CANDID CANINE

Welcome Morgan Mandel, author of Forever Young, Blessing or Curse

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I welcome author Morgan Mandel, whose latest is FOREVER YOUNG, BLESSING OR CURSE.

Talk about life inspiring art, be sure to read about Morgan's scary experience, and how she used it in her work. And thankfully, it didn't scare this dog lover off pets forever. Pictured is her favorite dog, Rascal.

** Be sure to COMMENT for a chance to win an ebook copy of FOREVER YOUNG.**

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Fresh beginnings turn tragic when Dorrie Donato’s husband, Larry, is killed in a hit and run accident a few months after starting a new job at the Life is for Living Institute. Discouraged and desperate after suffering countless setbacks, Dorie accepts an offer by Larry’s boss, the famous Angel Man, to be the first to test an experimental pill designed to spin its user back to a desired age and hold there, yet still retain all previous memories. The pill seems too good to be true. Maybe it is.

BUY:
- Nook - Smashwords - See all book links

Amazon:

What inspired you to write about this topic?
Age was my inspiration. I’m not getting any younger, but would like to know what it would be like to look and feel young again. In my imagination, I can do that. Reverting back is the germ of the story, but there’s much more to it than the Fountain of Youth concept.

What is unique about your characters?
Well, two of them that interact a lot with each other have totally different looks. One, who for now shall remain nameless, is short, stocky, has thick glasses and a deformed face. His counterpart, whom I’ve dubbed the Angel Man, is a hunk, with an angelic appearance and long blond hair.

How much of you is in the characters?
I’ve adapted one of my own life experiences for this book. One day when I was in the library parking lot, I stopped to say hello to a Golden Retriever seated in a station wagon with the window partially open. The dog lunged at me and bit my face, almost taking off part of my lip. I rode in an ambulance to the emergency room, received plastic surgery, and fortunately survived the experience without looking the worst for it. The character in my book doesn’t fare as well.

Here is the fictional version of that experience:

On that September day years ago, he’d gotten no warning of the tragedy awaiting him when he’d stepped from his favorite haunt, the local library.

Back then, a short, normal looking college freshman, owning somewhat weak eyesight from constant reading, he still looked decent enough to get some tail whenever he felt like it. With above average intelligence and grand ideas, he’d dreamt of the road to riches stretching ahead.

All that disintegrated when, instead of heading toward his Camaro, he’d taken a deadly detour to admire a golden retriever perched in the flatbed of a truck.

Before he could open his mouth to say hello to the dog, the placid looking animal went vicious, lunging at him, targeting his nose, mouth and cheeks, mauling his face.

The physical pain and numbness were nothing compared to the mental anguish he’d endured since. He’d consulted doctors, but to no avail. Perhaps if he’d been wealthy, the outcome would have been different. Then again, maybe not. It would have taken a miracle to repair the extensive damage, no matter how skilled the plastic surgeons.

Each successive surgery worsened his features, until he couldn’t look in the mirror without vomiting. No wonder people turned from the sight of the short, squat Frankenstein-ish creature who looked as if he’d stepped out of a monster movie. He didn’t blame them.

What was the most intriguing part of the book, and why did you write it?
The concept of the existence of a Forever Young pill to turn back the aging clock intrigued me enough to expand on it. If one could be perfected, it would certainly be a boon to mankind.

What’s your favorite line?
If she shoved him into the ocotillo cactus in back of him, would he flinch when his flesh hit the thorns?

It struck me as funny, picturing Dorrie shoving the Angel Man backward into the cactus. The line was actually inspired by my trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where I saw many ocotillo cacti, which are not native to Illinois.

If you met your characters in real life what would you do?
I’d be curious enough to ask my main character, Dorrie, who takes the Forever Young pill so she can remain 24, if she’s getting tired of being the same age for so long. Some of the other characters I’d run away from as fast as I could!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Morgan Mandel is a former freelancer for the Daily Herald newspaper, prior president of Chicago-North RWA, prior Library Liaison for Midwest MWA, and belongs to Sisters in Crime and EPIC.

She enjoys writing thrillers, mysteries, romances and also enjoys combining them. Her latest paranormal romantic thriller, FOREVER YOUNG: BLESSING OR CURSE, Book One of the Always Young Series, is available on Kindle and Smashwords. Other novels the romantic suspense, KILLER CAREER, the mystery, TWO WRONGS, and the romantic comedy, GIRL OF MY DREAMS.

Morgan is now working on Book Two of the Always Young Series called Blessing or Curse: A FOREVER YOUNG ANTHOLOGY, where readers learn what happens to others who have taken the Forever Young pill. One more book will follow bringing back the original heroine to close out the series.

Dare I say it? CUTE Dollhouse Video!

2012-01-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

A bit of mystery and some fun storytelling as you search the dollhouse rooms in this video from the Great American Dollhouse Museum in Kentucky. CUTE! (Btw, they also had IN MINIATURE STYLE II in stock, so ask about it!) CUTE!

**** Be sure to go to the Link HERE and vote LIKE! so they get more views.*****

Miniatures Monday: The finished Glass House

2012-01-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

Finally finished the glass house I got a while back at the flea market. I'll eventually add more plants as I get them done, but I like how it's turned out. (Early furniture pix)

I made most of the flowers. The gorgeous blue hydrangeas are by Jody Raines.

A Tip: I like having a wall in any room to have pictures and shelves, so I made the back wall from foam core covered with scrapbook paper. Since the top opening is small (the center top glass section), I had to split the wall in two pieces to get it inside. The top shelf, attached with wax so I can take the wall out, helps hold the pieces together.

Below, the pink hydrangeas (and single yellow one on the shelf) are easy how to's from my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II. (** And please click THIS LINK to VOTE for the book in the About.com 2012 New Miniature Product Category. Voting ends Feb. 15.**)

I really like the red pansies and the table. (I did a trade for the flowers and wish I can remember who sent me the pansies and the irises. Let me know if you did.)

Don't you love the mini books and mags? (Including my book!) You can get book and mini mag printies on my website miniatures page. My friend, Kitty, made the cupcake and cookies.

I LOVE how the furniture came out. It used to have black print and then yellow print cushions on the chair. Color can make such a difference! I used antique lace trim on the pillows and on the bottom edges of the furniture.

I added the bear for fun.

Thanks for visiting! (And don't forget to vote above!)

Vamps, oh my! Welcome Kristin Battestella, author of Fate and Fangs: Struggle: Elizabeth in America

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today we go to the dark side with Kristin Battestella, author of the Vampire family saga, Fate & Fangs.

Her latest, Struggle: Elizabeth in America, is book 3 in the Fate & Fangs series, which includes Love: Ann and the Viking; and Punishment: Lilith's Trials.

About the Book:

Seeking solace and solitude from her unhappy home life as the unloved wife of Antonio, Elizabeth travels to colonial America in Professor James’ third account. On the outskirts of the white man’s civilization, Elizabeth meets Rain, a young Kiowa warrior on a vision quest. Will his lack of fear, search for answers, and gripping hothouse experience help her face those very vampire truths she sought to escape?

BUY:

MuseItUp Bookstore

Other books in the series:

Talking with the author:

INSPIRATION AND HISTORY:
For me, the most interesting parts of STRUGGLE are the American Indian aspects. Though it is very much about the titular Elizabeth, we also meet future Welshire vampire Rain and explore Native America philosophy on vampires. This was one of the early Tales from the Vampire Family that I had written when I first began what became the first novel. We simply don't get western or colonial American vampires that much and I wanted to explore that area. Everyone around the world has undead mythology, why do we always go for the stereotypical widow's peak or brooding dreamboat?

WHAT IF... you met your characters in real life...

Honestly, I suspect I'd never meet them, as I don't haunt the same underbelly fringes as they do. But if I did, I suspect I might not live very long. The Welshire vampires are not friendly. You are either with them or food. We like to think it would be so cool. Um, no, it wouldn't be!!

THE AUTHOR IN THE STORY:
I suppose when I first began as a young write with The Vampire Family, the characters might have been different expects of me projected onto the page. Victoria, star of Debauchery and Humanity, my new Fate and Fangs release, is the complete opposite of me, a decadent abomination.

However, over the years the players have taken on a life of their own. I also try not to base characters on anyone. It's nice to get an idea or two from people or photos, but things like blonde hair or blue eyes come later on for me.

The personality and what makes a character tick is far more important. Why is this vampire good in this evil world? How can this vamp be so cruel? Which type of person am I? I'd rather have the reader thinking about themselves in relation to the read rather than seeing me the author in every player.

UNIQUENESS:
The Welshire vamps and their rival Lilithan coven has different powers and defenses. Some shift into cats, others wolves, crows, mist, fire. Lots of those powers were shown off in my 2008 novel with Eternal Press, The Vampire Family. In Fate and Fangs, however, the personal historicals take focus.

STRUGGLE is more Native American and takes place in Colonial America. Debauchery Book 4, gets ruthless during the Civil War. Again, I enjoy exploring different types of vampires and places in unexpected ways. No high school sparkle here. I didn't have a bad time in high school, but to go back there with such mundane romance seems so dull to me compared to all the times and places we haven't been. The vamps in Fate and Fangs go to dark places and do very naughty things!

WHY VAMPS?
I began writing about vamps a long time ago. I enjoy the historical aspects, and myths and societal mirrors they represent. I've read a lot of non fiction and research on different types of vampires around the world, shapeshifting, elements. I wasn't seeing anything in the nineties vamp wise that I liked, so I wrote all this stuff down my own way. I write other material, but always end up back in genre. I enjoy bending the fantastical in ways that say something about us, who we are, where we come from, and where we're going.

EXCERPT OF STRUGGLE:

Such as it is, I prefer to do my roaming as the wolf. The hunting is quick and swift in my transformed state, and there’s less of a vampire or blood trail. The colonists I first encountered here are very superstitious of witches and other unnatural creatures, but small feeding game such as rabbit, raccoons, and possums are common enough. It’s safer to mind my own business away from any human prey. Besides, the wolf’s fur is warm and the smaller size also helps me climb and nestle in places my vampire form could not. I suppose I could simply levitate to the warmer plains or moderate coastal inlets, but I want to see this land, feel this new country beneath my feet—or rather my paws.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristin Battestella says she never got to go as far in college as she intended thanks to a bad case of Lyme Disease that knocked her out for eight years. "I'd still like to go to school and be a minister someday, believe it or not."

Before getting married, she worked mostly in senior health care, making elderly people laugh and helping them to realize that their lives were just beginning, not ending.

"Truthfully, I don't fit into to the 9-to-5 office or retail grind. I've tried it, and cried myself to sleep at not over knowing that it was totally not the place I was meant to be. I've always written, I've always been a storyteller. It just seems natural to me. I suppose it is my job, but I don't perceive it that way, expecting to work normal hours or be paid in regular ways. It is art, life, breath!"

Seeking nominations for In Miniature Style II at About.com Miniatures Awards

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

I'm asking for your nominations! If you liked IN MINIATURE STYLE II - please nominate it in the New Miniature Product Category (which includes books) of the About.com 2012 Miniatures Awards! - you have to log in to vote, and you can use your FB name to do that, too, if you have one. Thank you! ***** Vote here ***** (Voting is open to Feb. 15)

Chris V.

* In Miniature Style II details

* In Miniature Style II ebook

* In Miniature Style II print

Welcome to Marva Dasef, author of MIDNIGHT OIL, Book 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I welcome Marva Dasef, author of the Witches of Galdorheim series.

In the first book, BAD SPELLING, (October 2011 MuseItUp Publishing), Katrina, an inept witch, decides to run away from home because she's a failure at magic. She is afflicted with "Bad Spelling." Her home happens to be an ice-bound island in the Arctic. Her deceased father was a Siberian hunter, so Kat plans to locate her father's family. Her journey continues in book 2, MIDNIGHT OIL. (Love the covers!)

Be sure to comment to win a copy! (And check out Marva's blog and wild intro to this post!)

BUY:
* MuseItUp Bookstore: BAD SPELLING - MIDNIGHT OIL

ABOUT THE BOOK: Midnight Oil, Book 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim

* Watch the book trailer *

Shipwrecked on a legendary island, how can a witch rescue her boyfriend if she can’t even phone home?

Kat discovers that an evil forest spirit has kidnapped her brand-new boyfriend. She sets out with her brother, Rune, from her Arctic island home on a mission to rescue the boy. Things go wrong from the start. Kat is thrown overboard during a violent storm, while her brother and his girlfriend are captured by a mutant island tribe. The mutants hold the girlfriend hostage, demanding that the teens recover the only thing that can make the mutants human again–the magical Midnight Oil.

Mustering every bit of her Wiccan magic, Kat rises to the challenge. She invokes her magical skills, learns to fly an ultralight, meets a legendary sea serpent, rescues her boyfriend, and helps a friendly air spirit win the battle against her spiteful sibling. On top of it all, she’s able to recover the Midnight Oil and help the hapless mutants in the nick of time

Book Tidbits:

HUMOR: The books are written with humor, although there's real danger in Kat's journey. She's a determined young woman who doesn't hesitate to act, no matter what. Her half brother, Rune, is her stalwart companion. He's a super spellcaster who loves an adventure, so happily goes along with Kat's ideas.

SETTING: I think my settings are intriguing. I use the urban fantasy idea in a non-urban setting. My characters move through the real world of the Arctic seas, Norway, and Siberia, but the real world has magic which most of us never see. In the Arctic, Kat discovers her ability to talk with animals. In Norway, she and Rune visit the Hall of the Mountain King (the troll kingdom). In Siberia, Kat must deal with a curse-throwing shaman. There's magic everywhere if you know where to find it.

INSPIRATION: I got the idea for the overall story when the title, "Bad Spelling," popped into my head. I was no doubt reading blog posts, which tend to be rampant with bad spelling. Everything else came from that.

****GIVEAWAY: *****
Post a comment to be in the drawing for a free copy of Midnight Oil

**EXCERPT of MIDNIGHT OIL:

Chapter 1 – Company’s Coming
Present Day, Galdorheim Island in the Barents Sea

Kat scrambled around her room getting ready for her grandfather’s arrival. More importantly, Andy would be coming, too. She dwelled a moment on their one kiss, and her stomach fluttered. Nearly six months had passed since she’d left him in Siberia, and that was one hundred and eighty days too long.

She took a last glance in the mirror and jerked the childish red ribbon from her hair. The black tresses fell loose down her back. Twisting to check out her jean-clad rear in the mirror, she smiled. Yes! Tight enough to show off, but not so tight Mom’ll flip out.

She searched for her bunny-familiar and found Teddy snoozing under the pillow. Kat nudged him. He blinked and yawned.

“Hey, lazy butt, want to come along?”

“Cold.”

“Not too cold. I’ll carry you.”

Teddy tipped his head. Kat could almost hear the little gears grinding. “Okay.”

She tucked Teddy into the sling and hurried to the parlor where her family waited.

Rune, her half-brother, yawned. “About time.”

“I can’t just throw any old thing on like you do!” Kat stuck out her tongue at him but had to admit he always looked great. If he’d only wear some other color than black.

“Let’s go.” Ardyth, her mother, snapped her fingers. A brown velvet cape leapt from its hook, draping itself around the statuesque blonde’s shoulders. The dragon clasp hissed as it snicked shut at her throat. The tall witch glanced in the mirror hung above the coat hooks and patted her pale hair into place.

Kat’s family left the house and walked together down the main street of the village. Other Wiccans came out of their homes, silently falling into step behind them. They made their way toward the portal, which served as entrance and exit to the magic, bubble-like barrier. Without the protective shield, their village would freeze like the rest of the tiny, icebound island of Galdorheim. When they passed the Council Hall, the head witch joined them.

Welcome to Sue Perkins, author of Children's Fantasy, REVA'S QUEST

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I welcome Sue Perkins, author of the intriguingly named children's fantasy, REVA'S QUEST. (And what a cool-looking cover!)

About the Book:

Reva and her garden gnome arrive in Fey to fight the evil, Malice. Joined by three quest companions, they travel across the land to Malice’s lair. Only Reva can rid the world of Malice, but their journey brings danger, and she wonders if she will survive. Malice’s evil has invaded many of the animals and these beasts try to stop them reaching their goal. One of the companions begins to act strangely, and Reva must consider the possibility of a traitor in their midst.

BUY: MuseItUp Bookstore

About the Author:

Thank you so much Chris for inviting me to your blog. Hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year.

Christmas in New Zealand takes place in summer and most people take the opportunity to combine it with their annual holiday. Camping is a favorite holiday for those with children but unfortunately the weather doesn't always stay nice. We've had a few floods recently, plus the continuing earthquakes in Christchurch but at present it's sunny and hot, hot, hot.

I love to read and write fantasy novels and some of my favorite authors are Anne McCaffrey, Terry Pratchett and Naomi Novik. Who would I like to emulate? I think Terry Pratchett. I have no idea how he gets so much humor in his books, but I'd love to be able to write in such a lighthearted way.

* Visit Sue's blog.

Excerpt

They walked through the trees for most of the day, but eventually the forest thinned out. Through the trunks she could see rolling meadows with another wooded area in the distance. Distant snow-topped mountains broke the horizon. The creatures of Fey might not be the same as her imagination, but the scenery certainly looked similar. Eager to leave the lurking leprechauns behind, she hurried out onto the lush grassy surface.\
“Come back you silly girl.”

Reva ignored Maura. With her arms stretched out to either side and her face turned upward, she spun slowly, enjoying the warm sunshine of late afternoon.

“What does she think she’s doing?” Maura’s voice held astonishment.

“Enjoying the warmth and light I think,” Jarin's words were thoughtful. “I thought she knew about Fey. Doesn’t she know how dangerous it is to rush out in the open?”

“Apparently not,” the female elf replied.

Reva heard their voices, but ignored the actual words. Eyes closed, she tilted her head back even more and lifted her face to the sky, enjoying the warm rays bathing her face. The sunshine wiped away the sense of menace and replaced it with a feeling of ease and contentment.

For several moments, she stood delighting in the sun before something passed across the sky, throwing a shadow on her face. Reva looked up, expecting to see a cloud crossing the sun. Her eyes widened in horror. A huge avian dived toward her at an amazing speed. The beak opened in a challenging scream which went right through her. Sharp talons on its feet stretched toward her as it swooped in for the kill.

The bird zoomed closer and closer. Reva stood open-mouthed, staring. Fear and disbelief pinned her feet to the ground.

2012 Zombie Book Reading Challenge

2012-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Since I've been reading zombie-themed books lately, I came across this: a zombie book reading challenge! Perfect!

Book Chick City's Zombie Book Challenge.

Need ideas? She has a Goodreads Zombie Books Shelf. (And there are tons more zombie-themed books out there!)

