Birth of a Unicorn: Six Basic Steps To Success by Heather Wilde Guest Review and Giveaway!

Birth of a Unicorn: Six Basic Steps To Success by Heather Wilde 

Publisher:  Sunbury Press, Inc (November 11, 2020) 

Category: Business: Women & Business, Entrepreneurship, Personal Finance, Self-Help/Motivational, Non-Fiction 

Tour dates: April-May, 2021 

ISBN: 978-1620063347 

Available in Print 158 pages and ebook 184 pages

 

Description Birth of a Unicorn by Heather Wilde

Birth of a Unicorn: Six Basic Steps to Success is the story of what it takes to found a billion-dollar company -- also known as a unicorn. It's told from the perspective of a founding employee, and shows the years and years of emotional strain, stress and dedication that building a successful company takes -- and a framework to follow if you'd like to try it yourself. In this book, you'll find the true story behind one of Silicon Valley's famous companies on its rise to the top. Peek behind the curtain as you see the highs and lows from an insider perspective, on the roller coaster that is the start-up life. What emerges is a lasting friendship, a billion-dollar company, and an understandable framework of success for you to replicate.

Excerpt Birth of a Unicorn by Heather Wilde

In Birth of a Unicorn, Heather Wilde covers the many facets of building a business – and how ideas can come from anywhere in your life. Here is just one of those many examples. Like all great CEOs, Phil believed that if someone gives you a great idea, you should figure out a way to adapt it for your use. He always insisted that you give that person credit for their initial idea, but what you do with it from there is all you. One of Phil’s oldest friends was a naval submarine captain, and he spoke about him fondly and often—especially during our company All- Hands meetings. 

On one occasion, he told us how they had an “Official Training Program” in the Navy, where seamen who are in the officer accession process could silently observe the essential meetings with senior officers on the ship to learn as much as they could before being promoted. He thought this idea was perfect for Evernote, especially as one of our core values was transparency. In practice, what it meant was that any employee would be allowed to join any open calendar meeting, up to two per month, outside their department. 

The theory was that it would help them to learn what was going on elsewhere in the company—or at least what questions to ask to find out. In practice, it was not exactly how he had envisioned it. While it was true that everyone’s meetings were visible, and for the most part, people were willing to add you to a meeting invite if you asked, no one had time to join more meetings than they already had on their schedule. 

The only people who had the opportunity to attend the meetings were interns, and since they were temporary employees, their attendance would not be the best use of their resources. Phil decided to scrap that program and try again—after all, being adaptable is a crucial tenet of entrepreneurship. The next version was called “Evernote University.” 

This time, instead of making people sit in other meetings that they didn’t have time for and had no business sense to be in, he asked our team to come up with a list of hobbies and skills they’d be interested in learning more about off-hours. On the list were things like Flight Training, Butchery, Foraging, and Brewing. 

Then we got some volunteers from the office for people who wanted to teach classes, and they received a supply budget. For classes that had no “volunteacher,” Evernote would give you a specific dollar credit for a similar course elsewhere. This program was much more successful, as people were more willing to have fun with each other, learning new, non-work skills than do more work. This success led to other non-traditional benefits added to the office. 

When Phil heard that people were complaining about how long it was taking them to clean on the weekends, he added a housecleaning service. When people started getting stress headaches, he brought in-office mas- sages once a week. 

We already had an onsite company gym available 24/7 and a variety of snacks. When people started complaining about weight gain, we brought in a chef to cater healthy breakfast and lunch meals. Over the years, we added an unlimited vacation policy and an additional bonus once you proved you had taken one, the option for a metro card or electric car subsidy, technology benefits, educational grants, and many other perks—but it all started with a submarine.

Review Birth of a Unicorn by Heather Wilde

Guest Review by

Sol Heather Wilde's memoir/self-help guide, 'Birth of a Unicorn: Six Basic Steps to Success,' is a book that brought me in from the first page and wouldn't let me put it down. Wilde was one of the first employees of the app Evernote, a successful start-up that now has over 200 million users worldwide. 

It's hard to quantify success, especially in the tech start-up world, but Wilde has been on the team with many companies that were considered, 'Unicorns' or, companies that made a billion dollars. Of course, that isn't to say that she hasn't experienced setbacks of her own. 

