"Book Sale Treasures!"

My husband, Dion, takes me to a huge book sale every year, right around my birthday. It's at the Auburn Mall and they have hundreds of books. This year, Jon went with us and we had a great time. After we picked out the books we wanted (I would have taken more if we had more money to spare!), we picked out some flowers to plant in our windows boxes. The house is going to look really pretty when I'm done. I can't wait! Here are the book sale treasures that I selected:



Meet the Bishop
sisters—Two
women at the
crossroads of life.
On the outside, the Bishop girls appear as different as sisters can be. Mackenzie is a mahogany-haired beauty who has inherited the determined nature of her Army officer father. Her infectious sense of humor and rare gift of imagination are often hidden by a reserved manner. Radiant, blonde Delancey views the world through an artist's eyes, drawing what she sees with wide sweeps of emotion. Her charming personality easily wins friends and admirers, but also leaves her sensitive heart vulnerable to hurt.

As the girls grow, unexpected difficulties threaten their world. Will their life-changing experiences bring them together or tear them apart? Where will they find the love they seek?

A moving story of the tender bond of sisterhood and God's promise of redemption for all who seek Him.



"A marriage is always two intersecting stories."

This realization comes perhaps too late to the husband of Etna Bliss—a man whose obsession with his young wife begins at the moment of their first meeting, as he helps Etna and her companion escape from a fire in a hotel restaurant, and culminates in a marriage of secrets and betrayal.

Written with the intelligence and grace that are hallmarks of Anita Shreve's bestselling novels, this gripping tale of desire, jealousy, and loss is peopled by unforgettable characters as real as the emotions that bring them together.

"UNPUTDOWNABLE."
—Helen Falconer.Guardian





In a stark, troubling, yet ultimately triumphant celebration of self-determination, awarding-winning A. Manette Ansay recreates a stifling world of guilt and pain, and the tormented souls who inhabit it. It is 1972 when circumstance carries Ellen Grier and her family back to Holly's Field, Wisconsin. Dutifully accompanying her newly-unemployed husband, Ellen has brought her two children into the home of her in-laws on Vinegar Hill—a loveless house suffused with the settling dust of bitterness and routine—where calculated cruelty is a way of life preserved and perpetuated in the service of a rigid, exacting and angry God. Behind a facade of false piety, there are sins and secrets in this place that could crush a vibrant young woman's passionate spirit. And here Ellen must find the strength to endure, change, and grow in the all-pervading darkness that threatens to destroy everything she is and everyone she loves.

"SWEET, TENDER,
AND CHILLING."
—Washington Post Book World



In a few days, I will tell you what the rest of my "Book Sale Treasures" are. Some of them are very old books that I'll have to take photos of, so that you can see what they look like. One of them looks really neat—I can't wait for you to see it!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"What's-Up-Wednesday Guest Interview!"

First, I would like to say “Good morning” to everyone! Then I would like to welcome you all to another segment of the “What’s-Up-Wednesday” Guest Interview. Our special guest for today is my friend and fellow writer, Leona G. Shankle, otherwise known as “Dellgirl”. Leona is the author of the book, "At The Starting Gate" (a collection of assorted poetry and short stories ranging from humorous to serious and inspirational) and the author of the blog by the same name, located here. Please help me to welcome Leona to my blog.

Welcome to my blog, Leona. I am so honored that you would be my guest today. Please make yourself comfortable and I’ll get right down to asking you some questions. I know that my readers are very anxious to learn all about you, so I’ll begin with something easy.

Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself, including how long you have been writing?
























I am the mother of three grown kids; two boys with a girl in the middle; I've been married to the same man for 40 years this past July 12th; I'm a retired teacher; and I'm a lover of life in “La-la-land” (which I only experienced for a very short time while the kids were young).

I have been writing since the first grade. However, I started my writing life as a plagiarist. Let me explain: after I learned to write, I copied everything I saw. I copied every single thing that Miss Hawkins, my teacher, wrote. I copied the stories straight from our first reading book and made tiny books of my own. Later, after I learned to read and to put words together into meaningful sentences, I made up my own stories and made books, complete with traced illustrations.

By fifth and sixth grade I became disillusioned with the inaccuracies of my tracings and ventured out into free-hand drawings. Writing took a back seat, and drawing was my new passion.

I didn’t get back to writing until after I was married and had two little ones. It was then that I started writing articles and short stories, only to put them in folders and store them away. When the kids reached junior high school, I braved the bold new world of submitting some of my articles, jokes, and short stories to magazines. But then, life took over the reins and it was football games; cheerleading practice; chaperoning this or that trip; proms; and PTA meetings. Writing was again put on hold.

In early December of 2007, my daughter, Jordyn, urged me to get started writing that book I always talked about. I started writing it in January 2008. The rest is history because I am now a published writer.


Was there a light bulb moment that inspired you into becoming a writer?

My “light bulb moment” happened on my first day of school, September 1953. I watched, mesmerized, as my teacher wrote on the cover of my “Big Chief Tablet”. The “moment”, still frozen in time, is the inspiration for the poem in my book, “At The Starting Gate”, that pays tribute to my first grade teacher.

Here is the excerpt from my poem:

“The Agony of Waiting”

Miss Hawkins calls us
one by one
to her desk with our things.

I watch
eager with excitement
waiting.
On the front cover
of my tablet,
she neatly prints
my name, my grade,
her name —
Miss Mattie L. Hawkins.









Transfixed, I stare
as her hand flows
gracefully
across the page,
letter by letter until
my information is complete.

From that moment on, I was hooked on writing.

What genre would you say is your favorite?

When it comes to my reading preferences, I have no favorite genre; I love them all. In earlier years, before computers and the Internet, I avidly read everything from historical novels to trade publications, all the way to the ingredients on the back of cereal boxes.

