Hello, blog friends ~ 

Today I'd like to offer a personal reflection as well as a poem. I've combined the two for this week's Tanka Tuesday.

As far back as I can remember, I had questions. It didn't matter the topic. I always wanted to know more, and I especially wanted to understand people - their journey, their beliefs. I'm pretty certain that my whys were irritating to my parents. As farmers, the world was straightforward to them. But it wasn't to me. 

My questioning nature led me to explore different lands, different religions, different ways of seeing. I found a home among mystics, because they universally embrace one common tenet - Love. And that tenet resonates with me. 

My mom was a Catholic and my dad was a Protestant. I never heard them argue one belief or another, but Mom kept a picture of the Shroud of Turin in the bedroom. Everyday I'd look at it and wonder, could it be?

Last week, my sister shared that the little Catholic church I attended as a child would sponsor the traveling photographic display of the Shroud. Brawley, California is definitely not Turin, Italy, nor is the display the actual Shroud. Nevertheless, I'm excited to see the exhibit. Hubby and I will travel to my hometown tomorrow.  

If you've questions or interest, there is plenty of research about the Shroud online. My poem focuses on the question, Could It Be? 

 Hello blog friends,

It's #TankaTuesday and Selma Martin has a new prompt for us. She invites interested poets to write a Badger's Hexastich, which is a form that requires a syllable structure of 2-4-6-6-4-2. She also asks that we mention what we enjoy doing in Spring.

I've shared this tidbit before, but top on my list of favorite things to do is walking/hiking in nature. I love listening to its special silence -- of birds singing, of leaves rustling, of little creatures scampering. It's a heart conversation for me, and in that setting, I find profound peace. 

My poem attempts to capture the above dynamic. I've coupled it with a photo taken last year when my family gathered in Idaho. Trails stretched across the mountains and through the trees. It was extraordinary. I hope you enjoy both the poem and photo.​

In my part of the world, it's beginning to warm. Folks are exchanging coats for windbreakers, and knitted winter hats for baseball caps. I hope the same for you!

​Have a wonderful week, dear friends. 🌞

~ this past week ~ 

I hope you have a wonderful week, full of laughter and sunshine!  

Hi, dear blog friends,

It's Tanka Tuesday, and poet Colleen Chesebro has another wonderful prompt. She asks that contributing poets use synonyms for Create and Bright. How perfect for this changing season!

My poem emerges from a reflection on home - where it is and isn't. Like many, I've lived in multiple locations (see below). Perhaps because of this, home isn't a house on a specific street, but rather it is a sacred place deep within.

Each state/country has a distinct beauty and culture, shaped by its history, but the one common thread is our human nature. No matter where I've pitched my tent, I've found that people are the same at heart. We are a family. Whether we live on the East Coast or West Coast, in the desert or in the mountains, on a lake or next to a prairie, we are more alike than different.  

My simple poem: ​

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. I am traveling and with family, so I won't be on social media much. Wishing you much laughter and a multitude of ways to celebrate the gift of life. ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. ❤️

Hello, blog friends!

Hubby and I had a great time in Sedona enjoying the Red Rocks. It was windy and chilly, but the weather did not detract from the natural beauty of the area. Since childhood, I've loved this breathtaking area. 

With my recent travels in mind, I'm responding to David Bogomolny's W3 poetry prompt. He asks that participants create a poem that encourages someone not to give up and to persevere. You can read the full instructions here:
​​https://skepticskaddish.com/2025/02/12/w3-prompt-146-weave-written-weekly/

My contribution is two tankas - 5 lines each of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. 

I hope you have a wonderful week. I wish you several days of relaxation and escape. It's amazing how refreshing it can be to not know what is happening politically on our beautiful planet. I didn't have social media connections for a few days, and now I finally understand the expression, "ignorance is bliss". ☺️

Hello, dear blog friends ~

Hubby and I are headed to Sedona, AZ. It's one of my favorite places on our beautiful planet, and it is only an hour from where we live. We'll stay a few nights and bask in the silence of the red rocks, so I doubt you'll see me on social media. 

This morning, I noticed D.L. Finn's image prompt (see below), and quickly composed a Tanka. Mountains and silence are my travel goals, so this image is a perfect one for me. If you'd like to know more about Denise's prompt, the link will lead you to her site.

