C.J. Petterson's Blog: Book launch scheduled, page 8

Right brain or left brain?

cj Sez: I’m a visual person (is that a right brainor a left brain thing?), and that shows up like screenplay scenes in mywriting. Scenes and dialogue are the least complicated for me to write.

Scenes
  I enjoy working to create details that permit myreaders to visualize where the characters are and what they are seeing. I do tryto keep my details sparse and incorporated into the flow of the scene’s action.I.E., I don’t tell the reader the office is small and crowded. I’ll let thecharacter do that by having her desk chair bump against the wall when shestands up or spins around to retrieve a document from her printer that’ssitting atop the three-drawer file cabinet near her left elbow. 
  By the by, my scenes also incorporate at least one of the five senses—sight, smell, sound, taste, touch—as well as journalism’s five “Ws” who, what, when, where, and why. I also add the “H”: how. 
Dialogue
  Writing dialogue is another favorite. I especiallylike it when I can create almost an entire scene with dialogue and need to useonly one “said” tag because I’m able to create a movement/beat for the speaker.  This works especially well for me when thereare only two characters, and with a little bit of finessing, can also work withthree. How do I make it real? I read it out loud.
  Dealing with personal introspection/emotions/internaldialogue is more difficult for me since I “see” the action in my stories,something akin to watching a movie in my head. Narrative doesn’t exist inmovies unless there’s a voice-over, so I tend to use very little of it.
  I’vebeen told and I do understand I need more narrative in my novel, so I have towork on expanding my use of internal dialogue.
 Okay, I’ve confessed. Now it’s your turn. What isyour writing strength or weakness?
§§
  That's Biscuit over there peeking out from under my monitor, making sure I'm still working.
§§
Book Review
  I spent most of last week reading best-selling author SusanYawn Tanner’s Storm Out of Texas —book 3 of her Bellamys of Texas series. I have totell you, I really connected to the characters, the emotion Susan brings to thestory, and the continuous action.
  When the pain of losing his wife still “threatenedto bring him to his knees” even a year after her death, Ford Bellamy knows he can’tspend another winter in a place that holds so many precious memories. He pullsup stakes and takes a stage coach Westward through Indian and road banditterritory in search of a new life for himself and McKenna, the infant daughterhis wife never got to hold.

  Along the dangerous journey, passengers with theirown life stories get on and off the coach, some to stay where they are, some todie. Ford is attracted to the beautiful and betrothed young woman who volunteersto care for McKenna when he must face and mete out death. What he doesn’t know isthat the same may be waiting for her and for him at the end of the journey.
  BuyStorm Out of Texas Now
P.S. It’s free on kindle Unlimited… 

§§
  That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keepon keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy andsafe summer…with lots of time for reading!
cj
Little note: TheHaunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact:https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  If she happens to be out, I also have a smallstash. Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITA Award-winning author in herown right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happy to ship you any book(s) by any author of your choice.
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Mental Floss

cj Sez: For the first time in a very long time, Ispent most of last weekend reading best-sellingauthor Susan Yawn Tanner’s Storm Out of Texas, book 3 of her Bellamys of Texas series.
Buy Storm Out of Texas Now
    It’s free on kindle unlimited if you’ve a mind tojoin me…     I’m not a particularly fast reader, but I promisea review when I’m finished.
§§
   One of the things about Facebook that drives mebatty is when the FB algorithm gets an earworm of a subject, and I wind up gettingseveral iterations of “suggested for you” posts on the same subject, yet all fromdifferent sources. The subject might be football, college sports, movies fromthe 50s and 60s, etc. Today it’s Placido Domingo, whose amazing tenor voice Ilove, but … Today I’ve hidden about twelve of those FB posts. Hiding them “forever”is never forever. You?
§§
No reason for procrastination news item:
   All of my local TV meteorologists report that Arlene,the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, is struggling inthe Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
   I can now testify that the system poses no threatto my home here on the Gulf Coast because it's drifting South. The downside of that news is that now I have no preparations to attend to and no excuse not to get backto editing the story that should have been done aeons* ago. 
  This story has hadme bumfuzzled, and I’ve changed the story line and title dozens of times. It’slike, “Oh, look. Maybe I should do that.” I need to discard all 45K words butcan’t because I keep thinking there’s a nugget in there somewhere.
(* “Aeon” definition: A period of immeasurable duration.)
§§
Blatant self- promotion:
  Released in April of 2021, THE DAWGSTAR is a suspense/thriller novel with atouch of romance. And I find that its international intrigue premise is still timely and relevant. I bet you will, too. 
   Amateur astronomer Mirabel Campbell happens upon amysterious point of light in the night sky and unexpectedly becomes enmeshed ina covert world of international political intrigue where deception and lies arethe norm. 
  When friends are murdered, she and the CIA ex-husband she still lovesmust race to uncover the clandestine threat behind The Dawgstar before shebecomes the next to die at the hands of a psychopath.

