and my feet crunch on the icy ground.             

          Charles is waltzing me faster and faster. And now I can hear the voices.  The orchestra has faded and a choir is singing in German: “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht…”

            “Oh Charles--”

            “No, Emily, don’t open your eyes.”

            I obey. “Don’t let it stop, Charles, please don’t let it stop,” I cry, “Not this time. Not this year.”

            “Dance with me, Emily. Dance with me.”

            The choir has faded, and the orchestra builds to a crescendo. I know if I open my eyes, I will see the wild black hair of the conductor, falling over his eyes as his violin bow slashes through the air.

            But I mustn’t open my eyes.  Charles told me not to.

            “Oh Emily, Emily,” Charles says, “Let us never lose this moment.  Never.”

            “Never, Charles.”

            And then I open my eyes.

            “No, Emily, no!” Charles’ agonized face is before me. But the moment has passed.

            The orchestra is silent. There are no roasting chestnuts, no carol singers, no hot spiced wine.

            Vienna has gone.

           “Oh Emily, you did it again. Just like last year. Just like every year.”

            I am crestfallen. He takes my face in his hands. He kisses my lips, and I close my eyes again, trying to recapture the dream. But it’s too late.

            “Never mind, my love, there’s always next year.”

            “As long as we’re still here,” I say, my old fears returning.

            “I expect we will be. They seem to like us well enough.”

            From the hallway, I hear the unmistakable sound of a key in the lock. It’s time.

            “Come, my love. We must return.” Charles once again takes my hand and together we gaze at the empty picture above the mantelpiece.

            “Until next year and the magic returns,” he whispers.

            “Until next year. Happy Christmas, Charles.”

            “Happy Christmas, Emily.”

            The door opens and a young couple wanders in, each holding a glass of red wine. They are both dressed smartly, she in a navy suit, he in dark grey. She has short blond hair, and his is dark. They look very modern to me.

            The woman’s gaze is drawn to the painting. “I’ve always loved that picture.” She sighs, raising her glass to her lips and taking a sip.

            “That’s why I bought it for you,” the man says and nuzzles her neck.

            “Dance Me to the End of Time,” she murmurs. “Such an evocative title. And it really looks as if that’s what they’re doing, doesn’t it? You feel they could just step out of that frame and glide around the room.”

            Her husband laughs. “You and your imagination.”

            The woman moves toward the fireplace and is peering closer. “There it is again.  The damnedest thing!”

            “What?” he asks.

            “I noticed it last year, but only on Christmas Eve, and it’s happened again this year. Look at her eyes.”

            The man does as he is bid.

            “Can you see it? There at the corner of her eye. A tear. It looks as if it’s just about to spill down her cheek, but I bet you it won’t be there in the morning.”

            The man laughs. “You’re imagining it. Too much wine at dinner.”

            “Say what you like. I know what I saw.” She steps back.

            She’s right, of course.  It’s the tear I cannot cry every Christmas when the magic ends.

            And we are frozen here in time and space.

~*~
Catherine Cavendish is joint winner of the Samhain
Gothic Horror Anthology competition 2013. Her winning novella – Linden Manor – is available in all digital formats and in the print anthology, What Waits In The Shadows. She is the author of a number of paranormal horror and Gothic horror novellas and short stories. Her novel, Saving Grace Devine, has recently been published by Samhain Publishing and her new novel -The Pendle Curse - is coming out soon.
     She lives with a longsuffering husband in North Wales. Her home was built in the mid-18th century and is haunted by a friendly ghost, who announces her presence by footsteps, switching lights on and strange phenomena involving the washing machine and the TV.
     When not slaving over a hot computer, Cat enjoys wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.

You can connect with Cat here:

www.catherinecavendish.com

https://www.facebook.com/CatherineCav...

