I plan to do an interview on here and would love to know any questions you would all like to ask. If you would like to ask anything about my writing, my books, my writing process, etc … do drop a question below and I will be sure to include it in the upcoming interview! 🙂
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (1997) by Jean-Dominique Bauby is a brilliant read.
This is a true story. It is editor-in-chief of Elle in France Jean-Dominique Bauby’s real life story of having locked-in syndrome. In 1995, he had a massive stroke and was paralysed and unable to talk. Using his left eyelid to spell out words and tell his story, he created this book with the help of a transcriber.
This is a stunning book. I planned to read a few pages of this book and ended up reading it all in one and a bit sittings. It is a truly remarkable accomplishment and shows how utterly dedicated he was to getting this book out there. The book talks about serious things and then the not so serious. It’s a group of anecdotes about living with locked-in syndrome and also a look at life in all it’s mundane ways. The love he has for his two children comes across so much. The way people were talking about him when he was ill is realistic and absolutely disgusting.
This book is so powerful and so emotive. The pages turn themselves. He has a way with words so it’s no surprise he was editor-in-chief of a magazine. So accessible and yet so poetic. This is so well-crafted. Heartbreaking but beautiful.
A wonderful part of his legacy to leave behind. A must-read.
To purchase The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby go to:
And for more about Jean-Dominique Bauby and his work go to:
I was recently reading a brilliant blog post at Den of Dreams
Everyone who read the post was invited to accept The Sunshine Blogger Award and I thought it would be fun to take part and accept it on behalf of Culture Vulture Express. Thank you to Den of Dreams
Do check out the amazing posts posted on their blog if you get the chance and thank you for the nomination. 🙂
My Answers
If you had a time machine and could go anywhere, where would you go?
The 60s because it had all the social issues revolution, the hippie fashion and culture, the excellent music. The 70s too with all the glam rock. On a more personal level, back to when my Dad and dog were alive because I miss them very much and I would love to see them again.
Three things for deserted island?
My family, my Mum and my sister. But that might unfair to them! So my laptop, book and face cream!
When is your birthday?
22nd of April.
What is your favourite chemical element? (for example, Fluorine, Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen)
Don’t know much about these but oxygen to live I guess.
What is your favourite landform? (like hills, valleys, oceans, coasts, delta)
I love lakes and beaches. There was a lovely lake in Virginia, Cavan that me and the family used to visit years ago. Now I live not far from a gorgeous beach area in Wicklow. I have also visited lovely beaches in Clogherhead Beach in Co. Louth and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. I love looking out of the train at all the beach areas from Dublin to Wicklow and I’ve never been but I love Brighton Beach from pictures I’ve seen and would love to see it in reality. I was in Wales a good few years back too and seen some beautiful beach areas on the train to Cardiff.
Something you wish more people would know about you?
I’m very opinionated and I think sometimes some people take it as harsh. I do mean what I say but sometimes I get the impression by some people it is took to extremes of ‘She hates them. She wishes them ill.’ which couldn’t be further from the truth. Certainly there is people I dislike, some I intensely dislike, but I think that’s normal. No one likes everybody but I certainly don’t hate anyone or wish badness on people. Everything I say comes a place of goodness and honesty, at least from my perception so I wish that was more obvious sometimes. Also as an introvert, I don’t always bring out my sense of humour which is nothing like really witty peoples’ but it does exist and I wish I didn’t second guess saying things more often. I tend to bring it more out in my writing than in everyday life and interactions.
Do you have a lucky charm?
I don’t. I should get one.
Where was your childhood home?
My childhood home was in a small town in Co. Meath, Ireland. It was called Oldcastle and I lived in the old part of a council estate.
Your favourite subject to study?
I loved English because I have always loved reading and writing. But I liked history and C.S.P.E too. The latter is Civic, Social, Political Education and I was sad it wasn’t offered after Junior Cert level.
What did you want to become as a kid?
I wanted to be a make-up artist and also a singer. The writing was in the mix too. But it became the main one later on.
Do you wish to go to school again?
No. Courses, yeah but a school atmosphere no. I do love learning but I prefer doing it at my own pace and not in a structured routine. Like through books and the internet is perfect for me!
My Questions
My Nominees
Anyone reading this. 🙂
Yesterday my blog Culture Vulture Express turned 6! 🙂
We have gotten old (ish, ok?! :-)) together and it has been amazing so far. I absolutely love updating this blog with a little bit of everything and it’s really not a chore to do so. I would like to thank every reader past and present who has given Culture Vulture Express a chance and much support throughout the years. It is more appreciated than I could properly put into words. I love what I do and to share what I love doing with you all is a dream come true.
