Mark R. Hunter's Blog, page 2
July 3, 2025
You Say You Don't Want a Revolution?
It seems like no one wants to face challenges or work for their dreams, anymore--they just seem to want everything handed to them. That made me wonder, what would have happened if Americans shared that attitude back at the time of the Revolution?
The Boston Tea Party:
“We’re being taxed on that tea without representation! We should dress up as Indians, sneak about the ship, and throw all those crates of tea overboard!”
“Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how much it costs to rent an Indian costume? And that war paint is terrible on my complexion. Besides, those tomahawks are dangerous, and don’t you think it’s insulting to our Native American friends? Why don’t we just write a letter, instead?”
The Battle of Lexington and Concord:
“Paul Revere, ride out and warn the Minutemen the British are coming!”
“I’m kind of busy doing engravings right now; are you sure they’re coming?”
“There’s a lantern in the church steeple!”
“I can’t remember if it’s one if by land and two if by sea, or the other way around. I’d hate to make a mistake; can’t you get Samuel Adams to do it?”
“But you’ve got the fastest horse!”
“Upkeep is a killer. She throws a shoe every other day, and it’s a pain taking care of all that leather, and she only gets about three miles to the bale. If I’m going to keep doing this, I’m really going to need some kind of financial assistance.”
The Battle of Bunker Hill:
“As long as the ammunition holds out, we can fight the British off for days!”
“Um, about that, sir: We’re out of ammunition.”
“What?”
“Well, the New Jersey guys were supposed to bring some, but they forgot; and the Virginia boys were willing to sell us some, but they wouldn’t take our Massachusetts money; and the Rhode Island guys say theirs all got wet on the way over, because hey--island.”
“But--"
“The New York fellas didn’t think their bullets would be compatible, and the guys from the Carolinas didn’t show up at all. We had supplies still left at Lexington, but Paul Revere wouldn’t lend us his horse.”
“Oh, never mind. I just found out we’re on the wrong hill, anyway. Let’s call it a day and sample some of that beer Sam Adams is so proud of.”
Independence Day soldier ad.jpg
Not historically accurate: It should have 50 Continental soldiers and about a thousand British.
George Washington:
“George, the Congress wants you to take over the army and beat the British.”
“Say what?”
“Now, I know they’ve got a large, well trained, disciplined, and well supplied army of experienced soldiers, and you’ve got farmers and merchants who’ve never shot at anything bigger than a turkey, but--"
“If you’re trying to convince me, you need to take lessons.”
John Paul Jones:
“As you know, Captain Jones, we’re fighting the most powerful navy in the world, and our navy consists of two barrels we borrowed from Sam Adams. Still, we’d like you to take a ship out there and give ‘em a good fight!”
“No way. Sam Adams doesn’t have enough beer in all of Boston to get me that drunk. I’m changing my name to John Paul Smith.”
Trenton:
“Dear Diary: We were supposed to cross the Delaware and attack the Hessians today, but we couldn’t get anybody to lend us boats. Then our feet got cold, and besides, we were a little hung over from all that beer Sam Adams sent over on Christmas. Besides, Hessians aren’t even British – what did the Germans ever do to us?”
Independence Day flag.JPG
There's been a flag on the play.
Valley Forge:
“To the Continental Congress: We are suffering under one of the worst winters in history, and we lack clothing, housing, firewood, food, and medical supplies. This is the greatest challenge my army has ever faced.
“I’m going back to Virginia. It’s warm there, and Martha makes a great stew.
“Sincerely, George Washington.”
And finally, the Declaration of Independence:
“Um, guys, I really don’t feel up to writing this.”
“But Tom, you’re our best writer!”
“Yeah, but … you want me to put all our causes and reasoning, and justify the first revolution of a British colony ever, in one little document? That would be hard.”
“But you’ve got that neat portable desk, and the copy machine you invented, and a really cool quill pen.”
“My wrist has been hurting. I think I’m getting carpel tunnel.”
“Look, this is important. We’re dedicating our lives, fortunes and sacred honor to this fight.”
“Yeah, about that. Is that such a good idea? I can let go of a little sacred honor, but that life and fortune stuff … I mean, my name would be on this thing.”
“If it makes you feel better, we’ll get John Hancock to sign his name in great big letters, so he’ll be the one they arrest.”
“Hey --!”
“Sorry, John, you wanted to be President of Congress. Come on now, Tom. Do it in
rhyme. We’ll call it the rappin’ revolution, it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know … don’t you think people will be bothered that a slave owner wrote a declaration of freedom?”
“We’ll call it a declaration of independence. Semantics, Tom! It’s all in the wording.”
“Well, all right … but I’m not paying for all that ink.”
You're free to find our books here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: the documents that made us free are worth nothing if no one reads them.
The Boston Tea Party:
“We’re being taxed on that tea without representation! We should dress up as Indians, sneak about the ship, and throw all those crates of tea overboard!”
“Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how much it costs to rent an Indian costume? And that war paint is terrible on my complexion. Besides, those tomahawks are dangerous, and don’t you think it’s insulting to our Native American friends? Why don’t we just write a letter, instead?”
The Battle of Lexington and Concord:
“Paul Revere, ride out and warn the Minutemen the British are coming!”
“I’m kind of busy doing engravings right now; are you sure they’re coming?”
“There’s a lantern in the church steeple!”
“I can’t remember if it’s one if by land and two if by sea, or the other way around. I’d hate to make a mistake; can’t you get Samuel Adams to do it?”
“But you’ve got the fastest horse!”
“Upkeep is a killer. She throws a shoe every other day, and it’s a pain taking care of all that leather, and she only gets about three miles to the bale. If I’m going to keep doing this, I’m really going to need some kind of financial assistance.”
The Battle of Bunker Hill:
“As long as the ammunition holds out, we can fight the British off for days!”
“Um, about that, sir: We’re out of ammunition.”
“What?”
“Well, the New Jersey guys were supposed to bring some, but they forgot; and the Virginia boys were willing to sell us some, but they wouldn’t take our Massachusetts money; and the Rhode Island guys say theirs all got wet on the way over, because hey--island.”
“But--"
“The New York fellas didn’t think their bullets would be compatible, and the guys from the Carolinas didn’t show up at all. We had supplies still left at Lexington, but Paul Revere wouldn’t lend us his horse.”
“Oh, never mind. I just found out we’re on the wrong hill, anyway. Let’s call it a day and sample some of that beer Sam Adams is so proud of.”
Independence Day soldier ad.jpg
Not historically accurate: It should have 50 Continental soldiers and about a thousand British.
George Washington:
“George, the Congress wants you to take over the army and beat the British.”
“Say what?”
“Now, I know they’ve got a large, well trained, disciplined, and well supplied army of experienced soldiers, and you’ve got farmers and merchants who’ve never shot at anything bigger than a turkey, but--"
“If you’re trying to convince me, you need to take lessons.”
John Paul Jones:
“As you know, Captain Jones, we’re fighting the most powerful navy in the world, and our navy consists of two barrels we borrowed from Sam Adams. Still, we’d like you to take a ship out there and give ‘em a good fight!”
“No way. Sam Adams doesn’t have enough beer in all of Boston to get me that drunk. I’m changing my name to John Paul Smith.”
Trenton:
“Dear Diary: We were supposed to cross the Delaware and attack the Hessians today, but we couldn’t get anybody to lend us boats. Then our feet got cold, and besides, we were a little hung over from all that beer Sam Adams sent over on Christmas. Besides, Hessians aren’t even British – what did the Germans ever do to us?”
Independence Day flag.JPG
There's been a flag on the play.
Valley Forge:
“To the Continental Congress: We are suffering under one of the worst winters in history, and we lack clothing, housing, firewood, food, and medical supplies. This is the greatest challenge my army has ever faced.
