June Ahern's Blog - Posts Tagged "the-skye-in-june"
Caught Without A Good Read
Today waiting for my mother at her doctor, I was caught without a book. Sure there were magazines and newspapers, but I have three books - good ones too! - that I'm reading. I yearned to know what my "friends" (in my books) were thinking, feeling, doing...all awaiting my attention. Commissario Guido Brunetti (Dressed for Death) had just learned some vital juicy piece of information over penne rigate with a touch of pepperoncino about the transvestitie whore murdered with red heels. My imagination wandered away from murder to a scary story in progress. Kinky had her listeners perched on the edge of their seats, the wee dear Irish kids, waiting to hear if the "Shee" would indeed come after Connor (An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor - my goodreads win.) Connor did seem the kind of man that wouldn't be scared away by an old Irish superstitious folklore. I think. Sharply in my mind's eye came the cover of the "The Oulander", Gil Adamson. The snow, deep and plenty and the young woman trudging through it - I really tried not to start for afterall two books are reads enough - but with that opening - "It was night, and dogs came through the trees, unleashed and howling." I mean, wouldn't you want to know what or who they were after? Alas there I was without my friends -- my books! A lesson learned, don't leave home without a book. The wait was long and boring.
Shopping at San Francisco's Woolworth Store
Having had lived in San Francisco since 1956 I find it a fascinating city for it's picturesque hills and valleys, and waterways and therefore set my story about a Scottish immigrant family in the city.
Growing up in San Francisco some of my most enjoyable memories were trips downtown to shop at Woolworth’s Department Store. The building was on Market Street and wrapped around and up Powell Street. Woolworth was such a San Francisco experience that I just had to include it my book, The Skye in June. See an excerpt below.
The store was filled with just about everything you'd ever want to find; clothing, beauty products, sewing goods,inexpensive jewelry, so much stuff!
Perfect for Christmas shopping where my money would be spent carefully. I’d jump on the number 8 Castro bus at 19th and Castro with usually a sister or two and head downtown for fun. My wallet would be filled with money saved from babysitting. The first floor was tight to walk with aisles or counters and in the basement was Budgies, Canaries and gold fish –– gifts I bought at one time or another for family. It took hours to shop. At the end of the shopping I’d go upstairs to the lunch counter –– always busy –– for a Patti-melt and milkshake or a burger and coke. Afterward, if there was time, we would take a cable car ride (no lines back then - just hop on.)
From "The Skye in June"
The grinding noise of the cable car’s brakes as it slowed to their stop was ear piercing. June stood and took hold of the metal pole. She swayed outward as she readied herself to jump from the platform when they reached the intersection of Powell at Market Streets. The thrill of hanging out of the cable car and the feel of the brisk wind against her face had charged her energy. She felt a sense of freedom. As they lurched to a stop, she hopped off and hollered to her mother, “Did you get a transfer?”Cathy nodded a “yes,” and gingerly stretched out a foot to get down from the cable car. June took hold of her hand to help her mother. Arm in arm, they walked over to the Woolworth’s department store on Market Street to look at the items for sale in the window.
Please read more chapter excerpts www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
Growing up in San Francisco some of my most enjoyable memories were trips downtown to shop at Woolworth’s Department Store. The building was on Market Street and wrapped around and up Powell Street. Woolworth was such a San Francisco experience that I just had to include it my book, The Skye in June. See an excerpt below.
The store was filled with just about everything you'd ever want to find; clothing, beauty products, sewing goods,inexpensive jewelry, so much stuff!
Perfect for Christmas shopping where my money would be spent carefully. I’d jump on the number 8 Castro bus at 19th and Castro with usually a sister or two and head downtown for fun. My wallet would be filled with money saved from babysitting. The first floor was tight to walk with aisles or counters and in the basement was Budgies, Canaries and gold fish –– gifts I bought at one time or another for family. It took hours to shop. At the end of the shopping I’d go upstairs to the lunch counter –– always busy –– for a Patti-melt and milkshake or a burger and coke. Afterward, if there was time, we would take a cable car ride (no lines back then - just hop on.)
From "The Skye in June"
The grinding noise of the cable car’s brakes as it slowed to their stop was ear piercing. June stood and took hold of the metal pole. She swayed outward as she readied herself to jump from the platform when they reached the intersection of Powell at Market Streets. The thrill of hanging out of the cable car and the feel of the brisk wind against her face had charged her energy. She felt a sense of freedom. As they lurched to a stop, she hopped off and hollered to her mother, “Did you get a transfer?”Cathy nodded a “yes,” and gingerly stretched out a foot to get down from the cable car. June took hold of her hand to help her mother. Arm in arm, they walked over to the Woolworth’s department store on Market Street to look at the items for sale in the window.
Please read more chapter excerpts www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
A Special Read - Give-Aways
I've always loved receiving a gift of a book and now with the give-away contest it's exciting to, not enter to win, but the giving of my book, The Skye in June. I love sharing the story of the Scottish MacDonald family. I've had four give-aways and enjoy each one. Over a thousand people entered to win! The present one is for UK readers. My wish list - book tour in Scotland's Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2011! I can see it as my UK reader list grows.
