Happy August to you all! Sit down have a cuppa, as if you were sitting here with me. Here in Arizona school is back in session and the streets are quiet again. Well, it's so hot the kids can't go out and play if they wanted too. 

I have been reading many blogs so many are worrying about things that they can't change. Maybe it comes with age and time, but relax. I finding worrying over things you have no control over is a waste of time.

I also have read a few blogs about summer vacations or as I call them holidays. Well, those days are limited for most. Those who have full-time jobs a two week holiday is usually spent dealing with their kids or house. I know my summers as the kids grew up were spent repairing the house or going to ball games, swim meets and driving everyone about. I had little time to do leisure reading or getting lost in a museum. As a good parent your children come first. As a Teacher I was also preparing for the following year of school. Now I miss the ball games and swim meets and racing around taking them here and there. 

Its funny what you miss. At the time it is one thing then later it's another. My advice relax and enjoy your life now. Now I have time to write my passion and spoil my Vampire Corgi. OH you know! Well, I do spoil her a bit. Yes, you do see many pictures of her daily. I like you have mundane chores to do as well. 

I took a ride yesterday and took a few pictures for a young man who told me America is all shiny and new and McDonald's everywhere. There is good and bad no matter where you live or whats going on in your life. You just make the best of it. Realize that what is going on right now will pass and parts you will miss and parts not so much. 

It seems one of my family feels you would like to hear about me. Why I no longer teach, well its health problems. I am not a moaner, I just get up and keep going. Yes, some days better than others. If you want to really know please DM and I will tell you.

I am getting ready to start reading a new book, problem is which one! I have been writing slow but the two who have read what I have love it. Which is saying a lot because it's not their cup of tea and its yet to be edited. 

So what has your summer been like and what did you read? Yes, I want to know!

All the World's a Game...

All the World's a Game - The Beginnings of Dime Store Novel

Sometimes a story starts with an image. Sometimes with an overheard conversation. Dime Store Novel started with a game.

We owned a game shop at the time -- a little place frequented mostly by teenage boys. Some nights we held a role-playing game in the basement. That night John was running a game we'd never played before -- Call of Cthulhu, a game based on the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft. John was the storyteller. I played a young herbalist named Toledo Cats who had a mangy cat named Voodoo. Tony, a friend of ours, played Hanover Fist, a young detective who had a thing for Toledo.

The time - the 1920s. The place - a haunted house in New Orleans. We were ready to rock. Officer O'Malley made his first appearance as a ghost who calls Hanover and tells him he needs to investigate this house. O'Malley didn't have a first name yet or a wife and daughter -- those details of his life would emerge much later. Hanover's parents owned a restaurant and a friend named Doug played a priest who sat in the restaurant slurping soup. If you've read From the Gator's Mouth, you know that  Doug's slurping priest gets a cameo. The story was suspenseful -- what story about a house haunted by zombies isn't? But it was also humorous.

John went on to run several other Call of Cthulhu campaigns. Tony always played Hanover Fist. I rotated between Toledo Cats and Regan Worth, the flapper daughter of a bootlegger who loved to flirt with Hanover.

The characters stuck. John got the idea to write a series called Dime Store Novel. He took a stab at one using the Lovecraft mythos. It was close, but not quite right. One night before dinner, we were talking about the world. I said, "Why not create our own mythos?"

The light went on. Soon after, Agatha, the earthbound swamp goddess was born, followed shortly thereafter by Caprice, the goddess of chaos. As the stories evolved, the gods proliferated. Khrou-ach, the storm god, and Acongojar, the pain god, became antagonists inRips in the Weave and The Desert Rose. Chiindii, the god of the desert, and Ravir, the goddess of pleasure, are key to the plot in bothThe Desert Rose and The Reunion. We also gave fairies and goblins a different twist. I don't want to spoil the fun, so you'll need to read the books to figure that out. The good news is, you can get The Reunion kindle edition FREE during our Lucky Friday the 13th special (Friday 7/13 through Monday 7/16). We'd like to invite you to escape the humdrum world of day to day and experience the world we created at a gaming table in a cool, dimly lit basement.

The Dime Store Novel characters blog at http://dimestorenovel.blogspot.com.

A huge Thank you to the great writers of Dime Store Novels! Go, get and Read!

Hello, listen to the people talk.

I have spent the last week without a computer. I have worked but I also listened to people. 

