A. L. Kaplan

Tag: mystery

  • New Information on the Stonehenge Altar Stone

    New Information on the Stonehenge Altar Stone

    Remember my post the other day on the Ring of Brodgar? In August an article came out saying that analysis showed that the grey-green sandstone of the altar stone at Stonehenge came from northern Scotland, possibly Orkney? Well, now new information has surfaced. They still think it came from Scotland, but have determined that it did not come from Orkney.

    You can read the articles here:

    CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/13/science/stonehenge-altar-stone-orkney/index.html

    BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2g55ly0e6o

    The mystery continues.

  • Con-Tinual Special Event: Enola Holmes

    Have you watched the Enola Holmes specials on Netflix?

    Have you read the The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer?

    Then you’ll want to see this fun panel at Con-Tinual: The Con That Never Ends.

    Con-Tinual Special Event: Enola Holmes on Facebook

    Con-Tinual Special Event: Enola Holmes on YouTube (Look for it in the Live tab)

    If you aren’t familiar with these fun and exciting stories, make sure you check them out. The Enola Holmes Mysteries is a young adult detective series by Nancy Springer. They are about 14-year old Enola Holmes, the very younger sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • The Barnett Menorah

    The first day of Hannukah sounds like the perfect time to share a small bit of my family history. I remember the beautiful silver menorah pictured above from my great grandma Celia Barnett’s apartment. Fast forward several decades, and the menorah made its way to my parent’s home. Last winter this little treasure came home with me.

    Thus began the great mystery.

    When I removed all the tarnish, I discovered an engraving on the base. Luckily, I happen to know someone who speaks both Hebrew and Yiddish fluently. They were able to give me this translation:

    From the board of directors
    of Machzikei Talmud Torah of Boro Park
    to Ahron Tzvi Barnett for his efforts for the good of the institution. 5684

    That puts it circa 1924. Machzikei Talmud Torah of Boro Park was founded in Brooklyn in 1908 and closed in 1941. Their focus was the Jewish religious education of children. They were located at 1319 43rd st., Brooklyn, NY. There is an article that mentions him being a Gabbai at the school.

    The menorah was manufactured by Victor Siedman Mfg.Co. Inc. (c. 1920-1934) of Brooklyn, NY. The same company that made the silver candlesticks given to Celia on her 25th wedding anniversary in 1926.

    But who was Ahron Tzvi Barnett? According to the family tree, Celia Barnett (1881-1978) married Isaac “Ike” Barnett (1876-1958). But her father’s name was Harris Barnett (1856-1944). Yes, a Barnett married a Barnett. No there was no family connection. So was the menorah given to her father, Harris, or her father-in-law, Marx “Max” Barnett (1855-1933). Neither of those names matched Ahron Tzvi Barnett. A bit more sleuthing, and a lot of help from friends and family solved the mystery.

    Tzvi is Hebrew for deer – Hirsh in Yiddish also mean deer

    Hirsh – got Americanized to – Harris

    The menorah belonged to my great great grandfather Harris Barnett.

  • Book Review: Sons of Darkness – Gail Z. Martin

    Ex-priest Travis Dominick, and ex-special ops soldier Brent Lawson have both been disillusioned by their former employers and struck out on their own to battle demons, monsters, and nasty things that go bump in the night — Until they discover that they’re both working on the same case from different angles.

    Sons of Darkness is a fast-paced mystery/paranormal/adventure that keeps you on your toes. At its heart, it is about moving beyond the pain of the past and embracing who you’ve become. Not to mention learning that sometimes, having a friend at your back is not only a good idea, it’s essential.

    I can’t wait to read C.H.A.R.O.N., the next book in the series.

  • ConTinual Convention Hot Off the Press 81

    Hot Off the Press

    Authors and their new releases

    Check out the latest Hot Off the Press at ConTinual’s You Tube channel.

    “Hot off the Press 81 has a bit of something for everyone this Halloween season with new releases from Paige L. Christie, J.D. Estrada, John L. French, A.L. Kaplan, Gini Koch, Lucienne LeBeau, Patricia Sargeant, Marisa Wolf, and host James P. Nettles. Romance, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, poetry and short stories abound to load up your to-be-read pile!”

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Nicole Kurtz

    Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    Nicole Givens Kurtz is an author, editor, and educator. She’s a member of Horror Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Science Fiction Writers of America. Her novels have been a finalist in the Dream Realm Awards, Fresh Voices, and EPPIE Awards for science fiction. She’s written for White Wolf’s Vampire the Masquerade 20th Anniversary Anthology, Bram Stoker Finalist in Horror Anthology, Sycorax’s Daughters, and Serial Box’s The Vela: Salvation series. Nicole has over 40 short stories published as well as 11 novels and three active speculative mystery series.

