tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34767260035478376392024-03-14T00:56:28.829-04:00Karen L. Hallam's Writing SpotReading. Writing. Painting. K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-26589877367931898522023-12-05T15:22:00.001-05:002023-12-15T08:09:59.235-05:00My Young Adult, eBook is FREE on Smashwords Through January 1 <p> </p><p><span face="Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM9fcZR5jVXGai9N7ijJmkofx-5Q9fb4gVPasActXurjNPuvwByHAPb42UvVjhXTKUNnsEnKVA-X-827xfrDpttcWyjLPSrLYe-_hLa0TkEfiEwfHRLUhjdbODa60usOSKSd-tZyNfKGpoDVK0cZwDv-MS-ryEK6AE5oCx_hQWMsWSZwyN9c8PRglxpk/s650/download.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="650" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM9fcZR5jVXGai9N7ijJmkofx-5Q9fb4gVPasActXurjNPuvwByHAPb42UvVjhXTKUNnsEnKVA-X-827xfrDpttcWyjLPSrLYe-_hLa0TkEfiEwfHRLUhjdbODa60usOSKSd-tZyNfKGpoDVK0cZwDv-MS-ryEK6AE5oCx_hQWMsWSZwyN9c8PRglxpk/w640-h154/download.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span face="Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span face="Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">Hello, Readers!</span></h3><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m excited to announce that my Young Adult Thriller novella, <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Unmoving Sky </strong><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Second Edition</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">)</span>, will be <b>FREE </b>and available as part of a promotion on Smashwords beginning December 15 through January 1, for their 2023 End of Year Sale! </span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1319454" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95KVdvNeJrhvVuPmTG7J8T0HpMEstIVewI_KDCvMMzBElFXslwejAxcwkuqfRIVJc2WZPXTERD-DaWB4_bo5VyLIvQxiK-JCGNGF6jrQZpgD6UqmGgQWSMUN_3uerCP4-gCsOQdCrelnVO8kS5IVkZk2qwKw_7wEEpGtbioIZ5DuZWEWFpDllASrU594/s320/Blue%20Cave-UPDATE-LargeYellTUS.png" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a chance to get my book, along with books from many other great authors, at a discount so you can get right to reading.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You will find the promo here starting on December 15, so save the link:<br /><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/">https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/</a></span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please share with friends and family. </span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for your help and support!</span></div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy reading!</span></div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-61397141449361283072023-10-31T14:54:00.009-04:002023-10-31T15:02:16.249-04:00Who Loves Sci-Fi Anthologies? <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can read my short story in Alien Dimensions, First Contact Issue #25, THE HARVEST. </span></p><p><br /></p><p> And find out how shelter dogs help the aliens when they arrive in 2026. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL4Y98MF?&linkCode=ll1&tag=scifioz&linkId=294a2da108e24a82c4809086b2c74c0e&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="alien witih large eyes" border="0" data-original-height="2559" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZYsXoB1I7f7pMaVLMj3EcuQVZ9g_KaVHoi55xbDYXlpXSVUxDcmIMRpjYOaohaASNy_folULEk0nFqcDMTh88U52WYWocc6uBYEDgb35ZQX4VpYmK0BVJAPRKcTwjgKCUB5IIaXwDX-tQ_AcGjzAn4EUM0IYjSj4Mq2BCEaA1_H7St7iHPA5c7CgcSs/w400-h640/unnamed-1.jpg" title="Alien Dimensions #25" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">link in the photo</p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>From the Editor, Neil Hogan: </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Tired of space fiction that turns out to be contemporary fiction with a science fiction background?</i></span></span></p><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Bored with the same old tropes being recycled?</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Desperate for something that’s not just humans versus aliens?</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Alien Dimensions is here to help! Always on the lookout for alien stories with a futuristic setting integral to the story rather than just a backdrop, featuring stories based on real science, you’re sure to find something that will get you thinking in every issue. Let’s get the science back into science fiction, the intelligent aliens back into the dialogue, and let’s just escape to a world completely unconnected and unrelated to the one we’re in now.</i></span></p><div><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">This issue:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">The Creature from Another World – </span>Humphrey Price<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Volunteers – </span>Tyree Campbell<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Man Among Others – </span>Jason Lairamore<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">The Phobos Box – </span>Allen Ashley<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Celestial Injustice: Trial of the Blue Planet</span> by James Ward<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">In Earth’s Backyard – </span>James F. McGrath<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Aldanian Geometry – </span>Gail Brown<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Reach For It – </span>Ourliazo Tap<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Memories in Water – </span>Louise Butler<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Canned Meat – </span>Vincent deDiego Metzo<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Sometimes We Get What We Pay For – </span>Mord McGhee<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Vothari Blood – </span>Philip Goode<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Dragon in the Laut – </span>J. L. Royce<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">The Harvest – </span>K. L. Hallam<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Voice Zones</span> – Neil A. Hogan<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">And if you have a story to share, the next theme is ...</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mars Colonization 2033</span></span></h2><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Submission period for this theme: November 1st 2023 to January 31st 2024</em></span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a href="https://aliendimensions.com/submission-guidelines/" target="_blank">More Info</a></em></span></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-5729394326666554922023-05-19T08:58:00.009-04:002023-10-31T14:30:41.531-04:00The Unmoving Sky eBook is FREE ALL SUMMER LONG. <h2 style="text-align: left;">Just head on over to <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> and use the coupon 9QHA5 </h2><div><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1319454" target="_blank">Or use this direct link</a>!