Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 42
March 20, 2012
CONTINUING TRAVELS
When we went to the Elberton Guidestones, a friend, my guy, and I also visited Kettle Creek Battlefield in Wilkes County. Most people haven't heard of it, but Kettle Creek was the site of a Revolutionary War battle. Some claim it was the turning point in the south, with the victory coming after the British took Savannah and Charleston, SC. Here's the entrance, the memorial, and one of the sides that tells the date (1779 and not 1770 as the photo makes it appear).
There hasn't been much written about the battle, maybe because no British officers were involved as in Cowpens or even Kings Mountain. But a couple hundred Americans took on about six hundred Tories or Loyalists. I think it was more of a draw than a decisive victory, but the close combat lasted several hours before the Tory leader was killed and his band scattered. The sign tells more about the battle; the marker gives names of the Americans involved.
I can't imagine shooting and fighting hand to hand for three hours as these men did. It's said the Americans put a green spring in their hats while the Tories had white paper in theirs so they could tell who was on what side! In all the smoke from the guns, I bet it was hard to tell if you were shooting at friend or foe.
Anyway, the battle must have made a big impression because a cemetery at first glance, turns out to be memorials for surviving Americans who died much later. Their families evidently knew what an event this was for their patriarchs and put the markers up.
A shame it isn't a state or federal park. There were picnic tables but no toilets or a place to get literature about the battle. Georgia misses out on the tourist trade by not emphasizing historical spots like this one.
There hasn't been much written about the battle, maybe because no British officers were involved as in Cowpens or even Kings Mountain. But a couple hundred Americans took on about six hundred Tories or Loyalists. I think it was more of a draw than a decisive victory, but the close combat lasted several hours before the Tory leader was killed and his band scattered. The sign tells more about the battle; the marker gives names of the Americans involved.
I can't imagine shooting and fighting hand to hand for three hours as these men did. It's said the Americans put a green spring in their hats while the Tories had white paper in theirs so they could tell who was on what side! In all the smoke from the guns, I bet it was hard to tell if you were shooting at friend or foe.
Anyway, the battle must have made a big impression because a cemetery at first glance, turns out to be memorials for surviving Americans who died much later. Their families evidently knew what an event this was for their patriarchs and put the markers up.
A shame it isn't a state or federal park. There were picnic tables but no toilets or a place to get literature about the battle. Georgia misses out on the tourist trade by not emphasizing historical spots like this one.
March 18, 2012
TRAVELS TO THE GUIDESTONES
Ever hear of the Elbert County Guidestones? Most people haven't, but they've been around since 1980.
Last week, my guy and I picked up a friend in Elberton and went to see them. It was a weekday afternoon, but several cars were there. I guess they're more popular than I expected.
Anyway, they're big slabs of granite set up in the corner of a pasture. The big thing is no one knows who set them up. A Mr. R.C. Christian came to one of the granite men in Elberton (Elberton, in case you didn't know, calls itself the granite center of the world because of all the granite quarries there) and commissioned the project. They're inscribed in Hindu, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, Russian, English, and a couple more languages I can't recall. The writing exhorts us to go green and watch our population--maybe not in those exact words--and do several more sensible things. Not that it'll make a difference, but hey! Someone's got to tell us what to do!
Here's what they look like.
Oh, and on the way to Elberton, we pass through the cutest little town. It always reminds me of one of those places in old cowboy movies where the horses get tied to the hitching posts in front of the stores. This is Carlton, GA.
Last week, my guy and I picked up a friend in Elberton and went to see them. It was a weekday afternoon, but several cars were there. I guess they're more popular than I expected.
Anyway, they're big slabs of granite set up in the corner of a pasture. The big thing is no one knows who set them up. A Mr. R.C. Christian came to one of the granite men in Elberton (Elberton, in case you didn't know, calls itself the granite center of the world because of all the granite quarries there) and commissioned the project. They're inscribed in Hindu, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, Russian, English, and a couple more languages I can't recall. The writing exhorts us to go green and watch our population--maybe not in those exact words--and do several more sensible things. Not that it'll make a difference, but hey! Someone's got to tell us what to do!
Here's what they look like.
Oh, and on the way to Elberton, we pass through the cutest little town. It always reminds me of one of those places in old cowboy movies where the horses get tied to the hitching posts in front of the stores. This is Carlton, GA.
March 16, 2012
WAS INSTEAD OF WERE
I'm excited. Kind of.
THE MAN IN THE BOAT is now available in the MuseItUp bookstore - www.MuseItUp.com - and also on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Boat-ebook/dp/B007JW8L94/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331912514&sr=1-1 but it isn't out yet at Barnes and Noble or from Apple. They sometimes take longer to get books up.
Why I'm not excited? I got an advance copy and read it night before last. Not out of vanity. Mainly to make sure the formatting was okay. And it was. Except about 30-40 pages in, I read a sentence and stopped, horrified. Reread it to be sure. Yep. There was a 'was' where a 'were' should have been.
