tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62461534595480729662024-02-18T17:39:57.768-08:00Mary DavidsaverMary
DavidsaverMary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-19845852749287530472024-02-08T13:04:00.000-08:002024-02-08T13:04:25.529-08:00Finding Romance by Accident? <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have spent
most of the past week rereading <i>Clouds Over Bishop Hill</i>, my first cozy
mystery, looking for signs that my two main characters, protagonist Shelley and
tow truck driver Michael, were doing more than a little superficial flirting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the process
I found a list of 150 Romance Tropes. I believe that the list uses a modern
definition of “trope” and not just different figures of speech, such as puns,
similes, and metaphors. More in the vein of an overused theme or device.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I didn’t
have to look far. There it was on the first page, “Old enemies from school.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In my defense
I had to throw Shelley and Michael together often to advance the plot and the
important themes I wanted to explore. And I do love writing witty dialogue (my
opinion here). So, to develop these characters, did I go too far? It wasn’t my
intention to write a romance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The mystery
had to come first. I wanted to learn plotting. I wanted to work with the themes
of preservation and community, family and career, past mistakes and
forgiveness. Those sound more like conflicts than themes. Indeed, I’m told that
conflict is at the heart of good storytelling. But what is my story and what is
the subplot?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In going
through Evie Alexander’s list of 150 romantic tropes I picked out ten that I’ve
used in my writing without really spending an inordinate amount of time or thought
on the consequences. Serendipity? Perhaps. But it gives me something to discuss
with the REAL romance writers, Misty Urban and Kitty Bardot, when we gather at
the BREWED BOOK on Saturday, Feb 10<sup>th</sup>, from 1-3 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Join us if
you can.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Check out: https://thebrewedbook.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-13101937336975756522024-01-23T09:45:00.000-08:002024-01-23T09:45:24.512-08:00Romance in the Afternoon (Update)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Let a
dose of romance in the afternoon at The Brewed Book help you beat the winter
blahs. Award winning author <b>Misty Urban</b>, who has penned multiple books
in both historical and contemporary romance genres, will be on hand to discuss
everything from red carpet runways to medieval maidens.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Davidsaver</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">,
author of <i>A Bishop Hill Mystery</i> series, will explain the importance of
the romantic themes in her work. She will address the idea that if all stories
contain an element of mystery, then they must also contain a thread of love
lost, love found, or love delayed that lead to cautionary tales or happy
endings.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #373e3e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kitty Bardot</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #373e3e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">, the author of the <i>Burlesque Rive</i>r series, will add her
brand of romance to the gathering of local authors at The Brewed Book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her bio speaks of a full life of excitement
which she uses to infuse her characters with “the real stuff … not just fluff.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #373e3e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Three reasons to drop in for</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #373e3e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <b>Romance</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Save
the date:</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Saturday,
February 10<sup>th</sup>, 1-3 PM</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Brewed Book, 1524 N Harrison St., Davenport, IA </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.35pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">(563)
232-6642</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-10745940773025771682024-01-17T07:23:00.000-08:002024-01-17T10:27:21.186-08:00Romance in the Afternoon<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Let a dose of romance in the afternoon at The Brewed
Book help you beat the winter blahs. Award winning author Misty Urban, who has
penned multiple books in both historical and contemporary romance genres, will
be on hand to discuss everything from red carpet runways to medieval maidens.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Mary Davidsaver, author of A Bishop Hill Mystery series,
will be on hand to explain the importance of the romantic themes in her work. She
will address the idea that if all stories contain an element of mystery, then
they must also contain a thread of love lost, love found, or love delayed that
lead to cautionary tales or happy endings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Save the date: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Saturday, February 10<sup>th</sup>, 1-3 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Brewed Book, 1524 N Harrison St., Davenport, IA <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">(563) 232-6642<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">More information will be forthcoming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-36692403355627213742024-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:002024-01-01T14:20:52.387-08:00Season’s Greetings <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Season’s
Greetings</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Mary R.
Davidsaver<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Christmas
cards lay on the table. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fewer this
year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They arrived
unbidden. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My
half-hearted quest for cards <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Found all
choices wanting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I came away
empty handed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So many
voids in my mailing list: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dear
friends, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My brother’s
sudden passing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I expected
no notice of my lapse. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I'm proven wrong.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One name draws
my attention.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It didn’t
register. Who’s this Helen?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Inside, a
view from a high vantage point <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overlooking
a scenic river <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dressed in
seasonal greens and gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Only one
answer to the question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Only one
couple climbed river bluffs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Their
purpose: take pictures, write poetry,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Honor the
Driftless miracle <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of the river
in our own backyard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Too often
overlooked and bypassed in haste.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I find my
copy of BLUFFING by Dick Stahl, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eminent
emissary of the Mississippi River.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Read it with
fresh eyes, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Rediscover
its spirit, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Find inspiration
…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For a New Year
of opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This poem was originally
published on this blog in Dec. 2021 and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">updated for this post.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-78236121596318669462023-12-12T10:53:00.000-08:002024-01-01T06:05:35.576-08:00Lucia's Promise<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lucia’s Promise<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Mary R. Davidsaver</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Not a bad turnout for the Saint Lucia
festival of lights. Crisp night air and a couple of inches of snow makes it
pretty and not too difficult for those who dress warm. There are always the few
naïve, impetuous teenage girls who come with bare legs. Bishop Hill has never
been kind to vanity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The store is crowded, packed at
times, but we are managing quite well. I’m handing out cheese samples, smiling,
answering questions, and looking forward to a break. Sophie comes by to relieve
me and I’m free.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">As I’m straightening my apron and
otherwise getting myself in order, a girl comes up and shoves something at me
saying in a small voice, “Hold this for a minute.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Suddenly I have a bundle in my arms:
it’s cold, heavy, and warm all at the same time. I’m startled. I frantically fumble
to keep from dropping it. I look down as the cover slips away and I see a tiny sleeping
face. Looking up I see an ocean of coats and hats, but nothing of her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">This is great. Only a few free minutes
on the busiest night of the year and I’m stuck babysitting for a stranger. I
have all the luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Ok, I’ll give her 10 minutes, but
only if there’s no crying. All bets are off if there’s noise or odor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">So, I’m standing, rocking, trying to
get back my pleasant looking “people face.” I scan the crowd, searching for the
girl. What did she look like? I can’t remember. Her coat? Blue. Maybe? It was way
too fast, and I have a spotty memory even under the best of conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Be patient. Be patient,” I drone soothingly
to the child, and myself. “She’ll be right back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s been a long time since I’ve even
held a baby. I don’t have the knack with the little ones; they usually cry when
placed in my arms. I like them older and talking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Studying the baby’s face, it doesn’t
look right somehow, too small, too splotchy. I can’t recall the last time I saw
one like this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I will myself to keep calm, look
natural, smile, when it comes to me—I’ve seen a face like this before, in a
hospital—this is a newborn. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Crazy. Just plain crazy. Why would
anyone hand so tiny a baby to a stranger? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t like what I’m thinking next.