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

http://twitter.com/#!/cat_cavendish      
                        

For many of us, late July is a time to stay at home in the air conditioning. And with Covid-engendered fears, this year more than ever. 
I live in Mazatlan, Mexico, a great place except for the excessve humidity in the summer months. Today, for example, is a balmy 90 degrees Fahrenheit that my weather app claims "feels like 99." And it does, due to the 63% humidity. And it never cools down. 
Northern California was my home for most of my life, where we enjoy the breeze flowing from the Pacific Ocean, along the delta of the Sacramento River, cooling us every evening. For example, the high in Sacramento, my former hometown, is going to be 91 today, but it will drop all the way to 57 tonight--deliciously chilly. In contrast, the low tonight in Mazatlan will be 77, really not cold enough for relief.
So if you're living in a similarly hot clime, may I invite you to enjoy a couple of books set in chillier environs?



Irresistible force, meet immovable objectVeteran Fisher Chugatt has withdrawn from the world, retreating to the Alaskan village where he was born and raised.
Can a sexy, lively DJ from Los Angeles break through his shell?*DJ Valerie Percy rejects the phony life she's lived and travels to remote Takinsha Island determined to start over. She looks for an FWB, an accessory she considers more important than mascara. She wants a warm, outgoing man to laugh with her, hang out with her, and shag her silly.
And then she falls for Fisher Chugatt, a loner who rejects any relationship.Can Valerie's love heal the pain Fisher carries?*****What Goodreads reviewers thought of earlier editions:"...enjoyable... Sweet story, steamy sex and very likeable characters."--Christa"...a good read by the pool in the summer or by the fire in the winter."--Ursula"I enjoyed this one... I liked their chemistry..."--Heather in FL
Set in lovely, cool Alaska, this book isguaranteed to help you think cool thoughts even though the sex is seriously hot.
Buy it here. Free with KU!
*~*

Also guaranteed for sexy thrills and chills is my hockey romance.
How far would you go to win your lifelong dream?
When filmmaker Zoë Whipple agrees to shoot a documentary about a hockey team’s season, she doesn’t sign on for scandal, crime and murder. But she discovers that players, rabid to win the championship, don’t let morality or the law stand in the way of their ambitions.
When a rookie dies from cardiac arrest, Zoë is saddened but not suspicious until another player, in the grip of ’roid rage, goes berserk on the ice and ends up in the hospital. Digging into the mess reveals illegal painkillers and steroid abuse among most of the team. Zoë, whose reputation for honest filmmaking is at stake, threatens to expose the scandals.
Is her new lover, team captain “Crash” Crasseau, responsible for the harassment and vandalism meant to scare her into silence? When Crasseau’s ex-wife is murdered, and Zoë’s daughter is threatened, Zoë must choose between her career ambitions and her child’s safety.
What others have said about a previous edition:
Five stars! I genuinely enjoyed this book.--John W. Cobb, Amazon reader
Whether you are a fan of sports or not, I have no doubt you will enjoy this romance.--Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews
Read it free with KU!

It's no secret that this quarantine is grating on everyone's nerves, so much so that many of us are becoming sloppy about staying home and wearing masks when outside. I know that I've had it literally up to my eyeballs with my sweaty nose and absolute boredom. Couple that with a new home with a bad TV system and there's a recipe for COVID disaster.
So I've been reading a lot, and looking for new, well-written material. If you're in the same situation as I am--and a lot of you reading this are--try this:


Available in both paperback and ebook, this stunning memoir has garnered many five star reviews lauding it for its good writing and excellent, helpful content. Here are just a few:
Five stars! A candid and page-turning account.--Tina Williams, Amazon reader
Five stars! I wish more people knew about this book - especially any sub who is either incredibly curious about this lifestyle or those serious in their wanting more knowledge or needing to find some answers.--Kathleen Rivest, Amazon reader
Five stars! I have been active in "the lifestyle" for almost ten years and Perilous Play is a must read.--Elena J. Kelly, Amazon reader
Five stars!  A great read for both sides of the "/" and was enjoyable to read.--Greg W., Amazon reader
ON SALE NOW FOR 99 CENTS

BUY IT HERE

Irresistible force, meet immovable object*Veteran Fisher Chugatt has withdrawn from the world, retreating to the Alaskan village where he was born and raised.Can a sexy, lively DJ from Los Angeles break through his shell?