</b></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unmoving-sky-kl-hallam/1123756326?ean=9798201285258" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQRHnj-Y4RzXtCztXX2HNwkiloprP9CoWouegEBh0wf0guSPWfDZO3NpiBHszw-NvRGhQQDrIZrd52wvnQ6jWmT9f53w9fOpv1Q3MuRO2qPvXMmzzkqSq9ZwiiJqXDou30OdfASoIw_Ru7RSv7S18s45ebH8yb1QYtMu4ARFheIOfn0TfrKEmhFaR48w/w266-h400/Blue%20Cave-UPDATE-LargeYellTUS.png" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b>There is Nothing Darker Than The Woods.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #0f1419; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jackson and his brother Artie are lost. Night creeps in and the rains come fast. </span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #0f1419; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">They seek refuge in a cave and find someone else already there. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span> </span><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #674ea7; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); clear: both; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); clear: both; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); clear: both; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); clear: both; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Written with empathy, compassion and clarity, The Unmoving Sky seizes the reader and pulls him at will along bends and turns, into ravines and out again: in the deep woods at night and in the human psyche. The emotional journey is at times the most terrifying of all, both to the characters involved and to the reader. Bravo.</span></i></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><span face="TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></h3><p></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-43020299415881241372022-11-11T12:54:00.019-05:002023-01-31T15:05:24.637-05:00Visions of Death: The Music Department Murders<p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">The first three episodes are free to read! </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BLM3ZPQR" style="font-weight: bold;">Visions of Death: The Music Department Murders </a> </span><span>t</span>akes place during the summer of 1935, the build-up to WW II is heating up, swing music is blasting from the airwaves, and seventeen-year-old, Ruby St. Claire is a rising star of Weston's music department with her swinging quartet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span>Next stop, the Roseland Ballroom Competition. She's helped the police find murder suspects since she was thirteen with her extrasensory vision, but after taking a break to focus on her music, the images of death have returned. Girls from school are disappearing. Ruby has to act fast and find their killer even when all the signs point</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> to her. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BLM3ZPQR" target="_blank"><img alt="Showgirl" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzcZuYR8C2XIpliGtqFwX_mT09oZOQiUzwdSnr3obUxg_zLx-yAikcF6WHi7jNPH2cfDS21wgzZfMI_e-1p58mLynxcH9gWaQZSItFhP8J0bWxEaNTdmLdJnkCIobxyU8MtNxGuizQrrglcE9AL12quUkwgNobDQ1YtfQ2X8G2v6e5MJWv04GOPWr/w400-h400/Copy%20of%20Ruby-Double-Image-XSepia.jpeg" title="Visions of Death: The Music Department Murders" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Click the photo to take you to the story! </span><br />Cover created with Canva.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">In the author's notes at the end, I've added a couple of historical events that were happening at the time and influenced the story. There are historical parallels to the current build-up of the authoritarian political climate we find ourselves in now. Not only in the US, as I thought when I began this project, but all over the world. We much squash white supremacy! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-family: Times;">After watching the Authors Guild Foundation's webinar about serialized fiction, I was inspired to try it. <a href="https://youtu.be/OVYLtzwxIhQ" target="_blank">Have a look.</a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><p style="font-family: Times; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: times;">If you like it, please give the episode a thumbs up! THANK YOU! <3 </b></p></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"></span></p><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-49295957517611299342022-03-29T18:15:00.028-04:002023-10-31T14:58:15.713-04:00The Unmoving Sky is Now Available in Paperback (Again)! <p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just click the book cover and you'll be taken to Barnes & Noble or <a href="https://books2read.com/KLHallam" target="_blank">HERE</a> for select booksellers and most online libraries. You can also request that your library carry it. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFKE1Zlwd-YMl3gLkbLfm4MmnqEm1gpuk3dg3MEAQC8lNYeeSKmGDmkwHYf5uc9gkFU1CbmrDiAKAm_aq1XAP1-sKSybzcPgmFIzDSPZ_Cmq0ESyNI6kISvRkyHIc8iLNg74b9hSo7xQOLHt46Q1EvfZkgYM7ctzMXQt6WtZkIBoAtX5Ca4-K3asLpU0/s2400/Blue%20Cave-UPDATE-LargeYellTUS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFKE1Zlwd-YMl3gLkbLfm4MmnqEm1gpuk3dg3MEAQC8lNYeeSKmGDmkwHYf5uc9gkFU1CbmrDiAKAm_aq1XAP1-sKSybzcPgmFIzDSPZ_Cmq0ESyNI6kISvRkyHIc8iLNg74b9hSo7xQOLHt46Q1EvfZkgYM7ctzMXQt6WtZkIBoAtX5Ca4-K3asLpU0/w426-h640/Blue%20Cave-UPDATE-LargeYellTUS.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> Contemporary Young Adult Thriller for Readers 13 - 18.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; padding: 0in;"><b>eBook:</b> <a href="https://books2read.com/KLHallam" target="_blank">9798201298234 </a> $2.99</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; padding: 0in;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Print:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unmoving-sky-kl-hallam/1123756326?ean=9798201285258" target="_blank"> </a></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unmoving-sky-kl-hallam/1123756326?ean=9798201285258" target="_blank">9798201285258</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unmoving-sky-kl-hallam/1123756326?ean=9798201285258" target="_blank"> </a> </span><span class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">$9.99 </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small; padding: 0in;"><span style="background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>There's Nothing Darker Than the Woods Until You Meet Your Worst Fear </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Jackson Bower has much on his mind lately.
His younger brother hasn't been the same since his mother's death. His father's drinking is out of control. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then there's his girlfriend and the grief that ties them together even as it threatens to drive them apart. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> He distances himself, hoping for a little perspective at the family lodge. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But when his father gets drunk and dangerous, he and his brother Artie escape into the woods. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Night creeps in, and the rains come fast. Artie slips down a ravine. Wounded, Artie and Jackson seek shelter in a cave, only to find someone else already taking refuge there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> A desperate man with plans to destroy their town.
