Reviewed by You: Midnight Garden Review of Kurst, A Salt Pines Mystery

About Kurst: A Salt Pines Mystery

 

Karen Kurst comes into the legal possession of her deceased grandmother's cabin in Salt Pines, Arizona. As she delves into the secrets of the quaint mountain village, she discovers that there is more than meets the eye. A mysterious creature roams the woods, a blended cryptid: Elemental, Sasquatch, and Skinwalker. The only way to contain this entity is through a magical spell passed down by her ancestor, Ralph Wallen II. Teaming up with the local indigenous sheriff, Karen is determined to break the family curse. 

However, the question remains - will she have to sacrifice her own life to protect her newfound community?

For more on A Salt Pines Mystery series, visit Undawnted's Kurst page. 

• The Kurst short story was published in Midnight Garden anthology by WordCrafter Press. 
• Kurst: A Salt Pine Mystery novelette is available as a stand-alone book, and published by Sonoran Dawn Studios/Publishing, and Undawnted.  

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The Review 

LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: Book Review 
Anthology Review: MIDNIGHT GARDEN: Where Dark Tales Grow

Also, suspenseful but not as grim, DL Mullan’s “Kurst,” is one of my favorites in this collection. Set in Salt Pines, a village in Arizona, “between dreamy pine peaks and unfathomable horrors,” the story opens when Karen Kurst leaves her [photojournalist] job to check out the “Kurst inheritance” on the [Tonto] National Forest’s eastern edge. After she encounters Sheriff “Bear” Barrett, who offers her background about her inheritance and [r]eading materials, this story takes readers on a wild—frightening—but fulfilling “ride.”

 

Read the rest of her review of Midnight Garden anthology on Writing to be Read.  

 

Also, on Undawnted's YouTube channel: Kurst: A Salt Pines Mystery | Review by You | DL Mullan. 

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About DL Mullan

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, as well as creating original soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology, and is a syndicated columnist, writing Undawntech monthly.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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2023 Retired Poems on My Poetry Forum

At the end of October 2022, My Poetry Forum went dark. 

In light of this website going defunct, all poems have now been retired from public review and comment. Undawnted has other poems and forums in the public sphere, but in the future will concentrate more on our YouTube Channel and Undawnteum sites. This change will ensure that our readership will have access to free reads in times to come. 

We are so sorry this snafu has occurred. 

Please be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel, as well as bookmark Undawnteum. There is a wealth of information already on the site, currently under construction, for you to read about Undawnted's creative spark, DL Mullan, and her writings. 

While you are here, sign up for A Novelist Idea and take your creativity to a whole new level. 

Thank you so very much for your time. We appreciate and adore our readership. 

Team Undawnted  

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Undawnted's YouTube Channel offers poetry shorts to full-fledged poetry feature films in our Poetry Slam section. This new playlist will give you more of the rhymes you crave.

Subscribe for more award-level poems written by DL Mullan.

Autumn Cider 2022 New and Upcoming Releases are Magic

Need a new read? Undawnted has something new for you! We have been working hard to bring the creative imagination alive. This season keeps bringing on the enchanting prose and poetry. 

Our Autumn Cider publications have rhythm, rhyme, and Father Time. 

All you have to do is Believe in Magic.

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This season's New Releases:

Long Form Poetry
Baptizing the Dead
Beware... the Devil may come bearing gifts.

Wild West and the Pueblo Diablo 
A lone sheriff tracks the devil to a remote pueblo.

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Upcoming Releases:

Short Stories
The Story of Ophlupin  
How the mythology and origin of werewolves began: anger the gods, pay the price. 

Visions Anthology
The Reality Hackers
Don't let your life get hacked.

 

Follow the links for more information, and ways to purchase these unique creative writes.

*****

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. This year, DL Mullan has begun sharing her knowledge via A Novelist Idea Newsletter. If you too want to become a Fearless Phile, then subscribe to her newsletter on Substack. 

Her innovative style teaches writers how to reach their creative potential, and write more effectively.

Learn. Grow. Master… with Undawnted.

 

 

Show Review: The Orville: New Horizons is Better than Star Trek: The Next Generation

I know it is a bold statement, but I do not regret a single word of it. 

There are Trekkies whose heads just exploded all over their monitors and laptop screens. I will not take back the statement. The Orville: New Horizons is Better than Star Trek: The Next Generation. It is the unvarnished truth. 

