I got home from the hospital today, after a seven-day stay. I’m better, but still have a ways to go in the ‘getting well’ department.
It all started with a couple of months of complaining to my Ear/Nose/Throat doctor about headaches and dizziness following an ear infection. He finally ordered an MRI of my head and put me on antibiotics.
The MRI showed I had mastoiditis, which is an infection in a part of the temporal bone, which is a bone in the skull—a left-over from the ear infection. After taking the antibiotics for a week I was twice as ill as I had been the week before. When my temperature shot to 102.7 we headed for the emergency room.
After 20 minutes in the ER we were advised I wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, and besides the mastoiditis I was already being treated for viral meningitis and most likely had pneumonia too. I definitely had the meningitis headache.
Over the course of the last week my fever has spiked to over 103 twice, over 104 twice, and over 105 twice. I discovered one can experience a heady out-of-body experience during a 105.4 fever spike. I especially liked being packed in ice and used for a pin cusion. I’ve had so many IV’s my veins will now open on request and insert that little plastic tube for you if you show the right medical credentials.
We had a couple of other scares when, first, I “lost” oxygen. I “awoke” at one point to find six nurses standing over me calling my name. Seems my oxygen level had reached “0”. They managed to get my O2 level up to a reasonable 93% about the time my blood pressure started falling. Fortunately, my blood pressure is normally very low, so the climb back to what is normal for me didn’t take much. Yeah, that’s easy to say now!
I’m still facing surgery for the mastoid problem, but that will have to wait until all of the pneumonia is out of my system. Needless to say, I’ve found a new ENT.
I’ll be back to writing in the next couple of days, hopefully. Until then, please say a prayer for us, if you’re so inclined.
July 05, 2006
June 25, 2006
New Photo for the Website
As we've been house-hunting for the past several weeks while living in temporary quarters here in Columbus, OH, I'm reminded of certain elements at our little farm in TN. One of the things I miss the most, aside from not having neighbors over my head, is the hot tub room.
During one of our more lucid remodeling moments, we designed and built a room that resembles being at the ocean. We cut a hole in the middle of the floor and plopped the hot tub in, sheetrocked the rafters--leaving the joists exposed as an arbor--and put a mural of a tropical beach scene on one wall. I painted the ceiling to appear as a stormy sunset or a serene sunrise, depending on which lighting was used.
This picture takes me back there.
We're getting closer to finding our next dream digs. We've actually put an offer in on a house about 9 miles from where we're living now. We'll know next week if the offer has been accepted.
Our son and my brother, who both reside at our "bed and breakfast" when they're not out in their big rigs, went with us to take another look at the property last night. They're already dreaming of 4-wheeling at the back of the property. Michael has already built his 20 x 40 "workshop" in his head. I'm dreaming about cream colored walls and custom crown mould. (It sure will be nice to dig out my table saw, compound mitre radial arm saw, compressor, and nail guns again.)
My thoughts run to sitting on the covered back patio with my laptop; very conducive to finally finishing my novel.
June 17, 2006
A "Link Share" Chat For Writers
Are you a writer--or have you thought about becoming a writer?
Join us at The Writer's Chatroom Sunday, June 18th, at 8 PM Eastern USA time to share helpful links. Renee' Barnes of The Trailer Park Gazette fame will be our moderator.
Link Share Chat:
Bring your favorite tasty chocolate treat (writers thrive on chocolate), a good notepad & pencil, and your favorite writing links. Join us as we learn what sites have been most helpful to others.
Anything writing related is acceptable. Remember, if you find it helpful, others probably will too.
Examples:
Dictionary/Thesaurus
Research sites
Online libraries
Prompt sites
News sites
Free or inexpensive courses and classes
Grammar check Sites
Auto critique Sites
Contests or Markets
Inspirational Blogs
E-zines
and more....(anything you've found helpful in your writing career).
Bring your best! Prepare to be surprised! Expect to find something that blows your mind!
Guests for chats in the near future will be: Mary Roach, Stephen Spignesi, Hope Clark, J. Thomas Callahan, Tim Bete, and The Renegade Writer (Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell). Check out the schedule page at http://writerschatroom.com for a complete listing.
Join us at The Writer's Chatroom Sunday, June 18th, at 8 PM Eastern USA time to share helpful links. Renee' Barnes of The Trailer Park Gazette fame will be our moderator.
Link Share Chat:
Bring your favorite tasty chocolate treat (writers thrive on chocolate), a good notepad & pencil, and your favorite writing links. Join us as we learn what sites have been most helpful to others.
Anything writing related is acceptable. Remember, if you find it helpful, others probably will too.
Examples:
Dictionary/Thesaurus
Research sites
Online libraries
Prompt sites
News sites
Free or inexpensive courses and classes
Grammar check Sites
Auto critique Sites
Contests or Markets
Inspirational Blogs
E-zines
and more....(anything you've found helpful in your writing career).
Bring your best! Prepare to be surprised! Expect to find something that blows your mind!
Guests for chats in the near future will be: Mary Roach, Stephen Spignesi, Hope Clark, J. Thomas Callahan, Tim Bete, and The Renegade Writer (Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell). Check out the schedule page at http://writerschatroom.com for a complete listing.
June 14, 2006
Chat With Author Patrick Ryan Tonight
Join us for a regularly scheduled chat with guest author Patrick Ryan tonight at The Writer's Chatroom.
Patrick Ryan's first book, Send Me, was published in February by the Dial Press, and was chosen by Barnes & Noble for their "Discover New Writers" series.
His work will be included in the upcoming Best American Short Stories 2006. He is the recipient of a 2006 Literary Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Smart Family Foundation Prize for Fiction.
His stories have appeared in The Iowa Review, The Yale Review, One Story, Ontario Review, and elsewhere. He lives in New York City.
The place: The Writer's Chatroom
The time: 10 PM Eastern US
Select "enter chatroom" and choose a sign-on name. The case-sensitive password for tonight's chat is: sendme
I will be interviewing Patrick and also taking questions from the room.
Patrick has donated an autographed copy of Send Me to be awarded to one lucky chatter midway through tonight's chat. You must be present to win.
Patrick Ryan's first book, Send Me, was published in February by the Dial Press, and was chosen by Barnes & Noble for their "Discover New Writers" series.
His work will be included in the upcoming Best American Short Stories 2006. He is the recipient of a 2006 Literary Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Smart Family Foundation Prize for Fiction.
His stories have appeared in The Iowa Review, The Yale Review, One Story, Ontario Review, and elsewhere. He lives in New York City.
The place: The Writer's Chatroom
The time: 10 PM Eastern US
Select "enter chatroom" and choose a sign-on name. The case-sensitive password for tonight's chat is: sendme
I will be interviewing Patrick and also taking questions from the room.
Patrick has donated an autographed copy of Send Me to be awarded to one lucky chatter midway through tonight's chat. You must be present to win.
June 06, 2006
My Article as Teaching Aid
In late March I wrote an article for Construction Equipment Guide about the AK Steel Strike in Middletown, OH. It had been assigned by my editor.
If you’ve been reading my blog you know I’m a regular correspondent for CEG. You also know the story was written while I was in Louisville, KY, attending to the birth of our newest granddaughter.
Teacher Chad Murphy is using my article to teach students how to get involved, negotiate, work as a committee, and solve problems.
You may view his teaching model at my writer's blog.
If you’ve been reading my blog you know I’m a regular correspondent for CEG. You also know the story was written while I was in Louisville, KY, attending to the birth of our newest granddaughter.
Teacher Chad Murphy is using my article to teach students how to get involved, negotiate, work as a committee, and solve problems.
You may view his teaching model at my writer's blog.
May 23, 2006
Sleep Apnea and Congestive Heart Failure
Denise Hartman is a web designer in Michigan. I would never have known that if I hadn’t blogged for SeniorWeblogs last year.
Yesterday, I received an unsolicited email from her. The email ended up in my bulk folder and was nearly deleted as spam. It would have been IF the subject line hadn’t been so carefully crafted to appeal to me.
Denise lost her mother last month. Her mother died from congestive heart failure, recovery impeded by a condition known as sleep apnea.
She wrote to me in response to the following blog entry:
Friday, November 04, 2005
Sleep Apnea Comments? Please!...
Posted at 7:44 AM
Category: Health
The doctors have told me I have obstructive sleep apnea and that I'm not getting enough oxygen because of it. My husband has told me I stop breathing when I'm sleeping. Week before last while in Nashville with my son he said "Mom, do you know you stop breathing, and then cough, and then start breathing again when you're sleeping?". I get it! Nothing new here. I was born with allergies.
I have great respect for my doctor, which is why as we travel around Ohio while hubby builds Walgreen’s stores, I continue to drive to Troy to see the same one. I still see the same allergist/surgeon this doctor recommended. For a couple of weeks I saw a local doctor—only for allergy shots—with the serum provided by the Troy allergist. My arm hurt for a week after the shots and I had welts and bruising. I’m no longer trusting her to give me the shots. It IS about trust.
And now, this most trusted and respected doctor has informed me that if I don’t use the C-PAP breathing machine (note that it only blows room air, not oxygen) I not only may, but probably will, be facing congestive heart failure. He explained all of this thoroughly on Wednesday, stressing that a lack of oxygen doesn’t do much damage to the lungs, but affects the heart in terrible ways.