​Here's my contribution:  

I hope you have a wonderful week, and I especially hope it is filled with peace. Take good care of yourself! ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the breezes and delight in the sunshine! ❤️

​Hello, blog friends ~

Today we have a treat. Author John Howell has stopped by for a visit to share tidbits about his latest book, Detour on the Eternal Road. 

Most of you are familiar with John's award-winning books. This latest publication is the third in the Eternal Road series. It promises to draw readers into the mystery of good vs. evil and our participation in that drama. Of course, John includes unexpected twists -- and a memorable ending!

Let's hear from John ~   

​I am so pleased to be on your blog with you today, Gwen.  I was thrilled when you offered to be one of the stops on the tour.  You have written such exceptional books in a number of challenging genres. ​It is a pleasure to visit and have the opportunity to explain a little about my newest book Detour on the Eternal Road. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I've included the blurb and other helpful information below. 

BLURB:

Sam and James are dragged into another strange assignment when a couple of souls on The Eternal Road drop off the radar. Archangel Michael gives them specific orders to resolve the issue and get Billy Ray Chitwood, the national race car champion, and Dale Earnhardt, his guide, back on the task of finding Billy’s Eternal Home.

Finally, meeting up with Billy Ray and Dale, the foursome finds themselves in the future where World War III has devastated the country. The team discovers the cause of the start of the war and vows to mitigate that circumstance and save the world from devastation. They encounter their old nemesis, Lucifer, who has in mind trading preventing the war in exchange for Sam accepting his offer to be his queen.
​
Since Lucifer’s offer is a non-starter, Sam and James must overcome Lucifer’s interference and work to change the course of history, or humankind is doomed. 
​

EXCERPT:

     The old man sighs. “I live about ten miles out of town, and I have no idea how I got to this bench. I would like to go home but have no way to get there.”

     The young man uses his thumb and pushes his wide-brim hat back on his head. “You have any family?”

     “I think I used to, but I can’t rightly tell you if they’re still around. I might live alone.”

     “I see. Well, we’ll be glad to help, but we have a job to do first. Will you be okay until we get back? Shouldn’t take more than a half hour.”

     “Mighty obliged to you. Yes, I can wait a half hour.”

     “All right, then. You stay here in the shade, and we’ll go over to that corral there to arrest some rustlers.”

     “You a lawman?”

     “Yup. I’m the marshal hereabouts. Name’s Earp. Wyatt Earp. Them’s my deputies.”

     “Pleased to meet you, Wyatt. I’ll be right here awaitin’.”

     “Good for you, pops. Don’t you worry; everything will be all right.”

     “Bless you, son.”

     Wyatt touches the brim of his felt hat with two fingers. “You stay right here, and I’ll come back and get you.”

     “Yes, sir, Marshall.”

     “Call me Wyatt.”

     “Yes, sir, Wyatt.”

     The corners of Wyatt’s mouth turn up. The creases at the corner of his eyes intensify slightly, and he nods with satisfaction. Ready to get on, he turns and walks back to the other men. He doesn’t say anything to them but looks back at the elderly bloke as they continue down the street.

TRAILER: https://animoto.com/play/0Z6vyFwQqrAZjjVAlciipw

BUY LINKS:  Universal paper and Universal Ebook  

BIO: John is an award-winning author who after an extensive business career began writing full time in 2012. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. He has written seven other books that are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

​John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
​

This week, poet David Bogomolny offers a special prompt chosen by Jaideep Khanduja. It aptly fits the painful life challenges we share.
​
​Interested writers are invited to participate by creating a poem with these directives:

• Theme: contrast between light and darkness
• Form: each line must begin with the phrase "In the shadow of..."
• Length: exactly 7 lines
• Tone: a narrative that transitions or oscillates between obscurity and clarity

This poetic form was a first for me. But with all that is happening in our beautiful world, the words came easily. 

​My poem ~ ~ ~

I hope your week finds needed solace and deep peace. A big virtual hug to all... ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~ 

I've another poem to share, based upon the prompt featured in David Bogomolny post. The theme is "The bittersweet, painful, or unsettling aspects of the past and its hold on the present."

With this theme in mind, I will share a childhood experience and then my poem.  

Dad had both hands when I was a youngster. He was a hardworking farmer, who came home every evening covered in dirt and machinery grease. We children were his delight, and after he had his shower, he'd gather us together for games.

We loved one game in particular. Dad would pull out his handkerchief and make a mouse. We'd shriek with amazement as the mouse moved across his hand. I never understood how it moved - until adulthood. 

