Vicki Batman's Blog, page 60
August 13, 2015
Saying goodbye to kitty hurt my heart #petloss #MFRWorg #cats #animalfriends
A few weeks ago, I had to say goodbye to my old (er than dirt) kitty, Scooter. She reached age 22 on July 4. For many years, I knew she had suffered from kidney failure. The veterinarian had added thyroid and heart to the mix as well.
Scoo was a good kitty. Shy. Soft. Had a good fussy face. Knew what an alarm clock was and helped wake us up. Screamed at me when I'd returned from my travels. She nodded off by my monitor while I worked.
Handsome and I went on a big trip this summer. Before I left, I rubbed her forehead with my nose and said, "You be here when I return." She was.
Then I went to RWA and again, I asked her to be home when I returned. She was.
But not for long.
Her hips were going wonky. She fell a lot. We'd pick her up and set her straight. She didn't eat much. She didn't drink much. We cradled her skinny body to our chests. One morning, I could tell she was in horrible shape and I made the decision to call the vet. But by the afternoon, she was nearly gone.
Someone asked me how I felt. I said, "Like my heart had been ripped out of my chest, stomped on a couple of times, and thrust back inside of me."
Yeah, that sad.
Recently, my sister had to say bye to her spaniel/terrier mix, Oreo. He lived to be 14 and everyone always commented, "He was a good dog."
Some of my writer friends on Facebook lost their furry friends.
I still have the silly malti-poos, Champ and Jones. But they aren't my Scoo.
Scoo was a good kitty. Shy. Soft. Had a good fussy face. Knew what an alarm clock was and helped wake us up. Screamed at me when I'd returned from my travels. She nodded off by my monitor while I worked.
Handsome and I went on a big trip this summer. Before I left, I rubbed her forehead with my nose and said, "You be here when I return." She was.Then I went to RWA and again, I asked her to be home when I returned. She was.
But not for long.
Her hips were going wonky. She fell a lot. We'd pick her up and set her straight. She didn't eat much. She didn't drink much. We cradled her skinny body to our chests. One morning, I could tell she was in horrible shape and I made the decision to call the vet. But by the afternoon, she was nearly gone.
Someone asked me how I felt. I said, "Like my heart had been ripped out of my chest, stomped on a couple of times, and thrust back inside of me."
Yeah, that sad.
Recently, my sister had to say bye to her spaniel/terrier mix, Oreo. He lived to be 14 and everyone always commented, "He was a good dog."
Some of my writer friends on Facebook lost their furry friends.
I still have the silly malti-poos, Champ and Jones. But they aren't my Scoo.
August 11, 2015
Movie Mom : Mr. Holmes #sherlockholmes #mystery #MFRWorg #goodfilm
Movie Mom on...Mr. Holmes
Ninety-three year old Sherlock Holmes struggles in his final days and with remembering his last case.Starring: Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes, Laura Linney, Milo Parker is a film based on A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin. With his mind deteriorating, Mr. Holmes struggles to recollect memories about his final case.
My thoughts: This movie surprised me in a very good way. I really, really, really liked it. For someone so good at deduction and logic, the character worked at grasping every bit of his life, oftentimes frustrated. The film was gritty yet tender and poignant. I liked and understood each character. I thought the story very realistic. Highly recommend. And there's a surprise cameo.
FMI: Wikipedia
August 9, 2015
#handbag Monday - Hey, my birthday is NEXT month!! lol Celebrating Fun day now #happybirthday #fashion #accessories #shoes #MFRWorg #RLFblog
Handbag Monday
Sometimes, I am really surprised and that happened on Saturday while celebrating my mom’s birthday. She had just opened her last gift and during the interim, many of us were chatting quietly with the loved one sitting next to us. My youngest sissie jumped to her feet and glided from the room, only to return in a snap, and deposited a pink gift bag in my lap. She said, “For your birthday.”
My birthday is a month away. I asked, “Do you want me to open it now or save?”
“Now.”
