A story about Lies and a Personal Essay Writing Tip

by Elena Dorothy Bowman

A woman portrays herself as a the creator of a popular TV series and promises to help three other women get started in the business. This is a story of how the three women related to the TV series and it's lead character, The Imposter. Not only were they taken in by her story, but by the woman herself. She took them on a wild ride, one they would not soon forget.

Question from a Write Words Author:  You have often said anyone  of us could write a piece for your blog to help promote our books. I wonder if you have any advice on how to do that.

Answer:  I love to get guest blogs from my authors. You can write about your book or any subject you like. Apples or aardvarks thry Zeus or zoology. Anything (except maybe politics or religion). Your book, your characters, or why you like to write. About 500 words in length.  

Usually the format should be the same one you'd use for any personal essay.

Write a Personal Essay

The lead: Make a statement about something

The price of baloney is_____. (and write a couple of paragraphs about what it is now and how it used to be 10 cents a pound, and was still expensive in a time when the average man’s salary was $1 a day.

The body: Give examples and tell anecdotes

People used to say they were spreading baloney when people stretched the truth all the time.  (And give some examples of people who have told lies, some amusing, some serious. Girls who’ve lied, or to whom guys lie, politicians and how many lies they tell, the way government cuts medicare, and SSI, but buys $800 toilet seats)

Make your point: 

Lots of people will hand you baloney.

The conclusion: Use the lead to confirm your point and make the piece come full circle

Think about the baloney people slice for you every day. Even when people give it away for nothing, baloney can be very expensive. 

Sweets and a great read from the Old South.

Savannah Series, Vol. 2

Newlyweds Walter and Maria move to a house in the country. When Maria becomes pregnant, “Old Grammy” moves in with the young couple to “help out.” Maria begins to collect animals, a goat, a flock of geese that terrorize all visitors. Walter wants to add a pony to the mix for the coming baby, Alma. World War II interrupts their young lives and soon all the young men of Savannah have left for foreign service. Walter and Maria wait to learn what the future will hold.

Maria's Black Walnut Cake

Maria never substituted margarine for real butter, and used to make her own vanilla extract, by putting a pod of fresh vanilla beans into a pint of peach brandy and storing it on the kitchen shelf. 

Ingredients

1 h 55 m12592

• Walgreens
• 640 Sunburst Hwy
• CAMBRIDGE, MD 21613

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped black walnuts

Directions

• Prep
  25 m
• Cook
  1 h 30 m
• Ready In
  1 h 55 m

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing just until the yellow disappears. Combine the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts, and pour into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in a 9x12 sheet pan, or a  bundt pan, for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted into the crown comes out clean. Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before turning out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool completely.
On holidays, Maria would mix warmed 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 stick butter, 1 tsp vanilla, with confectioners sugar, to make a thin icing and drizzle the top of the cake. This makes a rich, firm cake that keeps or freezes well.

Catching UP!

Only one book went  back to press this week.

BOOTS AND THE BRANCH BOYS, by Marjorie K. Doughty.

   Why is marriage so much less satisfying than Boots had expected? From the Greek Isles, where she has a dangerous fall, to Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Seychelles, Boots feels less and less at ease with her life choice. Who is the strange young mime who keeps turning up? Is he a danger to Boots? To her husband? To her life?

Galleys that went out, are still out, or went back out this week:

PAYBACK: Kathy Sear and Greg Hawkins Series, Vol. 5, by  Michael Field
   During a routine prisoner transfer a dramatic prison escape by four hardened criminals shocks the law enforcement community. A review of their extensive criminal histories reveals they all have one thing in common – Pineview Detectives Greg Hawkins and Kathy Sear are responsible for them being incarcerated.

   The detectives suddenly find themselves in a unique situation as the hunters become the hunted. They are forced to match wits with not only the escaped prisoners but also those that assisted and carried out the prison break.

THE MURDER OF SECRETARY Judd KANE: Adventures on Capital Hill Series, Vol. 2, by Christine Rose, Mariotti
   Second in the popular political thriller series.

Work began or continued on the following:

The Kid Who Wasn't There, by C. M. Albrecht

Jonas gets in pretty deep with a powerful talk show hostess, a mobster and art dealers and a very big Navajo, not to mention a lot of women who try to make him forget he's a happily married man with two children at home, and his troubles extend to home too. Life can be tough!

BLEEDING HEARTS: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 1

   Winner of the Stonewall Society's 2002 Pride in the Arts Literary Award in the Whodunit Category! 

REVEREND CASTLE'S CRISIS, Rev. Castle series, Vol. 2 by Celine Rose Mariotti

  
   Rev. Castle is back in another cozy mystery.  

REAP THE WHIRLWIND: Killian Kendall Mystery Series, Vol. 2,  by Josh Aterovis. 
   Suicide, or murder? That's the question in the second Killian Kendall mystery. Will Smith suspects murder when an old childhood pal drowns, and asks his friend Killian for help in solving the mystery.

