Friday, October 10, 2014

Welcome to an Interview with Crime Thriller Author J. J. White...

Welcome to an Interview with Crime Thriller Author J. J. White....
Hello-Hello and how are you today? I'm back and hope everyone is doing well and happy! Welcome back to my blog where I try to share whatever I think may interest  you. Today is the second time I interview a fellow author. And with me this very second is crime and thriller author, J. J. White. ...

J. J. has graciously accepted to take some valuable time out of his writing schedule to talk about writing and his latest novel, Prodigious Savant available for sale tomorrow, October 11, 2014 from Black Opal Books and online retailers such as Amazon.com, Bn.com and more. Without further ado, please join me in welcoming J. J. White to this blog. Thank you J. J. for spending time with us. Shall we begin...
 
 
 
A Synopsis for Prodigious Savant:

Burlington, Vermont, 1962. Seventeen-year-old Gavin Weaver survives a dreadful explosion, six hours of brain surgery, and thirty days in a coma, to awake possessing not just one savant talent, but several, including art, music, mathematics, and memory, and all without suffering any of the usual mental disabilities associated with head trauma.

His newly acquired abilities thrust him into the public eye as the amazing ‘Whiz Kid’ from Burlington; a moniker he detests. His genius, paranoia, and increased hallucinations result in some strange and extraordinary encounters with the icons of the ‘60s, including Bobby Fischer, Nikita Khrushchev, Edward R. Murrow, John Chancellor and even a tragic meeting with John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

The odds are slim Gavin will survive both the internal and external conflicts that keep him from the one thing he wants most, the girl he’s loved since childhood.
 
 
And now for the interview:  

SJ: I love the title and scope of this book. What was your inspiration for Prodigious Savant?  Can you tell us a little bit of how the idea came about?
     JJ: Well, this may be a long answer since there was not just one thing that inspired me. It was very much like what Stephen King said in his book, On Writing, about how stories are fossils in the ground waiting to be found. My story was a fossil that first surfaced when I was seven. It happened in Burlington Vermont, the main setting of my novel. Two local teenagers fired their rifles at a construction shed full of dynamite. The resulting explosion killed one boy and blinded the other. I had always wanted to tell that story of how the blind boy coped. Instead, in my novel, I have my protagonist not only survive the explosion but wake from a coma as a Prodigious Savant, with genius abilities and math, art, music, and memory. The other inspiration for the book was the true story of Jason Padgett who, after an injury suffered in a mugging, became an Acquired Savant with a genius level ability in mathematics. 
 

SJ: Your protagonist, Gavin isn’t exactly a likeable fellow.  Why should the reader empathize with him in this story?
     JJ: Gavin actually is a lovable, handsome scamp who, as his mental illness progresses, becomes quite unlovable. He is something like a combination of Holden Caulfield and Forrest Gump. But as readers of fiction we all know how stories end up, don't we? So hang in there and see if it all works out.
 
 
 
SJ: I noticed Prodigious Savant takes place in 1962. Is there a reason it wasn't placed in the present? 
     JJ: The life-changing event for my protagonist actually happened that year in Vermont, so I described that event and the setting as well as I could remember, considering I was nine at the time. I probably got most of it wrong and I’m sure I’ll hear about it from my siblings and my relatives who still live there.
 
SJ: What do you love most about being a writer? Least?
     JJ: What I love the most is when I’m writing the middle section of a chapter and I get into a zone where my characters come alive, as if they were performing on a stage in front of me. When that happens, my pen can’t keep up with my brain. I write everything by hand, by the way.
     What I hate the most is the begging, cajoling, and bribing of family, friends, and strangers to first read my writing and then buy it. When I'm in the marketing phase I feel like an Amway sales associate at a home viewing party. The only way to cleanse my sins after that is to hole up in my office and write.
 
SJ: What writer inspired you most and how?
     JJ: It was, Patrick D. Smith, who lived near me in Merritt Island, Florida. He penned, A Land Remembered, one of the most important novels ever written on the history of Florida. By the second page, I was lost in the story and literally hated to put it down. It was fascinating how Smith structured his book to keep the story moving while holding the reader spellbound his beautiful exposition, narrative, and dialogue. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and it should have won.
 
