https://books2read.com/Rough-Business

Survival kits. Turns out that’s a thing. So, if civilized society is gone and you are on your own, what do you do?

I live in Toronto. A city of 6-7 million people. Does one require a survival guide? Would one find it has expired before you got out of town in the horrendous traffic? Does one need something from a survival guide if they continue to write in third person?

The first thing required is water. OK. It water supply is tainted. I simply walk across the street and there sits Lake Ontario. There must be dozens of gallons of water in it. Problem solved. Or is it. Turns out the sun is glistening off the film of diesel fuel on the surface of the water. No sweat. Take a jug of it home and pour it through a coffee filter. Remember to save some of the filters for coffee. Because, well, coffee is the centre of the universal.

Wait! We actually do need food, after all. The food court is closed so fast food is out of the question. Thus we will no longer have access to those nutritious morsels. Darn. I suggest you grab that fishing equipment and head down to the lake again. Sure, you could fish. What a chore that is. First you would have to invent bait. Remember, the sporting good stores are closed. Here’s the answer. Grab that net, go to the lake and turn around. There will be dozens of pigeons pleading for food. I expect the irony will be lost on them when you invite them for supper.

Of course, there is the risk of injury. Thus medical supplies are required. Should you cut yourself, don’t panic. Just recall the last movie you saw with a gunfight. Follow the steps they took very carefully. First wince and groan at the site and pain of the injury. Secondly, rip a piece of cloth from your filthy shirt. I expect it rips as easy as it does on the silver screen. Pour some liquor on the wound. Take a good long drink. Be sure to spill some on yourself. Tie the piece of clothing securely in place. Don’t worry about all the blood seeping through. It’s cleansing the wound and is also an awesome special effect. Finally, relax. I have it on good authority that every one of those actors survived to make more movies.

If You Enjoy a Good Laugh by Victoria Chatham



 AVAILABLE HERE

Like all writers, I have to make time to read books, too. I have fairly eclectic tastes from fiction to fact and back again. My own preferred genre is Regency romance, but I enjoy thrillers, cozy mysteries, and now Stuart R. West’s Zach and Zora mysteries. I’ve read several of his books, but Zach and Zora had me laughing out loud. I get that humour is subjective and what amuses me may leave you cold, but I found Bad Day in a Banana Hammock a clever read.

On the face of it, Zach is a self-absorbed dim-wit. Not the most likely character to arouse my interest, but when he wakes up practically naked in bed beside a dead guy, I want to know more. Zach’s almost sure he didn’t commit the murder, but he has no recollection of the previous night. The fact that he’s is a male dancer (please do not refer to him as a male stripper) and is still wearing his ‘uniform’ adds to the mystery.

The one person Zach knows will help him is his long-suffering sister, Zora. With three kids and another on the way, the last thing she wants is to be involved with Zach’s problems. But he’s her baby brother, and she’s a Private Investigator, so what can she do but help him? This excerpt pulls it all together for me as it shows the relationship between the siblings and her way of handling her kids. If you enjoy this book, check out Murder by Massage and Nightmare of Nannies. You won’t be disappointed.

*****

With a diaper bag strapped over her shoulder, Zora hustled Nikki and Justin out the front door. “Come on, kids. We’re going on an adventure.”

“Adventure,” parroted Justin.

Nikki, already the sullen teen before her time, whined, “Mom, what’re we doing? I’m busy!” “Girl, I don’t wanna hear about busy. Just get in the back seat. Enjoy the sunshine. Remember what that is?”

“So stupid!”

“Zach,” she yelled up the stairs, “Samantha’s already in her seat by the door. Grab her on the way out.” A task surely even he couldn’t mess up. Then again, when it came to her brother, all bets were off.

Justin struggled with his seat, always a battle. No wonder her swear jar had evolved into a bucket. “Just stay still…almost….there.” Clack.

“Mom, really, what’re we doing? Why was Uncle Zach naked?”

“He wasn’t naked, Nikki. Just under-dressed.”

“Is he in trouble again?”

“No.” Yes. “We’re just gonna try and help him with some stuff.” Zora pressed down on the pedal, revving the engine. Hoping to speed her brother along, never the quickest guy to get things done. She checked her phone, fully charged and 10:30 a.m. Plenty of time to clear her brother of murder, get back and have dinner on the table for Phillip by six.

Despite the situation, Zora laughed when her brother stumbled out of the house. He had Samantha’s carrier seat in one hand and kept his pants cinched up with the other. A belt lapped off the end-loop, a wagging brown tail. The suit looked like a relic from the ‘80’s, entirely too large and probably never in style.

As Zach rolled open the back door of the mini-van, he sighed. “I know, right? I look ridiculous. Doesn’t Phillip own any regular clothes? Jeans, a polo, anything?”

“Hey, stylin’ guy, shut up and get in. It’s better than you waving your…golden sack around town.”

“Golden sack, golden sack, Uncle Zach has a golden sack!” Justin joined his sister in song. “Golden sack, gold—”

“Kids, enough! I don’t wanna hear that again about your uncle!”

“But, Mom, you said it first!”

“Again. Not a democracy.” She turned in her seat, double-checking Zach’s strapping in of Samantha. Unbelievably, a grin threatened to eat his face off. Clearly proud of the song his niece and nephew had concocted in his golden sack’s honor. No shame. “Get in, Zach.”