Between marriage problems, mental health issues and having to start over at different places multiple times, Wilde has dealt with her fair share of misfortunes. But her strong sense of purpose throughout all of these difficulties gave the memoir portion of this book heart and impact that make it relatable. I really appreciated the tone of Wilde's writing. She gives advice very freely, but gently, in a way that doesn't make you feel like she is talking down to you (as so many other advice books do). 

This is a woman who has been through a lot, but managed to find success through all of it and her journey is both remarkable and an inspiration for everyone who is interested in working in the tech industry. I know I will be thinking of this book for a long time to come and retaking the assessment in the back that is meant to help you figure out what matters the most to you in your life and how to make sure that others things don't take precedence over those things. 

 I can recommend this book highly and I think everyone, regardless of their interest in the tech world, would enjoy reading it.

About Heather Wilde

Heather Wilde was the eighth employee of Evernote, where she oversaw the company's growth from thousands to 100 million customers. She has published popular games, trained Fortune 500 brands, advised hundreds of start-ups, and managed some major non-profit programs. At her non-profit, Serenze Global, and as a fractional CTO through her company ROCeteer, her award-winning work keeps the Unicorn Whisperer constantly traveling across the globe to find the next unicorn. 

 

Website: https://heathriel.com/ 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/heathriel 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heathriel

IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7705219/

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Under the Light of the Italian Moon By Jennifer Anton @ boldwomanwrites @maryanneyarde @coffeepotbookclub #HistoricalFiction

Book Title: Under the Light of the Italian Moon

Author: Jennifer Anton

Publication Date: 8th March 2021

Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers

Page Length: 394 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical Fiction

Twitter Handles: @ boldwomanwrites @maryanneyarde

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Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #Italywwii #rememberwomen #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

Under the Light of the Italian Moon

By Jennifer Anton

A promise keeps them apart until WW2 threatens to destroy their love forever

Fonzaso Italy, between two wars

Nina Argenta doesn’t want the traditional life of a rural Italian woman. The daughter of a strong-willed midwife, she is determined to define her own destiny. But when her brother emigrates to America, she promises her mother to never leave.

When childhood friend Pietro Pante briefly returns to their mountain town, passion between them ignites while Mussolini forces political tensions to rise. Just as their romance deepens, Pietro must leave again for work in the coal mines of America. Nina is torn between joining him and her commitment to Italy and her mother.

As Mussolini’s fascists throw the country into chaos and Hitler’s Nazis terrorise their town, each day becomes a struggle to survive greater atrocities. A future with Pietro seems impossible when they lose contact and Nina’s dreams of a life together are threatened by Nazi occupation and an enemy she must face alone…

A gripping historical fiction novel, based on a true story and heartbreaking real events.

Spanning over two decades, Under the Light of the Italian Moon is an epic, emotional and triumphant tale of one woman’s incredible resilience during the rise of fascism and Italy’s collapse into WWII.

 

Amazon: getbook.at/JAnton

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3n1nDqC​ 

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/under-the-light-of-the-italian-moon/jennifer-anton//9789493231009

Bookshop.org (U.S. only): https://bit.ly/3ofS39T

I am Books Boston: https://bit.ly/2Z0mWUO

 

Jennifer Anton

Jennifer Anton is an American/Italian dual citizen born in Joliet, Illinois and now lives between London and Lake Como, Italy. A proud advocate for women's rights and equality, she hopes to rescue women's stories from history, starting with her Italian family.

Social Media Links:

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Condition Black by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington Book Tour and Giveaway!

April 26 - May 21, 2021 Tour

Synopsis:

EVAN WEYLAND, a brilliant research scientist tasked with developing new technologies to fight cancer, sees the world differently through the lens of Autism Spectrum Disorder. His guiding light is his wife, Marie—a globally recognized war correspondent. When she returns home from Syria deathly ill with an unknown disease, Evan believes his research may be the key to unlocking the cure. However, when his superiors refuse his request for help, Evan’s single-minded love for Marie drives him to take matters into his own hands—a decision with far greater consequences than he could possibly fathom.

BILLY VICK, a Captain in the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, is a combat veteran unable to leave the horrors of war behind. Only the love of his family and a sense of absolute justice keeps him grounded. When Billy’s unit becomes aware of a US-sanctioned airstrike on a civilian settlement in Syria and an eye-witness reporter comatose with an unknown illness, he fears the worst. An unethical military project thought mothballed has resurfaced, and a civilian, Evan Weyland, may be about to inadvertently unleash it upon the world. It’s a mistake that could cost the lives of millions.

