The busiest of time

It is the time of the year when a writer is in a hurry to finish up the story and try to get it published in time for Christmas. As usual , I didn't make it with my latest book not even the revised "T.T. Gristman-Time Traveler" wasn't ready for sale by Christmas. Only the original version is available. The reason for the revision was because when I started writing/publishing, I thought that telling the story was the key thing to writing but I have learn that showing-not telling was the proper way to get the reader hooked into the story. We all have to learn and improve as they go. Me, when I first moved up into management, I was not one of those that came straight out of college and into a career filled with book learning and no common sense (Work Experience). I learn as I progressed up into management. I did go back to college when I discovered that I needed to know more. This put me on equal footing with those straight out of college with one exception; I knew how the real world turned. In work as in writing, you learn from the best by observing the top in the group and understanding why they are in the top; what got them there. I have applied what I learned working, to my writing. Each of us end up with their own style that is a blend of experience and knowledge of things we have been exposed to in life. Copying another writer does not give you the success you seek because you won't stand out and create your own niche in this vast world of writing. Riding on another writer's coattail has limited benefits if at all. Stretch yourself to find you who you are and do what you enjoy. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year if you don't hear from me until next year. Talk back, I'm listening as always. Have a great day.

 

My writing has slowed down-way down this week

Normally, I work on one of my active books a little or a lot each day but right now, I can't decide on which one to work on. I have been so busy with my volunteer work at the Eagles that I just can't sit down and write right now, not even blog. (That is why they are so sporadic anymore). When I do finally sit down at the computer to write, I have three stories floating around in my head. The rewrite of "T.T. Gristman"/time traveler story. The writing of "In Brad's eyes" which is also a rewrite of Lightning in the Tunnel/In the Beginning" or the writing of "Saddle Spur". I have to be careful in my writing or rewriting I don't mix of the story especially the main characters name. I was rewriting T.T. and started using John from Saddle Spur as Tee's name. That forced me t go back and make sure I didn't do it anywhere else in the story. I don't think I screwed up anything "In Brad's Eyes" but I need to check this. Normally this would never happen but I have so many things on my mind that it gets cluttered every once in a while. I usually work on two or three books at a time and had no problems that my editor didn't catch. Saddle Spur is ninety-nine percent complete with the exception of being edited, again. After this week, things should get back to normal except for Thanksgiving looming on the horizon meaning I will be away from the computer a lot more than I like. Anyway, this is what is happening in my world. What is going on in yours?

Talk back, I'm listening as always. Have a great day. 

Digging deep into the story line

When a writer finishes the second draft, it is time to read slowly and dig into the story line to determine the holes that might exist in the story. It is time also to ask yourself is the character believable along with being consistent with himself? Does he change back and forth as the story progresses?  I know my Character John Strum in "Saddle Spur"goes from being a naive young man to a harden young man but is consistent in keeping his word even when he really would not like to keep it. John believes his word is bond and has to die to get out of his wedding vows becoming another person. I believe that the turmoil inside John is accurately portrayed in the book especially when his wife tries to kill him to get out of the marriage. He just couldn't bring himself to shoot back at her.
    When a writer is able to convey his emotions; you know it is a good book even written in the third person. Do you agree? Talk back, I'm listening as always. I would like you take on this subject. Have a great day.

