The Crab Chronicles

Art from the Heart

I asked my son the other day why he never reads any of my books and he just shrugged. I was reminded of a time when I was young and I hated hearing my mother sing. My mother was a professional singer when she was young. She had a wonderful voice. People would often come to our house for parties and since we had a piano and she was an excellent accompanist for herself, they would ask Mama to sing. I always made myself scarce. 

When I heard her sing it made me profoundly uncomfortable.

A few years ago I was trying to re-learn the guitar and my son walked into the living room when I was playing a song and singing it. He listened for a moment, then turned and fled upstairs to his room, and slammed the door.

I have several close friends who refuse to ever read any of my books, and my own brother won't read my books.

I've had a lot of time to ponder this and I don't have any well-researched or definitive answers but I have a few theories.

I sent one of my novels to a cousin I've always been close to and his email to me when he had finally finished it was complimentary but then again, sort of not? He said as he read he just kept finding little things that reminded him of me, and it made him uncomfortable.

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing but I appreciated his honesty.

When I sing, I try to sing the correct notes and to breathe properly because I studied voice for years. I try to sing with feeling, of course, but I probably worry more about singing correctly. My mother sang with more feeling. Hearing her voice was like opening a window and seeing her heart. She was a VERY tender-hearted person. I needed her to be strong. Marriage to my father was never easy for her, for a lot of reasons. After we started living together and raising my children together her voice didn't bother me. We often sang together. I have a couple of recordings of us that I cherish. I didn't need her to be strong any more. I was strong enough to take care of us both, as she grew older and more fragile.

A book is different from a song, but probably often even more intimate. Every novel I write has a lot of me in it. Not in every character, but I figured out years ago how to tap into what I know in order to create believable worlds and characters. I also research, of course, but I have not been able to physically travel anywhere for years, for several reasons, so my imagination and the internet often have to suffice for actual research.

I have started trying to imagine sensory details when watching movies. I try to imagine what the characters feel when they are touching someone or something. For instance, when you hug someone who is wearing a cotton dress shirt, I know what that feels like. I know what a ripe peach smells like when you cut into it. I remember the sensation of riding a horse because I took riding lessons for years. I know how it feels to hold an infant, the sweetness of it and the terror that they might be dropped because they can be so wriggly.

A great writer invites you inside their heart and their head.

A great artist in any medium causes you to feel a certain way, because they know their art, either through instinct or training.

I have a new manuscript I am trying to use to get a literary agent, which is a frightening process. You have to send out queries to agents, which they then read -- and often decide in a matter or seconds how they feel about your work. It's like an audition, but for a writer. I hate auditions.

I always want to say look, I am not great at marketing myself, but I am a pretty decent writer. That's not allowed, though. I always wish the first thing read would be my biography:

I earned an MA in Creative Writing and I have worked as a freelance writer, a journalist, and a paralegal. My essays have been included in the award-winning books Call Me Okaasan [2009] and The Divinity of Dogs [2013].  This is my sixth novel. The first five were self-published on Amazon, to wit: Ghosts in the Garden City [2019], Leaf Season [2019], Heart of My Own Heart [2020], Return to Marietta [2022], and Dancing in the Wreckage [2023]. Additionally, I’ve published numerous articles online and in print, [portfolio] and I’ve been writing a personal blog, The Crab Chronicles, since 2005.

Then again, it seems like some agents get a thrill out of championing a writer who has just finished their first novel. That's okay. If the writing is great, that's entirely fair.

I just wish some agent sometime would see that I've self-published five other novels, and each one has been better than the one before. I have literally taught myself how to write by actually writing. I'll keep publishing as long as I keep writing and I likely won't stop writing until I die. Maybe all my work will have to be self-published and I will have to continue the painful process of figuring out how to market myself. I would like to try the traditional method of getting published, though.

I keep envisioning an agent reading my query and recognizing that my novels are not just about stuff happening or filled with poetic descriptions, but they are filled with details from my heart, from all the life I've lived for the past sixty years. If you want to know what dogged determination feels like, or what a broken heart feels like, or the agony of watching your child screw up their life, you need to talk to someone over forty.

One final thought... so many agent bios I read online say the agent is looking to represent BIPOC people or handicapped people, those whose voices are not heard so often. How about older people? Not like Stephen King or Diana Gabaldon but older people who are not wealthy and/or famous? Do you not want to hear our voices because you think it will be too uncomfortable? Older people have lived and loved and suffered and we have a lot to share. I remember what it was like to fall in love. I remember what it was like to be belittled because of my gender or because I am southern. I remember every slight and every triumph.

Another crucial point: we love to read books written by our peers or older folks -- so we are a great untapped market...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A GREAT GIVEAWAY!

If you want to win a free copy of one of my self-published books, go to my Facebook page and share the post on there and you will be entered to win a free copy of one of my already-published novels -- your choice!

The drawing will be held on July 4th!

bookgivewaway, #freebooks, #novelsbyolderwriters, #novelsaboutthesouth, #novelssetinthesouth

Love a funny tee shirt or hoodie?! I have started a side hustle! Check out the merch: Bellybottom Tees

 

Great Gift Books

Do you need a gift for a teacher or a graduating senior? Maybe you need a good book to read at the beach. Well listen up, buttercup!

I am going to reluctantly blow my own horn here because a friend pointed out to me yesterday that my books make great gifts. So below you will find links to order my books from Amazon and a brief synopsis of the book, AND my idea of who might enjoy reading each book!

Not long ago I wrote a blog about the writing of my novels and that has a lot of great information about my books, and you can read it here.

Also, as always I like to point out that the beauty of publishing on Amazon is that you can Look Inside the Book and read the first chapter or three, and decide if you want to read more, which is a great idea.

