Blog – Bonnie Tharp

April Showers

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:00:14 GMT

Flowers, Rain, Love it

As the years pass in Kansas draught plagues us. I remember walking in the rain as a child, loving the feel of my wet hair on my neck. I'd walk barefoot in the gutters, splashing in the deep areas. My fur buddy and I have walked in the rain before, but prefer the sun to shine. Yesterday I just stood beside my car, closed my eyes, and faced the sun. It felt wonderful.

Project update:

Finding Grace is the longest manuscript I've ever written (84K+). It's not Fourth Wing size yet, but it's much longer than I anticipated. I've learned so much about how things developed in Oklahoma territory in the 1890's. It's been a fascinating journey. And the story continues to grow, as my imagination creates new scenarios that Grace has to deal with. I honestly don't believe I'd have been a very good homesteader. While I am curious and determined enough, I'm also spoiled by the availability of things: food, clothing, entertainment, inside toilets, hot showers, and heating/air conditioning. See? Spoiled!

The manuscript is done and I have been editing, I believe I'm on my fifth review. Another disadvantage of a longer manuscript, more editing. (Edit can be a four letter word.) It's the final step and just as important as creating the tale. Without rigorous editing, well, let's put it this way - nothing is perfect the first time out. The author's goal is to write the story first. Get it down on paper (or computer). Completing the manuscript is an awesome accomplishment. (Reminder for all aspiring authors out there.) They key is mining the jewels from the garbage.

I don't edit much while I write, I'd never get finished if I did. They say everyone has a story. I agree. (Books, movies, songs - they are all wonderful ways to tell a story.) What I do is read the last few pages I have written and it gets me back to the world and time I am building.

When I wrote my first novel Feisty Family Values, I must've edited the first couple of chapters a dozen times before I moved on. That nearly kept me from finishing, and in the end I threw out the first chapter entirely.

Marching On

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:58:51 GMT

March Book News

The General Store at Hawley, Oklahoma from the late 1890's included the living quarters of the family who ran it. Privacy was non-existent, but service reined. Local stores and churches were the life blood of small developing communities. Money might be scarce, but home made goods could be and often were traded. Depending on your expertise (canning, sewing, tanning, etc.) a homesteader could trade for what they needed. Often the hardware and wood required to build was expensive. It had to be brought in by wagon or train or both. Old wood forests weren't plentiful like back east, so they made do with sod homes until a frame home could be built or purchased. Sears & Roebuck made kit homes you could buy at what seems to be a nominal price now, but $25 was a lot of money back then. According to AI the equivalent in today's dollars is $950. Since we're talking about a house, I'm thinking the amount now is considerably more.

When we were going through the basement of the old family farmhouse we found grocery lists and receipts. The contents were interesting, buttons, needles and thread, canning jars, candles, just to name a few items. The garden and orchard provided the fruit and vegetables. The chickens provided eggs and eventually meat, etc. Everything had a purpose and used. There wasn't much waste. We are spoiled now that there's a grocer every mile that stocks not only meat and food stuffs, but hardware, office supplies, and personal care items. We have closets full of clothes instead of pegs on the walls or trunks with something for each season.

We live in a time of plenty. Most everything is close and available. We don't have to create something from nearly nothing, like the homesteaders did. They were brave. They were creative. They were resilient. They never gave up, or we wouldn't be here.

CURRENT PROJECT UPDATE: The end is nearer, but I don't see it clearly yet. The farming community in the story is growing and the characters are proliferating. Some of them are very interesting, but I'm not sure they will stay until the end of the story. Often characters pop in for a purpose then move on. Sometimes surprise characters try to take over the story. We authors are not only creators and scribes, but referees. We decide who comes and goes, who wins and loses, and hopefully we choose wisely.

Finding Grace is the working title and nothing else has popped in to replace it. Your first thought can be the best one, but we shall see. "Writers mine the jewels from the garbage," and first drafts are often quite stinky.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:36:39 GMT

Valentine's? The chocolate holiday.

We don't do much for Valentine's Day around here. When you've been married as long as we have (half a century) it isn't as exciting as when your relationship is new. I am a fan of hearts and silly cards, however. I used to get very creative for the holiday, like the time I sent a bouquet of "long stemmed noses" to hubby at work. (I'm talking about Groucho Marks nose glasses complete with the mustache.) That was rather a good time and the "noses" came in handy for Halloween. The year I bought a bag of new potatoes and delivered them to the florist to create a bouquet of "Long Stemmed Spuds" was fun, too. Although I think it embarrassed him a bit.

Willie the wild-man has now decided that my husband's bar of soap (which smells like bourbon) is tasty. He keeps stealing it from the bathroom sink and chewing on it on my bed/quilt. Sigh. It's always something with this little guy. The soap does smell wonderful, Duke Cannon is the brand. They also make a Pine scent that works nicely, too. Willie, however, recommends the bourbon fragrance. Good grief.

WHAT ARE YOU READING? I received a wonderful book on Beatrix Potter (Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature) for Christmas. It's quite lengthy, with dense writing, so I'm taking my time. I have to, but it is compelling. The woman was amazing, not only an artist and author, but a scientist, naturalist, conservationist, and so much more. During Victorian times women didn't receive the attention or accolades they deserved until much later. Sad but true. There are many women who achieved amazing discoveries and never made it into the history books. At any rate, I admire strong, smart women who don't give up. Beatrix Potter was one of them.

To answer your question: Yes, all of my books are in the local library. You can request a copy for your local library or donate one after you read it. I also keep copies of my last two books (FROM THE DARKNESS & FROM THE GLOOM) at Watermark Books & Cafe - One of my FAVORITE independent bookstores! If you're not a local reader then you can obtain my print books at Amazon.com, and ebooks at Amazon.com & BN.com.

Catching up

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:11:57 GMT

Forgotten Post

Although I love writing books, reading books, and talking books, none of it would be worthwhile without READERS. You are the true rockstars! When you find a story you enjoy, you tell your family and friends, you buy them for same, you write reviews and sometimes share your thoughts with the author. Discussing stories is a wonderful way to get to know people, and find new story ideas. Just ask members of my book club. They've shared personal stories and wonderful ideas with me and I've shared parts of them with you in my books.

FALL is always my favorite time of year. As it gets to be "sweater weather" I love to walk and admire the brilliance of nature. In autumn I visited New England to see my family and the trees were gorgeous. I had a great vacation, picking apples, playing corn hole, attending local theater, shopping at the coolest garden store, and eating - of course. If you're ever in Massachusetts, visit Russell's Garden Center. It's huge, it has beautiful flowers and plants, stationary, art, and clothing, too. Spending is easy there because they have so many wonderful things. Believe me, I did my share.

BOOK NEWS: All three in the feisty family series is now on audio, so you can listen to FEISTY FAMILY VALUES, PATCHWORK FAMILY, OR FEISTY FAMILY & FRIENDS while you do other things, like walking, gardening, cleaning. It makes them more enjoyable.

CURRENT PROJECT UPDATE: The first reader for my current historical novel in progress sent me a text - she's "loving it and hooked by the end of chapter one." That's pretty good for a first draft, so once it's edited... That's where you mine the jewels, folks, during the editing process. Edit IS a four letter word, but it's vital. That doesn't mean no errors will be found, because something always slips through the cracks (even with the big publishing houses), but it's not because we authors don't try to make them errorless. After multiple editor reviews and a minimum of six to eight author read throughs you get pretty close. Hopefully.

Rambling of a Creative Mind

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:58:53 GMT

Updates on my work in progress

Here's a photo of the Watermelon Boys. We believe that the boys are Grandpa, an Uncle, and a cousin in my husband's family back in the day. I love this shot!

New technology is challenging, more so than ever. It changes so quickly my head spins. I may need to hire a teenager to help me weed through the morass. My grandson used to be that teenager, but he's on to bigger and better things. Lucky dude!

When our internet provider decided to farm out email I lost my contacts and the book fan group I had developed. So, I am starting from scratch. If you know someone who might enjoy this stuff, send them to my website to sign up for my newsletter. The more the merrier. Those of you that stuck with me are rockstars, every one of you! Now for the news updates.

The latest Rachel McGill mystery FROM THE GLOOM (#4) is now available at Watermark Books. They also have a couple of copies of (#3), From the Darkness. I'm happy to say that all eight of my novels are now available at the Wichita Public Library, and can be purchased at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobo and some are available on Apple Books.

I started writing a historical fiction story in 2008 that is inspired by my husband's great grandmother. She was gone when I joined the family fifty years ago, but the stories about her are incredible. She homesteaded in Oklahoma in 1893 (alone), she taught school, she ran a store, she painted with oils, and her photography was amazing (i.e. a double exposure so she could have tea with herself). Needless to say, I am awed by her courage, talent, and creativity.

The working title for the historical is FINDING GRACE. The main character is in her early twenties. When her father arranges for her to marry the local banker's son (who her younger sister is in love with), Grace decides to make her own way, elsewhere.

There are interesting research materials available that have given me insight into the 1890's and pioneering in the midwest. I hope to capture the time and place, and create an interesting character you will care about. If you're interested in the topic I can recommend: Frontier Women by Julie Roy Jeffrey, Westering Women and the Frontier Experience 1800-1915 by Sandra L. Myres, The Cherokee Strip by Marquis James, Pioneer Women: Voices from the Kansas Frontier by Joanna L. Stratton. I'm sure there are many more but these are the ones I am using. Photographs from the land rush are fascinating and available at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, and on the internet.

It's a lot more fun writing and not working a day job. Two-thousand-eight was not a very good year. I was working for a technology company and the tech bubble burst, but we survived. And now I have time to write. Win.

Read to Wellness

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:55:45 GMT

It works!

We had Covid in October through the beginning of November. It was no fun. I did a lot of sleeping and reading (when I wasn't coughing or blowing my nose). I finished The Woman in the Library, Song of the Bones (Preston), Ice Queen (Hoffman), and Sandstorm (Rollins). I enjoyed them all, but brain fog made some of it challenging (Woman in the Library) . Making my way through the fog kept my brain working, and wore me out at the same time. Naps were a must. Television made my head hurt more. Covid is gone now and I am so glad! Reading kept me going. And I haven't missed television all that much.

I'm busy writing a historical novel set in the Cherokee Strip land rush in the 1890's. We'll start the holiday planning soon and that should liven things up a bit. What do you bet there will be more books? No doubt.

The Women (by Kristin Hannah)

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:36:49 GMT

As always, Kristin Hannah doesn't disappoint. Her novel about the women in the Viet Nam war is incredible. I cried, I laughed, I got mad, I was touched. If I could give more than five stars I would.

I remember the war. As a high school kid it was real through news clips, protests, and soldiers dying. But we were removed, somehow. This book brought it all home for me.

Frankie McGrath became a nurse to help soldiers like her brother. She wanted to do her part for her country and make her parents proud. She had no idea what she had gotten herself into until she walked into the mobile OR. Reality bites viciously.

So much happened over the course of this book I am afraid of giving anything away. Read it and you'll experience what Frankie and other women like her experienced.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/296872-bonnie-tharp

Busy Summer

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:20:17 GMT

How I'm spending my hot summer:

There aren't any palm trees in the Midwest, nor beaches with rolling surf, but we have some lakes. Unfortunately, many are drying up due to the drought we're experiencing, which is frightening. Global warming is real, people.

Instead of puttering outside, I've been inside reading and painting. Did you know I was a painter? It's been fun to reacquaint myself with art, color, light, and the quiet concentration of creating something on canvas. Portraits appeal the most, trying to capture the spark in the eyes of a mischievous child (or adult as the case may be). I've also experimented with night scenes, animals, and I'm painting my first seascape (thanks to some wonderful photography by my good friend, Nathan Hill).

When I retired a few years ago I decided it was time to finish some projects that I had started decades before. A wonderful retired art teacher was introduced and she helped me get back into the craft of seeing light and color. It's been great fun, and challenging, too. I'm happy to say I've finished several paintings and I'm proud of them.

It's never too late to create.

Ramble Ramble Ramble

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:01:02 GMT

As time goes by...

I thought when I retired I'd be bored. Well, that hasn't happened. I'm busier now than I was when I worked. Who knew?

I'm sitting in my home office waiting on the rain. It's a beautiful cloudy Saturday. Storms are predicted for later, and we need the rain so badly. My dog doesn't like storms much. He used to be so brave, but nearly being struck by lightning made a permanent impression on him and fear took it's place. Poor fellow.

The neighbors have their little ones out in the cul-de-sac riding their respective fisher price vehicles, while they can. I need to get my four legged buddy out for a quick walk as well. Soon. Very soon.

By now you've heard that my seventh book has been published, FROM THE DARKNESS. It's exciting and the reviews are good ones. I think it's the best one yet. If you like a mystery with heart, I hope you'll give it a read.

The second book in the feisty series, PATCHWORK FAMILY, is being narrated into an audio book as we speak. I'm not sure when, but that's the plan. FEISTY FAMILY & FRIENDS is already in audio book. We love to listen to books when we're driving, but it's also great for mundane chore completion, making it so much more fun.

There's a painting I've been requested to paint, two actually. I'll probably get it done in a month or so then the oil paint needs to cure before it can be handled. It's more intricate than anything I've done so far, and will challenge me. The key is taking the time needed, no rushing a difficult creation.

Painting a picture is very similar to writing a book. You sketch out the idea, then build on it. Sounds simple but every step requires concentration, an open mind, and patience. Creating is time consuming, whether it's a book, a painting, a garden, a sculpture, or a healthy body. The trick is to stick with it, even when it becomes difficult. The results will be worth it.

Enjoy the journey, my friends.

Year End Reflections

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:30:28 GMT

Letting it all hang out.

Our ancestors passed down stories to educate and entertain. Stories make the world go around. Writing is difficult and I work very hard to tell a good story.

I've been writing for publication for twenty-four years and it's been a wild ride. Joy, frustration, excitement, disappointment, rejection, acceptance, good reviews and bad, tears and fear.

Having delved into a new genre a few years ago, romantic suspense, I realize that the really gritty stuff isn't my thing. I don't like wallowing in the muck, the blood, and the despair. Strong women characters and flawed but kind male characters move me.

After recently submitting one of my books to a contest the review made me realize just how true these things are. I like a satisfying ending. Life rambles and so do the characters and plots of my books. Keeping in mind not everyone will like every novel, the judge made me feel like a novice and that broke my heart.

I've never been a literary writer, although I admire the prose of many successful literary authors. They ROCK! But it's not who I am or what I write.

I apologize to any of my readers who have been disappointed in my books. My heart felt thanks go to all those readers who enjoy my novels, have left a review, and tell others you think might also enjoy them. You are rock stars, every one of you!

Bless you all in the new year, may it be filled with hope, good health, and joy!

Year End

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:19:34 GMT

The holidays are here!

Blessings and good wishes to all my readers. If you've enjoyed my books, please let people know - writing reviews on Goodreads, Amazon.com, BN.com, Audible, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Share the love.

I'm nearing the end of the first draft of FROM THE DARKNESS, another Rachel McGill romantic suspense novel. This time the stakes are even higher, there is reason to believe her parents were murdered before the house burned to the ground. But who did it and why?

It should be edited and published by spring, I hope. Stay tuned!

Book Review: The Marriage of Opposites

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 23:09:41 GMT

Alice Hoffman is a great story teller.

Hoffman brings the St. Thomas island community to life. Our main characters are Jews who have escaped to St. Thomas from Spain and Portugal in the 1800s. Rachel and her best friend, Jestine whose mother is the African cook for the Pomie family, roam the island at will.

As Rachel grows she becomes more aware of the divisions between the groups in town. The Jewish community is very tight-knit. A headstrong girl who wants to escape the island to Paris, Rachel dreams of walking along the Seine, while most girls her age want to have families.

When her father's retail store gets into financial trouble due to weather, lost ships, and cargo, Rachel is asked to marry an older man (Mr. Petit) whose business meshes with the Pomies. She wants to marry for love but understands the family needs her union to survive. Their cook tells Rachel that she will know love one day and will have many children and be married more than once.

She becomes a stepmother to three children and has three more with her husband (20 years older). She admires her husband and loves the children, but when he dies suddenly his cousin from Paris is sent to take over the business.

As independent and strong-willed as Rachel is, she is prepared to not like him and offers to continue managing the business as she has done with Mr. Enrique (a freed slave) since Mr. Petit's death. Sparks fly when he arrives and their lives are turned upside down. For the first time, Rachel knows love and it is forbidden.

The story follows Rachel's life and the lives of her nine children. The youngest is the most like Rachel in temperament, so they clash at every turn. Her youngest becomes an artist and can't wait to escape St. Thomas for a life in Paris.

I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't say any more, except it is a very lovely, troubled story that delves into secret places, dark sides, and community prejudices.

Hells Front Porch

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 19:07:58 GMT

One of the hottest summers on record.

There aren't too many beaches in Kansas, and when the temperatures stay at or over 90 degrees for months on end, it scorches everything. Even our brains.

I spent the biggest share of my summer reading inside, and I loved it. Thanks to the book club I belong to many new authors came into my life. (All of them are reviewed on Goodreads.com . Here's a short list: Deborah Harkness, Andrew Mayne, Jim Butcher, Pam Genoff, Barbara Davis, Matt Haig, and many more. I also read more of my favorites: C. Hope Clark, J.D. Robb, Olive Bala, and so on. Good stuff!

A new story is percolating in my mind, and beginning to grow on paper, but it's in the early stages. Life was very busy this summer. We lost two family members after illnesses. It's so hard to watch your loved ones pass, but in both their situations it was a blessing. Suffering is not something any of us should have to endure at the ends of our lives.

Did you ever see the movie Logan's Run? The premise: if you're over thirty you should be recycled. Heck of a way to worship youth. Crazy. The whole cast was young and were convinced that the elderly had nothing to offer. They'd never even seen someone with gray hair before the ending when Logan discovers a way out of the domed city and into the world beyond and a very elderly man. Luckily the man didn't have dementia, which is destroying so many lives these days.

If you haven't seen the film, I recommend it. Produced in 1976, when special effects were in their infancy, the domed society is clean and uncluttered. Outside the dome it is overgrown (like my garden), and messy. Not too many people survived out there, so when an old man is discovered, they are in shock.

At different stages of our lives being old is relative to our ages. When you're six, twenty is old. When your sixteen, thirty is old. When you're fifty, sixty appears right around the corner and then what? Retirement, hopefully. Enough resources to live comfortably, and survive economic downturns. We all pray for good health. Medical costs are in the stratosphere like so much of the economy, but it will recover, hopefully before we run out of resources. (I must think positively here.)

Some societies place a lot of respect and even reverence on the wisdom of their elderly. This country, not as much. Now that I am gray headed and slowing down, I wonder. Before mom died she asked us, "Is this all there is?" It broke our hearts, but we had no answers. From where we stood, for her, it appeared to be all.

Bless you all.

Cowtown Events

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 19 May 2022 20:25:06 GMT

Mark your calendars...

The third Sunday of each month, from May through October, Historical Cowtown Museum admission is FREE. Local authors will be present in the large banquet room (beside the entrance). There's books available in many different genre's: science fiction, fantasy, family fiction, romantic suspense, historical fiction, Christian testimonials, children's books, and so much more. I hope you'll come and see us, enjoy the Historical Cowtown Museum, and find your next good book to read.

Other vendors will be on the grounds to sell food, crafts, artwork, and jewelry. Best wishes to all!

What Happens Next?

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:33:35 GMT

That is a good question.

Another romantic suspense novel is now available (FROM THE SHADOWS) and I hope you will enjoy it. This is a follow on story to FROM THE ASHES, with Rachel, Thomas, Casey, and Michael. These books have been so much fun to write. There's a bit of a twist at the end of SHADOWS that I'll spend some time addressing in the next book.

Readers are asking me when the next one comes out, but you guys read them a whole lot faster than I can write them. It's quicker to turn a novel around since I've retired from my day job, but life has a way of inserting itself and disrupting our plans.

Therefore, I don't really know when the next one will be coming out. Family health issues have reared their ugly heads and we're all busy helping each other, trying to get stronger, and hopefully improving. For one of the family, healing is not in the cards. A friend of mine once said, "We play the hand we're dealt." That is the honest truth, we have no other choice in the matter. Not when it comes to family and friends. We do what needs to be done.

And there's still the specter of COVID lurking everywhere. It's better, thank you God, but it's not gone. It would be nice if everyone would be grown up and take the shot, wear the mask, socially distance, but... You all know what I'm talking about. Someone asked me the other day if I knew anyone who'd been vaccinated and NOT gotten COVID. Heck yes, my hubby and I, my brother and his wife, my best friend and her husband, my kids and their families, and many more that I can't think of at this moment in time.

Okay, enough of that.

I'm excited about the romantic suspense novels I've been writing. They are a blast to create. So far I don't have too many reviews on Good Reads or Amazon, but I've gotten messages on FB, Instagram, & Twitter from happy readers who said they were enjoyed. You know the value of reviews, right? It guides new readers to books others have liked and that's a good thing. Publishing in this day and age is very easy, but the market is flooded with millions of offers. The only way to know a good one is if it's been reviewed. SO, please review my books so others can find them. Those of you that have written reviews are ROCK-STARS!

I'm so glad spring is here. All of the trees and flowers wearing their new buds and colors are stunning. There's one little drawback, though, allergies. "Heavy sigh." I try not to let it spoil the beauty of nature's awakening, but it is hard some days.

I wish you all good health, joy, and safe travels. Don't forget to take a book along for down times. And be a rock star and leave a review, we authors really appreciate you readers. We need you!!!

Best of all things to you.

Book Review

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 21:39:33 GMT

Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon

I believe this is the first Melissa Bourbon mystery I've read and I really enjoyed it.

Quirky characters and situations, a little murder and magic, what's not to like. Oh, and the hint of romance is always nice.

Harlow Cassidy is rumored to be a descendant of Butch Cassidy, and the myth of an Argentinian blessing to all the female line appears to be true. Her great-grandmother had her "gift" and always seemed to get her way. (Don't know if that's always a good thing.) Her grandmother is a goat whisperer, which is a crack up. And her mother's emotions magically impact plants, flowers, and weeds especially. Crazy, but oh so much fun.

Harlow doesn't appear to have received her "gift" yet, so she feels a bit cheated. She does, however, have a way with fashion design that complements the wearer. That's a gift, in my book.

This was a lot of fun to read and I did have trouble putting it down. The murderer kept me guessing until the end. Enjoy the ride, this is a good one.

Holiday Lights...

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:17:47 GMT

Shine bright...

Driving around looking at the lovely holiday decorations is fun. You're snuggled warm in your car and hopefully someone is with you to join in the "ooo ahh" chorus. It's much more fun with friends.

During the holidays not everyone is having fun. There's so much going on which can be stressful. We are acutely aware of the loved ones who are gone and feel their absence. Many of our nation's people are struggling with illness, food insecurities, homelessness, and financial difficulties. All the pretty lights won't fix those issues, but for a little while we can find joy.

When a Christmas song comes on the radio or is being broadcast in a store, it lifts my heart. I want to dance and sing along, just like I did when I was small. I find my gift desires run to experiences instead of objects. The joy of something lovely to eat or drink and friends/family to share it with.

