Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 45

My newest book, Felicity and the Scary Bear

Felicity and the Scary Bear (c) 2017I am very glad that I have the chance to announce that my fourth Felicity book, and seventh book altogether, has been recently published.

In Felicity and the Scary Bear, Felicity and Cairn are determined not to let anything scare them on Halloween. But then they meet someone in the woods that they weren't expecting to see, and find themselves on yet another unexpected, and rather scary adventure!

Read more about Felicity and the Scary Bear here!

Harriet Tubman

One of my heroes from history was a lady who was only five feet tall, suffered from narcolepsy because of an accident in her youth, and was born a slave.

Harriet TubmanHarriet Tubman, despite all her supposed weaknesses, escaped slavery and then returned again and again to the south to lead others to freedom.

One inspiring quote from her, among many, was "Twasn't me, 'twas the Lord! I always told Him, 'I trust to you. I don't know where to go or what to do, but I expect You to lead me,' an' He always did."

Read more about her, HERE. 

Mother Teresa: Do It Anyway

Do It Anyway
 People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.
***
The above poem, attributed to Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity was probably based on an original composition by Kent Keith. You can find both poems here.

Life: A poem by Mother Theresa

"Life"
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.Life is beauty, admire it.Life is bliss, taste it.Life is a dream, realize it.Life is a challenge, meet it.Life is a duty, complete it.Life is a game, play it.Life is a promise, fulfill it.Life is sorrow, overcome it.Life is a song, sing it.Life is a struggle, accept it.Life is a tragedy, confront it.Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it.Life is too precious, do not destroy it.Life is life, fight for it.
~Mother Teresa~

Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts

In Racing the Sun by Paul Pitts, 12 year old Brandon Rogers finds himself making adjustments in his life when his ailing grandfather moves off the Navajo reservation, and into the lower bunk of Brandon's room. Before now, Brandon hasn't had the chance to learn much about the culture and ways of his ancestors, having grown up on the Wasatch front, but now with his very traditional grandfather teaching him the language and culture of his people, something he hasn't had a chance to learn about very much before now, (including the tradition to wake before dawn and go running) he's learning more than he ever thought he would about the ways of his people, and learning to be proud of who he is and Racing the Sun (c) 1988 by Paul Pittswhere he came from. Most especially, he's learning that his grandfather loves him, and that he loves his grandfather back.

Solar Eclipse!

As almost everyone knows (unless you live under a rock, maybe) that we have just experienced a solar eclipse. Here in Utah, it wasn't a total eclipse, but it was pretty near! As my children described the time when the moon covered 90 percent of the sun, it didn't get very dark, but it was "like looking through sunglasses" at the world. Below, is a picture of the sun with the moon blocking most of it. Taken of course, through an approved sun viewing lens.

The next total solar eclipse that will occur in the United States will be the 8th of April in 2024. Just seven years from now! But there will be an annular eclipse on the 14th of October in 2023. Annular eclipses are not total solar eclipses, because during them, the sun forms a ring of fire around the moon, and isn't completely blocked. They happen because the orbit of the moon is elliptical, rather than perfectly circular, and during the eclipse, the moon is at a further point away from the earth than it is during a total solar eclipse, making the visible ring of fire possible. The cool thing about that eclipse, is that it will happen over Utah! Something for me and other Utahns to look forward to!

New Book by Author Mikey Brooks!

Author Mikey BrooksOne of my favorite Middle Grade authors, Mikey Brooks, just had a new book come out! 

Mikey Brooks is the author of a whole bunch of excellent children's and middle grade books, including The DreamKeeper series, which includes The DreamKeeper, The DreamMakers, and The DreamStone. 
The DreamKeeper
(c) 2013
He is also the author of Bean's Dragons, The Museum Adventures, The Stone of Valhalla, and many others!
Museum Adventures: The 
Maya Mystery (c)2016 
The Museum Adventures begins with The Maya Mystery, where protagonists Katie and Nick are wisked back in time to the Mayan civilization, and have to go through all sorts of troubles and dangers in an attempt to get back home. The second book in The Museum Adventures, and his newest one, is called A Night in Nottingham! Read more about it on Mikey's Blog! 

Eagle Mountain Writing Workshop

The Eagle Mountain Writing Workshop is coming September 9 at Frontier Middle School in Eagle Mountain at 9:00 a.m. I am really excited! I've enjoyed attending and teaching there in the past, and I look forward to the Writing Workshop on the 9th. It's got some great classes, and when I went last year, I learned a lot and had fun! If you'd like to learn more, click HERE.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

William Ernest HenleyOne of my favorite poems ever, is Invictus by William Ernest Henley. It is a poem that can inspire courage in someone who, like Nelson Mandela, is faced with great difficulty.

Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela was born in South Africa during apartheid, the unjust separation of white people and black people, and he was imprisoned for standing up for what he believed. Despite that, he did not give up, and in fact went on to become the President of South Africa. The first black president in fact. And the poem Invictus was one of the things that inspired him never to give up.

