C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 27

Sweep Up The Kitchen Time!

Yep! It's time to tidy up this here blog and get set up for April. So here's my Spring Cleaning Post.

The big news is Elephant's Child is the winner of one of Bish's eBooks! Congratulations. 
AmazonThis month's Featured Follower has been Bish Denham. And what a wonderful follower Bish is. We've been playing tag with each other since I started this blog in 2007. Holy Molly, folks! That's ten years.

Well, after that shock here's a bit about Email Connect, which The Write Game's small contribution to helping authors. 

Read and review your book (Amazon and Goodreads) and mark it as “Am Reading/Read” on Goodreads.

Feature you on The Write Game two times.

Post your cover on Pinterest under Covers That Catch My Eye.

Feature you/your book on Email Connect that goes out on the 1st and 15th of each month.

Post on fb and link to your review.

Each Wednesday post tweets about your book three times throughout the day.

I'll be skipping a Featured Follower in April, but stay tuned for who the next author will be in May.

IWSG News:


The #IWSGPit is on and becoming very exciting with all of the agents and publishers signing on to participate. Put July 27 on your calendar!



If you haven't jumped into the Goodreads Book Club yet, for heaven sakes what are you waiting for? A book club for writers to read/learn about the writing craft. No promo. No review requests. Join us today.







The #AtoZ 2017

I was all set to do the #AtoZChallenge this year, when whammo, my already damaged shoulder started giving me fits. Now, it's affecting my right arm and hand, so hi ho, hi ho it's off to therapy I go. AGAIN. Since I have to keep my typing to a minimum, I'll be cheerleading this year, but the good news is I have 2018 all ready to go.



 Young Adult Scavenger Hunt



#YASH/ @YAScavengerHunt is on again and I'll be posting how to enter soon. And since it's only on from Tuesday, April 4th at 12 pm Pacific Time to Sunday, April 9th at noon Pacific time, my doctor says I can do it. Hope you'll support the Blue Team and try to win some books. Take a look at the books we're giving away.

Here's to a wonderful and exciting April. I'll pop in and during the #AtoZ alphabet marathon with my pom poms and some encouragement. Have you joined #IWSG Goodreads Book Club? Will you take part in the #IWSGPit? Are you #AtoZing?





Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Embarrassed and Near Death, Not in that Order

Let Me Tell You A StoryOver the years I've heard or read stories about other people's lives. I've also had a few experiences that have entered into my "Let me tell you about the time" category. Some of these stories have crept into my books. Others are waiting in the wings. Here's one about the time I was sure I was going to die--either of a particularly evil stomach complaint or embarrassment.


Havana grocery shopping.
In Cuba a couple of years ago seven friends and I hired a bus and a guide for a couple of weeks to take us from Havana around the island. One morning I felt lousy, and when we hit a rough and endless road, I went from lousy to miserable. There's nothing like a Cuban backroad to churn your stomach into a slushy volcano. I took over the back seat and stretched out. At least I wouldn't die sitting up. When we did find a small town, there were no restrooms for weary tourists with engorged bladders and, in my case, a Vesuvius stomach. 


Bougainvillea and Moorish Architecture
A Never-Fail Combination
Juni, our guide who had been a professor at the university and became a guide so she could support her family (bless Castro), turned out to be one resourceful and spirited girl. She had the bus driver stop in town, found a house and negotiated with the owner until her eight tourists could use the bathroom. Yay, Juni!

Inside the house the living room was small and pink with a large TV, a couch and tons of doilies. If I didn't get into that bathroom immediately, I was going hurl all over that pink room and those doilies, so I dashed in, and barely noticing that this room was a baby blue, hurled into the porcelain bowl. Problem solved. But not quite. When I pushed the lever, nothing happened. Being mechanically inclined (cue laughter) I removed the doily and miscellaneous objects from the back of the toilet, lifted the lid and discovered. . . this water closet had no water. 