BuyThe Dawgstar ebook now
§§
   I didn’t find this special YouTube song in time topost it last week. It’s a sentiment I fervently support. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCGS8E41-YQ
§§
  That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keepon keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy andsafe summer…with lots of time for reading!
cj
Little note: TheHaunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER,contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITAAward-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happyto ship you the book(s) of your choice.
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

May 29, 2023, a Day of Remembrance

cj Sez:  Because I believethis info needs repeating . . . 

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.
   Many people confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day andthink of the two days as being interchangeably one and the same, but there is adifference between them. Do you know what it is?

   VeteransDay is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who servedhonorably in the military—in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day islargely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, toacknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated,and to underscore the fact that all who served—not only those who died—havesacrificed.

   MemorialDay is a day for remembering and honoring those who died in theservice of their country, particularly the military personnel who died inbattle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In England, it’s known asRemembrance Day.

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day…it was once known asDecoration Day. Then the name changed again and became Poppy Day. When I was little,we bought and wore little red, paper poppy flowers as a remembrance. I believe the flowers were made by disabled Vets back then. Whateverthe name, it's a day to remember and honor all those heroic men and women whohave died in service of the United States of America.

  Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holidayhonoring Union soldiers. The date of the first Decoration Day, the 30th of May,1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil Warbattle. 

  Inspired by the rondeau poem “In FlandersFields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae whilestill at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael, a University of Georgiaprofessor, came up with this simple idea: Sell poppy flowers to raise money on behalf of soldiers killed and injured in World War I--the red of the petals representing the blood of heroes shed on those fields of war. Michael was the first to wear one,and she sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going tobenefit servicemen in need.

   In my original Lyrical Pens post a few years ago, JanieDelchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250,shared insights on how to honor our fallen heroes. Janie told me then that what follows here had been a Facebook repost and gave me permission to use the words. Please takea minute to read it all the way through. It says everything.

“Just a reminder ofwhat we celebrate next weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans,however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimatesacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone ontotheir eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for youruse, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor onMemorial Day.

 

Here's some groundrules:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about brave menand women dying.
2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, notDisneyland.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about ChestyPuller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, MitchellPaige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attenda Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried theburden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in “peace”.God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

   cj Sez:  I owe anawesome debt, one which can never be repaid, to the thousands upon thousands of heroic men andwomen who died so that my family and I live in freedom. I pray God’s blessingsand comfort rain down on the grieving families and friends they left behind.

   That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keepingon, and I’ll try to do the same.
cj

   The Haunted BookShop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock and ships everywhere. To order contact:https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITAAward-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happyto ship you the book(s) of your choice.
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

You-all guys know . . .

cj Sez: . . .  that authors often include bitsand pieces of personal experiences in their stories, don't you? I’ve included at least a small part of my life experiences in all of my stories. A couple of my favoriteadventures are written into DEATH ON THE YAMPA. 