This short, 30-second clip demonstrates how you can make a moving mouse. 

When I started grade school, Dad had a terrible accident and lost much of his left arm. He could no longer make the little mouse, nor could he do a lot of other things. At first he did not talk. He just sat and looked out the window, his arm propped up high.

Weeks later, Dad went back to the fields. He never spoke about the amputation or his limitations. And we seven children did not dare to bring up the topic. But Dad's decision to return to work forever imprinted on me how to face life's hurdles.

My poem ~ 

​I hope you have a wonderful week. Stay warm! ❤️

Hello blog friends,

Do you have a favorite photo that helps you escape into another time or a different world? I've several treasures that I keep near. The one below is from a journey to Alaska. I didn't climb the mountains in the picture, but I travel to them in my dreams. I can look at this scene and disappear into the misty wonderment. 

I mention the above because Robbie Cheadle has a poetry challenge involving a photo. Her selected, spin-the-bottle, poetry style is a shadorma - a six-line stanza poem written as 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllables. If you'd like to know more, just click on the link above. 

My poem, which I've entitled The Invitation. I hope you like it. 

​I hope you have a wonderful week. Let's all find time to escape into nature - even a virtual one will suffice. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

Earlier today, I visited poet David Bogomolny's blog site, in which he offers an invitation and a prompt for interested poets. The prompt is hope or renewal, and you can read the details by clicking on the link above. 

I've spent much of my life seeking peace. That quest took me to Japan in 1972. I lived in a small home, much like the one below, for five years. My family and I sat and slept on the tatami mats. We did not have chairs or beds. It was a simple but beautiful life, and the environment itself prompted peace. 

​My poem focuses on finding peace.

Below are a few photos of our years in Japan. Two were taken in the countryside, and one is of Jes standing beside our garden. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend -- filled with sunshine and PEACE. ❤️

Hello, blog friends...

It's been quite a week - winter storms, fires, earthquakes, and so much more. My heart aches for all who are struggling with these natural disasters. Blogger Thomas Wikman dives into these phenomena on his site, Super Facts. I've found his posts very helpful and recommend a visit. 

For the last couple of weeks, we've also focused on mysterious drones. People everywhere are asking what are they, and why are they here? I don't have an answer to either question, but the phenomenon prompts me to share an experience. ​

In 1970, my spouse and I rented a farmhouse in Indiana, just west of Purdue University where we were grad students. Grain fields surrounded the home and barn. 

One evening, my husband shouted for me to come outside. I did and froze at what I saw. A large cylindrical craft hovered over our home. I had never seen anything like it before.

I ran back inside the house terrified and called the police. The officer asked if I had been drinking or if I had taken drugs. Once he was convinced I had not, he told me to call the airport at Purdue. I did. This gentleman asked me similar questions and then referred me to Grissom Air Force Base. I made that third call, and the Airman listened and responded, "No one else has reported seeing this craft." There was nothing more I could do. But, in the morning, local farmers told us that they had seen the saucer-shaped craft. 

​Since 1970, I've known that we are not alone in the universe. I've known that these visitors mean no harm. They are far more advanced than we, and if they wanted to do us harm, they could. I don't know who operates the drones, but I doubt it's aliens.

My simple tanka reflects on the quandary. If you are like me, the night sky beckons. 

I recently listened to a sixteen-year-old sing his own song, What If. The final line is, "If I'm a fool for dreaming, then what is left for me." My heart went out to him and to all our youth. They need to dream, to hope, to love. Listening to this child brought me into the future. You and I are creating that future now. Let's be gentle with it. ❤️ 

​I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. 

Hello, blog friends!

It's the last day of the year, and I suspect most of us stand uneasy on the shifting terrain. We're unsure what 2025 will bring. Whispers of hope abound, but thunderclouds mount. With this situation as a backdrop, I smiled when I read ​Colleen Chesebro's poetry prompt for today. 

Colleen has asked participants to focus on the Native American Zodiac and our particular sign. It turns out that I'm a Bear. Who knew? A couple of the characteristics, per www.spiritanimal.com, include the following:

The Bear birth totem is tied to the element of Earth and with an inner strength that's balanced with truthfulness, acceptance and sincerity. Your personal space is very important to you. Your cave is secure and welcoming. It is a place where you can safely explore all aspects of your inner world. You go to that sacred place for quiet revitalization. 

