Enviroment, History & Passion - Oct 31,2008 Today's guest is Rosemary Chaulk who has written a passionate novel about the history of her small town, the Indians who honored the land, the white settlers who polluted it and the Quaker woman who was labled as a witch by that ... Conscious Discussions | BlogTalkRadio... - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ConsciousDiscussions

 

Anna Maria Prezio talks about her book and practice - Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster - find out how Feng Shui can help you get rid of those pesky spirits!

Nissitissit Witch the Star of Radio Show

Rosemary Chaulk visited for two hours with Portia Berry Allen on her Radio Show, Rerun’s Daughter. Chaulk’s new book, Nissitissit Witch, has taken her region by storm, touching a nerve with the legendary history of witches in Massachusetts. The book focuses on the town of North Village, a part of Pepperell MA that was once inhabited by a so-called witch. Folks died unusual deaths, Indian tribes disappeared and a mist hung over the Nissitissit River, all frightful events for the locals. Who to blame? A witch, of course. But was she a witch or merely an educated astute woman who saw what the massive pollution of our early industrial age was doing to the water, air and earth. Listen to the show to find out - available at www.rosemarychaulk.com.

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New Tome Empowers The Doctor Within - Dr. Stephen Bizal

A new book, “The Optimal Life: Empowering Health, Healing & Longevity,” by noted educator, wellness practitioner and author Dr. Stephen Bizal, DC, is now available. The book has been embraced by the wellness community, earning endorsements and raves from many noted scholars, practitioners and patients from across the nation. www.drbizal.com

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Writers and Authors Interviews Denise Cassino - Web Marketer

Jo Feliciani took of Writers and Authors took some time to interview Denise Cassino about her Wizardly Web Designs and Marketing, a business that provides creative website design and marketing to authors on the web using Web 2.0 strategies, optimized websites, blogging, networking and book marking.www.wizardlywebdesigns.com

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Linda Ballou discusses Divine Dolphins on Spiritual Animals

Linda Ballou discussed Divine Dolphins on Anna Maria Prezio's radio show, Spiritual Animals on Oct 12. Ballou authored, Wai-nani: High Chiefess of Hawaii, Her Epic Journey and Prezio wrote Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster. Check out their sites:www.lindaballouauthor.com and www.prezio.com - the show is at internetvoicesradio.com

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Wai-nani: High Chiefess of Hawai'i - Her Epic Journey by Linda Ballou

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Hawai'i, so when I found Wai-nani: High Chiefess of Hawai'i - Her Epic Journey by Linda Ballou, I couldn't wait to read it. I was not disappointed. I raced through it, enjoying every vivid moment and cannot say enough about it.



Linda has captured the beauty of Hawai'i and the ancient lore and legend that makes Hawai'ian history so enchanting. Her main character, Wai-nani, is fourteen when the story begins, and we follow her as she becomes the first wife of the soon-to-be high chief of Hawai'i. (based upon King Kamehameha) Her gift is in the water, swimming with the porpoises, befriending them as she catches a fin and flies through the waves with them.



Using her instincts and wisdom, Wai-nani remains her husband's most trusted advisor and one of his favorite wives throughout his life, while he wrestles with change and the impact of the arrival of the white Christian men who bring both the positive ideas and the decadence of the new world.



An important aspect of any book for me is the quality of writing, and Linda is a faulous writer: "The red apple of the ohi'a tree tasted sweet in my mouth as I watched the drifting plumes of Pele, Goddess of the Volcano, cast shadows upon the shimmering sea. Frothy surf reached my ankles then receded, leaving tiny bubbles of foam upon a blank tablet of sand. The crescent sail of an outrigger flared upon the horizon." This is the opening paragraph of the book and it only gets better from here.



Don't miss it!


View all my reviews.

EmPOWERment

Dr. Steve Bizal on empowerment. A great video on how empower yourself with healing and wellness by America's Wellness Educator.www.drbizal.com

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Deborah Ramos

Deborah Ramos Interview for An Armory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras 

 

1. Where do you get your inspiration?

I find inspiration in the usual places… my pets, my kids, my granddaughter, my students, nature, places I've been, places I want to visit.  Most of my stories begin with a true event, and then my imagination takes it from there. Once my two cats jumped on top of the snake tank, and the snake escaped. We found him two weeks later. That was a good story starter!  Sometimes my head is swimming with stories. If I don't write them down, I'll forget.

 

2. What did you like to read as a child?

Little Lulu comic books were my favorite stories. On rainy days, or when I was home sick from school, I'd get comfy under my blankets, and read my Little Lulu comics. The Secret Garden was my favorite book. My fifth grade teacher read it out loud to the class. She gave characters accents and read with such expression, that it left a lasting impression on me. As a teenager, I didn't read much. I found the classics boring, but Edgar Allen Poe fascinated me. 

 

3. Why did you write about collective nouns?

I was writing a story about Africa, and in my research, I found a website that listed animals in alphabetical order, along with their group name. It sparked an interest, and I dug deeper. I thought it would be more fun to create a list of group names in alphabetical order. And the search began. It was fun for me, and I learned a lot about collective nouns and animals. Group names can bring to mind such interesting images, such as a prickling of porcupines; you can almost FEEL those, pokey, prickly quills.

 

       What is your favorite collective noun?

It's hard to say, there's so many. But I think the most interesting one is an Escargatoire of Snails. I imagine a little snail party crawling in circles on a plate, oozing in an out of butter pats and garlic cloves. I love a Pandemonium of Parrots; can't you just hear them squawking in the trees? What an image that conjures up.

 

 

 

An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras by Deborah Ramos

If you wish to travel across the pages of An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras, you can pre-order the book directly from the publisher, WindstormCreative at:
               http://www.windstormcreative.com/academy/25805.htm  .

 

 

Summary:

 

They're compelling. They're clever. They're collective nouns! An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras takes the reader on a lively tour of animal group names from A to Z, a fresh approach to collective nouns, presenting only the most unique and colorful groups. The group naming of beasts dates back to 15^th century Medieval England when hunters needed to know the names of their quarry. Sidebars explain why wolves hunt in packs, how zebras protect themselves, and how far butterflies travel in the winter. The adventure begins with the letter A. An Aarmory of Aardvarks, shy and nocturnal, leads us to the letter B. A Brood of Jellyfish, fluid and transparent, floats across the page to the letter C. A Crash of Rhinos, with keen hearing and poor eyesight, charges their way to the letter D. A Drift of Swine, stout and thick skinned, wallows their way to the letter E. Letter by letter animals crash, flutter and quiver across the pages. Wait until you see what's heating up with the letter X!