Havana Open Book Market (double entendre fun)
I stuck my head out the door, avoiding the glares from the engorged seven, and yelled, "Juni, I need a bucket of water!" Being a Cubana, she immediately translated that to mean, el baño no funciona and came to my rescue. 

Moral of this story: hire a university professor as a tour guide.

Did You Know. . .The average wage for Cubans was $17/month in 2015. It rose to $25/month in 2016. 

Quote of the Week: “The most poetical thing in the world is not being sick.” 
G.K. Chesterton, authorBeware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Oh Shoot! It's the Tunnel Chute & #IWSG News

Let Me Tell You A StoryOver the years I've heard or read stories about other people's lives. I've also had a few experiences that have entered into my "Let me tell you about the time" category. Some of these stories have crept into my books. Others are waiting in the wings. Here's one about the time I ran the Tunnel Chute.



This is the North Fork on a different rafting adventure. My son's to my right. My husband's down in front and almost under water. Nobody filmed my Tunnel Chute experience. My family said they were glad they missed that trip.
I'd rafted the North and South Fork of the American River, but not the Middle, so when a friend asked if I wanted to go on one of his rafting trips, I jumped at the chance. We'd had a wet year, and the river was boasting a lot of Class V rapids.

I wound up with a group of about five other rafters plus the guide who were all surfers from Santa Cruz. They were also about twenty years younger than I was and were still immortal. I didn't know that until after I stepped into the raft, so common sense had no part in my decision to go along.

When we came to the Tunnel Chute, the river guide made us hike up to the top of the gorge and "study" the rapid. He told us we had to have our paddles in when he called for them, and we had to hit the boulder on the far bank with our raft at an exact spot. If we did it right, we'd bounce back, into the rapid and be on our way down river. If we missed. . .well, let's just say, we didn't want that to happen. A lot of the others on the river that day portaged around the Chute, others capsized and swam. 


They save the Tunnel Chute for the last. It's worth the wait! 

As I stepped into the raft, I eyed the trail, thinking portaging sounded darned good, but I grabbed my paddle, said a prayer to the river god and pushed off. 

I was aft with the guide, so when we hit the rapid, and he yelled paddles in, then flew off the back of the raft, I was the only one who knew the six of us were on our own. I didn't have time to shout, "guide overboard" before our raft "folded" and I flew up and out. The river god must have heard my prayer because before I had a chance to go under water a second time, the water threw me back into my seat, paddle and all.

We shot that rapid and, of course, celebrated our success by jumping into the icy water. Why not. We were already soaked and blue. The guide met us. He swam the rapid faster than we rafted it.  


An interesting fact about the American River: The river is known for the 1848 discovery of gold at Coloma which started the California Gold Rush and contributed to the initial large-scale settlement of California by European immigrants. 

Quote of the Week: The danger sensation is exciting. The challenge is to find new dangers. Ayrton Senna, Brazilian Celeb.


Here's a special Announcement from #IWSG!
Not on Goodreads?The IWSG book club is a good reason to join.Hope to see you there
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

I'm Back with March's Featured Follower, Bish Denham

Did you miss me? I missed you, but I loved my break and how it re-energized me. I hiked, even in the rain! I ate extra cake because it was my birthday--I decided to have a birthday month instead of only one day. More cake that way! I learned how to be an administrator for IWSG. Very interesting and fun to do. And I remembered some more stories I want to share with you. 


And now I'm here with my Featured Follower for March, Bish Denham. Yay, Bish! Great to feature you and your books this month. 



Bish Denham, whose mother’s side of the family has been in the Caribbean for over one hundred years, was raised in the U. S. Virgin Islands. She still has lots of family living there and visits them regularly.

She says, "Growing up in the islands was like living inside a history book. Columbus named them, Sir Francis Drake sailed through the area, and Alexander Hamilton was raised on St. Croix. Pirates plied the waters and hundred of years of slavery left its indelible mark. It was within this atmosphere of magic and wonder that I grew up. My hope is pass some of that magic and wonder on to my readers."