SJ: If you could give just one piece of important writing advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?
     JJ: It would be the standard writing advice you hear from most authors. Actually, two pieces of writing advice. One: Read, as much as you can, as fast as you can.  And two: Write as much as you can, as fast as you can, and don't worry if it's crap. Writing is like a video game, the more you practice, the better you get at it.
 
SJ: In closing, what is a favorite book you enjoyed reading and would recommend without hesitation?
     JJ: Of course the book I mentioned earlier, A Land Remembered, but I also loved Truman Capote's, In Cold Blood. And about a thousand others.

SJ: You've picked two books. Can you tell us why they're your favorite.
     JJ: Both A Land Remembered and In Cold Blood use the Three Acts writing process that I used as templates for my writing, where the first act has a life-changing event on the protagonist(s), the second act involves escalating danger and conflict to the protagonist(s) and finally, the third act resolves this drama/conflict in a satisfying conclusion for the reader. That was the main reason, although the books also ask and answer a moral question that the reader can relate to.
 
Fantastic information. Thanks J.J. for joining us here. I'm sure everyone is intrigued with Prodigius Savant and we're looking forward to its release, tomorrow, October 11, 2014 at online bookstores everywhere. I know I am. Of course, we couldn't leave this blog without first giving you a taste of Prodigius Savant without an excerpt:
Steve sighted his rifle. “It went behind the shed,” he said, then fired twice, both shots hitting the window and shattering the panes. Black smoke poured out.
“It’s on fire,” Gavin said. “Why’d you do that? Somebody could be sleeping in there.”
“There’s nobody in there. If there were they would’ve woken up by now.”
Gavin lay on the ground, narrowed his eyes, and studied the shed. A second later it transformed into a massive ball of soil, concrete, and fire.
Steve never saw it disintegrate. One of the planks on the west side of the shed flew the hundred feet up the hill, decapitating him where he stood, his rifle still clutched in his hands. Gavin, because of his prone position, also didn’t see the explosion. The mound directly below him formed into a wave of dirt, propelling him backward down a steep embankment and slamming the left side of his head against a boulder blown out by the blast.

And the purchase links to buy Prodigious Savant by J.J. White are:

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Prodigious-Savant-J-White/dp/1626941874/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411933315&sr=1-2&keywords=prodigious+savant

Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Prodigious-Savant-Savants-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00O293XM2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-2&qid=1411933315
Thanks J.J. for visiting with us. Thank you all for stopping by. J.J. please return any time. It was fun.
Until next month...every one please stay safe. Smile. Be happy. Show compassion. Be nice to others.

Regards,
S. J. Francis
 In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
 A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 
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Friday, September 5, 2014

An Interview with Inspirational Author Joy Ross Davis

An Interview with Author Joy Ross Davis....  

Hello-Hello and how are you today? Let's hope everyone is doing well and happy! Welcome back to my blog where I try to share whatever I think may interest  you. Today is the first time I interview a fellow author. And with me this very first time is inspirational author, Joy Ross Davis.
Joy has graciously accepted me into her domain to take up some of her writing time to talk about her writing and her debut novel, Countenance. So please, without further ado, let us welcome Joy to the pages here.
Thank you Joy for spending time with us. Shall we begin....? 


S.J.: Joy, angels seem to play an important part in your books. Can you tell us a little bit of how that came about? What was your inspiration for your debut novel Countenance?

     Joy:  Angels play a part in each one of my books. I’ve really always been fascinated by them. As a child, I believe I had an encounter when lightning struck at my feet and I was “saved” by a beautiful angel who told me to run, run away. I ran, but when I looked back, there was nothing except seared grass. So, that encounter has given me a special fascination with angels.
    As for the inspiration for Countenance, it came about when I was a full-time caregiver for my mom who suffered from dementia. I had taken a break and gone onto our back patio. As I was standing outside, I heard a loud and clear voice that said, “Countenance.” After a few minutes, I heard the same voice again. I had no idea what it meant, so I got out my Bible and looked for references to the word “countenance.” I found this verse: “His countenance was like lightning; his raiment white as snow.”
     By the next morning, I had the story in my head.  
 
S.J.: Your work, Joy leans toward the paranormal suspense, where you bring angels, dark spirits, and humans alike into vivid life. What is your inspiration for your stories?

     Joy: Actually, with the exception of Countenance, the inspiration for almost all of my stories is photographs. I can see a photograph and from that will sometimes come a story that just pops into my head. I know the character, the name, the title…it happens without warning and at times when I least expect it. 
 