 

 

 

An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras offers an imaginative combination of learning and visual pleasure. It is designed to appeal to a wide range of ages, from five to adult. The language is simple and fast paced keeping the readers attention all the way to the letter Z. Included is a brief history of the group naming of animals and several fact-filled sidebars. Educators and parents can utilize Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras as a teaching tool to stimulate topics such as why animals live in groups, or how they behave within their environment. Children and students can do further research to discover more collective nouns, and challenge their creativity to come up with their own.  Increase a child's vocabulary, imagination, and desire to learn by stocking your shelves with An Aarmory of Aardvarks, A Zeal of Zebras, a must have for any bookstore, library, or classroom.

Joy Delgado

 

 

 

 

About the Joy Delgado, Author,

 

Rebekha always knew she wanted to spend her life working with animals. She never lost sight of that dream. She started her 'career' working with animals  in elementary school by writing about them. One of her poems, 'Wish', was published in a national poetry contest. It is about wishing that she was a wolf, for only a day or two. In high school, she continued to write about animals and even entered her writing in local contests.

After high school she went to the University of Florida where she received her B.A. in Anthropology. She then attended the Santa Fe Community College Teaching Zoo and earned her A.S. in Zoo Animal Technology. While she was there, she wrote Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa, and several other stories not published yet.

Upon graduation, Rebekha began working at an AZA accredited zoo in Orlando where she still works today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy Delgado is the mother of two, stepmother of one and 'yaya' to her stepdaughter's two girls.

 

When it came time to buy presents for the 'girls', Joy and her husband Julio decided to buy them books. But not just any books, bilingual books in English and Spanish. These are the two languages spoken in Puerto Rico where they live. The search was on. What they discovered was that bilingual books are hard to find and when you do find them, they are usually about a particular culture.

 

Joy asked her daughter Rebekha, who was an accomplished writer for help. Rebekha agreed to write stories for the girls. Joy taught herself how to draw on the computer and illustrated the book and Julio then translated the story to Spanish.

 

As the 'project' developed, it became clear that this wasn't just a book. This was a book that would help teach a second language as well as inform people about animals that aren't very common. From that realization, Joy developed the Activity Book and the Teacher's Guide to take the book beyond reading.

 

To see how these books and website work together go to:

http://www.laughing-zebra-children-books.com

You can also follow our blog with Zebee the laughing zebra and the rest of the gang at the 'V Zoo' at:

http://zooprisepartyfiestazoorpresa.blogspot.com/

Dianne Sagan

Hi Dianne,

We're excited to host you today.  Our readers would like to know more about you, so let me ask you a few questions:

 

 

1.            Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
I realized that I was a "real" writer when I had been writing op-ed pieces for a regional newspaper ten times a year. My husband has written a weekly column in the same newspaper and I thought of him as a writer, but not myself. We visited a writer's organization and some of the members whispered around the room that we were there and people asked us questions about our writing.

At times, I've thought that I wasn't a "real" writer if I didn't have a published book, but I've learned that there a different types of writers. I've written articles for online article banks, ezines, and short stories. If we write, then it doesn't matter what we choose to write or what genre. That we write is important.

2. What is going on with your writing these days?
My current projects include a series of Christian fiction novellas. The first is going to a publisher for consideration before Christmas of 2008. The series is called Touched by the Savior. Each book is the story of a little known woman who met Jesus during his ministry. The first, a story of Rebekah, orphaned and used as a slave by her relatives until she is taken in by Lazarus and his sisters. The second tells the story of Peter's wife. A third tells about the woman at the well after she went home from the well. Others are also planned.

I've ghostwritten ten nonfiction books in the last couple of years. Subjects included business success, leadership, health issues, overcoming your past, overcoming your fears, how to tap into your mental strength, and teaching children about finances. My husband and I are also starting a new ghostwriting and editing package called Legacy. They are not your normal memoir or family history/memory book. We work with people who would like to leave behind a message to their family and others about lessons learned in life and the legacy they leave behind.

I'm working with a revision for my novel, Escape, for a publisher who is interested in it. I hope to have a contract by the end of 2008.

I'm working on stories for several anthologies and have a story published in the Tainted Mirror anthology in October 2007. The story, Second Chances, is about my son's head injury and the aftermath.

3. What are your future goals for your writing?
My goals include ebooks, Christian fiction novellas, additional novels, and continued ghostwriting with an emphasis on the Legacy books.

Dianne Sagan was raised in Texas and is now a full-time ghostwriter and author. Her credits include 35+ editorials for the Amarillo Globe News, a regional newspaper, in addition to short stories and articles published on the internet. Dianne's works in progress include a flash fiction book with five other women writers, Women's Bible studies, a series of suspense novels, and Christian fiction. Dianne is working on a line of ebooks. She is active in her church. Her activities there include teaching Women's Bible studies, teaching Adult Sunday School, and choir. She served as a volunteer for five years with the Sharing Hope Ministry, a prison ministry to incarcerated women. She has also been a Small Group leader. Besides being a full-time writer, Dianne and her husband Greg own a business consulting firm, Sagan & Associates. She is a partner and seminar facilitator. She loves speaking to writer's groups and women's groups. Her background includes working in the private sector, small business, academia, non-profits, adult and youth training, and speaking. A member of Panhandle Professional Writers, she can be contacted through her website – Dianne Sagan, Writer – http://dgsagan.tripod.com . 

 

 My blog: www.diannesagan.wordpress.com   http://www.authorsden.com/diannesagan  

MATT CORY

Like Glass

a novel by Matthew Cory

 

BOOK SUMMARY:

The story is that of Rob Jackson, piano student, who falls briefly -- but fiercely -- in love with Janet during their college years in California. After a short courtship, Rob invites her to a party with his brother, Bill, though Rob is unable to attend until later in the evening as he must study for his finals. They promise to call him later in the evening to see how much longer he has, and the phone never rings.As it turns out, Bill and Janet have had a quick fling at the party, leaving Rob devastated. Janet turns out to be pregnant, she and Bill marry and move to Washington state, leaving Rob miserable and wishing his brother dead, as this wasn't the first time Bill had betrayed him in such a way (though none of the previous times were with a love Rob felt as strongly about, nor one he'd trusted as much). Rob leaves music behind and pursues a business degree, landing a job with a small internet development company that he eventually leads to the top of the dot-com bubble and holds on to it through the subsequent burst. Several years later, Bill dies in an accident at the factory he worked at.

