The Call to Love

By Courtney Pierce

Love is a very special kind of light. The loss of it is the darkest of dark. But “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” (Thank you, Lord Tennyson!). The sting can be unbearable, but once we’ve tasted love's gift, a plenty fills us that can never be taken for granted.

Love is such an esoteric concept to explain. It’s both physical and spiritual. Its pheromones travel on air to complete a connection, encompassing us with warmth that speeds the heart. A miracle, really.

My husband reaches out to me in the middle of the night. Even though sound asleep and breathing deep, he still squeezes my hand and pulls my arm tight to his chest. Sometimes he lifts my knuckles to his lips. It’s seemly unconscious, but it wakes me up and blankets me with relaxation. Does he remember doing this? I have no idea, nor would I ever ask. I like the mystery and spontaneous nature of it all.

In turn, I reach out too. Usually when he’s deep under. The feel of his warm skin and silky chest hair reminds me that I’m not alone. Never alone. Energy and touch have a lingering memory that makes us beg for more.

That’s the romance we writers attempt to infuse into our stories. We try to capture the emotion in a million different ways—a crush, tears, élan—but it tends to fall flat. I liken it to a prize monarch escaping the net. Sometimes we get lucky, though, and nail it just right.

Those who strive to do good in the world get our attention. You know, those people who energize a room by simply stepping through the door. Even if we don't know them, they lure us in with a magnetic force. My day is made by simple things, such as a considerate driver who waves me in front them at a four-way stop. In turn, I'm pleased to allow someone to go ahead of me in line at the grocery line when they have only a few items. These seemingly small gestures keep us on the correct path. But it's a big deal in the long term.

Love is much more than a feeling. It’s the emotion that triggers a chemical reaction in our DNA, a memory of the generations who have suffered, recovered, prospered, and passed-on what’s truly important. We can be monetarily poor, but feel rich with love, benevolence, and consideration. While each of us is an individual, unique and important, we’re not whole until we truly connect with others . . . in person. It's not the same without the physical component.  Our increasingly virtual environment dims the lovelight. 

To hold the hand of an elderly person makes us relax. We are suddenly open and feel their wisdom, knowledge, and lessons-learned whoosh through us like lightning. Entwined fingers squeeze a bit tighter to not let go. Nothing more need be said.

While we normally think of love as a mere human trait, there’s an alchemy of other-worldly qualities that connect with our family, friends, pets, neighbors, and our home. We love them all.

Pets hold a very special place in our hearts. Their loyalty and devotion is without question. The warmth. The touch. The devotion. The joy they feel when we arrive home. They jump on the bed at night to be close and protect. They’ll put their lives on the line to save us from a threat.

See a pattern here?

Love is that itch in our throat in the absence of those we’ve lost. Love is the squeeze in our chest when those we love are close. A simple “I love you” on a torn scrap of paper can mean the world. It’s an emotion we should never take for granted. With the touch of those we love, it can heal the skin immediately like a swash of aloe vera gel.

Love is physical, chemical, and spiritual all in one. It’s recoverable after betrayal, trauma, sadness, depression, or surrender. If we're open, it only takes a millisecond to bring it back to center, like shaking out the Etch-A-Sketch. Oh, how that fresh slate looks to change an outlook on life.

Take my Mom (the great Ellen Dushane of my last trilogy series of The Dushane Sisters). She’s now 87 and still independent. While her health wrap-sheet is as long as your arm, she’s an invincible soldier, ready to take on anyone who might violate her Constitutional rights.

"Put up your dukes, Mom!” She loves her country.

As tough as she is, Mom is reduced to tears with her new kitten named “Sally”. She can’t imagine a world without her. The routine of awakening, feeding, talking, and bedding together will fill my Mom’s world with love light. My sister and I secured this tiny Maine Coone kitten for her birthday, and it's the best gift we could have given her. This special kitten will be the newly deemed queen of the house, a title my Mom will be thrilled to hand over. Mom needs to take care of Sally, just like she took care of us. Her hope for the future fills my heart.

And me? My husband and I will wrap our loving arms around each other. When the snow clears, we’ll sow those seeds in our garden, watch them grow to a bountiful harvest, and gaze at the mated pair of bald eagles that circle overhead each evening. 

Then I’ll call Mom to make sure she’s okay.