As a writer, I am not established in a particular genre – yet. My first and only published book, “At The Starting Gate”, is a collection of my poetry and short inspirational pieces. In the future, I plan to try my hand at fantasy, mystery, and romance novels; short stories; and maybe even a thriller.

When you write, do you use outlines?

Not an outline per se, but I will at some point. What I do use are bulleted lists, which consist of my title, main idea, and some supporting details.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, when life is not dictating the terms by dragging me in a direction other than the one I want to travel in, I am working on my second book. It is taking on a life of its own, in the form of another collection of poetry, inspirational pieces, and short stories. This is a far cry from the 900-page novel that I proclaimed I would write many, many years ago. But, it’s all good. At least now I am writing, instead of “talking about” writing.

I also have a Daily Devotional Book in the works. This will be a group project with the ladies of my Wednesday morning Bible class. I proposed the idea that we each share an inspirational story to include in the book. The ladies were receptive and really excited about having our very own devotional book. At the moment, it remains in the “idea” stage, and will remain there until September, when everyone returns from summer vacations and other summer obligations.


I really love the sound of your “Daily Devotional Book”. That sounds like a wonderful idea. What other hobbies/interests do you have?

I love to read, anything and everything. I enjoy word games and puzzles. Again, before computers and the Internet, my passions were sewing, crafts, as well as teaching and tutoring.

In addition to that, I love jewelry-making, quilting, antiquing, and upholstery.


Do you have someone special that you look up to or a hero in your life?

There are teachers and leaders I respect, admire, and view as an influential source of inspiration.

However, my number one hero is my daddy. When I look back at where my dad came from, at the challenges he faced on a daily basis, the obstacles he had to overcome, and the difficulties he must have encountered, teaching himself to function at a higher level, I am amazed.

It was not until I was grown, married and had children of my own that I realized he was “a man ahead of his time”. Who is my hero? My daddy —
Hermise Mason Wilkins (July 25, 1918 — September 3, 1988).

"Rest in peace, Daddy!"

What is the story behind the adorable name of “Dellgirl”?

I am the oldest of four children, with three younger brothers. I was “Daddy’s girl” and, although he is gone, I am still “Daddy’s girl”.

Daddy was an extraordinary man, a self-taught carpenter beyond compare, an uneducated man who had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Dell is part of my middle name, Glendell, and everyone else simply called me Dell. Daddy called me "DellGirl", but sometimes he shortened it to DG.



Who are your favorite authors?

Due to the fact that I love so many different types and styles of writing, it would be impossible to name them all. However, for starters, the following names come to mind: Edgar Allen Poe, Spencer Johnson, Maya Angelou, Alice walker, Emily Dickinson, Jane Austen, and Ernest Hemingway.


What are your favorite writing links and your favorite writing resources?

A few of my favorite writing links and writing resources are:
 Write Better at Writer’s Digest
 A Book Inside — How to Write and Publish A Book
 Sharing With Writers and Readers
 Daily Writing Tips
 Grammar Book.com


If you could only share one thing, what is the best advice that you would want to share with a fellow writer?

The one piece of advice I would impart to a writer sounds naively simple. At first glance, one would think I am being condescending. I am not. The one thing a would-be-writer must do is …

Just WRITE! Whatever it is you think you want to write, write it. Write until you have a nice stack, then and only then, edit and revise.



Your first order of business is to — WRITE!

That advice is not condescending at all. It’s excellent advice. In fact, I make it a practice to wait until I’ve written several chapters before I even think about editing, so you are right on track.

I want to thank you so much for joining us here today, Leona. We have really enjoyed the interview and I'm sure that my readers will be visiting you at your blog here and your website here from now on. I hope you'll come back for a return visit when you publish your next book. God bless you and all the best to you, Leona!


NOTE TO MY READERS:
I just received my own, personal copy of Leona's book and I'm in the process of reading it now. So far, I can tell you that I'm glad that I bought the book. It's filled with delightful little stories and poems that obviously bring back vivid memories to the writer and conjure up sweet pictures for the reader. I especially like "The Joys of Being A Mechanic's Wife", "The Last Cookie", "The Friday Afternoon Storyteller", "The Bench By The Back Door", and "It's Time To Fly." Actually, I have just hunted and pecked throughout the book because I don't want to finish it all at once. It's really a very cute little book.

If you would like to know more about Leona and her publishing company, or where you can purchase her book, please feel free to visit her website, here.

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I hope you enjoyed the interview and be sure to come back next Wednesday for my interview with the mysterious fiction writer, "Aylerion".

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Eyes Like Stars Giveaway!"

Summary:
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has lived for as long as she can remember in the Theatre Illuminata – a magical place where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. She is not a player herself, and when management thinks she’s starting to upset the balance of the theatre, she’s tasked with making an invaluable contribution or leaving. So Beatrice decides to do what she knows best – stage a play. But it’s not going to be easy, and there are forces at work against her…

There will be one winner who will win the signed, hardcover copy of "Eyes Like Stars".

How to get entries:
+1 if you comment here
+2 if you follow this blog(via RSS Feed)
+2 if you blog about Traveling to Teens or this contest
+3 if you snag one of these buttons

Open to anyone! Ends July 31.

"Announcing the Winner of the Contest for a FREE Book!"

"Announcing the
Contest Winner"
for a FREE copy of
Kathyrn Lilley's debut novel,
"Dying To Be Thin: A Fat City Mystery"


The Winner Is:
Elizabeth Mills

Congratulations, Elizabeth!


~NOTE~
The Correct Answer Is:
"Makeovers Can Be Murder"

"Announcements...plus: Upcoming Events You Don't Want To Miss!"