Janet calls Rob to let him know, and because he feels it is the "right thing to do" (a recurring theme in the novel), Rob books a flight to Portland airport and takes a taxi to the small, near-rural town where Janet lives. After finding his reception less than warm in spite of Janet calling him, Rob has a brief affair with her sister, Lisa. Although seemingly unaware of Rob's affair, Janet's temper flares and she forbids Rob to attend his brother's funeral, because Rob had avoided any contact with them (even so far as ignoring the phone when Bill and Janet were back in California and wanted to introduce Rob to his niece).Rob and Janet begin a tentative reconciliation, helped along by Lisa's suggestion of a trip to Mt. St. Helens. At the mountain, Janet waxes philosophically about how the mountain's devastation is beautiful, and how quickly life can be taken away. Lisa finds the two discussing the situation, and after the return trip home, she leaves for her own home near Seattle, upset that she had taken Rob for something more than a one-night-stand. Over a cigarette, Janet explains that Jacob, the child that caused her marriage to Bill, was actually Rob's. By the time she'd found out, Bill had become a wonderful father and husband so there wasn't any sense in telling Rob, especially sense he'd had little desire to be part of their family.Rob goes for a lengthy drive to think things over, and returns to his hotel to find Janet standing in front of his room. Wholly confused, he continues on through the parking lot without stopping, and returns to find her gone. The next morning, he leaves a check to help cover the funeral expenses and flies back to California without a word to Janet.Rob comes home to his apartment after work one day to find Lisa standing at his doorway. She punches him squarely in the nose, angry at him for leaving Janet when she needed him the most. After she leaves, Rob's father calls and wants to come over and hang out for a little while. They go out to eat and have a couple of drinks, and Rob's father leaves, with Rob planning on spending more time with his father than he had in the past. Lisa returns after Rob's father has left, much more rational at the moment, and they talk for a while before Rob gets a phone call; his father has been in a terrible accident on the drive home.

The next day finds Rob at the hospital, and Janet and her two children come in (he reminds himself that one of the children is his). After some initial small talk, they leave the children with Lisa and Rob's mother and go outside for a cigarette. Before long, they see Lisa come to the hospital door and Rob's mother, sobbing, being led away by a nurse -- Rob's father has passed away.With the recent death of his brother, the discovery that he has a son, and now the death of his father, Rob falls into a nervous breakdown, where time gets patchy and he doesn't even remember who he's talking to on the phone at any given time. The breakdown peaks when Janet comes to his rescue and, drunk, depressed, and angry, he finds himself with a gun that he points at her. He blacks out before he knows what happens next, and finds himself on a drive through fields and forests next, listening to someone humming along with song on the radio. Still suffering from random blackouts, Rob discovers that Janet has taken him under her wing (he thankfully didn't kill her, much as he though he had), and he's having a difficult time holding down a job. After several months, the blackouts have stopped completely, and Rob learns that he had fired the (unloaded) gun at Janet five times before collapsing and crying.

The holidays are fast approaching, and Rob takes Janet on a shopping trip in hopes he can make up for some (of course not all) lost time. He purchases extravagant gifts for the children, and pays to have Janet go back to school and get her degree (which she only grudgingly accepts, and even then after pushing from her mother). By this time, Rob and Janet have finally let themselves fall back in love with each other, and they are both finally letting themselves be somewhat hopeful and happy for the first time in a while.Janet takes the kids with her one day before school starts so she can register for classes and get whatever supplies she needs. She calls Rob to tell him she loves him, and Lisa comes over to hang out for a little while. She's pregnant -- not Rob's -- and engaged. They make small talk for a while before Rob receives another phone call. Much like earlier in the story, there's been an accident.

Rob has another, much more mild breakdown as he reaches the hospital. Unlike his previous breakdown, this one shows him scenes of "what could've been": he and Janet getting married, him quitting smoking because he wants to keep up with his son on the basketball court, Janet's (and his adopted) daughter leaving for college, and finally him dying in his sleep next to an elderly Janet. He wakes out of his breakdown to learn that there was only one survivor out of the accident; she was badly injured and may not even walk again. After the funerals, Rob goes to the graveyard and is met by Janet's mother, who discusses how Janet had been against the idea of going to school at Rob's expense and how she (the mother) had talked Janet into it. She also mentions how Janet knew that Rob was still in love with her because Rob was "like glass" (a mildly recurring theme in the novel, hence the title), and Janet's mother proceeds to explain to Rob how the different properties of glass make it a very appropriate term: it's transparent, and with impurities it can be quite beautiful; it's fragile, but can also be very strong; it's very sharp when broken and can injure or even kill if handled incorrectly. She leaves, and Rob lays one rose each on his brother's grave, his son's grave, and finally on Janet's grave. He then leaves the graves to return to Janet's daughter, who is undergoing physical therapy for her injuries in the car accident, thinking that she's very much like glass as he leaves.

 

Website: http://chocolatefordogs.com/    Purchase: --Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/3332699  --Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Like-Glass-Matthew-Cory/dp/1434821404/ref=ed_oe_p  --Kindle eBook: http://astore.amazon.com/chocfordogs02-20  --Mobi eBook: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/BookDetails.asp?BookID=72317&Origine=3764 

 

Lillian Cauldwell, author of The Anna Mae Mysteries - The Golden Treasure, a young adult book about three sneaker-toed tweens of mixed race who find themselves searching for Confederate President Jefferson Davis' lost gold with the help of a ghostly black fist and divining rods.  Lillian will read to an assembly of grade school children on December 1 at 2 pm at the Haisley Elementary School in Ann Arbor, MI.  A portion of her book sales will be donated to Create, Play, Learn who organized the event.  Several copies of the book will be donated to the school library.  The book is available on Amazon.com or at www.Starpublishllc.com.

 

www.lilliancauldwell.com

 

 

FW: Google Alert - lillian cauldwell

 

Veteran's Day Special Programming By lilliancauldwell Host Lillian Cauldwell interviewed Eileen Neuman, veteran of the VietNam war years, and published romance author with Silohuette of first ever military romany fiction. Check out side. http://www.lindseymckinna.com.    lilliancauldwell - http://lilliancauldwell.podbean.com/     www.lilliancauldwell.com   www.internetvoicesradio.com

FW: Google Alert - denise cassino

 

 

Denise Cassino's Page - Book Marketing Network    Denise Cassino's Page on Book Marketing Network. ... Denise Cassino started a discussion called Seminar - How to Market Your Book on the Internet  - sign up now - a few spots still remain!     www.wizardlywebdesigns.com

.