Still, I can't make myself believe I will sleep any better by wearing a fighter pilot's mask that shoves air in my face, while trying to sleep on my stomach--which is the only way I can sleep. And I’ve been told (duh!) it is the lack of sleep that makes me feel tired all the time. Oy!
IF ANY OF YOU DEAR READERS have sleep apnea and/or use a breathing machine at night, please leave a comment here or contact me at Linda@lindajhutchinson.com and let me know if you think it helps or not.. Obviously, my decision on this issue could mean the difference between life and death.
This is what Denise wrote in her email:
Linda,
I read your health blog and thought you would be interested in my story. You requested information on your site. I am a designer living in Michigan. I just went through the experience with my mother in Florida about a month ago. It disturbs me that the health care professionals at the hospital she was in were not aware of the link between sleep apnea in congestive heart failure patients. After my mother's death I found many articles online stating that this was a problem, that 50% of congestive heart failure patients have sleep apnea, but only 5% are ever diagnosed or treated for it and many doctors think that CPAP lowers the morbidity rate in CHF patients.
I am trying to get the info out, for the next person who has this problem.
I have created a web page chronicling the events of her death. I did this because I watched her die and it seemed to me that undiagnosed and untreated central sleep apnea played a role. Please visit -- Denise's Sleep Apnea Site for the whole story.
Thanks,
Denise
No, Denise. Thank you! This was a wake-up call for me and I am re-considering my stance on that breathing machine only because you took the time to contact me, a complete stranger. I have a doctor’s appointment today.
Yesterday, I received an unsolicited email from her. The email ended up in my bulk folder and was nearly deleted as spam. It would have been IF the subject line hadn’t been so carefully crafted to appeal to me.
Denise lost her mother last month. Her mother died from congestive heart failure, recovery impeded by a condition known as sleep apnea.
She wrote to me in response to the following blog entry:
Friday, November 04, 2005
Sleep Apnea Comments? Please!...
Posted at 7:44 AM
Category: Health
The doctors have told me I have obstructive sleep apnea and that I'm not getting enough oxygen because of it. My husband has told me I stop breathing when I'm sleeping. Week before last while in Nashville with my son he said "Mom, do you know you stop breathing, and then cough, and then start breathing again when you're sleeping?". I get it! Nothing new here. I was born with allergies.
I have great respect for my doctor, which is why as we travel around Ohio while hubby builds Walgreen’s stores, I continue to drive to Troy to see the same one. I still see the same allergist/surgeon this doctor recommended. For a couple of weeks I saw a local doctor—only for allergy shots—with the serum provided by the Troy allergist. My arm hurt for a week after the shots and I had welts and bruising. I’m no longer trusting her to give me the shots. It IS about trust.
And now, this most trusted and respected doctor has informed me that if I don’t use the C-PAP breathing machine (note that it only blows room air, not oxygen) I not only may, but probably will, be facing congestive heart failure. He explained all of this thoroughly on Wednesday, stressing that a lack of oxygen doesn’t do much damage to the lungs, but affects the heart in terrible ways.
Still, I can't make myself believe I will sleep any better by wearing a fighter pilot's mask that shoves air in my face, while trying to sleep on my stomach--which is the only way I can sleep. And I’ve been told (duh!) it is the lack of sleep that makes me feel tired all the time. Oy!
IF ANY OF YOU DEAR READERS have sleep apnea and/or use a breathing machine at night, please leave a comment here or contact me at Linda@lindajhutchinson.com and let me know if you think it helps or not.. Obviously, my decision on this issue could mean the difference between life and death.
This is what Denise wrote in her email:
Linda,
I read your health blog and thought you would be interested in my story. You requested information on your site. I am a designer living in Michigan. I just went through the experience with my mother in Florida about a month ago. It disturbs me that the health care professionals at the hospital she was in were not aware of the link between sleep apnea in congestive heart failure patients. After my mother's death I found many articles online stating that this was a problem, that 50% of congestive heart failure patients have sleep apnea, but only 5% are ever diagnosed or treated for it and many doctors think that CPAP lowers the morbidity rate in CHF patients.
I am trying to get the info out, for the next person who has this problem.
I have created a web page chronicling the events of her death. I did this because I watched her die and it seemed to me that undiagnosed and untreated central sleep apnea played a role. Please visit -- Denise's Sleep Apnea Site for the whole story.
Thanks,
Denise
No, Denise. Thank you! This was a wake-up call for me and I am re-considering my stance on that breathing machine only because you took the time to contact me, a complete stranger. I have a doctor’s appointment today.
May 14, 2006
My "Single" Son Now Blogs!
My son, the father of two of my grandsons, has decided it's time to be online. Take a look at JT's New Blog!
He got a new Harley motorcycle last week. I've been thinking about changing my website photo...
Here's the one I've been using...
What do you think?
He got a new Harley motorcycle last week. I've been thinking about changing my website photo...
Here's the one I've been using...
What do you think?
May 13, 2006
Welcome E.D. Easley to the Internet!
How do you drag one snarky Pulitzer Prize-nominated author and editor, one with decades of old-school marketing experience, into today's Internet-ruled world? You ambush him!
That's what Audrey Shaffer, Renee' Barnes, and I did at last week's International Chat at The Writer's Chatroom.
Why? Because we like him. That, and he's a decent writer.
Check out Ed's new online presence at E.D. Easley's World! (You'll discover why he's a likeable guy--eventually.)
That's what Audrey Shaffer, Renee' Barnes, and I did at last week's International Chat at The Writer's Chatroom.
Why? Because we like him. That, and he's a decent writer.
Check out Ed's new online presence at E.D. Easley's World! (You'll discover why he's a likeable guy--eventually.)
May 11, 2006
Set Up Your Own RSS Feed to This Blog!
The topic at The Writer's Chatroom last night, moderated by our own Audrey Shaffer, was "Blogs and RSS feeds".
Links for setting up your very own blogs and RSS Readers are at The Writer's Chatroom Blog.
Granted it was very late here in Ohio when the chat was over and I presumed to know what I was doing when I set up my RSS feed, and I've been fighting an ear infection, and hubby was milling about rather than sleeping peacefully, and my mind was on setting up our financial records... I really hosed it up.
So now there are funny characters showing up everywhere an apostrophe or a hyphen should be. And I don't yet know how to fix it, so please bear with me.
I've asked the kind folks at blogger.com for their assistance. As usual, they've already wasted their time and mine by sending me the usual "cookie-cutter" response rather than looking at the real problem. I do so wish IT folks in call centers would throw away the scripts and actually look at the problem. End of rant for now.
But...if you would like to set up an RSS feed on your computer so you can receive updates as they happen, the easiest one to use (so I've been told) is www.rssreader.com.
Set up your RSS reader on your computer, following their directions.
The feeds to this blog and my website blog, and of course, The Review Hutch are:
http://www.lindajhutchinson.blogspot.com./atom.xml and http://lindajhutchinson.tripod.com/blog/rss.xml
http://www.reviewhutch.blogspot.com./atom.xml
And drop me a note to let me know you're much smarter than I am. :)
Links for setting up your very own blogs and RSS Readers are at The Writer's Chatroom Blog.
Granted it was very late here in Ohio when the chat was over and I presumed to know what I was doing when I set up my RSS feed, and I've been fighting an ear infection, and hubby was milling about rather than sleeping peacefully, and my mind was on setting up our financial records... I really hosed it up.
So now there are funny characters showing up everywhere an apostrophe or a hyphen should be. And I don't yet know how to fix it, so please bear with me.
I've asked the kind folks at blogger.com for their assistance. As usual, they've already wasted their time and mine by sending me the usual "cookie-cutter" response rather than looking at the real problem. I do so wish IT folks in call centers would throw away the scripts and actually look at the problem. End of rant for now.
But...if you would like to set up an RSS feed on your computer so you can receive updates as they happen, the easiest one to use (so I've been told) is www.rssreader.com.
Set up your RSS reader on your computer, following their directions.
The feeds to this blog and my website blog, and of course, The Review Hutch are:
http://www.lindajhutchinson.blogspot.com./atom.xml and http://lindajhutchinson.tripod.com/blog/rss.xml
http://www.reviewhutch.blogspot.com./atom.xml
And drop me a note to let me know you're much smarter than I am. :)
May 03, 2006
To Write For Free--or Not
This article may be published freely so long as the complete author bio box is included. This article is copyrighted 2006 by author.
TO WRITE FOR FREE—OR NOT
by Linda J. Hutchinson
Word count: 495
Put a bunch of writers in a room, virtual or real, and it won’t be long before at least two heated discussions ensue, typically: traditional publishing vs self-publishing, and whether or not to write for free.
I like to be paid for my work. I imagine that you do, too. There are times, however, when writing for free can have huge paybacks, whether that was the intended purpose or not.
Consider this:
You have a favorite charity. They need a letter written for the annual fundraiser. You volunteer to write it. Even though your name may not go on the bottom of the letter, the committee knows who wrote it and your name will go on their list of volunteers—which does go out to the masses on a regular basis. The committee is usually made up of local business people who may hire you to write copy for their sales campaigns. You’ve just gotten your foot in the door with them. Or, if they can’t hire you, they just might float your name around the lunch table to their friends who can. Or, the charity itself may hire you for upcoming fundraising campaigns.
