Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 24
November 27, 2015
How to Make a Thanksgiving
(The POW Boys won the vote, so I present to you....)
How to Make a Thanksgiving, A Second POW Camp to the Right Short Story
To Rudy, Asher, Abram, and everyone else not from America the forth Thursday of November meant nothing special. In fact, the only ones who made a big deal about it happened to be Tommy and the Miller brothers. Zack joined in, saying something about how Canada was connected to America and if Tommy, Jerry, and Max planned to steal a feast he wanted part of it.
Because Zack took part in the Thanksgiving celebration Rudy found himself pulled along as well. Zack had that talent. For that reason he found himself outside the camp with Asher. The young Jew had jumped into the plans with the same kind of eagerness he did with everything else.. He even hinted at a pie, but Rudy wouldn't believe it until he had a bite in his mouth.
Through the snow, they struck out for Honor's farm. Rudy had his doubts when he realized the direction Asher lead him in. He even voiced his doubts, though it had never done him any good in the past.
"We're not stealing from Honor I hope," Rudy said. He thought of the young German girl who helped them for reasons none of them knew. She had three brothers in the German army, but she spent her time smuggling out information for a top secret allied mission.
"What do you take me for?" Asher had the good grace to look completely offended. "I don't steal from girls, let alone Honor."
"What are we doing then?" Rudy asked. When it came to Asher he always had doubts about him and his intentions.
"Stealing some pies." Asher winked and Rudy smacked the back of his head.
"What was all that about not stealing from girls?" he demanded.
Asher laughed. "She made them for us."
"You're my least favorite person in this war, you know that, right?" Rudy asked.
"I feel so honored," Asher said with a pretend sniff. "Completely touched."
The only thing which kept Rudy from shoving Asher in a snowbank was the promise of pie.
____
Back at the camp Tommy found so many holes in his plan he didn't think he'd be able to pull it off. The biggest happened to be that he couldn't find a turkey anywhere in Germany. (At least in the area he could get to and back from without Kosh or anyone else getting suspicious.)
"How can they not have a turkey?" he asked no one in particular. The only ones who really shared in the tragedy over the lack of proper Thanksgiving food were Jerry and Max. Zack pretended but he didn't pretend all that well.
"Exactly!" Zack shouted as loud as any of them dared to shout in the tunnels.
"Canadian," Harnish reminded him, "turkey tomorrow doesn't mean anything to you."
"You're an unsympathetic soul," Zack said.
"I'll start to care when one of you comes up with a workable idea of preparing a feast," Harnish said.
"Won't work," Abram said with confidence.
Tommy ignored them and looked back at his list. He'd written down everything he'd heard went into a traditional dinner. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies...and then he'd adjusted the list with things he could use instead. Mostly things taken from their Red Cross boxes. Tinned pudding instead of cranberry sauce, it wasn't exactly the same but he figured it had to taste about the same. He figured they could use their tinned veggies and biscuits in place of stuffing. Honor had promised pie so thankfully they wouldn't have to go without that. But if he couldn't find something for the turkey they'd be left with tinned meat rolls.
Everyone donated some of their rations for the feast and Tommy, Jerry, Max, and Zack prepared what they could once darkness fell and roll call had been taken. Tommy still hadn't solved his turkey problem though by the time Rudy and Asher got back with the pies.
Honor had made them three. One was apple, one a berry pie, and one peach. Tommy couldn't imagine where she had gotten all of the supplies needed for them, but the sight and smell made his stomach rumble and he felt a little better about his lack of turkey.
"I'm in love," Zack said as he leaned over the pies and breathed in. Rudy pushed him off as if he feared he'd eat them all on the spot.
"With Honor or the pies?" Asher asked.
"Both," Zack said, "I'm going to marry her when this war is over and she will make me a pie every night for dinner."
"Just what every girl hopes to get out of a marriage," Rudy said.
"Can't," Asher said, "I'm marrying her. I already proposed."
"Right when he saw the pies," Rudy said. He rolled his eyes. "Honor laughed him off."
Zack looked relieved and Tommy smiled as he tucked the pies safely away in a chest for the night.
"I guess we will have to do with what we have got," he said. He also supposed he'd have to wait until he got back home to have his first real Thanksgiving. Someday though, he promised himself, he'd have it.
____
Thanksgiving morning dawn icy cold. They didn't have to spend long outside and soon found themselves alone in the tunnels. Tommy welcomed the cold, and the fact Kosh had a small sliver of a heart even if Rudy claimed his commanding officer didn't.
It wasn't until they were making their way to Asher's part of the tunnel that Tommy realized he hadn't seen Harnish all that morning. It should have surprised him but it didn't any longer, neither did the fact that Kosh didn't realize it. Harnish had that talent, he could vanish when he wanted.
When they got to the door which closed off Asher's quarters from the rest of the tunnel Tommy paused and took a deep breath. The smell stunned him and he stared in disbelief at the men behind him.
"Smell good," Abram said in his broken English.
"What on earth is it?" Zack asked.
"Turkey," Jerry and Max said at the same time in the same state of disbelief as Tommy felt.
It couldn't be. But when he opened the door Harnish and Asher stood in the middle of the room over a homemade, tin stove. They had the door open and inside in a large pan sat a beautiful roasted turkey. Tommy rubbed his eyes at the sight.