In the beginning, a line editor read the entire manuscript, sent it back to me with changes, I accepted or defended, sent back; she accepted, disputed, sent back; I accepted/refused/defended, sent back. We finally agreed on the 6th or so version which I reread and approved.
The copy editor got it next. Same procedures. Six or seven times through, I reread one last time and approved.
Publisher got it, sent me final galleys. I went through, reread, made a few last corrections, sent back.
So how the heck did that 'was' sneak in instead of the 'were' that should have been there?
I'm hardened to people disapproving of sex scenes. But this! I'm mortified!
Glad I don't have to worry about my old English teachers reading romance.
THE MAN IN THE BOAT is now available in the MuseItUp bookstore - www.MuseItUp.com - and also on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Boat-ebook/dp/B007JW8L94/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331912514&sr=1-1 but it isn't out yet at Barnes and Noble or from Apple. They sometimes take longer to get books up.
Why I'm not excited? I got an advance copy and read it night before last. Not out of vanity. Mainly to make sure the formatting was okay. And it was. Except about 30-40 pages in, I read a sentence and stopped, horrified. Reread it to be sure. Yep. There was a 'was' where a 'were' should have been.
In the beginning, a line editor read the entire manuscript, sent it back to me with changes, I accepted or defended, sent back; she accepted, disputed, sent back; I accepted/refused/defended, sent back. We finally agreed on the 6th or so version which I reread and approved.
The copy editor got it next. Same procedures. Six or seven times through, I reread one last time and approved.
Publisher got it, sent me final galleys. I went through, reread, made a few last corrections, sent back.
So how the heck did that 'was' sneak in instead of the 'were' that should have been there?
I'm hardened to people disapproving of sex scenes. But this! I'm mortified!
Glad I don't have to worry about my old English teachers reading romance.
March 14, 2012
OUT OF IT
Between writing and keeping the house clean for prospective buyers, I'm about to lose it. This picking up and putting away and scrubbing and dusting is for the birds. We rush around like crazy before a viewer comes, then we have to go and lose ourselves for 1,2 or more hours. We're getting fat because we often kill time by going to Wendy's for a Frosty.
And the madness is showing up in my dreams. This morning I dreamed I was in my car when my cell rang. We're in the process of changing to a voice-over?? system (or something like that) so I figured my guy was testing it. Still, I was miffed. He knows I hate to talk and drive.
"What!" I snapped, trying to dodge traffic.
"Hon! Hon!" he says, all panicky. "Did you dispose?"
Did I dispose? "Dispose of what?"
"You know!" His panic increases. "Did you?"
And I woke up. Never did figure out what I was supposed to dispose of. Cat litter? Garbage? Old clothes?
I asked when he woke up, but he just looked blank. Some places it's best not to go.
And the madness is showing up in my dreams. This morning I dreamed I was in my car when my cell rang. We're in the process of changing to a voice-over?? system (or something like that) so I figured my guy was testing it. Still, I was miffed. He knows I hate to talk and drive.
"What!" I snapped, trying to dodge traffic.
"Hon! Hon!" he says, all panicky. "Did you dispose?"
Did I dispose? "Dispose of what?"
"You know!" His panic increases. "Did you?"
And I woke up. Never did figure out what I was supposed to dispose of. Cat litter? Garbage? Old clothes?
I asked when he woke up, but he just looked blank. Some places it's best not to go.
March 12, 2012
RELEASE DATE
I finally got the release date for my romantic mystery, THE MAN IN THE BOAT. Looks like it'll be available in MuseItUp's bookstore -- link is: https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=338&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 -- on March 16th, and probably Amazon soon after that.
Muse rearranged the schedule to push up a release from one of our authors who's battling cancer. The historical romance, GARNET GALE GETS HER MAN, was due out in June but they moved it up to last week so that she could see it pubbed.
So if anyone likes romantic mysteries, my book's out this week; anyone who likes historical romance, Nan D. Arnold's book is already out on Amazon and at Muse!
Muse rearranged the schedule to push up a release from one of our authors who's battling cancer. The historical romance, GARNET GALE GETS HER MAN, was due out in June but they moved it up to last week so that she could see it pubbed.
So if anyone likes romantic mysteries, my book's out this week; anyone who likes historical romance, Nan D. Arnold's book is already out on Amazon and at Muse!
March 9, 2012
AND STILL MORE TRAVELS
We finished up our visit to Anna Ruby Falls and the covered bridge by swinging back by the Indian Mounds near Helen, GA. I think this mound preceded the Cherokee but they used it, too. Now it sits in the middle of a cow pasture and boasts a gazebo on top.
I took a photo of the mound and the sign with my phone. My guy took one with his camera. Then he did some arty stuff to it and it looks really cool. Bet you can tell which one's which!
