K.B. Pellegrino's Blog
September 23, 2022
Forgiveness and Contrition
My thoughts in writing require me to inquire into my and others understanding of the universe. How else will I develop characters?
We are often asked to forgive a person for some sort of infraction against us or for a horrific act against society. We discuss in the press major actions and how some forgive and some are driven to rage and revenge. Because we are aware that holding anger is harmful to ourselves, we try to forgive. If we love the other and are near the other, forgiveness makes sense for the continuation of the relationship. This also holds true in friendships. One question I have is the difficulty of forgiving when in my heart I do not believe the other is contrite. I know I should just forgive and let go, but, but, it’s not that easy.
That question makes me examine the elements of contrition. Supposedly it includes a readiness to admit to unkindness or wrongdoing, and a readiness to avoid inflicting pain of this type again, and some expression of contriteness.
Can I forgive if the other is mouthing words and their expression of contriteness cannot convince me of their good intentions? It is difficult, but not forgiving tells me I want to hurt back. Therefore, I must forgive. However, I do not have to forget the behavior. I should do what is necessary to avoid presenting myself in situations I believe may invite the other to continue negative past behaviors. Intelligent forgetting may be important and I am practicing. It seems I do a lot of practicing while my characters exact revenge.
We are often asked to forgive a person for some sort of infraction against us or for a horrific act against society. We discuss in the press major actions and how some forgive and some are driven to rage and revenge. Because we are aware that holding anger is harmful to ourselves, we try to forgive. If we love the other and are near the other, forgiveness makes sense for the continuation of the relationship. This also holds true in friendships. One question I have is the difficulty of forgiving when in my heart I do not believe the other is contrite. I know I should just forgive and let go, but, but, it’s not that easy.
That question makes me examine the elements of contrition. Supposedly it includes a readiness to admit to unkindness or wrongdoing, and a readiness to avoid inflicting pain of this type again, and some expression of contriteness.
Can I forgive if the other is mouthing words and their expression of contriteness cannot convince me of their good intentions? It is difficult, but not forgiving tells me I want to hurt back. Therefore, I must forgive. However, I do not have to forget the behavior. I should do what is necessary to avoid presenting myself in situations I believe may invite the other to continue negative past behaviors. Intelligent forgetting may be important and I am practicing. It seems I do a lot of practicing while my characters exact revenge.
August 31, 2022
West Side Tour 2
Hop…Hop…
Now be careful climbing back on. Yes, Miss, I’ll talk about K. B. Pellegrino’s latest mystery. In fact, I have much to say about Beryl Kent from the novel’s name, who seems to have wormed her way into the confidence of our much-admired West Side’s Major Crimes Unit’s Captain Rudy Beauregard. She’s only lived in our city for three years and yet…her endless intrusiveness into any mystery happening near her seems to give her the comeuppance to interfere. Well, interfere is maybe too strong a word, but involves herself in the solving process. I heard that one murderer actually came to her house with evil thoughts. She does seem to gracefully avoid harm. She is interesting and quite a beauty for a woman in her fifties who has been widowed three times and is not a Hollywood star.
Oh dear, you wonder how three men could die so conveniently. You’re not the only one who wonders. And now she’s taken up with that government man. That’s what they call him, Nate Connault. Some say he’s CIA. Well, if I were him I’d be careful. I wouldn’t want to make her a widow a fourth time. She and Nate and Beauregard are tight, I tell you. Lieutenant Mason Smith says they make a good team for seeing the big picture. I trust Smith. He’s from Upper Hill neighborhood in Springfield. He’s my color, and is the only Afro-American in the West Mass MCU. We’ll drive by Ms. Kent’s home. We’re entering Yellow Brook, a ritzy area of our city. Look for number 24. The houses are almost half a mile from each other. I heard the wow from you. Ms. Kent lives here with her son Oliver. She even involved him in solving the last murders and maybe the ones before. She has a daughter who lives in NYC with her boyfriend. She does art exhibits and I hear she is famous. I must say for all her riches, I’ve met Ms. Kent and she’s always helping out at the food pantry, the shelter, and senior center. She’s not all Hollywood. I’ll drive around the area a bit.
Here is Nate Connault’s home. He clearly doesn’t need her money, although her home is prettier, you know, like out of one of those Architectural Digest’s magazines. Next is the home of one of the Perps.
It’s time to head over to the Village Coffee Shoppe. Silly name, we’re a city not a village, but the sandwiches and salads are the best ---all that natural food stuff and they serve gluten free and dairy free for ice cream and vegetarian. Me, I’ll have an Italian grinder.