As a writer I pay attention to how people talk, it will help you will later write. I did not hear one person speak in perfect English, German, Spanish or pig latin. Even those with perfect language skills speak as the rest of the world does. Not one person when asked how are you? Said Well, Good was what they said. Well, is the response the grammar cops want you to say.

Thank you for the love while I was computer less! I learned a few things and heard many more. My advice take a few days off and listen to the world. You will be surprised. Also read so you have your own opinion about any subject. Forming ones own opinions is rather liberating. Even if we don't agree I am your friend.

I am reading a book thats not my usual. It's a Philippa Gregory book 'The White Queen'. A Historical drama it is something. I will let you know what I think when I finish reading it. Yes, I do read to Princess she likes it. I think the Kings and Queens and knights in shiny armor fascinate her.

What are you reading? Tell us please. Oh, you have no time to read. Well, get a book read a chapter at bedtime each night. Turn off the electronics and enjoy.

Summer

Well, summer is here at long last for most. It means reading and relaxing for some. Then you have the rest of us who are doing a hundred things at once. I  try to read my friends blogs during lunch, that works some days. Then I have days I am eating as I do everything else. I have to admit I do forget to eat lunch somedays.
Time is a limited commodity for all of us. Just think when you say I have no time to read. Do you read blogs, tweets, email and edit your work? Well, that is reading. Now as for reading for entertainment I think tweets and the newspaper count.  I have a luxury my kids are grown up so I have a bit more time to read at bedtime. Only if I am not thinking about my work. 
It is summer time and you should not be so hard on yourself. Today do the best you can, it will work out in time. Please don't put so much pressure on yourself, I know you are all hard working people.
I want to thank you all too. You are all good fun. I need to get back to writing now, this book is going to be great! Go get a nice book to read, a half hour before bed. So what Indie writers book are you reading now?

My Dad's Pictures from WWII'

Well, at last the book is done. Working with 60 year old film strips can be a challenge. Due to the odd shapes and bad storage, I did the best that could be done with them. I was told no way we can get each page perfectly even, and we didn't. I tried! So I have been told that it looks very good. Its over 140 pictures total. 


The money I make from this Picture Book will go to my son to help pay for his Grad School. So if you are a history fan and or a WWII fan you will love these never before published Photos before. This would be a great gift to give on this Father's Day. 


Thank you all so much for your support and love. You can get you copy here at Createspace, this is a book not an ebook. You can write notes in it to share with your family.


https://www.createspace.com/3889404


The cover is my Dad. I think he would like this book. I just wish he could have seen it so I would know more about the pictures.

Again Thank You all so much for the love and support as some know the first 4 and half months of this year have been hard. I feel OK for now. Thanks! Now I am going back to writing nice creepy things. Let me know what you think of it Please!

Mini trip and picture book.

I have gotten quite a bit done lately on writing. I want to get the picture book done. I hate to say this but geesh I am sick of the pictures. 
I have internet then it goes poof. I had my equipment check and its fine. The internet company says it has to be me. Funny thing the people next door are having the same problem.
So I hope to get the picture book ready this week to go. Wish me luck.
Princess and I are well we had a fun mini trip to Phoenix to see my son and the sites. He started Grad school at ASU so is very busy. It was a nice break and the PBS station had a great show at the Civic Space Center about Sherlock Holmes which was good fun.
OK, back to work for me. Thank you all so much for the love and support it means the world to me and Princess. 
So what are reading and what do you think of the book?

Sometime during Coffin Hop I will tell you about this place. It has a Ghost Lounge.

Pictures, Birthdays and repairs Oh my!

The last month has been a busy one. I have had to learn to fix things. Saves money and can be very satisfying. I had a birthday also... So I was ask whats on your bucket list. Well, I don't have one. Wasn't sure I needed one. So after the last four months its time to get to work on things and not worry too much about a list. 
This week I am finishing the last touches on my WWII picture book. So much to polish up and putting together a group of pictures you didn't take is hard. I wonder if they are in the right order. That is something no one will ever know. I have a few pictures that are double exposure which look cool so I will add them in. The pictures were stored so badly with rubber bands and metal paperclips that rusted. So many pictures were lost due to exposure to bad storage. You should never store film strips in an attic or damp cellar. All money made from this project goes to my son who is in ASU Grad school getting his Masters in Education. He will be a science and maths teacher. I so happy for him and ever so proud.
Thank you everyone who sends me a game to play love it.
Time to get to work today. So what do you think of pictures from long ago?

              My Dad. Maybe the cover?