Courtney Pierce is a fiction writer living in Kalispell, Montana with her husband and stepdaughter. She writes for the baby boomer audience. She spent 28 years as an executive in the entertainment industry and used her time in a theater seat to create stories that are filled with heart, humor, and mystery. She studied craft and storytelling at the Attic Institute and has completed the Hawthorne Fellows Program for writing and publishing. Active in the writing community, Courtney is a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association and on the Advisory Council of the Independent Publishing Resource Center. She is a member of Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and Authors of the Flathead. The Executrix received the Library Journal Self-E recommendation seal.

Print and E-books are available through most major online retailers, including Amazon.com.

Check out all of Courtney's books: 

courtney-pierce.com and windtreepress.com 

New York Times best-selling author Karen Karbo says, "Courtney Pierce spins a madcap tale of family grudges, sisterly love, unexpected romance, mysterious mobsters and dog love. Reading Indigo Lake is like drinking champagne with a chaser of Mountain Dew. Pure Delight."

Coming in 2021!

When Aubrey Cenderon moves to Montana after the death of her father, the peace and quiet of Big Sky Country becomes complicated with a knock on the door from the sheriff. An injured grizzly bear is on the loose and it must be eliminated before it kills again. The sheriff's insistence that she buy a gun for protection will present Aubrey with some serious soul-searching, because the grizzly-on-the-run is hunting her too . . . for a different reason.

A Malawi Time of Year

By: Marcia King-Gamble
www.lovemarcia.com


Today's post is supposed to be about Holiday Romance Reads. While I can think  of several including my popular Red Dress Series and the novel penned with author  Sandra Kitt. I'd rather address a more serious topic, that of malnourished kids in Africa.

  http://a.co/d/hjezZgH

http://a.co/d/fvLgB9L

As  we begin preparations  for another festive season.  It may be helpful to remember there are people who are desperately in need.  For many, this is not  a season of gift-giving, but  rather a time of surviving. So many are simply holding on and trying to just stay healthy.


As Americans, we truly are blessed to live in a country with easy access to a nourishing meal, or at least have the ability to find food; even if that means showing up at a food bank. Few people starve to death in the USA or are considered malnourished.   

That said, last  month I was fortunate enough to visit another country where many exist,  if lucky, on one meal a day. That meal is often provided by an organization, and may consist of corn meal and not much else. 

My day job, chose me along with six others as UNICEF ambassadors. What that meant was a life changing trip taking me to Malawi, Africa.  Visiting Malawi made me realize that despite the many issues we face in the USA, we are very fortunate to live here. 

Where is Malawi?  Malawi is in southeastern Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many exist on  38 cents per day or less. The average family can easily have 8 -10 kids. Getting fresh water and adequate nutrition is a huge challenge for many. 

Here are the facts about Malawi: 

 Malawi gained independence on 6th July 1964 and was previously known as Nyasaland. It's capital is lilongwe.The languages spoken are English and Chichewa. 80% of its people are Christian and 20% Islamic. 

The currency in Malwi is the Kwacha.  The country is half the size of the UK and is considered sub tropical with a rainy season in December to May and a dry season running from, May to December. according to the World Bank, the population in  2015  was 17.2 million and is growing at 3.1 %  per year. 

45% of the population is 0-14 years old.  52% are 15-64 years old. The infant mortality rate is 44.2 deaths per 1000 live births. As of 2015, 980,000 people live with Aids. The average annual income is 100-200 US dollars. 84%  of Malawi's population live in  rural areas. The main export is tobacco.

Selfie!

This trip was hardly a vacation.  After an almost thirty hour trip, I arrived in Blantyre; Malawi's second largest city.  I along with my fellow ambassadors, were met by UNICEF representatives and transported to our hotel. We were given about 4 hours to rest before attending a briefing.

At that briefing we received an overview of what was expected of us as ambassadors. It was impressed on us that we were to be respectful, and not take photos of the police or of anyone who appeared to be distressed. We were also not to take photos without asking permission.  


As ambassadors we were up at 5 am (6am the latest) every day. What followed was a two to three hour drive into the country.

Pumping fresh water

On our second day we visited Gonda  Village and were addressed by chiefs, and greeted by many children. All appeared happy to see us. My company had donated  bicycles, mattresses and cooking utensils to this village.  We cooked  and helped screen children for malnutrition.  In the afternoon we visited the Chikwawa District Hospital and saw many heartbreaking sights. I especially enjoyed sprucing up a room that was to be used for recreation. 

