Deck the Halls with Yuletide Celebration!

As a gifted singer and musician, writing my own music for an album has been a dream of mine. 

My disabling illness has kept me from what I love to do, but no longer. Technology has caught up to me, finally. In so, I have added Albums and Singles to my repertoire on the right-hand menu, as well as Undawnted's seasonal reads program.

The first album is called Yuletide Celebrations (playlist). Many classic and traditional songs are geared toward religions, but for those of us who are spiritual and revere the natural processes, there is little music for us during the holiday season. This album bridges that gap. 

But the original music is for everybody! 

For example, one single off the album has already been released: Deck the Halls. I will be working on actual music videos in the near future. For now, enjoy a representative song for the album: fun, upbeat, and toe-tapper! 

You won't be able to sit still with these re-imaged renditions, new lyrics, and positive vibe!

Have a great and safe holiday season!

__________

DL Mullan has been a musical wonder and performer for decades. 

A teacher noticed her abilities on her dynamic, and technically perfect, first use of the violin at age ten during class. She was rushed into Competitive Orchestra the next school year. 

After switching schools, her junior high music teacher discerned her aptitude in class. As Ms. Mullan played the violin and the school only offered band and choir, she believed her musical calling would go unanswered. Fortunately, the band instructor loved the idea of having a string instrumentalist. DL Mullan was the first violinist invited into the group and seated in the flute section. She spent two years in band, which she became a magnet for other string-playing students, as well as succeeding to second chair. 

High school was a different matter. A violin in a Marching Band was not a match made. Without any background in singing, Ms. Mullan entered the world of choir. During her time in Concert Choir, she taught herself the piano, some drums, and took guitar lessons to expand her aspirations. Upon developing her voice, she discovered that she was an operatic lyric soprano with at least eight octaves at her disposal. She sang in theater productions, graduations, and other activities from high school and throughout college. 

DL Mullan has written music for competitions, competed in talent shows, won an award for her solo singing, as well as maintained her lyricist skills as an award-winning poet. 

Her grandfather was a jazz pianist, and that legacy is also reflected in her pieces. 

Visit Undawnted's top menu tabs for her Poetry publications and Music repertoire, as well the right-hand menu for her latest albums and singles.

Novelette Review: The Town Santa Forgot from Writing to Be Read

Writing to Be Read's Kaye Lynne Booth published her review of The Town Santa Forgot. 

"Not to give too much away, but The Town [Santa Forgot] : A tale that will tickle the whole family’s fancies. The perfect holiday gift, but would be fun to read year round. As with most Christmas stories, this one is filled with love and hope." 

This Yuletide Carol is a history-mystery tale with added supernatural occurrences and a love-lost romance. Move over holiday romcoms, The Town Santa Forgot has arrived!

For the rest of the review and quill rating, visit Writing to Be Read. 

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The Town Santa Forgot is available as an eBook at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, AppleBooks, Smashwords, and other fine retailers.   

Grab your copy today! 

_____

A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. 

Cover Reveal for The Town Santa Forgot

It is with glad tidings that Undawnted's DL Mullan reveals the cover art for The Town Santa Forgot: 

I had a fun time creating this book cover, and I had even more fun teasing my readers about it. I create my own covers. Digital art is one of my passions. I began producing my own line of digital art called: Spacescapes, circa 2000, and winning awards at Science Fiction Conventions as well as the Arizona State Fair.  

Over time, this art form went from art shows to the cover of many publications, not just my own. One of my first pieces of art won the best Western cover during an online book event. That was thrilling.

Today, I want to reveal to the general audience my creation for The Town Santa Forgot. I hope you find the art compelling, intriguing, and purchase-able! 

The Town Santa Forgot has its publication release party on my Undawntable Newsletter on December 18th. Please join us! It's free. It's fun. You could win your own copy of the novelette, The Town Santa Forgot. 

Cheers!

Have a great rest of your holiday season.

_____

A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Ms. Mullan showcases her literary talents by publishing her creative writing. She has short stories and poems published in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. In addition, she writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan produces her own book cover designs for herself and others. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series.