DJ Valerie Percy rejects the phony life she’s lived and travels to remote Takinsha Island determined to start over. She looks for a fuck-buddy, an accessory she considers more important than mascara. She wants a warm, outgoing man to laugh with her, hang out with her, and shag her silly.And then she falls for Fisher Chugatt, a loner who rejects any relationship.Can Valerie’s love heal the pain Fisher carries?*****This book was previously published as Seducing the Hermit. It’s been revised and re-edited for your reading pleasure.What Goodreads reviewers thought of earlier editions:“…enjoyable… Sweet story, steamy sex and very likeable characters.”--Christa“…a good read by the pool in the summer or by the fire in the winter.”--Ursula“I enjoyed this one… I liked their chemistry…”--Heather in FL
click here to buy!

I don't usually talk about the value of maintaining an attitude of gratitude until November and Thanksgiving comes around. But in these strange and very trying times, I try to keep a positive outlook no matter how distressing the reality. I acknowledge what's going on while still working to find the good in any and every situation.
But there's def good stuff going on. The authorities here, while knowing they're overmatched, are taking intelligent steps.  The beaches are closed, gatherings prohibited, alcohol sales suspended. Social distancing is emphasized--grocery stores will allow only one person per family to enter. No kids and no pregnant women. The streets (at least where I go) are quiet and most people wear masks.


At this roadblock, authroties took my temperature wth a handheld device that didn't touch my skin,  and sprayed down the car with disinfectant. Also received a pamphlet about COVID-19.
There are still wonderful things here to enjoy:


Close-up of a cactus flower Sheep or goats? I first thought goats, but a closer look revealed that
they're recently shorn sheep. I think.




My big, beautiful, empty beach, Playa Cerritos:







Pineapples growing nearby
Plants that are pathetic little houseplants 
in the USA grow to giant size here


But into each lovely life a little rain must fall. As I mentioned, alcohol sales have been suspended. Below, see my last bottle of red...opened last night (sob sob).




WISH ME LUCK!

suzdemello.com

January 2020 has brought us an increase in tensions in the Middle East,  Australia on fire, and Gwyneth Paltrow's vagina candle.  Imagine the hoohah over a hoohah scented candle!  
Amidst the kerfluffle, I read an article in The Guardian asking, 
Why is Gwyneth Paltrow selling a candle that smells like her vagina?
That's easy, you idiots. BECAUSE SHE CAN.
And it SOLD OUT in just a few days.
The Twitterverse has reacted predictably (and hilariously)--just search vagina candle on Twitter and you'll be amply rewarded. Here are a couple of the best:


~*~


~*~
It is hard to avoid concern about the decline and fall of Western Civilization.
On an completely unrelated note, my award-winning Regency romance, Lord Devere's Ward, is on sale this week. Enjoy!

Will he choose love or honor?
Orphaned Kate Scoville is trapped in a tower prison by her scheming uncle, who plans to wed her to his loathsome son in order to gain control of her fortune. Plucky and resourceful, Lady Kate escapes to London to ask for help from her guardian. She's sure the elderly Earl of Devere will help her in her plight. Kate is astounded to find that the Earl has died, and his son has become her guardian. Quinn, the present Earl, remembers Kate from his childhood as an awkward child he loved to taunt and tease. 

But now his ward has grown into a beautiful young woman. Though honor prevents Quinn from making Kate his, their attraction is irresistible…
Will Kate tempt Quinn into abandoning honor? Will the wicked uncle trap Kate, compromise her and steal her fortune?

First published as Hopelessly Compromised by Kensington/Zebra Books. Winner of the Beacon Award for Best Historical Romance.
What readers said about previous editions
Five Stars! Regency Romance is Alive!--B. Berry
Five Stars! Thoroughly Engaging Regency Romp--Catherine Cavendish
Five Stars!--Pandora
Five Stars! …so charming and lively…--ldsfrost
Five Stars! Regency at Its Best!--Judith Dedek
BUY IT AT AMAZON
Happy reading!

Okay, it's the most wonderful time of the year, but by this time many of us will have had it up to our eyeballs with family, friends, and phony holiday cheer. It's time to retreat to your favorite book nook with a pet on your lap, a glass of wine by your side and a good read.
I've written three sexy shorties appropriate to the season...but with more than a few twists...or should I say kinks?
And whether you prefer historical, paranormal, contemporary or futuristic, I have something to tickle your, uh, fancy.


