This is the story of how a great love and huge faith are helping Jack battle brain cancer…

By Lisa Dearman-Reinhard — Author of Unbreakable Will and Wash by a Beach

September 26, 2014

People say that life can change in an instant.  Believe them.  It can, and it did for Jack and me.  As summer was drawing to a close I was finishing up teaching two classes at Florida State College at Jacksonville and putting last-minute touches on projects for the last two courses of my Florida Gifted Endorsement.  The school year was upon me, and I was heading back to teach Gifted Language Arts to 7th and 8th graders.  Jack and I decided to go to the beach for two last days of summer frolic and stay at a historic inn. It was August 3rd. Suddenly, though, Jack was getting mixed up and having trouble deciding how to carry both the chairs and the cooler.  He struggled to walk and felt clumsy.  He began to drift to the left while driving, coming very close to the car in the next lane.  He dropped his cell phone when he tried to answer it.  He missed the counter with his coffee cup and it went crashing to the floor.  Clearly, something was wrong.  We just didn’t know what.

Within two short weeks of whirlwind testing, we had our answer.  Jack had a baseball-sized glioblastoma multiform level 4 tumor in the right frontal and temporal lobes of his brain. There are no words that adequately convey how horrible it is to receive that news.  You always think it can’t happen to you.  But it did.  The decision upon us was whether to do nothing and face 3 months of life at most, or to undergo surgery to remove the tumor. Although the surgery carried the risk of paralysis on Jack’s left side, we opted for it.  On August 22nd, we left home for the hospital at 5 in the morning.  We took our faith, a small bag of Jack’s things, and an overnight bag for me.  We prayed on the way.

We were blessed with a gifted neurosurgeon who removed 98% of the tumor without causing any paralysis.  The next days at the hospital were full of rejoicing and friends as Jack moved from ICU to a regular room.  He wiggled his toes, declared the hospital food “luscious” (at which we questioned his sanity), and requested the boom box I keep in my classroom.  He conducted his own music therapy with Miles Davis, Fleetwood Mac, Emmylou Harris, The Subdudes, and many others while he passed out the chocolates our neighbor brought him to all the nurses. (He was very popular.)  We came home on August 25th, encouraged by the progress he was making.  On the evening of August 28th, however, we got the scare of our lives; Jack had a seizure while standing, causing him to fall, hit the corner of the wall, and split open his forehead above the eyebrow.  He then had 12 more and was rushed back to the hospital, where he was re-admitted for a two day stay while his anti-seizure meds were adjusted.  Apparently, he was metabolizing the correct amount he was given and there was too little left in his bloodstream.  He doesn’t remember much about that night, but I do.  It was terrifying.  Since then, he has been seizure-free, and has begun his radiation and chemo treatments daily for 7 weeks.

We are SO grateful for our dear friends and our church family who have stepped up with meals, prayers, visits, and encouragement.  Two very special people have been taking Jack to all his treatments and appointments so that I could return to work:  our dear neighbor, Carol, and our wonderful friend, Tim.  My heart thanks you two all day every day, as you have given Jack and me a gift we can never repay.

I invite you to post messages to Jack here, to reach out and encourage him as he faces each day with an amazing positiveness and courage. We are both infinitely grateful to God for His mercy and His grace.  We know He holds the future, and we are trusting Him.
All my best,
Lisa

Terry Odell asked Maris Soule to participate in the Sisters in Crime Blog Hop. If you go to the website below’s blog site, you’ll see the answers to three of the questions posed. This may help you write a better novel…http://marissoule.com/blog/

5 Tips for Eating HEALTHY FISH!

www.bwdmagazine.com

By Dr. David L Vastola

It stands to reason that eating less meat and more fish is healthier, right?  Well maybe not so fast.  Last year I had a couple, who were very health conscious and looked it despite their 50 some years, manifest symptoms of Mercury poisoning and their blood levels were three times normal.  Why?  Because they ate a lot of fish instead of meat and they self-contaminated themselves, so here are five facts that you need to know about in regards to fish.