Pitted against each other in a game of chess-like deception and intrigue, with time running out, both men must come to terms with the magnitude of what’s at stake—and what each is willing to sacrifice to win.

Praise for Condition Black:

"This solid sci-fi thriller [is] a well-balanced thrill ride. Well-shaded characters keep the pages turning. Fans of high-tech medical and military thrillers should check this out." ~ Publishers Weekly.

Like Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, this book is revolutionary. Incredible." ~ Jonas Saul, author of the best-selling Sarah Roberts series.

"Condition Black provides such an exceptional read. It's highly recommended for fans of technothrillers who want a firm marriage between psychological depth and unpredictable action, all grounded by ethical concerns that challenge each character to reach beyond his skill set and comfort zone." ~ Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review.

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller / Medical Thriller
Published by: Dropship Publishing
Publication Date: 27 April 2021
Number of Pages: 334
ISBN: 9781954386006
Series: Condition Black is a stand alone thriller.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Through the lens of her SLR, Marie Wayland couldn’t pry her gaze from the morbid scene as it unfolded some two hundred feet away. Another twist of the objective and the image in her ultralight mirrorless camera became crystal clear, even in the fading evening light of the Syrian sun: a man, his hands bound secure with coarse rope, sucking with erratic breaths at the cloth bag over his head. The fabric molded to the shape of his quivering lips and stuck there for an instant before being blown out again. He cried out as two masked assailants forced him to his knees. A whimper emerged from beneath his hood, followed by a muffled plea for mercy. Unwavering, the men stood in a line behind the captive, their AK-47 rifles pointed to the sky. Above them all, a black flag, inset with white Arabic script, fluttered like a pirate banner in the desert wind.

A young man carrying a beat-up camcorder scurried onto the scene and set up his tripod. He fiddled with his equipment, then gave a thumbs up. One of the soldiers stepped forward and pulled a curved blade from his belt. He called out and pointed to the camera, stabbing the air with the long knife. For a moment, he seemed to look right at Marie. Her heart faltered and the hot prickle of perspiration dampened her forehead.

Marie lowered her camera and eased further into a small depression in the side of the hill, perfect for both observation and concealment. “Don’t be tree cancer,” she whispered to herself. A strange phrase, but one that had proved invaluable during her long and storied career as a war correspondent. A Marine Corps scout sniper had offered her this golden nugget of advice during a stint in Afghanistan. Master of short-range reconnaissance, he’d spotted her crouched in a ball, peering out from behind a twisted stone pine tree. After approaching undetected, he’d whispered in her ear: Don’t be tree cancer. Marie had nearly jumped out of her skin. She later discovered the phrase referred to an observer drawing attention to themselves by standing out from the world around them.

The voice of the knife-wielding man rose in pitch. Marie shuffled for a better view and raised her camera once again.

The knifeman jerked the hood from the captive’s head.

A chill crawled down Marie’s spine.

Glen Bertrum, the American relief worker kidnapped three months ago from the outskirts of Aleppo, shifted on his knees. With a brutal shove from his captors, the terrified relief worker flopped to his side, squirming. The knifeman descended on Glen, then sawed at his relief worker’s neck with the blade. Blood sprayed against the sand. Glen screamed for what seemed an eternity, the sound morphing into a horrible sucking wheeze.

His gore-drenched knife dripping, the murderer yanked Glen’s head free and held it aloft.

The men shouted in victory, thrusting their weapons into the air.

“Shit,” Marie said, lowering the camera.

The cruelty and barbarism of humankind knew no end, and these zealots had a way of making it even uglier, spreading their jihad across the globe like a pestilence. Without raising the SLR again, she watched the terrorists conclude the recording and march away, leaving Glen’s decapitated body to rot.

Marie’s stomach knotted, and she tried to swallow away the tingle of nausea in her throat. This isn’t why you’re here, she thought. A beheaded aid worker wasn’t news, even if she had met the man before. Such things hadn’t been news for a long time. The war had escalated, far beyond Syria and the Middle East, beyond single hostages and beheadings. Terrorist cells were now a pandemic, spread across the globe, and embedded in every country. There was no central faction anymore. No IS or al-Qaeda, or Allah’s Blade. The war against the west was now an idea, a disease infesting the world. Anyone, anywhere could be an enemy—the core vision metastasizing, traveling to every corner of the Earth and there propagating.

