R.L. Geer-Robbins's Blog, page 10

Day 1 of 21 years of phone calls…

Friends,

Ah, Basic Training. 10 weeks of breaking a person down and remolding them to become killers.

What makes the green grass grow? Blood. Blood. Bright red blood.

I loved basic training. Sharp uniforms, new boots, all the equipment you could ask for.

I remember the pride I had when telling my flight mate that I was on my way to join the Army. I also remember the look on his face. Shock. Wonder. Concern.

I was a girl with a bag full of books and a smile.

I don’t think he thought I would make it. Looking back, I would have thought the same thing. But at that moment, was there anything greater than telling a complete stranger that you were determined to be a soldier? I don’t think so. I hadn’t even arrived, but I was part of something.

I was in the cool kid’s club.

When I arrived, I was instructed to find the USO to get a ride to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Here, I would spend the next four months of my life.

Looking back, ten weeks isn’t a long time. It seems like a long time when you’ve never been away from home. But perceptions change over time, I guess. 10 weeks back in 1999 was forever.

You couldn’t come to basic with anything but a bag and a dream. And then the Army turns around and tells you that you have to buy all new ‘Army-approved’ stuff. Towels, soap, socks, underwear, bras, running shoes, etc… And it will come out of your first paycheck.

First lesson of basic training – nothing in the Army is free.

Day 1. I can’t tell you their names, but if I tried, I could tell you who my drill sergeants were. It’s better not to. If I did, I would have to look them up. I would want to see what they did with the rest of their lives.

There’s a possibility of finding out they were sent to war and didn’t return. I would rather remember the ten weeks I spent under their control. Mean, full of piss and vinegar, and leaders.

But what I will tell you is that it was my first-time coming face to face with a strong, black woman who had proven her worth and knew it. She was cunning, quick-tempered, tall with a long neck that vibrated when she yelled, and too smart to be in the Army. She wore the drill sergeant hat with pride, and it was her weapon.

She was my first role model.

And she scared the hell out of me.

We stood outside a long row of brick barracks in the middle of the night in a makeshift formation. Every one of us questioning our life choices. The drill sergeants flew up and down those rows with the speed of a roadrunner and the anger of a bull. I’d never been yelled at so much in my life. You couldn’t move when they stood three inches from you, screaming, spit hitting your cheeks.

This was the 90s- we were still ‘old-school.’

I remember how my nose hurt from the hat bill tapping into my glasses. Each punch was a reminder that I no longer had a say. Gone were my days of freedom and choice.

I belong to ‘them’ now.

I had to give up my glasses. That hurt. They gave me the old BCG’s – Birth Control Glasses, and I looked like a peppermint patty. A nickname that followed me for years. They bagged up our personal belongings and stored them behind a locked door. They also took my books. Rude.

This was long before the days of cell phones, so we were given 3 minutes to call our parents to tell them we had arrived. A long line of pay phones sat behind the barracks, but not enough for the over 200 soon-to-be soldiers. I can’t remember if I talked to my mother or left a message. I will have to ask her.

There wasn’t much to say, though. I made it. And I wasn’t coming home anytime soon. Little did I know that was the first day of 21 years of phone calls.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 130/1500

The post Day 1 of 21 years of phone calls… appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

A deal with the devil…

Friends,

My dad took me to the recruiters.

He served in the Navy. 20 years. Can you imagine being on a boat for 20 years? I got to tell you- he was a hell of a deep-sea fisherman. I don’t really remember him being around much when I was a kid. If you think the Army is bad when at war, you should check out how often the Navy leaves.

Hell, my family has more veterans than I can count. It’s just what we do. And to make it worse, they all were great at their jobs. In some cases, famous. Like mentioned in history books or articles written about them.

No pressure.

When I graduated from high school, I was sent off to college to get a higher education. A small Christian college in nowhere Oregon. I don’t remember much about it. Other than that, I didn’t fit in. Everyone knew what they were doing with their lives. What their degree plans were. What their futures were going to look like.