 

Dancing in the Wreckage Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Family Saga, Quirky Dramedy

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: My newest published novel is set in Atlanta [Tucker and Buckhead] and is about Susan, a young woman in the 1960's faced with an unplanned pregnancy and the resulting consequences of her decisions. You can read a detailed description of how I came to write the book here.. I know that sounds heavy, but there are lots of comedic moments in the novel. This book focuses on the lives of her daughter, her ex-boyfriend [a prominent attorney who dies in a plane crash], and two other characters related to Susan. My years as a paralegal meant it was fun for me to write two central characters, an attorney and a paralegal. I was a caretaker for my mom for years and two of the main characters are salty, feisty old ladies.

WHO MAY LIKE IT: People who live in northeast Atlanta, lovers of women's fiction, lawyers, LGBTQ community

 

Return to Marietta Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, Southern Fiction, Family Saga

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: This is my most personal book because it was inspired by the true story of how my grandfather lost his major league baseball career and how my grandmother kept the family together during the Great Depression. The story begins in 1933 when Lillian learns her husband is in New York City but reluctant to return to his family. Although she is very pregnant, she sets out to drive to NYC and persuade him to rejoin the family. We see in flashbacks the events of ten years before when he was on trial, falsely accused of a crime.

WHO MAY LIKE IT: Readers who like family dramas, those who like books set in the South, baseball fans [several guys have told me how much they liked the book]

 

Heart of My Own Heart Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Sarah is born in Elizabethan England, the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth I, and grows up not knowing much about her magical powers, until she encounters The Goddess. Sarah learns to use her magic wisely, and travels in time to tutor her red-haired descendants in how to use their magical powers, until she finally encounters a force she cannot vanquish and has to hide out in the 20th century.

WHO MAY LIKE IT: Fans of fantasy, history buffs

 

Leaf Season Women's Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: When Wyatt, a 50ish lawyer inherits an antebellum house in the mountains that has been in his family for generations, he soon learns it's haunted. He also gets to know the next-door-neighbor, but cannot pursue her romantically until his divorce is final. He uncovers a family mystery as well, and learns that there is more to life than fishing.

WHO MAY LIKE IT: Fans of ghost stories, Southern fiction, romance of people over 50

 

Ghosts in the Garden City Women's Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Magical Realism

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: When Leigh Harrington inherits an old suitcase from her father she has no idea that the items inside will lead her to discover a shocking truth about the grandmother she never knew. That's not the only revelation. She also finds family she never knew she had, and confronts her mother who has been the main keeper of family secrets for years. Helping her is a young man who is the complete opposite of her and yet who holds the key to her heart.

WHO MAY LIKE IT: Fans of Southern gothic tales, fans of family drama and mysteries set in the South

#southernmysteries, #southernfamilydramas, #bookssetinthesouth, #booksaboutghosts, #novelsaboutbaseball

 

Twelve Writing Tips for Novelists

Whenever I write about writing or about my books my Facebook feed shows lots of pop-up ads for writers needing writing and marketing advice. I always roll my eyes when I see those. There are tons of scam artists out there trying to make a fast buck off of people like me who like to write but who don't have a literary agent.

Just yesterday I saw an ad for a "contest" and in order to enter it you had to pay $75! Um, no, that is a load of bollocks.

You can read all the advice in the world about writing and it won't do that much good if one thing isn't true: your commitment to writing. I've read how-to books about writing novels and really felt like there was a lot of great advice in them but it took me YEARS to work up the guts to even try to write an actual novel. You have to really want to be good at writing, or you won't be. Nobody "accidentally" writes a novel.

So for what it's worth, here are some writing tips from me.

1. Assess your commitment. Do you really want to be a great writer? If not, walk away. Writing is really hard and lonely and often doesn't pay off so if you aren't committed, just find something else creative to do.
2. Read. Read novels all the time. Put down your phone and read novels, or read novels on a Kindle app on your phone. I recently started reading a novel on my phone and wow, I thought I would hate it but I don't. I always have my phone on me and now I don't have to find my paper book and stick it in my purse before I run errands or go to the doctor. Reading instructs you in how to write better than any class.
3. Forget about being "literary." That stymied me for years. I have an MA in Creative Writing and I figured anyone who knew that would expect me to write in a very mannered, "literary" style that's not me at all. I had to get past that.
4. Outlines are optional. I was convinced for years that until I could produce a detailed, brilliant outline that my novels would simply be a mess. Not true. You can start off with just a vague notion and see where each day's output takes you. There are many famous writers like Pat Conroy who never made an outline before starting a book. I just never like to be constrained by an outline. I like to see where my imagination takes me as I write. Sometimes minor characters become major ones, or something interesting pops into my head as I write. I have to be able to go off plan, often. 
5. Your life is fodder for your writing. Everything that happens to you will always be great to use because you are intimately familiar with it. However, you can definitely reach beyond your own life. I was the kid who was always eavesdropping on grownup conversations and I didn't realize then that family stories and gossip are excellent sources for books. After hearing so many family stories about my grandparents' early marriage I was inspired to write Return to Marietta. My main characters, Lillian and Will, are closely based on my grandparents, but since it's a novel I was free to improvise the rest of the book.
6. Be curious. Be a busybody. Ask people questions like "Tell me about how you met your boyfriend?" or "How did you feel when you left that party?"
   or "Did you like school as a child?" etc. I am blessed to have friends who have led much more interesting lives than I have -- so I have lots of material. Of course, if you use what they say you will need to change the names and/or some details so all your friends and relatives don't stay mad at you all the time...
7. Don't write stereotypes. My mother used to tell me "All bad people have some good in them and all good people have some bad in them." Even Hitler liked dogs. One-dimensional characters are boring. In the movie 3:10 to Yuma Russell Crowe has a great line when he says "Even bad men love their mamas."
8. Write a lot of garbage. I hesitated to write for years because I was so fearful it wouldn't be any good. I should have started writing much sooner but I let that fear stop me. Truth is, you will likely write a LOT of crap before you can write something fairly decent. Writing is a process of trial and error. The more you try, the more you win.
9. Short stories don't matter. I had heard so many times that in order to be a good novelist you had to write short stories. Nope. I rarely write short stories. Almost never. A great short story is very different from a novel. Mastery of one doesn't guarantee mastery of the other.
10. Be sparing with description. I have stopped reading so many books because the author just went ON and ON about the color of curtains and the state of the weather and those held no interest for me. If you really love lots and lots of detailed descriptions, good for you. Write thousands of words describing the scene before any action occurs. Just don't cry to me when people fall asleep reading your book.
11. Find readers to help you out. After I finish a book I send it out to a few trusted readers so I can get constructive feedback. I cannot be objective, nor can anyone, when it comes to their own work.
12. Do not let rejection force you to stop. Not everyone will like what you write. Many literary agents will have no interest in what you write. Do NOT let their criticism or rejection cause you to stop writing. As long as you are enjoying writing, nobody has a right to tell you to stop.