You are an aspiring writer. You know you could be successful but you have no published clips. You can’t get any published clips because you have none. We’ve all been there. Consider writing an article for one of the many free article mills on the net. The first one I put out there a couple of years ago is still being picked up and re-published! Lately it’s been flying under the CarFax banner. Voila! Your first clip! Here’s a short list to try:
www.articlecity.com
www.goarticles.com
www.web-source.net
www.isnare.com
www.ezinearticles.com
www.articlesfactory.com
You have a product you’d like to test market. That product could be copywriting, or letters from Santa, or a school play. Target your market with your article and put it out there using the free article services. Track the responses.
Blogging: Either you love to blog, hate to blog, or just don’t get what all the fuss is about, but blogging is here to stay. It is the newest form of free expression and it is everywhere! Corporate America “gets” it and has hired bloggers to push their products.
Those search engine ‘crawlers' and ‘bots’ pick up comments in blogs quickly, so be careful what you say. (Some immodest souls have lost corporate jobs due to their rants in blogs.) And by all means, leave a courteous comment on someone’s blog! With your name and website address, of course.
Writing for your own website can be the most satisfying of all the writing you will do for free. At least it will be for free in the beginning. After you’ve shown what you can do with your website, you can then get paid to write all that copy for someone else’s website!
It’s all called marketing. Unfortunately, sometimes as writers, we must do it for free. Sometimes. Pick your times carefully.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda J. Hutchinson is a multi-published freelance writer and photojournalist who lives in TN and OH. Her articles and features have appeared in magazines, trade journals, newspapers, newsletters, on websites and in e-zines. Her first novel is in process. http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
TO WRITE FOR FREE—OR NOT
by Linda J. Hutchinson
Word count: 495
Put a bunch of writers in a room, virtual or real, and it won’t be long before at least two heated discussions ensue, typically: traditional publishing vs self-publishing, and whether or not to write for free.
I like to be paid for my work. I imagine that you do, too. There are times, however, when writing for free can have huge paybacks, whether that was the intended purpose or not.
Consider this:
You have a favorite charity. They need a letter written for the annual fundraiser. You volunteer to write it. Even though your name may not go on the bottom of the letter, the committee knows who wrote it and your name will go on their list of volunteers—which does go out to the masses on a regular basis. The committee is usually made up of local business people who may hire you to write copy for their sales campaigns. You’ve just gotten your foot in the door with them. Or, if they can’t hire you, they just might float your name around the lunch table to their friends who can. Or, the charity itself may hire you for upcoming fundraising campaigns.
You are an aspiring writer. You know you could be successful but you have no published clips. You can’t get any published clips because you have none. We’ve all been there. Consider writing an article for one of the many free article mills on the net. The first one I put out there a couple of years ago is still being picked up and re-published! Lately it’s been flying under the CarFax banner. Voila! Your first clip! Here’s a short list to try:
www.articlecity.com
www.goarticles.com
www.web-source.net
www.isnare.com
www.ezinearticles.com
www.articlesfactory.com
You have a product you’d like to test market. That product could be copywriting, or letters from Santa, or a school play. Target your market with your article and put it out there using the free article services. Track the responses.
Blogging: Either you love to blog, hate to blog, or just don’t get what all the fuss is about, but blogging is here to stay. It is the newest form of free expression and it is everywhere! Corporate America “gets” it and has hired bloggers to push their products.
Those search engine ‘crawlers' and ‘bots’ pick up comments in blogs quickly, so be careful what you say. (Some immodest souls have lost corporate jobs due to their rants in blogs.) And by all means, leave a courteous comment on someone’s blog! With your name and website address, of course.
Writing for your own website can be the most satisfying of all the writing you will do for free. At least it will be for free in the beginning. After you’ve shown what you can do with your website, you can then get paid to write all that copy for someone else’s website!
It’s all called marketing. Unfortunately, sometimes as writers, we must do it for free. Sometimes. Pick your times carefully.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda J. Hutchinson is a multi-published freelance writer and photojournalist who lives in TN and OH. Her articles and features have appeared in magazines, trade journals, newspapers, newsletters, on websites and in e-zines. Her first novel is in process. http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
April 27, 2006
April 04, 2006
Update of Published Clips
If you've been reading the blog at my website, you already know my life has been running ahead at warp speed lately.
It's time to update the list of recently published clips on my writer's website, but I just haven't had time. Here's an updated list:
Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, review of Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith
Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, review of Killing Neptune's Daughter by Randall Peffer
My Reviews at Amazon.com
Neither a Wisher Nor a Flinger Be, article about writing published in Inkwell Newswatch, a Rowdy Rhodes pub
Charity Guide article Volunteer to Cuddle Babies
Cleveland Replacing Troubled Fulton Road Bridge, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Mosser Construction feature, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Most Expensive ODOT Project Being Built in Toledo, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Overpass To Provide Safe Crossing in Bellevue, OH, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Volunteer to Cuddle Babies, Charity Guide website
AND on March 29th I had the pleasure of interviewing author, book coach, newsletter owner/editor Sophfronia Scott. She's written some nice words about The Writer's Chatroom in her latest newsletter. View what she had to say in her blog about "When the Writing Gets Tough".
It's time to update the list of recently published clips on my writer's website, but I just haven't had time. Here's an updated list:
Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, review of Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith
Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, review of Killing Neptune's Daughter by Randall Peffer
My Reviews at Amazon.com
Neither a Wisher Nor a Flinger Be, article about writing published in Inkwell Newswatch, a Rowdy Rhodes pub
Charity Guide article Volunteer to Cuddle Babies
Cleveland Replacing Troubled Fulton Road Bridge, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Mosser Construction feature, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Most Expensive ODOT Project Being Built in Toledo, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Overpass To Provide Safe Crossing in Bellevue, OH, Construction Equipment Guide Magazine
Volunteer to Cuddle Babies, Charity Guide website
AND on March 29th I had the pleasure of interviewing author, book coach, newsletter owner/editor Sophfronia Scott. She's written some nice words about The Writer's Chatroom in her latest newsletter. View what she had to say in her blog about "When the Writing Gets Tough".
April 02, 2006
Press Release from Earl Emerson
Earl Emerson is one of my all-time favorite mystery writers. He's also a hunky Seattle fireman.
I received the following press release while out of town and wanted to share it with everyone who happens by my blog:
Dear Friends,
On April 25, 2006, my novel FIRETRAP will be published by Ballantine Books.
The story revolves around the investigation of a fire that burned a black social club to the ground in Seattle. Trey Brown, who has been commissioned by a community group to unravel the secrets of the fire, is soon pitted against his estranged brother, who not only comes from a wealthy white family but is now the mayor and headed for higher political office. As the investigation gets under way, nineteen years of hidden family history begin to come to the surface for Trey as he is forced to confront his cloudy past.
I'll be doing talks and signings in Washington for FIRETRAP as well as for the paperback edition of THE SMOKE ROOM, which will also be released in April.
Hope this finds you well.
Earl Emerson
Please help support The Writer's Chatroom by purchasing your copies of Earl's books at our site: The Writer's Chatroom. You'll find a shortcut to Earl's books on the "Previous Guests" page. Thank you for your support!
I received the following press release while out of town and wanted to share it with everyone who happens by my blog:
Dear Friends,
On April 25, 2006, my novel FIRETRAP will be published by Ballantine Books.
The story revolves around the investigation of a fire that burned a black social club to the ground in Seattle. Trey Brown, who has been commissioned by a community group to unravel the secrets of the fire, is soon pitted against his estranged brother, who not only comes from a wealthy white family but is now the mayor and headed for higher political office. As the investigation gets under way, nineteen years of hidden family history begin to come to the surface for Trey as he is forced to confront his cloudy past.
I'll be doing talks and signings in Washington for FIRETRAP as well as for the paperback edition of THE SMOKE ROOM, which will also be released in April.
Hope this finds you well.
Earl Emerson
Please help support The Writer's Chatroom by purchasing your copies of Earl's books at our site: The Writer's Chatroom. You'll find a shortcut to Earl's books on the "Previous Guests" page. Thank you for your support!
March 31, 2006
An Update
Please see my website blog for a complete rundown of what I've been up to the past 3 weeks. It's been a very busy and exciting time.
I've been doing some traveling, writing about the AK Steel strike for Construction Equipment Guide, got published in INkwell Newswatch for the first time, posted another review at Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, interviewed Sophfronia Scott for The Writer's Chatroom, became "Grandma" again, and haven't murdered anyone--at least in real life.
Take a look and leave a comment. I always enjoy hearing from readers!
Linda
I've been doing some traveling, writing about the AK Steel strike for Construction Equipment Guide, got published in INkwell Newswatch for the first time, posted another review at Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, interviewed Sophfronia Scott for The Writer's Chatroom, became "Grandma" again, and haven't murdered anyone--at least in real life.
Take a look and leave a comment. I always enjoy hearing from readers!
Linda
March 12, 2006
Review: Crimes Against Commerce
E.D. Easley is a snarky guy who's written a very funny book. I'll admit that Ed and I belong to the same writer's group, but that isn't why I chose to review his newest book. I chose to read it--and yes, I even bought and paid for my own copy--because I enjoy his humor and his rantings about the establishment and his exes (yes, plural), and his knack for viewing his world in his own way and verbalizing so much of what the rest of us would like to say, but don't.