S.J.: Joy, will you tell us what do you love most about being a writer? Least?
     Joy:  What I love most about being a writer is simply being a writer, being able to tell the stories that come into my head and have people respond to them. I have to admit that the intense struggle of getting a story onto paper is worth it after reading one really good review!
     What I like least about being a writer is simply not being able to make a living at it. Most of my stories are from .99 to $2.99 on Kindle now, with Countenance at $6.99. It takes an enormous amount of sales, given that I have an agent and publisher, to make money at writing. 
 
 S.J.: What writer inspired you most and how?
    Joy:  Oh, most definitely I was inspired by Stephen King and John Updike earlier in my life. I was fascinated by Stephen King’s ability to frighten people with his words and to tell a story. John Updike, to me, wrote some of the most beautiful sentences I have ever read. Later, I was inspired by Agatha Christie and Sigrid Undset (Nobel Prize winner). Both of these women write with such clarity and such intrigue that I adore reading their works.  I have the formal style that Agatha Christie used in her writing, and no matter how hard I try, I simply can’t write any other way. 
 
 S.J.: All right, Joy, if you could give just one piece of important writing advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?
    Joy: The best advice I could offer is simply to stay with it and get the writing done. Just get it done. Later, hiring a good editor is a must. But first of all, the writing has to be finished. I think that to be a good writer, a person has to be obsessed with it, obsessed with the burning desire to get those words on paper. 
 
S.J.  Okay, Joy, I'm going to make you think here. What is a favorite book you enjoyed reading and would recommend without hesitation? Why?
     Joy: Oh, there are so many! But, I will choose one of my very favorites, Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. I would recommend it to anyone. This is a magnificent story of the life of a girl from a prominent family set in the 1400s in Medieval Norway. It is a trilogy and was released first in 1920, with each story in the series released the next year. I have all three combined into one long novel. The writing is glorious, and the story is both compelling and heart-wrenching. At 1100 pages, it is a masterful tale written in elegant language. I don’t think I will ever forget the girl named Kristin Lavransdatter! 


S.J. In closing, Joy, is there anything new on the horizon for your fans to know about?  Anything we should watch out for?
     Joy: I’ve just signed a three-book contract with Oghma Creative Media based out of Arkansas! I’m very excited to be working with this group of people and their awesome authors. My novel, The Legacy of Preacher’s Cove, will be released in 2015. This is the first novel I wrote, and after making some necessary improvements, I submitted it to Oghma, and they accepted it for publication.
 
That is it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I hoped you enjoyed the interview and that you will consider adding Countenance to your reading list. I know I have. A book excerpt and Synopsis follow the purchase links. I’d like to thank Joy again for spending time with us and telling us of her views on writing and about her debut novel, Countenance available from online stores everywhere. Here are a few links to find and purchase it:  And don't forget to check out Joy’s Webpage at: ww.joyrossdavis.com:




    Links to COUNTENANCE:
http://www.amazon.com/Countenance-Joy-Ross-Davis/dp/0957412665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408726239&sr=8-1&keywords=countenance+by+joy+ross+davis
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/countenance-joy-ross-davis/1114845673?ean=9780957412668      
 
But before we go, we can’t leave without sharing a bit of Countenance for you to explore. Fortunately, Joy has shared a short excerpt and a synopsis of Countenance for you to enjoy. Take a breath and take a trip with her with reading just a bit….
Synopsis of COUNTENANCE:  Nealey Monaghan’s life is turned upside-down when a grisly multiple murder/suicide takes away her children, husband, and sister all in one night. Her faith, once something she held so dearly, is also a casualty. Numb to the world, Nealey is taken in by her charmingly eccentric Aunt Sylvie, cookbook author and  proprietress of the Playhouse Inn Bed and Breakfast in the hills of Tennessee. Hoping to help her niece find purpose and meaning in her life again, Sylvie makes Nealey a co-owner and begins teaching her the tricks of the trade…and the secrets of the house. But nothing is what it seems at the Playhouse Inn, and the arrival of a mysterious new guest has Sylvie’s friends and staff on guard, as this is a place where magic exists, and secrets must first be unlocked before the dead can rest and the living can truly heal.
"In Countenance, debut novelist Joy Ross Davis creates a suspenseful yet heartfelt story full of intrigue and unexpected revelations, where magic is made in the kitchen and angels can fall in love. Her memorable characters inhabit a home that is more than it seems, unwittingly preparing for a  final showdown where forces battle for the souls of both those who reside there and the dead who cannot move  on to the next realm."
 
