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Sunday, July 29, 2018

#SundayPhotoFiction: The Skull

Here's my tiny tale for Sunday Photo Fiction.
Photo Credit: Joy Pixley
"You. Knew. Better. You were warned." His bony finger shook as he waved it uncomfortably close to my face. "You shouldn't have done it - again." His eyes were unnaturally bright and seemed to glow with fire. I could see my reflection in them.

"I... I'm... Sorry..." I stammered as my tongue clung to the roof of my mouth. While I wasn't positive what he was referring to, I had an idea. If I was right, it had to be done. Lying was the best recourse. "It wasn't my fault. It was the others. I had no choice!"

"No excuses!" His voice reverberated across the wide canyon. "This was your third offense."

I took another step back, tripping over my own feet before I braced myself against the cold rock.

"The vote has been taken." His long fingernail scratched my cheek as his words spilled like verbal vomit. A trickle of blood dropped onto my shirt just before a bright light blinded-


The warlock stood back and admired his handiwork. He cackled, "Live and learn." He laughed harder and slapped his thigh as he stared at the stone skull of the one who had refused to learn. "Then die!"

194 words
Read more stories from this prompt HERE.

Friday, July 27, 2018

#AccountaClub: July 27, 2018


Reporting in for Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub. Each Friday we post an accountability update for our current projects/goals/whatever.

1) Support hubby's project in any way I can.
Well, things are moving along. Still waiting for the material delivery which has to come before they schedule the construction. Hoping next week!! I helped him blog updates (I edit & add photos).

2) Finish the rewrite of my former Kindle World books, get new covers and republish them. I also plan on combining the three into a box set as well as a print version.
This week has been way too busy - nothing started. Argh....great intentions though. Next week isn't looking much better but will try.

3) In addition, I have three blogs that have asked me to write guest posts.
I have one post written, just need to edit it and get it sent off. Then on to the other two!

Another week down...see you next Friday!

To join in the fun, sign up at Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub page or post in her or my comments.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Can't resist....


Not everyone is into collecting things, at least not in formal collections. But some of us have those "things" we have a hard time passing up. The things that tug at us and we may even know why. I have those things. Things I have to avoid or sternly say, "Enough! You don't need anymore."

Stationary, Greeting Cards, Notebooks, Note Pads, and the like...
 ...even when no one used stationary anymore, I was buying it. You wouldn't believe how much I sold in a yard sale when I went full-time RVing. Same with greeting cards. I had them for all occasions. Once I managed to free myself from buying more, I moved on to notebooks and notepads. At least I use these. I'm no longer allowed in office supply stores or sections of department stores unattended.

Pens...
 ...Oh my, I've always loved pens. My first favorite pen was a Parker Stainless Steel T-Ball Jotter. I bought it while in high school and had it until my purse was stolen at work, many years later. It was a discontinued style but I was lucky enough to find one in an old, local office supply store. While they still make a Jotter, it's a click-top now and the Sonnet looks more like my old Jotter.

Color is off, it's actually chrome colored.
My next was my first Mont-Blanc pen. It was a burgundy roller ball pen, now replaced with a black one.

I've never been a big fan of Cross pens because they were so narrow but I have the one my mother used for years at work (she was an R.N.) with her name engraved on it. I also have one from my late husband with his name engraved on it. I recently bought one on sale, a thick roller ball that I use from time to time.

The pen I use the most is a custom one made by Derek Jafferian, the nephew of an author friend. Second most used is the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity Retractable. I have half a dozen of these, scattered between the RV and the house.

Some of my favorites: Parker Jotter, Custom by D. Jafferian, Cross Roller Ball, Mont Blanc Roller Ball, Pilot Dr. Grip, Multi-Tool Screwdriver Pen,  a resin pen I've had for years, wooden Flamingo pen
Coffee mugs...
 ...are an easy collectible when you are traveling. Not that I waited until then to collect a few, but we do have an extensive collection of diner mugs we picked up while traveling the country over the last ten years. I also love fun sayings but my favorites are pottery mugs.

This is less than half our diner mugs - the other half are packed away for hubby's garage when it's built.



Shirts with sayings....
 ...so hard to resist when I see these cute sayings on shirts while I'm online. But I am overloaded with shirts, so I'm being good. No, really, I am!

Gnomes...
 ...especially biker or fireman gnomes. I've gotten better but for a while I (we) was on a binge. Here are some pics.