WAKE UP CALL

The fishing industry is in a disarray thanks to the federal government and their influence through NOAA agency.  Seventy-one percent of the world’s fish are being overexploited and 1/3 are illegally caught.  The fishing town of Gloucester, Mass., just south of our summer home in Rockport, Mass., only fish three months out of the year and the remaining time are on a government subsidy, drinking beer and watching Greater Tuna!  Of course the Canadians, Russians and Chinese fish away all year long.  Lastly, 85% of the fish we eat is imported.

GET WITH IT

The two biggest problems in regards to fish are PCB’s that cause cancer and Mercury, a heavy metal that causes a myriad of conditions including brain and nerve degeneration.  The Mercury we see in deep water are large fish like Tuna, Swordfish and Mackerel that are predatory.  They get contaminated through the process of bio magnification where Mercury is deposited in our oceans from rain that is contaminated by our industrial waste which is airborne.  The plants and algae pick it up, are eaten by smaller fish, who are eaten by larger fish, etc., etc., and with each step the mercury levels get higher, hence magnified.

KNOW THE FACTS

The PCB’s we see in our Salmon, are mostly farm fed because the feed is contaminated with a carcinogen and that’s why there is a push for “WILD” Salmon, whatever that is!  The only Salmon that I know of being WILD for sure is Irish Salmon so look for it.  Even Atlantic Salmon, despite its name, is not, and is farm fed.  Canned Salmon and Albacore are good choices and I would encourage you to eat them because of the Omega 3 oils in them, which are very healthy for you.

WHAT IS ALWAYS FORGOTTEN

Many times we are so mentally consumed with these poisons and the fish that we eat, we forget about bacteria.  During my residency, I saw a patient with flesh eating bacteria who lost his leg and hand because of it, and I can still smell it to this day.  He got it from eating raw oysters.  Raw fish or shellfish are dangerous not only because they could be contaminated, but there is also a concern about the food handlers, so don’t eat anything raw including Sushi which I call bait.  My one daughter has been sick twice from it, and thanks to dear old dad, she is still alive and well.

DON’T FALL VICTIM

The bottom line, follow these guidelines and if you have any doubts, go on line, www.Fish2Fork.com and get some useful accurate information.  Eat only wild Salmon, canned or Sockeye Salmon, large fish such as Swordfish, Tuna and Mackerel only once a month and if potentially childbearing not at all because it can injure the unborn child.  Of course cooked shellfish and anchovies are great choices; also so put them in your Caesar salad.  The smaller fish are not dangerous like Tile Fish, Cod or Haddock, which is my favorite, with the former being mostly farm raised now.

Bio: Dr. David L Vastola runs a private practice in Palm Beach, Florida, and is often called the “Sherlock Holmes of Medicine” for uncovering problems that other medical professionals missed. He has four books, five children, has been married for thirty-four years, has an assistant lovingly named Patrick the Poodle, and is showcasing a new TV pilot called, Good Health Hunting, at film festivals. His book Fountain of Youth: Nutritional Therapies is due for release in 2015. http://www.yourgoodhealthfl.com/dr-david-vastola/  Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com  Published by Carrel Books www.carrelbooks.com

WPA-“From Fact to Fiction”   By Maris Soule

Our Friday afternoon speaker was Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling suspense novelist. Lisa spoke on: “From Fact to Fiction: How to Turn Chilling Research into a Thrilling Novel.”

Lisa Gardner

I’ve read some of Lisa’s novels and she truly does write a chilling story.

Much of what she said wasn’t new, but it’s always good to hear this information again. She started by telling us the information we need in order to write a mystery/suspense/thriller can be found in (1) secondary sources such as text books, articles (especially about true crime), and the Internet; from (2) interviewing experts such as lawyers, police, FBI, doctors, etc.; and (3) hands-on research such as firearms training, self-defense, and attending programs such as Writers Police Academy.  She said a writer should utilize family and friends. If they don’t have the information you need, maybe they know someone who does.

A writer needs to make new friends. You need to cold call the people who can provide the information. (I’ve done that many times. I’m always nervous, and I’m always amazed by how willing these professional people are to answer my questions.) The main thing Lisa stressed (and I agree) is you need to be polite and professional. And you need to emphasize it is fiction. (I found the deputy I talked to got very anxious when I asked about a boat exploding on Lake Michigan. I had to quickly reassure him this was fiction.)