Could it be? Did she just abandon her baby?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m so paralyzed with fear that
nothing comes out of my mouth. This can’t be real. I can’t make this kind of
decision. No one trusts me enough to handle something like this. It’s too big.
I could be wrong. I tell myself, I’m probably wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Why? Why here? Why now? Crowds? She’s
lost and wants to stay lost? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">What should I do? Pray? Beg? Plead to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Saint Lucia</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for a miracle?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m looking around when I see her; we
make eye contact. She’s coming my way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">She’s not alone this time; there’s a
young man with her. Man, hardly, they’re both just kids.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">They make it through the crush of
bodies to where I’m standing, still rocking the baby.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thank you,” she whispers as she
reaches out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I hesitate. Stiffen. I wonder if it’s
the right thing to do. I give her a stern look and utter a low-pitched demand, “Don’t
ever do this again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">She nods.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Promise.” I glance at the tiny face
and back to her, “Promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The young man takes a step forward. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">She halts him with a small gesture. The
strain on her face softens and disappears. She vows, “I promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Perpetua",serif;">Copyright</span> 2009-2024,
Mary R. Davidsaver<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">One of the last events for a
typical Bishop Hill tourist season is St. Lucia’s Festival of Lights. Our
version of Lucia Night’s is held on the Friday and Saturday evenings on the
weekend closest to Dec. 13, the traditional day it’s observed in Sweden. After
dark, buildings are illuminated by a single candle in each window. Some use
real candles for this. The sidewalks around the village park and along Main
Street are also glowing with candles burning in white paper bags set out by
anyone who wants to add to the magic of the experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">My story, “St. Lucia’s Promise,”
came to me as I was walking home from one Lucia Night. I had gone past the
Colony Store and by the time I turned the corner by the Bjorklund Hotel, I had
all the essential elements in place. It was my first work of fiction during a
time I wrote mainly for newspapers.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">St. Lucia’s Promise was first published
as part of <i>Winter Worlds: Three Stories</i> in 2017. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-35803263648541322562023-11-21T08:11:00.000-08:002023-11-21T08:11:48.828-08:00AI and the Author<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ever wonder
what would happen if you asked an AI chatbot if it has read your book? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, recently
such a question was posed of Google’s Bard, “Are you familiar with the book ‘Clouds
Over Bishop Hill’?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here was Bard’s
response:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">”Yes, I am familiar
with the book <i>Clouds Over Bishop Hill</i> by Mary R. Davidsaver. It is a
mystery novel set in the small town of Bishop Hill, Illinois, a former Swedish
communal society. The story follows Shelley Anderson, a young woman who is
trying to escape Bishop Hill and go to college. However, she is drawn into a
mystery when she discovers a long-lost painting by the folk artist Olof Krans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The book is well-written and suspenseful, and it
provides a fascinating glimpse into the history and culture of Bishop Hill.
Davidsaver does a great job of developing her characters and creating a sense
of place. The book is also full of interesting details about Swedish folk art
and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Clouds Over Bishop Hill</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> is a great read for
fans of mystery novels, historical fiction, and books with strong female
characters. It is also a good choice for readers who are interested in learning
more about Swedish culture and history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know
if you have any other questions.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s polite, flattering, and obviously
an edited mixture of the back cover blurb and a few quotes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I wouldn’t have expected the AI to
have read my work with enough care to offer up digested thoughts and views of
any depth, but this was competently done and even in present tense. Heaven
knows I’d be hard pressed to write something about myself that came off so nice.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The kicker for me was the tag-end
cautionary warning: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Bard may display inaccurate info,
including about people, so double-check its responses.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Not being able to leave well enough
alone, I had to pose a similar question to Microsoft’s Bing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here was that response:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">Yes,
I have heard of <strong><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">Clouds
Over Bishop Hill</span></strong> by Mary R. Davidsaver. It is a novel
about Shelley Anderson, who wants to escape Bishop Hill, a former Midwestern
Swedish communal society, by earning her college diploma. However, a reckless
driver sends her off the road and into the mysterious past of folk artist Olof
Krans. Drafted into finding Krans’s last painting, her only clues are an old
woman’s dreams and an uncle’s guilty conscience. Shelley navigates between
museums and restaurants trying to determine if the old woman’s cloud-inspired
dreams of Krans’s 1915 studio are real. She’s not the only one on the hunt for
the lost Krans. </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59204962-clouds-over-bishop-hill" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">After 93 years,
how dangerous will it be to actually discover it? </span></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59204962-clouds-over-bishop-hill" target="_blank"><sup><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">1</span></sup></a><a href="http://www.mwcqc.org/books/clouds-over-bishop-hill/" target="_blank"><sup><span style="font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">2</span></sup></a><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Aptos",sans-serif;">If you have read the book,
I would love to hear your thoughts on it!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Again, that’s straight off the back
cover with a little bit of editing. But what about the last bit? The invitation
for further engagement? </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who’s it after?
