Inspirational writing tools.

Now tell me, what writer doesn't still like a classic now and then?

So last week at a flee market I spotted a vintage 1930s (my guess) typewriter for $55. So this week we went back to get it. They also had a six speed Greco swing for $10. I bargained and got both for $60. Can't believe the manual was underneath the typewriter, copyright 1934-38, and it has a key. I can lock it like my iPad! HA ! I know yuz writers is jealous!

It is a small portable in beautiful condition. It still has the typewriter brush with it too. No bent keys as the, "Quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog," has proved. The ribbon even had a little life in it, but I shall have to check around for ribbons, which won't be hard. This is one gadget that has stood the test of time. I'm going to take it to my favorite spot at Silver Lake and write. I think I may have to cut my fingernails ...

Speaking of new gadgets, I'm trying to get the Amazon carousel thing to book to display books. I can see it when on my laptop but not on my iPad? Think it's an Apple not wanting to display Amazon things issue? I'm going to try it below and see if it works in a post. If you don't see it, I guess it will answer that question.

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Blogsite Malfunction

Before you say it, yes I backed up my template as well as all my posts. In my attempt to try and find a new template and not finding one right away, my old template for some reason, would not re-upload. I like the new one BUT none of my posts are showing soooo, 8 sentence snippet for me today.

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Milk Carton Murders 36

Time for another snippet from:

SETUP: The three girls whose twenty plus-year-old remains washed up in coffins at Wiscoy Creek have been identified as Lisa Appleton, Rachel McKenzie and Samantha Briggs. Samantha was a foster child at Dave's house when he was a kid who he knew as Sally, and it was the last place Dave seen her alive. This week Pepper needs to ask our reporter, Dave, some questions. She is sharing a bit of what the forensic's team found inside one of the coffins with him to see what he says. 

As always the words in italics is the "other" voice in Dave's head.

And now the snippet (Pepper speaks first):

Well your Sally, a.k.a. our victim Samantha Briggs, had a stuffed dog, more teddy bear style construction made of polyester, a man made fabric that’s plastic based, which is why it survived.”

 “Was it yellow?”

“Yes, extremely dirty, but it was yellow. And you knew this how?”

Dave slumped against the jeep; please, he thought, no more headaches—focus. “Because I gave it to her—I think I won it at the county fair.”

You think? Oh come on Davy, quit being a chicken shit, you can remember—or do I have to tell you?    

***

The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

*** 

BLURB:

When three small coffins are unearthed near the Wiscoy Creek during a routine dredging operation, it’s the last thing DAVE ROBERTSON, of the Lamont Weekly Times, expected. Pinned to the skeleton’s clothing are pictures from milk cartons of missing girls.

Dave is stunned to find that one of the girls is Sally―a foster child his parents had cared for through the Friends of Foster Families (FFF) program. Cold case files reveal the girls disappeared over 20 years ago. Knowing his house was the last place he saw Sally alive, he can’t help but suspect his dad.

How can he write the biggest story of his career if his father turns out to be the killer? If the voice in his head would shut up and let him remember, he might figure it out before he loses his mind and his dad is charged with murder.

Full blurb and snippet recap here. 

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  If you're curious what Polly Frisch is doing, you can find her on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle, Smashwords, and for Nook, and on iTunes. She did good in the Goodreads giveaway with 940 entries.

 You can download a free excerpt (about 3 chapters) on NoiseTrade Books in mobi , ePub or PDF formats.  NoiseTrade has been for music since 2008 and just stepped into the literary side. Lots of things to read for free in exchange for an email addy and zip code. A great way for authors to inform their readers of what they're up too, or if they're in their area for a signing.

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Milk Carton Murders 35

Time for another snippet from:

 

SETUP: The three girls whose twenty plus-year-old remains washed up in coffins at Wiscoy Creek have been identified as Lisa Appleton, Rachel McKenzie and Samantha Briggs. Samantha was a foster child at Dave's house when he was a kid, and it was the last place Dave seen her alive. His dad Hal is one of the suspects. Dave and Investigator Pepper Black are at the police station going through boxes Dave pulled from their attic. One is a box of old foster family files (that Dave's dad believes will help clear him) and a couple boxes of old photographs from the right time period and before. Pepper and Dave come across two, group shots form a "Farm Days" event for foster kids that have the three victims in them.

Now the snippet:

"All the kids were taken on a tour," said Dave. "They got to pet and feed the cows. The Donley’s even had an old cow that was pretty people friendly, meaning it wouldn’t start crapping all over the place when it was around screaming kids.  Cows tend to do that when they sense you’re nervous, then it makes them nervous and they shit all over.”

“So this photograph is obviously 1987,” Pepper said making mental notes, “between July and September. I’m going to make a photocopy of it; then I want you to write on the copy and tell who’s who, as much as you can remember anyway.”