If the expert you call doesn’t have the answers you need, ask him or her to recommend someone who might. And don’t be afraid to go through official channels. Media officers are your friend. Schedule a time to talk, and do your homework before you make the call so you know what questions to ask. Also, it’s always good to ask if you can contact them later or talk to someone else for additional information, if you find it necessary. Finally, follow up your call with a thank you note. (Sometimes also sending a thank you to upper-ups is good.)

Usually, Lisa said, research will lead you to the need for more information. It opens new possibilities for your story.

While interviewing the expert, it’s good to ask what their funniest case was, their scariest case, and/or their favorite case. Or, what was their biggest surprise on the job? The best part of the job? The worst part? She also said she asks what the expert has found wrong in books. That way she doesn’t repeat that mistake.

If this expert is a friend or the conversation is going well, you might ask: “How do you commit the perfect crime?” I had an opportunity like this years ago when I asked a pilot friend how to hijack a small plane. He told me the exact steps I would have to take.

One thing Lisa stressed is in a good thriller everyone needs to be smart. It needs to be a battle of wits. She also warned not to overlook the mundane details, such as the sense of smell, touch, and sound, or the adrenaline rush, the nerves, and the rapid thoughts running through one’s mind.

Depending on the type of story you’re writing or your personality as a writer, decide what details are the right ones to use in a story. The stress might be on science versus psychology. Or it might be a police procedural. Or a domestic suspense. You, the writer must decide what details are the right details. The knowledge you acquire is like an iceberg. What you use in a story may just be the tip, but the more you know to back up that knowledge, the more convincing that detail will seem.

And finally, she reminded us that if it’s a dramatic scene, you want to write in detail to develop the tension, but if it’s simply a scene where you’re providing information, get through that fast.

John Gilstrap and Lisa Gardner.

If you want more information about Lisa Gardner, check out her website: www.lisagardner.com

The Mystery of Mary Boland

By Jeanne Charters    http://jeannecharters.com/mystery-mary-boland

People often ask where my characters in Shanty Gold came from. You know, how did I ever dream them up?

The answer varies some. Today, I’ll tell you about my protagonist—Mary Boland. That was the name I heard from childhood of the girl who would become my great, great grandmother. My mother and aunts buzzed her name with an almost mystical tone.

We knew she had come over from Ireland at some point, but that was about it. I was curious about her.

So she came to me. In dreams, waking and sleeping. She was young and tall. Thin and pretty. She had long, red, curly hair which flamed behind her when she rode her horse along the Irish Sea Coast. “Tell my story,” she whispered.

Trips to Ireland turned up no information on Mary, so I let her drive my fingers at the computer as I wove her tale into Shanty Gold. I think she’ll like what I did with her life. I hope you will, too.

Next time, I’ll tell you about Kamua Okafor (Kam), her soul brother, the African slave boy whom she met on the coffin ship.

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Published by Rogue Phoenix Press www.roguephoenixpress.com (release 2015)

God wants you to know that at some point it may serve you to decide that a particular project or undertaking is complete.

Seeking excellence is one thing; never finding anything totally satisfactory is another. It is as I have told you before: Perfection is the obstacle of creation and the enemy of achievement.

At some point you’ve got to say, “This is good. And this is enough.”  If you cannot do this, you will never get anything done — and that is the opposite of what you want, is it not? www.CWGPortal.com

On October 25, 2014, you will be able to meet Chuck Walsh, get a signed copy of his two new novels, A Month of Tomorrows (Vinspire Publishing) and Shadows on Iron Mountain (Champagne Books), and have a glass of wine!  www.chuckwalshwriter.com

The 2nd Annual ‘Novel’ Wine Tasting and Literary Festival in Ridgeland

Sea of Greed by Douglas McCullough and Les Pendleton is now available!