AmazonAmazonAmazon
                                                   
She has published three magical tales.
A Lizard's Tale: From the moment he hatches, Marvin P. Tinkleberry knows he is destined for greatness. For one, he has a marvelous, well-groomed tail. For another he can puff out his throat pouch in the most spectacular way. Pirates. Explorers. And spooky ghost hunters. REVIEW

The Bowl and the Stone: It’s 1962. Sam and her best friend, Nick, have the whole island of St. John, in the U. S. Virgin Islands, as their playground. They’ve got 240 year-old sugar plantation ruins to explore, beaches to swim, and trails to hike. REVIEW

Anansi and Company: How do you escape a hungry tiger? Why do ram-goats smell? What happens if you get too greedy? In this collection of ten retold Jamaican stories, Anansi the spider tricks, sings, and dances his way into and out of trouble. REVIEW

GIVEAWAY: Bish is generously giving one of her books away (digital format). To request your copy of a book of your choice, just leave a request in the comment and a way we can contact you. 

Quote of the Week: "The wonder of imagination is this: It has the power to light its own fire." John L. Mason, author

Next Week: Let Me Tell You a Story returns with Oh Shoot! It's the Tunnel Chute.
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Holy Moly #IWSG Wednesday Has Arrived

Thanks Alex J. Cavanaughp.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; line-height: 16.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 17.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; line-height: 16.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 16.0px Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #f4f2f8; min-height: 19.0px} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; line-height: 16.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #f4f2f8} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} span.s2 {font-kerning: none; color: #3e62b4; -webkit-text-stroke: 0px #3e62b4}
The awesome co-hosts for the March 1 posting of the IWSG will be Tamara Narayan, Patsy Collins, M.J. Fifield, and Nicohle Christopherson!



Taking a month away from social media is great except the return is a bit overwhelming. And does that add to the insecurities? Absolutely.


Will I get everything done that I'm supposed to? Will I do it by the deadline? Will I do it well? 
Do any of those questions sound familiar? Have you ever taken a month off your social media to do all that other stuff you need or want to do, or are you among the sane ones who don't do social media?




March Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

I wasn't going to answer this month's IWSG question, but it so happens that did pull out an old story. I reworked it. My agent loved it, but I wasn't happy with it. There was something off about it, and I never could put my finger on what that was. My agent has let me pull it to do some more fiddling--she's very understanding--but I'm wondering if I just should have left that thing tucked inside my C-drive in the first place. It may be a story that I should have let die a nice, quiet death.




Now here's some excellent news: IWSG has some new and lovely SWAG for y'all! Stop by the site and pick out something you like and can use. AND. . . 


stay tuned for #IWSG Twitter Pitch Party! Do you have a hot idea you want to try out? This will be your chance. Want the details? Ask and you shall receive. Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

#atozchallenge 2017 The Letter is G

Say, "Madonna," and only two images come into your head. Mention Cher and you're immediately thinking music icon. Picasso? Who can forget his extraordinary view of the world that he expressed in his art? Henry VIII? Churchill? Hitler? President Kennedy? Queen Elizabeth? Neil Armstrong? Madam Curie? Steve Jobs? All figures in history who've shaped the world by their presence in it. But what about the millions of people who have done things to change our world during their lives and maybe you've never heard of them? During this #AtoZChallenge, I'm going to write about those people.Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Some Stories and the Women of that Chalki Summer

Let Me Tell You A Story

Over the years I've heard or read stories about other people's lives. I've also had a few experiences that have entered into my "Let me tell you about the time" category. Some of these stories have crept into my books. Others are waiting in the wings. 

