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Following My Muse

2/1/2023

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​I was thrilled when Gerald and the Wee People started getting good reviews. Folks told me they enjoyed the book. At the time, I was involved in several authors' groups on Facebook, and we did a lot of mutual sharing, blog hopping, reviews, and boosting each other's morale. I know; a lot of my writer friends left those great reviews just because we were friends instead of being totally objective and brutally honest.

However, some people seemed to enjoy the story and suggested turning Wee People into a series. I was willing to give it a shot and sat at the computer to begin the second book.

Nothing happened. My muse refused to cooperate.

At the time, many distractions kept me from concentrating on my writing, one of which was the possibility of purchasing another home. I had inherited some money, and we thought a new house would make a good investment. Plus, it was fun touring houses and imagining Bob and me making a fresh start. One afternoon, we looked at a small mobile home that did not impress me at all, but I fell in love with the name of the street – Bo-K Lane.

My muse loved it too, and the story started flowing. As soon as we were home, she lured me to my little cubby hole of an office, and the first chapter of House on Bo-Kay Lane wrote itself.

As I've said before, I'm a pantser. I cannot plot out or outline a story. Mainly because I have no idea what will happen from one chapter to the next. That's what makes writing so exciting – the thrill of discovering the twists and turns in the plot after I’ve written it. I recall reading over a chapter I'd just completed. In the final sentence, Gerald realized the mysterious stranger lurking inside an enchanted mirror was actually himself. What? I couldn't believe it!

I asked myself if I really meant that, and where in the world was I supposed to go from there? The following day, my muse continued the tale as if there was no problem.

Unlike the two to three years it took to write Gerald and the Wee People, book two completed itself in a couple of months. House on Bo-Kay Lane continues Gerald and Vernon's adventures with the Wee People. But instead of the boys transporting to the village of the wee people, strange things start happening at an old abandoned house in their own neighborhood. Ghostly images of familiar faces gazing out the windows begin to appear, and images of their friends begging for help haunt their dreams. Their nighttime visitations compel the reluctant teens to investigate the dilapidated house. What they uncover fuses the Wee People, a magic mirror, parallel universes, and two Geralds into a tale of mystery and difficult truths no one wants to believe.

Excerpt from House on Bo-Kay Lane
Vernon couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, visions of the house on Bo-Kay Lane flashed through his mind.

Did Gerald actually see Alyson and Sheela? Sheela, maybe. She's been to this world before. Alyson? No way. What would an apprentice firestarter be doing here? Unless the little busybody started messing with something she shouldn't have. Now that, I'd believe. Alyson could get into trouble without even trying.

Vernon reconsidered his last thoughts. Nah, that's impossible. They're both back in the far-seers compound in the Wee People village. Heck, Gerald must've been daydreaming about the friends we haven't seen in almost a year. Mulling over the past, Vernon realized he sort of missed them, too. Before he let himself go too far down the rabbit hole, he said aloud, "Nah, it was just Gerald's imagination."

After tossing and turning and beating his pillow into submission for a few more minutes, Vernon went to sleep. In his dreams, a voice called out his name. It sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't match it with a name.

 Snatches of strange images popped in and out of his head — a full-length mirror in a very fancy frame, footprints across a dusty floor, a hand reaching out towards him, and the back of someone's head. Unable to escape the visions, Vernon gave up any thought of restful sleep and sat up, totally exhausted.

Even though he was on summer break from school and usually slept in, he reluctantly dressed and exited the house through his bedroom window.
​
Gerald was already awake when he heard the tapping on his bedroom window. He'd had weird dreams, too. Vernon crawled through the window. The boys sat on the side of his bed. After sharing their dreams with each other, they tried to figure out why they both shared the same visions.
                                                                     ***
Hopefully, a third book in the Wee People series will be coming out in 2023. That is, if I can get my muse to cooperate.
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Available at Amazon.com
Print 
https://www.amazon.com/House-Bo-Kay-Lane-Wee-People/dp/1481214810

Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AJUEXBS/

Universal link 
http://viewbook.at/houseonbokaylane
​

Amazon Author Page  https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ

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Unraveling Memories From the Past

1/18/2023

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After Book 2 of the Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series, I toyed with the idea of its just being a book with a sequel instead of a series. However, a fan of the books hounded me until I succumbed to her protestations. I jest, of course, but her sincere pleas did encourage me to take on Book 3 – Unraveling Memories.

