Fifth annual Authors Fair

I'll be participating in the fifth annual Authors Fair in Madison, Ind., on Saturday along with about 80 other authors from the region.

This free event, sponsored and organized by the great folks at That Book Place, will be at the National Guard Armory at 1533 Clifty Drive. It runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The activities actually begin on Friday at That Book Place at 337 Clifty Place, with four one-hour panel discussions beginning at 6 p.m.: 

• Finding the Time to Write 
• So You Want to be a Writer? 
• Crossing Genres
• Music & Writing

There's a full slate of activities on Saturday at the National Guard Armory, in addition to authors discussing and signing books for the attendees.

Beginning at 9 a.m, there will be more one-hour panel discussions:

• Marketing 
• Romance 
• Mystery
• Paranormal
• Fantasy
• Pitch the Publisher (with Turquoise Morning Press)
• Sci-Fi
• Horror

There will be informative one-hour workshops, beginning at 10 a.m.:

• Beginner's Guide to Writing and Publishing, with Iscah.
• Polish Your Prose: Self-Editing for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers, with Susan Lindsey
• Editors & Editing: What Writers Need to Know, with Lindsey

And there will be 20-minute readings throughout the day, starting at 10 a.m., featuring 24 of the authors. 

By the way, I'll be signing four of my books: "Shooting Star," "The Bully List," "A Confidential Man," and "Laments: Short Stories." 

As you can tell, the Authors Fair has something for readers, writers, educators, and book lovers. And Madison is a beautiful and historic town located next to the Ohio River.

For more information, visit the Author Fair website or Facebook page. 

Until the next time...

 

Story Songs: Where Would I Be

During the past few days, I've read postings on Facebook and other social media about long relationships between married couples. And I recently read a short piece on the AARP website about  keys to keeping a marriage strong and vibrant through the years.

Those posts, along with having friends who've spent most of their lives with one mate, made me think about a song by one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Nanci Griffith, called "Where Would I Be." 

While Griffith writes many  of the songs on her recordings, this one was penned by the legendary British musician Paul Carrack. This tune is on her "Clock Without Hands" album, released in 2001.

Griffith's sweet, sincere and lilting voice conveys the depth and beauty of the heartfelt lyrics. 

The song beings:

"Tell me where

Would I be now without you

Without an angel 

Watching out for me"

I believe most people in strong relationships can relate to those words as well as the second verse:

"Took a long, long time

For me to realize 

All my faith in you

Was so justified"

I see those words as reflecting a relationship that grows stronger --sticking it out in the good times and the bad. 

The song goes on to say that we find truth and support from the person we love.  And without that significant other, we would "be lost, just drifting out to sea."

And it closes with:

"If I could start all over

I wouldn't change a thing

'Cause I know you'll always 

Be there through thick and thin

"Tell me where

Would I be without you now"

This is one of my favorite love songs. I hope you enjoy it as well. 

"Where Would I Be" lyrics

Progress Report on Belle

Belle, my 3 1/2-month-old Chorkie, completed her puppy shots today at the veterinarian's office. She now weighs 5.56 pounds, up for the 2.12 pounds on her first trip to the vet two months ago. 

Belle

Among Belle's vaccinations was a rabies shot, and now she has a green tag to wear on her collar. 

In the past few weeks, Belle has developed some light bright hair around her neck and on her rump. I'm looking forward to seeing what she'll look like at six months.

Belle will be making another visit to the vet in about three months to be spayed. 

Bailey and Belle

She's been a great addition to our family, especially for Bailey, who is 2 1/2-years-old. He needed a doggy playmate and they've been pals almost from the get-go. Her friskiness has helped him burn off a few calories as well in the past month. Now that the weather has turned warmer, we're taking twice-a-day walks in the neighborhood and we'll be heading the park for them to romp around in a few weeks.

My wife and I love having two dogs in our home. We'll enjoy it even better when Belle is totally house-trained, but she's getting there. She's learned a lot from being around Bailey. And Bailey has become a friendlier pooch by seeing how Belle interacts with humans.

Until the next time....

Spotlight on Connie Francis

In the early years of rock and roll, there wasn't a bigger female pop singer than Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, better known as Connie Francis.


Francis dominated the charts from 1957 to 1963, churning out 28 Top 40 songs including 14 that reached the Top 10. She had two No. 1 singles -- "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" in 1960 and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" two years later.

While her first charted song was "Who's Sorry Now?" in 1957, Francis attracted younger fans in 1958 with the Neil Sedaka-Howard Greenfield tune, "Stupid Cupid."

Francis appeared in movies such as "Where the Boys Are," the first beach movie, in 1961; performed on all the top television shows and stages around the world; and became an international star with her recordings in German, Italian, Spanish, Yiddish, French other other languages. Her love ballads are timeless.