After finishing writing my own zombie-themed book, I did some reading. Interesting to see the various takes on the zombie theme (in no particular order):

Last year's reads:

1 Handling the Undead - John Ajvide Lindqvist. More about how the people "handle" the zombies.

2 The First Days: As the World Dies - Rhiannon Frater. First pubbed on the internet and picked up a big publisher. Focuses on two main women as they face the Z apocalypse.

3 Fighting to Survive: As the World Dies, Book 2 - Rhiannon Frater. The continuation.

4 Zombie, Ohio, Scott Kenemore - a man who becomes a zombie and retains his wits.

5 Zombies Don't Cry: A Living Dead Love Story - Rusty Fischer. A high school girl finds love after un-death.

Now reading or started:

6 The Dead - Charlie Higson, focuses on kids escaping zombies of teen to adult age.

7 Hollowland, Amanda Hocking - a girl searching for her lost brother and facing a Z-changed world.

On the List Next:

8 My Life as a White Trash Zombie, Diana Rowland. The title and cover pic alone are attention-grabbers.

9 Zombie Eyes, Bloodscreams 3 - Robert W. Walker - the prolific (40+ novels) Mr. Walker's psychic detective discovers an "unholy" pit and battles primeval horror.

10 The Undead: Zombie Anthology, DL Snell, Editor - anthology of Z stories.

11 Feed, Mira Grant - Just found this - 2014 and 20 years after the Rising, reporters Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

A Perfect Read for Horse Lovers: A Horse Called Trouble by CK Volnek

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

A confession: I'm a sucker for horses and horse books, so when author CK Volnek mentioned her new book (eBook and print), A HORSE CALLED TROUBLE, well, she had me at the title!

It's a great story of love, redemption, hope, and renewal that'll connect with any horse lover, young or old. Be sure to check out the inspiring trailer at the end of this post -- and comment for a chance to win a FREE copy of A HORSE CALLED TROUBLE. Don't forget to read the excerpt and interview below.

About the Book:

Abandoned by her mother at a young age, Tara Cummings has been passed from foster home to foster home; not wanted anywhere by anyone. At 13, she’s skeptic and suspicious, with no family, and no friends.

Horse therapy “will teach trust, perseverance, respect, and the value of teamwork,” or so says the program’s instructor. Tara is unconvinced. Trust only broke her heart, perseverance meant more failures, and no one respects or wants to team up with the misfit foster kid.

Then Tara meets Trouble, an angry and defiant horse, bent on destroying everything and everyone around him. Tara is frightened of the enraged horse, until she realizes Trouble is as misunderstood and untrusting as she is. Pushing aside her fear, the two form a special bond, with Tara also finding hope, acceptance, and the will to love and trust again.

But a bigger challenge lies ahead as Tara tries to save Trouble from the mean, manipulative Alissa - her nemesis and Trouble's owner. Will Tara be able to save the horse who saved her, or will Alissa destroy them both?

BUY:
* MuseItUp Bookstore

- or Amazon:

Interview with CK Volnek:

Greetings, Chris. Thanks for allowing me to visit your blog today. It is such a treat to be able to visit. I’m so excited to be here and announce my newest tween novel, A HORSE CALLED TROUBLE! I would also love to offer a FREE copy of my eBook to one lucky reader who leaves me a comment! (I hope you love free stuff as much as I do.)

Where did the concept for the book come from?

I have always loved horses. Such marvelous creatures they are. Proud, elegant, powerful yet gentle, compassionate. And I was fortunate enough to be able to call several of them my friend and confidant as I grew up.

I knew I wanted to immortalize some of my treasured equine friends but I never expected to write the story of Trouble in such a fashion as I did. It was after visiting a horse farm that also entertained a horse therapy program for troubled youth that the story sky-rocketed. Tara came to life and shared her entire sad story with me and I couldn’t help but oblige and put it down on paper. And Trouble? He’s a mix of several of the horses I knew. Full of spunk, spirit, trust and devotion. It’s a horse story, full of conflict, with antagonists you’ll love seeing get what they deserve.

Why did you choose to write for tweens?

I think I was most at my element in reading when I was in middle school. I loved reading and escaping into the adventures with my characters. I still love reading books for this age. They are so interested in the world and what it takes to make it a better place.

I also write for this age because I know it can be a struggle to get them to read. My middle son hated to read. So I grabbed the challenge to come up with stories that could grab his attention and pull him into the adventure while teaching a subtle lesson along the way. So far, he’s one of my fans.

Do you have any new projects that you're working on?

I am excited to have two other books to chat about. The first, GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND is a tween ghost story and is already available in both print and e-book. It’s a ghost story with a twist of Native American folklore and based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.

In April, THE SECRET OF THE STONES debuts. It is the first of a series called "The Lost Diaries of Northumberland." It is a lighter story, a Harry Potter meets Merlin the Magician kind of story. A Merlin-loving tween is thrust into magic mayhem when the gift he’s been entrusted to protect turns out to be the enchanted object detailed in a mysterious prophecy.

EXCERPT of A HORSE CALLED TROUBLE:

The massive barn towered up, into the Midwest sky, a prison of whitewashed boards, sunlight glinting off it. Might as well be barbed wire. Tara Cummings blinked, momentarily blinded.

So this was her punishment—horse therapy?

She shook her head, letting her mousy brown hair fall over her face. Another time she would have been thrilled to be here, to see a real horse, to actually touch one, not watch it on TV or the internet.

Her fingers tightened into a fist. This time was different. This was a sentence of shame—for something she hadn’t even done. She didn’t steal Alissa’s purse!

Tara struggled to swallow the lump in her throat, the dryness in her mouth refusing to release the knot. Alissa had set her up—she was sure of it. She’d planted the purse in her locker. Why? What had she ever done? Because she wasn’t cool…or popular…or wear designer clothes? Because she was a foster kid?

Resentment and desire burned as one in her chest. She’d never have money or popularity. She’d been born a have-not and the world was making sure she would always stay a have-not.

A cool morning breeze blew across the farmyard, cold fingers reminding the world that despite the sun and the absence of snow, it was only early spring and summer was still a long way off. Tara shivered and withdrew into her shabby sweatshirt, wrapping her skinny arms up in its scratchy fabric. She should have tried harder to prove her innocence to Principal Jackman. Should’ve made him listen.

A long breath whistled through her teeth. It wouldn’t have made any difference. He wanted to be rid of her, like everyone else in her life. Teachers, foster parents, her own mother. All too happy to wash their hands and dump her onto someone else. No one cared. Why would Jackman be any different? He couldn’t wait to ship her off to Marvel’s, the east side’s alternative to regular school. Marvel was, after all, the best place to dump all the 8th grade scum no one wanted.

Tara gazed from the barn to the crisp, white fences and luscious green pastures surrounding them. Marvel was known for its unusual methods in dealing with problem students. But she had totally not expected this. It had to be some kind of mistake. The other kids had moaned and groaned, certain they were headed for a work-camp, cleaning up horse crap, hauling hay, painting, and all that stuff. Listening to them, Tara had envisioned smelly, peeling barns, and broken-down fences. This was quite the opposite. The farm was actually quite tidy. Nice. Peaceful. Not the kind of place she’d expected juvies to be sent to at all.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

About the Author:

CK Volnek was born in Colorado but calls Nebraska home. She grew up loving the wide-open spaces and living in a spot where, as her daughter-in-law told her, "you can see five states from here."

Not surprisingly, CK got hooked on horses and writing after reading the classic, BLACK BEAUTY. She wrote short stories and articles while raising her family, but began getting serious about novel writing seven years ago and hasn't looked back since. See what else she's up to by visiting her blog.

Check out the book trailer!

Welcome to Jeffrey Marks, author of the upcoming Erle Stanley Gardner bio

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Author Jeffrey Marks has made his "mark" by providing insight into the backgrounds of founding writers in the mystery world via his comprehensive biographies. These include: Atomic Renaissance: Women Mystery Writers of the 1940s/1950s; Who Was That Lady? Craig Rice: The Queen of the Screwball Mystery; and the 2009 Anthony Award-winning, Anthony Boucher: A Bibliography, plus the upcoming bio on Perry Mason author, Erle Stanley Gardner.

His next biography on Erle Stanley Gardner is now in progress, so today we're offering a preview. Erle Stanley Gardner is best known as the author of 80 Perry Mason novels; however, he wrote over 140 books, and 650 short stories and novellas, over his 50-year career. Gardner produced approximately 100,000 words every month, making him one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century. He was a champion of the underdog, and spent many years helping to free unjustly convicted criminals as part of his Court of Last Resort.

Perry Mason has been featured in movies, radio, and a very successful television show, produced by Gardner's production company. Currently, a new Perry Mason film is in the works from Warner Brothers and Robert Downey Jr.

Today, Marks gives us a preview, sharing a bit about the people, and the animals, in Gardner's life.

Erle Stanley Gardner was a champion of the underdog, both literally and metaphorically. He collected strays and treated them better than the humans around him at times. In his legal work, he took on cases of men who had given up hope, men that others would considered beyond legal remedies and created The Court of Last Resort which helped change the legal system in the United States.

Based on his sale to the Saturday Evening Post and the feeling that his growing cadre of secretaries was unhappy with the mountains in winter and the desert in summer, Gardner began to look for a place to settle down. Now that his relationship with Warner Brothers was kaput, he sold his Hollywood home in late 1936 and headed out on the road again. He now had four trailers in his caravan: one for him, one for Jean and Louise Weissberger, a friend from Hawaii, one for a cook and the fourth for another secretary. Honey was not travelling with them at this point, and Peggy had begun working outside the Fiction Factory.

Gardner often credited his dog for finding Temecula, a town of about 250 people at the time. He claimed that Rip, his German shepherd, began barking like never before as soon as they came to Temecula. Gardner stopped and approved of Rip’s decision. He rented a post office box that he provided to his editor, Thayer Hobson, just for their communications. As winter fell, Gardner headed off for his annual trip to New York City, followed by a stop in New Orleans. He left his trailers in Temecula and asked a local friend to look for property in the area. The land that would become his ranch became available during those winter months.

The City of Temecula is located about 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean in southwest Riverside County, just north of the San Diego County line. The San Bernardino Mountains can be seen in the opposite direction. Gardner found it convenient to Los Angeles and his beloved Baja.

Gardner recognized, too, that in order to keep up the pace of two Mason novels a year plus his short stories for the pulps along with the Selby novels, he needed a headquarters to receive mail. Gardner only maintained regular correspondence with a handful of close friends, outside of the publishing world.

Beyond the growing need for a stationary place to receive mail, a bout of pneumonia in the spring of 1937 left Gardner weak and behind in his work. He was living out of the camp trailers and trying to catch up on correspondence and short stories. Something had to give soon. Despite his naturally healthy constitution, Gardner lived at a reckless pace with little sleep and large amounts of self-imposed pressure. The result was that at times, he would develop serious ailments that forced him to slow down. Unfortunately, upon healing, Gardner would again speed up the pace to make up any postponed writing.

To remedy some of those issues, Gardner bought 3,000 acres several miles from Temecula and immediately began converting the land into a home. He dubbed his new purchase, Rancho del Paisano, after one of his short story characters. Gardner wrote to his editor: Recently I’ve found a ranch property which suits me right down to the ground and I’m moving in, lock, stock and barrel with a regular office, plenty of elbow room and my various branches centralized under one roof, and I’m going to be able to turn out more work. I’m going to make headquarters here for the next six or eight months…

Gardner was wrong. He would spend the next 33 years in Temecula, as one of its most famous citizens. Today there are streets, schools, and a mystery weekend there in his honor, held the first weekend of November each year.

New story on dog rescue and dog rescuers in Wisconsin

2011-12-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

A new story and photo I did on dog rescuers in Wisconsin is now online at Prime Magazine. The story is in the Jan/Feb. 2012 issue.

Story and photo by Christine A. Verstraete

Looking at Rosie the poodle scoot across the carpet or play with her toy, you wouldn’t think she’s different than any other dog.

While it’s not known whether it was genetics or a result of having spent her life in a crate as a breeder at a puppy mill, 6-year-old Rosie’s back legs were atrophied and unusable. After being rescued, both of the dog’s back legs were amputated below the thigh, but that hasn’t stopped her. Rosie is a now a “spokesdog” against puppy mills and a symbol for pet adoption, appearing at local parades and other events.

She also is a member with her owner of Wisconsin Citizens Against Puppy Mills.

“She hops around and runs like any other dog,” says Rosie’s owner, Mary Palmer of Racine, who’s also founder and president of Northcentral Maltese Rescue Inc. (Read Rosie's story.)

See issue for rest of story.

New Miniatures Video

2011-12-27T05:20:00.001-08:00

Stephanie Kilgast of Petit Plat makes some wonderfully realistic miniature foods, and was recently featured on a German TV program. Check out the fantastic English video here.

The Day After Christmas - a Poem....

2011-12-26T00:00:00.001-08:00

Too funny! There are a few versions of this poem floating around. Figured everyone can use a chuckle as they wind down, and gear up for - after Christmas sales! Enjoy!

The Day After Christmas
Author Unknown

It's one day after Christmas, I'm crabby and I'm broke.

I'm so full of ham and fruitcake I think I'm gonna croak.

It's nice to see the relatives, I wonder when they'll leave.

They've been camping in my bathroom since early Christmas Eve.

They're eating everything in sight and sleeping in my bed.

I been sacked out in the basement with my spotted beagle, Fred.

The relatives have all gone out and left their screaming brats.

The toilet bowl is all plugged up and I can't find the cat.

It's Christmastime at my house, the relatives are here.

They eat me out of house and home, and drink up all my beer.

I love the decorations, and the sleigh bells in the snow,

But I wish those pesky relatives, would take their kids and go.

Those cookie crunchers fed the dog a twenty pound rib of roast.

His feet are sticking in the air, like skinny old fence posts.

Now they're in a free-for-all, the girls against the boys.

They're fighting over boxes, 'cause they're bored with all their toys.

My mother-in-law is snoring in my favorite TV chair.

Those kids are stringing lights on her and tinseling her hair.

I oughta wake her up before the fireworks begin.

But I wanna see those blue sparks fly, when they plug her in.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and the best in 2012!

(See more of my miniatures)

A Christmas Story: Part 2: The Thief of Christmas Present by Robert W. Walker

2011-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Part 2: Continued, "The Thief of Christmas Present"
By Robert W. Walker

(** If you missed the beginning, read Part 1 of The Thief of Christmas Present **)

(Photos: Christmas Santa House by C. Verstraete, see more pix at my website; Festive gold and white holiday scenes featuring the miniatures of Lissu, used w/ permission. See more pix and visit her blog)

Today we conclude our original Christmas tale by Robert W. Walker, author of more than 30 novels including his Detective Ransom series, as well as his latest eBook time travel novels, featuring his stories taking place in two time periods, TITANIC 2012 and the recently released, BISMARCK 2013, Hitler's Curse.

TO RECAP: the family are watching the film to see who is stealing the Cluewellens' Christmas from Julia's dollhouse.

Shortly after, Stevie entered the room, asking, "What kinda movie is this?"

"The movie that's gonna prove you stole the Cluewellens' Christmas!"

"I didn't touch that stuff! I didn't do it, mom!"

Joannie came down from her room and asked, "Are you still blaming that on Stevie? He wouldn't do that!"

"We got you on tape this time, Joannie...or Stevie...whichever one of you guys did it, so there!" Julia set her jaw, determined to watch every hour of the unmoving movie frame by frame. "Mom and me...we gotcha good now. Liar."

Joannie came at her sister. "Who're you calling a liar? Me?"

"If the shoe fits!"

"Enough, both of you! Stop it. Either sit down and watch the tape or leave the room, but please, no more accusations, Julia, and no more shouting, Joannie-and you, Stevie, stop crying."

"I didn't do it," he complained through tears. "I always get blamed for everything!"

"All I know is somebody stole the Cluewellens' Christmas tree now!" Julia shot back.

"Hey, what's that?" asked Joannie, pointing at the screen. "I saw movement-a shadow-back of the miniature."

Julia, Stevie, and Mother Waldron stared at the slight squeaking noise, too, and in a moment, they all watched a pair of whiskers and a brown button nose rise over the back of the miniature at the chimney.

"It's Newton, my ferret!" shouted Stevie. "He's escaped again."

Newton lived up to his name, always finding ways to escape his cage, and often, Stevie allowed him 'free run time' but Newton always returned to his cage. Newton had even found a way out of the house one night.

"What's he doing?" asked Julia. "OMG-he's going down the chimney."

"Like Santa," said Stevie.

"No...more like The Grinch," replied Joannie. "There's your Christmas thief, Julia!"

"But...I mean how...why?" she asked. "Why's he terrifying the Cluewellens and destroying their Christmas?"

"You really think Newton is thinking along those lines, Julia?" Joannie couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Shhh...watch him. Look, look," said Mom. "The little thief! He's dragging the entire tree out the front door."

With the tree clear of the door, it snapped closed, and Newton scurried away with the five-inch high tree, ornaments trailing. He truly did look like a miniature version of The Grinch except that he was brown and not green.

"Stevie's pet's the thief...the whole time," Julia muttered in disbelief.

"What's he doing with all the stolen goods?" asked mom. "Shall we find out?"

"I think you're gonna need a ferret whisperer or a pet shrink to figure that out, Mom," replied Joannie, still laughing.

"Nothing funny about that little rat destroying the Cluewellens' Christmas!" countered Julia.

"Why don't we all just go on a scavenger hunt?" began Mom. "To see where Newton is stashing all the decorations and presents."

"And stockings!" added Julia.

The four of them started for Stevie's room where Newton lived in a cage. Everyone in the family had gotten so used to Newton's escapes and escapades about the house that no one took great notice of him of late.

"What's going on?" asked Jack Waldron, their father, who'd caught them gathered at the foot of the stairs as he came through the door, home from the office.

Everyone spoke at once until Anna calmed them and pointed to the still action shot on the TV. "We caught Newton red-handed. "He's Julia's Christmas thief."

"Must be the shiny stuff attracts Newton, eh?" asked Jack.

"But he's never done this before!" Anna replied. "Any rate, we're heading up to Steve's room to see where he's stashing the goods."

"Say, did anyone read that book that came with the ferret when you bought Newton at the pet store?" asked Joannie, who was browsing the book for any clues.

"Who's got time to read?" asked Julia.

They all went for Stevie's room, and looked into Newton's cage, a made-over fish tank. There, amid the usual sawdust and toy shelters and fake greenery, was a stash of Christmas miniatures, from the tree, to the presents and the stockings. All of it lay in a neat, orderly circular design. The look on Newton's face said, "I confess."

Joannie handed the paperback book on ferrets and ferret behavior to her mother. "Take a look at the last section on page sixteen."

