Brendan Shea's Blog, page 7

Strangers in Time

I loved Baldacci’s A Calamity of Souls, but aside from that I have not read a better departure from his thriller books, other than his classic, Wish You Well, and this new work. Some of the early Amos Decker’s and some of Baldacci’s standalone’s are excellent, but Strangers in Time transports to another time and place, and I cared deeply about Charlie, Molly and Ignatius.

I would say that the denouement was a little abrupt, that there were a few too many tragedies, and that one character’s demise was told a bit too quickly, but aside from that, it was a very nice, poignant story, with many wonderful dramatis personae and bittersweet episodes.

If you’d like to journey through London during the blitz with a kind orphaned East-End fellow, a formidable young woman and a old air warden and bookseller who knew more than he let on, take a chance on Strangers in Time.

Here is a nice video with Willie Geist and others, interviewing the author, David Baldacci on MSNBC.

Dear Readers

If you have purchased or won free copies of any of my books, it only takes a moment and a mouse click to rate any one of them

If you want to review them, I’d love it, but a rating is quick and easy and FREE!

I am not asking you to say you enjoyed them (I hope you did!)

I am not asking for a rating, or even , but some kind of feedback would be great!

32 people downloaded a free copy of my latest thriller, Step, Turn, Murder: A Romanoff Mystery, but no one has rated it.

Please consider providing feedback on Amazon or Goodreads.

Many thanks!

Brendan Shea

Ginza Sushi

We went to Ginza Sushi today. My wife felt it wasn’t their best hour, but for me, it was the same top quality we’ve enjoyed for years. So I don’t want to discount her feelings, but personally, I loved it.

The prices have gone up. A lot. But I went to another eatery the other day near Ginza, Jack Holders, and for a sandwich with side and a drink my lunch was $35. Usually it would be about $20. So prices are going up everywhere.

The rice of the sushi was not as tightly packed as it could have been, but I attributed it to the humid weather we’ve been having.

My miso was hot and tasty, and my salad had the same awesome dressing as always. I also enjoyed the tempura, which featured carrot, sweet potato (fortunately for my CKD only one small one), zucchini and shrimp. Wow, so good.

They have soy sauce with less sodium along with the full-test version, and for me, that was a life-saver. I figured there was about 300 mg of sodium in the portion I poured, and after I mixed it with wasabi, I probably only ate about half of it; not bad.

I did have some sauce with my tempura as well, but I didn’t dip the fried treats very much. I also enjoyed a lychee soda for the first time; it came in a bottle with a marble in it, which governed how much drink came out how fast. Interesting and delicious. I was glad to only have the one glass, as it had 22 grams of sugar. I’d wanted pineapple juice as it’s okay with CKD, but they were out.

For my entree, I had Philadelphia roll, and the cream cheese (good for CKD), salmon and avocado were delicious. And the atmosphere was perfect; not too cold and not too warm, not too noisy, and the furnishings were comfortable.

I looked on my phone and I’d already given them 5 stars on Google, so I took photos of my meal, and added them to my review while my wife polished off her food.

I’d recommend Ginza Sushi anytime.

Song of the Week

Carman – Lord Of All

Lord, You are wonderful
Lord, You are glorious
You are Lord of all

Lord, You are wonderful
Lord, You are glorious
You are Lord of all

You are Lord of all
Faithful and true
Lord of all
Worthy are You

Lord of all
We lift up our voice
And let the earth rejoice

That Jesus Christ is Lord of all
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lift up your eyes
Let the church arise
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lord, You are wonderful
Lord, You are glorious
You are Lord of all

Lord, You are wonderful
Lord, You are glorious
You are Lord of all

You are Lord of all
Faithful and true
Lord of all
Worthy are You

Lord of all
We lift up our voice
And let the earth rejoice

‘Coz Jesus Christ is Lord of all
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lift up your eyes
Let the church arise
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lift up your eyes
Let the church arise
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

We worship and adore You
Worship and adore You
We worship and adore You
How we worship and adore You

Lord of all
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lift up your eyes
Let the church arise
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Lift up your eyes
Let the church arise
Jesus Christ is Lord of all

Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Carman

Lord of All lyrics © Music & Media Int’l, Inc

Song of the Week

The Beauty of the Cross – Crystal Lewis

King of my life I crown You now

You’re the ruler of my heart

I will wear it loud

I will tell the whole world about You

You died in my place

You suffered all for me

Just so I could live

You were broken and bruised

And I will tell the whole world about You

The cross, stained by blood

The beauty of the cross

Healing for the lost

The cross, stained by blood

The beauty of the cross

Healing for the lost

The cross

King of my life I crown You now

You’re healer I’ve longed for

Now of heaven I’m sure

And I will tell the whole world about You

Thorns on Your brow

Stripes on Your back

So innocent, You did it all for me

Nails in Your hands

Nails in Your feet

Sword in Your side, You did it all for me

You paid the cost

That’s the beauty of the cross

Song of the Week (extra)