So I hope everyone enjoys reading the future content or finds it a good read. Thank you to you all.
Belated Happy Birthday Culture Vulture Express! 🙂
Thank you so much to James J. Cudney from This Is My Truth Now for his wonderful review of my first book in the One Step Closer series. Very much appreciated. 🙂
My Halloween poem & a host of other Halloween poems for you all to fest your eyes over. Hope you all had an excellent & spooky Halloween! 🙂
Please respect each authors’ and poets’ copyright. The rights remain with the writers. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without expressed and written permission from each of the poems author’s is strictly prohibited and violates copyright laws in the country you are reading this work in as well as in the country you are trying to re-publish this work in. – Aurora Jean Alexander
Halloween Poem – by Johnny Ojanpera
On this night, a century past
We rode home from harvest
As if the crisp air was ours
To breathe in like the stars
My belly did tingle and turn
At the sight of the village
As we approached home
It seemed to be moved
I clenched my eyes tight
To blink out the shocking
A sight like horror stories
My cabin was surely gone
We rode around the back
Behind the drooping tree
On…
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A wonderful review by James J. Cudney of my book Rory Murphy Mysteries: The Church Murders:
Culture Vulture Express has received it’s fourth Sunshine Blogger Award. Thank you so much to Rylee from Hermits Odysseus for the nomination. Much, much appreciated. Be sure to get out their blog when you get the chance. 🙂
Rylee’s Questions & My Answers
What’s the first book you remember reading?
It was a book called A Winter’s Tale by Jenny Dale and it was actually my favourite book from my childhood. It was part of the Puppy Patrol books and had the sweetest dog on the cover.
What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
I’m currently reading Father Figure and Academic Curveball (Book 1), both of which are by James J. Cudney. The second I’ve just started and I’m reading between the two of them at the moment. Yes, I am enjoying them. There’s a mystery involved in both books which I like in a book.
What fictional world would you choose to live in and why?
I think the world of Hercule Poirot would be interesting. Could be a bit of an amateur sleuth. Marple’s world would be an option too but I got out of a small town and Mary Mead may not always suit me. 🙂
What do you think and say when people ask you to choose a favourite book?
Both think and say: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. If they asked a top five that may be tougher as there’s so many!
Who are some of your favourite authors? And have you met them in person?
Well there’s a lot! A few would be Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh, Agatha Christie, James Patterson, John Grisham, Mark Billingham, Truman Capote and Olivia Helling. They tend to be the authors I read the most but there’s lots of others I love too. And no, I’ve met none of them! A lot of authors I like too are dead so it’s pretty impossible!
Aside from reading and blogging, what do you enjoy doing? What hobbies do you have?
I like listening to music, singing, going to theatre and concerts (when I can afford to!) and watching TV and movies. I love watching Rupaul’s Drag Race and documentaries on everything and anything on YouTube as well as old movies. I love dog-watching when I’m out around town and stuff, “oh there’s another one” and I love to be involved in charity work and activism though I haven’t done nearly enough of either as of yet.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?Â
I’m a night owl and it kind of makes me an early bird too if that makes sense.
What book has been on your TBR the longest?
Emma by Jane Austen. Actually I’ve read a few of the Jane Austen’s but I’d like to get through the six of them.
What book do you think has had the biggest impact on you?
I have read a couple of true life books and I think because they are real it puts a new spin on it. Because you can’t say it’s sad but it’s only fiction. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote had a huge impact because the fragile nature of life was so put down in print by Capote in such a raw fashion. It was a very harrowing, detailed read but a book written in a very human and raw way.
What’s your favourite song (or album) right now?
Gagged by Violet Chachki. Vanguard is my favourite song on the EP.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever gotten?
I get told I’m gentle a lot. Which I think is a good quality so that’s nice to hear.
What is your astrological sign and do you agree with what it says about you?
I’m a taurean and while I don’t believe in horoscopes and that I find them extremely interesting to read about. I think there is elements that are true of my personality. I wouldn’t say bull in a china shop but I could be mildly fiery. I like to be calm so I have to kind of shut that fiery element up because it is there. It’s not being false. It just is a part I wish wasn’t there but I know it is. Could be worse though, I could be a raging bull and thankfully I’m not. I read taureans are supposed to be honest and I think I am which can get me into bother at times. We are supposed to have empathy with others which has always being a strong part of who I am. I can’t stand injustice, unfairness, inequality and would never go on the side of someone doing something wrong or have sympathy for them. My empathy lies with someone who is in the firing line, not the one doing the firing ever from the smallest to the biggest situation. They say we’re ambitious, definitely I am and it’s said that we like to get our way. I like to get my point across but getting my way, not really. As long as I’ve had my say, the ball is in their court. They are free to feel what they feel as long as I’m free to feel what I feel too.