No spoilers, but after what happened at the end of Book 2, Brita Madison is ready to push back from the spirit realm, especially if it involves murders. For four years, this works out well. She and Sam Jenkins, her husband, have moved from Williams to Phoenix, Arizona. She and Linda Olivi, a charter member of their paranormal gang and now married to Roger Dawson, have been working on cases where family members were seeking closure related to a loved one. No chance of danger.

Unfortunately, the spirit realm manages to draw Brita into not one, but ... wait, no spoilers ... more than one murder through Roger Dawson, a state trooper. A detective friend of his, Nate Addison, is accosted by a ghost, much to Nate’s dismay, who wants nothing to do with this spectral nuisance. Roger reaches out to Brita, and once the vibrations lock onto Brita, things escalate. To make things worse after such a long respite, a ghostly nemesis from the past appears, threatening her family. Desperate, Brita reaches out to the spirit realm for help. 

After her paranormal friends being warned of the appearance of the nemesis, one of them friends decides to join the fray in Phoenix in case her friends need backup. Plus, being an empty-nester now, she desires a taste of freedom from her somewhat boring husband, so it’s a win-win. After her arrival, the situation gets even more complex, but at least there are three of the paranormal gang on hand to deal with it.
​
If you haven’t read the other books in the series, grab your copies and start the journey with Brita as the learning curve for her paranormal abilities begins. Then continue on with Unraveling Memories as her world enlarges in ways she never thought possible.  Book 4 of the Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series is in the hands of my muse at the moment. We’re hoping to have it for you by early 2023.
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Available on Amazon.com
Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Memories-Madison-Paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07T91CWHC
 
Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-Memories-Madison-Paranormal-Mysteries/dp/1075965926
 
Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Dannye-Williamsen/e/B004KEAFE8
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Honoring My Family’s Memory the Best Way I Know How

1/4/2023

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​I’m a very lucky person. I’ve been extremely fortunate in having a wonderful family and happy memories that I treasure.

In my younger days, I could always rely on my parents to fill my needs – not necessarily all my wants – but I never had to go without food, clothes, or shelter. More importantly, their attention, love, and care never wavered, even when I was a pain in the arse.
 
It wasn’t until members of my family began to pass away that I realized just how much I took them for granted. On Christmas morning in 2006, I decided to honor their memories by writing a story with characters named after my father (Vernon), uncle (Gerald), and brother (Tom). A couple of years later, I added my mom (Allison).

They were gone but would never be forgotten!

Hence, Gerald and the Wee People became my attempt to cherish these special people in a way I thought would make them proud. Over two to three years, my original short story gradually expanded into a fantasy novel for kids ages nine and up. I was freelancing for a couple of newspapers at the time and worked on the manuscript during my “free time.” Needless to say, it was a slow process.

I’m a pantser, so the story remained an open slate for me, developing and coming together as I went along. It was pretty mind-boggling rereading a newly completed chapter and thinking, Gee, where did that come from? Where do I go from here?

I tried to use humor, adventure, and lots of dialogue to impress on the readers the merits of trust, friendship, and working together to achieve a goal. After Gerald and Vernon tumble into the world of the Wee People, they aid the residents in their fight against the misshapen ones while also trying to devise a plan to outsmart a forest god intent on destroying all life.

The boys encounter a mystical far-seer named Sheela, who decrees that the fighting will never end until the boys fulfill an ancient prophecy filled with many dangers and obstacles. Against their better judgment, Gerald and Vernon embark on a quest accompanied by Sheela and five other companions into the volcanic realm of Miach, the forest god. Their task: defeat the demented god and restore peace. However, not everything goes as planned.

Excerpt from Gerald and the Wee People
This time the illusion did not stop when he mentioned the forest god being up to his old tricks because this time, it wasn’t an illusion. The scorching walls blistered their hands. The hot air parched their throats. The sticky floor burned their feet through their shoes. A distant sound like the laughter they had heard earlier echoed through the cave’s passages.

Cian fell to his knees, crying out in pain as the scalding liquid burned his skin. “I can’t go on. Just leave me here to die,” he begged.