"The smoke!" Rudy gasped.
Harnish scowled. "I've been in this camp long enough not to take risks. I have the smoke worked out, no one above will see it or smell anything."
But Tommy didn't care about smoke. All he cared about was the bird.
"How..."
Harnish laughed at his hanging opened mouth. "Penelope and Henri. Don't ask me how, but I asked them for a turkey and they managed. Figured it was the least I could do for my men."
"You were teasing us over it though," Zack said.
"I always tease you," Harnish winked, and then smiled right at Tommy, "Happy Thanksgiving, Thomas."
How to Make a Thanksgiving, A Second POW Camp to the Right Short Story
To Rudy, Asher, Abram, and everyone else not from America the forth Thursday of November meant nothing special. In fact, the only ones who made a big deal about it happened to be Tommy and the Miller brothers. Zack joined in, saying something about how Canada was connected to America and if Tommy, Jerry, and Max planned to steal a feast he wanted part of it.
Because Zack took part in the Thanksgiving celebration Rudy found himself pulled along as well. Zack had that talent. For that reason he found himself outside the camp with Asher. The young Jew had jumped into the plans with the same kind of eagerness he did with everything else.. He even hinted at a pie, but Rudy wouldn't believe it until he had a bite in his mouth.
Through the snow, they struck out for Honor's farm. Rudy had his doubts when he realized the direction Asher lead him in. He even voiced his doubts, though it had never done him any good in the past.
"We're not stealing from Honor I hope," Rudy said. He thought of the young German girl who helped them for reasons none of them knew. She had three brothers in the German army, but she spent her time smuggling out information for a top secret allied mission.
"What do you take me for?" Asher had the good grace to look completely offended. "I don't steal from girls, let alone Honor."
"What are we doing then?" Rudy asked. When it came to Asher he always had doubts about him and his intentions.
"Stealing some pies." Asher winked and Rudy smacked the back of his head.
"What was all that about not stealing from girls?" he demanded.
Asher laughed. "She made them for us."
"You're my least favorite person in this war, you know that, right?" Rudy asked.
"I feel so honored," Asher said with a pretend sniff. "Completely touched."
The only thing which kept Rudy from shoving Asher in a snowbank was the promise of pie.
____
Back at the camp Tommy found so many holes in his plan he didn't think he'd be able to pull it off. The biggest happened to be that he couldn't find a turkey anywhere in Germany. (At least in the area he could get to and back from without Kosh or anyone else getting suspicious.)
"How can they not have a turkey?" he asked no one in particular. The only ones who really shared in the tragedy over the lack of proper Thanksgiving food were Jerry and Max. Zack pretended but he didn't pretend all that well.
"Exactly!" Zack shouted as loud as any of them dared to shout in the tunnels.
"Canadian," Harnish reminded him, "turkey tomorrow doesn't mean anything to you."
"You're an unsympathetic soul," Zack said.
"I'll start to care when one of you comes up with a workable idea of preparing a feast," Harnish said.
"Won't work," Abram said with confidence.
Tommy ignored them and looked back at his list. He'd written down everything he'd heard went into a traditional dinner. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies...and then he'd adjusted the list with things he could use instead. Mostly things taken from their Red Cross boxes. Tinned pudding instead of cranberry sauce, it wasn't exactly the same but he figured it had to taste about the same. He figured they could use their tinned veggies and biscuits in place of stuffing. Honor had promised pie so thankfully they wouldn't have to go without that. But if he couldn't find something for the turkey they'd be left with tinned meat rolls.
Everyone donated some of their rations for the feast and Tommy, Jerry, Max, and Zack prepared what they could once darkness fell and roll call had been taken. Tommy still hadn't solved his turkey problem though by the time Rudy and Asher got back with the pies.
Honor had made them three. One was apple, one a berry pie, and one peach. Tommy couldn't imagine where she had gotten all of the supplies needed for them, but the sight and smell made his stomach rumble and he felt a little better about his lack of turkey.
"I'm in love," Zack said as he leaned over the pies and breathed in. Rudy pushed him off as if he feared he'd eat them all on the spot.
"With Honor or the pies?" Asher asked.
"Both," Zack said, "I'm going to marry her when this war is over and she will make me a pie every night for dinner."
"Just what every girl hopes to get out of a marriage," Rudy said.
"Can't," Asher said, "I'm marrying her. I already proposed."
"Right when he saw the pies," Rudy said. He rolled his eyes. "Honor laughed him off."
Zack looked relieved and Tommy smiled as he tucked the pies safely away in a chest for the night.
"I guess we will have to do with what we have got," he said. He also supposed he'd have to wait until he got back home to have his first real Thanksgiving. Someday though, he promised himself, he'd have it.
____
Thanksgiving morning dawn icy cold. They didn't have to spend long outside and soon found themselves alone in the tunnels. Tommy welcomed the cold, and the fact Kosh had a small sliver of a heart even if Rudy claimed his commanding officer didn't.
It wasn't until they were making their way to Asher's part of the tunnel that Tommy realized he hadn't seen Harnish all that morning. It should have surprised him but it didn't any longer, neither did the fact that Kosh didn't realize it. Harnish had that talent, he could vanish when he wanted.