I've decided to extend the ending date for the contest for a chance to win a FREE copy of Kathryn Lilley's debut novel, "Dying To Be Thin: A Fat City Mystery". Please read my review of the book and the contest rules, on my blog, here.

DON'T FORGET: The contest ENDS will now end at midnight on Sunday, the 12th of July...so get those entries in before it's too late!

The winner will be personally notified and the name will be announced on this blog on Monday, 13 July 2009. "Good Luck, everyone!"






The next item on the calendar is:

On Wednesday, 15 July 2009, for our What's-Up-Wednesday Guest Interview segment, we will be interviewing Leona G. Shankle, the author of "At The Starting Gate", which is a collection of assorted poetry and short stories ranging from humorous to serious and inspirational.

This is going to be a very interesting interview, so be sure that you don't miss it! Mrs. Shankle is a very down-to-earth and inspiring person, and it will be just like we've known each other for years when we do our interview. We had a great time!






One more thing: Have a safe and wonderful 4th of July weekend, everyone!



Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"A 'Gone With The Wind' Anniversary"

Today is the 73rd anniversary of the publishing of my all-time favorite book (and my husband's), Margaret Mitchell's classic, romantic drama, "Gone With The Wind." It was published on June 30, 1936 by MacMillan Publishing Company.

The epic story of "Gone With The Wind" was Margaret Mitchell's first and only published book, and it took her over ten years to write it. Sadly, she died when she was hit by a speeding automobile while attempting to cross the street; some say it is because she stepped out into the road without looking. She had confessed for years that she had a feeling that she was going to die in an automobile accident someday. How tragic that her own prophecy was fulfilled.

"Gone With The Wind", which is the story about the life of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of an Irish immigant plantation owner, and her struggles during the American Civil War and Reconstruction, has sold over 30 million copies and has also won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

In 1939, David O. Selznick went on to produce the blockbuster version of "Gone With The Wind", starring: Vivien Leigh; Clark Gable; Olivia de Havilland; Leslie Howard; Alicia Rhett; Thomas Mitchell; Barbara O'Neil; Ellen Keyes; Anne Rutherford; George Reeves; Fred Crane; Hattie McDaniel; Butterfly McQueen; and Oscar Polk. Some of the notable Oscar awards won by/nominated for that film and some of the actors/actresses are:

• Won — Vivien Leigh — Best Actress in a Leading Role


• Won — Hattie McDaniel — Best Actress in a Supporting Role


• Won — Victor Fleming — Best Director


• Won — Sidney Howard — Best Writing, Screenplay


• Nominated — Clark Gable — Best Actor in a Leading Role


• Nominated — Olivia deHavilland — Best Actress in a Supporting Role


• Nominated — Max Steiner — Best Music, Original Score


• Nominated — Thomas T. Moulton (Samuel Goldwyn SSD) — Best Sound, Recording


and finally...

• Won — Gone With The Wind — Best Picture

If you have not read this book, you are missing the most wonderful book ever written. Every page is filled with action, adventure, drama and sometimes even romance. Trust me — you are not going to want to put this book down. It is so much better than the movie ever dreamed of being, and if you want to learn how to write so that you can keep your readers spellbound, then this is the guide you should follow.

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please check out my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Cynde's Tuesday Morning Book Review"

As an aspiring writer who had lost over 100 pounds through diet and willpower myself, I was very anxious to read Kathryn Lilley’s debut novel entitled “Dying To Be Thin: A Fat City Mystery”. I am pleased to report that I am delighted with the story, and as an added bonus, the diet tips that she offered throughout the book were authentic, helpful and even witty.

Smart, pretty, and plus-sized Kate Gallagher accepted an assignment working freelance for a small, local television station in Durham, North Carolina after losing both her job and her boyfriend in the span of a week while still living in her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.

Then, instead of starring exclusively in a television special about her transformation from “a beast” to “a beauty”, she would now also have to work undercover to get the scoop on who, only a day after her arrival, had murdered Dr. Hoffman, the diet guru in charge of the weight-loss clinic where Kate would be staying.

Depicting Kate as desirable to the men in this story, even though she was quite a bit overweight, was an enchanting surprise. Not only does it amaze Kate that they would see her as attractive, but at the same time, to portray obese individuals in such a positive light is a welcome departure from the norm.

The action in this captivating mystery is fast-paced with no questions left unanswered at the end, plus it kept me guessing “whodunit” all the way through until almost the last, agonizing minute, which is unusual for me. In addition to that, the characters are likeable as well as entertaining, and I am looking forward to reading the next Kate Gallagher mystery, which is entitled “A Killer Workout”.

Before I forget, I have to tell you about another one of my favorite parts of “Dying To Be Thin”. Kathryn has added a cute little section to the back of the book called “Glossary of Durham Dieters’ Terms”. This glossary includes words and phrases with their definitions, including my choice for the two cutest ones, which are:

BSP = Born Skinny Person ~and~ WCP = Weight Challenged Person

In conclusion, I think that this is an excellent debut book for Kathryn Lilley. I enjoyed every word of it and I think you would, too. If you don’t go out and buy it, you’ll be missing out on a well-written, light-hearted mystery, and if you do purchase it, you’ll be so glad that you did. Thank you.



~CONTEST~

To win a free copy of Kathryn Lilley's debut novel entitled:
"Dying To Be Thin: A Fat City Mystery"
all that you need to do is
answer the following question correctly:
What is the name of Kathryn Lilley's new book that is being released in 2009?

The contest ends at midnight on Sunday, 12 July 2009. The winning name will be selected from all the correct entries received. (Please be sure to include your email address or the url for your blog with your entry, so that I can get in contact with you in the event that you are the winner.) Best Wishes to all of you!

Please submit your entries here





Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Writer's Image Prompt!"