“I’m going back to Virginia. It’s warm there, and Martha makes a great stew.
“Sincerely, George Washington.”
And finally, the Declaration of Independence:
“Um, guys, I really don’t feel up to writing this.”
“But Tom, you’re our best writer!”
“Yeah, but … you want me to put all our causes and reasoning, and justify the first revolution of a British colony ever, in one little document? That would be hard.”
“But you’ve got that neat portable desk, and the copy machine you invented, and a really cool quill pen.”
“My wrist has been hurting. I think I’m getting carpel tunnel.”
“Look, this is important. We’re dedicating our lives, fortunes and sacred honor to this fight.”
“Yeah, about that. Is that such a good idea? I can let go of a little sacred honor, but that life and fortune stuff … I mean, my name would be on this thing.”
“If it makes you feel better, we’ll get John Hancock to sign his name in great big letters, so he’ll be the one they arrest.”
“Hey --!”
“Sorry, John, you wanted to be President of Congress. Come on now, Tom. Do it in
rhyme. We’ll call it the rappin’ revolution, it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know … don’t you think people will be bothered that a slave owner wrote a declaration of freedom?”
“We’ll call it a declaration of independence. Semantics, Tom! It’s all in the wording.”
“Well, all right … but I’m not paying for all that ink.”
You're free to find our books here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: the documents that made us free are worth nothing if no one reads them.
June 30, 2025
You CAN Judge a Book When It's Covered
History Press finally matched our upcoming book with its cover! It might not seem like a big deal, but it was a bit unnerving to see Haunted Noble County, Indiana up for preorder everywhere, but without a cover to ... well, cover it.
But wait--there's more. I decided to Google the book so I could give you all the links to it, and discovered Google is now giving AI overviews to anything you search. I can't say I'm thrilled. I'd much rather dig the info up by myself, but I bow to our future computer overlords so, just for fun, here's what artificial intelligence had to say about the book:
AI Overview
"Noble County, Indiana, has its share of ghost stories and haunted locations, including Albion's Rose Hill Cemetery, the Cromwell Library, and the Strand Theatre in Kendallville, according to a local author. A book titled "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" by Mark R. Hunter and Emily Jane Hunter details these and other spooky tales.
Specific Haunted Locations:
Rose Hill Cemetery (Albion): Known for the restless spirit of Adam Hoffman, who was robbed and murdered in 1897.
Cromell Library: Some believe a friendly ghost greets patrons.
Strand Theatre (Kendallville) : Reportedly haunted by a figure seen in the old projection room.
Sand Hill: One of the highest points in Indiana, rumored to be haunted, according to a book about the area.
Another High Hill: Said to be haunted due to a hanging or a murder immortalized by a poet.
Additional Information:
Mark R. Hunter, a local author, has extensively researched and documented Noble County's haunted history.
The book "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" Haunted Noble County, Indiana – Arcadia Publishing is part of the "Haunted America" series.
A Haunted Noble County Facebook group exists for sharing information and stories.
Limberlost Souls, a haunted trail in Noble County events-item limberlost-souls-annual-haunted-trail - visitnoblecounty is a popular attraction during the Halloween season, according to Visit Noble County: Boo! Looking to be Spooked in Noble? 👻
Okay, so a couple of notes. First of all, there is no Haunted Noble County Facebook group. I already have three FB pages: My main one, my author page, and the one for Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights that I never merged into the Mark R. Hunter author page. Plus the page I run for the Albion Fire Department. I never even considered creating a group.
Hm. Maybe a group for all our books?
Second, "theatre"? Is the AI British? That's where "1984" came from, after all.
Third, "another high hill"? It found all those other details, but couldn't be bothered to identify Diamond Lake Hill? Also, the poem takes place on Sand Hill.
Diamond Lake hill, also known as Diamond Hill. See? I found it.
Well, any publicity is good publicity, I suppose. Anyway, you can now see the cover and preorder the book at places including:
Haunted Noble County, Indiana – Arcadia Publishing
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America): Hunter, Mark R., Hunter, Emily Jane: 9781467156066: Amazon.com: Books
Haunted Noble County, Indiana by Mark R. Hunter, Emily Jane Hunter, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - (Haunted America) by Mark R Hunter & Emily Jane Hunter (Paperback) : Target
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - Hunter, Mark R; Hunter, Emily Jane - Dussmann - Das Kulturkaufhaus (Is this ... German?)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana Book By Mark R Hunter,emily Jane Hunter, (Paperback) | Indigo (Wait, the cover's not on this one yet.)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America) | Port Book and News
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - Mark R. Hunter, Emily Jane Hunter - häftad (9781467156066) | Adlibris Bokhandel
Results for "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" | Bookmarks | Non-Profit and Independent Bookstore
Haunted Noble County, Indiana / Najlacnejšie knihy (I have no idea where this one's located, but they've decided Emily wrote the book solo.)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - 三民網路書店 (Um ....?)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana │ 誠品線上 - 閱讀與生活的無盡想像 (More um ...?)
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/haunted...
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America) (Paperback) | Forever Books
I kept finding more and it was getting ridiculous, so I gave up. Sometimes I found some of our other books, including some of our self-published ones in places they should never have gotten to, but who am I to complain?
I assume that, like our book Images of America: Albion and Noble County, the new one will be available in e-book and hardcover. At the moment an audio book isn't in the cards, but don't you want to see the photos? Sure you do.
But wait--there's more. I decided to Google the book so I could give you all the links to it, and discovered Google is now giving AI overviews to anything you search. I can't say I'm thrilled. I'd much rather dig the info up by myself, but I bow to our future computer overlords so, just for fun, here's what artificial intelligence had to say about the book:
AI Overview
"Noble County, Indiana, has its share of ghost stories and haunted locations, including Albion's Rose Hill Cemetery, the Cromwell Library, and the Strand Theatre in Kendallville, according to a local author. A book titled "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" by Mark R. Hunter and Emily Jane Hunter details these and other spooky tales.
Specific Haunted Locations:
Rose Hill Cemetery (Albion): Known for the restless spirit of Adam Hoffman, who was robbed and murdered in 1897.
Cromell Library: Some believe a friendly ghost greets patrons.
Strand Theatre (Kendallville) : Reportedly haunted by a figure seen in the old projection room.
Sand Hill: One of the highest points in Indiana, rumored to be haunted, according to a book about the area.
Another High Hill: Said to be haunted due to a hanging or a murder immortalized by a poet.
Additional Information:
Mark R. Hunter, a local author, has extensively researched and documented Noble County's haunted history.
The book "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" Haunted Noble County, Indiana – Arcadia Publishing is part of the "Haunted America" series.
A Haunted Noble County Facebook group exists for sharing information and stories.
Limberlost Souls, a haunted trail in Noble County events-item limberlost-souls-annual-haunted-trail - visitnoblecounty is a popular attraction during the Halloween season, according to Visit Noble County: Boo! Looking to be Spooked in Noble? 👻
Okay, so a couple of notes. First of all, there is no Haunted Noble County Facebook group. I already have three FB pages: My main one, my author page, and the one for Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights that I never merged into the Mark R. Hunter author page. Plus the page I run for the Albion Fire Department. I never even considered creating a group.
Hm. Maybe a group for all our books?
Second, "theatre"? Is the AI British? That's where "1984" came from, after all.
Third, "another high hill"? It found all those other details, but couldn't be bothered to identify Diamond Lake Hill? Also, the poem takes place on Sand Hill.
Diamond Lake hill, also known as Diamond Hill. See? I found it.