 

#freewritingadvice, #howtowriteanovel, #thewriterslife, #tipsforauthors, #tipsfornovelists

Dee Thompson Author

I don't go around touting my skills as a writer or pushing my books probably as much as I should because I am more interested in writing than blowing my own horn, but I thought of a way to stir up interest in my books so you can decide if you'd like to read one of them. All four of my novels are on Amazon and I will discuss them here. If you'd like, though, you can see What's for Dinner, Mom? [my cookbook], and you can check out my collection of my mom's writings Singing to the Cows [I just edited that one].

So here are some fun facts about each of my novels.

 

Two facts to know about all of them:

Amazon lets you read the first few chapters of a book before you buy it, so you can decide if you want to read more!

If you read on a Kindle, I urge you to subscribe to Kindle Unlimited because for $10/month you can download a LOT of books, for nothing, including mine!

 

Return to Marietta  women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery

1. This book was inspired by a true story. In 1923 my grandfather, Bob Hasty, was accused of a crime he didn't commit and the resulting scandal cost him his major league baseball career.
2. This is basically a love story, because my grandmother drove all the way from Marietta, Georgia to New York City in November 1933 when she was big pregnant with my mom, to reclaim my grandfather, who had seemingly deserted her. She was incredibly gutsy.
3. I wrote this story as fiction because it was impossible to find out why my grandfather was accused, the motivation of the accuser.
4. My mother said my grandfather tried to get sportswriter interested in writing a book about the scandal, but nobody wanted to take it on probably because Connie Mack was a powerful man and he's the reason my grandfather lost his major league career.
5. I spent many hours researching in order to write the most compelling story I could.

Heart of My Own Heart: An Epic Story of Time, History, Magic and Love  fantasy, historical fiction, time travel, magical realism

1. This is the only novel I have written that involves fantasy elements like witches and time travel.
2. I was inspired to try to write an epic book combining historical figures [Queen Elizabeth I, Dr. John Dee] and fantasy by the wonderful books of Michael Scott. He combines historical figures and magical elements. My son and I read all of his books in the Nicholas Flamel series and really enjoyed them.
3. The title is from the hymn Be Thou My Vision -- a traditional Irish hymn and one of my very favorites
4. I have auburn hair and I have always been fascinated with how/why people inherit the genes for red hair -- and so my main character, Sarah, has red hair and passes it on to her descendants who are witches.
5. I learned a lot about how "witches" were persecuted in England and here in the colonies while I was doing research for this book. There actually was a notorious witch hunter in England named Matthew Hopkins. In my book he is an important character.
   

Leaf Season  mystery, romance, magical realism

1. This book is set in the North Georgia mountains, a place I love to visit.
2. I was inspired to write this because I worked for a plaintiff's attorney in 2014 who loves the outdoors and wanted to retire early to have time to hike and camp.
3. I don't know anything about hiking and camping so I made my main character [Wyatt] an avid fisherman, which I know about because I grew up going fishing with my dad.
4. One of the main characters in this, Hugh, is a ghost, and it was so much fun writing his sections. He is the comic relief.
5. My Basset Hound, Lola, inspired the Basset Hound in the book, Blanche DuBois.

Ghosts in the Garden City romance, magical realism, mystery, women's fiction

1. I was born in Augusta, Georgia and lived there until I was 8 years old, which is why this book is partially set in Augusta -- known as The Garden City. [Oh, and some people know it because of a golf tournament, The Masters]
2. I was inspired to write this because I got the genetic testing on 23andMe and found out I am 1% black.
3. I set the book in 1996, which was a pivotal year for me, the year I lost my dad to cancer. Unfortunately, I remember the year vividly.
4. The incident that starts off the book, two small children getting locked out of their house, is based on a real incident that happened to me and my brother.
5. I started writing the character of the mother as an unrepentant baddie, but I got so intrigued with her that I made her more central to the story and less awful.

left, my grandfather with Connie Mack and Slim Hariss

right, my book that Memaw and Papa inspired

 

 

 

 

 

 

#booksbydeethompson, #bookssetingeorgia, #magicalrealismnovels, #bobhastybasballplayer, #bookssetinnorthgeorgia, #booksaboutaugustageorgia, #bookssetinmarietta

Twenty Questions with Tori Whitaker

The newest novel by author Tori Whitaker is A Matter of Happiness and I am delighted to say I've gotten to know Tori a bit and she agreed to be interviewed. We have some things in common. Tori is close to my age, lives in the Atlanta metro area, and was formerly a marketer for a law firm. She writes vividly and meaningfully about the past, which particularly fascinates me.

A Matter of Happiness explores two timelines, a modern story of Melanie and another one of her great aunt Violet, a jazz age rebel. (I love the idea of an inheritance sparking interesting events. I realized only recently that inheritances play a big part in 3 of my 4 novels.) 

Toni's first book was Millicent Glenn's Last Wish, and it's one I want to read soon. Mother/daughter relationships are always fascinating.

BIO: Tori graduated from Indiana University, is an alum of the Yale Writers' Workshop, and is recently retired from a national law firm where she served as chief marketing officer. She spent a decade in Detroit because of her husband's career in the automotive industry. The two now reside near their children outside Atlanta and have been married for forty-five happy years. [from her website]

Tori has a lot going on, promoting her new book, but she graciously agreed to answer not only the standard Twenty Questions but a few more, too!