Tomas reached out to his brother to help him stand up. It was no use. Both of them were too weak and exhausted. In a weak voice he rasped, “You all go on. I’ll stay with Cian. I can’t go another step anyway.”

No one else said a word. The other boys were too tired to talk, too tired to walk, too tired to care.
​

This was not supposed to be happening. Gerald did not remember this from his nightmares. Something was wrong. He yelled to whoever was listening, “Did we take a wrong turn or something? Stop it, Miach, stop it! You want me. Leave my friends alone.”

His words just made matters worse. The scampering, unseen creatures came out of nowhere. They did not run past this time. Instead, they scampered back and forth, pinching and biting the legs and arms of Gerald’s companions. For some strange reason, though, the creatures did not bother him.

 “Stop it, stop it now,” pleaded Gerald. “Please. I’ll do anything you want, Miach.”

Laughter echoed through the cavern as a voice inside Gerald’s head hissed, “Anything I want, huh?”
                                                                           ***
Be sure to get a copy of Gerald and the Wee People to find out how Gerald and his companions escape from Miach’s volcanic realm.

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​Available at Amazon.com
Print – https://www.amazon.com/Gerald-Wee-PeopleBookone/dp/
1480210617


​Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JKMT0Q

Universal link - http://viewbook.at/geraldandtheweepeople

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ

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So Many Shattered Hearts

12/21/2022

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When I wrote Shattered Hearts, Book 2 in the Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series, I had been caregiving for my husband for eight years after his strokes. Needless to say, my own heart was certainly fractured, if not shattered. My emotions were being manipulated by every circumstance that presented itself, a lot like balls in a pinball machine, being flipped hither and yon. My writing has often served as a release valve at some level. It was only in retrospect I realized how often.

Shattered Hearts incorporates many of the emotions I was feeling then. Loss at slowly losing my husband to his health issues. Frustration at not being able to fix it. Rage at a few bullies in the medical profession. Joy for the small victories. These are only a few. Writing this novel not only served as an outlet for my pain and tears, but also restored my hope.

Surprises, Betrayals, and Unexpected Twists and Turns Await You
After Chasing Shadows, Brita Madison’s exploits lead her to a new experience in her life – women friends. Her abilities have always forced her to be a loner. Chief James Weston and Sam Jenkins in Book 1 of the series were her first real friends. After the Inside Edition segment, her newest editing client brings her four writer friends onboard as clients. Since they all write novels with paranormal twists, the Dabblers & Scribblers, as they call themselves, felt Brita would be a perfect editor! So does she when she discovers each of them has abilities as well.

A year after they became her clients, they decide to meet in Phoenix, Arizona, so Brita can join them. It proves to be a watershed moment in the relationships between all six women. A ghost boy appears to Brita in Phoenix igniting an adventure which drags everyone in her world into the dark underbelly of a pedophile ring. Trying to rescue the children puts all of them in the crosshairs, including her boyfriend Sam and her unofficial partner, James Weston. Many hearts will be shattered before this case is put to rest.

If you haven’t read book 1 in the series, Chasing Shadows, grab your copy and start the journey with Brita as the learning curve for her paranormal abilities begins. Then continue on with Shattered Hearts and then Unraveling Memories as her world enlarges in ways she never thought possible.  Book 4 of the Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series is in the hands of my muse at the moment. We’re hoping to have it for you by early 2023.

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Available on Amazon.com

​Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Hearts-Madison-Paranormal-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01N7K0R2P
 
Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Hearts-Madison-Paranormal-Mystery/dp/1542366259
 
Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Dannye-Williamsen/e/B004KEAFE8

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There’s More to Christmas than Santa Claus

12/7/2022

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When I was a kid, Christmas was special. I loved waking up early on Christmas morning and seeing all the presents that had magically appeared under the Christmas tree overnight. When I was around five years old, I got my very own bicycle, complete with training wheels.

That was such a thrill. I couldn’t wait to ride it. The problem was getting it outside. Luckily, my dad came to the rescue. Everything went smoothly until he got to the training wheels. That took some wiggling, jiggling, and lifting. He eventually wrestled it out the door and down the steps to the driveway. Watching him maneuver the bike through the narrow doorway started the wheels inside my head churning. If it was so difficult to get the training wheels through the door, how did Santa get it down the chimney?