Well, any publicity is good publicity, I suppose. Anyway, you can now see the cover and preorder the book at places including:
Haunted Noble County, Indiana – Arcadia Publishing
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America): Hunter, Mark R., Hunter, Emily Jane: 9781467156066: Amazon.com: Books
Haunted Noble County, Indiana by Mark R. Hunter, Emily Jane Hunter, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - (Haunted America) by Mark R Hunter & Emily Jane Hunter (Paperback) : Target
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - Hunter, Mark R; Hunter, Emily Jane - Dussmann - Das Kulturkaufhaus (Is this ... German?)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana Book By Mark R Hunter,emily Jane Hunter, (Paperback) | Indigo (Wait, the cover's not on this one yet.)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America) | Port Book and News
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - Mark R. Hunter, Emily Jane Hunter - häftad (9781467156066) | Adlibris Bokhandel
Results for "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" | Bookmarks | Non-Profit and Independent Bookstore
Haunted Noble County, Indiana / Najlacnejšie knihy (I have no idea where this one's located, but they've decided Emily wrote the book solo.)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - 三民網路書店 (Um ....?)
Haunted Noble County, Indiana │ 誠品線上 - 閱讀與生活的無盡想像 (More um ...?)
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/haunted...
Haunted Noble County, Indiana (Haunted America) (Paperback) | Forever Books
I kept finding more and it was getting ridiculous, so I gave up. Sometimes I found some of our other books, including some of our self-published ones in places they should never have gotten to, but who am I to complain?
I assume that, like our book Images of America: Albion and Noble County, the new one will be available in e-book and hardcover. At the moment an audio book isn't in the cards, but don't you want to see the photos? Sure you do.
June 20, 2025
Don't Sweat Air Conditioner Problems
We had an unusually cool spring, but we noticed a problem during the first heat wave of the year: Our big window air conditioner blew air just fine, but that air wasn't conditioned.
I don't know when the problem actually begun. These things are always found at the worst possible time, like when your furnace breaks down during a blizzard, or your sewer backs up during colonoscopy prep.
And I can't complain, because the air conditioner came with the house--which I bought 35 years ago. In fact, we did an internet search for the model, Sears Coldspot, and learned they stopped making it in the 70s. Our air conditioner survived over forty Indiana summers, and that's remarkable.
I was still in my teens when that thing was made! I wish I'd held up nearly as well.
My house doesn't have central air, or central anything. I suppose we could pump cold water through the hot water radiators and cool the house that way, but ... say, maybe that's something to try. Although the furnace is also over forty years old, so best leave well enough alone.
The air conditioner was set into a window, at one corner of the house, but the thing was huge. It was powerful enough to cool the entire downstairs, as long as you set up three fans to blow the air from room to room, in a windy circle that ended with the kitchen air being pumped right back to the conditioner. If you set it up just right, walking through a room can feel like being Jim Cantore reporting for The Weather Channel.
The upstairs is on its own. We bought a small unit for the bedroom, and left the smaller room upstairs to swelter in the summer. In the winter, the smaller room is used as a backup fridge. Old house problems.
When the downstairs air conditioner, which had its own electrical shutoff and a special plug, stopped cooling the house, Emily went outside and laid her hand against the side of it. Then she came back inside and placed her hand in a stream of cold water until the burning stopped.
Yes, there was definitely something wrong, of the "play Taps at its grave" variety.
Anyone who knows my history will not be surprised to learn I saved up for the next big home repair job. After that, it was a simple process of taking the old air conditioner out and replacing it.
It's usually when the word "simple" appears that we run into trouble.
The old unit had been permanently installed in that #@%& window. It had been screwed, hammered, molded, glued, foam-sprayed, and caulked into place. It was as if in addition to stopping air leaks, they wanted to stop burglaries, alien invasions, and Godzilla.
Eventually we freed it, using two screwdrivers, a hammer, chisel, crowbar, power saw, and two sticks of dynamite. (Luckily it was close enough to Independence Day that nobody noticed the noise.) Preparing to install the new air conditioner, I tried to raise the window further.
The window wouldn't raise. It wouldn't raise because it had been installed at the same time as the air conditioner, and was fitted to its exact specifications.
The new unit did not, of course, meet those specifications. But you knew that.
Keep in mind that Emily and I were doing this work on a day when the temperature was 88 degrees (at 6 p.m.) and the humidity was 107%. How this is possible I don't know, but after an hour we looked like we'd stepped into a shower fully clothed. Oddly enough, the dog didn't seem at all bothered by this--if anything, he seemed happy to have a new window to look out of.
When we finished, I left the pried out metal, the hunks of insulation and piles of screws, the broken drill bits, right where they fell, and simply taped over the areas the new unit didn't cover. Then I tried to plug it in.
Which wouldn't work. The new unit didn't have a special plug.
Some things you should check first. Luckily, there was a more normal plug a few feet on the other side; we turned the new unit on and went out to get a pizza while it was working.
No way were we cooking inside that house. I mean, any more than we already had.
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember, read with the fan in front of you, so the pages don't blow away.
I don't know when the problem actually begun. These things are always found at the worst possible time, like when your furnace breaks down during a blizzard, or your sewer backs up during colonoscopy prep.
And I can't complain, because the air conditioner came with the house--which I bought 35 years ago. In fact, we did an internet search for the model, Sears Coldspot, and learned they stopped making it in the 70s. Our air conditioner survived over forty Indiana summers, and that's remarkable.
I was still in my teens when that thing was made! I wish I'd held up nearly as well.
My house doesn't have central air, or central anything. I suppose we could pump cold water through the hot water radiators and cool the house that way, but ... say, maybe that's something to try. Although the furnace is also over forty years old, so best leave well enough alone.
The air conditioner was set into a window, at one corner of the house, but the thing was huge. It was powerful enough to cool the entire downstairs, as long as you set up three fans to blow the air from room to room, in a windy circle that ended with the kitchen air being pumped right back to the conditioner. If you set it up just right, walking through a room can feel like being Jim Cantore reporting for The Weather Channel.
The upstairs is on its own. We bought a small unit for the bedroom, and left the smaller room upstairs to swelter in the summer. In the winter, the smaller room is used as a backup fridge. Old house problems.
When the downstairs air conditioner, which had its own electrical shutoff and a special plug, stopped cooling the house, Emily went outside and laid her hand against the side of it. Then she came back inside and placed her hand in a stream of cold water until the burning stopped.
Yes, there was definitely something wrong, of the "play Taps at its grave" variety.
Anyone who knows my history will not be surprised to learn I saved up for the next big home repair job. After that, it was a simple process of taking the old air conditioner out and replacing it.
It's usually when the word "simple" appears that we run into trouble.
The old unit had been permanently installed in that #@%& window. It had been screwed, hammered, molded, glued, foam-sprayed, and caulked into place. It was as if in addition to stopping air leaks, they wanted to stop burglaries, alien invasions, and Godzilla.
Eventually we freed it, using two screwdrivers, a hammer, chisel, crowbar, power saw, and two sticks of dynamite. (Luckily it was close enough to Independence Day that nobody noticed the noise.) Preparing to install the new air conditioner, I tried to raise the window further.
The window wouldn't raise. It wouldn't raise because it had been installed at the same time as the air conditioner, and was fitted to its exact specifications.
The new unit did not, of course, meet those specifications. But you knew that.
Keep in mind that Emily and I were doing this work on a day when the temperature was 88 degrees (at 6 p.m.) and the humidity was 107%. How this is possible I don't know, but after an hour we looked like we'd stepped into a shower fully clothed. Oddly enough, the dog didn't seem at all bothered by this--if anything, he seemed happy to have a new window to look out of.
When we finished, I left the pried out metal, the hunks of insulation and piles of screws, the broken drill bits, right where they fell, and simply taped over the areas the new unit didn't cover. Then I tried to plug it in.