Ed has a propensity for saying "Shit happens--it just does", and embraces grandiose use of the "F" word.
In past lives, Ed's titles have included newspaper editor and publisher, Pulitzer-prize nominee, and life drop-out.
And so, read on for my review of "Crimes Against Commerce" by E.D. Easley, available at www.bn.com, www.amazon.com, and www.cloonfadpress.com.
Title: Crimes Against Commerce
Author: E.D. Easley
Publisher: Cloonfad Press
ISBN: 0-9769404-3-4
Pages: 243
A fun, freaky, frolicking ride all the way through this farce! “Life is stranger than fiction”…this one is so off the wall that it could happen in real life. It just could! And sometimes…it just does.
If you’ve never been to hell and back, climb aboard for a round trip in hilarious fashion. Hate your ex? These characters can take care of that matter for you. Ever been audited by the IRS? Just ask for redemption here.
Written in everyman’s everyday language, this one is a fun read. Go ahead—get lost in the world of E.D. Easley’s characters. Build your world around them. They’ll take you for a ride in theirs.
From Mafia hitmen to Sho Rin Ku master Kow Pi, you’ll savor each personna Stretch meets on his way through life. Life—the way it should be.
Reviewer: Linda J. Hutchinson
www.lindajhutchinson.com
03/09/06
Ed has a propensity for saying "Shit happens--it just does", and embraces grandiose use of the "F" word.
In past lives, Ed's titles have included newspaper editor and publisher, Pulitzer-prize nominee, and life drop-out.
And so, read on for my review of "Crimes Against Commerce" by E.D. Easley, available at www.bn.com, www.amazon.com, and www.cloonfadpress.com.
Title: Crimes Against Commerce
Author: E.D. Easley
Publisher: Cloonfad Press
ISBN: 0-9769404-3-4
Pages: 243
A fun, freaky, frolicking ride all the way through this farce! “Life is stranger than fiction”…this one is so off the wall that it could happen in real life. It just could! And sometimes…it just does.
If you’ve never been to hell and back, climb aboard for a round trip in hilarious fashion. Hate your ex? These characters can take care of that matter for you. Ever been audited by the IRS? Just ask for redemption here.
Written in everyman’s everyday language, this one is a fun read. Go ahead—get lost in the world of E.D. Easley’s characters. Build your world around them. They’ll take you for a ride in theirs.
From Mafia hitmen to Sho Rin Ku master Kow Pi, you’ll savor each personna Stretch meets on his way through life. Life—the way it should be.
Reviewer: Linda J. Hutchinson
www.lindajhutchinson.com
03/09/06
February 28, 2006
Book Reviews
I've recently been accepted as a book reviewer at Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine. My first review for them, of Killing Neptune's Daughter by Randall Peffer, is now available on their site: FMAM
Reviews for Blue Valor by Illona Haus, Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith, and Philippene Fever, will be on the FMAM website in the near future.
Scroll down on this blog for a review of Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities by Feather Schwarz Foster. I don't remember history lessons ever being this much fun!
I'll also be reviewing the following books in the near future: Crimes Against Commerce by fellow Writer's Chatroom member E.D. Easley, and A Red Dark Night by A.P. Fuchs. These reviews will be on my website blog, as well as, at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble in the near future.
The latest articles penned by yours truly and appearing in Construction Equipment Guide magazine can be found at Cleveland Replacing Troubled Fulton Road Bridge and Award-Winning Mosser Construction Welcomes a Challenge.
Happy reading!
Linda J. Hutchinson
Freelance Writer/Copywriter
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/blog
http://writerschatroom.com/
Reviews for Blue Valor by Illona Haus, Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith, and Philippene Fever, will be on the FMAM website in the near future.
Scroll down on this blog for a review of Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities by Feather Schwarz Foster. I don't remember history lessons ever being this much fun!
I'll also be reviewing the following books in the near future: Crimes Against Commerce by fellow Writer's Chatroom member E.D. Easley, and A Red Dark Night by A.P. Fuchs. These reviews will be on my website blog, as well as, at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble in the near future.
The latest articles penned by yours truly and appearing in Construction Equipment Guide magazine can be found at Cleveland Replacing Troubled Fulton Road Bridge and Award-Winning Mosser Construction Welcomes a Challenge.
Happy reading!
Linda J. Hutchinson
Freelance Writer/Copywriter
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/blog
http://writerschatroom.com/
February 26, 2006
This article is free to publish so long as the author is notified and the complete article and bio box are also published, with no alterations:
Response to Congress and Condi Rice, “Stop Meddling!”
By Linda J. Hutchinson
Word count: 844
I'm just one person and my views will most likely seem naive to some, but: It seems to me that when Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Atheism is publicly rebuked or ridiculed anywhere in the world, the followers of that faith or belief generally pray for the offender—or not—and get back to what they need to be doing to make life the best it can be for themselves and their families and friends, including protecting themselves by whatever means necessary.
When Islam has been publicly rebuked or ridiculed, as in the recent publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad, there is rioting in the streets, death threats are issued, violence is assured. Extremists and zealots run amok wreaking as much havoc as possible, in very public showings.
My point is not to slander the personal walks of faith or beliefs of others, but to point out the differences in the actions of those believers and their practices, at least those differences that manifest publicly.
Why is it that mostly peace-loving Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindis, and Atheists will “turn the other cheek”, while so many Muslims seem willing to murder anyone who does not agree with them?
For the most part, non-Muslims are “free” to accept or not accept the teachings of their faith.
Muslims in Muslim-controlled countries are often murdered if they do not publicly bestow all to Muhammad. These Muslims are not allowed the freedom to choose, and do not accept the fact that non-Muslims are. If they do believe it, they also believe that it shouldn’t be so. From what I’ve read, listened to, and seen in the media, I’ve come to believe that many Muslims seem to believe that every person who does not believe exactly as they do, should die.
However, how many of us in the non-Muslim world hide our heads in the sand when it comes to what our own governments are doing? Our government here in America is working to erode the tenets of our belief systems by banning public displays of The Ten Commandments and banning “Under God” from our pledge of allegiance and on our legal tender.
Our President is currently overriding the rights and freedoms of our citizenry by using illegal wiretaps in the name of national security. And now our Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is asking Congress for funds to provoke change in countries that don’t believe the same things that we believe in, to disrupt their governments and to pay for more extremism and violence—all in the name of promoting peace by fox-trotting in a new regime through insurgency and insurrection.
Our government has no more right to provide millions of dollars in aid and support to factions, political dissidents and human rights activists in Iran, than it would to give aid to the Nazi groups and home-grown terrorists within America’s borders. Let the people in Iran govern themselves, love or hate one another, and blow themselves up if that’s what they choose to do.
If Iran wants to provide an atmosphere where its citizenry kills one another off, why should we stop them? Stop them from doing it on our turf, of course, but why stop them from cleaning out their own waste system of extremists?
Why do we allow ourselves to be pulled into the bully ring? Attempting to choose a religion or government for Iran, or for Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Albania, Afghanistan, and yes—even Iraq—or any other country, is not our business.
Why do we allow them to bully us? We know they will bring in the suicide bombers. We know they will create havoc. Why not let them do that to their own on their own sand lots, and with their own money?
Rather than attempting to change their religion or government, why not wait until they have—as North Korea, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan have most likely already done—enriched their uranium with the help of Russia and other so-called friends of the US, and then send in a highly trained multi-nation team of like-minded covert military personnel to ensure the product is decimated, again on the host countries’ own turf?
Seventy-five million dollars would go a long way in covering the costs of monitoring uranium enrichment, if the United Nations did the job it was designed to do. It is the United Nations that should be monitoring the nations of planet Earth, especially those who show ill-will towards its neighbors.
If the United States would cut off funding to rogue nations, would develop other sources and replacements for foreign oil, would use its military might to protect itself, and to educate every citizen within its borders, then other countries just might look at us as great examples of how it should be done.
Let the peoples of other countries want to be like us, rather than encumbering our grandchildren’s grandchildren with our huge military debt that we incurred while showing them our way is better.
We should never let our guard down, but we don’t have to meet the bully on his terms.
Bio:
Linda J. Hutchinson is a freelance writer and copywriter living in central Ohio. She has written for magazines, trade journals, newspapers, newsletters, websites and e-zines. As at-home on a construction site as in an art gallery, she’s been told she “cleans up real good”. Her first novel is in process.
Website: http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/
Email: Linda@lindajhutchinson.com
Response to Congress and Condi Rice, “Stop Meddling!”
By Linda J. Hutchinson
Word count: 844
I'm just one person and my views will most likely seem naive to some, but: It seems to me that when Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Atheism is publicly rebuked or ridiculed anywhere in the world, the followers of that faith or belief generally pray for the offender—or not—and get back to what they need to be doing to make life the best it can be for themselves and their families and friends, including protecting themselves by whatever means necessary.
When Islam has been publicly rebuked or ridiculed, as in the recent publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad, there is rioting in the streets, death threats are issued, violence is assured. Extremists and zealots run amok wreaking as much havoc as possible, in very public showings.