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There are a lot of great writers out there that tune in to this blog, but never chime in. I'm going to post a little story to go with this image prompt and hopefully some of you will feel comfortable enough to critique it. I know it's missing a lot, so please feel free to flex your "editing muscles." I don't take criticisms as personal attacks--I see them as learning tools. Have fun!

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One day a girlfriend of mine from school told me that she thought my parents looked like they must have come from Hollywood, and I cried my eyes out. However, as I watched them with their arms around each other that morning, I could see what she was talking about.

My father was a well-muscled man who stood six feet four inches tall, with an olive-colored complexion, and a head full of thick, wavy, dark brown hair. He had hooded, dark brown eyes; deep dimples on both cheeks; and a cleft chin that finished off his classic movie star looks to a tee.

By contrast, my mother was like a porcelain-skinned doll, with thick masses of golden-blonde locks that hung down past her slender waist. Her heavily-lashed, big blue eyes were a perfect compliment to her rose-colored, heart-shaped lips that were drawn into an inevitable smile whenever my father entered the room.

"It's a beautiful day for a picnic, honey," my mother had said, smiling up into my father's twinkling eyes. "Want to pack a lunch and take the kids somewhere special?"

"I think that would be a great idea, sweetheart”, he had answered. "Ruth can help you get Amanda and Miranda ready while I call the office and tell them that I won't be in today. Then we'll head out for Moon Rock Park."

I could not believe my ears! Daddy was going to play hooky from the corporate law firm that he worked in and spend the day with Mommy, my twin and me. That also meant that my mother was taking time off from writing her next book, which was something she almost never did. My heart was racing so fast that I felt dizzy as I ran up the stairs to tell my sister. The horrible butterflies that I always got in my stomach at the mention of Moon Rock Park had returned, but I had decided that it was best to keep that to myself.

"Miranda! Hurry up and get dressed! Daddy is taking us on a picnic," I said, pulling her bedcovers down to the bottom of the bed, which in turn caused her to shiver and dive back under the covers again.

Miranda always liked to stay in bed until Ruth, our mother's office assistant, came and helped her to get dressed. Ruth was quite a bit younger than our mother, but she was still too old to play with us, so we just settled for thinking of her as our aunt or maybe even an honorary older sister, because she was part of the family now. I didn't let her help me get dressed anymore. I thought it was high time we should be getting ready by ourselves! After all, we were seven years old; we weren't babies anymore!

Presently, there was a knock at our bedroom door. "Come on in” I said.

Ruth entered and smiled sweetly at me. "Good morning, Mandy," she said, as she kissed me on the cheek. She always smelled of vanilla, and her happiness to see us appeared to be genuine. "Is Randy awake yet?"

"Yes, and the little mole has been waiting for you," I answered in a sing-songy voice. Ruth smiled as her ritual with Randy began.

An hour later, we were well on our way, having left Ruth in charge of our home, while she also finished editing and typing rewrites, the station wagon was loaded with goodies, and as Randy colored in her coloring book, I contented myself by looking out the window, watching the world fly by.

My butterflies were gradually getting stronger the closer we got to the park. The doctor they had sent me to for counselling said that, even though I had always loved picnics, I must resent all the attention that Miranda was getting during our family get-togethers, to the point that it made me anxious, but that wasn't it at all! I tried to tell him that it had something to do with Moon Rock Park. He wouldn't listen to me, but I know I'm right!

"Are you positive that it's safe for us to go to the park, David?" Mother had whispered to my father.

"According to the newspapers, those disappearances were hoaxes”, he answered.

"Yes, but you know how our Government is. They cannot be trusted to give the full story, can they? she asked.

"It's so hard to tell. The Government's findings are so thorough and believable, yet that family's story about their loved ones' vanishing was so compelling. I'm just not sure what to believe, Cathy," he said, frowning.

"Maybe we should take them somewhere else, and then we won't have to worry if the reports were truthful or not", she replied.

"And disappoint the twins when that's their favorite place to go in the entire world?" he asked. "We've taken the girls to that park dozens of times and nothing bad has ever happened. But, hey, if you want some headline-seeking news hound who sees aliens behind every tree to run our lives, then..." His voice trailed off, and then he glared at my mother. I was shocked at how mean he could be sometimes.

"I didn't mean it in that way, David," my mother said, as she retrieved her embroidered handkerchief from her purse. With small, dainty motions, she dabbed at the tears that had stolen their way down her flawless cheeks, plus the ones that were threatening to spill from her huge, azure eyes, while my father fought hard to keep his gaze on the road instead of on her exquisite profile, like he had wanted.

"I'm sorry, honey," he pleaded. "I knew exactly what you meant. It's just that it's so seldom that I have a day off with you and the girls, and I wanted to make it memorable, if we can." He reached over, squeezed her hand, and then they smiled at each other as if in some kind of secret agreement.

I listened closely while they talked some more because I did not want to miss a thing, when all of a sudden, I had to blink my eyes, then rub them for good measure. My mother and father were fading in and out of view, right before my eyes! I held my breath, then grabbed for Randy's hand out of fear. When Randy turned to look up at me, I let out the breath I wasn't aware that I had still been holding and asked, "Can you see me alright?"

"Sure I can, why?" she asked, perplexed.

"I was just checking, that's all”, I answered, with my heart beating so fast I thought it would explode right out of my chest. My butterflies were doing somersaults, and I knew something wasn't right, but I was afraid if I mentioned it to Mommy or Daddy, they might call off the picnic. I closed my eyes to calm myself.

Within minutes, we had arrived at the park. My mother turned to look at us from her place in the front seat and said, "We're here, girls."

