Gregory S. Lamb's Blog, page 16

#FlashFiveFriday: #9 – Date

#FlashFiveFriday: #9 – Date.

#FLASHFIVEFRIDAY: #9 – Date

19 Feb 1980   Berkeley, California 

Mitch had a dilemma.  “Do I call her or do I just accept that some women just think it is OK to stand up a guy on a first date?” he said out loud to nobody in particular.  It’s just that Jessica seemed different than any other girl he’d ever met.  “I guess this time I’m just going to go with my heart,” he said as he picked up the phone.

“Hello may I please speak to Jessica Holbroke?”  Mitch asked the young woman who answered.

“Just a sec and I’ll see if she’s here.  Who may I ask is calling?”  He knew it was one of Jessica’s sorority sisters who’s turn it was to answer the house phone.  He still couldn’t figure out the connection Jessica had with living in a sorority since she just didn’t seem like the type to go for that kind of college life.

“Tell her it’s Mitch.”  Hopefully she hasn’t forgotten who I am, he thought.

After what seemed like an eternity Mitch heard the rattling of the handset being picked up from the table, then came the out of breath voice of Jessica on the line.

“Oh Mitch, I’m sorry.  I really am.  I just realized what happened and…well, how could I make it up to you?”

Mitch was surprised and was pleased she didn’t stand him up on purpose.  “Maybe you could explain what happened over a cup of coffee?  I’d be up for meeting you at the time and place of your choice so long as I don’t wind up there all by myself.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you said that.  What are you doing right now?”  Mitch could hear the relief in Jessica’s voice and her soothing words gave him a sense of relief as well.

The short story above is pretty much what happened when I went out on a first date with my wife of 29 years.  We dated for 3 years before we got married.

My Guest Interview on Lynn Hardy’s Blog

To read the entire interview check out the blog - Lynn Hardy.

There is a growing group of bloggers and supporters of independent authors out there these days who draw readers attention to some of the many good novels emerging in every genre.  Most are novels you won’t find on the shelves of the local shops, but are well worth reading and often surpass the entertainment value of those available on the best seller lists.

Review of “The Last Day in Karachi – Through the Ring of Fire” by Début Author Dr. Alia Khan-Hudson

I didn’t quite know what to expect when the author provided me with a copy of this important first novel. It is a fictionalized account of what it is to be raised in a country steeped in tradition. The author provides a chronological journey that reads almost like a memoir based on true to life experiences.

Khan-Hudson’s main character is the young woman Sabah who pursues a future governed by strict cultural rules and ironically a set of parents who provide her opportunity to develop an independent streak that eventually defies the traditions of arranged marriage.

Her descriptions of Pakistan from Karachi to Lahore and and as an expatriate family living and working in Qatar are packed with imagery. Explanation of the lifestyle that goes along with being raised in a pious Muslim household provide readers with insights into a culture that most Americans would benefit from. The story contains detailed translations of language as well as interpretation of Muslim religious practice as described from the main character’s point of view.

Shortly after graduating from medical school, Sabah has a traumatic experience while living in Karachi with her grandparents. The author’s presentation of the violence is full of suspense. Sabah survives the violence but unfortunately her grandparents do not. As a result, Sabah decides to act on her independence and follows her heart to the second half of the story which unfolds as a romance with a successful American entrepreneur.

#FlashFiveFriday: #8 – Backbone

I read the prompt last weekend knowing how badly I wanted to adhere to the spirit of an honest five minute sprint.  I wanted time to think about it because the week before I wasn’t able to do it, even though I had a good stream of thought going.  Last week I just couldn’t squeeze my idea into a tight story inside of five minutes.  This week I didn’t think I could do it at all.  I nearly blew it off all together and then it happened.  That magic that occurs when an idea clicks.  The following came to mind at the last minute:

Karen Miller was enjoying her life as a newlywed.  The honeymoon had been over for six months and her love for Brian continued to grow each day.  Brian, sitting at the dining room table with his laptop open and a blank screen staring back at him was almost too much for Karen to ignore.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Writing.”