Feeding hungry kids

My painting Class

Day three was spent in Neno where we visited a refugee camp and observed the early childhood development program. Kids were 3-5 years old and  we were fortunate to  participate in games and activities with kids and their caretakers designed to stimulate learning.The challenge we were told is that there were insufficient numbers of teachers to provide an adequate education.  

Class room Learning 

On day four we were off to Machinga where we visited the Kaombe primary school and put to work gardening. This school has a living schoolyard.  The idea behind this is to teach communities how to use locally available food to prevent malnutrition. At the same time, children get  to watch the transformation of barren land into a place that can now provide nourishment. We lost at a game of netball as many of the children have the making of  star athletes. It was all in good fun.

Device used to measure for malnutrition

Then began the long journey back. The memories of this trip will forever be stored in my heart. I have so much to be grateful for.

I share my experiences to remind you that as the holiday season approaches, many are simply not as fortunate as you. I urge you to reach out to a child or elderly person in need. You too can bring a smile to stranger, simply by filling a shoebox with basic necessities.  

The information is provided below. 

Give thanks all by giving back to someone who needs you. Happy Thanksgiving all!

About Marcia King-Gamble

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive and current world traveler has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. Her free time is spent at the gym, traveling to exotic locales, and caring for her animal family.

Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS

Marvellous Magical May #anniversary #bookoversary #unlockALS

Hi, I'm Pippa Jay, author of scifi and supernatural stories to engage your emotions. And welcome to marvellous magical May!

May has always been one of my favourite times of the year, significantly because of three things. The first of May marks Beltane, the pagan start of summer and usually the point where the British weather takes a marked change for the better...well, sometimes. This year the first of May was actually a glorious day sandwiched between two very wet, windy and cold days - one extreme to the other! And how terribly British to talk about the weather. :P

May also sees my wedding anniversary, and this year is a landmark one - 25 years! I've now been married more than half my lifetime, a sobering thought. And it turns out that in real life, hubs is decidedly more romantic than me with a dinner booked at the pub where we went for a drink on our first date together (a fact I did not remember! I did remember the film we went to see though...)

The 7th of May also marks my sixth anniversary as a published author with my debut novel Keir, and this month I'm  taking part in a charity event that features Keir alongside a collection of other fantastic blue cover books in support of ALSA. Please go check out our page on the ALSA site HERE: http://webgw.alsa.org/site/TR/Endurance/GoldenWest?team_id=367681&pg=team&fr_id=12950

Landing page (Lea’s site) 

http://www.leakirk.com/supporting-als.html

Blue Book Cover Brigade Team Page on ALSA Site http://webgw.alsa.org/site/TR/Endurance/GoldenWest?team_id=367681&pg=team&fr_id=12950

ALSA Twitter: https://twitter.com/napaALSride

ALSA Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/RidetoDefeatALS/?hc_location=group

The fact that RTG also celebrates its Blog-o-versary this month is just another reason to party, and I hope you'll swing by throughout the month to join us. Have a marvellous magical May!

Do Your Brain a Favor—Support Alzheimer’s Research

By Linda Lovely

Author Vivienne Lorret, my fellow blogger, has already alerted the followers of our Romancing the Genres blog that June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. But I decided two blogs on this topic isn’t overdoing it.

Consider these statistics, provided courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org/):

·         Alzheimer’s is the 6^th leading cause of death in the U.S.

·         1 in 3 seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

·         It’s the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed.

·         Alzheimer’s affects about 6% of people 65 years and older.

·          2/3 of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.

·         5.3 million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's—an estimated 5.1 million of them are age 65 and older.

I’m over 65 and female. My mother suffered from Alzheimer’s. So every time I forget a word or a person’s name, can’t find my car keys, or stare at a pantry shelf wondering what the heck I needed, I worry. Has it started? The one thing I don’t forget is to contribute to Alzheimer’s research and support groups—the brains trying to protect my brain, and yours.

If you’ve known and loved someone with Alzheimer’s, you know how hideous this disease is. My mom was a lot smarter than me. She skipped two grades, and she could add and multiply large numbers without aid of electronics (or even paper and pencil). She was a card sharp, too. When she was about 76, we noticed she began to have problems remembering what cards were played. She asked us to repeat things a lot. At first, we thought she needed a hearing aid. No, she was stalling for time to try to make sense of what we were saying. She was able to live on her own for about four years after the symptoms began, because she recognized her illness and tried to adapt. She pinned house keys to practically every blouse and jacket she owned. She scribbled notes to herself when she had more lucid moments.

