Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 125

The Making of Davy Jones’ Pirate Mask

While it’s on the Cathy Burnham Martin YouTube Channel and Facebook, I would be remiss to not include it here, also. Creating hubby’s 2021 Halloween get-up was a true labor of love! And it all started with his confounded radiation mask… initially much dreaded, and now the basis of his resounding success! The video is a 10-minute clip on a true D.I.Y. special. Enjoy!

http://goodliving123.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Making-of-Davy-Jones-Pirate-Mask.mp4

Early Reviews Show a BIG Thumbs Up!!!

 

Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear has been receiving a delightful number of early reviews and testimonial comments.  I will try to post more here from time to time.  The bottom line is one of great encouragement. I can’t include the multiple paragraphs of some of the reviews, but I am pleased to share some excerpts. (The full texts are showing up all over the Internet, from Amazon and Goodreads to various reviewers’ websites and blogs.) Though “Destiny” is dark and haunting, we are touching hearts and minds!

“It is beautifully written, the type you can’t put down and that you want to read to the finish hoping it will never end. Being an Armenian, whose father and other relatives escaped the genocide, I was extremely interested in what was written, especially that it was based on truth.”

— Marian Murachanian Major, Past President, American Association of University Women, Clearwater Branch

 

“The story was so compelling I could hardly put it down… Horrific, but true; sad, but inspiring.”

— Nancy Keller, Owner, Boston Polo Publishing Company

 

“Not all paths are graceful or full of love, but there is a grand strength and determination throughout the family’s history. This is one magnificent journey and written so well, that I was right there next to her, even if just a shadow listening intently. Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. It’s a story I won’t soon forget. This was just a wondrous story of life, love, and determination for survival. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.”                                                                                                                              — Amy Shannon, Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

 

“A graceful story about a family who values peace, education, and equality, the historical novel Destiny of Dreams covers a genocide that led to heartbreak, but whose survivors expressed love and perseverance. The book’s style is eloquent, with vibrant language used to illustrate the physical and emotional landscapes of 1915 Armenia.”

–Foreword Clarion Reviews

 

“Author Cathy Burnham Martin is a master at storytelling, balancing the darker and more disturbing aspects of the story with hope and positivity. The flow of events made the book hard to put down despite the darkest and most difficult moments. The characters were well developed with revealing dialogue, making investing in them, their stories, and their journeys easy and exciting.”

— K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite

 

“Elegantly intertwined journey through time periods intersects in ways both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The characters and culture are rich and warm, in stark contrast to the cold world where they find themselves, a world divided by deep-seated religious beliefs and prejudices. Two stories unified by one spirit, Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear is not simply a story of strife, but it is a beautiful portrayal of faith, inner strength, and dignity.”

— Indies Today

 

“Destiny of Dreams is a must-read for history lovers. Author Cathy Burnham Martin masterfully incorporates real-life events and people to craft a moving tale that showcases the brutal aspects of war without pulling any punches. The real-life events that inspired this tale provide a sense of depth and authenticity to the narrative, and it leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve put down the book. The characters feel real, making them thoroughly compelling to read.”

— Pikasho Deka, Readers’ Favorite

 

“It was absolutely harrowing to read about it, but also very important because these stories need to continue being told. If you want to know more about the history then I’d recommend you read this book. It’s about a true story, and you just don’t hear enough about the Armenian genocide.”

— BookFever, Belgium

 

“It is a book about survival and how to see the light at the end of the tunnel even in the darkest of times. The author, however, focuses as much on the positive aspects as on the negatives. I really liked the writing style of the book as well. The pictures towards the end were just an added bonus that made this story even more heart-touching.”

— Alex the Shadow Girl

 

“Cathy Burnham Martin has created a novel that sustains the all-important emotional connection in a story that moves between the past and the present. The narration of the characters is natural, convincing, and sticks in your mind.”

— Vincent Dublado, Readers’ Favorite

 

“While focusing on her own family, she capably weaves historical details and events into the narrative and delves into cultural differences between Turk and the Armenian populations, such as the treatment of women or the roles of arts and education. The journey of the Gulumian family to Russia to the U.S. is fast-paced and richly enhanced by Martin’s depictions.”  — BookLife

 

 

Thanks to all readers and reviewers!  I appreciate your time and honest reviews. This helps me to serve you better with future books.

Today Is D-Day for “Destiny of Dreams”

It’s official! My new historical fiction, Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear is now available in paperback and digital formats on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and beyond! Yes, it tells my Armenian ancestors’ story and has been a true labor of love for me. While heartwrenching, I think readers will see how impactful my family has been on my own attempts to maintain personal strength and a positive attitude.