...and perhaps too many colons!

I love Star Trek. I remember watching a Star Trek Marathon of the original show on television when I was a child. I was about eleven or twelve. I have been to a Star Trek Convention with Michael Dorn as the guest speaker. 

Star Trek in recent times has tried to be a social and political commentator that feels like preaching, more than entertaining. It is fine to have relevant topics in entertainment, but when entertainment steps across the line into a "teachable moment," or outright "manipulation," that is when you lose me as a viewer. I am an adult and I expect to be treated that way. 

...that goes for politicians too. 

What The Orville did with their New Horizons season was multifold. First, Captain Ed Mercer grew up. That was a plus. He no longer obsessed over his ex-wife and their failed marriage. That left room for him to become captain and take on internal and external ship problems. Second, the comedic childishness fell to the waste side. Third, the storylines were more mature, still had their humorous moments, but kept true to the nature of the show. 

This season's storylines were quite impressive. There was the obvious slant to some of the tales, but a balance was reached on most of the content. 60/40 left to right in certain circumstances, but most of the time the stories and characters seemed more of a 50/50 balance between political views. 

Sometimes I did wonder where the show was going, and then the writers reined their opinions back in. A good science fiction/space opera will allow the audience to decide for themselves, not make decisions for them and then cram the lesson down their throats. The Orville: New Horizons is going in the direction of a well-written, performed, and astute in politics, culture, and society show worthy of being watched.

I will reiterate: I don't want to be preached to or at. That statement is for the socialists of both identity politics and religion. Just don't step over that line. You will neither get my vote, nor my time. 

Too often, the culture wars between these two extremist views like Marxists and the Evangelicals spills over into my world. I believe that these segments of society try to win over the majority by omitting facts and their real agenda. The real agenda is to force-feed either strict religious "morality" or communism without the voter's understanding, awareness, or permission.

The Orville: New Horizons skirted that perilous road with some uneasiness. From time to time, I thought the ship would head over a cliff, but was saved by common sense. I appreciate the effort. In the end, the show turned in solid performances, an equipoised world view, and the right type of thought-provoking debate that the audience should have with themselves. 

...let the roasting of me begin.

Have a great and wonderful day.

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If you enjoyed this review, then check out her other reviews on Amazon and IMDB. 

Remember to hit that Helpful button. 

DL Mullan is a Hollywood Scriptwriter-trained writer. She has spent time in front of the camera and on stage, as well has being crew on a number of projects. 

 Learn. Grow. Master... with Undawnted.

Summer is Coming to a Close

On Undawnted, we follow the meteorological seasons. September 1st, therefore, is the beginning of our Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads programming. The season lasts until November 30th of each year. 

But don't fret, Undawnted is still in the Summer Time swing! 

We have one more publication for this season that has yet to be released: Saint (III) in the Devil You Know. The exciting and heartwarming conclusion to the Saint trilogy. 

This August we have re-released Saint (I) in the Big Easy, published Saint (II) in Communion, and now the last installment will go wide on August 30, 2022.

We are elated to bring you these novelettes! 

This series is tied into Undawnted's Exclusive Legacy Universe. So, there is sure to be some weird and creepy prologues and epilogues to tantalize your senses.

What is next for Eavanlee and Girard? The answers lie in the upcoming Legacy Universe Taskforce Crossovers. 

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If you would like an invitation to the Member's Only activities, then subscribe to A Novelist Idea Newsletter. Subscribers always get the goodie bag. Contests, freebies, events, parties, projects, tours, and more!  

Have a great and spiritual day, 

Team Undawnted

Exciting! Autumn Cider 2021 Begins Today for Undawnted's Seasonal Reads Program

As the evenings turn cool, fire pits are decorated with people cooking marshmallows and wearing sweaters.

The holidays are close at hand. First, we get to enjoy the descending darkness into longer nights. We get costumes and candy... and fireside stories from beyond.

How do you get your fall fill? Well, read, of course!

Here are some of my reads for your reading list:

Fiction
Novels  
In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Relative
Novel about the supernatural ties that link people between the ages. 

In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Reactive
Novel about the supernatural ties that link people between the ages. 

In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Restorative
Novel about the supernatural ties that link people between the ages.

Novellas
Haunted
Is the life you have really your own? Walk-ins are unwelcome.