Still we were forced to put Mom in a nursing home when she was 80. By then, she was suffering from hallucinations and was extremely paranoid. She still knew the people she loved, but was often very confused and excitable. The manager of her apartment complex was afraid she’d leave on a stove and start a fire. Taking Mom to the nursing home was the hardest thing I think I’ve ever done. Mom lived ten more years. Watching the mother I knew disappear was heart-breaking. 

So, please consider what you can do to support Alzheimer’s research. We baby boomers will—unfortunately—swell the ranks of those who suffer and die from this form of dementia if something isn’t done to find answers to the why of this dreadful disease. 

MY FAVORITE CHARITY - MARGARET TANNER

AN ENDURING LEGACY – MARGARET TANNER

As the centenary of the 1^st World War is upon us. I thought it appropriate to mention a charitable organization known as Legacy. It was started after the 1^st World War by returning veterans who wanted to help the widows and children of their fallen comrades

There are certain charities that I will always donate money to, The Red Cross and The Salvation Army, I am sure everyone would have heard of these wonderful organizations and the great work that they do.

Legacy, which is dear to my heart, would be virtually unknown outside Australia.  This organization is dedicated to supporting the widows and children of Australian service personnel who die during their war service or after it.  They look after nearly 100,000 widows and close to 2,000 children. Each widow and child is provided with a Legatee, that is a volunteer, usually a veteran or a serving member of the armed forces who will act as a mentor and friend. A Legatee might have several children and widows they look out for. It is a voluntary organization and receives no government funding.

Most of the widows now are from the 2^nd World War, Korea or Vietnam, but sadly, there are younger widows and children joining the Legacy ranks because of the war in Iraq, Timor and Afghanistan.

I have personal experience of the wonderful work that Legacy does. My late mother was a Legacy Widow, and they were extremely helpful to her. They fought the Veteran Affairs Department on her behalf and made it possible for her receive a War Widow’s pension from the government.  Her Legatee was a returned soldier in his 80’s, and he used to regularly drop in for a chat, and to make sure she didn’t need anything, he also visited her when she was in hospital for no reward, other than the knowledge that he was helping the widow of a fallen comrade.

My novel, The Loves We Left Behind, is a Special Edition, three book collection to mark the centenary of the 1^st World War. It is published by Books We Love and is available in print and e-book formats.

I intend donating any profits from the sale of this book to the Melbourne branch of Legacy in memory of my mother.

http://www.margarettanner.com/

http://bookswelove.net/authors/tanner-margaret/

 

THE LOVES WE LEFT BEHIND

A hundred years ago, from the far flung corners of the British Empire, young men rushed to fight for Mother England. They left their wives and sweethearts behind. Many of these brave women waited in vain for their men folk to return. How did they cope with the loss and heartache? Could they ever hope to find happiness with another man? Three full novels, each telling a brave young woman’s story of triumph over tragedy and adversity. Allison’s War, Daring Masquerade and Lauren’s Dilemma.

http://amzn.com/B00MASTCHM

 

 

 

Shout Out for Charity

June 2015

by Courtney Pierce

As a baby boomer, I’ve maintained my idealistic view of the world and the belief that one person can initiate change for the good. It must be my combination of dogged determination and Peter Pan Syndrome. I blink, wide-eyed like a child, when we humans make bonehead moves that benefit the few and devastate the many. That makes no sense! What are we thinking?

Beneath the humorous and emotional prose in every one of my books lurks a theme of charity. Serious adult problems are met with an adolescent response and humor. My characters charge ahead, creating no end of trouble for themselves to reach a goal that benefits someone else. In my first trilogy series, Stitches, Brushes, and Riffs, a boomer couple unravels the question “What would you do today if you had the chance to be immortal at the end of natural life?” My characters make that decision over three books and – no spoilers – become inspired to make their mark on the world with a touch of magic. They accomplish their mission through what they love: art, music, and animals.

