Loiacono Literary Agency welcomes Mary Nida Smith and her nonfiction military dedicated to submariners, Submarine Stories of WWII!

As the wife of a submariner, she lived through many 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) and the Vice Commander of the USS Submarine Veterans Base, Mountain Home, Arkansas and also 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, 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 cover), Salute, Journal of the Ozarks and contributed to the anthologies Echoes of the Ozarks and Women in Nature. 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 of Veterans of WWII (Arkansas Diamond Chapter), Salute, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI- Australia), SCBWI-Missouri, SCBWI-Arkansas, Ozarks Writers League (OWL), and Missouri Writers Guild.

Her non-fiction, Submarine Stories of World War II  (First Edition) was published by Red Engine Press, 2008. Then came The Sub Report http://thesubreport.blogspot.com. Her blog Submarine Stories and Military Writers (2007 –present) http://submarinestories.blogspot.com was displayed 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.

LLA is seeking republication of this heroic endeavor, along with enhanced personal stories and photographs.

Submarine Veterans of World War II is about teenage boys who left the farms, small towns, and inner cities to go on the adventure of a lifetime during the early 40s. When they returned home as young men, they were older and wiser.

These stories were shared by nine men who rode the submarines to great depths and across the world into unknown strange seas. They share a peek into the dangers encountered while on war patrols. Many stories will never be told; held securely within a deep, secret compartment of their souls. One story was shared by a Pearl Harbor survivor of the Battle Wagon USS California BB-44, bombed by the Japanese Air Force. Soon after, he joined the submarine service. Another veteran checked the sonar on the U-505 that is displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry at Chicago, Illinois.

You will be able to share the fears and joys of the submarine sailors who went out to sea for many days, where friendships were formed and sealed for a lifetime. They are a special breed of men who chose to brave the sleek steel giants of the seas known as “submarines.” It was difficult finding veterans of that era to release their stories. Now in their late 80s and 90s, they were trained for years to keep silent, for “loose lips sink ships.” Submarine Stories of World War II was written to honor the men who served and are serving today on submarines.

Loiacono Literary Agency welcomes Katherine Yu and All About Sylvia: An Autistic Child’s Drawing Journey

Author, screenplay writer, editor, TV/film producer and mother to three beautiful daughters, ChunChai “Katherine” Yu has much to be proud of. When her youngest, Sylvia, was born with autism, she went through the usual rollercoaster of emotions— fear, worry, loss, confusion, denial and anger—yet, Katherine took this challange by the horns and has refused to back down. Art was the key to unlocking the world around Sylvia. From the moment she was three and Katherine put paper and colored pencils in front of her, the lights turned on. Sylvia is nine now.

All About Sylvia: An Autistic Child’s Drawing Journey is only the beginning of a lifelong process of sharing her world with us.

This is what she is giving us. Sylvia.

 Sister Alina and Sylvia    

Sylvia’s ceramics

https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/authors/katherine-yu

Jeanne Charters, author of Shanty Gold — Irish Humor   http://jeannecharters.com/irish-humor/

The Devil Takes Half by Leta Serafim can now be found @

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An archeological dig near a desolate monastery in Greece is no longer the innocent search for Minoans, the mysterious precursors to the Greek who disappeared without a trace more than 3500 years before; giving rise to the legend of Atlantis. A severed hand and what seems to be all the blood from the missing archeologist, Eleni Argentis, is found in a trench and her teenage assistant, Petros, is found nearby with his throat slit.

On such a remote island, there are only so many suspects, then again, Yiannis Patronas, the policeman in charge of the investigation, finds all is not as it appears, and some secrets are as ancient as the site itself.