I had an idea what the bag contained as two black handles stuck out of the tissue paper. So I joyfully stuck my hand inside and removed an envelope. The card was glittery and the number of my birthday--a milestone--was all over it. I grinned for I had named this birthday the last birthday ever. “From now on,” I’d decreed on other occasions, “I will only be celebrating Fun Days.”
Everyone had laughed.
My hand went in the depths again and I removed this…
You can imagine my joy. An Enid Collins tote with initials, named Brite Owl and copyrighted, And I didn’t have one trimmed in black.
My sisters knew they’d done good. I just love it. Thank you, sissies, family (and Andy-lolol).
Sometimes, I am really surprised and that happened on Saturday while celebrating my mom’s birthday. She had just opened her last gift and during the interim, many of us were chatting quietly with the loved one sitting next to us. My youngest sissie jumped to her feet and glided from the room, only to return in a snap, and deposited a pink gift bag in my lap. She said, “For your birthday.”
My birthday is a month away. I asked, “Do you want me to open it now or save?”
“Now.”
I had an idea what the bag contained as two black handles stuck out of the tissue paper. So I joyfully stuck my hand inside and removed an envelope. The card was glittery and the number of my birthday--a milestone--was all over it. I grinned for I had named this birthday the last birthday ever. “From now on,” I’d decreed on other occasions, “I will only be celebrating Fun Days.”
Everyone had laughed.
My hand went in the depths again and I removed this…
You can imagine my joy. An Enid Collins tote with initials, named Brite Owl and copyrighted, And I didn’t have one trimmed in black. My sisters knew they’d done good. I just love it. Thank you, sissies, family (and Andy-lolol).
August 6, 2015
#author Christina Cole #Traveling by #Train in 1882 #historicColorado #Railroad #MFRWorg
From California to Colorado – A Long Railway Journey
When I began working on No Regrets, set in Colorado in 1882, I knew the story I was about to tell. I’d written a short synopsis for the publisher, and I looked forward to bringing the story to life.
The synopsis included this line:
To avoid any further problems, Hattie leaves Sunset.Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? It was. Sending Hattie away – to California – was an easy task. I showed her packing up and leaving…and then moved on to hero’s point of view. Later I returned to Hattie, who was already living in far-away San Francisco.
Of course, Willie wouldn’t be much of a hero if he weren’t willing to go after the woman he loves and bring her home again…and that’s when I realized how little I knew about railroad travel in the late 19th century.
How long would it take for Willie and Hattie to travel from San Francisco to my fictional town of Sunset located a few hours from Denver? What route would they take? What would the accommodations be like?
Getting them home was not an easy task. It required travel on three different railway lines, overnight stays in two depots, and then a journey by wagon from Denver to Sunset.
I was fortunate to find a route map from 1871 and a timetable for 1882, so I was able to chart the couple’s progress from the time they boarded in San Francisco until they finally reached Denver.
I didn’t list every little town they passed through, but tried to give readers a feel for the trip in this short passage:
From San Francisco, they rode the Central Pacific line eastward, passing through Sacramento, then crossing into Nevada. The locomotive rolled onward. Truckee, Winnemucca, Carlin. Together he and Hattie noted the towns as their railcar rolled past. On to Promontory— where the golden spike had brought the east and west together slightly more than a decade before— and finally, nearly twenty-four hours after their trip had begun, they arrived in Ogden, Utah. Willie and Hattie rested there, spending a quiet night at the Union Station, a two-story wood-frame building beside the Weber River which marked the junction of the Central Pacific with the Union Pacific Railway.
That was only the first leg of the journey. The following morning, they boarded a Union Pacific train, traveling now in the comfort of a “Palace Car”. This was a luxury service offered by the railroad for a premium price. Palace cars featured plush carpeting, individual gas lamps for passengers, and fold-down sleeping berths – had Willie and Hattie stayed on the line.
Instead, they disembarked at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and spent the night at the depot’s hotel. After breakfast the next morning, they boarded yet another train, this one belonging to the Denver Pacific Railroad. At last, they were nearly home.
Railroad travel was difficult, dangerous, and above all, dirty.