David Castillo Dominici

In my current series, The Executrix, three middle-age sisters stumble into their charitable aspirations after their mother dies. Each sister makes a mess of their benevolent path in their own way, but when they come together they’re unstoppable at honoring their mother’s memory, transforming an unruly poodle into a service dog, and helping an elderly mobster reconcile his life by writing his memoir. The fun continues in the sequel Indigo Lake, which if I can stop laughing will be out by the end of the year.

None of us wants to fade away. We want to leave something behind to say “I was here.” Through the gift of story, my goal is to make readers laugh, cry, and to whip up endorphins that inspire. Charity starts with empathy, whether for a character, a cause, or a connection to something bigger than ourselves. Then it must become tangible. For some, a donation of money or a trip to Goodwill completes the circle. For others, charity can be as simple as holding the door open for a stranger or taking a second trip around the block to search for a neighbor’s missing tabby cat.

I wrote a short story last year called The Nest for the Windree Press Christrmas anthology A Gift of Christmas, which was based on my husband’s and my deep love of animals. The inspiration for the story came from a true incident of our finding a baby owl temporarily blinded from hitting a window. While I fictionalized the tale with magical realism and characters from my Stitches series, the real process of nursing the bird back to health was magical truth. After leaving a healthy donation to the kind vets who helped us, we walked on air for weeks. The bird was finally released back into the wild with our hearts lifting its wings.

Small gestures can generate big returns.

Courtney Pierce is a fiction writer living in Oregon with her husband of thirty-six years and bossy cat. She enjoys writing for baby boomers. Her novels are filled with heart, humor, and mystery. Courtney has studied craft and storytelling with best-selling author Jennifer Lauck at the Attic Institute and has completed the Hawthorne Fellows Program for writing and publishing. She is also a board member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association.

In Courtney's latest novel, The Executrix, three middle-aged sisters come together after the death of their mother, and the manuscript they find in her safe will test the thickness of sibling blood. While Mom’s prose makes her larger in death than in life, it is the elderly neighbor and his unruly standard poodle who inspire the story that will change the sisters' future. 

Visit Courtney's website at www.courtney-pierce.com. Her books can be purchased at Windtree Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo Books, and at several independent bookstores in the Portland area.

Sharing the Love - Charity Month

Hi, I'm Pippa Jay, author of scifi and the supernatural with a romantic soul. Since June is our charity month at RTG, I decided to share the love and asked some of my friends which charities they support and would like to see get an extra shout out. 

Carol Van Natta:

ShelterBox USA - http://www.shelterboxusa.org/

They make and deliver emergency shelters all over the world, typically tents, solar heaters, water purifiers, etc. They most recently responded to the Nepal earthquake aftermath (http://shelterboxusa.org/about.php?page=119).

Team Rubicon - http://www.teamrubiconusa.org/

To quote their website: "Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams." They not only provide disaster response all over the world, they provide military veterans a place to use the skills and teamwork they developed while in service and often don't find in civilian life.

Lyra Torres:

Big Cat Rescue - https://www.facebook.com/bigcatrescue?fref=nf

Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit sanctuary to 100 exotic cats. 

Corinne Kilgore:

True Colors Fund - http://truecolorsfund.org/
The True Colors Fund works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves. Founded by Cyndi Lauper.

Hope for Paws - http://www.hopeforpaws.org/

Hope for Paws Animal Rescue. They take the hardest cases and make them adoptable.

For myself, I'm nominating a charity in memory of a dear friend I made on Facebook who lost her battle with cancer just a few days ago. Carolyn Huckaby was a lovely lady, but she lost her son far too soon when he committed suicide. So in tribute to her, I'm nominating the charity she devoted much of her time and effort to until her illness and death: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

I hope that at least one of those causes is something you'd like to support. I know it seems like someone is always asking for money these days, but even if you just shared the links to spread the word, that would help too.

Best,

Pippa Jay

GIVING BACK - Susan Horsnell

Gratitude - Being Thankful, Showing Appreciation for and returning Kindness.

This is the Oxford Dictionary Definition for the word - Gratitude.

My husband and I have had an incredibly fortunate life to this point. We have good health, good fortune and we are financially secure. We are retired and have not yet turned 60 and we travel a great deal. As a thank you for all we have, and to show we are grateful for every blessing bestowed upon us, we chose to support an animal which suffers so terribly at the hands of humans.