Laying under the decorated Christmas tree, looking through the branches, absorbing all of the color and shine. Those were great memories and magical times. Grandmother had a silver tree and the revolving colored disc which lit up red, blue, orange, and green. In the fifties that was magical and amusing to watch. It's cool that a new generation is discovering them again.

For the real tree purists, the led light options are nearly countless. And, no, strings of lights still get tangled and end up being frustrating to sort out. But once they are on the tree, it is transformed.

The light I miss, is the light in the eyes of my grandsons or my son when they were small. They made the holidays such a pleasure. May you all share in the light of hope, love, and peace.

Holiday Memories

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:29:56 GMT

Rambling thoughts on a cold day.

Christmas is coming. The kids are grown and moved to the other side of the country. We're older now and decorating is more a chore than fun anymore. But I remember when Mom was getting older (Pop was gone) and she didn't feel like pulling a tree from the basement so she decorated a big plant instead. She made it look so pretty with little red bows on the limbs. We took a cutting from that plant, it's a variegated thing that will take over the house if you don't cut it back. We call it the "mom plant" for lack of the correct name. One of these days I have to use my plant identifier app and see what's what.

When my son and his family lived in town and my eldest grandson was nine or ten, he and I put up Mom's Christmas tree and decorated it for her. She played Christmas records and gave us cookies from the store, by then she wasn't baking as much. We had great fun, he decorated the bottom and I decorated the top. We both filled in the middle and loved the homemade ornaments that my husband had made when he was small. There were ornaments that my son had made as well. The memories warmed the heart, and mom gave us several of those ornaments when she quit putting up a tree.

That little guy is thirty now, if I am doing the math right. He and his wife have a lovely fur baby ( a dog for those who don't use the term with affection). I haven't seen their apartment for a couple of years, and never at the holidays so I don't know if he decorates a lot. I imagine a tree that he and his wife decorate with ornaments they've obtained since they've been together. I've sent them new ones over the years so I hope they were the start of new memories for his family. I do remember a photo of their tiny first tree with affection.

I've seen photographs of the trees that my son and his wife have put up over the years. Ginormous comes to mind. I even recall one whose top bent over because the ceiling was lower than they thought. The trees are always beautiful, with ornaments that they've accumulated over the years. Some the boys made them while in school, some I donated to their first tree (ones that meant something to my son), and ones I've sent them since, too. It's my hope that they make lovely memories.

When my son was little we made home made ornaments with flour and I don't recall what else, baking them until they were hard. We applied paint when they cooled and they were enjoyed for years. Eventually they cracked and the hooks came out, but they lasted a good long time.

I made felt ornaments one year and some of them would still be on my tree, if I had one. I am quite proud of the felt Santa, with his pink cheeks (courtesy of felt a red felt pen). He's still in the ornament box in the basement.

My son learned to make god's eyes in art class, I believe during grade school or junior high, and several of differing sizes were always present.

This year I bought a gorgeous stained glass ornament from a cousin who made it. A iridescent white tree with colorful glass beads that catch the light. It hangs in the front window with a few others I picked to keep it company. We have a small tree on the mantle with green foil paper for limbs and glass balls. It is rather cute, if I do say so myself. And it's high enough off of the ground our puppy can't dismantle it. His unending curiosity and destructive nature is the main reason we didn't put up a large tree. I didn't want to be yelling at him for the next month for attacking it and removing the ornaments to chew.

Mom is in an assisted living facility now and has her own tiny tree in her room. In the atrium they have a humongous tree with colorful twinkle lights. The chairs around it are usually occupied and the residents chat and enjoy the lovely decorations.

I think I could go on and on here, but it's time to do something else (like edit my latest book). Happy Holidays to you all. Stay safe and healthy, and if you travel, "God speed."

Wait a Minute

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 15:49:11 GMT

Time moves too fast.

When you are young, time drags. When you mature your life is full and time speeds up. I thought when I retired that my life would slow down and time would, too. That doesn't appear to be the case.

There's always something to get done. Homeowners headaches (home repairs, yard maintenance), chores for living (laundry, cooking, cleaning), and in my case writing and reading. There's a canvas in the wings, waiting for paint, but I'm on a writing roll (new romantic suspense novel #3).

I received a guitar in June (I always wanted to learn to play), practiced until about August, then the writing kicked in and now the guitar is gathering dust. There is way too much dust around here, it appears like magic. Black magic.

I've wanted to learn to speak French, and some years back I did make a concerted effort. Progress was made, but again, things changed and it fell by the wayside. I seem to recall sleeping through the first six months after retirement, but it's been nearly four years now (I think) and things haven't slowed down since.

With the pandemic we've all filled our time differently than pre-pandemic times to some degree. We stayed in and stayed away from crowds (hopefully), keeping ourselves and our family better protected. It's been two years and the pandemic isn't going anywhere, it just lies in wait for un-vaccindated hosts and BAM it mutates and is off and running rampant again.

Many of us have watched more movies, read (and written) more books, and trained new puppies. We fill our time and it passes quickly. We're a curious species, always looking for what, we don't always know. We strive to better ourselves and that takes time. We aren't standing or sitting still for long, which makes the time seem to fly.

There are no real conclusions here, just thoughts as I age and still can't seem to keep up with everything on my plate. Perhaps cutting back is the thing to do, but will time slow down? Probably not. Enjoy the journey, my friends.

What change?

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 17:56:04 GMT

Change is a constant.

Why did we take the path we did?

We choose. That's what free will is all about. And if we want/need to change directions, we generally find a way to do so. We don't always choose wisely, and we learn something when we do.

Which road will you follow?

Whatever road I'm on I'll keep going until I can't go anymore, or won't go any further. The stones in the road may seem random, but are they truly? If the path is always smooth it would get boring. And when the path is all stones we get very frustrated.

When will things change?

Just when we think we've found a rhythm life inserts a new adventure. Not all adventures are fun, many include wrong turns, non-functioning apparatus, no maps or road signs. Those are the paths to discovery. Be open to the possibilities and good things usually surprise us.

Where will we go next?

When we make plans we have to remember to be flexible. Stuff happens all the time that we can't foresee. We must go with the flow and keep our heads above the water, keeping our eyes open.

What stage are you at in your life?

I'm at the stage where I know better, and care less about what other people think of me. I'm at the stage where kindness is a must, tolerance is necessary, and accept that everyone has something to offer. Most of all, enjoy the journey no matter what stage you're on.

Greatest Author?

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 14:46:53 GMT

There are many, but this caught my attention.

Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) is widely regarded as the greatest writer of the Spanish language, best known for his epic story “Don Quixote.” The book was originally published in two parts, the first released in 1605 and the second 10 years later in 1615. While it is undeniable that Cervantes must have been incredibly diligent to produce a work that is, even in modern printings, over 1,000 pages long, it is also worth noting that he struggled as a writer for 20 years before releasing the first half of “Don Quixote.” In the end, his diligence did indeed lead to good fortune. The work is considered to be the first modern novel and is one of the most widely translated books of all time.

I embarrassed to admit that I have not read Don Quixote. Books of our time seldom go to a thousand pages and part of it is due to our attention span. It appears we are more into quantity of reading rather than quality. What a sad state for us to be in. I find that when I read stories from centuries past I'm stunned by the differences in language and pace. Perhaps it is time for us to slow down, eh?

Zoomies

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 20:53:36 GMT

Zoomies are sudden bursts of energy...

My puppy gets them before bed each night and zooms several laps around the room. Race drivers perform them on the track. It's that amazing burst we get sometimes.

Recently, I have experienced the zoomies. Discovering writing romantic suspense is fun ( Your Every Move) , I decided to write another. Once I got started I couldn't stop. For a couple of months I didn't do much of anything - but write thousands of words a day.

The story is inspired by a situation I became acquainted with a couple of years ago. The woman victimized nearly died. While they know who the predators were, absolute proof wasn't available. Talk about unsatisfying! One of the advantages that a fiction writer has is the freedom to imagine and write much more creative ways for these criminals to be punished.

So, I did. And it was totally fun. Instant Karma. I think you can guess how it ends. I'm in the process of editing now, and that is a pain staking process. Once it's ready I'll submit it to my publisher and hope they will want to represent it. They produced Patchwork Family and it's a beautiful book, so I'm hopeful.

Stay tuned for From the Ashes . I'll let you know when it will be published.

Take care, stay safe, and read!

Reunion Beach

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 01:21:33 GMT

Reunion Beach: Stories inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank

First let me say that Dorothea Benton Frank was one of my favorite authors and human beings. She was gracious, funny, and she made everyone she met feel like family. This book "Reunion Beach" is a tribute to her, inspired by her, and a love letter from her family and friends. If you're a friend of Dottie's books, you'll enjoy the stories, poems, and letters in this collection.

I became acquainted with Dorothea Benton Frank when a writer's group friend recommended "Shem Creek" to me a long time ago. It has just come out in paperback and I was needing inspiration, and boy did I find it. She could make you feel the humidity, the sand between your toes, and the ocean washing up to the shore. Her stories made me laugh and cry and I will not doubt read them again and again. My dream was to be the Dorothea Benton Frank of the Midwest. How's that for a lofty goal?

Meeting her in person at a signing at Watermark Books had me walking on air for weeks. She graciously accepted my request to do a read through of my second novel and let me know what worked and what didn't. Within a few weeks she came back with some excellent questions and comments that helped me fine tune my novel, Patchwork Family. On top of that she gave me a blurb of the cover and that's when I jumped over the moon. Wouldn't you?

The next time she had an event in Wichita, KS, yes, that's a real place that people visit, I was privileged to meet her daughter, Victoria and visit with her after the signing. She is such a lovely woman, with a beautiful smile and warm heart. We talked about my desire to visit Sullivan's Island and what time of the year was best. If I recall, she said the humidity was least hellish in April and October. So, I filed that away for someday.

When I heard Dottie was sick it broke my heart, but the family was kind enough to let us fans know that what she really needed were prayers and privacy. A few months late, she was no longer with us. I cried, but I can't even imagine losing such a shining star from my family or my life. My heart and prayers went out to the family, and especially the kids. Teddy should have some good memories, but he was so small. And granddaughter, Thea wasn't born yet, so her mamma and grandpa will no doubt share wonderful stories to let her know she has an angel in heaven watching out for her.

When I heard about Reunion Beach I had to get a copy for myself. I have all of Dorothea's books, and now this wonderful compilation to honor a lovely lady has joined them. Bless you Dottie for shining your light on us all and sharing your wonderful stories.

On my feet!

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:04:48 GMT

April & May were healing months for me.

But I'm back on my feet again. Taking it slowly, gaining strength, thinking about possibilities.

First order of business. Healing. Unfinished business: a historical novel; seascape drawing that I would like to paint; and training the new puppy who is fast approaching a year old. No need to plan around cleaning, it'll get done eventually. It's amazing how much dust, clutter, and dirt can accumulate over time. I tackle a bit a day, which is truly a never ending cycle, but at least bits of the house are tidy and dust free. For now.

I've been doing a lot of reading. You can check out my book list on Goodreads.com. Some of the books I've read these past few months have been AMAZING. I've left reviews so you can see what my impressions were and which ones were my favorites.

It's June now and summer is here. Our patio got repaired just in time for warmer weather. It's nice to sit out there in the morning and have coffee. And I plan to light the Chiminea in the evenings before the mosquitos get too hungry. No gardening this year, but I will find a way to pull those two foot tall weeds!

The puppy keeps us entertained and challenges the blood pressure fairly frequently. Not quite hourly, anymore, but several times a day. He's an adorable monster who didn't know his human was going to be laid up two months after he came to live here. Poor little guy. And my older dog is not warming to him. It's more a state of "tolerance", most of the time.

It's strange how our pets become such an important part of our families. I've had dogs around all of my life. When I moved away from home I got a job, an apartment, and a dog - in that order. We only had one dog in the house growing up, but my husband and I have had as many as three. We've taken in rescues and senior dogs for about twenty years. This last little guy was an actual planned, purchase - and boy had we forgotten just how challenging puppies can be. WOWZA.

The pup is going on walks now so I'm hopeful he will cool his jets some and quit eating anything and everything. Destructo might have been a good name. Who knew?

Happy reading friends.

Block

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 12:58:37 GMT

Yes, writer's block can be a thing.

Some writers say writer's block "is" and some say "it isn't" really an issue. For me, it can be the start to something new. At least, that's my hope.

In the past if I got stuck on a scene or story I would change my writing method. By that, I mean, I'd go from the keyboard to my favorite pen and paper. I'd go for a long walk and let my mind wander. I'd listen to baroque music and relax. I'd dig in the dirt and clear my head. I'd get back to basics.

This time might require all of the above, I'm not sure. I'm struggling with some physical limitations, but nothing that won't go away in time. The walk and digging in the dirt are out right now. Sigh. Our puppy is doing enough digging in the garden to destroy anything I'd do anyway. "The little trouble maker."

Truly, the puppy and the pandemic have been quite distracting. "Excuses, excuses" just popped in my head. And it's true. When I started my first novel that's really all I did besides work and sleep. I wrote during my lunch and dinner times. There were note pads everywhere, including my pocket, for ideas that popped in the night or during the course of the day. The television was seldom on. We ate a lot of canned soup and sandwiches, or fast food. I gained weight. "Oh no, not that!"

Right now, I can't seem to get out of my own way. That's really it, isn't it? Writers are like any other artist, they allow things to disrupt the flow of creativity. And the ones who dig in and focus on nothing but their newest project are labeled "selfish." Hum. Where did that come from? The inner critic just joined the blog.

Many artists are emotional people. We feel and see things with our whole being. We allow feelings to impact our inspiration and ultimately our production. The key may be to slip into a more pragmatic mode and just get it done. We all have that aspect of our work or we'd never finish a story or painting. "Been there, done that. Many times."

So, I must ask myself as a creative person. "What's it going to be? Am I going to continue to wander in my mind or am I going to "get 'er done"?"

Keep Swimming

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 16:05:32 GMT

Life keeps plugging along.

And all we can do is keep on swimming. With every stroke we get further on the journey and hopefully reach a destination that brings us something we need. Joy? Truth? Hope? Peace? Or maybe just a coffee and a good book. (On a boat?)

I know I'm mixing analogies, sorry about that, but the pictures in my head are not static. Thoughts ramble, as do I from time to time.

There are times when we get tired and have to float along with the current. It doesn't pay to swim against it. Major exhaustion inducing. But we don't always want to go the way of the current and we have to try to cross the stream. It's what makes our lives interesting and challenging.

I've been lucky. While I've had to deal with some health issues the past few months, they have all been repairable and not life threatening. The biggest challenge is accepting my limitations and being patient with recovery. I thought I had developed a reasonable sense of patience as I've aged, but not with myself. I've let it color my world, impact my art and writing. Let's see, kind of like a huge wave that drags me under only to push me along to break the surface again.

Reading has been a respite, thanks to my book club. They keep me afloat in the world of possibilities. I'm not sure where I'm going as a writer, whether I'll resume the projects started (a historical and a romance) or if I'll throw caution to the winds and explore a whole new world. Science fiction? Mystery? Brainstorming and what if scenarios are definitely in order. I must explore a little. If you have any preferences and want to share them, I'm open to suggestions. Vampires? Gypsies? So many possibilities in the sea of story ideas.

Take care dear readers, keep afloat and enjoy the ride. I'm trying!!

Superstitious?

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:00:30 GMT

Words have power.

Do you believe in the power of words? Aren't words just symbols of ideas, used to communicate? Are you superstitious? Do you believe in things you cannot see? Some call that "faith."

I've been told, "be careful what you wish for, you might get it." And depending on the context this could be a really bad omen for someone who wishes they were dead.

I do believe words have power. The power to inspire. The power to destroy. The power to motivate. The power to hurt. The power to create. And many believe that what you say will manifest itself in the universe. It does sound a wee bit esoteric. It also sounds a bit frightening. Is it worth the risk? It's something to think about before you speak or write, believe me.

Norman Vincent Peale believed in the power of positive thinking. But what is thinking, but words or images in our minds. There is something to the concept of filling your life with good words and thoughts. As the saying goes, "we reap what we sow." Thoughts of dark places will definitely hide the light within and outside of you. But sometimes we can't help but go there.

The trick is not staying there too long. We all need to vent, but we don't have to destroy someone else in the process. We all are sad or angry sometimes, but we don't have to wallow in it. Look for the light and the music that makes your heart sing.

Making our world a better place starts with each one of us. If each individual takes the time to improve their small segment of the planet, it will create a accumulative effect. Chose your words carefully so that you'll create something beautiful, healing, and bring joy.

Winter still

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 17:36:28 GMT

You know it's bad when you talk about the weather. But is it?

It's been the warmest winter I can remember. Sixty in January? In Kansas? But we've had snow and rain, too. My puppies are house dogs but they both love the snow. This is the little one's first winter and he thinks it's the best thing since sticks and chew toys.

While we're basking in the unseasonably warm weather I have to remind myself that winter is not over yet. I recall a blizzard in the 70's in mid February, so I know it happens.

In the mean time I have a historical novel in the works. I have a romance novel started but set aside. And I'm getting ready for a long rehab, so it's back to the keyboard for me. I've let things get in the way of me and the keyboard, which is not good for writers. You don't finish and the stories bug you to death.

I've dreamed scenes from all of my books and the medication I'm on prevents me from remembering my dreams. How's that for a total bummer? But it helps me sleep, so I'll have to unleash my imagination during the day. Look out!

Creative endeavors involve a lot of emotion and discipline, you have to sit your fanny down and ignore the dog barking, the snow piling up on the walk, the dust bunnies procreating under the furniture. Believe me they aren't going anywhere. BUT, if you disconnect from your creative side you're out of balance. I know that happens, too.

Just like the puppy balancing on top of his dog house above, you need to find your footing. The views better from higher up, too. So, it's back to basics for me, limitations or no limitations. Have a safe and healthy season, and don't forget to take care of yourself and enjoy the journey.

Look out the window

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 19:02:36 GMT

What do you see?

Trees. Gardens. Animals and birds. Homes. Streets. People walking by. A mailbox. Leaves.

When you were small, what did you look for? Dragons. Unicorns. Knights. Aliens. Oceans. Forests. Magic.

When I was four or five I lived with my grandparents in a tiny two story house in a suburb of Topeka. Each room upstairs had a window that faced each point on the compass. My room faced North and I had a view of the garden and our neighbors roof. I played in the bedroom facing East, watching the sunrise, looking for friends to be in their backyards. I imagined the circus, castles, flying horses and tame bears.

My father remarried when I was seven and we moved to Wichita. We'd visit my grandparents for Christmas for several years after, but as we got older we went to visit less and less. The view out my bedroom window faced the neighbor's fence and I really didn't like them anyway.

When I graduated from high school I decided to go to KU and commute from my grandmother's house. My grandfather was in a nursing home, requiring more care than grandmother could give after a double amputation (his legs) due to complications from diabetes. She'd never learned to drive so I took her to visit him on days I wasn't in school.

I chose to sleep in the bedroom facing West this time around. It had been my aunt's room growing up and it always fascinated me. She was ten years older, so at five I followed her everywhere I was allowed to. Her room was off limits, unless she was there. I admired the china doll that sat on her bed, loved the smell of cedar coming from her closet, and danced to the portable record player she had. The sounds of the fifties filled the four years I lived there with them.

By my college years she was married with children of her own. The china doll and record player were gone. I'd look to the West and enjoy the sunsets and the view of the comings and goings of the neighborhood. I imagined stories of perfect Donna Reed marriages, women in pearls and men in suits, but many of them wore uniforms, repairing or driving trucks and old cars. On a clear day you could see the top of the capital building. That was where important rules were made to govern and protect us.

I only stayed with grandmother for a semester because I was madly in love and he lived in Wichita. At that time they charged by the minute for phone calls and I spent most of my stipend to cover those bills. We'd have long conversations about our dreams. I imagined magical times of joy and wonder. There's even a letter somewhere that I wrote him with a unicorn or flying horse on it. We married and had a beautiful son, and a busy life together.

My grandparents are gone. My parents are gone. And I'm pretty much a gray haired lady. I don't dream of unicorns and flying horses anymore. The view out my window reminds me what a nice neighborhood I live in, with dogs, children, and people of all ages. Suits and pearls are not longer required for work, so you seldom see them anymore, except maybe at the bank. My best friend still wears pearls and her husband wore suits every day to work until he retired.

What I see outside my window now is quiet living. Peacefulness. We keep our yards trimmed and visit over the fences or across yards. We wave and say hello. We watch out for each other. Everyone has their own dreams that we keep inside now. I dream of being healthy and seeing my family who has moved across the country to pursue their dreams.

Look out your window. What do you see?

Hopeful for a Happy New Year

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 20:37:35 GMT

Have you heard?

Hell hasn't frozen over yet, BUT, there is great hope that 2021 will be a vast improvement over 2020.

What amazes me is how resilient the human race can be in a crisis, and let's face it, there has been one crisis after another in 2020. Vaccines were invented in record time, using creative methods and all hands on deck. The scientific and medical communities came together and worked diligently to find a life saving vaccines. It's looking now like there are at least three vaccines coming available and that is a true blessing.

People have found new ways to communicate with the internet so we can see one another with video. It's almost like being there with our colleagues, family, and friends. And it's safer than groups of people and the threat of spreading the virus.

The face mask, constant hand washing, and physical distancing has gone a long way to keeping us safer. I love how the masks have become accessories. Creativity has exploded and the irritating mask has become expressions of personality using lovely fabric art, and can be laugh out loud funny. A true example of making lemonade out of lemons. Erma Bombeck would proud.

Some grocers have jumped on board the physical distancing wagon by clearing out the junk in their aisles. Yay. I hope this lasts a long time after the pandemic, so we don't have to dodge displays of things we don't often buy anyway. The online pick list and contact less pick up is brilliant.

I read the other day that book sales and puppy purchases are up. How cool is that? Books and puppies are always a good thing, but when you're staying home to prevent the spread of disease, a warm companion and a plethora of stories are a must.

Streaming entertainment services are a wonderful way to see new movies and concerts, or rerun your old favorites. Network television does a pretty good job with reruns, especially during the holidays, but we all like to see something new.

Life goes on, just in different ways. Much of what we're experiencing will be the new normal even after the danger is past. Let's stay diligent, get vaccinated when it becomes available and be kind. Above all, BE KIND.

Baby it's cold outside

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:53:51 GMT

Hibernation & reading

When the wind is howling and it's dark outside so long, I love to curl up in a quilt with a good book and a cup of something warm to drink. I'm guessing the majority of you dear readers do as well. And I'm most thankful when you choose one of my books to keep you company.

It's been a year of challenges for everyone and we've been staying home for months now, so the seasons aren't driving us in - it's circumstance. If you follow social media you can see it in nearly every post: illness, prayer requests, political confusion, job frustration, accidents and on and on. How does this differ from years past? Shear volume. Over a quarter of a million people in this country have died and the end is not quite in sight.