The train rolled over the tracks, belching out smoke and thick clouds of steam. Greasy black soot soon covered Hattie’s cloak— and her face and hands as well. Willie fared no better. Loving him more than ever, she reached up and wiped a smudge from his face.
When Hattie and Willie finally reached Denver – where they spent another night before continuing on – I’m sure I was as relieved as they must have been. Today, we travel swiftly and easily from place to place, watching movies, listening to music, and enjoying snacks, beverages, and meals. It’s easy to forget how very inconvenient travel was in the early days of the nation.
Find Christina at: Website
Find No Regrets at: Amazon
I love this information, Christina! Trains run in my family as my mom and grandad worked for the T&P railroad. Have you had a train trip?
When I began working on No Regrets, set in Colorado in 1882, I knew the story I was about to tell. I’d written a short synopsis for the publisher, and I looked forward to bringing the story to life.
The synopsis included this line:To avoid any further problems, Hattie leaves Sunset.Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? It was. Sending Hattie away – to California – was an easy task. I showed her packing up and leaving…and then moved on to hero’s point of view. Later I returned to Hattie, who was already living in far-away San Francisco.
Of course, Willie wouldn’t be much of a hero if he weren’t willing to go after the woman he loves and bring her home again…and that’s when I realized how little I knew about railroad travel in the late 19th century.
How long would it take for Willie and Hattie to travel from San Francisco to my fictional town of Sunset located a few hours from Denver? What route would they take? What would the accommodations be like?
Getting them home was not an easy task. It required travel on three different railway lines, overnight stays in two depots, and then a journey by wagon from Denver to Sunset.
I was fortunate to find a route map from 1871 and a timetable for 1882, so I was able to chart the couple’s progress from the time they boarded in San Francisco until they finally reached Denver.
I didn’t list every little town they passed through, but tried to give readers a feel for the trip in this short passage:
From San Francisco, they rode the Central Pacific line eastward, passing through Sacramento, then crossing into Nevada. The locomotive rolled onward. Truckee, Winnemucca, Carlin. Together he and Hattie noted the towns as their railcar rolled past. On to Promontory— where the golden spike had brought the east and west together slightly more than a decade before— and finally, nearly twenty-four hours after their trip had begun, they arrived in Ogden, Utah. Willie and Hattie rested there, spending a quiet night at the Union Station, a two-story wood-frame building beside the Weber River which marked the junction of the Central Pacific with the Union Pacific Railway.
That was only the first leg of the journey. The following morning, they boarded a Union Pacific train, traveling now in the comfort of a “Palace Car”. This was a luxury service offered by the railroad for a premium price. Palace cars featured plush carpeting, individual gas lamps for passengers, and fold-down sleeping berths – had Willie and Hattie stayed on the line.
Instead, they disembarked at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and spent the night at the depot’s hotel. After breakfast the next morning, they boarded yet another train, this one belonging to the Denver Pacific Railroad. At last, they were nearly home.
Railroad travel was difficult, dangerous, and above all, dirty.The train rolled over the tracks, belching out smoke and thick clouds of steam. Greasy black soot soon covered Hattie’s cloak— and her face and hands as well. Willie fared no better. Loving him more than ever, she reached up and wiped a smudge from his face.
When Hattie and Willie finally reached Denver – where they spent another night before continuing on – I’m sure I was as relieved as they must have been. Today, we travel swiftly and easily from place to place, watching movies, listening to music, and enjoying snacks, beverages, and meals. It’s easy to forget how very inconvenient travel was in the early days of the nation.
Find Christina at: Website
Find No Regrets at: Amazon
I love this information, Christina! Trains run in my family as my mom and grandad worked for the T&P railroad. Have you had a train trip?
August 4, 2015
#Handbag author - Jami Gray! All things plaid #MFRWorg #accessories #fashion
Handbag Monday with...Jami Gray
Other than books and boots, my other indulgence can be found in my handbag collection. My preferred dealer—Dooney & Bourke.
This little beaut was a Christmas gift two years ago from my Knight in Slightly Muddy Armor. He was hoping to get the green and black, but it became a mythical creature fairly quick, and he nabbed this bright girl. It was a lovely addition to my collection. My bags, much like my glasses, have to make a statement, and not one you’ll find just anywhere.