Not me.

Don’t get me wrong. I had dreams. Own a bookstore. Become a chef. Maybe major in history. The world was my oyster. But as with any military brat, it was drilled into me that dreams are not achievable. They are fleeting and impractical.

A belief that still holds true today.

I didn’t last long at Western Baptist. I was on the verge of being kicked out for not attending enough Bible studies or mandatory Sunday services. I was combative in the classroom because I didn’t agree with the theology. And I worked. Long hours at the local Arby’s, and that was a no-no. Everyone had to be in their dorms by 9:45 p.m. A very inconvenient rule when you work until closing.

So, after a one-sided conversation with the Dean about my lack of discipline, I chose not to return after the Christmas break.

I might have forgotten to tell my parents.

They figured it out soon enough, and in my memories, I was banished to the couch. They had already transformed my room into a study or something, besides what parent wants to acknowledge they have a college dropout living at home.

At first, they were disappointed but understanding. But I might have gone a little crazy. What 18-year-olds don’t go a little crazy when they’re trying to find themselves? Remember, my father was in the military, and my mother was a military brat/military wife. We don’t do crazy.

The next six months were not my greatest. I got jobs. Quit jobs. Learned about strawberry wine. Spent countless hours at Denny’s drinking coffee and eating seasoned fries with ranch dressing. Complained about my parents. Cursed the government. Laughed at the fools who went to college.

I did everything but come up with a plan.

Needless to say, my parents hit their wall with my shenanigans, and I was given an ultimatum- get out or join the military.

Military it was.

My father took me. I remember it was in a shopping complex, a long hall with each branch on either side. Posters lined each side with happy-go-lucky service members smiling for the camera. This was the 90’s. People had forgotten war’s brutality, and instead, the military looked like one big frat party. Sign me up.

I was originally interested in the Coast Guard. You know, become a pirate. Their uniforms were cool, and their physical requirements weren’t outrageous. I was skinny but not physically fit. It seemed like an ideal fit. I don’t remember why I didn’t join their ranks. I have said it was because they were out to lunch at 9:45 a.m. But I really don’t remember.

The Marines looked good for a moment. Until they told me I had to run three miles in 18 minutes. I left the office quickly.

Then there was the Army. Cool uniforms. P.T. test seemed reasonable. And they had job openings. Hell, even the poster of Uncle Sam was pressuring me to join. ‘Be All You Can Be… In The Army.’ Catchy slogan. My recruiter was male. He took me and someone else to lunch the next day. He seemed genuinely interested in what I could do. It was a first for me. He said I was worthy. He said that the Army would be lucky to have someone like me.

In other words, he played into my insecurities. Well done, nameless recruiter. Well done.

I signed up. Now, I’ve told this story so many times that I think it’s true. Or, knowing me, I may have tweaked reality a bit to make the story funnier. But I do remember a video of a hovercraft storming the beaches of California. People jumping out with weapons, covered in camouflage, and ready to take over Disneyland.

The recruiter told me they were 88Ms. What’s an 88M? Not a beach storming badass, I can tell you that. It is a Motor Transportation Operator.

A truck driver.

Logistics to be more accurate. But I didn’t know that. I just knew what was on the video and what my recruiter told me. Plus, I could leave in a few weeks. Words that sang to my father. He was ready for me to get my ass out of the house.

So, I signed the papers. Took the test. Weighed in. And was shipped to Seattle for the physical. They even put me in a hotel for the night. Honestly, I don’t remember much about it except that I had to do a duck walk. And the USO had a snack table.

A week later, I was back for shots, paperwork, and a swearing-in. Maybe the swearing-in was the first time I went to the Seattle office? But there’s a picture of me standing somewhere, wearing an Army t-shirt, with my hand raised and a smile on my face.

I was on my way to my first great adventure.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 115/1500

The post A deal with the devil… appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

It starts with a single memory.