My point is not to slander the personal walks of faith or beliefs of others, but to point out the differences in the actions of those believers and their practices, at least those differences that manifest publicly.
Why is it that mostly peace-loving Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindis, and Atheists will “turn the other cheek”, while so many Muslims seem willing to murder anyone who does not agree with them?
For the most part, non-Muslims are “free” to accept or not accept the teachings of their faith.
Muslims in Muslim-controlled countries are often murdered if they do not publicly bestow all to Muhammad. These Muslims are not allowed the freedom to choose, and do not accept the fact that non-Muslims are. If they do believe it, they also believe that it shouldn’t be so. From what I’ve read, listened to, and seen in the media, I’ve come to believe that many Muslims seem to believe that every person who does not believe exactly as they do, should die.
However, how many of us in the non-Muslim world hide our heads in the sand when it comes to what our own governments are doing? Our government here in America is working to erode the tenets of our belief systems by banning public displays of The Ten Commandments and banning “Under God” from our pledge of allegiance and on our legal tender.
Our President is currently overriding the rights and freedoms of our citizenry by using illegal wiretaps in the name of national security. And now our Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is asking Congress for funds to provoke change in countries that don’t believe the same things that we believe in, to disrupt their governments and to pay for more extremism and violence—all in the name of promoting peace by fox-trotting in a new regime through insurgency and insurrection.
Our government has no more right to provide millions of dollars in aid and support to factions, political dissidents and human rights activists in Iran, than it would to give aid to the Nazi groups and home-grown terrorists within America’s borders. Let the people in Iran govern themselves, love or hate one another, and blow themselves up if that’s what they choose to do.
If Iran wants to provide an atmosphere where its citizenry kills one another off, why should we stop them? Stop them from doing it on our turf, of course, but why stop them from cleaning out their own waste system of extremists?
Why do we allow ourselves to be pulled into the bully ring? Attempting to choose a religion or government for Iran, or for Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Albania, Afghanistan, and yes—even Iraq—or any other country, is not our business.
Why do we allow them to bully us? We know they will bring in the suicide bombers. We know they will create havoc. Why not let them do that to their own on their own sand lots, and with their own money?
Rather than attempting to change their religion or government, why not wait until they have—as North Korea, Russia, China, India, and Pakistan have most likely already done—enriched their uranium with the help of Russia and other so-called friends of the US, and then send in a highly trained multi-nation team of like-minded covert military personnel to ensure the product is decimated, again on the host countries’ own turf?
Seventy-five million dollars would go a long way in covering the costs of monitoring uranium enrichment, if the United Nations did the job it was designed to do. It is the United Nations that should be monitoring the nations of planet Earth, especially those who show ill-will towards its neighbors.
If the United States would cut off funding to rogue nations, would develop other sources and replacements for foreign oil, would use its military might to protect itself, and to educate every citizen within its borders, then other countries just might look at us as great examples of how it should be done.
Let the peoples of other countries want to be like us, rather than encumbering our grandchildren’s grandchildren with our huge military debt that we incurred while showing them our way is better.
We should never let our guard down, but we don’t have to meet the bully on his terms.
Bio:
Linda J. Hutchinson is a freelance writer and copywriter living in central Ohio. She has written for magazines, trade journals, newspapers, newsletters, websites and e-zines. As at-home on a construction site as in an art gallery, she’s been told she “cleans up real good”. Her first novel is in process.
Website: http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/
Email: Linda@lindajhutchinson.com
February 18, 2006
I'm Not Looking at the Pictures, Lord, but Please Help Us
I spent at least a part of this week questioning my political beliefs—and writing about them. Probably not one of the more sane things I’ve done lately, but there is a freedom in writing about my feelings, at least that’s what I’m told.
All of my deadlines were met for the week—except one. I’m still chasing that last interview. He’s in my sights. I’ll have that story completed by Monday.
Am I upset that the Vice President of the United States of America accidently shot his friend while bird hunting? Or, more to the point, that he didn’t report it to the media immediately? I’m sorry his friend is hurt. I’m certain VP Cheney is not only remorseful about the accident, but embarrassed by it.
Do I think he did anything wrong? No. Mr. Cheney hauls with him the best medical team one could have because of his own health issues. If he had called in the media it would have become a circus and stolen every ounce of dignity his well-respected friend had, all so the man could have been photographed and interviewed while he lay in a field, his upper body full of bird shot.
I think Mr. Cheney and his hunting party, including the owner of the ranch where they were hunting, made the correct call. We, as Americans, don’t need to see everything as it happens.
The looting, rioting, and killing in the Muslim world over some cartoons of their prophet has been in the news all week. Newspapers in the US chose not to print the cartoons—so why are we being hated anew over something other countries did, that we didn’t?
Christians have the same commandment: Those shalt not make any graven images.
Just what constitutes a “graven image”? My handy paperback dictionary is fine most of the time, but when I need a real dictionary I reach for The American College Dictionary, published by Random House circa 1947. The definition of “graven”: adj. Deeply impressed, firmly fixed. Archaic. Carved; engraved.
I think we all understand what an image is, regardless of the year.
There are likenesses of what people think look like Jesus everywhere. In the Bible, in Christian homes, in churches, in books. So have we all broken a commandment by viewing a “graven image” of Christ? Or was the commandment written to prevent the caricaturization ie; a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things?
Can anyone ludicrously exaggerate the likeness of a person or being no one has seen?
I’ve written about this, too, and shot it off to the New York Times. I’ll know by next Friday if it is printed on the op-ed page. If they don’t print it, I’ll post it here.
I’m off for the weekend to enjoy some time with my daughter, son-in-law, their son and foster children, and to attend daughter’s baby shower. The prospect of becoming “grandma” again next month is fulfilling—and may keep me out of political hot water for a short time.
All of my deadlines were met for the week—except one. I’m still chasing that last interview. He’s in my sights. I’ll have that story completed by Monday.
Am I upset that the Vice President of the United States of America accidently shot his friend while bird hunting? Or, more to the point, that he didn’t report it to the media immediately? I’m sorry his friend is hurt. I’m certain VP Cheney is not only remorseful about the accident, but embarrassed by it.
Do I think he did anything wrong? No. Mr. Cheney hauls with him the best medical team one could have because of his own health issues. If he had called in the media it would have become a circus and stolen every ounce of dignity his well-respected friend had, all so the man could have been photographed and interviewed while he lay in a field, his upper body full of bird shot.
I think Mr. Cheney and his hunting party, including the owner of the ranch where they were hunting, made the correct call. We, as Americans, don’t need to see everything as it happens.
The looting, rioting, and killing in the Muslim world over some cartoons of their prophet has been in the news all week. Newspapers in the US chose not to print the cartoons—so why are we being hated anew over something other countries did, that we didn’t?
Christians have the same commandment: Those shalt not make any graven images.
Just what constitutes a “graven image”? My handy paperback dictionary is fine most of the time, but when I need a real dictionary I reach for The American College Dictionary, published by Random House circa 1947. The definition of “graven”: adj. Deeply impressed, firmly fixed. Archaic. Carved; engraved.
I think we all understand what an image is, regardless of the year.
There are likenesses of what people think look like Jesus everywhere. In the Bible, in Christian homes, in churches, in books. So have we all broken a commandment by viewing a “graven image” of Christ? Or was the commandment written to prevent the caricaturization ie; a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things?
Can anyone ludicrously exaggerate the likeness of a person or being no one has seen?
I’ve written about this, too, and shot it off to the New York Times. I’ll know by next Friday if it is printed on the op-ed page. If they don’t print it, I’ll post it here.
I’m off for the weekend to enjoy some time with my daughter, son-in-law, their son and foster children, and to attend daughter’s baby shower. The prospect of becoming “grandma” again next month is fulfilling—and may keep me out of political hot water for a short time.
February 05, 2006
A BOOK REVIEW
Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities
by Feather Schwartz Foster
ISBN: 1-59286-361-2
PublishAmerica, LLLP
http://www.featherfoster.com
http://www.amazon.com
Never before have I enjoyed a romp through history so thoroughly. From the introduction by Lucy Hayes to the author’s epilogue claiming fictional, yet plausible, conjecture on the part of the “voices” who wrote their stories, a full and satisfying story is told. The reader feels what our First Ladies are re-living as they tell about their place in history—or lack thereof, about their husbands and about the times in which they lived.
I got the distinct feeling several of our First Ladies knew they would have made better Presidents than did their husbands, if the times had allowed. In reality, only the times have changed; we humans are as raw or refined, as wild or as tame, as selfish or as giving, regardless of the century we inhabit.
Through the many friendships and rivalries, the politics, and the “place” each woman was expected to inhabit, we learn how they lived and loved. To fully appreciate these women who were our First Ladies, we must allow them to live in our minds, to breathe and function, to grieve and rejoice. Feather Schwartz Foster brings the stage and the characters to us. All we need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride!
Reviewer:
Linda J. Hutchinson
Freelance Writer, Reporter/Photographer, Copywriter
Linda@lindajhutchinson.com
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/blog
http://writerschatroom.com
Ladies: A Conjecture of Personalities
by Feather Schwartz Foster
ISBN: 1-59286-361-2
PublishAmerica, LLLP
http://www.featherfoster.com
http://www.amazon.com
Never before have I enjoyed a romp through history so thoroughly. From the introduction by Lucy Hayes to the author’s epilogue claiming fictional, yet plausible, conjecture on the part of the “voices” who wrote their stories, a full and satisfying story is told. The reader feels what our First Ladies are re-living as they tell about their place in history—or lack thereof, about their husbands and about the times in which they lived.
