Cold Weather Changes by Helen Henderson

 

Fire and Redemption by Helen Henderson
Click the title for purchase information

Harvests are complete, hay is in the barn, fruit and vegetables have been put up, and the cool temperatures of autumn are shifting into the cold of winter. All signs of changing seasons. 

Various sections of the country welcome temporary visitors they called "snowbirds," people who leave the cold, ice, and snow behind for warmer temperatures. As a child, my family had our own version of the "snowbird." She was called Grammy.

As soon as the first hard frost turned the ground white, it was time to move Grammy from her mountain bungalow.The bungalow was heated by coal and it was hard for her to feed the scuttles of black rock into the furnace or to remove the ashes. Snow covered roads meant the family could no longer make the two hours or more journey from their homes in the next state to the coal county of their kin. Grammy didn't drive, however that was not a problem in the summer when the grandchildren spent a week or two at a time with her. And the parents took the elderly relative to the doctor or shopping when the younger generation was swapped out.

The cold weather solution was to turn Grammy into a snowbird and move her south. Preparations would be to fill the coal bin, bring the porch swing inside, pack up any unused food from the pantry, and lastly, to drain all the water from the pipes to winterize the bungalow. Then the winter routine began. Grammy would spend three or four weeks with one daughter and her family and then a month or two with a son and his family. The periodic shifting would continue until spring, when like those who move to the warmer climes for the winter head north to avoid the heat, she would return north to the mountains.

Dal's kin in Windmaster had a similar means of surviving the weather. To set the scene, Dal and Ellspeth rescued a young woman from a group of evil monks, earning the cult's anger. When an invading force is sighted on its way to Dal's family's winter home, a decision had to be made. Fight or flee. Dal's mother chose to use the weather as protection and moved the clan to the mountain caves that was the clan's escape from the summer heat of the valley far below. Now it would protect them from those who meant to destroy all magic -- and anyone touched by it.

After Ellspeth’s light touch woke him, Dal sat cross-legged on the floor, his back against the bed leg. An emerald gemstone the size of a small egg lay in his hand, the stone’s facets catching the glimmer of moonlight that filtered from a crack in the shutters. A spark flared in the heart of the crystal. It brightened into a green-tinted image. Dal watched a line of horses and wagons slowly wind around waist-high snowdrifts. “At least Eilidh and the clan are safe,” he whispered. “They made it safely through the pass.” He closed his eyes and released the spells that had been controlling the blizzard and holding the clan’s pursuers at bay. How long he sat there he didn’t know. He felt the energy he used to control the weather slowly flow back into his body.

~Until next month, stay safe and read.   Helen

To purchase the Windmaster Novels: BWL

Helen Henderson lives in western Tennessee with her husband. While she doesn’t have any pets in residence at the moment, she often visits a matronly husky and a youthful feist who have adopted her as one the pack. Find out more about her and her novels on her BWL Author page.

Tom Thomson Book Launch a huge Success! by Nancy M Bell

 

To learn more about Nancy's books click on the cover please.

The book launch at The Purple Platypus Bookstore in Castor, Alberta was huge success. There was tons of fun,  door prizes, swag bags and of course a reading from the book. There was a great turnout with over 20 people joining me in the cozy confines of the bookstore. It's such a pleasure to support and be supported by an independent bookstore. Castor is a small town in east-central Alberta and The Purple Platypus draws patrons from as far away as Red Deer and Wetaskiwin. I'm so happy that the lovely Lynn Sabo agreed to host this book launch. Even though the day outside was a bit dreary, the warm and companionship within was wonderful. 

Not to mention I sold lots of books which was good for me and the store. So win win.

As anice way to cap off the day I got the first look at the cover for my upcoming book Night at te Legislature, a Manitoba paranormal set in the Manitoba Legislature building. This one is the first book in BWL Publishing's news collection The Paranormal Canadiana Collection which will feature a novel set in each of Canada's provinces and territories.

Until next month, stay well, stay happy

 

Holidays on the Horizon by Janet Lane Walters @BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Holidays #Stockings #Christmas #Horror Writer's Demise

 Another month has arrived. At present I'm busily working on a new book in a new Series The Writer's House. In the area where I live, there was and still may be a house that rented space to various membrs of the Arts community. This new series takes place in a house where the authors can find a space to write and not be bothered by family and other diversions.

Valentina Hartley is the heroine. She is new to town and goes to an evening lecture on Ideas for Writing Your Book. When the lecture is finished, Val who does research at present for college professors leaves to find the foyer, porch and parking lot lights out. She stumbles over the body of a dead man. His throat has been slit. She is helped to stand by her new friend who has a half house she can rent to bring her son and mother to town. At present she is living in a warehouse her business partner has rented.

Kyle Bradley a detective on the local police force is a widower. His sister, Dana has given up her position as a nurse to care for his son following the boy's mother's death. The dead man is a mystery. Fairly new to town, he has taken the horror writing community by storm, His origins are mysterious.

Thus the story begins and hopefully will be solved. But can the murderer be caught?

How do the holidays fit in. They are there since I need to have the book to my publisher before Christmas. The holidays will be busy this year.

