Soooo…for Mother’s day we went out to a nice lunch and then to Blue Fish Aquarium, where he got me the most awesome Mother’s Day gift – my next project, the 20g! And…Rasputin the half-moon betta!

Love bettas but I’m also very picky about bettas (and all my fish, actually, but anywhoooo) so every time we went to Blue Fish checking their betta selection was standard procedure. But the search ended when we saw him hovering in his bowl and showing off his fins.

He’s in the 20 g., more pics of that to come later, so the water is still cloudy.

But not nearly as bad as when he was introduced to the tank, yesterday, after putting the Eco-Complete substrate in. Granted, for some reason the water didn’t get quite as murky with this 20g as it did with the 55g hex. (also in the above shot, the assassin snail of doom!)

*points up* That was last night, about oh, an hour or two after most of the debris settled. Nice shot of Rasputin’s translucent fins though 

Be kind – this is my first real attempt at pulling together a permanent tank, my others are temporary and usually in states of flux – when they become permanent, then I’ll post more! This is what the tank looked like when I purchased it from a gentleman who was moving and didn’t want the hassle of moving the tank with him:

It had blue, pink and white rocks with lots of artificial buildings. Since brown doesn’t go with my bedroom decor, the stand and edges of the tank are now a metallic pewter with silver swirls. After cleaning the daylights out of the tank with a water & vinegar mix, we thoroughly rinsed it and had to reseal all the corners because the gentleman scraped all the silicone off at the advice of VIP Pets *grimace*, then we  set in the corner of our bedroom.

It now looks like this:

The above photo is what the tank looks like from the side, when you enter the room. As a note, the rotala indica will be moved to the new high light 20g on my desk – once it’s set up. It’s doing okay in the hex but the tetra swarm are too rambunctious so there’s always leaves torn and floating in the tank and it’s growing leggy, as you can see because of the lower light environment. I knew it was chancy when I put it in there and still, it’s not doing horribly, just not as well as I’d like.

The above view is more from the front, what you’d see from the bed and middle of the room.

This is a brighter picture from the side, when you walk into the room. The silver shows, the rotala is easier to see and the purple from the walls reflecting off the other side    The bottom plants are crypt wendtii bronze – they’ve doubled in size and amount since putting them in. Very pleased! Attached to the driftwood are bunches of lace java fern and java moss.  In the back to the left there’s an anubias attached to a rock. Also getting in the photo are some diamond tetras and emperor tetras.

This is a brighter pic of the front, visible from the bed and middle of the room. There’s a better image of the diamonds and emperors, plus the cardinal tetras are getting some action at the top rear. Also visible are the crypt usteriana which are also doing stellar (they’re the big long leafed plants to the left and rear – the deep red at the bottom of the leaves (not visible in the pic) is fantastic!

A central picture showing both prime sides. the back is still a bit bare until the vals (the grass like pants in the background) grow in. Eventually they’ll form a jungle thicket back there and reach the surface of the water, gracefully draping over it. Just takes time.

Love the way the diamond tetras shine! It’s unfortunately difficult to capture the colors of the emperors though. Grr.

Better pic of the usteriana and the red underbelly. These two will get far larger and have more leaves in time.

After multiple attempts to get a decent picture of Ramiel, the black angel fish, this is the best I could do. He just fidgets too much and his dark mahogany coloring is difficult to capture. Along with him are a diamond and the cardinal tetras.

Anywho, those are the ones that I could catch on camera. There’s others in there but they’re a little shy and the plants aren’t fully grown in yet but *shrug* they will be!

All plants, fish and the driftwood are from Blue Fish Aquarium in Grand Rapids, MI which is the only place I purchase livestock from. Substrate is Carib Sea Eco-Complete – highly recommended however, when their package says your water will turn cloudy they LIE! It doesn’t turn ‘cloudy’ it turns into a darned mire and looks like you just siphoned water into your tank from some ancient mucky swamp. It takes about 24 hours for it to settle and finally get ‘cloudy’ and that’s with filters running. Another note, some people rinse it – please don’t do that. Part of the reason of getting this particular substrate and ones like it is for the beneficial bacteria impregnated within.