Now be careful climbing back on. Yes, Miss, I’ll talk about K. B. Pellegrino’s latest mystery. In fact, I have much to say about Beryl Kent from the novel’s name, who seems to have wormed her way into the confidence of our much-admired West Side’s Major Crimes Unit’s Captain Rudy Beauregard. She’s only lived in our city for three years and yet…her endless intrusiveness into any mystery happening near her seems to give her the comeuppance to interfere. Well, interfere is maybe too strong a word, but involves herself in the solving process. I heard that one murderer actually came to her house with evil thoughts. She does seem to gracefully avoid harm. She is interesting and quite a beauty for a woman in her fifties who has been widowed three times and is not a Hollywood star.
Oh dear, you wonder how three men could die so conveniently. You’re not the only one who wonders. And now she’s taken up with that government man. That’s what they call him, Nate Connault. Some say he’s CIA. Well, if I were him I’d be careful. I wouldn’t want to make her a widow a fourth time. She and Nate and Beauregard are tight, I tell you. Lieutenant Mason Smith says they make a good team for seeing the big picture. I trust Smith. He’s from Upper Hill neighborhood in Springfield. He’s my color, and is the only Afro-American in the West Mass MCU. We’ll drive by Ms. Kent’s home. We’re entering Yellow Brook, a ritzy area of our city. Look for number 24. The houses are almost half a mile from each other. I heard the wow from you. Ms. Kent lives here with her son Oliver. She even involved him in solving the last murders and maybe the ones before. She has a daughter who lives in NYC with her boyfriend. She does art exhibits and I hear she is famous. I must say for all her riches, I’ve met Ms. Kent and she’s always helping out at the food pantry, the shelter, and senior center. She’s not all Hollywood. I’ll drive around the area a bit.
Here is Nate Connault’s home. He clearly doesn’t need her money, although her home is prettier, you know, like out of one of those Architectural Digest’s magazines. Next is the home of one of the Perps.
It’s time to head over to the Village Coffee Shoppe. Silly name, we’re a city not a village, but the sandwiches and salads are the best ---all that natural food stuff and they serve gluten free and dairy free for ice cream and vegetarian. Me, I’ll have an Italian grinder.
Tour of West Side
Hop on the West Mass, Massachusetts tour.
Our town/city of West Mass in the western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley is situated midst the cities of West Springfield, Westfield, Springfield, and Holyoke. You may see today some of the gracious homes and wonderful restaurants the city is known for. We will drive by the West Mass Police Station, where the famous Major Crimes Unit Captain Rudy Beauregard and his dedicated detectives solve crimes committed by the most nefarious folks among us. Beauregard’s appearance is deceptive. He moves slowly but his brain is an OCD computer. His habit of repeatedly reviewing evidence until he sees a pattern annoys his team, but…they have acquired the habit from him and it works. I know you all are interested in our sleepy little city because of the multiple serial murderers who have deigned to reshape our reputation. I assure you there are many wonderful folks here who are involved in the education of our children, social work for our disabled, support for our elders, and are generally just fine folks.
We have K. B. Pellegrino to fault for her summarization of some of the evil deeds perpetrated in our city. As we drive by the locations of the settings of these murderous deeds, refer to your novels and I will answer your questions. Oops! It is now time for our coffee break at the famous Living Healthy Café where you can buy a once-in-a -lifetime perfect latte and a pastry to die for. Perhaps the staff will tell you secrets about the original owner and his demise. Careful stepping off the bottom step which is low. You have fifteen minutes. Thanks. Remember I am Ben, your driver. If you feel I’m doing a great job, there is a tip box in front of the bus.
Our town/city of West Mass in the western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley is situated midst the cities of West Springfield, Westfield, Springfield, and Holyoke. You may see today some of the gracious homes and wonderful restaurants the city is known for. We will drive by the West Mass Police Station, where the famous Major Crimes Unit Captain Rudy Beauregard and his dedicated detectives solve crimes committed by the most nefarious folks among us. Beauregard’s appearance is deceptive. He moves slowly but his brain is an OCD computer. His habit of repeatedly reviewing evidence until he sees a pattern annoys his team, but…they have acquired the habit from him and it works. I know you all are interested in our sleepy little city because of the multiple serial murderers who have deigned to reshape our reputation. I assure you there are many wonderful folks here who are involved in the education of our children, social work for our disabled, support for our elders, and are generally just fine folks.
We have K. B. Pellegrino to fault for her summarization of some of the evil deeds perpetrated in our city. As we drive by the locations of the settings of these murderous deeds, refer to your novels and I will answer your questions. Oops! It is now time for our coffee break at the famous Living Healthy Café where you can buy a once-in-a -lifetime perfect latte and a pastry to die for. Perhaps the staff will tell you secrets about the original owner and his demise. Careful stepping off the bottom step which is low. You have fifteen minutes. Thanks. Remember I am Ben, your driver. If you feel I’m doing a great job, there is a tip box in front of the bus.