    Wolf: Nice of you to swing by. What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?

    Nicole: The strangest food I’ve ever eaten was a chocolate covered grasshopper. It was hard but sweet. Crunchy but not nutty, and because of that I didn’t like it.

    Wolf: I’ve never tried one of those, but it’s on my list. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Nicole: The nicest thing I’ve ever done for my character, is in my Minister Knights series, Devourer, allowing Zykeiah to fall in love again. She’d been broken in the love arena, and I wrote a love interest for her that helped her become whole again.

    Wolf: That was very sweet of you. Nothing beats love. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    Nicole: I used to be a cat only person, but since getting married, I now have two dogs. They’re delightful and fun and frustrating and loving. I very much have been converted to a dog person.

    Wolf: I’m particularly fond of dogs as well. If you could have a super power, what would it be?

    Nicole: If I could have a super power, it would be telekinesis. I want to be able to move things with my mind.

    Wolf: Cool. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Nicole: I leave and call the police! I’ve seen enough horror movies to know better. LOL. I’d rather be embarrassed then dead.

    Wolf: Good call. Which of your characters is your favorite?

    Nicole: Right now, my favorite character is Prentice from my KILL THREE BIRDS novella. She’s a hawk who has a magical ability to see the unseen. She’s focused, but not hardened. She still has faith in people, and sometimes that bites her.

    Wolf: Not too hard, I hope. What story are you working on now?

    Nicole: I am working on the second story in my Kingdom of Aves fantasy-mystery series. It involves a kingdom based on birds, magic, and a matrilineal society.

    Wolf: Sounds wonderful. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    Nicole: I garden when I’m not writing. It’s another avenue for me to be creative. Subscribers to my newsletter get to see the results of my green thumb.

    Wolf: Thanks for visiting. Catch up with Nicole at these sites:

    http://www.nicolegivenskurtz.net

    http://www.facebooks.com/NicoleGKurtz

    twitter.com/nicolegkurtz

    STAR TOUCHED

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    WOLF DAWN

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • CATTLE RANCH

    Think you’re having some problems? Take a look at what’s happening on Farmer Pappi’s ranch.

     

    “Not again!” said Farmer Pappi.

    He threw his hat on the ground and spouted a few choice words. Another twelve cows, gone. That made three dozen this week. No damage to the fence. No foot prints. No car tracks. Just gone. The cattle rustlers must have airlifted the animals out of the field.

    What was left of his herd grazed nearby. If only they could talk. One of the cows pulled leaves off a bush with purple flowers, jostling a swarm of insects. Pappi muttered a few more curses as they fluttered around his head, then shooed the cow away from the plant.

    Pappi retrieved his hat as the animal ambled off. A startled moo made him jump. Pappi spun around expecting to see a bandit. The cow stood a few yards away, shaking its head. After another bellow it’s back shimmered and a pair of butterfly shaped wings sprouted. It turned and nosed the strange new appendages then began to move them. After a few tentative flaps, the cow lifted into the air and fluttered away.

    Too stunned to react, Pappi stared as it vanished over the hills. Cow’s aren’t supposed to fly. Heavy footsteps and another moo snapped him out of his stupor.

    “Oh no you don’t,” he said, shooing three more cows away from the plant.

    Pulling out his smart phone he snapped a picture and used the plant identification app. It didn’t take long to figure out the problem. Butterfly bushes were not good cow food.

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – T J Perkins

    081

    Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    71208503_725522397963963_7406763108741414912_nTJ Perkins is a gifted and well-respected author in the mystery/suspense Pagan/fantasy genre. Her short stories for young readers have appeared in the Ohio State 6th Grade Proficiency Test Preparation Book, Kid’s Highway Magazine, and Webzine ‘New Works Review,’ just to name a few. She’s placed five times in the CNW/FFWA chapter book competition. Her short story of light horror for YA, The Midnight Watch, was published Oct 2007 by Demon Minds Magazine. Finished works of her young reader’s chapter books are entitled: The Fire and the Falcon (which won two chapter book awards), Wound Too Tight, Mystery of the Attic, and On Forbidden Ground. Published books in the Kim & Kelly Mystery Series include: Fantasies Are Murder, The Secret in Phantom Forest, Trade Secret, Image in the Tapestry (which won a chapter book award) and In the Grand Scheme of Things (all with GumShoe Press 2006). Shadow Legacy series, Silver Leaf Books, book 1 won an award. Four Little Witches, Schiffer Publishing, won the 2016 COVR Visionary Art Award, as well as The Healthy Witch 2019. Mystery of the Attic was made into a play by the Café Theater in NJ, Oct. 2005. TJ has had numerous short stories published in many anthologies 2016-2019.

