“What? I’m just asking if Lucy wants to play.” “It just looked like you were going to pounce on her.” “Who me? Pounce on this water buffalo? Not a chance.”
I am over at Story Empire today. I’m talking about a review link to your book on Amazon. Here is the link. (speaking of links)
Friday is here, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out a good reason to be overjoyed at the prospect. For those working, of course, it is a good thing to take a couple of days off. So I guess I’ll celebrate for you. 🎶 toot 🎶 (love that party horn.)
Not much going on around here. Yes, I’m still touring and am grateful for all the support. The last stop will be on the 30th, so there is a little way to go. A quick reminder that the price of Eternal Road will go up mid-October. It will go from 99¢ to $2.99. As I have said before, the price will never go below 99¢.
We have to keep Hurricane Sally victims in mind today. There is no such thing as an inconsequential Hurricane. Think of the last time you dropped some water on the floor. A Hurricane drops so much more water that usually everything on the main floor of homes is destroyed. Also, without power and A/C, the mold starts to grow immediately. These folks have a tough road ahead.
Today’s JohnKu talks about facing tough times. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
I’m with Jill Weatherholt at her lovely blog. I really like her description of her mission. “Writing Stories of Love, Faith, and Happy Endings While Enjoying the Journey.” I am there with another excerpt from Eternal Road- The Final Stop. Come on over. Here is the link
By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith, and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired.
Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia.
She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University.
She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard.
Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.
Joan Hall likes to create character-driven fiction with strong, determined female leads and enigmatic male characters. She has always enjoyed reading a good mystery or suspense story, so it’s only natural that’s her favorite writing genre. She’s also a romantic at heart. When she’s not writing, Joan likes to take nature walks, observe the night skies, explore old cemeteries, and visit America’s National Parks and historical sites. She also likes ghost walks and learning about local folklore. She and her husband live in Texas.
Here are the covers from her Driscoll Lake series.
Her Legends of Madeira Series Book One, Cold Dark Night, will be available in 2020
I’m with Jan Sikes at her blog, Writing, and Music. Jan is hosting me with another excerpt from Eternal Road – The final stop. Come on over. I think there was a problem with the other link so here is a new one. Thanks for your patience.
Jan Sikes openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. You simply can’t make this stuff up. It all happened. She chose to tell the story through fictitious characters, and they bring the intricately woven tale to life in an entertaining way.
She released a series of music CDs to accompany the four biographical fiction books and then published a book of poetry and art to bring the story full circle.
And now that the story is told, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published nine short stories with a series of paranormal romance novels waiting in the wings. She is a member of Authors Marketing Guild, The Writer’s League of Texas, the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC), the RAVE WRITER’S INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHOR (RWISA), sits on the RWISA Executive Council, and hosts a monthly RAVE WAVES blog talk radio show, ASPIRE TO INSPIRE.
“What’s up Twiggy?” “Checking the day.” “It’s Wednesday. How can you check the day by looking out the rear door?” “On Friday the hummingbirds are drinking more. Wednesday not so much.” “Oh.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we found out Lazar has a daughter named Carolyn who will be in jeopardy if ADA Thomas can’t figure out an iron-clad protection program for her and Lazar. It looks like Thomas has been thinking while we were away. Let’s get back and see what she has planned.
“Mr. Popović, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes?”
“If your story is true and you have those phone conversations, are you willing to testify as to the veracity of the evidence.”
“Excuse me, but I’m not sure what you are asking.”
“Let me interpret.”
“Sure, Mr. Stennis. Go ahead.”
“Lazar, what the ADA is asking is are you willing to get up on the witness stand and swear to the activity in the phone conversations?”
“Can’t someone just play the conversations?”
“There is a problem with that. To be admitted into evidence, they have to be recorded with the knowledge of the other person.”
“Oh. So they are worthless.”
“No. They do form the basis for getting warrants and such under probable cause statutes.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. The point is are you willing to recount the events and conversations as an eye witness.”
“What about protection.”
“Let me handle this, Mr. Stennis.”
“Be my guest, Ms. Thomas.”
“I’m prepared to do whatever is possible to protect your daughter and you. If you testify.”
“Is there a way to get that in writing?”
“Of course. I’ll give Mr. Stennis here an agreement for you to review. In the meantime, I think we had better make some provision for your daughter immediately. You are quite safe here, but I would feel better if she were in protective custody.”
“Sounds like jail time to me.”
“No, not at all. We will get her to a safe house and keep her under protection until the trial is over, and you both have new identities.”
“I don’t think she is going to go for it. She has her friends and school.”
“Her life may depend on it.”
“Or I could just keep my mouth shut.”
“I think it is a little late for that. Cortez’s people know you have been taken. It is only a matter of time till they come after Carolyn if nothing more than for insurance.”
“I guess you are right. When can you get her?”
“I need to place a call. We can have British agents take her to a safe place. Our agents will get there within twelve hours to bring her back.”
“Won’t she be frightened?’
“You will need to talk to her and explain the situation.”
“She has no idea I’m involved in criminal activity.”
“I’m sorry to say, Lazar. That needs to change for her safety. She needs to follow our directions to the letter.”
“When should I call?”
“I need to make a few calls. I’ll come back when it’s time. Give me her address and cell phone number. I will need to give it to the authorities. Where is she?”
“She’s in Oxfordshire.”
“She goes to Oxford?”
“Yes.”
“That location is going to make it a little harder. I’ll have to check and see if there is a landing field that can accommodate one of our jets. If not, then we have to go by car from a bigger city.”
“I’ve flown into Oxford airport in Kidlington. It has a huge runway. They train pilots there.”