REVIEWS

“[An] impressive debut …. The discovery of a severed hand lying in a pool of blood brings Yiannis Patronas, the chief police officer on the island of Chios, to an archeological dig near a remote and almost deserted monastery. After a young worker at the site gets his throat cut, more violent assaults follow. The ensuing police procedural is improvised and uncertain because Yiannis is a troubled, bumbling hero who has had no experience with murder cases or sadistic criminals. He’s also burdened with incompetent subordinates, and his only real assistant is an elderly priest who’s watched too many American detective TV shows. Serafim has a good eye for people and places, and sheds light on the centuries of violent passion that have created an oppressive atmosphere hanging over the sunny Greek landscape.”

—Publishers Weekly

“The Greeks have a word for it, and in this fast-paced, delightful mystery, that word is murder. A cop with a nagging wife and an old priest with an addiction to American TV are spurred to investigate the homicide of a beautiful anthropologist who may have dug up more than shards of an ancient urn. The real buried treasure is pure pleasure in Serafim’s debut novel.”

—Mary Daheim, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Alpine and Bed & Breakfast mystery series

“Leta Seraphim’s deftly crafted descriptions of people, places and action quickly transports the reader into the midst of the seemingly tranquil and spiritual setting of a remote ancient monastery on the island of Chios where, alas (!) sinister and gruesome events are taking place. The mystical element of the monastic setting quickly turns to an unholy mystery as this suspenseful and fast paced tale of unspeakable murders draws you into its setting: an archeological site, the quest to discover a Minoan settlement and an unlikely assemblage of intriguing characters who become tangled together as the story unfolds. A determined Chief Police Officer, several Archeologists, a young and impoverished assistant and a priest all come to life in this beautifully rendered mystery. Intelligently written, with keenly observed characters and places and ever mindful of the rich history of this Greek island, Leta Serafim’s narrative delivers an enjoyable and skillfully developed story that holds your interest from start to finish.”

—Argie Tiliakos, Neuropsychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital (retired)

“In The Devil Takes Half, Leta Serafim has done an excellent job capturing the nuances and mentality of the Greek people: young, middle age and old. As the child of Greek immigrants who were careful to pass on a thorough knowledge of their language, culture, and tradition, I am delighted to find an American who has not only taken the time to do her research but also understands the sacrifice and beauty of a proud people and country. Her humor and use of the Greek language help to paint a vivid literary portrait of a group of characters who are only too real. I can actually see this riveting mystery novel being made into a wonderful motion picture. What fun!”

—Margaret P. Carayannopoulos, Board Member, the Harvard University Retiree Association

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Published by Coffeetown Press www.coffeetownpress.com

The loss of a great lady…

Yesterday, Clarice Strother went to meet her Creator. A fine human being who cared for so many, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend.

She is immortalized in Stephen Doster’s Georgia Witness – A Contemporary Oral History of the State (Deer Hawk Publications, 2012). Along with twenty-five other outstanding Georgians, Mrs. Strother told her story; one of great memories of Brunswick and St. Simons Island, as well as events she witnessed and incredible people she met in her lifetime.

Below is a short excerpt from Georgia Witness, which is available through all online outlets as well as local book stores, especially in The Golden Isles.

Our hearts ache, but we know she is with The Lord of All.

Clarice Strother grew up in a time when meeting a real “Yankee” was a rare event for some Southerners.  She describes what it was like growing up on the coast during the 1930s and ‘40s.  Her husband’s store, J. C. Strother Co., is located in the heart of the village on St. Simons.  More than an icon, it is one of the oldest family owned and operated businesses in the state.  She also discusses an incident from her days as a teacher that still weighs on her conscience.

My name is Clarice Sutton Strother.  I was born November 27, 1927 at home, 1615 Macon Avenue in the Urbana¹ section of Brunswick, right behind the Hadley Brown home, which is now the Chamber of Commerce.  My maiden name was Clarice Sutton.  I didn’t have a middle name, so I just used Sutton.  My sister, Rosalie, made up her middle name – Catherine.  My father was Leslie Gordon Sutton.  He had the Royal Crown Cola bottling company in Brunswick.  There was a cola war going on at that time.  Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper were the two other bottling companies.  The bottling plant was at the end of Gloucester on the block where the Brunswick library is now.  When my daddy sold it, the man who bought it wasn’t really able to look after it, so it sort of went to the dogs.