When they got to the door which closed off Asher's quarters from the rest of the tunnel Tommy paused and took a deep breath. The smell stunned him and he stared in disbelief at the men behind him.
"Smell good," Abram said in his broken English.
"What on earth is it?" Zack asked.
"Turkey," Jerry and Max said at the same time in the same state of disbelief as Tommy felt.
It couldn't be. But when he opened the door Harnish and Asher stood in the middle of the room over a homemade, tin stove. They had the door open and inside in a large pan sat a beautiful roasted turkey. Tommy rubbed his eyes at the sight.
"The smoke!" Rudy gasped.
Harnish scowled. "I've been in this camp long enough not to take risks. I have the smoke worked out, no one above will see it or smell anything."
But Tommy didn't care about smoke. All he cared about was the bird.
"How..."
Harnish laughed at his hanging opened mouth. "Penelope and Henri. Don't ask me how, but I asked them for a turkey and they managed. Figured it was the least I could do for my men."
"You were teasing us over it though," Zack said.
"I always tease you," Harnish winked, and then smiled right at Tommy, "Happy Thanksgiving, Thomas."
November 25, 2015
"That young man, what's his name?" "Him? Everybody knows him. That's Tintin."
This can't count as a post. I wouldn't even be posting but my stomach is no longer in a tight knot and I can move around a little.
I had a great day yesterday, walked in a blizzard, drove through a blizzard, and watched Jeeves and Wooster with my friends. I was completely healthy. Then I got home around eight and my stomach ached. I thought I'd go to bed early and sleep it off, but at midnight I woke up and spent the rest of the night in the bathroom. I'm feeling a little more human now but I'm not about to push it.
So this isn't a post. This is just to ask...
If I was to write a Thanksgiving short story for all of you which book would you like it from? You can pick the Haphazard series, the Blade series, I could do the characters from my Finding the Magic story, or I could do one with the POW boys. (Not Brothers-in-Arms though, because I'm mean and I'm not going to let you know if they get happily ever afters yet.)
Take your pick!
You can guess the quote.
I had a great day yesterday, walked in a blizzard, drove through a blizzard, and watched Jeeves and Wooster with my friends. I was completely healthy. Then I got home around eight and my stomach ached. I thought I'd go to bed early and sleep it off, but at midnight I woke up and spent the rest of the night in the bathroom. I'm feeling a little more human now but I'm not about to push it.
So this isn't a post. This is just to ask...
If I was to write a Thanksgiving short story for all of you which book would you like it from? You can pick the Haphazard series, the Blade series, I could do the characters from my Finding the Magic story, or I could do one with the POW boys. (Not Brothers-in-Arms though, because I'm mean and I'm not going to let you know if they get happily ever afters yet.)
Take your pick!
You can guess the quote.
November 22, 2015
"Ana, because I love you I insist you run."
Wherein Jack is here.
I meant to post on Friday. A lot happened on Friday though. It was fine except for a social event which ended badly and has scared me from further social events with certain people for a while.
I have good news though! I got the first edits back for Brothers-in-Arms! This calls for my Brothers-in-Arms coffee and my green olives as I dive into the pain of my book.
Readers, if you doubt my love for you I will throw this book at you. All of you are the only reason I'm still working on it.
Today I am sharing a song from Enya's newest CD. I listened to this song a lot over the week, it's very pretty and soothing and the video is stunning.
Quote is Olaf from Frozen, because I felt like using one of his lines.
I meant to post on Friday. A lot happened on Friday though. It was fine except for a social event which ended badly and has scared me from further social events with certain people for a while.
I have good news though! I got the first edits back for Brothers-in-Arms! This calls for my Brothers-in-Arms coffee and my green olives as I dive into the pain of my book.
Readers, if you doubt my love for you I will throw this book at you. All of you are the only reason I'm still working on it.
Today I am sharing a song from Enya's newest CD. I listened to this song a lot over the week, it's very pretty and soothing and the video is stunning.
Quote is Olaf from Frozen, because I felt like using one of his lines.
November 18, 2015
"It's called blood, genus." "Do I need it?"
Wherein Jack has a thing.
Or wait, is it did a thing? I have a friend who speaks Fangirl, so I am learning. Not at any great speed, but I give it my best every so often.
At this moment I am sitting in a short sleeved dress with one slipper on and a towel over my drying hair. I'm waiting for my tea to boil and debating when would be the best time to make my bed and look for a jacket.
And I have fun things to share with everyone.
Fun, fun things which I haven't had a chance to reveal until now because of copyright, but which a friend - the one who speaks fangirl - helped me fix.
What are those fun things I'm putting off showing you?
THE BOOK TRAILER FOR BROTHERS-IN-ARMS!!!!!!!!!!!
There's only one problem. My computer won't let me upload the file I have and youtube hates the video and has the same issues as my computer.
So you will have to click a link to see it. Hopefully it is worth it, and worth the extremely long wait as I kept putting it off while trying to upload it.
But here is the link. I hope you enjoy!!! Brothers-in-Arms Book Trailer
Quote is from Bolt, after he jumps from a moving car and injures himself for the first time in his life.
Or wait, is it did a thing? I have a friend who speaks Fangirl, so I am learning. Not at any great speed, but I give it my best every so often.