West, Stuart R.. Bad Day in a Banana Hammock (A Zack and Zora Mystery Book 1) Books We Love Ltd. Kindle Edition.

 AVAILABLE HERE

When Writers “Get Social”

To purchase novel Online

When Writers “Get Social”

Steve Cliffe, a great friend and fellow writer, had never attend a writer’s festival and confessed he didn't think much of the idea. “So, what, we just get together over a coffee and read each other’s books or something?” “Oh, it’s way more than that,” I answered, and so I dragged him off to the Creative Ink Writers’ Festival to show him what he was missing.  He soon learned the benefit that a festival or conference can bring. It’s mainly hearing other, usually well-established writers, talk. Not only about how they got there, but how they write, ideas on building stronger characters, how they promote themselves, and anything else they feel can assist you. There are many novelists that speak so you also learn certain aspects of writing pertaining to many different genres. Usually there is a question and answer session, and more than once a question has been asked and an answer given that made me say to myself, "wow never thought of that."

Most writers are an introverted lot that sit in a darkened room and pound out their muse’s inspiration. So being in a crowd might seem like a daunting task, but when the crowd has a mutual interest, it becomes a whole different matter. There are panels from experienced lawyers talking legal issues, police talking about how they operate, ballistics experts explaining usage and handling of the weapon and also the effect firing the gun has on a bullet, and paramedics passing on their expertise. It helps us immensely, even if it’s only because it makes us realize how little we know and how much research we need to do. Nothing is worse than publishing a novel and have someone email you. "I'm a “blah blah” and there is no way what you did in that scene would be allowed or would work."

One of my biggest learnings was during the Elevator Pitch Panel. For those wondering what an elevator pitch is, well, it’s just that. You are on an elevator and before you reach the very next floor you have about two sentences to pitch your book to the lone agent standing beside you. Here's what I came up with for my new novel, The Joining:

Slam Ghostbusters into a large cooking pot, use a classy hotel as the base, toss in a female Mickey Spillane and Edgar Cayce, stir in a herbal mix of the mob, add a pinch of abduction, season generously with ghosts and serve garnished with a sprig of TinkerBell.

Most of all, I left inspired to pound away at the keyboards again.

On top of all of that there were panels on ways to promote yourself, because most publishing houses these days don't have budgets to do that for you. One of the biggest things I learned is that being a published author is indeed a full-time job, as a podcast Steve and I put together shows. We will both publish and share this on our sites. So, enjoy. And if you really enjoy it, subscribe to his YouTube channel. His style of wit and humor is very addictive!

Steve Cliffe’s YouTube Channel "Inkspot"

https://youtu.be/tX_zYSvy51o

See you next month!

And if anyone wants to listen to my Authors show Podcast it is being rebrodcast this week.

The Author's Show Link

Sincerely

Frank Talaber

Email: twosoulmates@shaw.ca

Writer by soul. Words born within.

Karma, the seed. Paper, the medium. 

Pen, the muse. Novels, the fire.

Frank Talaber’s Writing Style? He usually responds with: Mix Dan Millman (Way of The Peaceful Warrior) with Charles De Lint (Moonheart) and throw in a mad scattering of Tom Robbins (Even Cowgirls Get The Blues).

PS: He’s better looking than Stephen King (Carrie, The Stand, It, The Shining) and his romantic stuff will have you gasping quicker than Robert James Waller (Bridges Of Madison County).

Or as is often said: You don’t have to be mad to be a writer, but it sure helps.

My Publishers Webpage:

http://www.bookswelove.com/authors/talaber-frank-paranormal-suspense-romance/

My webpage

http://twosoulmates.wixsite.com/frankt-author-blog

My novels and reviews are on Amazon are at: 

https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Talaber/e/B00UC407R0

My Facebook Published Author's page.

https://www.facebook.com/FrankTalaber/

My Facebook short story page

https://www.facebook.com/franktalaberpublishedauthor/

Twitter: @FrankTalaber

WALKING WITH THE ANGELS – DURHAM CATHEDRAL - June Gadsby

Celebrate Spring!

Dangerous Sanctuary by J. Q. Rose
Cozy Mystery

Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock 

that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Find more mysteries by J.Q. Rose at BWL Publishing

Hello and welcome to the Books We Love Insiders Blog! I'm J.Q. Rose.

Celebrate Spring by J.Q. Rose

Has spring arrived in your corner of the world? At this writing, we're having the usual cool days in Michigan with gray skies and rain. But, that's expected because you know the old adage, April showers bring May flowers.

That reminds me of what my school teacher mother would recite every spring with a twinkle in her eye--

" Spring has sprung,

The grass has 'riz.'

I wonder where the flowers 'iz'."

I thought we'd celebrate spring today with quotes that will lift your spirits if spring is still struggling to show up or add delight if you are experiencing a lovely spring day.

The first day of spring.

The true harbinger of spring.

st

Springtime is gardening time.

Assured that spring comes after the winter--Rachel Carson

"One more time!"

Spring has that feeling of a fresh start unlike any of the other seasons. New birth, new beginnings. My wish for you is to have a fresh start this season and success with your new projects.

To all those who celebrate these important spring days:

Have a joyous Passover!

Have a Happy, Blessed Easter!

Click here to visit and like the J.Q. Rose, Author Facebook Page. Thank you.

Click here to connect to the Books We Love Website.