I don't want this post to become another sad commentary on the state of the world, but it is impacting all of us. Some of us find solace in a fluffy romance, or get our minds off things with a good mystery. I hope that you find a book, movie, song or artistic means of expression to relieve some of the tension. Escape for awhile. Have a picnic in your living room, minus the ants, of course. Put on your favorite warm sweater, your drink of choice, put on music and the headphones and relax.

Pets are good stress relievers, too. We have a new puppy and when he's curled up with me on the sofa I can feel my body become heavier, my breathing slower. Until he jumps up, grabs my glasses off of the side table and runs - that will get the adrenaline pumping. He's getting better, by the way, he hasn't eaten any socks, magazines, ear buds, pillows or cardboard boxes in the past few days. Whew. Momentary reprieve.

I guess my point to all this rambling is "take care of yourselves." Oh, and read a good book. Blessings to you all and stay safe.

Message in a bottle

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:25:25 GMT

The ramblings of a confused state of mind

Is anyone else out there totally confused about what is going on this year? It's hard to focus on anything because there is constant "breaking news," the majority of which has been bad.

The head nurse at the facility where my sister is being cared for called me this morning. She's not doing well. On top of everything else she's been through this year (death of our mother, being neglected and financial exploited by her caregiver, someone set fire to her house, she broke her hip...) COVID-19 came to call. What the...?

I see on the news every day that people are losing jobs, standing in line for food, losing their loved ones, trying to juggle being teacher and parent (and if they are lucky, hold down a job), and fighting to stay healthy. This is the stuff soap operas are made of, right? Not real life! But the truth is, no, this is real life in the midst of a pandemic. People suffer.

At this point all I can pray for is "comfort" for my sister and "strength" for her medical staff. She's had a rough time of it and deserves some comfort. She's being well cared for, of that I am certain. She's clean and safe, which everyone deserves. Everyone deserves happiness, too, but that boat sailed past her a while back and hasn't returned.

I count my blessings every day, because truly I have been blessed. But the pain of others makes me so sad and feelings of worthlessness keep creeping in. These are things I cannot fix. By now you know, I am a "fixer." This year has been a lesson in limitations, grief, and countless testing of the strength we possess.

There has been some good things, too. My grandson got married to a wonderful young woman. New babies have been born healthy and happy to dear friends. We added a sweet little puppy to our family. Much of my family and extended family has stayed healthy. The fall foliage is beautiful outside my window. Children are laughing and playing. Neighbors are looking out for each other. There's food in our cabinets and a roof over our head. We have loved ones to comfort and be comforted by. Yes, we have been blessed. May God bless you all.

Halloween

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 19:36:10 GMT

One of my favorite times of the year.

When we were little, Halloween was magical. It was the night that we got to dress up and be someone else, a princess, a superhero, a cat, a ghost, a robot, anything you could create you could be. Make-up and accessories like swords and magic wands were enchanting. Sometimes just wearing a mask that covered your face like Zorro was enough to feel mysterious.

We used up Mom's tin foil and borrowed dresses and hats from our parents. We'd paint on mustache's, make our own crowns (again with foil), and if the right sized boxes were in the garage they might make us into a space ship or a train car that would accommodate one or more passengers. Paint and masking tape were used liberally, as were imaginations!

Pillow cases were our candy bags and the elderly neighbors spent the day making us each homemade popcorn balls that were sticky and crunchy. After our legs were too tired to take us anywhere but home we'd sit down at the kitchen table and sort our booty, trade the items we didn't like with our siblings, and eat until our parents made us stop. Hopefully before a stomach ache set in.

The holiday has changed over the years, due to people who added dangerous things to our candy, like pins and pills. There is a special place in hell for people who harm children and animals. Just saying. There was a uptick in parties where the parents supplied the refreshments and knew they were safe. Then when going door-to-door became an iffy proposition, the mall stores gave out candy to kids in costumes and the churches had trick-or-trunk with parishioners providing treats and decorating their cars for the kids.

This year we hide from an invisible foe, a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of all ages. People wear masks every day to protect others and we distance ourselves to protect ourselves and others.

How is a kid supposed to go out in costume on the spookiest night of the year and not worry that the person in front of them didn't wash their hands and the candy might be unsafe? How is a mom supposed to not fear that the candy giver is asymptomatic and doesn't even realize they've endangered our children. How does a kid have fun on Halloween this year?

I'm not sure, but we will have to all use our imaginations. We can dispense candy with gloves on. We can slide the candy down a tube into the waiting goodie bag. We can create little goody bags with candy inside and once they are gone, the porch light goes off and you are done.

Will there even be any trick-or-treaters? Personally, I love to see the little ones with their whiskers drawn on and a tail pinned in the back of their jammies. Or a hero with a table cloth cape and long underwear under his snow boots and ski goggles over his eyes. A couple of years ago, one of the bigger boys in the neighborhood dressed up as a commode, with boxes and an actual toilet seat where you could add the candy to a bucket attached. It cracked me up so much I added it to my last book.

Bless and keep you all safe, and enjoy the holiday with your children.

The Pits

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:33:28 GMT

If life is a bowl of cherries...

What am I doing in the Pits?

I loved Erma Bomback. She had a way of saying just what we feel from time to time. She challenged us to make lemonade from lemons. I'm thinking 2020 is the year of the pits. So many people are hurt, sick and suffering. The sense of humor seems to have gone right out of the world, to be replaced by sarcasm and untruths.

Bomback also said, "There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt." Not only was she funny, she was wise. I wish I could capture her essence and share it.

I'd ask for 2020 do-overs, but God knows none of us would like to repeat all the bad stuff that has occurred. So, I'm thinking about the good stuff.

My eldest grandson got married (outside) to the love of his life. They shared lots of lovely pictures. There is power in Family.
I've read a lot of good books. The Tradd Street series by Karen White, The Clockmakers Daughter by Kate Morton. The Paradise series by Elin Hildebrand. And so many more. Never ending power of story.
My flower garden thrived, until I got the puppy, but that's okay, we'll work on garden etiquette next season. The unconditional love of pets is a blessing!
I learned to make pickles and can salsa, most ingredients from my friends and neighbors gardens. Always learn, it keeps you young. Friends are gifts we give ourselves.
We got a new puppy, who is the cutest little monster on the planet. Fur babies are precious.
My family has remained safe and healthy. THANK YOU GOD. Family.
I haven't gained any weight or lost my hair, although I did cut it short due to the heat and now for the convenience. Acceptance.
I'm learning that things can be replaced but people can't, and those aren't just words any more. Truth.
I've painted some decent oils paintings of my grandchildren. Creativity ROCKS, too.
Puzzles came back into my life, some were fun, some not so much. Challenge your mind!
I've discovered I don't have unlimited energy, but that is okay, I do what I can and it is enough. Acceptance.
I learned how to make a new website from scratch. Never stop learning.
Video conferencing is a wonderful way to see those you love!

If I think of more, which I probably will, I will add them. How about you? What good things can you share?

We must enjoy the journey, that's all we have.

New Family Member

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 19:52:21 GMT

Fur babies are so important to many families

We got a new puppy last week and I'm guessing it's the last "puppy" we'll get in this lifetime. We've been rescuing dogs the past twenty years and we have forgotten how much work a new "baby dog" can be. OMG.

Sleep deprivation - Of course! Picking the right name - Tough!! And helping him to learn some manners without thinking the whole world is a "no, no" is also challenging. There's also the issue of integrating him with our eleven-year-old female dog, Lucy. Suffice it to say, she is very displeased with us, and tries to ignore the little interloper who sticks his little nose into everything (including her bowl, her toys, her bed...you get the idea).

I've had dogs for sixty years and have loved them all. Each was unique in their own way and I'm happy to say most lived long lives and were integral parts of our family. The amazing things about pets is that if you love and care for them they will do everything they can to please you. They will love you unconditionally. You are "their human".

The pup has already decided we are his humans and follows us all over the house. He'd really like to curl up beside Lucy to nap, but she's not ready for that yet. I hope she will relent soon, he's quite a wailer at night in his crate alone. He no doubt misses his parents and seven siblings. But we do our best to keep him busy and teach him the house is not his toilet, nor is the furniture or our fingers his chew toys. Those teeth must itch like crazy, hence we considered "Chewie" for his name. We're leaning toward Wailing Willie and so far it seems to work. I promise, we won't change it to "no, no dammit" no matter what he chews up.

Enjoying the journey - how about you?

Help When You Can

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 00:08:20 GMT

Stop abusers!

Those that have read my books know that senior abuse is something I've fought against, as well as stopping the cycle of abuse in families. It happens. It's been happening forever and dammed if it isn't still. There is no reason or excuse in the world to abuse anyone, but the weak become victims every day. It makes me so angry and truthfully, fearful of growing old. I'm on a path with Adult Protective Services to help someone. Her supposed "caregiver" stole her pride, her dignity, and what little money she had. She's sick and fearful and feels alone. Lucky for her she had a good friend who stepped in and pulled her out of that situation. Be cognizant folks, the abused can feel it is their lot in life for bad decisions made. They will deny it happens, even though the evidence is all around them. They can't believe that the one they trusted could truly not care for them or take advantage. But some do. Screen those caregivers!! Our folks are requiring care and who knows what our lives will be like in the next decade or two. If you see something that looks hinky, someone who is being victimized, do not hesitate to step in. You might be saving a life.

Review "Your Every Move"

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 22:30:43 GMT

A new review

"I just finished reading YOUR EVERY MOVE. I enjoyed it and was surprised at the end. Thanks for your talent." -Patty B.L.

Restarting a Project

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 17:51:03 GMT

Breaking writers block

When you've been away from your writing for a time the blank page can be a bit intimidating. And all of those wonderful details you researched are a bit vague now. Details are lost in the ether.

During the pandemic I have found myself unable to focus on the written page. I read, do a household or garden chore, then read some more. I also interspersed oil painting for several months and enjoyed the return to another creative outlet.

My thoughts have not been far from my work in progress, a historical novel set in 1893 during the Oklahoma land rush. It's inspired by my husband's great grandmother who homesteaded her own place, without a partner to share the load. She was strong, entrepreneurial, and a creative thinker. I'm writing a fiction novel about a character who does what she has to do and finds ways to survive and prosper.

I'll reread some of the books I have about that time period, chronicles of women who homesteaded the plains. My favorites are "Letters of a Woman Homesteader," "Westering Women and the Frontier Experience 1800-1915" and "Pioneer Woman, Voices from the Kansas Frontier." They are filled with post it notes, underlines and comments I made the first time I read them.

My novel will be character driven, as are all of my books. Sharing the experience with the character is what makes it real to me as a reader, so that is the way I try to write as well.

I have to admit, it's a bit overwhelming to start again on a project that is only about 25% complete. But it's good to have started, editing now will make it even better and get the story moving again.

I've written in different ways over the years, one scene at a time and not chronologically, but the challenge was putting all of those puzzle pieces together in a coherent and logical manner. The last several novels I wrote predominantly in chronological order. That doesn't mean there weren't periods of time that weren't missing, just that I kept going and went back to fill those in later. It works better for me, but everyone has their own way of getting their stories told. No one way is right for everyone.

The main thing is to get started and not give up.

Thoughts about Covid-19

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 14:19:40 GMT

What is "new normal" anyway?

With the pandemic in full force we have to forge new paths. Smaller gatherings. Wearing masks to protect each other. Sanitize and wash our hands frequently. From what I can see from the statistics, mask wearing has helped to slow the spread of the virus. Is it a perfect protection? No. But going without a mask certainly will not protect anyone. It's a small thing to do and it helps.

I've been reading about previous pandemics. Spanish flu took two years to become less lethal. And a mutation of it still exists, hence the need to be vaccinated annually. The virus has mutated over time and is in it's fourth generation. There were pandemics in 1957, 1968, and 2009 that were all derivatives of the 1918 flu.

I was reading in the Washington Post and the experts said that despite the similarities of flu and the "novel" coronavirus, they are not the same. The incubation periods are different, the affects can be longer lasting and even obviously deadly. Everything about the novel coronavirus is longer. And don't forget the asymptomatic carriers.

During Gerald Ford's tenure as president they fast tracked a vaccine that was the cause of many deaths. I believe they called it a "total fiasco." Time will tell us how the current administrations actions or inaction will impact the results of this pandemic. It's not fake news, nearly two hundred of thousand people have died in the U.S. alone.

Earlier this spring my almost 90 year-old mother said, "It's God's way of weeding us out." Therefore, we are keeping her isolated as much as possible. We don't want to lose her before her time. But since she made that statement the virus has been seen to impact not only older people, but all ages. No one is immune.

The new normal hasn't been established fully, but we're having glimpses. Children wearing masks to school. Teaching and working on-line versus in-person. People are not traveling as much, or gathering in large groups - and when they do, the virus spreads like fire. (250K infected from Stergis so far.) Most of us have hunkered down at home for seven or eight months now. We gather in small pods of people we know have been careful. We aren't hugging or holding hands like we used to. Most of us are being cautious and that will continue as long as it must.

My cousin, Buddy, is a nurse in Texas. He works with covid patients every day. The hours are long, the stress is off the charts. The risk to him and his family is higher because he is in harms way every day. He's careful. He's caring. He's tired. He reminds us often, "wear masks, it helps." Bless you Buddy, for the work you and all medical personnel do.

Stay safe everyone.

Autumn Please

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 21:17:26 GMT

Fall is my favorite time of year.

It's the time when the temperatures are much more comfortable in the Midwest. A time of sweaters and light jackets. A time of long walks in dry leaves and a hint of change in the air. I love the color of the leaves as they get ready for winter. The raking isn't much fun, but hopefully you don't have to do it very often, because it is hard work. But youngsters playing in the leaves makes it all worthwhile.

Most of my novels start in fall. In FEISTY FAMILY VALUES, Annabelle finds herself homeless and asking for a place in the family house now owned by her cousin. Fall can portend not only the return of winter, but life changes as well.

In FEISTY FAMILY & FRIENDS the lives of everyone we know will be impacted by change; of life, death, growth, love and loss. And did I mention there are puppies? Small creatures of the four or two legged kind bring much joy to living. They always make me smile.

In my romantic suspense novel, YOUR EVERY MOVE, Amanda finds herself having to grow up very fast as she moves from high school to college, from working to managing, from infatuation to love, finding the strength to handle everything life brings her way.

We grow and change as needs occur, and 2020 has been an amazing testament to the resilience of mankind. So many disastrous events have taken so many lives and jobs, leaving behind a new world, a "new normal." Some of it was anticipated but ignored and now we are struggling to overcome a world-wide pandemic, world-wide climactic change, and walls/divisions that have never really come down.

Things don't go away because we ignore them, but they can improve when we do something about them. If we grow and change with the times. If we support and love one another, this race of humans will survive.

And if we don't, then I guess the leaves won't be the only things to fall.

Bedtime Stories are powerful

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:58:00 GMT

When my grandson came along it became something special he would do at grandma’s house. And when he got older and wasn’t interested in reading a story together, we’d take turns creating a story. I’d start with a character and scene, he’d add the action. Then it would be my turn again. Some nights it was hard to stop because the story kept evolving and instead of a quiet time before sleep, we’d get all jazzed and the creative muse kicked in for both of us.

I’ve heard of people who read to their pets and while I’ve never done it, I can see how it could be relaxing. My husband used to read to me sometimes and frankly, I loved it! His soothing base voice painted lovely pictures from one of his favorite authors, whose name escapes me right now. I believe the book was called “Tranquility” and the stories were about nature. Very cool stuff, even for a girl.

I posted a link to an article about the value of bedtime stories on Facebook and it got tons of responses. Many folks shared their favorite books as a child. One of my son’s favorites was a little golden book about one of the Muppets, Sherlock Hemlock. The spine is held together with masking tape due to lots of love and reading. Paddington Bear was another favorite, but that book is long gone. But we do have several of my husband’s childhood books that we shared with our grandsons. Sir Kevin of Devon was the youngest ones favorite.

What was your favorite bedtime story or ritual? Did you ever create stories together?

Buzz revisited

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 02:23:00 GMT

We have to forget what our parents said about “not tooting our own horn” and blow that bugle loudly. Tell everyone about our writing. Share our enthusiasm for what we do. Nothing is more appealing than a person who is excited about something they’ve done or seen or read. Share it!

My favorite instructors in college were the ones that were passionate about the class subject. Most people enjoy learning when the person sharing is having a good time presenting it. When I read a new book that I like, I tell my friends, my mom and put a review on GoodReads and/or Amazon. I read so much that it’s hard to keep up, but I definitely rate them, so folks know if I really liked the novel or it didn’t resonate with me.

Don’t you just love learning about: A great shoe sale? A plant that is easy to grow? A cool new musician? A yummy new recipe that’s easy to make? An awesome place to go to eat? A movie that is really funny or romantic or filled with adventure? A GOOD BOOK? Telling someone about all those things and more is…BUZZ! Create it by sharing. Won’t our momma’s be proud we learned to share?!

Learning to dance in the rain.

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 21:06:00 GMT

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

When I was still in grade school I used to love to go out in the rain barefoot and walk along the edge of the street where the water rushed down to the storm drain. It moved so fast that all manner of interesting things got caught up in the flow. It was amazing how many worms were washed up from the soil and tickled my toes as they slid by on their way to who knows where. A very watery adventure, in my youthful eyes.

In my thirties I worked for an advertising agency and we had an outside ground breaking ceremony to commemorate a new business being built. We had a tent, but when I asked the director if we shouldn’t procure sides in case the weather got bad he laughed and said the weather would hold. HA. Not in Kansas. My new silk blouse and flowing skirt were marred by mud, as were my nice patent pumps. We strung boards from the street across the muck so people could walk to the tent and get out of the rain. What a mess. All for the lack of contingency.

Do you dance in the rain? Do you picture Gene Kelly and the lampost? I do. How about the two buddies in the photo above. Looks like fun, doesn’t it. Hey, next time it rains, give me a call and we’ll go out and play.

How do you get an agent…unanswered…

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 01:32:00 GMT

I’ve heard that there are lots of ways to get an agent. Meet with them at conferences. Submit queries based on your completed work. Approach those that represent authors that also write in your genre. Been there. Done all that.

No one actually tells you “how.” I did my homework, I researched more than a hundred agents. I checked to see if they were members of AAR or at least espoused to follow the guidelines. I looked for established agents in my genre of women’s fiction, as well as reviewed and queried new agents who I hoped would be “hungry.” No one was biting. Bummer. There must be something else I need….Luck perhaps?

Being the tenacious writer that I am I decided to go another route. I approached small independent publishing houses that did not require an agent. After querying a handful I found a winner in Five Star Publishing: Expressions for my first novel FEISTY FAMILY VALUES. It came out in February 2010 and I did the marketing/promoting and public relations myself. I got a small advance that I used for that promotion plan.

Next step involved finishing the sequel to feisty entitled PATCHWORK FAMILY, which came out in March 2014 with Belle Bridge Books. YAY! No agent. After publishing FEISTY FAMILY & FRIENDS in 2019 and YOUR EVERY MOVE IN 2017 I still am without representation.

What does all this mean with regard to getting an agent? I’ve approach additional agents at a couple of conferences in the last few years. Did it work? Not yet. Have I answered the question of how to get an agent? Nope. I don’t believe there is just one answer – but I’m willing to keep working toward that goal.

Change = Perfection? I don’t think so.

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 21:31:00 GMT

Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change. To be perfect is to change often.”

I don’t know anyone who is enjoys change. Not one person. Change is hard. We get into a rhythm or habit and it’s hard to break. This happens in all aspects of life: work, home, relationships, etc. But sometimes we have to change and that change is good for us in the long run. Easy to say. Hard to figure out which direction to go.

At work we are changing a lot of processes and systems in an attempt to simplify and streamline what we do. It is very painful, but concentrating on our goal of saving money and time helps. We won’t see the results for some time, because changing so much takes a really long time. I imagine it was similar when they built the pyramids, it took a lot of back breaking work and many years. Granted I work in a service industry so it is not physically demanding, but in every other way we struggle under the weight of the changes.

It’s much the same when we write. We start out with a first draft and by its nature it’s just ideas and scenes that seldom hang together completely. I’ve heard “drafts” called “garbage” and to some degree that’s right. Where we find the wonderful word pictures and turns of phrase are in the changes (edits). One of my writing mentors liked to refer to editing as “mining the jewels from the garbage.” So, with that in mind we realize change is required to discover the best story we can tell. Will it be perfection? Maybe to someone it will impact them in a profound way, touching them deeply, but whose to say what is perfect? Not me.

Webster’s says:

“Change” is to make or become different: alter. Synonyms: modify, mutate, transform, turn vary.

“Perfect” is to be be without defect or fault: flawless. Exact. Accurate. Impeccable.

With these definitions in mind I think that what I write can never be “perfect.” I write about people, family and relationships. The essence of these are “people” and “people are flawed.” That’s what makes them so interesting, compelling, and the very core of a moving story. My stories will never be perfect, but I can promise the characters will change over time. Isn’t that what living is all about – change? No, it’s about living and loving. It’s about enjoying the journey. Will we find ourselves in a perfect place? Doubtful, but it will be interesting.

What do you think is the most profound change? The seasons of the earth? The seasons of man?

Special Dedication for Feisty Family & Friends

183:840657727 (Bonnie D Tharp) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 22:19:24 GMT

A profound honor.

Feisty Family & Friends is dedicated to CWO Luis G. Holguin, MIA, Viet Nam War.

In 2018, author Elaine Palen contacted me about helping the National League of POW/MIA Families from SE Asia. They held a raffle to choose a name for one of my books.

I’m honored to say that CWO Luis Gallegos Holguin’s name was chosen and his character has a special place in my heart. I included some information about his family and imagined what he might be like if he had returned after the war.

On January 3, 1971, CWO Luis G. Holguin was onboard an aircraft flying from Quin Nhon to Ban Me Thuot, South Vietnam. Luis was a helicopter pilot for the US army. The purpose of this flight was to pick up additional helicopters for the war effort. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost approximately fourteen miles southeast of Phu Cat at 1120 hours. Search and rescue efforts were called off after six days when they found no trace of the aircraft or personnel. CWO Luis Holguin has been Missing In Action ever since.

Growing up, Luis and his family were migrant workers following seasonal crops throughout the Western states. Luis’ high school dream was to become an airline pilot. With no money for college, Luis voluntarily joined the Army and received pilot training.

Thank you to the Holguin family for allowing me to imagine a different future for Luis. Moreover, thank you to all of the military, past, present, and future, for your sacrifice to keep our country free.

Positive Thinking

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 21:13:00 GMT

Do you remember Norman Vincent Peale and “The Power of Positive Thinking”? I do. And I think it’s time for some of us to read it again. Negative thinking just pops in unannounced, without an invitation, and it’s contageous.

We have to remember that our thoughts have POWER. The power to make us happy, sad and even sick. They have the power to ruin our relationships, whether at work or at home. Negative thoughts attack our brain and the limbic system that controls our emotions and feelings. Positive thoughts can make us feel better, honest!

Remember how it felt when you got your first “A” paper? OMG. You were lighter. You felt smart. You wanted everyone to know!

How about first love? All you see is light and rainbows. Everything is beautiful. You feel like you can fly.