Friends,

We’ve dived into the series ‘Band of Brothers’ this past week. A fascinating series. Wonderfully made. Thoroughly researched. There are a few big ‘historic’ mistakes, but overall, I would give it a 95% success rate at doing a good job and presenting an overall picture. Not to mention it brings home what service members experienced in WW2.

Do you want to know what war is? It’s that. It’s spending 95% of your time moving where someone else tells you to move and praying that you don’t die.

The thing that bothers me is how well everyone remembers what it was like. I don’t remember everything. Shouldn’t I? Maybe if people start giving a crap about the ‘Global War on Terror’ like we do about the other wars, someone would trigger my memories?

But that’s not how society works. No one is going to talk about 2001-2023. Correction, we just lost five more this year, so let’s move that up to 2024. No, we don’t do that. We don’t talk about it when the people with the stories are still alive. It’s too uncomfortable. It’s too blunt. It’s too painful.

Because then the general population would have to accept the fact that there was a war going on while they sat at home and forgot about it.

So here’s my story. In all, it’s painful glory. This is not about a one-person show that saved an entire town with nothing more than a rifle, MRE, and a roll of duct tape. Nope, this is the story no one wants to talk about. No one wants to hear. The one that I am often reminded of that I shouldn’t have because…. bend in closer, I have a secret.

I’m a girl.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, in case you didn’t know, I am a middle-aged woman with a serious coffee addiction. And because of that, my war experience is generally not considered important enough to be remembered. At least that’s what my VA-appointed head doctor told me.

So, after a particularly devastating episode of ‘Band of Brothers,’ I’ve decided to write my memories. Maybe 30 years from now, when the last 23 years have found their way into the history books, someone will stumble across this blog and think to themselves- ‘Oh, shit. Maybe we missed something.’

Here’s my story. I was a mother of two small boys when the war started. Yes, I know that dates me, but that’s okay. I was not popular in my unit- usually more prone to staying home reading rather than going out to bars. I was not the fastest or the strongest- I have a concerning addiction to coffee and Oreos. I was very good at shooting.

But because I was quiet and didn’t really ‘fit in,’ it made it very easy to listen and stand in the shadows. And when you listen, you learn more than when you are in the center of the crowd.

Slowly I built myself a career when everyone else said I would fail. When everyone else looked past me, I was slowly passing them. Oh, I made mistakes. Plenty of them. Some of them still haunt me today. But I also had a good time. For the most part, I wouldn’t trade my time in the Army for anything.

But there are days when the memories claw at my soul, and I feel like I’m trapped in a neverending nightmare. Those days- death looks mighty appealing. But we’re not allowed to say that are we? That’s the biggest no-no.

This is not a tell-all. I won’t name names, but I will share situations from my perspective. And I will tell you how I came to the conclusion that for almost 21 years of my life, I was a number.

Expendable.

Forgotten.

Erased from the history books.

This is my story…

And it all started the day my dad took me to the recruiters.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 115/1500

The post It starts with a single memory. appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

The Creation of the AMBER Alert System

Friends,

The world is filled with evil. True Crime Sunday is not to pay homage to the people who committed the crimes- but to remember the victims. Their lives deserved to be remembered.

1000 Success Stories blog AMBERAlertAmber Hagerman

January 13, 1996, in Arlington, Texas, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bike in an abandoned Winn-Dixie parking lot. She and her brother were visiting their grandparents while their mother gave an interview to Dallas news station WFAA regarding families that had successfully gotten off welfare.

They were told to stay close. But the parking lot had a ramp, and Amber had just gotten a new pink bike for Christmas. And it was only a few blocks away- 2/10 of a mile away.

Still safe in a child’s mind.

Amber’s brother, Ricky, hesitated and went home. Amber stayed.

A man, Jim Kevil, who lived across the street, witnessed the events unfold. He called the police, letting them know that a man in a black pickup truck had just snatched a little girl from her bike. He forced her into his vehicle and drove off. She was kicking and screaming.

