Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow – Not ;-)

Here it is, the last day of 2014. The day when Old Lady Time hobbles off the stage as 2014, and Baby Eagerness 2015 bounces on the sidelines waiting for the crystal ball to drop and make her grand entrance.

Will I miss 2014? Not on your sweet bippy! Oh, it was a good year, don't get me wrong, but I'm excited to see what next year will bring. This year saw Marie published, I sold a couple of short stories and a poem, had a couple of radio dramas produced and aired, but hope to do better in 2015 ;-)

I finished my historical novel, Faction as some call it, fact-based fiction about Marie Dorion and her journey west. I read and reviewed 59 books. I read several more books that I did not review as they weren't yet published. Because I spent more time quilting than writing, I indulged in the luxury of reading mostly fiction. Consideration was given to listing the books, in order read, and I decided a long list would be boring, so if you want to go through my book blog to see what I spent my year reading, please feel free to do so. And if you've read any of the books, please leave comments. It's alright if we don't agree ;-) Rainy Day Reads

After going for about 6 months with Netflix Streaming, I realized I wasn't watching any movies at all, so went back to getting discs, and watched and reviewed 25 movies. I put a lot of discs in my player that, after 20 minutes I rejected them. I did not review those. Again, why bore you with a list when you can go to my movie blog to read my reviews. Again, your comments are always appreciated. Rainy Day Reviews

If you've been following this blog at all, you've seen photos of the quilt projects I've worked on, including the many UFOs (unfinished objects) I finished. I have decided not to make any more large (lap size and bigger) quilts, other than the kits I've already purchased and are waiting to be made. Instead, I'm going to focus primarily on small, artsy fartsy quilts. Wall hangings, table toppers, sock drawer liners ;-)

Which brings me to the New Years Resolutions I will make. For years, I have had one standard NYR – to make no new years resolutions! This year, I'm actually making a for real bone fide resolution. Really. I hereby resolve that beginning Monday, 5 January 2015, I will put in a full day in the office – 9-5, with time out for lunch – in which I will work on my writing projects. I will do this 4 days a week, with the other days being devoted to quilting. I also resolve not to feel guilty if the days get swapped around now and then.

I further resolve to work on writing projects already started, and not spend too much time on new ones, other than to get the ideas down. Granny Hitt* has several murders she needs to commit, each requiring its own story. Jiang Li has a queen she needs to find and to guard, and the Forgotten Daughter needs some serious editing. Then there is the book of poems about the Whitman Massacre that needs a lot of work and re-writing.

Further, I resolve to spend no more than 1 hour on FaceBook, and only at night, and ONLY if I've done my writing for the day! (Or quilting)

So there you have it. A quick wrap up of my year and my hopes and dreams for 2015. What about you? What resolutions, if any, are you making that you'd like to share?

*You can read about Granny Hitt in the international anthology, Short & Happy (or not) available from your local bookseller or the publisher, S&H Publishing. 

Week Two of the Countdown

Last week, as you may recall, I recommended five nonfiction books I thought you might be interested in picking up as gifts for yourself—or others. This week, the list of five is fiction. Believe me, it was not easy to distill the over 60 books I've read so far this year down to five I'd read again. And, again, the titles are linked to my full review. The books are available from your favorite bookseller.

Sisters of the Bruce 1292-1314 – J. M. Harvey

As you, Gentle Reader, know, Rainy Day loves good historical fiction, and a good story, and when they are aptly combined, well, she thinks she's in Book Heaven! I bought this book because it intrigued me on a couple of levels. First, Robert the Bruce is one of my ancestors; second, they story is told, for the most part, through the letters of his sisters. After reading about the tortures his sisters went through, being kept in cages hung over the castle wall, open to all the elements and jeering of the crowds below, I found it amazing those women survived, let alone survived sane. If you're into time travel, I don't recommend Scotland of the 1300s, unless you've got an emergency out, and are pretty darned hardy! But the book is a page burner, and if you time travel through the book, you'll be warm enough turning the pages as fast as you can read them! For the History Lover on your gift list. As a bonus feature, Ms. Harvey maintains a fascinating blog at: http://sistersofthebruce.wordpress.com 