She glanced at the page. "Oh, dear...then this means..."

"What is it?" asked Julia. "Nothing in that book could possibly excuse this rodent's behavior, and as for you, Stevie-this is all your-"

"No, Julia!" countered her father, who'd now read page sixteen. "No way is this Stevie's fault!"

"You owe Stevie and me an apology," Joannie said to Julia, having closed in on her, nose-to-nose. "And all our friends, too!"

"You do owe everyone an apology, Julia," her mother agreed. "In the meantime, Newton is going to need a new name."

"Whataya mean?" asked Julia.

"New name?" asked Stevie.

"Newton is a girl, and she's stealing shiny objects to make a nest, because she's going to have baby ferrets."

"OMG!" replied Julia. "That's it! That explains the mystery."

"But if Newton's not a boy...what're we going to call Newton?" asked Stevie.

"Newtonia?" suggested Joannie, a snicker escaping.

"Why don't we make it Madame Curie," suggested mom. "I think she outsmarted us all. In any event, case closed."

Stevie lifted the flimsy lid and started to reach in to retrieve the Cluewellens' Christmas stuff-his sister's stuff, but Julia stayed his hand. "No, Stevie. She-Madame Curie-she needs it now more than the Cluewellens."

"Aren't you ahhh worried about the Cluewellens?" asked Anna of her daughter.

"They'll understand when I explain it to them," Julia replied and shrugged, "and besides, there's always next year."

Anna hugged Julia and Jack put a hand on his daughter's shoulder, and with the entire family looking on at Newton-now Madame Curie-every one smiled, and if ferrets can smile, Madame Curie smiled back, a knowing glint in her eye.

"I have an idea for the Cluwellens' Christmas," said Stevie.

"What's that? asked Julia.

"Why not give them a front row seat for Christmas?"

"Meaning?"

"Put their house under our tree!"

Everyone agreed it was a wonderful solution, and that Julia had a lot of apologies to make, and that she'd tell and retell Newton's story between now and Christmas quite often indeed.

THE END
(c) 2008-2011 RW Walker, published by http://candidcanine.blogspot.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

An Original Christmas Story - The Thief of Christmas Present, Part 1 by Robert W. Walker

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I have the pleasure of presenting an original Christmas tale by Robert W. Walker, author of more than 30 novels including his Detective Ransom series, and the latest time travel thrillers set in two time periods - TITANIC 2012 and the latest, BISMARCK 2013, Hitler's Curse.

Never fear, this story, which runs in two parts ending tomorrow, Dec. 24th, is rated PG. Merry Christmas!

The Thief of Christmas Present
By Robert W. Walker

(Photos: Christmas Santa House by C. Verstraete, see more at my website.)

Julia rushed into her mother's room, her eleven-year-old arms flapping as she said, "Joannie stole my Christmas presents! I just know it was her!"

"Your big sister wouldn't do that, Julia."

"Then its one of her girlfriends."

"I've talked to Joannie, and she's given the third degree to every friend who has been visiting the house since Thanksgiving."

Julia's eyes filled with tears. "Musta been that boyfriend of hers then!"

"He seems like a nice, respectful boy, and whatever would possess him to steal your miniature Christmas presents from beneath your miniature tree?"

Anna Waldron hugged her daughter to her. "We'll find the stolen goods. They're likely somewhere on a shelf. Thoughtlessly moved by one of your little friends."

"No, no mom! I don't let anyone reach into my dollhouse and take out anything, not the figurines, not the furniture, and certainly not the presents under the tree."

Anna wondered how this could keep happening to her daughter. Julia had put heart and soul into her miniature house this year. In fact, she'd begun creating the tree, the ornaments, lights, stockings hanging over the fireplace, and the presents beneath the tree since last Christmas.

She'd got it in her head that her dollhouse ought to have all the ornaments and decorations of any home, that Mr. and Mrs. Cluewellen and their three children who lived in the miniature house ought to have a wonderful Christmas too.

Julia had worked so hard to make it happen, and now, day-by-day, all her work was coming unraveled. The day before she noticed an ornament missing from the tiny tree. The day before that one of the stockings she'd labored so hard to make was gone from the mantel. Poof. Now two of the tiny presents from beneath the tree-gone. Stolen.

"At this rate," moaned Julia, "by the time Christmas gets here, the Cluewellens won't have anything left."

Anna patted Julia's hand. "And The Christmas Crook of the Present will have won!"

"We can't let that happen, mom!"

"We must act, set a trap."

"A trap?"

"Yeah, we'll wire up a trap that will snap on those sticky fingers."

"Then you think it's Stevie?"

"I hope not, but your little brother is at that age. I sure hope he hasn't lied about this."

"Well...it's not a ghost. I asked the Cluewellens if they'd had any problems with anything like a poltergeist, and they said no."

"You believe them?" Mother Waldron laughed, but Julia stared at her, eyes saying, 'not funny'.

"They don't lie, cheat, or steal, mom."

"Neither does your brother or your sister for that matter, young lady."

"Well I'm not lying about it! Someone's stealing the Cluewellens' Christmas right under our noses."

"You set the trap," suggested Anna. "I'm going to set up a concealed camera, so we can get to the bottom of this before..."

Julia looked up at her mother, wondering why she'd stopped talking. "Before all of the presents and decorations are gone?"

"Before you make your sister and your brother angrier with you than they already are."

"Angry with me? I'm the victim here. Me and the Cluewellens."

"Honey, you have accused both of them of stealing and lying about it. Then you accused their friends."

Julia nodded, and for a moment Anna thought her child understood and agreed, but then Julia said, "It could've been one of Stevie's dumb friends."

"Well now, we're going to find out, aren't we?"

"You think it'll work, mom?"

"At the rate things are disappearing, my hunch is that whoever's behind the theft will be back."

They put the trap into play.

They wisely left the miniature house untouched and unmoved, the same enticement as ever.

An entire day and most of the evening went by with young Julia wanting to check the Cluewellens' living room and tree every hour, while her mother insisted they wait and see. When Anna decided the camera's battery would be in need of help, mother and daughter went into her room to determine if anything had been taken. They found the front door closed. Julia gasped when she looked in through the windows. The entire tiny Christmas tree had been taken! All about the front door and steps, glitter appeared like colored snow. Whoever was behind the theft, cleaning up after him-or herself-wasn't a concern.

"It's got to be Stevie or one of his goofy friends," Julia said, tears forming. "Maybe Stevie's too chicken to tell on Tad."

"Let's reserve judgment and see what the camera says."

They made popcorn and popped the film into the USB port of the TV and sat down to watch the unfolding events. Unfortunately, during the first hour, nothing unfolded.

"This is a real snore and a bore," Julia complained, tiring of the popcorn as well.

After a while, Julia began making up a storyline to go with the miniature people inside the house on the screen, and it was so vivid that her mom could almost imagine that the little Cluewellen family was as real as Julia believed them to be. She began to see Mrs. Cluewellen move that feather duster in her hand. But clearing her head and eyes, Mother Waldron thought better of saying she'd begun to see the miniature people roaming around inside their miniature house. Maybe the miniature was haunted at that....

(** See Part 2 of the Christmas Story, The Thief of Christmas Present, by Robert W. Walker

(c) 2008-2011 RW Walker published by http://candidcanine.blogspot.com

Short Christmas fiction: A Theory of Murder, Part 2 by Dennis Palumbo

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today we conclude our featured short story, A THEORY OF MURDER by author DENNIS PALUMBO. The second crime novel, FEVER DREAM, from Poisoned Pen Press features psychologist Daniel Rinaldi, a trauma expert, who treats victims of violent crime. It follows the acclaimed MIRROR IMAGE.

A THEORY OF MURDER, PART 2 - By Dennis Palumbo (Go back to read Part 1.)

An embarrassed silence filled the room. Then the Commissioner settled into his chair and smiled gamely. “Sorry about the interruption. With children, one does what one can. After that...” He shrugged, then turned his attention to Mina. “So, Inspector, have we taken the young lady’s statement?”

“Yes, Commissioner.” Kruger sniffed. “It was Fraulein Strauss who gave Katie Gossen the locket we found. As a gift.”

Albert cleared his throat. “Excuse me, but how did the police know the locket had originally belonged to Hector?”

Kruger laughed shortly. “Because we are not incompetent, Herr Einstein. The locket is inscribed at the back with a serial number and the name of the maker,Gerd Oberlin, on Marktgasse. He checked his records and declared it had been sold to one Hector Franks, at whose instructions it was sent by post to Fraulein Mina Strauss.”

Albert nodded. “And from whose hands it then passed to the murdered girl. So I don’t see how Herr Franks is further involved.”

“Perhaps he learned his gift had been unappreciated by its recepient,” Burlick said officiously. “That in fact it had been given to another. Driven by jealousy and rage, he stole into the Gossen home to retrieve it. There, surprised in the act, he was forced to...”

“Butcher the entire family?” Albert chuckled.

The Commissoner looked at him sternly. “I have seen stranger things in the course of my career, young man. And I don’t appreciate Jewish impertinence.”

Inspector Kruger seemed embarrassed suddenly, but by what I couldn’t tell. At any rate, he was quick to usher Mina, Albert and myself out of the Commissioner’s office, and into the bustling corridor beyond.

“Am I free to go?” I said to Kruger, trying to sound indignant. I had somewhat found my feet again.

“For now. But keep yourself available to us.” He turned to Mina. “The same for you, Fraulein Strauss.”

Mina nodded, then turned and allowed the matron to escort her briskly down the corridor. She never even glanced in my direction. And I knew, as one knows these things, that I should never see Mina Strauss again.

* * *

That night, I sat in my rooms surrounded by discarded newspapers. The murders had gripped the imagination of the Continent. The killer’s reign of terror was recounted in explicit detail, including wild theories of genetic insanity, religious cults, political anarchists gone amok.

I poured myself an unaccustomed second brandy and sat, sleepless, in my chair by the fire. I couldn’t imagine sleep. Not after what I’d seen that day.
And Mina?...Seeing her again after all these years. Learning what had happened to the locket. How could she have been so callous as to give what I had offered her to another?

I was stewing in this self-pitying broth till almost four in the morning, when a pounding at my door broke me from my reverie. I glanced at the mantel clock. At this hour?

I pulled open the door to find an equally exhausted-looking Albert Einstein, bundled into a thick wool coat.

“My God, Albert, do you know the time?”

“More intimately than most, I promise you.” Then, with uncharacteristic urgency, he brushed past me into the room and began looking about. “You’ll need a warm coat, of course. And boots. You don’t happen to own a revolver?”

“A revolver? What are you talking about?”

“All will be explained.” He stared at me, impatient. “Well, are you coming or not?”

* * *

The pre-dawn chill was like a cloak of ice. It had also snowed again during the night, leaving two-foot-high drifts that impeded our progress toward the boat-house.

Beyond the long, wood-framed structure were the venerable spires of the university, which lay under the gloom as though crouching for warmth. The only sound was the distant tolling of Yuletide church bells for the morning’s first service.

As we carefully approached the silent building, I could now hear the river lapping gently at the dock. Out on the frigid water, silent as ghosts, the rowing team propelled their boat smoothly through the mist.

Albert led us to the near side of the boat-house, and then to a position beneath the single window. We peered through the smudged pane at an empty room, warmed only by the light of a huge cast-iron stove. At the far end of the room stood a large water keg.

I turned to see Albert nodding to himself. “Of course, the drinking water...I wondered how he planned to subdue them. Some kind of soporific in the water. Then he could--”

“I swear, Albert, if you don’t tell me what’s going on--”

“It occurs to me, Hector, that I might be putting you in harm’s way. I did leave a note for Inspector Kruger, but I doubt he’d take me seriously...” He frowned. “Not that I blame him, given my gross stupidity about these murders...”

By this point, I merely stared at him.

“It was so obvious, I couldn’t see it,” Albert went on. “There is a pattern, of course. Prime numbers. Divisible only by themselves and one. Perhaps a mocking reference to his own troubles with mathematics? Who can say with such a man? One who kills so ruthlessly...I recall reading Buhler on the subject of compulsions, Atwood on multiple murderers. Mileva has some interest in psychology, and keeps many books on--”

Flustered, I cut him off. “Wait! Prime numbers..?”

“Yes. 1,2,3,5,7, etcetera. One watch-maker, two old people, three seminarians, a family of five, a rowing team--”

“Of seven!” I exclaimed. “Six oarsmen and the coxswain.”

He nodded. “Where better to find the necessary seven victims than at his own university? He’s familiar enough with the sport to gamble on it. And there has to be at least one more murderous act for the pretense of a killing spree to be maintained.”

“Pretense?”

“To hide the real motive for the crimes, and the real--and only--intended victim. Katie Gossen. The killer knew her murder would inevitably lead the police to his door...unless it was merely one in a series of brutal, senseless deaths. Part of an insane pattern based on prime numbers.”

A sudden noise from within the boat-house silenced us. Footsteps against creaking floorboards. Muffled, secretive.

Carefully, we once again peered into the shadowy room.A figure in a black overcoat and gloves was leaning over the water keg. On the bench beside him, its blade glinting dully in the half-light, was a thick-handled axe.

I felt Albert’s restraining hand on my arm, but I risked another look. The man was lifting the keg lid, pouring some kind of powder inside. As he bent, his face shone in a pale shaft of light.

I sank back next to Albert, stunned. “But I thought it was--I mean, you saw what kind of creature Hans Pfeiffer is. The way he winked at Mina...”

Albert nodded. “Yes. Coarse, familiar. But how could he not take notice of Mina Strauss? An uncommonly beautiful girl. Yet Jeffrey never gave her a glance. I thought that was odd ...unless he knew her. Unless he purposefully ignored making eye contact. Because Mina knew him--or, at least, of him--from hearing of his unwanted attentions to her friend Katie.”

“How in God’s name do you know of this?”

“I asked around at the campus,” Albert replied. “Jeffrey was hopelessly enthralled by Katie, and she spurned him. I thought something like that might be at the core of this, thinking of how Mina had likewise rebuffed you.”

I stiffened. “Thanks very much.”

He ignored this. “I’m sure his advances were crude and improper. He has a reputation for violence and drink. A loutish, aggressive type, under which lies an even darker, murderous nature. He finds being thwarted in his desires intolerable. Emboldened by his father’s wealth and position, thinking himself above the laws of God and man, he’s driven to murder. But to disguise the motive, he embeds the killing of Katie Gossen in a series of brutal slayings, seemingly the work of a madman, following some absurd, fanciful pattern...”

I struggled to absorb his words. “So you guessed that he needed at least one more to make a convincing picture. The seven members of the rowing team...But how did you know?”

“Imagination, Hector. The unheralded seed-bed of all theory.” A wry smile. “I simply imagined what I would do in his place.”

Another squeak of floorboard from within drew our eyes to the glass. Jeffrey was moving back against the far wall, axe in hand. Melting like a wraith into the lattice of shadow.

“Now all he need do is wait,” Albert whispered. “The team will be returning any moment. After a vigorous workout, they will doubtless drink from the water keg. Jeffrey knew there were too many to handle unless they were incapacitated.”

I nodded. “So after the drug takes effect, he can move in for the kill. Unless...”

Where this sudden flush of courage--or foolishness--came from, I cannot say. But suddenly I was barreling as fast as possible through the snow, around the corner of the low-slung building and through the opened double doors.

“Hector!” Albert called out, but I’d already crossed the threshold into the room.

Jeffrey Burlick had turned at the pounding of my foot- steps, and rushed now from the shadows to confront me. I leapt at him, hands outstretched, a cry bursting from my lips.

We ended up in a heap on the floor, Jeffrey awkwardly trying to bring the axe to bear. I saw the horrible glint as its blade sliced down toward me. I saw my own death.
Then I saw Albert, face red with exertion, struggling with both hands for the axe. But the burly young student merely flung Albert to the floor.

Winded, scrambling to get up on our elbows, we looked up at the glowering face of a demon. Jeffrey hefted the axe as though it were weightless, raising it high.

“You two thought you could stop me?” he cried. “Two penniless patent clerks? No one can stop me!”

“You must stop!” I gasped. “Even you must see, killing these men avails you nothing. You’ve had your revenge on Katie...you’ve ended her life. Why must you end these others?”

“Revenge?...on Katie?” His eyes narrowed to dark slits. “She’s nothing! She means nothing to me. The design is all. The purity, the immutable beauty...”

He paused then, regarding me with bemusement. “Something a man like you could never understand. Bound by your pathetic, bourgeois pieties...”

As, tightening his grip, he raised the great axe once more to strike--

When another voice shot through the room. “Not as pathetic as you, Jeffrey!”

Burlick froze where he stood, as the tall, ramrod figure of Inspector Kruger stepped through the doorway. He held a police revolver pointed at Jeffrey’s chest.

“Put down the weapon, or I’ll be forced to fire.”

Jeffrey wavered, glance darting from us to the Inspector. “I assure you,” Kruger said sharply, “I don’t care who your father is. I will shoot you where you stand.”

A strange, anxious smile played across the young man’s lips. “My father?...with his rules and regulations. So rigid, unbending. The unspeakable hypocrite! You don’t know what he’s really like, what he did to--” His voice caught. “He’s the monster.”

His eyes blazed now as he turned to stare at Albert. “And yet powerless against the march of mathematical inevitability! Surely, Herr Einstein, you must understand. If no one else, surely you...”

Then suddenly, in two brisk strides, Kruger was at the killer’s side, the revolver pressed hard against his ribs. Jeffrey Burlick gave the Inspector the merest look, before letting the axe fall with a clatter to the floor.

Albert rose beside me and smiled at the Inspector. “I see you received my message,” he said. “I’m surprised you gave it any credence.”

“I’m surprised that anything surprises you, Herr Einstein. Not after this.” He nodded at Jeffrey, who, to my utter incomprehension, stood calmly with his arms folded, as though waiting for a train.

“No.” Albert was shaking his head. “I miscalculated. Your arrival here was an unexpected variable. A random occurrance.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think perhaps God plays dice with the universe after all.”

I struggled to my feet, my fear rapidly being replaced by irritation. I hated when Albert talked like this.

“Forget your theories, for the love of heaven!” I snapped at him. “We were almost killed this morning.”

“I wasn’t the one who seemed intent on heroics. Honestly, Hector, that was perhaps the most amazing surprise of all.”

In a matter of minutes, a police van had arrived, and Jeffrey was bundled away in restraints by two stout officers. Inspector Kruger followed them out.

Alone with Albert in the eerie stillness of the boat-house, I gave voice to my thoughts. “Young Burlick must suffer from a diseased mind...it’s the only explanation...”

Albert looked off, in that way I’d become accustomed to.“No, he’s not mad. He knows the difference between right and wrong. I saw that clearly. He just...doesn’t care.”