The whole thing happened in less than 8 minutes from Amber leaving her grandparents’ home.

Discovery

On January 17, 1996, Stuart Kocher was walking his dog when it suddenly stopped. That’s when Kocher saw the body lying face down on a concrete slab of a drainage culvert located behind an apartment complex playground. Maintenance workers at the apartment complex had been working near the creek earlier that morning, and they hadn’t seen a body. Police suspected the recent rains had caused the creek to rise, and the waters carried Amber’s body downstream.

Autopsy

The autopsy sent chills down the investigator’s spine. Amber died from multiple cuts to her neck, her head attached only by a slim sliver of skin. Her body was bruised, and there were other injuries. She had been kept alive for at least two days before she died.

Funeral

The funeral was held at the First United Methodist Church and was attended by thousands of mourners wanting to pay their respects to ‘a child of the nation.’ Almost 750 attended the burial at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Amber was buried alongside 30 other children in an area called ‘Babyland,’ which overlooks a peaceful body of water.

Amber’s favorite toy was a stuffed Teddy bear, and almost everyone brought one. Some were buried with her, and others donated to the local police department charity.

Investigation

Six individuals confessed to the crime initially, but they were all ruled out.

Since Amber’s abduction, the authorities have received over 7,000 tips, but no arrests have been made. Because of the body’s condition when it was discovered, very little physical evidence could be recovered.

Authorities are still hopeful that with the advancement of DNA technology, at some point, they will be able to solve the case- like the Golden State Killer, where a relative’s arrest led to the serial killer’s arrest.

AMBER Alert System

Frustrated, a self-proclaimed “ordinary woman and mother” by the name of Diane Simone called into a Dallas-Fort Worth radio station with an idea: If we have a weather and civil defense alert system, why can’t there be one for missing children?

I would like to suggest an emergency system be set up so that when a verified 911 call is placed, all the radio stations in the area would be notified immediately and they would interrupt programming to broadcast an emergency alert, giving whatever information and descriptions that are pertinent.

If you are able to gather support for this Emergency Broadcast Plan, my one request is that it be known as Amber’s Plan.

Diane Simone, Letter to KDMX/102.9 FM Radio Station

That simple phone call and request started the pathway to what we all now know as the AMBER Alert System (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response).

Because of the diligence and dedicated work of seven radio station managers, a local broadcast alert system was set up.

On April 30, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the PROTECT Act. This codified the role of the National AMBER Alert Coordinator under the Department of Justice.

As of December 2023, the AMBER Alert Program has contributed to the recovery of 1,186 children. Wireless emergency alerts have resulted in the rescue of 165 children.

After Thoughts

I would love to tell you how you can support the efforts to recover missing children, other than paying attention to AMBER Alerts and keeping a watchful eye on children- but all the non-profits I looked up haven’t updated their websites in years.

The AMBER Alert System is a federally funded program, so donations are not accepted.

If you have information that can help solve the cold case of Amber Hagerman, please call the Arlington, TX, Police Department at 817-575-8823 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS (8477).

One missing child is one too many.

John Walsh

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post The Creation of the AMBER Alert System appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

True Crime Sunday

Friends,

The world is filled with evil. True Crime Sunday is not to pay homage to the people who committed the crimes- but to remember the victims. Their lives deserved to be remembered.

1000 Success Stories blog AMBERAlertAmber Hagerman

January 13, 1996, in Arlington, Texas, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted while riding her bike in an abandoned Winn-Dixie parking lot. She and her brother were visiting their grandparents while their mother gave an interview to Dallas news station WFAA regarding families that had successfully gotten off welfare.

They were told to stay close. But the parking lot had a ramp, and Amber had just gotten a new pink bike for Christmas. And it was only a few blocks away- 2/10 of a mile away.

Still safe in a child’s mind.

Amber’s brother, Ricky, hesitated and went home. Amber stayed.