 

Soft Adventure Travel; Writing & Photography - Nov 13,2008 Linda Ballou is a well-published travel writer and photographer. We'll be discussing the messages she has for readers inside the book: "Wai-nani - High chiefess of Hawaii; Her Epic Journey". We'll learn about the region's history and ...    Conscious Discussions | BlogTalkRadio... - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ConsciousDiscussions

www.lindaballouauthor.com

 

 

Lindsay McKenna on Internet Talk Radio on Veteran's Day By Eileen Nauman(Eileen Nauman) Being that I am a vet and an author, Lillian Cauldwell, whose show I'll be on, asked me to drop by for a half an hour. I'll be speaking with Lillian about my life as a vet and about my books from 10:30 am to 11:00 am EST tomorrow ... Tales from Echo Canyon - http://talesfromechocanyon.blogspot.com/

 

In today's Miami Herald, Greg Cote and  Dr. John F. Murray I speak about the collective boost of emotional energy that is being experienced here in South Florida after the Miami Dolphins three game winning streak at:
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/columnists/story/765776.html

John F Murray, PhD

139 North County Road Suite 18C

Palm Beach, Florida  33480

Tel: 561-596-9898

Fax: 561-805-8662

www.JohnFMurray.com

Singing Soprano in the Cowgirl Church of God by Robert Flynn

Billy “Tex” Bob Thornwall had only two ambitions in life: being a cowboy and singing Gospel songs. He had accomplished his first ambition winning top honors in bareback and saddle bronc riding when sixteen. Gospel singing was tougher because Billy “Tex” Bob’s voice was stuck in Vienna Boys Choir. www.robert-flynn.net

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Singing Soprano in the Cowgirl Church of God by Robert Flynn

Billy “Tex” Bob Thornwall had only two ambitions in life: being a cowboy and singing Gospel songs. He had accomplished his first ambition winning top honors in bareback and saddle bronc riding when sixteen. Gospel singing was tougher because Billy “Tex” Bob’s voice was stuck in Vienna Boys Choir. www.robert-flynn.net

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Singing Soprano in the Cowgirl Church of God

Singing Soprano in the Cowgirl Church of God
October 1, 2008 / by robertflynn



Billy “Tex” Bob Thornwall had only two ambitions in life: being a cowboy and singing Gospel songs. He had accomplished his first ambition winning top honors in bareback and saddle bronc riding when sixteen. Gospel singing was tougher because Billy “Tex” Bob’s voice was stuck in Vienna Boys Choir. Billy “Tex” prayed earnestly that God would give him a voice with cockleburs in it.

One day working on his roping skills he chased after a wild steer on a greenbroke horse. Billy “Tex” Bob stood in the stirrups his lasso swinging over his head and when he threw his loop his untrained horse spied the rope passing over its head and came to an abrupt conclusion. Billy “Tex” did not. The saddle horn took the seat of Billy “Tex” Bob’s jeans and his parts with it.

Billy “Tex’s” life changed. And not for the better. No one wanted him on their bulldogging team or in their chawing circle. He was shunned in pool halls and domino parlors. “Go play hopscotch with the girls,” cowboys laughed. “Join a sewing circle,” they hooted. No one wanted to hear him sing “Empty Saddles in the Old Corral.” “Sing Bringing in the Sheep,” they chortled. “Shearing on the Old Camp Ground.”

Billy “Tex” Bob prayed for the reconstruction of his pride of Solomon. God had other plans, including the Cowboy Church with clapboard walls, plank floor, a cross made of fence posts and barbed wire, with hardwood benches and funeral parlor pasteboard fans. The communion cup was tin and the bread was sourdough bullets. The preacher wore spurs; his Bible wore a brand. Cowboys used their Stetsons to round up the offering, sometimes passing them again if the stray bills and dogie coins didn’t add up to a full herd. In his hour of despair the Lord led Billy “Tex” Bob to the Cowboy Church. Where he was denied entrance for lacking cowboy characteristics.

When the cowboys came out of church Billy “Tex” showed them roping tricks and lassoed car antenna, rearview mirrors and roguish boys. “Hmmm,” Arizona said, scratching a saddle burn and spitting at a red ant. “He’s got sand.”

“He’s got spirit, too,” Dumas said, switching his wad to the other side and smiting the ant that Arizona had missed.

The other hands allowed he wasn’t no cowboy but he could be a Christian roper.

The following Sunday Billy “Tex” entered the church with special dispensation but there was disputation when he tried to join the Ranchhand’s Sunday School Class. He was pushed into the Gingham for God Class and was not allowed to sing in the choir. But when they sang “When they ring those golden bells” Billy “Tex” Bob’s voice rang clear and true and high. Way high. Those around him stopped singing. The choir stopped singing. The piano stopped playing and the fiddle, the washboard, the washtub bass, the musical saw, the guitar, the mouth organ, the squeeze box until all that was heard was dogs howling and the church-glass-shattering voice of Billy “Tex” Bob nearly high as heaven is above the earth.

And when he finished, the whole congregation shouted with one voice, “There ain’t no saddlehorn sopranos in the Cowboy Church.”

Billy “Tex” Bob prayed the Cowboy Church would have a change of heart; instead, God turned Billy “Tex’s” heart. Billy “Tex” met Broomhilda Factorymacker who was raised by her father with no companions but jackasses. When Broomhilda brayed bass and Billy “Tex” trilled soprano on “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” it led to a camp meeting, tent revival, rededications, baptisms, marriage and the Cowgirl Church of God. Where the pastor wore leather saddle skirts and carried a pink Bible with a lace trim. Billy “Tex” Bob roped dollar bills out of the cowgirls’ hands.

“A cowgirl church is like an Islamic honky-tonk,” the cowboys said. Few stepped inside but they took a chaw break so that they could stand outside and listen to the special music at the Cowgirl Church of God. And it is rumored that when Broomhilda rode bass and Billy “Tex” rode soprano and they rounded up “When they ring those golden bells,” some of the cowboys held hands. Most often with cowgirls By Robert Flynn

Weak on Security by Robert Flynn

Anyone who remembers World War Two recalls Republican resistance to Roosevelt’s effort to arm the nation. He was accused of leading the US to war, was called a Communist, a Jew, and his wife, Eleanor, was rumored to be a Negro.


Pearl Harbor caught the nation unprepared. The war ended with victory but the US and England needed the Soviet army on Hitler’s eastern front, and before Hiroshima they believed they needed the Soviets in the war against Japan. Stalin dropped an Iron Curtain over the nations it occupied but we owned the world’s only atomic weapons. Hawks called for war against the Soviet Union but the people told Congress, “bring the boys home.” Demobilization was so rapid that General Marshall said, “It was no demobilization, it was a rout.”


