Monday, July 22, 2019
Sunday, July 21, 2019
A Greek Adventure and Research by Diane Scott Lewis
Recently we took a trip to Greece, where I met my husband many years ago while stationed at a navy base (closed in 1990). We attended a reunion of former navy personnel stationed at the base in the waterfront town of Nea Makri. The famous town of Marathon is a few miles to the north.
Before we left the U. S. I had an epiphany to write a novel set in Greece, ala Mary Stewart. She wrote so many wonderful romantic suspense novels set in Greece, including my favorite The Moon Spinners. My story, A Spark to the Ashes, takes place in 1955. A running away (from whom?) American woman with a small child seeks employment with a burned-out Englishman, to research ancient Greek pottery. She needs shelter yet desires freedom, he dislikes children and had expected a 'male' assistant. He's scarred from his experience in WWII. Both their pasts will haunt them and put their lives in peril.
I scoured the countryside to get my geography correct, now much research on the era remains.
It was sad to see the neglect of the base (where I married my husband at the base chapel), but wonderful to connect to former Nea Makri buddies, and meet new ones.
Greece has a poor economy, but it's a beautiful country with much to offer. The restaurants in Nea Makri are fantastic, with fresh seafood and views of the gulf that flows into the Aegean Sea. The people are friendly, and most speak enough English to make you comfortable.
But to speak of writing--soon my Revolutionary War novel, Her Vanquished Land, will be available from BWL (September), then I dive into the Greece of 1955. Good thing I love research!
To purchase my novels at Amazon or All Markets: Click HERE
Diane Scott Lewis grew up in California, traveled the world with the navy, edited for magazines and an on-line publisher. She lives with her husband in Pennsylvania.
Author and Husband, navy base front gate |
Before we left the U. S. I had an epiphany to write a novel set in Greece, ala Mary Stewart. She wrote so many wonderful romantic suspense novels set in Greece, including my favorite The Moon Spinners. My story, A Spark to the Ashes, takes place in 1955. A running away (from whom?) American woman with a small child seeks employment with a burned-out Englishman, to research ancient Greek pottery. She needs shelter yet desires freedom, he dislikes children and had expected a 'male' assistant. He's scarred from his experience in WWII. Both their pasts will haunt them and put their lives in peril.
I scoured the countryside to get my geography correct, now much research on the era remains.
Cape Sounio, Greece
|
Former navy base, Nea Makri, Greece |
Greece has a poor economy, but it's a beautiful country with much to offer. The restaurants in Nea Makri are fantastic, with fresh seafood and views of the gulf that flows into the Aegean Sea. The people are friendly, and most speak enough English to make you comfortable.
But to speak of writing--soon my Revolutionary War novel, Her Vanquished Land, will be available from BWL (September), then I dive into the Greece of 1955. Good thing I love research!
To purchase my novels at Amazon or All Markets: Click HERE
Just a sampling of my novels, mystery, suspense, romance, adventure, with strong female heroines, mostly set in the later eighteenth century.
For further information on me and my books, please visit my website: www.dianescottlewis.org
Labels:
1950's,
Greece,
historical research,
marriage,
novels
I'm a former Navy Radioman (person) from California, married to a retired Navy chief. I've always loved to write and discover the past. I have two sons and two granddaughters.
Friday, July 19, 2019
Mandatory Sex Practice by Stuart R. West
Now that I have your undivided attention with that title (sorry, sorry, sorry, etc...), please allow me to explain...
Recently, my awesome mother-in-law sent us a post-holiday card. Within it was a personalized message to me.
"Stuart," it read, "you better start practicing your sex--will expect entertainment in the nursing home."
Huh.
After I rolled my tongue up off the floor and tucked it back into my mouth, I reread the card. Yep. Same thing.
What the...
The ramifications of the note were mind-boggling. And not even a bit cryptic. Kinda an order from her.
Which begs the question: what in the world have my wife and her mom been talking about? Furthermore, what does my mother-in-law mean by "practice?"
I suppose I could use a little boning up on my sex technique. But honestly, I'd rather not have my mother-in-law as teacher.
And what kind of nursing home are we talking about here where sex is used to entertain the crowd? I imagine the facility has quite a long waiting list. (I'd better get signed up now.)
After the fireworks in my head fizzled out, I took a closer look at the note. "Stuart," it read a bit differently this time, "you better start practicing your sax..."
Ooooooohhhhhhh...... Okay. That's better.
Which is my long-winded way of getting to the point. Often (okay, rarely), people ask me where I get my ideas. Nothing's funnier than real people in real situations. This will undoubtedly end up in one of my Zach and Zora comical mysteries as do many people I meet or situations I hear about.
I'm always on the look-out for comedy gold. I mean, you can't make half of this stuff up. At restaurants, I listen. My wife calls it eavesdropping. I call it "artistic license." She also warns everyone we meet to be careful because you could end up in one of my books. Duly warned!
So...have you heard the one about the dumb male stripper and his sharp detective sister working together to solve murders? No? Well, you're late to the party! Click here already for the first book in the series!
Clickity-click for laughs and mystery fun! |
Recently, my awesome mother-in-law sent us a post-holiday card. Within it was a personalized message to me.
"Stuart," it read, "you better start practicing your sex--will expect entertainment in the nursing home."
Huh.
After I rolled my tongue up off the floor and tucked it back into my mouth, I reread the card. Yep. Same thing.
What the...
The ramifications of the note were mind-boggling. And not even a bit cryptic. Kinda an order from her.
Which begs the question: what in the world have my wife and her mom been talking about? Furthermore, what does my mother-in-law mean by "practice?"
I suppose I could use a little boning up on my sex technique. But honestly, I'd rather not have my mother-in-law as teacher.
And what kind of nursing home are we talking about here where sex is used to entertain the crowd? I imagine the facility has quite a long waiting list. (I'd better get signed up now.)
After the fireworks in my head fizzled out, I took a closer look at the note. "Stuart," it read a bit differently this time, "you better start practicing your sax..."
Ooooooohhhhhhh...... Okay. That's better.
Which is my long-winded way of getting to the point. Often (okay, rarely), people ask me where I get my ideas. Nothing's funnier than real people in real situations. This will undoubtedly end up in one of my Zach and Zora comical mysteries as do many people I meet or situations I hear about.
I'm always on the look-out for comedy gold. I mean, you can't make half of this stuff up. At restaurants, I listen. My wife calls it eavesdropping. I call it "artistic license." She also warns everyone we meet to be careful because you could end up in one of my books. Duly warned!
So...have you heard the one about the dumb male stripper and his sharp detective sister working together to solve murders? No? Well, you're late to the party! Click here already for the first book in the series!
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