A man, Jim Kevil, who lived across the street, witnessed the events unfold. He called the police, letting them know that a man in a black pickup truck had just snatched a little girl from her bike. He forced her into his vehicle and drove off. She was kicking and screaming.

The whole thing happened in less than 8 minutes from Amber leaving her grandparents’ home.

Discovery

On January 17, 1996, Stuart Kocher was walking his dog when it suddenly stopped. That’s when Kocher saw the body lying facedown on a concrete slab of a drainage culvert located behind an apartment complex playground. Maintenance workers at the apartment complex had been working near the creek earlier that morning, and they hadn’t seen a body. Police suspected the recent rains had caused the creek to rise, and the waters carried Amber’s body downstream.

Autopsy

The autopsy sent chills down the investigator’s spine. Amber died from multiple cuts to her neck, her head attached only by a slim sliver of skin. Her body was bruised, and there were other injuries. She had been kept alive for at least two days before she died.

Funeral

The funeral was held at the First United Methodist Church and was attended by thousands of mourners wanting to pay their respects to ‘a child of the nation.’ Almost 750 attended the burial at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Amber was buried alongside 30 other children in an area called ‘Babyland,’ which overlooks a peaceful body of water.

Amber’s favorite toy was a stuffed Teddy bear, and almost everyone brought one. Some were buried with her, and others donated to local police department charity.

Investigation

Six individuals confessed to the crime initially, but they were all ruled out.

Since Amber’s abduction, the authorities have received over 7,000 tips, but no arrests have been made. Because of the body’s condition when it was discovered, very little physical evidence could be recovered.

Authorities are still hopeful that with the advancement of DNA technology, at some point, they will be able to solve the case- like the Golden State Killer, where a relative’s arrest led to the serial killer’s arrest.

AMBER Alert System

Frustrated, a self-proclaimed “ordinary woman and mother” by the name of Diane Simone called into a Dallas-Fort Worth radio station with an idea: If we have a weather and civil defense alert system, why can’t there be one for missing children?

I would like to suggest an emergency system be set up so that when a verified 911 call is placed, all the radio stations in the area would be notified immediately and they would interrupt programming to broadcast an emergency alert, giving whatever information and descriptions that are pertinent.

If you are able to gather support for this Emergency Broadcast Plan, my one request is that it be known as Amber’s Plan.

Diane Simone, Letter to KDMX/102.9 FM Radio Station

That simple phone call and request started the pathway to what we all now know as the AMBER Alert System (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response).

Because of the diligence and dedicated work of seven radio station managers, a local broadcast alert system was set up.

On April 30, 2003, President George W. Bush signed the PROTECT Act. This codified the role of the National AMBER Alert Coordinator under the Department of Justice.

As of December 2023, the AMBER Alert Program has contributed to the recovery of 1,186 children. Wireless emergency alerts have resulted in the rescue of 165 children.

After Thoughts

I would love to tell you how you can support the efforts to recover missing children, other than paying attention to AMBER Alerts and keeping a watchful eye on children- but all the non-profits I looked up haven’t updated their websites in years.

The AMBER Alert System is a federally funded program, so donations are not accepted.

If you have information that can help solve the cold case of Amber Hagerman, please call the Arlington, TX, Police Department at 817-575-8823 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS (8477).

One missing child is one too many.

John Walsh

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post True Crime Sunday appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

Saturdays are for fun. Here’s a historical fact to get your day going.

 Day 48 of 365 days. 317 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your random Saturday Historical fact that you didn’t know you needed to know.