So, let’s practice positive thinking, folks. Let’s find the good stuff. Let’s take personal responsibility for our thoughts and feelings and make them count (on the positive scale). Train your brain to recognize a negative thought, question it, and if possible chuck it or change it to a positive. It’s hard – I know. But it’s worth it. I’m positive!

Wait a minute…

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 03:53:00 GMT

Where did June go? How did I miss June? What in the world was going on that I missed?

Well, let’s see. There is a world-wide pandemic going on. It’s been hotter than Hades so I’m watering my flowers every day to try and keep them alive. The weeds are doing famously, the little buggers. My veggies are not putting on any tomatoes or peppers. I keep trying but it’s beginning to defeat me. I won’t give up, though, promise!

I hope you are all staying safe and wearing masks, which is being kind and considerate of others. COVID 19 is a sneaky virus, it doesn’t always rear it’s ugly head with symptoms and is highly contagious. I’m laying low, reading lots of books and painting again. It’s been wonderful to rediscover my love for painting.

You know when you get a car you start to see that kind of car all over the place? Well, I haven’t gotten a new car, but painting again has brought me the pleasure of finding others who love to paint.

This spring during the lockdown, I made a quilt and it turned out fine, but I’m thinking it’s not my thing. It was heavy and awkward and I finally had to borrow my sister-in-law’s sewing machine to finish it. I had to try, though.

Staying home means I’ve been trying to cook more. Unfortunately, my cooking ability has not improved. I get sidetracked and burn things way too often. According to my husband, my homemade bread didn’t have enough air in it. And he refuses to eat my zucchini bread, even though it’s delicious. We have, however, been having lots of BLTs, because our neighbors have a lovely garden and they share with us. Also, their daughter has a humungous garden and we can buy fresh, organic produce from her as well. So, we are learning to eat our vegetables.

What have you been doing during this unprecedented time in our lives? I think the things I miss most are my son and his family (who live halfway across the US from us), travel (not only to see family but to see this wonderful US of A). I miss eating out in restaurants. I miss meeting with my writing friends and having long chats and lots of coffee.

I really miss hugging. We huggers are seriously going through withdrawal, but it’s just not safe right now. Sucks. My dog is getting used to being kissed and hugged now. She is also getting cranky when we run off to the grocers or doctor. She got so mad at us this week she ate half of a cardboard box. Then barfed it on the carpet a couple of times. Knucklehead. There may be many pets who will go through separation anxiety when things return to normal. Except, cats. They don’t seem to mind when their humans are gone as much as the canines do. Anyway, I have a couple of nice clean spots on our carpet now.

My apologies for being away from the web site so long. Everything is so unsettling it got lost in the noise.

Take care, all. Blessings to you all.

A spellbinding historical novel

Fri, 22 May 2020 04:13:00 GMT

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amazing. Thrilling. Frightening. All of those words apply to this extremely well done historical novel.

Kate Quinn weaves the stories of three main characters with grace and excellent detail. We have a female Russian bomber pilot who must face her greatest fear to survive, a team of Nazi hunters from Britain and America who are driven to find justice. And a young woman from Boston who sees evil in the flesh and has the courage to confront it.

Well worth the read folks, I highly recommend this book!

View all my reviews

No Time Like the Present

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 16:29:00 GMT

Remember that novel you never had time to write? Are you writing it now?

Over the past twenty-plus years of writing for publication, I’ve heard from many folks say, “I wish I had time to write.” Heck, I was one of them when I was still working. Since I got laid off I finished the third novel in the feisty series and wrote more on the historical novel I had started some time ago. HOWEVER, I’m not writing now.

Why? I have no earthly idea.

I’d like to encourage all of you with those stories bobbing around in your heads and invading your dreams to write them down. That’s how it all started for me. It took me ten years for the whole process of idea, writing, editing, more editing, searching for an agent and publisher, and editing some more before I finally found a publisher who published my first novel.

Like most of you, I was working, keeping house, taking care of my family – you know the drill, and wrote on my lunch hours and whenever I had a break between college courses I attended at night. I was much younger then. What I’m trying to say if I could do it then, why can’t you do it now? Or perhaps I should ask myself that same question.

I was laid off a couple of years ago and decided to retire early. Since then I have had the time to write, read, and rediscover my love of oil painting. Oh, and puzzles. I had forgotten how much fun they can be. I’ve tried my hand at sewing and made a king size quilt (which I will never do again – too big). Now I’ve decided to try my hand at making masks.

The point is, many of us have time during this pandemic to try some of the things we never had time for before. I am content to paint right now, but if the need to write burns within you – let that sucker out!

Enjoy the write. “See you in the funny papers.”

A very suspenseful story

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 21:56:00 GMT

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A chilling mystery with lots of twists and turns.

Alicia was charged with murdering her husband and hasn’t spoken a word since that day. An accomplished artist, their marriage was thought to be perfect. Why would she kill him? Unless maybe she didn’t?

As her psychotherapist digs deeper to understand her silence he uncovers others who could very likely have done the deed. The more we learn about Alicia, the more we learn about her doctor, who is human and flawed as well.

This was intriguing and I didn’t see the ending until it hit me. Good stuff, Alex!!

View all my reviews

History repeats itself, let’s all hope not

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 22:40:00 GMT

Red Menace by Lois Ruby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well done, Lois Ruby. This story is compelling and tells about a time in our history (1950’s McCarthyism) that could easily be compared to what’s happening today.

Marty Rafner loves baseball, Micky Mantle and is preparing for his bar mitzvah. That’s plenty for a 13-year-old to deal with, but when paranoia and prejudice rear its ugly head his family is accused of being communist spies.

This is the time when the Rosenberg’s execution is fast approaching. Rumors are enough to get people fired and Marty kicked off the baseball team. Life will never be the same for this family or the little berg they live in Kansas.

There’s a lot going on in this book and the suspense builds with every page. What would you do if your mother was accused of being a spy? It’s pretty hard for Marty to take, but he’s made of stern stuff and finds it in himself to help others even during this turmoil.

View all my reviews

Another Farewell

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 19:31:00 GMT

On the day of my mother’s funeral, my favorite aunt passed away. She, too, had been battling disease (Alzheimer’s). I know they are both up in heaven playing cards and laughing with my dad, uncles, aunt, and grandparents. I imagine the reunion was filled with love and stories.

My Aunt Francis was so special to me. We were ten years apart and when I went to live with my grandparents at three she was there. She took care of me, and as she reached dating age she bribed me to leave her boyfriends alone. I always wanted to go along on their dates so I received her coveted pink teddy bear to stay home. I loved that bear to death, literally. I was brown and gray when it left this world.

I loved my aunt’s freckles, red hair, beautiful smile, and contagious laugh. She was my role model, my mentor, and my friend. When she talked, I listened. She was my father’s youngest sibling and only sister. She held her own with four brothers to contend with.

She was a strong, loving woman, who loved to laugh. Oh, and a prankster, too. Our family loved to gamble and she was a winner, no matter who you were. She played to win and lived her life to the fullest, with love and joy.

Like our grandmother, my aunt and I loved to draw and paint. When I started writing novels she shared that she had considered writing, too. She wrote the best letters, putting you right there, watching, listening.

Opening her heart to foster children, just made her capacity to love even larger. Whenever I would call, she was there for me. She challenged me to follow my heart, find joy in every day, and to be strong. She was a unique human being.

When I heard that the Big A had grabbed her, my husband and I went to visit. We didn’t know if she’d remember us, but we had to share our love. Gracious, welcoming, she listened and after a little while, she remembered who I was. We talked about old times at grandma’s house growing up. The smells of cinnamon rolls and banana bread were still there.

Life became a puzzle to her, memories disappeared and the joy with them. Seeing photos of her not smiling, eyes vacant was so hard. It robbed her of her personality, her laughter, and her life. I will miss her so much. But with her passing, I am sure all the memories and laughter returned. She is watching over us all. She loved her family so much. Someday I hope to hear her chuckle and feel her love until I join her.

Memories of Mom

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 15:35:00 GMT

Joan met Phil in 1962. He saw this striking woman at the alterations shop next door to his flower shop. He was smitten. They were married the next year and combined their families. Both had daughters and unfortunately, they had difficulty getting along. They were so different, and the parents tried a little too hard to make them friends causing more friction.

What I came to realize some years ago was that 1. They did the best they could and 2. they loved each other deeply.

Phil and Joan did everything together. They were part of clubs and fundraisers for charitable causes. There were parties, ceremonies, and pranks they shared. They loved to dance and get dressed up and have fun. They were both people persons and loved each other.

Mom was a secretary for a small insurance office. I remember her boss at that time had a small plane and took us, girls, for our first ride in the sky.

Mom went to work for a large tech company as receptionist and HR support. She knew everyone and their stories and she was well-liked. I hear she was quite the prankster and solicited help to carry out her mischief from adventurous friends. She planned company events and knew how to throw a party. Over the years the company was bought and sold, changing the name four or five times. This is the nature of the technology business.

When Mom retired they threw a huge party. She had made some life long friends and was a surrogate mother to a few. She cared. She listened.

When I left home at the age of eighteen, Mom and I became friends. The older we both got, the easier our relationship.

Things I remember: Mom had purses that matched her heels. There was one dress I’ll never forget, it was red silk, Asian style, Naru collar, roses embroidered down the front with silk cords and french knotted closures. She was stunning with her black hair in a French bun.

One thing about my Mom, she dressed classy. Her make-up was always done up. Her skin was smooth and still is, except around her mouth. Mom was a smoker when it was cool and never quit until her stroke.

I have so many memories of my folks dancing and laughing. They moved well together.

When fashions went casual Mom still coordinated shoes and costume jewelry, and of course, make-up. You wouldn’t catch my Mom with bed head. No way.

I went to my first dance as a high school junior and had nothing to wear. I hadn’t worn a dress since we were allowed to wear slacks and jeans in school. Mom loaned me a sparkly pantsuit and I felt so glamourous.

Dad and Mom loved to travel with friends. They took us on a Caribbean Cruise in the ’80s. I didn’t have nice enough clothes, but one of Mom’s friends was my size and let me borrow several nice dresses to wear to dinner. I don’t think I shamed her, I even wore make-up.

Dad was in the military and looked really sharp in his dress uniform with his medals. He and Mom often attended dinners, ceremonies, retirement parties and always wore formal wear. They looked wonderful together.

Mom loved fresh flowers and early in their marriage, they arranged flowers together at Dad’s shop. The smell in the floral refrigerator smelled heavenly. Mom and Dad had a flashy sense of color and design. We always had flowers at home.

She loved nice clothes, fancy cars, pretty things, and small dogs. But there were always flowers in pink, red, and yellow. She loved red Geraniums and pink roses.

Mom used to make the best homemade biscuits with sausage gravy. And I didn’t even like gravy, but hers made the difference. She also made a mean fresh apple pie.

She loved music, especially country. Dad, on the other hand, preferred jazz. One of the few things that they diverged on.

We always had a dog growing up. The first I recall was a white and brown spotted stray, Posey, who had three puppies (Prince, Princess, and Ace). We girls named them. Then there was a miniature poodle named Pierre and after him, I believe Cotton came to live with them. The folks loved to watch TV with the fur babies in their lap, so many puppies followed over the years.

My family loved to gamble and play cards. We had a reunion in the ’80s and Mom lost some cash to my husband and was totally irritated with him for beating her. We had another reunion in 2014 and what I remember most was the laughter. Our family knows how to laugh and have a good time.

When my youngest grandson was sixteen he came to visit. We took Mom out for lunch and I was so proud of that boy. He was engaging, polite, funny and my Mom was so impressed she called me later to tell me. I was so proud.

My folks lived their lives to the fullest.

That’s life

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:39:00 GMT

When you’re in your teens you think you know what you want and struggle to figure out how you’re going to get it. I want to be a singer, but I don’t have the courage to move to a place like Nashville or New York. I want to get a degree, but I don’t know how to pay for it. etc. etc.

When you’re in your twenties you’re pretty sure about your path, but you know you’ve got forever to change your mind. I’ll go to school then start working or I’ll start a family or travel. I’m young, I can do anything.

In your thirties, you realize you’re a grown-up and you probably better get on with it, whether it is a career, children, travel, whatever. OMG, you’re thirty! You’re not getting any younger and your internal clock is ticking.

The forties, it’s official, you’re an adult, you have a career that you may or may not have chosen. You have children who need you, but you have to pay the bills, and they are probably old enough to get by on their own sometimes. But wait, your parents are aging. What the heck? When did that happen?

The fifties is great, you’re no longer the youngster in the office, you know how things work and you’re at the top of your game. You’re making a decent wage after twenty years of working and you have grown kids that will bring you grandchildren. What a lovely gift. Spoil them and send them home. That rocks!

In your sixties, if you are lucky, healthy and have been saving all this time you’ll retire. If not, here’s hoping you can actually find a job you enjoy instead of the day-to-day grind. You’re too old for that shit. Then you realize that while you were living, retiring and finally have some time to do what you want to do – your parents get sick and pass away. Often it doesn’t happen quickly, so you delve into your memories and fear of mortality and watch them shrink. The ones who cared for you are now under your care. It feels weird, but it’s okay. You love them and you do everything you can to make them comfortable and safe.

All around you people are dying. Their bodies are wearing out, their minds are too full to hold the events of today. Sometimes it’s a slow death, sometimes it’s quick, but whatever it may be, death hurts. No matter how good or bad the relationship, you miss them. So, I’m searching in my databanks for all of the good memories I can find. That’s what I want to hold on to, not the withering, not the failing, not the dying. And when all memory has faded, I hope it goes to black in peace and silence.

Saying Goodbye to a parent

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 20:31:00 GMT

My mother died on February 13, 2020. She was almost 86. She had a stroke a little over a year ago that left her debilitated and unable to care for herself, or us to care for her. Although her passing is sad, it’s a blessing that the pain and suffering have stopped.

I believe that she is now in heaven with my father, popping a cork on a bottle of the best bubbly, dancing to their favorite songs. They are both beautiful and happy to be together again.

Thank you for the good memories. That is what I want to take forward. God Speed.

Joy in Discovery

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 16:09:00 GMT

When you get to be my age you think about where you came from, your family history and ancestry. There are a lot of blanks in my family tree and with the grands being gone it’s hard to know where to go for the information.

When I was a little girl I remember my grandmother making quilts and crocheting things most every day. When I left home she gave me a quilt top with quilted animals on a large pink fabric. She’d drawn features on them just like in the color books.

My son used the “animal blanket” when he was a toddler, but when he was four or five he decided “pink is for girls” and didn’t want it on his bed anymore. I packed it away with the hope that I would learn to quilt and be able to put it together for the next little one in our family.

His son is a teenager now and too old for pink animal blankets, but I did just finish my first full-sized quilt and thought I’d pull out the animal blanket for a look. I’d forgotten it was twin-sized, and low and behold my grandmother had used it as a family tree. There at the top were grandmother and grandfather’s names, then their children, marriages and their children, and I am in the middle. One of the spouse’s last names I couldn’t recall was there in all it’s glory. You never know where you’ll find the answers to questions. This discovery still makes me smile. It’s as if my grandmother heard and came through with the answer. Thank you, Grandma. I love and miss you. Have a blessed day.

What will the new year bring?

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 00:28:00 GMT

Last year was one of the more difficult years I’ve experienced, but tough times tend to lose punch with distance. Luckily, happy memories win out and stay with us much longer. So, it’s a new year with endless opportunities and experiences waiting to happen. Are you ready? I do believe that I am. I hope you have good health and stay safe in 2020, and the joyous days outnumber the rough ones. God bless.

Everyone has a book in them

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:36:00 GMT

You’ve probably heard this before, right? Maybe from an English teacher or a counselor or a friend. They are right, you know? We all have minds and imaginations and experiences that we can use to write a story. We tell stories all the time, so why not write them down? We tell our friends about the nice (or nasty) person at the store who stole your parking place or crashed into your cart or took the last bag of chocolate chips. That’s a story.

Often I hear, “But I’m not sure where to start.” That’s the cool thing about writing, you can start anywhere. The beginning. The middle. The end. It doesn’t matter, really. Just start. You can put the pieces together later.

Everyone has a different “process” and no one way is the only way to go. Some writers are more comfortable on a computer, some with a pen and paper. There have been times I’ve even used a recorder and transcribed the content later. Whatever method you use is fine. The key is to try different ones until you find the right one for you.

We all have unique lives, but share many common types of experiences. When you write them down and then share them you find just how many people “understand” or “relate” to your story. Everyone knows someone who has fallen in love, lost a person close to them, experienced illness and despair. Writing about it is cathartic, it really can be!!

I’m not saying you have to pour your sadness on the page, but you can use those emotions to write a rich story that other people can feel in their own way. And I promise you, they will.

This year I met a lovely young woman who had been through a lot of physical trials and illness. Most days she’s a bright shining light in the room, but she has her troubled times, too. We all do. She loves to read and write, but like all of us has a bit of trouble getting started. So I bought her a brand new pink notebook and pen. When she wants it bad enough, she’ll do it and I know we will all be richer for her sharing.

You see, storytelling is not only communication but giving. We have to open up ourselves to let the words come out. We have to tell the inner critic to shut up until it’s time to edit. And don’t be fooled, we all edit, lots and lots. It’s how we mine the jewels from the garbage. That’s a quote from my first writing mentor and I’ve never forgotten them. (Thank you, Emily Hanlon.)

Share your stories, my friends. Share your ideas, your dreams, and your sadness. Share with the human community the conditions that are uniquely human and you’ll see how good it feels to give.

Inspiration

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 17:01:00 GMT

I thought you might want to meet the inspiration for my new novel, the working title is Finding Grace. It’s set in 1893 during the Oklahoma land rush. This woman homesteaded, alone, and built a life for herself as an entrepreneur, artist, teacher, shop keeper, and photographer. She’s my husband’s great grandmother. Meet Minnie Hoopes and her class of pupils.

Book Reviews…good things?

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 22:57:00 GMT

I try to review most all of the books I read, but sometimes I get busy and only jot down a sentence and the number of stars. Sorry about that, authors! It’s especially important for new authors. They need a boost and a good review is an EXCELLENT way to provide it. Plus other readers will see what you have to say.

What if you don’t like the book? I still write a short review, because ever author and potential reader deserves to know your feelings about the story. I will briefly tell why I didn’t like it – and not belabor them. There are usually good qualities even in bad books, so they are worth mentioning, too. Bottom line, not everyone will like every book.

We all read through our life filters and some things just don’t work well for us. Personally, I get really irritated with super weak female characters. I just want to shake them and say, “Grow a spine!” But if by the end of the book they grow one, hey, I’m cheering them on. Some people hate snakes and if the book has snakes in it – then the story is not one they will probably enjoy. Unless, of course, all the snakes are disposed of, never to be seen again. Then….well, you just never know.

Where do I find inspiration?

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 14:36:00 GMT

In a word, EVERYWHERE. I’m not making fun, honest. Some days it is as simple as a sunrise. A snippet of music on the radio. A painting or photograph. A line of overheard conversation. The smell of fresh flowers. A kaleidoscope of fresh vegetables stacked at the store. A little girl with ringlets trying on pink shoes with sequins. Birdsong in the morning. Bugs singing at night. The quiet after a snow storm. Sun sparkling on ice crystals.

See what I mean? I never know what will inspire me. Dreams can get your subconscious going big time. The trick is remembering them when you wake up. Thus, I keep a handy dandy notepad and pen by my bed. I’m pretty good at writing in the dark.

That’s the key really – writing down the idea the moment it hits you. Having pen and paper at hand wherever you are so you can capture the muse as it flies by. Julia Cameron’s method: Morning Pages gives you fifteen minutes to unload whatever is stacked in the mind, clogging up the way. I used to think I had to write perfect prose in those fifteen minutes, but it wasn’t happening. It turned into a data dump, and truly that’s what I needed to do.

The main thing is to clear the roadblocks in your mind. Don’t worry about writing anything perfect. Write. Write anything. Don’t worry about the grammar of repetitive words, that’s what editing is designed to do. I heard an author once liken it to vomiting on the page. That’s vivid and not something I like to think about, but not writing can sometimes make us feel off. Sick, almost. It’s who we are and what we do.

So, if you can’t find inspiration where you are, go somewhere else. Walk in the park. Visit a museum. Sit in a cafe and eavesdrop over a cup of java. If you usually write with a computer, take a notebook and pen – mix it up! Make time for writing. Make an open space in your mind to allow the words and images to come. Like Nike says, Just Do It. There’s a slogan I can get behind. Enjoy the journey!

#4 The Writer’s Journey…

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 18:18:00 GMT

Never really ends.

Once you’ve put your book out there, do regular marketing, then the next step is t o start another story.

If you don’t have any ideas, then go for a long walk and see if something doesn’t pop for you. Inspiration can come from anything and everything, just be open to it.

If you’ve got more ideas than time to write them, pick one and get started. Keep an IDEA NOTEBOOK handy and jot down the other ideas, just in case your memory is iffy like mine.

If you’re a linear thinker, then plot, plan and outline. If you’re like me and are easily distracted, the start where the story started in your head. Write a scene. Then another and another. You may have to fit them together like a puzzle, but that can be fun.

The point is there is no perfect way to write a book. There is your way, and you will have to discover it for yourself. Authors will generally share their experiences, but each of us have our own individual path to follow.

Find like minded writers and create a critic group or book club. Brainstorm, commiserate, and celebrate with one another. No one truly understands the writer’s journey unless they are on it.

Writer beware

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:17:00 GMT

“When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth.”

~Kurt Vonnegut

Writers Journey Goes On…4

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:13:00 GMT

You’ve written a novel. It’s published. Now what, do you ask? I hear the echoes of the Carpenter’s singing “You’ve Only Just Begun.”

How do you let people know THE BOOK is out there? Does any one care? Word of mouth is a pretty good start, tell everyone you know. Social media is a good way to get the word out there. Visiting libraries, offering books in exchange for reviews on Goodreads.com, shout it from the roof top?

Okay, maybe that isn’t the best way to do it, but you get the idea. “Get the word out.” Ways to do that might include bookstores, retail establishments that feature something that might be in your book. Clubs or special interest groups your story would appeal to. For example, if your main character is an avid knitter you have a built-in niche audience. Contact knitting shops or knitting groups and talk to them about your story. You may have to donate a book or two in order to get things started, but that’s a good way to get it out there.

Enter your novel in contests. The fees are generally reasonable and the audience is potentially huge and if you win, you get to talk that up, too.

Marketing is time consuming and expensive. You are not only marketing your new book, but you’re marketing yourself. Do you have a built in audience somewhere? Think about it. Does your book appeal to a certain age, gender or group that you can share it with? Ask around. Think outside the box. We are involved with people at work, at play, at church, at school, everywhere. How can you reach them?

One of my personal favorites is bookmarks. Everyone needs a bookmark and they are an inexpensive investment. There are lots of online printers that will help you design one with your cover and tag line front and center. Hand them out where people like to read – bookstores and libraries, especially. I’m always losing and picking up new bookmarks. Gone are the days when I use the receipt or a ribbon to hold my place. I have a stack of bookmarks and they are generally for books I read and enjoyed.

