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I met author Anna Kashina at the 2014 World Fantasy Convention in Arlington, Virginia. We were attending a party there, and the opening chapters of her award-winning fantasy novel, "Mistress of the Solstice," captivated me. And it wasn't the wine. It was her writing.

Anna agreed to let me podcast one of the opening chapters of "Mistress of the Solstice." I hope you enjoy her story as much as I did.

To find out more about Anna Kashina and "Mistress of the Solstice," go to https://annakashinablog.wordpress.com/. The novel is available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Solstice-Myth-Magic-Book-ebook/dp/B00GU0T262.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hillhttp://www.laurelannehill.com 

Welcome to my bedroom closet!

Today, my guest of honor is a photograph of the San Francisco Polytechnic High School cornerstone, which dedicated Polytechnic alumni are working to return to where the school once stood.

Included in this podcast is a reading of a short story by Marianne Eichenbaum: "I am the Polytechnic High School Cornerstone and this is my journey."  The music used in the podcast is the Our Director march, composed by Frederick Ellsworth Bigelow in 1892 and recorded by the Victor Military Band in 1911.  The recording was furnished by the Library of Congress and is being used for this podcast project with the permission of Sony Music.  Thank you!

For more information about donating to the Polytechnic Cornerstone Project, go to:  http://www.perennialparrot.com.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of "Heroes Arise") http://www.laurelannehill.com

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

One hundred thirty-seven years ago, my Mexican great-grandfather, Emigdio Medina, composed a schottische, entitled El Tecolote.  The Owl.  I discovered the sheet music in an online library listing in 2010.  A long-forgotten song?  Might no one have heard the piece for over 100 years?

I asked my dear sister-in-law, Martha, to play El Tecolote on her piano for me to record.  She suffers from Alzheimer's, but has not forgotten her music.

Lost music.  Lost memory.  Together both were found, at least for a while.  Ah, the magic and harmony of two musician's talents, even if one has left this world and the other slowly slips away.

For those who may be interested, the WorldCat listing for the sheet music is as follows: http://www.worldcat.org/title/tecolote-the-owl-schottische/oclc/146589970&referer=brief_results

"The Overland Monthly," Vol. 15, August, 1875, No. 2, page 208, listed "El Tecolote" as new music received.

Please enjoy this bit of Mexican culture from yesteryear's San Francisco.  The song was played and recorded totally impromptu.  Please forgive the occasional faltering and errors.

Warm Wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill  (http://www.laurelannehill.com)

Welcome to my hearth on Walpurgisnacht 2012.

On this night, I prepare the story assignments for the 2012 Wicked Women Writers Challenge sponsored by HorrorAddicts.net.  Who will be "Most Wicked 2012?"  The process starts now.

Warm and Wicked Wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill (Most Wicked 2011)http://www.laurelannehill.com 

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Okay, I know what my website claims.  Laurel Anne Hill crafts stories with inspirational premises, right?  Worthiness is rewarded, right?  Yet many of my short stories these days lurk in shadows of the horror genre.  In fact, Horror Addicts (http://www.horroraddicts.net) named me “Most Wicked 2011″ for my entry, Flight of Destiny, in their Wicked Women Writers Challenge.  How can a gal who believes in worthiness be most wicked?

Worthiness has its reward.  Unworthiness does, too.

But wait, I’ve been known to inflict horror upon my characters who try to live decent lives, even let some of them lose their battles against evil.  How do I reconcile that disparity with my website statements?

Bad things happen to good people every day.  They misread situations.  They miscalculate their own abilities.  Sometimes, through no fault of their own, they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Encounters with “the dark” forces characters to find strength within their weaknesses or else succumb.

In other words, the power of love, honor, faith and duty really can surmount daunting obstacles and transform lives.  But sometimes such power fails, leaving characters to fend for themselves whatever way they can.

