It's the middle of summer and what better than to spend some quality time reading your favorite novels - new and old?
     Speaking of new: my latest novel, LEON'S WALL, was just released. It's a companion to ESCAPE FROM AMBERGRIS CAYE published last year.
     To refresh your memory, in the earlier work, Izzie, a reporter has gotten herself in a jam, to put it mildly. She's been taken captive by a human trafficker who shipped her to Belize in a steamer trunk. Her photographer, Jackson and his brother, Zac, search for her as all three find their lives in jeopardy. Spoiler alert: The trafficker, Leon Donatello,  is arrested and gives up his crime boss in exchange for witness protection. Thinking he'll be housed in an cool ocean-side town, he's shocked to find himself in Wall, South Dakota, population 850.
     That's where my latest novel, LEON'S WALl, picks up the story. Leon is running a gas station at the edge of Wall, barely making it, when he discovers an Oglala Lakota Sioux teenager living in his car in fear of a Pine Ridge Reservation gang that recruited him and won't take no for an answer. In the meantime, back in Chicago, socialite Tanya Miller suddenly finds herself broke and shunned by former friends. Desperate to regain her former status she makes use of her talent as a crack shot to become a hired assassin for the Mob who want Leon dead.
     Come along on this fun ride. Read either or both novels. If you've never read ESCAPE FROM AMBERGRIS CAYE, now's the perfect time. The ebook for Kindle is on sale for $0.99 thru the end of the day on Monday, July 10th.
     Get a taste of both books by clicking on the "Home" tab at the top of the page and reading excerpts of those and my other novels. To order signed copies of the paperbacks, click on the Order Form tab and follow the instructions. They are also available in both paperback and ebook formats on Amazon and other outlets.

                                      Have a wonderful summer - and happy reading!

HALIFAX by Joan Mauch. If it sounds familiar, that's because it was first published four years ago. Now in its 2nd edition, it has been re-released with an exciting new cover along with lower prices for both the paperback at $12.99 and the e-book at $2.99.

Even better, on Monday, April 10th for one day only, the e-book edition for the Kindle is free. So, mark your calendar and head to Amazon Monday for your free copy. If you've never read it, you'll enjoy getting to know Ellie and her quirky ways. If you purchased the original, read it again. Ellie's story of a woman living a life of quiet desperation that changes on a dime is one to which we can all relate. Even better for your imagination, it's set in the beautiful Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

So don't forget: Monday, April 10th HALIFAX for the Kindle is free! Be sure to claim your copy! And, after you've read it, leave a review or comment to let other readers know how you liked it!  Happy Spring!

George's message from many years ago seems very apropos in today's world. I ran across it this morning and wanted to share it with you:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:  Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

    I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of my writing and to extend my wishes to you and your loved ones for happiness in the coming year.
    The above photograph was taken last week when I visited my son in Tampa. As many of you know, he is a photojournalist who covers the news from a helicopter. I had the privilege of flying along as he covered a story. That's Captain Jimmy, the pilot, a very personable and interesting guy.  We had a great time, but I have to admit sitting in that helicopter flying over Tampa watching my son work the photographic equipment was a thrill. I'll never look at aerial reports in the news the same way again!

Yes, it's that time of year. Families get together; there's lots of sharing and even more eating. What does that have to do with a writer's blog? Let me explain.
     First  a disclaimer (and pardon me for a bit of bragging): I am the proud mom of an entrepreneur. My son, Ben, a former and now part-time TV news cameraman recently opened a business he named, "Shared Kitchens of Tampa". I'm sure you wonder what type of restaurant it is. Well, it's not a restaurant. A deli? No. How about a food truck? Nope, not that either. Shared Kitchens is a commissary, also known as a certified kitchen or culinary incubator.  
      No matter what you call it, it's actually a space containing commercial equipment for use by food businesses, whether caterers, food trucks or even creators of special food products. Ben provides a clean commercial kitchen for use by Tampa, Florida-area food businesses or hobbies.
     If you or someone you know near or in Tampa, Florida caters parties or has a product they want to produce that doesn't fall under cottage food laws, or you have a party coming up and need a larger oven or work space, Shared Kitchens is the place for you. Or perhaps you or your friend need commissary services for a food truck or cart.  He also has a space to host parties, teach classes or conduct demonstrations. Perhaps a friend wants to start a co-packer business. All of that can be done at Shared Kitchens of Tampa. You are only limited by your culinary imagination.
     Whether you or your friends want to start or grow a food business or just do some large-scale baking, stay legal and food safe with a state of Florida licensed and approved commercial kitchen. Here's a list of some of Ben's current or past clients:

• Caribbean Hands Catering      Jr.'s Catering Solutions           
• Latino's Cuisine                      Oktoberfest Tampa 2015 and 2016
• Best Thai Food Tampa           Saucy Dogs
• Soup4Later                             Bloom Chocolate
• Seacoast Foodery                   The Serious Foodie
• Livy O's Catering                   Ice Shavers, L.L.C. 
• Blue Note Dogs                     Trinity Services Group
• Pirate Pops

   
     So, if you know someone who is or wants to get involved in some aspect of the food business and requires a professional kitchen, take a look at Ben's website at: www.sharedkitchensoftampa.com. I think you'll be impressed.
     Thanks for indulging me and Happy Holidays - or as Ben would say, "Let's get cooking!" 

It may sound odd to be celebrating an obscure holiday like that, but if you're a southpaw like I am, it's heartening to know there's one day a year that celebrates the 12-15 percent of us that are "different". Yes, we're a minority that's discriminated against in ways most never consider. When I was little, my mom and teachers did everything they could to correct the "problem," thinking I was simply obstinate. Eventually they gave up and left me to deal with a right-handed world as best I could. School desks were designed for right-handed people as were scissors, ice cream scoops, spiral notebooks and even golf clubs. 
   Left-handers are forced to adapt all day, every day. After becoming an author and doing book signings, I struggle to avoid the binding, twisting my hand in an awkward position.
   But the news isn't all bad. I recently discovered that I’m in good company. Five of the last seven presidents are left-handed including: Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
   Some famous—and infamous—lefties include: Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Jack the Ripper, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joan of Arc, the Queen Mother, Prince William, Winston Churchill, Morgan Freeman, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix and Sir Paul McCartney.
   Today as we celebrate International Left-Handers Day, you right-handers are encouraged to try out left-handed objects to see just how awkward using the wrong equipment really is.
   Several years ago, my son brought me a wall-hanging from California that contained an anonymous, but well-known quote. It read, "If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body then only left-handed people are in their right mind." I rest my case.

A number of my loyal readers have been asking when my next novel will be published. I realize it's been six months since I posted anything. But rest assured I haven't been whiling away my time at my son's swimming pool, as the photo taken on the Fourth of July in Tampa, seems to suggest. I've actually been working on my next two novels.
      The first one, Escape from Ambergris, a thriller set in Tampa  and Ambergris Caye, an island off the coast of Belize, is nearly finished and will be published in the spring. The second - Stands Strong Alone is a biography of Art Norris, Waterkeeper of the Upper Mississippi. It is in the process of being written and critiqued. No, I haven't been idle, but thank you for asking and I promise to keep you posted. In the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

...libraries are definitely not on the road to extinction - at least not judging by what happened Sunday in Aurora, Ill.  Due to participation in the upcoming local authors' day, I was invited to attend the opening of Aurora's new $28-million dollar public library.
    Now, you might think the opening of a new library would be nothing special, particularly in today's digital environment, but you would be wrong.
    Sunday's event attracted a crowd of around fifteen hundred people that cut across every line from young to old, whites to minorities and judging by the way people were dressed, every economic status.
  Presentations were made by noted dignitaries including U.S. Cong. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, John Savage, president of the Aurora Library Board and Gina Santori, who along with her husband, Richard, donated a $3-million dollar endowment to the library. The event concluded with a performance by the Ides of March founder Jim Peterek performing their signature composition, "Eye of the Tiger".
   What struck me most forcefully was the attentiveness of the crowd that stood respectfully in eighty-plus degree heat for the hour-long presentation after which they streamed inside the impressive structure to get a look.
    If I was ever in despair over the futility of continuing to write in this age of what some assert is impending illiteracy, Sunday's wonderful event more than restored my faith in the printed word and how much people from all walks of life value it. I look forward to returning Sept. 12 to participate in "Bunches of Authors". If you happen to be in the Aurora area this fall, be sure to stop in. A link to the complete story and more photographs is: www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-library-st-0615-20150614-story.html"