The author? The reader? More training info for its database? Your guess is as
good as mine, and with all the current turmoil centered around ChatGPT one does have to
wonder how things will shake out.</span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-41247399608797716012023-11-01T13:37:00.000-07:002023-11-01T13:37:21.215-07:00Yolanda J. Ortega 1948-2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first
casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic for me was losing touch with my oldest friend,
Yolanda. She had a birthday in early March, and I had plans to drive down to Aledo
to meet her, share some old memories, and have a snack of some sort. Early
March of 2020 was when the news of Covid-19 and the emerging pandemic emergency
got serious. I agonized for days and days over whether to cancel my trip. There
was too much at risk for her and for my husband and me. I canceled my visit. It
would be well over a year before I saw her again. The decision still haunts me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yolanda and
I met when we were both twenty-somethings working for the University of Iowa. I
was a clerk third-class filling in time while trying to decide if I’d go back
for my B.A. degree or not. She was two years older, a Knox grad, an art major
who was hired as a graphic artist. Her cubby-hole office was barely visible
from my workstation in East Hall. The attraction was immediate, I just had to
find out how a real artist operated. So yes, I was a pest who became a friend
over the time we worked in the same department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was there
when she, as a single woman, bought a cute little bungalow not all that far
from my grandmother’s house. I helped at her housewarming party when she made
French onion soup for the whole neighborhood as well as for friends, family,
and co-workers. She had a fantastic memory and a wide range of interests. We
shared discussions about science, printmaking, and her trips to England to
visit her pen pals over cups of black Oolong tea sweetened with honey. I was
there when she adopted her first cat. Or perhaps the cat, pregnant as it turned
out, sensed an easy mark, and adopted her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She stayed
in Iowa City while I moved away first, to marry and have children, but came
back to visit as often as I could. She taught me the invaluable lesson that
friendships never really have to end. That time and distance apart didn’t
matter; we could always pick up right where we left off. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Years later
she would move to Bishop Hill and enticed my move there by encouraging my
dreams of living the artist’s life. We both invested time and money in
properties from Bishop Hill’s colony past. Unfortunately, her house, a rural colony-era
structure in dire need of saving, was in much worse condition than my
post-colony one. Her grand plans for restoration and repurposing the house all
too soon outstripped her resources and her health. The last few years of
decline brought her to a rehab facility in rural Illinois. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She died on
the morning of Halloween one year ago. I didn’t find out about it until a mailed
greeting card was returned to me. I can’t help but speculate that she, with her
fine-tuned sense of anglophile humour, would have found a way to make her
passing funny, interesting, or even a little prophetic. I felt her sparse obituary
left out the essence of her spirit. It failed to flesh out a life that was
lived the way she wanted. A life filled with books, art, poetry, genealogy, and
a whole lot of rescued cats, neutered for the most part, and one rescued dog. On this one-year
anniversary I stop to ponder the void that was left behind. And raise a cuppa
tea in her honour. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I6vJcoRWrhohMq8f_D3CLs8I5gvdIRl-DAjPJpXj-skxImi_5eK_bwOVPQoR44peEIllvRs6-alRjvn6TB8hsFo7ePaj0jRmcnIaFaTiSs5vZ58b_ivvaGtcc6dLZ1k-aNx15yAEckgpEpQFUlEkJR1TaxXYj1B5xHjDPokv28JiD0ZwB6HphGSj4Yq8/s1960/Yolanda&dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1306" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2I6vJcoRWrhohMq8f_D3CLs8I5gvdIRl-DAjPJpXj-skxImi_5eK_bwOVPQoR44peEIllvRs6-alRjvn6TB8hsFo7ePaj0jRmcnIaFaTiSs5vZ58b_ivvaGtcc6dLZ1k-aNx15yAEckgpEpQFUlEkJR1TaxXYj1B5xHjDPokv28JiD0ZwB6HphGSj4Yq8/w190-h231/Yolanda&dog.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-17455882348596050582023-10-14T05:41:00.000-07:002023-10-14T05:41:00.684-07:00Review for Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I thought
this felt like a YA book in the early pages with the young Libertie learning
about her situation, unique for that time period in US history, as a freeborn
negro. Her mother was respected as a doctor, healer, and a landowner. All that
turned into teenage angst when the mother’s expectations for a daughter clashed
with Libertie’s feelings of inadequacy and her desire to choose a different
path. It later turned into anger as she got older and more rebellious. It lasted
pretty much for the rest of the book with little change until the very end when
she was about to give birth to twins and had found aid in escaping her marriage
to a husband who couldn’t keep his promise of equality for his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I didn’t
have a grasp of location until much later in the book when it was finally
mentioned they lived south of the East River in Brooklyn. I didn’t know of any
historical black community in that area. I guess creating the small-town feel
was more important. I found out about <b>Weeksville</b> before reading the end
notes. I was impressed at how the author used historical facts for the book. The
1863 Draft riot that turned into a race riot was very poignant and developed
more than I’d been exposed to in other books and movies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m a bit
concerned that it may have not totally benefited the character development of
the protagonist. She came off as stubbornly whiney. More willing to run from
her problems than confront them. Not first-class, story-grade heroine behavior.
However, the end notes say that’s what the author was after, a kind of <b>everywoman</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The writing
style was better than average with plenty of insightful passages, but I had
problems in following dialog on several occasions and had to reread a few long
complex sentences to find their intended meaning. All cases of falling out of
the narrative.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I liked the
inclusion of letters for plot development and appreciated that they were
readable (in a different font?).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ending
left me wondering if it is a setup for another book that will continue
Libertie’s story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-62974499022221262272023-08-05T14:29:00.000-07:002023-08-05T14:29:10.995-07:00Review for Monarchs and Milkweed by Anurag Agrawal<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When my husband gifted me a corner
of our new urban yard to use as a garden. His Valentine’s Day surprise was removing
the sod and working the soil. My dilemma, what to do with it? It didn't take
long to settle on growing milkweed for monarchs. I'd witnessed the fall
migration passing through Austin, Tx, and had an overnight roost of butterflies
in our trees in Bishop Hill, IL. I was sold. Getting my neighbors on board took
a little more time. Now I get compliments on the sweet aroma of flowering
milkweed and the pleasant sight of fluttering adult monarchs.</span><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Along the way I've had many years of learning
the ins and outs of raising several types of milkweed and how to manage some of
the dangers that lie in wait for monarch caterpillars. Everything about these
experiences has been enlightening, from discovering the existence of parasitic
flies and wasps to witnessing the metamorphosis to adult monarch, over and over
again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Now, I have to include Anurag Agrawal's book,
Monarchs and Milkweed, as an amazing discovery for my education. I've gotten
new information on nasty pests, the mysterious OE, and tips on butterfly
behavior. I've had several of my thoughts, based on my observations, confirmed.
I have a new outlook on moving forward due to the interplay of a toxic plant
and an insect as herbivore that Agrawal has provided.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">There's a treasure trove of information and the
science to back it up. Yes, there were times when I had to make myself keep
reading. It was worth it to get a better understanding of the chemical
interplay of the pertinent toxins, cardenolides, and the monarch's defensive
adaptations. A chemical arms race is not a bad analogy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The quality of the printed hardcover book was
impressive. As were the photos. Who couldn’t love the photo of a Blue Jay
barfing after eating a monarch? Agrawal and his crew of supporters have created
an important and lasting contribution to monarch research for years to come.
