How Exercise Supports Your Mental Wellbeing

Posted on August 4, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

Exercise is good for your body, as everyone knows. Regular exercise is good for your joints and your heart, for example, but did you know that exercise is good for your mental wellbeing too?

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How Exercise Supports Your Mental Wellbeing

Physical activity has a huge potential to support your well-being. Even a short 10-minute walk can be enough to lift your mood and give you more energy. 

Regular exercise can also lift your self-esteem and reduce the amount of stress and anxiety that you feel. It can also ward off mental health problems and improve your quality of life. 

Impact On Your Mood

Regular exercise has a positive impact on your mood. After taking part in physical activity, such as going for a walk or swimming, you feel more content, awake, and calm than you do after something sedentary, like watching television or reading a book. If you’re already in a low mood, exercise can help to lift it again and make you feel better. 

There are a lot of studies that look into how being physically active at different intensity levels affect your mood. In general, the research agrees that low-intensity aerobic exercise, for about half an hour, three to five times a week is the best for lifting your mood and making you feel more alert. If you’re still building up to working out more, you can support your efforts with a good diet and supplements. Visit the website to find out more about supplements. 

Impact On Your Stress

When you feel under threat, your body ups its natural defences, which makes you feel stressed. Stress can trigger several physical symptoms, make you behave differently, and make you experience your emotions more intensely. 

The most common physical symptoms that come with stress include trouble sleeping, sweating, and losing your appetite. These symptoms are caused by stress hormones in the body, often known as the ‘fight or flight response’. These hormones are adrenaline and noradrenaline. These both raise your blood pressure, make your heart beat faster, and make you sweat more because your body thinks it has to prepare for an emergency and to react. These responses reduce blood flow to the skin and stomach activity, while another stress hormone, cortisol, releases sugar and fat into your system to attempt to increase your energy levels. 

Exercise is an effective way to relieve stress and reduce all these unpleasant side effects. 

Impact On Your Self-Esteem

As well as being good for your physical health, exercise can also increase your self-esteem and self-worth. How you feel about yourself is a good indicator of how your mental wellbeing is doing, and how able you are to cope with the stress of daily life. 

The relationship between good self-esteem and regular exercise has been found in children, teenagers, adults, and seniors, in both men and women. 

Exercise And Dementia And Cognitive Decline In Older People

Improvements in healthcare mean that people are living longer now, with more and more people living to well over 65 years of age. As well as this increase in life expectancy, there has also been an increase in the number of people who are living with cognitive decline and other memory-based conditions, such as dementia. 

Dementia is a progressive disease that results in increased memory loss often. It’s also common for older people to experience other declines in their cognitive function, such as reduced ability to concentrate or pay attention. Exercise is known to be an effective way to reduce your likelihood of developing dementia or losing your cognitive function. If you already have these conditions, regular exercise can help to prevent your symptoms from declining further. Adults who are active every day are less likely to experience depression, dementia, and cognitive decline. 

Impact On Depression And Anxiety

Being more physically active is a common alternative way to treat depression. It can be used on its own as a treatment and coping tool, or it can be used alongside other treatments such as medication and therapy. The advantage of exercise is that it comes with very few side effects, and it doesn’t come with any of the stigmas that some people have about having to attend therapy or counselling or take antidepressants. 

Exercising on a regular basis can also reduce your levels of anxiety if you struggle with mild symptoms. Exercise can also be a useful tool as part of the treatment for clinical anxiety.

Exercise is a great tool for mental wellbeing of all kinds. It’s available to everyone, can be adapted to match all budgets, and is an empowering way to care for yourself.

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

Note: This is a collaborative article.

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You Need These Skills And Traits As A New Business Owner

Posted on August 4, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

You’re not alone if you’re thinking about starting a new business. Countless people have this goal in life and are keen to bring it to fruition. But will they be able to? Well, this is a different question and it’s important to realize that not everyone will find success with their business on the market. Indeed, if you look at the statistics, it becomes very clear that the majority of new businesses do fail within the first year. That’s a problem and one that you should try to avoid if you can. This all comes to whether you have the right skills and traits of a successful business owner.

So, let’s explore some of the key factors that you do need to keep in mind here. 

