Meradeth Houston's Blog, page 54
January 10, 2014
Sary in the Real World: Roland Yeomans and his hurricane tale!
Hi everyone! I'm back with another Sary in the Real World post! And I have an awesome one today. Please say hello to Roland, check out his blog (a great post on the cat, Gypsy, mentioned below), and his books: FRENCH QUARTER NOCTURNE and DEATH IN THE HOUSE OF LIFE.
And if you're interested in sporting a post in the future, I'd LOVE that! :)
“Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.”
- Frederick Langbridge
"There are epic events in each person's life. What we make of them determines what we make of our lives." - Shelly Blatt
Hopefully, I will not sound like that starlet who said to an ear-weary Groucho Marx:
"Enough about me. What do you think of me?"
Hurricane Katrina and Rita swept through New Orleans and Lake Charles. Neither city has fully recovered.
And those of us who survived are changed forever by it.
Some years ago, Hurricane Rita was a category 5 hurricane. I spent the morning running rare blood to scrambling hospitals.
I drove back home to wolf down a hurried lunch. A mandatory evacuation was issued. I went downstairs.
Someone had siphoned the gas from my car. All the gas stations were shut down. I was stranded in the path of a killer hurricane.
Alone.
Or not so alone.
Freddie, my supervisor, called checking in on me. He offered me a ride in his car as he drove beside his wife's car containing his two children.
So with the clothes on my back, my laptop on my lap, and Gypsy, my cat, in a carrier, I rode with my friend into the darkness.
The highways were shut down. We drove the back roads, the cypress trees bending down over us in the blackness as if listening to our whispered voices. Freddie's eyes were hollow.
As we passed his wife's car, I saw she was frantic, on the verge of panic.
I winked at the pale faces of Freddie's two children, Allison and Abigail, pulled Gypsy, my cat, out of the carrier, and picked up her front paw as if she were waving at the two girls.
They giggled. And the grip of panic on their mother seemed to break.
She waved back and gave a valiant smile with a thumb's up salute.
Freddie studied me for a moment and said, "Dude, you're like Job."
"How so?"
"I mean you got your gas siphoned out of your car just when you needed it most."
"I bet a lot of people did."
"Yeah, but if Rita hits Lake Charles, this will be the second time you'll have lost everything.
You lost it all when your home burned. And before that you closed your business. Your mother died before that. And before that your fiancee died. And your childhood best friend died before Kathy. Damn, it's like you're Job."
I nodded, smiling sadly, "As I recall Job ended up pretty well."
"You've got a strange way at looking at life, dude."
"You're not the first to say that."
We made it to Baton Rouge where I worked delivering rare blood to all the hospitals reeling under the impact of Katrina.
I drove to the hospital of Metairie, the first suburb of New Orleans. (It is a French term for a tenant farm.)
I saw people who had only thought they knew what having nothing meant. I smelled the stench of decaying human flesh on the breath of a too silent city.
I saw young boys in uniform trying to be men under impossible conditions.
Late at night I typed the first draft of FRENCH QUARTER NOCTURNE, alone in the spacious suite afforded me by the blood center for which I worked.
It had been leased for the board of directors to oversee the new center in Baton Rouge.
So for two months I slept in a prince's suite. Gypsy was, for once, satisfied with her accommodations, she being a princess and all.
I barely saw the suite. I was always driving it seemed --
down long, unfamiliar roads to strange hospitals protected by hollow-eyed young boys with automatic weapons and dry mouths.
On my days off, I would volunteer to drive vans for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, church groups, or out-of-state relatives frantic to find lost loved ones. There are stories in that time that haunt me still, but they belong to shattered, valiant hearts.
Finally, the blood couriers were allowed back to our devastated city.
It was like something from a post-apocalyptic movie. But these ruined streets and gutted homes I knew. Our city has never truly recovered. But my friends are a hardy bunch.
Me? I just fake it.
I've only mentioned one snippet of my life, and look how much I have written. Sigh. Like Freddie says, I tend to talk a lot.
But he smiles good-naturedly when he says it.
And if you're interested in sporting a post in the future, I'd LOVE that! :)
“Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.”
- Frederick Langbridge
"There are epic events in each person's life. What we make of them determines what we make of our lives." - Shelly Blatt
Hopefully, I will not sound like that starlet who said to an ear-weary Groucho Marx:
"Enough about me. What do you think of me?"