Time to take a deep breath

There comes a time in every unknown writers life that they must reassess their earlier writing. When I first started writing, I thought it was more important to tell the story. That was why my earlier books didn't sell well along with paying for editing that was shit work. I didn't know any better and kept cranking out books trying to tell the whole story on Lightning in the Tunnel series. So I took a deep breath after re-reading the series and withdrew them from the market. So unless the bookstore has a copy of Lightning in the Tunnel-In the Beginning, Zigzagging Home, the Journey Continues, A place Called Terra, and Terra Reigns you are out of luck at getting one. I plan to rewrite the first one because I believe it would be a great read with proper editing and writing with the skills I have acquired to make it better. I wrote the first one over a twenty year period but I didn't know what an author had to do to get it published. I rewrote it just before having it paid to be published. Still I was no writer and paying for an expensive editor did not do my book justice. The first thing that caught my attention making me re-read it was the first paragraph was two pages long and you couldn't tell where the characters were talking and where I was telling the story. I didn't re-read it just before publishing because I listened to it on an audio version and it sounded right (my fault). Between Blogging and Reviewing others books. I believe I have learned to write where it will catch the reader's attention and hold it through out the book. I'm currently re-reading other books on mine and will revise them in time. Since I can't stop writing it will be a slow process but I plan to rewrite the first time travel story called "T.T. Gristman" and a Stranger Comes Crawling" my first alien story. I don't know if other unknowns writers go thru this in their career but I reached the point where I didn't like my earlier books even those with a good story. Talk back; I'm listening as always. Have a great day!   

Finding yourself even hiding under a rock.

With so much going on in the world, you feel like hiding under a rock and hope it all blows over and doesn't effect you. I have tried hiding under a rock by writing books but every now and then something happens to bring me back to reality. Do you recall the days of duck and cover that you had to do as a kid in school? Now we know that was just a false sense of security that we had that if a nuclear bomb hit we would survive by ducking and covering. One thing we have learned as a species is how to recover from most disasters quickly but until you have no water to drink, no food to eat, see your children starving to death, you have no concept of how bad things can get when nature or man does something horrible. Everyone expects the horrible things to happen to someone else, not to them. When I first wrote my Lightning in the Tunnel series, it was at the height of the cold war. I wrote a story of a person surviving a nuclear attack.That person was me even though I gave him another name and another family. I always assumed I would be one of those surviving a nuclear attack while living in Los Angeles. Now, that I am older and wiser (I hope), I'm not sure if I would want to survive if World War Three came about. Finding drinkable water, uncontaminated food and struggling to hold on to it with others desperate for the same resources. Every expects the government to come to their aid but what if  there is no one to come to your aid? The government could be so wrapped up in fighting a war or wiped out themselves, how would you survive?  I know we have been on the brink many times of destroying ourselves and pulled back at the last moment when cooler heads prevailed. When President Trump was elected, I hoped he would calm down and forget his ego being the President of America. His actions has assured me that he has not. President Kim Jung Yu is a blow hard and a spoiled kid playing with our lives. He should know that pushing America into war is a lose-lose situation for him but I think he knows he can push our buttons to get a better deal from America. He must not be very smart taunting a bully like President Trump. He will only get a punch in his face or still find himself among the dead. Now that I have said my piece I will shut up and hope for the best, not for my children but for my grand children. They deserve a chance to make this a better world for all humans, animals and creatures that occupy this place we call "Earth" Talk back, I'm listening as always. Have a great day! 

Writing "The End" is only the beginning

When a writer types the end it is not the end only the beginning of a long process to begin editing. Even if you edit as you go, still you will go back and find errors, weak points in the story that need to be redone. early in my writing career, I did not do this correctly instead I assumed that it was great and moved on to another story. On my first book, I paid for editing not knowing what part the writer had in the process and thought they would make it all right but alas the book was horrible when it came out in print. Now, I write a story then put it aside for a few months then come back to it hoping I will catch most of the errors, plot sags and useless inserts of information. Then my editor gets involved and looks at it with a fresh set of eyes. That is why there has been no new releases to print any of my latest works. I feel the reader will be touched more personal when they immerse themselves into my books taking them away from their everyday lives to live someone else's life even for a short time. I finally wrote a book in the first person and I am starting to enjoy writing in the first person because they become me and I become them. Interesting how you can live a life other than your own and have all the adventures you desire. All the terror, pain and hurt that comes your way. Iron Hearts was the first book I wrote in the first person normally I write in the third person. I know I haven't blogged for a while so I thought when I typed "The End" to Iron Hearts, I would touch base with all of you out there. How is things going with you? Write back, I'm listening and hope you are having a great day! 

