COVER PUZZLE PIECE BY PROCURED PIECE …

It’s one of those waiting, waiting weeks. Lot’s of anticipation, due to receiving an email to let me know that the  ‘Danika and Yatimah in a Race for Rain’ books are on their way! Amongst all the anticipation there’s still all the usual things waving their invisible hands at me waiting to be done, while I wait, wait and wait …

It reminded me of a small passage I read recently in a book by Rachel M Brownstein ‘Becoming a Heroine’ It was a wonderful epigraph by Dr. Johnson prefaced in a book by Susan Ferrier titled Marriage in 1818. I realised, no matter who you are, whether you’re important or unimportant, there’s always a piece of life’s puzzle that reflects a small sameness to us all.

Here is the preface:

Life consists not of a series of illustrious actions; the greater part of our time passes in compliance with necessities – in the performance of daily duties – in the removal of small inconveniences – in the procurement of petty pleasures; and we are all well or ill at ease, as the main stream of life glides on smoothly, or is ruffled by small and frequent interruption. 

Cover puzzle reveal Number 5

An excerpt from ‘Danika and Yatimah in a Race for Rain’

“… The dusty shrivelled landscape stretched away into the shimmering distance, every kilometre scorched, brown and dustier than she could remember. Dalry was now a world of heat and dirt where even the toughest weeds perished. For the first eight months they stood thin and brittle until one by one they broke and fell, to lay waiting for a wind to whisk them away or be trampled into the ground by passing wildlife.

The flies were the only things that enjoyed the drought. They appeared to hum with happiness as they sucked the moisture from the animals’ eyes. Danika wondered how the heat didn’t singe their tiny wings from their over-friendly, plump bodies.
‘Why won’t it rain Yatimah?’
Even as she spoke, the reasoning part of Danika’s mind told her there had always been times of drought in the Channel Country.
Yatimah sensed her owner’s distress and turned her head to push at a leather-clad foot with her velvety nose. It made Danika smile and she leant forward to stroke the grey face.”

Cover puzzle reveal Number 6