“But that’s unthinkable! To butcher innocent people without remorse? Without a conscience? Believe me, Albert,

I doubt there’s a word for such pathology in your wife’s scholarly books.”

“Perhaps not,” he replied with a sad smile. “But I fear one day soon there will be.”

* * *

Outside, another gentle flurry of snow had begun to fall, and I realized with a start that tomorrow was Christmas Day. Though, admittedly, such holiday thoughts were far from my mind at that moment.

Albert and I stood with Kruger, watching as the rowing team, oblivious, began making their way to shore. From the dock, I could hear the sounds of another pair of policemen, dumping the keg of drugged water into the river.

Another sound, that of boots scraping heavily against frozen earth, made us turn. Jeffrey Burlick, shackled hand and foot, was being led to the rear of a police van. As the door was held open for him, he paused and looked directly, nakedly, at us. Then, showing a small, tight smile, he turned and stepped into the van. As it rumbled away in the blur of morning light, Albert looked gravely at Kruger.

“He’s the Commissioner’s son. This will cause a scandal.”

“Not my concern.”

Their eyes locked. “I am curious why you believed me,” Albert said quietly.

“Let’s just say, not all of us share the Commissioner’s prejudices, Herr Einstein.”

Then, with a curt bow, Kruger went to join his men.

Albert watched him go, before brushing himself off and heading in the opposite direction. I followed.

“That’s quite enough adventure for me,” he said. “Now it’s back to my physics papers.”

“No,” I said. “It’s back to the office, and the Beringer patents. We work until six, even on Christmas Eve. Or Hoffmann will dock your pay.”

He grimaced. “And Mileva will be furious.”

Then, smiling, Albert Einstein put his arm around my shoulder. “Ah, Hector, the mathematics of love. Compared to it, physics is but child’s play.”

On the way back to work, we stopped for a sausage roll.

THE END

(c) 2010-11 D. Palumbo - reprinted with permission, Candid Canine, http://candidcanine.blogspot.com

A Christmas Short Mystery: A Theory of Murder by Dennis Palumbo

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Christmas treat is a short story by author and former screenwriter, DENNIS PALUMBO, which was featured here last year.

Palumbo's story, A THEORY OF MURDER, features Albert Einstein and originally appeared in The Strand Magazine, and then was part of the short story collection, From Crime to Crime (Tallfellow Press). Palumbo's credits include being a staff writer for the ABC TV series, Welcome Back, Kotter (remember that?)

FEVER DREAM, his second crime novel from Poisoned Pen Press features psychologist Daniel Rinaldi, a trauma expert, who treats victims of violent crime. It follows the acclaimed MIRROR IMAGE.

Palumbo's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Strand, Written By and elsewhere. He provides articles and reviews for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Lancet, and many others. His column, “The Writer’s Life,” appeared monthly for six years in Written By, the magazine of the Writers Guild of America. He’s also done commentary for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and blogs regularly for The Huffington Post.

** Go to Part 2.

A THEORY OF MURDER - By Dennis Palumbo - Part 1

My friend Albert Einstein unwrapped his sausage roll, then looked up at me with those frank, dark eyes. “Tell me, Hector, what is the secret to living in harmony with a woman?”

I shrugged in my thick overcoat. It was cold out here in the dawn mist, beneath the wintry mantle of holiday snow. We sat, as we did every morning before work, on a bench overlooking the Aare River.

“I know less about women than you do,” I answered, sipping my tea. “At least you’ve managed to marry one.”

“I prefer to think that Mileva married me. For my money, perhaps?”

“It can’t be for your looks,” I said.

He smiled, then bit into his steaming roll, chewing as carelessly as he did most things.

Below us, the river flowed stubbornly around islands of scrabbly ice. Traversing its treacherous surface was a sleek racing scull being rowed by the university team, undaunted by the frigid conditions. I could just make out the half-dozen broad-shouldered students, encased in thick coats and heavy blankets, urged on by their coxswain.

We ate in a familiar, comfortable silence. Then I became aware of the rolling of cart-wheels on icy cobblestones, the flap of shop windows opening to the new day. Cool morning light poked through the haze, revealing the shapes of old, weathered buildings--relics of a past that young men like Albert and I had long since shrugged off.

We were the new generation, like those students on the water. The men of the future. It was the year 1904.

We finished our meager breakfasts and trundled down the snow-draped streets. It was two days before Christmas, and we passed several small clusters of religious folk, in gaily-colored mufflers and hats, ringing their bells and collecting for the poor. As usual, guilt made me dig into my own relatively poor pockets for some change.

Albert had said little as we made our way through the growing, early-morning throng. He’d seemed quite distracted these past months, though whether due to marital problems or his struggles with his arcane physics papers I couldn’t be sure. Whenever I asked about them, he’d merely say they weren’t ready for publication yet. I confess I doubted whether they might ever be.

At last, Albert and I arrived at the patent office. Inside, we found our employer, Herr Hoffmann, his thick mustache stained with coffee. A copy of this morning’s Gazette was in his hand.

“Have you heard the news?” he said, more agitated than usual. “Have you?”

“Are the planets still holding to their prescribed parabolas?” Albert asked mildly.

“Are they what--? Honestly, Herr Einstein--”

Hoffman shook his head, and raised the folded newspaper like a flag.

“The most horrible of all,” he said gravely. “Just last night...not five blocks from this very room. And during Christmas, for the love of God.”

“More murders?” I said, stunned. “Like before?...”

“Worse. An entire family. Husband, wife, three children. Murdered in their beds. Slaughtered like cattle.”

I took the paper he offered, my hands trembling as I read the horrible details.

“You must see this, Albert,” I said. “It’s unnatural. A crime unlike any in history.”

“Now that, dear Hector, I sincerely doubt. I trust you’ve heard of the Boer War. The massacres on the African coasts. Certain penal colonies in the Australian continent...”

“Yes, yes,” I said irritably. Truly, Albert could be maddening at times. In such moments, I didn’t envy Mileva her choice of husbands.

“My point, Albert,” I went on cooly, “is that a monster is afoot in Berne.”

“Exactly!” Hoffmann sputtered. “We have a Jack the Ripper in our midsts.”

Albert opened his eyes, at once penetrating and leavened with sadness. “Yet one far less discriminating. The Ripper chose his victims from among the women of the streets. This killer chooses them...at random? That, I suppose, is the great bafflement. How he chooses his victims, or why.”

Hoffmann nodded. “That’s what the police say. There appears to be no motive.” He pointed to the paper in my hands. “You see, they’ve listed the deaths so far. The watch-maker, stabbed in his shop. The knifing of the elderly couple. Three seminary students, hacked to pieces. Now this poor family.”

“No recurring pattern,” Albert mused. “So unlike the universe, when you think about it. Or the habits of most men.”

“Except for one thing,” I said. “He always uses a blade of some kind. A scissors for the watch-maker, a knife for the old couple, a thick cleaver for the students. Appalling.”

“And inefficient,” Albert said. “Unless the killer’s trying different approaches to discern the most effective. Trial and error. Hypothesis and experimentation. The scientific method.”

I stared at him. “The man’s obviously deranged! And you talk of methods...?”

Hoffmann clucked his tongue. “Sometimes, Herr Einstein, I worry about you.”

“I’m touched, Herr Hoffmann.”

“Exactly. That’s what I’m worried about.” Hoffmann laughed at his own wit and shuffled over to his desk by the front door. “However, should you feel inclined to join the rest of us in the real world, I’d appreciate the schematics of the Beringer application by first post.”

As I turned to my own work, I caught sight of Albert once again leaning back in his chair. He seemed to be staring at a spot on the ceiling. Or perhaps through the ceiling, and the sky beyond, to the very edge of the universe.

I hated to agree with Hoffmann, but Albert’s mind did usually seem everywhere except in this real world of brick and soil and sausage rolls, of yearning and sorrow and sudden, horrible death.

My odd friend Albert. So secretive about his as-yet unpublished physics papers, yet so casually sure that they’d stun the world. At times as playful as a child, at others sober and introverted.

Especially today, since hearing the gruesome news about the murdered family. Albert and I had exchanged not a word, cloaked in a thick silence broken only by the shuffle of drafting papers, the scratching of pens, the muffled ticking of the wall clock.

Until lunch-time arrived...along with an Inspector Kruger of the local police, who entered stamping snow from his boots.

Herr Hoffmann stood, mouth agape, as the tall, slender Kruger pulled his gloves from his hands and saluted.

“Just routine police work,” Kruger assured us. “We have these murders, you see. The whole Department is engaged.”

“Of course.” Hoffmann rubbed his hands nervously. “It’s a comfort, knowing our police are on the job. Berne is a peaceful town. We’ve never known such brutal events before.”

Kruger smiled. “Calm yourself, Herr Hoffmann. Men must be strong. It is our duty.” He turned to me. “Actually, I’m here to ask Herr Franks to come with me. To headquarters.”

“Me?” Like an idiot, I actually pointed to myself.

Albert rubbed his nose inoffensively. “Is Hector a suspect in these killings, ludicrous as that sounds?”

Kruger tightened his jaw. “I can’t say more.”

I looked over at Albert, whose own jaw tightened. He’d never handled authority very well, he told me once. I could plainly see that now.

“I suggest I accompany you, Hector,” he said at last. “As your second.”

Kruger looked as though he were about to respond, but then merely shrugged. He ushered us out the door.
* * *

The police wagon, wheels rattling, turned onto Aar-strasse. I frowned at Kruger, wedged between Albert and myself in the rear. “This is not the way to police headquarters.”

Kruger shrugged. “We must make one stop first.”

We pulled to the curb before a rambling, two-storied house shadowed by ancient firs thick with snow. A squad of uniformed policemen milled out on the lawn, hugging themselves against the cold, smoking brown cigarettes. As we climbed out of the wagon, the men came quickly to attention.

Beside me, Kruger merely grunted his displeasure and led me up the icy porch steps and into the foyer of the somber house. I heard Albert’s steady shuffle behind us.

The first horror awaited us in the drawing room. Splashes of dried blood covered the carpet, the arms of chairs, the gilt-edged picture frames—-even the still-hanging Christmas tinsel and carefully-wrapped presents under the tree.

The Inspector pointed at an obscene black stain near the hearth. “Herr Gossen and his wife were killed there.”

I couldn’t find words, but I heard Albert’s quiet voice behind me. “The children?”

Kruger nodded to the staircase. “Upstairs.”

He led the way up the velvet-lined steps and into the first of two bedrooms. Toys, stuffed animals, and colorful downy blankets attested to the ages of the former occupants. Twin boys, I recalled from the Gazette, not yet five.

Kruger drew our attention to the little beds. Blood-soaked. Sheets a tangle. “Murdered as they slept,” he said. “Perhaps it was a blessing.”

I found my voice. “But why are you showing this to us? To me? I don’t understand--”

Kruger stirred. “You will. In the girl’s room.”

He led us to the second bedroom, evidently that of a girl in her teens. Soft, feminine. I thought I saw the glint of a blond hair in the afternoon sun, where it adhered to a blood-stained pillow.

I took a breath, then felt Albert’s reassuring grasp on my arm. It was he who questioned the Inspector this time.

“I don’t see the reason for bringing us here,” he said.

In reply, Kruger took a folded cloth from his pocket. Within lay a heart-shaped gold locket, smeared with blood.

“It was found clutched in the dead girl’s hand,” Kruger explained. “Which was severed from her body, and lay a few feet away from it on the floor.”

“No!!” I cried. It took both of them to keep me upright as I swayed, gasping. “It...it can’t be...”

“So you recognize the locket?” Kruger stared at me.

I nodded dumbly. How could I not? It had once been mine.
* * *

“It was a cruel act,” Albert was saying to Kruger, as we sat in the Commissioner’s office at police headquarters. “And unnecessarily theatrical.”

“Perhaps.” Kruger’s bald head shone in the wintry light from the windows. “But I thought it might be effective.”

“For what? Extracting a confession from Herr Franks? You can’t possibly suspect Hector of these heinous crimes?”

I sat in silence on a padded bench at the far end of the large, wood-paneled room. I felt disembodied. Adrift in a nightmare from which I couldn’t awaken.

Until I was startled from my melancholy by the arrival of a slender young girl, in the company of a police matron.

“Mina!” I said, leaping from my seat. Upon seeing me, Mina froze in her tracks, face turning pale as chalk.

She was as beautiful as I remembered, luminous eyes now red-rimmed from recent tears.

Kruger rose, and turned to Albert.“This is Fraulein Mina Strauss,” he explained. “She was a school-mate of the late Fraulein Gossen.”

Mina’s voice quavered. “Poor Katie. She was my best, my truest friend. We...” She burst into tears, hands covering her face. The stoic matron idly handed her a handkerchief.

“Fraulein Strauss is also known to Herr Franks,” Kruger said, finally looking at me. “Isn’t that so?”

“Yes. I...we...” I looked at the floor. “I loved her once. Some few years ago.”

“Love?” Mina’s eyes found mine. “It was an infatuation, Hector. I was only sixteen, and even I had the wit to know that.” She turned to Kruger. “Hector worked for a summer for my father. He...flattered me with his attentions. But I never returned his affections. Even after he sent me the locket.”

Kruger pointed to the gold locket on the table next to us, still nested in the folded cloth. “This locket?”

Mina nodded, miserable. “I shouldn’t have kept it, I know. But it was so pretty. Perhaps I’m vain. Perhaps...” Her smile back at me was kind. “I’m sorry, Hector.”

Albert took a step forward, hands in the pockets of his loose trousers. Old pipe ash flecked his sweater.

“Might I ask how the locket came into the possession of Fraulein Gossen?”

Mina gazed warily at Albert’s careless appearance. I could sense that she found him...unimpressive.

“I gave it to Katie,” she said carefully. “As a token of our friendship, our bond. We shared a special kinship...a...” She looked at me for a long moment, then away, as though having decided I wouldn’t understand. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Now my world is over. Finished.”

I found her words perplexing, and glanced over at Albert. But his expression was unreadable.

Suddenly, a heavy tread sounded in the doorway. It was the large, imposing figure of Commissioner Otto Burlick. In his wake came a sturdy-looking young man wearing rimless glasses and a crisp college uniform beneath his winter coat. He had the same thick, dark features as the Commissioner.

Behind him, lounging in the doorway, was another college youth. Though he had the sullen look of a street ruffian.

Burlick lumbered over to his desk, rumaging hastily through the top drawer until he pulled out a check-book.

“Won’t be a minute,” he said to the room, exasperated. “My son Jeffrey is in need of a loan.”

“It is a loan,” Jeffrey, the first boy, protested. He glanced neither at me, Mina, nor the Inspector. “I’ll pay it back.”

“Don’t grovel, Jeffrey,” said the boy in the doorway. “It’s disgusting.”

Jeffrey whirled at this, face reddening. “Do shut up, Hans. If it wasn’t for you, egging me on...”

Hans laughed sourly. “So now it’s my fault you bet on the wrong boat?”

Burlick looked up from his desk, bristling. “Hans Pfeiffer? I’ve heard Jeffrey speak of you. You think you’re some kind of tough character. No doubt you’d benefit from a good hiding.” He turned to his son. “As for you, Jeffrey. Gambling on athletic events? Is this what they encourage at your university? I shall have to speak to the Chancellor...”

Jeffrey gasped, mortified. “Father, don’t!”

Burlick returned to his check-book. Jeffrey, seemingly at a loss, swept the room with his eyes. Then, with a forced casualness: “Hello, Herr Einstein.”

Albert registered a mild surprise. “Do I know you?”

“I’ve seen you around the campus,” Jeffrey said easily. “A real scholar, I’m told. Not like me. You wouldn’t want to hear about my difficulties with mathematics.”

Albert gave him a rueful smile. “I can assure you, young sir, mine are far worse.”

The sound of Commissioner Burlick ripping a check from his book drew our collective gaze. He gave it to Jeffrey, glowering. “Now go! And, by God, look to your studies.”

Jeffrey nodded, stuffed the check in his pocket and sauntered out. Hans turned to follow, but not before giving Mina a leering wink that made her look away.

* Go to Part 2.

(c) 2010-11 D. Palumbo reprinted in Candid Canine, http://candidcanine.blogspot.com

Miniatures Monday: Christmas flowers

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Finally made some poinsettias I like! I realized the secret is making a shorter layer in the center....

Be sure to come back beginning Wednesday for part one of the first of two annual Christmas stories!

Help Cats for Christmas - New Book, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes

2011-12-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

Author Patty G. Henderson is behind a new anthology aimed at helping homeless cats.

DARK THINGS II: Cat Crimes: Tales of Feline Mayhem and Murder (Volume 2) features more than 21 stories where the cat is the culprit, or at least the suspect.

Proceeds will go to various cat shelters and organizations helping homeless cats.

Coming soon in e-book....

Authors:
Mary V. Welk, Patricia Harrington, Jim Silvestri, Patty G. Henderson, Peter Medeiros, Kelli A. Wilkins, David Perlmutter, MJ Williamz, Edward DeGeorge, Shanna Germain, G. Elmer Munson, Fred Skolnik, James S. Dorr, Marian Allen, Jodi S. Watts, Margaret Phillips, Nat Burns, Ken Goldman, Anna Sykora and J.D. Revezzo, with an intro by Robert W. Walker.

Blurb:
A collection of tales featuring feline mayhem, murder and dastardly deeds. Vampire cats. Scoundrel cats. Daring cats. Killer cats. Cats you don't want in your worst nightmares and cats you might want on your side against evil. All proceeds from sales go to several cat sanctuaries across the USA. Enjoy over twenty-one cat tails and support a cat charity!

Miniatures Monday: New Wire Wicker Furniture

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe not so new. I had this furniture for a while, and now that I've made new cushions, I realize what a big difference color makes. I originally had some think black print and then yellow cushions on there. The new blue fabric and lace gives it a "shabby chic" feel. This is for the stained glass house I'm turning into a garden room.

I also repainted this brown wood buffet to include in the room.

Hero Dog Better than Some Humans?

2011-12-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

Iowa - A yellow Labrador named Reagan discovers a sealed cat food bag in the middle of the road holding a horrible secret - at least five kittens - two of which were still alive - after the bag had been partially crushed.

The dog amazingly dragged the bag home to its owner, proving that love knows no barriers, or breed - and even surpasses the cruelty of some humans.

See the Tails Inc. video about the two surviving kittens here.

'Tis the Season: Free Miniatures Advent Calendars

2011-12-01T07:21:00.000-08:00

What's more fun than getting a surprise each day? Check out a couple free advent calendars and get a little gift each day! Go back each day until Dec. 24.