Which wouldn't work. The new unit didn't have a special plug.
Some things you should check first. Luckily, there was a more normal plug a few feet on the other side; we turned the new unit on and went out to get a pizza while it was working.
No way were we cooking inside that house. I mean, any more than we already had.
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember, read with the fan in front of you, so the pages don't blow away.
June 13, 2025
Old Grocery Store, New Secrets
A small town needs certain things to stay alive. A post office; a gas station; apparently a dollar store, considering they're springing up like Marvel movies. The one strange guy who walks around at night talking/singing to himself. One or two people who loudly complain about everything.
And a grocery store. My home town of Albion lost its grocery store, which isn't a huge deal compared to bigger problems, like the constant threat of the reality TV. Still, ghost towns across the country attest to what happens when a community's base disappears.
Most of us didn't know until after the store closed that the family that ran it for forty-some years were not the same people who owned the building. I didn't, even though I worked there when they took over from the former business owner.
Rumors ran rampant about what would happen to the former grocery store building. It was originally built by Vikings who wandered into the area around 1021 AD, so many thought the owners might tear it down, replacing it with, say, an airport. The site's right next to the railroad tracks, so no one would even notice the extra noise.
One rumor was that it would become one of those Dollar General Markets, a mini-grocery store where you could also buy everything from clothes to dolls to doll clothes. But there are already two dollar stores in town, built directly beside each other because that makes sense. Granted, they're on the other side of town from the old grocery store, but there's not that much town.
And then: Construction crews moved in and started overhauling the old building, top to bottom
So what will the new building be?
Nobody knows.
Oh, there are rumors, but for some reason no one involved is willing to tell. It's their choice, of course: It's private property. Still, it's quite the mystery: If you were going to open a business, wouldn't you want people to know what it will be? It's just ... strange.
So I declared on social media that it was going to be a Galactic Empire shooting range. Those storm troopers, they really need the practice.
I quickly realized this is exactly why the new occupancy is so secret: Because it's secret. So I came up with some possibilities. If you know but can't say, blink your left eye three times.
* Nuclear waste transfer depot. This is where the waste is transferred from truck to train. I mean, the tracks are right there. We might not like the idea now, but I'm sure in no time we'll all be just glowing.
* Vice-Presidential Museum. Indiana has produced the second largest number of U.S. Vice Presidents. Only New York has more, and they've been around for three decades longer. Part of S.R. 9, which runs through Albion, is officially The Highway of the Vice Presidents, as it connects some of their former homes. We're Number Two!
* Big box store in a little box. Groceries upstairs, clothes in the basement, everything else on the roof. If you catch someone trying to shoplift a power tool, just shove them over the side. This one needs thought: I'll workshop it.
* Experimental indoor farm. Many towns don't allow farm animals because of the noise, and the smell. If the workers install soundproofing and a filtering system, we may be looking at the future of agriculture. Worried about cows contributing to climate change? No problem: Now all the animal farts are captured, and used to power the indoor field sunlamps.
You know, that started as a joke, but I think I might be on to something.
* CIA regional office. That explains everything. I mean, everything except why it would be in Albion. All I know is, ever since I started writing this there's been a black SUV with tinted windows parked across the street.
* Secret archeology site. Who knows what's under the ground there? A mastodon? Prehistoric giant skeletons? Godzilla's smaller cousin, Joezilla? There's a reason why Dr. Jones goes by "Indiana".
And finally:
* Nuclear missile silo. Look on the bright side: If WWIII breaks out, we'll be the first to know.
Our books, many of them about small town life, area here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Even small town book writers need big city support.
And a grocery store. My home town of Albion lost its grocery store, which isn't a huge deal compared to bigger problems, like the constant threat of the reality TV. Still, ghost towns across the country attest to what happens when a community's base disappears.
Most of us didn't know until after the store closed that the family that ran it for forty-some years were not the same people who owned the building. I didn't, even though I worked there when they took over from the former business owner.
Rumors ran rampant about what would happen to the former grocery store building. It was originally built by Vikings who wandered into the area around 1021 AD, so many thought the owners might tear it down, replacing it with, say, an airport. The site's right next to the railroad tracks, so no one would even notice the extra noise.
One rumor was that it would become one of those Dollar General Markets, a mini-grocery store where you could also buy everything from clothes to dolls to doll clothes. But there are already two dollar stores in town, built directly beside each other because that makes sense. Granted, they're on the other side of town from the old grocery store, but there's not that much town.
And then: Construction crews moved in and started overhauling the old building, top to bottom
So what will the new building be?
Nobody knows.
Oh, there are rumors, but for some reason no one involved is willing to tell. It's their choice, of course: It's private property. Still, it's quite the mystery: If you were going to open a business, wouldn't you want people to know what it will be? It's just ... strange.
So I declared on social media that it was going to be a Galactic Empire shooting range. Those storm troopers, they really need the practice.
I quickly realized this is exactly why the new occupancy is so secret: Because it's secret. So I came up with some possibilities. If you know but can't say, blink your left eye three times.
* Nuclear waste transfer depot. This is where the waste is transferred from truck to train. I mean, the tracks are right there. We might not like the idea now, but I'm sure in no time we'll all be just glowing.
* Vice-Presidential Museum. Indiana has produced the second largest number of U.S. Vice Presidents. Only New York has more, and they've been around for three decades longer. Part of S.R. 9, which runs through Albion, is officially The Highway of the Vice Presidents, as it connects some of their former homes. We're Number Two!
* Big box store in a little box. Groceries upstairs, clothes in the basement, everything else on the roof. If you catch someone trying to shoplift a power tool, just shove them over the side. This one needs thought: I'll workshop it.
* Experimental indoor farm. Many towns don't allow farm animals because of the noise, and the smell. If the workers install soundproofing and a filtering system, we may be looking at the future of agriculture. Worried about cows contributing to climate change? No problem: Now all the animal farts are captured, and used to power the indoor field sunlamps.
You know, that started as a joke, but I think I might be on to something.
* CIA regional office. That explains everything. I mean, everything except why it would be in Albion. All I know is, ever since I started writing this there's been a black SUV with tinted windows parked across the street.
* Secret archeology site. Who knows what's under the ground there? A mastodon? Prehistoric giant skeletons? Godzilla's smaller cousin, Joezilla? There's a reason why Dr. Jones goes by "Indiana".
And finally:
* Nuclear missile silo. Look on the bright side: If WWIII breaks out, we'll be the first to know.
Our books, many of them about small town life, area here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Even small town book writers need big city support.
June 8, 2025
Give Me Donuts, Or Give Me Death!
I don’t talk much about politics, but just to show I’ve always paid attention, I uncovered this piece from way back in 2012. I think you’ll find me on the cutting edge of activism:
News has come that New York City Mayor Bloomberg wants to ban supersized sugary drinks, as a way to combat malnutrition.
He also signed a proclamation for NYC Donut Day.
Sometimes it just writes itself.
(Oh, another note of irony: I brought up several internet articles to familiarize myself with the Bloomberg Big Belly Ban, and the very first one was preceded by one of those annoying internet ads – for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.)
The BBBB would apply to any bottled soda or fountain drink over 16 ounces that contains more than 25 calories per eight ounces, which is pretty much all of them. They’d be outlawed at restaurants, sports venues, street vendors, and – brace yourselves – movie theaters. Gasp! Next they’ll be taking my large buttered popcorn.
But those goobers won’t get it without a fight.
No word on whether the 17 ounce Big Gulp will be available in government offices, but grocery stores and convenience stores would be exempt. Apparently large soft drinks sold there are not dangerous.
The good news is, banning things that are bad for us is always effective, and always, always works. Just ask the people who pushed Prohibition.