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Charisma And Confidence 

First, you need to make sure that you have the right level of confidence. Confidence will be important in two ways. You need to have confidence in your business idea and confidence in yourself. Do be aware that you are part of the brand identity of your company, particularly if you are running a small business or working as a solopreneur. You will need to be ready to liaise with clients and meet with potential investors. If you don’t have the right level of confidence, they are not going to want to engage with your brand. 

There are signs of confidence that you need to be aware of. This includes eye contact and your handshake if you are meeting in person. Of course, these days, a lot of business meetings are going to be completed virtually. As such, it does make sense to think about your voice too. You need to make sure that you are speaking clearly and don’t go off on tangents. If you go off on a tangent, then it will always seem like you don’t know what you’re talking about, even if you do. You might want to practice speaking in an authoritative tone. You can record yourself speaking, paying attention to the tone as well as how quickly you are saying sentences. 

Being charismatic is something that comes naturally to certain people. Some individuals find that groups simply gravitate towards them and this is a great trait to have when you are running a business. It will make it easier to get the right people to sign on the dotted line and will also be tied to being a great leader. We’ll talk about this more a little further down. 

Budgeting 

If you are running a small business, then budgeting does need to be part of your skillset. Contrary to what you might have heard, you can’t start a business with nothing. You need to be ready and able to put the right amount of money down on the table. This comes with a certain level of risk. So, it’s important to make sure that you are spending money in the right areas and crucially, not plunging your business model into debt. 

Thankfully, there are tools available these days that make budgeting easier. For instance, you can explore cloud accounting solutions. With the right cloud accounting service, you will be able to make sure that you keep track of your spending in real-time. 

You could also think about using the services of a professional account. The big benefit of taking this step is that you won’t have to worry about issues with your spending growing out of control. This is a key example of where spending a little more could save you a fortune in the long term. 

The trick here is to make sure that you don’t ignore spending completely. Believe it or not, this is a mistake that is made by a lot of new business owners. They think that it doesn’t matter how much they spend because eventually, they’ll hit a level of profit that makes it all worth it. There’s no guarantee that this will happen. 

The Art Of Delegation 

You might be tempted to try and handle everything yourself in your business model. That’s an understandable goal because if you can handle everything yourself then you can immediately cut down the costs. You don’t have to worry about hiring a large team. However, the problem with handling everything yourself is that this is going to become more difficult as your business continues to grow. Eventually, things are going to start slipping through the cracks. This could impact the level of service that you provide to customers and it might begin to start to cause a shift in your reputation on the market.

So delegating will be key but a lot of new business owners don’t like to relinquish control. Again, this is more than understandable and it’s something that you will have to learn over time. If you don’t figure out how to delegate then you are ultimately going to find that you’re trying to micromanage everything. This is going to take up a lot of your time and it will mean that running your business is far more difficult than it should be. 

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Leadership Skills

You also need to make sure that you understand how to be a great business leader. There are a lot of different traits that will make you an effective leader. For instance, sometimes, you need to be ready to play your cards close to your chest. This means that you need a fantastic poker face. That’s going to be particularly important when you are dealing with investors and potential partners. In Caro’s Book of Poker Tells – Mike Caro discusses a range of different signs that people can pinpoint to know that you are bluffing. As a business leader, you should be aware of your own personal tells. Remember, the art of negotiation is a powerful tool for any business leader. You need to make sure that you don’t give the game away when you are in an important meeting with a client. 

Of course, somewhat conversely, a business leader also needs to have an aura of trust. Your clients, your employees – they all need to feel like they can depend on you completely. It is important that they know that they can come to you with your issues and concerns. You might think that you can work behind the scenes as a business leader with limited levels of engagement. However, this is not quite the case. The most successful businesses do have a leader who is at the front and center of the brand marketing strategy. 

If you haven’t already acquired the right skills of a leader, then it’s definitely worth thinking about looking at courses that you can sign up for. The right courses will help you develop and fine-tune your skills too, strengthening your position in the world of business. 

Problem Solving 

You’re going to face numerous problems as a new business owner. You might hit roadblocks with your marketing strategy or your attempts to engage with your target audience. That’s why it’s important for business owners to be effective problem solvers and strategists. You need to be able to see a path through the weeds, so to speak. Again, this is a skill that comes naturally but can also be acquired over time. The key thing here is to be able to remain calm when you are faced with a problem that could at first seem completely insurmountable. By remaining level-headed, you will be able to push your business through to the other side. 