Our Sponsored Bear - Wilfred (Willie)

In general, people are more than willing to help their fellow humans but not so willing to help our animal friends. This is the reason we chose to sponsor a Moon Bear in China through a fabulous organization called Animals Asia.

THE ISSUE:

More than 10,000 bears – mainly moon bears, but also sun bears and brown bears – are kept on bile farms in China, and just under 2,000 in Vietnam. The bears are milked regularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine.

Bile is extracted using various painful, invasive techniques, all of which cause massive infection in the bears. This cruel practice continues despite the availability of a large number of effective and affordable herbal and synthetic alternatives.

Most farmed bears are kept in tiny cages. In China, the cages are sometimes so small that the bears are unable to turn around or stand on all fours. Some bears are put into cages as cubs and never released. Bears may be kept caged like this for up to 30 years. Most farmed bears are starved, dehydrated and suffer from multiple diseases and malignant tumours that ultimately kill them.

BEAR SANCTUARIES:

Animals Asia  operate bear sanctuaries in China and Vietnam where bears are rehabilitated and cared for and where their bear teams gather vital evidence of the effects of bile extraction.

Their world-class bear rescue centres in Chengdu, China and Tam Dao, Vietnam provide the bears with comfortable dens and semi-natural enclosures where they are able to recover in safety and spend the remaining years of their lives in the company of other bears. To date, 400 farmed bears have been received into their care.

During their rehabilitation at the rescue centres, the bears’ behaviour and well-being are closely monitored by the bear teams through regular health checks and daily observations. This not only ensures that the bears receive the best care possible, but also enables staff to gather vital scientific evidence on the physical and psychological effects of bile extraction.

Reports and papers published by the teams have helped to raise the profile of the moon bear within the scientific community and to increase public awareness of the terrible cruelty involved in the bear bile farming industry.

The sanctuaries also provide direct employment for over 250 Chinese and Vietnamese people in areas such as bear care, horticulture, food preparation and security. Several hundred local people are employed indirectly through services and construction. There is also an active and ongoing education program in these countries. There has been positive support from governments in China and Vietnam to finally rid the practice of bear bile farming.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

For further information go to the Animals Asia website at https://www.animalsasia.org/intl/our-work/end-bear-bile-farming/

ABOUT WILFRED - Willie

Wilfred is quite tall with a relatively big body. Sadly, he is blind in both eyes but is very gentle-tempered. He has smooth, shiny fur and likes eating fruit best. His favourite fruit is watermelon, and when we first rescued him, that was the only thing he would eat and so he was nicknamed "Watermelon". Now outside in the enclosures, Wilfred has a new lease on life, and is amazingly active despite his blindness, and loves to climb anything and everything!


I am enormously grateful for all I have and to be able to help this gorgeous animal puts a huge smile in my heart.

Until next month, remember - "What Goes Around, Comes Around."
It takes the same amount of effort to be kind as it does to be mean.
God Bless and Stay Safe
Sue

Western Historical Romance Author

Website:          http://horsnells.wix.com/susan--1

Blog:              http://susanhorsnell.com

Facebook:      https://www.facebook.com/westernlovin

Where the Heart Is

Hi everyone! I am YA author B A Binns , writer of contemporary and realistic fiction for teens. My tagline tells you what I am about - Stories of Real Boys Growing Into Real Men - and the people who love them. 

This month the topic is charity and giving.

We dream about people who are totally altruistic, but the reality is that all too often, charity begins at home, and then stays there. Fortunately, we don't all have the same definition of home. For me, home really is where my heart is. When I give, it's because my heart is involved.

When I was a child I was the picture of real altruism. Or maybe I was just tired of having to eat everything on my plate because my mother always recited the plight of the starving children on the other side of the world. I began sending my allowance to CARE (http://www.care.org/) at an early age. My motive may have been suspect, but I felt good that even my small amounts were helping some unknown kid on the other side of the ocean get their own plate to clear.

During my childhood, my family spent a time being homeless. Today I donate both money and volunteer time to Journey From Pads to Hope, http://www.journeystheroadhome.org/landing/ an organization that provides services to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in suburban Cook County. My church is part of a network providing shelter to homeless men and women one night a week during the fall and winter, and I have volunteered to help serve food and care for participants.

My daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at fourteen. As a result, I discovered a kinship with other parents dealing in similar situations. For me, giving to organizations that help families dealing with this almost invisible crisis ranks up there with giving at home.