A writer writes, that is all there is to it.

 When the words are flowing like water from a faucet, a writer forgets all about blogging or reviewing other books. Right now, My Iron Hearts story is flowing just that way. My fingers can not keep up with my brain as the story unfolds onto the pages of my book. I have to slow my brain down a little or it will get too far ahead and by the time my fingers catch up, the brain is on the next chapter or scene. So there really is no catching up unless you side track your brain for a short while. If you do that, you will lose a few scenes and have to reread the story to have it make sense. I did that with my book Saddle Spur and realized I left out a couple crucial scenes when I was going thru it one more time. I'll have to interject them back into the story for the reader to make sense of what happened and why.

Do you ever while writing have that happen to you?  

For those of you that requested a review, I will get back to reviewing when Iron Hearts is complete in the first draft.Then I will take a break from writing so I can read something else and be able to come back to Iron Hearts with a fresh set of eyes that hopefully will spot any gaps in the story or passive flows. Have a great day and share this with your writer friends. Talk back, I'm listening as always.

Iron Hearts Excerpt for your enjoyment

Iron Hearts is my latest work of fiction about a young man that loses both his parents shortly before his eighteenth birthday. He discovers soon after they weren't the nice parents he thought they were.

C.J. (Claude James) Bullet was sitting on the porch with his sister, Mandy (that he never knew he had) at their father's cabin in rocking chairs. This was their first time going fishing together. Younger brother Robbie *Robert Bullet Junior) was inside playing video games, leaving them alone to talk. Even though Mandy was underage it was clear that their father (Robert Bullet) and Mandy had sat out here drinking sherry before. She poured herself and CJ a glass of sherry so they could sit and talk.  

I didn’t much care for the taste of the sherry but I politely continued to sip, pausing only to ask. “What did you and Dad mainly talk about?” She took a big swig before answering.

 “Mostly, we talked about life and people. My Aunt Carmen got us on an interesting discussion. I think I will share it with you. Dad said, ‘Most people have iron hearts, tempered by life’s events. Some people have steel hearts that nothing can penetrate, not even emotions such as love. Some of those with iron hearts build a steel shield around their hearts that is almost as impenetrable. That is to keep from anyone hurting them. He said you are one of those that built a shield around your heart. Nothing could penetrate except for football, not even love." I could tell by her face she was very serious.

“I know I was so blind. I never realized that my father never stayed home because he had another family that loved him. He only married my mother to change her last name because she was in trouble. I don’t think he ever loved her but felt he owed his life to her.” I didn’t realize that between words I was doing more than sipping. The sherry was starting to taste good.

Look for IronHearts to be in a book store next fall or early winter. Between then and now I will get a book cover for it and continue to post excerpts for your enjoyment. Hope you liked it. Talk back, I'm listening as always. Have a great day!