Determination


Finally, you do need to make sure that you have the right level of determination to ensure that your business idea is successful on the market. You might have heard that it’s easy to set up a business that sees a lot of interest and that’s just not the case. Making a business succeed will take a lot of time and even more determination. If you think about a business like a hobby or a passion project it’s never going to reach the success levels that you hoped for. Your business needs to be front and center in your mind and you need to be ready to will it into existence. 

Some people don’t have the right mindset for this type of commitment. If that’s the case, then it’s best to instead think about freelancing. You can still make money but you won’t be facing the same level of pressure to make a company a hit. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the crucial traits and skills that you will need in your arsenal as a new business owner. Remember, anyone can set up a new business on the market. It’s actually relatively easy to do this these days with the tools at your disposal. But it takes a lot more to guarantee that a company is a success. That’s why you need to make sure that you do have the right mindset from the very beginning. Not everyone is cut out for running their own business. But there are certain skills here that can be learned and acquired over time.

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

Note: This is a collaborative article.

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#BookTalk: Lessons from the Witch in “Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel)”

Posted on August 4, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

Happy Hump Day! Here is an excerpt from the fourth Redcliffe novel, “Eye of the Tiger,” where Jessica Stone is learning how to control her ethereal animal familiar and her confused feelings for both the vampire and the werewolf alpha.

Image of a woman wearing black clothes and a red top, staring at the viewer with bright, magical eyes and looking mysterious. 3D book cover image for "Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green including phone and iPad download images for tablet, iPhone, and android book readers.
LGBT fantasy book series set in Cornwall. “Eye of the Tiger (The Redcliffe Novels)” #4 by Catherine Green.

Excerpt from “Eye of the Tiger (A Redcliffe Novel)”

“I don’t know,” I replied, “Am I being naïve?”

“Maybe,” Crystal said, “You still have a lot to learn about living with supernatural creatures. You have a lot to learn about being one, too.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“So, I take it one day at a time, then,” I said.

Crystal nodded.

“Yes,” she replied, “I think that is the best way to handle everything. Give Danny the space to mourn for his lost lieutenant, but don’t shut him out if he asks you for help. It will be uncomfortable, but I know you care about him and you cannot hide the fact. Your friendship is just a little more physical than it would be with another human.”

I swallowed nervously.

“You keep talking about us as non-human,” I said, “But I am still human, surely. I mean, yes I have this animal familiar living inside my subconscious somewhere, but physically I’m just a normal person, right?”

Crystal stared straight at me, and in the soft lamp light of her living room her violet eyes seemed to glow like jewels. It was eerie, but she was incredibly beautiful in a frightening way. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at her, unable to look away.

“You are both,” she replied, “You are human, yes, but you are a witch Jessica. If you take some time to study your craft, learn how to utilize your powers and those of your animal familiar, you will become far more than a mere human. But it takes time, patience, and lots of practice.”

I nodded and a pang of excitement shot through me. It was almost like a voice inside my head was screaming for me to get on with it and discover what we were capable of. I didn’t know who the ‘we’ was. I knew that it was not Suri. It was yet another spiritual entity, and one that I did not have the strength to explore at this time. But maybe later, when everything had settled with Jack and Danny, I could explore my witchcraft and see where it took me.

I returned home that night feeling a lot lighter in my heart and with a slightly clearer mind. Crystal couldn’t fix my problems, but she had certainly given me the advice I needed. I was no longer in the human world. I had to stop thinking like one, and I couldn’t keep hiding from Danny and the wolves. It was time to return to the Ship Inn.

#TheRedcliffeNovels Series

The Redcliffe novels series follow the adventures of bookshop owner Jessica Stone as she meets a man and falls in love, only to discover the hidden werewolf secrets of her close friends. That includes Simon Bunce, manager of the Ship Inn, who turns out to be lieutenant to the Redcliffe werewolf pack, and lover to the wolf alpha Danny Mason. He fights to protect his master from the ethereal animal familiar who threatens to claim their pack. Who knew the Cornish coast could be so deadly?

Sink your fangs into a captivating world of vampires, werewolves and romance with Catherine Green’s LGBT fantasy series! Explore “Eye of the Tiger (The Redcliffe Novels)” Book 4 now!

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

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Inspired by the Seaside for LGBT Fantasy Books

Posted on August 2, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

Ah, the seaside! Such a lovely place. We are fortunate to live within driving distance of many beautiful, sandy beaches along the British coast.