Short excerpt from COUNTENANCE:  Read on….
Chapter 1 
Sylvie Wolcott sliced the last of her winter apples, gathered the peels, and dropped them into a pot of boiling water sweetened with a bit of clear corn syrup. In a smaller pan, she poured a cup of Aberlour scotch, taking a little nip first to test its taste. A second sip confirmed her choice.
“Delightful,” she said.
Into the pan with the scotch went a stick of softened butter. From a tin on the shelf by the window, she withdrew a pinch of golden powder.
“Ah, my special ingredient,” she said and sprinkled it over the simmering mixture. 
She leaned forward and inhaled the delicious aroma.
“Perfect,” she said. “Double crust apple butterscotch pie.”
She squeezed her hands together and smiled. “Oh, I believe my readers will adore it.”
Sylvie walked to the pantry to get the brown sugar and opened the big double doors. From one of the two head-high built in shelving units, she spied the sugar and lifted it off the shelf.  When the subtle scent of flowers wafted into the pantry, she hesitated.  Jasmine?
Sylvie shrugged then closed the doors.
Something on the floor by the kitchen entrance caught her attention: her suitcase, her favorite Louis Vuitton. The bulges in the sides told her it was fully packed.
“What on earth is that doing down here?” 
Atop the suitcase was a cream colored envelope with the word “Sylvie” written in script.
Sylvie picked up the envelope and took out a sheet of paper.
“Sylvie,” it read, “you must go to Nealey. She needs you. Go quickly.”
“My sweet Nealey,” Sylvie said. “What could be wrong?”
Sylvie turned the paper over but found nothing on the back. She glanced around the room for any sign of who could have left both her suitcase and the message.
The aroma of the cooking apples brought her to the stove again.
“Oh, dear, I hope they’re not overcooked,” she said as she turned off the burners.
Once again, she read the message.
“Go to Nealey. Go quickly.”
A rap at the kitchen door startled her.
“Miss Sylvie,” her driver said, “the car is parked out front. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll leave.”
For a moment, Sylvie simply stared at him.
“But how did you know I needed to leave? Who told you to bring the car around?”
He hesitated for a few seconds.
“Well, you did, Miss Sylvie, about an hour ago. You said we needed to go immediately to Kentucky to see Miss Nealey.”
 “No, I didn’t tell you that. I’m certain I didn’t.”
“But you phoned me,” he said, then pointed to the envelope. “There’s another one of those on the back seat of the car, Miss Sylvie.”
Sylvie wrung her hands.
“I’ve been in the kitchen since dawn working on this new recipe. Don’t you think I would remember if I’d phoned you? Oh, dear. Something is not right.”
The driver lowered his head.
“It sounded like you, Miss Sylvie.”
Sylvie took off her apron and laid it across the chair.
“Mercy,” she said. “I wish I knew what was happening. If there’s the slightest chance that my Nealey is in harm’s way, I must go to her. So, I will simply trust this message. It certainly isn’t the first time the unexplained has happened at this inn, and I’m quite sure it won’t be the last.”


Thanks for visiting with us. Joy, please return any time you want. It was fun. Until next month...stay safe. Be happy. Show compassion. Smile.

Regards,
S. J. Francis
In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
 A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 


 
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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Depression-A Silent Epidemic That Knows No Boundaries


Depression-A Silent Epidemic That Knows No Boundaries 

Just over a week ago, sadly, comedian and actor Robin Williams killed himself. The man had everything any person could want and more: family, friends, and a financially rewarding career. He also had something no one wants: a history of depression, an addiction to cocaine and alcohol, and the early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Rest in Peace, Mister Williams. You will be sorely missed by many. Hopefully, your death will raise awareness for those that will not seek out help.

Depression strikes many. In the early days, doctors often thought of it as a “woman’s disease”. That is until men started showing signs of it. An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression. Robin Williams was just one of them. Sadly, because of his sudden suicide, light is being shed on depression. Depression can happen to men, women, teenagers, the elderly and even in young children.

