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DRAWING NOVEMBER 15, 2023 - WINNERS CHOICE OF ONE OF THESE BASKETS

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 Enter at https://bookswelove.net 

California Dreamin'

 

                                             Please click this link for book and author information

Calgary's first snowfall of the season has got me dreaming about my holiday in California this September. The main purpose for the trip was to attend Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in San Diego. My husband Will (an avid mystery reader) and I spent four interesting days attending panels and events like Speed Dating for Writers and Readers and the New Author Breakfast. Both were more fun than I'd expected and popular enough to fill the large rooms by 7:00 am. When we weren't occupied with the convention, we enjoyed the views from our hotel in the San Diego Marina. 

At night we watched airplanes fly over the farther buildings to land at the airport 

After the convention, we stayed an extra day in San Diego to see a little more of the city. We walked along the boardwalk and took the short ferry ride to Coronado Island, an upscale vacation beach community. The highlight was a concert in the park featuring a great cover band. Hundreds of people gathered. Since we didn't have chairs, we stood at the front and danced to songs like "Witchy Woman" and "One of These Nights" made famous by the Eagles.     

Marina boardwalk "Kissing Statue" designed from the iconic Life Magazine 1945 photograph

From San Diego, we drove to Julian, a "hippie" town located in the apple-growing hills east of the city. In addition to exploring the quirky, historic former gold mining town, we gorged on apple pie - arguably the best I've ever had. A half dozen bakeries produce pies for tourists, many of them day-trippers from San Diego. 

Picnic lunch near Julian

 

Julian main street

       We included a drive to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but it was way too hot for a long hike. 

We wrapped up our California holiday with four nights in Oceanside for beach time, a coastal hike, and watching surfers. On the way we stopped at a winery with sweeping views. 

    Sunshine, warmth, ocean, books, wine, apple pie -- pretty much a perfect trip!  

 

Random Acts of Kindness - Barbara Baker

 

It happened while I was camping at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta. Tucked away in Kananaskis Country, the park’s wilderness area only has cellphone reception at the secluded Park’s Visitor Centre. To log into their WiFi when the office is closed, you need to stand at the entrance door, stick your tongue out the side of your mouth and hold your phone in the air. Chances of a strong signal are better when few people are around.

 

I know, I’m in the wilderness - why do I need reception? Well, with an elderly dad, I check in every evening to make sure he’s okay.

Before supper, I drive down to the visitor centre. The parking lot is empty. Great. I’ll be able to send and receive the text and get back to the campsite in record time.

Leaning against the locked door, I see three bars on my phone. Perfect. I send my text, wait a few minutes, receive the message … all is well. I tuck my phone in my pocket and walk back to my car. Just as I reach the edge of the sidewalk a noisy, rusty car screeches to a stop in front of me. I glance around. Where the heck did they come from? And why so fast?

The front passenger window rolls down and a gal with piercings in her lip and nostril shouts, “Get in the car.”

I check around. No one. Anywhere. I bend down to talk to her but keep my distance from the open window. The driver (maybe the mom) waves a cigarette in one hand while the other hand wrestles to grab the collar of a barking, giant mutt who’s trying to jump into the front seats.

“Seriously, get in the car,” the gal with the piercings shouts again.

I shake my head slowly. I’m not rude but I’m also not the kind of person to jump into a stranger's car just because they tell me to. The driver yells at the dog to sit. The dog sits but continues to bark.

“There’s a bear.” The gal points towards my car. “He’s big.”

 

My eyes follow her pointing finger. Sure enough, a bear walks by my car and towards us. To hell with caution, I grab the back passenger door handle and ask, “Will he bite?”

“Of course not.” Her arm pushes the dog over.

I get into the backseat, close the door and press against it. The dog stops barking and stares at me. Would being chased by a bear be less intimidating? The dog leans over. And licks my cheek. Okay, that is better than dealing with a bear. 

The driver points out the window and says, “Is that your car?”

“Yup.” It sure didn’t seem that far away when I parked it.