 

BUY YAMPA NOW

   You may have read about this before because I’ve told it many times, but let me tell you again a little backstory about my first-person research for DEATH ON THE YAMPA.
   Way back when I was a younger, more adventurous woman, and in the throes of a mid-life crisis, Ispent five-and-a-half days on an Outward Bound, white-water rafting trip down theYampa River.

 

   At 250-miles long, the Yampa—a lazy float trip struggling throughlow water in the summer months—surges to life when Spring melts the mountainsnows and roaring water rushes boaters through awesome, sandstone canyons inDinosaur National Monument.

  There were four huge, silver rafts in our Outward Bound convoy,each carried eight to ten people, and a flotilla of kayakers ran the biggestrapids ahead of the rafts and waited in the eddies downstream, ready to pick upanyone who had the misfortune to fall overboard.

 

  I traveled alone on this Springtime snowmelt trip, didn’tknow anyone who was going to be there, had never rafted before, and what was evenwilder, I didn’t know how to swim. (Still don’t.) Our rafts entered the Yampa Riverin Colorado and ended the adventure five days and seventy-five miles later inUtah.

 

  The Yampa trip turned out to be part one of my research.

 

  The following year, I volunteered to do a Jeep Jamboreeoff-road adventure on the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range andwrite about it for my company’s newspaper. The Jeep Jamboree grades the RubiconTrail as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 in difficulty for off-road enthusiasts.

 

  I joined two professional writers in a Jeep Wrangler that,like many of the Wranglers on the trail, had its doors and hard top removed anda skid plate welded to the undercarriage to protect the engine when drivingover boulders.
  I was the only novice driver/writer in that Jeep, and I sat,mouth agape, when the driver ahead of us miscalculated and rolled his Jeep offthe two-track, boulder-strewn trail. We waited until Jamboree trail guidesrolled him upright and sent him on his way again. 
  We drove onto the Rubicon Trailfrom Georgetown, California, and drove off the trail above Lake Tahoe, the citythat straddles the border between California and Nevada. After one night of bathingin an icy mountain stream and sleeping on a deflated air mattress in a pup tentatop a granite boulder, I was extremely happy to spend the next night soakingin a hot tub and sleeping on a slightly lumpy mattress in a hotel.

 

  Both of those trips became the inspirations for the settingsin DEATH ON THE YAMPA as well as my personal essay, “Don’t Ride the Clutch,”published in CUP OF COMFORT FOR DIVORCED WOMEN. (The anthology is free onKindle Unlimited at the time of this post.)
  

 

BUY CUP OF COMFORT NOW

  To read more about the exquisite mountain settings Iexperienced, eBook copies (on sale for $2.99) are available on Amazon. Autographed paperback copies are available from The Haunted Bookshop (link provided below). 
  (If you’ll take the time to write abrief Amazon review, let me know. I’d love to send you a neat surprise gift as aplease and thank you. Bribery anyone?)

 

  That’s it for this week’s post. You-all guys keep on keepingon, and I’ll try to do the same.

 

cj
Little note: The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  Angela Trigg, the awesome owner and a RITAAward-winning author in her own right (writing as Angela Quarles) will be happyto ship you the book(s) of your choice, mine or any other author.

 

➜ Follow me on . . .  
➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor
➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson
➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Today is simply a designated reminder that . . .

cj Sez: Every day is Mother's Day! I read someplace that love is the deepest emotion we sharewith one another, so to all the Moms out there, I pray your Mother’s Day isfilled to overflowing with love.