I got the distinct feeling several of our First Ladies knew they would have made better Presidents than did their husbands, if the times had allowed. In reality, only the times have changed; we humans are as raw or refined, as wild or as tame, as selfish or as giving, regardless of the century we inhabit.
Through the many friendships and rivalries, the politics, and the “place” each woman was expected to inhabit, we learn how they lived and loved. To fully appreciate these women who were our First Ladies, we must allow them to live in our minds, to breathe and function, to grieve and rejoice. Feather Schwartz Foster brings the stage and the characters to us. All we need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride!
Reviewer:
Linda J. Hutchinson
Freelance Writer, Reporter/Photographer, Copywriter
Linda@lindajhutchinson.com
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com
http://www.lindajhutchinson.com/blog
http://writerschatroom.com
January 20, 2006
Oprah Winfrey's Book Club--Conned?
In case you missed my post at www.lindajhutchinson.com/blog, I've posted a vignette here. See my website blog for full details.
I have two articles to write for two other publications. I have plenty on my plate at the moment and I’m always seeking more work to keep me busy when present works have been delivered.
So why did I spend an hour and a half reading http://www.thesmokinggun.com/, a very long investigative report into whether the Oprah Book Club endorsed best seller “A Million Little Pieces” is fact or fiction?
TSG’s article is entitled “A Million Little Lies”. That’s why.
Not only did TSG give compelling reports of police interviews, arrest record searches, and fact-finding missions, but they have also interviewed author James Frey, and they are now being threatened with a lawsuit by him. Why?
It seems he may not have told the whole truth, as he promised he had done. His story has touched millions of lives. We believed him.
Will his second book, the one that takes off where this one ended be more truthful?
His website at http://www.bigjimindustries.com has been shut down; the message: “as the controversy and resulting traffic dies down, I’m sure the site will go back up.” I’m suspecting the host site crashed when controversy-caused hits to his site sucked up all the bandwidth. (My son does that to me when he’s home, so I know how disruptive it can be.)
What Mr. Frey is being accused of is claiming to write a non-fiction autobiographical story, while incorporating too much “artistic—or creative license”. In other words, his “true account” may not have much truth in it at all.
I’m wondering how the very classy Oprah will deal with this. Especially since this book touched her so deeply that she altered her book club “rules” to include contemporary authors again, rather than only endorsing the classics. TSG’s report calls Frey the author who “conned Oprah”. This story is far from over!
I have two articles to write for two other publications. I have plenty on my plate at the moment and I’m always seeking more work to keep me busy when present works have been delivered.
So why did I spend an hour and a half reading http://www.thesmokinggun.com/, a very long investigative report into whether the Oprah Book Club endorsed best seller “A Million Little Pieces” is fact or fiction?
TSG’s article is entitled “A Million Little Lies”. That’s why.
Not only did TSG give compelling reports of police interviews, arrest record searches, and fact-finding missions, but they have also interviewed author James Frey, and they are now being threatened with a lawsuit by him. Why?
It seems he may not have told the whole truth, as he promised he had done. His story has touched millions of lives. We believed him.
Will his second book, the one that takes off where this one ended be more truthful?
His website at http://www.bigjimindustries.com has been shut down; the message: “as the controversy and resulting traffic dies down, I’m sure the site will go back up.” I’m suspecting the host site crashed when controversy-caused hits to his site sucked up all the bandwidth. (My son does that to me when he’s home, so I know how disruptive it can be.)
What Mr. Frey is being accused of is claiming to write a non-fiction autobiographical story, while incorporating too much “artistic—or creative license”. In other words, his “true account” may not have much truth in it at all.
I’m wondering how the very classy Oprah will deal with this. Especially since this book touched her so deeply that she altered her book club “rules” to include contemporary authors again, rather than only endorsing the classics. TSG’s report calls Frey the author who “conned Oprah”. This story is far from over!
January 05, 2006
I'm suffering a bit of "deadline overload" this week. I'd thought it would be an easy writing week and I'd finally be able to write some fiction. Ha!
My truck-driving son and brother left here on New Year's day. No interruptions and no firm deadlines on the horizon until January 20th. Ha!
I completed the requested revisions on a Charity Guide article pre-deadline and started going through my stack of submission calls. Then BOOM! My January 20th deadline for Construction Equipment Guide got moved up to January 6th.
Deadlines--I love 'em! In truth, I was ready for it. My plan? To meet the deadline like our Buckeyes met Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl!
I love my writing life!
My website blog has been updated, too. Today's entry is a bit controversial. I've forwarded it to Andy Rooney for comment. We'll see what happens.
My truck-driving son and brother left here on New Year's day. No interruptions and no firm deadlines on the horizon until January 20th. Ha!
I completed the requested revisions on a Charity Guide article pre-deadline and started going through my stack of submission calls. Then BOOM! My January 20th deadline for Construction Equipment Guide got moved up to January 6th.
Deadlines--I love 'em! In truth, I was ready for it. My plan? To meet the deadline like our Buckeyes met Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl!
I love my writing life!
My website blog has been updated, too. Today's entry is a bit controversial. I've forwarded it to Andy Rooney for comment. We'll see what happens.
January 02, 2006
Ending it Right/Beginning Anew
The end of 2005 started 2006 off just right:
Both my son and my little brother--who is nearly young enough to be my son and six feet tall--were home. They both drive big rigs, they're both owner-operators, and they both officially live here with us. Unofficially, our place is "the bed and breakfast". They aren't here often. Not nearly often enough. But, they both made it home for New Year's Eve!
On December 28th I moderated the chat at The Writer's Chatroom. Our guest for the evening was one of my favorite authors, Mr. Earl Emerson. His mystery/suspense novels will keep you turning the pages while trying not to chew your fingernails right down to the nubs. Not falling off the edge of your chair is a bonus. This Seattle Fire Department lieutenant is a superb writer! I was allowed to moderate the chat because he's from my beloved Washington state, and I'm such a fan of his. What an honor! You may purchase his books at The Writer's Chatroom.
I've had the time lately to catch up on some much needed housekeeping; to include updating my website and my resume. My website is now outfitted with hot links to some of my favorite sites. I'm hoping some of my writer friends don't take offense at some of the tags tied to their sites; like Audrey Shaffer's..."Audrey's attempts to get a life"...
I have my calendar updated for January, my task list firmly planted in an Excel spreadsheet, and my last writing paycheck of the year in the bank. Life doesn't get much better than that.
Both my son and my little brother--who is nearly young enough to be my son and six feet tall--were home. They both drive big rigs, they're both owner-operators, and they both officially live here with us. Unofficially, our place is "the bed and breakfast". They aren't here often. Not nearly often enough. But, they both made it home for New Year's Eve!
On December 28th I moderated the chat at The Writer's Chatroom. Our guest for the evening was one of my favorite authors, Mr. Earl Emerson. His mystery/suspense novels will keep you turning the pages while trying not to chew your fingernails right down to the nubs. Not falling off the edge of your chair is a bonus. This Seattle Fire Department lieutenant is a superb writer! I was allowed to moderate the chat because he's from my beloved Washington state, and I'm such a fan of his. What an honor! You may purchase his books at The Writer's Chatroom.
I've had the time lately to catch up on some much needed housekeeping; to include updating my website and my resume. My website is now outfitted with hot links to some of my favorite sites. I'm hoping some of my writer friends don't take offense at some of the tags tied to their sites; like Audrey Shaffer's..."Audrey's attempts to get a life"...
I have my calendar updated for January, my task list firmly planted in an Excel spreadsheet, and my last writing paycheck of the year in the bank. Life doesn't get much better than that.
December 16, 2005
What an exciting time of year!
Today I’ll be driving from our home in central Ohio to Louisville, KY to have an early Christmas with our pregnant daughter and son-in-law, grandson Jeremy, and hopefully, all six of the beautiful foster children who have lived with them much of this past year. Our family feast will be on Saturday, with a gift exchange on Sunday morning after the annual slumber party with all the kids.
Our son and my youngest brother will be home sometime next week to celebrate. They’re both owner-operator long-haul truckers and have volunteered to work the holiday weekend so others can be home with their families. (My brother and son are only five years apart in age.) We’ll have our son’s two little boys here and we’ll have another “early” Christmas with them.
With our extended family we’ve gotten real good at re-arranging holidays.
This past week I’ve been working on my list of goals for the New Year. On Sunday at 8:00 pm EST I’ll be moderating a Writer’s Chat (http://www.writerschatroom.com). The topic is “Goals”. The password to get into the chat is writerschat. Drop in and say “hello” to our community of writers. We have a new website filled with educational opportunities and links—and a very impressive line-up of guests for the Wednesday evening chats—starting with Earl Emerson (!) on the 28th. (One of my long-term goals is to write like Earl Emerson!) www.EarlEmerson.com
However you and your family celebrate, here’s a “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” from our family to yours!