When you have depression, it's more than just feeling sad. Intense feelings of sadness and other symptoms, like losing interest in things you normally enjoy may last for a long time. Depression is a medical illness, not a sign of weakness. And it's treatable, but the trick is to seek out treatment. Are you suffering with depression? Do you know someone that is? How can you tell?

Are you depressed? If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, you may be suffering from clinical depression.

    You can’t sleep or you sleep too much.

    You can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult.

    You feel hopeless and helpless.

    You can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try.

    You have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating.

    You are much more irritable, short-tempered, or aggressive than usual.

    You’re consuming more alcohol than normal or engaging in other reckless behavior.

    You have thoughts that life is not worth living (seek help immediately if this is the case).

    Things that you enjoyed before no longer interest you.

    You suddenly act reckless and throw caution to the wind without thinking twice about it.

    Any sudden change in normal behavior may be a sign of depression. 

If you or someone you know maybe depressed, there is no reason to go it alone. Treatment is available in the form of medication, counseling, etc. If you or someone you know maybe depressed, I urge you to seek out help, from your family doctor for a referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist or a counselor. Sometimes, just talking to someone is enough to make you feel yourself again. Sometimes stronger avenues are needed such as medication, which can only be subscribed by a physician. Whatever you do, do not delay. There is no reason for you or someone you care about to isolate oneself. Seek out help! Do It now before you forget.  

Until next post....stay safe. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to others and pass it forward.

Regards,
S. J. Francis
 In Shattered Lies: "It's All About Family."  Coming in 2015 from Black Opal Books.
My Black Opal Books Author Page:
View My ShoutOut:  http://bit.ly/1r3oynM
A Book Review 4 U: abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: aconsumersview.blogspot.com
OnefortheAnimals:    onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
 
 
 
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Monday, August 4, 2014

Hello and Happy Monday!

I just started another blog also here on blogger and it is entitled A Book Review 4 U.

My goal with it is to read and write a book review for all followers to enjoy at least one book per month. Stay tuned....

So if you're a reader, you may want to visit.

If you're an author, you may want to visit here too, as I may just include your book.

Authors, if you're interested in having me read and review your book, please contact me in one of the following ways:

DM me at twitter:  https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419   

Post to Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006313201444

My linked in Page:

             http://www.linkedin.com/pub/s-j-francis/76/67b/377
 
Until my first Book Review or until I hear from you, have a great week ahead of you!
 
Regards,
S.J. Francis
     
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Friday, August 1, 2014

Hello and Happy, Happy Friday!

Welcome again to my blog! Please take a moment and read about an exciting new author. Enjoy!
Regards, S.J. Francis.

This weekend I'm pleased to share in a Book Blast for fellow Black Opal Books Author:
      
             Megan Cyrulewski
             Author of Who Am I?

Who Am I?, a memoir is her first book and to be released tomorrow, Saturday August 2, 2014.  Here in her own words from her blog:

Picture "...  I am extremely excited to announce that my first book, a memoir, will be published by Black Opal Books in 2014.   What makes my story so special?  One word:  Unbelievable.  So much has happened in the last three years of my life, that people told me I needed to write a book.

My book, Who Am I?  How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, is about my journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, stays in the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, how I managed to graduate from law school and a beautiful little girl who emerged from all of this chaos.

While I work with the wonderful people at Black Opal Books to polish and ready my book for its release on August 2, I have started a blog for those who want to follow my journey.  I am also hard at work on my first work of fiction, a legal thriller.  

Thank you to everyone for your support!










Who Am I?  How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, by Megan Cyrulewski
Megan’s book, Who Am I?  How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, is about her journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, stays in the psych ward, divorce, emotional abuse, domestic violence, law school, how she managed to graduate from law school and a beautiful little girl who emerged from all of this chaos.

Author Bio

Megan Cyrulewski has been writing short stories ever since she was ten-years-old. After attending Grand Valley State University, Megan eventually settled into a career in the non-profit sector for eight years. She decided to change careers and went back to school to get her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. While in school, she documented her divorce, child custody battle and postpartum depression struggles in her memoir. Megan lives in Michigan with her 3-year-old daughter who loves to dance, run, read, and snuggle time with Mommy. Megan also enjoys her volunteer work with various organizations in and around metro-Detroit.

Contact

Buy links

Who Am I?  How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again is available in paperback from all good booksellers. eBook versions will follow.

