The Chinese Spymaster

My first spy novel is free through October 4, 2018, at Smashwords. The code is BP72R. You'll have to sign in at the site but it won't cost anything. (Writers should know about this site anyway!)

Please leave a comment or review if you can!

Book Reading - Six Stories

These six stories show some characters from the Shu and Wu kingdoms. Liu Bei, the warlord who dedicated himself to the defense of the Han Dynasty, and his oath brothers Zhang Fei and Guan Yu as well as their brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang and their champion Zhao Zilong. 

1. The Peach Orchard Oath. The story of the oath that Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu took at the beginning of the Huangjin rebellion became the standard for all associations not based on family or locality. Some scholars think that the paradigm was even borrowed by those who formed secret societies, those 18th-century forerunners of the Hongs and the Tongs. [The image is that of the cover of the book.]

 2. Borrowing Arrows. This story shows the cleverness of the strategist for the Shu kingdom, Zhuge Liang. The movie version Chib, Red Cliff, lingers over this story. [The image is from the Internet.]

3. Conjuring the East Wind. This story is represented by the image of a Zhuge Liang who is larger than life (suggesting a paranormal power?). In the dead of winter when the prevailing winds are from the North, he calls up the East Wind to help the armies of Shu and Wu attack Cao Cao who is on the north bank of the Yangzi.

4. The Bride as Bait. When Liu Bei's wife dies, the schemers in the Wu kingdom propose a marriage with their Princess in order to lure him into their clutches so they can get a large province back. Again Zhuge Liang turns things to the advantage of the Shu kingdom. (The image on right is that of the Princess, downloaded from https://m.aceshowbiz.com/still/00003725/red_cliff30.html)

5. The clever strategist provides advice, in the form of three pouches with "emergency instructions," that suffices for the fifth story as well - The Princess Saves the Day.

The movie Red Cliff focusses on the battle [A. D. 208] which owed the final victory to the charismatic leadership of Zhou Yu, the Commander in Chief of the Wu kingdom.
[The image is that of a movie poster. Zhou Yu is the middle figure.]

6. The sixth story is of Zhou Yu's funeral, at which his friend, rival, and nemesis - Zhuge Liang delivers an oration.











I am pleased to announce the reading of these stories at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Helling Library in Nevada City, CA. 
This free reading is sponsored by the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS). Visit their website here.

Simplicity and children's books

This book is addressed to children aged five to ten. It is beautifully produced with illustrations by the author herself. The story is uncomplicated. A poor girl, Padme, grows up in a rich household. Her task is to sweep which is all she does, all day long, all life long, for her demanding employers. But she is grateful to have work and a place to live.

One day, a great man arrives. This is the Buddha himself, who is gracious and cheerful. After a meal, he invites everyone into the garden where he teaches about life, suffering, and meditation. Everyone receives a blessing. Padme asks how she could meditate in her very busy life - there is always something to clean or dust. The Buddha teaches her about meditation while working - to work and live mindfully, in meditation.

The Buddha returns to teach another lesson. That caring for others, concern for their suffering and their happiness, can be a prayer.  That a heart filled with such prayer is an indication of greatness.

This story is perhaps what five-year-olds need. Stories are perhaps what ten-year-olds need. Mindfulness and compassion are what we all need.

Time was, we had daughters of between five and ten. I tried to read to them and sometimes succeeded. I remember Goodnight Moon and Charlotte's Web and Where the Wild Things Are. I think fondly of The Phantom Toll-Booth and of Holes. They grew up, naturally. For a while, there were the Harry Potter books.

Now they are on their own. May mindfulness and compassion fill their lives.