This Blood – Carman

Violently they grabbed His arms
As they tightly strapped each wrist
With the hellish looks that
A strong armed soldier
Whip clenched in his fist
Laced with chips of bone
They beat Him hard
From His shoulders to His feet
And it sliced right
Through His olive skin
Just like razors through a sheet

Countless times the blood splattered
As each inhuman lash was given
Several times His knees gave way
As His flesh just hung like ribbons
Then surprisingly He turned His head
Though the words He used were few
The soldier’s face turned pale
When He said: “This blood is for you”

Uncaringly they tossed a garment
Across His weakened form
And His blood pressure fell deathly low
As the crowds began to swarm
They forced Him to carry His cross uphill
As His face they punched and smacked
While the splinters from the crisscrossed beam Dug deep into His back

Through lack of sleep and dehydration
His tongue began to swell
And weakened by His loss of blood
This Prophet, Teacher fell
When He did some blood splattered
On a man named Simon’s shoe
And as he bent to wipe it off
The Prophet looked and said:
“Simon, This blood is for you”

This blood can save the soul
Heal the sick, mend the heart
This blood can give you access
To the very Throne of God
And it still can go the distance
Through the pain to where you are
This blood is for you
The blood of the lamb

Then they pounded a spike
Through the bones in His wrists
Bursting arteries and veins
And as they dropped the cross in
The hole they dug
His body convulsed with pain

Through an agony and torment
That never a soul shall find
He tilts His face towards heaven
With full control of His mind
With more love than any human heard
Before that time or since
He made a statement that to this day
Makes the strongest skeptic wince

He cried “Father God, Forgive them,
For they know not what they do”
And as He gave His life
For those lost in sin
He was saying this blood is for you

And this blood can save the soul
Heal the sick, mend the heart
This blood can give you access
To the very Throne of God
And it still can go the distance
Through the pain to where you are
This blood is for you

If you’re lost and alone
And your mind is confused
This blood is for you
If you feel like you have
Been hurt and abused
This blood is for you
The atoning, cleansing,
Blood of the Lamb

This blood can save the soul
Heal the sick, mend the heart
This blood can give you access
To the very Throne of God
And it still can go the distance
Through the pain to where you are
This blood is for you
The blood of the lamb
This blood is for you
The blood of the lamb!

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Carman Licciardello

This Blood lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Concord Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc

Writing or Typing?

I recall listening to a Robin Williams comedy routine called Kindergarten of the Stars.

The characters at the fictional school were the fictional progeny of celebrities. Two that I recall were Sammy Davis Jr., Jr., and Truman Capote Jr.

The routine had Truman Capote lamenting that the school made them read trite stuff like, “See Dick Run“; he complained about it:

“See Dick Run. See Jane Run. See Spot follow Dick and Jane.” He lamented, “That’s not writing, that’s just typing; why can’t they give us something more substantial to read?”

The routine was hilarious, but it makes me think: When I am writing my books and blogs, I sometimes feel like I am just typing, and sometimes I read my work and it actually entertains or transports.

I hope you enjoy the process of writing, and if it gets to feel like you are just typing, I have a strategy:

Put down the device, watch a movie, read a good book, go for a walk, call a friend, help someone, do some non-writing work. Let the fallow fields rest a bit, and when you come back to them, maybe the work will seem better, the writing livlier, and more rewarding.

The Williams routine is a little raunchy, so I didn’t post it, but I definitely agree with “Capote Jr.’s” philosophy, that writing should be more than words on a page.

Please rate or review my book!

Dear readers,

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Bonus Song!

Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater) – Quincy Jones

Enjoy

Song of the Week

Newsboys – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

When you’re dull from all that glitters,
when your thoughts have a hollow ring,
when you can’t escape
from the feeling
you’re getting it wrong
All your foolproof plans seem foolish,
all your status is status quo,
all your really need to know is where you belong.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace.

I was used to the cold for so long
that couldn’t feel anything.
And I shivered and stared
like a beggar who won’t lift his hands.
I was numb until he touched me.
I was deaf until he heard.
I was senseless ’til I met
the one who understands.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace.
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace.

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Steve Taylor / Peter Furler / Helen H. Lemmel