 

THE STANDARD TWENTY QUESTIONS

What is your full name?
Tori Whitaker [no need to use Victoria]

Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?
Near my grandchildren, which is where I am now.

What is your favorite movie and why?
Most recently, it’s Top Gun Maverick! It’s got wounds from the past, conflict between characters, high tension and action, redemption, character arcs, and love.

What was your least-favorite subject in school when you were a kid?
Science. I was always the one who loved history, social studies, and writing.

What was your nickname when you were a kid?
Tori

Do you believe in God?
Absolutely.

What sound or noise do you love?
Birds chirping outside on a summer morning. Geese flying into Georgia from the north in fall.

If you could do anything other than what you do, as a profession, what would it be?
Maybe be a history professor. But I don’t have a master’s or PhD.

If heaven exists, what do you think it is like? My parents there to greet me in a reunion.

Do you have siblings?
Yup, two younger brothers.

What is your favorite memory of childhood [something specific]?
When I was five, my grandparents took me to a museum, and I vividly recall standing before an old Ford Model T. I attribute that day to my first falling in
love with history.

If you had to choose between one week traveling around the USA by car, or one week traveling around Europe on a train, which would you choose and why?
I can travel by car in the US any time. I’d choose Europe! Because I love history, and it’s so old and rich there.

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by knowing that I once had very little self-confidence, but I stuck it out to achieve my dream of being published—even after two books
didn’t get bought. When I feel discouraged in anything, I try to think of the times I overcame challenges without giving up.

Which holiday do you prefer, Christmas or July 4th?
Christmas by far. As a grandmother, I relish all the traditions. We host our family and have a fire, holiday music, a candlelit dinner, and more. And
like my grandmother before me, I make a tree ornament for each grandchild as a gift. I still have the ones I received as a child, and it’s
special every single time I hang one.

What project or idea are you most passionate about, right now?
Besides finalizing what novel I’ll write next, I’d say the idea of downsizing. I recently retired from my corporate “day job” and my husband and I don’t
need this much space anymore.

Do you know how to cook?
Love to cook!

What is your favorite thing to cook/eat?
Gosh, so many things. But basically I crave anything with potatoes. Twice baked, mashed, oven roasted in olive oil and rosemary. I’m part Irish.

If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, for 2-4 weeks, all expenses paid, where would you go and why?
Back to Europe to countries I haven’t visited … Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

Who do you love the most in the world?
My family.

What question has nobody ever asked you, but you wanted to answer?
Sorry, now I’m stumped!

BONUS:

What sparked the idea for A Matter of Happiness? - The first tingle of inspiration came because my husband restores old classic cars and I wondered: what if someone found something in an old car that'd been stored for a 100 years

Did you have a person in your life like Aunt Violet? Not really, but I did have a great grandmother who I called Grape Grandma when I was young.

Did you go to Detroit to do your research? I researched and wrote during the height of COVID, so no. But I did live in MI and work in Detroit for 10 years in the '90s so I had some familiarity.

Were you already familiar with Kentucky bourbon distilleries before you wrote the book? Yes. We toured the Bourbon Trail 9 or 10 years ago (and again when everything opened back up after COVID, though the book was mostly done)

Why don't you drink coffee, tea or sodas? I just never started the habit.

Have you ever been to the Atlanta History Center? Absolutely!

How many grandchildren do you have and what do they call you? 2 and I'm proud to be called Grandma

What are your favorite things to do with the grandchildren? Among my faves is to take them to historical places.

Great Summer Beach Books

As some of you may know, I started writing novels a few years ago and I have now finished my fourth novel. It is a story based on my grandparents' early marriage and it's very dear to my heart, so I am shopping it around to agents in hopes of getting it published traditionally. I am proud of my first three novels, though, as they represent a lot of time and effort, and more importantly many readers told me how much they enjoyed my books, which is really important. I have been a book lover most of my life and I love how books can transport someone to another world. It's sort of like taking a mental vacation -- and much cheaper than a real vacation, especially right now. I thought I'd give brief explanations of my first three novels and link to them on Amazon, so you can order copies if you like...

Dee

 

Ghosts in the Garden City

I started writing this about five years ago and it quickly sort of took over my life. I would find myself thinking about the characters while washing dishes or walking the dog, and, well, let's just say a lot of food got burned because of my preoccupation. It's set partially in Atlanta [where I live now] and partially in Augusta, Georgia, the city of my birth. When I got it finished I gave it to my mom to read and she read it in one afternoon! It is a full-lenth novel but Mom was a fast reader. She said "It's as good as any book I've ever read that was published traditionally!" She read a LOT, her whole life. She didn't like stories with ghosts or supernatural elements but she said those parts of the story didn't bother her. It's not a "religious" book in any traditional sense, but it's a book basically about forgiveness, and she liked that aspect of it.

I could see Selena Gomez as Leigh and Kit Harrington as her boyfriend. The role of Leigh's mother is really juicy and Jennifer Anniston would be awesome as her mother. Halle Berry would be awesome as her grandmother; not that she looks that old but because most of that story is set in the 1930's and 1940's. There's a terrific role for a Leigh's aunt, and I could see Susan Kelechi Watson in that role. [Yes, I confess that in my idle moments I picture all my favorite actors and actresses in movies made from my books!]

Plot:

Months after her father’s death, Leigh Harrington inherits from him a suitcase containing old clothes and other items owned by his mother, Rose, the grandmother Leigh never met. It appears that Rose secretly gave birth to a child in 1942 that was not her husband’s child. Leigh sets out to learn what happened to that child. Leigh soon realizes the contents of the suitcase also tie in to her need to uncover a traumatic memory from her childhood that ultimately resulted in her parents’ bitter divorce.

While she is looking for answers, Leigh uncovers a long-hidden secret about her family that greatly affects her already-strained relationship with her mother, a social butterfly who has never had much time for her daughter. Leigh also falls in love with Jack, the investigator she hires to help her find answers.

