CCC241: Expert Ease of the Instant Meal

Posted on June 22, 2023 by crispina kemp

Ardea Cinerea, a long-legged bird
Easily hidden in reeds, not often heard
Less a hunter, not even a baiter
More a waiter
Oblivious of the pinching bill
Fishes, frogs and slippery eels
Offer themselves as an instant meal

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos, Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Afternoon Tea (III) with Crispina Kemp

Posted on June 22, 2023 by crispina kemp

Sammi’s done such a good job with this interview. She’s brilliant, and so supportive. Please do read, cos I enjoyed doing it too!

sammicoxwriter's avatarSammi Loves Books

My latest author interview over afternoon tea is with Crispina Kemp, whom I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing twice before (here and here). Her new book, Hare and Adder, was released this month, and you will be able to read my review of it on this website next week. Having immensely enjoyed this book (and all her others!), I was excited to be able to put my next set of reading and writing questions to her.

So grab a cup of tea and maybe a biscuit or slice of cake, then sit back and relax and read the interview…

Thanks so much for taking the time to join us for afternoon tea today, Crispina. So what have you been up to writing-wise since our last interview, back in 2021? What projects have you been working on recently? What plans do you have for the future?

In 2022 I…

View original post 1,622 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #241

Posted on June 21, 2023 by crispina kemp

Here’s how it works:

Every Wednesday I post a photo (this week it’s that one above.)
You respond with something CREATIVE

Here are some suggestions:

  • An answering photo
  • A cartoon
  • A joke
  • A caption
  • An anecdote
  • A short story (flash fiction)
  • A poem
  • A newly minted proverb, adage or saying
  • An essay
  • A song—the lyrics or the performance

You have plenty of scope and only two criteria:

  • Your creative offering is indeed yours
  • Your writing is kept to 150 words or less

If you post a link in the comments section of this post I’ll be able to find it
If you include Crimson’s Creative Challenge as a heading, WP Search will find it (theory) by ‘Searching’ in the WP Reader (fingers crossed)

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Tuesday Treats: Blooms and Bugs

Posted on June 20, 2023 by crispina kemp

Those little details from our walk around Marston Marshes, 17th May 2023. Enjoy

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

17th May 2023

Hope you enjoyed this little medley!

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Can You Answer YES To These 5 Questions

Posted on June 19, 2023 by crispina kemp

  1. Do you enjoy reading? [Yes]
  2. Do you like to read fantasy? [Yes]
  3. Are you looking for something…different? [Yes]
  4. Do you want to receive a free fantasy fiction book? [Yes]
  5. Are you happy to give constructive feedback to help the writer (that’s me) [Yes]

Then don’t delay, sign-up today to beta read for me.

The book?

The King’s Wife, Book 3 of Alsaldic Lands Trilogy

Bregan is a cuckoo-child. She should not inherit the position of King’s Wife (the king’s chief brewster) from her aunt. But a poorly buried memory is pushing her.

If she becomes the King’s Wife (the chief brewster) she will be in the best place to…to…but she doesn’t remember what, only that it has to do with her real father, a woodland daen, an ancient deity.

But when the spread of mysterious black clouds cast the Alsaldic Lands into chaos and destruction, her suppressed memory begins to rise.

Graphic Credit: Christine Engelhardt on Pixabay

Posted in Fantasy Fiction, Mythic Fiction, On Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Sunday Picture Post: Beside the Yare

Posted on June 18, 2023 by crispina kemp

17th May 2023, we head out to a new destination. Marston Marshes is a 26ha nature reserve on the floodplain of River Yare on the outskirts of Norwich. We’re excited.

17th May 2023 

We’re used to grazing marshes, but this is different. Very civilised with proper paths and gates

17th May 2023 

We’ve time it just right for the typical fen and wetland flora

17th May 2023 

and a delightful family of geese

17th May 2023 

These marshes are grazed (but not today) and hence the many gates. And look, no muddy feet!

17th May 2023 

The River Yare rises in central Norfolk, and joins the sea at Great Yarmouth. In these early stretches it is an exceptionally clean chalkland river

17th May 2023 

The very place to sit and dream…seats provided!

17th May 2023 

And plenty of trees to provide shade

17th May 2023 

17th May 2023 

17th May 2023 

Keswick Mill sits on the far side

17th May 2023 

What could be more delightful than a flower-specked meadow

17th May 2023 

And a wonderful wizened willow!

Hope you enjoyed. We did. Blooms and Bugs to come, see Tuesday Treats

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Strong In My Memory

Posted on June 17, 2023 by crispina kemp

14th June 2023

I grew up with Colman’s Mustard on the table. And still I use Colman’s. It was first produced by a Norwich family, so is very special to this (formerly) Norwich lass

Timeless, one of the titles from Maria Antonia’s #2023picofthe week

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 7 Comments

What A Bore

Posted on June 17, 2023 by crispina kemp

image by Steve Buissinne on Pixabay

Saturday morning
What a bore
Dust
Vacuum
Mop the floor
Wipe ceramics
These are a must
No writing
No tweeting
No posting on blogs
No wistfully glancing out to the garden
No ambling stroll to take in the air
No listening to bird song
So sweet cos they haven’t a care
But sweet’s not me
Cos I have chores
What a bore!

62 words written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Chore

Posted in Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , | 22 Comments

CCC240: I Must Stop Reading Those Books

Posted on June 15, 2023 by crispina kemp

To sleep
To dream
To wake
To this…

What is it?
Not there when I closed my eyes on this world
Arrived
As if from another place
Another world?
An alien construction?
But when did it arrive?
For how long did I sleep?

Mother is right
I must stop reading those books.

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos, Poems (Some Silly) | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #240

Posted on June 14, 2023 by crispina kemp

Here’s how it works:

Every Wednesday I post a photo (this week it’s that one above.)
You respond with something CREATIVE

Here are some suggestions:

  • An answering photo
  • A cartoon
  • A joke
  • A caption
  • An anecdote
  • A short story (flash fiction)
  • A poem
  • A newly minted proverb, adage or saying
  • An essay
  • A song—the lyrics or the performance

You have plenty of scope and only two criteria:

  • Your creative offering is indeed yours
  • Your writing is kept to 150 words or less

If you post a link in the comments section of this post I’ll be able to find it
If you include Crimson’s Creative Challenge as a heading, WP Search will find it (theory) by ‘Searching’ in the WP Reader (fingers crossed)

Here’s wishing you inspirational explosions. And FUN

Posted in Crimson's Creative Challenge, Photos | Tagged , , | 14 Comments