And You Think What?

I've been writing for some time now, blog posts to encourage, to advertise, and to vent. If I have touched a nerve, encouraged a heart, or inspired you to read or write, let me know.

If you have read any of the free ebooks, I'd especially like to hear from you. If you haven't, here's an opportunity to do so--https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381188--for those special Tweens in your life.  Don't forget to let me know what you think.  A complete listing of my books can be found on amazon.com or maryhallrayford.wordpress.com. Check them out!

If you've paid for books and read them, I'd like to know what you think about them, too. Trying to encourage literacy building without knowing if people are actually reading--is a chore. I love to write, but I'd rather write things that benefit others.

What do you think?  What are your suggestions about how I should proceed with promoting my books? What are your thoughts about my characters? I'm all ears--waiting to hear what you have to say or rather "see" it in writing.

Thanks!

Gift of Literacy and Learning!

With all of the gift-giving this season (or any other), don't forget the gift of improving literacy through reading. Read, read, read and then read some more!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381188  Battlerama is free!

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M.-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ  Something for everyone!

Free eBook on Smash Words!

The first book in the Battlerama series is free! Get a copy for kids and grand kids now! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381188

Free eBook on Amazon!

Battlerama Super Tweens To The Rescue free download on http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M.-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ Read, Enjoy and Review! Thank you!

Battlerama Sales Surge

"Battlerama--Super Tweens To The Rescue" has surged in sales over night!  I love watching God work! Hallelujah!  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M.-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ

Battlerama is Live!

Battlerama--Super Tweens To The Rescue is now live on http://www.amazon.com/Mary-M.-Hall-Rayford/e/B00BAW31CQ

Excerpt 9 "Battlerama--Super Tweens To The Rescue!"

“How are we to defeat the evil one when we live in different places?”

Noissa answered them.  “You have more ability than you know.  Tell me one thing that you think will benefit you the most?”

Maria did not hesitate to answer.  “Whatever we need, even if it is each other, we can focus our thoughts on what or who is needed and it will be done.”

Noissa smiled.  “You are right Maria. You have learned wisdom from all the ancients and even some of the contemporary philosophers of wisdom. You have learned integrity and it will serve you well.  Most of all, you have demonstrated a natural compassion and care for others.  When you need one or the other or all, all you need to do is “think on things above and not below”. Focus your thoughts and your thoughts will become reality.  You have learned much and will continue to learn as you train others.  You are never alone.  Someone is always a thought away.  Remember that and remember that your gifts will work collectively to thwart anything that the followers of Loftus can throw your way.  Proceed with wisdom—think everything through—and move forward with courage and conviction, never doubting and certainly, never fearful of anything or anyone.  The moment you fear—Loftus will feed on your feed and you may experience such hatred that you will forget who you are and what you are capable of doing.  Don’t forget—never be fearful!”

Modsi then told them that they would have an opportunity to get to know each other better with the use of their gifts tomorrow when they finalized their training. Still in awe of everything before, they talked almost at the same time and reluctantly knew they had to return to their normal lives.  But not for long.  Nothing after their training ended would ever be normal again.

Excerpt 8 "Battlerama-Super Tweens To The Rescue"

On the outskirts of a small rural area in China a young girl was crying.  She had just been sold by her parents to work in rice fields far from home.  The parents did not want to sell their daughter, but they needed the money to make sure they could survive.  Jiao was a good daughter.  Her parents knew she would work hard to make her family proud of her.  What Jiao’s parents didn’t know was the person to whom they had just sold their daughter never intended for her to go into the rice fields.  Li Wei had a reputation for being charming, but it was a front.  He was actually a very greedy man and only hoped to find young, beautiful girls to do his bidding.  Noissa was furious!  She immediately wanted to banish this ugly man into the sea, but Ytirge stopped her. He reminded Noissa they had a job to do and that Li Wei would be dealt with later. 

Li Wei motioned for the girl to follow him and even though she was weeping, she followed him out of her parent’s home.  When he opened the door for her, she saw another female sitting in the backseat who did not look pleased to see her.