Five stars is not enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S. Citizen Scientists. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is the part of the summer
season when foster parenting monarch caterpillars, helping them survive to
adulthood, is the most rewarding--the great migration south is coming up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Monarchs and Milkweeds, Anurag Agrawal,
goes into the history of how the secrets of the monarch’s migration were eventually
revealed. Discovering the details of the routes north and south was a process
that spanned decades and involved recruiting “citizen scientists” to help with
a butterfly tagging program to figure it out and ultimately find the main overwintering
site in Mexico. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now there is another push for “citizen
scientists” to help researchers. The call this time is to gather dead
butterflies, moths, and skippers to send in for testing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I missed out on the original tagging
program because I was too young. I’m going to miss out on this call because I don’t
live in any of the target states of Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
and Texas. Still, I like the idea of butterfly enthusiasts contributing to finding
answers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">NOTE: There is a Nov. 1 deadline for
sending specimens in to the USGS LRC. Find out more at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-alert-usgs-calling-all-dead-butterflies-and-moths-six-states<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1915; font-family: Montserrat; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-15525881776250013042022-08-24T11:09:00.003-07:002022-08-24T11:09:58.847-07:00Ode to the Librarian Revised<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ode to the Librarian</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By Mary R. Davidsaver<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The forecast calls for a fine hot Iowa day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dog walkers pass by on their early rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A dragonfly hovers over my garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gold finches dart between host and nectar
plants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I savor a light caress of coolness, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Before the heaviness of corn sweat descends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">One Monarch touches down on a milkweed leaf.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then quickly launches itself at another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I left those “weeds” to stand tall and straight
this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If prairie winds knock a few down, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I save the leaves to feed caterpillars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not so many this season. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Few found my urban spot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A small space devoted to Monarchs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">My contribution to raising migration numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This morning I released six new butterflies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">A milestone for this meager year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I share that on this day of remembrance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The day we gather to celebrate a life of
service. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Honoring a librarian to generations of children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who nurtured their curiosity with books. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gave them a peek into the author’s craft. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sent them out into a world not of their own
making. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">They have the chance to challenge, to create, to
change. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Six Monarchs flying into the unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Each having the chance to make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I knew little of the librarian’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Only enough to know she would be pleased. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">She always had a ready smile and a kind thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy to share a
moment of joy with any one of us. </span>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-17465826199689410282022-08-20T12:20:00.000-07:002022-08-20T12:20:40.239-07:002022 Monarch Releases <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have released 26 Monarchs as of 8/20 with 2 in the chrysalis
stage and one still munching on leaves. I have a Monarch momma out in the
garden still laying eggs. Which is good since we had a late start to the season
in the Davenport, Iowa area because cool spring weather. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I released this year’s first Monarch on 7/25. Last year I had
released 23 before that date.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I collect eggs laid outside in my suburban garden dedicated
to milkweed and from other people who ask me to take in their eggs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Last year, I lost a lot of caterpillars with them turning
black and dying. I had one with OE. I also had caterpillars parasitized. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This year, I’ve only lost three to turning black and dying:
one hatchling, one large cat, one in a chrysalis on the second day. No sign of
OE this year. No parasites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I took in four large cats, close to final stage, just to see
how they are doing health wise in the main garden. I believe that is where my
failures came from. (I had them isolated in containers.) The hatchling came
from nearby and was one of four eggs I hatched. I’m not sure if it died because
of something I did or didn’t do. I have had trouble in the past with hatching
eggs, leaves drying up too soon. I did better this year with daily moisturizing
small individual leaf sections with each egg and placing them on whole leaves, everything
stayed viable longer. I then placed the hatchlings on milkweed cuttings I
gathered from the yard (escapees from the garden area). This was very much like
the racks of test tubes that are sold on some sites, only I’m using small bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I began noticing the differences between caterpillars last
year and figured out which ones were going south, or somewhere else. It’s
interesting that the majority of my released butterflies this year have been larger
females and are not staying around. Out of 26, I’ve seen 5 males. Not like past
years at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve had a registered Monarch Waystation since 2014 and started
raising caterpillars in 2019 when I got tired of not seeing any adult
butterflies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-85673253063837486642022-08-15T07:53:00.000-07:002022-08-15T07:53:13.483-07:00A Review Of: The Triggering Town: Lectures and Essays on Poetry and Writing by Richard Hugo<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>What I want to remember:</b></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"A poem can be said to have two subjects, the
initiating or triggering subject, which starts the poem or 'causes' the poem to
be written, and the real or generated subject, which the poem comes to say or
mean.... [discovery]. C1, P4</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"Once you have a certain amount of
accumulated technique, you can forget it in the act of writing. Those moves
that are naturally yours will stay with you and will come forth mysteriously
when needed." C2, P17 [I've tried calling it training the
unconscious/subconscious parts of the brain. And yes, they will be there when
you need them.]</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"No semicolons. Semicolons indicate
relationships that only idiots need defined by punctuation. Besides, they are
ugly." C5, p40 [:)</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Nuts and Bolts, chapter 5, was my favorite chapter.</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Chapter 4, page 30, gives us the writing exercise
from Hell. Hugo goes on to insist it often got his students to produce their
best work.</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Other quotes worth remembering:</b></span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"You are someone and you have a right to your
life." C6, P65</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"Writing is a way of saying you and the world
have a chance. All art is failure." C7, P72 [Don't be so hard on yourself.]</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I found this little book helpful for those
occasions when I pretend to be a poet. It's useful for the other times as well.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-14497990665122516792022-08-09T13:25:00.001-07:002022-08-28T11:55:47.936-07:00Bouchercon 2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m the
author of two cozy mysteries set in the village of Bishop Hill, a former communal
society of Swedish immigrants founded in 1846 on the Illinois prairie of Henry
County. I consider that place and its history as important to my work as any
other character. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I haven’t
been to a big mystery-based conference since the solar eclipse almost