Clarice Strother, 1945 high school graduation photograph.

www.s.doster.com

www.deerhawkpublications.com

Georgia Witness 

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An excellent review for The Devil Takes Half by Leta Serafim!

Having always wanted to visit Greece, of course I couldn’t resist reading The Devil Takes Half. This was an interesting look at Greece and their unique mindset. It was also fun seeing how the Greeks see foreigners. Patronas wasn’t exactly a bumbling investigator, more like a perfectly competent cop for life in a small Greek village — a village that saw its last murder during World War II. Suddenly he has two possible murders (or maybe just missing person cases) and if that isn’t bad enough there are plenty of foreigners mixed up in the case as well as a confusing archaeological dig. So while he’s trying to figure out who the murderer is, Patronus is also trying to figure out how you go about investigating a murder.

For almost half the book you’ll be wondering what the murderer’s motive is? Why would he or she murder archaeologists at what everyone agrees is a worthless dig? Maybe it isn’t about the dig at all? Maybe it’s personal? This is an enjoyable read, it’s easy to sympathize with Patronus who has assistants that are in turns incompetent and overenthusiastic and in desperation he begins to take advice from detectives on American TV shows. He reminds me of myself when I’m reading a mystery. I have a feeling about what’s going on but I’m not completely sure. As the investigation goes on there is no shortage of suspects (and eventually motives) and it’s a good tale as Patronus unravels the true story hidden on the island of Chios.

The Greek setting gives this book not only an exotic locale but also characters that have a different way of looking at life and often, motives that wouldn’t exist if this happened in…Cleveland. Take a literary visit to Greece. You won’t regret it! http://jodiwebb.com/

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com

Published by Coffeetown Press www.coffeetownpress.com

Words from Pep

Interspecies Communion

It was a warm day by northern standards. I stopped in the shade, pulled the pack from my shoulders and let it drop to the ground. My panting friend was glad for the rest and collapsed close by. Taking a deep breath which evolved into a yawn I sat down and let my back fall into the burden I had dropped. It was dead calm. Only the rapid breathing and slowly waging tail in old leaves engaged my ears. We merged into the surroundings as if always having been there. Soon our bodies and souls became still and our eyelids heavy. Half-awake I became aware of the clatter of cellophane wings in our presence and the slight pinch of tiny feet on my hand. With eyes partially open I looked into the inquisitive gaze of a copper bodied dragonfly. She titled her head side-to-side staring into my face. Her four wings twitched, she looked upward and launching into flight snatching a mosquito from the bill of my cap. With an imperceptible communication she summoned others and soon a half dozen X-wing craft were hovering nearby to join the feast. I was drenched in sweat, but surely it was the smell of my canine friend nearby that kept attracting the mosquitoes into the hunt. A wing clatter preceded each foray as they shared the cuisine. This was no feeding frenzy but a tactical organized communal action meeting the day’s need. I looked over at my furry friend whose tail was still sweeping the leaves and it crossed my mind that unlike the fear driven greed of my own species, these relations harvested only what was needed for the moment. There was no need to hoard or amass. They knew Creator would supply and so they were present to the only time that exists – the now. I was drawn from this reflection as tiny feet again landed on the helipad of my hand. We smiled together in interspecies communion and with a cock of her head and quick clatter she departed. I took another deep breath, rose, lifted the pack and we continued our journey, content in body and soul. www.theteacherwithin.com

– ONE WORLD  –  ONE FAMILY OF MAN  –  ONE CREATOR OF ALL

Dallas FABLE meeting info!

FABLE stands for Fiction Authors Begin Lively Exchanges and is the vision of Long Island author and editor Dina Santorelli. FABLE Dallas meeting will be August 7th at 7:00 p.m. at Napoli’s in Grapevine, Texas. http://www.napolisgrapevine.com/contact/ https://www.facebook.com/fableinternational and FABLE Dallashttps://www.facebook.com/events/1394976040724790/ Bring a note pad, a short reading from your work and let’s have fun.