At this moment I am sitting in a short sleeved dress with one slipper on and a towel over my drying hair. I'm waiting for my tea to boil and debating when would be the best time to make my bed and look for a jacket.
And I have fun things to share with everyone.
Fun, fun things which I haven't had a chance to reveal until now because of copyright, but which a friend - the one who speaks fangirl - helped me fix.
What are those fun things I'm putting off showing you?
THE BOOK TRAILER FOR BROTHERS-IN-ARMS!!!!!!!!!!!
There's only one problem. My computer won't let me upload the file I have and youtube hates the video and has the same issues as my computer.
So you will have to click a link to see it. Hopefully it is worth it, and worth the extremely long wait as I kept putting it off while trying to upload it.
But here is the link. I hope you enjoy!!! Brothers-in-Arms Book Trailer
Quote is from Bolt, after he jumps from a moving car and injures himself for the first time in his life.
November 15, 2015
"How would it be, if you came and had tea with me?"
Wherein Jack can share things.
Things which aren't colds, though those are grand to share. (They have to be, everyone is always sharing them. Even little kids, and we all know how hard it is for two-year-olds to share)
Before I share....a song in honor of the sharing.
For those who might not remember, I have a little baby hedgehog who forces me to write when I don't feel like it. He has a friend named Clara and another named Sammy who happens to be a moose. And together the three of them go on adventures and eat all the cookies in my house. (They keep life interesting and lively and take up a good deal of my imagination which I don't mind sparing.)
Every once in a while they will write books.
And, after a lot of work and things which happened and hindered publishing over the summer, I am pleased to announce....UNDER THE WILLOW is PUBLISHED!
The book is a fun little story about a hedgehog and two mice siblings who explore their home and have tons of little adventures. It's meant to be a nice, enjoyable story.
And it can be found for sale HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be on Kindle in a few days, but for now it is on Createspace.
So you should check it out, as well as John's blog. Just because. Reality is a Lovely Place (but I wouldn't want to live there.)
And now...I am going to get to bed. Quote is from Narnia, because talking animals and snow.
Things which aren't colds, though those are grand to share. (They have to be, everyone is always sharing them. Even little kids, and we all know how hard it is for two-year-olds to share)
Before I share....a song in honor of the sharing.
For those who might not remember, I have a little baby hedgehog who forces me to write when I don't feel like it. He has a friend named Clara and another named Sammy who happens to be a moose. And together the three of them go on adventures and eat all the cookies in my house. (They keep life interesting and lively and take up a good deal of my imagination which I don't mind sparing.)
Every once in a while they will write books.
And, after a lot of work and things which happened and hindered publishing over the summer, I am pleased to announce....UNDER THE WILLOW is PUBLISHED!
The book is a fun little story about a hedgehog and two mice siblings who explore their home and have tons of little adventures. It's meant to be a nice, enjoyable story.
And it can be found for sale HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be on Kindle in a few days, but for now it is on Createspace.
So you should check it out, as well as John's blog. Just because. Reality is a Lovely Place (but I wouldn't want to live there.)
And now...I am going to get to bed. Quote is from Narnia, because talking animals and snow.
November 13, 2015
"I'm a monk. I sleep on hard floors or inside pianos."
Wherein Jack shares....SNIPPETS!!!
These are all from my current NaNo book, Second POW Camp to the Right.
***
People are less likely to shoot at you if you smile at them~Mad Jack Churchill
“POW camp?” he asked.“POW camp,” Halliday repeated. He smiled as if he'd just given Tommy an early Christmas gift.“POW camp,” Tommy murmured even though it made him sound like a broken record
“Not everyone in German is a Nazi,” he said. He kept his voice mild, dull.“And not everyone from America brags about their home state,” Haines said.Rudy remembered why he didn't like conversations.
“What kind of welcome is this?” he asked. “Parker, you're still in bed!”“It's cold out there!” the Canadian whined.The major groaned. “Good thing you're in here and not on the front lines. We stand a better chance of winning.”
“And the German? Why did you call him Hook?” he asked.Harnish smiled. “Because Rudy Fritz is on our side.”Of course the German guard would be with the allies. Tommy didn't know why he hadn't caught on earlier. It made perfect sense. In the world where a man named Harnish got put in command of a top secret mission in a POW camp the guards were probably all working for the allies.Jerry Miller laughed. “If it makes you feel any better we have a Jew hidden in the tunnels.”
“I'm the funniest person I know,” Asher said.
“Good heavens!” Asher gasped. “We can't have that! He might develop a sense of humor and goodness knows you can't have another one of those people around camp.”“This is why people try and invade your countries,” Rudy grumbled.
“It's Asher. They look almost identical when Asher wears Parker's uniform. But if you stare like that someone will catch on.”The Jew. The Jew had left his tunnel to dress as an Air Force pilot. He strode through camp with his head held high, as if he'd always been there – was meant to be there. He even walked like Zack. And suddenly Tommy wondered if they had a lookalike for him somewhere underground.
“I'm afraid you're a little slow. I've already accepted a marriage proposal.”“Who is he?” Zack had asked when she'd told him.“I can't tell you his name,” she'd said, “it might put him in danger.”“Well, what's he like? Fat, lazy, has a bright red nose?” Zack didn't make it his life's goal to go around and insult husbands-to-be but when they had proposed to someone as adorable as Penelope he didn't have as many issues with it.“He's handsome and sweet,” Penelope said with a laugh.“Sounds like a fop. I bet he isn't even Canadian.”“No, he isn't, but I like him anyways.” And then Penelope had kissed Zack's cheek for his efforts and he'd spent the rest of the week floating on a cloud.