Their car moves towards mine while we watch the bear watch us. As we get closer it saunters towards the edge of the pavement. The driver parks so my exit door is beside my driver door. I pull out my fob, unlock the door and glance at the bear.

“Thank you so much.” I pat their shoulders and give the dog a good scratch. “You saved my ass.”

“Okay. He’s moving away,” the driver says. “Go.”

I open the door, careful not to scratch my car, and take a big breath. One. Two. Three. I shut their door (a bit too hard), take the two steps to mine, jump in and slam my door (equally hard). The bear looks up and tips his head side to side.

The gal with the piercings rolls down her window, smiles and waves. I wave back and they drive away.

I look up through my car’s sunroof and whisper, “Thank you.”

You can contact me at: bbaker.write@gmail.com

Summer of Lies: Baker, Barbara:9780228615774: Books - Amazon.ca

What About Me?: Sequel to Summer of Lies : Baker, Barbara: Amazon.ca: Books

 

Coffee or Tea? I Drink Disappointment and Nanowrimo by Vanessa C. Hawkins

 

 

 Vanessa Hawkins Author Page

    

Picture this: a group of passionate writers, fueled by caffeine and a slightly concerning amount of determination, gathered in a room like a coven of literary wizards.

I can't...

Okay... well, that's fair. It's Nanowrimo month after all, but let me tell you, there's a lot more magic involved in writing than you might think. Our wands are laptops! Our potions are bottomless mugs of coffee!

But can we talk about muses for a second? You know, those elusive creatures writers chase like Pokémon, hoping for a spark of divine inspiration. Some days, your muse is a relentless chatterbox, bombarding you with ideas at 3 AM when you're halfway between dreamland and your pillow, and other times its a silent fart, stagnating and dreadful and stanky. No one knows you're stewing in lack of ideas, but they can smell it all the same.

Luckily that hasn't been me. October was filled with plenty of workshops (some that I conducted for cold hard CASH!) radio interviews, book fairs and markets. I've chosen to ignore Nanowrimo this year, only because I really just don't want to do it. If you don't know what Nano is (us pros call it nano because we can't be effed to say all the letters despite the fact we are scribes) It's a monthly writer thing in November where you're supposed to write 50k words.

If you do it, good for you! It's hard. If you don't... well, I don't blame you. Most of the time I go in strong, but end up sitting in a lack of smelly and silent inspiration by the end of it. It is good for getting words out on paper though, and some people thrive on deadlines. I, however, like to procrastinate...

What about you? Do you do nano? Do you know what nano is? What's your choice of beverage when working? Coffee? Tea? ... ... ...Water?

Does anyone still drink water these days? When its not mixed with beans... sugar and cream? If so well then good for you! I bet you probably think you're better than me, huh?

100 percent.

Military Spouse by J. S. Marlo

Misguided Honor

Ghostly Murder Mystery on a Canadian military base

 Click here to buy

 

  

J. S. Marlo's BWL Books

Nov 11 is a special day, a day to remember the brave men and women who served in the military and gave their lives for their country. In Canada, it is called Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day.

As we honour the ones who never came back home, let's not forget the ones they loved and left behind in the name of duty. This poem is for them.

The Silent Ranks

I wear no uniforms, no blues or greens,
But I am in the military, in the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders. Salutes I do not give.
But in the military world is where I live.
I am not in the chain of command, orders I do not give or get.
But my husband/wife is the one who does, this I can never forget.
I am not the one who fires a weapon, who puts his/her life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. I am the one who is always left behind.
My husband/wife is the patriot, the brave and proud man/woman in uniform.
Not all can understand the call to serve one’s country.
Behind the lines I see things needed to keep this country free.
My husband/wife makes the sacrifice, but so do our families.
I love the man/woman I married. The military is his/her life. 
So I pledge to support my hero and stand among the silent ranks known as
The Military Spouse

The poem was originally written by an unknown military wife, a woman very much like me, and was signed The military Wife. I took the liberty to adapt it to both military wife and husband.

Let's never forget the sacrifices made by so many to keep our country free.

J.S.

 

J. S. Marlo's Website