Last week I told you a bit about the island of Halki/Chalki, and I promised to tell you about the war hero who's commemorated there. His statue is famous, but when I tried to find more specific history I couldn't. Fortunately, while I was on the island, I met his sister. She was visiting her home that week, so it was only by chance that we connected and that she told our women's group the story.

It was 1944 and her brother was a member of the resistance. When the Italians came hunting for him, he hid--with the help of the locals--in one of the village cisterns. When the searchers failed to locate him, they gathered all of the men, women and children into the place where we sat that night. The sister pointed at the beautiful beach in front of us, and in spite of the many years between her loss and that night, her eyes glistened with tears when she said, "Just there they stood with guns aimed at them."

The Italians sent the fugitive a message which was simple. Either he surrender before nightfall or the villagers would be shot.

Her brother saved his village that day and the woman expressed her pride as well as her sorrow with such dignity that I envied her her noble brother and her tragedy.

I didn't take a picture of the statue. There are many of those online, but I did take of picture of the sister. She had a wonderful face.



I keep mentioning the women's group, and there are so many stories about the seminars we participated in, the trips we took together, the women themselves. Many of them had written and presented papers on women's issues in the post USSR Russia, so our seminars focused on topics like: Feminism East and West, Can Russian Women Create Themselves as Citizens of a Democratic,Capitalist State?, Soviet Women at the Crossroads of Perestoika, The Role of Women in Rebuilding the Russian Economy.

These women were from Russia, UK, Greece, US and Italy. I could spend a year telling those stories. I have notes from our conversations that reveal the humanity of each person on this adventure. However, I think, instead, I'll just show you a few of the women with a quick blurb about each. 


Here we are together by the harbor. We have seminars all morning, take a break for lunch and some fun, then back to our seminar. At four we were done and it was party time.
Their fields or occupations: Farmer, Biologist, International Education, Health Care Provider (she'd worked with Mother Teresa in India with lepers) University Professors (there were 5) , Inter-Cultural Communication, Political Activist. You can see how different we all were. 
On our way across to another small island for a picnic.
The university women from Russia: Valentina, Olga, Natasha and Natalia (daughter).
Soula was a feminine activist in the Communist party in Greece. The word was you didn't mess with Soula.
Did you know that the Greek army beat back the Italian invasion in 1940 and that Germany had to step in. The occupation of Greece destroyed 80% of its industry and 90% of it's bridges, railways and ports. 

Quote of the Week: "All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal." John Steinbeck
This is it for the month of January, and I'm taking a break during February. See everyone again in March with some more stories.
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

The Summer Chalki Happened

Let Me Tell You A StoryOver the years I've heard or read stories about other people's lives. I've also had a few experiences that have entered into my "Let me tell you about the time" category. Some of these stories have crept into my books. Others are waiting in the wings. 

Here's one about the time I flew off to Greece for two weeks of escape and didn't come home all summer.

The adventure started with this ad in the newspaper. Once I saw the flying woman, I was intrigued, but then the chance to have a dialogue with women from around the world really hooked me. 


What I didn't know that day, was how many adventures were going to be included in my round-trip fare. In this first post about those adventures, I'll start with the island of Halki (also spelled Chalki). 


The women in the seminar took the ferry from Rhodes to Halki/Chalki
Here are my journal notes when I hiked one June day: This small desert island off the coast of Rhodes is brittle, brown hillsides. A ragged outline of an ancient castle fortress sits at the highest point of land and sheep graze in the heat. Some trees are brilliant flashes of green--startling in contrast on the hills. These trees look strong, old and surprisingly healthy since there's no fresh water available to them until fall rains. But the sea. . .the sea is impossible to describe with only words. 


The view from my balcony. Two friends enjoying the morning sea.About 100 homes sit in the hills behind the town. Some are tiny traditional Greek buildings dating back several hundred years. Others are more modern. People use them as rentals or for their vacations, so during the day as you walk through the town you're struck by the silence and at night by the darkness. After sunset, you walk with flashlights.