“Close one, eh?” he said loudly. “Almost lost my blinking hat, mate!”Rudy saw his life and Asher's life pass in front of his eyes. Since he didn't know anything about Asher's early life he shocked himself by seeing an image of baby Asher setting fire to a neighbor's barn while laughing like a mad man. For some reason the vision seemed completely logical.“That's not how Parker speaks!” Rudy hissed when he came up next to Asher
I don't fraternize, Rudy thought to himself, I only play cards with them on Saturday nights.
“Oh! You mean Max!” Harnish slapped his forehead. “You know what, that kid is so quiet I sometimes forget him.”“Well, where is he? Or did he quietly vanish into thin air?”
“You know that bed bug saying?” Zack asked. He stood up and peered at his mattress. “I think they might actually be in here. I can see the blanket moving.”
“What did you do?” Tommy asked as he took the wallet and flipped through it. His jaw dropped when he saw the identification card. “This is Himmler's!”“He brushed past me on the way out. I didn't have a knife so I thought I'd nip his wallet.”Tommy stared, and then stuffed the wallet back in Zack's pockets before anyone could see.“You stole Himmler's wallet!”“Right from under his Hitler want to be mustache.”
“Did you have nightmares about the big, bad SS soldier in the tunnel?” he asked.“Don't talk to me,” Tommy grumbled.
“We be first POWs with POW.”
***
There you go. I now have to go and write some. Quote is from Vango, from his monk friend whom I loved.
These are all from my current NaNo book, Second POW Camp to the Right.
***
People are less likely to shoot at you if you smile at them~Mad Jack Churchill
“POW camp?” he asked.“POW camp,” Halliday repeated. He smiled as if he'd just given Tommy an early Christmas gift.“POW camp,” Tommy murmured even though it made him sound like a broken record
“Not everyone in German is a Nazi,” he said. He kept his voice mild, dull.“And not everyone from America brags about their home state,” Haines said.Rudy remembered why he didn't like conversations.
“What kind of welcome is this?” he asked. “Parker, you're still in bed!”“It's cold out there!” the Canadian whined.The major groaned. “Good thing you're in here and not on the front lines. We stand a better chance of winning.”
“And the German? Why did you call him Hook?” he asked.Harnish smiled. “Because Rudy Fritz is on our side.”Of course the German guard would be with the allies. Tommy didn't know why he hadn't caught on earlier. It made perfect sense. In the world where a man named Harnish got put in command of a top secret mission in a POW camp the guards were probably all working for the allies.Jerry Miller laughed. “If it makes you feel any better we have a Jew hidden in the tunnels.”
“I'm the funniest person I know,” Asher said.
“Good heavens!” Asher gasped. “We can't have that! He might develop a sense of humor and goodness knows you can't have another one of those people around camp.”“This is why people try and invade your countries,” Rudy grumbled.
“It's Asher. They look almost identical when Asher wears Parker's uniform. But if you stare like that someone will catch on.”The Jew. The Jew had left his tunnel to dress as an Air Force pilot. He strode through camp with his head held high, as if he'd always been there – was meant to be there. He even walked like Zack. And suddenly Tommy wondered if they had a lookalike for him somewhere underground.
“I'm afraid you're a little slow. I've already accepted a marriage proposal.”“Who is he?” Zack had asked when she'd told him.“I can't tell you his name,” she'd said, “it might put him in danger.”“Well, what's he like? Fat, lazy, has a bright red nose?” Zack didn't make it his life's goal to go around and insult husbands-to-be but when they had proposed to someone as adorable as Penelope he didn't have as many issues with it.“He's handsome and sweet,” Penelope said with a laugh.“Sounds like a fop. I bet he isn't even Canadian.”“No, he isn't, but I like him anyways.” And then Penelope had kissed Zack's cheek for his efforts and he'd spent the rest of the week floating on a cloud.
“Close one, eh?” he said loudly. “Almost lost my blinking hat, mate!”Rudy saw his life and Asher's life pass in front of his eyes. Since he didn't know anything about Asher's early life he shocked himself by seeing an image of baby Asher setting fire to a neighbor's barn while laughing like a mad man. For some reason the vision seemed completely logical.“That's not how Parker speaks!” Rudy hissed when he came up next to Asher
I don't fraternize, Rudy thought to himself, I only play cards with them on Saturday nights.
“Oh! You mean Max!” Harnish slapped his forehead. “You know what, that kid is so quiet I sometimes forget him.”“Well, where is he? Or did he quietly vanish into thin air?”
“You know that bed bug saying?” Zack asked. He stood up and peered at his mattress. “I think they might actually be in here. I can see the blanket moving.”
“What did you do?” Tommy asked as he took the wallet and flipped through it. His jaw dropped when he saw the identification card. “This is Himmler's!”“He brushed past me on the way out. I didn't have a knife so I thought I'd nip his wallet.”Tommy stared, and then stuffed the wallet back in Zack's pockets before anyone could see.“You stole Himmler's wallet!”“Right from under his Hitler want to be mustache.”