overlapped Killer Nashville in 2017. I was part of a panel then, I don’t recall
the exact title, probably due to the last-minute changes that shuffled me off
in a different direction from my original request. I’ve waited months to find
out how I’d fare with my <b>Bouchercon</b> 2022 panel placement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">When I first
looked through the list of my fellow panel members for the upcoming <b>Bouchercon</b>
in Minneapolis, I couldn’t figure out why B. A. Shapiro seemed so familiar. I
went to my bookshelf, to the area where I keep the special books, the ones I
used for reference, background, and fact checking—and there she was! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Art Forger</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">was one of the few books I’ve ever
allowed myself to mark up. I remembered how her information on noted forgers of
the past and the prevalence of forgeries in general were eye opening and aided
the development of <i>my</i> forger in <b><i>Clouds Over Bishop Hill</i></b>,
my first cozy mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I checked
through my blog posts and found that Shapiro and <b><i>The Art Forger</i></b>
came to my attention through a library sponsored book club. I went on to mention
her and the book three times on posts between 2014 to 2015, basically the time
period between NaNoWriMos, National Novel Writing Months. I credited her with
helping me work with POVs and providing some technical terminology. Much needed
since I didn’t have a strong background in painting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This time
around I and my book are part of a panel that will discuss the merits of <b><u>The
Mystery of Multiple Points of View and Multiple Timelines</u></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Along with
B.A. Shapiro (<b>The Art Forger</b>), I’ll be sharing space with <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Marty
Ambrose (<b><i>Lord Byron Mystery series</i></b>), <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">William
Boyle (<b><i>Shoot the Moonlight Out</i></b>), <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Julie
Carrick Dalton (<b><i>Waiting for Night Song</i></b>), <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">and Stanley
Trollip (<b><i>Wolfman</i></b>), as moderator. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">[<i>These
titles only represent a small sampling</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This
<b>Bouchercon</b> conference might be the best ever for me. I can’t imagine having a
better experience than spending quality time with these authors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Bouchercon
2022 Minneapolis, September 8-11<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bouchercon2022.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.bouchercon2022.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2014/11/first-person-present-tense.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2014/11/first-person-present-tense.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2015/08/getting-things-right.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2015/08/getting-things-right.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2015/11/nanowrimo-2015.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://marydavidsaver.blogspot.com/2015/11/nanowrimo-2015.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Find links for
<i>Clouds Over Bishop Hill</i> and <i>Shadows Over Bishop Hill</i> at: <a href="https://marydavidsaver.weebly.com/">https://marydavidsaver.weebly.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Or find me
at the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-60381531024792804952022-08-06T13:30:00.002-07:002022-08-06T14:10:11.170-07:00Ode to Rochelle A. Murray, Aug 6, 2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
forecast calls for a fine hot Iowa day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dog
walkers pass by. Out for early rounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Same
with gold finches. A dragonfly hovers over my garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">All
savor the light touch of coolness. Before the heaviness of corn sweat descends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One
Monarch visits the blooming plants. Briefly rests on milkweed leaves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
left them to stand tall and straight this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
prairie winds have knocked a few down. I save the leaves to feed caterpillars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Not
so many this year. Only a few Monarchs found my urban spot. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
devote my small garden to Monarchs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s
my contribution to raising the migration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Today
I released six new butterflies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
share that with you on the day we gather to remember Rochelle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To
celebrate her life of service as a librarian to children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Who
nurtured their curiosity with books. Gave them a peek into the author’s craft. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then
out into a world not of their own making. Six butterflies fly into the unknown.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">They
all have the chance to challenge to change to make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
only knew a little of Rochelle’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Just
enough to know she would be pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">She
was always there with a smile and a kind thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">She’d
be happy to share a moment of joy with any one of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4sj4O5eGzDSCy3UeEWSQI9_yVwz1mXlEJEn0-jvzrLy7KSPAVkmLS9Zrr83i3UiX-bhjuEM7psVvPWNMdHk7RkbttNV1Q0X9Du7N5DyxF09rnVxAwsV6fOa7ODs7fiWzKcJa5ftNNeNdu_KksqrGlDD_hXMOXs3RJw-sLt-ZD0bRnheF6e_lh6AN7g/s2070/FairmountMonarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1619" data-original-width="2070" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4sj4O5eGzDSCy3UeEWSQI9_yVwz1mXlEJEn0-jvzrLy7KSPAVkmLS9Zrr83i3UiX-bhjuEM7psVvPWNMdHk7RkbttNV1Q0X9Du7N5DyxF09rnVxAwsV6fOa7ODs7fiWzKcJa5ftNNeNdu_KksqrGlDD_hXMOXs3RJw-sLt-ZD0bRnheF6e_lh6AN7g/s320/FairmountMonarch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Releasing a Monarch butterfly at Davenport's Fairmount Library.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">July 29, 2018</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-16177364734137740122022-07-10T11:52:00.000-07:002022-07-10T11:52:22.604-07:00Editing and Gardening<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve done a
lot of gardening throughout this spring and early summer. Started out with the
usual need to finish clearing out the leftovers of winter. Trimming back the
plant stalks I left standing for over-wintering insects. Hopefully for the
kinds I want. I wonder sometimes when I see countless numbers of orange beetle-like
bugs working at making countless <i>more</i> of their kind just waiting to descend
on the uppermost leaves of my milkweed plants. I need those tender leaves for
momma Monarchs to lay their eggs on. But I digress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This year’s
gardening tasks took an interesting turn when I was asked to be part of the Grace
Lutheran Garden Walk. Really. I never thought of my little corner plot as all that
interesting, but what my husband started as a Valentine’s Day gift ten years
ago</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">has evolved. Early
on I was challenged to think of a theme for my small space and quickly settled
on the needs of Monarch butterflies. I once captured a Monarch for a high
school science project. That was well before anyone had documented their
impressive migration. I chose to turn my little plot into an official Monarch Waystation.
You may call it an act of atonement. The website I turned to was:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://monarchwatch.org/">https://monarchwatch.org/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To spruce up
for the garden walk I got nice edging installed around my corner spot, which,
in turn, gave me a little more space to work with. Since the garden walk theme focused
on wildflowers and native plants, I could let my milkweed expand without
worrying about them standing out so much. Early on I did try to camouflage them.
Not an easy thing to do. It’s gratifying that people have come to appreciate my
gardening attempts. The same is true of Monarch mommas: they visit, they lay
eggs, I collect some to bring inside to ensure that I have adults to release in
time for the migration south. My best source of information on raising the
numbers for the migration is:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/">https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Gardening,
like all things, has its ups and downs. This spring was wet, cold, and stubbornly
late. That delayed the arrival of Monarchs for my eastern Iowa area. By early
July in 2020 I had released eight adults; in 2021 the count was seven. This year
I’ve yet to release any. In fact, I am totally relieved that I have six Monarch
caterpillars to feed. I had been dreading the thought of a butterfly-less year.
Believe it or not, in my few years of urban gardening I have seen a sharp
decrease in butterflies and bees. It’s plain to me that anyone gardening for
host plants and/or nectar plants for pollinators is doing a service for all of