Sea Of Greed

ISBN #: 978-1-62596-986-6

Size: 8.5×5.5

Page Count: 296

Price: $13.99

www.seaofgreedbook.com

Published by Deer Hawk Publications www.deerhawkpublications.com

For book orders contact Aurelia Sands aurelia@deerhawkpublications.com (850) 375-9161

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Amazon  Shelfari

Sea of Greed by Douglas McCullough and Les Pendleton is based on the true story behind the arrest of Manuel Noriega and the invasion of Panama pursuant to Operation Just Cause. Sea of Greed slideshare

McCullough, a former U.S. Attorney, prosecuted a sophisticated group of drug smugglers and money-launderers that had successfully gained access into Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Kentucky and Michigan, amassing over $50,000,000 which was placed in Panamanian banks with Noriega’s assistance.  The investigation and apprehension of these smugglers eventually led to the exposure of Noriega as a drug lord and money launderer despite the fact that on occasion he provided intelligence to the CIA and DEA and received an award from President Reagan. A conspiracy that spanned this hemisphere, stretching from Colombia to the Grand Caymans, Jamaica and the United States, involved were local politicians, businessmen, celebrities and entertainment agents as well as Noriega and members of Colombian drug cartels. This is the only occasion where a head of state has been prosecuted in a federal court like any other criminal.

Judge Douglas McCullough sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.  Following service in the U.S. Marine Corps, McCullough was a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia before becoming Counsel to the Senate Ethics Committee in Washington. He returned to his home state, North Carolina, in 1981 and became the senior Assistant United States Attorney where he served until 1996.  After four years in private practice he won his first election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and was re-elected in 2010.

Stephen Kalish, the mastermind of the whole operation, has done his time and become a successful businessman in California. He has graciously agreed to an endorsement for the book. NYT Jan 29, 1988

Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno, born February 11, 1934, is a former Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989. In the 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States he was removed from power, captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on eight counts of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering in April 1992.

Noriega’s U.S. prison sentence ended in September 2007; pending the outcome of extradition requests by both Panama and France, for convictions in absentia for murder in 1995 and money laundering in 1999. France was granted its extradition request in April 2010. He arrived in Paris on April 27, 2010, and after a re-trial as a condition of the extradition, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven years in jail in July 2010. A conditional release was granted on September 23, 2011, for Noriega to be extradited to serve 20 years in Panama. He arrived in Panama on December 11, 2011.  Wikipedia

Mary Nida Smith’s nonfiction, Submarine Veterans of World War II has been acquired by Skyhorse Publishing!

As the wife of a submariner, Mary Nida Smith lived through many a troubled day. Her husband, Melvin T, Smith, was one of these honorable men. He is a lifetime member of the USS Submarine Veterans Inc., (Holland Club), the former Vice Commander of the USS Submarine Veterans Base, Mountain Home, Arkansas, former member of the Idaho Spuds-USS Submarine Veterans of WWII and the Northwest Regions/Idaho/Montana/Oregon/Washington. Through it all, she stuck by him—and wrote.

Mary Nida Smith                      Melvin T. Smith

Submarine Veterans of World War II is about teenage boys who left farms, small towns, and inner cities to defend the United States and democracy worldwide. Signing up for United States Navy submarine duty was an adventure of a lifetime during the early 40s. Dreams of torpedoing Japanese and German ships and subs consumed their thoughts. Gallant heroes.

Those who returned home as young men were older—wiser.

Contributed by nine men who rode submarines to great depths and across the oceans into unknown territory, they share their experiences, fears and thoughts; allowing us to travel back in time through their memories. Some stories will never be told. Held deep within the secret confines of their souls, these deep sea veterans block it out for self-perseverance. Yet, there are others who will never escape their own minds, they relive it over and over with eyes open or shut.

It was difficult finding veterans of that era who were able and willing to release their stories. Many have departed this earth, and those who are still with us now find themselves in their late 80s and 90s. Trained for years to keep silent, for “loose lips sink ships,” some still believe what they know to be classified and refuse to disclose even the minutest of recollections. Others want to leave a legacy of reminiscences for others to learn and live by—to know that freedom is not free.

Submarine Stories of World War II was written to honor the men who served and are serving today on submarines.

Smith, an author, freelance writer, poet and photographer has lived in several states, submitting and publishing in local magazines and newspapers. Magazines: The Ozarks Mountaineer, Ozarks, Arkansas Living, Good Old Days, Polaris (WWII), Grit, Northwest Living (Field Editor), Storyteller (photographed covers), Salute, Journal of the Ozarks. Newspapers: Magic Valley Farm Lines (South Idaho Press-Clark newspapers), Port Orchard Independent (Washington- weekly column), Ozark Mountain News (Mountain Home, AR), and Oregon Journal (Portland – book reviews). Newsletters: U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII (Arkansas Diamond Chapter), Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI- Australia), SCBWI-Missouri, SCBWI-Arkansas, Ozarks Writers League (OWL), and Missouri Writers Guild. Contributed to the anthologies: Echoes of the Ozarks and Women in Nature.