This, my first novel, is a far cry from my usual quippy, uplifting, or life lessons approach, so prevalent in my nonfiction works. And yet, especially considering the chaos in Afghanistan and other hotspots of crisis around the world, the timing is even more important. We must never forget nor diminish the painful memories history deals us. Lessons from man’s inhumanity to man must make us better for the sake of future generations.

As the story begins, my grandfather is a mere child. However, though nothing gratuitous, some explicit descriptions and a couple of disturbing, though not graphic, violent depictions may be unsuitable for young readers.

I have been honored by several readers of my advance draft editions. For example, I received this early testimonial from Dr. David Green, retired Chief Medical Officer at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire, “Congratulations on a wonderful and thoughtful work! You have given such an eloquent voice to their suffering, sacrifice, and perseverance. It was a wonderful read, hard to put down. Should be a required read for High School students!”

Thanks, Doc. I was honored to include some maps suggested by him for the final edition.

If you happen to choose to read Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear, an honest review on sites such as Amazon or Goodreads or elsewhere would be deeply appreciated. This is how I learn to serve readers like you even better!

“Destiny of Dreams” Cover Completed

     Very exciting to see the cover is now completed for Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear.  While I had loved seeing my grandmother’s photograph of a part of the city of Van in Armenia, such personal mementos would likely hold little meaning to a typical reader.  So, the old 1915 photo is now on the back cover.

Of course, Hubby was sad that it replaced the photo of Yours Truly.  I assured him that my smiling puss brings nothing to the story and would not be missed.

Further, the working draft cover was quite plain, which was rightly noted by one advance reviewer. The cover now presents a depiction of the Armenian flag, which is appropriate for this utterly Armenian event. I love the deep, dark tones, too, because they aptly set the stage for what is a very intense and foreboding, albeit true story.

 

Answered Prayers

 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been keeping Sir Ronald (a.k.a. my hubby) in their prayers since he was first diagnosed with throat cancer and went through the long months of radiation, chemo, and exciting, lingering side effects.  His new CT-scan and other tests now show NO more signs of cancer. Yayyy!

 

He continues to recover nicely and has even regained a few of the 63 pounds of lost weight. Now he enters the standard 5-year period of scans and tests every 6 months.

 

It’s been a long and arduous road, as too many of you also know from your own experiences.  Whenever he wanted to quit, I could only keep trying to remind him that we just needed to get through one more day.  Just one more day.  And then one more day.

 

He did it.  And we get the blessing of good news… the golden light at the end of the storm.

 

A great many people travel the same path but do not get good news. They enter the storm but do not get to pass through it. To many prayers come answers we did not want. As hard as we may try to convince ourselves otherwise, we are not in charge.

 

May both the triumphs and tragedies help us gain perspective and appreciation.  Every hour… every day is a blessing.  Our struggles and successes can help us learn to count our blessings… each and every one.

 

Thank you again for all the love, well wishes, and prayers. Sir Ronald and I both thank you, ever so humbly.

 

Hug someone you love today.

Destiny of Dreams Coming August 31st!

The “buzzzz” is true!  Though noted for my non-fiction works, my first novel is now ready to go!  Quiet Thunder Publishing will release Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear on August 31, 2021.

This historical fiction, set in the early and mid-20th Century, serves up a very difficult slice of my family history “pie.” It tells my grandfather’s story, my family’s story of faith and fortitude.

While the spirited Armenian boy sings and dances passionately, danger swells, threatening his family, friends, and future.  Set amidst religious intolerance, political instability, and social injustice in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear links past and present with mystifying clarity.  In this painfully poignant, true story, young Hrant and his family struggle to withstand unthinkable circumstances and survive extraordinary chaos and violence.  Love and courage must prevail, or all will be both lost and forgotten.

Written for Young Adult and Adult audiences, this historical fiction contains some explicit descriptions and a couple disturbing, though not graphic, violent scenes. While not gratuitous, the depictions may be unsuitable for young readers, even though the budding protagonist is a Middle Grade youngster himself. Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear would be apt to get a PG-13-type rating.

Regardless, Dr. David Green, Chief Medical Officer (retired) at Concord (NH) Hospital read an advanced copy. He shared his belief that the book should be required reading for every high school student! Well, I won’t argue that. Especially during modern times of intolerance and political divisiveness, I believe shining a spotlight on the importance of accepting differences is vital.

