Two MAJOR Events - Gallery

 

Two major events rocked the U S of A over the two weeks since my last blog:

NO KINGS PROTEST #3

MISSION TO CIRCLE THE MOON 

I am, therefore, devoting this week's blog to pics from both events. Firstly,

 

NO KINGS DAY #3 

March 29, 2026

Some of the pics below may have been recycled from previous No Kings rallies, but they are telling examples of the 8,000,000 who turned out across the country to protest our Democracy being dragged down to an Autocracy, and smelling more and more like a precursor to Fascism. 

 

 

 

Lady Liberty Arrest, San Francisco

 Please note officers appear to be smiling & posing for arrest pic.

It should also be noted that all the protests were NON-violent. 

 

Moon Launch

 April 1, 2026

By now, nearly everyone has seen the glorious launch pics, plus the views of the four astronauts in space. But let me tell you, I, who remember watching the first moon landing, sat in front of my TV set watching continuous coverage from my local TV station, was more nervous this time around—maybe because the action was only 35 miles away from my house. Also, the launch was scheduled for 6:24, and if it was delayed, I might miss it, as I had to leave for Easter choir rehearsal at 7:00.

And sure enough, I groaned when the almost inevitable "Hold" was announced. Then, oh joy, Hold was only 10 minutes. The Countdown clock resumed. I was poised to watch the launch, then dash outside, camera ready to take a pic of the great red streak rising over my neighbor's house. 

Praying. Countdown held steady. At 2 minutes to launch, COMMITMENT. It was actually going to happen. Rocket powerng up . . . and LIFT-OFF. I rushed outside. Oh, no! Clouds covered all but a narrow band of contrail. Back inside, but none of the usual pics there either. The rocket traveled so fast, there was only a very distant peek at the two side boosters detaching, then nothing on screen but animation. That rocket was GONE! The good news, all was well. And now . . .

There are a zillion professional photos, but there's nothing like photos of the launch taken by people your know. 

Cassidy and her boyfriend found a rocky ocean-front spot way down in Melbourne (about 50 miles south). Here's Cassidy's photo of the launch.:

 

A choir member's son climbed onto their roof in Apopka, managed this during a break in the clouds:

 

.             Another choir member took this from her home:

 

Same choir member's sister-in-law managed this one from what is clearly an excellent vantage point on the coast:

 ~ * ~

FEATURED SERIES - BLUE MOON RISING

What could we possibly have in Moon Launch week but my SciFantasy series, Blue Moon Rising? There are four books in the original story, plus a spin-off happening shortly after on a planet far, far away. The books are:

Rebel Princess

Sorcerer's Bride

The Bastard Prince

Royal Rebellion

The Crucible Kingdom (spin-off) 

 

    Cover and Blurb for Book 1:  

 

 

The Princess Royal of a pacifist planet, whose people have spent a thousand years developing their powers of the mind, stages a personal rebellion, joining the space academy of a planet that has spent a millennium developing its military might. This odd pairing goes well until her senior year when her new "friends" turn on her. Only the swift action of an honorable huntership captain saves her from rape and possible medical experimentation. As a very special prisoner of war, she spends four years in solitary confinement, where she dreams of her rescuer but has no idea she has inadvertently sparked a rebellion against the military planet's vast Empire.

When the princess-in-disguise is finally freed and tossed into the middle of the Rebellion, she discovers there is a sharp contrast between her fantasy version of the man who rescued her and the flesh and blood starship captain leading the rebellion. She must also cope with his followers who fear her psychic powers, a fey younger brother who speaks only through illusions, royal parents with strict belief in non-violence, and a fiancé who happens to be a sorcerer. It would appear the hope of toppling the Empire is a dim light at the end of a very long tunnel.

 

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For a link to Blair's website & editing info*, click here. 

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