I took a photo of the mound and the sign with my phone. My guy took one with his camera. Then he did some arty stuff to it and it looks really cool. Bet you can tell which one's which!
March 7, 2012
BLOG VISIT
So today, Penny Ehrenkranz kindly invited me to be interviewed on her blog and give an excerpt of THE MAN IN THE BOAT coming out this month from MuseItUp. I hope. Not got a final date yet, but as far as I know it's still on.
Anyway, I was surprised and pleased at several people turning up to comment. The link, in case you want to go see it later, is: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/
For a confirmed introvert like me, it wasn't bad at all. No talking face to face, no nervous giggling or dumbfounded silence, no bunch of strange faces staring at me. I rather liked it. Hope they're all that easy.
Anyway, I was surprised and pleased at several people turning up to comment. The link, in case you want to go see it later, is: http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/
For a confirmed introvert like me, it wasn't bad at all. No talking face to face, no nervous giggling or dumbfounded silence, no bunch of strange faces staring at me. I rather liked it. Hope they're all that easy.
March 6, 2012
MORE TRAVELS
Last week, after viewing Anna Ruby Falls, we hung out with the ranger for a while. He was very kind, telling us about the falls and other places of interest around Helen.
One was a covered bridge. That got my guy excited since there aren't that many of them around anymore. The road had changed; the pavement went on over a new bridge, but the old covered one lay right below. We could pull off to see it with no problem. In fact some EMC workers were eating their lunch there and offered to move, though it wasn't necessary for my guy to take his pix.
A grist mill and other things had been around the bridge at one time but had been washed away. The bridge itself wasn't as picturesque as some, but...
While reading the marker, I discovered that -- ta dum! -- it was the very bridge filmed in the 1951 Susan Hayward movie, I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.
How about that! Here's the sign (taken with my phone, not my guy's nice camera).
And here's the covered bridge. Imagine taking shelter from a thunderstorm or snowfall. If it could only talk!
One was a covered bridge. That got my guy excited since there aren't that many of them around anymore. The road had changed; the pavement went on over a new bridge, but the old covered one lay right below. We could pull off to see it with no problem. In fact some EMC workers were eating their lunch there and offered to move, though it wasn't necessary for my guy to take his pix.
A grist mill and other things had been around the bridge at one time but had been washed away. The bridge itself wasn't as picturesque as some, but...
While reading the marker, I discovered that -- ta dum! -- it was the very bridge filmed in the 1951 Susan Hayward movie, I'D CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.
How about that! Here's the sign (taken with my phone, not my guy's nice camera).
And here's the covered bridge. Imagine taking shelter from a thunderstorm or snowfall. If it could only talk!
March 5, 2012
MERMAID BLUES by Joel Brown
This is the second in this series I've read, and I'm looking forward to the next from Joel Brown.
Baxter, a folk/pop singer who had one big hit decades ago, is trying to make a comeback when a local Lothario turns up dead. Naturally, Baxter's semi-involvement puts his new record contract at risk. Naturally, Baxter keeps prying into the murder. And naturally, more corpses turn up.
Poor Baxter. His romance with the record company's representative fizzles (after he spends a fortune treating her to an exclusive dinner in the top of the lighthouse). His comeback concert is hit by a thunderstorm. His ex-wife's husband still annoys him no end. But he keeps nosing around looking for the killer while trying to tend to his paternal duties. He's a likable guy in a hairy situation.
The atmosphere of the touristy harbor town is wonderful. The characters come to life. And the ending is one I didn't see coming. Good read!
Baxter, a folk/pop singer who had one big hit decades ago, is trying to make a comeback when a local Lothario turns up dead. Naturally, Baxter's semi-involvement puts his new record contract at risk. Naturally, Baxter keeps prying into the murder. And naturally, more corpses turn up.
Poor Baxter. His romance with the record company's representative fizzles (after he spends a fortune treating her to an exclusive dinner in the top of the lighthouse). His comeback concert is hit by a thunderstorm. His ex-wife's husband still annoys him no end. But he keeps nosing around looking for the killer while trying to tend to his paternal duties. He's a likable guy in a hairy situation.
The atmosphere of the touristy harbor town is wonderful. The characters come to life. And the ending is one I didn't see coming. Good read!
March 4, 2012
TRAVELS
Took a day off last week and went up to Anna Ruby Falls near Helen. We stopped at the Cleveland McDonald's to grab a biscuit and they have the cutest display of Cabbage Patch Kid dolls! Guess it's 'cause Babyland General, their 'birthing' place is located here. Maybe you can see something from my phone pix.
And then on to the falls! They're gorgeous. Although the photo makes them look like three waterfalls, they're actually twins, separating at the top and falling below into two distinct falls before merging back together.
And then on to the falls! They're gorgeous. Although the photo makes them look like three waterfalls, they're actually twins, separating at the top and falling below into two distinct falls before merging back together.