interview

Wanna Get Interviewed – BY ME? by Dan Alatorre AUTHOR your humble host It's almost time to publish Poggibponsi, and that can only mean one thing. I hafta do some marketing. And so do you. Because we all need to, all the time. So... how about I interview you for this site and you interview me for yours? Or I'll just let you interview me for yours. I'm easy that way. But if you want to do an author interview or author profile where I ask you questions and you answer them, it’s EASY! (Authors interviews will usually be with people who have books for sale, but profiles can be of anyone, published or not, and other than that they’re about the same. So bloggers and newbie authors, you aren’t being left behind.) available for preorder soon! stay tuned. A brief explanation of what’s involved: First, pick 10-20 questions from the list below that you like and want you to answer, plus one or two bonus questions, along with a few of your own that you want readers to know but I didn’t ask. Skim over the list, we’ll be adding to it all the time.  Simple! Send the questions with your witty, interesting answers to me at my email address or use the CONTACT ME button  Even easier! Then I’ll go over them and ask my follow ups, or we can use it as is! I like getting on Facebook chat and being silly, so we may do some of that.  Why didn't we do this before? Calm down. Include your website, blog links, Amazon link, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter handle, etc, a picture or two of you, one of the book, or anything else you think is relevant. Not your cat. No cats. You in a hammock, fine. You with the cat, NOT FINE! What part of “no cats” don’t you get??? Bikini pics optional, especially if you’re a big hairy dude. I’m not saying no, but use restraint. If you’re a paddleboarder and you wanna show that side of you, which we’ve done, it’s relevant. Throw it in. Too many pics = use separate emails to send them. Or direct me to your Facebook site and we’ll pick a few together. I won’t sandbag you with embarrassing personal pics. Probably. maybe not that relaxed Be yourself in your answers; be relaxed, be funny or be serious, but have fun with it. It’s for entertainment purposes. Let readers inside the real you a little. Search “interview” on my blog for some of the silly examples of fun interviews we’ve already done.  Then, on the release day of the interview, post and re-blog and ask your friends to reblog and tweet the link and post it on Facebook – so the whole world sees you being YOU!  Skip around; don't everybody start at the top. (Although DO answer question #1) As you might guess, I will get lots and lots of requests, so act now and send yours in today! HERE’S THE LIST OF QUESTIONS What is the working title of your next book? Where did the idea come from for the book? a. What kind of Chinese food do you order all the time? b. Which is the more important of these two: write drunk, edit sober? How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript? What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition? Which living author or blogger would you buy drinks for? Ooh, there are drinks? What makes you so damn interesting anyway? What is the best part about being an indie (or traditional) author for you? What’s something most readers would never guess about you? Besides writing, what are your favorite things to do? Why do some authors sell well and others don’t? (Indie or otherwise, but indie if possible) What’s the strangest place you’ve gotten a great story idea? Describe in detail. Inquiring minds want to know! What’s the oddest or most awkward or embarrassing research you’ve had to do? Hello! How did you choose the genre you write in? Or did it choose you? Can you wash light and dark clothes together? Have you even turned a bunch of stuff pink in the washer? What “person” do you like to write in? First Person, Third Person, etc. – and why? I hear you have some very exciting news! Can you share it with us? If you have a blog, how did that start? How do you decide on a title for your book? What do you d of or cover art? Do you do it yourself, hire an artist (you can name names if you liked them), or purchase premade? How has you experience with editors been (you can name names if you liked you editor)? What do you think some of the greatest misconceptions about indie authors are? Plotter? Or Pantser? And prepare to defend your position! Outline??? Where’s the creativity? What’s the most fun part of writing a novel or short story? What’s the least fun part? What was your road to publication like? What advice can you give new authors? Who or what helped you the most getting started? What’s a good writing secret or time management secret? Where in the process do you create the story’s title? Do start with it? Do you know it before you begin? Before you end? Elsewhere? What inspires you? What time of day do you prefer to do your writing? Coffee addict? Name your poison. I must have structure! What’s your favorite food? Have you ever been recognized by