Republicans who had claimed Roosevelt was soft on Communism turned their accusations on Truman because of his support for the United Nations. In 1948, Truman revived the draft, organized NATO, supported Greece, Turkey and Iran against Communist insurgents. In 1949, China fell to Communists. In 1950, Truman ordered US troops to the defense of South Korea and persuaded the UN to offer military assistance.


After a disastrous beginning US and UN forces chased the Red army out of South Korea and were nearing the Manchurian and Soviet border. Gen. MacArthur threatened to invade Manchuria, claiming the Chinese army would disintegrate in 24 hours. China entered the war and routed US and UN forces. MacArthur called for a blockade of China, bombing of Manchuria and for the return of Chiang Kai-shek to mainland China with US support. Truman removed him from duty for insubordination and was charged with appeasement. Some Republicans and pundits called for impeachment. Joe McCarthy claimed Truman was drunk when he fired MacArthur. Despite almost losing his army MacArthur charged that politicians lost the war when he was ten days from winning it.


Our superior technology and deadly nuclear weapons made us more insecure than ever. Joe McCarthy and his ilk turned the home of the brave into the land of Chicken Little. Before the internet, before 24/7 radio and TV, the Red scare was as hyped as the terrorist scare after 9/11. Television was new but TV news was not popular until it discovered the power of scandal-mongering. With exceptions TV news was a virtual lynch mob. Anchors screamed “Reds in State Department,” “pinkos, fellow travelers and Communist sympathizers” were under every bed. State and local governments, colleges and corporations required “loyalty oaths.” “Better dead than Red,” was a bumper sticker. McCarthy charged Democrats with “twenty years of treason.” Truman was perhaps the toughest president the US ever had; nevertheless, the Big Lie “Weak on Security” began on his watch. He did not run for reelection in 1952.


After Eisenhower was elected he discharged almost 7,000 “security risks” from government agencies although none was found guilty of any crime. Having tasted unconditional surrender, Americans wanted to stand on the neck of the vanquished. What they got was “brinkmanship,” going to the brink of war then flinching. Like Truman, Eisenhower knew that war in Korea was not “winnable.” Many were relieved but few were pleased when Eisenhower agreed to armistice with North Korea. Shortly thereafter an agreement between France and the Viet Minh called for the withdrawal of France from Southeast Asia and temporary division of Vietnam until reunification elections.


Eisenhower refused to sign the agreement and a month later organized the Southeast Treaty Organization (SEATO), similar to NATO, committing the US to defend South Vietnam. In 1956, President Diem refused to permit elections in South Vietnam declaring free elections were impossible in North Vietnam. Eisenhower supported the decision and sent military aid and advisers. Despite the SEATO agreement Eisenhower told Kennedy the only way to save South Vietnam was to occupy Laos. He did not do so because he feared China would not accept an American army on its border and a Chinese army could not be contained in Southeast Asia without nuclear weapons.


When Egypt’s Gamal Nasser seized the Suez Canal, England, France and Israel invaded Sinai. Eisenhower supported the Soviet Union in demanding an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign troops. Hungary temporarily gained freedom and expelled Soviet troops; Eisenhower offered only moral support. Kruschev demanded withdrawal of the West from Berlin and shot down a U-2 spy plane deep in Soviet territory. Eisenhower first denied, then admitted US spying. It will be unbelievable today but a newspaper headlined a story, “Why this newspaper lied,” furious that they had reported an untruth because a president misled them. That newspaper would decades later forbid its writers to say a president lied after they slavishly repeated his lies.


Eisenhower proposed “Atoms for Peace” whereby the US made available to other nations nuclear material for energy to be administered and supervised by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Ironically, Eisenhower gave the first nuclear materials and/or encouragement to Iraq and Iran. In his farewell address, Eisenhower warned of the military/industrial complex that was spreading its tentacles into every neighborhood and would require wars or threats of wars to maintain.


Kennedy replaced Eisenhower in the White House and was immediately challenged by Kruschev who placed missiles in Cuba. Kennedy negotiated a settlement with the Soviets removing missiles from Cuba and the US removing missiles from Turkey. Kennedy could have rejected the SEATO agreement. Instead, he assented to the assassination of President Diem because Diem wanted financial and military aid but he did not want a foreign army in his country. Before his death JFK renewed his pledge to save South Vietnam. Some say that had he lived another term he would have withdrawn US troops but it seems overly cynical to believe he would acquiesce to the removal of South Vietnam’s leader and then tell them they were on their own.


Kennedy was more popular in death than in life. It would have been unthinkable for Johnson to repudiate an agreement ratified by two presidents. Democrats would have accused him of betraying Kennedy’s promise and Republicans would have accused him of betraying South Vietnam. Like Eisenhower and Kennedy he knew the war in Vietnam was not “winnable” but believed he could save Southeast Asia. For that he organized the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The president of ASEAN would later state that those nations owed a debt to Johnson for giving them time to strengthen their governments and militaries so that after Cambodia no other nations would fall to Communism. Nevertheless, in the media Vietnam became Johnson’s war.


Nixon promised to end the war in Vietnam and did end American involvement, March 1973. For many, like myself, the collapse of South Vietnam was unfathomable and we blamed a Democratic Congress for cutting funding. However, declassified documents reveal that in 1972, Kissinger told China that the US would accept a Communist Vietnam. The war would continue for three more years but Nixon had surrendered.


Nixon ended Truman’s “Containment Policy” and went to China to reach an agreement that the two nations would normalize relations. Soviet Premier Brezhnev came to the US to reach an arms agreement. The Iron Curtain remained but the Cold War was over and it was clear the West had won. I don’t believe that political or military leaders should be credited with winning a war. It takes a nation to win a war. However, it is clear that the political leaders in winning the Cold War were Truman, Johnson and Nixon.


Ford replaced Nixon in the White House and named Rumsfeld Secretary of Defense and Cheney chief of staff. The CIA believed that the Soviet Union was in chaos and would collapse. Rumsfeld and Cheney disagreed. Ford appointed a commission, “Team B,” including Paul Wolfowitz to investigate Soviet intentions. Team B found the Soviets scarier than ever and wanted the Cold War kick-started.


Like Eisenhower, Carter saw the danger of the military/industrial complex that co-opted corporations, contractors, small businesses, schools, cities, churches. He inherited Eisenhower’s blunder--overthrowing the democratically elected government of Iran and putting the tyrannical Shah in power. During the OPEC oil embargo America got most of its oil from Iran until the Shah was overthrown. Ayatollah Khomeini became the leader, held American hostages and stopped oil sales to the US. Carter kept the US out of war and substantially increased US military spending but was never forgiven for saying that Americans had "an inordinate fear of communism." His attempt to rescue the hostages failed. “Free the hostages” became the slogan for the next election.


