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K. L. Stewart's Dark Angels blog gives details into the characters, worlds, and inspirations related to all of the books in my Angels and Shadows series.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Quarantined With Kids

It seems as if all of us here in the U.S.A. may be in this quarantine for two weeks, if not longer.  I see many people posting on Facebook that they are having a tough time with their kids being home.  While every situation is different, many parents are faced now with both working from home and having to temporarily homeschool their kids.

Let’s all take a deep breath and think about this. Our kids love us and we love them.  Sure, we want what’s best for them, but what’s best for them right now is to have you as emotional support.  So, now is a great time to teach them things that they will never learn in school.  They can learn how to cook.  You can teach them about taxes (for those of you working on that), and budgeting.  You can teach them how to garden (it’s a great time to plant their own food).  Teach them crochet and knitting, sewing.  You can also keep them up to date on academic school if you choose to.  We live in the age of the internet.  There are numerous, wonderful websites where they can still gather information and even play games to help them learn.  I’m  not an expert, but here’s what I do when my kids are home.

1.  We go outside when we can.  Whether it’s to swing on the swing set or just so they can run around.  If your kids are older, turn this into homeschool time.  Look at the things around you.  Do you have a dandelion poking out of a crack in the driveway?  Turn that into both a science and a morality lesson.  That dandelion doesn’t care that that rock is on top.  It’s pushing through the toughness and thriving anyway...now, go research dandelions.  Give a report on them, (for whatever is appropriate for that age).

2.  It’s ok to let your kids do chores.  Both yard work and housework.  You may find that the chores are getting easier because you have helping hands.

3.  Spend time with them watching t.v., playing video games, playing board games, or simply playing make-believe.  Don’t worry about being an adult for a little while.

4.  Have activities they can do like drawing, coloring, play-doh, and things like that.  You can join in or use this time to get your own work done.

5.  Read to them, even if they are older, or have them read to you.  You can listen to a story while you cook a family meal.

6.  Still ground them if you need to.  You can take away the electronics if you need to.

7.  When you have work that you absolutely have to do, that’s a great time to let them watch T.V. in another room, play in their room, or get their academic work done.  Schedule a “quiet time” for yourself and let them know that’s when you have to work.  After a few days, they will settle down when they realize that’s part of the routine.

8.  Have a routine.  Some kids need a schedule.  It helps them feel more secure if they know what to expect.  Other kids are fine without one, so get to know your kid and what’s best for them.

9.  Chill out.  Kids often act out when they notice we are upset or panicking.  Enjoy your time with them, but separate yourselves when you need to.  They can go to their room and you go to yours.  Or wherever you need to go.  And remember, they are human too, and they have emotions, but sometimes they have a harder time explaining how they feel or even understanding what they feel.  So, above all, just try to be patient.  This can either be a huge struggle, or a great blessing.  Control what you can by making the most of what you have.

10.  Teach by example.  In other words, children mimic the behavior that they see in the adults around them.  Now is the time to stay level-headed.

Hang in there, parents.  We’ve got this.  We may find that our children have a thing or two to teach us.  May you all stay healthy during this weird time we live in.  Best wishes!

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Angels & Hunters is Here!

Angels & Hunters, the second installment of the Dark Angel Wars is finally here.  I have been working on Angels & Hunters since 2011, but a lot of changes and things taking place in my life ultimately delayed the release.  It is with great excitement that I announce that it is finally here.  Get it now on Amazon.com at my author page:  amazon.com/author/k.l.stewart               
Please feel free to send others to my page and spread the word.  This book has been a long time in the making and even though it is shorter than the first book, I feel that it is better in many ways.  I hope you enjoy, and if you do then please feel free to leave a review on Amazon.  Also, join my mailing list.  This is where (if all goes as planned), you'll get book readings, cut scenes, and many other goodies from all of my books.  So please fill out that form on the side of my blog so that you can make sure to get in on all the extras!  Until next time, Happy Reading!

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Exciting News

The second installment in The Dark Angel Wars is nearing completion.  I started writing this back years and years ago.  The final draft I began in 2012, and yes, it has taken me this long to complete it.  To those of you who have been waiting, just know that I am working very hard to get it out by the end of this summer.  I have edited, re-written, and nitpicked every detail.  With that being said, I'm sure there might still be a couple of spots that can use work, but I want to deliver the best book to you that I can.  I just have a few loose ends to tie up (like deciding on the final title and cover).  It won't be long though, so keep checking for updates on this site, my facebook, and sign up for my email list.  You can also check out my author page on Amazon where you can purchase previous books as well as leave reviews.  Also see my previous post to let me know what you think of cover concepts.