Well, they can have my Slurpee when they pry it from my cold, sticky hands.
If they criminalize supersized Cokes, only criminals will be truly refreshed.
When Bloomberg came for cigarettes, nobody spoke (because they were busy coughing). When he came for trans fats, nobody stood up (because they were too heavy to get to their feet). Now they come for sugary drinks, and who will stand up for Mr. Pibbs? Has the medical field even debated this? Did anyone ask Dr. Pepper?
Give me Mountain Dew, or give me death! And not Diet Mountain Dew, either. It tastes like artificially sweetened sheep dip.
The Founding Fathers would be horrified. The whole reason they settled in the New World is because the British wouldn’t let us sweeten our tea.
“One lump or two?”
“How dare they alter our national beverage? Off with their heads!”
Then we formed an independent country, so we could have southern style sweet tea. Thomas Jefferson wrote that right into the Declaration of Independence, along with a clause about fried chicken and gravy. Both were removed by a rather grumpy New York delegate named Samuel Chase, whose wife had just put him on a diet.
Say, do you suppose that’s it? Maybe Bloomberg’s just steamed because his wife has him eating fish and asparagus.
The Founding Fathers really would be horrified, as this kind of nanny state thinking is exactly what the Constitution was meant to prevent. It demonstrates that their written guide for the country is more relevant now than ever, despite the food stains.
Rumor has it the Founding Fathers fueled their revolutionary ardor with God’s snack: S’Mores.
Benjamin Franklin would be especially upset, as he’s been known to upturn an extra-large mug of mead himself, from time to time. Franklin, who famously said wine is proof that God loves us, and wants to see us happy, would have loved one of those fountain drinks that you need to haul around in a cart. Ben Franklin would have punched Bloomberg right in the nose. Well, maybe not … Ben would probably have slept with Bloomberg’s wife. He was into all sorts of excesses.
I’m not so sure about Thomas Jefferson’s reaction. He believed in personal freedoms (unless you were one of his slaves), but also had a huge vegetable garden that he took great pride in. He grew over 250 varieties of more than 70 different vegetable species, in a garden 1,000 feet long. His children hated him.
Once, Jefferson sent John Adams a sampling of twenty different types of lettuce. Adams wrote back: “Tom, would you relax and have a friggin’ donut? I’ll bet you can’t find twenty different varieties of donuts.” (This was before Krispy Kreme.)
Still, they would have agreed that no mayor of York, old or new, had the right to come over and tell them how many lumps they could put in their tea. Should you stop drinking huge sugary drinks? Of course. Should we bow to a government telling us we have to? Hell, no.
We can’t have true freedom without independence. A nanny state, by definition, is a lack of independence. I may disapprove of what you eat, but I will defend to the early death your right to pork rinds.
Yes, there have to be some limits in an orderly society, but we must draw a jittery line in the sand, with one of those big soda straws. Our voices, strengthened by a sugar rush, should shout out that we can be convinced to be healthier, but not be force fed. And, to paraphrase Franklin Delano Roosevelt, we would rather die on our Frostie than live on our salads.
Now. If you’ll excuse me, it’s time for a little non-violent protest. Supersize me.
News has come that New York City Mayor Bloomberg wants to ban supersized sugary drinks, as a way to combat malnutrition.
He also signed a proclamation for NYC Donut Day.
Sometimes it just writes itself.
(Oh, another note of irony: I brought up several internet articles to familiarize myself with the Bloomberg Big Belly Ban, and the very first one was preceded by one of those annoying internet ads – for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.)
The BBBB would apply to any bottled soda or fountain drink over 16 ounces that contains more than 25 calories per eight ounces, which is pretty much all of them. They’d be outlawed at restaurants, sports venues, street vendors, and – brace yourselves – movie theaters. Gasp! Next they’ll be taking my large buttered popcorn.
But those goobers won’t get it without a fight.
No word on whether the 17 ounce Big Gulp will be available in government offices, but grocery stores and convenience stores would be exempt. Apparently large soft drinks sold there are not dangerous.
The good news is, banning things that are bad for us is always effective, and always, always works. Just ask the people who pushed Prohibition.
Well, they can have my Slurpee when they pry it from my cold, sticky hands.
If they criminalize supersized Cokes, only criminals will be truly refreshed.
When Bloomberg came for cigarettes, nobody spoke (because they were busy coughing). When he came for trans fats, nobody stood up (because they were too heavy to get to their feet). Now they come for sugary drinks, and who will stand up for Mr. Pibbs? Has the medical field even debated this? Did anyone ask Dr. Pepper?
Give me Mountain Dew, or give me death! And not Diet Mountain Dew, either. It tastes like artificially sweetened sheep dip.
The Founding Fathers would be horrified. The whole reason they settled in the New World is because the British wouldn’t let us sweeten our tea.
“One lump or two?”
“How dare they alter our national beverage? Off with their heads!”
Then we formed an independent country, so we could have southern style sweet tea. Thomas Jefferson wrote that right into the Declaration of Independence, along with a clause about fried chicken and gravy. Both were removed by a rather grumpy New York delegate named Samuel Chase, whose wife had just put him on a diet.
Say, do you suppose that’s it? Maybe Bloomberg’s just steamed because his wife has him eating fish and asparagus.
The Founding Fathers really would be horrified, as this kind of nanny state thinking is exactly what the Constitution was meant to prevent. It demonstrates that their written guide for the country is more relevant now than ever, despite the food stains.
Rumor has it the Founding Fathers fueled their revolutionary ardor with God’s snack: S’Mores.
Benjamin Franklin would be especially upset, as he’s been known to upturn an extra-large mug of mead himself, from time to time. Franklin, who famously said wine is proof that God loves us, and wants to see us happy, would have loved one of those fountain drinks that you need to haul around in a cart. Ben Franklin would have punched Bloomberg right in the nose. Well, maybe not … Ben would probably have slept with Bloomberg’s wife. He was into all sorts of excesses.
I’m not so sure about Thomas Jefferson’s reaction. He believed in personal freedoms (unless you were one of his slaves), but also had a huge vegetable garden that he took great pride in. He grew over 250 varieties of more than 70 different vegetable species, in a garden 1,000 feet long. His children hated him.
Once, Jefferson sent John Adams a sampling of twenty different types of lettuce. Adams wrote back: “Tom, would you relax and have a friggin’ donut? I’ll bet you can’t find twenty different varieties of donuts.” (This was before Krispy Kreme.)
Still, they would have agreed that no mayor of York, old or new, had the right to come over and tell them how many lumps they could put in their tea. Should you stop drinking huge sugary drinks? Of course. Should we bow to a government telling us we have to? Hell, no.
We can’t have true freedom without independence. A nanny state, by definition, is a lack of independence. I may disapprove of what you eat, but I will defend to the early death your right to pork rinds.
Yes, there have to be some limits in an orderly society, but we must draw a jittery line in the sand, with one of those big soda straws. Our voices, strengthened by a sugar rush, should shout out that we can be convinced to be healthier, but not be force fed. And, to paraphrase Franklin Delano Roosevelt, we would rather die on our Frostie than live on our salads.
Now. If you’ll excuse me, it’s time for a little non-violent protest. Supersize me.
May 28, 2025
When Is Writing Filler Not Writing Filler?
Note: If you like happy endings ... you might not want to read to the end of this post.
In a previous blog I detailed my failed attempt to sell a novel to the romance industry's biggest book publisher. The synopsis: They liked my query, asked for the entire manuscript, then disappeared into a publishing black hole from which even emails couldn't escape.
I wish all my snynopsis were that easy. Snynopsis's? Synopsi?