Major cities now operated under war-time policy; curfews and rationing to prevent too many people congregating in any one place, such as a supermarket or a major sporting event. Aerial surveillance and street-level military patrols did their best to keep people safe, but a cage was a cage. In some ways, Marie felt free out in the world, even if it was in the enemy’s backyard. Yet while hate for terrorists was justified, as in all wars the enemy wasn’t the only one capable of terrible things. So too were the allied forces—the people who stood against terror and extremism—and that was why she was in Syria.

The little jaunt Marie had undertaken was unofficial. Her boss would kill her if he knew she’d conducted this op. After flying into Istanbul and crossing the border south of Daruca, she’d spent the better part of the past three days moving from checkpoint to checkpoint, working her way along Highway 7 through northeastern Syria. With dark features and perfect Arabic, Marie hid with ease among the local population.

Marie pulled a tablet from her backpack and keyed up the map she’d gotten from her contact. The coordinates were correct. A tiny civilian village in Northeastern Syria. This ramshackle settlement was little more than a speck on the map, and from what she was told by her contact, this place was of zero military significance. No base, no known weapons caches, no landing strips. The small cell of terrorists she’d just found was likely that: a small cell. Little more than a coincidence, and by no means justification for this village to be firebombed back to the stone age.

Unless they’d found something of significance.

***

Excerpt from Condition Black by Gareth Worthington & Stu Jones. Copyright 2021 by Gareth Worthington & Stu Jones. Reproduced with permission from Gareth Worthington & Stu Jones. All rights reserved.

Author Bios:

Gareth Worthington

Gareth Worthington holds a degree in marine biology, a PhD in Endocrinology, an executive MBA, is Board Certified in Medical Affairs, and currently works for the Pharmaceutical industry educating the World's doctors on new cancer therapies.

Gareth Worthington is an authority in ancient history, has hand-tagged sharks in California, and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and 2FIGHT Switzerland.

He is an award-winning author and member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the British Science Fiction Association.

Born in England, Gareth has lived around the world from Asia, to Europe to the USA. Wherever he goes, he endeavors to continue his philanthropic work with various charities.

Gareth is represented by Renee Fountain and Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo Helin Fountain Literary, New York.

Catch Up With Gareth Worthington:
GarethWorthington.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @GarethWorthington
Instagram - @garethworthington
Twitter - @DrGWorthington
Facebook - @garethworthingtonauthor

Stu Jones

Stu Jones. SWAT Sniper. Adventurer. Award-Winning Author of Epic Genre-Bending Fiction.

A veteran law enforcement officer, Stu has served as a beat cop, narcotics, criminal investigations, as an instructor of firearms and police defensive tactics and as a team leader of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. He is trained and qualified as a law enforcement SWAT sniper, as well as in hostage rescue and high-risk entry tactics. Recently, Stu served for three years with a U.S. Marshal's Regional Fugitive Task Force – hunting the worst of the worst.

He is the author of multiple sci-fi/action/thriller novels, including the multi-award-winning It Takes Death To Reach A Star duology, written with co-author Gareth Worthington (Children of the Fifth Sun).

Known for his character-driven stories and blistering action sequences, Stu strives to create thought-provoking reading experiences that challenge the status quo. When he's not chasing bad guys or writing epic stories, he can be found planning his next adventure to some remote or exotic place.

Stu is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo-Helin-Fountain literary

Catch Up With Stu Jones:
Goodreads
BookBub - @stujonesfiction
Instagram - @stujonesfiction
Facebook - @stujonesfiction

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

Enter to Win:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington. There will be two (2) winners who will each receive one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on April 26, 2021 and ends on May 22, 2021. Void where prohibited.

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Blitz by A.M.Williams Book Blitz!

In a blink of an eye, I turned her whole world upside down. I messed up and will do anything to make things right. Is there any chance of a happily ever after for a football star and librarian? Fans of the Boston Terriers Series by Jacob Chance will devour Blitz by A.M. Williams, a light and humorous, enemies to lovers romance.

Blurb

One sexy football player. One sassy small town librarian.

Is there any hope for happily ever after?

Charlie

HEA? No way.

Jasper Sutton is the reason I watched my dream go up in smoke.

I don’t care that he’s ridiculously hot and the night we met was one of the best of my life. The fact that he’s also funny and easy to talk to means next to nothing. 

He tore all my hopes to shreds when he bought the old library to turn it into a gym.

I can’t forgive him. 

Jasper

Charlotte “Charlie” Drake is something else. And I don’t mean that as a compliment.

She might be gorgeous and sexy, but she’s also headstrong and stubborn.