a fan in public for your writing, or when was the first time a fan came up to you in public (not an author event or signing)? What’s your favorite social media? Which project took you farthest out of your comfort zone? What’s one thing that send you completely off the rails when you’re writing? How do you develop characters? Do you have author friends (in person or online you confide in and share ideas with? Feel free to name names. How much structure is in your story before you start writing it? I wing a lot of it! How many story ideas are in your “good ideas” file? What are some of them? What is the single most important quality in a novel; what must an author do to win you over? If writing suddenly made you rich and famous, what would you do? Best book to movie you’ve seen? What are you three favorite books by other authors? When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Do you hate cats? In a story we are often asked to create images for the reader that we may not have experienced ourselves. When have you had to do that? Is this the best interview or what? Tell us about yourself. Who IS the real (your name)? And not typical the boring bio stuff. The dirt. Like, when was the last time you did laundry? What’s a favorite quote of anyone besides you, and one from you? Most writers are a bit shy. Is that how your friends would describe you (shy), or do you have your readers fooled? Did you ever have a job where they were strict about shined shoes and stuff? Is tea a big deal over in England like they make it seem in Downton Abbey? (My wife watches, not me.) How playful are you? Is your REAL Facebook page much more revealing about sides of you that people won’t know from your blog posts or books? Is there a double life thing going on? (If you are a traditionally published author) Was it a big exciting thing to get signed by your publisher? How did you celebrate? (If you are an indie author) How hard was it to hit that “Publish” button the first time and send your book into the world? Looking back, what can you tell new authors about that experience? Have you ever spent time with anyone famous? Was there any ransom involved? What was the most fun interview you’ve done and why? When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Tell me about your first kiss. Did it make it into a book? Tell me about your first crush. Did he/she make it into one of your stories? Tell about your first date ever! – How old were you? What did you do? How many times have you been in love? How many times have you had your heartbroken? What kind of kid were you in high school? Who was your best friend in high school? Are you still in touch today? (No names) How did you rebel as a teenager? Did you get good grades in school? What was your favorite subject in school? Who were your role models when you were young? What traits of your own parents do you think you have inherited? What has been the happiest moment of your life so far? The saddest? The scariest? Have you made any big mistakes? Do you have any regrets? Have you ever kept a really big secret? What would you do if you won a million dollars? Which author, dead or alive, would you love to have lunch with? What’s the best book you have ever read? What’s the best movie you have ever seen? What’s your favorite season, and why? What’s your favorite meal? Where was the most memorable place you ever traveled to? If you could only listen to one type of music, what would you choose? How would you describe yourself in three words? What kind of friend are you? What is one thing you always wished you could change about yourself? What is one thing you have always loved about yourself? What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given? What causes and charities are most important to you? Have you ever broken a bone? Do you have any significant scars? What’s your favorite way to get exercise? What do you love most about your writing? Have you ever had a serious scare? What scares you? How did becoming a writer change you? What was the best part of being a parent? What is the hardest part of being a writer? What is your best piece of advice for a new writer? What is one thing you hoped to teach your children? Which of your family traditions is most important to you? If you could take your dream vacation this year, where would you go and what would you do? How do you want people to remember you after you are gone? . Remember, the more unique and personal the answers, the more interesting to readers, usually. If you’re all into quilting, maybe keep that to yourself, but that time in college you got drunk and skydived naked into a volcano? They’ll wanna hear about that. But naked skydiving or not, readers wanna know what makes you YOU, and that’s usually pretty interesting! If you have a question you’d like an author to answer and you don’t see it here, ADD IT  in the comments section! Dan Alatorre AUTHOR | March 19, 2017 at 4:00 am | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p3RXpf-6en Comment    See all comments    Like