Hurricane Katrina and Rita swept through New Orleans and Lake Charles. Neither city has fully recovered.
And those of us who survived are changed forever by it.Some years ago, Hurricane Rita was a category 5 hurricane. I spent the morning running rare blood to scrambling hospitals.
I drove back home to wolf down a hurried lunch. A mandatory evacuation was issued. I went downstairs.
Someone had siphoned the gas from my car. All the gas stations were shut down. I was stranded in the path of a killer hurricane.
Alone.
Or not so alone.
Freddie, my supervisor, called checking in on me. He offered me a ride in his car as he drove beside his wife's car containing his two children.
So with the clothes on my back, my laptop on my lap, and Gypsy, my cat, in a carrier, I rode with my friend into the darkness.
The highways were shut down. We drove the back roads, the cypress trees bending down over us in the blackness as if listening to our whispered voices. Freddie's eyes were hollow.
As we passed his wife's car, I saw she was frantic, on the verge of panic.
I winked at the pale faces of Freddie's two children, Allison and Abigail, pulled Gypsy, my cat, out of the carrier, and picked up her front paw as if she were waving at the two girls.
They giggled. And the grip of panic on their mother seemed to break.
She waved back and gave a valiant smile with a thumb's up salute.
Freddie studied me for a moment and said, "Dude, you're like Job."
"How so?"
"I mean you got your gas siphoned out of your car just when you needed it most."
"I bet a lot of people did."
"Yeah, but if Rita hits Lake Charles, this will be the second time you'll have lost everything.
You lost it all when your home burned. And before that you closed your business. Your mother died before that. And before that your fiancee died. And your childhood best friend died before Kathy. Damn, it's like you're Job."
I nodded, smiling sadly, "As I recall Job ended up pretty well."
"You've got a strange way at looking at life, dude."
"You're not the first to say that."
We made it to Baton Rouge where I worked delivering rare blood to all the hospitals reeling under the impact of Katrina.
I drove to the hospital of Metairie, the first suburb of New Orleans. (It is a French term for a tenant farm.)
I saw people who had only thought they knew what having nothing meant. I smelled the stench of decaying human flesh on the breath of a too silent city.
I saw young boys in uniform trying to be men under impossible conditions.
Late at night I typed the first draft of FRENCH QUARTER NOCTURNE, alone in the spacious suite afforded me by the blood center for which I worked.
It had been leased for the board of directors to oversee the new center in Baton Rouge.
So for two months I slept in a prince's suite. Gypsy was, for once, satisfied with her accommodations, she being a princess and all.
I barely saw the suite. I was always driving it seemed --
down long, unfamiliar roads to strange hospitals protected by hollow-eyed young boys with automatic weapons and dry mouths.
On my days off, I would volunteer to drive vans for the Salvation Army, Red Cross, church groups, or out-of-state relatives frantic to find lost loved ones. There are stories in that time that haunt me still, but they belong to shattered, valiant hearts.
Finally, the blood couriers were allowed back to our devastated city.
It was like something from a post-apocalyptic movie. But these ruined streets and gutted homes I knew. Our city has never truly recovered. But my friends are a hardy bunch.
Me? I just fake it.
I've only mentioned one snippet of my life, and look how much I have written. Sigh. Like Freddie says, I tend to talk a lot.
But he smiles good-naturedly when he says it.
January 8, 2014
After Reading: THE APOLLO ACADEMY by Kimberly P. Chase
As the heiress to Titon Technologies, eighteen-year-old Aurora Titon can have whatever she wants—clothes, expensive gadgets, anything money can buy. All she really wants is to escape her pampered, paparazzi-prone life for the stars. Becoming the first female pilot to train as an astronaut for the Apollo Academy is exactly the chance for which she has been waiting. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for her unreciprocated crush on a fellow student, the sexy astronaut bent on making her life hell, and the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her. The first in a four book new adult science fiction series, The Apollo Academy, is an action packed story of love, discovery, and survival. (Goodreads)I finished this last year, but am finally managing to get a review up. That's definitely not a reflection on what I thought of the book though, because I loved this one! I have a soft spot for NA sci-fi, and this didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the world that Chase has created and felt it was incredibly believable. I read it while visiting family where several of my nephews were seriously unable to look up from their game systems for days at a time--it totally made me think that the world Chase has put together is so possible! And then I was reading Wired Magazine, with their Wearable Tech on the front cover, and I just had to laugh. The world Chase has may be a whole lot closer than we think. For better, or worse. Anyhow, I really enjoyed the characters as well, and found them all to be very believable and nuanced. Aurora was really easy to identify with, and Zane is great--I can't wait to learn more about him. Anyhow, definitely the start of a great series and I can't wait to see more!