Join her Undawntable Newsletter for news and updates.

December is a Winter Frost Wonderland

2023 is coming to a close. Even though next year brings changes to our content and lineup as we grow, Undawnted continues spreading the Yuletide spirit in the now.

A Novelist Idea will have another graduation for completers of our newsletter's creative program, Hint of the Divine, but this curriculum will move from the newsletter to a fee-based membership in 2024. Stay tuned as Undawnted's Member's Only area develops. 

This last month of the year will see more events arise. The cover reveal party for The Town Santa Forgot will be hosted by our publisher: Sonoran Dawn Studios: Yuletide Jingle: Cover Reveal Party. December 9th-11th, this party will bring our audience new authors to follow and read, as well as contests and prizes. Don't miss your chance to celebrate the holidays with DL Mullan, especially her upcoming Winter Solstice and The Town Santa Forgot release parties (via A Novelist Idea Newsletter). 

Join now and be ready for more publication and cover reveals in the coming weeks. Undawnted's Winter Frost Seasonal Reads program helps with gifting and getting into the spirit of the season. 

This year has been wonderful for creativity and the imagination! 

Thank you all for your continued support of independent creators.

Have a joyous and fulfilling holiday season.

_____

A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet. 

 Keep up with her activities by subscribing to her monthly/quarterly A Novelist Idea Newsletter.

 

Holiday Poetry with a Political Twist

The 12 Days of Geoengineering
By: DL Mullan

On the first day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

scratchy itchy skin and

full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the second day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the third day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the fourth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the fifth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the sixth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the seventh day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management  

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the eighth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Barium caused Renal Failure  

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the ninth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Tree Fungal Infections

Barium caused Renal Failure 

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the tenth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

UVC that Disinfected My Skin Right Off

Tree Fungal Infections

Barium caused Renal Failure 

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the eleventh day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Dying Oceans and Beached Whales

UVC that Disinfected My Skin Right Off

Tree Fungal Infections

Barium caused Renal Failure 

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management 

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

On the twelfth day of spraying the atmosphere,

the geoengineers gave to me:

Tic Tac Toe Lines in the Sky

Dying Oceans and Beached Whales

UVC that Disinfected My Skin Right Off

Tree Fungal Infections

Barium caused Renal Failure 

Now it’s called: Climate Change

More Lies about Global Warming

Rickets from Solar Radiation Management  

Aluminum induced Alzheimer’s

A Depleted Ozone Layer

Strontium Burnt Lungs

And full-fledged Morgellons Disease

*****

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

Winter is Now in Session

December has begun my Winter Reads.

So check out my sidebar menu and see what  I have available for this season!

Have a great and wonderful holiday season!

Countdown to Yule

The UK's Telegraph has a countdown application and Winter Solstice is about 2 hours away.

Here is the link to the article with that meter:  When is the 2015 winter solstice? Everything you need to know about the shortest day of the year.

Not everyone in the world celebrates Christmas. There are a number of different celebrations during this time of year. One of which is Yule.

Yule harkens back to Odin and Norse mythology. It is a time to butcher livestock for their meat, the mead/ale was ready in their casks, and the freezing weather was the death cycle of nature. 

The Winter Solstice became a celebration of life, and the upcoming renewal of spring. 

So this night of the longest darkness and shortest light, be thankful that tomorrow begins the cycle of renewal. 

For the Sonoran Desert:

9h 55m Tomorrow will be 0m0s shorter.

Enjoy the legends, the history, and the holiday spirit.

Tomorrow will be 1m29s shorter

Autumn cometh! 

October is my favorite time of year, so I will post how the days get shorter in anticipation of fall. 

What is disturbing is that stores are already placing their Halloween items out. I do not believe autumn should start at the end of July. I don't believe Xmas shopping should happen until the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

It feels that Americans have gotten away from the joy of the holidays. Halloween is to dress up and spend time with your friends. Children should believe October 31st is a magical night that will give them memories for a lifetime. 

Thanksgiving should be a time of celebration and giving thanks. Gratitude for all the sacrifices people have made to make America great, while not forgetting the terrible things that befell the First Nations who are now on reservations. 