Excerpt

On January 18, 2012, we all convened in the courthouse for the Motion for Parenting Time hearing. My dad and I arrived with my attorney, but Tyler loved an audience so he brought his dad, step-mom, and his new on-again off-again girlfriend, Heather. Tyler walked in with his posse in tow, cocky as hell. It took all of two minutes for the judge to knock him off his feet.
The Judge addressed our respective attorneys. “Why are we here?”
“Your honor,” Tyler’s attorney began, “my client has clearly been denied his parenti—”
The Judge didn’t even let him finish. “How?” She turned to my attorney. “Don?”
“Your honor, as you can see in the divorce decree, there was supposed to be a review when the minor child turned twelve-months-old. The Defendant has ignored that review.”
“I–if I may, your honor,” Tyler’s attorney sputtered.
“I see the review in the decree. It’s here in black and white,” she told Tyler’s attorney. “What is the problem? Why didn’t you understand the review? Your client signed the divorce decree.”
Tyler’s attorney tried again. “But your honor—”
The judge cut him off. “There is to be a review conducted by the Friend of the Court referee assigned to the parties. Until then, the Defendant will continue his parenting time schedule as agreed upon in the divorce decree. Dismissed.”
And that was it. After eight police reports and numerous harassing text messages, phone calls, and e-mails, we won. As Don and Tyler’s attorney went to speak with the clerk to file the necessary paperwork, Don told us to wait for him outside the courtroom.
As we exited the courtroom, the hallway was so packed with people that my dad and I were only able to find enough space to lean against the wall. We were talking about the court proceedings when we looked up at saw Tyler and his new girlfriend standing right across from us.
“Why do you lie about everything?” Tyler screamed.
Heather walked up to me and stood about an inch from my face. “As a mother myself, you should be happy that Tyler is the father of your child.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m sorry but I don’t know you.”
She smirked. “Well you’re going to get to know me, bitch.”
Tyler made a big show of pulling her from me like I was going to punch her or something. By this time, everyone in the hallway was watching us. We were pure entertainment.
Heather continued her rant. “Two times in the psych ward, Megan? What a great mother you are.”
“Where is your mom, the real mother of our child?” Tyler screamed. “She’s the one who takes care of Madelyne.”
My dad and I tried to move away from Tyler and Heather but they followed us.
“Do you have to take a Xanax because of your anxiety?”
“Go take your Xanax and sleeping pills, you drug addict,” Tyler shouted.
Finally, Don emerged from the courtroom and pulled us into a quiet corridor. He explained that I needed to call our referee to set-up a meeting to discuss a visitation schedule. I told Don about the verbal assault by Tyler and Heather. Don said he would call Tyler’s attorney to let him know that Heather would not be allowed in my house.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Heather screamed, “See you on Sunday, Megan.”
I turned toward her and said calmly, “I don’t know you, but you are not welcome in my home.”
That night, Tyler sent me multiple texts attacking my mothering skills, my supposed drug addictions, how he was going to fight for joint custody of Madelyne, how Heather would be accompanying him for his visitations, and a barrage of other insults:
  • “Get a life already.”
  • “Don’t you have something better to do than wasting your parents’ money?”
  • “Go take your pills and relax, oh yeah, then your parents would have to watch our daughter. Oh yeah, they already do.”
  • “Go talk to your friends. Oh yeah, you don’t have any because of how crazy you are.”
  • “Interesting to know you’ve been to the hospital a couple of times. You really need to get it together.”
  • “Better go call your lawyer and make up some more stuff about me.”
  • “Don’t be mad at your sorry life.”
  • “I am sure living with Mom and Dad the rest of your life will be fun.”
  • “When you get a job, then you can pay me child support. Fun.”
I finally had to turn my phone off at midnight.


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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Happy Wednesday all! It's hump-day with Friday around the corner. Yay! Aren't you excited? Tickled Pink? glowing with enthusiasm? I am. I love weekends, especially long ones.

I have some exciting news to share. Here it goes, ready for it?



      I just signed a contract to publish my novel....

      I just signed a contract with Black Opal Books to publish my novel Shattered Lies.
Shattered Lies is a women's fiction/family saga. A story set in the deep south where old values clash with modern values; where secrets that surface can destroy the very soul of everyone involved.