Anyway, it was a fun venture and we’re still not 100% done. We’re in the process of designing a custom LED light system for it that is plant compatible.  I’m trying to talk Lain into designing the exterior of the fixture to look like a UFO or the star ship Enterprise  *grin*, it probably won’t fly (no pun intended) but worth a try!

Open Call at Hydra Games!

We are accepting proposals for the following worlds:

Andronia: a high fantasy hybrid world rife with magic, chaos and adventure

Primal Earth: a gritty urban fantasy world filled with darkness, danger and sensuality

We highly recommend that anyone who is interested in writing for Hydra Games, or any publisher for that matter, read James L. Sutter’s article 9 Ways to Piss Off an Editor HERE.

Potential Novel, RPG Supplement and Module Writers

Please send a cover letter with contact information and publishing credits, plus 10-20 page fiction writing sample in standard manuscript format (double spaced, 12 pt times new roman font, header with your name, title and page number) to raven [AT] hydrapublications [DOT] com

Writers must be able to work under deadline, sign our NDA and follow instructions.

Current Needs: Though we’re taking submissions for both worlds, there are more openings for the Primal Earth world than Andronia.

Artists

We’re interested in artists to join our team in creating vivid worlds. Please send a cover letter with contact information and a link to your gallery to: raven [AT] hydrapublications [DOT] com

Editors

If you’re interested in applying for an editorial position, please send a cover letter with contact information and qualifications to: raven [AT] hydrapublications [DOT] com

Rules Gurus

We are also looking for GMs and Players who are familiar with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system and rule set for Quality Control positions. The tasks of this job include but are not limited to: creating stats for creatures, NPCs, items etc., translating our writers’ creations into stats, ensuring compliance to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game rules and/or Hydra Games specific rules on modules and world guides, creating new rules that are Pathfinder Roleplaying game compatible and/or Hydra Games sub-rules compatible.

If interested in this position please send a cover letter with your experience with the Pathfinder system along with what world(s) you prefer to raven [AT] hydrapublications [DOT] com

GMs

We have GM Prestige Packs for intrepid GMs willing to run Pathfinder games with our compatible content at conventions across the US and the world. To join us in this adventure please contact Frank – frank [AT] hydrapublications [DOT] com for details on the perks and opportunities available.

To aid in that, please welcome fellow author Jody Kessler as she discusses herbal teas. Take it away Jody!

Herbal Tea — You can’t beat it.

As much as I enjoy a mug of spicy chai tea with milk and honey, I often find myself reaching for my jars of herbs instead. Having a cup of herbal tea is as old as time. Steeping aromatic leaves, twigs, and roots in water is not only great for the flavor but has countless medicinal properties. Everything from digestive upset to muscle aches and headache, cleansing the body of toxins to nourishing the body for health can be found in Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet.

Here are a few blends that I enjoy for taste and for health. A basic recipe is a tablespoon per cup, steep in hot (not boiling) water for 6-8 minutes. If you can, cover the tea while steeping.
Mix chamomile and peppermint for a calming and stomach soothing tea before bed. So simple and tastes great.

A vitamin blend: Raspberry leaves, nettles, milky oats, lemongrass, and mint (peppermint or spearmint). Most herb shops will have different pre-mixed blends available in bulk — I love this, but I also enjoy making my own combinations.

For colds or flu. Try lemon balm, catnip, elder flowers, and mint. Mix in a spoonful of honey and this tea can make a huge difference in how you feel and the duration of your symptoms.

If you have a cough, try some mullein leaves. That’s right, that fuzzy broad leafed weed that likes to grow along the side of the road is excellent for issues with the lungs. It eases a cough and makes the cough more productive. This herb has helped me more than any over the counter expectorant ever has, and it grows in my driveway! Every summer I pick some mature leaves, wash them off, let them dry out, and stick them in a jar. They’re there when I need them — a life saver — or should I say a lung saver.

