http://smd.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Sheila Deeth en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:41:51 GMT 2009-12-30T17:41:51Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977967861   Amy’s Mom gave her the wrong blanket for Christmas. She’d chattered for weeks about the red one with blue stars. This blue blanket simply wouldn’t do so Amy threw it away. . . . Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:15:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977967861 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-29T23:15:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977952544 The small tree bloomed, its branches bent with jewels, glass-walled reflections. Twinkling lights lent red and blue and yellow to shade the dark. And childish hands, each movement planned, pressed . . . Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:57:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977952544 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-18T05:57:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977952430 Tom slid miserably down the wall as girls crowded the hall. He wished he’d not been chosen, hated this. Jen’s catty, sharp-clawed words were hard; Len pudding-pawed her face; Di rooster-crowed. . . . Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:06:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977952430 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-18T04:06:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944672 The silver globe hung on the tree, reflecting colors of room and lights, hiding secrets all its own. Child knelt and pointed awestruck at camels and kings that twinkled inside. Shepherds stood with . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:20:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944672 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T06:20:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944634 Most of what I know about World War Two is based on what happened in Europe, or what happened to British and American soldiers abroad. Captive Dreams introduced me to the war at home in America, . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:50:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944634 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:50:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944630 It really wasn’t that long ago that I read the opening scene from Judi Fennell ’s novel, In Over Her Head, in a Gather writing competition. Part of me wondered how mermen and romance . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:44:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944630 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:44:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944626 Something from the Nightside starts off in London, England, and one of my favorite authors, Jim Butcher, is quoted on the cover, calling the story “thoroughly entertaining." So with England . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:35:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944626 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:35:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944623 Never say Sty is a fun little title. So are the others in this Kendra Ballentyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series by Linda O. Johnston— Sit, Stay, Slay; Fine-Feathered Death; Nothing to Fear but . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:31:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944623 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:31:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944621 I’ve read several authors asking whether blog tours and internet presence really translate into sales, so I suppose this book review is proof for me that they do. I “met” Cleo Coyle . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:27:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944621 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:27:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944612 They were threatening ice and snow for the weekend, so Friday morning Mum and I drove to Multnomah Falls while we still could. It was a beautiful trip, blue skies and sunshine all the way... . . . Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:22:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977944612 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-13T05:22:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977940203 As woolen clouds touched earth and grew to fog, the sheared sheep shying, as sunlight dropped and puppy-dog wrapped its naked fur in dark, they started out. Stark shepherds crossed the wool-clad field, . . . Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:26:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977940203 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-10T05:26:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928029 How do you trust someone who wants to control you? How do you protect someone who won’t take your advice?   CJ gave up trusting Mitch and went her own way, but in Final Warnings it . . . Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:39:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928029 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-03T00:39:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928025 The sepia-toned cover of this book caught my eye. An old-fashioned English schoolboy sitting on his case; a gypsy wagon and entourage; a rider on a camel; what could they have in common?   . . . Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:36:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928025 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-03T00:36:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928018 I used to walk with my dog. I really miss her. But Clella Camp’s musings on her daily walk resounded with memories for me, hitting just the right blend between earthly interactions and heavenly . . . Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:31:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928018 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-03T00:31:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928015 The idea of a novel by a psychiatrist, telling the tale of four murderers sharing a room, really intrigued me, and I was delighted to get the chance to read Don’t Look Down by David Laing Dawson. . . . Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:29:09 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977928015 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-03T00:29:09Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927785 The Christmas tree twinkled with tiny lights and scented the living-room with pine. “Smells like washing-up liquid,” said Emma, but Mom seemed to like it. She spent the whole afternoon . . . Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:26:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927785 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-02T21:26:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927726 A scene almost Dickensian; dark alley, mildewed walls and dust-drawn windows, eyeless to the child’s unruly pain. She hugs the blanket tight to narrow shoulders, shaking chest, then rests herself . . . Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:54:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977927726 Sheila Deeth 2009-12-02T20:54:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977917657 Another in my Thanksgiving sequence of drabbles – http://www.sheiladeethdrabbles.blogspot.com . Thanks for the inspiration Susan.   Windows were parchment and linseed, . . . Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:19:02 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977917657 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-25T18:19:02Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977911021 “There’s a ship!” It was exciting at first. Maybe Mayflower had returned, but she stayed offshore. “Still there.” The people watched and grew afraid. “Close . . . Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:16:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977911021 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-21T01:16:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977907262 “We’re free from Crown and Bishop here.” “And from soldiers defending us.” “We fight alone.”   So they marched to rescue their captured friend—a . . . Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977907262 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-18T21:56:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898123 I saw the ads for this book when it first came out and was curious, but somehow never got round to reading it. Then I found it cheap in Powells and made up for lost time. It’s an incredible . . . Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:50:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898123 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-12T19:50:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898121 I don’t think I know any Southern Belles, but after reading this book I feel like maybe I’ve met one. It’s a delightfully crazy account of the dating game, related by a divorced . . . Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:48:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898121 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-12T19:48:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898118 Many years ago one of my sons was a distinctly reluctant reader. We discovered graphic novel versions of various classic books in a store in England and started buying them for him. And he started . . . Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:46:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898118 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-12T19:46:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898111 War or Peace: I don’t mind. Here’s the deal; tipped arrow, deathly pointed, or blunt release. Which one d’you choose?   And yes, I know I’m not wearing coat and pants. . . . Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:39:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977898111 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-12T19:39:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977896758   Sea and sky colored dismal in fading light draining to speckled haze. “Don’t like it here,” said Emma watching Mayflower’s wavering form. “Tough.” . . . Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:15:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977896758 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-12T00:15:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977892734 I want to be a writer. I really, really want to be a writer. But I'm not sure the odd self-published book can count - do real writers run round the room shouting "Hurray" when they've sold a whole seven . . . Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:10:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977892734 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-09T19:10:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977887488 I've just set up my stall for the first Christmas Bazaar of the season. (And yes, I know it's not Christmas yet, but there aren't that many weekends left for bazaars.) I'm really really hoping I might . . . Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:08:21 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977887488 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-06T01:08:21Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977886001 “Four strong winds that blow lonely.” He’d tasted them all, sand and salt, with dry mineral sting. But the fire in his eyes burned for things he had done and “The good times . . . Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:53:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977886001 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-05T05:53:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977885978 My Granddad was a lad when soldiers fought in Africa. Then friends dropped, caught in trenches; he got gassed. The English streets popped afterwards to shrapnel’s burning swell, and then… . . . Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:39:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977885978 Sheila Deeth 2009-11-05T05:39:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879195   They say the fabric stretches thin one night a year and think it’s those in graves that rise to haunt with curious rage. But I wait here, imagined fear on brightly painted page. I look . . . Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:48:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879195 Sheila Deeth 2009-10-31T15:48:20Z