I find endless inspiration for my stories when I visit the beach. Looe Beach in Cornwall inspired my #RedcliffeNovels series. Blackpool beach provided the scene for a first meeting of the vampire and the vampire hunter in “Vampire of Blackpool.”

In this article I talk about our favourite beach to visit in the UK as a young family with a dog.

Talacre Beach Lighthouse in North Wales by SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog. Copyright Catherine Green
Talacre Lighthouse SpookyMrsGreen

Inspired by the Seaside for LGBT Fantasy Books

Our favourite family destination is Talacre Beach in North Wales. It is dog friendly all year round, there is a quirky old lighthouse that always fires my imagination, and the beach is surrounded by sand dunes to explore. Every time we visit, I come home feeling refreshed and invigorated. Wading into the shallow waves along the shore, feeling the cold sea water wash over my feet, I drink in the natural healing powers of the ocean. And then I walk across the soft sand, allowing it to warm my feet and tickle my toes. Bliss!

It is no surprise that most of my novels are set in seaside locations. The Redcliffe novels, for example, are set in a fictitious holiday town in Cornwall. The location was inspired many years ago when we used to holiday down there at a friends’ hotel. I spent many hours wandering along the beach, exploring the working harbour, and climbing higher up to look out over the bay, all the while picturing my werewolves and vampires hunting around the area.

More recently I turned my attentions to a classic Victorian seaside holiday destination. Blackpool is a town with a chequered past, to say the least. It was established by the Victorians as a place to visit the sea, take in the fresh air, and revive the senses after long, hard days spent working in the industrial factories of the North of England. Nowadays, Blackpool draws in crowds of families, and it is a popular destination for hen parties and stag parties (I had my hen weekend there, years ago!). Read “Vampire of Blackpool“ for my take on contemporary English Gothic, and see what you think.

Image of a female vampire facing a vampire hunter man who has his back to the viewer and is holding a knife behind his back. You can see Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Illuminations in the foreground. 3D book cover image for “Vampire of Blackpool” fantasy novel by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green including phone and iPad download images for tablet, iPhone, and android book readers.
LGBT fantasy novel set in Northern England. “Vampire of Blackpool” by Catherine Green.

Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

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How To Pick An Outfit To Make You Look and Feel Great

Posted on July 30, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

Do you wish you knew how to dress for every occasion? No more wishing! In this post, we will show you how to dress in a way that makes you feel confident, brave, and ready for just about anything. 

People can tell a lot about who you are by the clothes you wear. The clothes that you wear – and the accessories you use to dress them up or down – reveal a lot about who you are, where you are from, what you do, and how you perceive yourself and others. What you wear or dress sends nonverbal cues to other people. It may invite people to ask about what you do for a job, where you live, what the triple spiral symbol on your sweater means, and so on. 

Clothing can have a significant impact on the impression that a person conveys and is thus a powerful communication tool. What you wear plays an important role in creating positive first impressions when it comes to communicating confidence and ability. Whether you agree or disagree with the statement, clothes do make the man (or woman!). 

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So, how can you enhance your first impression?

Colour: The way you use colours is an excellent way to leverage the power of fashion in your first impression. Do not just choose colours at random; instead, consider how you will use them as part of your overlook and the message that you want to convey.

Fit: People’s perceptions of you are influenced by how you tailor your clothes and the shape of your clothing.

Styling: For both women and men, an accessory can completely turn an outfit on its head. Shoes, watches, scarves, and hats are all simple ways to change the impression of your style.

Branding: If you struggle to comprehend fit and colour on your own, let brands do it for you! Go to brands that embody or demonstrate your ideal style and let their styles make the decision for you. For example, Ralph Lauren gives off a preppy vibe.

How to choose the right outfit for the occasion

The weather: The weather must be one of the most important factors to consider when selecting an outfit from your wardrobe.  How could it be any other way? Would you rather melt into pools of sweat just because that leather jacket that you bought is so pleasing and it is super flattering? No, of course, you wouldn’t. You should also consider the weather when selecting the appropriate accessories. Everything from how you style your hair to the shoes you wear should be weather appropriate.

The occasion: While those skinny jeans and faded band tshirt might feel great and be uber flattering, if you rock up at a formal wedding in it, you are going to feel self-conscious because it is not the right outfit for the occasion. Whether we like it or not, different occasions require different outfits. 