I asked my father. I think that was the first time he was at a loss for an answer. My older brother came to the rescue and explained how Santa had a bag of magic dust that made the chimney expand large enough to get all the presents into the house. After climbing back onto the roof, Santa sprinkled a little more dust into the chimney, returning it to its normal size.

I believed him.

My folks were terrific. I couldn’t ask for better parents. Through them, I learned that Christmas wasn’t just about Santa and receiving presents. It was family. Spending the holiday with my grandparents and uncle made it complete. Exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve opened my eyes to how nice it was to see other people opening presents and being happy.

My father had nine brothers and sisters. The week before Christmas, I’d go with him as he visited and wished them a Merry Christmas. I loved seeing the smiles and getting hugs. Even at that young age, being around happy people made me happy.

My parents also visited some older members of their church who didn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with. Seeing the eyes of these lonely, forgotten people light up when they opened the door to our cheerful Christmas greeting made me giggle.
​
I learned at a very young age that receiving presents was great, but giving was even better. It made both me AND the recipient happy. As I got older, the joy of giving, sharing, and caring stayed with me. Being kind and doing whatever I could to make someone else happy remained an important part of Christmas.

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In Christmas with Patchy and Calico, I wanted to pass that idea on to the kids who read the book. So I tried to show by example, as my parents did for me. For instance, when Patchy and Calico set aside some of their treats to give to their friends, the dog and cat discover that giving and sharing are just as much fun as receiving presents.

The last thing I wanted was to sound preachy. So, I snuck in these small lessons around the primary storyline: the mystery of the gift snatcher. Someone is sneaking into houses and stealing all the presents under the Christmas trees. The scoundrel even stole Patchy’s teddy bear with a missing ear.

Their woodland friends aren’t safe from the sneaky thief either. Stashes of nuts disappear, leaving the animals with no food for the winter. It’s up to the dynamic duo to solve the mystery. Patchy and Calico investigate and discover who the culprit is. The question is, can they convince the gift snatcher to return the presents?

Excerpt from Christmas With Patchy and Calico
Patchy answered, “No, we don’t have any more nuts for you today. We’re looking for the raccoon that took all our Christmas presents.”

The two young raccoons hugged each other, and one of them replied in a shaky voice, “Oh, you don’t want to find him. He’s big, mean, and very cranky. His name is Rocky, and he lives under the thorn bush in a great big hole all by himself.”

The other raccoon added, “Rocky doesn’t talk to anybody. He doesn’t share with the rest of us either. He took some of my chestnuts and wouldn’t give them back. He’s a bully.”

“WHO CALLED ME A BULLY?” a voice boomed out from behind the thorn bush. The two young raccoons ran away, leaving Patchy and Calico alone to face the gift snatcher.
​

Calico and Patchy were afraid of the big fat raccoon that stepped out from behind the thorn bush. They were so scared they couldn’t talk or move.

Rocky Raccoon was a lot bigger than they were, and he looked at them with two black, beady eyes. “WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME?”

Another voice from behind the two scared friends answered, “We want our Christmas presents back.”

Patchy and Calico recognized Marty’s deep voice. He’d come to help them.

“NO, YOU CAN’T HAVE THEM!” Rocky’s loud voice hurt the other animal’s ears.

                                                               ***
You’ll have to read
 Christmas with Patchy and Calico to find out if they convinced Rocky to return the gifts. 
 
I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday. Does anyone have a Christmas memory you’d like to share in the comments?

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​Available from Amazon.com

Print  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Patchy-Calico-Patchwork-Dog/dp/1481063014/

Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9I4XB0

​Universal link  http://viewbook.at/pandcchristmas

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ


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Find Books Recommended by Other Authors

11/18/2022

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​Just wanted to take a minute and share this site with you. https://shepherd.com. It's a great place to discover books that speak to a certain fancy.