us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Back to my
title. How does editing relate to gardening?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Okay, I
digressed a lot. To be fair, I did stick with an insect theme for four
paragraphs. But all the time I spent in the garden planting the new, removing
the old, rearranging things to improve the focal points made me think of my
recent rounds of editing the written words of manuscripts and short stories. It
all comes down to making decisions, choosing the changes that will improve the
whole. We humans are good at sculpting our world, bending the real and the
imaginary to our wills. You might call it synergy: the whole is greater than
the sum of the parts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We should
always try to make the story better—to make </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">our</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> stories better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[P.S. I’ve had
good luck with Rest Cloud and Vivosun mesh cages for butterfly habitats.]<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-69963818185773385262022-06-21T09:39:00.002-07:002022-06-21T09:39:48.882-07:00Favorite Bookmark #8<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Steve
Semken, the publisher of Ice Cube Press, recently celebrated the thirtieth
anniversary of his vision for showcasing Iowa and rural America in stories,
poetry, and books. I met him at the MWC’s <b>David R. Collins Writers’
Conference</b> one year when he was listening to book pitches. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ice Cube Press,
North Liberty, Iowa, has supported many regional poets and authors. The poetry
of Salvatore Marici is a notable example. Ice Cube Press has published most of Sal’s
work, such as: <b><i>Fermentations</i></b> and <b><i>Swish Swirl & Sniff</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEMQBWTYZUV1wodFf3aBGIztPEeG8B_MPtcalq19S2jyU1mcLBvFTWk4c_pscY2GvlkQDwlYZW308kCdRp0IGNiQrzE309jRWqsMmQ6uQP9kzB3Fm35jBcExITQHnl7d82qBfSCLCDDoGfhGpjdvONG6NmCZhbvV35iOl9Kie_ujXv5rnkRv0SoWy0g/s3817/Ice%20Cube%20Press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3817" data-original-width="2544" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEMQBWTYZUV1wodFf3aBGIztPEeG8B_MPtcalq19S2jyU1mcLBvFTWk4c_pscY2GvlkQDwlYZW308kCdRp0IGNiQrzE309jRWqsMmQ6uQP9kzB3Fm35jBcExITQHnl7d82qBfSCLCDDoGfhGpjdvONG6NmCZhbvV35iOl9Kie_ujXv5rnkRv0SoWy0g/s320/Ice%20Cube%20Press.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-25333794743568362252022-06-21T08:09:00.002-07:002022-06-21T08:09:49.378-07:00Favorite Bookmark #7<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Susan
Furlong is a regional writer of cozy mysteries. Reading her first book in the Georgia
Peach Mystery series gave me a taste for peach salsa. Plus, a very practical
tip on how to thaw out frozen fruit. All that on top of an interesting mystery
set in a small town. I find it always helpful to see how other authors handle
the close-knit chumminess of small communities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTCiWgVXkmP874qOczectowes4Uvi-iYYJBdm_qnUVcNOEvoNAwtURonSwntaY6nGdTER4-9Nm300Y6AYaMERaYgaAm9uJlv_qWgZDIG85JN6myDb3gS_JDbASmvGrKb4osQFxUlBANpXhmsUz1WR4AnhrklLf9gEBhGZr7Yv6jxTv2OqqbjP8YcqaA/s3698/Furlong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3698" data-original-width="2465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTCiWgVXkmP874qOczectowes4Uvi-iYYJBdm_qnUVcNOEvoNAwtURonSwntaY6nGdTER4-9Nm300Y6AYaMERaYgaAm9uJlv_qWgZDIG85JN6myDb3gS_JDbASmvGrKb4osQFxUlBANpXhmsUz1WR4AnhrklLf9gEBhGZr7Yv6jxTv2OqqbjP8YcqaA/s320/Furlong.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-88048407371462769322022-05-16T11:27:00.000-07:002022-05-16T11:27:45.573-07:00Favorite Bookmark #6<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This bookmark is from
a writers’ group that meets in Muscatine. The typewriter makes it a favorite. I
used an old Underwood at one time. I recall the stuck keys, the messy ribbons
that jammed up and left the fingers ink stained. It was a great invention for
its time, but I have moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can go
retro if you want, I’m sticking with the word processor on my computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Writers On
The Avenue, WOTA, meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the Musser Public
Library from 6-8 pm. Find information on Facebook or at: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://writersontheavenue.org/<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincxEyBhuBGM7BF2znxWXrAW6km-0lW8T0nA5lsmTTjJFeY6CN6ZvD8qEsuBWhH2qVDO7Ed0BF3du2Ra_EdHYQNZoSlUgZSvHPoSUyb3NAGjrc31fV9bOYBBJx6gq20p9YBLfRl0xv8Ey-5zGQJWSg6XbCJ7mDScKX_DjUBOBY2WJNGn6onmUifMCrmA/s3865/WOTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3865" data-original-width="2577" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincxEyBhuBGM7BF2znxWXrAW6km-0lW8T0nA5lsmTTjJFeY6CN6ZvD8qEsuBWhH2qVDO7Ed0BF3du2Ra_EdHYQNZoSlUgZSvHPoSUyb3NAGjrc31fV9bOYBBJx6gq20p9YBLfRl0xv8Ey-5zGQJWSg6XbCJ7mDScKX_DjUBOBY2WJNGn6onmUifMCrmA/s320/WOTA.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-14705131574447971562022-04-25T16:53:00.006-07:002022-05-10T12:59:22.473-07:00An Anniversary Special with some publishing tips:<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Dear New Author,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Midwest Writing Center, MWC, captured my
attention sometime around 2008. It was about the time when I started writing
for the Galva News. I had a great editor in Doug Boock, but I knew I had a lot
to learn if my news items and features were going to get better. Julie Jenson
McDonald was a columnist and feature writer for the Argus-Dispatch newspapers.
She often wrote about MWC, then located on the third floor of the Bucktown
Center in Davenport. The trip from Bishop Hill to Davenport for one day
workshops was the best option for me at the time. Out of the usual three
offerings, I could count on one or two that would meet my needs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I was never an attentive English student in
school, and I basically had to start from scratch. So, while I was
catching up on what I should have known all along and learning the nuts and
bolts of writing, a book about Bishop Hill percolated in the background.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">When I thought it was
time for me to seriously think about publishing my first book, I naturally
looked to MWC Press, an imprint of the Midwest Writing Center. Along with the
one-day workshops I’d been attending I splurged and enrolled in a three-month
novel writing workshop. From there I gathered the courage to register for the
David R. Collin’s Writers’ Conference, an annual event at the end of June. Courage
was the correct word here because I began as the shy person in the back of the
room afraid to raise my hand, get noticed, or be expected to speak. Breaking
away from all that took time, but it did happen. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I presented my first
novel, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Clouds Over Bishop Hill</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, a cozy mystery, to a panel at the 2015
Collin’s conference and it was accepted as a MWC Press printing project. After
content and line editing, it was published in Aug 2016. All that editing was
very valuable for me. I still feel that it gave me the best possible book for
that time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">My first foray into
self-publishing came in 2017 with a slim volume of short stories. My original
goal was to have a few handbound books suitable for Christmas gifts. I ran out
of time and decided to use CreateSpace, since MWC Press used it. I did my own
formatting and cover. I got something that was adequate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">My second journey into
self-publishing came with </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Shadows Over Bishop Hill</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, the sequel to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">COBH</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">.
Again, pressed for time because I wanted to have it out for Bishop Hill’s 175th
anniversary in 2021, I thought that since I had some experience with
formatting, I’d be OK to tackle a bigger project. I was wrong. CreateSpace had
turned into KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing, and was much more involved than I
expected. My computer literate husband and KDP University helped me get the
novel ready to publish, but it was a stressful time for me. That was just me. Others
may have more computer skills than I. Just know that the pros do earn their
money.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">And speaking of pros, I
paid professionals for cover designs or both novels. Getting blurbs for the
back covers always takes time and it often comes down to politely asking an
author you know well for help. Another bonus for attending workshops,
conferences, and critique groups.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Marketing is a huge job
for any author and doesn’t diminish no matter what kind of publishing one
pursues. One of the advantages I got out of presenting to MWC Press at the 2016
DRC Writers’ Conference was their request for a marketing plan. It made me
think of my possibilities. Unfortunately, all plans have been put on hold or
drastically altered in the past two years of pandemic. I am still trying to
cope with that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">My best advice to any
new author would be to check out KDP and see if it’s a good fit. Do be aware
that using Amazon ISBN numbers, while free, will limit your marketing options.