August 17, 2022
NEW BOOK
Beryl Kent and Mixed Motives, a Captain Beauregard Mystery was published on August 8, 2022 and is my 8th Captain Beauregard Mystery novel. Again, we find problems in the small city/town of West Mass, Massachusetts. Again we feel the shock of death by murder in this idyllic setting. Again we search for motive and the perpetrator. But...what happens when motives are multiple and perpetrator is plural? I am reminded that our concept of evil places us in a position of looking for one killer, one motive, one focus. In our small world, how can there be more than one evil person? When we see evil lurking in multiple associations, the comfort of our life is immediately lost. I believe it is that fear that slows down our recognition of more than one perp or motive. We find ourselves in a dark place.
Seeking justice is our motive for solving crime and implies that we will look at all possibilities, even when it's threatening to do so.
Please read and find the motives and evil doers.
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
Seeking justice is our motive for solving crime and implies that we will look at all possibilities, even when it's threatening to do so.
Please read and find the motives and evil doers.
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
July 27, 2022
DECEPTION...
DECEPTION...
Deception means deceiving. One could be the deceived or the deceiver. I woke this morning under the earliest morning light around 5:30 am. My eyes looked up to see the color purple on the ceiling to the left of the wooden beam above my head. My brain was confused during this first moment of awakening, but it knew the ceiling was painted white not purple. In a blink of an eye the ceiling returned to its real color - white. This second of confusion shouted to me. "How often have you in a moment of confusion acted on impulse?"
My answer is, "Often, to my regret."
This moment I misperceived reality because of a visual interpretation of light. Think of your experiences in driving at dusk. Have you ever been deceived by your first visual impression of something on the side of the road? Have you then braked, only to see it was not a person but some inanimate object. You were deceived by your perception. The object was not seen, it was perceived.
Carry this idea forward. You have a teenager party at your home. You come into the family room and discover some secretive thing going on. guilt shows on the teens' faces. You immediately think they are up to no good. You know guilty kids. They are guilty. They must be hiding alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. You do the cop and judge bit only to learn they were googling a site to get you a thank you Tee shirt that says, "Best guy in town. He likes teenagers." Misperception spelled deception to you.
What about the 'old shell' game' kids play on the street. Perception loses every time. You did not really see which hand held the shell, you perceived it. Deception?
In each of these examples the story is about the deceived person. For examples from the deceiver, I don't have to write much here. Just read my latest Captain Beauregard Mystery "BERYL KENT, VIRTUAL TRAVELER" coming soon in August 2022.
Kathleen Pellegrino
Deception means deceiving. One could be the deceived or the deceiver. I woke this morning under the earliest morning light around 5:30 am. My eyes looked up to see the color purple on the ceiling to the left of the wooden beam above my head. My brain was confused during this first moment of awakening, but it knew the ceiling was painted white not purple. In a blink of an eye the ceiling returned to its real color - white. This second of confusion shouted to me. "How often have you in a moment of confusion acted on impulse?"
My answer is, "Often, to my regret."
This moment I misperceived reality because of a visual interpretation of light. Think of your experiences in driving at dusk. Have you ever been deceived by your first visual impression of something on the side of the road? Have you then braked, only to see it was not a person but some inanimate object. You were deceived by your perception. The object was not seen, it was perceived.
Carry this idea forward. You have a teenager party at your home. You come into the family room and discover some secretive thing going on. guilt shows on the teens' faces. You immediately think they are up to no good. You know guilty kids. They are guilty. They must be hiding alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. You do the cop and judge bit only to learn they were googling a site to get you a thank you Tee shirt that says, "Best guy in town. He likes teenagers." Misperception spelled deception to you.
What about the 'old shell' game' kids play on the street. Perception loses every time. You did not really see which hand held the shell, you perceived it. Deception?
In each of these examples the story is about the deceived person. For examples from the deceiver, I don't have to write much here. Just read my latest Captain Beauregard Mystery "BERYL KENT, VIRTUAL TRAVELER" coming soon in August 2022.
Kathleen Pellegrino
July 13, 2022
Summer Reads
I have developed a small quiz for my friends and family. Just who reads what? I am an author who writes in the Mystery/Murder: Police Procedural Genre. Many of the younger friends in their teens and twenties interviewed loved sci-fi and romance novels. Some in all age groups read for knowledge and information only leaving fiction out. Older men seem to appreciate history and autobiographies of famous leaders, while older women's choices were quite varied and focused on gardening, culinary, romance, travel, science, psychology and sociology. Notice I have not mentioned my genre. Mystery ran the gamut in all the above generation and gender profiles. LGBT genre as a reading choice was under represented in this group with teens and early twenties showing some interest. As to mystery, most read some mystery, but their interest ran the gamut from cozy to real life crime, police procedural to action to involved plots where the reader must work to find the perpetrator(s). Many summertime readers enjoyed audio books when taking long drives. All but a few professed to reading when they are at leisure which means during vacations. Most professed disappointment in the limited number of bookstores in our area and also where seating was not set aside for reading. All had looked for local authors at bookstores and were required to order the books. Only a few did not read for pleasure. Clearly in my conversations, a preference for a good movie or tv show developed from books exists.