My simple tanka (syllables of 5-7-5-7-7) is about my bear. 😊

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. To you and all, my wishes for a happy New Year! ❤️

Hello, blog friends! 

I'm on the road, visiting family in Southern California. Most of my brothers, sisters, and cousins live in Imperial Valley, where we grew up. This desert area borders Mexico and Arizona and is known for its agriculture, extreme summer heat, and perfect winters. If you don't see me in the blogosphere, you know where to find me.😊Below are a couple of family photos. 

Because of travel, I've pre-posted my #TankaTuesday poem. Writer Melissa Lemay is the host this week, and she offers a beautiful prompt. She asks that interested poets write a Haiga - a "refined visual art of combining brush painting, haiku, and calligraphy." Since most of us are not skilled in calligraphy, she suggested we focus on a painting to write our haiku (5-7-5 syllables). Melissa describes the process and history of the Haiga on the TankaTuesday blog site. 

My selected image is a painting by Nellie Franz Edwards. It is called Mother of Life. This framed print rests in my office and keeps me company during the day. With my four grown children living in the greater New York City area, I sometimes worry for them. This image calms those concerns and gives me hope.

My haiku is from my heart to yours. May your holidays be filled with laughter - and treasures. And if you are traveling, may you and yours be safe. ❤️

​Hello, blog friends!

It's #TankaTuesday, and Colleen Chesebro has an interesting prompt of three Tarot cards. We are to use the cards as inspiration in finding our joy. 

​If you'd like to join in the writing adventure, just click on the above link and you will travel to the poetry site where you'll find instructions. Below are the three cards:

​I don't have any experience with Tarot, but looking at the cards, some thoughts surfaced about a recent encounter, which I've decided to share. 

Since the mid-1980s, I've followed the research on the Near Death Experience phenomena and read numerous personal accounts. So, when I learned last summer that the IANDS conference would be in Phoenix, I lept at the opportunity to attend. 

There were many physicians and nurses at the conference, along with a large group of folks who had had a Near Death Experience. At each of the presentations, speakers shared their NDE and talked about how it had changed their life. At one of the sessions, the speaker led us into a very relaxed state through a guided meditation, with the intention or hope that each of us would meet someone on the other side. 

As I moved into silence, I expected to see my mom and dad, because I often feel their presence. But, it was not they whom I met. In this meditative state, I saw a man with dark hair, his head lowered in sadness. This man did not look at me, but he said, "I wasn't there for him. I wasn't there for him." Then he left. I instantly knew who this mystery man was. And just as instantly, I felt compassion. 

Three weeks after the conference, a distant in-law visited. I had felt frustrated with this man because of his weak work ethic and stringent religious views. But this time was different. I decided to tell him about my experience, even though I expected a negative response. To my surprise, the man listened attentively, and then with hesitation, he explained that his father had dark hair. He added that his father had deserted the family when he was just a child and died in a tragic accident a couple years later. The in-law acknowledged that he had no fathering. I listened and realized I had just received confirmation of my experience.

I believe that life is eternal. And whether earthly or heavenly, a loving embrace can be transformative. In the experience above, two people were changed. I let go of frustration and welcomed compassion. And, the in-law felt his father's regret and unspoken love. 

What does any of this have to do with Tarot? Images are suggestive and often stir memories. In my case, seeing the house card and the fairy card brought to mind the IAND conference. My two tankas reflect on that enlightening experience. I hope you like them. 

Stay warm, dear friends, and have a wonderful week! ❤️

Hello, blog friends ~

Today is #TankaTuesday, and Lisa Smith Nelson provides a photo prompt for interested poets. We are to consider the image to the right when we compose our syllabic poem. 

Studying this battered black cat, I thought back to my childhood attic. Though mostly bare, the space had a few things worthy of a child's imagination. I especially loved an old rocking chair that sometimes would rock without anyone's assistance. Mom explained that it used to be my grandmother's chair. She passed away when my mom was only seven. I liked to sit in that old chair and imagine Grandma holding me. Wouldn't you have done the same? 

I've composed a two-stanza tanka and entitled it A Writer's Treasure. I hope you can relate to it. Have a great week! ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. There's so much to be grateful for, don't you agree? Let's forget politics for a while and let nature speak. ❤️

Hello, blog friends. . . 