A bit of Mother’s Day history (from Britannica.com):
  In 1908 Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a day ofpersonal celebration between mothers and families, and it was declared a U.S.holiday in 1914. Her idea was to wear a white carnation as a badge and visitone’s mother or attend church services. She originally worked with the floralindustry to help promote Mother’s Day.
  That turned out to be a bad idea because by 1920, she hadbecome so disgusted with the holiday’s commercialization, she urged people tostop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards, and candies. 
  In the U.S., people spend more money on Mother’s Day than onany other holiday.
§§    When we lived many miles apart, I would send flowers to my sons on Mother’s Day. I got a big laugh out of Jeff’s predicament one year as hisco-workers teased him about his happy girlfriend when the flowers arrived at his desk. He gaveme a beautiful and colorful bouquet this year. He could have given me a dandelionblossom, slightly crushed and moist from a sweaty little palm, as he did when hewas little, and I would not have felt more loved. Precious memories, indeed.
§§
  I can’t end this post without remembering my Mom, as I domost every day. 
  Mama was the mother who soothed my fears, dried my tears, andpatted my rear when I needed it. No matter what mistakes I made, she was a lovely, non-judgmental, and gentle soul who believed in me. 
  Thank you, Mama. You areforever in my heart, and I miss you and your sweet smile dearly.
§§
  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on,and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.
cj  cj’s Tip:
  Here’s a tip to help you out for Mothers’ Day gifts…a book hasgot to be the perfect gift. It’s always the right size; it’s non-fat, non-carb,gluten- and sugar-free; plus it doesn’t need watering yet doesn’t turn brown orwilt too soon. And it’s reusable!

P.S.  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. If you order one that happens tobe off their shelf, tell them you want a signed copy—I’ll pop down to the shop to sign it for you. TOORDER, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Ways to encourage authors...and answer my question to enter a contest

cj Sez: What follows is a stream of consciousness post abouthow to Support Your Favorite Authors, whether you’re a writer or a reader.

   I re-post these comments every so often, to remind everyone how important even a brief review is.
If you’re a writer . . .
   Ifyou have your own blog, invite guest bloggers. When you have a guest,send out “Coming Attractions” promotions on Facebook, Twitter, et al. LyricalPens does do that, so if you’re promoting a book right now or just want to blogabout something, send me an email.

 

   Join a critique group and be willing to give yourfellow authors’ work a fair critique. Be kind but be honest. Start your review witha positive comment.

 

  If a writer-friend wants to just sitand talk, grab a chair and listen. Writing is a lonely occupation, and most other people don'tunderstand.

 

   Encourage each other. Writing is not acompetition; everyone can be successful.

 

   P. S. If you’re ayet-to-be-published writer and don’t have a business card, support/encourageyourself and get one.Hand it out to agents, workshop instructors, fellow writers, wherever you havean opportunity to network. Get your name out there as early as possible so theycan watch for your new release. It’s a way to build a platform and gain a fanfollowing.

 

Now, if you’re a reader (and since writers are alsoreaders, this applies to everyone) . . .
   Ifyou’ve read one of their books, post a review…please. Amazon, Goodreads,B&N, Twitter, and wherever you can. Even a few words—“I like this book”—are helpful.
   Likeand comment on authors' posts on their Facebook pages. Facebook'salgorithms only show posts that FB thinks other members would like to see. Thatmeans the more likes and comments a post gets, the more people will seeit. 

 

   Goto book signings, even if you can’t afford to buy the book at that time.Your attendance is encouraging. I’ve been to book signings where the author andI were the only two people there. I’ve been the author at signings where . . .well, never mind. With a little planning, you might be able to keep that fromhappening to another author.

§§

 

Now for a contest . . .

 

I went to my very first Kentucky Derby party on Saturday. Createda new hat just for the event.Photo Credit: Author Rebecca Barrett
 Good food, wonderful conversations withnew friends, lots of laughter, a good time.
 My horse didn’t win, but I hadgreat fun cheering. Next year “they say” is the 150 th  anniversaryof the famed Run for the Roses, “The most exciting two minutes in sports,” and I’mlooking forward to it. But please, I’m obviously not a math major: Can someoneexplain to me why 2024 is a sesquicentennial run when the first race was heldin 1875? What logic am I missing? 
   Send me the correct answer, and I’ll enteryour name in a contest to win a paperback copy of CLASSICS PIECES RETOLD.

 
§§

 

   There are 26 tributes to classic novels, short stories, andpoems in the CLASSICS PIECES RETOLD anthology. The variety of author voices is awesome.What a treat. This anthology is one of the Mobile Writers Guild bestproductions.

