standing up for ourselves

 I used to post on this blog twice a week. Over time, that goal fell way off the charts. On the first of this year, I committed to posting once a month, but I still struggle with that. Writer’s block continues to plague me like acne on a seventh grader.

But that doesn’t mean the thoughts aren’t still roaming around in my head.

This morning, I posted a political rant on my other blog. I may regret it, but sometimes we have to speak our minds. This reminded me of the protagonists in my last novel, “Prior to Now.” 

Three ordinary women, Emma, Ellen, and Sarah, stand up for what they believe in and fight an uphill battle against forces of evil – and realize that sometimes those forces are their own United States government.

“I don’t think Kimberly’s coming. I think this has her so freaked out that she has left RASA for good, probably left the country already.”

“Sam, we just left her at the office ten minutes ago.”

“We can’t –” Ellen began, but Michael cut her off.

“Here she comes.”

The shortest member of the team entered the tunnel and marched to where they stood. “Not doin’ it.”

“I think we’ve all agreed on that already.”

“What about the other agents? Anybody get a feel for what they think?” Ellen asked.

“I think most of them will get on board,” Michael answered. “I’m not sure if they’re all 100% in agreement with this mission, maybe a few teams will bail, but I think most have at least one member who will push the rest of them into it.”

“So, what do we do?” Ellen hadn’t usually taken the lead in decisions the team made, but on this, she was passionate. She would not work on this assignment. 

Sam took a deep breath. “Well, I propose we act like we are jumping in full force, and instead, when we get to each location, we do the exact opposite of what the Feds want.”

He presented his closed fist to the center of the group. Each of them did likewise until their fists were touching in the middle.

“One for all,” he began.

They finished the chorus, “And all for one.” 

If you haven’t read “Prior to Now” yet, now might be the time. Now might also be the time to see how little it can take to stand up for your rights, but how vital it can be.

what is wrong with me?

How is it possible that I haven’t posted here in six months! What have I been doing, and what is wrong with me? And why haven’t I written a word on my latest novel in eighteen months?

First, I have had total writer’s block regarding that novel. My heroes are all sitting in their rooms staring at the walls, not doing a thing, so I have nothing to write about them. I nudge them, and they just look at me blankly, like, “You put us here, you get us out.” Oh, well, I’ll have to do more than nudge, I guess.

As you probably know, the other big thing is that I finally took my dream trip to Cambodia. I am still writing about it on my other blog. It was such a wonderful trip; I saw so much and did so much. Oh, how I would love to go back!

Instead, however, my friend and I booked our next trip – this time to the Czech Republic. So, the planner in me has been looking up all kinds of stuff about that area of the world, and I anticipate spending much more time over the next eight months researching even more. And, of course, organizing all those facts.

Other than that, not much new. I hope you had a good holiday season and that you, too, are looking forward to a new year full of adventure and happy news.

where have I been

        It certainly has been a long time since I’ve posted anything here. Hubby and I went on vacation the first part of June, so I’ve been busy working on posts to my other blog, "The Dino Chronicles”, sharing all the adventures – and misadventures – we had in the Dakotas. 

I’ve been to South Dakota multiple times since I was a kid. You know, the whole Black Hills / Badlands / Mount Rushmore gig. Dad was especially preoccupied with Crazy Horse. I never saw any progress on it from the time I was six until I was in my twenties. There finally is much progress. 

I never remember spending much time in North Dakota. Hubby and I drove out that way and thought the landscape along the freeway was much more interesting than in South Dakota. 

But I needed to make this short. I have a vendor sale for my books today and have to get ready. 

I also want to get back to work on my next book—the first in the RASA series. Hopefully, you’ve read “Prior to Now” and have been looking forward to reading the first book, where we meet the team and learn how they come together. I’ve just had so much going on, though! I hope to get back to it next week.

Wish me luck with that and today's sale. Send me any encouragement you can. And as always, reviews of my books on Amazon.com are always appreciated. 

Have a safe and happy Fourth. Chris 

This is at the Chapel of the Hills in Rapid City. I love this picture of myself, just because I love my ballerina foot. Before I wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a ballerina.

Meet Sarah and Visit her Basement

I haven’t posted anything here for a month, and I haven’t shared any excerpts from any of my books in an even longer time. So here is one from chapter 8 of my latest novel, “Prior to Now”.

Sarah had finished unpacking and organizing her possessions in the cozy house. She'd even put a few nails in the blank walls to hang some paintings she had purchased in her various travels. The only place left in her new home for her to put her mark was the basement.

She'd only been down the rickety stairs a few times. She didn't need to store anything there, and her washing machine and dryer fit nicely in the laundry room off the kitchen. There was still plenty of afternoon sun streaming through the windows of the ground floor, so maybe the basement wouldn't be too creepy.

She brought along a flashlight just in case.

The bare bulb at the bottom of the steps illuminated enough of the damp room that she felt a little bit silly carrying the flashlight. No such thing as being too prepared, she thought to herself, shining the light into several of the corners.

The basement consisted of a single room, the furnace residing just past the bottom of the stairs. A set of wood shelves lined one wall. A sump pump sat watch in a sump pit, waiting for unwelcome water to seep through the cement blocks.

