SPARK - The Elements Book 3

 SPARK

Book 3 of the Elements 

Now Available:

Amazon:  Spark

Barnes and Noble:  Spark

BoucherCon 2024

 BoucherCon 2024 - Nashville, Tennessee 

Bouchercon Convention is upon us.  In case you have not been paying attention, it runs August 28-September 1, 2024, and is held at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.  If you are coming to enjoy BoucherCon this week, please join me and my other esteemed panel members, Saturday morning, bright and early at 8:00 a.m. to discuss finding success with independent and small press publishing.

Update: Spark, Book 3 in the Elements Series

 Spark, Book 3 in the Elements Series

I'm happy announce that my next novel, SPARK, Book 3 in the Elements Series has been picked up by my publisher.  It has a scheduled release for January 8, 2025.

I have been hard at work completing yet another set of edits to Spark and it is now back in the hands of my publisher.  Next up will be their formal edit and format, and then cover designs.  I can not wait for that step. It's one of my favorite things in the list of tasks that come along with book publishing.  Putting my story into a simple yet compelling picture.  One that I think represents my vision and one that people and my readers will like as well.  My least favorite is the editing.  It's amazing to me that no matter how many times I go through a project, and other people go through it, and then beta readers give it a look, that there are sometimes STILL mistakes in the final project.  It's incredibly frustrating.  

I think I will focus on the exciting bits instead of the annoying ones.  Bring on the cover design!

2020/2024 Graduates

 Graduation 2024

Creator: Nosyrevy | Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

    This spring marks a milestone for many graduating seniors.  However, for the high school graduation class of 2020 that is now graduating from college, this year will bring to close what the Covid Pandemic took from them.  

    If we look back to 2020, the high school graduates didn't get a senior prom.  They didn't get a senior trip.  They didn't have their senior breakfast.  They didn't have a rehearsal.  They didn't get a senior clap out.  And for many, and maybe one of the most important losses for not only the seniors of that year, but also their families too, they didn't get to walk in their high school graduation ceremony.

    Many schools tried so hard to make up for the lack.  They tried virtual events and drive up diploma pick ups that they called graduations.  But let's be honest, it was so far from a ceremony and event, as you can possible get, and still call it a graduation.  It wasn't the same for the graduates. It sure as heck wasn't the same for their families who had been a part of their school journey and had also been looking forward with excitement for the conclusion of that stage of their child's life.  

    Many went off to college and I would bet most felt like sometime was missing, as they didn't get that closure. In my opinion, not having that closure changed many of these young adults. The world as they new it, and felt comfortable in, was no longer safe and no longer known.  Everything was suspect.  Everyone could be dangerous.  They began their adult life, in an unknown world filled with fear and confusion as what the future would hold.     

    Here we are, and 2024 has arrived and with it the chance to finish what they started and attend their graduation, a first for many, with their family and friends there to cheer them on.  These young adults lost so much in 2020.  Their worlds and life came crashing down right as they were about to take off and fly into adulthood with hope for a bright future.

    So to the college graduates of 2024, who are also the high school graduating class of 2020, I am so proud of you all. For your strength.  For your perseverance. And for your ability to pivot and push forward regardless of the obstacles you faced.  You have come a long way, but you made it.  Congratulations to you all, wherever you are.  You made it!  

April Blues

April Blues

By Courtney Rene

Spring rain in the forest, fresh branches of a bud and young leaves with raindrops, by Kichigin19

    April Showers, brings May flowers. Here in the grand state of Ohio (USA), we live by this saying.  Winters can be hard here.  With below zero temperatures, snow and ice, and don't even get me started on the wind, we wait and dream of spring.  Spring arrives in March, yes, however, for us Ohioans, that does not mean an end to the cold and wintery weather.  By the time April finally arrives, we are a sad and pale reproduction of our summer selfs.  

    The problem being that although the snow and ice may be gone, we do generally get a lot of rain in April. So much so that we go from frozen cold misery to mud city (esp. those of us with pets).  I wondered if maybe the old saying of April showers brings May flowers was a way of saying, hang in there.  There is a purpose to all this wet misery.  You need the rain and storms for the plants to grow and bring forth the beauty of the coming summer seasons. 

    With that in mind as I slog my way through all the wet, the question is: where did the saying come from?  Well, it is not a saying per se.  It is a poem.  Didn't know that.  It has its origin from the year 1157 from a poet named Thomas Tusser.  His very short and sweet poem read:  "Sweet April Showers, Do Spring May Flowers".   I know poems come in many forms and fauna, but is this really a poem or just a quip really.  The idea of what constitutes a poem, may be a discussion for another day.  Moving on.

    Geoffrey Chaucer, however, did write a poem in the fourteenth century.  The original in all its spelling glory is:

"Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote

The Droghte of March hath perced to the roote

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour,"

Translation:

"When in April the sweet showers fall

That pierced March's drought to the root and all

And bathed every vein in liquor tht has power

To generate therein and sire the flower,"  

    I do like the melody that comes with this poem, and the story behind all the flowery (no pun intended) words.  Chaucer, he's got quite the story telling skill in my mind.  I may need to do more digging on the man behind the poem.  I know of him, but do I know who he is?  Stay tuned that may be in the works next, as now I am intrigued.  

    Happy April.  Hang in there. The beauty of spring and summer are on the way.  

St. Patrick

 

https://images.app.goo.gl/gPmNSpYRafZMnS1B8

Conversation Hearts

 

Image by Jill Wellington