Jackson and his wounded brother must get out of the cave and make it over the mountain in time to warn everyone. Without getting them both killed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THANK YOU! <3 <3 <3 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-88391719905460626262022-02-15T00:00:00.051-05:002022-02-15T00:00:00.190-05:00Q + A with Middle Grade Author, Elly Swartz!<p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Hello, Everyone! Meet Elly Swartz, middle-grade author of <a href="https://ellyswartz.com/dear-student" target="_blank">“Dear Student”.</a> Releases Today! </b></h2><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgIa_NwtlbaJKcsD5VzNFcR8uD63jNAWAfH-lHsUJYhuiQjd2ALjflPmuxJy_j8FS1OXaBxP29tvRKuknzHVViFdW6sSr7Nzyj5weHFvpWDslAOT7mfZaY15wEg8wwfD3C2ZzQHHiPN-wrgacDL_-sXydEH7s0pgwrNMdE4FMvK-_4eB8PfddgHMmJ=s475" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgIa_NwtlbaJKcsD5VzNFcR8uD63jNAWAfH-lHsUJYhuiQjd2ALjflPmuxJy_j8FS1OXaBxP29tvRKuknzHVViFdW6sSr7Nzyj5weHFvpWDslAOT7mfZaY15wEg8wwfD3C2ZzQHHiPN-wrgacDL_-sXydEH7s0pgwrNMdE4FMvK-_4eB8PfddgHMmJ=w265-h400" width="265" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Huge thanks, Karen, for connecting and having me on your blog. Most grateful! <div><br /></div><div> You’ve written so much heart into these characters, and in how Autumn deals with her struggles, compounded with her worries about tiny animals being lab experiments, her social anxiety, a missing father, taking care of a little sister, being caught between two opposing friends, and the first day of middle school! Quite the setup. </div><div><br /></div><div>1. <b>Your young characters have difficult problems to solve. What speaks to you about this age? Were you ever concerned about topics being too tough? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I love this age! It’s an age of honesty and discovery. A time when my readers are finding their voice. And themselves.
As for tough topics, they are part of kids’ lives. And the most important way I can honor my readers is to talk about these topics. Because the more we talk about them, the more readers feel seen, heard, and respected. And the more we break down the barriers to having these important discussions.
In my heart, tough topics need empathy, kindness, conversation, and compassion. Not silence. </div><div><br /></div><div>2. It’s the first day of middle school for Autumn, she suffers from social anxiety, and her father, who’s in the Peace Corp reminds her to find Fearless Fred. <b>What was your Fearless Fred growing up? How did you find yours?
</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj80pqZZaIIl3GKgUecYUSRQkTzbSCDU_nz5BEQpqxPm8RlZ9ID01TJUE2sD2Y7vhY1kEkDThUh54ifvlPB0Ud-Y527Zil3YqsTMXOaWO78EqMo5fQCqD8EQ3A_yA7dXXCD69ve6OXsUZgmCX7sq-8eHbC0gr741DYda8T2SuKb7rfHdOkDGrX6QGcg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="204" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj80pqZZaIIl3GKgUecYUSRQkTzbSCDU_nz5BEQpqxPm8RlZ9ID01TJUE2sD2Y7vhY1kEkDThUh54ifvlPB0Ud-Y527Zil3YqsTMXOaWO78EqMo5fQCqD8EQ3A_yA7dXXCD69ve6OXsUZgmCX7sq-8eHbC0gr741DYda8T2SuKb7rfHdOkDGrX6QGcg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div><br /></div>
I think we all have our own Fearless Fred – the part of each of us that fear can’t boss around. And like Autumn, I often found that part of me through writing. Connecting to the feelings I was sometimes too shy or worried or anxious to say out loud. <div><br /></div><div>3. Autumn meets Logan, her polar opposite, she’s outgoing, courageous, and even though both her parents live at home, Logan’s mother is absent most evenings doing activist work. Gone, like Autumn’s dad. <b>Growing up did you have a bestie who was your polar opposite?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>In what ways?
Ha! I love this. I did have a bestie. We were a lot alike—our hearts valued the same things – friendship, family, and each other, but yes, we were different, too. Maybe not polar opposites, but we each had our strengths. She was bold when I was scared. I was compassionate when she was hurting. But truly what I remember most, is that we were always there for each other. No matter what. And we laughed a lot. We made a great team. And I am grateful every day for her friendship then and now. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. Autumn’s mother is a vet, and she helps take care of her little sister. Their relationship is very sweet. Living above the veterinarian’s office, they encounter all varieties of pets, including the iguana found lying wounded in the street. The culprit is the boy riding the blue bike. He accompanies Autumn to the vet’s office, then leaves mysteriously. <b>When you sit at your computer, struggling with a scene, what do you choose as your mascot, avatar, spirit animal? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCnVbNIw8ulhtsqxq5dD1mjQTNuwiS5s4Bix0QLj8juexWAmBh6fP3lYp4tQ9dfpgl33Upd3-H8miaW8yVyF7cim0DIIoL81EvDaC1Y6-F-HiZOCrs7Xm-QNYCNa6W_Bg_rakNo37GZI8YWYbFjzHk4xhjldCBAKp4nPyBe2dcDh9HVg6AgaCqQfGb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCnVbNIw8ulhtsqxq5dD1mjQTNuwiS5s4Bix0QLj8juexWAmBh6fP3lYp4tQ9dfpgl33Upd3-H8miaW8yVyF7cim0DIIoL81EvDaC1Y6-F-HiZOCrs7Xm-QNYCNa6W_Bg_rakNo37GZI8YWYbFjzHk4xhjldCBAKp4nPyBe2dcDh9HVg6AgaCqQfGb=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Oooh. This is such a fun question! I think my spirit animal is a dog and my mascots are my pups, Baxter Bean and Lucy. They remind me to be present. And playful. They love me up when I’m feeling stuck. And help me celebrate with a long walk when I happily get to the end. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>5. The boy’s name is Cooper, he’s a new student, but Autumn’s new bestie, Logan, who’s all kinds of cool, thinks he’s weird and Autumn’s conflicted about the three of them hanging out together. It’s hard making new friends and she doesn’t want to blow it. A tough social situation for any age. <b>How do you come up with such heartfelt conflicts? Any tips for writers?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Agreed, Autumn finds herself in a tough social situation. Stuck between two friends who don’t get along. I feel this situation is one many can relate to. And a situation I have been in. More than once.