I get it--I messed up. I didn’t have all the facts and took things too far.

But I’m crazy about her. She’s the only woman who looked past my name and reputation to see the real me. I want to prove to her that I’m serious, I’m sorry, and we could be good together.

What does it take to get over the ultimate fumble and still win the game?

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Excerpt 

Copyright 2021 @ A.M. Williams

“So,” I said after a few minutes of silence where we each sipped our coffee and ate what was in front of us, “are you vacationing near here?”

Jasper tilted his head, and a smile curled the edges of his mouth. “You could say that. I’m staying with my dad.”

I blinked at him. “And your dad is renting a house near here?”

He laughed. Laughed! “Uh, no. He owns it.”

I blinked at him again. “Oh. Did he move here recently?”

Jasper tilted his head and I caught what looked like surprise widening his eyes slightly. “Do you know who I am?”

I considered his question for a few moments, knowing that if he was asking me that then he was probably someone that was well known around here.

But I was drawing a blank.

Besides my friendship with Ruby and Vicky, I didn’t get out in town too much. I knew people, of course, because of going to events, working in the library, and being drug out to different festivals.

But I wouldn’t consider anyone that I met in that way to be a friend.

“You’re Jasper?” I finally said, not sure what else I should say. My tone was definitely questioning.

He gave one sharp, quick laugh before shaking his head. “I’m Jasper Sutton.”

I stared at him after his declaration. “I’m Charlie Drake.”

If he was going to introduce himself like that, then I could too.

His eyes narrowed. “No, I’m Jasper Sutton.”

I wasn’t sure why he was putting emphasis on his name, but I was also realizing that his name did sound familiar. I just wasn’t sure why.

“Okay…” I said slowly. “Nice to meet you.”

Silence stretched between us before he asked, “You know, the name on the sign coming into town?”

I studied him as I tried to recall the sign. I passed it every day, but I was to the point of not even noticing it anymore.

But I remembered what he was referring to. The Welcome to Spring Hills sign also had a part that said Home of Jasper Sutton on it.

My brow furrowed. “Were you named after someone famous?”

He said nothing for a few moments before he started laughing. Hard. 

I shifted in my seat as he laughed, watching as he rubbed a hand over his face and hunched over the table. I wasn’t too sure why he was laughing; I just knew it was at me.

I glanced around the cafe and saw that people were staring at him laughing and grew even more uncomfortable.

Jasper slowly stopped laughing and shook his head, wheezing. “Are you for real?”

“About what?” I asked, though I wasn’t too sure I wanted to know what he was asking. At this point, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on this date or whatever it was for too much longer.

“You really don’t know who I am?”

I shook my head.

He blinked at me before saying, “I’m Jasper Sutton. The name on the sign is mine. It was put there when I got drafted.”

The drafted statement made me pause, but I couldn’t dwell on it too long because he kept talking.

“You’ve been to the Tasty Freeze? Ever seen the Jasper on the menu? It’s the milkshake they named after me because it’s my favorite. What about the Burger Barn? The Jasper there is my favorite meal.”

I stared at him. I probably shouldn’t have said what I said next, but my mind was short circuiting because all I could think of was the fact that he said he’d been drafted. Drafted for what?

“I thought Jasper Sutton was some old guy that had died in a war sometime.” 

Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! 

About A.M. Williams 

A.M. Williams is just a simple girl from the south that found herself living abroad. When she’s not annoying her cat or reading, she’s spending time with her husband and traveling as much as possible. She has a serious case of wanderlust and wants to go as many places as possible while she can. She loves Cheerwine, sweet tea, and North Carolina (eastern style) BBQ as well as those crystal clear waters on the North Carolina coast.

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September To Remember by Carole BumpusBook Tour and Giveaway!

A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table (Book Three) – Lombardy, Tuscany, Campania, Apulia, and Lazio (Roma) (Savoring the Olde Ways Series, 3) by Carole Bumpus

Publisher:  She Writes Press (April 27, 2021) 

Category: Culinary/Travel Memoir & Non-Fiction 

Tour dates: April 12-May 31, 2021 

ISBN: 978-1631527272 

Available in Print and ebook, 245 pages

 