Today I’ll be driving from our home in central Ohio to Louisville, KY to have an early Christmas with our pregnant daughter and son-in-law, grandson Jeremy, and hopefully, all six of the beautiful foster children who have lived with them much of this past year. Our family feast will be on Saturday, with a gift exchange on Sunday morning after the annual slumber party with all the kids.
Our son and my youngest brother will be home sometime next week to celebrate. They’re both owner-operator long-haul truckers and have volunteered to work the holiday weekend so others can be home with their families. (My brother and son are only five years apart in age.) We’ll have our son’s two little boys here and we’ll have another “early” Christmas with them.
With our extended family we’ve gotten real good at re-arranging holidays.
This past week I’ve been working on my list of goals for the New Year. On Sunday at 8:00 pm EST I’ll be moderating a Writer’s Chat (http://www.writerschatroom.com). The topic is “Goals”. The password to get into the chat is writerschat. Drop in and say “hello” to our community of writers. We have a new website filled with educational opportunities and links—and a very impressive line-up of guests for the Wednesday evening chats—starting with Earl Emerson (!) on the 28th. (One of my long-term goals is to write like Earl Emerson!) www.EarlEmerson.com
However you and your family celebrate, here’s a “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” from our family to yours!
November 28, 2005
"My Give-a-Damn is Busted"
I must admit that writing about my family is more fun than writing about concrete, heavy equipment, fishing and camping, cooking, or even woodworking, but the latter helps pay the bills. With my family, only I’m sure what is fact and what is fiction. (Hint: There is usually, if ever, any fiction thrown in. There is no need for “creative license”.)
Lately I’ve been getting some second-hand feedback regarding how my family feels about my doing “that writing thing” and it isn’t pretty. But then, I am the--insert your own description here--of the family and have always marched to my own drummer.
It was I who got the good grades in school and excelled at pretty much whatever I attempted. I’ve been publicly lauded for that—and made fun of behind my back.
It was I who took my college classes as I could afford them and could fit them into my work schedule—and around raising kids—which included my own and my parent’s. Not having a degree has been an obstacle to overcome, but I’ve found it doable.
There is a reason I live nearly 3,000 miles away from most of my family, Folks. It is peaceful here, away from the day-to-day squabbles and drama. I’m not called on to be the peace keeper. Hell, I’m not called on at all most of the time. Very peaceful, indeed.
It is however, unfortunate, that my biggest nemesis in life used a birthday call to my son to attack me over a little article I had written for Rewind the Fifties. Obviously that family member only read the first sentence. It was a light-hearted article with a happy ending. I’m sorry she missed that.
If you’d like to read the article in its entirety: www.loti.com/country_star.htm “I Wanna Be a Country Star”.
I’ll continue to write articles and short stories and at some point my novel will be ready for publication. When that novel is published, there will probably be more than a few small explosions occurring in Washington state, in addition to Mt. St. Helens’ huffing and puffing. You see, I can’t come up with enough fiction that doesn’t touch on what is actually happening in the lives of my family members to fit within a short story, much less, a novel.
Oh yes, tongues will be wagging. And you know what? I just don’t care.
Lately I’ve been getting some second-hand feedback regarding how my family feels about my doing “that writing thing” and it isn’t pretty. But then, I am the--insert your own description here--
It was I who got the good grades in school and excelled at pretty much whatever I attempted. I’ve been publicly lauded for that—and made fun of behind my back.
It was I who took my college classes as I could afford them and could fit them into my work schedule—and around raising kids—which included my own and my parent’s. Not having a degree has been an obstacle to overcome, but I’ve found it doable.
There is a reason I live nearly 3,000 miles away from most of my family, Folks. It is peaceful here, away from the day-to-day squabbles and drama. I’m not called on to be the peace keeper. Hell, I’m not called on at all most of the time. Very peaceful, indeed.
It is however, unfortunate, that my biggest nemesis in life used a birthday call to my son to attack me over a little article I had written for Rewind the Fifties. Obviously that family member only read the first sentence. It was a light-hearted article with a happy ending. I’m sorry she missed that.
If you’d like to read the article in its entirety: www.loti.com/country_star.htm “I Wanna Be a Country Star”.
I’ll continue to write articles and short stories and at some point my novel will be ready for publication. When that novel is published, there will probably be more than a few small explosions occurring in Washington state, in addition to Mt. St. Helens’ huffing and puffing. You see, I can’t come up with enough fiction that doesn’t touch on what is actually happening in the lives of my family members to fit within a short story, much less, a novel.
Oh yes, tongues will be wagging. And you know what? I just don’t care.
November 22, 2005
$300M Fort to Port Article Published
Getting the mail some days is just more fun than others. Yesterday was one of those days! As hubby was walking through the door with one arm full of mail he asked, "Are you just automatically getting this Construction Equipment Guide now?" I let the comment pass as I sorted through son's and brother's mail, opened what needed to be dealt with and filed the rest. Then I sat on the sofa with CEG and scissors in hand. Yep, there it was! Another of my articles. Again, very little had been changed. Very little! Not only did I have a byline...I love this part..."CEG Correspondent" right there under my name. Doesn't get much better! Now, I like writing fiction and getting lost in another world as much as the next writer, but there isn't much better for me than that byline--even if I'm writing about concrete, and trackhoes, and cranes. Take a look and let me know what you think:Fort To Port $300M
An Invitation to Embrace Our Professionalism
T’is the time of year for traditions. Traditions come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Some are meant to be broken and some are meant to be kept for eternity.
We have family traditions, membership and club traditions, traditions at our place of work, and even some that we keep but never tell a living soul about. Those are the very personal ones.
My favorite chat group has a tradition I think every writer needs to embrace. To be an effective and successful writer, we need the support of our family. We need for our family to be proud of us. But first, we need to acknowledge that we’re proud to be writers.
Here’s a quote—and invitation—from Glenn Walker, who’ll be the chat moderator on Thanksgiving eve at our annual “A Writer in the Family” chat:
“Our chat topic this Wednesday night is "A Writer in the Family." What do you tell everyone you do when the subject comes up at the dinner table at Thanksgiving? Do you proudly say, "I'm a writer." Or do you quietly excuse yourself to the bathroom?
This discussion will be about how much support you get from your family and friends regarding your chosen career or dream as a writer. Come on by and talk about the struggle, or not, of
being a writer in the family. Discuss and sympathize with other writers in this casual pre-holiday chat. Hope to see you all there!”
The place: www.audreyshaffer.com/chat/chat/
The time: 10:00 pm Eastern USA
Date: November 23, 2005
Password: family
If you’re a writer, please join us. If you’re a writer and have a family member or friend you’d like more support from, ask them to join us, too.
Please remember to tell your family members who support your efforts “Thank You!” and tell them often!
Please feel free to pass this invitation on to every writer you know or to other writer groups you belong to.
We have family traditions, membership and club traditions, traditions at our place of work, and even some that we keep but never tell a living soul about. Those are the very personal ones.
My favorite chat group has a tradition I think every writer needs to embrace. To be an effective and successful writer, we need the support of our family. We need for our family to be proud of us. But first, we need to acknowledge that we’re proud to be writers.
Here’s a quote—and invitation—from Glenn Walker, who’ll be the chat moderator on Thanksgiving eve at our annual “A Writer in the Family” chat:
“Our chat topic this Wednesday night is "A Writer in the Family." What do you tell everyone you do when the subject comes up at the dinner table at Thanksgiving? Do you proudly say, "I'm a writer." Or do you quietly excuse yourself to the bathroom?
This discussion will be about how much support you get from your family and friends regarding your chosen career or dream as a writer. Come on by and talk about the struggle, or not, of
being a writer in the family. Discuss and sympathize with other writers in this casual pre-holiday chat. Hope to see you all there!”
The place: www.audreyshaffer.com/chat/chat/
The time: 10:00 pm Eastern USA
Date: November 23, 2005
Password: family
If you’re a writer, please join us. If you’re a writer and have a family member or friend you’d like more support from, ask them to join us, too.
Please remember to tell your family members who support your efforts “Thank You!” and tell them often!
Please feel free to pass this invitation on to every writer you know or to other writer groups you belong to.
November 21, 2005
Testosterone Levels
The testosterone level has reached a nearly tolerable level again. “Our” home was beginning to feel like what I imagined my high school boy’s locker room must have been like.
First, my youngest brother arrived. Well, actually I picked him up at the train station in Chicago. He had left Seattle a couple of days before. It would have been easier for me to wait until his train rolled into Cincinnati, but I just couldn’t leave him on the train for another night.
As luck would have it, our over-the-road trucker son had gotten a load into Chicago, so we all met up for supper. It was only fitting that Gary’s first Midwest supper was at Cracker Barrel!
Son went on down the road and Gary and I made the long drive back to my home outside of Columbus. We arrived just in time to offer to make breakfast for my hubby, Michael.
Much of the week after that became a blur of shopping, packing, more shopping, and re-packing, to ready Gary for his new venture as an owner-operator long-haul truck driver leased to the same company our son drives for. Just about the time we had everything packed and ready to go he got a phone call telling him he’d be doing his orientation in Minnesota rather than here in Columbus. More re-packing.
Son got home in time to drive to Kentucky to pick up his little boys and bring them back here for the weekend and then to take Gary to the bus terminal. If you’re keeping track, we’d added two big loads of testosterone, lessened now by one, and added two little doses.