While it is true that wearing a beautiful and appropriate outfit can greatly boost one’s confidence, the opposite is also true. The ability to carry oneself with complete confidence, regardless of what one is wearing, go a long way toward making the outfit stand out as well.

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

Note: This is a collaborative article.

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Lammas Tarot Card Reading

Posted on July 28, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

This weekend we celebrate Lammas, the harvest festival. I felt drawn to work with Druid Craft Tarot and the tarot spread is called Leaving the Past Behind. It was more light-hearted than my vampire tarot card reading from last month, but it continues along the same personal themes.

Read on and see if the Tarot card reading resonates with you.

Image of Druid Craft Tarot cards on a wooden table. Text reads "Leaving the Past Behind Tarot Reading @SpookyMrsGreen." Lammas Tarot Card Reading by professional Tarot reader Catherine Green of SpookyMrsGreen.com pagan lifestyle blog.
Lammas Tarot Reading by Catherine Green

Tarot Card Reading

1, What I Need to Leave Behind – The Lovers

On a personal level this card leaves me feeling sad. I no longer experience the passionate love that I once enjoyed. It is in the past. I may hold the memories dear, but I must move on. What do you need to leave behind? It might be something that you have been closely involved in for a while, perhaps a project that has reached its conclusion. Maybe you need to finish what you started and move on.

2, What I Need to Take with Me – The Wheel

The perfect card for this reading, I see this as a reminder to reinforce my boundaries and keep my own counsel. I move forward with wisdom and knowledge, and I welcome a new Wheel of Life. Are you aware of your boundaries? What have you learned recently that you can take with you on a new adventure?

3, Negatives to Discard – The Magician

In this card I see the message that I must go forth with confidence in my own abilities and knowledge. Other people may think they know best but I know what I need. No more masculine influence taking charge. This is my time. I will do it my way. Think about who has influenced your life in recent years and months. Who or what really needs your time and attention? What do you do for yourself?

4, Positives to Look Forward To – Eight of Cups

There is a bright new future ahead and I welcome it with an open heart. My cups have been refilled and I have a new sense of self-awareness. I might take a break and have a holiday of sorts. Everything has reached its natural conclusion and is moving along steadily. While I have yet to tie up some loose ends, I am confident that I know how to break away from unhealthy activities. How do you feel now as we move through the pandemic? What relationships have changed around you and how do you respond to the world?

5, Why a Fresh Start will be Good for Me – The Hanged Man

Perhaps I would benefit from a new perspective. Try something different, loosen my control over everything. There are new experiences to explore. I just need to put myself out there. Have you been hiding recently, or putting off an activity that you know will be good for you? We are all guilty of staying stuck in familiar places and patterns of behaviour. Having the courage to break away and relinquish some control could prove beneficial for yourself and for others around you.

Summary

This Lammas Tarot card reading is perfect for the harvest season. It talks about growth and rebirth, moving on and preparing for a new future. We take what we have learned, and we grow. There is no going back. Once the crops are harvested, they cannot be returned to the ground. They can only be transformed into something tangible, something we can enjoy. We must move forward with confidence and wisdom.

Text reads, "Free e-book download. LGBT werewolf fantasy story. Download Now." Image of a sexy man showing a tattoo on his chest staring at the viewer with a sultry gaze. Vampire and werewolf fantasy books for adults. 3D book cover image for "It's Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)" from the vampire and werewolf fantasy book series by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green.
LGBT werewolf fantasy story “It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels)” by Catherine Green

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

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#BookTalk: LGBT Fantasy Book “Hunting the Hunted” Currently Seeking Representation

Posted on July 26, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

Sometimes I forget that not everybody knows my characters in the same way I do. My Redcliffe novels series has given me a whole new group of fictional friends that live in a part of my psyche where their lives are real, at least in some alternate universe.

It is the same for my characters from other novels, including Vampire of Blackpool and my latest manuscript, Hunting the Hunted. I finished writing this novel a few years ago and have been submitting it to agents and publishers without much luck.

Some advised that it reads more like a literary novel than commercial fiction. I wonder if it is a crossover and the world isn’t ready for it yet. Or are they?