"你为什么买这个娃娃吗?"她问。"她将成为我很好，"李巍回应。"帮助她了解她的新角色，并让她准备好的任务，"他继续这种丑陋的冷笑娇害怕成为和开始颤抖，哭。"别哭哭啼啼想再听，你卑微的女孩。你的生活会更好现在，是否你这样做你说的是，"女性轻蔑说。("Why did you buy the doll?" She asked. "She's going to be fine," Li Wei responded. "Help her understand her new role and make her ready for the task," he continues that ugly sneer Jiao scared and began to shake, cry. "Don't want to hear you cry, you humble girl. Your life will be better now, if you do this,” the female said contemptuously.)

The Wisteria had found their seventh trainee.  They went back to Mount Everest to prepare for the training that would take place for the next forty days.  They could not allow the trainees to know what was being done so they had to wait until they were asleep.

Excerpt 7 "Battlerama--Super Tweens To The Rescue"

What they saw made them laugh and sad at the same time.  They laughed because of the antics the two were involved in and they were sad because even though the two were obviously from an affluent family, they were alone in brick-fenced area that seemed to stretch for miles along the coast of California. 

The brother and sister were Shane and Tori.  Their father was rich and their mother often left them in the care of others who really didn’t pay much attention to them.  As long as they were out of their hair, they didn’t care what they did.  What the Wisteria found them doing was stringing together a fish-line criss-crossed over the doors on that side of the huge mansion in which they lived.  They were exercising great care to make sure that anyone trying to get through the doors would trigger buckets of water that would fall upon them.  A harmless prank of sorts, but would be sure to get them into trouble later.  They didn’t care.  They were bored.  Shane wished he could be somewhere else exciting, but without anyone’s knowledge.  Tori wished she could fly away to far-away places without her father’s private plane.  Getting back at the help seemed like a perfect way to spend an afternoon.  They got ladders and pieces of lumber to create platforms above the doors on which to place the buckets and then placed hooks on the sides of the doors so they could wind the line across itself back and forth until there was no way anyone could get out the door without triggering the downfall of buckets.

It took them over an hour to complete their task and once they finished, Shane pinched Tori hard so her screams would sound real.  When she screamed, the help inside the house came running to the doors.  They couldn’t see Tori and Shane and they also did not see the fish-line across the door so when they opened the doors, six people ended up with soaking wet when they tipped the buckets of water over as they opened the doors. 

From their hiding places, Tori and Shane burst into laughter even as they faced very angry household help.  Their Nanny, a very large woman with her hair bound in a bun at the back of her head was furious. 

“Your father will hear about this immediately!” She screamed at them.  “I’ll make sure your punishment is severe.” While she screamed at them water was running down her face and then she shook out her dress and water went everywhere.  Once they got over being wet, the others in the household laughed and went back to work.  The house-keeper admonished Tori and Shane about their behavior, but she didn’t get mad at them.  In fact, she felt sorry for them, but there was nothing she could for them at that moment since she was trying to finish her work. 

Available soon through Amazon.com.  Watch for it!

Excerpt 6 "Battlerama--Super Tweens To The Rescue"

A conversation that sounded as though it was nearby got the attention of The Wisteria and they investigated the commotion.  What they found was a store-owner shouting at a boy in Trinidad.  The store-owner thought the boy was trying to steal from him. "¡ Lárgate tú pequeño ladrón!  Si vienes aquí, voy a llamar a la policía y que te arresten, eres bueno para nada mocosa! ( "Get out you little thief!  If you come here, I will call the police and you will be arrested, you good for nothing snot-nose!)

Anthony ran down the street angry.  He was not stealing. The store owner did not see what he did.  He knew the store owner was angry and did not like to help people, so he was simply standing inside the store to keep cool in the heat of the day.  His parents worked, but they could not afford to pay for the additional electrical use to keep their home cool in the middle of the day.  The store was always cool, even if the owner was always angry. 