It is a lovely poem, and if you have not heard Invictus read by Morgan Freeman, I highly recommend it.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
looms but the horror of the shade.
And yet the menace of the years finds
and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,
how charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

Searching for Irene by Marlene Bateman

What happened to Irene?

When Anna Coughlin, a modern 1920’s woman, travels to the secluded hills of Virginia to work for wealthy Lawrence Richardson, she discovers that the previous secretary, Irene, mysteriously disappeared a few weeks before.  Upon arriving at the castle-like mansion to begin working, Anna finds that Lawrence’s handsome, but antagonistic son, Tyler, wants nothing more than to have her gone. And he isn’t the only one—
After Anna sets out to find the truth behind Irene’s disappearance, a series of frightening incidents ensnare her in a maze of intrigue. Anna is helped—and often hindered—by the temperamental Tyler Richardson, who—despite her best intentions—begins to steal her heart.

But even as Anna begins to uncover dark secrets in a troubled household, she must continue to hide a significant one of her own. When her life is threatened, Anna is left to wonder if she’ll be able to unravel the mystery before she disappears as mysteriously as the unfortunate Irene—You can find Searching for Irene on Goodreads as well as Amazon and other online bookstores.

 MarleneBateman Sullivan grew up in Utah, and graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor's degree in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they live in North Salt Lake, Utah with their two dogs and four cats. Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and wrote the best-selling romance/suspense novel, Light on Fire Island. She has written three other cozy mysteries; Motive for Murder, A Death in the Family, and Crooked House, as well as the romance, For Sale by Owner.

Marlene has also written a number of non-fiction, LDS books:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s from Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, Brigham’s Boys, Heroes of Faith, Gaze into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History, and The Magnificent World of Spirits; Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die. 
Exerpt: Searching for Irene

The tallest parts of the mansion—fanciful turrets and a circular tower—were visible only in glimpses Anna caught between lofty oaks and towering pines as her cab wound through the knolls and hills of eastern Virginia.
When the cab turned up the long driveway lined with dogwood trees in full bloom, Anna Coughlin reached for her handbag, gripping it with a tension that had knotted her muscles ever since getting on the train.
The vast estate stood on a hilltop, like a castle—and she craned her neck to better view the starkly impressive gray-stone mansion of Ashton Hall—where she hoped to be hired. With its arched, leaded windows and slate roof with numerous chimneys, the house rivaled pictures she’d seen of castles in Europe.
Instructing the driver to wait, she climbed out, patted her hat in case it was askew, then smoothed her gray suit with gloved hands in hopes of presenting a professional appearance. Anna had no confidence she was clever enough or bold enough to pull this off, but she had to try.
Her eye was drawn by a tall man—more than six feet—who came from the side of the house. Since the man was striding toward her so purposefully, Anna stopped and waited. As he drew near, Anna noted his deep-set eyes were as black as his hair. His skin was tanned, his thin, long-fingered hands brown and strong.
“Miss Coughlin?” He stretched out a hand and shook hers, but there was no warmth for her in his eyes. “I’m Tyler Richardson. Unfortunately, your services are not needed after all.” A touch of arrogance marked his manner, as though he was long accustomed to command those around him.
“Your father called only last week to have someone come out,” Anna blurted in dismay. “May I ask what caused him to change his mind?”
A fleeting glimpse of discomfiture crossed Mr. Richardson’s face. “I wasn’t consulted about his hiring another secretary to replace the one who left so suddenly. My father isn’t in good health, and the last thing we need is someone coming in and upsetting him by making a muddle of things.”
His words kindled a fire that glinted in Anna’s eyes. How dare he make such an assumption? It was difficult to hang on to her temper, but there was too much at stake to let his boorishness sidetrack her. “Since I’m here, I’m sure you won’t mind if I keep my appointment. After all, your father is the one who requested my services. I’m sure he’s expecting me.”
Her words hit home.It took a few bitter seconds, but he finally acquiesced. “Come in, then,” he muttered ungraciously before leading the way up the steps and opening the door.
Following his rigid back down the narrow hall, Anna’s brows furrowed as doubts crept in. How wise had she been to come to this remote place? Especially when the previous secretary had disappeared so mysteriously? Even her employer thought it odd that no one in this mansion seemed to know where Irene had gone or where she was now. It was as if Irene had vanished into thin air.
Here is a little bit about Marlene's book, For Sale by Owner: For Sale by Owner ;  Stressed by a difficult year, McKenzie Forsberg quits her high-powered job to move back to her hometown. Desperate and determined to rebuild her life, Kenzie seeks to buy the home she grew up in. The only problem is that a handsome widower, Jared Rawlins, also wants the house. As a battle of wits ensue, sparks of attraction grow into something more. Then, Kenzie makes a stunning discovery about her past that changes everything. Will the power of love be enough to allow Jared and Kenzie to find their happily ever after?