The Last Runaway —Tracy Chevalier

This book was my introduction to Chevalier's writing. As much as I've enjoyed all her others, this one remains my favorite. The story is of a young Quaker girl who accompanies her sister to America to be married. Her sister dies, and she finds herself alone in a strange land, filled with strange people, and an Underground Railroad. She meets, and marries, a young man, also a Quaker, but his family does not believe as she believes, and the laws of the land and her family are harsh as the winters. Had I begun this book in the morning, nothing would have been accomplished by bedtime, except the reading of an absolutely fascinating book! An excellent book of the Underground Railroad and life in early America.

Wizard of Pigeons —Megan Lindholm

This is one of my all-time most favorite books. I have two copies, both autographed by the author, to me! I do not lend them out. I first read this story 25-30 years ago, and have read it at least six times since. This story is relatively modern. It is about a Vietnam Vet who has been abandoned by not only his family, but also the VA, and lives on the streets of Seattle where he is known as the Wizard of Pigeons. They flock to him, and he feeds them from a never quite empty bag of popcorn. It is the story of the street people who help him survive. It is a story of beauty, a celebration of life, a book of hope and joy, and I guarantee once you've read it, you will never look at a street person the same way again. We need more Wizards! For that person in all of us who enjoys a great 'feel good' book.

Like the Moon —Mary Lewis Foote

Humor is not, to my way of thinking, easy to write, and unless one is really, really good at it, it isn't easy to read, either. I read this book and laughed so hard that when I got to The End, I flipped it over and read it straight through again, and laughed even harder because I knew what was coming.  If you've got a comfy rocking chair, that's the place to read this book. The book takes place in a nonexistent town in North Carolina, and if you've never been to that part of the country, it may take you a few pages to get into the dialect, believe me, that dialect is important. It is the story of people who may live a hardscrabble life, but they don't know it. They just know their lives are filled with love and humor, collard greens and ham hocks, corn dogs, and Beethoven. Love and humor are the key words there, but Beethoven is important, too. For the person in your life who needs a good laugh — again, and again, and again ;-)

A Cup of Light —Nicole Mones

This is a deliberately woven story, one thread at a time. It takes place in modern Beijing, where Lia Frank, an American who reads Chinese, but speaks it poorly because she is deaf, is sent to appraise several antique porcelains. Mones did her research on porcelains, and the book is filled with it, which I found as fascinating as Lia's 'memory bank.' Lia has trained herself to remember everything, and she has a system where each memory is stored for later retrieval. Some of the porcelains are the genuine articles, some are forgeries, but even those are so good, so beautiful, they arouse the same emotion.  There are many threads in this silk tapestry, and each one is brought in, and woven into place, at just the right time. By the time the book is finished, the tapestry is beautiful and worty to grace A Cup of Light.

OK, I know I said five books, and yes, I can count that high. But I would be sorely remiss if I didn't mention these two books, again, and remind you they, too are available at your local bookseller, or directly through the publisher, S & H Publishing http://sandhpublishing.com/index.html  Besides, I can't review them, I wrote them, or at least some of them, so of course you know they are really, really good books!

Madame Dorion: Her Journey to the Oregon Country —Lenora Rain-Lee Good

Heavily fact based historical novel about Marie Dorion, the first pioneer woman to come to the Oregon Country overland with a group of men, her husband, and two young boys.

Short & Happy (or not) An International Anthology of Short Stories —ed by Richard Bunning & Dixiane Hallaj

A collection of 36 short stories by 25 authors from both sides of the equator and around the globe. Perfect for reading while waiting for someone, riding the bus to work, etc.

The Big Freeze is Over (for now)

The last few days, we've had some serious cold—it didn't get above freezing until a couple days ago when a nice early morning (3:00am) wind got rid of the clouds and brought some warmth. We were fortunate here, we had no snow, just cold. Lots of cold.

