K.L. Hallam's Blog, page 4

Make America Stop Killing Black People!

I Love my Brothers and Sisters! and I stand by them.

I woke up today to destruction where I live and where my family's small business, a jazz club, is struggling to survive and I marched on Saturday with Black Lives Matter!  

I went jogging after work and was swept up into the march.



Saturday, May 30th, 2020  New York City:


Bending a knee on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village  A peaceful march through the Village and into Washington Square Park.

Black Lives Matter!



And then the Opportunists moved in a torched our town!   The Looters are NOT the protestors!

A lot of bad players out there taking advantage.

And we have an illegitimate POTUS hiding in a bunker!  Instigating this!!!

We need you, President Jo Biden!



#VOTEVOTEVOTE

We need to show up such large numbers, it'll be impossible for the GOP to cheat.  It's all the republicans know.  Cheat and lie and they need to GO!

Espresso, Cocktails, and Jazz at Zinc Bar's Cafe To-Go.

Welcome! You Host!  Me :)

WE LOVE NY! 









Step Right Up and Order



Pastries and Roman Pizza from Grandaisy Bakery





Our Mascota Stella! 






Until Next Time! 


82 West 3rd Street  (Between Thompson/ Sullivan Streets)
We have a couple chairs out in the sun  --- 6 Feet apart! 
DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK! 

ZINCBAR.COM

What I'm Writing during COVID-19

All kinds of plans happen when you think about quarantine.  
But most of those haven't happened because my family has a music club in New York City that we quickly transformed into a to-go cafe for espresso and pastries (Grand Daisy pizza as of today! More walking meals to come.), and I've been working every day leaving little time to write, paint or even clean my apartment. I don't miss this one, but you can imagine the state of neglected apt. --with four grown people!  ugh! 
While I wait for the YA fantasy I drafted just as we entered into lockdown percolate, I've decided to rewrite a much older novel. Actually, my first "trunked" novel. It's an upper middle-grade magical realism, maybe a fantasy? I'll know after more revisions. 

Today's research 

AurorasButterfliesCleavers or GoosegrassCrows

This was the first chapter. 
I love writing for kids and teens and writing fantasy that'll take me out of this world for a time. With tragic news every day on social media. (I don't have a TV, thankfully) writing and reading are my escape! I just have to be extra determined right now and find the time with the added responsibilities. 
I wish you health and wellbeing. "health is wealth" as my mother often said, I know she wasn't the first to say it.  

wash your hands don't touch your facekeep 6' apart
 and remember 

I wear my mask for you and you wear yours for me.  

Sheltering in New York City During a Pandemic.

I hope you are well, wherever you are in this world-wide lockdown. I don't think a single continent has been spared the novel coronavirus, Covid-19.  (link to CDC World Map) 
I’m sheltering with my family in New York City. My home for the last 30 years. I love this place, its people, the diversity, especially now. Mayor De Blasio and Governor Cuomo have given me assurance that we’ll get through this. ALL OF US. The United States. The world. We’re in this together. We have to look out for each other by STAYING HOME.  
I’m witnessing New York City become silent, a pause for the cause. A respite as we care for our loved ones. Heal the sick.
I’ll continue writing, books and short stories, fantasy, and sci-fi, while hubby and I restructure our family business. We have a jazz club with an espresso machine from the 1960s that makes some of the best espressos around. Most of the coffee shops have shut down, ZINC café would be an outpost for our neighborhood for a coffee to go on walks through the Village. One person at a time, with a glass partition. A place where the elderly, or those in need, could pick up a few items such as toilet paper, canned foods, help, etc.
While the city becomes a little quieter, and we wait for Federal Aid, after multiple requests from our mayor and governor, to the treasonous monstrosity who co-opted the White House-- with the help of Putin, and Republican traitors (We’ll never forget who you are. That’s for another post.)  It good that evictions in New York are on hold; I’m sure few have any savings. This is America, we live from one paycheck to the next, many without health insurance. A perfect storm for the narcissistic POTUS in the White House, to delay his response to Covid-19, thus sacrificing many Americans, not only the immune-compromised, and the elderly, so that he wouldn’t look bad? And his buddies could profit off the vaccine. Stalling his response, while South Korea CONQUERED!  *Shaking fist.*
The USA learned of COVID 19, the same time as South Korea. But the inept POTUS called the virus a hoax. This caused a great deal of trouble for my family because my younger brother said it was a hoax, meanwhile he takes care of my diabetic mother who has kidney disease. I was furious! At this incompetent administration—but also my brother for believing their lies. I’ve beyond furious for the last 3 + years. I want Karma to be thorough.
I love New York, everyone pitches in to help one another. It’s not just NY, I know people usually want to do the right thing, look out for each other, step in. De Blasio said the same, New Yorker’s for the most part, have been compliant, orderly, wanting to help. We a democratic society. What affects one affects the other. 
May your pause, go quickly, it’ll be tough in our small NYC apartments, no doubt. I have two young adults, a husband, a cat and a dog in 800 sq. feet. I very grateful for my patio, walks in the sun, biking along the Hudson River Park—keeping 6-feet away from EVERYONE.  