One of my favorites, now in our foyer. Note the mug of beer!
I love Day of the Dead figures so these were a must have! Now on our front porch.
Nabbed these on clearance at K-Mart a few years back. Also on the front porch now.
The first of the traveling gnomes on display in a campground
Just had to add the T-Rex, taking out the gnomes!


Friday, July 20, 2018

#AccountaClub: July 20 2018


Reporting in for Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub. Each Friday we post an accountability update for our current projects/goals/whatever.

1) Support hubby's project in any way I can.
Well, I did help him pull the trencher he rented out of a ditch. My job was to be on the lawn tractor, keeping the chain taut. Of course, I'd NEVER been on a lawn tractor before. If I have my way, I never will be again. LOL! We're still waiting for news from the construction company. Initially they said mid-July but we haven't heard any more.

2) Finish the rewrite of my former Kindle World books, get new covers and republish them. I also plan on combining the three into a box set as well as a print version.
The book covers are done! Now to get my butt in gear and start the editing. Seems like every time I wanted to start this week, something came up. Sigh...

3) In addition, I have three blogs that have asked me to write guest posts.
I have one post started, hoping to finish in the next couple of days.

We kind of lost Sunday, hubby decided to wake me at 1am for an ER visit. All is okay, but by the time he came home, the day was shot. Monday was movie and errand day. Such is the life of retirees, I guess. LOL!

Another week down...see you next Friday!

To join in the fun, sign up at Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub page or post in her or my comments.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Judy Howard, "The Grieving Gift"

I'd like to welcome author Judy Howard to my blog. She has recently released a new book, The Grieving Gift, now available on Amazon. Thank you for taking time to chat with us, Judy.


Welcome, Judy. Tell us a little about yourself. 
Today I live full-time in my Winnebago motorhome with my cat, Sportster, traveling across the country as a motivational speaker and offering writing seminars. When Sportster and I are not traveling, we spend their time in Sun City, California.

How long have you been writing?
The death of my husband in 2004 gave me a wakeup call. Life is short. I sold my pet grooming business, which I had operated since the age of eleven and engaged full throttle into my new passions of writing and traveling.

What types of books do you typically write?
My writing career expands across many genres, including memoir, romantic mystery, reality fiction, travel and young adult, and now with THE GRIEVING GIFT, an autobiographical novel. In all of my books I address the same theme - overcoming life’s difficulties.

What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Reading for pleasure? I am guilty of denying myself of that luxury. When I read, I read about writing or for research.

What is different about your new book?
THE GRIEVING GIFT rises above other books which attempt to tackle the depressing subject of a deathwatch. THE GRIEVING GIFT bypasses the religious and faith issues that most books suggest one acquire to make the deathwatch journey and the grief following. Instead the reader will come away from my story believing in the impossible.

Why prompted you to write it?
The past several years I have experienced a series of experiences so incredible and so much more than I could have ever imagined that I had to write about them. That these events began the day after my sister’s death would make anyone question if anyone really does die.

I understand you are a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Care to explain?
Yes! I am an adrenaline junky! Perhaps I have my father’s genes. He was a race car driver. I meet so many people who envy my life and yet their fears hold them back from even trying to reach for their dreams. I won’t ever NOT do something, just because I am afraid. There has to be a better reason not to do something than just because I am afraid.

Do you have any other hobbies, other than reading and writing?
I enjoy traveling in my motorhome just as much as my writing. It feeds my inspiration. If I could no longer write I would paint. I can get lost in sketching and painting.
 

My favorite quote:
“How vain is it to sit down and write when you have not stood up and lived?”
~ Henry Thoreau ~

What would you like to be remembered for?

I want you to remember me as the one who lit your fire, who showed you your passion and who gave you the courage to grab hold and live your life!

Any advice for new writers?
If whatever you desire is the first thing you think of when you open your eyes in the morning and the last thing on your mind when you fall asleep then you must follow it or else you will live a life full of regret.

If you want to be a writer, you have to write, no matter what. Do it in spite of the voices inside and outside your head. We all are what we do. Never, never, never deny your passions.



Where to find/contact/follow Judy & Sportster:




Monday, July 16, 2018

Paradise at a price... New Book Covers

As mentioned in an earlier post, Amazon is closing all the Kindle Worlds - places where authors could publish fan fiction. I had three books impacted by this. Currently I am in the process of editing the text of all three for republication. My target date is the end of August.

Because many sites, like Goodreads, keep books forever, I decided to get new covers made for my books. What do you think? I love them!