Description September To Remember by Carole Bumpus

This culinary travel memoir is an invitation to join in on a month-long trek through Italy, all in the search of the true Italian experience. Sprinkled with unforgettable characters, you will sup on sumptuous traditional foods, sip regional wines, and enjoy vast panoramas of extraordinary beauty. You may find yourself dancing at harvest festivals, climbing through Etruscan tombs, traipsing among Roman ruins, or bathing in ancient Roman termes (hot springs). You may also enjoy climbing to the heights of wonder in Capri or to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. Or delight in soaking up the ancient and cultural history in Milan, Firenze (Florence), Amalfi, Pompeii, Lecce and Rome. You can bask in the sun and rugged beauty of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Adriatic Sea, or the gorgeous Amalfi Coast. Or you can chat for hours over family meals while collecting a compendium of regional and traditional recipes (cucina povera), while you capture a rare glimpse inside the secrets to the Mediterranean psyche. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Excerpt September To Remember by Carole Bumpus

Author's Note: [I’ve chosen this excerpt as it is close in context to the ancient Celtic culture, of which I also share an interest. My Irish mom’s interest in stories and history led my way. —Carole Bumpus] 

CHAPTER SIX ETRUSCAN TOMBS OF SOVANA 

The following day, my honey and I popped out of bed, excited to get an early start on exploring the Etruscan heritage. That day, we had pledged, we would visit the ancient tombs. We were so excited at the prospect of climbing into the ancient caverns, even though tales of vipers falling from trees had given us the willies. We were not snake people! We were soon on the road. 

The sunlight diffusing softly through the cypress and oak trees, was like spun gold as it rose in dust motes into the air. Winston was clipping merrily along . . .. as we headed down the road of San Martino sul Fiora toward Sovana, another village known for a plethora of Etruscan finds. 

“Sovana! Sorano! Sovana! Sorano! How do these people keep these names straight?” I babbled on as I tried to find my place in the new guidebook we had picked up the day before in Sorano. 

“Ah, here we go. This says, ‘The Etruscan area surrounding Sovana has a special importance in respect to other centers of ancient Etruria in that all of the major types of funerary architecture of the Tyrrhenian region are found here.’ I wonder what that means? ‘The volcanic rock at Sovana was cut, chiseled and worked from the time of the earliest Etruscan settlements in the 8^th century B.C. and their work continued throughout the entire ten centuries of Etruscan history and into the Roman period.’ Got that?” I asked. 

Win nodded his head, but I wasn’t sure he had been listening. “So, where did you say the Etruscan people came from? We got some of this information at the museum yesterday, but I’m still not clear,” I said. 

“Check in the section on Etruscan ‘Origins’, Winston gestured toward the book. I thumbed my way through to a page called “Origins” and read silently for a few seconds, then began aloud, “Around the fifth century B.C., the Greek historian Herodotus stated that some of the Etruscans may have emigrated from Lydia, a region on the western coast of ancient Turkey. It appears there was an 18-year famine in Lydia, so the king dispatched half the population to look for a better life elsewhere. Under the leadership of his son Tyrrhenus, the emigrating Lydians built ships, loaded all the stores they needed, and sailed from Smyrna (now the Turkish port of Izmir) until reaching Umbria in Italy.” 

“It looks like,” Winston said, as he made a U-turn and headed back down another road, “these people, however they arrived, have been here since .  .  say, 900 B.C., but no one knows for certain where they came from. Like we learned yesterday, their prolific language is possibly from the island of Lemnos in the Aegean.” 

“That’s right. I do remember,” I said. My husband shook his head but was busy trying to decipher a sign indicating where to park. Again, our Italian was lacking. “We will be seeing ‘chamber tombs, façade tombs, niche tombs,’ and, also your basic ‘burial ditches,’ I read from the book. “And also, rare and magnificent ‘temple tombs.’ Whoopee! This sounds positively grand,” I said, although a bit wary that these were all considered good things. 

We were talking of death and dying here. We pulled into the parking lot that indicated the Illdebranda Tombs and stepped out onto a carpet of fallen oak leaves. Even though it was ten o’clock in the morning, ours was the only car in the parking lot. This was not Disneyland, but I had expected some crowds. I can’t say the silence was deadly, but it did feel a bit eerie. We put on our back packs and added water bottles.  

“All right now,” Win asked, “what are we looking for again?” I could see my earlier narration had fallen on deaf ears—he had been driving—so I turned to the guidebook again, “‘You will find at the Illdebranda Tombs, rock-hewn tombs, necropoli, sacred pathways, wells, waterways—all hand cut out of the porous tufa stone. The burial chambers and the Etruscan temple from the Hellenic period of 3^rd century B.C. were also carved with meticulous skill and without the use of mortar or bricks.’  