I was contacted by by Shepherd.com to share my book Second Chances and recommend five other books in the same genre that would answer a certain need. I chose  the topic "The best books for helping you think outside the box." I chose this because many of my books have a paranormal twist, and I've seen people dismiss a book if it is described as paranormal before giving it a chance. 
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​Here's the link to the promotion of Second Chances along with the five reads I chose and why.
https://shepherd.com/best-books/helping-you-step-outside-the-box
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Although I don't have a book in the category of Life Satisfaction, a new topic on their site, it is a genre in which I write. You may find something there you like.
https://shepherd.com/bookshelf/life-satisfaction 

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Chasing Shadows Left Behind

11/16/2022

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​Chasing Shadows had an unusual genesis. It transpired from a suggestion I made to a friend about a psychic detective who worked with police to solve murders. In the end, it became my project instead. In the beginning, the hardest part of writing this story was the research into areas with which I was not familiar. Researching the home base of Williams, Arizona, not to mention the various locations up and down Route 66 resulted in my becoming close friends with Google Earth, Bing maps, and regional websites over the course of the book.
​
Once most of the research was in place and a couple of preliminary chapters written, I was energized to write the story. I chose to isolate myself from everything and everybody for two weeks. At the end of that time, Chasing Shadows was ready for editing. This is undoubtedly the fastest I have every written a novel, but my muse was in high gear.
​Why the Paranormal?
The Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series is special to me. I named the main character after my late brother Brit. Later in the series, two of the characters are named after my sisters. Of course, the paranormal aspect intrigues me. You can see this in several of my other novels.

Why am I drawn to the paranormal? Paranormal abilities related to the mind fascinate me because they draw attention to the possibilities which lie outside the acceptable range of thinking for most people. Stories that embrace the paranormal make the reader want to dig deeper and reach higher to partake of such miraculous experiences, to step outside the humdrum of one's normal life. Whether the stories are mysteries, suspense, or romance, the paranormal element allows a writer to present a unique perspective on conventional circumstances.
​
Because I am a strong believer in the potential of everyone to reach beyond what they believe they are capable of experiencing, to reach beyond the mundane and the tangible, writing about the paranormal seems perfectly natural to me. Dealing with strong intuitions and experiencing strong empathic feelings all my life has sensitized me to that which can be experienced but not touched.
​My Inner Muse
My inner muse and I have an interesting relationship. First, let me say I am a ”pantser,” that is, I do not outline my books ahead of time. I have a general notion of where I’m going, but I may not have any idea where the end lies. This is when my muse and I are simpatico. Every time I’ve tried to be a “planner,” my muse has become extremely flighty. 
​
When my muse and I are in sync, I experience an altered state when I sit down to the keyboard. When I am away from the keyboard, I’m not able to daydream about my story or work it all out in my head. Once my fingers are on the keys, I easily step into the characters emotionally. In writing the story, I experience intensely personal relationships with them, despite their being fictional. I feel their pain, their joy, and allow them to lead the way in unfolding the story. In writing all my books, including the nonfiction, it has been a dedicated investment of energy, and I am truly grateful for the experiences. 
Chasing Shadows
Brita Madison is at best a reluctant psychic, and Chief of Police James Weston is the "poster boy for  conservative."  Can he accept the unimaginable?

Brita Madison has found a sanctuary in Williams, Arizona, a refuge from the multitude of visions and voices that have chased her all her life. Then one vision touches her soul, and she finds herself embroiled in the middle of a missing person's case with a woman’s life at stake. Little does she know that this is only the beginning.

Brita's visions uncover a trail of murders centered around the historic Route 66. As Brita steps deeper into the world she has been trying to escape, she and Weston are in a race against time to identify the serial killer. This journey threatens to tear apart their lives as well as those closest to them.
​
Chief James Weston put it best: "Chasing after the shadows left behind by sick minds was damaging to one's soul when you were just following the clues. Vicariously experiencing the trauma through visions like Brita's would have to tear at the very fabric of your being." 
​
Grab your copy of Chasing Shadows and start the journey with Brita as the learning curve for her paranormal abilities begins. Then continue on with Shattered Hearts and Unraveling Memories as her world enlarges in ways she never thought possible.  Book 4 of the Brita Madison Paranormal Mysteries series is in the hands of my muse at the moment. We’re hoping to have it for you sometime in 2023.
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Available at Amazon.com.

Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Shadows-Madison-Paranormal-Mysteries/dp/1507743491
 
Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Shadows-Madison-Paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00SU5YV70
 
Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Dannye-Williamsen/e/B004KEAFE8
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Think Like a Kid

11/2/2022

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Someone once asked me how to write a children’s book. I responded, “You have to think like a kid.”