The Kindle edition is available for Pre-Order on Amazon.  Both the digital and paperback formats will be available August 31st.    

Life Goes On

Life deals us some mighty strange cards from time to time.  Sometimes “bad hands” all seem to land at thesame time.  Yes, for me, too.  The pandemic lockdown, the death of a closeloved one, shattered family trust, cancer diagnosis in a spouse, etc., etc.,etc.  I coped by prayer, thinkingpositively, focusing introspectively, and facing each day hour by hour much ofthe time. 

Yes, 2020 proved to be a tumultuous year for us all.  What started with a pandemic exploded intothe most divisively destructive cancel culture ever seen.

We are changed by it, most assuredly.  I am no exception.  As with all things, I try to seek thepositive fallout.  What have welearned?  How have we grown?  What can we now do better?  What improved vision do we vow to employgoing forward.  If we look closely, theremay well be some silver linings in the storm. 

For example, I slipped away from social media… and survived.We learned to appreciate good health as we crawl through the quagmire of treatmentsand recovery in my husband’s cancer toward a good prognosis.  I note that I am blessed with a healthy91-year-old mother.  I grew closer to mysister who lives thousands of miles away.  Our first grandchild and great nephew were born,along with lots of other friends’ babies. More babies than ever before are getting the previously rare experience ofbabyhood with two parents at home and available to share the magical miraclesof helping their babies grow.  I tooktime to finish writing my first novel, which I had started more than ten yearsago.  I learned to cook some new foods.  I appreciated the blessing of living in abeautiful setting with an abundance of marvelous nature and beauty.  The list goes on and on!

I also learned a great way to deal with hideousnegativity.  Try, if you like, to pointout a way the negative person can do better, but have zero expectations thatthey will actually see things differently. Despite current wanna-be “woke” thinking to the contrary, differingopinions make us smarter people and a healthier society.  Beware of all who want to “cancel” someonefor believing differently.  There trulyis more than one “right” way to get things done.  Always remember, only weak people andunhealthy leaders try to squash dissention. If someone’s attitude proves to be unbearable, don’t let your positivitybe thwarted.  Simply hit flush.  Let it go. You do not have to join their negative thinking.

All in all, in these past 15-16 months, our comfortablecomplacency cracked.  For better orworse, we’ve tumbled out anew.  Let thisbe a good thing. 

I toast to your safety, happiness, and improved copingskills!  “Here’s looking at you, kid!”

May Hope Blossom for Us All

My first delicate iris of 2020 has blossomed in my garden. I share it as a perfect expression of hope.

Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me to express how grateful you are for my book, “Encouragement… How to Be and Find the Best.” When I wrote it, none of us saw the coronavirus pandemic coming.

In the book (paperback, digital, and Audiobook), hope is a powerful theme. So, here are a few comments and quotes from the book that may just give you a bit of a boost today.

We may feel down-trodden or hopeless, exhausted or helpless. These are the times we must focus on the need to persist. We must pick ourselves up and try again.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

— Helen Keller (1880 – 1968)

American Author, Activist & Lecturer

When we are encouraged to do something, there is a strengthening of our resolve or a boosting of our confidence. Encouragement endorses our purpose and builds our hope that we can continue despite challenges and difficulties. It instills courage to persevere.

Trade in our cynical hopelessness for cynical hopefulness.

If we must be cynical, choose hopeful over hopeless.

While many are struggling mightily during these weeks of social distancing and quarantine, we must not lose hope. Sometimes the brightest lights come out of the darkest corners.

You’ve GOT this.

Happier New Year

Do you know someone for whom the holidays are not merry, and
a new year does not inspire hope nor a fresh start?  Several recent incidents reminded me of how
enormous a role despair and sadness play in the hearts and lives of many, many
people.  They often see little or nothing
to celebrate.  They may even cling to
desperation.

We mustn’t presume that because we may have a supportive family
or close friends or strong faith that others do also.  Especially in these times of insane
divisiveness, we all do better when we take even a moment to encourage someone
else.

In my book “Encouragement: How to Be and Find the Best” I remind readers (and Audiobook listeners) that lives are greatly improved when we “trade in our cynical hopelessness for cynical hopefulness.  If we must be cynical, choose hopeful over hopeless.”  Interesting thought since hard knocks throughout our lives impact us whether we recognize it or not.

Fairness in Life is rarely dealt out fairly.  I strongly believe we were all born to be
what I call Encouragers.  What we un-learned
as we grew up can be relearned.