So, my advice to writers would be to write the stories that matter to you. That have touched your life and your heart. Write what’s important to you. Because in those moments you connect personally and authentically with your story. And with your reader. That is truly when the magic happens. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> 6. Autumn’s writing a story, mirroring her life, a place she’s free to express her thoughts. When there’s a call for a Dear Student columnist, an anonymous position at school, she applies and to her surprise, gets the position. It might be her one thing, her father always asking her to find. She finds it’s easier being honest and true to her heart when people don’t know it’s you. <b>Have you ever written an anonymous advice column? If so, did anyone know it was you?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div> I haven’t, Karen, but I’d love to! So, if you’re reading this and want to give me a shot, I am all in! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>7. Logan’s fired up when she discovers the beauty supply in town tests on animals, like Autumn’s guinea pig at home. This is super important to Autumn, but now she doesn’t know what to do. Cooper’s mother works there.<b> I was eager to see how the kids would resolve this complex problem, how they might triumph. What is your experience with animal rights? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I love this part of the story. And how Autumn ultimately resolves the conflict. (No spoilers I promise.)
There was a time when my beagle Lucy got into poison like Mr. Magoo did in the story. And like that scenario, we were terrified and never found out where it came from. But it did get me thinking. </div><div><br /></div><div>And when the opportunity to write about animal rights came, I was excited. I love pets, have had many in my life, and, like Autumn and Logan, would do anything to protect them.
Here are a few of my pets and grandpets through the years! Look at those sweet faces. Wouldn’t you do what you could to make sure they were okay!
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlDi6q4eC6WojMoahc5WKxWXpMIIhTmqmcfxql1BL40WpW9JFHbE8wwassbzmYp3KGcMYSsLaXQyRCxCS6YkjKp3QZcvB_fjCnn-CfT3qo3aPpuxcvCJZ_OB37BDXwud8CX1TVKMAPNxm3oMkXNBIJwami0Lb_GBiAiP4oYk4AZ-DAYxWT-LVZz0zn" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="196" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlDi6q4eC6WojMoahc5WKxWXpMIIhTmqmcfxql1BL40WpW9JFHbE8wwassbzmYp3KGcMYSsLaXQyRCxCS6YkjKp3QZcvB_fjCnn-CfT3qo3aPpuxcvCJZ_OB37BDXwud8CX1TVKMAPNxm3oMkXNBIJwami0Lb_GBiAiP4oYk4AZ-DAYxWT-LVZz0zn=w320-h266" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dhqs7ttI0wfs2FpYbxh8-tVXYCwT9qWbOMkOR8WG1V9MN69TB0ThMACikCEGgX3xL5cTDBDG2Yp-WNF9B0Xvgcio3ZlAKcFqvhsfv_OpETGQbzMoN5H_tl4PCtg72cmfrM0slpSkONfw0KWmvCvTFpdM3LJm0yU2MHop0w7hbiwvIyhxny7qw08r" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7dhqs7ttI0wfs2FpYbxh8-tVXYCwT9qWbOMkOR8WG1V9MN69TB0ThMACikCEGgX3xL5cTDBDG2Yp-WNF9B0Xvgcio3ZlAKcFqvhsfv_OpETGQbzMoN5H_tl4PCtg72cmfrM0slpSkONfw0KWmvCvTFpdM3LJm0yU2MHop0w7hbiwvIyhxny7qw08r=w252-h320" width="252" /></a><br /><img alt="" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="244" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk-_1jBUiy_UyJB7_An0HySzVj0KNhtEDQcBXjYbSCZQTRRXFg_mOTD85Laqj1hdzZ8AnPpXx0ivrn0XuYxNbbCqVNUqgv6lKNZquTk-Q4C7_ne9tVQ6k2UkIHArUFrR_ethxzvT439iRAD6hBMG6sdGXa5z77_W9PNBDFEZm_OPBMZGzznb77VHoZ=w320-h210" width="320" /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk-_1jBUiy_UyJB7_An0HySzVj0KNhtEDQcBXjYbSCZQTRRXFg_mOTD85Laqj1hdzZ8AnPpXx0ivrn0XuYxNbbCqVNUqgv6lKNZquTk-Q4C7_ne9tVQ6k2UkIHArUFrR_ethxzvT439iRAD6hBMG6sdGXa5z77_W9PNBDFEZm_OPBMZGzznb77VHoZ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk-_1jBUiy_UyJB7_An0HySzVj0KNhtEDQcBXjYbSCZQTRRXFg_mOTD85Laqj1hdzZ8AnPpXx0ivrn0XuYxNbbCqVNUqgv6lKNZquTk-Q4C7_ne9tVQ6k2UkIHArUFrR_ethxzvT439iRAD6hBMG6sdGXa5z77_W9PNBDFEZm_OPBMZGzznb77VHoZ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4_bGTHswVeLz05Qbiy1gIoyfOJsvAIZvQd5WEzntpbNY