While everyone else chitchatted happily, I looked around to see if anything else looked odd or seemed out of place. I felt a cold chill run up and down my spine as I turned to look back at my family who were all seated on the picnic blanket, setting out our lunch fixings. It was as if I were looking at a snapshot of from our album that I had never seen before; it was hard to tear my eyes away. I had thought that I was feeling strange because I was so hungry, so I mistakenly dismissed the warning signals that I had been getting throughout the day, and when I thought back on it later, I regretted not listening to my instincts.

"Don't wander too far off, Amanda”, my mother had called to me. "Lunch is almost ready."

"I won't, Mother”, I had answered. Then as I turned, I saw the most beautiful wild flowers imaginable, off in the distance, across the road that lead into the park. All of the sudden, I was overcome with an overwhelming sense that I had to have those flowers right then!

I scurried across the pavement, with the sole thought of grabbing those pretty posies and the joy of being able to present them to my mother as a gift. When I bent over to pick them for her, I realized, just as it did at Christmastime, that each breath I took looked like a puffy smoke-cloud in the air, yet the sun still shone brightly. What was happening?

The butterflies in my stomach were instantly replaced by a low humming that frightened me, and that I did not understand. I quickly turned back around, because I wanted my mommy. I started to run, and when I at long last looked up, I saw that everyone had disappeared!

"Mommy? Daddy? Where are you?" Tears were streaming down my cheeks, and it was difficult for me to see. "Randy? Are you here?" But I knew that she was gone, too, because I couldn't feel her presence anymore, in that special way that twins do. Something had come and taken my family from me. As I scanned the area, I noticed that they had also taken our car; our picnic blanket; our goodies; it looked like they had taken just about everything; and they had even taken the trees. And now I was all alone.

I sobbed and sobbed for the longest time, until I swallowed hard over the lump that had formed in my throat. With a tight grip on Mother’s flowers, I walked at a steady pace in the direction from which we had all come earlier that morning, praying as each minute passed, that I would find my family and our home, before it became dark.

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Those of you that would like to comment on or critique my story, or even write a story of your own (I would love that!), please "click" below at the spot indicated for comments, or at this spot here, marked for comments, and enjoy yourself, ok?

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Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:

Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Writer's Image Prompt!"

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Randall Lawrence wasn't sure just how long he would be able to continue cupping his hands like that. The tears were running down his face from shear exhaustion. It had probably been close to 6 hours since the spell had been placed on him, so that they could abduct his wife, and take her to King Abdali's fortress.

What would happen to Rebecca if he did let go, and dropped the water into the stream? If only he could be sure, then he would know what to do. How was he to rescue her, if his hands were in a sense "tied," and he could not get help?

Just then, his brother, Aaron came through the clearing. "Hey, what have you got there?"

One look at Randy's face, and he dived to his knees. "How can I help? What in h--l happened?"

"They took Becky," he cried.

Aaron still didn't understand what was happening. "But what's this? How can this be?" he said, as he saw the mosque clearly reflected in the cupped water of Randy's hands.

"A spell--and I can't hold out much longer."
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Let's have some fun here. Maybe someone can add a little to this story, then someone else can add a little more. Or, if you like, you can write your own story, because I must admit, this isn't very good. If no one has added anything to it by the time I get home from the drs., I may just change the story altogether. So...I hope you have some fun!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"The 'What's-Up-Wednesday' Guest Interview!"

Welcome to another segment of the “What’s-Up-Wednesday” Guest Interview. Our guest today is my friend and fellow fiction writer, Pamela MacLean, who is also a member of Live Journal’s “SummerWrite2” Writing Challenge Group. Help me welcome Pam to my blog:


Hi, Pam! I am so glad that you agreed to do this interview today. I really think that our readers will enjoy getting to know you better, and this is the place to do it. Let’s start out with the basics. Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself, including how long you have been writing?

I'm 22 years old and I’m also a kindergarten teacher. Currently, I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. In the fall, I'll be starting work on my masters of Education in Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy. I was born and raised on the coast of South Carolina. I have one sister, whom I'm very close to. I started writing at a young age. I can remember writing stories as early as middle school. My sister and I enjoyed playing out stories with our Barbie dolls when we were younger.

Wow! I'm very impressed! It always makes me happy to see a young person who is actually accomplishing something with their life. Good for you! So, what genre is your favorite?

It’s definitely fantasy. I love living and writing in a made-up world.

Was there a light bulb moment that inspired you to become a writer?

There was never really a light bulb moment for writing. It's always been something that I enjoy doing. There have been several light bulb moments for stories that I've worked on, though.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am working on two projects with my sister. The first project is one that we have been working on for about five or six years. It started out as a simple novel about magic and has since then evolved into what will probably be a series of novels revolving around magic and a world we've created together. The second project is a single novel. The focus of this novel is a love story between a werewolf and a human. It's a bit more complicated than that, but that's the gist of it.

You’ve mentioned your sister a couple times now; what is her name and what can you tell us about her, just to satisfy our curiosity?

Her name is Crystal and she’s a junior in college. She’s almost three years younger than me and the most important thing in my life. We are nearly inseparable, and do lots of things together, including writing.

I guess now would be a good time to give a 'shout out' to Crystal. "Hey, Crystal! How are you, girl? Nice to 'meet' you!"

OK...back to the questions. When you write, do you use outlines?

I rarely do. I use extensive notes about the characters and their back stories, but rarely ever do I use an outline. I like the ending to be a surprise.

Who are your favorite authors?

Jane Austen (especially Pride and Prejudice); Neil Gaiman (Stardust); Sophie Kinsella (Shopaholic series); Stephanie Meyer (Twilight series), Margaret Mitchell (Gone with the Wind)

I see you have Margaret Mitchell — "Gone With The Wind" on your list. "Gone With The Wind" is my all-time favorite book — something exciting is happening on just about every page; it's incredible! What are your favorite writing links and your favorite writing resources?