Let’s take a look.” We were both surprised at the immensity of the beautifully carved temple. The façade had once rested on twelve fluted Doric columns. Only a few were left standing, but the detail remained indelible. I reached for the guidebook. 

“‘The twelve columns probably alluded to the twelve towns of Etruria, and the capitals, which are now in a nearby museum, were decorated with the four faces of Etruscan divinities, both male and female, surrounded with large acanthus leaves. ” 

Win took out his guidebook, as well, and read. “Etruscan temples were generally square buildings on top of a high stone plinth, with a large colonnaded portico to the front and a cella, or interior chamber, inside. The cella was often divided into three parts in accordance with the Etruscan belief in a triad of deities.  . . .” We climbed the steps of “the high stone plinth” to the temple and walked under the once regal canopy of the yellowed tufa portico. We could still make out the concentric squares on the ceiling which, we had read, were representative of typical Etruscan temples. 

But it was difficult to make out other designs, so I turned to the trusty guide. “It says, ‘The tympanum of the temple—the triangular pediment above the doorway—once had carved floral motifs in a complex mixture of flowers, leaves, bell-shaped flowers, and sacred animals. Along the cornice on the west side, the original sculpted frieze is still visible.’” What? 

We rushed along to what we thought was the western side to see the details above us. Yes, we could make out a gryphon (a Greek mythological creature—half eagle/half lion), geese, the sun and other images probably related to the zodiac. The detail was amazing! Outdoors in the elements were images that had been etched into the rock between three to four thousand years ago! We could even make out the original details in the temple that had been plastered and painted in bright yellows and even deep reds. The colors remained. We were awash with amazement. The morning sun burnished the stones under our feet, as well as turned the air into a sweltering inferno. We hastened down the stairs to go below the temple, where we found two funerary corridors that led us out of the heat but into an almost frigid plane. 

The main corridor, which was directly below the center of the temple, was a cross-shaped or cruciform burial chamber. It held a long single tufa funerary bed, indicating the temple had been dedicated to an especially important Etruscan. Royalty, of some kind. In the lateral corridors, we found more ‘beds’ that lined the walls for burials of members of the same family. It was difficult to grasp how important this feature must have been a millennia ago. And to imagine how many bodies had lined these walls. Claustrophobia set in. As we scrambled back out of the tomb, we spotted a sign by the side of the path for the Via Cava of Poggio Prisca. 

“What is this cava we’re heading toward?” I asked. 

“Another cave?” Looming ahead of us was an enormous passageway, or path, and not a cave at all. It appeared to have been painstakingly carved out of the solid tufa rock. Once again, we checked the guidebook. “Most walls of these Etruscan roads are cut out entirely by hand and are twenty-five meters (75 feet) in height with the path itself being around five hundred meters in length.’ Or 1,500 feet long,” Winston determined. He read on. “‘ 

The colossal work involved in opening these huge subterranean passages is incredible. High up on the walls are various incisions, often unreadable. Immediately beyond the entrance, high up on the left, Etruscan burial chambers can be seen.’” We walked forward to see what was visible. Yes, there were small indentations carved into the wall at a great height. He continued reading. 

“These chambers were lived in by (Christian) hermits during medieval times and during the long and difficult period of Christianization. There are traces of a fresco of the Madonna and Child in a carved niche below.”  We stood on our tiptoes, trying to keep our balance, as we stared straight up the mossy green sides of the ‘cava’. 

“They’ve mentioned the Christian religion, but what about the Etruscan religions?” I asked. Always at the ready, Win turned to the section on religion and read. “Religion is a major contributor to the aura of mystery which surrounds Etruscan culture. The Etruscans believed in many gods, some of them adopted from the Greeks, and they also believed in malicious spirits: in particular, they worshipped the triad of Tinia, Uni and Minerva. . .” 

“Ah, that trinity,” I laughed. “Should have known.” Win ignored my snarky comment and continued reading, “The walls of the Cavone are covered in signs and incisions made through the many centuries, including Christian crosses which served to exorcise the ancient pagan gods. In fact, the Cavone was at one time called the ‘Devil’s Road’ and was a source of superstition and fear. . .” 

