7 of my books are free in the Smashwords Sale

 
Happy New Year everybody. Whatever you are doing to celebrate, have a lovely time, and lots of good luck for 2022. This year was a difficult one, so I hope that next year is better for everyone.

I have some books for free in the Smashwords End of Year Sale! So happy reading.

Kiwi's Christmas Tail

Fur, magic, thrills and comedy moments fill this fantasy adventure set over Christmas, involving a star, a fairy, a witch, some catizens and Santa. Amy, James and their magical cat, Kiwi, must rescue a fairy from the clutches of an evil witch before Christmas Eve when Father Christmas will return. Set in the human world, Cat City and Santa's Grotto. For ages 8-99.

A Poem a Day 

A collection of 446 poems, written between April 2020 and March 2021. 

The Sea Inside

A fantasy adventure about fate versus free will. Can you bend time or will it break? A diving accident leaves Jayne paralysed. As she battles to regain her strength, she finds herself alone in a parallel world. The crystal seems a bringer of good until her world shatters again. Then Jayne will face a series of trials to find her heart's desire, helped by a fantastical guide. For ages 9-99.

3 Heads & a Tail 

When nature lover Josie moves into a house share with two pals, dreamer Ben and model man David, she doesn't bank on an attraction developing. Meanwhile, Ben's dog, Glen, has the hots for Miss Posh, the beautiful Lab in the park. When dog meets dog it's puppy love, but a complication leads to Glen taking matters into his own paws. 

"Laugh out loud funny" - Donna Brown.

Day of the Living Pizza 

Detective Smarts of Crazy Name Town has a problem. Doctor Boring has been bumped off, and the only clues at the scene are some olives, tomatoes, mushrooms and a sprinkle of oregano. With the townsfolk dropping like flies and Pizza Dudes stumbling down the streets, Officer Dewdrop has an idea.

Life's Rhythms

Old meets new in this collection of 316 haiku, composed in the traditional pattern of three lines with 5-7-5 syllables. Subjects include: nature, life, food, animals, loss, love, longing, hope, the seasons, dreams and time.

Mind-spinning Rainbows

A collection of 109 poems and 45 haiku, divided into two sections: light and shade.

The link: www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vixie

A Poem a Day (485): Tabby cat

 
All summer we have a series of cats who cross the fence in our garden, travelling through. They come and go, and we’ve even had one cross our roof. But in the winter months they seem to be wisely staying inside – except that is for Mr Tabby, who continues to stride around slowly, like he owns the place.
 
Tabby cat
 
Mr Stripe takes passage through a stranger’s garden,
follows a zig-zag path down a stranger’s garden,
climbs walls and navigates fences, sniffing his larder.
 
With the air of a king, he strides, nose in air,
oblivious to friend or foe, he stalks, nose in air,
taking a pleasant Sunday stroll without a care.
 
He’s streetwise around cars, crossing the road fast,
looking from left to right, he runs the road fast,
saving his fancy park promenade right until last.
 
Today he’s on the shed roof, looking back at me.
With a wash of his paw, he stares right back at me.
I open a can of tuna and he charges, straight as a bee.
 
Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 30, 2021

A Poem a Day (484): Red fox

  
Red fox
 
A sleek red fox sneaks between parked cars,
this hungry fox hides behind sleeping cars.
As people drive by he hides himself fast.
 
It’s cold out here where he lives and sleeps,
the temperature’s dropping as he sleeps,
shivers in the cold and the cold world weeps.
 
Tiny stars light the way for the moon’s crossing,
stars shed a crystal carpet for the moon’s crossing.
Black sky receives a dazzling, sparkling frosting.
 
A burnt orange hide slinks through the snow,
fiery red coat bobs right through the snow.
Fox sniffs the way ahead. He has far to go.
 
Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 26, 2021

Cats for Christmas?

Cats for Christmas? This is my 6-book series starring a magical cat who turns her human pals into kittens and takes them on adventures to Cat City & other places, including a sea world, a haunted house, Santa's Grotto, the Land of Giant Mice & Ancient Egypt. Furry fun for ages 7-77. The books are available as ebooks or paperbacks.

Book 6 is all about Christmas... starring Santa, a witch, a star and a fairy in the run-up to Christmas Eve.

Purchase links:

US Amazon

UK Amazon

Smashwords

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

Kiwi's Christmas Tail is free in the Smashwords Christmas Sale

If you fancy a tale about a magical cat turning her two humans into kittens to have an adventure in Cat City and Santa's Grotto in the sky, head over. A star asks Kiwi for help in finding his friend, a fairy, who was kidnapped by a witch after they fell out of Santa's sleigh. Funnily, the witch finds herself in Cat City at one point, surrounded by cats - which she dislikes just as much as children.

It's only free on Smashwords and just for a limited period of time.

Link: Smashwords

Gifts wrapped & 4 more haiku

Some Christmas poems from last year! Have a lovely Christmas Eve. 

Gifts wrapped, stockings filled,

a cheeky glass of champers

while the kids sleep tight.

 

 

Frosted fingers twist

embroidered patterns floating.

Silver lace sparkles.

 

 

Rudolph polishes

his nose, dusts his coat and hooves.

It’s the Big Day Out.

 

 

Bouncing over clouds,

Claus steers the sleigh downwards-sky,

chortling. White beard blows.

 

 

The turkey takes off,

farmer falls face flat. Wings stretch.

“You’re not cooking me!”

 

 

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 21, 2020 

 

 

In the YouTube series of me reciting my poems, here I am reading out these haiku: 

 

Thanks to Graham Fraser for organising this YouTube series.

 

A Poem a Day (483): Christmas Eve beers

 
Christmas Eve beers
 
Fresh snow lay heavy, you could hear it crunch,
this white body heavy, hear its echo and crunch,
as our feet sludged, warmed by Christmas punch.
 
The pub’s laughter and chatter followed us out,
fairy lights shimmered and merriment saw us out,
remembering the conversations of our last shout.
 
Snow cascaded round us like twists of soft felt,
falling shapes shifting and spinning like soft felt.
We held out gloved hands to watch them all melt.
 
A red robin on a low branch sang our praises,
a bobbing red robin chirped out our praises,
as we traversed the forest’s glistening mazes.
 
The big full moon threw a spotlight on our way,
full moon glowing in a starry night lit our way,
as we merrily looked out for Santa’s sleigh.
 
Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 23, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Poem a Day (482): White

 

White

 

In deep-set snow we trudge out,

feet evicting cracking sounds

as the ground speaks out to us,

whispering the secrets of the trees,

stretched high to the darkening sky.

Night whistles in early, striding over,

dusting a sparkling sweep of stars.

We watch the crossing of a lone deer,

stopping once to sniff the chill air,

a magnificent creature of silence.

Our feet sink into this snowy world,

the crispness echoing all around.

 

Copyright Vickie Johnstone, December 17, 2021