AIM Advent Calendar 2011 - Note: You have to sign in to Scribd to view and download. - Direct Link

* Mini Treasures Wiki Advent Calendar - check out the "treasures" each day.

Christmas Sale! In Miniature Style II

2011-11-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

Now until Dec. 31, get the pdf ebook version of IN MINIATURE STYLE II at a 20% discount at the publisher's site.

- See link here.

Writing and Minis - Common Ground

2011-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

While I've gotten a kick out of the fun food earrings and necklaces I've seen on places like Etsy, here's something the bibliophile, writer and miniaturist will equally enjoy - mini bookcase necklaces.

Author Cheryl Rainfield shared this on google+ and I had to share it here as I admit, I hadn't seen these before. Clever idea!

* See miniature bookcases by Cory of Coryographies on Etsy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

A healthy, happy and safe Thanksgiving to all! Count your blessings (not the calories!) ha! (Scene - my miniature Thanksgiving table.)

Haunted Hot Dogs in Wisconsin?

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in the unexplained, check out my post today at Courtney's Haunt Jaunts blog.

Check out the pix, and you decide if Hot Rod Dogs is haunted...?

Short Christmas fiction: Christmas at the North Pole Compound - more eBook formats!

2011-11-22T06:17:00.000-08:00

Got a Nook or other e-reader? My short fun Christmas story, CHRISTMAS AT THE NORTH POLE COMPOUND, is now available at Smashwords in several eBook formats (epub, sony, pdf, etc.) It also is available for Kindle. And it's less the price of a cup of coffee!

Feeling the holiday stress? Relax with a fun story and have a chuckle!

It's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole Compound when Santa's elves find someone's stolen the gifts!

Can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty crack the case by Dec. 24th and save Christmas?

A Holiday Crime Story for all ages!

E-Readers - Got a favorite?

2011-11-21T04:57:00.001-08:00

Today at Acme Author's Link, I'm talking e-readers.

Which is your favorite: Kindle, Nook, Blackberry Playbook? Follow the link and weigh in....

Welcome to fantasy author and illustrator Vonnie Winslow Crist

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today I welcome author Vonnie Winslow Crist, who has a new collection of fantasy tales out. The Greener Forest is an eclectic collection of (lucky) 13 tales with a "pinch" of poetry and several illustrations.

(The cover alone is a delight! And if you love fantasy art, check out the detailed and adorable maze she drew and is free at the publisher's site. See link at end of post.)

This charming book (print, eBook, Kindle and other formats) is sure to delight those who love the fanciful, with tales of spriggans, goblins, swan maidens, angels, dragons, ningyo, and other Faerie creatures. But all is not good and light -- there are some dark and uncertain times lurking between the pages.

About the book:

"In 'The Greener Forest' anything is possible. Silver maples sing in angel-song. Spriggans skulk about cypress knees and wreak havoc at an amusement park. The Applehead Lady's true identity is revealed by moonlight filtering through the branches of an ancient tree.

A scarecrow finds true love in an ash grove. And a wayward beech tree root sends a woman into the arms of a kindhearted giant. These stories and more lead the reader into the depths of The Greener Forest, where Faerie and the everyday world collide. There is dark and light, evil and good, and uncertain dusky gray lurking between the pages of this book. Discover that all is not what it seems at first glance, and wondrous things still happen in 'The Greener Forest.'"

Vonnie, who's been "drawing and painting as long as I can remember," was encouraged by an artistic grandfather to pursue her talent. She's since taught art for the Community Services Division of her local community colleges, illustrated magazines and books, taught poetry for 10 years for the Maryland State Arts Council's Artists-in-Education Program, taught creative writing, and more. Some of her work has been published in The Vegetarian Journal and Faerie Magazine. Learn more about Vonnie at her blog.

* Bonus: Download a free maze at Cold Moon Press, illustrated by Vonnie - a must see! You can also listen to an audio excerpt of the story, "Birdling" from "The Greener Forest" at the same page.

** BUY: THE GREENER FOREST

* Assorted links at Cold Moon Press

* (Amazon, print - click cover)

Show Seen 4: Dollhouse Rooms - A Room with a View

2011-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is the last set of pix from the 2011 Wee C Miniatures Club Show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. And my favorite, I think. I've been saving things to make an Egyptian room and still haven't decided on the exterior. This is a great idea. (Please ignore the glare on the acrylic.) See the first pix on Day 1.

This is a clever, unique way to do the outside. Love it! Florence made the room look like books by using paper towel rolls with Styrofoam (TM) packing. She covered the edges and painted. It sure looks real. I love the portrait on the outside wall!

Show Seen 3: Dollhouse Rooms... Holidays and Themes

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Show Seen 3: More pix from the Wee C Dollhouse Show. This show is great in that they have a whole room for exhibits only. There's so much to see, so I only took pix of some of the projects, though all were great! Come back tomorrow for the last pix (my favorite project, I think). See Day 1 - Next: Day 4.

Holidays:
Two cozy Christmas scenes.

More formal rooms:

More detail: Milady's wardrobe:
Love it!

A Touch of Whimsy:

A creative project - what a cute idea for another way to display minis!

Miniatures Monday: Show Seen 2 - More Dollhouse Show Rooms and Houses

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

More of the amazing dollhouses and rooms from the Wee C Miniatures Club Show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. There's more pix coming the next two days, so be sure to stop back. See Day 1 pix. Next: Day 3.

Holiday Scenes:

The fall leaf house (above) was one of my favorites. Not only is the design unique, but it's neat to see the amount of detail you can get in a small project. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed or unsure of where to start, but this let's you do a lot in a little space. There is also a kind of leaf collage on the roof.

Courtyards:

I always liked the look of having the outside - inside. I want to do one of these yet. Two different takes on the same theme, one fall themed and two in Tudor style.

A smaller scale Southwest scene:

Show Seen: Dollhouse Show Rooms and Projects

2011-11-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

There's no better way to be inspired than enjoying the work of other miniaturists. These are some of the fantastic, creative dollhouses and rooms displayed at the recent dollhouse show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. put on by the Wee C Dollhouse Club. I took a lot of pix so be sure to come back tomorrow for more. (Click pix for larger view.)

Theme Rooms:

Above, half scale rooms in boat shelves. I have one of these saved to make a sea captain's house. Lots of detail in a small space.

Diner: I love the detail in this diner! Funny, that guy behind the counter was working at my mini bar last time I looked. He sure gets around!

This kitchen scene is adorable. The colors are great but the dog makes the scene!

This historic fireplace scene reminds me of a painting.

Another fireplace scene, this one is well-used.

Gotta get the Halloween room in here!

Come back tomorrow for more pix!

It's Pink Saturday! Pink in Miniature, Tea, Anyone?

2011-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

I haven't done this in a while, so thought I'd jump in and join Beverly for her PINK SATURDAY @ How Sweet the Sound. (Pic: table in my teapot shoppe.)

I'm busy this weekend signing books at the Wee C Dollhouse Show Club in Elk Grove Village, Ill. (Stop by if you're nearby!), so I am hoping to take some pix in the display room and look for some pink minis! If I can't get the pix posted today I will post them on Monday so be sure to come back!

For now, thought I'd post one of my favorite pinks: the main counter in my miniature Teapot Shoppe. I'll post a few pink items I've made for my dollhouse collection. (See lots of pink in my teapot shoppe at my website, (click miniatures). (My friend Kitty made the cake and cupcakes; I made the two tea jars and displays on the bottom shelf, along with painting the sign and table.)

Dollhouse Show....

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today and Saturday (Nov. 11-12), I'll be at the Wee C Dollhouse Club Show. One of the best exhibit rooms around. Stop by, say hello, and get a book signed!

* See details, project list and more - In Miniature Style II - eBook (iPad, Nook, Sony, Kindle, etc.) and Print.

New dollhouse album printies and funny album covers

2011-11-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

Just added a couple new dollhouse album printies on the website. Click miniatures and printies link at www.cverstraete.com.

For fun, thought I'd enlarge one of the 50's-60's album covers - click picture to read the subtitle on the right under the main title. ha!

Led Zeppelin - 40 years already?

2011-11-08T09:53:00.001-08:00

40 years, really?

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin IV, the album containing the classic, "Stairway to Heaven."

Wow, talk about feeling old...

Miniatures Monday: BBQ Anyone?

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hungry anyone?

The hamburgers and hot dogs (plus the corn and potato salad) are part of my barbecue how-to in IN MINIATURE STYLE II. You can find additional details including making the onions, the buns and the french fries, plus a few easy tips, in the November issue of Miniature Collector Magazine.

Day 12: Halloween in Miniature 2011: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's here! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Today is the final day of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature for 2011. I hope you enjoyed the event as much as I enjoyed planning it. (Photo: Mrs. Skellie from my haunted house. See more photos.)

(You can check out the full Halloween event by starting at Day 1.)

Wow, it was a FANTASTIC party with lots of neat guests, great stuff to eat, and a few scares. It took some work, but I always enjoy planning the event and sharing my love of miniatures with others. Thank you for visiting and participating!

For fun, here's a parting gift I made: your own miniature record album cover with that classic Halloween song, "The Monster Mash." (Click for full image, then right click to save. * (Jim's Printables has images of LP's (under music and games) that you can print and cut out.)

Don't forget to check out the list of other goodies at the end of this post!

Thanks to everyone for allowing me to share their wonderful miniature creations! See you next year!

12 Days of Miniature Participants for 2011:

* Alice Zinn's dogs

* Amelia Schmelzer, The Frippery Factory, food

* Barbara Adair, Halloween shop

* Bonnie Glazier, dolls

* Bonnie Justice dolls

* Ceynix Miniature Trees and Trains

* Gina Gagnon, Lone Wolf Mini Creations, dolls

* Janet Whittig, cemetery scene

* Julie Campbell, BellaBelle Dolls

* Karin Foster, castle

* Kat Hazelton, Kat the Hat Lady

* Kate Henry dollhouse

* Kim Saulter, Kim's Miniatures, food and goodies

* Kiva Atkinson, Kiva's Miniatures, food

* Marie's Minis, Halloween food and furnishings

* MiniDollList, doll email list and free tutorials

* Nancy Cronin dolls

* Pamela J Minis, spooky pumpkins

* Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart, spooky figures

* Tracy Topps, Minis on the Edge, custom houses and more.

* Victoria Dark Squirrel, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum, magical cabinets and potions.

*** PRIZES: The following people, please email me your mailing address:****

* Irina (narina)- wins an eBook copy (pdf) of In Miniature Style II. (send me the email to send it to - if you have it, I can send a mini cake and medieval book instead. If so, anyone else not have the eBook, let me know.)

* Cynthia Taylor - wins one of my handmade painted Halloween cakes.

* Otterine - wins a Halloween salad.

Thanks for visiting! See you all next year!

Day 11: Halloween in Miniature 2011: Halloween Inspiration

2011-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 11 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. I hope you've been enjoying the tour! (If you missed it, check in at Day 1.)

I decided to do something different today. I haven't dressed a doll in quite a while, so when Bonnie Glazier sent me this doll kit in a swap we did, I knew I had to start working on her. Maybe because she looks so forlorn. Lovely, isn't she? ha! (Ignore the temporary "shroud" I wrapped her in. But love the glitter boots!)

I'm going to dress her in a pretty colorful outfit with purples and a neat material that is light green with a bluish shimmer. She's going to be a customer or friend for my fortune teller (who's half-dressed at least).

Besides making great dolls and contributing a lovely Chinese lady's outfit in my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II, where she's also profiled, Bonnie also is making wonderful display dresses for sale!

* See Bonnie's display dress kits and dolls. (Pictured: 1900s dress)

** Okay, getting back to HALLOWEEN, I thought I'd share some sites I've seen around the web for you to get inspired by.

* Check out Marilyn's Halloween Porch - don't skip this one as you've got to see the unusual coffin inhabitant!

* Fannye does some amazing work (check out her ME rooms and scenes for almost every holiday), but she also made a great Trick-or-Treat scene. (See main album page here.)

* Paula did a neat "Secret Book" project. (Not sure if you can see the pix unless you're a member of the online group, The Camp. It's a neat project, worth seeing.

* Check out Terry's incredible Haunted House. Love the details!

* Come back tomorrow for a wrap-up, a free gift and a list of winners! Hope you had fun!

** NEXT:Day 12 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
BACK: Day 1.

Day 10: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - Visiting the Castle

2011-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 10 of the 12 Days of Halloween In Miniature! (** Be sure to check in at Day 1.)

Guess you were left hanging yesterday.... heh-heh.

Did you hear that? I swore I heard yells....

Wait. Don't go down there!

Arrgh!

Canadian miniaturist Karin Foster has been making minis for about three years and had attended a technique workshop at a NAME houseparty (Camp Mini HaHa) in Nova Scotia.

This project, it seems, had a mind of its own. "Prior to the actual workshop, I was all set to make it into a 12th century Knights Templar castle," she says. "I spent about three months thoroughly researching the era and having laser cut furniture designed for me by the late Shirley Blair ....all of which I have since sold.

"The window and door surrounds (with gargoyles etc) are ones I bought from Rik Pierce and that he uses in his 'Fair Rosamund's Bower.' However when I got home -- the workshop was only one week and I don't think that anyone actually finished it while there -- I started to complete it, and 'it' insisted on becoming a haunted castle. I worked on it every day for a solid month and completed it about one week before Halloween." Her daughter has the castle since Karin, unfortunately, doesn't have room for it.

** See Karin's mini tutorials and links

** NEXT:Day 11 - BACK: Day 1

Day 9: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - More Halloween Goodies!

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 9 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature! (Be sure to check in at Day 1.)

Hungry? I think we've looked around enough, let's stop and relax, have a snack, and do some visiting.

Mmm, how about a slice of cake or a cupcake? Kim Saulter (Kim's Miniatures) shared some of her handmade Halloween cakes and desserts. Yummy!

Ooh, you can beat chocolate! Kiva Atkinson (Kiva's Miniatures) offers these fresh-baked coffin cakes.

Or if you prefer, we can skip the desserts and go straight to the entree, I heard the cook talking about fresh quiche. Mmm. Well, on second thought, better skip that one... (Egg also by Kiva.)

Wait! Did you hear someone calling? Let's head downstairs, shall we? Be sure to come back tomorrow!

** NEXT: Day 10 - BACK: Day 1.)

Day 8: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - The Witch's Greenhouse

2011-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 8 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature! (** Don't forget to check in at Day 1.)

Whew, that walk was a bit harrowing, so let's take a little detour. Don your best new chapeau a la Tim Burton, and let's make one more stop. (Hats by Kat Hazelton, see her Kat the Hat Lady blog.)

They say plants do much more than clean the air. (Plants in window by me; Mother-in-law's Tongue plant by Marie's Minis.)

So what's better than a whole greenhouse full?

We all know the benefit of working in the garden. Well Gertie got herself a job! (Doll painted by Dana of Miniature Art (check out her free MiniDollList - and the dressed skellie contest!) - I added more color and dressed her, see original pic).

To make up for all her summer garage saling, Gertie's now donned an apron and is working at the Witch's Greenhouse. Since I finally got the project done, thought I'd show you around. (See early pix and outside.) It was fun making all the plants; I actually have more still not on display!

The owner Witch Wanda (doll by Detta's Darling Dolls) is actually a kindly soul and is glad to have someone around who shares her love of growing things, even if, uh, well, some of the plants are a bit on the strange side. Project is in one of the Houseworks Street of Shops.

Watch where you're working. some of the plants may bite, and be sure not to step on Fang - (no, best not to ask what's in that dish of food!) (skellie dog by Marie's Minis - Check out her Darkside Manor!).)

(The greenhouse stones outside and the floor inside are made from painted egg cartons.)

** Come back tomorrow for more of the tour!

** NEXT:Day 9 - BACK: Day 1

Day 7: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : Which Witch is Which?

2011-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 7 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature!
(Don't forget, be sure to check in and get your ID stamped on Day 1.)

The party's in full swing and we've had a few more special guests stop by. Grab a drink, a Bloody Mary, naturally, and say hello.

Or perhaps you'd prefer something, ah, stronger? "Thing" also mixes an excellent martini... Oh, you didn't know? Why he's the best bartender around. Gracious of Morticia to let him work a few parties during the holidays! (Drinks by Kiva Atkinson, Kiva's Miniatures.)

Well, look who's here! Matilda's sister just flew in, (likely she heard about the commotion with the Frankensteins and wanted to keep her sister in check. Witch, and gossiping witch and ghost by Nancy Cronin.)

Uh, oh, looks like word's getting around... Did Matilda...? No, you don't say!

Please, please, just ignore the gossip. It will only mean trouble. And speaking of trouble, here comes the Black Witch... I sure hope she's not in a bad mood. (Not likely by the look on her face. (Witch by Nancy Cronin.) We better cut today's festivities short. Be sure to come back to the party tomorrow...

** NEXT: Day 8 - BACK: Day 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN MEMORIUM:

This post ends on a sad note I'm including this witch in tribute to a very special lady. Noted dollmaker Marcia Backstrom, recently lost her battle with cancer. She was a charming lady and such a talented artisan. A true legend in the miniatures industry. She'll be missed. (See obituary. The online guestbook is open for posts until 11/19.)

Day 6: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : More Spooky Places & Pumpkins

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 6 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature.

(** If you haven't, be sure to check in at Day 1.) (NOTE: Today also is the Internet Bookfair Blogfest, see info and check an excerpt of my spooky eBook at the end of this post. )

Let's get back to the party, shall we? We'll take the long way around...

Oh, careful! Mrs. Bones has been trying sooo hard to lure guests to her party in the graveyard (above). But I wouldn't do it - you know how cemeteries are.... guests check in, but they never check out! haaa!) Cemetery scene by Janet Whittig - see her Facebook page.

Here, I see a shortcut. Let's take this path and....

Ahhh! LOOK OUT! Oh, I didn't see the sign to THE HAUNTED FOREST! (Crazy tree and haunted tree by Jacqui, Ceynix Miniature Trees and Trains. )

Run-run! Oh there's another one--is-is it reaching out?

Hurry! Let's slip in the back door. We'll go to the kitchen first and get some goodies. Still thinking about pumpkins....

Mmm, Pamela of Pamela J Minis has a fantastic assortment of fresh pumpkins... So which one to pick?

Wait. Oh, I see it. There's one in the back...

Arrgh! Who would've expected the pumpkins to be so, well, aggressive? (Attacking pumpkin by Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart.)

Oh, and those pumpkins? Well... I'd be careful. The last person who tried to pick those left a few things behind (haaa!) - (Rest of the pumpkin scene from Pamela J Minis.)

Well, we don't seem to be having much luck with fresh pumpkins are we?