 

Fun Fact: When I was designing the cover I asked my cousin Linda to take a photo of a particular old home in Acworth, Georgia, and Linda kindly went over and snapped a ton of photos. I sent her mother a copy of the book, and her mother called me and told me that some of her cousins lived in the house many years ago and she had visited them there many times! Linda and I no idea about that. It's now a wedding venue called The Cedars.

Click HERE to order Ghosts in the Garden City.

 

Leaf Season

The main character of Leaf Season is a lawyer in his 50's so it's pretty easy to see where I got my inspiration. It's set mostly in the North Georgia mountains, an area I love. Leaf Season is not easily categorized because it's basically a mystery and a love story and a ghost story. I am proud of the fact that the love story involves people in their 50's because that's not too common. I would love to see it made into a series for Amazon or Netflix or Hulu. There would be lots of great roles for older actors and actresses. I can see Wyatt being played by Brad Pitt and Sally by Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock. There's a character named Roberta who is sort of comic relief and Kathy Bates would be wonderful in the role -- and I was picturing her as I wrote it.

Plot:

When two young teens meet in 1975 neither one realizes it’s a momentous day. Wyatt is visiting next door when Sally spies him and instantly develops a mad crush. After that first meeting, though, many years and miles separate them.

Wyatt grows up affluent in Atlanta. Sally grows up working class in the mountains. Wyatt and Sally spend years apart, but then a sudden death draws them together and Wyatt returns to the mountain house. Wyatt and Sally ponder several mysteries. Why did Wyatt's uncle die behind a high wall at the family home place? Is the home place, built before the Civil War, haunted? What is in the secret cellar?

After years of trying to forget the lanky blonde boy, when she runs into Wyatt again, Sally's life feels like it’s filled not only with questions, but also with possibilities. Wyatt finds himself drawn to Sally, and to the peace of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but life gets in the way. A runaway teenager and the town busybody create issues for Sally. Ghosts, gossip, extrasensory powers, messy legal problems and a death further separate Wyatt and Sally. Can they overcome the obstacles and make peace with their complex and painful pasts? Can they sustain their love despite the painful baggage they both carry? Can they find peace in the mountain town that seems so tranquil but actually holds so many secrets?

 

Fun Fact: One of my cousins on Dad's side used to own an old hotel in Clayton Georgia and I set the novel in that same area because I know it pretty well. I have cousins on Mom's side who live nearby.

You can order Leaf Season HERE.

 

Heart of My Own Heart

I have always loved stories about time travel and about witches. I think in centuries past women were often branded as "witches" when they were not bad or evil at all, but because they had knowledge of how to cure illness with herbs and that was considered dangerous and pagan by the church. I think sometimes women were labeled as "witches" just because they were very smart, and/or they dared to question their role in society.

I am also fascinated with English History, particularly with Elizabeth I. She transformed England into a stable and prosperous country, and started it on its path to becoming a true empire, and she was brilliant and complex. She is a character in my book, as well as Dr. John Dee, who was a real person, a close advisor and astrologer to Elizabeth.

To continue with my little daydreams about movies made from my books, I would love to see a movie or miniseries based on this and starring Reese Witherspoon or Amy Adams as Sarah and Jonny Lee Miller as Azor. There are many great roles for actors and actresses in this one.

 

Plot:

Sarah Walker is a village wise woman in Elizabethan England. She leads a quiet life as a village midwife and healer until the terrible day when Matthew Hopkins, a notorious witch-hunter, rides into her village. Suddenly, Sarah's life is in danger. After a terrible loss, Sarah journeys to the New World. America proves to be a place of renewal, as Sarah is able to rebuild her life there.

On the eve of the Salem Witch Trials, Sarah escapes through time and journeys to 1770's South Carolina. There she finds her descendant Ann, and she becomes Ann's governess. Ann's family holds terrible secrets, though, and Sarah finds herself trying to protect Ann. Her next time jump holds more challenges. In 1864 Sarah has to contend with the dangers of the Civil War and its aftermath in rural Georgia, hunger and deprivation, and the threats of a devious sorcerer. Sarah’s descendant Mary is an extraordinary young witch, though, and Sarah delights in Mary’s skills.

Throughout all her journeys, a dark man, who Sarah believes is a demon, shows up in every location. Not knowing anything about him, he terrifies Sarah, until finally she cannot avoid a confrontation in the twentieth century. What he reveals shakes Sarah to her core, disclosing a terrible betrayal.

After more than four hundred years of traveling through time to guide and nurture her descendants, can Sarah protect her newest and most vulnerable descendant in 1914? Can she find true love? Can she overcome her biggest challenge in four centuries, when confronted with a fellow time traveler?

 

Fun Fact: One of my cousins on my Dad's side who has an interest in geneaology traced our history back to John of Gaunt, which means I am related to Elizabeth I and many English kings and queens. I may also be related to Thomas Jefferson, Georgia Washington, and Robert E. Lee. However, another cousin thinks the research on that is unreliable and we may not be connected at all. 

You can order Heart of My Own Heart HERE

 

Read to Your Children and Grandchildren

Years ago a lady I worked with who had two little girls told me about a wonderful product she'd found that would "read" to her children. It was a tape recording of someone reading; basically what we would now call an audio book. I said something like "Well that's great, for when you can't read to them." She said "Oh no, you don't understand, now I don't need to read to them." I was so taken aback I couldn't think what to say.

Reading is super important. That's not a new idea. You can see lots of reasons why here and here.

"Reading aloud to kids has clear cognitive benefits. For example, brain scans show that hearing stories strengthens the part of the brain associated with visual imagery, story comprehension, and word meaning. One study found that kindergarten children who were read to at least three times a week had a “significantly greater phonemic awareness than did children who were read to less often.” And the landmark Becoming a Nation of Readers report from 1985 concluded that “the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”

But reading also strengthens children’s social, emotional, and character development. According to a recently published study, reading to very young children is linked to decreased levels of aggression, hyperactivity, and attention difficulties. The study’s lead author shared this insight with The New York Times, “When parents read with their children more . . . they learn to use words to describe feelings that are otherwise difficult and this enables them to better control their behavior when they have challenging feelings like anger or sadness.”