It varies, depending on what I'm writing. I do enjoy several groups on Live Journal and the opportunities that they provide.

Do you or have you ever belonged to a critique group? If not, would you consider it, or are you against them?

I took two fiction writing classes in college and we critiqued each other's work. That's the closest I've come. Critique groups can be helpful because they let you see other's opinions on your work. However, they can also be very discouraging for a writer.

What is the one piece of advice that you would impart to a writer if you could only share one thing?

Let your imagination be the guide. Don't box yourself in too early.


That's good advice! Well, I want to thank you so much for joining us, Pam. I hope you enjoyed yourself today, and maybe you and your sister (pictured together, above, at one of the Renaissance Faires that they frequent.) would like to come and be interviewed together, just as soon as you publish your first novel? What do you think?

That would be great. I know she’d be happy to do it. We’ve got to get that first novel finished yet.

And I’m sure you will. I’ve had a great time, and I’m sure my readers have enjoyed it, too. Good luck with your writing, and we look forward to see you and your sister both on here, together, next time! Again, thank you so much for doing this interview, Pam.

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Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Farewell to Rufus and Momma Kitty!"

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Two very special pets from the world of "books and writers" have gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

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First, there is Rufus, who was has been known as Amazon.com's "shortest volunteer worker." He was owned by Amazon's former editor-in-chief and their principal engineer, and dating all the way back to the early days, he would accompany them to work every day.

Rufus had a wonderful life! He was able to sit in on all the meetings he wanted (something he loved to do!); stroll the hallways; take leisurely naps in his crate; he perfected his game of hallway tennis-ball-chase; and somehow he was able to charm people into giving him extra treats and goodies, whenever they saw him. Ah, to live a dog's life.

As soon as Amazon customers discovered that there was an "Amazon dog," he was overwhelmed with presents, and he was particularly delighted to receive an offering from his good friends in Guam. His celebrity status never changed him, though. He was always the same old lovable Rufus.

He was most proud of his accomplishment of starting up the dog-friendly culture that is present at Amazon.com today. Employees can thank Rufus for being able to bring their four-legged friends with them to work today, something that most companies wouldn't even dream of allowing their employees to do.

Amazon is sure going to miss you, Rufus!

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The next pet that has gone on to "meet the sweet reward" is my own precious baby, Momma Kitty. You probably don't remember the article that I wrote on April 3rd about writer's block, but I wrote a whole paragraph about her in that article, here.

I have been dreading this, ever since they re-blacktopped the road out in front of our house. Momma was so good about looking both ways before crossing the road, but there had been some strange, stray dogs out here lately that had been chasing her and the other kitties, and I knew that she had been depending on being able to hear the vehicles coming, just like in the old days, but she wouldn't be able to any more. Now the road was all smooth, and the vehicles travelled along it quietly. How could I warn her and make her understand that? I was frantic!

I tried to tell her, but she didn't understand what I was trying to say. She just purred and looked up at me with love in her eyes, enjoying being held by me and listening to the sound of my voice as tears ran down my cheeks.

Days passed by and she was ok, and this gave me hope. Then days turned into weeks and I was cautiously optimistic, but still I worried and prayed. I couldn't bear the thought of living without her. Then the weeks turned into months and I thought maybe, just maybe the hurdle had been crossed, but the months never had the chance to make it to a whole year. In less than ten months, my Momma Kitty, the only kitty to have survived the traffic on this treacherous road for anything over a year, was gone.

For eleven years, I was the one that she had loved the most. I was the one she ran to when she had boo-boos from fighting with the other cats; she would sit by the door and "meow" until I came out to see what the problem was, because that wasn't something she'd normally do. She was such a good kitty, and we could read each other. I had never had that before--not in my entire life--and now she was gone. I was going to miss her terribly.

My new neighbor, Sheila, had called me on the phone that morning, and when I answered, instantly I had been able to tell something was very wrong by the sound of her voice.

"Oh...uh, hi, Cynde," she stammered. "Is Dion around?"

"Hi, Sheila," I answered her, immediately on alert. "No, Dion went back to work this morning. Can I help you with something?" My husband had just returned to work after taking a few days vacation, and for some reason, she obviously didn't want to talk to me.

"Well, not exactly," she said. There was silence on the line.

"Is something wrong, Sheila?"

"I'm on my way to an appointment, and I'm going to be late," she said, agitated. Silence again.

I had been laying down because I didn't feel good, it was around 11:30 a.m., and I still wasn't dressed. Something told me to get up and start slamming on some clothes as we spoke, which I did. "Sheila, what is it?" I asked, alarmed.

"Well, I was just going to get out into my car, and I happened to notice that one of those cats are out in the road."


(The kitties in the photo above are Momma's last litter, from left to right: Luke, Capote, Grady, and Duke)

My first thought was, oh no, I bet it's Duke. All we had left now were three yellow tiger kitties: Momma Kitty and two of her kittens, both boys, Capote and Duke. Then Sheila shattered my world!

"I think it's that old one," she said.

I think I may screamed, "Oh no, not Momma!" but I'm not sure. I don't remember exactly what happened after that. I do remember thanking her and having a hard time getting her to get off the phone for some reason. Now that I think about it, I may have upset her with my devastated reaction, but I'm not sure. I just know that I had to get off the phone so I could finish dressing so that I could see if it was Momma; and she if she was alive; and then see if I could help her.

A few minutes later, I was dressed and ready, then I flew out the door. The very first thing I noticed were the two kittens, Capote and Duke, looking out towards the road, and howling, as if they were physically in pain. I have never seen anything quite like it, except when cats were in heat, and they definitely were. not! Just the sound of it made my heart race. Then I turned and saw that it surely was Momma lying there, so I ran with the soft towel that I had brought with me, and went to check her out.