When he got to his street, he went into his house and tried to keep cool.  No one else was home because he did not have any siblings and both his parents were at work. He tried to keep his mind off the heat, but it was difficult especially when he saw tiny lizards crawl from under the door.  He did not bother them because he knew they were seeking shelter from the heat as well.  

 While he sat thinking about growing up and moving away from home, once he got a good job as an engineer and  being able to stay cool, the Wisteria added him to their list to be trained.  Anthony dreamed of solving problems for the poor and needy through technology and he practiced what he dreamed about on his computer at school.

Excerpt 5--"Battlerama Super Tweens To The Rescue"

Modsi, had noticed in their surveillance, a young girl, in the city of New York, who was apparently at home taking care of younger siblings with no visible adult supervision.  They hovered over her apartment listening carefully to what was being said.

“Pick up that paper and put it in the garbage can,” Kiara said, angrily to her twin brothers.  “I’m tired of picking up after you, two. Go to your room and stay out of my way!”

The two six year-old boys, glared at her and kept right on shredding paper into tiny bits and then blowing them into the air.  “We like to play “snowing” when we can’t go outside.  You’re just a meanie.”

“I’m not a meanie; I don’t want to clean-up after you.  Now, stop!  If there is a mess in here when Mom gets home, you’re gonna get it.”

“No, we won’t.  She’ll fuss at you.  You’re the one in charge.”

“Well, since I’m in charge, pick up that paper before I bash in your brains and blow them into the air.”

“We’re telling Mom you hit us!”

“I haven’t hit you yet, but I’m going to any second now.” Kiara was so frustrated that she picked up a broom and began chasing her brothers around the room until they ran into their room, and then slammed the door and locked them in.

“Ooh!  I wish I had the power to turn back time and these two would never have been born!” she muttered to herself. She looked at the clock on the stove and realized her mother would soon be walking in the door, tired as usual, expecting a hot meal and a clean house.  The broom she was using was old and worn and made tried to sweep up the mess that much harder, but she was glad that she had put a plate in the microwave for her mother.  Now, all she had left to do was the dishes. While she washed dishes, she daydreamed about living somewhere else where she didn’t have to watch her brothers while her mother worked.  She thought about having a father at home who loved them and worked to take care of them.  The sound of a key turning in the door broke into her day dream.

“Hi, Mom.  Food is in the microwave.”

“Thank you, Kiara,” her mother said, dragging herself into a chair. “I really appreciate your help. Where are the boys?”

“I locked them in their room.  They had made a mess of the place and wouldn’t clean it up.”

“Kiara!  Don’t lock them in.  Talk to them and teach them how to clean up!”

“Mom, they don’t listen to me.  I have to do everything around here.  I cook, clean up the house and then watch them.  Why do I have to do everything?  Why did you have to have them anyway?”

The minute she asked the question, she regretted it, but it was too late to take it back.  Her mother looked at her for a long moment and then tears began to flow down her cheeks.  She said nothing, just held her head in her hands, looking as though she wished she was somewhere else.  Kiara hated seeing her mother cry.  She cried often but would never say why and every time she did, Kiara felt bad. 

Kiara walked over to her mother and hugged her.  “I’m sorry, Mom.  Truly, I am.  I don’t know what got into me.  I’ll unlock the door now!” When she unlocked the door, the boys came tumbling out, each one wanting to tell on Kiara first.  Their mother, stopped crying and pulled each boy onto one knee and hugged them tightly.  Squirming to get away, they finally escaped and went back into their room.  They didn’t like it when their mother hugged them too hard. 

Kiara sighed and finished the dishes and then completed her homework at the kitchen table. When she finally finished and put her books and notebooks into her backpack, it was past her bedtime and she was so tired, she could barely keep her eyes open.  Her mother had long since gone to bed, so she pulled out the sofa bed and dropped onto the unmade covers beneath the cushions and soon fell asleep.

Watch for it--available soon!