In 2020, I hope all of us feel confident enough to take
ourselves on as worthy projects.  Let’s
all commit to doing all we can to be more encouraging and to surround ourselves
with Encouragers.

For anyone who has not yet seen the “Encouragement” book, Amazon is letting me do a special Kindle Countdown Deal on the ebook edition.  (Sorry, but I couldn’t discount the paperback or Audiobook editions, but they’re all on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Encouragement-How-Be-Find-Best/dp/1939220475)  Anyone who buys the ebook edition on Monday, January 6, 2020 will save 84%!  True!  The book will only cost $.99 on that day.  Then, as the week continues, it will inch up, $1 per day back to the full retail price of $5.99.  So, Monday is the BIG savings day. 

If you know anyone who could benefit by a little or a lot of
encouragement, please share the word before the Countdown begins! 

Concern Over Censorship

I do not like politics. However, it does necessarily exist, despite my distaste for it. Thus, I rarely write a letter to any media outlet to share a complaint. In fact, I cannot recall the last time I did so… until today, that is.

Whether or not you watch particular programs, personalities, or networks, I hope that we John or Jane Q. Public types always hope for fairness. After looking into the fact that Fox News bounced their Saturday night program featuring former judge, Jeannine Pirro, I grew concerned over growing censorship.

It’s not just in media outlets, but we are seeing more and more attempts to squelch anyone, anywhere who does not express the opinions we happen to share. I find that both sad and unhealthy.

In the spirit of transparency, here is the letter I sent to management at Fox News.

Dear Fox News Management,

I write to share my concerns of “Justice” being pulled from the air last Saturday. Highly disappointed in Fox News management just begins to describe my feelings. My thoughts on the matter run far deeper.

Reporters who shift to analysis surrender reporter status. Reporters who offer opinions on discussion panels surrender reporter status. Such reporters become opinion brokers. This is not a bad thing. Fox News has a long reputation for supporting opinion brokers ranting on a wide array of opinions, many of which are highly controversial. I need not agree with them. That gets ratings. Fine.

When an opinion broker is criticized for spewing a controversial opinion, I do not expect the source to be Fox News management. That reflects the antithesis of the entire platform.

There tends to be a sad popularity to “knee-jerk” reactions to controversy lately, but I have come to expect no less from the mainstream media. Pulling Jeannine Pirro off the air in response to her comments may well fall within that category, which I had not expected from Fox News.

I immediately thought of the Kentucky student, Nick Sandmann, who garnered so much harsh criticism from the video of the confrontation in front of the Lincoln Memorial in January, 2019. Many in the mainstream media quickly attacked Sandmann and the other students, since many wore MAGA hats and shirts. It turned out that the native American elder, Nathan Phillips, turned out to be the one confronting Sandmann. However, the many knees that jerked after seeing just a “snippet of information” could not be un-jerked.

When Judge Jeannine Pirro posed her questions about Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D) Minnesota, she did so as an opinion broker, not a reporter. That is her job. For those of the Muslim faith to take offense is their right, just as conservatives take offense when their positions are criticized or questioned. However, when moving beyond the snippet of information, one learns that Omar does indeed fully support the laws of Islam, also known as Sharia Law.

Are we supposed to be so “politically correct” that we must not comment, question, or have a differing opinion from someone else, especially if they happen to be Islamic? If that is true, most of your opinion-brokering personalities on Fox News would have to be taken off the air.

It is my deepest hope that last Saturday’s action does not reflect some new censorship direction for Fox News. Keep “fair and balanced” alive in your news room. Keep opinion brokers feeling supported, rather than skating on thin ice if they offend the wrong person.

When you bring back Judge Jeannine Pirro, which I sincerely hope happens immediately, I strongly believe it should be with an apology. That apology should not come from her to anyone she may have offended, but it should come to her from those in management who made the sadly unworthy, knee-jerk decision to squelch her in the first place.

If not, how will others on your strong team of opinion brokers ever feel “safe” again? How will their opinions not start to get watered down simply to avoid stepping on someone else’s toes?

I am not one to rush to judgment or negatively mouth off on social media. I am one to write a thoughtful letter. I am one to hope we can all do better next time.

Most sincerely,

Cathy Burnham Martin

Okay, friends and readers, as the author of “The Bimbo Has MORE Brains… Surviving Political Correctness,” you know that I simply had to speak up. I believe in supporting what I believe is right and protesting against what I believe is wrong. Jeannine Pirro has a powerful reputation for standing up for “the little guy,” the underdog. I feel obligated to stand up for her when the powers that be made her the underdog.