TRUTH OF YESTERDAY,  by Josh Aterovis

ALL LOST THINGS, by Josh Aterovis

CHANGE  OF WORLDS, by Josh Aterovis

Jack's News!

  by your bookstore cat, 
and gossip columnist!

We had an e-mail notice about a contest this week and I'll pass it along here, just in case anyone is interested.  Most of these kind of awards are scams -- high entry fees and if anyone wins the cat never heara about it -- but Arline says she's heard the name Eric Hoffer before -- thinks he wrote THE TRUE BELIEVER, a book she liked back in the day -- so here's the PR! 

FIRST CALL: THE 2016 ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD

SMALL PRESSES  * ACADEMIC PRESSES  * MICRO PRESSES  *  SELF-PUBLISHERS 

$2,000 GRAND PRIZE -- LOW ENTRANCE FEE

New or old, we want to read your book. … Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing. A SINGLE REGISTRATION gives you SIX WAYS TO WIN by genre, press, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vince Eye, the First Horizon Award, and the Hoffer grand prize. There is a category for every book. (See submission guidelines below or check our listing in Writer’s Market or visit www.HofferAward.com.) E-books also accepted.

          * $2,000 GRAND PRIZE * Low Entrance Fee of $55 * Many Categories *
          * E-BOOK categories for fiction and nonfiction *
          * New CHAPBOOK category at a reduced rate: $40 *

AWARDS/BENEFITS:
* $2,000 GRAND PRIZE (the Eric Hoffer Award for Books)
* Winner of the Montaigne Medal for most thought-provoking books
* Winner of the da Vinci Eye for best covers
* Winner of the First Horizon Award for debut authors
* Winner and First Runner-Up awarded for every category 
* Honorable Mentions for every category
* Individual Awards for Micro, Small, and Academic Presses, as well as Self-Published Books
* Coverage in The US Review of Books (www.theUSreview.com) and on www.HofferAward.com
* Gold Seal Certificates
* Worldwide Exposure

CATEGORIES: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self-Help/Spiritual, Legacy Fiction, Legacy Nonfiction, E-book Fiction, and E-book Nonfiction.

In this tough economic time, your book is always a great value, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award is the most economical way to achieve publicity and recognition. Read previous contest coverage in the US Review of Books (www.theUSReview.com) and view past winners and press releases at www.HofferAward.com .

Internet payment for entrance fee accepted. (visit www.HofferAward.com)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES (entry deadline January 21st, 2016):

     AWARDS ARE OPEN to academic, independent, small press, and self-published books that were released or copyrighted in the last 2 years, including unique books with small print runs. (Books over 2 years enter the LEGACY FICTION or LEGACY NONFICTION category.) 

     AWARDS/PRIZES: One grand prize will be awarded for the entire contest. In addition, each category will be awarded a winner, runner-up, and multiple honorable mentions. Books must be registered by CATEGORY and then are automatically considered for Individual Press Awards, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vinci Eye, the First Horizon Award, and the Hoffer Grand Prize.

     FOR EACH ENTRY, submit the book, entry form, and $55 fee (check, money order, or Internet payment receipt) to Hopewell Publications, LLC, PO Box 11, Titusville, NJ 08560. Be certain to specify award category and press type. Registration will be confirmed via e-mail. In May, all entrants will be notified of winners. Submissions must be postmarked by January 21, 2016.
 

     JUDGES may include authors, editors, agents, publishers, book producers, artists, experienced category readers, and health and business professionals. Note: Contest closed to the staff of Hopewell Publications and previous WNBA winning entries. At the low entrance fee, it is not feasible to provide judge’s critiques for each entry. 

Anne McPhail sees a child on the terrace of the local cafe who doesn’t seem to belong to her minders and then Ari, the Mossad agent who saved Anne’s life, seeks her out with a plan to rescue the child from kidnappers. Should she trust him? 

Once Again, you might want to follow the link below to see author Virginia Winters's interview on Kat Caffee.

https://pukahworks.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/author-interview-virginia-winters/

Members of The Writers Bloc will be at  Sharptown Heritage day September 19. Come by and say, "Hello!" to them there."

As for me... I've spent most of the week trying to wake Arline up. I Head-Butted her Right on the Nose at treat time this morning, but all she did was pull the blanket over her head! At least Roger didn't pull any of that, "Ladies First," stuff this morning.

He gave me the treats first, so I guess I can sing along if he plays music for me today.

Please don't forget to let me know 

what you are all up to! 

Just send arline@mail.com a message with 

 "News for Jack" 

in the subject line, and

I'll make sure it shows up right here. 

  Thanks!