Oh, how it grieved me to see what had happened to her. A car had driven right over her, and I won't describe the whole thing to you, but yes, she had died instantly, thank God. I said a prayer for her, then scooped her up, and tenderly wrapped her up in her shroud, then I cradled her in my arms, and took her to her favorite spot in our front yard so that she could rest there, covered, until Dion got home to bury her.

I went in to call Dion at work, and when I looked outside, both the kittens were nuzzling her. Then, each one of them got as close as they could, one of either side, and they both snuggled up next to her, and fell asleep. I totally lost it then. I told Dion what had happened, and I cried so much that I got the hiccups. I had to assure him that I was going to be ok, because he was coming home to be with me, he was so worried about me. That's the way he is; we love each other so much. I couldn't have gotten through this without him.

I know that some of you will think that this is ridiculous, but I loved her so much. I loved her in a way that I find hard to explain. I'm home every day, all by myself, and it gets so lonely, so I talked to Momma, for hours...and she listened happily, without complaint. When she saw me coming, she would literally run to greet me. And the night before she died, she came into the house on her own, and went looking for me.

I had just gotten out of the shower and Dion was drying me off, so she must have heard my voice. Dion had left the kitchen door open by mistake when he carried some things in from the car, and when he came in to check to see how I was doing with my shower, he just dropped what he was doing to help me dry off.

Then we both heard, "Meow!" "Meow!" and I opened the bathroom door just in time to see my poor little Momma Kitty looking more distraught than I had ever seen her in her entire life. I bent down, gently pet her head, and said, "how did you get in here, sweetheart?" She immediately responded by blinking her eyes at me, then wrapping herself around my legs as she weaved in and out, purring loudly as she did so. Oh, how I loved the way she talked to me. She was never too embarrassed to say "I love you, Mommy," no matter where we were or who was there.

Momma had basically been a feral cat, but she let me do anything I wanted with her, and she was the almost the same with Dion. We were her two favorite people in the world, but anybody else...and she took off like a shot! She had never come into the house that far before...it must have been a sign from the Lord, because that was the last time I ever saw her alive. She had come to say "goodbye".

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As a side note: the kitten that took it the hardest and that has been missing Momma the most, "Capote," (this is him in the photo to the left) has been following me everywhere! He isn't Momma, but he is awfully sweet, and I know Momma would want me to take good care of him. Who knows...I may grow to love him a lot, if I can learn to let my guard down. He is so smart, and I already do love him (and Duke, too, of course). I just don't want to get hurt again, I don't think my heart can take it, that's all. Pray that he doesn't get hurt, would you, please? Thanks!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Welcome to my Page, Leona and Angie!"

By now, you all know how excited I get when a new "follower" comes on board my site! I whoop and holler; I jump up and down; I dance the jig; and I do cartwheels--well, not really...but I do smile a lot!

Seriously speaking, every last one of my "followers" represents someone that likes my blog; that cares about what I have to say; and that cares about me. I'd say that's pretty special. I owe it to all of them to do my very best to at least write something, now and then, that is entertaining, or at the very least, interesting.

My first new "follower" today is Leona G. Shankle, a published author and poet. Her book, entitled "At The Starting Gate," is a collection of assorted poetry and short stories ranging from humorous to serious and inspirational.

Leona also maintains her two blogs: Her first blog is named after her book, At The Starting Gate and it's filled with the things she learned "along the way to publishing [her] book," plus "some tips and insights," and what she calls "a mind-boggling set-back every now and then." Her second blog, Fun n Inspiration , is the sister site to her other blog, and in that blog, she shares inspirational emails and stories as well as things to "help make [our] day a little brighter."

My second new "follower" today is Angie Lofthouse. (Don't you just love her last name? She "is a stay-home mom of six children. Her fiction has appeared in NFG, AlienSkin, Amazing Journeys, The Sword Review, Dragons, Knights and Angels, Irreantum, and Unparalleled Journeys. She is also an editor for Mindflights Magazine. She lives in a little canyon in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains with her family of writers, artists, singers, composers, illustrators and musicians."

Angie's blog, which is entitled Notes From The Writing Chair, is loaded with valuable writing tips and secrets; updates on her family life; book reviews; links and resources; and so many goodies that it's a veritable goldmine! Her husband even has a gardening blog, called Loafer Canyon Gardening, which I signed up to follow because, I think that our spouses need supporting, as well, and when we as writer's, support each other's spouses, too, it gives us a boost emotionally and spiritually. What could be better than that? We've got to show some love, write right? (LOL!)

Aside from the amazing, very first book that Angie has written, called "Zion Rising," which she is now in the first stages of trying to get it published, here is a list of Angie's published works:

• "Soul Singer" in "The Sword Review" — September 2006


• "Brierly's Lilies" in "Dragons, Knights, and Angels" — April 2006


• "Casualties of War" in "AlienSkin" — April/May 2005


• "Ripped" in "Amazing Journeys" — March 2005


• "Fidelity" in "Unparalleled Journeys Anthology"


• "Getting Colder" in "Amazing Journeys" — June 2004


• "Sacred Places" in "Irreantum" — Spring 2004


• "Among the Silent Stars" in "Amazing Journeys" — March 2004


• "Blessing Stone" in "NFG" — June 2003

As you can see, I am beginning to amass some fantastic "followers" on my blog(s) and it's a shame if you haven't joined yet. It's not too late; you can join at any time!

Let me say, once again, "Welcome to my site, Leona and Angie!" and also..."I hope you enjoy being part of the "Cynde's Daybook" family. I am honored to have you as a members, and I'll do my best to make you glad that you have joined us!"

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Writer's Image Prompt!"