Otherwise, the room was bare except for a squadron of cobwebs hanging from the low ceilings. There are advantages to being short, Sarah quipped to herself.

She walked over to the set of shelves, wondering if she would discover anything interesting to give her clues about the home's past. Each of the twelve wooden shelves was empty, revealing no clues to their past. Sarah imagined glass pint jars filled with homemade preserves, canned pickles, apples, and other sorts of produce occupying the space.

She ran her hand lightly over one of the wooden boards at shoulder height. She was wary of slivers, but her hand returned to her unscathed. And empty, except for dust.

She sighed. No hidden treasures.

She shone her flashlight beam along the wall just to be certain. Something with the cement blocks didn't look right. It almost looked as if a section of the wall was newer.

She couldn't tell for sure as the shelves were nearly two feet wide, keeping her from getting a good look at the wall behind them. She walked the perimeter of the room, shining her light on the walls.

She discovered the same discrepancy in the cement blocks directly across from the suspicious area behind the shelving. A section of wall three feet wide and four feet tall had been replaced. The floor afforded her no information. She guessed that the cement floor had been poured sometime after the rest of the house had been built, perhaps when the drain tile and sump pump had been installed.

Well, I guess there's nothing else intriguing about my simple home, she thought to herself.

She flicked off her flashlight and headed back upstairs.

Is there newer cement blocks in Sarah’s basement? And why? Will she find out or does it really matter?

These and many more questions will be answered in “Prior to Now”. If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you do soon. And when you are finished with it, please leave a comment on Amazon.com, Good Reads, or any place else you frequent on the internet.

If you still need to buy a signed copy from me, I will be at the Food Truck-a-Palooza in Merrill, Wisconsin, this Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm. Even if you don’t need a book, I hope you swing by to see me if you are in the area.

Have a good weekend, Chris

where I'm off to now

As you may recall, I attended my first sale of the year last weekend. It was a success, but I was pretty tired at the end of it as it was a two-day event.

And where am I off to now? I’m heading to Neenah, Wisconsin, for the Wisconsin Society of Medical Assistants annual conference. I’ll be attending a luncheon today for the past state presidents (hard to believe, but, yes, I was a state president in 2004. Wow! Twenty years ago!)

Hopefully the weather is nice over there this afternoon as I want to explore a state park. It’s time I get out and take some pictures and hike some new trails.

Then Saturday, I will be a vendor at the conference, peddling my books and bags. 

Hope I don’t have flashbacks to last year. I attended the same conference last year as a vendor and threw my back out hauling my books to my table. The rest is history, as I am still in some sort of pain every day. I’m hoping that returning to the scene of the crime (even though it’s at a different hotel) will suddenly cure me.

 What do you think? A resounding “nice try, Chris.”  

Wish me luck anyway. Have a good weekend, Chris

My Latest Three Books

Tomorrow is the big day—my first vendor event of 2024. And what exactly will I be selling? Well, silly, my books, of course. In case you've forgotten or haven't kept track, here are the most recent ones.  

My newest book is "Bones and Stones and Pain, Oh My." Part memoir and part devotional, it is forty days of entries dealing with various pains—both physical and emotional—that I have had over the years.

Forty days of devotions all about pain does not sound like a cheery book to read. But the idea is to give you the strength and hope to get through those bad days and to turn your pain over to God. You might be disappointed when He doesn't take your agony away, but He is always there and will answer your prayers in His way and His time.

I published two more memoirs in 2023.

"Holding All the Aces: Memoir of my sister and best friend" is the story of my sister's battle with cancer. Sprinkled throughout the book are memories from our childhood and her amazing – and sometimes prophetic – words of wisdom.

Also last year, I published "Chronicles of Chris Coping with the COVID-19Crisis: How one woman survived three years of working in health care during thepandemic." The title rather explains it all.

My other six books have been around for a few years, but you can always still pick up a copy.

Oh, and one last thing—please remember to write a review on Amazon of any of my books you've read. I'd really appreciate it.

(And I don't know why the font randomly changes. Maybe you didn't notice, but it drives me nuts!)

Come Find Me in the Next Two Months

“Well, Chris,” I tell myself, “It’s time to start gearing up. You have a busy two months.”

To which Self looks at me and says, “Just one more old episode of Reba.”

This is my upcoming schedule of places I will be selling my books and the bags I’ve sewn to carry them in.

            April 13, 9 am to 4 pm and April 14, 10 am to 3 pm – Tomahawk Home, Sport, and Travel Show at the Tomahawk School Complex in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

            April 20, 7:30 am to 4 pm – Wisconsin Society of Medical Assistants Conference at the Bridgewood Resort in Neenah, Wisconsin.

            May 11, 10 am to 3 pm – Creative Spring Showcase at the St. John’s Event Center in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  

            May 18, 11 am to 7 pm – Food Truck-A-Palooza at the Merrill Festival Grounds, Merrill, Wisconsin.

On Friday’s post, I will share information on the books I’ll have available, but for now here are some of my bags. If you are anywhere near any of these places, I would love to see you.