We had a wonderful time with Nicholas and Zachary and even managed to get all the laundry done that son had been stacking up in his truck. He did his grocery shopping on his way through the kitchen and then took the little ones back to their mom in Kentucky.
Sunday night was relatively quiet. It was my turn to moderate the chat at The Writer’s Chatroom (www.audreyshaffer.com/chat/chat/), with a short staff business meeting after the chat. We all knew 4:30 Monday morning would come all too quickly.
Since Son’s birthday is the day after Thanksgiving this year and he won’t be home again until sometime the week of Christmas, we had our Thanksgiving diner with him on Sunday night. We also celebrated his birthday on Sunday.
When Gary gets back here with his truck later this week, we’ll be having our second Thanksgiving dinner of the week. He’ll be home sometime the week of Christmas and his birthday is three days after Christmas, so we’ll be celebrating his birthday then.
Our family is real good at re-arranging holidays.
I’m getting better at dealing with overloads of testosterone in the house. And to think, we were just learning to be empty-nesters…
First, my youngest brother arrived. Well, actually I picked him up at the train station in Chicago. He had left Seattle a couple of days before. It would have been easier for me to wait until his train rolled into Cincinnati, but I just couldn’t leave him on the train for another night.
As luck would have it, our over-the-road trucker son had gotten a load into Chicago, so we all met up for supper. It was only fitting that Gary’s first Midwest supper was at Cracker Barrel!
Son went on down the road and Gary and I made the long drive back to my home outside of Columbus. We arrived just in time to offer to make breakfast for my hubby, Michael.
Much of the week after that became a blur of shopping, packing, more shopping, and re-packing, to ready Gary for his new venture as an owner-operator long-haul truck driver leased to the same company our son drives for. Just about the time we had everything packed and ready to go he got a phone call telling him he’d be doing his orientation in Minnesota rather than here in Columbus. More re-packing.
Son got home in time to drive to Kentucky to pick up his little boys and bring them back here for the weekend and then to take Gary to the bus terminal. If you’re keeping track, we’d added two big loads of testosterone, lessened now by one, and added two little doses.
We had a wonderful time with Nicholas and Zachary and even managed to get all the laundry done that son had been stacking up in his truck. He did his grocery shopping on his way through the kitchen and then took the little ones back to their mom in Kentucky.
Sunday night was relatively quiet. It was my turn to moderate the chat at The Writer’s Chatroom (www.audreyshaffer.com/chat/chat/), with a short staff business meeting after the chat. We all knew 4:30 Monday morning would come all too quickly.
Since Son’s birthday is the day after Thanksgiving this year and he won’t be home again until sometime the week of Christmas, we had our Thanksgiving diner with him on Sunday night. We also celebrated his birthday on Sunday.
When Gary gets back here with his truck later this week, we’ll be having our second Thanksgiving dinner of the week. He’ll be home sometime the week of Christmas and his birthday is three days after Christmas, so we’ll be celebrating his birthday then.
Our family is real good at re-arranging holidays.
I’m getting better at dealing with overloads of testosterone in the house. And to think, we were just learning to be empty-nesters…
November 08, 2005
It's in the Interview
I’m working on an article for a specialty magazine. It’s about the construction of a new highway here in Ohio. Or, more precisely, the re-construction of an existing highway by widening and straightening it and adding limited access on-ramps and exits. I’ve read through at least a ream of feasibility studies and studies for improvements (that started 40 years ago) and environmental impact studies and summaries of reasonable alternatives and study area and logical termini, until I was nearly blind. Most of this has been done with my atlas opened at my feet so I could follow the path of the words, hoping they would make more sense on the map.
Yesterday, I was able to actually make phone contact with the Project Administrators in both districts who are involved with the daily hands-on planning of this industrious project. Their main goal is to improve safety for the overload of semi trucks and their drivers who use this road for ingress and egress to carry goods into and out of major metro areas.
It seems this stretch of road is responsible for most of the traffic fatalities in the state. There are over 300 personal residence driveways and business driveways that lead directly onto the highway where the bulk of the state’s semi-trucks travel. Rail traffic is not a feasible alternative.
And then there are the bald eagle nests and the endangered bats and orchids to contend with. And other wetlands. And the farmers whose lands are being chopped apart as the road is straightened.
The article was just another assignment until I talked to the Project Administrators. It was when they described how they held meetings with the farmers and introduced the farmers to the persons who would be working with them on the right-of-way issues, the tone in their voices when they described working together with the environmentalists, when they described the homeowners who are losing part of their yards and driveways, but gaining the ability to be able to back out of that driveway without being run over.
No matter how much research I do for an article, it’s always during the interviewing that the real story gets told.
Yesterday, I was able to actually make phone contact with the Project Administrators in both districts who are involved with the daily hands-on planning of this industrious project. Their main goal is to improve safety for the overload of semi trucks and their drivers who use this road for ingress and egress to carry goods into and out of major metro areas.
It seems this stretch of road is responsible for most of the traffic fatalities in the state. There are over 300 personal residence driveways and business driveways that lead directly onto the highway where the bulk of the state’s semi-trucks travel. Rail traffic is not a feasible alternative.
And then there are the bald eagle nests and the endangered bats and orchids to contend with. And other wetlands. And the farmers whose lands are being chopped apart as the road is straightened.
The article was just another assignment until I talked to the Project Administrators. It was when they described how they held meetings with the farmers and introduced the farmers to the persons who would be working with them on the right-of-way issues, the tone in their voices when they described working together with the environmentalists, when they described the homeowners who are losing part of their yards and driveways, but gaining the ability to be able to back out of that driveway without being run over.
No matter how much research I do for an article, it’s always during the interviewing that the real story gets told.
November 04, 2005
Life's Journey
There are so many things I truly enjoy about life I’d be hard-pressed to name them all. Of course, being a wife, mother, grandmother, and sister are right up there at the top. Being a writer would also receive top ranking.
I came to this profession via the long road. Just as my life has meandered through a wandering trail of joys and heartbreaks, so has my means of making a living. I’ve journeyed through the mindless task-oriented jobs and the high-stress corporate middle-management positions. I’ve allowed lapses in income to take me over the creative paths, as well.
Never before, in any job or career, have I been allowed the freedom of self-employment, the sheer joy of the freedom to create, and artistic license all put together. Of course there are deadlines. Of course I lose some sleep from time to time. Of course I don’t receive a “regular” paycheck. Would I trade my station in life now for any of those places in the past? NO!
And then there’s the sense of satisfaction of seeing MY words and photos in print! Yes, I’ve worked hard, but I’ve also been incredibly lucky. For the latest example of my work go to http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=6212&headline=Unstable Billboard Bumps Up Demolition in Columbus, OH.
I’ll be writing for Construction Equipment Guide on a monthly freelance basis and I’m looking forward to getting my feet muddy in the process.
I came to this profession via the long road. Just as my life has meandered through a wandering trail of joys and heartbreaks, so has my means of making a living. I’ve journeyed through the mindless task-oriented jobs and the high-stress corporate middle-management positions. I’ve allowed lapses in income to take me over the creative paths, as well.
Never before, in any job or career, have I been allowed the freedom of self-employment, the sheer joy of the freedom to create, and artistic license all put together. Of course there are deadlines. Of course I lose some sleep from time to time. Of course I don’t receive a “regular” paycheck. Would I trade my station in life now for any of those places in the past? NO!
And then there’s the sense of satisfaction of seeing MY words and photos in print! Yes, I’ve worked hard, but I’ve also been incredibly lucky. For the latest example of my work go to http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=6212&headline=Unstable Billboard Bumps Up Demolition in Columbus, OH.
I’ll be writing for Construction Equipment Guide on a monthly freelance basis and I’m looking forward to getting my feet muddy in the process.
October 02, 2005
Rewind the Fifties
Last night while my son was on the phone with an old friend from junior high school (and you know how long ago that was because they’ve been called “middle” schools for eons), his friend mentioned one of her goals was to read every book on Oprah’s Book Club list. He told her one of his mother’s goals was to write a book that would be on Oprah’s Book Club list.
While he was doing a google search to find the article I’d written about him he ran across an article he didn’t know about that I’d recently written for Rewind the Fifties. I didn’t know they had published it. (Of course, now I’ll be looking for payment…)
This morning when he showed it to me he said all he had to do was read the first paragraph to know I’d written it!
Check it out at www.loti.com/country_star.htm. It’s short—and about the “sweetest” thing I could write about my growing up years. And yes, it’s non-fiction. (I think my daddy would have loved it!)
Drop me a note at: linda@lindajhutchinson.com or leave a comment here and let me know what you think about the article.
While he was doing a google search to find the article I’d written about him he ran across an article he didn’t know about that I’d recently written for Rewind the Fifties. I didn’t know they had published it. (Of course, now I’ll be looking for payment…
This morning when he showed it to me he said all he had to do was read the first paragraph to know I’d written it!
Check it out at www.loti.com/country_star.htm. It’s short—and about the “sweetest” thing I could write about my growing up years. And yes, it’s non-fiction. (I think my daddy would have loved it!)
Drop me a note at: linda@lindajhutchinson.com or leave a comment here and let me know what you think about the article.
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