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Dining with Alien creatures-- A.G.Moye

Captain Neil Armstrong Andrews sat down at the Officer's table. All of the other senior officers were already seated at the table including the Commander, Janice. Having naval military background, Janice had institutionalized the practice of Officers eating separately from the crew. Hence, their private table, but in the same galley. The assistant cook stood next to Janice taking her order, she had arrived before Neil. Normally, they started with him then her and on around the table. They could order anything they wanted, unlike the crew who ate what was prepared for them. When she finished with the Commander's steak order, she came over to Neil.
"Captain, what would you like for dinner?"
"What are the crew having today?"
"The main choices are stir fry with rice made with artificial meat with fresh vegetables from Hydroponics. Or, Spaghetti made with artificial meat meatballs, a salad and fresh garlic bread."
Neil knew the artificial meat was grown in large vats aboard ship, it had a slight meaty favor but was nothing but pure protein. Being so bland, the cooks quickly learned how to season it to make it edible.
"I'll have a little of both."
"What would you like on your salad?"
"Thousand Island dressing."
"To drink with your meal?"
"Iced tea." she walked away to fetch my tea.
Glancing at the wall to his right, Neil still enjoyed the seascape painted there giving the illusion, you were dining on the beach.
Glancing to his left, Neil saw the long line had formed for the crew to serve themselves, cafeteria style. They were quick about it. Being in space, everything was attached or secured in case of the loss of gravity.
By now, Neil felt he was used to it, but the sudden appearance of a head resembling a praying Mantis in front of him caused him to startle.
"Evening Captain." she said in her sing-song voice.
"Evening Poopa." She gave her smile-like feature and retracted her head. She could stretch her neck twenty to thirty feet at will. When he first saw her, he thought her body was a giant walking stick from Earth with a praying Mantis head. Neil soon learned she was very flexible with her twenty appendages, only ten or twelve were used for walking, the others were deft hands that could do multitasks.
"Hey Poopa, you should try this chocolate cake. It is to die for!" Noka shouted in his deep rumbling voice. Poopa never left her place in line, instead extended her neck so her head was just above the horse-like creature that yelled to her.
Neil smiled as Noka cut off a piece of cake with his fork and lifted it upwards to her. Her multi-prong tongue lashed out and cleaned it off his fork.
"It is tasty, I'll try some more" Poopa sang, as she retreated to her body knowing she was next to serve herself.
Poopa picked up up a tray, no plate since she normally only ate the greens. Neil watched as she sniffed each food tray before using  a utensil to place some on the tray. As always, they had two or three heads of cabbage, uncooked but sliced in four parts for her. It was her favorite food.
She took no more than a tablespoon of most things but took two whole heads of cabbage. Using the tongs, she picked out her other favorite greens from the salad tray before moving along. At the end, she took a couple of slices of cake before going over and getting her a container of water. All the tables for the crew were built picnic style with benches to sit on. Poopa was unable to sit in them so she went to the one end of the last table by the wall. She made sure her body didn't stretch out and block the kitchen doorway.
Neil noted that all the aliens tended to sit far away from the others as possible at the same table. Poopa was at one end of the back table by the wall. Noka had his pillow seat at the other end. A few humans sat with them, those that seemed to accept the aliens as part of the crew.
Neil knew the reason that they went as far away as possible, sitting at the table next to the Officer's table was Storm, she was the most vocal of the anti-alien crew. The Commander seemed to agree with her.
Neil smiled as his food was placed in front of him. He marveled at how the cooks could take the most simplest foods and make them look gourmet meals.
"Thank you," Neil said turning his attention away from the crew to his plate.

A.G.. Moye, author

Born in the cotton fields of Arkansas. Starting writing in 1987 when I got my first computer, long hand before that, my hayloft is filled with old stories. Published in 2011 after being prodded by my wife when she read the first of the Lightning in the Tunnel series books.  “Lightning in the Tunnel” series along with “A Stranger comes Crawling”, my first SiFi. Then published T.T. Gristman, my time travel/ love story. Followed by my updated version of my hand written mystery book called “Brandi’s Nightmare”. Then came the series “Chronicles of the Marauder” Marauder Rising is the first book. "Saddle Spur", my first western is in editing. I am writing “IronHearts” and “Doomsday Rock” during editing phase of Saddle Spur.

Unbelievable!

What is unbelievable is that I actually didn't turn on my computer for three days. The longest period since I went on vacation a few years ago. I didn't even write or blog which is unusual for me. When I did I first went through all those that has followed me on twitter @Agmoye Then requests for connection on LinkedIn and friend requests on GoodReads last but no least all those that Bloglovin than finished up on Pinterset following all those that followed me.  As you can imagine, I had quite a few on each on to follow. Then came reading all the emails and other posts letting me know what was going on in the social media world. Requests for reviews and special offers on their books. Normally, I spend about two hours a day on all this before I get back to writing which is my love. Right now, I am still writing "IronHearts" and I am about half way, I think. It is my first book written in the first person and it is difficult to write seeing it from that prospective. All of my other books are written in the third person, which I am more comfortable writing in. If any of you write in the first person normally, you can help me out by giving me pointers. I need all the help I can get. LOL

The reason I was off the computer was we have visitors coming this week and my wife had a few honey dew jobs that I had to get done. You guys out there know what that is! Have a great week and talk back, I'm listening most of the time!     

reblogged from But what are they eating?