Talk to other authors and watch what they are doing. One of my favorite authors, C.Hope Clark has an amazing newsletter (Funds for Writers) and built a huge audience for her fiction with that. She gives great advice, too.

Genre fiction will appeal to genre readers, for example, sci-fi readers will try new sci-fi novels and share.

Also, I can’t emphasize enough the power of a book review. I review every book I read on Goodreads, Amazon, etc. Whether I liked it or not, I share my experience. Readers look at reviews to find their new favorite book, believe me. And once they find their favorite author they will read everything they publish.

More next time.

The Journey Continues, 3

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 19:10:00 GMT

You’ve written your manuscript. You’ve edited it more times than you can count. You’ve found a publisher. You’ve edited again. What’s next? Cover art and jacket blurb.

Many publishers request input from the author for the cover. What is important in the story? The house? The battered kitchen table? The lace curtains billowing in the breeze? The publisher chooses the art, folks, 99% of the time. If you are lucky, you can give them suggestions, but in the end it’s out of your hands.

Do covers always represent the story? I’ve been lucky. A friend of mine who writes romance told me a story about getting a cover for her book that represented absolutely nothing in the story. I seem to remember cowboy boots were central and here were no cowboys in the book. She brought it to the publishers attention, but they didn’t change it. Someone really wanted those boots on the front, no matter what. If I recall, the book didn’t sell well.

The outside of your novel will hopefully grab the reader’s attention. It’s interesting and represents the story. The Victorian house that the ladies lived in was a character in Feisty Family Values . There were roses in the yard and it was fall. The cover was fantastic. It made you want to peek in the windows for the characters inside.

If the artwork gets your attention, the blurb pulls you in. What will happen to whom inside? Why would someone want to read this book? A short tag line, created from the text can be catchy. Frankly, blurbs are hard for me. I want to tell too much. So all my blurbs have been shortened by the publishers. Short excerpts have also been used, as well as professional reviews. I was honored to have the NYT Bestselling author, Dorothea Benton Frank review Patchwork Family. It was prominently displayed inside the first page.

Both pub houses have done things just a little bit differently. I’ve loved the result. The last two novels I have published myself and hope that I successfully chose the art and blurbs that make folks want to read them. Don’t forget the art is the first impression. Make a good one!!

Stones in the Road, Step 2

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 03:05:00 GMT

The writer’s journey can be quite the adventure. You never know what is around the next bend in the road, or behind that rock, or just how far it is to the next milestone.

If you’ve accomplished the first steps, writing, finishing and editing your manuscript, then hold onto your knickers, the next step’s a doozy. Finding it a publishing home.

With my first novel, I was so proud of finishing it that I couldn’t wait to find an agent or publisher. I started sending out queries (Writer’s Market is the best resource for that information. It’s available online and in print.) Each agent or publishing house has their own set of submission requirements that must be followed to the letter or your request will immediately be filed in the trash bin.

If they ask for three pages and an outline, that’s what you send. If they ask for the first chapter and a synopsis, that’s what you do. No more. No less. This shows them that you can follow directions. A query letter gives them a hint about what you’ve written, who you are, and why they should care to read your manuscript.

Whatever their guidelines are, follow them. Edit your submission BEFORE you send it. If there are typos, grammatical errors, or some other oops, it will not be read. It will be trashed. Hundreds of queries and submissions are received daily and weekly by agents and publishers alike. If you can’t do what they ask in the proper form, they don’t want you or your work. There is too much competition out here (millions of manuscripts).

I tried the biggest publishers and agents first and didn’t get very far. Setting my sites on smaller houses got my submission read. My rejection file was filled with notes and letters, some of which were copies and some had “ink.” INK IS GOOD. It means they liked it enough to comment. A g ood first step, my friends.

Many times it takes months before you receive a response to a snail mail query and submission. With email and electronic submissions, that time has been shortened. BUT, it’s easier to say no thank you in an email. Quicker, too. Don’t give them an excuse to reject you. Give them what they ask for and you’ve got a better chance of being read.

When my first novel received comments like, “this is a good concept, flesh it out” or “submit again after you’ve edited” (even though I’d edited it several times), I realized my manuscript wasn’t quite ready yet. My enthusiasm for having finished the manuscript did not make up for the need for additional editing and rewriting. I sent out 75 queries/submissions and although I did have some requests for more material, those magic words “we’d like to publish/represent this novel” didn’t come. Rejections, however, did.

After an extensive rewrite, more editing from colleagues and beta readers, I felt Feisty Family Values was as good as I could make it. I sent out 25 more queries/submissions, this time to smaller publishers and agencies and within a few weeks I had a contract for publication.

It was edited and vetted yet again by the publisher, then put on their calendar for eighteen months later. OMG. I was going to be a published author! From the time I began writing the story and the day it hit the shelves was ten years. A decade. I sure wish I’d started sooner.

The Writer’s Journey, Step 1

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:50:00 GMT

A friend of mine asked me to blog on the writer’s journey. First off, if you aren’t a writer you don’t realize what it means. It’s one of those things you have to experience to understand fully, but I’ll try to explain the first steps.

Picture walking barefoot, up a rocky incline, with a splintery staff, torrential rain, wind gusts buffeting you every step of the way and the mountain keeps rising above you. That’s right, you feel like you’ll never reach the top. You hurt and you’re discouraged by the slippery path.

Okay. Now. Writing is much the same. You spend hours pouring your thoughts onto the page, wondering if you’ve painted a clear picture and who in the world will care to read it. You realize writing is harder than you every imagined and making what is in your mind make sense on the page is beyond challenging. Does the world I’ve created make any sense? Does anybody care?

This is a glimpse into 75 percent of the writer’s journey. HOWEVER…

You will learn along the way, how to avoid the sharp rocks on the path. Your feet with get tougher, your legs stronger, and you’ll wear the splinters off the staff that is helping you to stay upright. You’ll find others along the way, others just like you who have dreams and visions of a story they want to share.

You’ll help each other. While each of us is on our own individual path, we cross the paths of others. When we do we will commiserate, support, vent, and celebrate each other’s achievements.

When you’re totally focused on the story, you enter another world. A world you’ve created. You meet characters in that world that want to help you tell this story you’ve envisioned. The excitement will bolster you for the times when the words just won’t come. You’ll use every ounce of energy you possess to make your story come to life and when it does, you’ll feel accomplished.

You’ve birthed a bouncing baby story. You’ve labored and breathed through the pain, now it’s time to tidy it up for others to see. For the layman that means “edit.” Edit is a four-letter word. Edit is what reveals the jewels from the garbage, and we all write garbage from time to time. Edit will polish and comb the baby’s hair, put on it’s best duds and make people want to know the story.

So, to recap. Writing is a journey of discovery and pain, enlightenment and joy. Writing well is hard and will take dedication and total commitment to doing the best you can. I’ll talk more about what happens when you’ve finally written that story later, so stay tuned.

Local Author Day

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 16:11:00 GMT

The Wichita Advanced Learning Librar y hosted a local author day, with discussion panel and author expo on August 24, 2019. Three authors were chosen to discuss their experiences with publishing and answer questions from the audience, giving guidance to new writers as well as we experienced ones.

A couple of author buddies and I ( H.B. Berlow & Kathy Prichett ) joined most excellent reader, Penny Sanderback for lunch. We headed out to the Anchor but the line was out on the sidewalk, so we whipped in for a burger at Five Guys . Good stuff!

In the afternoon sixty local authors, you read that right – 60 – came together at the library conference area and renewed acquaintance, set up our works with signs and props, and the doors opened at 2:00 to admit a bunch of folks. For two hours the readers came and went, we sold some books, and talked about writing. It was great fun, exhausting and I hope to be involved next year. The library staff was attentive and very helpful. Thank you Racine , Sara, and Sarah (not sure of the spelling, so I hope you’ll forgive me). Reverie Coffee kept us supplied with caffeine and sweets, too. I’m certain there are others whose names I didn’t hear.

The Five W’s

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 21:23:00 GMT

WHY do I write? My mind is filled with stories, characters, issues that need to be discussed, and sometimes a crazy idea or ten. Nature and the uniqueness of the human race and our pets often inspire me.

WHO do I write for? Mostly for women, but sensitive men have enjoyed my novels, too. Women have a unique yet shared perspective and experience. We help each other, we are nurturing, guiding, leading and comforting – as a general rule.

WHAT do you write? I write stories about women, f eisty families and friends and issues they deal with every day. Abuse. Desertion. Sexual awakening. Love. Children. Loss. Forgiveness. Aging. Opportunities. Change.

WHERE do you go to write? My office mostly. They closed my favorite bookstore (Borders West Wichita) where I spent many hours on my first and second novels. Watermark Books & Cafe is another good place to hang out and write. Libraries and coffee shops work, too.

WHEN is your best time to write? Afternoons and evenings. Mornings I usually do chores (laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, gardening, care giving). Sometimes when I wake up I remember a part of a dream that applies to my current work in progress, or and idea for a character or story, so I quickly jot it down before I forget it.

Her Royal Spyness is great fun

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 14:26:00 GMT

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoy British humor and settings you will love this fun story. The heroine is young, smart, 34th removed from the throne and broke. Having had her allowance cut off when she turned 21 she now has to venture out in the world and make a living. But how does one do that when one has had servants all one’s life, you ask? It isn’t an easy task.

With a host of interesting cousins and men vying for her royal hand, Georgiana is determined to find love and a job, not necessarily in that order. What she discovers is a dead body and the distinct impression that someone is trying to kill her, too. You’ll enjoy this fun romp, I certainly did.

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Book review: Before We Were Yours

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 23:55:00 GMT

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

O.M.G. This was an amazing story that I had trouble putting down. A sure sign of a good book. This story is about children of the river who are stolen from their parents and forced into the infamous Tennessee Children’s Society Home. A place where children were sold and brutalized for decades. But it isn’t just the story of how they survived, it’s also about the next generations that came along after. About secrets, loss and the bonds of blood. I highly recommend this book.

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A book you can sink your teeth into…

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:21:00 GMT

Sometimes you need a little fantasy in your life. A wee bit of butt-kicking, a girl with a few drops of demon blood to ramp up her skills. Killing vampires seems to help Val keep the demon under control, but it leads to unforeseen consequences. After being kicked out of the house for supposedly endangering her younger sister Val is bereft, but soon finds solace and a furry partner who is part Terrior and part hellhound, and does a mean job of grabbing for the dangly bits on vampires.

This was great fun to read and no doubt I will read more in the series. Parker Blue makes the dark and seedy side come to life with humor and just the right amount of tension. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

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Mystery book review – Tana French is a great writer!

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 02:46:00 GMT

Wow. What a great mystery. The characters were very interesting, flawed and well rounded. There were lots of detours until you got to the truth. The only thing that disappointed me was one of the mysteries was never answered. The murder was solved, but I really wanted closure for Ryan. It’s a compelling read and the prose is wonderful.

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Friends are priceless!

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 21:41:00 GMT

I remember when I was young (11-19) I had 2 really close friends. Neva who lived behind us, and Maxine who lived the next block over. We played almost every night (after homework, of course) wrote notes in school, and spent the night at each others houses. We wrote letters when we traveled and talked for hours on the phone. We could share clothes, sodas, double date, and all the intimate details of our lives. Friendships are so important when you’re a kid.

As a maturing adult (40’s) I’ve been blessed in my writing career with all the writing and reader friends I’ve made on the journey. I cherish every one of you! We don’t usually share intimate secrets, but we do share stories. I’m grateful for all the support and good times.

My husband, Karen, and Maxine are still my best friends, and I’ve added a few more as an adult who have made my life richer with their presence (I think you know who you are!).

I feel so blessed. Friends and friendship is priceless! Thank you, for being there. You’re my heroes.

Jillie finds the ultimate treasure

Wed, 15 May 2019 14:33:00 GMT

Wow. This story is packed with interesting characters and suspense. It’s a story about sisters, family ties, survival and obsession.

Jillie, the main character, is a spunky eleven-year-old, who while defending her sister as she is being beaten to death, kills a man. Forced into an unbearable situation she runs away, trying to get back to her sister in the hospital. What Jillie encounters on her journey should never be experienced by someone so young.

Along the way, she meets elderly twin sisters, one the polar opposite of the other. Frankly, these characters are funny and amazing and just as likable as Jillie. I’ve always been interested in the bonds between siblings, and twins especially. Balla captures these relationships with elegance and humor.

When a rumor is started about a found treasure by Jillie’s now dead father, some very nasty people are determined to find it, no matter who gets in their way.

Thanks for a great read!

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A Stranger in the House – you never know!

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 17:27:00 GMT

Wow. There’s a lot of twists and turns in this suspense novel. It kept me turning the pages! While I suspected a couple of things (like the nosey neighbor), I didn’t expect the ending. Thanks for a thrill ride, Shari Lapena. This was a very good read.

A seemingly normal housewife receives a call that sends her dashing out of the house. It’s obviously an emergency because she forgot to lock the door, take her purse or her cell phone. None of which are at all like her. When the police call hubby to say her car has been in an accident he rushes out to see if the woman in her car, in a very hinky part of town is really his wife. Not only is it his wife, but the police suspect her of no good. Why was she there, otherwise? And when a dead body is found near where she lost control of her car she becomes a suspect. There’s just one problem. She doesn’t remember anything that happened that night.

This lady gets into deeper and deeper trouble as they investigate, her and her husband’s “perfect” record. Nothing sticks out, which in itself seems strange. Add a nosey neighbor, a stalker and you have a bit of suspense that will keep you reading all night.

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Fun ride through the past to change the present.

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 01:03:00 GMT

While looking through the stack of mysteries on my bookshelves I rediscovered this little gem of a book. I needed something fun and it fit the bill nicely. It’s difficult to pinpoint the time when we took the wrong turn or when an event derailed us, but a series of events when she was fifteen causes Caroline Jacobs to become a doormat. When she finally has enough she embarks on a journey, taking her daughter in tow to rectify the situation.

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Faithful, a novel by Alice Hoffman is a must read

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:09:00 GMT

Alice Hoffman writes so well, I always enjoy her books.

When an ordinary girl is involved in a life-changing accident and her best friend is damaged beyond repair, she is overcome with guilt and despair. With the help of her mother, strangers, and rescued pets she eventually realizes she is a good person with something to offer and is no longer defined by the tragedy she survived.

A story of family, faith, forgiveness, and survival – something we can all relate to.

“Need to know” keeps you guessing to the very end.

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 20:25:00 GMT

Vivian has it all, a wonderful husband, a home, an important job, and four lovely children. She’s having trouble juggling it all, being super mom and super central intelligence analyst. When she discovers the unthinkable, everything she believes is not what she thought it was, nor is she sure what she can do to protect her family. Lies have a habit of compounding and this story kept me enthralled. She finds she’s made of tough stuff, but the more she finds out the worse things get. Will she ever escape the downward spiral of her life – good question.

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How to love someone who writes?

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 21:08:00 GMT

How to love someone who writes?

Be Patient.

They are temporarily living in a fiction world and can’t come out until it’s all down on paper. Sometimes this takes hours, days, or weeks. And the muse may strike in the middle of the night or after a dream. They will come back to you, eventually. Promise!

Be Supportive.

Crying is sometimes a good thing for a writer. “If there are no tears in the writer, then there are no tears in the reader.” ~ Robert Frost

Hand them a tissue and leave them alone with their tears. BUT if they receive yet another rejection letter from an agent or publisher, hold them close, do not speak, feed them chocolate and wait. This will pass.

Be Circumspect.

IF the writer is willing to allow you to read their material – do not criticize. Be positive. Tell them what you liked. IF they ask you what you didn’t like it’s okay to say, just don’t be snarky. You’re talking about words written in blood, so try not to hurt the bleeder.

Be Loyal.

Even though you may not like the genre of books they write, they are your love, so love them for their efforts. Love them for their dedication to their craft. Always be there for them, to offer love, laughter, congratulations, condolences or a sandwich if they’ve forgotten to eat.

Be Giving.

Giving them time to write is the greatest gift of all.

Don’t complain when they buy new books. Reading is critical research and it’s tax deductible.

Clean up after yourself if they’re busy with their writing – you’re a grown up and right now they are in another world.

Be Thankful.

You have a rare opportunity to live and love a creative individual who has chosen you to share with. No one is quite like that person and they tell the BEST stories!

write what you know, find out about what you don’t know

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 21:36:00 GMT

So, what do we do about that? Do we limit our writing to just what we’ve experienced in our short life span? Some of us have gone through a lot in our lifetimes and that makes great story telling. But what about those that have lived fairly ordinary lives, but dream about stories where characters do extraordinary things? Sound familiar?

If your character knits and you don’t know how then attend a class or knitting club – watch, listen and learn. If your character is a cold blooded killer, talk to someone in law enforcement or a criminal psychologist and try to get into that mind set. Not everything should be experienced first hand. We all have imaginations and we can use them, just make sure there is enough fact to be credible, that’s all the reader is asking for – help them suspend belief.

(This is modified from a post I did in 2009. It’s still true writing buddies!)

Finding Joy in Sadness

Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:52:00 GMT

I can’t imagine losing your child. Our kids aren’t supposed to go before we do. I’ve seen it happen, quite a few times and it is heartbreaking.

My best friend’s son died yesterday. He’s just a couple of years younger than my son. I’ve known him all of his life. He was such a good man, son, and father. Everyone is no doubt wondering “why.” We can’t answer that question, not really, but I like to think that because he was so special he was needed above. He’s making a fantastic Angel. And when he’s not busy helping others, he’ll be fishing with his grandfather, his grandmother rocking in her chair, crocheting, with a huge smile on her face.

Meanwhile, his parents, children, and friends grieve. His warm arms will not hold us as they did before. He was a great hugger, and he was kind enough to share them with me when my son is so far away. He worked so hard and loved so deeply, what a huge hole his absence is making in the world. It’s still so hard to believe he is gone from us.

I loved his laugh and I can appreciate a good one. He laughed with his whole body and that’s the only way to do it and do it right.

Watching him with his kids was amazing. And listening to his mother share stories of him painting the girl’s toenails really cracked me up. His patience with his sons showed his love for them, I hope they never forget it. With four kids and two jobs, he didn’t get much time for himself, but he didn’t seem to mind. I’m told he was a great cook and grill master, knowing just what to do with spices to make everything taste good. I’m sure his experiments worked out much better than my “creative cooking” ever could.

When you’ve lost someone so special, you can’t help but feel empty. The tears never stop and everything hurts. Nothing works to make that feeling of loss and pain go away. Except, maybe time, but I doubt it. You grow a scab and a memory may tear it off. Eventually, the good memories outweigh the sad ones and you laugh. God, I loved his laugh, it was so contagious and heartfelt. That’s the part I will remember, his laugh, and his bear hugs. We love you, Shawn.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 17:28:00 GMT

Stunning first novel. The prose is vivid, as are the characters and setting. One by one, Kya has been abandoned by her family, so she carries on living alone in the shack in the marsh. The townspeople don’t understand who she is and dubs her the marsh girl. She is strong and a survivor. She gets a little help from a few others, but she spends her life isolated. A friend of her brothers realizes how smart she is and teaches her to read. He also shares textbooks about biology, because he is also a child of the marsh. The sense of nature, the lack of nurture, the stunning scenes and tension of being alone and different are a poignant part of the story. I loved this book. I could smell the fetid water and hear the cicadas. I could sense Kya’s heartbeat as it matched time with the waves coming into the shore of North Carolina.

Thank you, Delia Owens for writing such a compelling book.

Dreams of Joy, follow up to Shanghai Girls – ROCKS!

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 14:49:00 GMT

After reading “Shanghai Girls” I had to find a copy of book 2. It was worth it. I read it less than 2 days. OMG. A 19-year-old Chinese American girl runs away from home (L.A.) to the Peoples Republic of China with stars in her eyes and guilt in her heart. She wants to be a part of something bigger than herself, where everyone is equal and shares everything equally. She jumps into the culture with her eyes closed and her heart open and suffers along with the comrades in the countryside.

Lisa See gives us an amazing glimpse into what it may have been like from 1957 through 1959 Maoist China. Nothing is as it seems and our young heroine nearly loses her life before she realizes how wrong she has been.

Amazing stories from a wonderful author that transport you and tug at your heart and mind. Thank you, Lisa See.

Shanghai Girls, an amazing read.

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 03:20:00 GMT

Lisa See has recreated Shanghai China in the 1930’s and the escape from the Japanese invasion by two sisters. Their experience is compelling. They eventually make it to Los Angeles and Angel Island. Although they are married (arranged by her father) to young Chinese American men, they struggle with interrogations and accusations by the authorities. Their new lives in America are difficult and opportunities become fewer as World War II rages. They are able to maintain a semblance of Chinese tradition and culture by living in Chinatown and working there. This story centers around the sister’s stories, their closeness, and their difficulties. It is not always an easy relationship because they are very different. One sister bears a child then the other raises it. The other sister loses her child. When one sister betrays the other once again, the results are catastrophic.

I was mad when I came to the end of this novel. There was so much more to the story. That’s when I found “Dreams of Joy” the second book and read it in two days also. Thank you, Lisa See for bringing such richness to the story, the people, the places and the time.

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Could it be true? Creative Chaos is freedom?

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 01:10:00 GMT

My writing mentor (Emily Hanlon) wrote a post recently on Chaos and the creative process and I just finished reading it. Basically, she said, “Chaos gets a bad rap.” She is sure that chaos in creativity is “freedom” and opens us to new possibilities. Could it be true? Is the chaos in my life really going to end with a new and amazing path to creativity? To my writing?

Now, that would be cool.

“Chaos in neither good nor bad…it just is.” Okay, then that begs the question, why do human beings revel in chaos? Why do we allow it to generate such negative energy?

“…see chaos as something that is a gift, something is going to reveal the mystery, something through which we’re going to die to what we think we are, who we think we are, what we think we’re writing, what we think we’re creating and open to that which is within, which is wanting desperately to be born.” ~Emily Hanlon

How could I forget the creative part of the journey? I’ve been so involved in the business end that the part of my brain that shared my stories just shut down. Good grief. I think it’s past time to light a candle, turn on some soft music and let the muse get to work.

See ya…

Another fascinating read

Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:21:00 GMT

I'm hooked on Jacqueline Winspear's books. They are an unbelievable look at the 1920-1930 period with a remarkable heroine. LOVED!

O.M.G. This book ROCKED!

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 17:45:00 GMT

Hold onto your seats. This kept me “enthralled” for three days until I finished it. O.M.G. Interesting characters galore. Untold twists and turns and surprises. It’s compelling, suspenseful. Okay, I can’t say enough good things about this book.

Harriet (aka Hal) is alone and struggling since her mother died, and she can’t seem to catch a break. Although she is good at reading people and the tarot, she anticipates tomorrow will be just like today – a constant struggle. Besides the past due bills, she gets a letter in the mail summoning her to the reading of her grandmother’s will. She thinks it must be a mistake but if there’s a remote chance she’ll receive a little money (hence a break) she decides to hop a train and find out, although doing so will leave her stranded without enough money to purchase a ticket home.

Suffice it to say, things aren’t all they seem. The reading of the will is full of surprises, and Hal finds herself amongst people who consider her family. A feeling she’s not had since her mother died three years before. I’ll stop now because I don’t want to give anything away. If you love a spellbinding book, this is a GOOD ONE!

