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Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

encapsidate
VERB

Biochemistry
Enclose (a gene or virus particle) in a protein shell.
‘each piece of dsRNA is encapsidated separately’
More example sentences
Origin
1980s: from en- + capsid + -ate.
Pronunciation

encapsidate/ɪnˈkapsɪdeɪt//ɛnˈkapsɪdeɪt/

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Monday Musings: Game of Thrones Season Seven Finale

This one fell a little flat for me, but maybe nothing could compare to the awesome season six finale. My expectations were too high. Anyway, there were still some bright moments in the final episode of season seven.

The Starks finally got to put an end to the person who started everything, the person who got their father executed. I kind of felt sorry for Littlefinger, but not too much. My only gripe is that it felt forced and rushed. The writers had the viewers thinking Arya and Sansa were going to go against each other and then, wham, Littlefinger is getting his throat slashed. I’m all for twists and surprises, but it seemed like we were deliberately misled. It could have been handled better.

This whole season, ever since Jon Snow and Daenarys met, I’ve been bothered by them getting together. At first I thought it was because of the incest factor, but I realized it’s because now that they’ve consummated their relationship, they are doomed—star-crossed lovers. There are no happy endings in Martin’s world. I like both of these characters and now I’m sure they will both die after they do what’s necessary to save the world. I get the feeling Daenarys is fated to die giving birth just like Jon’s mother. Jon will probably die in battle. I doubt they will live happily ever after. They are destined to save the world so others can live happy lives.



There’s a lot of talk online about the identity of Azor Ahai, The Prince Who Was Promised. Everyone thinks it’s either Dany or Jon, but I have a different theory. That’s too obvious. I think it’s Jaime Lannister. He’s not the obvious choice, but he’s gone through major changes since season one. I hated him when he pushed Bran out the tower window, but then the Starks captured him in battle and he lost his hand. With Brienne’s help, he changed, he grew a conscience. I’ve liked him ever since then. And now at the end of season seven, he finally had the balls to leave his treacherous harpy sister. It looks like he’s headed toward the North to fight the whitewalkers, which fits the prophecy. He’s is also probably fated to kill his coldhearted sister/lover Cersei. I know it’s a farfetched theory, but that’s what I’m going with. I’d like to see him become the hero. I’m a fan of redemption.

My other gripe is we only got to see one brief flashback of Rhaegar and Lyanna. It was cool seeing their secret wedding, but come on, I want more.


I sure hope the final season lives up to what we expect of Martin’s world. Please do not give us some cheesy happy ending. There must be sacrifices at the end of this tragic story, even if it means the death of some favorite characters.

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

emu-bob
VERB

Australian
Carry out a detailed search of an area.
‘the men form a line and emu-bob through the waist-high scrub’
with object ‘after emu-bobbing the surroundings for potential clues, they return along the track’
More example sentences
Origin
Early 20th century: with allusion to the movements of an emu bending its neck towards the ground in search of food.

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.



Wednesday, September 06, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

empaestic
(also empaeistic, empaistic)
ADJECTIVE

Art Architecture
rare
Of or relating to embossing or embossed ornamentation; (of ornamentation) embossed, stamped.
Origin
Mid 19th century. From Hellenistic Greek ἐμπαιστικός of or relating to embossing (in ἐμπαιστική τέχνη the art of embossing) from Byzantine Greek ἐμπαιστός embossed (although this is apparently first attested later; from Hellenistic Greek ἐμπαίειν to beat in, emboss, already in ancient Greek in intransitive, figurative use + -τός, suffix forming verbal adjectives) + -ικός.
Pronunciation

empaestic/ɛmˈpiːstɪk//ɛmˈpʌɪstɪk//ɪmˈpiːstɪk/

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

emmenagogue
NOUN

Medicine
A substance that stimulates or increases menstrual flow.
Example sentences
Origin
Early 18th century: from Greek emmēna ‘menses’ + agōgos ‘eliciting’.
Pronunciation

emmenagogue/ɛˈmiːnəɡɒɡ//ɪˈmiːnəɡɒɡ/

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

elflock
noun  elf·lock \ˈelf-ˌläk\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

 Definition of elflock
:hair matted as if by elves —usually used in plural

First Known Use: 1592

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

elenchus
noun  elen·chus \i-ˈleŋ-kəs\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

Definition of elenchus
plural elenchiplay \i-ˈleŋ-ˌkī, -(ˌ)kē\
:  refutation; especially :  one in syllogistic form
First Known Use: 1663
Origin and Etymology of elenchus
Latin, from Greek elenchus

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.



Monday, August 14, 2017

Monday Musings: Book review of Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot

After reading this book, I am so grateful to live in a country where citizens are free to voice their political views. I think what frightened me the most about this story is that it’s true.

Three young women living in Russia, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (Nadya), Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were found guilty of hooliganism and went to prison (one was finally given a suspended sentence) because they spoke out against Putin and his tyranny. One of the most horrific parts in this book described the conditions of these prisons. The “prisons” aren’t fit for animals let alone human beings. Atrocious is the word that pops in my head. Along with living in terrible conditions, inmates are subjected to mistreatment by guards for doing something like complaining about the horrible conditions. For example, if an inmate complained about lack of hot water, all the water would be shut off for all the inmates.

These women showed amazing strength throughout their ordeal. This book takes us from the beginning with backgrounds on the women, their foray into political activism, the emergence of Pussy Riot, their fateful performance that got them arrested, the harrowing trial (another example of human rights violations), and finally their imprisonment.

A quote from Maria’s court statement: “And I am not afraid of you. I am not afraid of lies and fictions and of poorly coded deception in the verdict of this so-called court, because all of you can take away my inner freedom, the only sort that exists in the Russian Federation. But no one can take away my inner freedom.” She closes with this: “I believe that openness and public speech and a hunger for the truth make us all a little bit freer.”

I greatly admire these women for their heroism and strength to fight for better conditions and rights for all. They had the courage to speak out against Putin’s atrocities, and they were successful in encouraging others to do the same. If they had failed, they wouldn’t have scared Putin into having them arrested.


Pussy Riot lives on as an example of feminine power and courage.


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eleemosynary
adjective  el·ee·mo·sy·nary \ˌe-li-ˈmä-sə-ˌner-ē, -ˈmō-; -ˈmä-zə-\
Popularity: Bottom 50% of words
Examples: eleemosynary in a Sentence

 Definition of eleemosynary
:  of, relating to, or supported by charity

First Known Use: circa 1616

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eledoisin
noun  el·e·doi·sin \ˌe-lə-ˈdȯi-sən\
Popularity: Bottom 10% of words

Definition of eledoisin
:  a small protein C54H85N13O15S from the salivary glands of several octopuses (genus Eledone) that is a powerful vasodilator and hypotensive agent
First Known Use: 1963
Origin and Etymology of eledoisin
irregular from New Latin Eledone, from Greek eledōnē, a kind of octopus


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eldritch
adjective  el·dritch \ˈel-drich\
Popularity: Bottom 50% of words

Curse, "cobweb," "witch," "ghost," and even "Halloween" - all of these potentially spooky words have roots in Old English. 

 Definition of eldritch
:  weird, eerie
whose voice had risen to a kind of eldritch singsong — R. L. Stevenson
First Known Use: 1508
Origin and Etymology of eldritch
perhaps from Middle English *elfriche fairyland, from Middle English elf + riche kingdom, from Old English rice

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.



Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eldress
noun  el·dress \ˈel-drəs\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

Definition of eldress
:  a woman who is an elder especially of the Shakers
First Known Use: 1640

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.