***

The link to the other Weekend Writing Warriors is here. You're bound to find something to pique your interest.

The Sunday Snippet writer's on Facebook are here. Between the two there is something for everyone. Thank you for any comments you leave me. Much appreciated!

*** 

BLURB:

When three small coffins are unearthed near the Wiscoy Creek during a routine dredging operation, it’s the last thing DAVE ROBERTSON, of the Lamont Weekly Times, expected. Pinned to the skeleton’s clothing are pictures from milk cartons of missing girls.

Dave is stunned to find that one of the girls is Sally―a foster child his parents had cared for through the Friends of Foster Families (FFF) program. Cold case files reveal the girls disappeared over 20 years ago. Knowing his house was the last place he saw Sally alive, he can’t help but suspect his dad.

How can he write the biggest story of his career if his father turns out to be the killer? If the voice in his head would shut up and let him remember, he might figure it out before he loses his mind and his dad is charged with murder.

Full blurb and snippet recap here. 

***  
You still have time to enter and win one of five autographed copies of 

Bread & Butter the Murders of Polly Frisch

By Cindy Amrhein & Ellen Lea Bachorski

SETUP: The three girls whose twenty plus-year-old remains washed up in coffins at Wiscoy Creek have been identified as Lisa Appleton, Rachel McKenzie and Samantha Briggs. Samantha was a foster child at Dave's house when he was a kid, and it was the last place Dave seen her alive. His dad Hal is one of the suspects. Dave and Investigator Pepper Black are at the police station going through boxes Dave pulled from their attic. One is a box of old foster family files (that Dave's dad believes will help clear him) and a couple boxes of old photographs from the right time period and before. Dave's dad, Hal, also worked in the print shop at the dairy. - See more at: http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/#sthash.2Bl90jT4.dpuf

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Bread & Butter The Murders of Polly Frisch

by Cindy Amrhein & Ellen Lea Bachorski

Giveaway ends June 09, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

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IWSG Post - Juggling Life

Oh for pitty sake! It's the first Wednesday of the month! 

Time for...

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Bread and Butter The Murders of Polly Frisch is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

The list to the other IWSG bloggers is here.
If your user name in comments doesn't lead to your IWSG blog, leave the URL so I can find you!
 

Here's how to do a clickable link to your blog in comments:
< a href="http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/">History Sleuth's Writings</a >
Just replace my stuff with yours and take the space out between the < a and a >
(Had to put a space in or you would see a link instead of code. :)
Keep it in a note on your desktop so you can copy & keep hitting paste at every blog instead of retyping. - See more at: http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/2014/05/iswg-post-tweaking-of-ebooks.html#sthash.5OEaGFH4.dpuf

Today I came home from work and I thought, Lord, my house looks like a bomb went off in it. Well, maybe not that bad, but bad enough. How do all of you juggle life with writing? It seems like life gets in the way of LIFE. 

Maybe I need a Stepford wife.

Ok, maybe not her...

....but one that does all those mundane tasks so I have time to sit down and write, edit whatever. Spend time with hubby, my kids, my grand kids. Feel fulfilled as a mom/grandma/wife AND a writer. Oh, yes and go to work. 

Maybe something like...

 

I wonder if I can find one on eBay?

Actually I bet Craigslist has them. All the weird shit is on Craigslist.

In the meantime, Bread & Butter the Murders of Polly Frisch is doing pretty good out there in cyberspace. I have more to publish as soon as I find time to compile and format it. Well it's off to clean the kitchen.... I think it's the kitchen. I remember there being a room if I turn left through the one archway, ya, I think it's that way...

The list to the other IWSG bloggers is here.
If your user name in comments doesn't lead to your IWSG blog, leave the URL so I can find you!
 

Here's how to do a clickable link to your blog in comments:
< a href="http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/">History Sleuth's Writings</a >
Just replace my stuff with yours and take the space out between the < a and a >
(Had to put a space in or you would see a link instead of code. :)
Keep it in a note on your desktop so you can copy & keep hitting paste at every blog instead of retyping.

***

Bread and Butter The Murders of Polly Frisch is now available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

The list to the other IWSG bloggers is here.
If your user name in comments doesn't lead to your IWSG blog, leave the URL so I can find you!
 

Here's how to do a clickable link to your blog in comments:
< a href="http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/">History Sleuth's Writings</a >
Just replace my stuff with yours and take the space out between the < a and a >
(Had to put a space in or you would see a link instead of code. :)
Keep it in a note on your desktop so you can copy & keep hitting paste at every blog instead of retyping. - See more at: http://historysleuth.blogspot.com/2014/05/iswg-post-tweaking-of-ebooks.html#sthash.5OEaGFH4.dpuf

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