STAR STEEDS - GALLOPING HOME TO ITS OWN BLOG!

Whereas my first 14 books and numerous articles have all focused to greater or lesser extents upon non-fictional zoology, cryptozoology, Forteana, and mythology, my 15th book, Star Steeds and Other Dreams, is, as its subtitle The Collected Poems reveals, a collection of my poetry. As this is such a departure from my more familiar writings, upon reflection I felt that it deserved its own, completely separate blog.

And with that in mind, I have now created one for it, entitled - surprise, surprise! - Star Steeds and Other Dreams, at: http://starsteeds.blogspot.com which I hope that you'll visit whenever you have time, and where I'll be posting selections of my poetry, not only from this book but also various unpublished poems of mine never before seen.

Star Steeds the book is published by CFZ Press, and is readily available directly from them as well as online from such literary stalwarts as Amazon, Waterstones, W H Smiths, Barnes & Noble, and AbeBooks among many other websites. Thanks to everyone who has already purchased a copy, and thanks also in advance to those of you in the future who do so.

STAR STEEDS AND OTHER DREAMS - A PRE-CHRISTMAS OFFER

Pre-Xmas Special: I've a few spare copies of Star Steeds and Other Dreams here, so if anyone wishes to buy one from me before Christmas I'll be happy to sign it. Send me an email at karlshuker@aol.com with details & I'll reply with payment & address info. If you already have a copy, I'll be happy to post you a Star Steed-personalised self-adhesive label signed from me to you, which you can affix inside your copy. Again, just send me an email for details.

All the best, Karl

TIME FOR A RHYME

Quite aside from my scientific writings, and also from my retelling of myths and legends (as seen in my Dragons book and my forthcoming Unicorns volume), I enjoy writing poetry, concentrating in particular upon subjects drawn from the natural and supernatural worlds. My first volume of poetry, presently entitled The Mirror of Mnemosyne, is currently in preparation, and is planned for publication within the next 12 months. Consequently, I hope that you will indulge me if I occasionally include a relevant poem or two within my blog, beginning with the following example:

THE GHOST

Who stands ‘neath the eaves draped in shadows?
Who dwells ‘midst the darkness of Night?
Who calls with a whisper of pathos,
In sorrowful, meaningless flight?

“I stand – ‘midst the dusk of the evening;
I call – from the far side of Time;
I flit – ‘midst the valleys of Sadness,
Rhyme lacking in reasonless rhyme.

“I call – I alone, I unnoticed
In Morning’s pale sun-shadowed dawn.
I call – from the noontide’s bright wonder,
As I through all kingdoms am borne.

“I dwell ‘midst a grey world of Shadow
E’erlasting, past all mortal sight –
A parallel world, silhouetted
In pools’ depthless doorways of Light.

“And here you may see me reflected –
A phantom transparent in Space.
And in your eyes, Memory-painted,
Look inward to witness my face –

“A face from the Past and the Future,
Recaptured and borne into being –
A shadow – till stand I unblemished,
An infant before the All-Seeing”.