*****
Nonfiction
Articles, Essays, & Research
TBA

*****
Poetry
Chapbooks 
The Descent: a darker breed of poetry  
Haunting... paranormal... cryptic... literary and contemporary fantasy. 

Habitué
Are we our own best enemy?

Long Form Poetry
Baptizing the Dead
Beware... the Devil may come bearing gifts.

Structured Poetry
TBA

 

Autumn Reads and Workshops runs September 1st to November 30th.

 

 

 

 

Seasons are Changing: Last Day for Summer Time Reads for 2021

The last time of meteorological summer is upon us. Be sure to take a final look at our Summer Time Seasonal Reads program. 

Next stop: Autumn Cider and exciting new reads!

 

When summer rolls around, we are ready to sit by the pool with an iced tea. A book is worth all the rays of the sun. Summer is about finding time for yourself, to relax. 

The days are longer. The nights are warm. Summer is the fantasy season of our lives.

Out by the water, what to do? Read with your sunglasses on, of course! 

Here are some of my reads for your reading list:

Fiction
Novels 
Crossing Kaitlin 
Kaitlin Lane has made some mistakes in her life, but being a part of an FBI investigation may be the biggest one yet.

Novellas
Saint in the Big Easy
What happens when you discover the only person who can save you is you?   

Saint in Communion and Saintuary
What's next is anyone's guess.

Saint in the Devil You Know 
What do you do when the devil dances in the pale moonlight?

*****
Nonfiction
Articles, Essays, & Research 
A Writer's Guide to Writing
Push the envelope and become great.

***** 
Poetry
Chapbooks 
Effloresce
Escape into Poetry with this dynamic chapbook about nature's volatility. 

Long Form Poetry
The Rain: Monsoon in the Desert
Deep... emotive... lyrical... epic poem!

Structure Poetry
Thrice
Three line poetry variations like Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka, as well as non-structured poetry.


Summer Reads and Workshops run June 1st to August 31st.

Undawnted will be Moving to a Different Server

Because of the censorship, Undawnted cannot trust Blogger (Google) to be professional law abiding corporations, but to push censorship. 

So in the coming weeks, Undawnted will move to a different server and hopefully this new company will uphold my rights as an American. 

The url/domain name will still be the same, but the website will change to work as a website versus a blog. 

See you soon! 

Thank you for your support.

To Believe or not to Believe, Can a Polarized Writer be Believed?

So what makes up a writer?

I have been asking myself this question for a long time. Is a writer a product of their environment? Or, is the environment a product of the activities of a writer? 

It seems creative thinkers ebb and flow with the world around them but always just outside of the mainstream. Reporting, reacting, and responding to the political, social, and economic happenings for good or ill around him or her is the creator's way. Then infusing that vibration in the characters and story lines that are written.

I have come across creative thinkers over the years, and many in recent months, who have stopped being the outside observer and have become apart of the system.  I watch them. I watch how these artists and writers conduct themselves. Their behavior matches the extremes of current events and political talking points. I am aghast. 

A creative being is ineffectual when absorbed by the prevailing energies of the time. Either writers have joined the far right camp or the far left. That leaves me smack dab in the middle. 

With my formal education and my research activities, I have come to understand the many gears turning our world and how these mechanisms drive our world as a whole. To explain such machinations to the programmed mind is a perilous endeavor as I have discovered. 

You cannot say that researched fact, you must believe! Belief is for people who have stopped searching and just want to exist in the vibration of life. That is not me. 

I am in search of knowledge and wisdom. That imparts a duality of soul, inspiration of the heart. and path that cannot be walked in one lifetime, but on successive adventures in the energies of the universe. Who are we? Why are we here? Who sent us into this density? Dimension? To fulfill our individual destinies? 

Energy is felt yet intangible. It shapes our universe and creates reality. How we use that energy is how we realize our world. 

How does a wanderer bring the different aspects of reality together if everyone is so polarized that facts, figures, and sense don't exist as a common denominator? 

I ask because reality is adrift. People choose belief over everything else. Religion of gods or emotion is destroying the fabric of the space-time continuum. 

Can the imagination of one writer bring a cohesiveness to reality so people will stop tearing themselves and others apart? 

I do not know the answer to that and many other questions. I do know that the path of a creator is not to be sucked into the propaganda, but to deflect it and shine a light on the manipulation. 