I hope you had a wonderful week with abundant laughter and good food. Hubby and I were in Southern California for a family get-together. Because of our travels, I've been absent from social media - and late for my weekly poem. 

Yvette Calleiro hosted the #TankaTuesday challenge this past week. She asked that we focus on silver linings and the contrast between struggles and blessings. This was an easy assignment because of our drive on Interstate 10. Two major truck accidents caused a delay of a couple of hours. Imagine my delight when we finally reached the ocean. 

​I took the photo below after escaping the car and walking the coastline. There's something so calming and restorative about the water, don't you agree? My silver lining after a very looong drive was sand under my feet. ❤️​

Have a wonderful week, dear blog friends!

Dear blog friends,

Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching. For those unfamiliar with this holiday, it is a time when families gather and give thanks through a special meal and precious time together. In some locales, there are parades and other celebrations. 

As the title Thanksgiving suggests, the Day is focused on gratefulness. We pause, step back, and recognize the gifts we hold - through our family, friends, pets, health, and so much more. 

You are part of my Thanksgiving. We probably have not met, but you're included in my extended family through your writing. I've read over fifty books this year, and each has opened my eyes to another world - your world - captured in fiction. Thank you! 

Two quotes come to mind, and I suspect they will resonate with you as well: ​

We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.
Anais Nin

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only once. George R. R. Martin

​Below are a few of my recent reads - all of which were excellent. And below these wonderful books is a compilation of other great tomes I read this year. Thank you - all - for sharing your brilliance and enriching my life.  ❤️  

You'll find my reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub.

It's probably no surprise that my Kindle is still packed with unread books. I hope to finish a few more stories by the end of this year. Fingers crossed, those books will include yours. ❤️

From the Smithsonian Magazine's "Brain Matters" ~

According to a recent study by neuroscientists published in the journal of Brain Connectivity, reading a novel can improve brain function on a variety of levels. The ability to use your imagination and put yourself in the shoes of another person is similar to developing muscle memory in sports.

Quite the incentive, don't you agree? 😊

Hubby and I are on the road, and because of that, I've closed the comments for this post. We will spend several days with his family in Southern California. I hope you'll also be with your family and friends this week. Blessings to all and . . . ​

Hello, blog friends. 

It seems the United States has survived the elections, even though strong sentiments remain. Looking back over the years, I've experienced 14 different presidents. 7 were Democrats and 7 were Republicans. I was inconsolable when John F. Kennedy was murdered. And a couple years later, when two people I greatly loved were also killed - Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy - I thought surely the world was coming to an end.

I’ve always supported the underdog, the discriminated, the homeless, and the ignored veterans. Politics hasn't done much for these populations, but good-willed citizens have (hurricane aid - a recent example). I mention this because ordinary people, like you and me, are the hope for our beautiful planet. My poem below reflects on that truth.

Cheryl is the host for today's Tanka Tuesday challenge. She invites us to write a Shadorma - a Spanish poetic form that consists of six lines with a syllable count of 3-5-3-3-7-5. This is my first attempt at this form. Maybe you'll give it a try too? 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. 

Hello, blog friends!

It's Tanka Tuesday, and this week poet Willow Withers offers the prompt. She's asked that participating poets choose a piece of music and "write a syllabic poem about how the music either makes you feel or what it suggests to you."

For my contribution, I've gone back in time to 1976. Judy Collins and Leonard Cohen are two of my favorites and in this song, they shine. I offer "Suzanne". 

My music-inspired tanka tries to capture some of the life-movement suggested by the song Suzanne. I hope you enjoy it.   

I hope you have a wonderful, music-filled week! 

Hello, blog friends ~ 

It's Tanka Tuesday, and I've another poem to share. This week writer Lisa Nelson offers the prompt. She invites participants to use synonyms for the words promise and comfort in their poem. 

One of my sons is an outdoorsman. Since he was a little kid, he'd disappear into the woods and make friends with the critters. He's climbed numerous mountains, surfed the oceans, hiked obscure trails, and these last years, he's enjoyed mountain biking.

Brian's photographs of his adventures always elicit wonder. A couple of days ago, he emailed me the photo below - from a fifty mile ride in the Northeast. I've used it as inspiration for my Tanka. 

My synonyms for the two prompt words (promise and comfort) are covenant and peacefulness. I've entitled it Life's Covenant. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Let's explore the wilds . . .