#WitchyWednesday Vampire feeding on her prey. Associated with book "Hunting the Hunted" by LGBT fantasy author Catherine Green from SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
#WitchyWednesday “Hunting the Hunted” by Catherine Green

Excerpt from “Hunting the Hunted” by Catherine Green

We watched our hunters race along the pavement, disappearing from view as the uniformed police officers followed them. The police were fast. They sent their armed officers after the hunters, and the others quickly closed off the street and worked to ensure their precious human civilians were safe. I leaped up onto the roof of the high building, and Lottie followed. We strode across the base of the sloping roof, and I reached out telepathically to locate my prey. I sensed William almost immediately. He was running down a narrow alley between a hotel and an office building, with his sister close behind. The police were still following them. And they had reached a dead end. I leaped across the wide expanse of road, high enough that the humans below would not see me, and I landed on a high balcony just in time to see my hunters being arrested. William was shouting at them not to grab his injured shoulder, and Samantha was shouting something about them being private investigators. It didn’t help. They were bundled roughly into the back of the waiting police van, having first been relieved of their weapons by the law enforcers. I stood in the shadows and observed the spectacle.

“There you are,” Lottie said as she swooped down to land beside me, “You are fast, for an old vampire!”

Discover the Vampire Hunters of Northern England

This book is one of a collection I am calling my vampire hunters’ series. They can be read individually although I am writing a sequel to Vampire of Blackpool and there will be a sequel to Hunting the Hunted. It seems that once my characters are discovered, they cannot shut up!

Image of a female vampire facing a vampire hunter man who has his back to the viewer and is holding a knife behind his back. You can see Blackpool Tower and Blackpool Illuminations in the foreground. 3D book cover image for “Vampire of Blackpool” fantasy novel by LGBT fantasy book writer Catherine Green including phone and iPad download images for tablet, iPhone, and android book readers.
LGBT fantasy novel set in Northern England. “Vampire of Blackpool” by Catherine Green.

Did you enjoy this article? Download your FREE copy of LGBT fantasy short story It’s Complicated (The Redcliffe Novels) and meet the werewolves of Cornwall, England.  Click here. 

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Travel Has Changed: 3 Things To Remember Before Your Next Vacation

Posted on July 23, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

While you are excited to pack your bags for a merry vacation, you need to know that many things have changed since the pandemic broke out. Many changes have occurred regarding the nature of travelling, making it imperative to adhere to the restrictions imposed to fight the spread of the Coronavirus.

Here are some changes you should consider before you go ahead making travel plans.

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  1. Get a valid passport and essential paperwork

Since the pandemic began, most people haven’t travelled beyond their local regions. Before you plan your next vacation, you need to look for your passport. To ensure that your passport is valid, ensure that it has not exceeded its expiry date. Suppose your passport is expired or cannot be found. In that case, you would have to start the process of receiving a new one at least about eight months before you start making arrangements to travel with your nearest passport agency. Once you have your passport, be sure to make copies of them. These would be important if you encounter a problem abroad and need the services of an immigration lawyer. 

Be sure to visit the local embassy of the country of your choice and find out the specific documents you may need to provide at any stop on the journey before you finally touch down. You may also take a trip to your preferred airline to inquire about the needed documents needed before you can pass the travel requirements of the airline.

  1. Pack light but enough

Now that you have your passport, it is time to get ready for your trip. Preserve COVID-19 protocols by packing your disposable nose masks. You can also pack a small-sized bottle of hand sanitiser with at least 70% alcohol composition. You may also pack extra bottles of water while you prepare to set off. One of the Covid restrictions includes deactivating water fountains at the airports. Most water fountains at the airport may not be operational until after the pandemic’s fight against the pandemic. Also, most of the restaurants at the airports might have closed down temporarily. It will be in your interest to eat at home or pack a light snack just in case you get hungry right before take-off.

  1. Visit the doctor

It may appear a bit off but take note of this point. You are about to travel after a very long time of staying at home without being able to travel. It’s best to visit your trusted doctors and physicians for a thorough medical check-up before you travel. There is a high possibility of you not feeling comfortable meeting a doctor you are not familiar with within a country that may not have advanced in healthcare after the pandemic outbreak. It would be best to take charge of your healthcare before you travel to the country of your choice. Be sure to conduct research and follow the news to get the new updates on travel regulations to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable flight.

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Torro Travel Premium Leather Accessories
My Bevi bling personalized travel cups. Affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
My Bevi bling personalized travel cups.

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Travel Safety Tips You Should Know For 2021

Posted on July 23, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

The world is slowly beginning to make sense for travel lovers again, as travel restrictions begin to ease slowly around different parts of the world. If you’re reading this article, you probably can’t wait to explore the world again.