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The Book is Better than the Movie

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 20:03:00 GMT

I can’t begin to guess how many films have been made based on novels or short stories, so I Googled it and believe there are too many to count. Twenty-six books are being made into films in 2018.

Tiara & delusions of grandeur

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 21:25:00 GMT

When I was a little girl I was 100% tomboy. But in the 1950’s girls were supposed to wear dresses and bows in their hair. My preference was slacks and pull over shirts, this was pre-jean mania and slog tee-shirts. I did, however, wear Keds, even with my dresses whenever my parents would let me.

It really wasn’t until the late 60’s early 70’s that jeans were allowed at school. Prior to that jeans were only worn by boys. We girls were only allowed to show a few inches above the knees, and boys hair could not hit their collar. In high school we rebelled – and long hair, short skirts, and jeans were all we wore. Except to the occasional dance. Then I’d wear a pant suit or halter dress. (Yes, hippie.)

As I age I seem to be getting girlier. Sparkling things (like jewelry) really grab my attention, and migrate themselves right into my jewelry box. My favorites are the ones ON SALE with semiprecious stones and beads. Yes, I guess I’m still a hippie at heart. My best friend says we’re like old crows, always attracted to shiny objects.

New Author of Historical Fiction: Z. Minor

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 16:02:00 GMT

Please help me welcome: Louise Pelzl who is writing under the name of Z. Minor. She’s a delightful lady that I’ve known for a very long time and has been supportive of my writing journey. She’s past president of the Kansas Writer’s Association and a dear friend.

What parts of you and your background feed your imagination?

Everything around me; people, TV Shows, the what-if when I see or hear a headline either on the news or in a magazine.

Tell us a little about the very first story you remember writing?

The Sisterhood of the Coin. It was my first endeavor into writing a novel and it got published!

Creative people are often creative in other ways, besides writing what else does the muse encourage you to do?

I do decorative painting on wood – my favorite is snowman or Christmas decorations. I love to garden. I love having my home-grown cut flowers in the house. I plant a lot of flowers so when I bring them in the house my garden doesn’t look bare.

What genre(s) do you like to write?

Historical romantic suspense
Contemporary mystery novels
Play at sci-fi for fun
Most of my stories have murder and mayhem in them.

Tell us a little about your novel, its plot and the main character(s).

The stories involved three foster sisters who are interesting in finding out who their birth parents are for various reasons. The books take place between 1820 – 1824. When the women were young they formed a club called the Sisterhood of Coin . Each has an old Roman Coin. If they are ever in trouble, they only have to send their coin to another sister, and she will come to their aid.

Nicola Highbridge is the main character in the first book. She comes to London to help her younger sister and meets Clay Barber. He appears to be a common laborer but in reality, is a titled Earl. He helps her find her birth parents and in the process discovers who is one of the leading players in the Cato Conspiracy (a true fact from 1820).

My second book, Mara’s Legacy is about Mara Highbridge and what she discovers when she sets out to find her birth parents.
My third book, Emmy’s Discovery is about Emmy and an archeology opportunity that might just set the world of literature in a tailspin. And of course, as I have introduced new characters major and minor in my current works I see other books taking shape.Which might mean there will be more than three books in the series.

Are any of the characters like you and if so in what way?

I don’t think so. I think my characters are how I wish I could be.

What genre(s) or author(s) do you like to read?

I don’t have a favorite author. As long as the book is interesting, I will read it.

Where and when do you find the best ideas or inspiration for your stories?

I like to use historical facts that are not known to most people. I research the events and then add my own twists, while keeping the historically portion accurate.

If there were a message you could share with other writers what would it be?

Don’t give up on your writing- not ever!!!

Where can readers go to learn more about you and your work?

I write under the name Z. Minor (middle initial and maiden name). Find me on Amazon , or my website www.zminor.com . I’m also on Facebook under Z. Minor.

Believing is half the battle. (Writer rambling)

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 21:44:00 GMT

When I made up my mind to write seriously, I told myself I can do this…. One of my best friends gave me a card with a tiny baby on the front, lifting up the back of a car. The sentiment: Believing is 98% of doing. (It is still on my tack board, after 13 years.)

Another Enjoyable Read

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 00:37:00 GMT

Delinsky takes on the world of remodeling homes and gardens as a background for this novel. Mother is a carpenter and her daughter is an architect for the family firm. There are forces bent on splitting up this dynamic duo. During the course of this story, their close relationship will be tested. Careers will shift, a hunky contractor and a handsome school teacher become important to these women. As always Delinsky gives us some tension, life changes, romance, and surprises. I do enjoy her books.

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Looking for the muse?

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 14:48:00 GMT

Do you ever feel like you have to look for inspiration? I do. When I’m insanely busy I just sit down and write whatever pops into my head. But this week I’m on vacation, with lots of time to relax and let the mind wander – unfortunately, that doesn’t mean I’m inspired.

I’m really not feeling the muse. Maybe she’s on vacation, too.

Its interesting that when I’m not “looking for inspiration” it usually smacks me in the back of the head, like Gibbs waking up Dinoso. Not this time.

I’m about 60 pages into writing a new novel. It’s set in the 80’s in Wichita. It’s got a little romance, some coming of age stuff, a stalker, a death and a betrayal. What genre is it? I’m not sure, since I’m not too far along. I think it still falls into the women’s fiction realm.

Well, time to go, my grandson wants me to learn how to kill zombies on his game. Wish me luck. Enjoy your summer everyone, and if you see my muse – tell her I said I miss her.

Welcome to the Lowcountry versus upper Midwest

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 04:01:00 GMT

Like the stars say, I really liked this book. When I open a Dorthea Benton Frank novel I feel like I’m visiting friends in the Lowcountry. She makes you feel right at home. Thanks again, Dot.

Shelby and Fred are in love. They’re from vastly different places, Shelby was raised in Chicago with money, culture and social standing. Fred’s family are southern farmers, with down-home attitudes of hard work and being kind to everyone, no matter what their station in life. To say that the two families have a bit of trouble relating to one another is an understatement. Planning for the wedding gets totally out of control, pretention abounding. But things can change and do when Shelby and Fred say enough. As always, there are a wonderful set of quirky characters and sticky situations that impact everyone. It’s fun. It’s funny. It’s sad. And it’s well worth reading.

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Inspired by a Dreamer

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 17:34:00 GMT

Randy Pausch was a scientist, a father, a husband and an inspiration. He chose to be Tigger instead of Eyeore and dealt with cancer and death with humor and found fun and loving in every one of his limited days. He shared his experience, his dreams and lessons learned with honesty. I’m sad that he was burdened with this disease, but honored to have been able to read what he shared. Truly a great book.

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Book Review “Girl Waits With Gun”

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:03:00 GMT

This is my first Amy Stewart read. It was fascinating to find myself in the 1914-15 era in NJ/NY, a time when our nation was growing in industry (with mills, factories, Black Hand gangs) and people who could – took advantage and bullied others. (Not all that different now.) Constance Kopp is tall for a woman, strong and smart. She watches over her sisters and stands up for them and others against all odds. When she has a run in (literally) with the local bully (crook, criminal, well-to-do bully) it starts a chain of events and torments that force her and her sisters to learn to defend themselves. With the help of the local sheriff, Constance and her sisters bravely gather proof that the man who is tormenting her family is responsible for even more, possibly deadly mischief. The pace of the book fits well with the time period. These women are full of sass and I enjoyed the story.

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Good time read!

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:53:00 GMT

What happens when a handful of interesting women and one man are mandated to attend divorce coaching due to anger issues – mayhem and mischief, friendship and growth, and lots of laughs. This is divorce at its worst and some serious payback. I laughed and almost cried, definitely enjoying the ups and downs in this story. There are characters you will love to hate and grow to love and cheer for. For a good time – read this book!

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The Life We Bury – a book review

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:06:00 GMT

There’s a lot to learn about the characters in this book and as they slowly unfold you can’t help but want to know more. Joe just wants to fulfill his college assignment by writing a biography paper on an elderly person. Carl Iverson ends up being his subject. A dying Viet Nam vet, Carl has been in prison for a heinous crime but paroled because he only has weeks to live. Joe thinks this will be easy, interesting, and no big deal; but the more he gets to know Carl the less the story makes sense. If Carl is innocent, then who is guilty becomes the big question. And the answer might just get him killed. A great mystery that twists and draws you in as you realize that things aren’t always what they seem.

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A story of a family…

Wed, 09 May 2018 14:49:00 GMT

A story about the ordinary life of a young girl growing up in Brooklyn. You meet Marie on the front steps of their apartment building with her glasses. We follow her through her first job as “comforting angel” at the local funeral parlor. Her first broken heart. Her marriage and children. McDermott brings us everyday life of this Irish family with all its pain and joys, loves and trials. It’s a quiet book that all of us can relate to. A story of a family.

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Meet Alice Duncan, a Delightful Author & Editor

Sun, 06 May 2018 19:50:00 GMT

I met Alice Duncan ten years ago when she edited my first novel for Five Star Publishing. Not only is she a great editor but she writes wonderful cozy mysteries. I hope you’ll enjoy her interview below, Thanks Alice!

What parts of you and your background feed your imagination? Particularly in my Daisy Gumm Majesty books, my entire life , especially my childhood, feeds my imagination. The books are set in Pasadena, CA, in the 1920s. I wasn’t around in the 1920s, but I love Pasadena, and I love history, so this is a match made in … well, maybe not heaven, but you know what I mean.

Tell us a little about the very first story you remember writing? The first story I remember writing was something about dinosaurs. Even then I wanted to be funny. I pointed out to my mother that I used the word “clodhoppers” in the story in order to make people laugh. Clearly, my sense of humor hadn’t developed to any kind of pinnacle, but heck, I was only six or seven. Oh, and I also used to write illustrated newspapers when I was a kid. All I remember is a line my mother had to correct: “Team finely wins a game,” or something like that. My mother told me the word I wanted was “finally” unless I meant the team did a spectacular job in winning the game.

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Creative people are often creative in other ways. Besides writing, what else does the muse encourage you to do? I used to dance and sing a lot. I was a member of two professional folk-dance companies. I know that sounds kind of like professional basket-weaving, but it’s not, really. I still love to sing. In California, I belonged to a Balkan women’s chorus. When I moved to Roswell, Balkan women’s choruses were thin on the ground, so I started singing in the choir of the Methodist Church my mother attended. I also participate in other music venues in town (the annual Concert of American Music and the St. Mark’s Advent chorus spring to mind). Oh, and I belong to a dachshund rescue group ( http://newmexicodachshundrescue.org/ ). That’s not necessarily creative. It’s mostly because I’m an idiot.

What genre(s) do you like to write? Whatever genre I write in (romance, western, mystery), it absolutely has to be historical. I don’t get along well with the world the way it is. I prefer to pretend life was better in the olden days. In truth, if I’d been born in an age without antibiotics, I’d have died when I was 22, and then whatever would my daughters have done?

Tell us a little about your novel, its plot and the main character(s). UNSETTLED SPIRITS is the 12 ^th (actually, it’s the 13 ^th , but that’s not my fault) book in my series of cozy historical mysteries featuring Daisy Gumm Majesty, a fake spiritualist-medium in Pasadena, CA, in the 1920s; and her family and friends. In this present book, Daisy and her fiancé, Detective Sam Rotondo (who used to be her worst enemy), are in Altadena’s Mountain View Cemetery. Daisy wants them to receive a blessing from their deceased spouses before she and Sam marry. She wants to ensure this happens by visiting their late spouses’ graves. Sam thinks she’s nuts, but he goes along with her. Rather than a blessing, what she gets is her late husband’s dachshund, Spike, bringing her a shoe. Unfortunately, the shoe contains a foot, and thus the action begins.

Are any of the characters like you and if so in what way? Daisy is actually me, only she has a supportive birth family and none of my crippling neuroses. She also goes to a lot of the places I used to frequent in Altadena and Pasadena, and she lives in a house I used to own. What’s more, she goes to the doctor to whom I used to take my daughters when they were little. She also likes to dine in a Mexican restaurant called Mijare’s. Mijare’s was opened in 1920, and it’s still going strong! It has great food. I recommend it to anyone visiting Pasadena. In my Daisy books, one of Daisy’s clients, Mrs. Bissel, lives in the house my aunt used to own in Altadena. I kind of grew up in that house, and I love it.

What genre(s) or author(s) do you like to read? History is my passion. I love to read about specific periods in time, or books that explain historical eras or phenomena. For instance, I recently read a great book called GET WELL SOON, by Jennifer Wright, which documents the world’s worse plagues. Fascinating reading. I recommend it to anyone who’s interested in stuff like that. I enjoy historical mysteries, too. Lately I’ve discovered T.E. Kinsey’s Lady Hardcastle books. The only problem with them is that he doesn’t write them fast enough. I’m also a huge fan of Carola Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple series.

I also love to cook. This is a peculiarity I don’t share with Daisy, who can burn water. In order to make up for Daisy’s deficiencies in the kitchen arts, I gave her an Aunt Vi (actually, my Aunt Wrennie, who owned Mrs. Bissel’s house) who is a fabulous cook. SPIRITS UNEARTHED features a recipe from Aunt Vi’s repertory: smothered Swedish-style chicken. In order to create this dish, you’ll first have to haul out your Scotch kettle. I puzzled that one over for a minute or two, then did some research and discovered a Scotch kettle is a Dutch oven! See?

If there was a message you could share with other writers what would it be? Never give up. There’s no assurance you’ll ever be published by anyone other than yourself—unless you give up. Giving up is a sure-fire guarantee you’ll remain unpublished. There’s also a quotation by Henry Van Dyke (he wrote THE STORY OF THE OTHER WISE MAN, which is definitely worth a read) I love it a lot: “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

Where can readers go to learn more about you and your work? If you’d like to find out more about Daisy and the gang, please visit this page: ( https://ebookdiscovery.lpages.co/aliceduncandaisygummbook12excerpt/ ), where you can read an excerpt from SPIRITS UNEARTHED and learn more about my Daisy books. That page also contains links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere else if you’d like to buy the book. If you’d like to visit my web page, here’s the link: http://aliceduncan.net/ . And if you’d like to be Facebook friends, please go here: https://www.facebook.com/alice.duncan.925

Thank you!

Author Biography:

In an effort to avoid what she knew she should be doing, Alice folk-danced professionally until her writing muse finally had its way. Now a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Alice enjoys saying no to smog, no to crowds, and yes to loving her herd of wild dachshunds.

Alice has written historical cozy mysteries under the names Alice Duncan, historical and paranormal romances under the names Emma Craig and Rachel Wilson, the Titanic series as Anne Robins, and western adventures as Jon Sharpe.

A prolific author, Alice has been praised for the Mercy Allcutt Mystery series, a cozy series called “a silly madcap romp” and “great fun.”

Her thirteen-book series, The Daisy Gumm Majesty Mysteries , are set in the roaring twenties in Pasadena, and are “absolutely endearing and linguistically spot on” with a “funny, spunky heroine” who works as a spiritualist and medium. “There is pluck, and then there is Daisy.”

She’s also known for The Dream Maker series, Meet Me at the Fair series, the Pecos Valley Diamond series, and many others. Visit Alice at www.aliceduncan.net.

Friendship and Family

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 02:50:00 GMT

We were raised in the 50’s and 60’s to think of families as being one father, one mother, and one or more children. The truth is that non-traditional families are the norm now. You know the ones I’m talking about, a single parent home, grandparents raising grandchildren, aunts or uncles raising their niece or nephew, partners raising children. Family is not just blood. It’s loving, living and caring for each other.

Life and living is messy. People are messy. Pets are messy. And it’s okay. It’s worth every bit of dust and clutter to know we aren’t alone and we’re loved. Besides, it’s more fun to tidy up beside a messy loved one than to have a sparkling, but empty home.

Enjoy your family and friends, they make the journey much more fun.

Why writers don’t write more

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:54:00 GMT

Writer’s need to write, but for some stupid reason we procrastinate and avoid the page.

What if what I write is garbage? The first draft probably will be, but that’s what editing is all about. We are mining for the jewels in the trash.

What if no one wants to read what I’ve written? We want to share what we’re writing and have it resonate with someone else out there. Preferably, LOTS of someone elses. But, it should be okay to write for one’s self. To explore and express and not have to share it with the masses – RIGHT? Theoretically, yes.

Should I keep writing if no one buys my books? I guess it depends on why you’re writing. Every author wants to make money writing, but it’s not usually the case. So, why not take up ceramics or painting instead? Writer’s want to tell stories, and most of us would make ceramics or paintings if we had the time or inclination.

I think that we all want to excel in everything we do. That is the kicker. No one wants to write a bad story. No one wants to write a book that others don’t care to read. We’re a world of dreamers that don’t always realize our dreams.

Artists of all kinds (writers, musicians, sculptors, painters, etc.) dream of creating beautiful things that others will want for themselves. We can’t help it. We get so much joy creating our art that we want to share it. We long to be loved for our work. Oh my. Where did that come from? Could that be the flaw in our creative dreams?

Whenever I sit down to a blank page, I want to create something lovely, and it doesn’t happen every time. But the act of putting words down does allow for the creative flow to happen, the muse comes to visit and the story unfolds. The key – sitting down to the blank page and not letting it scare you off. Right. Note to self. Nothing will happen unless I do it. The story will not write itself. DUH.

What if you have so many stories and characters crowding your mind you can’t settle on one and finish it? That is a problem. Bottom line – pick one. Finish the first draft. Then you can move on to flesh it out more, editing as you, or put it aside and start on the next idea that won’t leave you alone. I know. I’ve been there. Done that. And continue to…

Where have you been?

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 03:06:00 GMT

Life tends to interfere in many writer’s plans. Illness. Death. Work. Laundry. Home Repair. Vacation. Truly, life goes on. But creativity cannot be denied. It slips into our days in small ways. The key is to be grateful for every moment.

I love to write and learn new things. Please be patient. It takes a long time to write that first draft and edit and make it come to life. Thank you so much for reading my books, sharing your precious time with them, and letting everyone know if you enjoyed them. You inspire me. You make all the hours of work worth while.

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Fabulous Review of “Your Every Move”

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:11:00 GMT

Your Every Move took me back to my younger years when my world seemed to change unexpectedly and finding solid footing often seemed beyond my grasp. Alternating between the security of a few trustworthy loved ones and being at the mercy of new relationships was daunting and sometimes dangerous. I enjoyed reading how Amanda faced her challenges and grew to trust herself and her decisions. Thanks for a story with love, suspense and mystery, and the reminder that growth is frequently the result of surviving painful circumstances. ~Janice L.

(Many thanks, Janice.)

A Very Special Year

Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:28:00 GMT

This quiet, magical book reminds us that we write our own stories every day of our lives.

When Aunt Charlotte disappears, Valerie steps in to help at her aunt’s little bookstore. What starts out as a chore turns into a time of discovery, not only of herself, but the power of books to take us into new and wonderful worlds, and finding new friends and their stories. Frankly, the possibilities are endless. I read this book in two days and enjoyed every moment.

View all my reviews

Dream by Day or by Night?

Sat, 15 Jul 2017 21:00:00 GMT

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things
that escape those who dream only at night.”

-Edgar Allan Poe

Food and Love

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 01:25:00 GMT

We’re not the only ones chowing down on dogs and burgers, as evidenced by the bare hamburger and hot dog bun shelves at the grocers. What does your family consume during summer celebrations? This year it was my grandson, my husband and I near the grill. At dusk we joined the rest of the family and shot fireworks for hours. It was great fun, even though we were sweaty and tired, smelling like smoke and bug spray.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with lots of food and fun with your loved ones.

Great Review for “Your Every Move”

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:27:00 GMT

“Your Every Move starts sweet and reels you in. Soon your heart is in your throat and you’re all about protecting the girl. Nice job – an enjoyable read”

~C. Hope Clark, author The Carolina Slade Mysteries and The Edisto Island Mysteries, www.chopeclark.com

The Importance of Story

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 00:58:00 GMT

Do you remember your mother or grandmother reading stories to you when you were small? When my son and grandsons were little I read to them before bed. As they grew I encouraged them to “read” their favorite stories to me. Since we read Dr. Suess and Paddington Bear over and over again, they knew what happened on every page and could almost recite the words before they could read.

There are quotes from books or films (stories) that stick in our minds and never go away. They speak to us. They make us laugh or cry or think. “Everything looks better with pearls,” is one of my faves. I don’t wear pearls but I remember watching Audrey Hepburn and Doris Day in films and they always had pearls on and looked beautiful and confident.

These days superheroes are very popular, everyone wants to be a hero, save the day, have superpowers. Imagine it? Of course, you can, we all can. Stories about ordinary people who find out they have extraordinary gifts inspire us to be greater.

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Nathan Hill, Author of THE NIX

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:50:00 GMT

By now you’ve heard about THE NIX, Nathan Hill’s debut literary novel that has set the world on fire. Not only did I enjoy his book, but I love the man, who just happens to be my son’s best friend and I consider my second son. I’m very proud of him and his work.

Let me see if I can think of some other words with which to express my awe and joy in this work. The novel is epic, folks. The prose is amazing. I highly recommend it and although it is long, take your time and don’t miss a single word.

Nate will be at Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, October 25th, 6PM, and my husband and I will be there. Come and join us, won’t you?

Summer colds & the magic of storytelling

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 21:27:00 GMT

The book I just finished was one of JD Robb’s Death mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s something amazing about an author who can write so many stories about the same characters and keep bringing something new and inventive into the story. Certainly, there are always new characters and murder situations, but the main characters keep evolving and that makes the story even better. It’s set in the not so distant future, say forty years from now and much of life is the same. But getting real coffee and real meat is a challenge and only reserved for the wealthy. Pepsi comes in a tube. And while cars can elevate and fly, they don’t often so we don’t have to worry about suspending disbelief – it could happen.

Do you ever wonder why movies and television shows have exploded and there are so many channels to choose from? (Money for one, but the other is – storytelling keeps us going.) Since many channels show reruns I don’t see how they all survive, but they do, and not everyone has access to all the same stations. What makes these forms of entertainment so popular is the story. We’re captured by the actors, the scenes, the special effects, the music, the drama/comedy/adventure. We are transported into that story, maybe even flying through space on the starship Enterprise as the Romulans attack. I recently saw “Brooklyn” and I was transported to Ireland and then New York City (Brooklyn) during the 1950’s. The cars, the clothes, the music, the hairstyles, the language (love Irish accents) let me be there while I watched the story unfold.

Isn’t that the same thing we want when we read a book? We readers want to slip between the pages, into the time and place, along with the hero and antagonist, so we can experience this new world we’re reading about. I recently read “The Citadel” by Kate Mosse and I have to tell you – I wanted to be in France, but NOT during the 1940’s. The German occupation of France was horrific. Kate Mosse made the time and place come to life.