“Did you have nightmares about the big, bad SS soldier in the tunnel?” he asked.“Don't talk to me,” Tommy grumbled.
“We be first POWs with POW.”
***
There you go. I now have to go and write some. Quote is from Vango, from his monk friend whom I loved.
November 11, 2015
"I'm sorry to bother you, I'm looking for somebody." The man held out a spade.
Wherein Jack is done with the week.
Or as my friend puts it, "Why is this week a thing?"
It started early, so it isn't as if I hit Monday and decided I couldn't take anymore of the week. The doneness of this week started on Saturday, so I thought it would only last for the end of last week, since Saturday is the end of the week. But instead, Saturday lumped into the new week and I'm ready for it all to be over with.
I can't even put into so many words why I'm done with the week. It might be the fact my boots leak, so I've had cold feet all week because - me being me - I've decided to go for walks in the melting snow.
It might be that with job applications I've gotten behind on NaNo. It might be because I still have trouble writing sometimes.
It might be from the HTML job I've been working so hard at getting. It isn't exactly an HTML job, but to prove I want the job I have to work with that. Throw HTML codes at someone with dyslexia and watch them start to twitch. I'm sure it's amusing. If I didn't need the job I'd have given up on the stupid code already. The actual job will be fun, I'm just ready to shove the cold outside and watch it freeze.
Then, because if this are going to go bad things go bad all at once because why not? My car decided it has had enough with life and is slowly giving up the ghost. Why? Don't ask me. I'm fond of my car. I treat it well. I take it to the doctor. I take it on adventures. It might not be flashy or impressive, but it's been dependable since I bought it and I've never held anything against it for being a typical looking car because I know what it's like deep down. And now it is dying. It makes me sad. I might have to get a new car and I hate the idea. I got so desperate today I almost drove it to a mechanic, parked it, and begged them to save it's life.
Not sure what else to say. I should be writing. I need to get my count for today. But I'm tired and can't concentrate even though Tommy, Rudy, and Zack amuse me and are fun to write with. IN FACT! I think I will share snippets on Friday to make up for this post. So there, how is that? Brilliant. Yes, I know.
Do I have anything else to tell you dear little peoples? Noooooooooope. Why? Because lately Jack's life has been dull and insane and filled with applications and all that boring stuff. Applications are a form of torture, trust me. I just need someone to take pity on me and hire me. They need to take one look at me, decide I am a fabulous Overlord, and let me sweep floors for them. Or run the government of their small town. I'm good with either.
I'll be good and go now. I'll spend some time with Tommy and see if between us we can get 1667 words.
Don't be too shocked, but quote is from Vango. When Vango goes to a grave site to try and find the headstone of a girl who died...and the grounds keeper gives him a shovel.
Come back Friday for snippets, your Overlord commands it.
Or as my friend puts it, "Why is this week a thing?"
It started early, so it isn't as if I hit Monday and decided I couldn't take anymore of the week. The doneness of this week started on Saturday, so I thought it would only last for the end of last week, since Saturday is the end of the week. But instead, Saturday lumped into the new week and I'm ready for it all to be over with.
I can't even put into so many words why I'm done with the week. It might be the fact my boots leak, so I've had cold feet all week because - me being me - I've decided to go for walks in the melting snow.
It might be that with job applications I've gotten behind on NaNo. It might be because I still have trouble writing sometimes.
It might be from the HTML job I've been working so hard at getting. It isn't exactly an HTML job, but to prove I want the job I have to work with that. Throw HTML codes at someone with dyslexia and watch them start to twitch. I'm sure it's amusing. If I didn't need the job I'd have given up on the stupid code already. The actual job will be fun, I'm just ready to shove the cold outside and watch it freeze.
Then, because if this are going to go bad things go bad all at once because why not? My car decided it has had enough with life and is slowly giving up the ghost. Why? Don't ask me. I'm fond of my car. I treat it well. I take it to the doctor. I take it on adventures. It might not be flashy or impressive, but it's been dependable since I bought it and I've never held anything against it for being a typical looking car because I know what it's like deep down. And now it is dying. It makes me sad. I might have to get a new car and I hate the idea. I got so desperate today I almost drove it to a mechanic, parked it, and begged them to save it's life.
Not sure what else to say. I should be writing. I need to get my count for today. But I'm tired and can't concentrate even though Tommy, Rudy, and Zack amuse me and are fun to write with. IN FACT! I think I will share snippets on Friday to make up for this post. So there, how is that? Brilliant. Yes, I know.
Do I have anything else to tell you dear little peoples? Noooooooooope. Why? Because lately Jack's life has been dull and insane and filled with applications and all that boring stuff. Applications are a form of torture, trust me. I just need someone to take pity on me and hire me. They need to take one look at me, decide I am a fabulous Overlord, and let me sweep floors for them. Or run the government of their small town. I'm good with either.
I'll be good and go now. I'll spend some time with Tommy and see if between us we can get 1667 words.
Don't be too shocked, but quote is from Vango. When Vango goes to a grave site to try and find the headstone of a girl who died...and the grounds keeper gives him a shovel.
Come back Friday for snippets, your Overlord commands it.
November 8, 2015
"If you can't sleep, my name's Vango." And if I can sleep, will he still be called Vango?