"Picture (no pun intended) This:"
written by: Cynde L. Hammond

It was Thursday night, 02 April 2009, at one of the Lariat Sandridge Energy oil rigs, south of Fort Stockton, Texas. There was an eerie calm outside while the men were busy working on the rig, but they couldn't help but notice the dazzling light display being played out right before them as they worked.

"I don't think I've seen lightning like that before as long as I've worked on these big rigs," Carl said thoughtfully. "Have you, Joe?"

"No, I can't say as I have," he answered, as he watched the thick shafts zig and zag towards the earth. "Somebody got a camera around here?"

"I've got one out in the truck," Bill yelled from the back of the group of about ten men that had formed to watch the show. "I'll go get it."

Just as Bill had turned to trot off and go get the camera, one of the men grabbed him by the arm and whispered in his ear, "Forget it. Get back to work--here comes Red," and with that, Bill went back to his station, never skipping a beat.

Red was a mammoth, barrel-chested man, with a head full of bright red hair, a beard, mustache and lamb-chop sideburns to match. Despite all the face hair, you could still clearly see the cleft chin and deep dimples on both cheeks, which were the perfect compliment to his sparkling, bright blue eyes.

On many occassions, the men had heard the women from the business office talk about what a handsome man Red was, and how they couldn't wait until he was ready to start dating again. They all babied him, brought him cookies, pastries, and all kinds of goodies, ever since his wife had died of uterine cancer two years earlier. Even though they were all jealous of the girls' attention to him, none of them would ever want to trade places with him and have to go through the pain that he had had to endure.

As Red stalked on to the platform, the men quickly scattered in the hopes that he hadn't noticed that they had been goofing off and congregating there, watching the lightning. "Bill!" Red yelled in to the darkness.

Bill swallowed hard, not sure he could answer. He knew he was in trouble now! "Yeah, Red?" he squeaked.

"Go get that camera!" Red commanded.

You didn't have to ask him twice, for Bill was off and running. He was back with his camera in a matter of a couple of minutes. Slowly, the men were gathering back together again at the platform, and watched as Bill handed the camera to Red.

"Well, come on!" Red demanded. "Come on over and gawk if you have to, because I know you won't get anymore work done tonight until these dern pictures have been taken, so let's get it over with!"

Everybody started laughing because they all knew he was just kidding. He was so easy to work for. He was such a fair man, and he'd give them the shirt off his back, if that's what you needed.

"Here, you taken them," Red said, handing the camera back to Bill. "It's your camera!"

So, as Bill prepared for his shot, the men lined up around him and waited in anticipation. "Take a bunch of pictures!" one of the men said, just as Bill was about to click. Now he'd have to get ready all over again. Bill was nervous being watched.

"Give him a little bit of room," Red said, sensing his unease, and Bill flashed him a grin. Now he was ready. This was going to be a great shot. He was going to click right when the lightning flashed! Bill took a deep breath, waited, it was almost time, he could feel it, and then he clicked!

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Now...let's see what you've got! Pick the story up from where I left off, and write how you would finish this little story, just for fun, ok?

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Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"The 'What's-Up-Wednesday' Short Story Review!"

When I was first told the title of my friend Suzette Saxton’s short story, and that it had been published in the fantasy and science fiction magazine, Mindflights, I thought surely there must be some mistake.

The title, “The Bone Setter,” conjured in my mind, visions of a muscular man twisting, punching and pulling at the half-naked, horizontally-inclined body of a weak woman needing joint manipulation. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

From the start of this enchanting, speculative fiction tale, the relationship between the orphan girls and their sovereign drew me in. I marveled at how well Ms. Saxton had described the scenes; it was almost as if I were there myself. And the characters seemed so believable, so real. How had she done that to such perfection? I felt compelled to read further. As I did, somewhere along the way, I had forgotten that I was reading. The journey had become mine as well. I was with “The Bone Setter.”

Visit Mindflights magazine so that you, too, can be lost in the wonder that is: "The Bone Setter" by Suzette Saxton. ”When ancient bones speak to an orphan girl, she struggles to free them from their mortal bounds while Monsignor, her sovereign from birth, strives to overpower her."

My overall rating: excellent!

Until next time...stay safe, stay well, and may God bless you all.

Cynde

Please visit my other blogs:
Cynde's Daybook ~and~ Usurper Exposed. Thank you!

"Query Tracker Turns Two--Let's Celebrate!"

Guess What! It looks like it's a proud parent moment--only I'm not the parent, and Query Tracky isn't exactly a kid anymore. But it's still the same excitement!

They're having a PARTY!

Copy and paste the link below the picture at the bottom of the page for more details. Oh, and there's also a little blog chain contest going on. The grand prize of this hulla-baloo is a FREE WEBSITE designed by the awesome Carolyn Kaufman and QT's daddy, Patrick McDonald. That's right. FREE. (They're the Purple Squirrel Web Designers. Check 'em out.)

You want that, don't you? Um, yeah..

You get one entry into the grand prize drawing for every contest you enter. (Details on the carnival page, click below.) You can also get another entry by helping us advertise!


Thanks, Elana!

Now here's how you do it: Simply make a post like this one you're reading on this blog. Make sure to use the wicked fun graphic and direct them to the carnival page for more deets. Then go here and leave a comment with your link and real name. Or email your link with your real name to any one of the members of the QT blogteam (listed on the right-hand side of the blog) on this page here. Use: Their Name(at)QueryTracker(dot)net.

They'll make sure you get in the drawing.

Be sure to tell your readers to EMAIL THEM (or comment here) your link and real name so they can put your name in the drawing. You can link to this post so everyone knows how to make sure they're entered for the FREE WEBSITE!

And hurry! You must have your blog post up by next Saturday, May 23 to get the extra entry.

Spread the word! Win a FREE WEBSITE!