Oh, and you asked about the pumpkin pies again? Well, uh, there's a reason production's been kind of slow... Here's why: (Okay, kind of sick but hey, it's Halloween! Sorry I couldn't resist I saw this somewhere and it cracked me up. And if you did the photo, please share and I'll credit you, unless you'd rather not admit it. haa!)

Okay, next stop, let's mingle and meet more of the guests, so come back tomorrow...
** NEXT: Day 7 - BACK: Day 1

** ** Check out the Internet Bookfair Blogfest My entry:

Spooky reading, perfect for Halloween! A light horror short with a dash of humor....The Killer Valentine Ball by C.A. Verstraete:

BUY: Muse Bookstore - Other links

Excerpt:
The music played quietly in the background. When the shadows brightened, Jess caught a quick glimpse of one of the couples. The young man's mouth gaped open. His partner's gown glistened with streams of dark ribbons. The light flashed again and Jess gasped. Those weren't ribbons! The girl's dress shone with dark glimmers. Like-like blood, she thought. No, it can't be! She looked back at Dylan, who shook his head and urged her on.
"Light tricks," he whispered. "It's not real. It's Halloween stuff, like the movie. Don't worry."

Day 5: Halloween in Miniature 2011: A Sweet Side Trip

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 5 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature.

(** Make sure you check in at the door on Day 1.)

Got your costume? Today, we're going to take a side trip and go Trick-or-Treating! I know some unbelievable places to satisfy the biggest sweet tooth so grab your candy bucket and let's go!

First stop, wow check out the window! Barbara Adair (Barri) of Belfast,Ireland LOVES Halloween. Well she has a good reason, she says: "My birthday is October 25th so we always used to have a family combined birthday and Halloween celebration. I have happy memories of dressing up, ducking for apples, fortune telling and so on."

The "treat" is that Barri was the first in her area to get into miniatures and it took a while, but finally got a few others to join in the fun. "There are four branches of a club operating once a month in the Belfast area and a group of five of us also meet weekly in each other's houses. I started all by myself in 1961, thinking nobody else would be interested," she says.

Her fun project is neat - one of four shop windows (Summer, Christmas, Easter, Halloween) she made to fit into sweet shop post office scene. "I can suit the window to the occasion (when I remember to change them - it is often Christmas in July!)" She made the shop, filled the sweetie jars and collected and/or made all the rest in the window.

Next stop is another place to fill your goodie bags. Oooh, look at all the candy!!!

The amazing "Powell's Sweet Shoppe" in miniature is a dentist's nightmare. Miniaturist Kim Saulter of Kim's Miniatures, (known for her exquisite cupcakes!) made much of the goodies, and added others by fellow miniaturists. Dolls are by Bonnie Justice.

Our tour wouldn't be complete without a stop for some yummy cupcakes, also by Kim Saulter, at the "Little Cupcake Bakeshoppe." Yes, this is a miniature scene. Wow!

* Blogs:
* Visit Kim Saulter's blog, Kim's Miniatures

* Check out more of Barbara's minis

** NEXT: Day 6 - BACK: Day 1

Day 4: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - Haunted Places

2011-10-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 4 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. It looks like some of the guests are wandering around, so we're organizing a little tour to some of the spookier properties nearby.

(** If you haven't, please make sure you check in first at Day 1.)

Oops, tiptoe past Hays House (by Dorothy Hays, see above and below.) Dorothy, who only began making minis a year ago, (welcome!) made this house from a Michael's puzzle house so she could have a haunted house that lights up.

Oh, no, hurry-hurry. I see Mrs. Finster peering out the window and she does not look happy!

The old bag HATES strangers sneaking around her house. Make sure you stay away from that cane of hers.(Ghost by Nancy Cronin).

Maybe the owner at Henry House is home. I hear she's a fantastic baker! (Kate Henry made the house last year for her granddaughter as a way to cope with the loss of her oldest Pug.) Funny thing about the house though, Kate says her 4-year-old granddaughter, who loves Halloween, "decided it's too scary to go home with her so it should stay in my workshop 'till she grows up. It's nearly a year and she can now look inside without screaming out of the room, but she doesn't want to be any place around it when it's lit up at night."

Kate, who's been making minis for over 10 years, found out how giving miniaturists can be when she moved from Florida to New Mexico to escape the hurricanes.

The late doll maker Beth Lane and her husband invited the Henrys to stay with them, offering the family (including nine dogs, two cats, and a then-pregnant daughter) a place for three months until their home was finished a half-mile away.

Everyone please, back in line. The next house....

Oh, no. Sorry. RUN!

It's the Skellie Dogs, Spike and Fido. Run.... oh, heh, look at that. He wants to play. What do you know? Well, let's keep moving anyway, shall we?

These amazing original dogs are handmade by Alice Zinn.

Alice, who makes an assortment of realistic dogs, also has the distinction of creating a miniature version of the Obama's dog, Bo for the White House in Miniature.

Shall we continue the tour?

Blogs:
* See more of Dorothy Hays's miniatures photos. See more photos here.
* Read my story about Alice Zinn here.)

** NEXT: Day 5 - BACK: Day 1

Day 3: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - Sweet Rooms, Sweets for the Sweet

2011-10-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature for 2011.

The party went on so late last night that some of the guests stayed over, so we're serving breakfast before everyone gathers for today's festivities. (** Don't forget - before you go into the dining room, get your ID checked at Day 1.)

It's best to start the day with a good breakfast, so today's menu features some protein-rich Witch's eggs and some fortified orange juice made by these bloody red oranges. Oh, and never mind, please ignore the screams in the kitchen. (Foods by IGMA Fellow Kiva Atkinson of Kiva's Miniatures.)

Before you go through the door into the courtyard where the buffet is being set up, you may want to peek into some other rooms for the party. (Courtyard by Tracy Topps, Minis on the Edge.)

Matilda is allowing guests a quick look at her Potion Room, but hands off! This is mighty potent stuff. (Sorry, no children are allowed!) (Handmade potion cabinet and contents by Victoria Dark Squirrel, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum; doll by BellaBelle Dolls.)

Oh, it seems those mischievous Pumpkinhead twins (BellaBelle Dolls) are sneaking around again. Excuse me while I scare them off with a warning about the guard dragon under the stairs. What, you don't believe me? Do you really want to see if this is real?

If any of the kids (or adults) are up for a little snack, there's a great selection of sweets on the party table.

Help yourself, I hear the Graveyard Cakes are nice and chewy. Or how about a tempting green marshmallow Franken-cookie? (Table and sweets by Amelia Schmelzer, The Frippery Factory.)

Amelia, who 's 16 and started making minis in grade school, says her items today are a far cry from when "a lot of the stuff I made looked like something you'd scoop out of a litter box!" (ha!) She loves making minis, plus practicing and improving her skills.

Btw, Amelia invites readers to craft with her in the "I'm a Giant Challenge" to make and furnish a dollhouse by Dec. 15. She says, "mini making is expensive, but I want to prove that you can create an awesome scene without spending hundreds of dollars. I'm thinking there'll be lots of tutorials and maybe some swaps (it's much easier for me to swap mini food than it is for me to actually buy things), so if you have any resources and/or friends who're thinking along the same lines, let me know!"

* This sounds fun! * Read more about the Giant Dollhouse Challenge.

* Blogs:
* Check out the amazing original Paper Clay houses and scenes by Tracy
Topps, Minis on the Edge
* Amelia Schmelzer, http://www.etsy.com/shop/FripperyFactory
* Julie Campbell,BellaBelle Dolls
* Victoria, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum
* Check out Amelia's new venture, free mini food tutorials

** NEXT: Day 4 - or BACK: Day 1

Day 2: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : Meet Some of the Guests

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's Day 2 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature party for 2011, and wow, what an event! (* Before you enter, get your ID checked at the door on Day 1.)
)

We've got some great guests this year - celebrities even!

Why, can it be? Yes, it's the Bride of Frankenstein!

Frank's lady (by doll maker Doll by Julie Campbell of BellaBelle Dolls) is a little cranky, it seems, as Mr. F. has been making eyes at one of the witchy Gagnon sisters! (Witches by Gina Gagnon of Lone Wolf Mini Creations. )

(And in case you didn't know, figures are 1" scale - one-inch equaling 1 foot, so female dolls are under 6-foot, 6-inches-tall, usually about 5 1/2" tall.)

Of course, I'm sure you know which witch caught Frankie's eye without my saying! Ah, but that Mildred, she's a flirt. She's positive Frankie is keen on her. Look at her checking out Frankie when Mrs. F's not looking. Sly witch!

The guests are getting a little nervous, it seems, hoping all this will pass over as you know what havoc happens when Frank loses his temper! And I hear the Mrs. has quite a temper, too. We certainly don't want them ruining the fun!

In fact, Mrs. Stevenson's so nervous, she's lost her head over it! (Groan, couldn't resist! Headless ghost also by BellaBelle Dolls.)

Maybe everyone will feel better when they have a bite to eat. There are some tasty tidbits, sure to please anyone with a "monster" appetite. haaa!

First up are some to-die-for treats from IGMA Fellow Kiva Atkinson. Her food is always a big hit with the guests, and no wonder, considering how yummy everything looks!

Oh, dear, one of the guests asked about fresh pumpkin pie, but it seems there's a problem in the pantry. Well, we'll have to use the frozen pies. Shhh, Mummy's the word!

Besides the sweets, I'd suggest some fresh fruit to start. How about a juicy papaya?

Then there is a wonderful fresh fish plate, though many of the guests prefer the special Eyeball Stew. (Try the blue ones; extra crunchy. haa!)

Still hungry? We'll have some desserts after we tour a few more of the rooms, so see you tomorrow!

Photos:
Dolls -
* Visit Lone Wolf Mini Creations on Facebook.

* See BellaBelle Dolls on Facebook - Download a PDF story I did on Julie on my miniatures page.

* Foods - Kiva's Miniatures

Blogs:
* Kiva's Miniatures

* BellaBelle Dolls

** NEXT: Day 3: Visit some of the party rooms - BACK: Day 1

It's here! Welcome to the 2011 - 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature

2011-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

IT'S TIME!!!!

Grab your spookiest duds, put on your favorite witch hat and...
-- Get ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!

(Photos: clock, Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart; hats, Kat Hazelton, Kat the Hat Lady)

This is the 3rd annual 12 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE. I began the event since:

1. I love miniatures.
2. I get a kick out of Halloween
3. What better way to share my love of both and introduce my visitors to some fantastic miniature art.

So, get on your broom, or if you must use conventional means, hop on your mouse and stop by through Oct. 31. We'll have all kinds of fun tidbits, and maybe even a prize or two so be sure to leave a comment - and don't forget to check out the participants' blogs and websites!

NOTE: If you get lost along the way, each day will have the beginning and next page links at the bottom, so be sure to read to the end of each day's post!

Hungry? There'll be plenty of goodies to sample, so grab a glass of the house wine and enjoy! (I'd sip it slow, though, as it's an oooold vintage and has quite the kick, I hear! haa!) (Wine, C. Verstraete)

Oh, one of the first guests have arrived! Why it's my little witch Minerva. She says she'd love to act as your hostess and introduce you to some of the guests.

But beware, I hear behind that sweet smile, she likes to play a few tricks on the unsuspecting. haaa!

WARNING!

LURKERS will be put in the dungeon! heh-heh-heh (You'll get a better glimpse soon during the tour - skeleton by Karin Foster).

Photos:

* Real-life vintage clock with handmade sculpted ghost by Patty Benedict, Wooopitydooart. You'll be seeing more of Patty's amazing Halloween figures in polymer clay in the coming days. Check out more pix on her Facebook page.

* Witch hats - wonderful, handmade witch and other hats made by British miniaturist Kat Hazelton (Kat the Hat Lady), who studied millinery and has fashioned original hats for life-size and miniature clients. Read more about her, and see more of her hats, in my short interview in last year's Halloween blog here.

* Visit the Kat the Hat Lady blog - and her Facebook page.

* NEXT: Go to Day 2

*** CONTEST: Comment along the way for a chance to win an ebook copy of IN MINIATURE STYLE II (make a Halloween screen!) or a Halloween salad and cake. (Pic on the website, see Halloween page)!

New Mysterical-e Author Snapshot for Fall: Mystery Reads and new anthologies

2011-10-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

My latest fall Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e is now up!

This issue features short and long reads, books and eBooks, in quite an assortment from '30s style pulp and stories with an ocean theme and real estate background, to a mystery with a punk PI sidekick, an inner city lounge owner, and more.

There are stories by S. Furlong-Bolliger, Kaye George, Teel James Glenn, Nancy Lynn Jarvis, Percy Sperlark Parker, Jeanne Matthews, Tim Wohlforth and a cast of others in two anthologies: "Fish Tales" from the Sisters in Crime Guppies and "Mystery Times Ten," a YA anthology, so check it out!

Talking Animals, Gracie and Fala 'talk' about writing and such

2011-10-05T04:40:00.000-07:00

Today, author Nancy Lynn Jarvis's cat Fala and my dog Gracie (see her pic in the header) are meowing and barking today about why we're not paying attention to them when we're writing.

Read more at Nancy's blog

Today's Guest, er, Cat...and Nancy Lynn Jarvis, author of The Widow's Walk League

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have a special guest... Nancy Lynn Jarvis, author of the mystery, THE WIDOW'S WALK LEAGUE, is stopping by with her cat, Fala. (Actually, the cat is doing most of the meowing.)

And as a treat, my German Shepherd, Gracie, is "talking," um, barking over at Nancy's blog so be sure to go there, too -- tomorrow. Huh, cats, you know how they are.... ;>) Gracie did manage to ask our guest some questions before she pranced off:

Q: Nice to meet you. What's your name?

I’m Fala. I was named by children who met me at Christmas and were overexcited by the season. They thought it would be fun to call me Falalala, la, la, la like the carol. It was more than seventeen years ago. I was just a kitten and didn’t know better than to accept my fate.

Q: We understand you live with a mystery writer. Is she the parent of the children who named you?

Heavens, no! I climbed into my peoples’ car repeatedly when they came to visit my original people. It took me three years of clawing furniture and leaving mice in their shoes before they understood how unhappy I was and allowed me to escape with my new people. Humans can be so obtuse, don’t you agree?

Q: What breed are you?

That’s such a doggish question! I’m black with green eyes and intelligent and opinionated. Whatever breed that makes me, I’m certain it is a superior one.

Q: I'm not in my writer's book- yet - but I will be. I know it. Does your writer use you in her books?

Unhappily, no. She does have two cats who figure more or less in her mystery series, but both are modeled on cats who were members of the household before I arrived. In her books, Harry was adopted by the protagonist Regan McHenry and her husband Tom after his person was murdered, and Regan and Tom’s other cat, Cinco, is modeled after my writer’s cat Sophie.

Q: Do you help your writer when she writes?

I try to, but she’s not terribly receptive to my suggestions. When I try to type on her keyboard she gets quite agitated and shoos me away. Granted I’m a terrible speller, but she doesn’t even try to understand what I’ve written. Some of my best work has been committed to the ether by her too-quick finger on the delete button.

I’ve tried sitting on her lap purring to calm her as she types, but even that doesn’t work. She’s forever flopping around and talking out loud to herself as she writes as if she were living what she’s putting down on paper. Why, she has on occasion even ducked down behind a chair and pretended to hide.

I feel sorry for her sometimes; she seems to be in such a state, especially if finding a body is happening in her writing.

I remember when she was writing her first book, THE DEATH CONTINGENCY, she actually wound up curled in a ball crying and shaking, she was so upset. I think it was because her characters start out as someone she knows --- Regan was my writer, I think, until she found that body --- but now she renames them right away and says it lets the characters be free to do things the real people she starts them as would never do.

An independence expert like me could have told her that if she asked, but she didn’t. My writer has written four books now and she’s gotten better at the acting out part, but I still have to be careful if she’s doing a tense scene lest she trip over me.

** BUY: Click covers for Amazon.com links:

Q: Writing sounds hard on her? Do you know why she does it?

She says she enjoys it. Humans. I’ve heard her tell people she began writing at the start of 2008 as a game because she got bored when she took time off from being a Realtor, but who really knows.

If she’s having fun like she says, why does she work so hard on the mystery part of writing? Some reviewer said her mysteries were, “smart, funny mysteries.” Another one said they were “well constructed mysteries filled with well hidden secrets like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series.”

I think she took those reviews too much to heart. When she’s writing, she doesn’t even want to take a break to play string chase with me. I just don’t think she can possibly enjoy what she’s doing when she doesn’t even want to take time out to watch me being cute. Is your writer as foolish?

(No comment.)

Q: What sort of cat-astrophes happen in your writer’s books?

Cat-astrophes. Aren’t you clever? There are always catastrophes; she writes murder mysteries. Someone is always getting killed. The murderer is always trying not to get caught. Her character Regan is always trying to figure out what really happened even when the police think they know.

Regan’s people reading approach to amateur sleuthing is forever making her very logical husband Tom a little crazy and driving her long-suffering semi-retired policeman friend Dave right up the walls even though he doesn’t have claws. Sometimes Tom and Dave have reason to worry about Regan. I fear she’s not always as clever as she thinks she is because, even if she does figure things out in the end, many times she gets herself in real messes before she does.

Q: You said your writer has four books out. Which do you think my owner would enjoy the most?

Well, cats Harry and Cinco are prominent in THE DEATH CONTINGENCY, so I like that book. You might like BUYING MURDER because it has more action than the other books, you know, tail-chasing and things like that.

I haven’t had a chance to read THE WIDOW'S WALK LEAGUE yet because it’s new and we’ve had a gopher problem that has been requiring my full attention, but my writer laughed often when she was writing it and was talking about Halloween night, an old cars show, and a séance…wait, what am I thinking? Of course, you would like BACKYARD BONES the best. Duh!

You could always go to my writer’s website, and read the opening chapters of each of her books and decide for yourself, or if you have a Kindle, download a sample. Whatever.

Q: In closing, I'd like to remind you dogs rule. Do you have an opinion on that?

Have you ever heard of cat obedience school? Need I say more?

** Well! Nancy it was a pleasure. Gracie is reserving comment on Fala. Thanks, for stopping by!

Miniatures Monday: New Mini Purses from In Miniature Style II

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a couple new miniature purses I made from the tote bag pattern in my book, (eBook and print) In Miniature Style II. These are new photos.

Here are a couple of the original tote bags:

For a change, I rounded the pattern, added rings and longer handles to make the totes into shoulder bags. (New accessories pix coming, so check back!)

New purses, one in faux brown leather and one in a faux red textured leather:
(See book link above or here for book buy links.):

Happy October! Get a Half-Off eBook!

2011-10-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Happy October. Already? This month, I'll be participating in the NaBloWriMo Oct. Blog Challenge... and be sure to stop by on Oct. 20 for the start of the annual 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature!