That’s easy for me to do since I never really grew up. Being a teacher of special needs preschoolers during the 1980s contributed to my forever young attitude. I enjoyed that job. It was such a thrill to introduce the children to new ideas and see the little wheels churning inside their heads. 

One instance I clearly remember had to do with apples. Our school sat on a hill overlooking the route of Hendersonville’s Apple Parade. To prepare the kids for the afternoon festivities, we spent the morning munching on and talking about the tasty treat.

One little guy, Jonathan, was totally mesmerized as he studied his apple, turning it over to look at the top and bottom and outlining the rounded shape with his finger.

When I asked the children to draw a picture, Jonathan took his time, looking carefully at the apple while drawing the outline. When completed, his work of art actually looked like an apple, including the stem. Well, to Jonathan and me, it did. Even though it was a four-year-old’s interpretation, the shape and color matched close enough for me to tell he had thought long and hard to get it just right.

The most rewarding part of being their teacher was watching the children’s faces light up during storytime. If you’ve read my Inspiring Children One Book at a Time blog posts here on Sassy Scribblers, you know the importance I place on passing on the joy of reading to youngsters. I felt just as strongly about it forty years ago as I do now. So, needless to say, we spent a lot of time reading.

It didn’t stop there, though. We also wrote our own books. As a group, we’d make up a story; then, the kids illustrated our book. I used their pictures as the background for the text. Believe me, no one else ever understood or appreciated our literary works, but we did. And that’s what counts.

After Bob and I married, we moved to another state and started our aviation education business. However, I never forgot my kids and the fun we had reading and telling stories. In the back of my mind, I told myself I’d have a chance to do it again.  

That chance arrived when medical issues forced us to find other ways to make a living. I penned the five stories that would later become the first book in the Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat series on a yellow legal pad while Bob spent the day teaching ground schools.

It was surprisingly easy to slip back into thinking like a kid. My memories traveled back in time to my classroom of preschoolers. I imagined myself sitting in our book corner reading to them, and I tried to write what I thought they’d like. 
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Of course, the Patchy and Calico stories evolved into longer, more detailed adventures than the simple five or six-sentence books the kids and I wrote all those years ago. However, that’s what launched my attempts at writing. Sometimes I wonder if there’d be any Patchy and Calico books if I hadn’t been a teacher and gained all that experience in my younger life. I guess we’ll never know.

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Excerpt from Patchwork Dog and Calico Cat
​
When they arrived at the field, Patchy and Calico hid behind some tall bushes and watched as the airplane came in for a landing.

“Look at that, Calico, the airplane is falling out of the air. Look out, Mr. Wilson!” howled Patchwork Dog.

As the two friends debated whether or not to run away, the airplane lifted its nose, the wheels gently touched the ground, and the airplane rolled to a stop next to a large building.

They watched as Mr. Wilson climbed out of the airplane.

“He’s going into that big building. Look, he left the door open on the airplane.”

“You’re not going over there, Patchy. No way.”

“Just a quick look, Calico. I want to see the inside of the airplane. I promise I’ll come right back.”

Off ran the curious dog before Calico could say anything more.

When Patchwork Dog got close to the airplane, he walked very slowly and carefully. He hid behind one of the wheels and looked around.

Not hearing anything or seeing anybody, he quietly crept over to the open door and peeked inside.

“Wow, there’s a lot of strange buttons, knobs, and pedals in there. I wonder what they’re all for?”
He stretched his paw as far as he could but couldn’t quite reach anything.

“Maybe if I jump up and down.”

The bouncing dog still couldn’t touch anything. He jumped a little higher and higher and higher.

BAM!  CRASH!!  THUMP!

Patchwork Dog jumped too high, bumped his head, and tumbled down onto the ground.
​
A voice sounded behind him, “Who’s messing with my airplane?”
                                                               
                                                                     ****

Pick up your copy of the book to see what Mr. Wilson does with the sneaky dog.