I’m not sure why, but we stepped a little more quickly up the pathway keeping our eyes moving both up and down, as the pathway was sometimes rutted with deep cuts made from what? Burial carts? This place was so quiet I could easily imagine a funeral procession plodding slowly along the passageway. I had read about the Etruscans’ use of human sacrifice and wondered if that would be mentioned. I encouraged my husband to read further. “ 

Roughly halfway along the passage next to another medieval niche is an Etruscan inscription of the IV-III century B.C. which reads VERTNE – probably a dedication to the supreme Etruscan god Vertumno or Veltha. Next to this inscription is an ancient swastika, a symbol of the Sun and polarity.” “Swastika?” Win asked. 

“Ancient swastika,” I said. “The ancient swastika was a symbol used over four thousand years ago. It was Sanskrit and meant ‘well-being.’” We were now at the top of the passageway. We each took a deep breath, as, even though unspoken, we felt safe and sound. No mention of human sacrifice yet, but then we still had to retrace the path to retrieve our car. Rats! I opened the guidebook. Sure enough: “ 

A particularly macabre practice (of their religion) was that of human sacrifice to placate the gods and protect themselves from the kind of torment meted out by demons in the underworld which is depicted in their tomb paintings. Victims were forced to kill each other off in gladiatorial duels which took place at funerals.” Now, that was an event I would not have cared to witness. Oh, feet, don’t fail me now!  Posthaste, we made a mad dash down the cavone (corridor) and back to our car.Author Note

Review September To Remember by Carole Bumpus Guest Review by Sol

 In 1998, Carole Bumpus and her husband, Winston took a trip to Italy to tour the country, enjoy the food and experience the culture. Over 20 years later, Bumpus has written, 'A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table,' about her memories and adventures while on that vacation. This book is what is considered a 'travel memoir' or ‘culinary memoir’. Although I haven't read many books in this genre, I certainly will be reading more from now on if they are up to the standard that this one set! Never before when reading a book have I felt so transported to the land that was being described. Bumpus has a way of writing that makes you really feel like you are there, sipping wine and enjoying the amazing food. The couple's tour took them around the country, from Milan to places like Tuscany and Rome. I can only imagine that it was a dream vacation and I'm not surprised to see that she is still thinking about it all these years later. Part of the joy of this book was how well laid out it was. Every section corresponds to a recipe from her time in Italy that Bumpus has included in the end of the book. Recipes like 'Brandy and Espresso Flavored Sponge Cake' and 'Pizza Margherita' sounded absolutely mouth-watering to me and I can't wait to try them on my own time now that I have finished the book. From the one-of-a-kind meals to the breathtaking architecture and museum tours that Bumpus describes, this travel memoir is the next best thing to being able to take a trip to this beautiful country yourself. Bumpus clearly adores Italy and it's people and that shines through in her writing. I would love to read more from her in the future. About Carole Bumpus 

 Multi award winning author, Carole Bumpus is a retired family therapist, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began writing about food and travel when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women and war in France. Her historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, was published in October 2014, and her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption, was released in August 2015. Books One and Two of her Savoring the Olde Ways series, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, were published in August 2019 and 2020; her third book in the series, A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table is due out April 27, 2021. All five books have been published by She Writes Press which is part of SparkPoint Studio, LLC. Website: https://carolebumpus.com/ 

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Pied Piper By Keith Stuart Book Tour! @len_maynard @maryanneyarde @bykeithstuart @len.maynard @coffeepotbookclub

Book Title: Pied Piper

Author: Keith Stuart

Publication Date: 1st March 2021

Publisher: LMP- Len Maynard Publishing

Page Length: 176 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII 

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In September 1939 the British Government launched Operation Pied Piper. To protect them from the perils of German bombing raids, in three days millions of city children were evacuated - separated from their parents. 

This story tells of two families: one whose children leave London and the other which takes them in. We share the ups and downs of their lives, their dramas and tragedies, their stoicism and their optimism. But. unlike many other stories and images about this time, this one unfolds mainly through the eyes of Tom, the father whose children set off, to who knew where, with just a small case and gas mask to see them on their way.

This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

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Keith Stuart (Wadsworth) taught English for 36 years in Hertfordshire schools, the county in which he was born and has lived most of his life. Married with two sons, sport, music and, especially when he retired after sixteen years as a headteacher, travel, have been his passions. Apart from his own reading, reading and guiding students in their writing; composing assemblies; writing reports, discussion and analysis papers, left him with a declared intention to write a book. Pied Piper is ‘it’.  Starting life as a warm-up exercise at the Creative Writing Class he joined in Letchworth, it grew into this debut novel.

 

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