Travel holds immense benefits for the body and mind – but only if you are safe! So, are you thinking or planning about embarking on your next adventure? Here are some tips to help you plan and stay safe during your trip. 

Image of a man checking his phone for details whilst working on his laptop.

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Register with your embassy

If there are any lessons to learn from the previous months, one of them is that it is best to register with your embassy even before you set off. You never know when an unexpected event like an evacuation might cut short your trip. Even if your research shows that your preferred destination is currently Covid-free, you should still try and register with your embassy just in case. That is especially important when countries keep experiencing sudden surges in infection rates and numbers. Registering with your embassy will also ensure that in case of any form of civil unrest or disaster in the country you’re visiting, your government has you covered. 

Don’t forget your travel insurance

And speaking of the unexpected, you should purchase travel insurance before you leave. Most people make the mistake of considering this a luxury, but travel insurance is necessary, especially in a time like this. When you juxtapose the cost with the benefits of getting travel insurance, you’ll realise the latter far outweighs the former. From trip cancellations and unexpected delays to emergency medical coverage and loss of baggage, your travel insurance can easily be the difference between returning home with a smile or with regret. 

Share your travel plans with your family

Whether you are planning to travel alone or with someone else, it is best to let the friends and family you trust know of your whereabouts. From the accommodation, you book to the travel activities you have planned and other travel arrangements before to keep those back at home constantly updated. In case of anything, they will be able to inform the authorities of your whereabouts. Aside from sharing your itinerary, it is also essential to take the time to write down every emergency information and contact information of your travel destination before you leave. And also, make it a point to keep this info with you at all times, no matter where you go. 

Do your research 

The first thing you want to do is do thorough research about your preferred destination. First, find out what safety protocols they have in place regarding COVID-19 and their current state regarding the pandemic. You will also want to research the rules, customs, regulations, culture, all manner of dos and don’t you need to know before you set off. If you’re thinking about a long-term stay, you might want to determine what regulations or processes cover options like indefinite leave to remain or other long-term stay requirements. 

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Explore Outdoors with English Heritage Shop

Posted on July 23, 2021 by SpookyMrsGreen

With the warmer weather setting in, there is no better time than now to head outside and make the most of it! At English Heritage Shop we have a range of products perfect for entertaining the whole family outdoors.

Shop the collection here.

Image of Stonehenge Nanoblock Model Building Kit from English Heritage Shop affiliated with SpookyMrsGreen.com mindful parenting and modern pagan lifestyle blog.
Stonehenge Nanoblock Model Building Kit from English Heritage Shop

Explore Outdoors with English Heritage Shop

‘We All Stayed at Home’ Embroidery Hoop Kit: 2020 was quite a year… Many people turned to crafts to keep their minds occupied. This embroidery set features a sweet image of a home with the words ‘2020 we all stayed at home’. The set comes with everything needed to create the embroidery, including: a hoop, printed fabric, needle, thread, ribbon to hang, wadding, instructions and a backing disc to finish off the piece. Our Price £20.00 – Click here.

Stonehenge Nanoblock Model Building Kit: Build your very own miniature Stonehenge with this micro-sized building block set from Nanoblock. This Stonehenge Model Building Kit is a unique 3D puzzle that represents the iconic and historic landmark and its surroundings. The set comes with everything you need to create your own miniature Stonehenge including a step-by-step instruction manual. As a learning aid for children, or as a souvenir of your recent trip, this model kit is a fun activity for all ages. Our Price £20.00 – Click here.

The Usborne Nature Activity Book: This colourful activity book is packed with nature-themed puzzles, things to spot, colouring, drawing and doodling activities. Match baby animals to their mothers, colour in flowers and insects, spot-the-difference between countryside scenes and much more. With four pages of stickers and all the answers at the back of the book. Our Price £9.99 – Click here.

Garden Snakes and Ladders: This giant version of Snakes and Ladders is a fun garden game for the whole family. The game comes with a vinyl board that can be pegged to the ground, an inflatable dice and four soft foam counters so you can play the classic game, on a giant scale. It is sure to become a family favourite for summer holidays, picnics and parties alike. Our Price £35.00 – Click here.

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Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you shop using the links I share, I receive a small income at no extra cost to yourself. Thank you for supporting SpookyMrsGreen!

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