Have you had a chance to check this one out? Have another sci-fi to recommend?
January 6, 2014
Giveaway Winner!!
Thanks so much to all those who entered! I loved seeing what everyone's looking forward to in 2014. So, thanks to random.org, the winner is:
Stephanie from The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow!
I'll be emailing! And if you really want a necklace, I may be coerced into making one--let me know, m'k? :)
On another note of shameless begging, if anyone wants to do a Friday post here on my blog, let me know! I've been utterly swamped over the holidays and unable to keep up my Sary in the Real World posts (about someone helping you out when you needed it most), but I'd love to get that ball rolling again. If anyone's game, or want to do any other kind of spotlight/interview/something cool they want to try out, let me know--my 2014 is looking pretty sparse at the moment!
January 1, 2014
Ringing in 2014! Reviews, goals, and a #giveaway!
Happy New Year! How did you all celebrate? Anyone have a kiss at midnight? :)
I know the web is flooded with posts looking back at 2013, but I can't resist a little nostalgia. Last year was pretty crazy for me, so I'm really just happy to have survived it. In short form:
I finished teaching my first year as a professor and started my second. At some point I really will get the hang of it.I read 46 non-academic books. Considering the above point, I'm counting that as a decent score.A traveled to a few new countries while on a Caribbean cruise with my in-laws. It's safe to say I could easily move to any of them if someone would like to fund me :)My second novel, The Chemistry of Fate released. If you'd like to grab a copy, I'd love that (hint-hint!).I wrote, revised, and had the 3rd Sary book (Surrender the Sky) accepted for publication. Expect it early this summer.Colors Like Memories released in paperback. I wrote/contributed to two academic papers, based on research I've been working on. It amazes me that a 20 page paper can often be just as much work as a 200 page book.Okay, that's enough randomness! Still, lots of crazy things, and a serious dose of stress for 2013. Anyhow, I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions. But there are a few things I'd like to see happen this coming year, and with that in mind, here's a few things that I plan to work toward in 2014:Read just as many, if not more, novels as last year. Considering how much I love to read, this is a bonus.Get an agent for, or sell my NA sci-fi (An Absence of Light). Fingers crossed!Escape the eternally grey skies of Montana as much as possible :)And the kicker: learn how to not stress so much. This is definitely something I need to be better at, for my health especially, and so I have some hair left. I swear I spent most of last year rushing from one thing to another, but I'm really hoping I can figure out how to handle it all better this coming year. We'll see how I manage!Okay, giveaway time! I haven't done anything fun lately, so I figure it's a good way to kick the year off. I've been having a lot of fun making these really cute necklaces with different words on them (you can pick the word for yours!). To enter, all you need to do is let me know in the comments what you're most looking forward to in 2014. Bonus if you follow me on twitter and facebook (just say so in your comment). I'll pick a winner next Monday the 6th. Good luck!