If you are a writer, are you being the observer? Are you showing the hypocrisy of the right and the left? 

Or, are you too busy trying to be right in your beliefs that you have forgotten why we are here?  

I haven't forgotten my place as the observer. Belief has no sway here. Only knowledge and wisdom. 

What do you believe that keeps you from becoming the writer you have always wanted to be? 

Donate. Only You can keep Undawnted Ad Free.

Total Eclipse of the Sun

Is it safe to come back out again? The sun surely did. 

For tens of thousands of years, humankind has been awe inspired by the natural clockwork of our sun, satellite, solar system, and constellations. So when time and tide collide, humans gather to experience the unimaginable. 

Humans get to suspend their belief in order to believe. A strange dichotomy of two opposing forces of anticipation creates the push and pull of fulfillment and anxiety. The fruition of a dream and a nightmare are made reality. 

As humans retire to bed with the eclipse imagery dancing in their heads, we must ask what dreams were inspired by the experience? Did the eclipse inspire a genius? A writer? An actor? Scientist? 

When writers imagine their plot lines and characters, then take a moment to recall that place inside you that experienced the eclipse. A writer has to write on the knife's edge of suspended belief and the belief of belief as well as between fulfillment and anxiety. 

So as writers stay awake a few more minutes to savor the day, remember also to savor the feeling. For writers write with an understanding that their stories are unimaginable suspended belief of a story that becomes real to the reader experiencing it in the moment. 

Have a great and wonderful day.

Link to Me on LinkedIn

Want to join me on LinkedIn?

Come on down. Have fun reading my resume and endorsing my featured skills! Start a conversation.

DL Mullan

Author Artist Editor Publisher

Villa de Paz Gazette

Ashford University

Have a great and wonderful day!

New Book Marketing Design

How is this for showing off?

More like inspired by. Not too shabby. I think this new design feature will only be available to those publications which have been previously released and leave the soon-to-be released as the normal two-dimensional design. 

So be on the lookout for my publications (with a link to Lulu through Sonoran Dawn Studios) when you see this neat three-dimensional design here on Undawnted.

Have a great and wonderful day!

Happy New Year's Eve

This day is a time for reflection and gratitude. 

2016 was a year of ups and downs. At first, the year seemed lost to the negative funk, but then turned around at the end of spring. 

Then the year ended with a mix of highs and lows.  

So today is about releasing the negative and accepting the positive into our lives. To do that, make a list of what you are thankful for.

I wanted to take this moment and thank all of my readers, customers, and fellow writers. Your support and encouragement has been warmly received. I only hope to aspire to greater heights to entertain and inform in this next coming year. 

Thank you. I appreciate every good vibration sent my way. I am grateful for the opportunity to write for you. 

Have a great and wonderful day!

In the Name of Blood Released

Finally! 

In the Name of Blood, the vampire crime-drama has been published by Sonoran Dawn Studios. 

This ebook pdf will be free until the last minute of Halloween. So be sure to grab your copy before the free trial fortnight is up. 

I am so excited to finally have one of my stories published in book form. The print version will be available this coming summer with the second installment of the book due out in October of 2017. 

Thank you to everyone who has made my dreams possible!


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Support Great Artists

Each link to Undawnted's publications have ways to purchase from our fine retailers.

books2read.com/IntheNameofBlood

 

 Buy your copies today! 

 

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 About DL Mullan:

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, as well as soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

As always: Like, Comment, Follow/Subscribe!

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Become an Undawntable

Keep up-to-date with everything Undawnted through Substack: Undawntable Newsletter. 

 

Join today! 

New Logo Sneak Peak

As promised, the website's new look for the New Year: 

Immersion Reading is Good for the Soul

Have you ever loved what book you were reading that could not put it down? You did not hear the phone? Or could not finish your book until you spent 24 hours reading it all the way through the first time?

In the article: Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer, Time Magazine explains that ""Deep reading" is vigorous exercise from the brain and increases our real-life capacity for empathy."

“Deep reading” — as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web — is an endangered practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art. Its disappearance would imperil the intellectual and emotional development of generations growing up online, as well as the perpetuation of a critical part of our culture: the novels, poems and other kinds of literature that can be appreciated only by readers whose brains, quite literally, have been trained to apprehend them.

So go ahead, enjoy your book binges!

It just means you have a better understanding of the world around you.

Have a great and wonderful day.


Source: Time