Techinacally, no was burned at the stack. But that doesn’t make it any better. Let’s take a moment to remember those who suffered during this dark time in American history

Bridget Bishop – Died June 10, 1692 (aged 60), execution by hanging.Sarah Good – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 39), execution by hanging.Rebecca Nurse – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 71), execution by hanging.Elizabeth Howe – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 57), execution by hanging.Susannah Martin – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 71), execution by hanging.Sarah Wildes – Died July 19, 1692 (aged 65), execution by hanging.Rev. George Burroughs – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 42), execution by hanging.George Jacobs Sr. – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 83), execution by hanging.Martha Carrier – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 49), execution by hanging.John Proctor – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 59), execution by hanging.John Willard – Died August 19, 1692 (aged 35), execution by hanging.Martha Corey – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 72), execution by hanging.Mary Eastey – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 58), execution by hanging.Mary Parker – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 55), execution by hanging.Alice Parker – Died September 22, 1692, executed by hanging.Ann Pudeator – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 70), execution by hanging.Wilmot Redd – Died September 22, 1692, executed by hanging.Margaret Scott – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 77), execution by hanging.Samuel Wardwell Sr. – Died September 22, 1692 (aged 49), execution by hanging.

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble

William Shakespeare- Macbeth

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post Saturdays are for fun. Here’s a historical fact to get your day going. appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

When you miss the mark at book club.

Friends,

My monthly book club meeting was this week, and I have to admit I missed the mark.

Now, the book assigned, West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, was not a terrible book. It just wasn’t for me for personal reasons. Not because it was poorly written or lacked a plot.

I just couldn’t get into it.

As with my writing, it was wordy. Lots and lots of words to tell a paragraph’s worth of events. I fully expected others to feel the same.

Boy, was I wrong.

They LOVED the book. They loved it so much that there was no chit-chat, no gossip before the meeting. Nope. Everyone sat down and got straight to it. Not going to lie; it was a bit of a dark conversation about animal cruelty, memories of assassinations, pets that had passed away, and struggles of our pasts.

That is what the story of two giraffes’ journey from New York to San Diego after surviving a hurricane did. It sparked something in the others that triggered an emotional response.

That, my friends, is a sign of an excellent book.

And it was a learning moment for me. Sometimes, when we are plodding through life, struggling to make deadlines, do chores, cook dinners, go to meetings, and answer texts… we forget to slow down and read between the lines.

I was so caught up in the hustling of my life- I forgot to smell the roses. I forgot to read the words and hear the story. It moved too slowly for me, so I didn’t give it a chance.

I will go back to the book. Not anytime soon because I won’t be able to give it the time the book deserves. But I will return when the season is right. I will read the book in its entirety and hear the characters’ voices because they lived. It’s a true story (with some embellishments), and every story deserves to be remembered.

Isn’t that what I’m always preaching?

Anyhoo, if you would like to read a story about two giraffes and their journey to the San Diego Zoo in 1938- I am including the link. (West with Giraffes: A Novel: Rutledge, Lynda: 9781542023344: Amazon.com: Books)

And until next time, my friends- keep reading and stay caffeinated.

The post When you miss the mark at book club. appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

It’s Thursday… only 48 hours to go!

 Day 46 of 365 days. 319 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your Thursday tip of the day- If you hear weird noises in the night, simply make weirder noises to assert dominance.

If all dreams get fulfilled then what will be the difference between dream and reality?

Unknown

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

I wish you a tolerable Thursday. That’s all any of us can hope for.

April Winchell

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post It’s Thursday… only 48 hours to go! appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

Writers Tip Wednesday

 Day 45 of 365 days. 320 days left to go.

Friends,

I present to you your weekly writer’s tip!

End Each Day Mid-Sentence

According to a website I found- if you stop in the middle of a sentence, then you have a clear place to start and an easy way to move forward.

I’m not sure about this- but it sounds legit. I might try it out.

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

Louis L’Amour

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post Writers Tip Wednesday appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

It’s Tuesday… Time for a Life Hack that you didn’t know you needed to know

 Day 44 of 365 days. 321 days left to go.

Friends,

Here’s your Tuesday life hack of the day- and it’s a bit concerning because it’s my favorite snack.

Tuesday is the most sensible day of the week.

Emily P. Freeman

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 107/1500

The post It’s Tuesday… Time for a Life Hack that you didn’t know you needed to know appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.