The day Reagan was inaugurated the hostages were freed, Reagan released frozen Iranian assets, and lifted the arms embargo for Israel so they could ship weapons to Iranian terrorists. The US replaced the Israeli weapons. The Iranians took more hostages, blew up two US embassies and a barracks killing 241 Marines but nothing stopped the arms sale until Israel sent Iran missiles that didn’t work. Reagan began direct sales to Iran but because he was giving aid and comfort to the enemy, he also sent weapons, intelligence and agents necessary for the production of WMD to assist Saddam Hussein in his war on Iran.


In direct violation of the Constitution, Reagan used money from the arms sale to Iranian terrorists to buy a private army to overthrow the democratically elected government of Nicaragua. He also signed illegal quid-pro-quo agreements with Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other governments to support “Contras” and death squads. Some of the Contras were drug dealers, other Contras used drug smugglers to smuggle guns into Nicaragua. Dealers and smugglers who were caught, such as notorious “narco-terrorist” José Bueso Rosa, were defended by Reagan and Bush. When Congress began an investigation Reagan lied repeatedly then deployed CRS, (Can’t Remember Stuff) the legal defense for his and later Republican politicians.


A Senate subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations, chaired by Senator John Kerry, was the first to document Reagan’s knowledge of, and tolerance for, drug smuggling. Lead investigator Jack Blum testified, “if you ask whether the United States government ignored the drug problem and subverted law enforcement to prevent embarrassment and to reward our allies in the contra war, the answer is yes.” He also detailed Reagan’s obstruction of the Kerry investigation. The Kerry subcommittee concluded that the Reagan administration “abandoned the responsibility our government has for protecting our citizens from all threats to their security and well-being.” The committee’s findings were ignored by the media but would cost Kerry the presidency as the “Religious” Right resorted to false witness to vilify a hero who brought crimes of the disgraced Reagan and Bush1 to light.


Reagan was called the “teflon president” but it wasn’t teflon that protected him but a complicit media that papered over his crimes and what otherwise would be called treason. Reagan would escape impeachment but the International Criminal Court found the US guilty of international terrorism. The US vetoed an otherwise unanimous Security Council call for US compliance with the Court's ruling. Reagan withdrew the US from the court, claiming exception to the laws that governed other nations.


To thwart talk of a “peace dividend” that would suck profit from what had become the military/industrial/media complex Reagan began the one-sided “arms race.” As the CIA had repeatedly stated, the Soviet Union was falling apart and could only pretend to be a dreadful enemy as Saddam Hussein would later do. Reagan faced charges of international crimes, Gorbachev presided over a dying regime, both looked for a place to fall and they fell into another arms treaty. Because of Nixon’s dishonor the media championed the more dishonorable Reagan as “winning the Cold War.”


Reagan tried to restore US prestige by attacking Grenada, an island with no army, no navy, no air force. The Pentagon would later reveal that most US casualties were caused by “friendly fire.” Grenada became the model for quick, successful attacks on defenseless or near-defenseless “enemies” to demonstrate American might and feed the military/industrial/media complex.


Bush1 continued Reagan’s partnership with Saddam. When Saddam sent troops to the border of Kuwait, Ambassador April Glaspie met with Saddam to ask his intentions. Saddam said, “If we could keep the whole of the Shatt al Arab...we will make concessions. But if we are forced to choose between keeping half of the Shatt and the whole of Iraq (Kuwait was part of Iraq until 1961), then we will give up all of the Shatt to defend our claims on Kuwait...” Glaspie responded, “Secretary (of State James) Baker has directed me to emphasize the instruction, first given to Iraq in the 1960s, that the Kuwait issue is not associated with America.”


Two days before Iraq invaded Kuwait, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, told Congress the “United States has no commitment to defend Kuwait and the US has no intention of defending Kuwait if it is attacked by Iraq.” When the US asked other nations to join an invasion of Iraq, Saddam thought he had been tricked by Western perfidy. Perhaps he had been. After destroying the infrastructure, military hardware and WMD that Reagan/Bush had helped Iraq build, the US and its allies withdrew. Desert Storm was not to free Kuwait or Iraq from tyranny but to “save” Saudi Arabia that Saddam had not threatened. Bush arranged for US troops to be based there, a tragic error that would be one of the reasons for 9/11.


Bush also invaded Panama and seized Manuel Noriega. For assistance in the war on Nicaragua the US agreed to “clean up Noriega’s image” as a narco-terrorist. After the exposure of Iran/Contra and guns for drugs, Noriega became a liability. Bush also inherited the Islamic extremist “freedom fighters” that Reagan had recruited to fight the Soviets. After Soviet withdrawal, the US wanted them to return home but their native countries feared them. Bush left more than 30,000 trained terrorists unemployed.


Clinton opposed the Vietnam War and avoided military service. Bush2, Cheney and other “chicken vultures” supported the war as long as they didn’t have to serve in it. Clinton saved Bosnia from aggression and captured and convicted those guilty of the first bombing of the World Trade Center. Clinton’s effort to cut off funding for al-Qaida was thwarted by Senator Phil Gramm. Enron used the same banks to launder money and Gramm’s wife was on Enron’s board of directors. To Republicans, and their media, the only threat to national security was Monica Lewinski.


Most US aid to Afghanistan went to Taliban because it seemed the only force likely to stabilize Afghanistan and because Taliban prohibited opium production. By 1999, the policy had changed and the US, Russia and India planned to destroy Taliban but could not find a government to replace it.


Bush2 tried to appease Taliban, offering them a carpet of gold if they did US bidding but warned of a carpet of bombs if they did not. Secretary of State Colin Powell gave Taliban $43 billion saying, “We will continue to look for ways to provide more assistance to the Afghans.” Nevertheless, 19 hijackers inflicted the most humiliating defeat in US history. The Bush administration was helpless and for almost an hour and a half the only response to the attack was by civilian airline passengers.


It’s unnecessary to point out the incompetence and futility of the Bush2 administration. The world has become a more dangerous place. National security is scarcely better than on 9/11. Billions of dollars worth of tanks, airplanes, aircraft carriers did not protect us on 9/11 and have been ineffective in combating terrorism. They have had the same placebo effect as seeing “smart bombs” make direct hits. Bush2 said he had inherited the greatest military the world had ever known. The next president will not say that.


Both political parties have avidly fed the military/industrial/media complex. Not to do so would destroy or nearly destroy the US economy. Richard Armitage, former deputy secretary of state said, “Since 9/11 our principal export to the world has been our fear.” Fear is a symptom of weakness and the Republican party is the party of fear.

