I realized this morning that it might be my last chance to photograph the flowers I’ve been gawking at all summer, but hadn’t taken the time to shoot. All the photos I have here were taken within a mile of my house.
And finally, as I was shooting this flower, I was photobombed by a Queen bee. That made me really happy.
Book DescriptionScott Zavoda delivers with hellish vividness and aching emotion. He’s unleashed seven tales that will claw at your soul. Already sold as singles, “Bobby” and “Beneath the Sand”, have garnered rave reviews. They’re included along with five more gripping stories.
Randy Bivins gets a shocking phone call two days before Christmas. The stranger says he stole his Christmas tree. What Randy discovers is maybe a tradition worth dying for. “Oh Christmas Tree”
Now that surfing, dating, and every aspect of a California retirement are off limits, he paints and pretends the beach isn’t so close. But traces of sand are showing up again in this Vietnam Vet’s house and that can only mean one thing. “Beneath the Sand”
Trapped in a morbid, bloody, decaying land, the hot breath of his pursuer lathers his neck. Jimmy wants to believe he doesn’t know where he is, but he can’t. “Castle Point“
Henry Conroy pilots a Navajo across the stormy Midwest with a coffin in the back. He knows the faster he gets there, the sooner that scratching sound will stop. “Fright Flight”
A simple fishing trip turns deadly for Danny and his disabled brother, Bobby. A gut-wrenching tale of two young brothers who will do anything for a day away from their abusive father and the constant bullying at school. But a wheelchair with a history might change everything. “Bobby”
Flowers for Mom and The Calling are two more stories with an evil twist.
I totally enjoyed reading this book. I love well-written short stories. I don’t always have the attention span for a novel, but not everyone has the skills to write great short stories. Scott Zavoda does. He is a very gifted writer. He creates wonderful characters who I almost immediately connected with. His stories are not just horror, but there is a bit of humor and romance as well. His characters, although flawed, are good people who have to deal with creepy, scary things, and they do it well. Like the others, I really appreciated his giving us the back stories.
Rachel Benton and her daughter embark on a pleasant country drive to research her ancestors when a sudden storm drives them in an unexpected direction. Stranded and alone, an isolated cabin seems to offer refuge, but within those timbered walls more threats await.
Rachel’s troubles in the present are woven together with a family embroiled in the Civil War and the lives they touch on their journey to freedom. Lives are imperiled, and a dawning realization changes Rachel’s life forever.
Dual time lines skillfully woven together draw readers into the action-filled story. And true details from Four Branches of the author’s family tree provide a sound basis for this compelling work of historical fiction.
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JoAnn is a member of the writing group I am most active with, the Walkerton Writers. I was part of the group that critiqued two of the chapters of this book when she was writing it. It was really exciting for me to see how they fit so perfectly into her novel. I really loved this book.
Below is my Goodreads review:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful parallel stories. I really loved the characters. I also loved the way the author blended her genealogical research into this fictional story. I found myself deeply involved emotionally. I would definitely recommend this book, especially for those who are interested in Civil War related stories.
“Praise the Lord” is both the title of the third (and final) book in the Psalms in the Key of my Life series, and the title of the 150th psalm. Today, I finished the rather rough first draft of the third book. I thought I’d be jumping up and down, but I was mentally drained. As I typed in the final three psalms (I wrote them with paper and pen first), tears of joy began to fall down my face. I looked up and on my ceiling was a perfect rainbow. It’s funny because I added a rainbow to Psalm 148, and was questioning it when I looked up. It’s like God was saying, “You got it right.” I stepped outside shortly afterward to sit in the sun for a few moments, and saw a large bird I’d never seen before. As I pondered getting my camera, a hummingbird flew past. I really felt like God was sending visitors that he knew would make me smile. Even though I am exhausted, I am filled with joy and feeling very accomplished. Even if I don’t sell a single copy, the fact that I made it all the way to 150 makes me feel really good. The gifts God gave today, makes me think he’s pleased too.
This canna lily was sitting in my daughter’s yard in a dark spot for years. I tried a new location, but still not enough sun. This year, for the first time, it bloomed. Well worth the wait!
So take some time during this last summer hurrah to relax, enjoy the family, and enjoy the end of summer!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveodland/2012/08/29/10-labor-day-facts/
This is an excellent graphic lesson on aperture/shutter speed/ISO for those trying to learn how to shoot manually. Source: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/cheetsheets-for-photographers/
I ran into a “Hands Up! Don’t Shoot! protest in Pittsburgh yesterday evening. The only camera I had with me was my cellphone, so it’s not the best quality.