Hello, blog friends ~

I'm excited to welcome author Jan Sikes to my blog today. She has a new release, and I've invited her to tell us a bit about this latest masterpiece. 

A Noble Bargain hit the bookshelves last week, and it has already garnered much acclaim. Let's hear from the author herself. The floor is all yours, Jan. ​

​​Thank you, Gwen, for hosting me today, as I end my blog tour for A Noble Bargain. I’m deeply grateful for your generosity and support!

I owe a huge thank you to everyone who has followed along on this tour, left comments and shared on social media. We are never on this writing journey alone.

I want to close out the tour with a family reunion of sorts. As I stated earlier in the tour, there are three Blaine siblings—Harlan, Rose and Jack. When everything falls apart, Harlan goes his separate way while Rose and Jack make their way to an aunt in Missouri. I couldn’t stand the thought that they’d never all be together again, so I created this reunion at Layken Martin’s farm in Missouri.

EXCERPT:
​
Coming up the long driveway, a man wearing a worn hat pulled low ambled along carrying a bedroll and knapsack. There was something oddly familiar in his gait. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. Whoever he was looked uncannily like her dead pa.

The dogs sat at the bottom of the steps, their tails wagging, but at least they stopped barking.

As the man drew closer, she sucked in a breath and bounded off the steps, with Sadie and Pearl on her heels. “Harlan!” She ran toward him as tears sprang into her eyes.

He shifted a bedroll to his back. “Rose.”

When she reached him, he embraced her. “Harlan. How did you find us?”

He hugged her tight and cleared his throat, then held her at arm’s length, looking her up and down. “I called Uncle Rube yesterday, sure you’d be there, and he told me where you were. I was worried about you and Jack. Had to come and see what was happening and why you weren’t in St. Louis.”

He looked thinner and older than she remembered. She took in the scruffy beard and dusty clothes. It was obvious he’d been on the road for a while. He looked so much like their father. Yet there was something different about her brother. He’d lost the hard look in his eyes. “Come on up to the house. I’ll tell you everything. Jack’s going to be so happy to see you.” While they walked, she caught him up on things.

When they reached the house, he deposited his bedroll and knapsack on the front porch. Then she led him through the kitchen and out the back door.

“Jack, look who’s here.”

With soap up to his elbows, Jack glanced up, then did a double-take. “Harlan?”

“Hey, little brother. I see you’ve resorted to doing women’s work.” He grinned widely.

“Hot damn!” Jack wiped his hands on his pants and bolted toward his brother, giving him a man hug while Harlan tousled his hair. “How did you find us?”

After Harlan explained, Rose took hold of his arm and pointed toward Seymour and Tab, making introductions all around. Then, she explained about Sara Beth, Layken, and the new baby.

“What a surprise.” Rose couldn’t believe he was there. “I want to hear everything. Where have you been? What have you been doing?”

Jack nodded. “Share, big brother.”

“Got anything to drink? Been walking a long way.”

Rose rushed into the house and poured another glass of tea, then went back out.

Harlan took a big gulp and wiped his mouth. “Been traveling around mostly. The jalopy took out on me the second day and I sold it for a little money in Hot Springs. Hopped a few freights and got rides with some truckers.” He shrugged. “That’s about it. Just been trying to figure out what to do next.”

BLURB:

A true testament of character, resilience, and the magic of never giving up.

The year is 1948 and folks in the sawmill town of Crossett, Arkansas, work hard and play hard. Oliver Quinn does both. Oliver is the son of Irish immigrants who firmly believe in pursuing the American dream. His deepest desire is to play major league baseball. He only needs one chance to prove himself.

Rose Blaine is living in a nightmare where dreams don’t exist. She’s suffered for years at the hands of her violent moonshiner father and his partner. During a brutal attack, she must fight back or die. The aftermath is devastating.

Fueled by desperation, Rose strikes a life-changing bargain with Oliver. If he’ll take her and her brother to St. Louis, Missouri, she’ll introduce Oliver to her uncle, a baseball legend.

While their journey is fraught with unseen perils, they forge an unbreakable bond and make surprising allies.
​
When destiny throws them a curve ball, they must find the courage to create a hopeful future out of the ashes of shattered dreams with newfound fortitude.

​I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this tour and if you’ve chosen to pick up A Noble Bargain, I pray you find it to be a satisfying read.

Again, thank you for following along, and a big thank you goes out to all of my hosts!

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK:  https://books2read.com/u/booMQR

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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