A friend of my mother's, Caroline, raised three children, and her husband read to their children every night after dinner, for many years. I think he continued that right up until the youngest went away to college. The kids didn't watch TV after dinner. Their daddy read books appropriate to their age level and maybe a little bit beyond. All three kids were honors students and I think 2 of them went on to get master's degrees.

I have a lot of happy memories of my parents and grandparents reading to me.

Clearly, reading is good for children. I wanted to throw in a few personal anecdotes, though.

My grandfather Papa Hasty loved to read children's classics to me like Heidi and Swiss Family Robinson, and I also loved a big book of old Testament stories illustrated for children. Snuggling up against him while he read to me entertained me and made me feel safe and loved. He had infinite patience and would stop and explain anything I didn't understand. My father was sort of like the energizer bunny, always running around and rarely sitting still for long, but Papa always had time to read to me. (Dad always told me bedtime stories, though.)

In third grade I had a really hard year. We moved from Augusta Georgia to Knoxville Tennessee which was really stressful for me. We didn't know anyone in Knoxville. Some of the kids said I "talked funny." One good thing that happened was that the school tested me and put me into the gifted third grade class and the teacher, Mrs. Kidder, was wonderful. Every day after lunch she would read a chapter to us from a children's classic. She introduced me to EB White (Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little) and Beverly Cleary (Ramona the Pest, The Mouse and the Motorcycle). I loved that reading time.

When I brought my son home he was 10 years old, and reading was a challenge. He was reading way ahead of grade level in Kazakstan, his birth country. He learned English pretty quickly after he got here in 2007. About 2 years after he got here, though, his reading comprehension scores were not where they should have been. It concerned me.

A cousin of mine who was a kindergarten teacher heard about the reading issue and sent me a wonderful gift: the first three Harry Potter books. I told Michael I was going to start reading to him every night right before bedtime, for thirty minutes. He was not enthusiastic about the idea.

The first night he fussed a bit but then settled down and we read the required time. He sat right next to me and followed along on the page. The next night he was totally cooperative. It became something we both looked forward to every evening.

We read all the Harry Potter books. He cried when we finished the last one. I tried to comfort him and I said "Maybe Ms. Rowling will write some other books you'll like." He said "Wait. You mean JK Rowling is a GIRL?!" I said well, yes. He was flabbergasted.

We went on to read a lot more books, even continuing into his high school years. Often we would read together on weekends, after school, or whenever he was bored. I loved all the books we read, particularly a series by an Irish writer, Michael Scott, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel book series. He combines historical figures with fictional characters in a fascinating way.

Even in this high-tech world, books can be a magical way of connecting with a child. Besides being good for their brains and emotional lives, reading can be really fun for you, the adult.

The Lesson for Today: read to your children and grandchildren! You won't regret it.

Twenty Questions With Tim Baker

I belong to a book group on Facebook and we are always sharing book titles because if you’re a dedicated and voracious reader, such information is gold. Somebody posted they had read all the books by Tim Baker and I was immediately intrigued. After checking out his website, I interviewed him by phone a few days ago.

Tim lives in Florida and writes mysteries, but he didn’t start out as an English major [think Mickey Spillane, not Ernest Hemingway]. A former architect, Tim has had a number of jobs in different fields. Writing is his passion, though. He writes books basically for the same reason I do: “I write books that I would like to read,” Tim explains.

I asked Tim to describe his writing. “I’ve been compared to Carl Hiasen and Elmore Leonard.”

Tim published his first novel, Living the Dream, in 2007. He decided to forego the traditional publishing path, after learning how hard it is to get a literary agent – a lesson I’ve learned, too. (Getting hit by an asteroid is easier.) Although he uses a professional editor to help polish his stories, otherwise he’s a one man show. He has published more than 14 books since that first one. One of his books [Unfinished Business] is now being made into a television series, and Tim is learning how to write TV scripts.

No matter what the genre, as Tim notes, “A good story is always going to be a good story.”

Without further ado, here are Tim’s responses to some random questions.

Are you a full-time writer or is it more of a passionate hobby?

I guess, technically, it’s a passionate hobby since I do have a full-time day job. That doesn’t mean I don’t expect to one day write full time.

What got you interested in writing?

It began with a love of reading. From the time I was a child and read my mother’s copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer I couldn’t get enough of reading and the more I read the more I became enamored with storytelling. At some point in my late 20s I read a quote by a famous author (I believe it was Stephen King, but I’m not sure). To paraphrase - he said “One day you’ll read a book and when you’re finished you’ll think ‘I could do better than that’ and on that day, it’s time to start writing.”

Sure enough, I once read a book and had that exact thought. So I started writing.

Describe your writing process?

My books always start with a “what if” moment. For example, I once met a mortician. I was fascinated with her description of her job and at some point, I thought “What if every time she embalmed a body, she had to follow through on whatever that person was thinking about when they died.”

From there I come up with a crude “road map” for the story. I know the beginning, the end, and I have a rough idea of what will happen along the way.

Then I start writing - and although it probably violates all kinds of rules, I literally make up the story to fit my “road map”.

Once the first draft is finished, I send it to a team of beta readers and tell them to tear it apart. They aren’t looking at spelling or grammar, they are trying to blow holes in the story.

When I get their feedback, I go through it and decide how much, if any to take under advisement.

Then I edit the story from beginning to end, incorporating any of the beta comments I like and adding or subtracting things I think will improve the story.

At this point the manuscript is sent to the editor. Once I get my editor’s feedback, I go through the story again and give another polishing.

Then it’s back to the editor for the final go-through and another coat of polish when I get it back.

If all has gone well – the manuscript is now ready to be published.