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Available at Amazon.com

Print – https://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Dog-Calico-Greta-Burroughs/dp/1467989460/

Kindle - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006B9RSIQ/

Universal - http://viewbook.at/patchyandcalicocat1


Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Greta-Burroughs/e/B003N3F5AQ
​​

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Amulet, DragonBlade Series (Book 1) by Nancy Lee Parish

10/19/2022

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Superbly Orchestrated Tale

"Amulet," book one of the DragonBlade Series by Nancy Lee Parish sated both the little child and the adult in me with its intriguing characters and adventurous spirit. The author's pacing of this story is superb. She always leaves the reader wanting more, giving you just enough pieces of the puzzle to stimulate your curiosity and keep you reading until the very last page.

Fantasy books can be difficult for some readers because of the author's need to invent places, things, philosophies, and a way of life totally unfamiliar to the reader. In Amulet, Parish settles into a comfortable balance between the story and the fictional world.

There are many conflicts going on in Amulet. The most obvious and long-lasting is the one which pits the Ecli, the dark wizards who rule all of Ranaria and live in the city of Dardanos, against the Volanari insurgents. Beyond this is the conflict among the four wizards known as the Ecli. Each has their own agenda. Among the Ranarians there are those who are linked to the Ecli and to other wizards of old. Among this group, there is a desperate desire to survive the Ecli and regain their freedom, but it means taking risks unlike any they have ever considered in the past. It means believing in the reality of things thought only to be fairy tales. It means trusting those once thought to be their enemies to fight the creations and the pull of the dark crystal.

I don't know that there is one main character in this book. It is more like an ensemble, which is in harmony with the theme of the story. Thus, the reader gets a chance to know the characters more through their interactions with each other rather than through the author's unveiling of their internal psychology.

Parish keeps you on your toes trying to second guess where the story is taking you. One of her characters perhaps explains it best: "Sometimes things happen for a reason, and it ain't always apparent what that reason is when it's happenin'." [Thoral]

Amulet is part of the DragonBlade Series, and I look forward to seeing where the dark crystal leads us.

www.amazon.com/Amulet-DragonBlade-Book-Nancy-Parish-ebook/dp/B0066HCK9K/

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A Snapshot of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice

8/10/2022

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​Were you aware that the working title of Pride and Prejudice was First Impressions? It is assumed that this title reflected the immediate dislike of each other by Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Unfortunately, another press had just published another book with that same title. As it turns out, the final title has worked out very well!
 
Pride and Prejudice was published on January 28, 1813. Thomas Egerton, bookseller and publisher, purchased the copyright for £110. Prior to this, her brother, Henry Austen, who was a banker had been circulating the book among circles of friends and acquaintances who could afford to buy books for pleasure-reading. Due to his efforts, the book had developed quite a reputation prior to Egerton’s offer to Miss Austen.
 
In five months after publication, the book sold over 1,000 copies! A 2nd edition was published that same year and a 3rd in 1817. Considering there was no internet and no social media at the time, that's amazing.
 
Today, her novel has sold more than 20 million copies! As is often the case, Miss Austen was never recognized with literary awards in her lifetime. Fortunately, her words live on.
 
For those not familiar with Pride and Prejudice, below is a quick catch-up.
 
Elizabeth Bennet’s household is all aflutter with the news that a wealthy gentleman named Charles Bingley has rented a nearby manor. There are five unmarried daughters in the Bennet household, and their parents are anxious to see than all married. The Bennets attend a ball where Bingley is not only in attendance, but is quite taken with Jane Bennet. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is not nearly as exuberant over the evening’s festivities and refuses to dance with Elizabeth.
 
However, subsequent social events finds Mr. Darcy becoming attracted to Elizabeth. When her sister Jane is caught in a downpour on her way to the Bingley mansion, she becomes ill. Elizabeth is forced to travel through inclement weather to tend to her sister. Bingley’s sister is a bit of a shrew, especially when she realizes Darcy is attracted to Elizabeth.
 
 ... Continued


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I will read forever because it lets me visit in my mind the worlds that I will never be able to see; it helps me put away the stresses of the day and relax into the rhythm of the story before me; it lets me bring to the surface and experience without regrets those feelings I hide away; it lets me re-experience the thrill of first love through someone else's eyes; it keeps my mind juiced so that it will never desert me; it is always there for me even when there's no one else. I will read forever no matter whether it is print or digital because the words will always call to me. ~ A Sassy Scribbler