The Bard's Fire

Con-Tinual Panelists discuss the first season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

https://www.facebook.com/james.nettles/videos/1356840888595169?idorvanity=563373290941914

HarpHaven Merchanter is on hiatus as we deal with matters medical. But you can still find our books at

Amazon.com (print copies and ebooks). and BN.com (ebooks)

by typing "Lee Martindale" into their respective search functions.

Happy Shopping!

A grand time was had discussing the SF Classics and writers who influenced members of the panel. Watch it at::

https://www.youtube.com/c/ConTinualConvention

Gail Martin, Nancy Northcutt, Wendy Van Camp and I got together for another Con-Tinual panel on "Lost Conventions". You can view it at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ConTinual/posts/1343663882912847/?notif_{id=1687552324711287&notif}t=group_postmention&ref=notif

turns into a glorious First Rose of Spring

HarpHaven Publishing is having a Holiday Sale across all our platforms.

At the HarpHaven Merchanter website (http://www.harphaven.net/dir), you’ll find our books at special Holiday Sale prices and Free Shipping. For a unique gift, they can be signed and personalized at no additional charge. Use the handy link at the top right of the screen.

There are also links there for our ebook editions for Nook and Kindle also on sale.

Happy Shopping!

A couple of months ago, after the big maple in our front yard was removed, Himself mentioned that its absence meant an opportunity for planting something that needed full sun where there hadn’t been full sun since we bought the house 24 years before. That something was roses. Did I mention I’m very fond of roses? Particularly red roses?

Three rose bushes were ordered and subsequently arrived, looking like nothing so much as three pieces of incipient kindling. It was, I thought, a bit late in prime rose-planting season, but then again, I’m not the gardener in the family. I have the world’s blackest thumb. I somehow managed, some years ago, to kill a houseplant that everyone swore was unkillable and nigh unto immortal. But the company from which the plants were ordered had a guarantee that promised to replace, free of charge, any bush that did not grow and thrive in its first year.

Over the course of three days, three rose bushes masquerading as incipient kindling were planted, watered, fed, and observed. A few days ago, the first one planted produced a gloriously red rose and a riot of buds. Then the second bush did likewise. The third is throwing buds.

We have roses!

Need a last-minute gift or stocking stuffer? Supply-chain issues or mail delays a concern? Ebooks might be the answer.

The Ladies of Trade Town, Bard's Road, and Prejudice By the Pound are available in Ebook editions for Kindle and Nook. Direct links from the individual item page on HarpHaven Merchanter website.

Use the handy link on the upper right of the screen or go to https://harphaven.net/dir

Buying into an established neighborhood in North Texas meant having mature trees around, and one of them graced our front lawn. It was a silver maple, and a handsome example of the species it was. About 40 ft. tall when we moved in twenty-three years ago, with a thick trunk that split into sturdy limbs. A wide, lush canopy of leaves that shimmered silvery green in the breezes of Spring and Summer, and turned bright yellow in the Fall. Shelter and home to assorted birds and squirrels and purveyor of shade over house and yard through the years. I loved that tree.

Silver maples live approximately 35 years in urban settings, so watching it come to the end of its time was not a surprise. Taking it down before it came down on its own, probably into the bedroom, was not going to be a DIY situation. So we took bids and decided to go with Barksdale Tree Service based on a competitive price, competent approach, and the impression we got that he was respectful of safety and property concerns.

This is how things looked just before he and his crew showed up to do the deed a couple of weeks ago

Promptly at 9:00am on the appointed morning, Mr. Barksdale and three other people showed up. And it was clear, from the get-go, these folks knew their stuff. The last time we had the tree trimmed, numerous chainsaws ran constantly to accompany by near-constant shouting. This time, from where I’d taken refuge (in my office), there were fewer chainsaws that ran in bursts of varying lengths, and no raised voices.

Things got quiet around 1:00pm, and we figured they’d taken a lunch break and were taking the opportunity to haul away the first load of our former tree. Himself popped out with his camera and grabbed some in-progress shots. Here’s one.

The crew’s return was announced by the sound of what can only be described as a motorized sanding machine on wheels and steroids. While three of the men loaded their trailer with the rest of our former tree, Mr. Barksdale employed the aforementioned device to turn the stump into a sanded wood bowl, the rim of which was flush with the ground. He then collected the sawdust and tiny woodchips he’d made and filled the depression.

I expected them to haul away the remains. What I didn’t expect was the yard being thoroughly raked and left in pristine condition, as shown below. I fully expect to call these folks in the future for tree service on other parts of the property.

And while we’re both sad to see the silver maple gone, we’re starting to plan on what to do next with the front yard.

Need a last minute stocking stuffer? Something that won’t break the budget to ship to that distant friend in time for Christmas? Ebooks just might be the answer.

The following ebooks from HarpHaven Publishing are available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Search on the title or “Lee Martindale” at either vendor. Happy Shopping!

The Ladies of Trade Town', edited by Lee Martindale. Introduction by Elizabeth Moon. Fifteen original SF&F tales of those who offer pleasure – and other things – for a price. Note: not porn or erotic.

Bard’s Road: The Collected Fiction of Lee Martindale. Introduction by Esther Friesner. Twenty-five previous-published short stories plus four never-before-published works.

Prejudice By The Pound: Collected Essays From The Size Rights Movement by Lee Martindale. Editorials and essays from twelve years of Rump Parliament Magazine.