The K. L. Stewart Amazon Author Page

The K. L. Stewart Facebook Page


Friday, May 27, 2016

Cover Concept

I have been thinking about my cover for Angels & Hunters: book two of the Dark Angel Wars.  I've been playing around with different media and design programs.  These were designed on my phone.  Thoughts on these concepts?  Do you like the ideas or no?   Comments would be greatly appreciated.


Wednesday, May 25, 2016

If You Wish Upon A Dandelion

The warm sunny days that we have had in North Carolina this spring have brought out many beautiful flowers.  Of all the flowers in the world, I have to say that I'm the oddity that appreciates the dandelions.  I think they are so much more than the irritating weeds that so many people think are waging war on their lawns.  Dandelions have many uses (for more on this there are many articles and recipes), and are vital to bee populations, but even more so to me, they represent my childhood wishes.  How many of you remember playing outside on warm sunny days, blowing the dandelion seeds to make a wish? 
The flowers outside our store

Me and my seventeen month old daughter love going outside and picking dandelions.  I am teaching her about making wishes on them.  It is a tradition.  One that I am proud to uphold and that builds a bond between me and my daughter.  I believe children's wishes are much more than wishes.  They are dreams, and hope.  They are the wildest imaginings and emotion that a child can carry.

My daughter with her flowers
 Now, I know I'm not the traditional parent.  For those of you who don't know, my husband and I own a game shop.  So, I'm raising my children in a very busy and non-traditional environment.  However, we have back rooms away from the main store where the oldest can have television time and relaxation and the youngest can play with her toys and take naps.  We don't have a big yard at the store to play in but I do often walk to the park and let my youngest play and even if we don't go to the park, my youngest likes me to put her in the stroller and stroll around the parking lot.  We have a picnic table that she can sit on and she likes to sit outside and watch cars, birds, and trains.  We also pick some of the only flowers available to us, dandelions.  To her these are wishes and a bit of natural beauty in the city. 

So, knowing now how I feel about dandelions and wishes and how important they are to my child, you can imagine how upset I was when the town decided to spray the nastiest smelling weed killer all over her dandelions as well as my mother-in-law's rose bush, which sits outside of our store.

This is my mother-in-law's rosebush (notice the brown and yellow)  It is almost all dead today.



We couldn't go outside for three days because the smell was so atrocious (it literally burned my nostrils).  My daughter got sick, probably from inhaling the fumes when the door opened, and all of her beautiful yellow and green wishes got turned brown.  They are still there, mind you, still standing, but brown.
The dandelions after being sprayed.


So, not only did the city fail to do what they set out to do, but they destroyed something beautiful,
something that was special.  They destroyed my daughter's wishes.  So I'm writing this not only to rant, but to spread the dandelion love.  Be aware of what you are doing and your impact on the environment and other human beings.  If you're going to destroy something, first of all, make sure you really want it gone, and second of all, make sure that you do it the right way (if you really want to kill a dandelion, you have to pull it up by the root).  Please enjoy the following articles and recipes on dandelions as well as your spring and summer.


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Another World's Ocean

Sitting at the bottom
of another world's ocean
Just rubbing my feet
through these grains of sand

When the sky clouds up
The waves toss loudly
Rolling with the thunder
Ignited with lightning energy

I can only marvel at it all
Wonder if I am seen
If I'm counted among the sand
If they know I watch their beach

Friday, October 23, 2015

Thinking

Life is short, hopefully the afterlife is shorter...and we're on to living again.  Seeing those we've missed.

Life will Never work out the way we dream or plan it.  There's always a bigger thing staring us in the face that is so big we can't see it until we're already too far into its tooth filled mouth.

I am still who I want to be but the reality is that all of us have to fight to fulfill our dreams.  I am determined to be a fighter, a survivor.  Even though reality is a never ending struggle.

Money rules us all whether we want it to or not.  It's unfortunate.  If we valued human life, the earth and ourselves as much as we value money, then we would not need it.  The world is cruel.

just a few thoughts...