Most herbs are healthy and very safe to use, but there are a few that are extremely potent and/or dangerous so I caution you to do some research, check with an herbalist if you’re unsure, and listen to your body. Trust your “gut” instinct, your nose, and your taste buds. Ultimately you’re the only one living inside your skin and you will be able to tell you if a certain herb or spice isn’t right for you. The herbal blends above are not intended to be medical advice, please use at your own risk.

Jody has studied herbal medicine for over sixteen years. She experiments her herbal remedies on herself and her family and she always tries for a natural cure before seeking out a prescription from the doc. She writes paranormal novels where, of course, her lead character works in an herb store and has an obsession with wild crafting.

Death Lies Between Us
Saving the life of someone you love should not be the worst thing you have ever done, unless you are an Angel of Death.

Disgruntled with his position in the afterlife and conflicted by his feelings toward his new client, Nathaniel Evans forgoes the rules and saves nineteen year old Juliana Crowson from being hopelessly stuck in Forge Creek. This alters Juliana’s destiny and she finds herself in a series of near death accidents.

In the mountains of Colorado, Nathaniel comforts Juliana as she struggles to understand her paranormal abilities while coping with her brother’s drug addiction. When an ill-tempered Native American Shaman teaches her the difference between ghosts and place memories, she decides she wants nothing to do with the supernatural world. Too bad she doesn’t know that Nathaniel is part of it.

Will fate bring these two together, or has Nathaniel made the biggest mistake of his afterlife?

Click on her website for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card www.jodyakessler.com
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Twitter: @JodyAKessler
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$50 Amazon Gift card giveaway March 1 -7

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Take it away William!

William: Sword and shield combat is often associated with Vikings, the fearsome warriors from northern Europe in the early medieval period. But the Vikings left little behind to teach us how they fought with their weapons or the fighting moves they used.

Although our sources of information are limited, it is clear that Vikings were relentless in the pursuit of their goals. Their fights did not take the form of big, hairy men chopping at their opponents as if trying to cut down a tree. Instead, they were bold and direct in their fights, and they were clever. They did what was necessary, when it was necessary to do it, using the tools available to succeed in their struggles. They used their fighting tools in unexpected ways, and they found new tools, improvising a weapon on the spot.

Warriors sometimes entered a fight with weapons in reserve: for example, with a spear in one hand and a sword hung from the other wrist by a loop. The fighter began with the spear, but as the fight progressed and the long-range weapon was no longer the best tool for the fight, he dropped or threw his spear and flipped his sword into his hand, ready in an instant to continue the fight at closer range.

Fighters sometimes hid a reserve weapon, such as a one-handed axe, behind their shield. They fought with sword and shield, gripping the shield around the axe haft. When the sword was no longer the best weapon for the fight, they dropped it and grabbed the axe to continue the fight.

Sometimes people threw their weapons. Spears were often thrown, but so were many weapons not intended as projectiles. For example, both swords and shields were thrown in fights with lethal effects.

Viking-age people delighted in grappling, practicing it as a sport and using it in combat. When it made sense, a warrior might throw down his weapons and run under his opponent’s guard to get a grip, allowing him to take the man down, break his back, or bite through his throat.

At Hurstwic, we research and practice these fighting moves of the Vikings. The moves are described in the Sagas of Icelanders, medieval stories about Viking-age Icelanders. Our research suggests that generally, the fights in the sagas represent realistic Viking-age fights. Other sources, such as forensics, help back up what we read in the sagas. The bones of Viking-age people with battle injuries tell us about weapons, targets, and injuries and make it easier to accept the incredible stories in the sagas.

The horrific effect of Viking-age weapons on flesh and bone can be seen in the Hurstwic test cut video, using sharp replica weapons on the carcass of a pig. More information about Viking weapons and the “shape” of Viking combat can be found in the Hurstic Viking arms and armor articles.

We invite you to join us at Hurstwic in our study and practice of Viking-age fighting moves: at our home base, in central New England; through a Hurstwic affiliate group; or through our series of Viking combat training DVDs.

What’s love got to do with it?

Everything!

What is life without love? Love is so much more than a word whispered in the dark or embossed on a card. It’s deep and has many meanings, none of which are easily dismissed. Without love there’s no passion, without passion – no joy, no…fire.