The women in the seminar on a walk to the castle fortress. One of the modern houses on the island.
Chalki wasn't always a desert island. Once the rain was collected in cisterns and stored in an immense underwater aquifer, then someone made a huge mistake. They punctured the aquifer, and the stored fresh water mixed with the salty sea. Today water comes in tankers each week. 

In the town center, there's a statue dedicated to a martyr of the Italian occupation. Last week I wrote about the resistance in Italy. Next week I'll tell you one story of the resistance on Chalki. 



Did you know. . .sponge fishing sustained Chalki until after WII, then the decline of sponges spurred emigration. Have you ever heard of Tarpin Springs, Florida? That's where the fishermen of Chalki landed. They sent money home, and today the one paved road on the island is called Tarpin Springs. 

Quote of the Week: "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." — Marcel Proust
Next Week: The story of one man against the Italian occupation of Greece.Stories about the women who came together one summer on Chalki and why.
Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

Sandra Cox Shares and Tara Tyler's Newest Book. Check Out These #InkRipples Covers

[Note: Since I have so much going on this week, I won't include Let Me Tell You A Story until next week. Otherwise, this will be one long blog post!]
#InkRipples is a monthly meme created by Kai Strand, Mary Waibel, and Katie L. Carroll. They post on the first Monday of every month with a new topic. They're all authors, but you don’t have to be to participate.This month's #InkRipples is Covers, and today we have two great covers, each distinct and each eye-catching. So hold on to your eyeballs and take a look at these.

My Featured Follower for January is Sandra Cox. 
She's giving one of the peeps on my list a chance to win a copy of her book! She's also answering a couple of questions.

Me: Hey, Sandra. Where did the idea for Love, Lattes and Mutants come from?

Sandra: Love, Lattes and Mutants evolved out of a completely different WIP I was working on at the time.  Aliens turned to mutants and adults to teenagers, only the ocean remained the same.*:) 

Me: This is the kind of serendipity I love. And one more question: What's been the most exciting/daunting part of becoming a published author?

Sandra: The most exciting part of becoming a published author was getting my first contract. I had written for a number of years before I got an offer.  
The most daunting part is when I rubbed  the stardust out of my eyes and realized it didn’t automatically mean people were going to be lined up to buy my book. I think most of us are surprised, when we first start out, to learn just how much self-promotion is involved  in a writing career. 

Me: You have told it like it is, and you have told it so well! Thanks so much.



And now welcome Tara Tyler and her new book with that kid-amazing cover!
 Kids and teens are usually in a big rush to grow up. But adults know it's not all staying up late partying or playing games with friends once you're there. Sure, there's more freedom when you're an adult, but with independence comes responsibility. Some people mature, making good decisions, and some don't. And a few adults seem like they're still in high school, which brings me to my topic.

Adult Stereotypes. I'd say the majority of people grow up into decent adults and put away the pettiness and drama of high school. But we all slip up sometimes, letting a bad habit show once in a while. It's tough being "adult" about everything all the time. Thank goodness for reality TV, giving us a quick reminder of how NOT to behave!

And so, here's a fun list of Adult Stereotypes that you mostly only read about or see on TV or in movies for a laugh or for drama... They're funnier or more dastardly because adults should know better.

Gossips - These sweethearts are syrup and sugar on the outside, but live for finding out and spreading juicy stories about you behind your back. Adult bullies who make others feel bad so they feel superior. I love it when they get their just desserts! (ha ha)
Nerds - I split these into two groups - the innocent rule-followers and helpers OR the super smarties who know they're smarter than most and are condescending to the peons below them, they enjoy pointing out the mistakes of others. It's fun to see the first type become heroes or the second type get shown up.
Jocks - There are three groups of this type - health nuts, muscle heads, or couch potatoes - and they're all pretty selfish in extreme ways caring only about their bodies whether good or bad.
Partiers - They love to host or go out and drink and dance, etc. This is the worst group because they're deceptively glamorized and don't show the true consequences like alcoholism, addiction, and crime - unless it's a serious movie, then it's usually depressing.