I submitted to a specific line of books within the publisher, but that line's requirements have changed so much my story would no longer be a fit for them, anyway. So, I was free to submit Fire On Mist Creek to a different publisher.
Or to a different line within the same publisher.
No, I'm not insane, hear me out. First, here's the blurb I wrote for the story:
"Thanks to insomnia, volunteer firefighter Alice Delaney is Night Watch for the little town of Mist Creek, Kentucky—the entire Night Watch, unless you count the firehouse dog. That’s a break for former Chicago firefighter Reed Carter, who she finds in a broken-down pickup truck near town. Soon after that he returns the favor, by helping her rescue the occupant of a burning house.
Both are on the run from their respective demons, but Reed may have found his salvation in the form of a little town in crisis, and a woman dealing with loss. Alice isn’t so sure: Newly promoted to Mist Creek Fire Captain, she’s dealing with a financial crunch and an arsonist. She’s not ready for a relationship with an action junkie who could be taken away from her. Not again."
It's a work of staggering genius. Not the book, the blurb: I boiled that down from 60,000 words! Blurbs and synopsi ... sss, are the bane of book writers.
On a related note, the novel was 60,000 words. The Big Publisher had another line that would be absolutely perfect for this book, assuming they didn't change the line's requirements before I got it to them. There was only one small glitch: That line wants stories in the 70,000 word range. Maybe not exactly, but a 10,000 word difference is a deal killer.
Now, there are other publishers I could submit Fire On Mist Creek to. Still, I wanted to work with this publisher, I said stubbornly, in a rather whiny voice. But add 10,000 words to a story I thought was finished?
I found my answer in another dumb thing I did, which is where I find many of my answers. During the almost five years waiting to hear back after they requested my manuscript, I wrote other books. I wasn't just pacing in the back yard. Imagine all the dead grass.
Hundreds of books! Thousands of books! Okay, eleven.
Two of those books are set in that same small town, Mist Creek. Okay, one starts out elsewhere and ends up in Mist Creek. The point is, if I couldn't find a publisher that's interested in all the books, I may have wasted a lot of writing time.
But in my haste, I found the answer to my length problem. Many characters from Fire on Mist Creek show up in the other two novels, but a lot of characters from those two books didn't even exist when I wrote the first one.
And that's when I felt a great swell of inspiration, or maybe more stupidity.
If it's going to be a series, more of the people from the other books should be introduced in the first. In fact, it would be easy, because some of those later people are involved Mist Creek's emergency services. They'd naturally be around each other, anyway. In the other two books there's only one other new arrival; the other characters are already town residents.
Since the story is set before the others, I could put them in without having to refer to the other two books and confuse everyone. Sure, I'm confused, but if I could straighten myself out everyone else will be fine. Even as I mused over the idea, new scenes came to me that would enrich the story and also play into the main plot.
(Update, because I didn't post this right away: So that's what I did. The rewrite is finished, and the new story sent!)*
I told you it's genius. It's such a great idea, I'm pretty sure aliens showed up one night and inserted it into my, um, body. That would explain the tiny piece of metal in my chest. Even if I end up with another publisher, the book will be better. Hold my beer, I'm writing!
(Okay, I don't drink beer, but leave my tea alone--it's still hot, just like my typing fingers.)
*Okay, here's the bad news. All this was in the past: I submitted the book to Harlequin Heartwarming on April 6. The Publisher Who I Just Named, aware of how long they strung me along last time, sent me on a response on May 16, a blistering speed for a traditional publisher.
It was a form rejection. So, we move on.
You can find the books that did somehow make it to publication here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember, writers need all the support they can get.
In a previous blog I detailed my failed attempt to sell a novel to the romance industry's biggest book publisher. The synopsis: They liked my query, asked for the entire manuscript, then disappeared into a publishing black hole from which even emails couldn't escape.
I wish all my snynopsis were that easy. Snynopsis's? Synopsi?
I submitted to a specific line of books within the publisher, but that line's requirements have changed so much my story would no longer be a fit for them, anyway. So, I was free to submit Fire On Mist Creek to a different publisher.
Or to a different line within the same publisher.
No, I'm not insane, hear me out. First, here's the blurb I wrote for the story:
"Thanks to insomnia, volunteer firefighter Alice Delaney is Night Watch for the little town of Mist Creek, Kentucky—the entire Night Watch, unless you count the firehouse dog. That’s a break for former Chicago firefighter Reed Carter, who she finds in a broken-down pickup truck near town. Soon after that he returns the favor, by helping her rescue the occupant of a burning house.
Both are on the run from their respective demons, but Reed may have found his salvation in the form of a little town in crisis, and a woman dealing with loss. Alice isn’t so sure: Newly promoted to Mist Creek Fire Captain, she’s dealing with a financial crunch and an arsonist. She’s not ready for a relationship with an action junkie who could be taken away from her. Not again."
It's a work of staggering genius. Not the book, the blurb: I boiled that down from 60,000 words! Blurbs and synopsi ... sss, are the bane of book writers.
On a related note, the novel was 60,000 words. The Big Publisher had another line that would be absolutely perfect for this book, assuming they didn't change the line's requirements before I got it to them. There was only one small glitch: That line wants stories in the 70,000 word range. Maybe not exactly, but a 10,000 word difference is a deal killer.
Now, there are other publishers I could submit Fire On Mist Creek to. Still, I wanted to work with this publisher, I said stubbornly, in a rather whiny voice. But add 10,000 words to a story I thought was finished?
I found my answer in another dumb thing I did, which is where I find many of my answers. During the almost five years waiting to hear back after they requested my manuscript, I wrote other books. I wasn't just pacing in the back yard. Imagine all the dead grass.
Hundreds of books! Thousands of books! Okay, eleven.
Two of those books are set in that same small town, Mist Creek. Okay, one starts out elsewhere and ends up in Mist Creek. The point is, if I couldn't find a publisher that's interested in all the books, I may have wasted a lot of writing time.
But in my haste, I found the answer to my length problem. Many characters from Fire on Mist Creek show up in the other two novels, but a lot of characters from those two books didn't even exist when I wrote the first one.
And that's when I felt a great swell of inspiration, or maybe more stupidity.
If it's going to be a series, more of the people from the other books should be introduced in the first. In fact, it would be easy, because some of those later people are involved Mist Creek's emergency services. They'd naturally be around each other, anyway. In the other two books there's only one other new arrival; the other characters are already town residents.
Since the story is set before the others, I could put them in without having to refer to the other two books and confuse everyone. Sure, I'm confused, but if I could straighten myself out everyone else will be fine. Even as I mused over the idea, new scenes came to me that would enrich the story and also play into the main plot.
(Update, because I didn't post this right away: So that's what I did. The rewrite is finished, and the new story sent!)*
I told you it's genius. It's such a great idea, I'm pretty sure aliens showed up one night and inserted it into my, um, body. That would explain the tiny piece of metal in my chest. Even if I end up with another publisher, the book will be better. Hold my beer, I'm writing!
(Okay, I don't drink beer, but leave my tea alone--it's still hot, just like my typing fingers.)
*Okay, here's the bad news. All this was in the past: I submitted the book to Harlequin Heartwarming on April 6. The Publisher Who I Just Named, aware of how long they strung me along last time, sent me on a response on May 16, a blistering speed for a traditional publisher.
It was a form rejection. So, we move on.
You can find the books that did somehow make it to publication here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember, writers need all the support they can get.
May 24, 2025
Mother Nature Has Been Grumpy
Is it just me, or has Mother Nature been, this year ... grouchy?
Surly? Cross? Cantankerous?
Yeah, I thought so, too. Maybe we brought it on ourselves, the way everyone has been storming at each other. That makes this a perfect time for a ... song.