Through the years she has proven to be a mighty woman by putting her life together after being beaten and raped at knifepoint in 1974; surviving mental illness and helping others deal with the disease; and working on important military veterans' issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The Newark, N.J., native has also written two autobiographies.

Francis, who is 76, still records and performs. She is truly a remarkable person who has accomplished so much in her professional career, overcome numerous obstacles, and inspired others in many ways.

Surprisingly, this artist who paved the way for so many other "girl singers" has never been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame although she's been eligible since the doors opened in 1986. She deserves to be among rock's royalty.

And now for a few of Connie's biggest hits:

Until the next time...

My Medical Week

This has been medical week for me as I had prostate and colon examinations. 

I know what you're thinking. Ugh!

Neither are pleasant procedures but can be life-saving in the course of a person's life. They are used to detect signs of cancer and other abnormalities.

I visited the urologist because my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) was on the high side of normal on a previous exam a few months ago. This time it was well within the normal range. 

I had the digital rectal exam and my walnut-sized prostate was normal. More importantly, there were no nodules. I'll be back for another exam in 12 months.

The day after the prostate exam, I was on a liquid diet in preparation for a colonoscopy. It also involved a mega amount of laxatives to cleanse my intestines. As you can surmise, I spent a considerable amount of time on the toilet. 

I went to the hospital the next day to have a colonoscopy, which involves inserting a colonoscope (a thin tube with a camera attached at the end) in my colon, which transmits images to a screen and lets the doctor see if there are any polyps. 

Polyps are small growths that can develop into cancer. Most folks remember former President Reagan undergoing the procedure back in the 1980s and doctors finding polyps. That was the first time I was aware of that type of exam. 

My exam was clean, so to speak. By the way, it lasted about 20 minutes and I was asleep the entire time, so if you're concerned about your personal dignity, they're in and out before you know it, and you're on your way home after a short recovery period. (My wife and I went to Cracker Barrel before going home.) 

I won't need a colonoscopy for another 10 years unless I notice any abnormalities that merit another exam. I was also polyp-free on my previous exam in 20o5.

I know a lot of folks who don't look forward to these types of examinations. Guys have prostate exams; women have pelvic exams. And we both have colonoscopies. No fun, but necessary. 

And there is a peace of mind in knowing that these exams can save lives. I know quite a few folks who are cancer survivors because these exams detected early stages of that dreaded disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. It estimates that 222,800 will be detected this year, and there will be 27,540 deaths. One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to ACS.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women. ACS estimates there will be 93,090 new colon cancer cases this year as well as 39,610 rectal cancer diagnoses. It also notes that a person has a 5 percent of developing those cancers in their lifetime so the odds are slim that you will develop this cancer. But the adage better safe than sorry is something to seriously consider.

Also, March is Colon Cancer Cancer Awareness Month and National Prostate Health Month is September.

I hope this post will encourage you to take advantage of medical exams for your healthy well-being.

Until the next time...

A Thoughtful Pause

I must confess that I haven't made any progress on my manuscript this month. 

And I must add that it's intentional.

I have been busy with activities outside of writing, but I won't use them as excuses for not working on the manuscript. 

As mentioned in previous posts, sometimes it's good to step away from a work in progress in order to get a fresh perspective on what's been written. I did that with my last novel, "The Bully List," going back to it four months after the first draft. I discovered a renewed energy and enthusiasm about the story when I delved back into it.

That's the plan with my current work. After I sort things out in my head -- and I do think about it daily -- I'll jump back into it without hesitation. I'll know when that time comes. 

Until then, I'll concentrate on short stories and other writing endeavors. For one thing, I hope to get back on a semi-regular schedule with posts to this blog.

Until the next time...

New Adventure in 2015

Last year my wife and I took a guided tour to "America's Beautiful West," which included riding Amtrak trains from Chicago to San Francisco and back. 

It was a memorable 14-day vacation, making stops at places such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, John Muir Woods as well as cities such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. 

Big Ben in London

This year we have international plans: London, Paris, and Rome. 

Ten years ago I spent about a week in irresistible Ireland, visiting such picturesque places as Dingle, Ring of Kerry, and Cliffs of Moher. Someday I plan to return and take in more of the treasures of the Emerald Isle.

Eiffel Tower in Paris

Since that trip, I've always wanted to go back to Europe. I'm still mapping out places to see in the Old World, which will be a New World for our senses.

We're looking forward to visiting some of the museums, art galleries and historic places and experiencing the sights and sounds of these great cities. 

Colosseum in Rome

If you have any tips or recommendations on traveling in Europe, please let me know. 

I wish I had the time and resources to travel to many European destinations, but I hope that will come on another vacation. 


I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and photos from this new adventure. 

Until the next time...