Karen looked at the laptop’s screen then back at her husband and shook her head.

“Really?  Doesn’t that involve writing down some words?”

Brian nodded.  “Yes, normally it does, but right now I’m thinking and I’m already ninety seconds into my five minutes of writing for this prompt.”

“If you’ve been writing than why aren’t there any words on the screen in front of you?”  Karen asked with a concerned tone.

“I write thinking I know where I’m going, then I change my mind and can’t decide the best path; a path that leads somewhere; something that readers could relate to, so I hit the delete key and start over.”  Brian sounded exasperated.

“This isn’t’ like you Bri.  Find that backbone of yours and be decisive.  Be the man I married.”

Karen softened her words with a bit of sarcasm in an attempt to encourage her husband to break out of his funk and do what he does best.  She married him not because he was a best selling author and not because of his dashing good looks, but because he was her match at decisiveness.

“That’s it,” said Brian.  “How could you possibly have known?  ‘Backbone’ was the prompt I’ve been struggling with and you nailed it.  It’s about being decisive and all that goes with it.  People live and die by the decisions they make or don’t make.  I’ve got this.  I’m gonna kill this.  Thanks honey!”

Brian was suddenly a flurry of finger taps and key clicks with less than two minutes to go.  A mile wide grin stretched from ear to ear.  His young beautiful wife knew not to interrupt his thoughts and remained silent.  She kissed him on the forehead and stroked his shoulder as she stepped away from the dining room table knowing she’d succeeded in encouraging her hubby reach another level of creativity he forgot he had.

Brian had a backbone and had been wise enough to decide to marry Karen.  It was an easy decision too because she is a smart young woman who stands up straight and always knows just what to do at just the right time.

Review of “3 Heads & A Tail” by “Indie” author, Vickie Johnstone

Five Stars Plus for this voofing good tale

Until reading this humorous tale about relationships between characters that tend towards being shy, my favorite animal character was “Buck” featured in Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.”  Vickie Johnstone’s story is a different kind of novel that also features a dog as one of the main characters.  The story begins shortly after Josie, the protagonist moves into a flat with two male housemates, rather make that three if you include Glen, the golden labrador retriever.

Without spoiling the fun by describing how the relationships unfold, I’ll just say that Glen has now replaced Buck as my favorite doggie character in a novel.  Ms. Johnstone’s characters are all wonderfully developed and she does an amazing job giving doggie voice to Glen and Mimi.

For readers unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), “3 Heads” is a product of a one month sprint at writing a full length novel.  The story is packed with humor and has a wonderfully developed climax and conclusion.  For a light hearted “feel good” read and a good laugh, you won’t want to miss this one.

#FlashFiveFriday: #7 – Weather

#FlashFiveFriday: #7 – Weather.

Whenever I think of weather, I think of the days and nights I paid close attention to it during my tenure as a USAF pilot.  The short piece below is a result of reflecting on those times.  Now that I confine myself to my most reliable day-night-all-weather vehicle, I no longer get tense. I always have the option of stopping my car on the side of the road in the dark of night when it is raining so hard I’m no longer able see the road ahead.

Avaino Air Base Italy November 1992

After a morning of persistent fog, the weather lifted enough for Captain Mark “Skip” Chandler to launch on another reconnaissance mission to support humanitarian operations over Bosnia-Herzegovina.  The foggy weather wasn’t forecast to return until long after Skip completed his ten hour mission.

During the first half of the mission, there was a lingering possibility of diverting home to England where Skip would have been able to see his family.  He’d burned below the fuel state for that option hours ago.  Now it was time to prepare for the return trip over the Adriatic and back to his base in Northern Italy.

Skip keyed the mike of the aircraft’s UHF.  The encrypted KY58 chirped the familiar preamble before he could transmit.  “Dragon Ops, this is Argon One Seven.”

“Argon One Seven, Dragon Ops Go,”  came the reply from a familiar voice.  It was Captain Danny Clark, a fellow pilot and mobile control for Skip’s mission.