Genre and setting: Historical with a touch of vamp...Scotland, Yule Eve, 1260
A Viking raider with mysterious powers brings change to little Clan Kilbirnie, especially to the chieftain’s daughter Rhona.
Reviews include:
Five Stars! A short but delightfully sexy read.--T.B. Cooper, Amazon
Five Stars! Interesting, fun, exciting and so much more.--Sherry Westendorf, Amazon
Find it on Amazon for a nifty 99 cents!
~*~

Genre and setting: contemporary erotic romance,New York, USA
Shelbie Nathanson resents Rick Saldano's ascension to C.O.O. of her family's shoe company, a job she's wanted all her life. But she can't resist his red-hot, sexy style of lovemaking--one that focuses on her passion: shoes.
What others have thought of an earlier edition:
“Deliciously hot!”--Author Justine Elyot
“This book was great…very believable fun story…Thanks for the quick romp.”--Black Disaster Fairy
“Five stars…brought me into a world I don’t have a clue about. Very well-written short story.”--Kurt Wannanut
99 cents at Amazon
~*~


inside this book you'll find, not only Toe Cleavage (above) and another steamy holiday tale...
The Moon Maiden’s Mate
Genre and setting: futuristic romance, Luna, 2114 
Lunarian law requires 24-year-old Shayna Goldstein to marry before she's 25. She's dated everyone in New Brooklyn and rejected them all—Gideon Landers, the first man who kissed her, haunts her memories, preventing her from loving anyone else. Desperate, she consults a matchmaker, who sends a reluctant Shayna to Farside Colony to meet her mate.
The commander of Farside Colony, Gideon Landers has never forgotten Shayna. That he's been matched with her is a dream come true, but will she be willing to live in the remote colony?
~*~
“This was a really fun story... Read it!”--Dana Busenbark
The six-story collection is on Amazon priced at $2.99
Enjoy a twisted Christmas!

       For the last couple of years, I have run a beautiful little Christmas shortie by one of my author buddies, Catherine Cavendish. I was lucky enough to edit Cat professionally, and not only is she very agreeable to work with, she's also a very creative writer. I love her work and hope you do too.



Dance Me To The End Of Time
by
Catherine Cavendish


          I’ve always loved Christmas. The tree, tinsel and a roaring fire… Candles flickering and the sound of carollers striving to hit the top register in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

           This year’s no different. Of course, there’s no roaring fire anymore. That’s been replaced with one of those living flame gas affairs. Quite nice, but you never could beat the real thing.

            “Penny for them.” My husband, Charles, interrupts my reverie.

            “Oh, nothing. I was just musing and remembering Christmases past.” I smile at him.

             
He adjusts his tie and smoothes his glossy black hair, all  gestures I have seen him perform countless times. “Do you think it will snow this year?” he asks, studying his reflection in the mirror.

            I turn to look out of the window. “It’s too dark to tell, but it looks damp out there. It must have been raining earlier.”

            “I didn’t notice,” Charles says, “but then I suppose I wouldn’t, would I?” He smiles at me and takes my hand, brushing it against his lips. Then I catch him examining my dress.

            “Something wrong?” I ask and instinctively look down at my white, floor-length gown. I see some creases in the silk which I attempt to smooth away.

            “That’s better. It was just a little wrinkled.”

            “Hardly surprising,” I say. “It only gets an outing once a year.”

            We laugh, and Charles strokes away a long, dark brown lock of hair which has escaped my elaborate coiffure and has wandered across my cheek.

            “Shall we dance, Emily?” he asks.

            “Certainly, Charles, it will be my pleasure.”

We waltz to a phantom orchestra. In my head I can
hear the strains of the Blue Danube, and I am transported back to another time and place. I can see a young girl and her young man, their eyes locked in an embrace as they swirl around a ballroom in Vienna while a conductor, violin in hand, steers the orchestra through his latest composition.

            “I miss the scent of roasting chestnuts,” I tell Charles.

           His mouth widens in a grin. “But can’t you smell them, Emily?  Concentrate really hard.”