There are more specific stereotypes, but I didn't have room to list them all, like overprotective or oblivious parents, super strict or lazy teachers, etc. Irony sells. But the great part about books and movies with these outlandish characters is they usually get what's coming to them or are taught a lesson for us to learn as well.

Do you ever use adult stereotypes to teach a lesson in your writing?
Thanks so much for having me here, Lee! This release party is making me go visit folks I haven't seen in a long time - it's been great!

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOREST!

CRADLE ROCK, Beast World Book Twoby Tara Tyler


Gabe the goblin just saved his town Broken Branch Falls from splitting apart. He also revealed that humans--horrible creatures of myth and legend--may actually be part of their history! But seriously? Nah!
Now Ona, Gabe’s girlfriend, is headed thousands of miles away to Camp Cradle Rock for Spring Break seeking evidence of humans. Gabe knows better than to tell a stubborn ogress she’s crazy, so he’s letting her go and spending the break at the beach like a normal teenage beast. And he’s determined to have a good time without her, whether he likes it or not.
But when Gabe hears Ona went missing, he and his friends set out for the wilds of the west to find her, no matter what dangerous creatures get in his way. Not even humans.
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads
Check out the Book Trailer!

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently she has two series, Pop Travel (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures). To squeeze in writing, she economizes her time aka the Lazy Housewife. Make every day an adventure!

Talk to me!
Author Blog ~~ @taratylertalks ~~ Facebook ~~ Housewives Blog

Sign up for my quarterly newsletter if you'd like to find out more and you could win something!


Quote of the Week: "The book designer’s responsibility is threefold: to the reader, to the publisher and, most of all, to the author. I want you to look at the author’s book and say, ‘Wow! I need to read that.'" Chip Kidd, Cover DesignerBeware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew

There's Something About Love and War

Let Me Tell You A Story

Over the years I've heard or read stories about other people's lives. I've also had a few experiences that have entered into my "Let me tell you about the time" category. Some of these stories have crept into my books. Others are waiting in the wings. 


Last week I wrote about visiting my family in Bellinzona, SW and being caught in a snow storm in the Swiss mountains where my cousin and I had to take over-night shelter in a small wooden structure. What I discovered was that during WWII many of these shelters turned into rendezvous for Swiss sympathizers and the Italian resistance. Swiss couriers--the not so neutral citizens--relayed messages between resistance fighters and allies.

There were also a few love affairs that developed in these outposts, and among those was one that affected my family. One of my cousins was a courier who fell in love with an Italian resistance fighter. They met, exchanged messages, and, I imagine, some romantic moments, then one night my cousin's lover didn't show. She waited for two days before returning to the village. At the next scheduled meeting, he still didn't arrive. She never saw the man she loved again.

Now there's a plot for some romance novelist.

Women of the Resistenza.

A book on my TBR list.  



Did You Know. . .The Resistenza suffered severe retaliation at the hands of the Germans, and by war's end had lost about 50,000 men and women. However, they controlled Venice, Milan and Genoa, and they had saved their republic. 
February 4, 1945.
Piazza Garibaldi, Ravenna, the Medaglio D'Oro ceremony. 


Quote of the Week: “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” 
― G.K. Chesterton, Writer
Next week: 
Another Story. My featured follower of the month, Sandra Cox, speaks out.Tara Tyler with her new book, Cradle Rock.Beware the White Rabbit (Anthology: They Call Me Alice), Leap Books, Summer '15
Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09
The Princess of Las Pulgas, WestSide Books, Fall '10
The First Time, Fall '11 (Anthology story: Premeditated Cat)
Alligators Overhead, Outskirts Press, Fall '12
Two and Twenty Dark Tales (Anthology story: Into the Sea of Dew