By Robert Flynn

Robert Flynn, professor emeritus, Trinity University and a native ...
15, Robert Flynn, professor emeritus, Trinity University and a native of Chillicothe, Texas, is the author of twelve books will be a guest on Klein's Blog Talk Radio show from 6:30 to 7 pm Flynn's books include seven novels: North To ...
The Adirondack Book House | BlogTalkR... - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie

LONG STORY SHORT NEWSLETTER

ONE OF WRITER'S DIGEST'S 

101 BEST WRITING WEBSITES FIVE YEARS RUNNING!

November 2008, Vol. 64

PROMOTE LONG STORY SHORT – SEND THIS TO ALL OF YOUR WRITING FRIENDS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

GENERAL STUFF

Long Story Short School of Writing has been swamped with enrollments since our partnership with Colorado Free University, which offers all of our courses! Check it out:  http://www.lssatcfu.org/

 

Denise Cassino's seminar, "How to Market Your Book on the Internet" still has a few openings.  Sign up Now! In this tough economy, it's time to start advancing your writing career and get some books sales. This seminar will teach you to build a website and/or create a blog and use it blog effectively, how to write eye-catching press releases, the use of bookmarking sites, effective social networking, how to create a press kit, how to get and give good radio interviews along with contacts, and she will help you organize a Virtual Book Tour.  If you are interested, visit her website for more information and pricing.  Thanks.

 

If you need any book editing and proofreading services or private mentoring at a moderate price, visit Linda Barnett-Johnson's website www.lindabarnett-johnson.com or Contact her.  She just finished editing Patricia Crandall's new novel, The Dog Men that Denise will be marketing.

 

Anna Maria Prezio is hosting a new exciting radio show, Spiritual Animals Radio on www.internetvoicesradio.com Mondays at 8pm EST – She will have TIPPI HEDREN, actress and Director of Shambala, the wild animal preserve in California as a guest on Nov 24 at 7pm EST.  Listen!  She's looking for unique guests whose stories about animals convey the amazing powers and psychic connections they have with their human counter parts.  Contact her if you would like to appear on her show to tell your story. Animal Advocacy, Divine Dolphins, Sexy Snakes and more. If you run a dog rescue program or any such thing, this is for you.  Contact Anna Maria and tune into her show!

 

Lillian Cauldwell is looking for sponsors for her radio show – you get great exposure and regular mentions during her programming and much, much more – www.internetvoicesradio.com..  Contact Lillian with your ideas.

 

Denise is now the book publicist for Linda Ballou, Lanaia Lee, Robert Flynn, Rosemary Chaulk, Sharon Poppen, Patricia Crandall, Kenny Kahn, Dr. John F. Murray and Lillian Cauldwell, promoting them and their books on the Internet with social networking sites, blog marketing, Virtual Book Tours and Radio interviews.  If you know anyone interested in a publicist to market his or her books, contact Denise.

 

EZINE NEWS 

1.                            TRAVIS' TRAVEL TIPS –A Few of My Favorite Things, part 2 by Marie Delgado Travis

2.                            A new chapter in Irv Pliskin's serial novel, FATAL ENCOUNTERS – Chapter 28- a novel of deadly proportions – "R" rated!

3.                            Book of the Month –  THE ANNA MAE MYSTERIES – THE GOLDEN TREASURE by Lillian Cauldwell

4.                           We're currently accepting stories for January and February- please submit!  We are accepting poetry for Jan - June 2009 – submit. 

     

LSS WRITING SCHOOL NEWS

1.                        Lillian Cauldwell of Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio hosts an Internet radio program about LSS Writing School on a regular weekly Tuesday evening show where a different course and its instructor will be featured each week.  Here's the schedule: Dorry Pease on 11/18, Lea Schizas on 11/25.  More to come! The website is InternetVoicesRadio.com. Tune in! Great Programming and an excellent, highly-visited venue for advertising your books– tune in at 9pmEST.

Lots of Great Courses!  Sign up now!  Don't forget about our wide assortment of courses in e-Book format in our e-Bookstore. – from $19.99-39.99.

 

FORUM NEWS

My LSS Writing Friend  - join us and improve your writing skills.  Contact Linda to join.

 

WRITERS' LODGE 

Check out the Long Story Short Writers' Lodge – why don't you join?  Imagine having your own webpage complete with bio, photo, links to your published work. You can start a mailing list; get a chat room, link to your blog, add a message board and more! $21.99 per year – how can you lose. Our newest member is Kathy Zengolewicz.  Welcome her!

 

Denise Cassino is now doing book marketing in addition to building websites for authors, check her website:  http://www.wizardlywebdesigns.com/bookmarketing.html

 

Sign Up for our newsletter.

 

SUBMIT, SUBMIT, SUBMIT!

 

ADVERTISING RATES:  Need activity on your website or want to promote a book? Review our advertising rates; we'd love to place your ad in our newsletter, our school or in our ezine. Very reasonable rates!

 

EDITORS' CORNER

Linda Barnett-Johnson: Hello reading and writing friends. Is the shock of Christmas, being only two months away, stressing you out? I can't believe it. It feels like the world, and the years, are spinning so fast that I can't keep up with them. I wonder how many of us wish we were little children again and having our parents make all the decisions for us. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. But it is the time of year to get together with your family for that special time to reminisce and make new memories. I want to wish you all a fantastic Thanksgiving with family and friends. I am thankful for all of you.

 

Denise Cassino – I cannot believe another year is almost done! Does this mean I'm getting old that time flies by so fast or does it mean I'm having fun?  Actually I am having fun, mostly because of all of you.  Have a great Thanksgiving day with your loved ones.

 

Marie Delgado Travis – This will be my next-to-last "Travis Travel Tips," "Marie's Musings" and "Poetry Challenge," though some of these columns may reappear at a future date in other forms, by other authors.  I am forever grateful to LSS Editor, Denise Cassino, for the many wonderful opportunities she has provided to me since my first poetry submission in 2005. Starting in December, I hope to dedicate myself fully to a Master of Fine Arts program. I will, however, continue to act as LSS Poetry Editor for another year, God-willing, in late Poetry Editor, Sue Scott's honor.  I look forward to announcing the LSS Poem of the Year in the next edition of Long Story Short and am currently reading poems for the period of Jan.-Dec. 2009.  Kindly see Submission Guidelines for details and do let me know, please, if you should have any questions. Contact me.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

QUOTES

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. ~ Mark Twain

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.  ~ Mark Twain

 

Truth is more of a stranger than fiction. ~Mark Twain

 

 

STORY OF THE MONTH

THE LOGIC IS IN THE KINDNESS by Alex P. Harvey

 