Love is what binds the heart, the soul to the body and enables us to feel joy. It’s also what binds us to each other and allows us to accomplish great feats.

Love enables the parent to raise the difficult child and to see a relationship or marriage through tumultuous times. It’s the passion that brings writers to the keyboard – day in and day out – regardless of difficulties involved in the modern publishing industry. It’s what keeps painters painting, sculptors sculpting and musicians composing. Love of country, family, freedom sees the soldier through the trauma of battle and pain of separation from their loved ones.  Drives the doctors and nurses to ever greater heights in the healing arts.

The list goes on…and on…

I truly believe that love is the key to happiness, one that unfortunately gets lost in today’s society that seems so focused on monetary success and growth.

Saw a billboard yesterday that said, “Live your dreams” and everyone is capable of living their dreams if they feed the love, the fire, the passion within them. So, where is your passion? Are you following it?

Winner announced on 2/21/13 at LynnRush.com/blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It lives!!!

Lain and I have been working on this fantasy world since we first met and it’s gone through some various and interesting changes and twists. Though it wasn’t until last year that we buckled down and changed the world from an RP design to a world ripe for writing novels, so this novel release is particularly exciting for us.  That said, we’d love to introduce you to the first novel in our Weeping Dark epic fantasy series – Bleeding Edge!

When a rash of brutal murders target the most defenseless of her people, spunky captain Shayla Dormyr is determined to bring the culprits to justice. Defying the command of the Prima Canticle, who claim jurisdiction over the ritually slain children, Shayla embarks on a rebellious mission that could cost her rank and freedom.

When she unwittingly exposes a Blood Rune to her prime suspect, the troublesome sell-sword Daibryn, it unleashes arcane consequences that renders them vulnerable to an ambitious and cruel Blood Mage.

Shayla and Daibryn embark on an adventure that will take them to worlds far larger than they ever imagined where love, hate and mystery put their souls to the test.

Weeping Dark: Bleeding Edge is now available in Kindle – paperback should be up soon!

The following excerpt of a character acting like a snake is from our novel, Primal – book 1 of the Vengeance urban fantasy series.

Tanner grinned as they pulled out of the Federal Forest. Kira was going to love this. They had not only pinpointed Arvon but found the human too. And she was one hot human to boot. He’d have a lot of fun with her before she died. Add that to the fact that Kira would have Arvon back and the entire mess would be cleaned up in one swipe – yeah. It worked for a banger of a night.

He dialed Kira and waited until she answered. “It’s him and he’s still with that human.” Tanner said.

Kira laughed, “Trapped by his dick. How appropriate.”

“We can take them both out.” He hoped she agreed. He was hungry for a female.

“Do it, but wait until the cover of night. We don’t need any random witnesses.”

“Accident?”

“Yes, for the human.” Kira answered. “A nice, nasty accident. Maybe one with a prolonged death…”

“I can see to that.” Tanner had brought his ball gag hoping for such an occasion to use it. He loved forcing human women to his bed… or couch or tree or anywhere he could stuff himself into them without getting caught.

“Call when it’s done.” Kira said.

For more characters acting like slithery snakes – visit these blogs:

• Katie O’Sullivan
• Raven Bower
• Cindy Young-Turner
• Rebecca Trogner
• Lindsey Loucks
• Sue Anne Bowling
• SM Boyce
• Constance Phillips
• Stephan E. Train
• Stevie Carroll
• Kelly Seguin
• Wynne Channing
• Rebecca Hamilton
• Sherry Soule
• Renee Reardon
• Wendy S. Russo

Sara Thompson from Sara’s Soaks joins us today with a wonderful homemade marshmallow recipe, complete with alternatives, that you can enjoy in your own kitchen.

Homemade Marshmallows
Sara Thompson

As with most complicated looking recipes, it took me a long time to talk myself into making homemade marshmallows. They just look hard but the first time amazed me. Not only are marshmallows easy to make, they are rather forgiving when you experiment. The recipe I’m sharing is just for plain ole basic marshmallows but I can’t leave it like that without giving you some tips for making them all fun and exciting. However, I recommend that you make the original recipe first so you have a clear idea of how they should turn out.