Still, cold is a good reason (at least for me) to stay inside and work on projects. Which is what I did, most of the time. I mean, one does need to go forth for victuals now and again, doesn't one? Or learn to eat from an empty plate ;-)

At the horrible prospect of losing some of my most favored Gentle Readers, I will confess that yes, I stayed inside; I also got all my Winter Gifts finished, wrapped, and ready to deliver or mail. I'm sure there will be some I've forgotten about, but the panic is over. I even have my tree up, but won't turn the lights on until Friday. After all, I do not want to be responsible for the deaths of those cute baby reindeer! (I know. Most of you long ago gave up believing in elves and reindeer, and even Santa Clause, but I not only still believe, I see no reason to change.)

Oh, and I also managed to speak the right incantation, and the Christmas cactus allowed one bud to open, which I photographed and now have ordered my cards, which I will pick up today or tomorrow. In other words, Gentle Readers, I am, basically, ready to sit back and relax while many of you haven't even thought about the fact that the Winter Gift Season is rapidly approaching ;-)

For those of you still in need a few giftees, may I suggest a couple of books? Books make ideal gifts, and they last forever. One size fits everyone, they are easily shared, and can be read and enjoyed as often as wanted.

I'm partial to an anthology of short stores by S & H Publishing, Inc., called Short & Happy (or not). The book contains 36 short stories by 25 authors (including yours truly) from 7 countries. It can be obtained from your favorite bookseller, or directly from the publisher at http://sandhpublishing.com/Anthology.html — there is also a trailer for one of the stories by Maria Elizabeth McVoy on this page.

And, of course, if you have yet to buy your own copy of Madame Dorion: Her Journey to the Oregon Country, you may buy that from your favorite bookseller or, again, order it directly from the publisher at http://sandhpublishing.com/Madame_Dorion.html.

If you want even more books, after all does one ever have too many? go to http://sandhpublishing.com/index.html and check out the many books available.  

 For reviews of either book, please visit either GoodReads.com or Amazon.com.

Now, I'm going to get another cup of coffee, and enjoy the sunshine from the warmth of my office. Y'all have an exceptionally fine and wonderful week and be sure to stop by next Monday to see what Rainy Day has been up to. It will be news for us both, I'm sure ;-)

Short & Happy (or not)

No, I am not referring to the status of my height, nor to the status of my emotions. Yes, I am short and yes, I am happy ;-)

The reference is to the latest book, an anthology published by my publisher, Short & Happy (or not) edited by Richard Bunning and Dixiane Hallaj. The book launch was Sunday, back in Purcellville, VA. Alas, too far for me to attend, so I'm doing the next best thing by 'launching' it from Living With Rainy Day.

This is a collection of 36 short stories by 25 authors from around the globe. From one Washington to the Other Washington, from Canada to Australia, from the UK to Greece. I'm pleased to say I know four of the authors in this book, and of course, I know me, so I guess that makes it five authors, eh?

Most of the stories are under 3,000 words—perfect to read as you wait for your appointment, or ride the bus to work, or while on your lunch hour. All of the stories are well written and will surely give you a few minutes of enjoyment, and perhaps, a few hours of escape. The stories appeal to all ages, from new adults to the silver-haired set.

 

Dixie Hallaj, my Publisher, signing a book for Purcellville mayor,
Kwasi Fraser with fellow author Bobbi Carducci looking on. Mayor
Fraser bought the first book of the Launch!

Short & Happy (or not) is available through the S & H Publishing, Amazon, and your local bookseller (they may have to order it for you). So far, all reviewers have given it either 4 stars or 5 stars. The contents of these stories will give something for everyone. One of the authors has produced a trailer for her story. Check it out here.

And the book is a perfect something for everyone's Winter Stocking. Beat the Black Friday rush, buy this collection of Short & Happy (or not) stories for your friends, your family, shucks, buy one for your dog, too. S/He will enjoy the delectable taste of the paper with the overtones of ink, if not the actual words themselves.