Flight of Destiny stirs steampunk, infidelity, jealously, and a radioactive poison into a delicious hot-pot of horror.  I hope you enjoy my story, which lasts approximately 33 minutes.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill(Author of HEROES ARISE)http://www.laurelannehill.com

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

In this thirteen-minute podcast, I share my experiences as I sought information about the "Mine Kafon," a wind-powered device for potential use in clearing hidden, unexploded land mines.  The Mine Kafon, created by Massoud Hassani, recently won a London Design Museum Award nomination.  Final winners will be announced in April 2012.  Hassani was born in Afghanistan, which currently has over ten million hidden, unexploded land mines.

For more information about the Mine Kafon, visit Hassani's blog site, http://minekafon.blogspot.com.  For additional information about other land mine clearance technologies in recent years, go to the links posted on http://www.mindsclearinglandmines.org.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill  (Author of "Heroes Arise")http://www.laurelannehill.com

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

Ever ponder whether your novel, short story or nonfiction piece would be accepted for publication?  Or if your next project at work would shine or flop?  Well, enlightenment is available.  All you have to do is ask "Doctor Fortune."

Listen to my ten-minute podcast to learn the details.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill  (Author of "Heroes Arise")http://www.laurelannehill.com 

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

Today's true story, "A Fair Trade," is a tale of two sisters -- a story of Christmas and Life.  "A Fair Trade" celebrates the experiences I have shared with my older sister, Kathleen.  In 2007, "A Fair Trade" appeared in the Contra Costa Times.

I hope you enjoy my presentation, which lasts approximately 9-1/2 minutes.

Warm wishes this holiday season,

Laurel Anne Hill (http://www.laurelannehill.com)

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

Here's Chapter 25, the final one in HEROES ARISE.

HEROES ARISE is a parable about breaking the cycle of vengeance, about reaching into our own personal darkness and finding the light of reason.  I've set HEROES ARISE in the world of Thard.  HEROES ARISE is an adventure and love story, suitable for ages 9 - 90, and also is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in hard cover, trade paper and as an ebook. 

Jean M. Auel was kind enough to provide the following endorsement for HEROES ARISE.

Heroes Arise by Laurel Anne Hill is a surprisingly exciting and moving story that gripped my attention from the first word and wouldn't let me put it down. This author's first work shows a strong talent and a remarkable future. — Jean M. Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear

I hope you enjoy my story,

Warm wishes, Laurel Anne Hill  (http://www.laurelannehill.com)

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

Here's Chapter 24 of HEROES ARISE:  A Different Price.   Gundack prepares for the bridal tea ceremony with Eutoebi.  But something appears wrong.

HEROES ARISE is a parable about breaking the cycle of vengeance, about reaching into our own personal darkness and finding the light of reason.  I've set HEROES ARISE in the world of Thard.  HEROES ARISE is an adventure and love story, suitable for ages 9 - 90, and also is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in hard cover, trade paper and as an ebook. 

Jean M. Auel was kind enough to provide the following endorsement for HEROES ARISE.

Heroes Arise by Laurel Anne Hill is a surprisingly exciting and moving story that gripped my attention from the first word and wouldn't let me put it down. This author's first work shows a strong talent and a remarkable future. — Jean M. Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear

I hope you enjoy my story,

Warm wishes, Laurel Anne Hill  (http://www.laurelannehill.com)

Welcome to my bedroom closet.

Here are Chapters 22 & 23 of HEROES ARISE:  Shadows on the Dunes and Desire Was Enough.   Gundack travels toward his home encampment to marry Eutoebi.  Does trouble head in the same direction?

HEROES ARISE is a parable about breaking the cycle of vengeance, about reaching into our own personal darkness and finding the light of reason.  I've set HEROES ARISE in the world of Thard.  HEROES ARISE is an adventure and love story, suitable for ages 9 - 90, and also is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in hard cover, trade paper and as an ebook. 

Jean M. Auel was kind enough to provide the following endorsement for HEROES ARISE.

Heroes Arise by Laurel Anne Hill is a surprisingly exciting and moving story that gripped my attention from the first word and wouldn't let me put it down. This author's first work shows a strong talent and a remarkable future. — Jean M. Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear

I hope you enjoy my story,

Warm wishes, Laurel Anne Hill  (http://www.laurelannehill.com)