What’s your favorite book ever, and why?

My favorite book ever is Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was the second book I ever read and although I’ve read many books since then that would qualify as “better” – I credit Treasure Island as the book that captured my imagination to the point where I couldn’t wait to read another book.

Was there a teacher who had a big influence on you?

As far as writing goes, there wasn’t a teacher who had much influence on me, but there was one teacher I had in high school who encouraged me, gave me confidence and always treated me as an equal, rather than a student. His name is Gerry Houle and even though I graduated high school over forty years ago, Gerry and I are still friends.

A lot of writers are inspired by their hometown. Is that true for you as well?

My original hometown, Warwick, RI, didn’t inspire me to write, but when I moved to Florida in 2006, I was almost immediately inspired by my “new” hometown, Flagler Beach, FL. It is the location for almost every one of my stories.

 

THE STANDARD TWENTY QUESTIONS

What is your full name?

Timothy J. Baker.

Where would you live, if you could live anywhere in the world?

I’m quite happy where I am, but I guess the south of France wouldn’t be hard to take.

What is your favorite movie and why?

Jaws. In my opinion Jaws is a fantastic movie on every level. The writing is superb (talk about a fantastic “what if”!!) The acting, cinematography, music all combine to make it a technical masterpiece, but it’s also a great character study. If you can manage to look past the obvious tagline about a rogue shark, you can see it for what it is. A story where the 3 protagonists must put aside their differences and work together toward a common goal which is for the greater good.

DISCLAIMER: Despite the fact that Jaws is my favorite movie I do not subscribe to the belief that sharks are inherently evil. In fact, I love sharks. Jaws actually inspired me, at the age of 16, to want to become a SCUBA diver.

What was your least-favorite subject in school when you were a kid?

Believe it or not – grammar. I couldn’t stand learning all those rules. I believed that telling a story was not about being “correct” – it was about taking the reader on a trip.

Besides, that’s why I pay an editor!

What was your nickname when you were a kid?

Most of my friends called me Bake.

Do you believe in God?

I am an Agnostic – even though I spent my entire childhood attending church, Sunday school and bible school.

What sound or noise do you love?

The sound of rain is hands down my favorite sound.

If you could do anything other than what you do, as a profession, what would it be?  

I would write full time.

If heaven exists, what do you think it is like?

Heaven most certainly exists – but in my opinion it isn’t a magical kingdom in the clouds occupied by god. It is in our mind and it is whatever and wherever makes us happy.

Do you have siblings?

I have three brothers and two sisters. I had four brothers, but one passed away about six years ago.

What is your favorite memory of childhood [something specific]?

It’s hard to cite one specific memory because I had such a fantastic childhood. But my most fond memories are of spending summer vacations playing baseball, going to the beach (I grew up walking distance from a beach) and generally being with my friends.

If you had to choose between one week traveling around the USA by car, or one week traveling around Europe on a train, which would you choose and why?

I would go with the Europe trip because driving around America I can do any time, visiting Europe not so much.

Who or what inspires you?

This is a very tough question for which I can’t really think of an answer so I’m going to go with this: I am inspired by the thought that the only person I have to be better than – is the person I was yesterday.

Which holiday do you prefer, Christmas or July 4th?

Neither of them is especially high on my list of favorites so if I had to choose, I would go with Christmas. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I come from a big family and Thanksgiving always fills me with fond memories.

What project or idea are you most passionate about, right now?

Right now, I am in the process of overseeing one of my novels (Unfinished Business) become a television series. Like most, if not all writers, it is the brass ring and I have been fortunate enough to have it within my grasp.

For more information on the project please visit blindoggproductions.com

Do you know how to cook?

I think I am a better than average cook.

What is your favorite thing to cook/eat?

I would have to say my favorite thing to cook is seafood chowder, but my favorite thing to eat is lasagna.

If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, for 2-4 weeks, all expenses paid, where would you go and why?

I would say Hawaii. I’ve always wanted to see it, but I’ve heard that it is quite expensive, so if all expenses are paid it’s an easy choice!

Who do you love the most in the world?

That’s a toss-up between my mother and my son. I credit my mother with teaching me that nothing was out of my reach if I was willing to work for it. And she somehow managed to raise seven children by herself and never let us know how hard it was. I credit my son for growing up to be one of the best people I have ever known, despite my lack of parenting skills!!

What question has nobody ever asked you, but you wanted to answer?

Nobody has ever asked me how I would like to be remembered – but you know something? It’s probably best because I think the only thing I could come up with is that every person I have ever met has influenced me somehow, so if you must remember me, remember me, not for what I was, remember me for what you made me.

Great Summer Beach Reads

After the pandemic nightmare of 2020/2021 I think folks are finally getting back to normal, thanks be to God. I thought I'd jump into the waters of commerce once again with some shameless self-promotion. Below are links to all my books, and synopses of each book. Order one or all - they are all great reads!

 

Singing to the Cows: A Memoir by Elva Hasty Thompson, edited by Dee Thompson

During her 86 years of life my mother Elva Hasty Thompson entertained and enlightened friends and family members with her stories. In her final years I persuaded her to write many of her stories into blogs. After she died in 2020 I decided to edit her blogs and compiled them into a book, and this is the result. Elva was born during the Depression, and her vivid memory encompassed World War II, the 1950's and 1960's, and being married to a dynamo [my dad]. She never lost her sense of humor, and she was much loved for her touching and often funny stories.

 

Heart of My Own Heart by Dee Thompson

Wouldn't it be fascinating to travel through time, into the future, and instruct your descendants in the ways of magic? For Sarah Walker, born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, that adventure is made possible. Sarah's magical gifts must be brought forth and nurtured in her female descendants who inherit her incredible gifts, and each young witch's powers surpass her ancestor's. Two others accompany Sarah on her travels, a Goddess and an Angel.One is her friend and one is her enemy, but which is which? Sarah isn't sure.

Set in England and in America, Heart of My Own Heart is a tale of magic and mystery, love and female empowerment.