The ingredients needed are:
3 packets of unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water
1 cup light corn syrup
1 ½ cups sugar
1-2 teaspoons extract (I use 2 teaspoons vanilla or 1 teaspoon of a stronger flavor)
½ cup or so powdered/confectioner’s sugar (most commercial brands are a mix of sugar and corn starch, if yours is not then mix ¼ cup powdered sugar to ¼ starch – corn, tapioca or arrowroot)

Pour ½ of the water in the bowl of a standing mixer. If you do not have a stand mixer, you can use a hand mixer if it’s heavy duty. A cheap mixer will not hold up well to the marshmallow goo and doing it by hand without any mixer is rather tough.
Sprinkle on the three packets of gelatin. Don’t worry if it’s even and don’t stir.

Add the remaining water, sugar and corn syrup to a saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Let it boil for a few minutes. I put the pot on the stove and set the timer for about 5 minutes. This allows all the sugar to melt.

Remove lid and keep boiling until the mixture reaches 240 degrees. This will take several minutes. It’s a good time to prep the pan for the goo to set up.

I used coconut oil this time but any light oil works great. Rub it all over the pan and up all the sides. I used a jelly roll pan here but a 9 x 13 cake pan works great or any pan. It all depends on how thick you want your marshmallows. The trick is to not miss a single spot with the oil.

Then coat the pan heavily with powdered sugar. It might take a bit more than ½ cup, I don’t measure. Pat the sugar all over the pan to ensure that the entire pan is covered. You’ll see some spots on the edge that I didn’t quite cover – my marshmallows stuck just a little in those spots but because they were small, it didn’t damage the end result. You will need more powdered sugar on the top of the goo.

One the syrup has reached 240, remove the pan from the stove and start the mixer. While the mixer is going at a low speed, pour in the syrup. You can use a rubber spatula to scrape out the pan. Once you have poured all the syrup in, turn the mixer to high and let it go.

The work is a little slow at times but keep a close eye because it can become a mess if you are not paying attention. Once the mixture starts to thicken, I add the vanilla and let it get real thick.

Once it’s sticking pretty good to the blades it’s ready to be poured into the pan.

I dump the goo into the pan as even as I can before coating the top with more powdered sugar. Then I take a clean rubber spatula or my hands and smooth out the top. You need lots of powdered sugar to prevent sticking.

Let the goo set up for several hours before cutting.

To cut, oil a pizza cutter and coat with powdered sugar. Once in squares, carefully pull the pieces apart and dip into the excess powdered sugar on top of the marshmallows or in the pan.

I like to let my marshmallows sit out for up to a whole day before putting in a bag or plastic container. If they go in too wet then they just stick together.
Want flavored marshmallows –
Replace the water with cold juice.
Replace the corn syrup with fruit syrups (the end result might not be as sweet or as firm).
Try different flavored extracts.
Add cocoa powder to powdered sugar.

We’ve made some rather interesting flavored marshmallows. Our favorites were made with cherry syrup and then used as the center of homemade chocolates. Homemade marshmallows don’t roast as nicely as store-bought but I think they taste far better in s’mores.

For those on a budget, while it costs just a touch more to make a batch of homemade marshmallows than it takes to buy a bag, we’ve discovered that you get a whole lot more.

If you are going to make crispie treats, don’t skimp on the set up time. I thought I’d save some time and use my marshmallow goo for the treats. They did not set up correctly but that didn’t stop us from eating them.

One last thing, the goo is the same as store-bought marshmallow cream.

Now you should have a good feel for making your own marshmallows and the wonderful things you can do with it. Don’t let it intimidate you. Homemade marshmallows are awesome.

Dun dun dun!

15 days until Weeping Dark: Bleeding Edge is released!

Woot!

In honor of our heroine, the spunky captain of the guard Shayla Dormyr, Lain created this spiffy banner with art from our fabulous artist – Carlos Diaz. We’ll do a full art reveal soon – the armor Carlos designed is simply awesome and you must see it!

We’ll be hosting activities throughout the month of February that revolve around Shayla’s favorite things – armor, weapons and mallows – so stay tuned.