I know the web is flooded with posts looking back at 2013, but I can't resist a little nostalgia. Last year was pretty crazy for me, so I'm really just happy to have survived it. In short form:
I finished teaching my first year as a professor and started my second. At some point I really will get the hang of it.I read 46 non-academic books. Considering the above point, I'm counting that as a decent score.A traveled to a few new countries while on a Caribbean cruise with my in-laws. It's safe to say I could easily move to any of them if someone would like to fund me :)My second novel, The Chemistry of Fate released. If you'd like to grab a copy, I'd love that (hint-hint!).I wrote, revised, and had the 3rd Sary book (Surrender the Sky) accepted for publication. Expect it early this summer.Colors Like Memories released in paperback. I wrote/contributed to two academic papers, based on research I've been working on. It amazes me that a 20 page paper can often be just as much work as a 200 page book.Okay, that's enough randomness! Still, lots of crazy things, and a serious dose of stress for 2013. Anyhow, I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions. But there are a few things I'd like to see happen this coming year, and with that in mind, here's a few things that I plan to work toward in 2014:Read just as many, if not more, novels as last year. Considering how much I love to read, this is a bonus.Get an agent for, or sell my NA sci-fi (An Absence of Light). Fingers crossed!Escape the eternally grey skies of Montana as much as possible :)And the kicker: learn how to not stress so much. This is definitely something I need to be better at, for my health especially, and so I have some hair left. I swear I spent most of last year rushing from one thing to another, but I'm really hoping I can figure out how to handle it all better this coming year. We'll see how I manage!Okay, giveaway time! I haven't done anything fun lately, so I figure it's a good way to kick the year off. I've been having a lot of fun making these really cute necklaces with different words on them (you can pick the word for yours!). To enter, all you need to do is let me know in the comments what you're most looking forward to in 2014. Bonus if you follow me on twitter and facebook (just say so in your comment). I'll pick a winner next Monday the 6th. Good luck!
December 31, 2013
Book Spotlight: THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard
Title: The Forgotten OnesAuthor: Laura Howard
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Series: The Danaan Trilogy #1
Published: April 28, 2013
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
Amazon | B&N
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook
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December 30, 2013
After Reading: UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi
ticktick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life. (Goodreads)
I'm attempting to get in a couple of more books before the year ends :) And I totally adore this series! Mafi's writing is just, gah, so amazing. It's definitely different, but I love the texture of it, like it's possible to scoop up her words and sift them through your fingers while reading. It brings Juliette to life so well. The bulk of this book was mainly about Juliette finding her inner strength, which at times felt a touch slow, but then a twist rounded out the action and I found myself still stuck within the pages. Also, sheesh, it's rare for me to feel as bad for a character as I do for Juliette. She's definitely gotten a rough deal. But she's trying to cope, and it's no wonder she has trouble after all she's been through. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if she'd been rocking in a corner, completely out of her mind after everything that's happened. Anyhow, I won't go into too much more detail so as to not spoil things, but this was definitely a fun read and I can't wait for the last book in the series!
Have you read any of these? Thoughts?
December 24, 2013
Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming holidays! Blogging will be light due to a hundred different reasons, but I'll be back with a bang in January! (Okay, maybe not a bang, but something fun :)
Possibly a little too true :)What is your favorite family tradition?
Possibly a little too true :)What is your favorite family tradition?
December 23, 2013
After Reading: MEANT FOR ME by Faith Sullivan
Eric thought he had forever...before.Divided between reliving the past and embracing his new life with Ivy, Eric fears that love will once again be ripped from his grasp. Having faith in the future is hard. So many things can go wrong.
Ivy is convinced that what they have is meant to be...but no one can escape the wheel of fate.
Her love for Eric and the life they're creating make every sacrifice seem worthwhile. Until she's forced to reveal the truth surrounding her delicate condition. Even if it shatters his hope.
Can they hold onto their newfound happiness or are events already in motion to keep them apart? (Goodreads)
I reviewed the first book in this series, TAKE ME NOW, here.
I so totally love Faith's books. Honestly, it's such a treat to nab them up and enjoy them. Meant For Me was no exception. The first couple of chapters...well, they definitely kept me glued to the pages! LOL! Quite steamy to say the least :) And Lauren? Wow, it's not possible to write how much a loathe her. Faith does a great job of giving us Lauren's (twisted) logic behind her actions, too, which I really enjoyed. Also, I liked getting to see into Will's head more, as he has a lot more complexity than I would have thought. Of course I was swooning over Eric, and praying everything worked out with Ivy's tenuous pregnancy (wow does she go through a lot in this book--poor girl!!). Basically, this was a super fun read, a great escape, and overall just an awesome book! Don't miss out on this series!
Have you read this series? Or do you have a villain you love to hate?