I really like them. In addition, I plan on releasing all three books in one print book. That won't be till probably sometime September. I also want to write at least one more story with the Thompson Twins (those adorable, elderly twin sisters that everyone seems to love). With that in mind, I changed the series name from The Paradise Series to the C'MON Inn Mystery Series!

Friday, July 13, 2018

#AccountaClub: July 13, 2018


Reporting in for Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub. Each Friday we post an accountability update for our current projects/goals/whatever.

1) Support hubby's project in any way I can.
Not much going on this week other than encouraging him to work on his floor plans and getting more quotes for finishing pieces. He did a lot of work on that as well as planning the French drain system he is installing. Hey, I didn't even complain when he was gone for hours, buying materials. LOL!

2) Finish the rewrite of my former Kindle World books, get new covers and republish them. I also plan on combining the three into a box set as well as a print version.
I have my new book covers! That is a big step. I also have the new names for my characters. Now to start editing the books, that's on next week's agenda.

3) In addition, I have two or three blogs that have asked me to write guest posts.
I had hoped to write at least one guest post but it's been a busy week. Monday was errand day while the #2Doods went to doggy camp and then had a bath and mini-groom. Tuesday was vet day. Yeah, it's a big ordeal to cart two 60+# dogs to the vet - at the same time. Got a bit of bad news, the younger, who just turned one, has severe hip dysplasia. Had to order a ramp for him to get in and out of our car, no jumping in his future. Wednesday was good-off day. Had no energy or motivation. Thursday, catching back up on emails & blogs that I didn't read/write all week.

Another week down...see you next Friday! (Join in the fun, sign up at Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub page or post in her or my comments.)

Monday, July 9, 2018

For Blogger Followers!!!


Recently I posted about the comment issue with Blogger blogs due to GDPR and how to fix it. That left me wondering if folks who subscribed to following a blog via email were no longer getting notification. Since I don't follow that way, I use Inoreader.com on my laptop and Feeddler Pro on my iPad, I don't know what's happening.

So, if you followed a Blogger blog via email and aren't getting notifications, go to the blog and sign up again. I did it as a test on this blog and it let me subscribe three times without telling me I already was subscribed. But I did get the email with the link to confirm the subscription each time. Then you should start receiving your email notifications!

Again, if you post via Blogger, you might want to let folks know about this issue as well. Good luck...and tell your friends!

Friday, July 6, 2018

#AccountaClub: July 6 2018


Well, it's my first Friday "officially" reporting in for Isa-Lee Wolf's #AccountaClub. Each Friday we post an accountability update for our current projects/goals/whatever.

As stated previously, July/August are going to be very busy months for us. We are having built/building a huge pole barn for a garage for hubby. You can follow along as we prep the property, get the initial structure built, and then close it in before he furnishes it to play with cars. {snicker} Backend of Nowhere Garage

So what are my projects/goals for this summer?

1) First is to support hubby's project in any way I can.

2) Second is to finish the rewrite of my former Kindle World books, get new covers and republish them. I also plan on combining the three into a box set as well as a print version.

3) In addition, I have two or three blogs that have asked me to write guest posts.

Check in next Friday for an update!

Thursday, July 5, 2018

For Blogger users!!


For all my friends who use Blogger...
  • If you moderate comments and aren't getting email notices
  • If you marked to be notified of any new comments and aren't getting the email notices
  • If you email a copy of the blog (up to 10 addresses) to friends and they aren't getting them
This has been an issue since the GDPR regulations went into effect. There have been hundreds on posts on the Blogger help forum with no real resolution. Blogger needed to put a procedure into place that allowed folks to renew their subscription requests (and yes, that is what they are calling our asking for, on our own blogs, emails about comments).

So how to fix it? I've done this on all our blogs and it's now working again. Several friends on Facebook did as well. Here is what we did...


For anyone using Blogger: if you haven't been receiving email notification of blog comments this is how to fix the issue.
  1. Go into Blogger - Settings - Email
  2. Delete your email address in the box for comment notification
  3. Click SAVE SETTINGS
  4. Add your email back and click SAVE SETTINGS
You should receive an email where you confirm that you want to subscribe to receive email  notifications of comments. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER for your confirmation email!

If you use any comment moderation, you need to repeat the same steps under Settings - Posts, Comments, Sharing

AND, if you have been using the Email Post To (under Settings - Email), you need to copy the addresses, delete, SAVE SETTINGS, paste them back and SAVE SETTINGS. The recipients will receive an email where they can authorize receiving the posts.

Hope this helps!!