    Wolf: If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    T J: Phoenix. Because it will continue to rise from the ashes over and over.

    Wolf: And hopefully learn from mistakes. If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    T J: Bow and arrow. I like silent but deadly

    Wolf: That’s always a good thing when hunting. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    T J: Let them live and achieve a goal

    Wolf: Living is good. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    T J: Spearmint. I’m holistic, healing, attract money. I complement drinks or deserts and I can be used in a love spell.

    Wolf: One of my favorite herbs. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    T J: Cat person

    Wolf: That’s a fast answer. While walking in the woods you come across…

    T J: A Faerie mound

    Wolf: I’m sure you have a knack at finding those. If you could have a super-power, what would it be?

    T J: Invisibility

    Wolf: Wait. Where did you go? (Just kidding) There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    T J: Walk away real fast

    Wolf: Smart move. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

    T J: Sword, knife, rope, canteen and toothbrush.

    Wolf: Two blades. You must be expecting trouble. What is your favorite body of water and why?

    T J: Babbling stream – because the sound is soothing, you can connect with the water elementals, and it’s a great source of cleansing

    Wolf: So true. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

    T J: Exercise, garden, be in nature, read

    Wolf: Thanks for stopping by. Don’t forget to check out T J Perkins books. While you’re there, pick up a copy of Star Touched and Wolf Dawn.

    Star Touched

    Wolf Dawn

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview Janis Wilson

    081

    Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    Janis WilsonJanis Wilson is a former newspaper reporter and retired trial lawyer.  After leaving her law practice, she began researching the world’s most compelling cold case, that of Jack the Ripper.  He became the subject of her first novel, Goulston Street. Then, she taught a course on Jack at Temple University, where she attended law school.  Her next Ripper venture was to co-create RipperCon, a conference for students of the crimes and investigation into the Ripper.  She will be a panel moderator and principal speaker at this year’s RipperCon in Baltimore April 7-8.  Wilson is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America and Maryland Writers Association. Wilson is the author of The Devil’s Triangle, printed in Death Knell V, available through Amazon. She lives, without incident, with her husband and two rescue cats in Baltimore.

    Wolf: If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

    Janis: I’d really like to slice people up with my sharp wit until they suffered the death of 1,000 cuts.

    Wolf: I think you’ve been a bit over-immersed in Jack the Ripper. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Janis: I let one escape a serial killer when I could just as easily have made her another victim.  I also gave a poor woman an income for life.

    Wolf: That was nice. What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?

    Janis: I sent an aristocratic woman to live in Whitechapel, the poorest section of the richest city in the 19th century.  She really didn’t deserve it.

    Wolf: Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?

    Janis: Confirmed cat person, although I wish long and happy lives to all canines.  I prefer cats because I am humble enough not to be upset by their superiority.  However, I am jealous of their beauty and grace.

    Wolf: There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Janis: Wet my pants.

    Wolf: After you change, I have another question for you. The world is about to end. What is the first thing you do?

    Janis: Eat a whole pie.

    Wolf: Pie is good. Which of your characters is your favorite?

    Janis: Tough call.  My protagonist is Lady Sarah Grey, who has a lot of courage and a big heart.  On the other hand, Lady Millicent Maelson, Sarah’s best friend, is as smart as Sarah, far prettier, and kinder than Sarah.  However, she is not so nice as to be cloying.

    Wolf: What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

    Janis: Without question, it would be the Thames River.  If flows in England, where my books are set and has inspired everyone from Charles Dickens to Jerome K. Jerome.

    Wolf: That makes sense. What story are you working on now?

    Janis: I’m writing another Lady Sarah Grey novel in which the 19th Century socialists are getting up to trouble and blowing things up, literally and figuratively.

    Wolf: So, why aren’t literary agents beating a path to your door?

    Janis: I live in a high-rise building.

     

    Learn more about Janis at these links:
    https://JanisWilson.com 
    Ja***@*********on.com
    Twitter:  @Janis757

  • ANOTHER FLASH FICTION WIN

    A.L. Kaplan Wins Flash Fiction Challenge


    A.L. Kaplan is the Readers’ Choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. The winning entry is decided by the popular vote and rewarded with a special feature on their website.