      Kate Thayer has a good life as a veterinarian running the family horse farm until she uncovers an act of unimaginable treachery by those she trusted most and discovers that everything she knew about herself was a lie. Her paternal grandmother, the woman that raised her is behind a series of escalating secrets she is compelled to uncover and the more she questions the more she learns.


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Wednesday, July 16, 2014


                   Which is better? Children or Pets? The answer is in the beholder.

 

I’ve been reading a lot lately in different forms of media about couples and their choice to go childless and I say good for them.  Unfortunately, some are ridiculing those couples and their choices, the latest accusation is by the Catholic Pope Francis. All I can say is what exactly is the big deal about it? Why does it concern others that some people have children and some do not? You don’t hear anyone making a big stink about couples that choose to have children, so why point fingers at those that chose not to have them. For reasons of my own, I chose not to have children. I made that conscious decision a long time ago, just after getting married. Oh-I thought about it once or twice, but in the end, the way the world is and such, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to do it. I chose not to do it. It saddened my mother and mother-in-law at first. As time went by, they didn’t ask me when I was going to have children. Either they finally accepted it, or they figured that as time went by, I would change my mind. I didn’t. Now, family asking this question was one thing, as with friends. However, when strangers asked it used to irk me whenever someone would ask the inevitable question, “When are you two going to have children?” And to that I replied, “Never. I don’t want any.” I usually followed it with, “I don’t need children to feel whole.” Because usually the asker was a woman that went on to tell me how a woman wasn’t a whole woman until she had a child. B—sh-t! That is oh so not true. Believe me, I know. Again, I ask, what is the big deal about couples deciding to go childless? Perhaps, the way of the world scares them about bringing children into the world and it should. Perhaps, they have hereditary illnesses in their family tree that they’d rather not subject a child too, which is a smart and selfless move.

 

There are a great many children in the world and not everyone has a home to live in and a loving family to take care of them. You’d be surprised how many children live in foster care in the U.S.A. and how many should but don’t. Parenting isn’t an easy task and not everyone is cut out for it. Not everyone wants to parent or finds the need to.  So, why bother couples that chose not to have children? I say, don’t. As a childless person, I’m proud to say that I don’t have any children. I chose not to have them. As a result, my time is my own. I’m never at loss for quiet, private time, or piece of mind. I can spend my money as I please without worrying about buying clothes and saving for college tuition. I don’t have to endure chaos every morning and every afternoon with children in it. I don’t have to play chauffer or wet nurse. I don’t have to deal with dirty, stinking diapers. And, I don’t mean any insult to those that chose to have children. Be kind enough to accept my decision not to. I love animals. I prefer to have animals in my home over children. There’s nothing wrong with me for that and it’s my choice. I love children, just not enough to have my own. I love my nieces and nephews and being able to say goodbye and go home and live my life when I grow tired of their whining and begging and chaos. I’ve been around enough children to be extremely grateful I chose not to have any. Perhaps, in the olden days when Moses and Abraham walked the earth, we mere humans were here to reproduce, but not anymore. There are too many of us as there is. Many live in squalor and have nothing to eat on a daily basis. Many live in shanties and can’t read or write. Many live in poverty. And this is just in the U.S.A.

 

So, what’s wrong with being childless by choice and having pets instead? Absolutely nothing. I applaud those that said I could but didn’t. I applaud those that said maybe, but in the end said no thanks. I further applaud those that said, I might, but I shouldn’t. Time and time again, research data has shown that childless couples have happier marriages. I’m not surprised. I see that among neighbors, friends and family, even acquaintances.   Think about it. A relationship with a pet, whether it is a dog, cat, lizard, horse, and snake-whatever is not to be taken lightly. Pets are loving and loyal. They’ll never cheat on you. They’ll never whine about you not understanding them and lock you out of their rooms.  They’ll never yell at you for not expecting their privacy. They’ll never ask to drive the car, forget to put gasoline in it or crash it into a tree. They’ll never do drugs or commit a heinous crime. They’ll never take you for granted and they’re a great deal easier to housebreak. Why the sudden need to criticize? Frankly, there is no need, except for no other reason is that it goes against the norm and that fact scares the heck out of a great many people.  Or maybe, perhaps, those with children are a bit jealous of those without. Whatever the reason, let each other be. Accept each other and don’t criticize. Which is better? Children or Pets? Only you can answer that: The answer is in the heart of the beholder.
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