These days I find that my giving journey has moved in a giant circle. When I was in my twenties I gave to Alzheimer’s organizations. I worried about the possibility of facing that problem in my own future and wanted to give money for research. Now that I’m getting older, I find I’m at the other end of the giving spectrum. My primary charities involve giving to help families of children who have birth defects.

And, I am proud to say that my daughter has begun on her own charity course. She was involved in several church sponsored crop walks to fight hunger during her teen years. And this even though I was careful to never force her to clear her plate or call on the ghosts of starving children across the globe. She figured out the need for herself.


My giving involves more than just money. Being retired means I have time, and having time means I can volunteer. Right now I have volunteered to be a mentor to a young summer intern in the publishing industry. (I think I have her believing my input is valuable!!) Mostly it about giving her business advice, a subject my years as a manager have taught me well.

I also give time to children's literature. I don't just write, I give my time and knowledge to to teachers, libraries, and librarians across the country where I talk with professionals about ways to reach out to young reluctant readers and start them on the paths of reading, a path that will enhance their future.

 I am also giving time to and whatever expertise I possess to WeNeedDiverseBooks (http://weneeddiversebooks.tumblr.com/), a group working to increase the number, variety, and quality of books featuring diverse characters, locations and situations. One of my current roles involves helping with the group's first diversity festival. This festival is scheduled for July 2016 and will occur near DC. My role is to organize workshops, demonstrations and other activities for child and teen attendees. A year seems like a long time, but it's an entire conference so I need to finish this and get back into volunteer mode, picking speakers and performers for the big day.

You see, charity may begin at home, but HOME is as much the concepts I care about as it is my physical location. Yes, we must take care of ourselves and our families. But sometimes home includes people whose problems and suffering mirror our own. I don’t give to random charities, not even when they give me the spiel about the needy people. But I have suffered problems in my life, and I find my heart opening when the charity involves a pain I know something about.

Free, New, and Charity by Paty Jager

This month at RTG is shout out for charities. And I believe charity begins at home.

My gift to readers is my first historical western romance, Marshal in Petticoats, is now available for free permanently. 

After accidentally shooting a bank robber, Darcy Duncan becomes marshal of a town as accident prone as herself.  Darcy’s taken care of her younger brother the last five years, and she’s not about to take orders from a corrupt mayor or a handsome drifter, whose curiosity could end her career as a marshal and take away their security.

Gil Halsey is looking for his boss’s son who is riding with outlaws. Taking the young man back to the ranch will seal the foreman’s job. When he discovers the town’s new marshal is a passionate woman with high regard for family and being framed for a bank heist, he has to has to decide which is the better future—the feisty woman or the ranch.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Marshal-Petticoats-Halsey-Brother-Book-ebook/dp/B004W9C2II

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/marshal-in-petticoats-paty-jager/1101744510

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/marshal-in-petticoats

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/marshal-in-petticoats/id858169882

Windtree Press: http://windtreepress.com/portfolio/marshall-in-petticoats/

I have a new short story release:

This short story has anthropologist Isabella Mumphrey excited about spending her first Christmas with her Venezuelan DEA agent boy friend. The two met in the Guatemala Jungle in Secrets of a Mayan Moon. They found their missions intersecting in Secrets of an Aztec Temple. This Christmas story takes place before Isabella meets with her aunt at the Hopi Reservation and becomes entangled in Hopi myths and human slavery in Secrets of a Hopi Blue Star.

Secrets of a Christmas Box

Isabella’s plans of a wonderful Christmas are thwarted when her father hands her a World Intelligence Agency mission. He allows Tino to help her with the mission, so they can be together. As the days hasten to Christmas can she decipher the wooden cube she’s been handed or will her first Christmas with Tino be a bust? 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Christmas-Box-Isabella-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00XCZ60OA

And now for charity: 

I've been a part of a group of authors who write a round-robin story for fun. There has always been a theme to each story. This year we decided the theme will be wounded military heroes and heroines. We will publish the stories when they are finished and the proceeds will to to Pets for Vets. Our stories will have pets in them along with veterans trying to piece their lives back together. The group is called Written Fireside. 

The first story starts June 23rd. You can follow the progress of the story at :

http://writtenfireside.blogspot.com/

This is the site for Pets for Vets http://www.pets-for-vets.com/about-the-program/

patyjager.net

Writing into the Sunset