Wherein Jack is speechless
I really have no idea what to talk about today.
I do have some exciting news!!! I got cover drafts for Brothers-in-Arms!!! These are just, outlines I guess you could call them. Ideas of what layouts could look like. I have to pick my favourite of the four and then let my publisher know so they can start work on it. So.....EXCITING! One step closer to it being published!!!
I'm still having trouble accepting the fact I'm actually getting a book published by a PUBLISHER! It still doesn't feel as real as it probably should by this point.
Other than that I really don't have much to say. I'm even short on song ideas. Unless you'd like a Brothers-in-Arms one? Of course you would. Right? Okay, here you go.
I think it's meant to be about a girl, but it just fits my book. So I have it on the playlist.
Another Vango quote. Get used to them, I still have a few to go.
I really have no idea what to talk about today.
I do have some exciting news!!! I got cover drafts for Brothers-in-Arms!!! These are just, outlines I guess you could call them. Ideas of what layouts could look like. I have to pick my favourite of the four and then let my publisher know so they can start work on it. So.....EXCITING! One step closer to it being published!!!
I'm still having trouble accepting the fact I'm actually getting a book published by a PUBLISHER! It still doesn't feel as real as it probably should by this point.
Other than that I really don't have much to say. I'm even short on song ideas. Unless you'd like a Brothers-in-Arms one? Of course you would. Right? Okay, here you go.
I think it's meant to be about a girl, but it just fits my book. So I have it on the playlist.
Another Vango quote. Get used to them, I still have a few to go.
November 5, 2015
"I don't trust you, Miss Ethel. Don't go in there before he's able to defend himself."
Today I had the honor to interview Author August L. Buehrer. She wrote a Science Fiction trilogy, the first book titled A Stargazer's Question. She contacted me to ask if I'd be willing to do a read and review and then willingly submitted to an interview.
Hello, August! Thank you for submitting yourself to my interrogation...er...interview. Now for my first question. The one I like to ask best.
1. Out of all the jobs in the world, why did you pick the one where you'd allow yourself to be tormented by demanding characters who kidnap all your attention and usually make you cry over them at some point in the journey? (Don't worry, not judging. I'm one of those insane people who decided to submit myself to the same pain.) You got right to the core of a writer's passion--the characters. The truth is, weather or not we choose to bring them to life, everyone is going to have to grapple with the people inside them someday. They're little will-o-the-wisps that make up ourselves. Writing these characters actually makes us better enabled to subdue and subordinate them...or at least come to terms with them on our own conditions. And of course, you put faces and backstories on these people, and you always end up falling in love with them. There's that too.
2. That asked, have any of your characters made you cry over them yet? If so, what did they do to make you do so? (If you can say without spoilers.) Inevitably, as light-hearted and detached as I try to start out, my stories always become emotionally intense. People who know me, and then read my writing are usually a little surprised by this, because I tend to be laid-back to the point of being almost too cool. True to myself, I can't claim to have ever actually, outwardly cried over my characters. But there was that one time in that one novel that I may or may not ever publish. There was time-travel involved, and the kid started waxing eloquent (through tears) about time and eternity. He knew that when he returned to his time, he would have forgotten the main character, and he didn't want to. Okay, so I didn't really cry. But I think I telepathically said "I've got you, Franzi."
3. What do you do when you hit writer's block? First off, I stumble backward for a second, holding onto my big roman nose, wondering what hit me. Then, on a good day, I just grit my teeth and keep writing. The very best method I've found to break writer's block it to write straight through it. Don't stop until you're on a roll. Then you can stop safely, knowing you can get back into it at a moment's notice. On my less-good days, I go to the kitchen and brew Earl Grey. Then I sit at the monitor and drink it. Then I write a few words. And a few more. And then, it's bedtime.
4. Do you ever talk to yourself, forget to eat, wear mismatched socks, throw pencils at the wall, or D: all of the above? I basically always wear mismatched socks while writing. Hey, your feet get cold, and you don't care. I usually don't forget to eat. I like to eat while I write almost as much as I like to drink tea while I write. I also love to listen to music as a soundtrack, but I sometimes forget to write and start jiving and swinging the cursor back and forth on the screen.
5. And lastly, what is the strangest line you have ever written? Wow...strangest line.... I do weird descriptions sometimes. I said somebody's face looked like a knot in a bed-sheet. In the same book I said the main guy looked like Ophelia. It was true though. He did look like Ophelia.
You can learn a bit more about August and her books on her Goodreads Page. The books can be found on Amazon.
For tonight this is all I have for you. I've had a very long week and I'm hoping to go to bed early, read a book, and relax.
Quote is from Vango, for reasons.
Hello, August! Thank you for submitting yourself to my interrogation...er...interview. Now for my first question. The one I like to ask best.
1. Out of all the jobs in the world, why did you pick the one where you'd allow yourself to be tormented by demanding characters who kidnap all your attention and usually make you cry over them at some point in the journey? (Don't worry, not judging. I'm one of those insane people who decided to submit myself to the same pain.) You got right to the core of a writer's passion--the characters. The truth is, weather or not we choose to bring them to life, everyone is going to have to grapple with the people inside them someday. They're little will-o-the-wisps that make up ourselves. Writing these characters actually makes us better enabled to subdue and subordinate them...or at least come to terms with them on our own conditions. And of course, you put faces and backstories on these people, and you always end up falling in love with them. There's that too.