Remember, It’s important for your health to get exercise and fresh air. And NYC’s trees are blooming! 

Science Fiction Short Stories!

Alien Dimensions Anthology #19 
Where you can read my story "The Coltalians"  
Available for Preorder 



Print Copies Coming Soon! 

In this issue:

Tin Worm by Gustavo Bondoni

Sparkle by Robert M. Walton

Surfing the Hercules Rift by Keith A. Raymond

From Earth to Eternity by Derek Spohn

The Coltalians by Karen L. Hallam

Too Many MoMos by Chris Dean

The Alien Starship by Sergio Palumbo

Givens by David Castlewitz

Phase Shift by Neil A. Hogan

Alien Dimensions #16 is Back in Kindle Unlimited for a limited time!

My story G.L.O.R.I.A. was included!  If you love Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, you may enjoy this future off-planet version. "Gold-Lithium-Osmium-Ruthenium-Iridium-Aluminum. G.L.O.R.I.A. was created to be more than a fire weapon. GLORIA was my monster. " 



Containing some great stories:Blink by Gustavo BondoniThe Clever Nature of Wool by Robert N StephensonInnocuous But Lethal by Mike AdamsonMoon Mine by Neil A. HoganStarbuck Billy Robert M. WaltonG.L.O.R.I.A. by K.L. Hallam   The Light of Thought by Jeffrey Freedman     Print or eBook! 

I conquered my fear of flying! with the help of Captain Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW licensed therapist and founder of SOAR, Inc.

On the way down to Orlando.If you’re a fearful flyer I highly recommend this program. It’s helped thousands fly again. The best way to begin a new decade! Happy New Year! 
Here's the letter I sent recommending the SOAR program.   

Dear Captain Tom Bunn:
Yesterday, I returned to New York City after a round trip flight from Orlando visiting family.  Growing up, I often flew alone with my little brother to visit our father and I’d taken several overseas flights throughout the years with no problem. I enjoyed soaring the skies, but then came 9/11 and two young children to protect, but we continued our yearly family vacations, until the summer twelve years ago, during a turbulent Caribbean flight as I imagined the worst during the strong turbulence.
As misinformation took over, I kept telling myself the stories that led to not wanting to fly ever again – then came the shame and the yearning to travel seeing friends travel the world. I hid it from my children, claiming we didn’t have the money or the time to travel. The shame was deep and painful.
Then two weeks ago, my husband booked a flight so that my family could visit an ill relative, the only way we could all go together, and I began working through the exercises. My anticipatory anxiety was off the charts. I read Capt. Tom Bunn’s book SOAR, loaded the app, and bucked down. I allowed myself to trust that the anticipatory anxiety wouldn’t be as bad when I got to the airport as Tom Bunn explained in his book. I practiced the 1-2-3-4-5 and the strength training exercises dutifully.
Learning how planes actually work, was a huge mind-opener for me. As it turned out turbulence was just about the last thing to worry about. Additionally, to desensitize myself, I imagined jumping up and down on the plane during turbulence saying “I’m not afraid of this!”
And just as Capt. Tom Bunn said, I didn’t have anxiety on the plane and it was minimal at the airport, even while dealing with my son’s general anxiety at the same time. I joked around with the flight attendants, watched the scenery out the window that once again gave me a sense of calm. The way I felt flying as a young girl. The positive attitude that arose out of me was a huge surprise.
I’m crying tears of joy knowing I’m free to live again! Subsequently helping the blockages in my life in general. Thank you, Tom! Thank you from the depth of my soul.  


On the way back.


Have you stopped flying? If so, this program could change your life!   
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Short Fiction: Time Travel

My 101 Word Flash Fiction, Compression, is one of the stories featured in the December Time Travel Issue of 101 Fiction Visit the website for more. Enjoy the escape! 

Compression by Karen L. Hallam

My 101 Word Flash Fiction, Compression, is one of the stories featured in the December Time Travel Issue of 101 Fiction Visit the website for more. Enjoy the escape! 

Happy Holidays!

TO YOU!  and Yours!  Wishing you a Holiday that is Merry and Bright! 
May Democracy Ring through the World and Crumble Oppressive Structures left by the Patriarchy! 
May our planet return to that Paradise is it! Offering all we need to flourish without exploitation, without decimating every animal, tree, or indigenous person and their land! 
Keep our water clean! 
Our air breathable -- the animals are counting on us! We must protect those without voices who cannot SHOUT! 
Peace to YOU! Peace to All.