Month: October 2021

THINGS OLD AND FORGOTTEN

karenringalls23 Comments

If you would like to read a truly good book filled with short stories, then “Things Old and Forgotten,” is just for you. Mae Clair’s talent as a creative writer is quite evident in each story. She describes emotions, scenes, and characters in a beautifully poetic manner without them being contrived.

My 5 Star Review

Here is a collection of short stories that covers a wide range of genres and each story has a powerful message. My favorites were Desert White and Miss Lily Makes a Wish. The first one is about redemption, life’s choices, and consequences. On a lighter note is Miss Lily Makes a Wish, where a sweet elderly woman comes across a genie who jumped out of the lamp she rubbed. The chose 2 of her 3 wishes were very simple: to fix two things in her house, which surprised the genie. It was her 3rd wish that changed her life forever.
The author, Mae Clair, is a talented and creative storyteller. Each short story had a life lesson, a moral or religious issue, or a thought-provoking message. Some were on the light side while others were darker.

Webpage: https://maeclair.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6468716.Mae_Clair

Twitter: maeclair1

Instagram: @Maeclair1

Pinterest: maeclair

Member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers.

Member & Contributor to Story Empire.

A TRIBUTE TO CAROL…

karenringalls20 Comments

When you meet someone very special, who touches your heart deeply, you are very blessed. You will learn, laugh, and cry together. You will feel like you have known each other forever…and I believe at a soul level, you have. When I met Carol Tucker a few years ago, a deep bond was formed.

She loved the season of autumn, especially when she was at Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Carol always decorated for Halloween, welcomed trick-or-treaters, filling her home with the smells of apple cider, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon. Preparing and serving a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends was always brought a smile.

In memory of Carol Tucker, Oct. 27, 1950-Oct19, .2021 
Two words describe Carol Tucker: educator, advocate.
   She taught those children with a variety of learning disabilities. Using her intelligence and creativity she designed lesson plans designed to help, educate, encourage, and inspire. 
   As the co-founder and director of the Princeton House Charter School, she was an important leader in providing the best education for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
   Her role as a mother was always teaching her four children with unconditional love how to live to their fullest potential.
   Carol did not let her diagnosis of ovarian cancer slow her down. She advocated for women to know about this lesser known cancer, designed a newsletter, volunteered for every event, provided support to others by listening to those newly diagnosed, and giving them hugs, encouragement, and love.

Her book, Learning About Autism: One Mother’s Journey of Love and Acceptance, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book distributors. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH.

NECKS, PIPES & BOOKS

karenringalls26 Comments

Where have I been? Why have I not been blogging?

  • A neck injury from an auto accident 40 years ago, has been giving me continual pain for two months, especially when I am on the computer.
  • Injections, medications, acupuncture, exercises, and manipulations have slowed its progress. Now a more aggressive and invasive treatment is on the horizon. What exactly that will entail is yet to be determined.
  • A water pipe broke underneath our house causing damage to two areas of our home. We canceled a two-week vacation trip to New England because of my severe headaches.
  • So, I am grateful for the headaches. Otherwise, we might have lost our home due to water damage!
Life can be a pain in the neck.
The average head weighs 11 pounds
The neck consists of 7 vertebrae
A giraffe with its l-o-n-g neck has the same number of vertebrae.
I wonder if it suffers from headaches?!

The bright side of this two month challenge has been the number of books I have read. One such book published by Fresh Ink Publishing is The Autumn Tree.

The Autumn Tree by Aysha Ehsan

Four young and very different individuals, Amanda, Catherine, Matheus, and Brad lives become intertwined in San Francisco. Spring brings hope and love, but can they survive the challenges of autumn?

My 5-star review: Two of the primary characters, Amanda and Catherine, lives are intertwined. Each young woman has issues that they must face and either learn from or succumb to. There are some disturbing scenes that might be upsetting to some readers. The author presents sexual, drug, discrimination, and family issues that each character needs to deal with. I loved this book, and read it quickly. Congratulations to the author for a well-written novel.

Please give Aysha your support by reading and reviewing her first novel.