Hey, we all need a peaceful moment. It's been a particularly awful weather year; for some more than others, but mostly for everyone. The other day I had to stop picking up wind-blown branches because of frostbite. (I shut off our furnace exactly two days before the--wait for it--polar vortex reached us.)
It's not a great song, but I'm not a great song writer. I heard the music in my head while writing the words (It has a country vibe). But I can't play it for you because I can't write music, and it probably won't work as well as a poem. Maybe it's for the best, though, because I'm also not a great music writer. Or ... any music writer. What the heck, I'll throw in a few photos from the storm outbreak, too. Once it got cold, my hands wouldn't stop shaking enough to get a good picture.
I should hold a contest: If I sell fifty books by the end of June, I'll post a video of me singing this. But that might lead to negative sales. "For Heaven's sake, don't sing! I'm sending your books back to you."
I call it: Springing Out of Springdom.
(I'm not a great title writer, either.)
I like to ride in the countryside
just to take in spring.
The flower blossoms, birds at play
and all the greening things.
But this year I've come to realize
something that's made me sad.
We won't get a spring this year
'cause we've all been too bad.
Yeah, we've all been too bad this year,
we just can't get along.
We fight and fuss and disagree
Even as the days get long.
Mother Nature said "Screw you!"
"I'll just evaporate."
So winter just won't end this year;
she left us to our fate.
So now the temp's below average
just like all our moods.
Plants are brown and grass is dead,
let's face it--we're all screwed.
Our tulips won't come up this year,
They're underneath a drift.
The robins are hitchhiking south,
their frozen wings won't lift.
Yes, we've all been too bad this year,
we don't deserve the spring.
Mosquitoes can't come out in this,
it's frostbite that'll sting.
Mother Nature said "Stuff it!"
and left us all to freeze.
so winter just won't end this year,
no flowers, birds, or bees.
So let's all try to get along,
we just don't have to fight.
At this rate our nice summer
will become a year long night.
It's not that we all must be friends,
but hatred hurts our souls.
If we don't make up by Christmas
At least we can heat with coals.
True, we've all been too bad this year,
and spring will never come
if we don't get our butts in gear
and stop being so dumb.
Mother nature said "I'm done!"
and winter's staying strong.
So dig back out your salt and plows ...
or try to get along.
As long as the internet hasn't blown away, we can be found all over:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Books can be taken with you into a storm shelter.
Surly? Cross? Cantankerous?
Yeah, I thought so, too. Maybe we brought it on ourselves, the way everyone has been storming at each other. That makes this a perfect time for a ... song.
Hey, we all need a peaceful moment. It's been a particularly awful weather year; for some more than others, but mostly for everyone. The other day I had to stop picking up wind-blown branches because of frostbite. (I shut off our furnace exactly two days before the--wait for it--polar vortex reached us.)
It's not a great song, but I'm not a great song writer. I heard the music in my head while writing the words (It has a country vibe). But I can't play it for you because I can't write music, and it probably won't work as well as a poem. Maybe it's for the best, though, because I'm also not a great music writer. Or ... any music writer. What the heck, I'll throw in a few photos from the storm outbreak, too. Once it got cold, my hands wouldn't stop shaking enough to get a good picture.
I should hold a contest: If I sell fifty books by the end of June, I'll post a video of me singing this. But that might lead to negative sales. "For Heaven's sake, don't sing! I'm sending your books back to you."
I call it: Springing Out of Springdom.
(I'm not a great title writer, either.)
I like to ride in the countryside
just to take in spring.
The flower blossoms, birds at play
and all the greening things.
But this year I've come to realize
something that's made me sad.
We won't get a spring this year
'cause we've all been too bad.
Yeah, we've all been too bad this year,
we just can't get along.
We fight and fuss and disagree
Even as the days get long.
Mother Nature said "Screw you!"
"I'll just evaporate."
So winter just won't end this year;
she left us to our fate.
So now the temp's below average
just like all our moods.
Plants are brown and grass is dead,
let's face it--we're all screwed.
Our tulips won't come up this year,
They're underneath a drift.
The robins are hitchhiking south,
their frozen wings won't lift.
Yes, we've all been too bad this year,
we don't deserve the spring.
Mosquitoes can't come out in this,
it's frostbite that'll sting.
Mother Nature said "Stuff it!"
and left us all to freeze.
so winter just won't end this year,
no flowers, birds, or bees.
So let's all try to get along,
we just don't have to fight.
At this rate our nice summer
will become a year long night.
It's not that we all must be friends,
but hatred hurts our souls.
If we don't make up by Christmas
At least we can heat with coals.
True, we've all been too bad this year,
and spring will never come
if we don't get our butts in gear
and stop being so dumb.
Mother nature said "I'm done!"
and winter's staying strong.
So dig back out your salt and plows ...
or try to get along.
As long as the internet hasn't blown away, we can be found all over:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Books can be taken with you into a storm shelter.
May 10, 2025
The Notorious Ian Grant is officially here; to my surprise, Haunted Noble County is unofficially here
(Note: This is the OFFICIAL announcement. You can tell by the officious way I typed it. Ignore the previous mentions.)
As you've almost certainly already heard, we have a "new" book out, plus a really new book up for preorder. Considering what a crappy year it's been so far, I'd say that's reason to celebrate.
At least a little "yahoo!" and a chocolate cake.
After getting the rights back from the original publisher, we've been trying to independently publish The Notorious Ian Grant for ... well, the first thing that stopped it was COVID. No, that was late 2023 for Emily and me, wasn't it? I don't remember what the first thing was, but the theme continued: illness, injury, death--generally, the 2020s.
So when I got this preview copy in the mail, it felt like reaching the peak of Mount Everest:
Not quite the summit, because Emily had to make some corrections, then get it up and running as an e-book. It'll be on Kindle Direct Publishing for 90 days, then go into wider distribution for those of you who would like to get it elsewhere. The print version went up just a few days ago. But the old version is also still listed, so for our improved edition, go here:
https://www.amazon.com/Notorious-Gran...
Meanwhile its "parent" book, Storm Chaser, is getting a price reduction in both ebook and print, as part of my cunning plan to get people hooked on the first book so they have to get the rest. You can find Storm Chaser here:
https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Chaser-M...
And from there you can click on the author's name (me, I'm the author) for the related books in the Storm Chaser series, Storm Squalls and The No-Campfire Girls, and our other books.
Another meanwhile, a few weeks ago I was surfing the internet and stumbled across ...
Okay, fine, I was Googling myself. And no, I don't have a Wikipedia page. Anyway, I discovered Haunted Noble County, Indiana, which I talked about a lot last year, is up for preorder on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Other places, too. This being traditional publishing, the official cover isn't up yet, although last week I finally got a look at it.
A week after that I got an email from my publisher, letting us know Haunted Noble County, Indiana, would be officially published on August 12th of this year. They still haven't told us it's up for preorder. I mentioned it's traditionally published, right?
You can preorder it on our Amazon page, or here:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/haun...
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - (Haunted America) by Mark R Hunter & Emily Jane Hunter (Paperback) : Target
Haunted Noble County, Indiana by Mark R. Hunter; Emily Jane Hunter
(Where the heck is Books a Million?)
https://bookshop.org/p/books/haunted-...
I think it all boils down to Arcadia Publishing, which History Press is part of, having a very good distribution system.
More information--naturally--as the year goes on, assuming there are no illnesses, injuries, or accidents.
You can track down us or, more importantly, our books, here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: You can't judge a book by its cover until it gets a cover.
As you've almost certainly already heard, we have a "new" book out, plus a really new book up for preorder. Considering what a crappy year it's been so far, I'd say that's reason to celebrate.
At least a little "yahoo!" and a chocolate cake.