2. That asked, have any of your characters made you cry over them yet? If so, what did they do to make you do so? (If you can say without spoilers.) Inevitably, as light-hearted and detached as I try to start out, my stories always become emotionally intense. People who know me, and then read my writing are usually a little surprised by this, because I tend to be laid-back to the point of being almost too cool. True to myself, I can't claim to have ever actually, outwardly cried over my characters. But there was that one time in that one novel that I may or may not ever publish. There was time-travel involved, and the kid started waxing eloquent (through tears) about time and eternity. He knew that when he returned to his time, he would have forgotten the main character, and he didn't want to. Okay, so I didn't really cry. But I think I telepathically said "I've got you, Franzi."
3. What do you do when you hit writer's block? First off, I stumble backward for a second, holding onto my big roman nose, wondering what hit me. Then, on a good day, I just grit my teeth and keep writing. The very best method I've found to break writer's block it to write straight through it. Don't stop until you're on a roll. Then you can stop safely, knowing you can get back into it at a moment's notice. On my less-good days, I go to the kitchen and brew Earl Grey. Then I sit at the monitor and drink it. Then I write a few words. And a few more. And then, it's bedtime.
4. Do you ever talk to yourself, forget to eat, wear mismatched socks, throw pencils at the wall, or D: all of the above? I basically always wear mismatched socks while writing. Hey, your feet get cold, and you don't care. I usually don't forget to eat. I like to eat while I write almost as much as I like to drink tea while I write. I also love to listen to music as a soundtrack, but I sometimes forget to write and start jiving and swinging the cursor back and forth on the screen.
5. And lastly, what is the strangest line you have ever written? Wow...strangest line.... I do weird descriptions sometimes. I said somebody's face looked like a knot in a bed-sheet. In the same book I said the main guy looked like Ophelia. It was true though. He did look like Ophelia.
You can learn a bit more about August and her books on her Goodreads Page. The books can be found on Amazon.
For tonight this is all I have for you. I've had a very long week and I'm hoping to go to bed early, read a book, and relax.
Quote is from Vango, for reasons.
November 4, 2015
"If you really want to keep him alive, young lady, you'd better stop firing at him!"
The top ten things Jack forgets to do during NaNo.
1. Eat. Jack does eat, enough to keep writing, but she forgets about meals, and how to cook, and how to sit down and enjoy a meal. She usually resorts to sandwiches, dried fruit, and anything she can find quickly in her cupboard.
2. Sleep But since Jack barely sleep that one doesn't really apply.
3. Be Sociable. Though Jack might not be considered unfriendly, she doesn't have much to sat too often if one is over the age of four. Jack just doesn't seem to have time to swap small talk, and is usually distracted by her characters when she tries it. They can be very demanding.
4. Walks. Not really. She would forget to go for walks but Dog can be very persistent
5. How words work For some reason, after reaching half her word count, Jack can't remember how to spell simple words like Hi
6. To give John cookies This is a personal statement from John and cannot be proven or disproved by Jack
7. Forgets she is not living in a POW camp in 1944 But honestly, don't we all struggle with this?
8. Dishes During this time of month Dog earns her keep. (For those who don't get this read the Little House books.)
9. Blogging She tries. What more can you ask for?
10. Cleaning her house She sweeps but the dust isn't going anywhere. It'll be there in December, ready for a Winter Cleaning.
Disclaimer: All above statements have not been approved by the Author known as Jack. As far as we know she's not even aware this post is going live. We'd ask for her permission but she's yelling at a young man named Tommy and probably wouldn't even hear us.
The Authors of this post chose to not give their names.
Quote is from Vango because we feel Jack would want it used. It's Ethel and Vango.
1. Eat. Jack does eat, enough to keep writing, but she forgets about meals, and how to cook, and how to sit down and enjoy a meal. She usually resorts to sandwiches, dried fruit, and anything she can find quickly in her cupboard.
2. Sleep But since Jack barely sleep that one doesn't really apply.
3. Be Sociable. Though Jack might not be considered unfriendly, she doesn't have much to sat too often if one is over the age of four. Jack just doesn't seem to have time to swap small talk, and is usually distracted by her characters when she tries it. They can be very demanding.
4. Walks. Not really. She would forget to go for walks but Dog can be very persistent
5. How words work For some reason, after reaching half her word count, Jack can't remember how to spell simple words like Hi
6. To give John cookies This is a personal statement from John and cannot be proven or disproved by Jack
7. Forgets she is not living in a POW camp in 1944 But honestly, don't we all struggle with this?
8. Dishes During this time of month Dog earns her keep. (For those who don't get this read the Little House books.)
9. Blogging She tries. What more can you ask for?
10. Cleaning her house She sweeps but the dust isn't going anywhere. It'll be there in December, ready for a Winter Cleaning.
Disclaimer: All above statements have not been approved by the Author known as Jack. As far as we know she's not even aware this post is going live. We'd ask for her permission but she's yelling at a young man named Tommy and probably wouldn't even hear us.
The Authors of this post chose to not give their names.
Quote is from Vango because we feel Jack would want it used. It's Ethel and Vango.
