guest post – Carol's Notebook

Five Mythic Influences: Guest Post by L. T. Getty, author of Tower of Obsidian

September 3, 2013 by Carol2 Comments

Today, I'm happy to welcome L. T. Getty to my notebook to discuss five of the myths that influenced her novel, Tower of Obsidian. Five Mythic Influences – Tragedies and Sagas by L. T. Getty Tower of Obsidian was heavily influenced by mythology – the two defining mythic bases I used to develop the magic system set in our world were Celtic and Norse. I think it is important to acknowledge the stories that inspired me – and while there are many more, I have listed five stories that I think help explain some of my artistic choices in the novel. I’ve done my best to get the story across to you without telling you everything – and for the most part, these stories have seen adaptation beyond translation – from film, art, opera, and poetry. If you’re looking for something different to read, pick up a translation or adaptation of any of these stories, even if you think you know it already –...

Guest Post: Elizabeth Buhmann, author of Lay Death at Her Door

August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 by Carol6 Comments

Today, I'm happy to welcome Elizabeth Buhmann, author of Lay Death at Her Door, to Carol's Notebook. She's talking about beach reads today, a perfect topic for this time of year. The Search for the Great Summer Beach Read Guest Post by Elizabeth Buhmann, Author of Lay Death at Her Door (Red Adept Publishing, May 2013) Imagine you are sitting in the shade of a palm tree on Maui. The sun sparkles on the sea, a light breeze keeps you cool, and you’re in the middle of a great book… Or maybe you’re just sitting in a glider on the back porch drinking sassy water. But you’ve gotta have that great book! What makes a great summer beach read? For me, partly it’s a great setting, with a touch of the exotic. Did you know that MM Kaye (Far Pavillions) wrote a series of romantic suspense novels? Death in Kenya, Death in Kashmir, Death in Zanzibar, and so on. She lived in all of these...

Guest Post: Alexia Fraser, author of Memories of Mom

January 9, 2012January 9, 2012 by Carol14 Comments

I'd like to welcome Alexia Fraser, author of Memories of Mom, to my notebook today. She's sharing a lovely memory of her mother. ~ Every Child Has A Mother ~ “Every child has a mother” was what my mom would always say. Mom was a strong, dynamic and loving mother. What a mother she was indeed! As a child so many things about Mom resonated with me. One memory that stood out in particular was when handyman Alan stopped by our house to see if Mom had any chores for him to do. Alan would stop by every now and then to see what work was needed to be done around the yard. Alan was a very hard worker and Mom respected him for his strong work ethic. Actually, Mom was a very hard worker herself she greatly respected that trait in others. Mom was a very good cook. I would sit in the kitchen and watch her as she prepared our meals. On...

Guest Post by Hope Edelman

December 10, 2009January 14, 2010 by Carol6 Comments

Thanks to Hope Edelman for taking a page in my notebook to share a little about her story today. TAKING THE SHORT WAY HOME When my husband first expressed interest in traveling to Belize, I confused it with Ibiza. I thought he was talking about an island off the coast of Spain. That’s how meager my knowledge was about Central America. After a few days of internet research, however, I learned that Belize is the smallest and least populated country in Central America, tucked between Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula; that until 1984 it was known as British Honduras, which is why the national language is English; and that for such a small country it has exceptional cultural diversity, with citizens from an entire rainbow of races and ethnic backgrounds: Mestizos; Mayas; Creoles; Scots; East Indians; Lebanese; Taiwanese; and Garifunas, who are believed to be descended from 19th-century shipwrecked African slaves. It seemed to be a safe country, and also an interesting one...

By the Numbers – Guest Post by Larry Sweitzer

December 9, 2009January 14, 2010 by Carol6 Comments

Thanks to Larry Sweitzer for taking a page in my notebook today. By the Numbers Statistics and little known facts are a part of life for an avid baseball fan like me. As the most statistical of sports, baseball’s long and storied history lends itself to be remembered—condensed and reduced to a palatable set of memorable numbers. Leonard Koppett wrote: "Statistics are the lifeblood of baseball." - A Thinking Man's Guide to Baseball (1967) A single stat can become synonymous with a player’s name. Cal Ripken will forever be connected to the number 2,632. You can hardly discuss the great Joe Dimaggio without the number 56 coming up. The number 7 has a special meaning to Nolan Ryan’s pitching career. Sometimes numbers define a player’s career. Some would say that stats, more than anything, determine entry into the Hall of Fame. Others would disagree, saying statistics could never define a player—or the game itself. A set of numbers couldn’t possibly tell the whole story....

Guest Post about Christmas Shopping by Pat Snyder

December 2, 2009January 14, 2010 by Carol8 Comments

I want to thank Pat Snyder, author of The Dog Ate My Planner, for guest posting today. Her story about Christmas shopping made me laugh. ONLY ONE WISE MAN BROUGHT GOLD Ever on the lookout for time-savers, I was blown away when my friend Jean said she didn’t do Christmas shopping for her adult children. “I’m terrible,” she said. “I just write a check.” “Not terrible!” I told her, feet still hurting from last year’s hunt. “Money’s what they want! Money’s what they need! I’ve never seen one of them return it.” The prospect of a shopping strike left me reeling. Mentally, I fast-forwarded to two weeks before Christmas under a no-shopping plan. I am sitting in front of the fireplace, sipping red wine (for my health) and tucking three checks into gift envelopes to be hung from the tree. I have purchased lovely cards for my spouse and my mom. And I’ve gone to the Heifer International website (http://www.heifer.org) and notified my out-of-town relatives...