I;ve started buying for Christmas Stockings. This year I have seventeen to do. They must be started early since many of them must be sent to children and grandchildren at a distance. Six to Florida and 2 to Georgia. The rest are rather local which is nice. Except  five must be done before they leave on their cruise.  I really enjoy doing the stockings and finding unusual things they might use. Pens are always put into them and I ave new ones with myname on them for this year. I also give them socks to wear. One year I decided not to do the socks but I got calls in protest so now they receive their socks.

The value (?) of junk, by J.C. Kavanagh

 

The award-winning Twisted Climb trilogy
(Book 1, The Twisted Climb, is also available in audio format)
Click here for the purchase link:
https://www.bookswelove.net/kavanagh-j-c/

It's valuable to you. At least you think it is. Or was. But junk is junk even if it has a special history and even if you love it and no one else does. 

Which makes giving it away that much harder. And selling it? How do you put a price on precious pieces of your history. Especially when it's something so old it actually is part of history?

Well, I've been navigating this emotional crisis for over a year - first selling our home and purging the least precious items - then un-packing two sea containers of our belongings and making them fit in a home half the size. Trying to, that is. And discovering that it just won't work. 

Those antique pieces? Too big. 

Those lovely framed pictures? Not enough wall space.

Those extra chairs? No room.

I tried selling the antiques on FB Marketplace. I researched the pieces and based the prices accordingly. There were a few quasi-buyers but nothing concrete. So I reduced the prices and still no bites. I even contacted a local antique dealer who said he didn't have the space in his store. Since I had the same problem with the size of my new home, I didn't pressure him.

I had to make a decision. A tough one. When does something precious become junk? Is it when nobody else wants it? 

Yeah, it seems that way.

So, I've been giving away the items that caressed my mind and soul, and hoping that the next owner will feel the same joy that I once had. 

After all, it's only junk if there's no value to it. Right?

1939 tiger oak hutch, hand engraved.

1920ish mahogany hall table and mirror

1910 Morris Stickley Lion Claw mechanical reclining armchair.
Just a few of the items that have found a new 'forever' home.

I can tell you with absolute certainty where you won't find junk. In my novels - The Twisted Climb trilogy. No junk. No no no. But you will find great characters, fantastic adventures, emotional drama and a story line that merits the "Best Young Adult" book status. Young adults and adults-young-at-heart give the series two thumbs up. And 5-Star ratings. Enjoy.

And remember to tell the ones you love that you love them.

J.C. Kavanagh, author of
The Twisted Climb - A Bright Darkness (Book 3) Best YA Book FINALIST at Critters Readers Poll 2022
and
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2) voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll and Best YA Book FINALIST at The Word Guild, Canada
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Voted Best Local Author, Simcoe County, Ontario, 2021
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/J.C.Kavanagh
www.amazon.com/author/jckavanagh
Twitter @JCKavanagh1 (Author J.C. Kavanagh)
Instagram @authorjckavanagh

Robie’s World – The Backdrop for Detective John Robichaud by H. Paul Doucette

 

 

https://bookswelove.net/doucette-h-paul/

Hello again,

 

            It recently occurred to me that there might be some of you who would like to know more about the city that has played such a prominent role in many of my stories; my hometown of Halifax.

            The city is one of the oldest in Canada and was founded by the British in the early seventeen century, primarily as a base for their naval operations and as a counter to the French fortification at Louisburg, in Cape Breton. It also became key location for the British, notably during the American Revolutionary War and during the following world wars.

            It quickly developed into a major seaport because of its natural deep ice free harbour and its  access to the Atlantic trade route with Europe.

            The city, like so many in Canada, is a product of converging influences from both French and English colonial interests in the past. However, it is the Halifax of the twentieth century where I have drawn my inspiration. When I took up the pen I wondered what I ought to write; what stories did I want to tell? It did not take long before I saw my direction. Here I was, living once again in the city of my birth; a city rife with history and character. This, combined with my love of history and mystery stories was to good to pass up.

            Halifax from the turn of the twentieth century has been a ‘navy’ town. It has been and remains, the seat of political power for the province and the financial center for trade and commerce. Throughout the fifties Halifax thrived as a major seaport for merchant shipping with several of the larger steamship lines maintaining offices here. In addition to this, there also the navy and a major fishing company with a fleet of ships based here. This meant that there was almost as many foreign seaman as naval personnel on the streets, all looking for a ‘good time’ which often led to, ‘incidents’ that kept the police busy.

            The city itself was not unlike similar cities portrayed by Hollywood during its film noir period: dark, dirty, menacing. There were bootleggers, gin houses, back room poker games, sex workers. Everything you would expect to find in a seaport sans the gunplay. A perfect backdrop for building a series of stories.

            As a writer, I relished this because of the wealth of story ideas across the spectrum of genres: romance, murder, mystery, military adventurism, political intrigue, whatever you can imagine. So began my first steps to becoming a novelist. I am also blessed because I had the good fortune to have travelled and lived throughout the world over the last fifty plus years which has contributed greatly to my life experience and overall understanding of humanity.

            I hope that you find the above of interest and will consider looking into your world. You may be surprised what is waiting there!

            Paul