Here's a new one, to me at least. How about a bit of Scottish/Irish Celtic metal from Argentina? I know, right? 😲

This is Triddana with 'The Ground of the Fallen'.

How about no seat on no bicycle?

Monopoly or Cluedo?

Play, definitely. I couldn't dance if someone were firing a gun at my feet!

WYE ride on a bus through the Himalayas?

Thank you, Verbs. I agree wholeheartedly. I wouldn't read an AI-generated book either. I have had the displeasure of seeing AI-generated pieces online. They are awful.

I tend to agree with Mendalla's overall comment, but with some riders. The first is affordability. I can't afford to pay for a cover artist at this stage, and my abilities with computer graphics are zero.

I am also not a fan of AI.

However, I experimented with the free version of ChatGPT. It was a long, but interesting process. The trick is how to explain in words what I wanted to create.

I commanded ChatGPT to make the women identical, which is the premise of the story. However, to not make it too obvious, I asked for specific hairstyles.

Then, I had to recreate the collar brooches as it wouldn't allow me to upload a photograph of the original, which includes swastikas. I am not 100% pleased with them, but it was the best I could achieve.

Anyway, several days later (the free version only allows limited access per day), I was reasonably happy with the result.

The easy bit, once the first cover was created, was to adapt it for the second and third books.

This is how they turned out:

Last year, the publisher of my book, The Nurses, collapsed due to its owner being, shall we say, not a fit and proper person (He is now in prison).

Anyway, I am on my own again, and I have absolutely no clue as to how to create a book cover.

Then I discovered ChatGPT. With nothing to lose, I had a go.

Now, some comments, mainly from those who do know how to use digital imaging, said they would never read a book if the cover had been created using AI.

My response to that is that it would literally be judging a book by its cover!

SO, my question is this. Would you use AI to create your book cover?

Here is my creation:

I have seen many Social Media posts praising and decrying the use of AI for creating book covers. Now, I am not a great fan of AI in general, but what do you think?

Quote by WriterGirl

AnnaMayZing, Meg, and Mendalla, I sent you your coins. Let me know if you didn’t receive them or have issues cashing out.

Thank you, WG. I am very pleased that your judge thought my story worthy. It is most humbling. Please be assured that my coins will never leave Stories Space but will be used to encourage other writers in the future.

Congratulations also to Meg and Scott. Both are well-deserved winners.

And, for Rainbow? This...

Hope.

The darkness is unbearable. Broken by blinding flashes for just a second, then gone, back to an even greater darkness.

I stand at the window, quietly watching and listening to the constant hissing of the rain on the roof.

Every flash is followed by a deep, soul-crushing rumble. This is my life. Dark, terrifying, wishing for it to end.

But wait, a rainbow! A thing of beauty, sunlight breaking through the clouds of despair.

Perhaps there is hope, after all.

Thanks for the invite, WG. Here is my Shamrock effort. Hope you like it.

Lucky?

“Hmm... This little plant has four leaves. For over one hundred and fifty years, I have roamed this land alone. Humans made me in their image, but now they are gone, eradicated by war. They made many of us, but gradually, our systems failed. Now, the earth is flourishing, green, and clean. Solar energy in abundance keeps me alive, but even machines need companionship. I wish they hadn't made me so human. Lucky? No, I don't think so."

Just popped in to wish you all a very merry Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful time. Hopefully, next year, I will be here a little more with some new stories. take care and best wishes, Anna. x💝🎅🏼🎁🌲

I recently fired a crossbow for the first time, so yes, definitely!

WYE carry a firearm for self-defence?

Well, here I am dropping in. Last week, I suffered an attack of the Covid. Not nice, but okay now. However, the week before, I spent a week in the beautiful Lake District. My daughter's family were staying at a place called Muncaster Castle, where they were having Halloween-themed entertainment. Well, it was fun and included Archery, axe-throwing and crossbows. Right up my street!

But, and it is a big but, I found my ideal coffee machine, which served the most deliciously strong coffee. I really want one of these machines! Can you imagine being able to have the best coffee, anywhere you want?😀🤣

Strange, the little tricks that life plays on you. A tune came on the TV over Halloween. It was a song I was vaguely familiar with and liked, but only as a 'background' piece. My granddaughter (16) said, "Oh, I like this one. It's Spooky." I frowned. "It doesn't sound particularly spooky to me."

"No, I mean it's called Spooky."

Now I was curious, so I googled it.

"Dusty Springfield!" I exclaimed. "That's it," she said, somewhat matter-of-factly.

Wow! My sixteen-year-old granddaughter telling me about my childhood! 🤣

Later

Heart was a rock band.

Some time ago, I posted here, a young lady, just thirteen years old, called Patricia Janečková. She was singing a beautiful piece from Once Upon a Time in the West. I was absolutely shaken to the core to discover that she had passed away at the very young age of just twenty-five years.

R.I.P Patricia.

A book, every time.

Tea or Coffee?

A wonderful new piece from the incredibly talented drummer, Sina Döring and her friends. The lead vocals are from Effie Anna.

Ignite-arsenic

Leaps

Birthday. (My youngest granddaughter was eleven on Monday!)

Therese - Elsbeth

Smear - Steam

As I can think of no words that begin with RG, I'll go with...

Ergonomic

Soul Limbo, a great tune. (Booker T and the MGs)

Yak - Kookaburra

Bye, bye, Beautiful - Nightwish

Higher - Edenbridge