A fictionalized Memoir and a recipe

A Fictionalized Memoir

Billy Benson, at age 9 in 1952, gets in trouble with the courts and finds himself "banished" to his grandfather's farm for the summer as his mother attends classes to better herself as Billy's father is institutionalized in a TB clinic with the responsibility of supporting her family, falls onto his mother's shoulders. Billy is captivated by the stories told him by his grandfather, especially those of his great grandfather's service in the Confederate Army. He was wounded in the trenches at Petersburg, Virginia, prior to the Battle of the Crater that was depicted in the movie, Cold Mountain.

Grandfather's Popcorn Balls

Grandfather always put in a few rows of popcorn, waiting to be sure it wouldn't "cross" with the field corn he raised to feed his mule and the chickens. 

He used to make these for me on the wood stove, after getting a "good hot fire" going. They tasted a lot like Crackerjacks.

Ingredients

25 m10458

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water

Directions

• Prep
  10 m
• Cook
  15 m
• Ready In
  25 m

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla mix well.
2. Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 5 minutes and shape into 3 inch round balls.
3. Store in a lard can or any other airtight container.

Short Fiction Break and a Writing Tip

In the busy, back-to-school season

there's nothing like a 

Collection of Short Fiction 

A collection of widely published and, in some cases, award-winning women-oriented short stories from well-respected novelist Joan L. Cannon. All the stories contain rich detail of both language and imagery. They are wide-ranging, with a variety of characters, experiences, and settings and are told in a unique style that is well- seasoned with both wit and insight.

Have been reading more of outside WWI author's work, since I have been under the weather. When I read for pleasure, I try to take off my editor's hat and just relax and enjoy.

But it's hard. The following are easy-to-make mistakes that I found this week from some very famous writers who shall remain nameless.


1. Two lovers are parting forever in the cafe at an airport:

   He stared at her sadly and his eyes dropped into his coffee cup.
an unfortunate case of "wandering eyes." Something I see from time to time...

From a Romance I didn't finish...

   "Sweetheart, are you nauseous?"
nauseous, though often used mistakenly, means something smells bad enough to make YOU sick. The word the author wanted was "nauseated."

and again later in the same book...

   "Darling, be careful. I don't want to loose you."
author meant to say "don't want to lose you." I only listed two here, but there must have been 200 in the part that I read...


2. From a mystery where the police have come with news of the murder:

   The whole Williams's family listened with total attention. 
apostrophe confusion. Plural Possessives get the apostrophe without the S, but in this sentence construction the words Williams Family, are not possessive, so it should be Williamses for regular plural of a family name, not a possessive. This really wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't happened with every plural that ended in S became an apostrophe S instead. Great Story, written by a friend and a professional editor, which again proves that it's almost impossible to proof your own copy. Also this is a viewpoint mistake as nobody can know what All the Williamses were thinking.

3. From a best-selling author, winner of Agatha and RWA awards, who writes mystery and romance under at least 4 different names:

   The boy buried his face in his chest and wept.
pronoun confusion? Or maybe he's a contortionist.


   

A Good Read and a Recipe

A Chronicle of Olde England

Winner of the Epic Award

By Edward M. Turner

Ribaldry tends to disguise a harsh existence. In 1056 England, there are no humane set of laws, no benign constitution, no protection for the masses (or the mighty) except might makes right and the practiced sleight of hand. The narration is Rabelaisian with overtones, always, of the darkness of life when the drinking ends, the money runs out and payment is due.

Medieval Chicken Pie

This is a kind of meat pie that would have been eaten during the Middle Ages (700-1450) in Europe. Feel free to play around with the spices and substitute things such as cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, etc. Use a Whole wheat crust to be really authentic.

We use frozen deep dish pie shells and the filling mix will do two pies.

Ingredients

• Rite Aid
• 798 Sunburst Hwy
• CAMBRIDGE, MD 21613

• Family Dollar
• 701 Sunburst Hwy
• CAMBRIDGE, MD 21613

• Walgreens
• 640 Sunburst Hwy
• CAMBRIDGE, MD 21613

• 1 recipe pastry for a 2 inch double crust pies
• 2 pounds chicken
• 2 eggs
• 1/2  cup white wine
• 1/4 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 2/3 cup ground almonds
• 2/3 cup sliced carrots
• 2/3 cup diced potatoes(frozen hashbrown are okay)
• 2/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup chicken broth

Directions

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. In a saucepan, boil chicken with chicken broth and bay leaf, over low heat, for about 1 hour or until done. Add water, if necessary, to cover chicken while cooking. Drain and reserve the broth, and place cooked chicken in a large bowl.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3. Add egg, white wine and 1 cup of chicken stock to the cooked chicken. Add carrots, frozen potatoes, dates, ground almonds and cheese, then toss to mix. Add salt, black and white pepper, cloves, ginger, mace and cinnamon. Mix spices in. Don't worry if the filling seems wet, it will thicken as it cooks.
4. Pour filling into pie shells. Cover with top shell and crimp to seal edges.
5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45 minutes to an hour.