We authors want our stories to draw readers in and hold them there until the end. When it happens, it’s magical. When the moving pictures in your head get transferred accurately on the page and into the reader’s imagination – we soar with joy. We take the reader along with us and hope their experience is satisfying. Not every story will resonate with every person – but when it does – it is true magic. One of my readers sent me a message saying she had seen my character, “Annabelle” on the street in town. Feisty Family Values and particularly Annabelle had come to life for her. That’s what I call MAGIC. Another reader wrote me that she hated Regina in the first book but really liked her in the second. She said she was glad she wasn’t such a bitch anymore. It made me laugh and gave me a sense of pride as well. The character of Regina came to life for her.

I hope none of you out there get summer colds, but if you do – drink lots of fluids, sleep lots, read and get well soon.

Persistence

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:29:00 GMT

A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

~Jim Watkins

writing advice

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:24:00 GMT

“My advice to writers of mysteries, or any writer for that matter, is to remember that a story is not about what happens; it’s really about the people things happen to.”

– William Kent Krueger

Summer memories.

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 00:36:00 GMT

As I age, however, I like the extreme weather less and less. No wonder so many people live on the coasts where the ocean cools things off. At least, that was my impression when I was there last. It’s been almost twenty years, however, so my memory may be faulty. But I do have some fond memories of summers in Kansas.

What are your favorite memories of summer?

Writers are Readers, too.

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:23:00 GMT

You’ve no doubt heard this one before, good writers – READ. It’s true! I write mainly women’s fiction, so I do a lot of reading in that genre. I also read chick lit, mainstream fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romance and much more. Check out my Goodreads.com books and you’ll see that I am a diverse reader. If there’s a book review in the paper or a magazine I have to read it and if the story sounds good, then it goes on my list of things to read.

Occasionally films will come out about the lives of authors or based on one of my favorite books. It’s fun to get a group of writers together to see a matinee and then get coffee and hold a discussion. We writers have such an interesting way of viewing things.

Many of us have a library of unread books that we have collected from friends, book sales at the library, yard sales, and those bought with coupons from the local bookstores. When I’m finished reading and sharing a book, I donate it to the library so others can partake of its pages. The bottom line is – you can never read too many books. And reading good books will help you become a better writer – I PROMISE!

Rambling: Even writers get the blues.

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 19:24:00 GMT

The fact of the matter is, life is up and down. “Stuff happens.” When we most need to be strong, we usually are, until the need has passed. Then we fall into bed and sleep for twelve hours, waking up feeling like we’ve run a marathon. Or we eat a bag of Oreo cookies and feel sick enough to go to bed and sleep off the sugar crash.

Sound familiar? No doubt. We humans are a resilient bunch. We survive illness, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, accidents and betrayal. Maybe we’re all just stubborn?!

“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Personally, when I’m struggling, I want to smack the next person that says that quote. It just doesn’t help, because when we’re down it’s hard to see the “bright side.” Remember, they mean well. The trick is not to be down too long. I find that if I just go with it for a bit – I get through it a lot quicker, than if I try to bury it. That’s when the blues sneak up and smack you right up the side of your head.

So, what am I going to do about it? I’m NOT going to wait for the sun to come out. I’m going to go for a nice long walk on this cloudy day, smell the clean earth, new flowers, cut grass and probably the dog poo Lucy will deposit on the path. (I will clean it up.) And when I get home I’ll mop the floor, balance the checkbook, and see if hubby wants to go to a movie. I might even write. Odd that the thing I love so much is the thing that I don’t do when I’m blue.

Interview with Vicki Hinze

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 03:58:00 GMT

I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to introduce fellow Belle Books author: Vicki Hinze . She’s an interesting person and great author. So read on, my friends…

What parts of you and your background feed your imagination?

I’ve always been a “what if” and “why” kind of person, with one foot planted in the clouds and the other firmly on the ground. My imagination is active. It seems natural to spin out scenarios—my mother and I played games like that when I was a child. My favorite part was to take the illogical and impossible and make it not only possible but believable and almost inevitable.

I guess those things, going back so far into my past, are so deeply ingrained, I’d feel naked without them.

Tell us a little about the very first story you remember writing?

It was a story about a bird who couldn’t fly because she was a tiny girl bird deemed too fragile to fly. She discovered she wasn’t fragile but strong, and that she could fly (or do anything she wanted) if she worked at learning how. At the end, she learned and soared!

Creative people are often creative in other ways, besides writing what else does the muse encourage you to do?

I used to do oil paintings. Flowers and landscapes mostly. I have a serious fondness for irises. And—don’t laugh—I love remodeling. There’s something powerful about knocking down walls. I have admittedly gotten carried away with one project after another until Hubby pled with me for a six-month moratorium. I agreed, but boy was it hard.

What genre(s) do you like to write?

I like them all, except horror, and have written in them all, except horror. My favorite is a hybrid novel with elements of suspense, mystery and romance. If a book has all three, I’m in heaven writing it—or reading it.

Tell us a little about your novel, its plot and the main character(s).

Beyond the Misty Shore is a light paranormal romance. (Romance, suspense and mystery, of course, with a light paranormal element for extra fun.) It’s about TJ MacGregor and Maggie Wright, who discover at Seascape Inn in Maine that they’re linked by an accident that caused the death of Maggie’s cousin and TJ’s fiancé. TJ doesn’t want a relationship with Maggie, and feels himself falling for her, but he’s unable to leave the inn. He’s held their by supernatural forces, though he doesn’t know why. Neither does Maggie, who doubts his being held there isn’t a trick of the mind until she witnesses TJ’s challenge firsthand. Both are wounded, broken, and struggling to find their feet. And forces conspire at the inn to offer them the chance to heal and find not just their feet but their hearts.

Many have said they found the story uplifting and inspiring. That’s how it struck me, too. I love the Seascape books.

Are any of the characters like you and if so in what way?

I’m chuckling here, wondering at the wisdom of admitting it. In their own way, they’re skeptics and stubborn, slow to be convinced and to change their minds. I think we’re alike in those things, but I honestly don’t think those things are bad. Actually, they can be amusing. I found myself amused often writing these two and then again later when reading them.

What genre(s) or author(s) do you like to read?

Suspense, romance and mystery genres. And thrillers. Love thrillers, provided they’re not gory. I don’t like gore. But the books that worm into my heart are healing books with elements of suspense, mystery and romance. Love those immensely.

Where and when do you find the best ideas or inspiration for your stories?

Ideas are everywhere! Boardrooms, bathrooms, overheard snippets of conversations overheard anywhere. My best ideas seem to come when I’m a) in the shower. Naturally, you don’t have a pen there, right? And b) grocery stores. Which proves God has a sense of humor because I don’t cook. If I’m stuck, I go to the grocery store. Ideas are all over there. And if none are the right ideas for what I’m after, I go to my kitchen table.

Growing up, my dad told me that 99% of genius was created at the kitchen table. So if I can’t see my way ahead (in writing or life), I go to the kitchen table to seek answers. They come. I’m not sure if it’s because I believe they will or because I’m so focused on finding answers when I’m there, but they always come.

If there was a message you could share with other writers what would it be?

If you can quit writing, do it. If you love it, you won’t be able to quit, and that’s the fastest way to find out if you’re a writer. Writing demands sacrifices—a lot of them—so you need to know quickly whether or not in it you’ll find and follow your bliss. This is the shortest route to doing so I’ve found.

Where can readers go to learn more about you and your work?

To my website. http://www.vickihinze.com . There you’ll find all kinds of information, chapter previews, blogs, newsletters, videos, and podcasts. More than even my mother would want to know. J

Thanks so much for your interest in me and my books. I hope you’ll enjoy all three of the Seascape novels.

After I’d written the first one, I received a number of letters from readers wanting to book a trip to Seascape Inn. I have to tell you, I’ve felt that way myself many times.

(It’s my pleasure, Vicki!)

Who tells the story?

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 18:14:00 GMT

In romance, the story is about the two lovers (to be or not to be). There can be lots of interesting secondary characters, but they are not the most important to the story – it’s the couple finding their way to each other. So, even if the maid can tell the story, the story is about how the lovers get together, not how she feels about the job or the price of beef. It can be interesting to see an observers view of how a romance transpires, but there is too much distance to the emotions in the story to be satisfying to the reader.

In the story, Driving Miss Daisy, the driver tells us about Miss Daisy and their relationship. He has a very interesting perspective of his charge and is able to share her antics with honesty. Their friendship evolves over the story as her health devolves. We perceive the racial tension in the south, but these two people overcome that barrier. She needs his calm dependability and he needs to be needed. ( I confess I saw the film and didn’t read the book, this is how I perceived the story telling.)

“The Book Thief” interestingly enough was told from the point of view of ‘death’, but it was the young girl’s experience during this time in WWII. As narrator he was able to express the darkness of the time.

When I was little my grandmother always told me the way to understand why someone acted a certain way I should, “Listen harder. Walk around in their shoes for a while.” In essence that’s what an author does. We listen to our character and put ourselves in the story in order to relate the feelings, smells, sounds, textures of the experience. If we are lucky, we grow so close to the story that for a little while we become the characters and their story becomes even richer.

Enjoy the journey, my friends.

Live and Learn and Pass it on

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:51:00 GMT

“Live and learn and pass it on” is a good motto, and one that hopefully will stay with me well into the new year.

So, what have you learned in 2015?

I’m going to give this a try myself and see what lessons I’ve learned this past year.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I’m sure before I drift off to sleep tonight I’ll think of another lesson learned. The point is living and enjoying the days we have on this earth. And taking care of each other, too.

Book Reviews Rock

Mon, 05 Oct 2015 21:37:00 GMT

The best gift for an Author is a Book Review. Did you just finish a good book? Then do not pass go, do not collect $200, get on Goodreads or Amazon and write a review!

It doesn’t have to be detailed or long. “I love this book.” or “I liked this book a lot.” or “These characters are so real!” give just enough information to others to tantalize them into checking out the book.

I’m writing my first mystery. I’ve never written mystery, but I’ve read hundreds of them. I’ve written two full length novels. And I had this cool idea for a story. Reader reviews are so important, to new writers and experienced writers alike, so I’m anxious to read the reviews once my mystery is published. (Date is yet to be determined.)

Authors learn from reviews. Personally, I get a kick out of the reviews that are very detailed and tell me just what the reader liked and didn’t like. Everyone is different and certain things appeal to some and not others, but I understand that not every reader is comfortable expounding on their impressions of a book. Sometimes we just don’t know why we liked a story, it just worked, that’s all. That’s part of the reason why I read lots of different genre’s. I never know what will strike a cord and pull me in.

I love to read new authors, as well as authors that I’ve read for years. Bottom line – we all enjoy a good story. So share the experience and write a review. We authors will appreciate you even more than we already do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Location, location, location

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:42:00 GMT

When I first started writing fifteen-years-ago I was told that nobody was interested in stories about Kansas. You know, that’s not exactly true – look at the Wizard of Oz. Many times I heard, why Kansas? Nobody famous is from Kansas. Ha . President Dwight Eisenhower might beg to differ. There have been many notables, for example: Nobel Prize winners, actors ( Dennis Hopper , Dee Wallace… ), authors ( Langston Hughes , William Inge …), artists (like Gordon Parks… ), musicians ( Melissa Etheridge… ), athletes ( George Brett… ), aviators ( Amelia Earhart… ), journalists ( John Cameron Swayze , William Allen White… ) and so many more. I’ve only listed a few of the many amazing people who were born in Kansas.

I’ll admit it. I love reading about other cultures. They are fascinating. But I never quite “feel” like I’m a part of the action. I’m only an observer. There are times to be an observer and times when you want to be in the middle of things. For me, Kansas is the middle of everything. That’s why I write about it.

What location resonates for you? What stories have you read that “took you there?”

Dreams of Media Attention and Snake Oil

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:32:00 GMT

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure and honor of being a part of the first WRITERS OF THE WHEAT LITERARY FESTIVAL . What a great time! Lots of friends, families, readers and literary lovers came to visit and listen to a group of authors read and talk about their books.

In preparation for the event we were in the Wichita Eagle newspaper and that was super publicity for us and the event. KAKE and KWCH TV were also on board to talk about the event. LOVE our local news media!

By the way, there are two Bonnie Tharp’s in Wichita. We finally met after being Facebook friends for some time. The other Bonnie is always being asked to sign my books and she shared that with Carrie Rengers a couple of weeks ago. So…check out “have you heard?”

Anyway, what this is all leading up to is this. I received a call today from an online broadcast company who tells me they can make my books a bestseller. Ah, the stars come into my eyes as he tells me all the things I want to hear: my books are poignant, relevant, interesting…. At least those were the words that stuck into my mind, the rest took quite some a bit of my time and sound like “wah, wah, wah” in my memory (like the Peanuts cartoon grownups).

The promise of nation-wide exposure happened to me once before and I bit – I went on the air and got about 2,000 listeners and only a slight uptick in sales. Not enough to warrant the expense, believe me. Was it fun – LOADS! Was it expensive – LOTS! This time, the offer is a bit more money, with the promise of global media exposure, video, web updates, and one year exclusivity – for them, not me. I must admit I almost bit the poison apple again. Their sales people are amazing! You know the kind who can sell ice cubes to Eskimos. I need to learn those skills, because then my book would be a best seller, for sure.

Many creative folks get caught in the dream that their work is worth much more than it’s being sold for now. The snake oil salesmen tell us that we are worth much more than we make. We dream of thousands of people enjoying our work and sharing it with their best friends or families or just shouting it from the social media rooftops how wonderful this or that creation truly is… We don’t have to be rich, but it would be nice to make a living doing what we love. We don’t have to be a celebrity, but it would be nice to be recognized as a really good author. And the snake oil salesman senses our desire, feeds it and boom – SOLD.

Writer’s ramblings…

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:44:00 GMT

Usually I would’ve had at least one or two conference calls by now and have a page or two of “things” that need to get done at work. Not here. My work notebook is dark, with only a tiny green battery light to show it still lives and it is totally out of reach.

I promised myself I would write. I am writing. I dreamed I had 80 pages done on my new manuscript “Close to You.” There are only 25 pages so far. Maybe by the end of the week there will be 100. Wish me luck.

I’m not used to having time off. Even when I’m off there are chores – laundry or cooking. But there is no time pressure here. Now. It’ll get done when everything I brought is dirty and my stomach tells me it needs food. Interesting, this lack of stress. Feels good. I’ve been up since 4:44 AM. Maybe I’ll nap later. That is a novel concept. Is this what retirement might feel like? Sweet. Will I get bored? Maybe, but it’s an experience I seldom have – so what the heck.

The kids walked my legs off yesterday shopping. It was fun, but my feet are tired. Maybe my son is right and I am getting old. I’m certainly not getting any younger. But, that’s okay. I wouldn’t like being a teen again. Too much drama. Thirties were fun, I could go there if I had the chance, but even then there were stressers beyond today. Look at my kids. Things in their lives move SO fast. Slower is nice.

Have a good you’all. Enjoy the journey. I hope it takes you someplace quiet and interesting.

Gardening and the writer’s journey

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:17:00 GMT

I’ve never been much of a gardener for various reasons, but every spring I’m inspired by the sun, the new plants popping through the soil, the trees and flowers in bloom and I think – I want to make pretty things grow, feel the sun on my back and the dirt between my fingers.

Some of the new plants are just that: “new” and therefore a surprise to me. A bit of Crocus just popped and I’m thrilled. It appears I’ll have Jonquils soon. Oh, and the weeds – they’ve already begun digging their ugly little tap roots down into the soil. The little buggars.

When my son was little he used to bring me the Dandelions and I’d dutifully put them into water on the windowsill. Same thing occurred with my grandson. Now I try to pluck those yellow blooms before they go to seed.

Making Characters Memorable

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 16:47:00 GMT

We’ve all met interesting people on our day-to-day lives that come to mind when we’re writing. And while sometimes it is the physical characteristics that capture us, or mannerisms, or the way they speak – they can be the jumping off point for a very interesting character in your book that everyone loves or hates.

The check out girl inspired a gum popping receptionist for the doctors office (in my case). There are no humming dentists in my stories yet, but perhaps it will inspire a writer to tell the story of a serial killer that hums or sings while he does his thing.

What I really enjoy is emphasizing unique characteristics and making them memorable to the reader. Regina was a hair flipper. We’ve all known a hair twirler, flipper, or chewer. Right? It’s a very memorable habit. I once had a boss that had sinus problems and he was constantly clearing his throat, every day of the year. It was really annoying. How about the boss whose hair is NEVER out of place. A perfect plastic coated football helmet. OMG. I finally asked mine what kind of hairspray she used so I wouldn’t buy it by mistake, preferring a more care free – messy look. But that’s just me.

You can never tell who will inspire you to write, so be aware and watchful for that memorable character you know or see on the street. They just might inspire you.

The mother of my heart

Sun, 23 Nov 2014 16:17:00 GMT

A close friend of mine died yesterday and I’ll miss her. I’ve known her for over forty years and she’s been Mom Finch to me for most all of them. She taught me so much, both little and big. How to make chocolate chip cookies, make sloppy joes, how to crochet. Many firsts in my life were experienced in the family kitchen: homemade ice cream, big – loud family dinners, quiet patience and giving. She sewed my prom dress in the same style as my best friend, her daughter and my forever friend, Maxine. She taught me how to make things stretch like money and food, to reuse what still had life in it, just like my grandmother did. She gave me so much.

She called me her “adopted daughter” and when her memory was starting to go she seemed to recognize me still. Perhaps not my name, but hopefully my smile and the love I felt for her. She lived a long life and right now I can’t remember if she was 93 or 94, but numbers have never been my strong suit. Suffice it to say she was a lovely nurturing woman and I am so glad she has been a part of my life.

She was as proud of my writing accomplishments as those of her own children. Mom Finch was the subject of one of my first articles for Active Aging, because I admired her so much. She was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary heart, and she took this lost girl in. She raised four wonderful women, one son, and me. They are blessed with her creativity and generous spirit. I’ve been blessed to be accepted as part of the family. Mom Finch is the mother of my heart and will always be my hero. I will never forget her.

AHA Moments of Writing

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:49:00 GMT

“Sometimes we forget that we have this talent. It sits bottle-necked while we run to the store, wash clothes, and hit a few ball at the golf course. But to experience those AHA! moments where the work surprises even you, you have to write thousands of words regularly, daily, frequently.

When your subconscious cranks out words better than your conscious mind can imagine, magic happens. And that only occurs with a habit and an addition to put the words on paper.” ~William Faulkner

How to be a Great Writer

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:54:00 GMT

I don’t profess to be a GREAT writer YET, but I’m getting better at it every day. Back in September I read an interview with Stephen King about the 22 lessons he recommends to be a great writer. THANK YOU STEPHEN KING. The article in the Business Insider stimulated my imagination to the point that I wrote the following (it was kind of like a test of what I retained from the content):

G – Grammar is only for understanding

R – Read as much as possible

E – Endeavor to write every day

A – Avoid adverbs, passive voice and run on sentences

T – Tell stories about people

W – Write for yourself and don’t worry about what others think

R – Retreat from the world when you write

I – Imagination can help you create and describe clearly and vividly

T – Temper your writing with only what is necessary, info dribbles not info dumps

E – Edit, edit, edit “Kill your darlings” is what Stephen said, be balanced not egocentric about your writing

R – Resist twenty-dollar words with a dollar-word will do, don’t be pretentious

King inspires me. He writes so well, having been successful for many years. I aspire to that as well. Wish I had a first reader like his wife, Tabitha King (also an author), but I do okay with my critique group. They are a great bunch of writers with vivid imaginations, huge hearts, and good advice.

Enjoy the journey, fellow scribes!

Storytelling, art for all generations

Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:52:00 GMT

We all have favorite stories and mediums to experience them. I love them all, really. But reading a book is more interactive for me. When I’m watching a film or TV I feel passive – like I’m absorbing the experience, but not sharing in it. When I’m in a good book I really feel like I am there in the room, or outside, and I’m a silent partner in the story. My imagination works overtime!

Some of my favorite authors have a way of putting me in the story: Dorothea Benton Frank, C. Hope Clark, Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King (just to name a few). I smell the salt of the sea or the blood on the body. I’m transported back in time or to a place where monsters live. While films give you the audio and visual experience your imagination is put on hold. They give you the experience, and it’s not the same as taking it away from a book. Don’t get me wrong, I love movies, they make me laugh, cry, and shudder. I do experience the story.

Now is an amazing time for storytellers. They have so many lovely ways to share their stories. Publishing is easier than it has ever been with electronic and self publishers on the web.

Do you have a story you want to tell? Tell it.

Do you have a story you particularly love? Share it.

But most of all – ENJOY stories.

Where do your characters come from?

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 01:20:00 GMT

This is one of the questions I’m always asked. “Where do your characters come from?”

It’s not a simple answer either. The character may look like a person seen on the street or in a store. They may have quirks that have been witnessed or created in the imagination. Often I start with a voice or an image. Then I do a character sketch. Sometimes that means I interview the character. Sometimes I just let my imagination run with it and invent their family history and back story. (Married? Divorced? College educated? Well read?)

When asked: “Do you ever write about your family?” The answer is: “NO.” But, I do use phrases my family members say, especially the funny ones. Accidental eavesdropping in public places can provide choice dialog as well.

There are times when dreams provide ideas and images that can lead to some interesting characters, too. (So, keep a pad and pen by the bed.)

But it doesn’t stop there. The more you write about the character in the story, the clearer they will become in the mind of the author. Their voice and mannerisms will become unique. So, as you write that first draft, don’t worry that you don’t “know” the characters yet. You will. First drafts are for capturing the story, and edits will bring those characters to life. They will become so unique you will clearly see and hear them by the time you reach the end of that first draft. (Hair twirler? Nose picker? Face moles? Birth mark? Hair color?)

Make them physically clear for the reader. Make their voices loud and individual. Give them quirks, including clothing, habits, a job, dreams, fears and desires. Do they wear a special perfume or have body odor? Make it real.

Artists, Scribes and Dreamers

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:24:00 GMT

I can safely say that writers, painters, musicians, artists of all kinds are “dreamers”. We see and hear beauty in the world around us and in our mind’s eye and struggle to recreate it or share what we experience with others. It isn’t always easy.

While I have written stories since I was a child I really didn’t discover how magically you can create a world through words until I began writing as an adult. Maybe it was because I was older and had more experience. Maybe I am more confident than I was in my teens or twenties. Probably some of both. But I still dream about being a successful author and I like to dream BIG.

But there is another kind of dreaming that I wonder if other artists experience as I do. The dreams you have while you sleep. I sometimes see scenes and hear dialog during my dreams that I later put in my books.

Just think of all the wonderful things that have been created by men and women over the ages. Someone had a dream, a vision, an idea and made it reality.

No free lunches

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 19:49:00 GMT

Folks, there really is no such thing as a free lunch. But I have to admit I love discounts, coupons, and sales. If I feel as though I’m getting something extra I am that much happier with my acquisition. I wouldn’t have nearly as many great books in my library if I hadn’t had a coupon or got them at the used bookstore at a great price. How does that apply to writing, you ask? It means giving your reader more than they expect. More twists, surprises, mystery, things that will keep them reading. Giving them a bigger helping of fun!

What’s in a writer’s tool kit?

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 00:05:00 GMT

My tool kit contains:

What’s in your tool kit?

