HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US ON OUR PATH IN LIFE

Posted by: Amber Angel

I don't have strong ties to the military like many in this country, so don't know firsthand the sacrifices made by our military men and women and their families in service to our country. However, I can certain appreciate and honor what they have done and extend my heartfelt thanks.

As a writer, I can also appreciate the rights we enjoy, in part as a result of the sacrifices of our military men and women, particularly freedom of speech.

In these days of the Internet and self-publishing, this right is being exercised more than ever. For me, this right also carries the responsibility to write as well as I can, and to continue learning and honing my writing skills.

That comes to the second part of those I honor on this Memorial Day weekend.

I have been fortunate to find a organization filled with writers who generously share their time and expertise to teach others how to write.

So I want to say thank you to those who have helped me along my writing path. To New York Times bestselling authors who know the writing craft so well. They are also business savvy, as well as entertaining, bluntly honest and gracious.

Thank you also to beginning writers who shine with the eagerness of their dreams and remind me to enjoy this journey.

And thank you to all the other writers at varying stages of their careers, who have shared promotion tips, writing processes, pitfalls to avoid, victories, and offered an encouraging word.

Finally, a huge thank you to the readers who have invested their time and money to spend a few hours in my story world. I hope you have enjoyed the visit!

Life As We Know It

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ This classic Dickens’ line could describe many of our experiences in life. For us, our lives changed a about a year ago when our son and his family moved in with my husband and I. After living by ourselves for several years, our house is now overflowing with people and belongings.

Like so many families we have opened our home to our children and grandchildren. We are now struggling to blend two households, two very different lifestyles and three generations. A sign of the times, the declining economy, poor health, the reasons are as many as there are families in our situation.

Even after a year this is a time of adjustment, patience and learning. The Pollyanna in me looks for the positive in our situation, beside the obvious that we are helping our family. Our daughter-in-law has been in the family for eight years now but I feel I’ve actually gotten to know her in a way I never would have before. Likewise she has repeatedly told me how helpful we have been and how much she’s learned from us.

I know other grandparents who are unable to see their grandchildren as they live in different states. We are able to see our grandchildren everyday. Yes there are days this is too much to handle. Like now, I’m working on my blog-- the television is on in one room and I can hear the radio behind me so I put on a pair of headsets to block the sound and keep working. There are also the times when our five year old grandson sits between my husband and I and asks us how our day was, a true Kodak moment.

Our house is not spotless and we are once again stepping on Lego’s and Hot Wheel cars but family is family and like always we are rolling with the punches or as my mother-in-law used to say ”go with the flow”.
Rosemary

Where were you?

Hello all,

During the last couple weeks, a criminal of international notoriety was killed. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news? What about the event where he went from unknown Middle Eastern zealot to international Most Wanted... September 11, 2001?

I recall 9/11 with great clarity. When my husband called to have me watch the television, I thought it was a joke. To my knowledge, there hadn't been a war fought on American soil since the last Indian battle most notably Custer's Last Stand in South Dakota in the middle 1800's. Unfortunately, what I witnessed was no joke.

Such events color my world and as a writer I feel the obligation to include the effects of such historical actions in my work. Pre 9/11 my characters would have zipped through an airport to the docking area and waited. Now I have to figure a two to three hour delay while the characters get to the airport early, have their persons and luggage checked then go to the gate to check-in.

All of this is leading to blatant self promotion. Thirty years ago, May 7, 1981, one young man entered a bar in Salem, Oregon, and unloaded two Browning 9mm clips into a group of people out having a good time at the Oregon Museum Tavern. Three people died immediately, one more on the way to the hospital; nineteen were wounded. The young man never gave a reason for his murderous rampage and a city and state were left reeling in shock.

I've taken the incident and fictionalized a story that fills in the blanks as to why the incident occurred. Almost everyone living in town at the time were touched by this action and many still have scars from it. Shattered Tomorrows by C.L. Kraemer gives an ending to the story, albeit fictional.

I'm blessed to be able to put my anger, rage and passion on the page in the form of fiction and work out my issues. How do you handle life changing incidents?

Mother's Day 2011

How did mother's day begin?

The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea. To the Greeks Rhea is the mother of many deities. The Ancient Romans also gave offerings to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele.

Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.

In the United States Mother's Day began nearly 150 years ago. An Appalachian woman by the name of Anna Jarvis, planned a day to raise understanding of poor health conditions in her community. She called it "Mother's Work Day."

Her daughter continued to lobby for a day to be set aside to honor mothers. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a bill making Mother's Day a national holiday.

To me Mother's Day is a time when family comes together. It's not just about gifts, flowers and eating out but a time to honor those wonderful mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers who have played such magnificent roles in the bringing up their children.

Thank you mom, for always being there when I have needed you. I love you more than words can express. Wish you could be here today with us.

Your daughter, Christine

5 Angel Eyes for A St. Patrick's Day Tale

Reviewer/ K. Porter


A St. Patrick’s Day Tale – Three Authors with their own distinctive styles beautifully tied these three stories together. It’s a must read adventurous tale filled with action, intense characters, love and fantasy. I recommend you buy

it now! I rate this book a 5.

In the first story Star Crossed I couldn’t put the book down just anticipating

the ending. The two main characters were full of life and determination. Their fairy counter parts made this a fun filled imaginary story.

The second tale Meadows of Gold the continuation of fantasy that gave new insight into the world of fairies and woodland creatures. A heartfelt story of their struggles among themselves and humans. It left me wanting to learn more about these creatures and what becomes of their lives.

Ooo.. Night elves!

The third and final story St. Batzy and the time Machine began and ended in modern day. I loved the people in this story. All of them I could relate to in some way or another. I want to travel in a time machine! If you know the guy who put it together in Eugene, get a hold of me.

In all A St. Patrick’s Day Tale, took me through time. From ol’ Ireland to modern day Eugene OR and along the way I became reunited with my imagination.

This book will leave you feeling good and I might add, bit more educated on the ways of fairies.

Buy now at: www.roguephoenixpress.com