Today: To celebrate their one-year anniversary, MuseItUp Publishing is having a 50% off sale! Everything!

Just add the following code in the discount box in our bookstore's cart before you move on to Paypal: MFAS2011

That includes my spooky short read, THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL.

C'mon it's now waaaay less than $1 so check it out... Perfect for Halloween! (And since I'll probably only make 5 cents on a sale, please put some reviews up on it and at Amazon, ok? )

** SALE ENDS MIDNIGHT Sun 10/2. **

Welcome to Rebecca Ryals Russell, author of Zarena, Odessa, Prophecy... and a Collector Extraordinaire!

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

For the last post on my blog for the MG/YA Blog Tour, author Rebecca Ryals Russell is not only sharing about her books, but what she does when she's not writing...

(** Start YA Ebook Tour: Barb Ehrentreu, "If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor")

A Home Filled with Collections of Love

When Chris asked what I collected, I had a hard time figuring out which collection to talk about. After all, I collect old cameras, with some from my father’s childhood in the ‘30’s; then there’s my treasured Vintage Florida collection with 1950’s ash trays, dishes, tea towels with cheesy flamingos, tablecloths with colorful maps of Florida, an open-mouthed ceramic gator ash tray that holds a handful of ancient postcards; or my Precious Moments collection begun when my daughter was two and looked exactly like a Precious Moment.

Now she’s 20 and while still adorable, it’s just not the same.

Or perhaps my large collection of Vintage Toys—including my original black-haired Barbie and Midge in their original black vinyl case full of 50-year-old clothing, and Tess with the tresses that grow or shrink; Fisher Price pull and push toys, stacking wooden doughnuts; Wedding Doll in original plastic dome; fuzzy-haired Trolls of all sizes.

I could go on and on. Then I mentally shuffled through the hundreds of AWESOME Vintage Rock 'n Roll Vinyl Albums and 45’s I’ve collected and inherited. We love spending a rainy afternoon sitting in our "music" corner, listening to these scratchy old treasures.

I’ve been collecting vintage Christmas decorations for about 20 years, from thrift stores and eBay. Then when my Mom died I inherited a boatload! All of which I had grown up with. Now, each Christmas is a walk down memory lane as I decorate the tree or mantel with the same ornaments and paper Santas or pinecone Elves that I’ve seen for the past half-century. I can only hope at least one of my children has inherited my love of collecting and valuing the nature of Vintage.

* Visit the Odessa book blog
* Visit the Vigorio series Facebook page

The Books:

ZARENA
14-year old Zarena spends time with a Holy Order of Clerics on their hidden world of RevrumNatura, while she receives training in Martial Arts, Herbology, Astronomy, Weaponry and Mind Control. Destined to become the leader of the Vigorios, child warriors, who will assist the Seraphym in the war against the demon-dragons of Dracwald, Zarena grows up in a hurry.

Lonely and homesick, she meets a Mermaid who encourages her to talk about her training. Is this new friend too good to be true? Zarena learns a valuable lesson about trust and betrayal—a lesson that will serve her well as leader of the Vigorios.

PROPHECY
For centuries the residents of Solsyl lived in peace and harmony with the planet. Then the dragon-demons arrived, causing the Great Shuddering. Majikals from everywhere scurried to find shelter from the evil while humans hid. Laud regretted his rash decision of exiling the demons on Solsyl and asked one of his advisors, a member of The Conscientia, to protect his people.

Jeremiah Holyfield agreed to leave the peaceful world of RevrumNatura for a life of constant strife and fear on the newly renamed planet of Dracwald. But Narciss, ruler of Tartarus and King of the demons, desperately wants what Jeremiah has sworn to protect—a Prophecy of Narciss’s future doom. And Narciss refuses to take no for an answer. But Jeremiah discovers allies along his path and even true love, which he never dreamed possible. But forever is a long time to protect something without ever letting down one’s guard.

ODESSA - Seraphym Wars Series
17-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from an attack when she was 15, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news.

She meets sweet and sensitive Michael, who explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island. He accompanies her on the quest, but harbors a secret past that ironically would destroy all the faith she has placed in him.

Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald?

* BUY: Click covers for Amazon links:

Ebook, MG/YA Blog Tour: Barbara Bockman, author of Wounds

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a reciprocal day - I'm at Barbara Bockman's blog, and she's visiting here so stop by both places. Be sure to leave a comment here to be eligible to win a PDF copy of WOUNDS.

Barbara Bockman got a degree in creative writing and then went into teaching. She is no longer teaching English at the junior college level, but says she's far from retired. She is the author of WOUNDS from MuseItUp Publishing.

About the Book:
An abused boy learns that accepting help from friends is better than running from his problems or destroying things.

After Craig’s mom dies, his dad becomes abusive. Craig reacts by vandalizing others’ property and becomes an outcast in the community. He runs away like his father, whose disappearance remains a mystery.

Though he tries to cut down his neighbors' tree, the Arks open their hearts to him and take him into their home.

Craig makes a friend in Nelson Ark's dog and when the community and a youth group raise money to "mend" the tree, Craig begins to mend his own life.

Interview:

What got you started in writing?
When my grandchildren were very small, I put together little books for them. I laminated the pages and tied them together with colorful shoestrings. When the little ones came to visit, they chose those books off the bookshelf. They were more craft projects than books, but those and the books from the library that I read aloud to the children created an itch in me to write real stories of my own. I’m glad I pursued the project because it has led to my first published middle grade novel from MuseItUp Publishing.

What inspires you to write?
Many things inspire me. The antics of the grandchildren and children around me, newspaper and magazine articles, chance encounters with people and with ideas I run into in books. WOUNDS was inspired by an attack on a tree that I read about. I didn’t want to write about adults, so I created a situation with children that fit rather loosely to the circumstance I had read about.

When I'm not writing, I...
Stay busy. From June to December I’m taking care of my caterpillars and releasing butterflies. I plant lots of milkweed and the mother monarchs lay their eggs on the leaves. I also have a long fence covered in passion vine with stunning purple flowers for gulf fritillaries and zebra long wings to lay their eggs on. I attract swallowtails with parsley and citrus trees.

In the house, I have a tubular net to keep the caterpillars in while they grow, pupate and emerge from the chrysalis to protect them from lizards. It’s a fascinating process to watch and there is nothing more beautiful than the green monarch chrysalis with its specks of gold. Both butterflies and hummingbirds love to drink nectar from the butterfly bushes and bottle brush tree and other flowers. I can’t think of a better way to bring beauty into my life while helping Mother Nature.

How does your writing influence your life - and how does your life influence your writing?
My writing has brought me many writer friends, both at home with my SCBWI group, and online. That is probably the best influence it's had on my life. Much of my life experiences are included in WOUNDS. The dog, Siegfried, is patterned after the Dachshund my husband gave me as a Valentine once. Her name was Daisy, and she is honored in the book; I named a fictional hurricane Daisy. The story is set in the North Florida panhandle where I once lived. I mentioned the Biophilia Nature Center that is located in Alabama. That center is the brainchild of my friend Carol Lovell-Saas. Carol and I met as members of the Pensacola Native Plant Club.

What do you want people to take away from this book?
I hope people, especially teen readers, will realize that spur of the moment decisions made in the heat of a moment of crisis can have far-reaching consequences. It’s best to be calm and reflect before taking any action out of fear or hatred or jealousy. And I hope they can see the beauty of the non-tropical part of Florida with its oak and pine trees, not the palms people usually think of when they think of Florida.

Excerpt from WOUNDS:

Craig looked around at the people in the courtroom. They looked as puzzled as he felt. But Craig knew he was the most stunned of all. When he looked at Mr. Ark their gaze met and locked. With the specter of the tree hovering between them, Craig saw a co-mingling of intense pain and tenderness on Mr. Ark’s face.

How could I go live with him? I’m his worst enemy.

“Your Honor,” said Mr. Ark, “my wife and I don’t want Craig to get into the state system; nor do we want him returned to his father—at least not yet.”

“Let me get this straight, Mr. Ark.” Judge Borosky’s gaze bored into Mr. Ark’s eyes. “You are offering your home to the vandal who tried to destroy one of your most prized possessions?”

“I know it’s bizarre, Your Honor. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m no Goody Two-Shoes. This is just common sense. I don’t want to put this boy in a place where he can learn to become a real criminal.”

“Oh, I suspect there’s more than common sense at play here…but we’re not sending him to prison, Mr. Ark.”

“Yes, sir. Nevertheless, the foster home circuit is simply unnecessary in this case. Why burden the state and place the child with strangers, when there is a family he knows who will take him in?”

** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Rebecca Ryals Russel, "Zarena"

** GO To Link 1 in tour

BUY: MuseItUp Bookstore

BUY for KINDLE:

Ebook Tour: Welcome to Sue Perkins, author of Spirit Stealer

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Another MG/YA Guest Author!

Welcome to Sue Perkins, author of the intriguingly named SPIRIT STEALER, coming in October from MuseItUp Publishing. Read on for an excerpt and contest!

What inspired you to write this story?
I love reading and writing fantasy. The middle part of this book came to me full blown and was easy to write, but the rest took a little longer. The inspiration came from a need to keep providing entertaining books for Middle Grade children. It’s not exactly difficult to keep in the age group but it is something you have to keep in mind.

How did the story evolve?
The middle evolved before the rest of the book. I entered the middle in a competition here in New Zealand but the comments were it was too short. Another competition with the same comment made me decide to spread the story a bit wider. I finished it about the same time as I discovered MuseItUp, and to my delight they accepted it.

What's coming next?
More Middle Grade, more Young Adult but definitely fantasy. Reva’s Quest another Middle Grade fantasy will be published in January 2012 by MuseItUp. A Young Adult fantasy will come out the same month with another publisher. My adult fantasies will also keep appearing. At the moment I’m writing one of each age group.

CONTEST!
Visit Perkins's blog and comment to be entered to win an eBook copy of SPIRIT STEALER when it is released.

Excerpt: Spirit Stealer

Dark eyes glared down at Tyler. He could see orange lights flickering in the bottomless pits of blackness. The huge gaping mouth loomed closer until it swamped his vision. He wanted to run, but at the same time, he couldn’t move. Sweat dripped into his eyes, blurring his vision. He blinked.

His sight cleared, and the front of the old building returned to normal. The dark eyes changed to large, windows reflecting the late afternoon sunlight. The gaping mouth resumed the shape of the open library door. Tyler glanced around to see if anyone had noticed him behaving so stupidly. No one nearby had paid him any attention. Mum kept telling him he had an over-active imagination, but the face on the library had seemed so real! He took a deep breath and walked into the building to the Chief Librarian’s desk.

** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Barbara Bockman, "Wounds"

Ebook and Blog Tour: Today I'm talking characters....

2011-09-25T04:35:00.001-07:00

Today I'm talking characters and making them real at Shellie Neumeier's blog. Stop on by!

New Miniatures: In Miniature Style II

2011-09-22T04:41:00.001-07:00

Just because a pattern looks one way, doesn't mean that is the only way to use it.

Experimenting, I took the tote bag pattern from my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II (eBook and print), and decided to make a shoulder bag instead.

By changing the shape slightly and adding rings for the handles and for the front decoration, plus a new "fabric," I had a completely different bag--or two. I used two different fabrics, a brown faux leather and a fun red pebble paper. Stay tuned for more styles!

Ebook Tour: Welcome to CK Volnek, author of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

My kind of book! Well with a dog-oriented blog, a "ghost dog" book is a perfect fit! The true-life history makes for a fascinating background for this book.

Today I welcome CK Volnek, author of the new eBook, Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

About the Book:
In 1587, 121 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island, NC, never to be seen again.

Something evil is haunting Roanoke Island and it’s up to 12-year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the mystery of the lost colony and stop the hateful campaign of revenge. But can Jack solve the puzzle in time to destroy the beast, before it destroys him?

Interview with CK Volnek:

How'd you start writing?

Hi Chris. Thanks for letting me visit your blog today.

I have always loved telling stories. I remember sitting at the campfire when I was a kid and my cousins would all turn to me to spin the scary tale that would keep them up all night. I couldn’t help but oblige.:-) I also loved to read and after reading Black Beauty, I decided I wanted to be the next Anna Sewell.

My passion has always been to write for children. I love their imagination and thirst for stories. I never want to grow up and lose that.

What inspires you to write? What inspired this book?

I have a very fickle muse. She loves to spin a story and will whisper into my ear with ideas for stories on just about any news article I see. GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND was inspired after reading a news piece about the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. To be honest, I don’t remember studying the Lost Colony in school so the story truly intrigued me. I was fascinated by the mystery of what happened to the missing 117 colonists and my muse went wild coming up with a story of what she believes happened to them.

When I'm not writing, I'm....

I have to grin at this question. I dabble in so many other things than writing…spending time with my family, flower gardening, jewelry making, hiking, teaching 5th grade CCD (Sunday School)…but one of the main things I am known for around town is being the ‘dog woman.’

I have not two, not three, but four Papillon pups. I spend a lot of time with them and have trained them to do an array of tricks from the usual sit, down, stay to roll over and play dead, crawl like a marine, wave hello and good-bye and take a bow. Noah, my biggest trickster of the bunch, is quite a ham-bone and is actually a certified therapy dog. We have visited nursing homes, outdoor events, as well as being a regular at my CCD classes. But he goes to my classes with a lesson, such as unconditional love, patience and obedience.

How does your writing influences your life - and how does our life influence your writing?

One major way writing has influenced my life has had to do with the marketing of my books. At a workshop I attended, a speaker said that marketing with Twitter, Facebook and the like is about 80 percent promoting others and 20 percent promoting yourself. To accomplish this, you have to put yourself out there, reach outside your comfort zone and meet people. I’ve always been rather introverted so this was a challenge for me. But because of it, I began connecting with people and creating such an abundance of friends, I feel I have a whole new extended family. I’m so much happier and confident for having stepped outside my comfort zone.

How much of 'you' is in your books, and what?

I heard someone say once that an author writes for the genre that affected them the most. And so I write middle-grade/tween. The emotions evoked within my stories can be raw and cutting as well as positive and uplifting; the gamut of emotions every tween experiences. I may have grown up poor and in a small-town, but it created a world of emotions I think many kids can identify with.

What do you want people to take away from this book?
I hope my readers will retain the valuable lesson of tolerance and the power of forgiveness after reading GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND. Though I did not intend to write a story with such a prominent lesson, my muse deemed it important to bring about. As the book unfolded for me, it created this story of acceptance and tolerance in hopes to stop the eternal flame of hatred and revenge.

Thanks Chris, for allowing me to join you today!
C.K. Volnek

About the author: CK Volnek has an associate's degree in art, thinking she'd write and illustrate children's books. Instead she focused on raising her family and continues to do computer graphics and layout to help pay the bills. She's excited to now focus on her writing and happy to come home after work to her small town in Nebraska where all she has to deal with are three stoplights and an occasional tractor.

* Visit her blog.

* Check out the book trailer.

** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Sue Perkins, "Spirit Stealer"

*BUY:

MuseItUp Bookstore or see Amazon link below.

Ebook Tour: Meet Pembroke Sinclair, author of Life After the Undead

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I welcome Pembroke Sinclair, author of LIFE AFTER THE UNDEAD.

About the Book:

The world has come to an end. It doesn’t go out with a bang, or even a whimper. It goes out in an orgy of blood and the dead rising from their graves to feast on living flesh.

As democracy crumples and the world melts into anarchy, five families in the U.S. rise to protect the survivors. The undead hate a humid environment, so they are migrating westward to escape its deteriorating effects. The survivors are constructing a wall in North Platte to keep the zombie threat to the west, while tyranny rules among the humans to the east.

Capable but naïve Krista is 15 when the first attacks occur, and she loses her family and barely escapes with her life. She makes her way to the wall and begins a new life. But, as the undead threat grows and dictators brainwash those she cares about, Krista must fight not only to survive but also to defend everything she holds dear—-her country, her freedom, and ultimately those she loves.

How did you start writing?
I've always enjoyed writing, ever since I was little. I tinkered with it on and off, but didn't get serious about it until about six years ago. A coworker really encouraged me to get my butt in gear!

What inspires you to write?
Everything. I will overhear a snipit of a conversation and think, "Hmm, that would make a great story." My dreams also play a big role in what I write, as I have some dooseys. This particular story was inspired by a dream, and it started out as a short story. From there, it grew.

When I'm not writing, I'm...
...Taking care of my children and working two part-time jobs. Really, my only hobbies include writing and editing. Occasionally (more often than I should), I spend my time on the couch in front of the TV!

How does your writing influence your life - and how does your life influence your writing?
Writing is what I really want to do. I don't want it to be a hobby, I want it to be my career. I'm constantly trying to make time to do it and wondering how much vacation I have saved up to take off work!

How much of 'you' is in your books?
I think authors always put themselves into books, whether its just the time and effort, or their actual soul. As I mentioned previously, I write to figure out how humans react to certain situations, and I like to look at it from different perspectives. Sometimes the reaction is what I'd do, and other times it's not.

What do you want people to take away from this book?
Fun. I want you to read my book for enjoyment and think: "Wow. That was one hell of a ride!"

What is your favorite part of writing and of your book?
This is hard to answer because I'm my own worst critic, and I kinda think everything stinks. I like how my character grows throughout the book, but I don't know that I have one favorite part.

My favorite part of writing is the initial process. I enjoy creating a new world and writing it down, then going back and editing it.

About the author:
Wyoming author Pembroke Sinclair has had stories published in the Cynic Online Magazine, Static Movement, Sonar 4 Publications, and Residential Aliens. Her story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by the Cynic Online Magazine. She also is author of COMING FROM NOWHERE, available in ebook and print. She is a staff writer for Serial Killer Magazine and works as an editor for an environmental consulting firm. Contact her at pembrokesinclair@hotmail.com.

** NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: CK Volnek, "Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island"

Miniatures Monday: Witch's Greenhouse Preview!

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming!

Finally I decided to spruce up the Witch's Greenhouse (one of the Houseworks' Street of Shops) and get it finished. (I should've done that before and wrote a story on it, well... next time.)

The plants were all done, everything was piled inside, so all I had to do was organize. Easy? Well not when you're deciding on where to place tons of plants. (Have to count them yet and I realize some are still missing... Yes I made that many.)

So here's a preview of a small section. I'll detail the whole project during my annual 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature, beginning Oct. 20. (Third year!) here on the blog, so be sure to come back. It'll be fun and I'll have some prizes, too!

The floor is painted egg carton stones, same as on the bottom outside. Stray leaves have sprouted from the fertilizer shelves. A cute skellie dog is eating (ugh you don't want to know!) - (from Marie Gattis, Marie's Minis).