Life is a collage

Sun, 27 Apr 2014 22:46:00 GMT

Collage (From the French: coller , to glue) is a technique of an art production, primarily used in the visual arts, where the artwork is made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole.

No two collages are ever the same and neither are any two lives. The picture we see is filtered not only by the light, or lack of it, but by what draws us. The color. The shapes. The feelings. Our reaction to what we are experiencing. Personally, I think the collage is an excellent way to express oneself. You can mix media and genre and each of the pieces make an entirely different whole.

Up close each image or object is independent and yet when you add it to a collage it becomes one part of a new whole. A perfect example is the cover of Time, the larger portrait and title is recognizable. It was cleverly created by many tiny images of just the right shade of color or shape to create it. Truly this is art.

As are quilts of mismatched pieces of cloth, buttons, ribbons, and thread. Such is the story of our lives. It is the sum total of tiny little events, people, places and things that have touched us. Many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers made quilts from our baby clothes, re-purposing items that had been handed down and wore as many times as the seams could withstand. Sewing all these lovingly warn, played in items created a much stronger, more interesting object of art and function.

While I like things orderly, I’m intrigued by the randomness of things on my desk. There are keepsakes from when my son was small, a god’s eye he made with yarn and sticks, a tiny photo of his child, the bookmark he gave me when he was eight. Photos, greeting cards, a red ribbon from the fair, a Monopoly ‘get out of jail free’ card, a peace symbol pin, a crocheted lace heart. All of these things remind me of stories, of moments in my life. If I put them in a drawer they will be forgotten, so they remain on my desk, being rearranged as the mood strikes, and I remember: Who gave me each one. When. Why. And most especially I remember how I felt when I received them. Some of the stories are a bit fuzzy, but the feelings are good ones and I smile at the beauty in my life.

You are your own Worst enemy?

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 21:26:00 GMT

When you were growing up did your folks or your grandparents say, “you are your own worst enemy?” Mine did. I didn’t really understand what that meant until I became an adult. Still, it wasn’t something I wanted to recognize, even though it’s true.

When I wanted to learn a new language I’d practice every chance I got, UNTIL I became frustrated with my lack of progress. Instead of studying harder, you guessed it – I quit trying. What is up with that?

The things we REALLY want or need we can usually find time or a way to make them happen. Do we remain dedicated every moment of every day? Nope. This world is full of distractions, but if it’s something we really want…what do we have to do. Never quit.

You don’t fail unless you quit trying. Or maybe we should all remember what Yoda said, “there is no try–DO!” I’m with Luke, things seem too large to handle so we give up for a little while. But if we’re good little Padawan learners we’ll get back on the road we’re meant to be on.

Are you your worst enemy? It’s okay, you aren’t alone, there are a lot of us out here. The key here is perseverance, the will to try and to dream. Let’s change the cliche and accept the challenge to keep going. Grandmere Morgan says, “It doesn’t pay to look back, we’re not going that way.”

Forward ho!

Writer Vices, Foibles, Weaknesses…

Wed, 26 Feb 2014 01:02:00 GMT

So what kind of vices do writers have?

Don’t Look Back…

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 20:47:00 GMT

Don’t look back. You’re not going that way. ~Author Unknown

This statement came to mind when I wrote my second novel, PATCHWORK FAMILY, as spoken by a wise grandmother to her granddaughter. Often we dwell on mistakes we’ve made, or life altering events, and forget to enjoy today and dare to dream about tomorrow.

There is so much illness and bad things happening all around, but there are good things, too. Yes, there’s a foot of snow outside, but the sun shining on it looks like a crystal blanket. The moisture will water the trees and the flowers and the grass (uh, we’ll have to mow come spring). I guess my point is that life is a balance of both good and bad.

As we move forward we need to keep our eyes and thoughts on today. And maybe take steps toward furthering my dreams. We should’ve learned what not to do in the past, right? We may have learned some good “what to do’s,” too. Being open to the possibilities is important. If we’re so busy looking back, fretting about what “might have been”, we just might miss out on something wonderful right in front of us.

Are you wondering what on earth is she worrying about? Nothing, really. I do have a test in a few weeks that makes me nervous. I’m really not ready, but I have 3 weeks to study my brains out. And once it’s done and I’ve passed — then I’m off to read a new book of fiction and work on my next novel. At least, that’s the plan. I keep remembering when I was working on my degree and all the hours I put in after work. I was pooped, but it was worth it.

Stay warm and be safe out there.

Survival Tools

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 22:10:00 GMT

No, I’m not talking about the zombie apocalypse now (okay, maybe, just a little) . As writers what are your survival tools?

Here’s my list:

What were your survival tools, again?

Writer Rambling (& NEWS)

Sat, 17 Aug 2013 14:46:00 GMT

Lately, you’ve seen that my posts have been about “time off”, “a writer’s space”, “the dog days of summer”, and “emotions.” All I can say is, it has been a rough year. It’s called life and it’s not always fun. In fact, most days are fairly mundane. BUT, the events of this past eight months should fuel some really good writing – I hope .

I’ve not had as many opportunities to connect with my readers as I would’ve liked. Between illnesses with family and friends, life changes and job stresses, I’ve been lax in my communication to the “feisty” readers out there. For that I am sorry.

There are some good things to impart and I’ll share those now. My second book in the “feisty” series has found a publisher, Bell Bridge Books. It has been slated for publication in March of 2014. (I love the spring.) The working title “Patchwork Family” will no doubt change, as there are similar titles in their catalog. I’ll let you know when the new title is confirmed.

The story picks up one year after FEISTY FAMILY VALUES, with Annabelle herding the grandchildren and Regina unable to commit to marriage to Sam – even though he is the love of her life. Peggy, the eldest grandchild comes to the forefront with all her hormones and emotions raging as she longs for love that her father’s absence and the death of her mother denied her. (It’s hard to hide a hickey, gals.) After a ten year absence the kids’ father comes back and all hell breaks lose. For the animal lovers (myself included) another cat and dog are added to the mix, so you can probably see that a quiet household is non existent in this Riverside residence.

I’ve started a new novel with new characters, this time set in College Hill. The main character is 27-year-old Cara Zluticky who lives in her grand”mudger”‘s house with her Mastiff, Gustofson. She does data entry and medical transcription for a medical associates group and works from her home, so life is quiet and doesn’t venture far from her front porch or the park. When the UPS guy, a hunky blonde with blue eyes, comes to the door she surprises them both with a heart attack. Will she live to see 30? Will she find love only to lose it? What will she do with the time she has left?

Stay tuned…I’ll try my best to communicate more often. I’m off to the hospital in a couple of hours to see my Mom, hopefully she can come home soon.

P.S. Rumor has it that FEISTY FAMILY VALUES is out of print, but I have copies and there is always e-book. Print copies can still be found at Watermark Books, Lucinda's, Amazon.com. So, if you would like a copy from me – send me an email. I’ll gladly sign it for you. If you purchase from one of the other booksellers let me know and I’ll send you a signed “bookplate sticker.”

Managing expectations in life…very challenging.

Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:49:00 GMT

We can’t help but have certain expectations in every situation. Many writers expect his/her work to improve and one day be published or shared with the masses. These days that is more doable than ever, with e-pubs, print-on-demand, and self-publishing as ready options.

With those we love, we often expect some appreciation and consideration both ways. When I got married almost forty-years-ago I thought I’d be the ultimate housewife, cook and mother. I dreamed of being so perfect at those jobs that my husband would sing my praises to the heavens. Well, neither ever happened. I’m a mediocre cook, a less than stellar house keeper, but I hope my son will agree I’m a good mom.

To be honest, I’m having to learn a hard lesson right now. Not to expect too much from our children or grandchildren. We see ourselves as always being important to them, available to give hugs, cookies, or experienced advice. But they don’t always want it and don’t always welcome it. I always felt that family shared even the boring stuff, but most inquiries are met with just the opposite response. We have a generation of individuals whose expectations are unlimited. They wait for nothing. They want what they want when they want it. I heard someone call it the “entitlement generation.”

My dream of retiring early to write full time isn’t a realistic expectation right now. I’m not alone in that dream, either, I’ve heard many of my writing friends express the same. We expect to be healthy enough to travel or do some of the fun things when and if we retire, but often health or the economy prevent it from happening quite like we expect. My father-in-law died less than a year before he planned to retire.

Life really is short and goes by very quickly. So, I’ll reassess some of my expectations and see if I can’t make today happier and not spend my time waiting on tomorrow. How about you?

Understanding emotions

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 01:00:00 GMT

Right about now I’d say I have an good feel for “high emotions.” You know when your feelings are right on the outside of your skin. Every little bump of any kind you feel deeply, and I’m not just talking about the physical ones. There are bumps in the road every day, at work, at home, anywhere. Someone or something will cross your path and make you feel anger, frustration, fear, joy, silly, happy, compassionate, etc.

Our son got a promotion and has relocated to Boston. (That’s about three days by car, two if you mainline caffeine and tape your eyelids open.) He’s been there about 3 weeks and I miss him. I didn’t see him all the time when he was in town, but I knew he was close. He and I can talk about anything, enjoy brainstorming creative ideas, remembering when he was little, listening to music, and discussing the latest techno gadgets. He’s a lot of fun to be with.

His family will follow in a couple of weeks. I’ll miss my daughter-in-law and her saucy sense of humor, and our youngest grandson, a lot. My grandson and I are buds, movie going partners, bakers of awesome candy cane cookies, card players, walking partners, and lovers of dogs and good stories. I’ve been so lucky to have had him close for ten years.

Our eldest grandson will be around a while, (thank God) going to college and hanging out with us while he works and saves up for school.

While I know that this is a good career move for my son, the little guy is going to be in a good school, and they’ll be near the “big city”, a life style they prefer; we’ll have a great time visiting (Boston rocks) and all that… I still feel sad. A big part of my life is changing, too. (Damn, no more Pixar movies.)

My husband and I were watching television the other night and a baby was on the commercial. He said, “it’s been a long time since we’ve had a baby in the family.” He’s right. The youngest great niece is three and her brother will be six very soon. They grow up so fast. The tack board and blotter on my desk are covered with pictures of my son and his family over the past ten years. I love looking at those photos and remembering. Do they make me cry? Sometimes.

I’d say it’s time to tap into those emotions and write, wouldn’t you? And I can’t forget to “enjoy the journey”, no matter where it takes us.

Write on.

Go with the flow…expect the unexpected…

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:35:00 GMT

I was a teen in the 70’s and I remember some choice phrases that we used often:

In other words, expect the unexpected and respond accordingly. Many of our days look the same. The alarms rock us awake, we hit the snooze a few times then jump into the shower. Eat a fast breakfast and rush off to work, hoping that traffic isn’t clogged up somewhere because you haven’t allowed yourself even one extra minute.

You get to work on time or not, depending on any surprises on the roads, including weather. It won’t matter one whit as long as you keep calm and safely drive where you need to go. You toss your purse into the drawer, boot your computer, and dash to the coffee machine, trying not to slosh the steaming hot liquid on the carpet or your clothing.

Four hours later it will probably be lunchtime and if you haven’t planned ahead and made a sandwich or brought leftovers you will have to go out and grab something. That’s why they call it “fast food.” Drive thru restaurants are everywhere, so you don’t even have to get out of the car to get a bite to eat. You wolf down your generic burger and cold fries and feel the heartburn start. Time to pop some Tums and get back to work.

Another four hours of work gets done and it’s time to hit rush hour traffic again and go home so you can kick off your shoes, cook dinner, clean up, do a load of laundry, watch a little television, and go to bed – only to flop from side to side trying to remember what you forgot to do today. Eventually sleep claims you, but never as quickly as you hope.

Okay, that’s the “normal” day. What about the day when your company computer has to be sent back to the repair center to have the operating system upgraded and all of a sudden your routine is out the window. They’ll have it for a day, they say. There is no loaner computer sitting around. You have no files, because the company has gone paperless. You have no company directory, because it’s part of your email software. What can you do with a day like this?

I’ll tell you what I did. I slept in an extra 30 minutes, just because I could. My husband and and I made toast and coffee (latte for me) and watched the end of a burglary caper. Still in my pajamas, I took out the trash, cleaned up the kitchen, moped the floor, dusted a little and vacuumed. My grandson popped over for a quick hair cut (buzz) and chat before he went to visit a friend. It’s not even noon! I’ve already done all sorts of stuff. What’s next? Writing! A shower. Lunch. A doctor’s appointment. A little shopping. Reading. Maybe even a nap.

There was a time when I was thrown out of my routine and it was like I didn’t know what to do with myself. What about the work? It’ll still be there, folks, I guarantee it. And tomorrow when they send my computer back it may have a hiccup or two, I’ll have to reload printer drivers and software that I’ve loaded myself (e.g. iTunes). Then I’ll get to work and get twice as much done because I had an unexpected pause in my routine.

How do you handle the unexpected? Like tangled Christmas lights? Lost luggage? Those things used to just throw me for a loop. Now, it forces me to slow down, take my time and assess the situation. It gives me opportunities for “detours”.

We’ve seen some mighty lovely country by taking the “unimproved” road, or detouring from the highway onto a less followed path. Winding through tiny towns and fields of cattle or grain. Seeing the hawks swoop down for their meal of mouse. Whatever happens to upset your plans can be an exploration of something new. Dare to think outside of your scheduler, folks. Because you might get stuck on the highway. Be sure you have a book or some music and enjoy a few minutes respite. And if you’re unprepared, improvise. Pull a pen and scrap piece of paper from the floor board of your car and write a poem. Use your cell phone to call you Mom and say hello.

I’m just rambling here, but it’s nice to have some unexpected time to do so. Enjoy the journey, my friends.

What to do with your “inner critic”…

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 03:48:00 GMT

Everyone has an “inner critic.” Writers are no exception. We hear the voice of our English teacher who said, “you can’t write well, I suggest you take up housekeeping.” We hear the voice of our Aunt who said “that’s not a very nice story, why don’t you write a nicer one.” How about the voice that says, “what do I know? what could I ever write that anyone would want to read?”

I attended a writer’s retreat once, over a dozen years ago. It was in a magical place called Ghost Ranch, NM. There were no televisions or radios, just books, pen & paper, and the red hills and scrub brush. At night the stars were so large it looked like you could jump up and snatch them from the sky. When the group of writers met that first morning we each brought something that represented our “inner critic.” Our teacher, Emily Hanlon, instructed us to put that object into the black trash bag until the last day and not think about it, to let out imaginations run free. It was very liberating.

The phenomenon of “inner critic” doesn’t just apply to the writer. Any creative endeavor is often plagued by those thoughts (or voices, if you will) that challenge our ability, the right to take time out to create, and the result of that time spent. Some people let the inner critic stop the process occasionally or all together. Others allow it to challenge them so they try a little harder to create their vision. While some of us ignore it while we’re creating in order to let the muse or imagination be uninhibited.

There’s a bit of creativity in everything we do. Whether it is finding the best way to bake a cake, or solve a problem at work, or sculpt, or paint, or dance or sing, just about anything you undertake to do – the “inner critic” can help or hinder, if we let it. The trick is to control it , not the other way around.

When you think of your inner critic what do you picture in your mind? A monster? A old woman? A stern taskmaster? A lion tamer? A warden? A fairy? A witch? Here’s what Emily shared with some of her students…is this what your inner critic looks like?

Never forget the reader!

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:45:00 GMT

I’ve been reminded by a lot of things lately that writers can “never forget the reader.” Without them our words have no voice or meaning. The characters cannot come to life if they aren’t shared. “I love my readers and appreciate every one and the time they have spent with my characters.”

I heard a speaking coach the other day talk about writing for an audience. She said that “it’s critical to maintain a balance between facts and emotion. Humans want both, but it’s the emotion that engages the reader.” That’s good advise for all types of writing, fiction or non-fiction.

One of the things new writers seemed to have difficulty with is point of view, especially when we’re writing something as complex as a novel. But we don’t want to confuse the reader or give them whiplash from changing POV several times in a chapter. Personally, I find it difficult to become engaged if there are two many points of view, you just get to know one character a little bit then you’re off in the head of another.

It’s very important to be consistent in your point of view. Make sure the one you choose, whether it’s first person (I) or third person (he/she) or whatever, works best for the story. I wrote a short story from a young woman’s point of view (first person) and found it very limiting. There were things that couldn’t be described because she couldn’t have seen them. So, I rewrote it in third person, and it seemed to work better.

A writing buddy of mine wrote one of her novels in both first and third person. The main character is always in first for the whole chapter. The remaining characters are written in third for the remaining chapters. It seemed to work fine for the story, and it didn’t confuse me as a reader at all. If I recall she said she had a hard time selling it for that reason.

We also need to make sure what our character is experiencing or feeling is possible, and that the reader can suspend their disbelief. Whatever worlds we build on the page must become “real” to the reader.

Using first readers or reading your work aloud can help identify slips in POV. Whatever you do, keep writing! There are many stories to be told, and we have an obligation to get them out there (besides, it’s fun).

What makes a great story?

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:40:00 GMT

Lucy (my Brittany) and I were walking at noon today and this question popped into my mind: “What makes a great story?” I think it’s interesting characters who are three-dimensional and vivid, a compelling plot that I can relate to, the relationships between the characters and questions answered, with some surprises thrown in.

Do you ever have trouble suspending disbelief? I do sometimes, but in a great book the world is built successfully enough that I feel like a fly in the room watching and experiencing what the characters are dealing with. A well written sci-fi is an excellent example. Does the alien with the green hair and 9″ nose seem real on the page? Does the planet with a heavier atmosphere that inhibits our flexibility ring true to the story? If the answer is “yes” then I’d say that story is being told very well.

Is there such a thing as the “perfect man” or “perfect woman”? Not really, because “perfect” is pretty boring. It’s our flaws that make us unique and interesting beings. Our quirks, our crooked smile, the uncontrollable snort when we laugh. I love those characters that do dumb things once in awhile, because that is what real people do – dumb things. For instance, substituting salt for sugar in a dessert recipe. Been there, done that. But I also admire characters that can do something I don’t know how to do – doctor, lawyer, indian chief.

Readers want to care about the characters and cheer them through the conflict in their lives, but if they are just a name with no face and no feelings, then my first response is – not interested. There are too many great books out there to waste time on one that isn’t.

That’s not to say that I only read “women’s fiction” or books about family and relationships. The fact of the matter is this, I read just about every genre. “So many books, so little time.” If it is a great story – I want to experience it!

What is your idea of a great story?

Rambling of a Feisty Woman

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:32:00 GMT

Hey everybody. I just realized it’s been a week since I posted. I’m sorry, it’s been really busy around here.

Saturday I spent the day like this:

My point here is this, often we feisty women find ourselves going from one thing to another thing until we stop, drop and sleep. We wear many hats, have many responsibilities and love to have fun, so we do everything in our power to fit it all in. There in lies the challenge.

There are times when something doesn’t get done. Rachelle Gardner wrote about that today in her blog and a bunch of feisty ladies commented. I love that type of interchange. It ROCKS! Anyway, we regularly have to choose what gets done and what will have to wait for tomorrow or the weekend. Isn’t that what life is all about? Choices?

And what about the men who pick us feisty women? They are usually our opposites, quiet, logical or regimented, OR adorable slobs with paperwork phobias (in other words, not very organized). I shared an article the other day that tickled me, it was about “What type of muppet are you?” Chaos Muppet? Or Order Muppet. Personally, I’m chaos muppet disguised as order muppet. Aren’t a lot of us like that? We do a good job in one area and learn to hide it from others so they won’t know the truth. Silly, but true.

The fact is, nobody is perfect – and I’d much rather be flawed and feisty with enthusiasm. Care to join me? (comments welcome!)

Marketing & Media

Tue, 08 May 2012 22:20:00 GMT

We writers hear that we are responsible for our own marketing and getting our names and novels into the media. It’s true. It’s hard. And it can be a lot of FUN. I’ve been pretty busy. I’ve made some great new friends at libraries, bookstores, women’s clubs, bloggers, other authors, senior centers, professional organizations, etc.

FEISTY FAMILY VALUES appeals to women of all professions, from the busy homemaker/mother, the retired mother/grandmother, to the company CEO. We women ROCK and we READ.

My uncle asked me the other day “why don’t you write westerns?” I told him that although I’ve read all of Louis L’Amours books, I didn’t feel compelled to write a western. I want to write about what we women go through in our lives. He told me I’d probably be rich if I wrote a western.

Maybe so, but my heart is in the stories of my sisters and their relationships, families, fighting cancer, finding love, breaking out and finding our selves. The guys just really don’t get it. And besides, there are 38 million women baby boomers out there and we hope to find stories we can relate to. There are a bunch of us out here writing, too.

What does all this have to do with marketing and media. To be successful we have to market to the audience that we’ve written to. Men probably won’t be very interested in FEISTY FAMILY VALUES , but that’s okay – women 40+ are interested and reading.

How do we reach the media? I’m still working on that one. I’ve been in the paper, magazines, a couple of television stations have interviewed me (a clip for one will be posted soon), but no radio yet. And I send news releases out to all forms of media when my book or I win an award; an speaking event comes up; a book signing has been planned. Not all of the media outlets feel it’s “news” or has room for much more than a one liner. But we authors have to keep trying, because one of these days one of these events is going to hit the right person or group and POW! BANG! ZAP! Your book is NEWS and people can’t wait to find out more. (I was channeling the old Batman series for a moment there.)

Enjoy the journey! -BD

The waiting game…

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:51:00 GMT

I never thought of myself as a patient person until I became an author. Everything takes quite a long time to accomplish. The results are worth it, of course, you have a shiny new book with your story wrapped neatly inside. BUT! The waiting is difficult. One of my writing buddies likens it to being “as much fun as eating that leftover bean casserole that’s been in the fridge for a month.” Yum. The key to success is having wisdom and patience.

Writing isn’t for whimps or speed demons. It takes a lot of time to write and edit a book for publication. Sometimes years, if you have a full time job, family, home and yard to care for. Once it’s done you begin querying agents or publishers and you wait some more. Many of them are really good about responding within a month or three. But some are SO busy that it might take a year and an occasional reminder to get the “final answer” (usually, no thank you).

Once you have an agent they will help you do any last minute polishing while they shop your manuscript to publishers. Hum. Waiting again, only this time – you’ve got company! I don’t have an agent yet, so when I shopped my manuscript to publishers – you guessed it – I had to wait for them to review it and the hundreds of others in the pile.

Once you have a contract you’ll be busy polishing up the manuscript yet again, preparing jacket copy, getting a new photo for the cover, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to help chosing the cover art. The actual time from contract to shelves for FEISTY FAMILY VALUES was 18 months. It seemed like forever when I signed the contract, but I got busy with all of the above and began making marketing plans and researching media and venues for signings. All while I wrote my second manuscript (PATCHWORK FAMILY). Time passed fairly quickly.

PATCHWORK is looking for an agent or publisher as we speak. I have several queries out. Meanwhile, I’m taking advantage of the time and writing my third manuscript, with brand new characters and situations. (Wisdom) Oh, and I’m “waiting”.

It’s not a game really, and it isn’t always fun, but I’m not about to compare it to a casserole that will make me sick for a week. Let’s just say it’s a little like watching someone stinky consume your lunch.