 

   You can order your copies through TheHaunted Book Shop https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us, a Mobile indie bookshop, or from your favoritebook seller.

 

   For Amazon purchases, click here: BuyCLASSIC PIECES Now

 
§§

 

   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on,and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.

 

cj

   No inflation here: THE DAWGSTAR andDEATHON THE YAMPA, fast-paced, exciting suspense/thriller ebooks, are low-,low-priced at $2.99.

P.S.  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact The HauntedBookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

 

➜ Follow me on . . .  
➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor
➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson
➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Mystery Writers of America announce

 cj Sez: The Mystery Writers of America announced their EdgarAward winners. Congratulations to all !!! 

From their press release:
BEST NOVELNotes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (HarperCollins –William Morrow)

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHORDon’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor (Soho Press – SohoCrime)
BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINALOr Else by Joe Hart (Amazon Publishing – Thomas &Mercer)
BEST FACT CRIMETell Me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigation byErika Krouse (Flatiron Books)
BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICALThe Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries andTheir Creators by Martin Edwards (HarperCollins – Collins Crime Club)
BEST SHORT STORY“Red Flag,” Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine byGregory Fallis (Dell Magazines)
BEST JUVENILEAggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Seaside Corpse byMarthe Jocelyn (Penguin Random House Canada – Tundra Books)
BEST YOUNG ADULTThe Red Palace by June Hur (Macmillan Children’s Books– Feiwel & Friends)
BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY“Episode 1” – Magpie Murders, Written by AnthonyHorowitz (Masterpiece/PBS) 
  “The Edgar Awards,or “Edgars,” as they are commonly known, are named after MWA’s patron saintEdgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in variouscategories.”

§§
  Re the technicaldisaster I was plagued with last week (both the computer and printer decided toquit) which prevented the Lyrical Pens post, I can now claim success. A new printer, three desktop computers (two were dead on arrival), and atwo-hour visit from Geek Squad later has me up and running…I hope for a very longtime.  
   I have to say,honestly, I was kind of grateful I didn’t have a computer available to me so Icould play solitaire for hours on end (I’m guilty). I really did spend the lastweek slowly reading the 26 tributes to classic novels, short stories, and poemsin the CLASSICS PIECES RETOLD anthology. 
  What a treat. 
  This anthology is one ofthe Mobile Writers Guild best productions. I found the variety of author voicesawesome and heartily recommend the pieces to you.
  Youcan order your own copies through The Haunted Book Shop https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us, a Mobile indie bookshop, or from your favoritebook seller.    For Amazonpurchases, click here: BuyCLASSIC PIECES Now
§§   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on,and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.
cj
  No inflation here: THE DAWGSTAR andDEATHON THE YAMPA, fast-paced, exciting suspense/thriller ebooks, are low-,low-priced at $2.99.
P.S.  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact The HauntedBookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

Classic Pieces paperback arrived

cj Sez: Hope your weekend was as good as mine. I received mycontributor copies of CLASSIC PIECES RETOLD. and the cover is even more gorgeousin my hands.

  This is no wimpy book. It’s a substantial paperback—one inchthick! I plan to spend a good bit of time slowly reading the 26 tributes to classicnovels, short stories, and poems in this anthology. I want the excitement and enjoymentof reading 21st century interpretations of a variety of classic stories tolinger on a while.
  You can order copies now fromThe Haunted Book Shop https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-usor from your favoritebook seller.
  For Amazonpurchases, click here: BuyCLASSIC PIECES Now
   CLASSIC PIECES RETOLD is the sixth installment in the MobileWriters Guild Pieces anthology series. Special thanks to our awesome MWG editor Joyce Scarbrough and to MWG artist Steven Moore who created all the incredible Pieces covers. 