Christmas and other end of year holidays should not come at the expense of other holidays or traditions. I mean, really, do we need Black Friday? 

No, course we do not. 

What we need are a nation of people who care and have moral/ethical behavior. A 99c flat screen tv is not worth the time a father or mother has to be at work to serve you and be away from their kids during the Thanksgiving holiday. 

We should be paying a fair wage so no one has to work on the holidays. Or, receive food stamps. Or, live out of their vehicle., 

While I love October, Halloween, the holidays make me think about how I conduct myself around the holiday season.

What will you do to make the season brighter for someone else? 

The Day After Madness Speaks Volumes about Society

'Twas the Day After everyone's holiday of gift giving and filled bellies, and now what?

Shopping! 

Hasn't everyone had enough already? Apparently not and that says volumes about our society. No moral or ethical wherewithal. Shop 'til you drop. Don't be engaged with reality. Just spend, spend, spend. 

What happened to the American Society of Truth, Justice, and the American Way? Have we really not taught our current younger generations about decency or respect? Black Friday, you say? Okay, never mind.

If Generation X cannot walk away from the sin of overspending, then how can their children learn the value of anything? Thanks to cheap foreign labor and corporate greed to give us less for more, we know the cost of things, but not the value.

For instance: if you work for $20 an hour, a $5 toy is 15 minutes worth of your time at work. Mowing someone's lawn for $20, which takes you two hours to do right... that toy now costs you 30 minutes of your sweat. Cost versus Value. Why do we not teach this concept anymore?

It appears we have allowed ourselves to be duped by cheap materialism. We have hoarders. We have people glued to their cellular phones. We have no one paying attention.

So we have Black Fridays. People harming others for trinkets. We have young people who do not take responsibility for their actions. These examples are crimes against the soul.

If our society does not begin to teach value of people, time, labor, paychecks, and things, then we are doomed to be hamsters on the retail shopping wheel for life.

And, condemn future generations with us.

'Twas the Night Before Xmas... Zombie Style

I discovered this rendition of "Twas the Night Before Christmas, but this one is a bit creepy.

Here take a listen: Happy Creepy Christmas.

Enjoy!

Happy Yule Tidings

December 21st is the customary day of celebration for Yule. It's supposed to be the shortest day of the year. With the long night, the land lays fallow waiting for the warmth of the spring to come.

Pagans have celebrated this day of death and rebirth for as long as humans have marked the cycles. 

Other religions have taken the holiday and made it their own through political and religious might. So we have holiday after holiday during the winter season. 

I enjoy celebrating today because it feels purer than other days. I am not brainwashed to believe in a birth I know did not happen until March or pressured into being like everyone else. I can be me and celebrate what I chose, when I chose to do it.

Yule for me is about saying good-bye to the old. I have a lot of old to say good-bye to too. This year I have become quite independent as a disabled American. I have my ups and downs, my bad days and my good days. Everyday I am grateful that I can be who I am without ridicule, pressure, or disrespect from others. 

I am very ill. Nothing is really going to change that aspect of my life. There is only so many times your immune system can be collapsed, your liver compromised, your renal system infected, and your digestive system attacked to notice that your nervous system, heart, and lungs do not work as they should any longer.

Even though I am in bed more hours of the day than I am in motion, I still am grateful for every day that I am here. I have a lot to do! I am doing my art and writing my books. 

I am doubly grateful to be the editor and staff writer for my community online newspaper: the Villa de Paz Gazette. I only hope to continue writing great articles that impact the way people perceive reality. 

I am also helping my community fight off a vulture capitalist that wants to destroy our golf course for a housing development. It's nice to be back in the saddle again, even if it's a kid's pony ride. 

Yule like other holidays should bring out the best in you. 

Be happy. Be grateful. Be open. 

The universe is watching and waiting for you to open up to the possibilities that await. So take some time this busy holiday season and make a list. Check it twice. List all the things you are grateful for. 

With joy and gratitude in your heart, nothing is impossible: including a miraculous recovery...