I interviewed one hundred individuals, did not do a statistical analysis, but nevertheless concluded that reading is still a major pastime.
Author K. B. Pellegrino
I interviewed one hundred individuals, did not do a statistical analysis, but nevertheless concluded that reading is still a major pastime.
Author K. B. Pellegrino
July 4, 2022
July Fourth....
I celebrate with praise the recognized birthday of this nation, July fourth. I praise the 'radicals' of that time who realized the necessity of personal freedom over the security of extending their serfdom under King George III. Prior to the Revolutionary War the country paid homage to the King who taxed them without representation. The Colonists at that time were only loosely connected by commerce and immediate community to the concept of being part of a new country.
The war took its toll with approximately one percent of the colonists dying, not including those 17,000 estimated who died of disease and those who died as a direct result of their being a prisoner of war. The surprising victories of the ragtag soldiers over the British helped fuel the acceptance of the Declaration of Independence...anything was possible. Freedom, respect, economic independence, and the concept of self government brought the first feelings of community and oneness to the victors.
Today I celebrate. Today I remind all of the success of this experiment in self-government through a republic. May no one, not one person divide us into a chaos of rabble when we have lived under such great possibilities.
Author K. B. Pellegrino
The war took its toll with approximately one percent of the colonists dying, not including those 17,000 estimated who died of disease and those who died as a direct result of their being a prisoner of war. The surprising victories of the ragtag soldiers over the British helped fuel the acceptance of the Declaration of Independence...anything was possible. Freedom, respect, economic independence, and the concept of self government brought the first feelings of community and oneness to the victors.
Today I celebrate. Today I remind all of the success of this experiment in self-government through a republic. May no one, not one person divide us into a chaos of rabble when we have lived under such great possibilities.
Author K. B. Pellegrino
June 25, 2022
Temptations
It will be 95 degrees today, time to play. OOPS! Does that mean I won't be writing today. I write everyday and once I start, I forget the time. But the beach and friends are calling me - loudly. I think I'll just skip out and play. Please don't judge me harshly for ignoring my other love of writing. The problem is I did the same avoidance yesterday and two days before. Picture banquets made of ordinary fare such as sliders, baked potatoes loaded with fixings, roasted corn on the cob dripping with butter, slices of watermelon, Sicilian salad, kielbasa on a stick, baked macaroni with sausage, cheese, and sauce, apple pie, and.... The peasant's summer table is the envy of kings. Add the sound of the surf, and conversations which ignore politics. What do we have? The culmination of research opportunities for this author by listening to words of friends, seeing the beauty the season offers, touching warm grains of sand, tasting glorious flavors, and feeling the delight of inclusion. No writing today. I'll wait for the rain.
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
June 6, 2022
Pondering...
I'm waiting for my eighth book to be returned by my editors. Meanwhile I have a space in my life for other work. I can't remember the last time I felt space to ponder and dream without the burden of pending work or writing weighing me down. The memory of not writing in lazy afternoons is seducing me. Why else would I be sitting in my garden for hours watching a blue jay bully other birds and wondering if that blue jay had a sordid childhood that affected his ability to be kind? Oops, I forgot the rule: we are not supposed to personify animals. My calling my large labradoodle, Baby, is another example of my expecting the animal kingdom to be thoughtful as if the pour souls knew how. There I so again, giving animals a soul. But this time and space I occupy alone today has filled my being with joy and a knowing the brain needs refueling, after which creation and dogged work will resume. Time and space is bedrest for the brain before I write number nine. .
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
June 4, 2022
Pondering...
I'm waiting for my eighth book to be returned by my editors. Meanwhile I have a space in my life for other work. I can't remember the last time I felt space to ponder and dream without the burden of pending work or writing weighing me down. The memory of not writing in lazy afternoons is seducing me. Why else would I be sitting in my garden for hours watching a blue jay bully other birds and wondering if that blue jay had a sordid childhood that affected his ability to be kind? Oops, I forgot the rule: we are not supposed to personify animals. My calling my large labradoodle, Baby, is another example of my expecting the animal kingdom to be thoughtful as if the pour souls knew how. There I so again, giving animals a soul. But this time and space I occupy alone today has filled my being with joy and a knowing the brain needs refueling, after which creation and dogged work will resume. Time and space is bedrest for the brain before I write number nine. .
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
K. B. Pellegrino, Author