6-Set image by Carrie Dalby Author
  Seems to me this is an opportunity to order the completeset.
§§   Mother Nature was a’blowing and a’going this afternoon onAlabama’s Gulf Coast. I have yet to see the official report, but from the waterI see standing in my yard, I think the electrical storm dropped probably morethan two inches of rain. We also had 30-40 mph winds, gusting in some places upto 70 mph. I probably have some limbs down in the back yard, but I haven’t goneout to check. Besides, the Chief Meteorologist forecasts another wave of stormscoming in after midnight. I’ll assess the yard tomorrow when I go out to feedthe birds.
  Which reminds me . . .  photographer son Jeff was able tophotograph a few migratory birds at Dauphin Island before the storm roaredthrough. Can’t wait to see what he got. The photo here is one of his shotsfrom last year: A Canada Warbler.
§§   That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on,and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety. 
cj

  No inflation here: THE DAWGSTAR andDEATHON THE YAMPA, fast-paced, exciting suspense/thriller ebooks, are low-,low-priced at $2.99.

P.S.  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact The HauntedBookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

180+ authors submitted to Bouchercon anthology

cj Sez: Bouchercon announced the names of the authors andtheir stories selected to be included in their 2023 anthology. 

  According to Bouchercon’s press release, “More than 180authors submitted stories. In a two-step blind judging process, first-roundreaders passed along 41 stories to guest editor Holly West for finalconsideration. These seventeen stories were selected:”  
(I've enjoyed stories by some of these authors and am looking forward to reading the rest. How many do you know? )
Kathleen L. Asay, "Buy the Farm"Jennifer Berg, "A Bayside Murder"C.W. Blackwell, "Hard Rain on Beach Street"Wesley Browne, "29 Palms"Anne-Marie Campbell, "Palms Up"L.H. Dillman, "To Hell and Back"John M. Floyd, "Plymouth West"Kim Keeline, "Business of Death"Mary Keenan, "The Canadians"Emilya Naymark, "Girl of Gold"Richie Narvaez, "Shamu, World's GreatestDetective"Kathy A. Norris, "Wildfire"J.R. Sanders, "Dead Even"James Thorpe, "Casualties of War"Tim P. Walker, "Bidding War"Victoria Weisfeld, "Pearl of a Girl"Désirée Zamorano, "President-Elect"
  These stories will be published alongside short fiction bythree of this year's Bouchercon Guests of Honor—C.J. Box, Ann Cleeves, andNaomi Hirahara.
  Bouchercon is an annual convention of mystery readers, fans,writers, and enthusiasts. In 2023, the event will be held in San Diego, CA.August 30 - September 3.
§§
Speaking of awesome anthologies
  The sixth installment of the Mobile Writers Guild PIECES anthology seriesis available for pre-order, and a date for an author signing is scheduled!
  CLASSIC PIECES RETOLD
  In this installmentof the PIECES anthology series, Mobile WritersGuild members pay homage to some favorite classic works now in the publicdomain—novels,short stories, and poems. (I have retold two Agatha Christie shortmysteries.)
     And, And … Mark your calendars! Multiple authors will be signing their stories at The Haunted Book Shop during Mobile’s April 14 LoDa ArtWalk.
  Not able to be there on April 14 but would like signed copies? 
  Pre-order copies now fromThe Haunted Book Shop https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-usand request they have them signed on April 14.
For Amazonpurchases, click here: BuyCLASSIC PIECES Now§§
  That’s it fortoday’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for your health and safety.
cj
  No inflation here: THE DAWGSTAR andDEATHON THE YAMPA, fast-paced, exciting suspense/thriller ebooks, are low-,low-priced at $2.99.

P.S.  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER, contact The HauntedBookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 
➜ Follow me on . . .  ➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

Celebrating

cj Sez: JESUS CELEBRATED PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES,AND NOW CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE EASTER WITH HIM

 

Wishing you the Gift of Faith

The Blessings of Hope

And a Life filled with Love . . .

 

And for those celebratingPassover…

חג פסח

 

SHALOM

שלום

 cj Sez:  

May God continue to shower you with blessings, love, and peace throughout the coming year.