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017

Please Welcome A.G. Moye, Author of Cronicles of the Marauder

In the near future; 100,000 light-years from Earth aboard the faster than light starship Marauder, Captain Neil Armstrong Andrews sat down for dinner to enjoy fresh vegetables from the hydroponics garden with vat grown artificial meat. After their narrow escape from the aliens that wanted to enslave them and near destruction of the Marauder, they were hiding doing repairs to the ship. I now present for your enjoyment, one scene in the story for you to get the flavor of dinner aboard the Marauder.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

"Captain, what would you like for dinner?" asked the female assistant cook.

"What are the crew having today?"

"The main choices are stir fry with rice made with artificial meat with fresh vegetables from hydroponics. Or spaghetti made with artificial meat meatballs, a salad and fresh garlic bread."

"I'll have a little of both."

"What would you like on your salad?"

"Thousand Island dressing."

"To drink with your meal?"

"Iced tea." she walked away to fetch Neil’s tea.

Glancing at the wall to his right, Neil still enjoyed the seascape painted there, giving the illusion you were dining on the beach.

Glancing to his left, Neil saw the long line formed by the crew to serve themselves, cafeteria style. They were quick about it. Being in space, everything was attached or secured in case of the loss of gravity.

Neil felt he was accustomed to the sudden appearance of a head resembling a praying mantis in front of him.

"Evening Captain." she said in her sing-song voice.

"Evening Poopa." She gave her smile-like feature and retracted her head. She could stretch her neck over twenty feet at will. When he first saw her, he thought her body was a giant walking stick from Earth with a praying mantis head. Neil soon learned she was very flexible with her twenty appendages; only ten or twelve were used for walking, the others were deft hands that could do multitasks at once.

"Hey Poopa, you should try this chocolate cake. It is to die for!" Noka shouted in his deep rumbling voice. 

Poopa never left her place in line, instead extended her neck so her head was just above the horse-like creature that yelled to her.

Neil smiled as Noka cut off a piece of cake with his fork and lifted it upwards to her. Her multi-prong tongue lashed out and cleaned it off his fork.

"It is tasty; I'll try some." Poopa sang.

Poopa picked up a tray, no plate, since she normally only ate the greens. Neil watched as she sniffed each food before using a utensil to place some on the tray. As always, they had two or three heads of cabbage, uncooked but sliced in four parts for her. It was her favorite food.

She took no more than a tablespoon of most things but took two whole heads of cabbage. Using the tongs, she picked out her other favorite greens from the salad tray before moving along. At the end, she took a couple of slices of cake before going over and getting a container of water.

All the tables for the crew were built picnic style with benches to sit on. Poopa was unable to sit in them so she went to the one end of the last table by the wall.

Neil noted that all the aliens tended to sit far away from the others as possible at the same table. Poopa was at one end of the back table by the wall. Noka had his pillow seat at the other end. A few humans sat with them, those that accepted the aliens as part of the crew. Most did not.

Neil smiled as his food was placed in front of him. He marveled at how the cooks could take the simplest foods and make them gourmet meals.

"Thank you," Neil said turning his attention away from the crew to his plate. 

Thanks for stopping by to share your food for thought, A.G.!

You can find A.G. here:

BooksbyAGMoye.blogspot.com

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Born in the cotton fields of Arkansas, started writing in 1987 when I got my first computer. Wrote long hand before that; my hayloft is filled with old stories. Published in 2011 after being prodded by my wife when she read the first of the Lightning in the Tunnel books. Currently I am writing Iron Hearts and Doomsday Rock while Saddle Spur, my first western, is in editing.