Jami, that's adorable. Your Knight did well.
SHADOW’S EDGE, Book 1 of The Kyn Kronicles, is free for a limited time.
Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…
When the supernatural lurks in the shadows of the mundane, hunting monsters requires unique skills, like those of Raine McCord. A series of deaths threatens to reveal the Kyn community and forces her to partner with the sexy Gavin Durand.
As the trail leads to the foundation haunting Raine’s childhood, she and Gavin must unravel lies and betrayals to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.
Find Shadow's Edge at: Amazon
Find Jami at: Website
Other than books and boots, my other indulgence can be found in my handbag collection. My preferred dealer—Dooney & Bourke.
This little beaut was a Christmas gift two years ago from my Knight in Slightly Muddy Armor. He was hoping to get the green and black, but it became a mythical creature fairly quick, and he nabbed this bright girl. It was a lovely addition to my collection. My bags, much like my glasses, have to make a statement, and not one you’ll find just anywhere.Jami, that's adorable. Your Knight did well.
SHADOW’S EDGE, Book 1 of The Kyn Kronicles, is free for a limited time.
Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…
When the supernatural lurks in the shadows of the mundane, hunting monsters requires unique skills, like those of Raine McCord. A series of deaths threatens to reveal the Kyn community and forces her to partner with the sexy Gavin Durand.
As the trail leads to the foundation haunting Raine’s childhood, she and Gavin must unravel lies and betrayals to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.
Find Shadow's Edge at: Amazon
Find Jami at: Website
August 2, 2015
#Handbag Monday author Kelly Lee on Murdering Eve & #upcycling #recycling accessories #MFRWorg #fashion
Handbag Monday with
Kelly Lee
I’m a big fan of recycling and upcycling. While I don’t personally have the talent to strip and refinish furniture, or take discarded Capri sun bags and make handbags out of them, I make a point of voting with my consumer dollars to support the artists who do.
This fun silver number was given to me as a gift from one of my oldest friends. Handcrafted in India and sold by a fair trade organization that helps women create positive income streams and children get access to schooling, it’s made from discarded chip bags and is even more fun in person. I can dress it up or down, and it’s always a great conversation starter.
Adorable, Kelly!
If you like cool, one of a kind pieces too, this is a great site to shop: http://www.handcraftingjustice.org
Exiled to magic-barren Earth Realm, Whit Blackstone has resigned himself to never seeing his family or clan again. But when a mysterious woman appears, wielding as much power as the goddess who banished him, primal desire and his desperation to return home collide.
Immortal… After twenty-nine years of believing herself human, Eve Moore can’t wrap her brain around the word. But even immortals can’t always cheat death, especially if a bloodthirsty God of War threatens your soul. Betrayed and hunted by a relentless assassin, newly immortal Eve Moore has no choice but to trust the heart-stopping stranger she’s been tasked to find and return to Olympus.As their chemistry ignites, Eve discovers the depth of her emerging powers, and the inescapable connection she and Whit share. When the time comes, will Eve hand him over and walk away? Or will the long buried secrets of her past doom both their lives, and their very souls?
Find Murdering Eve at: Amazon
Find Kelly Lee at: Facebook
Have any of you purchased recycled-into-new anything? I have a zip pouch made from a potato chip package. One friend has a bag from the soda can's pull tabs.
Kelly Lee
I’m a big fan of recycling and upcycling. While I don’t personally have the talent to strip and refinish furniture, or take discarded Capri sun bags and make handbags out of them, I make a point of voting with my consumer dollars to support the artists who do.
This fun silver number was given to me as a gift from one of my oldest friends. Handcrafted in India and sold by a fair trade organization that helps women create positive income streams and children get access to schooling, it’s made from discarded chip bags and is even more fun in person. I can dress it up or down, and it’s always a great conversation starter.
Adorable, Kelly!
