Laurie L.C. Lewis's Blog: Bloggin' It Up Here, page 53

THE POWER OF ONE MAN'S VOTE

Sometimes we get busy, or complacent, and we think, "What difference does one vote make anyway?" So many recent elections have hinged on small voting margins. I thought I'd share this glimpse of history with you, taken from my upcoming book, OH SAY CAN YOU SEE? It illustrates the power of one man's vote.

Joseph Hopper Nicholson was a member of the House of Representatives during a critical vote. Maybe you won't see the same power in your vote as a private citizen, but the tenacity of his patri...

WIDE RIPPLES. . .

I heard a most remarkable point of view last Saturday. A commentator mentioned the human capital lost on 9-11. . . including some of the brightest financial minds in the world. Who knows how their loss impacted the U.S. and world markets? Would the economy be such a mess if they had lived? No one knows, but the ripples of that day may be far wider than we realize.

Who can measure the impact one life can have on the world? It brings to mind movies like "It's A Wonderful Life" and many others, w...

MY THOUGHTS ON 9/11

I remember the impressions of that day so well, but the memories are not so clear, jumbled up in emotion rather than logic. Who could have known what that beautiful day would bring--the crisp bright sky with beaming sun-rays piercing the morning. School was back in session, but I had left my position with the school system at the end of the previous school year and this fall was the beginning of a less-complicated, more peaceful writer's life.

Or so I thought.

I had risen early, feeling sick th...

I remember the impressions of that day so well, but the m...

I remember the impressions of that day so well, but the memories are not so clear, jumbled up in emotion rather than logic. Who could have known what that beautiful day would bring--the crisp bright sky with beaming sun-rays piercing the morning. School was back in session, but I had left my position with the school system at the end of the previous school year and this fall was the beginning of a less-complicated, more peaceful writer's life.

Or so I thought.

I had risen early, feeling sick th...

PHILADELPHIA'S 1876 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION STILL DAZZLES

I've posted once before about Philadelphia's splendid "Please Touch Museum," housed in Memorial Hall, one of only two buildings remaining from America's Centennial hosting of the World's Fair. It's a delightful learning extravaganza for children, from it's life-sized replica of the Liberty arm and torch made from toys and household cast-offs, to the many "hands-on" exhibits and learning stations. Click here to take an interactive visit right now!

My favorite part of the musuem was the scale mo...

THE FOG OF MOTHERHOOD

While driving along in the car, my husband frequently asks, "Do you remember the time we ate at. . . ?" Or, "Do you remember the time we . . .?" Invariably, I don't. Maybe, just maybe, on a good day, I'll remember some small remnant of the tale, and I'll twist my face up in worry and timidly reply, "Vaguely," while wondering if I need to immediately put a brain surgeon on speed dial or call up my local psychiatrist to discover why all my memories are erasing.

It sounds like a scary horror movi...

THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH IN RESEARCH

There is a powerful tug on hearts that begin to research their ancestors, or write a personal history. To Latter-Day Saints--Mormons--that tug is called the Spirit of Elijah, referenced in verses 5 and 6 in Malachi 4 of the Old Testament.

I've felt that spirit, and I've seen the miraculous doors that open when one is doing that work--the sudden appearance of a critical piece of info in a document you've read a million times, the nagging feeling you're missing a child in a family you're resear...

STONE TRAVELER BLOG TOUR CONTEST

I'll be reviewing Kathis Oram Peterson's newest release, "The Stone Traveler" later this month, but Kathi is conducting a great contest in conjunction with her blog tour, and I wanted my readers to have a chance to get in on these wonderful prizes.

From the back of Kathi's book:

Sixteen-year-old Tag can't believe he's in this much trouble. He's not actually a member of the gang known as the Primes — all he did was spray paint some graffiti that caught their attention. In all honesty, ever...

GUEST POST with LINDA WEAVER CLARKE

Back in April, when we were preparing to release "Awakening Avery," I received a request for an interview from a lovely a writer named Linda Weaver Clarke. Linda has a diverse background in several of the arts, including the publication of five historical romance novels. She recently switched genres and she's currently celebrating the release of a new mystery adventure titled, "MAYAN INTRIGUE."

In conjunction with the book's release, Linda is sponsoring a one-week contest on her web site. At t...

BOOK NOOK REVIEW

"TRAPPED"by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
"Trapped," the second novel by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen, is an ambitious suspense/romance/paranormal novel debuting under Walnut Springs Press' banner. From the back cover: A forged letter, a golden vial, an ancient curse... Her expression remained somber, but excitement crept into her voice. You are the Firstborn She...You must go to them. You want me to act as bait? Not bait, Emi. A spy. Our Trojan horse.
When Emi Warrin wakes one night to find a thief in her...