6pbS97MvCea6ZLo9Tn_Y-KE1691347MGjTfm-4EkFXVubtTbaZ51f99CUGgKQ91CoduqVg2uBCZhBXPz_NZiHdu8mwwjxr9EdJkejDdFxjk68Xj3CzyfxSFG3YQzddJFVgZ8t2HZvFfJf" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPuf15MigQn9LicMcERC8NaQ9ZBqR5rwVs9Q7F0Ffb2h4QUIVRmMoHBHl2RoFeCquHlLCER_g-0T4MaD7LnrRAduDGv4ezFLL3PEd025VMK1MmVCiaN0a48fgBV4zGv1JaW1n-SuRNHoHNvY1miSH8R3YF5aRkrnSqAfqSrrtHlt1bWgKFwUEdm4a_" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPuf15MigQn9LicMcERC8NaQ9ZBqR5rwVs9Q7F0Ffb2h4QUIVRmMoHBHl2RoFeCquHlLCER_g-0T4MaD7LnrRAduDGv4ezFLL3PEd025VMK1MmVCiaN0a48fgBV4zGv1JaW1n-SuRNHoHNvY1miSH8R3YF5aRkrnSqAfqSrrtHlt1bWgKFwUEdm4a_=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4_bGTHswVeLz05Qbiy1gIoyfOJsvAIZvQd5WEzntpbNY6pbS97MvCea6ZLo9Tn_Y-KE1691347MGjTfm-4EkFXVubtTbaZ51f99CUGgKQ91CoduqVg2uBCZhBXPz_NZiHdu8mwwjxr9EdJkejDdFxjk68Xj3CzyfxSFG3YQzddJFVgZ8t2HZvFfJf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4_bGTHswVeLz05Qbiy1gIoyfOJsvAIZvQd5WEzntpbNY6pbS97MvCea6ZLo9Tn_Y-KE1691347MGjTfm-4EkFXVubtTbaZ51f99CUGgKQ91CoduqVg2uBCZhBXPz_NZiHdu8mwwjxr9EdJkejDdFxjk68Xj3CzyfxSFG3YQzddJFVgZ8t2HZvFfJf=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDRj5YBALABiqUxWfWVOsoC3idfJvL5l29YsU5032JnLayTwZdBQs5m0jGVs_MNo7jQZbZXqUmJH-jifDzUvLK2Ys0V6S20lmiLcmetQEUBGCbYH8B8Q8sUSwsaru_PTE_78HkMTYp55AE0bogZ47lyVCAAup8KGNZLlpT26EipGkdipj9tCNepehv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>I loved the nod to Ruth Bader Ginsberg and to the beloved middle-grade book, The Vanderbeekers Of 141 Street. The Fearless Fred’s Famous Whoopie Pies recipe at the end looks yummy! Thanks for the substitutions, because like me, and so many of my friends, we have those food sensitivities too.</b> <div><br /></div><div>Thanks, Karen. I love weaving in books I adore and people I so admire. Hence the nod to Ruth and the Vanderbeerkers by Karina Yan Glaser.
As for the whoopie pies, yay! It was such fun making them. And like you, I have lots of dietary restrictions, so it was important to me that all readers get the opportunity to make Fearless Fred’s Whoopie Pies. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Mw9te_Jn-v43gDj8cKQGcG8r9bvs302d1SYL31HYsCkiFsd8n0KT7S1f6u1d-hXQ54cUwjXUXga7R_CFOa2IAu3kAf59rX4p5WU7l_whHBeyvVPWPYILxvChjXKCcVkMlT71h6gTqVgNCS2ILcjoBGt2BOJFpHHlWQzmFHefIfYet8YfDbjFBxU6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="206" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Mw9te_Jn-v43gDj8cKQGcG8r9bvs302d1SYL31HYsCkiFsd8n0KT7S1f6u1d-hXQ54cUwjXUXga7R_CFOa2IAu3kAf59rX4p5WU7l_whHBeyvVPWPYILxvChjXKCcVkMlT71h6gTqVgNCS2ILcjoBGt2BOJFpHHlWQzmFHefIfYet8YfDbjFBxU6" width="258" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> 8. <b>Lastly, If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? </b> </div><div><br /></div><div> <span style="font-size: medium;"> Believe in yourself, you’ve totally got this!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-NS94ML5exCC4AMX47NyhlofNLZNDtQdsuDfN4N2mXD7YkwoYXQW5Bp5WOyKlggsVXPo-nKEPOy2aR9gehyRtSEmUesnQZXYrPL1RqVGkLaPsLkUPS3bymjvVjlZ_0Pil29m2i1ZAYA9Y27XAgfZ0vQLBxYnILP8hh8ChR-PKLlpikr-GFcUYv3qe=s303" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="303" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-NS94ML5exCC4AMX47NyhlofNLZNDtQdsuDfN4N2mXD7YkwoYXQW5Bp5WOyKlggsVXPo-nKEPOy2aR9gehyRtSEmUesnQZXYrPL1RqVGkLaPsLkUPS3bymjvVjlZ_0Pil29m2i1ZAYA9Y27XAgfZ0vQLBxYnILP8hh8ChR-PKLlpikr-GFcUYv3qe" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: Greg Swartz </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><b>
ABOUT ELLY SWARTZ ~ </b>Elly Swartz grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania. She studied psychology at Boston University and received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Elly lives in Massachusetts and is happily married with two grown sons, a beagle named Lucy, and a pup named Baxter Bean. Finding Perfect, called “a clear, moving portrayal of obsessive-compulsive disorder” by Publishers Weekly, was her debut novel. She is also the author of Smart Cookie and Give and Take, novels for middle-grade readers.