Readers are enchanted: "I loved the book. The story is wonderful, witty, and mystical. The characters are very interesting and endearing. Believe me you won’t want to put it down, and you’ll enjoy the ride. Great story telling!!"

 

Leaf Season by Dee Thompson

Set in the mountains of North Georgia and in Atlanta, Leaf Season tells an unusual story of love and mystery. Wyatt Jamison is a busy and successful Atlanta lawyer. When his uncle dies, Wyatt inherits his home in the North Georgia mountains -- and a number of startling questions about the antebellum home and his uncle's mysterious death. After seeing the home, Wyatt dreams of retiring early and settling into the mountains, but his wife has other ideas. His uncle's next door neighbor, Sally, further complicates things.

As one reviewer noted: "Leaf Season is a great read! I especially enjoyed the cultural and historical information regarding the Georgia mountains- an area I love to visit. The main characters are well developed and likable-especially the ones visiting from the beyond! Full of suspense and it doesn’t disappoint! I look forward to Dee’s next novel."  

above, my mom Elva holding Leaf Season

 

Ghosts in the Garden City

By Dee Thompson

Leigh Harrington knows she looks very different from her petite blonde mother, but she doesn’t know why. One day she is given an old suitcase that belonged to her paternal grandmother, Rose, and she makes a shocking discovery. Her grandmother Rose kept a very dangerous secret from her family, and it becomes Leigh's mission to find out why.

When Leigh digs into Rose’s past, she discovers that she and her grandmother are further linked by a young black woman and a long-ago act of violence. As buried truths come to light, Leigh must confront not only the lies fed to her for years, but also her own repressed memories. Eventually, Leigh must learn to accept herself so she can live honestly with the man she loves.

Ghosts in the Garden City weaves the stories of four very different young women (Leigh, her mother Peggy, Rose, and her daughter Liz) who learn to survive and even thrive in the Deep South despite its painful history of racism.

Singing to the Cows, A Memoir

My mother's book Singing to the Cows is now available on Amazon. It's a collection of funny, touching, fascinating stories from her long life. She blogged for years and I tried to take the best blogs and combine them, and the result is Singing to the Cows.

Amazon didn't post a way to See Inside This Book, so I published an excerpt, below.

Bridge

          When I was an undergrad, some of the other coeds at the University of Georgia played a card game called Bridge. Often, a game seemed to go on forever in the dorms, or so it seemed to me as I walked past their doors. I did not play and had no time to learn, anyway. I carried a full schedule, plus I was often pulled out of class for some kind of testing project. Also, I was on music scholarship so when someone needed solos sung, I was elected. At a large university, there was always some kind of meeting or seminar that needed luncheon entertainment. Mostly, I enjoyed this and got a free meal too.

          Bridge didn’t come into my life much at all until I married. We lived in an apartment complex with lots of other young couples who were also paying off college loans etc. on starter salaries and had little money. So what they did for entertainment was play bridge. My husband had played all his life with his parents. They enjoyed playing so taught their three sons to play, at an early age. My parents played also but did not teach their kids to play. There was nothing to do but our neighbors decided to teach me to play. Wives were delegated to teach me in the daytime and I tried to explain that game playing and I don’t get along well, especially card games. Poor things! They were also trying to teach me to cook. It’s a wonder they could stand me but they taught me a lot, like how to make casseroles with mostly just noodles, and other ways to stretch a buck. I was such an awful bridge player that they took turns being my partner so no one got stuck with me too long.

          We played Friday night bridge for the next 14 years but we narrowed it down to once a month, finally. People moved around, others joined the group.

          When I was expecting my son, he was one of those babies that kicked constantly, turned somersaults, and just generally raised a fuss. Once that started, the guys at the bridge table would stand up and lift the table away from me because the table bouncing around was eerie!

          One night when the temperature that day had hit 100 degrees and our house was really hot, no AC, I fixed a lovely big, raw vegetable salad for dinner. It had all kinds of veggies and homemade Thousand Island dressing. We also had grilled cheese sandwiches and iced tea. When we arrived at our friends ’house to play cards, I noticed that Tony was eating all the nuts and little goodies sitting around - I mean ALL of them. Finally, one of the men asked him if he was hungry. Starved, he said, he hadn’t had any dinner! Everyone looked at me. I could have killed him! By that time, I had learned to be a good cook but a sandwich, and no meat, was just a snack to him.

          We most often vacationed at Kiawah Island , S.C. with my husband’s two brothers and their families. One afternoon, the guys decided they wanted to play bridge but their wives refused to play. I was the youngest and had never played with the three of them before. The oldest brother was so proficient, no one else wanted to partner with him. I explained how awful I was so he and I played partners all the rainy afternoon. Don’t remember who won but our resident bridge grump never said a cross word to me.

          One Friday night, trying to explain to the group why I was kind of sad, I explained that I’d had to paddle one of my students that day and I hated doing that. Someone said, “But lots of those boys are bigger than you are, so how do you manage that?” “Oh”, I said,” I just grab them kind of roughly by the front of their jeans and they don’t move a muscle.” Several of the guys said, “Yep, that would make me stand Very still!” We lost a few minutes of playing time until they could stop snickering.

           Playing correctly involves hundreds of rules and Conventions, or so it seems to me. Also, they change from time to time. Serious players demand utter silence except when discussing the game or bidding. Both my dad and husband were good bridge players but both thought all the contrived conventions were nonsense, so they didn’t bother with them. This did not set well with the persnickety players, especially when they got whooped! I can remember my parents returning from playing bridge and Dad saying,” That Mrs. Smith Jones has a right sharp tongue on her.” And Mother tearing her hair saying, “She just wants you to play by the rules.” Then Dad retorted, “This is a game, not life or death, so I have a little fun with it.” Other than Mrs. Smith Jones, he was generally a very popular person.

          When we moved To Knoxville, I told people I did not play bridge and never did again. If I got the urge, I’d just pound my thumb with a hammer until I remembered how little I enjoyed it.