December 19, 2013
After Reading: Tex And The Gangs Of Suburbia (Tex, The Witch Boy, #2) by Stuart R. West
Tex McKenna’s junior year of high school is just as bad as his sophomore year. Maybe worse. Olivia’s dumped him. He's caught up between two warring gangs and gone “undercover” with the Modern Gangstas to unmask a murderer. All this poor Witch Boy and supernatural trouble magnet wants to do is end the school year alive. And maybe find out who the mysterious punker girl is and how she knows all his secrets.YA paranormal, suspense, mystery, comedy, romance. The second book in the Tex, The Witch Boy series. (Goodreads)
I reviewed TEX, THE WITCH BOY here :)
Stuart is a great friend of the blog here, and I am super happy to be able to read his second book in the Tex series! (Also, you definitely should check out his blog--it's a blast!) I really enjoyed the first book in this series and the tough issues it took on in the form of teen bullying. Book #2 doesn't disappoint, this time tackling school violence with a frightening level of accuracy. Throw in a bit of fun, some great characters that are realistic and completely identifiable, and a whole ton of stuff going on, and this book was difficult to put down. West has a serious knack for depicting a high school environment that's so real I swear I can smell the cafeteria and see the hallways. He's a talented author, and his books have a great balance of funny and serious (I definitely shouldn't leave out the funny--holy crud were there times I was laughing so hard!). I didn't see the ending coming at all, and loved the twist. Overall, this is a great series by a talented author and I definitely recommend checking it out!
Have you read any of the Tex series? Or books on school violence?
I can't leave this without pointing out that West's third book in the Tex series, TEX, AND THE GOD SQUAD is out now! Great for a holiday gift!Richard “Tex” McKenna's graduating high school. It’s a shame he doesn't have a clue what comes next. There's no time to think now, either. Being a male witch makes Tex a ginormous supernatural trouble magnet. There's an angry witch in pursuit and a maniac in a Grim Reaper's costume on the loose. Why did the cheerleader really kill herself? Is the heinous Clarendon Baptist Church a front for something more sinister? Elspeth’s back, too, trouble trailing on her booted heels. If Tex and his friends don't figure it out soon, Tex won't have to worry about life after high school. (Goodreads, Amazon)
December 17, 2013
After Reading: Christmas Romance (Best Christmas Romances of 2013)
Four sweet Christmas stories from your favorite romance authors to warm your heart for the holidays.Christmas Wishes-Danica Winters: For most, Christmas is a time for family, love, life, dreams, and wishes—but not for Lee Llewellyn, a mother who has recently lost her son to an accident and her husband to the resentment it caused.
In a chance encounter, she is given the gift of company on Christmas, but is she ready to move forward and start living again?
Christmas at Central Bark-Jennifer Conner: When Tennyson’s boyfriend left her for her best friend from high-school, all Tennyson received in the break up was her dog. She’s sworn off men and now is rebuilding her life. The only thing Par does is work. He barely has time to do anything he wants for himself other than take his dog to the dog park. When Par and Tennyson find an abandoned dog at the park named Duke. Will they find room in their hearts to take him in?
And can this Christmas season weave some special magic for the two of them?
Halo's Wish-Sharon Kleve: Halo Ann Carlyle wishes for a home, family, and a boat-load of pets. What she gets is a bruised hip, a lump on the head, a broken ankle, and her new yellow Honda Civic is demolished.
Rich McFarland, a sexy veterinarian, keeps showing up in the most unexpected places, promising everything she's ever wanted.Halo believes she only has time to pursue her career as a pet detective and must ignore her growing attraction to achieve her dreams.
Will Halo trust her heart, and find a way to get both before Christmas?
Christmas Hope-Casey Dawes: Clara Misowski is convinced Sam Richards’ cheese making operation would be a perfect stop for her culinary tour group. He’s adamantly opposed to anything to do with a group of women on his farm. Can she convince him to open his heart to company, Christmas, and maybe even her? (Goodreads)
I was asked to review this for the holidays and totally jumped at the chance as I knew I'd need a little something to help me get into the holiday spirit! And this totally was the perfect trick :) I don't read shorts very often, though I don't know why--they're perfect for a short snippet before bed, and these were cute, romantic, and warmed my heart. I particularly loved the Christmas at Central Bark one (though by the end of it, I was cursing the fact that we have no good Indian food where I live...what I wouldn't give for some naan!). All of the stories were fun though, full of romance, and just generally sweet. If you're looking for a tale that will let you relax a little, enjoy the season, and get into the holiday spirit, this is a great choice!
Have you read this one? Or do you have a collection of short stories that you enjoy?