“Estimate five minutes from Bingo fuel, requesting weather and winds.”

“Standby Argon.”  A few moments later Danny came back up.  “Argon One Seven, did that bingo fuel state you reported include the required alternate for weather?”

“Affirmative,”  Skip’s voice had the distinct tone of a pilot who’d had a long day and seen enough muzzle flashes from artillery and mortar rounds fired from the surrounding hills of Sarajevo.  Bearing witness to the destruction of the city created a special brand of fatigue for Skip.

Darn my five minutes are up and I’m just getting started!  In case readers want the remainder that goes beyond the Flash of Five they can continue reading below:

“Copy.  Here’s the deal Argon, weather looks good for your return, so you can drop the alternate.  That should give you another twenty minutes fuel without cutting it too close.  We’ve got a C-130 taking mortar fire on one of the runways near Mostar.  Our customers asked if you could stay on station a bit longer.”

“Argon One Seven copies.  I’ll call you back in a few.  Give me heads up as soon as that Herk is outta there.”

Fifteen minutes later Skip heard an incoming call from Dragon Operations.  The Herky bird was safely airborne but it was looking like an unexpected fog was again beginning to form in the valley at the foot of Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.  Hearing the report, Skip immediately turned and went feet wet over the Adriatic and headed for Aviano.  The descent took an another twenty minutes as he crossed over the Italian coast above Venice at forty thousand feet.

“Aviano Approach, Argon One Seven Request,” Skip transmitted in the clear no longer needing the encrypted UHF.

“This is Avaino approach go ahead Argon.”

“Requesting present position direct for a ten mile visual straight in Runway Zero Five.”  Skip’s voice made it sound like he’d done this hundreds of times.

“Roger Argon, Aviano is now reporting fourteen hundred overcast two miles visibility.  Say intentions.”

“Approach Argon One Seven request direct IAF TACAN Runway Zero Five.”  Since Avaino had no approach control radar, Skip knew he had no alternative than to fly the entire procedure that included arcing through a hundred degrees at 15 DME before intercepting the ILS.  It also meant he was going to burn fuel much faster at the lower altitudes eliminating any hope any other alternative than to jump out over the Adriatic if he didn’t break out of the weather at decision height.  “This is gonna be close,” he said to himself.

On six mile final approaching glide-slope intercept for the ILS, Skip keyed the mike again.  “Argon Mobile, are you up?”

“Argon Mobile is up.  Say position and fuel state,”  said Danny.

“Six out on the ILS approaching glide path.  What’s it look like Danny and give it too me straight OK?”  demanded Skip looking up from his instruments just long enough to confirm the visibility was like being inside of a ping pong ball.

“Viz is down maybe to a mile.  Ceiling looks obscured.  I don’t see your landing light.  Is your gear down?”

“Roger Argon is four out on the ILS gear down.”

Avaino Tower came back.  “Argon One Seven, you are cleared to land Runway Zero Five, wind calm.”

“Copy cleared to land.  Argon Mobile, I can see the ground out the side, but forward visibility is still zero.”  Skip’s voice sounded like it had gone up an octave.

“I’ve got your landing light.  Recommend you stay on the gages till decision height,” said Danny.  His tone was intended to instill some confidence in Skip.  U-2 pilots usually had no problem accepting advice from their fellow pilots acting in capacity of mobile control officers, knowing how fatigue at the ten hour point in a mission can result in a fireball leaving behind widows and orphans.

Skip breathed a sigh of relief.  Relief from the tension he didn’t know he was holding inside for about the last four miles.  On reaching decision height, he looked out and saw the lead in lighting and runway threshold with his buddy Danny in the mobile control vehicle, it’s read beacon lights rotating ready to accompany the plane down the runway on landing roll out.