Read more about Elly on her website: <a href="http://www.ellyswartz.com">www.ellyswartz.com
</a>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-29440429581413935822022-02-09T10:28:00.001-05:002022-02-09T10:31:25.463-05:00Kindle Unlimited ~ Speculative Short Fiction! <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Originally published in 2018 in the Anthology Alien Dimensions, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Return-Dreamers-Arrived-Short-Fiction-ebook/dp/B09RFXFRZN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M659MXZZN99K&keywords=k+l+hallam&qid=1644419313&sprefix=k+l+halla%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1" target="_blank">THE RETURN</a>, a 45-minute read is now available on Kindle Unlimited. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu1C-plddboSiH5xNteLXg3RaX06hiEVrQGtVnZriAHV4MqPLJ76gvJBJUB3s2fO4YJO1PGjGoou612hKeASZQoWK-yw9y1NJk0qAReR0QlHFlmMmHDX49kMRfyJKoVqisDRIuycl6M4eYQCI4TwG1ALIZfFs44O6C5a4zMYYX6abz1Ui2SNzE5kzG=s1070" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="679" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu1C-plddboSiH5xNteLXg3RaX06hiEVrQGtVnZriAHV4MqPLJ76gvJBJUB3s2fO4YJO1PGjGoou612hKeASZQoWK-yw9y1NJk0qAReR0QlHFlmMmHDX49kMRfyJKoVqisDRIuycl6M4eYQCI4TwG1ALIZfFs44O6C5a4zMYYX6abz1Ui2SNzE5kzG=w406-h640" width="406" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;">Earth: 22X. </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i>The last of the dreamers have been brought back from death, but only those who can hold onto memories will create a new future for a dying species.</i></span></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><br /></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-62520005299678867712021-10-27T19:20:00.125-04:002023-01-26T20:33:03.675-05:00The Unmoving Sky Returns! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a NEW COVER! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Sw572dZfdLjfnLaXG1OqJm72o3WEMhjZdeAD8DT9jiRrdnqq8SeYXv73qSlSsoDc1mSKlL8nV-VMf1csZ-YH_dVrMQO7NWtDFEM1zkrK_6_Yh0i3yP90n783OJFdekchwICI3WCi7o/s2400/Blue+Cave-Bree-LargeYellTUS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19Sw572dZfdLjfnLaXG1OqJm72o3WEMhjZdeAD8DT9jiRrdnqq8SeYXv73qSlSsoDc1mSKlL8nV-VMf1csZ-YH_dVrMQO7NWtDFEM1zkrK_6_Yh0i3yP90n783OJFdekchwICI3WCi7o/w426-h640/Blue+Cave-Bree-LargeYellTUS.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><br /> <p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It was a heavy blow when my publisher closed in 2019, two years after the print edition of<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> <span><a href="https://books2read.com/KLHallam" target="_blank">The Unmoving Sky</a> </span></span>was released into the world. All the momentum was thwarted when people couldn't order my book. I had to loan out my copies. Haha. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, I'm happy to report those who wanted to read the story of two young brothers coming to terms with their father's pain and their own can once again! I'm not sure if I'll have copies of print available. I'll have to wait and see. </div><div><br /></div><div>The link in my title will take you there. And <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3RJZ0G" target="_blank">HERE.</a> Barnes and Noble + iBooks + Kobo & Various other online retailers and LIBRARIES Overdrive, Hoopla, and Bibliotheca ~ are coming very soon and you'll be able to read my book for FREE! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Free. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Free </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Free. </span> I LOVE the Public Library. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All the Hearts. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><i>And thanks to the good people at Draft2Digital for helping to make it so easy to take control of my story once again. </i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A link to your favorite online bookstores and libraries:</h2><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://books2read.com/KLHallam" target="_blank">Books2Read.com/KLHallam</a></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-81477747040710536302021-05-30T10:58:00.009-04:002021-05-31T17:34:29.644-04:00Book Review: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber <p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54776498-taking-up-space" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Taking Up Space" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620479708l/54776498._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54776498-taking-up-space">Taking Up Space</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15025863.Alyson_Gerber">Alyson Gerber</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4030531829">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Thank you to Wunderkind for an ARC of this book. <br /><br />An honest and emotional portrayal of a young girl struggling with the ways her body is changing and what this means to her life’s passion, basketball.<br /><br /><br /><div>When 12-year-old, Sarah doesn’t hit her marks on the court, she’s sure it because she isn’t eating healthy, or what her mother terms as healthy. But Sarah’s mother has had her own issues with food.<br /><br />Sometimes she forgets to make dinner. Or pick up snacks for her sleepover, or stock the refrigerator. But she’s always there to watch Sarah’s games and they love reading and decoding detective stories. <br /><br />Half of Sarah’s teammates suspect something (and they aren’t very nice about it) when she isn’t eating, but it’s her BFF that steps in and tells their coach.<br /><br />When the boy she crushes on asks to be her partner in a cooking competition, she learns how much she enjoys cooking and she can take control of what she eats and stand up for what she needs at home in order to feel safe and confident. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sarah comes to an understanding about food, that no food is bad. It just is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Within this book, are many important conversations about food, body image, and self-worth, written in a natural and compelling, heartfelt voice. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4834095-k-l-hallam">View all my reviews</a>