Submarine Stories of World War II (First Edition) was originally published by Red Engine Press, 2008. It was displayed for several months in the Ralph Foster Museum (Collage of the Ozarks), and in three military museums: St. Marys’ Submarine Museum, St. Mary’s, Georgia, Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, Wisconsin, USS Razorback and Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas, and cataloged in the Donald W. Reynolds Library Baxter County, Arkansas.  When she created her blog Submarine Stories and Military Writers (2007 –present), she linked with The Sub Report at http://thesubreport.blogspot.com where she is featured on his Submarine Blog Roll.

marynida@suddenlink.net

http://marynidasmith.blogspot.com

http://marynidasmithbooks.blogspot.com

http://creativewritersandillusrators.blogspot.com

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor New York, NY www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Buzz Bernard, author of Eyewall, Plague and Supercell, will be signing his novels @ “Meet the Local Authors,” (St Simons Island Literary Guild), Sunday, Oct. 5th, 1-5 pm at the Casino Pavilion by the St. Simons Island Library in The Village overlooking the St. Simons Sound. The inaugural event is for local authors.

Bernard is writing from vast experience. He has a B. S. in Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, was a Weather Officer in the United States Air Force Reserve 1963-1996 (two tours in Vietnam 1965-1966, Meritorious Service Medal 1993, flew with Hurricane Hunters 1995, and Legion of Merit 1996), and worked as a meteorologist and defense contractor 1968-1996. https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/buzz-bernard  https://www.facebook.com/

Vice President, Southeastern Writers Asso.
Member, International Thriller Writers
Member, Atlanta Writers Club
Member, Willamette Writers

Eyewall was Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year 2012 – Fiction Novel

 Eyewall is to St. Simons as Jaws was to the New Jersey shore. An action-packed novel depicting a category five hurricane that originally is predicted to make landfall around Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, it is discovered instead to be headed for St. Simons Island, Georgia. St. Simons, a barrier island with a population of over 40,000, has not been forewarned… and it’s Labor Day Weekend.

An Air Force Hurricane Hunter’s crew, a hurricane expert at the Atlanta-based Natural Environment Television Network, and a family trapped on St. Simons Island all have one thing in common: Hurricane Janet. The unimaginable has just been predicted!

Eyewall book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FdwqabI3X8

PLAGUE – Nominated for Georgia Author of the Year 2013 – Fiction Novel – Winner 2014 EPIC eBook Award for Suspense/thriller!

In 2008, a congressional commission warned, “…given the high-level of know-how needed to use disease as a weapon to cause mass casualties, the United States should be less concerned that terrorists will become biologists and far more concerned that biologists will become terrorists.”

In a remote part of Siberia, a lab dating back to the cold war is still active. In its depths are the deadliest viruses known to man. Barashi has his own plans for them; a diabolical one that would affect the world and trump 9/11…

Supercell – Semi-finalist for Georgia Author of the Year 2014 – Fiction Novel

When Chuck, a meteorologist, ventures out on his own to form a company which does storm chasing, the big bucks roll in until lightning strikes… literally. Out of work and living in a dive, he is approached by Hollywood with a million dollar deal – lead cinematographers to a violent EF-4 or -5 tornado. But they are not the only ones striking it rich with twisters, a brotherly pair of thieves are looting and killing immediately after tornadoes. Throw in an undercover FBI agent and Chuck’s son, a former Green Beret who is a less-than-willing participant, and you have non-stop, breath-catching, chill-bumps-all-over-your-body excitement page after page.

SUPER endorsement for Supercell!

“Buzz Bernard has succeeded in writing a captivating book that not only helps inform people about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, but gives a glimpse into the challenges, frustrations, dangers, and–sometimes–successes of storm chasing. He has woven this into a drama filled with interesting characters and an exciting plot.”

Greg Forbes, Severe Weather Expert, The Weather Channel

www.buzzbernard.com
Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Published by BelleBooks www.bellebooks.com