If you like cool, one of a kind pieces too, this is a great site to shop: http://www.handcraftingjustice.org
Exiled to magic-barren Earth Realm, Whit Blackstone has resigned himself to never seeing his family or clan again. But when a mysterious woman appears, wielding as much power as the goddess who banished him, primal desire and his desperation to return home collide.
Immortal… After twenty-nine years of believing herself human, Eve Moore can’t wrap her brain around the word. But even immortals can’t always cheat death, especially if a bloodthirsty God of War threatens your soul. Betrayed and hunted by a relentless assassin, newly immortal Eve Moore has no choice but to trust the heart-stopping stranger she’s been tasked to find and return to Olympus.As their chemistry ignites, Eve discovers the depth of her emerging powers, and the inescapable connection she and Whit share. When the time comes, will Eve hand him over and walk away? Or will the long buried secrets of her past doom both their lives, and their very souls?
Find Murdering Eve at: Amazon
Find Kelly Lee at: Facebook
Have any of you purchased recycled-into-new anything? I have a zip pouch made from a potato chip package. One friend has a bag from the soda can's pull tabs.
July 30, 2015
Luanna Stewart & new #romanticsuspense, Portrait of a Girl, and best of all, #cakerecipe
Let’s Get to Know...Luanna Stewart Secrets make the best stories…
Family secrets have always intrigued me. I remember the day I found out one of my relatives was conceived out of wedlock. I was shocked only because I hadn’t heard even a whisper about it until I was over 30 years old. It would have been a huge scandal fifty years ago, not so much these days. And yet it wasn’t discussed.
When I was brainstorming my latest release, Portrait of a Girl, I knew the big issue would be a family secret. Not anything as mundane as a child born on the wrong side of the tracks – this was a contemporary story after all. Perhaps in the historical romance world, being a bastard would be enough of an obstacle to overcome to make a gripping tale, but not in the 21st century. After a few false starts, I settled on the big secret for my story. A wealthy father who made his millions by stealing priceless art from his friends. And a daughter who didn’t learn the truth until after his death, and so couldn’t ask him for an explanation. Lots of room there for conflict. I had a great time making the father a bad guy, but not nearly as bad as his former partners in crime. He was the heroine’s daddy, after all.
There’s another secret in my family, but it’s the genesis for an upcoming book, so you’ll have to wait to read about that one. I cantell you that that particular branch of the family created some fabulous cooks. I’ll share one of their recipes with you, but you have to keep it a secret.
Aunt Hilda’s Chocolate Cake 2 cups sugar½ cup butter, room temperature2 eggs¾ cup sour milk (or ¾ cup milk + 1 teaspoon vinegar)1 teaspoon vanilla2 cups flour1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt½ cup cocoa, dissolved in 1 cup boiling water
Preheat oven to 350. Grease Bundt pan, tube pan, or two 9-inch layer pans.
Sift together flour, soda, baking powder and salt. Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, beat until well combined. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk and cocoa water. Mix until well blended. Mixture will be very wet.
Bake for 45 – 50 minutes. (25 - 30 minutes for layer pans). Cool in pans on rack for 10 minutes. Turn out and cool completely. Frost with your favorite frosting.
When her wealthy art dealer father died, Heather James was expecting a fortune. Instead, his bank account was empty and Heather’s working in a bakery, wondering exactly what happened to her father's millions...until someone tries to kill her. Tony Simons is on the trail of an art theft cold case that's practically giving him frostbite. He's hoping that by sticking close to Heather—the daughter of his deceased prime suspect—he'll find the answers he needs. Instead, he's finding himself distracted by a gorgeous woman who drives him crazy in every way imaginable… Now Tony's in serious trouble. Even if Heather can't—or won't—tell him where the stolen paintings and money are, she may well have stolen his heart. And now someone wants her dead… Find Portrait of a Girl at: Entangled Find Luanna at: Website
Luanna, this cover is awesome! You have to be thrilled. And speaking of thrilled, I so love chocolate cake. Thanks for sharing.
July 28, 2015
The Genius of Dr. Seuss #kidsbooks #readingtokids
My friend next door took dancing lessons, went to camp, and learned to play the guitar. She came home and taught me everything she knew. And when she received a new Dr. Seuss book in the mail, she shared it with me.
Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904. He worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for various publications. However, his career took off in 1937 when he published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. During World War II he produced several short films for the U S Army.After the war, Dr. Seuss focused on children's books. (Wikipedia)
See if you see your favorite in this list:
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street (1937)
The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins (1938)
The King's Stilts (1939)
Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)
McElligot's Pool (1947)
Thidwick The Big-Hearted Moose (1948)
Bartholomew And The Oobleck (1949)
If I Ran the Zoo (1950)
Scrambled Eggs Super! (1953)
Horton Hears A Who! (1954)
On Beyond Zebra (1955)
If I Ran The Circus (1956)
The Cat in the Hat (1957)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
Yertle The Turtle And Other Stories (1958)
The Cat In The Hat Comes Back! (1958)
Happy Birthday To You! (1959)
Green Eggs And Ham (1960)
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)
The Sneetches And Other Stories (1961)
Dr Seuss's Sleep Book (1962)
Dr Seuss's ABC (1963)
Hop on Pop (1963)
Fox In Socks (1965)
I Had Trouble In Getting To Solla Sollew (1965)
The Cat in the Hat Song Book (1967)
The Foot Book (1968)
I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories (1969)
My Book About Me (1969)
I Can Draw It Myself (1970)
Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You? (1970)
The Lorax (1971)
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! (1972)
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (1973)
The Shape Of Me And Other Stuff (1973)
Great Day For Up (1974)
There's a Wocket in my Pocket! (1974)
Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! (1975)
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (1978)
Oh Say Can You Say? (1979)
Hunches In Bunches (1982)
The Butter Battle Book (1984)
You're Only Old Once! (1986)
I am Not Going to Get Up Today (1987)
Oh, The Places You'll Go! (1990)
(See more at: Dr. Seuss)
So when my boys came along, I read Dr. Seuss to them, having the boys try to figure out their own words which rhymed with his. I can almost recite all of Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and One Fish, Two Fish. Every Christmas, I watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
But wait! There's a new one coming, one he'd set away and is just now being released after many many years--
I'm sure many of you read Dr. Seuss. Which are your favorites?
Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904. He worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for various publications. However, his career took off in 1937 when he published his first children's book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. During World War II he produced several short films for the U S Army.After the war, Dr. Seuss focused on children's books. (Wikipedia)See if you see your favorite in this list:
And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street (1937)
The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins (1938)
The King's Stilts (1939)
Horton Hatches the Egg (1940)
McElligot's Pool (1947)
Thidwick The Big-Hearted Moose (1948)
Bartholomew And The Oobleck (1949)
If I Ran the Zoo (1950)
Scrambled Eggs Super! (1953)
Horton Hears A Who! (1954)
On Beyond Zebra (1955)
If I Ran The Circus (1956)
The Cat in the Hat (1957)
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
Yertle The Turtle And Other Stories (1958)
The Cat In The Hat Comes Back! (1958)
Happy Birthday To You! (1959)
Green Eggs And Ham (1960)
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)
The Sneetches And Other Stories (1961)
Dr Seuss's Sleep Book (1962)
Dr Seuss's ABC (1963)
Hop on Pop (1963)
Fox In Socks (1965)
I Had Trouble In Getting To Solla Sollew (1965)
The Cat in the Hat Song Book (1967)
The Foot Book (1968)
I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories (1969)
My Book About Me (1969)
I Can Draw It Myself (1970)
Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You? (1970)
The Lorax (1971)
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! (1972)
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (1973)
The Shape Of Me And Other Stuff (1973)
Great Day For Up (1974)
There's a Wocket in my Pocket! (1974)
Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! (1975)
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! (1978)
Oh Say Can You Say? (1979)
Hunches In Bunches (1982)
The Butter Battle Book (1984)
You're Only Old Once! (1986)
I am Not Going to Get Up Today (1987)
Oh, The Places You'll Go! (1990)
(See more at: Dr. Seuss)
So when my boys came along, I read Dr. Seuss to them, having the boys try to figure out their own words which rhymed with his. I can almost recite all of Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, and One Fish, Two Fish. Every Christmas, I watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
But wait! There's a new one coming, one he'd set away and is just now being released after many many years--
I'm sure many of you read Dr. Seuss. Which are your favorites?
