Interview with Murielle Cyr, author of “Culloo”

Interview with Murielle Cyr, author of “Culloo”.

FREE BOOK PROMOTION

My book CULLOO will be  offered free at SMASHWORDS  until June 10th. Hoping you enjoy it and leave your comments. Books don’t live long without those crucial reviews.

Here is the coupon code that gives you a free book: QA64H

Good reading!

 

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/300512

http://syremuri.wix.com/murielle-cyr

Dandy Lion

Not everyone’s favourite, but certainly one of mine. This a great masculine plant ruled by the planet Jupiter. It goes by many aliases: Blowball, Lion’s Tooth, Piss-a-Bed ( Pissenlit in French), Puffball, Swinesnout, all very visual. Roast and ground the root to make a cup of medicinal tea that will cleanse your liver. The bright yellow flowers also make a pleasant digestive tea. Add a handful of young leaves to spike up your salad and soups. A decoction of dandelion root and water can be used for minor burns and skin irritations.

Place a hot cup of dandelion tea near your bed and spirits will come.  Blow the seeds off the head of the flower in the direction of your lover to transport your thoughts. Don’t forget that potent dandelion wine, another medicinal drink.

Culloo Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Kitty Muse Book Reviews, May 2, 2013

By

Kathleen A. Ree “K.A. Morrison” (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

 

This review is from: Culloo (Kindle Edition)

The death of her mother, a stay in the hospital for her grandmother, and now her dad is missing. Tala thought life was difficult enough, dodging her nosy neighbor and dealing with her little brother, Dason. But this…

What has happened to Tom? He has had a difficult time accepting the death of his wife, Anjij, and does have a tendency to disappear. Susan, their well-intentioned neighbor, feels it is her duty to alert the authorities when he is gone for these long spells. Tala resents Susan’s intrusions into their lives, but there isn’t much she can do about it.

Until she is thirteen, which will be in a few days. Then-FREEDOM from nosy neighbors and people saying she’s too young to be on her own, caring for her brother.

But this time, Tom’s absence seems different. It concerns Tala enough that she takes off after him, or where she believes he might have gone. Annoyingly, her brother insists on coming along, and he is too clever for her to leave him alone, where he can go tell on her to Susan.

After hiding from bear poachers, who seem to have been a part of Tom’s disappearance, the two siblings take off into the woods towards the top of the mountain.

A night in the rain, sheltered by an unseen presence, is followed by the discovery of a huge black feather beside the young searchers. Was it Culloo, the mighty black bird of the mountain, who had hidden them under his wing while they slept through the storm?

Ever on the move, ever followed by…something…, they reach a spot where the family has camped many times, only to find their dad in big trouble. But who led the children there? Was it the Stone People of legend? The only clues were the smell of pipe smoke and the occasional glimpse of something large in the woods.

In the end, Tala learns an important lesson, one that changes her outlook toward those who only have the best of intentions for her.

I drew a nice, hot bath, intending on reading a few chapters of this book. I ended up getting out of tepid water over an hour later, with the entire book read. It was that enthralling.

With a simple cast and few changes of scenery, Ms. Cyr has created a universe of stunning beauty. The descriptions of the characters and their relationship with nature were so well-written that I found myself deep into their lives, hoping and despairing in turns.
The forest through which Tala and Dason fled was so vivid in its telling that I had no trouble imagining the beauty of the woods and the rocky terrain.

Written for the tween to middle high school, this book would be enjoyable for all.

The one thing that stands out in my mind the most is how the author wrote in such a way as to show the interdependent, intertwining relationships of all things. From the trees supporting their fallen comrades, to the dependence of people on people, her message showed through plainly: We all depend on each other, and without that, we become weak (such as how Tom seemed to abandon his children after his wife’s death, and how the bear poacher had no respect for his surroundings).

I highly recommend this book from the bottom of my heart.

https://www.amazon.com/author/muriellecyr

Turtle Wish

After all those insightful comments I received concerning my book cover, I did a lot of tweaking. It’s amazing what another pair of eyes can see. I’ve come up with another model but I’m still undecided about the colours. Your feedback would be awesome.

cover A

cover B

Blood Roots

Sanguinaria canadensis

Couldn’t help posting this picture of my stunning companion, Bloodroot, the first to announce the official start of good weather in my garden. This native poppy goes by many names: Indian paint, redroot, puccoon and war paint are the most common. It was widely used by the early First Nations for medicinal purposes and for painting their bodies and dyeing their clothes. A woman would paint her body red to entertain and welcome the new colonists–ha! They should’ve used the caustic sap to keep them off their native lands.

Picture book cover

I’m hovering over the potential cover for my next project, TURTLE WISH, a picture book about a hatchling trying to find its family. The universal need to belong and the importance of having a family are some of the issues explored in the story. It is through different shattering encounters with strangers that the hatchling  finds its rightful place.

COVER A

COVER B

I’d love your feedback on which of these two I should choose. I’m a Libra who can never make up her mind.

CROSS-BLOG-PROMOTION- ALLISON COSGROVE

This week’s Cross-Blog Promotion goes to Allison Cosgrove, a Canadian who juggles motherhood with her creative writing projects. Check her out, you’re bound to follow. Her blog is inspiring.

 

 

http://stanbrookshire.com/

SNEAK PEEK

My book, CULLOO , is featured in Indies Unlimited Store as of today. A  SNEAK PEEK will run LIVE April 14, 2003 at 17:00 Pacific time where I will be answering questions. Hope you’ll join us at  http://wp.me/p1WnN1-9U1.

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/indies-unlimited-bookstore/

A Girl’s Ten Green Outside Friends

In one of my last posts I mentioned some of my interior green-feminine friends. I will continue with the hardy ones that can withstand the harsh Quebec winters and still manage to bounce back smiling and beautiful. There are so many feminine plants thriving in my garden, but in the name of brevity, I’ll limit myself to the ten common ones.

All of these plants  here are ruled by the planet Venus and are usually associated with the powers of love, lust, health and protection.

Drink a strong tea brewed with the flowers of the red hibiscus to awaken your desires for lust.

Place a single rose in a vase on your kitchen table to honour your emotions of love.

Try placing a daisy under your pillow and maybe a lost lover will come back.

Foxglove grown in your garden will protect your home from harm.

geranium

Plant geraniums in your garden and snakes will stay away.

The bleeding heart is a true flower of love, take it apart and you’ll find another heart within.

aster

Carry a piece of iris versicolor root in your purse and money will come your way.

Rub your hands with the columbine flower to give yourself courage.

The lovely aster is another flower that will make love happen.

catnip

Catnip will perk you cat up, but brewing a cup will calm your nerves.

foxglove

hibiscus

rose

So surround yourself with these beauties and love will surely come and visit. Allow a few masculine plants like the dandelion to mingle and party with your green friends and your garden will be healthier.