Sunshine Blogger Award Rules:
-Thank the blogger who nominated you.
-Answer the 11 questions asked.
-Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
-List the rules and include the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.
To anyone reading this feel free to accept the award for your blog & answer the questions above. Congrats in advance! 🙂
Wise words here! Do check out this wonderful piece by Traci Kenworth:
Have you as a writer heard grumbles on your material choices? For instance, if you write horror or romance? Perhaps family members or friends point out that they object to your story or the direction you want to take your career. Does it influence you? Has it made you steer clear of writing such stories? Do you keep what you write secret from church members for fear of being shamed for it? For most of my life, I’ve done this at one time or another. When I was young, eighteen, I made the mistake of admitting that I wrote horror to my pastor’s wife. She was horrified and suggested that I cease writing such stories immediately. It took me many years before I admitted the same to family and friends and here and there, I heard murmurs about writing “that stuff.”
The same kind of reactions come from writing romance…
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Hello everyone!
Culture Vulture Express has received it’s second Awesome Blogger Award. Thank you so much to Mark from Mark Anthony’s Blog for the nomination. Very much appreciated. Be sure to check out their blog when you get time! 🙂
The Awesome Blogger Award was originally created by Maggie from Dreaming of Guatemala.
Mark’s Questions & My Answers
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Depends on the day whether it’s getting in to work in my job of almost nine weeks as a secretary or either sitting chatting with my sister or throwing on an Agatha Christie TV adaptation on days off. Either way I usually first light up a cigarette which is not the most healthy way to start the day! 🙂
Your current favorite song?
I have lots of favourite songs from the past. I’m 28 now and I often lately can’t keep up with what’s current. I usually think something’s current enough that is five or six years old! I think the most current song I’m listening to at the moment is Burn Rubber by Aquaria because I’m watching season 10 of Rupaul’s Drag Race and she’s one of my favourites in the show alongside The Vixen. There’s an almost current song I’m listening to as well by Shea Coulee ft. Lila Star and The Vixen called Cocky from 2017.
Crush from a book or movie? Why?
I have tons of crushes! Makes life more fun! A good fantasy is very healthy! But specifically from a book or movie, I’m sure over the years there has been a few but the main one I can think of at the moment is Damon Snow from Olivia Helling’s Damon Snow series. So broodingly dark & handsome and if he was real very sexy I’d imagine! And most importantly a lovely person with a heart of gold!
Tell a secret
I have quite a few teddies especially dog teddies. They are just too cute & hard to resist!
What was the most embarrassing moment that happened to you yesterday?
Something embarrassing nearly always happens when you work in reception and have never worked in an office before but I always get through in the end usually with a smile and some sweetness!
Why do you think you’re an amazing human being?
I’m not amazing but I am a good person. I have good qualities and I think they outweigh my bad qualities by some way. I have compassion for people. I tend to often take peoples’ problems on as my own so I definitely care. I can’t stand prejudice, ignorance and bigotry in all it’s forms. Life is hard enough sometimes without all that shit! I think my heart is basically good. If I can help someone I’m there.
3 things from your bucket list
And I’m saving towards these things at the moment.
Look behind you. What did you see first?
I’m at work so the work radio that is currently playing LeAnn Rimes Can’t Fight The Moonlight. I was a kid when the movie that came from Coyote Ugly was out. The years are flying by quicker than I wish them to! 🙂
What motivational message would you tell yourself if you were a different person?
I’d tell myself:
Take each day at a time, not to take heed of the poisonous people out there and you as you is OK.
What are your thoughts about blog designing? Do you find it hard to do it? How do you know if it’s “the one” already?
The design of Culture Vulture Express hasn’t changed since it was launched 5 years ago except possibly minor little changes. I did put a bit work into it at the start and I was pleased with the result but I’m more interested in the content part of the blog so I don’t think too much about it. I feel if I changed it now it wouldn’t feel as much like Culture Vulture Express anymore.
To be honest it’s so long ago that I put up the design I’ve forgotten how to do it but WordPress made it easy at the time! 🙂
To anyone reading this feel free to accept the award for your blog & answer the questions above. Congrats in advance! 🙂