“I have it on Google. You are right it has a 5,092-foot runway. That plenty for a G5. Good news. Okay, let me go make a couple of calls. Sit tight, and I’ll be right back.”
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
I am with Gwen Plano today talking about Eternal Road – The final stop. Please come and visit and read the new excerpt that is there. Here is the link to Gwen’s place.
“I am a retired educator. I taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. My academic background is a bit unusual, but it has served me well. I graduated with honors in nutrition from San Diego State University. I was awarded a master’s degree in theology from the University of the State of New York’s Maryknoll Seminary and then received a master’s in counseling from Iona College. Finally, I earned a doctorate in higher education from Columbia University.
Between travels with my husband and visits with family and friends, I now write. My first book, LETTING GO INTO PERFECT LOVE, Discovering the Extraordinary After Abuse, was published in June 2014 by She Writes Press. My second book, THE CONTRACT between heaven and earth, is co-authored by John W. Howell and was published on June 1, 2018, by Keewaydin Lane Books. My third book, THE CHOICE the unexpected heroes, was published on June 4, 2019, by Fresh Ink Group.
Though writing is an accomplishment of no small measure for me, my greatest treasure and most profound source of joy has been and is my four adult children. It is they who have guided me through life’s mysteries.”
Wikipedia image – Concord Coach with Welles Fargo paint
This week marks the 162nd anniversary of the first transcontinental mail service between St Louis and San Francisco in 1858. It was a stagecoach service, and who wouldn’t want to get on and take a ride. You all know the rules. You need to take the list so that the time continuum will remain intact. I would take your own water too. Life on the road will not be easy.
Top Ten Things Not to Do on the First Transcontinental Mail Route in 1858.
10 If you go, do not ask for a first-class ticket. If you do, at best, the driver will not understand you. At worst, instead of an inside seat, you’ll get to ride up on top. (You can’t blame the driver, Manvel. He thought the best spot on the coach was next to him. I hope you can handle that musket. It has a real kick. Yeah, the grin on the driver gives me the creeps too.)
9 If you go, do not complain to Tiny, the WWF champ, about the food along the way. If you do, at best, Tiny will be too busy to hear you. At worst, Tiny, who thinks the food is great, will take yours. (Well done, Manville. Now Tiny, who has questionable taste, thinks you are going to give him your food for the whole three weeks of the trip. Maybe you can trade a rattlesnake for your old food portion. Watch out when you grab that snake though.)
8 If you go, do not ask if you are there yet. If you do, everyone will think you are joking. At worst, the driver is not pleased and has stopped the coach. (Since you opened your mouth at mile 50, Maolmin, the driver is contemplating leaving you at the side of the road. After all, there are 2750 more miles to go, and he doesn’t want to hear the question 55 more times. Oh-oh, here he comes.)
7 If you go, do not complain about the restroom facilities. If you do, at best, everyone will ignore you. At worst, you’ll be sitting next to William Fargo a director of the Overland Mail Company. ( Not a good person to hear your complaint. You see, Maralyn, his company just invested one million dollars in coach stops every 10 to 15 miles, and the fact that you don’t like them is not sitting well. I think he just told you to use a bush if you are dissatisfied. That puts a different spin on it.)
6 If you go, do not forget your winter clothes. If you do, at best the weather will remain warm. At worst, you’ll be subjected to exteme temperatures. ( The coach has no heat or window glass, Marcell. Maybe you can ask the person next to you if they have an extra coat. No, you can not ask if you can share their coat. That might be an easy way to be put off in the snow.)
5 If you go, do not think you can take all the room you want. If you do, at best, the coach will be empty. At worst, all nine seets will be filled.(The coach is narrow and cramped, Marcellus. You can only have the space by your seat. I think you better stop inadvertently kicking that guy with the .44 revolver on his hip. Say didn’t Wyatt Earp carry a .44?)
4 If you go, do not think you can stay overnight in one of the way stations. If you do, at best they will have room. At worst, you’ll stay overnight and be stuck there. (Because the coaches run 24/7, Marcian, it could be several days until one comes through with an open seat. Because of this, most passengers try to sleep on the coach which is almost impossible. Try going without sleep for three weeks.)
3 If you go, do not tell the masked man with the gun that you are not going to give him your valuables. If you do, at best, he will laugh at your attempt at humor. At worst, he will invite you to do a dance. (There highwaymen do not fool around, Marden. Just give him the money. You do not want to dance to the tune of a pistol.)
2 If you go, do not forget your bandanna. If you do, at best you can buy one in the way station. At worst, you will be confronted with continual clouds of dust. (Remember, Marek, there are no windows on the coach. The dust is a constant companion, and if you are lucky, you won’t come down with consumption as a result of the trip. What is consumption? Don’t ask.)
1 If you go, do not discuss the coming transcontinental railroad with Mr. Fargo. If you do, at best, he’ll laugh. At worst, he’ll be tired of the conversation and ask the guy with the Springfield musket to put you off the coach. (Fargo is worried about the railroad, Maribelle. Of course, his business is safe until 1869 when the government turned its mail service over to the now completed transcontinental route.)
I am with Darlene Foster today talking about Eternal Road – The final stop. Come on over she has a very restful and fascinating blog. Also, I have another new excerpt for you to read. Here is the link.
“I am a writer of children’s stories, a retired employment counsellor, and ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. I love travelling, reading, shoes, cooking, sewing, music, chocolate, walking on the beach and making new friends. My grandson once called me “super-mega-woman-supreme”. I was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where I dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. I currently divide my time between Orihuela Costa in Spain and the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. My husband, Paul, and I enjoy spending time with our adorable dog, Dot.”
Her books
In addition to the Amanda series, Darlene’s short stories are present in a number of anthologies.
