September 29, 2012

Local Authors' Marketplace

Today was a gathering of local authors sponsored by Maggie DeVries of Books Plus in Fernandina Beach, Florida.  It's always fun to catch up with other writers, hear how their next book is progressing, what shows and signings they've done, ideas on marketing, etc.  Even more fun than that is, of course, meeting readers!

I sat next to  Lt. Colonel Richard B. (Dick) Lewis, a WWII bomber pilot who has written Angel on my Wing, a true story of his 35 combat missions in the 8th Air Force  as a pilot with the 493rd Bomb Group in 1944.  What a treat for me.  I'm known as the Questionmeister and the poor guy endured all my queries.  His book is available at Books Plus, http://www.booksplusamelia.com/.

September 22, 2012

Spanish American War Reenactors

Once a month, Fort Clinch in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida has reenactors. They are usually dressed in Civil War period costumes.  Recently, they represented the Spanish American War of 1898.  As it happens, 1898 in Fernandina is the setting of my upcoming book Mark of a Man, the third novel in my Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy.  I took over 200 photos, the best to use in MM's promotional video. There is so much history here.  Below are a few of the pictures of this beautiful place.

approaching Forth Clinch
                                       
soldiers posing
 
belt buckle
 
jail cell with daylight

 
 
 
"Fire!"
 
Red Cross nurses on duty

watching the gun demonstration
 
chow time
 
officers' dining
 
arch tunnel
 
drawbridge

September 18, 2012

Same Old Word

If I've commented upon this before, then just consider this re-emphasis.  Why is it so many people, famous and not so famous, are reduced to describing something that is great, wonderful, marvelous, fabulous, astounding, and/or astonishing by only one word? Yup, all "everybody" says these days is, "That's amazing.  It's amazing." And, "Amazing."  Just tune in your ears and listen.  No only do celebrities and commentators say it over and over in an interview, but now it has invaded the masses.  Sure, there was "cool, swell, great, the bee's knees, cool beans, right on." Those words have mostly come and gone, although there are still a few holdouts who particularly like the word swell. (I shall remain nameless.) But come on, folks.  It's time to pull out the old thesaurus and come up with another positive word besides amazing.  If I never hear it again, well, that would be amazing!

September 16, 2012

Goodbye Lie Diaries - A Wonderful Gift

Jane Marie writes:
 
I had to share. A new friend, Mirina, made this beautiful double-layered yarn cross for me. It's about nine inches long which had to have taken her hours and hours to create.  She told me she couldn't find blue tipped flowers so took a magic marker and colored the edges of all the blossoms to match the blue border.  It is a gift I  will treasure always.
 
***
1880s
Fernandina - Grandmother Peeper writes:

I make yarn crosses, too, but mine is crocheted and they's smaller.  I don't have no flowers on mine. Come ta think a it, that's a good idee. And the ribbon- I like that part. Who says this old dog cain't learn no new tricks.  Like the ant said ta the clock- If'n ya don't rest your hands, ya won't be able ta dust the table! Remember that.

September 11, 2012

Another Anniversary

Each September 11th,
 we recall with great sadness
the events of that tragic day.
Out of it has come a determination to
remember those lost
 and those who took them from us. 
 God bless the innocent always.
 
Once Upon a Time in America
 

September 9, 2012

Happy Grandparents Day


     In 1978, President Jimmy Carter declared the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. So, today is that day!
      If you are a grandparent, enjoy your day. I hope you can spend it with your grandchild in some fashion, be it in person, by phone, Skype, etc. If you are a grandchild, contact your grammy and/or grampy if you can. They'll love it because grandchildren, no matter their ages, are baby angels on earth! Enjoy!
  
 
    
Refrigerator art is a forever treasure
 when created by a child who loves you.
 
 

September 3, 2012

Year of Living Graciously - September

Play with your pet, starting now.  Don't take for granted that your pet's ultimate joy is watching you and your life go by without being included. Spend some one-on-one time each day throwing a ball, tossing single pieces of kitty-crunchies out for fetching, etc.  You know what will make your pet extra happy, so do it!  It will make you happy, too.

September 2, 2012

Ingenuity?

The latch on the gate into our courtyard is broken again. All the pieces are there but it doesn’t line up or something technical like that. Because of either the myriad of visitors we have to stately Martha Manor or the ocean wind banging the gate shut and bending the latch, it is now time to replace the closure. Over the years, my husband Bruce has cobbled, excuse me, repaired many a latch.  Being a mechanical mastermind, as he likes to refer to himself, this time the solution requires no grease, no hammer, no screwdriver, no saw and no ax. This time he uses a spatula! Yes, insert the spatula under the latch and lift. Easy as that!
 
In the event the spatula blows off the top of the nearby column where he keeps it for easy access, then he suggests you come prepared with your own spatula in hand. To prevent the flapjack flipper from falling into the bushes or the visiting kitties, Oddie or Odette, from carrying it off for a hearty breakfast of their own, I mentioned he, Bruce, might attach it to a piece of yarn. Not being his own idea, he is considering it. Having the sense of urgency of a glacier, Bruce is otherwise occupied with the repair to the torn holes in the plastic shower curtain liner. You know, where the shower curtain rings go through to hang the thing on the rod. We are now up to three torn holes as he ponders the answer. From the grapefruit knife to the rubber squeegee, whatever he comes up with, I proudly declare, "I recognize a genius when I see one!”