July 26, 2015
Author Melissa Keir is Surviving in the Wild #camping #glamping #MFRWorg
Let’s Get to Know...Melissa Keir
I never used to be a camper. I thought roughing it was a hotel without a pool. Now, I’ve been camping for years in tents and a trailer. I do have to say that the trailer is much better. It’s like a home away from home!
But if you were stranded on an island, what would you bring?
I would have a knife, tarp, rope, and pot. Using these items, I could survive easily on an island for days. The tarp could be used as a cover for my shelter or as a way to carry large amounts of items. The knife is important for defense but also for hunting, fishing, and creating my shelter. The pot could be used to boil water to make it drinkable or to cook dinner!
My husband is a prepper. We have all the materials we need to survive should we lose power or if the end of the world happens. Luckily, we lost power this last summer for five days and we did great at home. We had plenty of water and food. We even could cook.
Keira and Rob Matthews crash on an island and are forced to survive on the items they find in the luggage that floats to the shore. Thankfully, there is fresh water on the island and few predators. While this trip was supposed to be a second honeymoon, it ends up as a sexy camping trip!
Can Rob and Keira's second honeymoon lead to romance, or will it crash and burn?
On the verge of a divorce, Rob and Keira Matthews book a second honeymoon at the urging of their counselor. Unable to conceive, they've pushed each other away in an effort to protect their hearts. Will a romantic holiday be the ticket to love or a plane crash in disaster?
Crashing Into Love is a boxed set featuring:A Splash of Romance by Deb Julienne Falling Hard by D'Ann Lindun Love Comes Crashing In by Brenda Dyer Crashing Through Time by Jenna Jaxon Crashing into You by Lisa Kumar Brace for Impact by Daryl Devoré
Find Crashing Into Love at:Amazon Amazon UK Createspace
Find Melissa Keir at: Website
What is your idea of camping? A hotel or tents? And if you were stuck on an island, which items would you bring?
I never used to be a camper. I thought roughing it was a hotel without a pool. Now, I’ve been camping for years in tents and a trailer. I do have to say that the trailer is much better. It’s like a home away from home! But if you were stranded on an island, what would you bring?
I would have a knife, tarp, rope, and pot. Using these items, I could survive easily on an island for days. The tarp could be used as a cover for my shelter or as a way to carry large amounts of items. The knife is important for defense but also for hunting, fishing, and creating my shelter. The pot could be used to boil water to make it drinkable or to cook dinner!
My husband is a prepper. We have all the materials we need to survive should we lose power or if the end of the world happens. Luckily, we lost power this last summer for five days and we did great at home. We had plenty of water and food. We even could cook.
Keira and Rob Matthews crash on an island and are forced to survive on the items they find in the luggage that floats to the shore. Thankfully, there is fresh water on the island and few predators. While this trip was supposed to be a second honeymoon, it ends up as a sexy camping trip!
Can Rob and Keira's second honeymoon lead to romance, or will it crash and burn?
On the verge of a divorce, Rob and Keira Matthews book a second honeymoon at the urging of their counselor. Unable to conceive, they've pushed each other away in an effort to protect their hearts. Will a romantic holiday be the ticket to love or a plane crash in disaster?
Crashing Into Love is a boxed set featuring:A Splash of Romance by Deb Julienne Falling Hard by D'Ann Lindun Love Comes Crashing In by Brenda Dyer Crashing Through Time by Jenna Jaxon Crashing into You by Lisa Kumar Brace for Impact by Daryl Devoré
Find Crashing Into Love at:Amazon Amazon UK Createspace
Find Melissa Keir at: Website
What is your idea of camping? A hotel or tents? And if you were stuck on an island, which items would you bring?