Gnarly Conundrum by Jeanne Charters—Immigration, then and now…

http://jeannecharters.com/immigration-gnarly-conundrum-2/

John L. Flynn, author of Intimate Bondage, to be at Dragon Con!!

The below information is the TENTATIVE Dragon Con program schedule for John L. Flynn.
Convention Dates are Fri (8/29/14), Sat (8/30/14), Sun (8/31/14), and Mon (9/1/14).
John L. Flynn

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Title: “Just the Facts, Ma’am…”
Description: Writers of non-fiction looking for a career boost? This panel is geared toward perfecting your craft–and discovering new outlets for your work.
Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: Embassy D-F – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, John L. Flynn, M. B. Weston, Stuart Jaffe, Anya Martin, Teresa Patterson)

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Title: “What If: Alien Invasion”
Description: Authors, academics and fans discuss what would happen if we found out aliens were real…and coming.
Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: M106 – M107 – Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: John L. Flynn, Fr. Bryan Small, Annalee Newitz, Elizabeth Howell)

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Title: “XFiles Turns 21!”
Description: Come discuss our fav 21 eps of XFiles as the show turns 21. If you’re an adult, bring your own adult beverage to toast one of the greatest shows ever!
Time: Sun 07:00 pm Location: M106 – M107 – Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: John L. Flynn, Fr. Bryan Small)

Photograph sessions have not yet been assigned. We will send them out as soon as possible.

Please note, these schedules are TENTATIVE. The schedules can change based on guest flight schedules, among many other moving factors. A final schedule will be included in the Guest Information sheet, along with other information including accommodations and ground transportation details (if applicable) and VIP Badge Pick Up instructions, which will be sent approximately 10 days prior to show time. http://www.dragoncon.org/

Intimate Bondage

What if the person you fell in love with was a serial killer? Kate Dawson, a homicide detective with a past, faces that chilling possibility as she penetrates the seedy underworld of porn shops, internet sex sites, and S&M clubs to catch her man.

This is the first in the Kate Dawson mystery/thrillers. Coming up is Intimate Disclosure and Intimate Denial. Flynn has whet the appetite and aims to feed.

Dr. John L. Flynn is an author, psychologist, and college dean. Born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. from Southern California University. He is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and has been a regular contributor and columnist to dozens of science fiction magazines.

In 1977, he received the M. Carolyn Parker award for outstanding journalism for his freelance work on several Florida daily newspapers. He sold his first book, Future Threads, in 1985, and has subsequently had twelve other books published, including Cinematic Vampires: The Living Dead on Film, The Films of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dissecting Aliens, Visions in Light and Shadow, War of the Worlds: From Wells to Spielberg, 75 Years of Universal Monsters, 50 Years of Hammer Horror, 101 Superheroes of the Silver Screen, 2001: Beyond the Infinite, The Jovian Dilemma, Phantoms of the Opera: Behind the Mask, and Future Prime (with Bob Blackwood). He has also written the introduction to Signet’s new edition of Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, and the afterword to Signet’s new printing of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. From 2002 to 2004, Dr. Flynn was nominated for three Hugo Awards for his science fiction writing. John also received an honorable mention for his unproduced screenplay for The Jovian Dilemma in the 2003 Screenplay Festival writing competition. Drs. John Flynn and Bob Blackwood have co-authored two nonfiction pop-cultures which is available for acquisition: Future Prime: Top Ten Science Fiction Filmsand Everything I Know About Life I Learned From James Bond.

In 1997, John switched gears from writing and literature to study psychology, and earned a degree as a clinical psychologist. His study, “The Etiology of Sexual Addiction: Childhood Trauma as a Primary Determinant,” has broken new ground in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual addiction. The next novel in the Kate Dawson Mystery Series is schedule for release: Intimate Disclosure (2015). www.john-flynn.com

Published by BelleBooks www.bellebooks.com

Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com