After getting the rights back from the original publisher, we've been trying to independently publish The Notorious Ian Grant for ... well, the first thing that stopped it was COVID. No, that was late 2023 for Emily and me, wasn't it? I don't remember what the first thing was, but the theme continued: illness, injury, death--generally, the 2020s.
So when I got this preview copy in the mail, it felt like reaching the peak of Mount Everest:
Not quite the summit, because Emily had to make some corrections, then get it up and running as an e-book. It'll be on Kindle Direct Publishing for 90 days, then go into wider distribution for those of you who would like to get it elsewhere. The print version went up just a few days ago. But the old version is also still listed, so for our improved edition, go here:
https://www.amazon.com/Notorious-Gran...
Meanwhile its "parent" book, Storm Chaser, is getting a price reduction in both ebook and print, as part of my cunning plan to get people hooked on the first book so they have to get the rest. You can find Storm Chaser here:
https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Chaser-M...
And from there you can click on the author's name (me, I'm the author) for the related books in the Storm Chaser series, Storm Squalls and The No-Campfire Girls, and our other books.
Another meanwhile, a few weeks ago I was surfing the internet and stumbled across ...
Okay, fine, I was Googling myself. And no, I don't have a Wikipedia page. Anyway, I discovered Haunted Noble County, Indiana, which I talked about a lot last year, is up for preorder on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Other places, too. This being traditional publishing, the official cover isn't up yet, although last week I finally got a look at it.
A week after that I got an email from my publisher, letting us know Haunted Noble County, Indiana, would be officially published on August 12th of this year. They still haven't told us it's up for preorder. I mentioned it's traditionally published, right?
You can preorder it on our Amazon page, or here:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/haun...
Haunted Noble County, Indiana - (Haunted America) by Mark R Hunter & Emily Jane Hunter (Paperback) : Target
Haunted Noble County, Indiana by Mark R. Hunter; Emily Jane Hunter
(Where the heck is Books a Million?)
https://bookshop.org/p/books/haunted-...
I think it all boils down to Arcadia Publishing, which History Press is part of, having a very good distribution system.
More information--naturally--as the year goes on, assuming there are no illnesses, injuries, or accidents.
You can track down us or, more importantly, our books, here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: You can't judge a book by its cover until it gets a cover.
May 2, 2025
Tongue Tied By a Shoe Tale
I wrote this several years ago, so no, don't go looking for Fred.
Some of you may have seen a shoe perched majestically at the top of the hill in my front yard. If not, I’m enclosing a picture as an introduction. We named it Fred. Say hello to the people, Fred.
(He can't speak, even though he has a tongue.)
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “You named a shoe?” Well, why not? We always name the strays that end up hanging around our house. Last fall we named the mice that set up housekeeping there, even as I tracked them down and did a Dirty Harry on their rodent rears.
One day I got home and Fred was simply – there. I live on a main street, and lots of young people (read: litterers) go by, so a certain amount of trash is expected. My neighbors have been doing renovations, and whenever a stiff wind pops up some of their waiting to be disposed of debris will take up shop around my house. Just a few days ago I found the remains of a light bulb scattered across my porch. Who knows about that? Maybe somebody had an earth-shattering idea.
But a shoe?
That’s not an object easily blown around, especially to land at the top of an embankment. No, it had to have been thrown there. If so, it was an exceptionally artistic throw, as the shoe landed upright, proudly showing to passers-by that it was high-strung.
I’m generally annoyed at litter, but in this case I confess to being rather bemused. So bemused, in fact, that I left the footwear there, wondering if the owner might show up to claim it. Maybe it was tossed there by some clownish “friend” who thought it would be funny to see his buddy stumping around in one shoe. What a heel.
But no one claimed the poor little orphan, so I felt I had to name him, and picked Fred out of thin air. How do I know it’s a male shoe? How many girls do you know who would throw away a perfectly good shoe? I rest my case.
Dorothy Gale even took shoes right off a dead person.
Later I told my daughter that Fred could stay until lawn mowing time, and she informed me in turn that I could simply mow around it. How, she asked, could I just boot Fred? I thought she was going to sock me. (Get it?) Her passion left me tongue-tied. (Get that one?) I appreciated her sole-searching, but couldn’t build Fred his own closet -- not on my shoestring budget. (Okay, that’s enough.)
For now, Fred stays. Maybe his other half will show up, and they’ll get off on the right foot with some other owner. Hm. Come to think of it, I wonder if they’re elevens?
Oh! I just made this connection. Brought to you by: Fred Toenges Footwear.*
Pay for my future footwear here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
*Not really, but if they want to talk about a sponsorship ....
Some of you may have seen a shoe perched majestically at the top of the hill in my front yard. If not, I’m enclosing a picture as an introduction. We named it Fred. Say hello to the people, Fred.
(He can't speak, even though he has a tongue.)
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “You named a shoe?” Well, why not? We always name the strays that end up hanging around our house. Last fall we named the mice that set up housekeeping there, even as I tracked them down and did a Dirty Harry on their rodent rears.
One day I got home and Fred was simply – there. I live on a main street, and lots of young people (read: litterers) go by, so a certain amount of trash is expected. My neighbors have been doing renovations, and whenever a stiff wind pops up some of their waiting to be disposed of debris will take up shop around my house. Just a few days ago I found the remains of a light bulb scattered across my porch. Who knows about that? Maybe somebody had an earth-shattering idea.
But a shoe?
That’s not an object easily blown around, especially to land at the top of an embankment. No, it had to have been thrown there. If so, it was an exceptionally artistic throw, as the shoe landed upright, proudly showing to passers-by that it was high-strung.
I’m generally annoyed at litter, but in this case I confess to being rather bemused. So bemused, in fact, that I left the footwear there, wondering if the owner might show up to claim it. Maybe it was tossed there by some clownish “friend” who thought it would be funny to see his buddy stumping around in one shoe. What a heel.
But no one claimed the poor little orphan, so I felt I had to name him, and picked Fred out of thin air. How do I know it’s a male shoe? How many girls do you know who would throw away a perfectly good shoe? I rest my case.
Dorothy Gale even took shoes right off a dead person.
Later I told my daughter that Fred could stay until lawn mowing time, and she informed me in turn that I could simply mow around it. How, she asked, could I just boot Fred? I thought she was going to sock me. (Get it?) Her passion left me tongue-tied. (Get that one?) I appreciated her sole-searching, but couldn’t build Fred his own closet -- not on my shoestring budget. (Okay, that’s enough.)
For now, Fred stays. Maybe his other half will show up, and they’ll get off on the right foot with some other owner. Hm. Come to think of it, I wonder if they’re elevens?
Oh! I just made this connection. Brought to you by: Fred Toenges Footwear.*
Pay for my future footwear here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914
· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter
· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter
· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter
· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914
· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
*Not really, but if they want to talk about a sponsorship ....
April 30, 2025
Editing finished!
Final pass over "Haunted Noble County, Indiana" done! It was our last chance to go over the manuscript for typos and grammar errors. Despite having gone over the manuscript approximately 475,283 times, we still found nine more corrections to make.
And that's it. The production of the book is now out of our hands. (We'll have plenty to do with the promotion, of course.) Although it's up for preorder on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, we still haven't seen the cover yet! But the official release date isn't until August 12, so there's plenty of time.
It's also popping up at bookstore websites all over the country, something I discovered by accident. My publisher's work, I suppose.
And that's it. The production of the book is now out of our hands. (We'll have plenty to do with the promotion, of course.) Although it's up for preorder on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, we still haven't seen the cover yet! But the official release date isn't until August 12, so there's plenty of time.
It's also popping up at bookstore websites all over the country, something I discovered by accident. My publisher's work, I suppose.