Read the fine print. I created my own press and purchased my own ISBNs. KDP is
my printer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Self-publishing and
hybrid publishing opportunities have grown immensely and there are options out
there that I don’t know about. As frustrating as the last book was to complete, I
would do it again. My advice would be to do the research and find the best
opportunity for your needs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I hope this has been
helpful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary D<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">MWC is a non-profit organization and a great
asset for this area with resources for any writer, at any stage of their
career. Find information at:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://www.mwcqc.org/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-74434698184327101302022-04-25T11:41:00.002-07:002022-04-25T17:06:42.593-07:00Favorite Bookmarks #5<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is an
older bookmark for MWC, the Midwest Writing Center, a vital resource for the
Quad City area. I’ve saved it because of prominent directive to </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Read! Write! </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The flying books are a nice bonus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdOatbVF4-6eAUh4BNVeoct_JmRZ5S0IvBWugPvTm3R74RSpe4vqOxTCrK_K8MsByhkMPfhuk1YUpAUIyTBxugDvywhHWvHHjDNfoAVj0SFsUjzSlUWL_om5WzVtTQb1FMC27skFNxu_7dWMPY1sTQVqX_GmrhQRJtIBscx3gzeGeXo_kNRmIMF8qeQ/s3809/MWC%20old%20style.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3809" data-original-width="2539" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdOatbVF4-6eAUh4BNVeoct_JmRZ5S0IvBWugPvTm3R74RSpe4vqOxTCrK_K8MsByhkMPfhuk1YUpAUIyTBxugDvywhHWvHHjDNfoAVj0SFsUjzSlUWL_om5WzVtTQb1FMC27skFNxu_7dWMPY1sTQVqX_GmrhQRJtIBscx3gzeGeXo_kNRmIMF8qeQ/s320/MWC%20old%20style.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-51384909606315610042022-03-28T12:39:00.001-07:002022-03-28T12:50:58.837-07:00Favorite Bookmark #4<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I remember
Misty Urban making her own bookmarks, at least I thought of them as bookmarks. She’d
print out a short story, flash fiction really, or a poem on nice paper then
glued each one onto card stock. I managed to save few of those before she flew
ahead to several versions of a regular type of printed bookmark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Then she moved
on to stylish versions of Victorian calling cards: many, many cards, as if one precious
thing was never enough. I supposed the teacher in her could not stay still. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">All this
effort was for <b><i>A Lesson in Manners</i></b>, a collection of short stories
that was my first purchase. It won her the Serena McDonald Kennedy Award. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Of all the
promotional pieces from Misty that I’ve saved, I like this bookmark the best
because it begins with an <b>“elevator pitch”</b> that’s simple and comes perfectly
to the point:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">"A how-to manual for dealing with</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> love, lies, loss, and loneliness."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It's valuable lesson unto itself.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXvhGf6H8TWRSUtwI5Th9xoXTRtJJWW_6kcdIWY9V8BUSOqSdsb4s0QVaPTUdLGFSNnpSmOPp6YjoKiCCFUgHLXldYE4BCwTz4MohPXU-cbr-q3J9epXB0aVrrPsBuN5a986cXQ7lkvmhvt0fjfIyyTU2bz_obZ6Ny1laOu1SCCxqOhO6CyukApclA/s3736/Misty's%20manners.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3736" data-original-width="2491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVXvhGf6H8TWRSUtwI5Th9xoXTRtJJWW_6kcdIWY9V8BUSOqSdsb4s0QVaPTUdLGFSNnpSmOPp6YjoKiCCFUgHLXldYE4BCwTz4MohPXU-cbr-q3J9epXB0aVrrPsBuN5a986cXQ7lkvmhvt0fjfIyyTU2bz_obZ6Ny1laOu1SCCxqOhO6CyukApclA/s320/Misty's%20manners.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-59487973881739913292022-03-21T10:04:00.017-07:002022-03-28T12:46:11.813-07:00Favorite Bookmarks #3<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I created
this bookmark to go along with my first Bishop Hill mystery. The design was
based on a postcard created by C. Hope Clark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I met Clark
through the Midwest Writing Center. It was the first year she taught a workshop</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">at MWC’s <b>David R. Collins
Writers’ Conference,</b> held annually in late June. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I bought her
book and fell in love with the thought of using bookmarks to maybe, somehow,
tempt readers to give us struggling authors reviews on Amazon and Goodreads
sites. I think it worked better for her than me. But then, she has been quite
prolific with writing award-winning mysteries, teaching, hosting award-winning
blogs; ever being an inspiration to all of us.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb2KR9GhyUPih1hIfXqDkEoJggrxbUayFbJSgFRz0TEw_pClwH7GxPKd-StzcJnxrjTpRAMiZnzyG5AZQz0fF-0RcoL6wFrMZLAs0i6rn16MoRGs0Kg3FKcpzewSggZ6sa1DbocGSgUCv9gYrte8sYqZLQ8jgp3kUdVrtu2rWOeJ04avVNkDrg9G-_7A=s3492" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="2328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgb2KR9GhyUPih1hIfXqDkEoJggrxbUayFbJSgFRz0TEw_pClwH7GxPKd-StzcJnxrjTpRAMiZnzyG5AZQz0fF-0RcoL6wFrMZLAs0i6rn16MoRGs0Kg3FKcpzewSggZ6sa1DbocGSgUCv9gYrte8sYqZLQ8jgp3kUdVrtu2rWOeJ04avVNkDrg9G-_7A=s320" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">I’m in the process of redesigning my bookmark to promote a new book and adding important new information for both books. The plan is to have it in time for the </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 25.68px;">Bishop Hill Book Fair</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"> </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;">on April 2 at the Creative Commons at 309 Bishop Hill St. from 11-4 pm</b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Update
and</span> </u><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Preview<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Should have
this double-sided bookmark ready for the bookfair. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Photo shows:
on the left, my most current Bishop Hill mystery; and, on the right, my first
mystery with an updated, and polite, appeal for reviews:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">"It's a fact of life for authors: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need reviews. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please consider posting a </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">review to Amazon & </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Goodreads after reading."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDslMmhrlYNwrxqd0clRiWEClHCQkpqztcoY5_8D29BTJTyPBiJrkWwsKqZmkDY8O9YM_VVebzffv3bLZWEptMYPk4xpKfhdaPGu3qaIzXJpHb2je4oI7qe_RzVOOj6GFp-RHuJt1IjQ3eUsd8QbCeJxqTgcomgj8_inVyl-cRkCc2bcOTTmibCuzgBQ=s3271" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3271" data-original-width="2181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDslMmhrlYNwrxqd0clRiWEClHCQkpqztcoY5_8D29BTJTyPBiJrkWwsKqZmkDY8O9YM_VVebzffv3bLZWEptMYPk4xpKfhdaPGu3qaIzXJpHb2je4oI7qe_RzVOOj6GFp-RHuJt1IjQ3eUsd8QbCeJxqTgcomgj8_inVyl-cRkCc2bcOTTmibCuzgBQ=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-54428019660674132652022-03-10T09:02:00.001-08:002022-03-10T09:02:54.759-08:00Favorite Bookmarks #2<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What’s not
to like about a Yoda bookmark? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nothing! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Originally,
this was part of a panel of USPS postage stamps. I used the stamps and saved
the decorative sidebar as a bookmark. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I and one of
my Bishop Hill neighbors did our best to buy out all the Yoda stamps our tiny
Bishop Hill post office had in stock. After going through my bookshelves, I
came up with three more of my impromptu bookmarks in various conditions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Can I say
it? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, the force was with me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjryMZrkdmWNuHt-J9De33aBCcv5Yg99_glvWgc7NFLk5Iy697neJx4i5u0yCIg1uqUShsycJGdwjOhzfr_BHxYupi1v6oRsh3SWuQ_x8o-vv728OW62CDHXhQt1ivYeJW0xa5UF3ZjwEg4lCgBSeKSTewqxHj0EIlsulbK2Ll9iN0iG-2pPQaffkCE8Q=s3708" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3708" data-original-width="2472" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjryMZrkdmWNuHt-J9De33aBCcv5Yg99_glvWgc7NFLk5Iy697neJx4i5u0yCIg1uqUShsycJGdwjOhzfr_BHxYupi1v6oRsh3SWuQ_x8o-vv728OW62CDHXhQt1ivYeJW0xa5UF3ZjwEg4lCgBSeKSTewqxHj0EIlsulbK2Ll9iN0iG-2pPQaffkCE8Q=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;">Got a favorite bookmark? Please share.</span></span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-73277529965833501592022-03-03T12:23:00.000-08:002022-03-03T12:23:09.192-08:00Favorite Bookmarks #1<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Years ago, I
participated in a panel discussion in Muscatine, IA. It was sponsored by
Writer’s on the Avenue. I shared the table with <b>Rob Cline</b> and a couple
of his writing buddies. He made his book sound so appealing that I had to buy a
copy. We were wrapping up the sale of <b><i>Murder by the Slice</i></b> when he
offered me a special bookmark. He treated it as something special, like it came
from his personal stash, and he was almost loath to part with it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Why was it so
special? Not only did it look like a slice of pepperoni pizza, it SMELLED like
one. Seriously, the top pepperoni has a scratch-and-sniff coating that still
works after all these years. But then, I have tried to treat it like the gem it
is. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It became my
all-time favorite bookmark even if it was lacking in a few basic details. Like
any printed information about the book, the author, the publisher, the ISBN
number, stuff like that. I can accept those deficiencies because I’ve never run
across anything like it since. And how often are writers told to use all the
senses in their work? Lots. This type of bookmark just might be the perfect reminder
to add a little something for the olfactory receptors. Who knows, it might help
keep readers engaged … and hungry for more. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Worked for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS0dsgg4K-ZIjhI4MeYsWYwG-bGa7VQvtyIwwS-UDiXoryTmfXbk8Uzd5Pp0bp1JQkIVaN5Ei7FebXA9cKOW4g7TI6qsop6muYq-AbgMbWpOI59gsCVGOyK75oJmvnhXqECFoMju2wiqfvTOaWd9f1L3T_doWQ0n9gX8GGE2gyrF-w0WNXuxyQMuzd0Q=s3276" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3276" data-original-width="2184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS0dsgg4K-ZIjhI4MeYsWYwG-bGa7VQvtyIwwS-UDiXoryTmfXbk8Uzd5Pp0bp1JQkIVaN5Ei7FebXA9cKOW4g7TI6qsop6muYq-AbgMbWpOI59gsCVGOyK75oJmvnhXqECFoMju2wiqfvTOaWd9f1L3T_doWQ0n9gX8GGE2gyrF-w0WNXuxyQMuzd0Q=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Got a favorite bookmark? Please share.</span></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246153459548072966.post-35830214377336042612022-01-03T03:39:00.002-08:002022-01-03T03:42:13.159-08:00Reviewing Your Reads <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was
searching through some of my old blogposts and came across my photo of a slide
Gary Metivier used in a presentation at the Children’s Literary Festival in
2016. I liked the concise way it framed the essence of plotting with five <b>C</b>s:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Create a <b>Character</b> readers care about, in a <b>Conflict</b>
with stakes, making <b>Choices</b>, whose <b>Consequences</b> build to a <b>Climax</b>.”
Cheryl B. Klein, author of <i>The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children
and Young Adults</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I thought of
using this framework</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">for
a review</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">when</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was given a copy of <i>Bee in Her
Bonnet</i> by Jannifer Powelson. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">First draft:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bee in
Her Bonnet</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> is
Powelson’s fifth book in the <a name="_Hlk91685695">Nature Station Mystery
series.</a> The first chapter introduces the <b>character</b> of Kristen
Matthews as the owner of the Nature Station, a natural resource education and
event center. It’s a business that has grown over the first four books, as has
Kristen’s reputation and talent for amateur sleuthing in her central Illinois hometown
of Eklund. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is
nothing better for <b>conflict</b> than a murder discovered the day after a
bridal shower was held at the Nature Station with a visit to its brand-new
pollinator garden as one of the party activities. The stakes couldn’t be higher
when the white-haired relative of the soon-to-be groom appears to have fallen
victim to a severe reaction to a bee sting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Kirsten’s <b>choices</b>
are limited. She has questions to ask. Leads to track down. Because the nice
old lady’s past harbored some not so nice secrets. But Kirsten has so much help
streaming in from the many locals who have come to expect great things from her
detective skills. The consequences of all that help and ego boosting praise
just might <b>compromise</b> Kirsten’s ability to make the best decisions.
Who’s telling the truth? Who’s holding out on her. What is she missing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answers to these questions can mean life
or death as she nears the <b>climax</b> of the action. Readers will want to
know if they solved the mystery or not. I certainly didn’t. Jannifer Powelson
has created a fine addition to her</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nature Station Mystery series. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Second draft:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was introduced to Jannifer Powelson’s Nature
Station Mystery series when I was given a copy of <i>Bee in Her Bonnet</i> to
review. This is Powelson’s fifth book in the series, so I was meeting her
protagonist, Kristen Matthews, at a high point in her personal life; she is
engaged and has a winter wedding in her future. Kristen’s business, the Nature
Station, is doing well as a natural resource education and event center. In
fact, as the action opens, it is summer, and she is hosting the bridal shower
for Hope Johnson, co-worker and</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">best friend. We are introduced to a lot of people: family,
friends, citizens of small town Eklund; all have potential as either victim or
villain. A visit to the Nature Station’s brand-new pollinator garden is turned
into a bridal shower party activity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day, Kristen and Hope are first
on the scene when the white-haired relative of Hope’s soon-to-be groom appears
to have fallen victim to a severe reaction to a bee sting. The stakes are high
for Kristen, time is in short supply for her to find the murderer and save her
best friend’s wedding day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Kristen’s</span> <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">reputation and talent for amateur
sleuthing precedes her every move. She has questions to ask. Leads to track
down. It seems the nice old lady’s past harbored some not so nice secrets.
Kirsten has so much help and information streaming in from the many locals who
have come to expect great things from her detective skills that it just might compromise
her ability to make the best decisions. Nothing is easy. Who’s telling the
truth? Who’s holding out on her, and why? What is she missing? The answers to
these questions could mean life or death as the murderer prepares to strike
again in an ending I did not see coming. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friendship, family ties, and the chemistry
of small town Eklund are key themes for this book. As is the author’s respect
for native plants and prairies. Jannifer Powelson has created a fine addition
to her Nature Station Mystery series. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Book reviews
and star ratings are important gifts for authors. I always try to write
something about the books I read and then post to <b>Amazon</b> and <b>Goodreads</b>.
The more popular titles of well-established authors don’t need as much help as
local, regional authors of small presses or the self-published. For those, I
make an extra effort.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Mary Davidsaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17815741999733005966noreply@blogger.com1