The scene's had more added since this pic, so check back later for more.

(Off to find the witch and her new employee. Remember my Flamingo lady doll? (See her here.) Well, she overdid the garage saling and had to get a job... yes at the creepy greenhouse! haaa! (How mean!) Stay tuned for details!)

* See early pix: Inside and exterior. (I still love that weird wallpaper, it was holly scrapbook paper.... Christmasy? Yeah if you're Tim Burton. haa! Perfect background for the greenhouse.)

Ebook Tour: Welcome to Shellie Neumeier, author of DRIVEN, a paranormal tale of good vs. evil

2011-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I welcome Shellie Neumeier, author of DRIVEN... Find the good inside....

Now for something a bit different - paranormal with a twist. It's good vs. evil... and I gotta say I love how Shellie describes her character, Robyn, in the line I'm stealing from the interview below: You take all the hits, all the trials and still your inner strength and faith shines through. Sounds like someone worth knowing...

About the Book:
Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost. (And don't forget to read the excerpt at the end!)

And now a word from the author... Oh wait. I guess Robyn Stanley, the main character in DRIVEN wants to say something....Let's see what she and Shellie are talking about....

Robyn: So why me? Why write about my life?

Shellie: You seemed like a good kid to write about, especially since you’re always getting into trouble.

Robyn: Am not.

Shellie: Are to. Have you read the book?

Robyn: **blushes** It’s on my Goodreads shelf.

Shellie: Seriously? I gave you a copy eight months ago and you haven’t read it yet?

Robyn: Hey, who are you, my mom?

Shellie: **raises hands** Okay, okay. Let’s get back to the interview. What’s your next question?

Robyn: I don’t know if I want to continue.

Shellie: I could always write your sequel…

Robyn: Fine! What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?

Shellie: **arches eyebrows** Favorite ice cream flavor?

Robyn: Yup.

Shellie: Your English teacher wants to know my taste in dairy treats?

Robyn: My Advanced Composition teacher doesn’t really read these papers; she just counts the pages and reads the first paragraph. I want to know your favorite flavor.

Shellie: Really? Why?

Robyn: Just tell me the flavor. Geesh you’d think I was asking for national secrets or something.

Shellie: **snickers** Vanilla.

Robyn: Well that’s boring.

Shellie: Gee. Thanks. Actually vanilla rocks when you put chocolate syrup, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and whipped cream on top. Next question, please.

Robyn: Hmm. **thumbs down her spiral notebook** Why’d you stick a demon in my story and why’d you make him target me for destruction? Kinda uncool, I’m just saying.

Shellie: **grins** Robyn, if anyone can handle a destructive demon, it’s you. You’re strong-willed, determined, DRIVEN—

Robyn: Nice marketing.

Shellie: You liked that?

Robyn: Just finish the question.

Shellie: Okay, sorry. Sebastian, the demon, may spend over two hundred pages trying to bring you down, but you spend the same two hundred pages figuring out who you are and how you can triumph over public humiliation, loneliness, dueling crushes, serious friend issues—

Robyn: Wow.

Shellie: Yeah, wow. Look, I wrote your story cause it’s a lot like my favorite ice cream.

Robyn: Vanilla? Plain, old vanilla? Gee, thanks.

Shellie: Hey, don’t knock vanilla. Vanilla ice cream takes on all the other flavors and toppings and makes them better. That’s you. You take all the hits, all the trials and still your inner strength and faith shines through. That’s better than any hot fudge sundae, if you ask me.

Robyn: Well, I couldn’t have done it without God. I have my favorite verse posted on my bathroom mirror, you know. 1 Chronicles 16:11 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” I’m glad I’ve got God on my side. I can’t imagine how messed I’d be without Him.

Shellie: True. Some of those nuts have sharp edges. Get it, sundae…nuts **grins, sheepishly**

Robyn: Very funny. Hey, thinking what I’m thinking?

Shellie: Ice cream?

Robyn: Oh yeah.

** Get DRIVEN on Kindle: click cover:

*Check out DRIVEN on Facebook. - ** See the book trailer.

** Excerpt from DRIVEN:
From a comfortable height above the trees, Sebastian circled the abandoned paper mill, drinking in the atmosphere of dereliction and decay surrounding the property. This place has more character than most of the humans I know. Half broken windows winked like the evil eyes of wayward souls, while snow drifts gathered in the corners. The wind toyed with the snow, whipping trails that could chill his feet and ankles. If he had feet and ankles, that is.

Slipping through a second-story window, Sebastian watched a rat scurry across the dusty floor in a dash for the shadows. Like an angry cloud—black as asphalt, thick as cigar smoke—Sebastian floated after the rodent, watching with mild interest as it raced for another shadow and nearly collided with an old tom cat whose eyes glowed bright with hunger. The tom sprang, but Sebastian turned away. He didn’t have time for these cat and mouse games today, no matter how much he enjoyed them. He had bigger game to consider, and as he moved over the room, he thought about the girl he’d come to destroy.

Sebastian peered through the panel of small rectangular windows overlooking the town of Brookfield, fifty in all, though most were broken, and he yawned as he watched the town stretch with morning life. Humans filtered in and out of the corner diner, scampered about in their shiny cars, and huddled against the wind in mindless oblivion. Sebastian’s mouth curled into a sneer.

** Shellie, thanks for stopping by and sharing your book with us!

**NEXT on YA Ebook Tour: Pembroke Sinclair, "Life After the Undead"

YA EBook Tour: Christine Verstraete

2011-09-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

Today I'll be at Rebecca Ryals Russell's blog talking books and other stuff and a fave topic, "When Writing and Collecting Collide." Stop by!

Miniatures Thursday: In Miniature Style II - What else to do with those tote bags...

2011-09-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

Another idea for what else to do with those tote bags from In Miniature Style II....

Ebook Tour: Welcome to Marva Dasef, author of the paranormal book, Bad Spelling. What's this about witches and werewolves?

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I welcome Marva Dasef, author of the spooky-sounding BAD SPELLING, Book 1 of the Witches of Galdorheim - A klutzy witch, a shaman's curse, a quest to save her family. Can Kat find her magic in time?
** Coming October 14 from MuseItUp Publishing. **

About the Book:
If you’re a witch living on a remote arctic island, and the entire island runs on magic, lacking magical skills is not just an inconvenience, it can be a matter of life and death–or, at least, a darn good reason to run away from home.

Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.

The young witch, accompanied by her warlock brother, must travel to the Hall of the Mountain King and the farthest reaches of Siberia to regain her magic, dodging attacks by the shaman along the way. At the Troll Kingdom, a young troll, Andy, joins the siblings in their quest to find the shaman and kill the curse.

(** Check out the book trailer!)

In keeping with the book topic, read on for what Marva has to say about... werewolves! And be sure to comment to be entered in the contest, see details at the end!

WEREWOLVES: Alternative Transportion

The most well-known werecritter is the werewolf. At this time in the cycle of what’s hot, what’s not, werewolves are getting great press via the Twilight books and movies by Stephanie Meyer.

I have to admit it. Werewolves can be totally sexy guys (gals) in human form. Meyer finally got one legendary being right. Well, she agrees with my concept, which I used before I read any of the Meyer saga. To tell the truth, I still haven’t read any of the books, because the first movie put such a bad taste in my mouth. OMG, Edward loves Bella because she SMELLS good?!?!? Gimme a break.

As we all know, werewolves are shape-shifters. When the full moon rises, your normal guy (or gal) changes into a werewolf. Sometimes, they are portrayed as mindless beasts who’ll rip the throat out of anybody they come upon. Other portrayals show that the maintain their human intelligence when shifted. Since the legends vary so wildly, I decided to not only have my werewolves remain intelligent, but also able to shift from human to wolf form at will.

How do I justify this turning away from the legend? I don’t need to. Some folks will howl in disgust with my tampering with the myths. Let ‛em whine or even bark. I’ve seen authors do just about everything with the tropes: weres, vampires, demons, fairies, angels, ancient gods. That, I believe, is perfectly okay. You want a half-vampire, half-demon? I’ve seen that in paranormal more than once. Gods less than god-like? Yup, been done.

Anyway, I have a six-pack of werewolves in BAD SPELLING. Here’s a taste (ha ha, get it?) of my werewolf mashup.

Excerpt from BAD SPELLING:

Rune joined them. “Are we going to stand around here all day? Where’s the alternative transportation you told us about?”

Andy tore his gaze from Kat and scanned the slope. “There it is.”

Kat looked where Andy pointed and gasped. “What—?”

“Don’t worry. They won’t hurt us,” Andy said with a confidence Kat didn’t quite trust.

“But werewolves?” There was no mistaking them for regular wolves. Besides being twice the size of the largest of the wolves, the eyes gave them away. Even from a distance, Kat could see them gleaming with intelligence.

“Look behind them,” Andy said.

The big wolves loped along easily; they were harnessed to a sled, bouncing along behind them. The speed with which they approached told her they would have no problem pulling a heavy load.

The wolves came up the slope and stopped in front of them. The lead werewolf looked at each of them with some interest. Kat felt like an item on a menu, like when they faced the polar bear.

The lead wolf said, “Good morning. Hmm. Humans, not trolls. Interesting.” The wolf looked over his shoulder at the others. “Remember, King Olaf hired us to deliver these people to where they want to go. You are not to eat them.” The other wolves nodded, but their long tongues hanging over gleaming, razor-sharp teeth was not a reassuring sight; their mouths dripped saliva in a most disconcerting manner.

The lead werewolf turned his pale yellow eyes back to Andy. “So, where are we going?”

Andy briefly explained what they wanted. The werewolf nodded and said, “If I understand correctly, we are looking for the Sami tribe. Do you realize they’re nomadic?”

“Sort of. All I know for certain is they spend much of their time on the northern coast.” Andy glanced at Kat. “Anything else?” She shook her head.

The wolf stared at Andy for a moment and then said, “Well, come closer so I can smell you. The girl, too.”

Kat hung back. “Why do you want to—? Oh, I understand. You can find the Samis through our scent.”

“Very good, young lady,” the werewolf answered and sniffed at her outstretched hand. He licked it once. Kat jerked her hand back. “Taste helps, too,” the werewolf answered, with a hint of humor in his gruff voice.

“What’s your name?” Kat asked.

“I call myself Mazi in my wolf form. I try to keep my human life separate.” The werewolf raised his head and howled. The other wolves joined in the chorus. Goose pimples rose on Kat’s arms. Then, they all fell silent and pricked their ears, turning their heads this way and that. From off in the distance, Kat heard a faint answering howl.

“Hop on the sled. It’s time to go,” Mazi said.

* Want more? Check out Marva's blog.

** CONTEST: ** Win a free ebook drawn from comments. Select either MG fantasy BAD SPELLING or adult mystery MISSING, ASSUMED DEAD.

* Marva, thanks for stopping by. Can't wait to read the book!

** Next YA Ebook Tour: Shellie Neumeier, "Driven"

Ebook Tour: Meet Meradeth Houston, author of YA Paranormal: Colors Like Memories

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

If you like eBooks, then stay tuned for a selection of great reads!

Today I welcome Meradeth Houston, author of the upcoming young adult paranormal book, COLORS LIKE MEMORIES (MuseItUp Publishing May 2012). * Cover coming! Be sure to comment to be eligible to win a copy!

About the Book:
Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this "breath of life," she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

New school arrival Edison knows too much about her past. Now after revealing herself to her assignment, she'll have to trust that past, and learn to trust Edison, and herself to help her friend heal and face the true color of her memories.

Interview with Meradeth Houston:

How did you start writing?
Reading a lot is what really got me started. I remember thinking that I really enjoyed a particular book and didn’t want it to end. The concept that if I wanted to see something different occur in a story I could write it myself just kind of came to me when I was a kid, and that led me down the path to being a writer.

What inspires you to write? What inspired this book?
Music is what really gets the writing juices flowing for me. My book, Colors Like Memories, really came from listening to “Shadow of the Day” by Linkin Park (yeah, I know it’s an old song, but it was very recent when I wrote the first draft!).

When I'm not writing, I ...
...spend most of my time in the lab, and I also run when I can. I guess, in many ways, writing is my hobby (though using the word ‘hobby’ doesn’t really encompass the word well). Anyhow, I’m an anthropologist, and I work with the DNA of ancient peoples, which is pretty cool . I’ve always wanted to study people, so that fits in pretty well with both writing and anthropology!

How does writing influences your life - and how does your life influence your writing?
Writing is a big part of my life, mainly because it keeps my imagination under control—or maybe just gives it a focus. I’m always reading and studying the world around me for a new story idea, or some fun line of dialogue to fit into my stories.

What element do you try to use in your work?
I think a lot of my stories are about understanding why certain things (both good and bad—mostly bad because those make for more interesting stories) happen to people. I don’t always start out with this concept, but it works its way into almost everything I write.

About the author:
Born and raised in California, Houston left for college and moved back eight miles from her hometown. While finishing her doctorate, she works as a lab researcher and instructor at my university. A great job, she says, because "it allows for a lot of day-dreaming."

Contest: Leave a comment (with an email or link to contact you) to be eligible to win a copy of Colors Like Memories when it's released. Winners will be announced on Meradeth's blog at the end of the month.

** Next: YA Ebook Tour Post 3: Marva Dasef, "Bad Spelling"

This Week's Upcoming Blog Guests

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Stop back this week for several authors coming by for the MG/YA (Middle Grade-Young Adult) Ebook and Blog Tour.

Tuesday: Meradeth (Snow) Houston, author of the upcoming fantasy/paranormal COLORS LIKE MEMORIES

Wednesday: Marva Dasef, author of BAD SPELLING, talks werewolves

** Friday: I'll be at Rebecca Ryals Russell's blog talking about the real "big boom" - When Writing and Collecting Collide.

Saturday: Shellie Neumeier, author of the paranormal-Christian book DRIVEN lets her character do the talking.

Remembering the Human, and Canine, Heroes of 9-11

2011-09-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Today we remember the brave men and women, the firefighters, police and rescue personnel, who answered the call for help during the horrendous attacks on the NY World Trade Center on 9-11.

Not to be forgotten are the hard-working rescue dogs who helped in search and rescue at the site, many suffering injuries in the process.

The American Kennel Club continues to offer funds and ongoing support to make sure that these working animals will be there to help and will also get the care they need.

* See 9-11 Memorial
See the video....

YA Blog Tour: Welcome to Barb Ehrentreu, author of "If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor"

2011-09-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I welcome YA author Barbara Ehrentreu, author of the intriguing-sounding, IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR. Keep reading for the contest at the end.

About the Book:

Carolyn Samuels is obsessed with the idea of being popular. She is convinced that the only thing keeping her from happiness is her too-heavy-for-fashion body and not being a cheerleader. When she's paired for a math project with her middle school tormenter, Jennifer Taylor, Carolyn's sure it's going to be another pain-filled year.

Homework blackmail, lies and a chance to be made over make for an uneasy friendship, especially when Carolyn uncovers Jennifer's secret. Can she keep a secret and become one of the popular crowd - the cheerleaders - or will she be a mean girl target again? EBook available 9/16, MuseItUp Publishing.

Interview with Barbara Ehrentreu, author of IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR.

What was the inspiration for IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR?
I wrote this book, because my daughter had the beginnings of an eating disorder and she also felt bad about her body. I needed three chapters for this children’s workshop led by Paula Danziger, so I wrote them. In the story, the main character is being bullied by a girl named Jennifer Taylor, whom she both hates and wants to be like. She actually says, “If only I could be like Jennifer Taylor.”

Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
Lewis Carroll, Jane Austin, Paula Danziger, John Irving and too many others to list.

What's your ideal writing spot? Have any special writing rewards?
I can write almost anywhere, but right now I’m happy writing at my desk on my laptop. When I’m writing I like to have chocolate cookies available and caffeine free diet Coke.

Describe your writing style.
I just start out writing and have no idea where it's going. When I have a good sentence I write that and usually the story moves along by itself. Dialogue writes itself if I have fleshed out the character enough before I write.

What's next for you?
I'm working on an adult novel, as well as two other YA novels. WHEN MY LIFE CHANGED is almost ready to send out. This is also a YA novel about a 15-year-old girl whose life changes when her father has a heart attack and bypass surgery.

** CONTEST!!
Comment about your experiences as a freshman in high school to be entered in a drawing for a copy.

Excerpt from IF I COULD BE LIKE JENNIFER TAYLOR:

I spot him walking toward my locker with a small box in one hand and a plastic fork in the other. My Crush! He hands me the box, and I open it. Inside is a piece of luscious chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

I look up into his blue eyes and give him the box so I can touch his cheek as I smooth his dark hair. “You always know just what I like.”

He smiles and feeds me a forkful of cake. I don’t have to worry about eating it because I can eat anything I want and not gain weight. He places the cake box in my locker so he can put his arms around me. The first bell rings in my ears. I ignore it because I’m thin and blonde and floating in the arms of my dark-haired crush. The other cheerleaders run up to us laughing and kidding around, and I’m about to speak. The ringing gets louder.

The dream evaporates, and I realize it’s the darn alarm piercing my sleep. Slamming my fist onto the snooze button, I get this nagging feeling. Then I remember. I have something to do. Worse luck, I have to do it, not as the slender blonde beauty in my dream, but as the real Carolyn Samuels with my brown curly hair hanging like shriveled spaghetti, mud brown eyes, and a body too large for fashion.

** TO Post 2 on YA Blog tour: Meradeth Houston, "Colors Like Memories"

Miniature Art by Anna Hardman - DOTY Winner

2011-09-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

The October issue of Doll Reader Magazine includes the January winners of the Doll of the Year Awards for 2011.

Congrats to miniature doll maker Anna Hardman for her People's Choice award for Miniature Artist Dolls. This is her second win. She's getting miniature dolls the attention they deserve! And her doll - hand-sculpted and an original design - is indeed a work of art! Simply beautiful!

Miniatures Monday: New AIM for Sept - Fantastic Food and Make a Coat

2011-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

The fantastic Sept. issue of Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine is now out. Wow, dine in style with all kinds of wonderful food!

And... Kathy Mendenhall of Mini Patterns (who made and contributed the pattern and how-to for the wonderful yellow dress on the cover of In Miniature Style II) has a great coat pattern and how-to in the issue.

Download here free.

It's Alive!! New website, new minis, etc.

2011-09-03T18:55:00.001-07:00

Finally! It works. yay! My new website is up! My worrying is over!

Well a few things have to be added yet, but I can do it at my leisure now. Do let me know if anything does not go to the right page or something.

** Got In Miniature Style II? -- I added a pdf for the Halloween printies to make the screen in my book. See miniatures page at site. Btw, if you have the book linked, the page has changed.... to www.cverstraete.com/in-miniature-style-ii.html. Stop by!