            I close my eyes and let him lead me round
and round as the music grows louder, and now I can smell them. Chestnuts, little fried potatoes and the warming aroma of cinnamon from the Glühwein.  I can hear the bells of St Stephen’s Cathedral and feel the chill of the night air on my cheek. Little flecks of snow are falling onto my face, and my feet crunch on the icy ground.             

          Charles is waltzing me faster and faster. And now I can hear the voices.  The orchestra has faded and a choir is singing in German: “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht…”

            “Oh Charles--”

            “No, Emily, don’t open your eyes.”

            I obey. “Don’t let it stop, Charles, please don’t let it stop,” I cry, “Not this time. Not this year.”

            “Dance with me, Emily. Dance with me.”

            The choir has faded, and the orchestra builds to a crescendo. I know if I open my eyes, I will see the wild black hair of the conductor, falling over his eyes as his violin bow slashes through the air.

            But I mustn’t open my eyes.  Charles told me not to.

            “Oh Emily, Emily,” Charles says, “Let us never lose this moment.  Never.”

            “Never, Charles.”

            And then I open my eyes.

            “No, Emily, no!” Charles’ agonized face is before me. But the moment has passed.

            The orchestra is silent. There are no roasting chestnuts, no carol singers, no hot spiced wine.

            Vienna has gone.

           “Oh Emily, you did it again. Just like last year. Just like every year.”

            I am crestfallen. He takes my face in his hands. He kisses my lips, and I close my eyes again, trying to recapture the dream. But it’s too late.

            “Never mind, my love, there’s always next year.”

            “As long as we’re still here,” I say, my old fears returning.

            “I expect we will be. They seem to like us well enough.”

            From the hallway, I hear the unmistakable sound of a key in the lock. It’s time.

            “Come, my love. We must return.” Charles once again takes my hand and together we gaze at the empty picture above the mantelpiece.

            “Until next year and the magic returns,” he whispers.

            “Until next year. Happy Christmas, Charles.”

            “Happy Christmas, Emily.”

            The door opens and a young couple wanders in, each holding a glass of red wine. They are both dressed smartly, she in a navy suit, he in dark grey. She has short blond hair, and his is dark. They look very modern to me.

            The woman’s gaze is drawn to the painting. “I’ve always loved that picture.” She sighs, raising her glass to her lips and taking a sip.

            “That’s why I bought it for you,” the man says and nuzzles her neck.

            “Dance Me to the End of Time,” she murmurs. “Such an evocative title. And it really looks as if that’s what they’re doing, doesn’t it? You feel they could just step out of that frame and glide around the room.”

            Her husband laughs. “You and your imagination.”

            The woman moves toward the fireplace and is peering closer. “There it is again.  The damnedest thing!”

            “What?” he asks.

            “I noticed it last year, but only on Christmas Eve, and it’s happened again this year. Look at her eyes.”

            The man does as he is bid.

            “Can you see it? There at the corner of her eye. A tear. It looks as if it’s just about to spill down her cheek, but I bet you it won’t be there in the morning.”

            The man laughs. “You’re imagining it. Too much wine at dinner.”

            “Say what you like. I know what I saw.” She steps back.

            She’s right, of course.  It’s the tear I cannot cry every Christmas when the magic ends.

            And we are frozen here in time and space.

~*~
Catherine Cavendish is joint winner of the Samhain
Gothic Horror Anthology competition 2013. Her winning novella – Linden Manor – is available in all digital formats and in the print anthology, What Waits In The Shadows. She is the author of a number of paranormal horror and Gothic horror novellas and short stories. Her novel, Saving Grace Devine, has recently been published by Samhain Publishing and her new novel -The Pendle Curse - is coming out soon.
     She lives with a longsuffering husband in North Wales. Her home was built in the mid-18th century and is haunted by a friendly ghost, who announces her presence by footsteps, switching lights on and strange phenomena involving the washing machine and the TV.
     When not slaving over a hot computer, Cat enjoys wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.

You can connect with Cat here:

www.catherinecavendish.com

https://www.facebook.com/CatherineCav...

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

http://twitter.com/#!/cat_cavendish