July 23, 2015
Author Andrew Hess on #newbook Trapped Inside #MFRWorg #agoraphobia
Let’s Get to Know...Andrew Hess
Andrew is a resident of Long Island New York. He debuted his first book, Chamber of souls, in 2011. The Chamber was a unique free verse poetry book that depicted the struggles of man as he falls into his own self wallowing journey while struggling to find himself. Hess followed this up with another book of poetry which showed a much darker side called; Hall of the Forgotten.
Hess has a love for mystery novels which was apparent by him taking a stab at a fictional government conspiracy series; The Phoenix Blade. This series has taken readers by storm by showcasing a group of vigilante 20 year olds that have been hired by the government to rid the country of people that have evaded justice. The Phoenix Blade currently has released the third installment of the series and was awarded Best Series of 2014 by Indie Author Books.
Despite living most of his life on Long Island, Andrew also spent five years living in the Ulster and Dutchess County areas and returns several times a year. His return trips have inspired him to create another intense series depicting a female detective named Ali Ryan called, Campus Killer.
Hess is an avid blogger at TheWritersRevolution13.blogspot.com where he promotes and interviews other authors as well as reviewing books of all genres. He has partnered up with several companies to help showcase authors from all over the world.
Hess is also a frequent guest on the Anthony Charles Podcast, a show dedicated to creative professionals as they give insight into their works and the lives they lead; guests have included authors, comedians, musicians, stuntmen, actors and producers.
Fear is a powerful emotion that finds its way into the mind of everyone. It’s manipulative and controlling. It can paralyze you and make you do things you wouldn’t normally do. It will sink its teeth into you and won’t let you go without a fight.For Justin Ackers, fear became a reality when he decided to walk home from work. After taking a shortcut to his apartment, Justin found himself entering a world of trouble. He was surrounded by a gang of thugs that was out for blood, his blood. The nightmare replayed for months rendering Justin incapable of leaving the apartment. The mere thought of going outside brought on panic attacks that brought on horrible memories. Now he confines himself in the safety of his apartment, and is forced to watch the world go on without him.
Find Trapped Inside at: Amazon
Find Andrew Hess at: Facebook
Andrew, what made you want to write a story about Agoraphobia?
Andrew is a resident of Long Island New York. He debuted his first book, Chamber of souls, in 2011. The Chamber was a unique free verse poetry book that depicted the struggles of man as he falls into his own self wallowing journey while struggling to find himself. Hess followed this up with another book of poetry which showed a much darker side called; Hall of the Forgotten.Hess has a love for mystery novels which was apparent by him taking a stab at a fictional government conspiracy series; The Phoenix Blade. This series has taken readers by storm by showcasing a group of vigilante 20 year olds that have been hired by the government to rid the country of people that have evaded justice. The Phoenix Blade currently has released the third installment of the series and was awarded Best Series of 2014 by Indie Author Books.
Despite living most of his life on Long Island, Andrew also spent five years living in the Ulster and Dutchess County areas and returns several times a year. His return trips have inspired him to create another intense series depicting a female detective named Ali Ryan called, Campus Killer.
Hess is an avid blogger at TheWritersRevolution13.blogspot.com where he promotes and interviews other authors as well as reviewing books of all genres. He has partnered up with several companies to help showcase authors from all over the world.
Hess is also a frequent guest on the Anthony Charles Podcast, a show dedicated to creative professionals as they give insight into their works and the lives they lead; guests have included authors, comedians, musicians, stuntmen, actors and producers.
Fear is a powerful emotion that finds its way into the mind of everyone. It’s manipulative and controlling. It can paralyze you and make you do things you wouldn’t normally do. It will sink its teeth into you and won’t let you go without a fight.For Justin Ackers, fear became a reality when he decided to walk home from work. After taking a shortcut to his apartment, Justin found himself entering a world of trouble. He was surrounded by a gang of thugs that was out for blood, his blood. The nightmare replayed for months rendering Justin incapable of leaving the apartment. The mere thought of going outside brought on panic attacks that brought on horrible memories. Now he confines himself in the safety of his apartment, and is forced to watch the world go on without him.
Find Trapped Inside at: Amazon
Find Andrew Hess at: Facebook
Andrew, what made you want to write a story about Agoraphobia?