BOOK OF THE MONTH           

THE ANNA MAE MYSTERIES – THE GOLDEN TREASURE by Lillian

 

FANTASY

BEAUTIES' GUILD by Tala Bar             

 

FICTION

TROUBLE IN PARADISE by Jan Christensen

GOD NEVER CALLED by Joan G. Sutula

THE ROAR OF THE RIVER by Joanna M. Weston

THE BIG STEP by Keith Wood 

YOU'LL KNOW SOMEDAY by Judy Nickles 

BEING PRESENT by Julie Cox

THE PRAYER BOOK by Andrew McIntyre

SPILLED MILK by Joanne Faries

 

FLASH

THE FORTUNE OF A ACCIDENT by Nathaniel Tower

ANGER SUFFERS AS GRIEF WITHDRAWS by Mary V. Kolar

A SEASONAL AFFAIR by C.A. Masterson

SPLINTERED SACRIFICE by Scott Appleton

RUMBLES OF THE HEART by Kimberly Payne

ONLY ONE by Joshua Scribner

LEVELS OF TEETH by Eric Suhem 

IRV PLISKIN'S SERIAL KILLER

FATAL ENCOUNTERS – CHAPTER 28

 

MARIE'S MUSINGS

FOR YOU DISTANT LOVER

 

NON FICTION

THE ONE-EYED BERKINS by Kathe Campbell

A 'BUD' NO MORE by Kenan Bresnan

THE LAST FABIAN by  Arlene Weiss

 

POEM OF THE MONTH

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX by Mei-Li Liu

 

POETRY – All Poetry

 

I WISH TO TELL YOU by Patricia Wellingham-Jones    

HARVEST TIME by Michael Lee Johnson

TWIGS TO BURN by Ernest Williamson III
WISH by Marie Delgado Travis
ANYWHERE BUT HERE by Robert Simmons
DOZING OFF WHILE HUNTING CAIMAN AT MIDNIGHT IN THE AMAZON
by Nikolai Von Keller
I WISH by Floriana Hall

DECEPTION by Pavelle Wesser
UNTIL THEN by Susie N. McCray
OVER THERE by Monica Garcia Saenz
HURRICANE by Mahdy Y. Khaiyat

NOVEMBER GALE by Lenard W Eccles
THANKSGIVING DAY AT MY HOUSE by M. David Lutz 
DAY OF THE DEAD by Odarka Polanskyj Stockert

CELEBRITY POET by Marie Delgado Travis

CELEBRITY POET JOHN ASHBERY (1927-Present)

 

POET'S CHALLENGE by Marie Delgado Travis

BRITISH POET LAUREATES by Marie Delgado Travis

 

TRAVIS' TRAVEL TIPS by Marie Delgado Travis

A FEW OF MY FAVORITES THINGS, PART 2

 

ASK GRIZZLY GUS – a Common Sense Advice Column

 

Dear Grizzly Gus: 

 

Your article saved my life. It happened a month ago.  I was in the kitchen baking brownies for the Boy Scout Troop meeting.  Billy, my son, grabbed a brownie I had cooling on the counter and ran out to play leaving the screen door wide open even though I've told him a thousand times to make sure to close it.  That is when a bee flew into the kitchen.  I happen to be extremely allergic to bees.  Naturally, I panicked and at first, I didn't know what to do.  Then I remembered your article in the Long Story Short Newsletter.  I was saving it to show my writing group what really poor writing looked like and how to avoid it.  I was able to quickly roll up the newsletter and swat the bee before it could sting me.  I suppose you could say your advice has finally served some useful purpose. 

 

Signed:  Bee-Well in Washington

 

 

Dear Bee-Well in Washington

I'm so happy my article saved your life.  There's no need to repay me.  You letter is enough.  I will carry it with me wherever I go.  Then some day when I find myself without TP – you'll be able to return the favor. 

Thanks from the bottom  - of my bottom

Signed:  Grizzly Life-saver Gus  

 

 ***

 

Dear Grizzly Gus: 

The energy crisis is worsening every day.  I am sure your readers would like to know what you are doing to conserve energy and our natural resources. 

Signed:  Earnest for the Environment

 

 

Dear Earnest for the Environment: 

 

I firmly believe in conserving energy.  Heck I was conserving energy long before it was fashionable.  Of course back then most folks said I was just plain lazy.  It's not easy being a pioneer, blazing the trail for others to follow.  

 

Now that I'm retired I find I'm able to save even more energy.  Each day I sit almost motionless behind my desk reading and answering letters for my column, moving nothing but my fingers until feeding time which is every thirty minutes.  I don't walk to the fridge, instead I just scoot my office chair down the hallway to the kitchen where I nuke a couple of Hot Pockets and then roll back to my office.  We must all do our part to conserve our natural resources and protect our environment as well.  When I found out that aerosol cans were harmful for the ozone, I quit using deodorant.  When I learned that laundry soap had phosphates I quit doing laundry.  Then I heard that the underground aquifer here in Florida (where I live) is drying up so I quit bathing and brushing on a regular basis.  Can't say I get invited to many cookouts anymore but at least I'm doing my part for the environment.  You could even say, I've 'gone green' - especially my teeth.   

Signed:  Grizzly 'Green' Gus 

  

Write to: Grizzly Gus for advice on anything and he'll give it to you good.   Grizzly_gus@hotmail.com   Visit his webpage. 

   

WRITING EXERCISE by Linda Barnett-Johnson

From the book, "Writing Life Stories" by Bill Roorbach, "a memoir is a true story, a work of narrative built directly from the memory of its writer; in memoir, the writer is also the protagonist - the person to whom the events of the story happen - or at least an observer closely involved with the protagonists."

 

Map-making: Make a map of the earliest neighborhood you can remember. Put as much detail as you can remember. Who were your neighbors? Who did you play with? Where were your friends? Where did the strange neighbors live? Where were the off-limit places? See how much you can remember by doing this. You'll be surprised at how much will come back to mind. Take your time and see where it takes you. You can do it on paper, poster board, with colored markers, or any way you want. But try it.

 

 

WRITING TIP by Linda Barnett-Johnson

Thanksgiving is a great place to capture dialog and mannerisms for your next story or book. Make it a point to jot down some of these things and write a short story and send it to us. Do you have an aunt that's hilarious? Is there a special grandchild that always seems to do something that is priceless? Write it down. I have a list of funny things my grand kids have said over the years. One of them said, "Nana, did you know I was born on my birthday?" Now, how smart is that? I think he was 4 at the time. Okay, now you have your assignment for Thanksgiving. Have fun with it and don't stress out.

 

 

 

 

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