Once Skip had the aircraft under firm control on landing roll out, he began to apply brakes and slowed the aircraft to a walk.  As the wingtips lost lift, they drooped.  Coupled with the low fuel state, gravity prevented fuel from reaching the engine’s sump tank so the aircraft’s J-75 engine flamed out.  Skip was sweating bullets, but he and his aircraft were safe on the ground and able to fly again another day.

#FlashFiveFriday: #6 – Giving

#FlashFiveFriday: #6 – Giving.

Michael and Heather Stone’s routine for paying their household bills usually meant the second Thursday evening around the dining room table with a pizza, a couple of cans of beer, and Heather’s laptop.  Neither of them enjoyed the monthly ritual, but in recent years since they became “empty nesters” they’ve made the best of the chore.

Heather logged into their on-line account using their bank’s secure internet server.

“Honey, could you come over here and take a look at something?  I don’t understand this,” she said to Michael who was opening the checkbook in preparation for writing the few checks he’d need to write to cover the bills they weren’t able to pay on line.

“What was that you needed?” he finally asked.

“Come here, just look at this and tell me what you think this means.”

Michael peeked over at Heather’s laptop screen and noticed she had the monthly statement of their checking account opened.  “This has to be some kind of a joke,” he said.  ”Somebody hacked in and thought posting that $999,999.00 was deposited into our account would be amusing.  Look, it even shows the source as ANNOYMOUS.”

 ”So what do we do about it?” Heather asked.

 ”We’ll go to the bank first thing tomorrow morning and sort it out.  In the mean time, just subtract the $999K from the balance and we’ll pay our bills the same as always.”

 Heather tapped away and said, “The gas was $23 and you can also write a check for $22 to cover the trash and water.  That should do it.”

 ”How are we looking with the mortgage?” asked Michael as he tore off a completed check and stuffed it into its preprinted envelope.

 ”Just under ten years and it is ours.  We’ll be able to finally take that cruise we’ve been dreaming about.”

 The following day the older couple was stunned to discover they really were cash rich after the bank verified the contents of their account.

 ”We can’t keep all that,” Heather stated.

 ”Agreed.  It makes me uncomfortable too.  Let’s do something really good with it,” said Michael.

They spent the next four days with a tax accountant and managed to donate everything to a raft of domestic and international charities.

 ”When it was all over, Heather hugged Michael and said, “I like things the way they are and I’m glad we were able to do what we did.  It makes me feel so good.”

 ”Me too,” Michael said before kissing his wife on the forehead.

 The following week, Heather greeted Michael at the door when he arrived home from work and handed him a letter from the mortgage company.  It said, “Dear Stone family, it was a pleasure for us to be your choice as a mortgage broker.  Congratulations on paying off your mortgage in full….“

Why do I Blog?

I’m a writer and what better way to discipline myself to write than to blog.  I don’t mean just posting random thoughts about a day in the life of an independent author, but rather blogging with a purpose.

I blog because I like to share my thoughts about the novels I read.  I want people to enjoy what I’ve enjoyed if they are so inclined.  I want the writers of those wonderful stories to know what I enjoyed about the work they labored over.  I want to protect the artists that work hard to distinguish themselves from the masses of others who put little effort into their writing.

I post without remorse, reviews that steer readers away from wasting time on novels that lacked attention on the part of the author.  For example, bad grammer, and copious amounts of copy edit errors are a drag on the community of independent authors who pay attention to such things.  Most “Indies” are professionals who chose the more difficult path because their work is worth reading.  Bloggers get that and I’m one of them.

Why I love Bloggers!

As a new independent author, I’ve recently discovered all the amazing things the community of bloggers has been doing to improve the exposure of “Indie” novels and the people who write them.

Bloggers simply rock!  Some write their daily musings while others produce their own thoughtful reviews of art, films, plays, and literature.  Some bloggers are masters of marketing.  They host interviews and invite guest bloggers to post on their site.  Why?  Why would someone decide to put so much effort, valued insight, and pure creativity out there for the masses to consume free of charge?  Is it philanthrope, altruism, or simply something all together different?  I don’t know the answer.  I’m just glad they are out there doing what they do because it helps me sell books.