</div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-37496603398563658862021-05-22T09:21:00.009-04:002021-10-25T21:34:36.590-04:00Writing Management, a Year After Covid-19 <p>It's been a while since I've posted on my blog. It's been a hectic year for most of us, a year of loss, heartbreak, and fear. A descent into the unknown. </p><p>Having faith was difficult. Faith that I'd return to my regular writing schedule. I have not, nor do I expect to return to my pre-covid routine. It's been difficult to find a space in time for myself. </p><p>Alone.</p><p>My husband and I live in New York City and share a small apartment with our two young adults ( a large dog and a cat), and both were frustrated and disheartened with the lockdown aka "Pause' in which Governor Cuomo termed. Alas, the end of the tunnel is in view. </p><p>I've been unable to find uninterrupted time due to our small business, a jazz club (you can read my <a href="http://www.karenleehallam.com/2020/12/our-garden-through-uncertainty_14.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> ) housed in a historic venue. After lockdown, we improvised and became an outdoor coffee house/cafe. Fresh-squeezed juices. Chagachinos. Local coffee. Pastries from Grandaisy in Tribeca. Our nightclub always had a piston coffee machine, even before Starbucks. My husband spoiled me with his machines and dark roast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEN_i97yx0yToxH1FFtfa1aOGTVIo0RWIRa_3nHIvJOicmCulR14sHDnVw9ZwRoWcxfaXqVnT-wYScx1astJXaoa6XXeY5abFMYbW7xPW369MvE18d3hkoZNpq-lTJXLnJrYXqzubeTs/s750/Zinc-piston-machine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEN_i97yx0yToxH1FFtfa1aOGTVIo0RWIRa_3nHIvJOicmCulR14sHDnVw9ZwRoWcxfaXqVnT-wYScx1astJXaoa6XXeY5abFMYbW7xPW369MvE18d3hkoZNpq-lTJXLnJrYXqzubeTs/s320/Zinc-piston-machine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Our sons helped at the cafe (no longer miserable), they learned new skills as baristas. My BFF was happy to join in and likened running a cafe to a housewife on steroids. I thought it was the perfect analogy. After seven days a week for much too long, before extra help arrived, I couldn't focus on writing, not knowing what would happen to our business and my hours were all over the place. I was making food for the cafe when I left. Homework. Meanwhile, my mind was reeling, plotting how to return to the new normal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcuNFvNq52FX2TdllbtKNPZ2Tk94C3q1OnYufCRDKx12CkLOYh4axvTe5wW51M4aeSsBDxxUsA7kbfk1eqySgHHGOLOenUTiocsDbc2vB3YmqGZiYWihU5DwyNoQEDxvRiZURnhZLqls/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcuNFvNq52FX2TdllbtKNPZ2Tk94C3q1OnYufCRDKx12CkLOYh4axvTe5wW51M4aeSsBDxxUsA7kbfk1eqySgHHGOLOenUTiocsDbc2vB3YmqGZiYWihU5DwyNoQEDxvRiZURnhZLqls/w400-h300/IMG_1824.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /><br /></p><p>I decided on a simple book edit. Not a revision, but an edit. This I figured was all my time allowed, without the stress of wanting to do more. Because apparently, I'm often unsatisfied with the writing work I've managed in a day. It's never enough. (It's hundreds of pages! Let's go!" my inner taskmaster says.) And this was when I had five hours of daily writing time. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I was also waiting to hear back about an R-n-R. </p><p>Back in November 2019, I sent in my second Revise and Resubmit to the requesting agent and she warned me it would be a long time, she was slow. I already knew this having finished R-n-R #1 for this agent. She seemed great and I agreed, (at the time) with her suggestions. The historical fantasy had already been revised from its first draft that was omniscient, then third limited past tense, with two POVs, and then 1 POV present, but I've lost track. </p><p>I edited another manuscript (not ready to tackle the big revision of the latest draft completed on March 1, 2020.) I queried literary agents. Not one bite after ten sends. I decided to hold that project. I had a realization reading a previous comment from another agent who read the third POV version. She didn't care for the other POV character but she liked the MC's voice and loved the premise. So after three or so years, I realized she was RIGHT and I began revising the historical fantasy back to 3rd POV, past-tense and I cut the other POV character's scenes. But since it's a bit of a whodunnit (genre-mashup, really) I left the chapter scenes in third-objective POV. </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXwEMy7jxU2-iPm7s4sYwdL1UdkKtnlRNCIS2JCkjeypRcKcarDErIuC2U0T4hbSK8LkluGmZ_o1rOK55-9qgNNIbvjdSoZS98iuRr-FO_NFvo-H0miFdR1lLbgMb6WH_-k95Vf2aBuQ/s640/zinc-interior-2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXwEMy7jxU2-iPm7s4sYwdL1UdkKtnlRNCIS2JCkjeypRcKcarDErIuC2U0T4hbSK8LkluGmZ_o1rOK55-9qgNNIbvjdSoZS98iuRr-FO_NFvo-H0miFdR1lLbgMb6WH_-k95Vf2aBuQ/w320-h240/zinc-interior-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>And Yesterday I finished! The manuscript is back where I want it. Just a few more tweaks and it's ready to query. (Again!) I reached out to the agent, still "reading" my second R-n-R, and told her I was returning the manuscript to my original design, and while she finally passed, she thought my idea was wise. That was encouraging. </p><p>I'm starting to carve out time for writing at other times of the day, restructuring and organizing. I'm not there yet. For years I was an early morning writer and I prefer this. Going from dreaming to writing. Ah, bliss. </p><p>Now with our outdoor cafe that's usually a jazz club, moving indoors soon (after construction), my schedule will be in flux once again. I may manage better if I keep flexibility in mind. </p><div>And YES, absolutely-- I am VAXXED. Our entire team is. Otherwise, we wouldn't open indoors. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkWO4OcxU4BWuXvqkiAR38DrcSwAAo0J3g6u5ivhrruCFjJFI0h2qxqNnheOb-4iRDUWLXS6fm5zdVEvAMSaL5JNg8MGyG5cnr9_F9bE5wDsQW_D23JerV0yzcJwnMNI2Dt9mwcAHkVo/s640/Zinc-at-night.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="582" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkWO4OcxU4BWuXvqkiAR38DrcSwAAo0J3g6u5ivhrruCFjJFI0h2qxqNnheOb-4iRDUWLXS6fm5zdVEvAMSaL5JNg8MGyG5cnr9_F9bE5wDsQW_D23JerV0yzcJwnMNI2Dt9mwcAHkVo/w364-h400/Zinc-at-night.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Join us! </b>We have Brazilian Music on Sundays from 4:00-7 PM! More to come. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Follow us on Instagram @ZincBar</span><br /> </div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-87856188861373592020-12-14T11:01:00.001-05:002020-12-14T11:01:22.311-05:00Our Garden Through Uncertainty <p><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Our garden through uncertainty. </div></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBGGI1eUfJXnsx4eDMYJXKp_ZnTv0M7hx75MSQR_L6Asfbj537xOJooxBxIYHkyC0rXI5nZb-RK5ffalUowGBlgkh9UGbP7TVQ0LS1k8DgKuRgGOXopb86FeQdv47OKc9OAoMosW_f4E/s2048/IMG_0456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBGGI1eUfJXnsx4eDMYJXKp_ZnTv0M7hx75MSQR_L6Asfbj537xOJooxBxIYHkyC0rXI5nZb-RK5ffalUowGBlgkh9UGbP7TVQ0LS1k8DgKuRgGOXopb86FeQdv47OKc9OAoMosW_f4E/w480-h640/IMG_0456.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It was all we heard on the streaming device. Crazy time. These uncertain times. The end of the world. While others said we used to be this or that, we said we’re usually a jazz club to those stopping by our 6-foot wide counter for an espresso. Our tiny candle-lit basement club once overflowed with jazz legends and up-and-coming virtuosos, who played shoulder to shoulder with their exuberant audience, was now silenced. </div><div><br /></div><div> All of New York City had been hushed into sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. As many New Yorkers live alone, I ached for those without the comfort of connection. Walking the city streets left you feeling haunted and isolated. Unsafe. </div><div><br /></div><div> Coffee was hard to find in the early weeks of March; an espresso wasteland for over a mile radius in my neighborhood where my husband and I live and work in Greenwich Village.
When two large coffee houses on our block closed, and then the deli on the corner, it wasn’t just a matter of getting a steamy cup of strong, rich latte or chai, you couldn’t find drip coffee unless you had a machine at home. </div><div><br /></div><div> We had to open. </div><div><br /></div><div> Not that anyone was leaving home. </div><div><br /></div><div> Since many people in the city had no kitchens, we became essential workers. My husband, always the coffee aficionado, turned our piston-lever Kennedy-era espresso machine around on the bar and we built a 6-foot counter, a barrier between the staff and customers. And we became a coffee shop to-go. Being a jazz club, we knew how to improvise. </div><div><br /></div><div> It was a great distraction from the fear closing in, a distraction from my anxiety, my son’s anxiety, and the political climate in the United States that helped create an unfathomable body-count, still growing. New York City was at war with a pandemic, the illegitimate president created with his deliberate ineptitude.
</div><div><br /></div><div>Our music club, a small business, had successfully become an espresso bar. A place to escape my young adults, a place for them to escape us, our tiny apartment, and learn barista skills. The to-go counter was bustling. There was little competition with the neighboring coffee shops, still shuttered. Plants and flowers overflowed from our counter-window. People often left dying plants overnight that we nursed back to health. Friends and neighbors pitched in and built the counter, helped served customers, and brought supplies when I couldn’t get away, and our neighborhood grew closer during the pandemic lockdown. </div><div><br /></div><div> Our café to-go brewed local roasters and we ordered pastries from a friend’s bakery. Meanwhile, there were no signs of life at the coffee houses around the corner. </div><div><br /></div><div> In the gloom of late March and early April, when neighbors passed and unexpectedly found us, their faces filled with relief as they drank some “damn good coffee”. They were ecstatic. Became regulars. And the flower pots multiplied. I brought roses and herbs from the farm market and slowly added more greenery and blooms. Without much money and not knowing the fate of our music club, when or if things would ever get better, much less return to normal, we kept smiling. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because smiling made me feel better. Helping someone else made me feel useful. Lending an ear to a neighbor who’d had no one to listen for months, I learned so much, and my optimism grew. As the dank spring opened to clear and sunny days, we gained more enthusiasts and soon became known for our freshly squeezed juices and frozen drink specialties. </div><div><br /></div><div>By mid-June, the city permitted restaurants to build seating outside in their parking spaces. Phase #2. We built a patio deck, added trees and shrubs, a picket fence, vintage gliders, and our parking-lot evolved into a woodland nook. People let us know how much they loved the new scenery, how it calmed them. It became a space for contemplation. Our neighbors gave us cards of gratitude and gifts. </div><div><br /></div><div>During the summer cocktails were sipped and our reputation flourished. Being a thoroughfare on W 3rd street, those trekking across town were delightfully surprised to find a locally roasted decaf coffee. We’d put as much heart into our decaf and we did our espresso and fresh fruit cocktails and smoothies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Given an abundance of chairs, we spaced them out across the street, allowing friends and families to form COVID pods, find comfort for a short stay, considering theaters, clubs, and parks were still closed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Black Lives Matter police brutality protests marched past. Every day. Peacefully. Usually, around noon, people gathered in Washington Square Park. There were often several marches a day. While one rallied through the park, another headed over the Brooklyn Bridge. Thankfully, I was able to join and march a few times. My city was ALIVE and I was right where I wanted to be. Witnessing history. Not hidden away in a second home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Still evolving, a friend’s refurbished bike shop set up on the weekends and offered vintage bicycles for sale or an opportunity for repairs. It was temporary, like so much else. After sunset, pedestrian traffic became sparse, our counter light gave our neighbors a little reassurance until closing time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Phase 3 wasn’t much of a change for our café to-go that’s usually a jazz club. We had live music again. Outside. And then, two weeks into our Brazilian Sundays, the rules changed.
Phase 4. Musicians had to be 12-feet from the audience. This was quite a challenge for our tiny patio parking space. We had to stop the music again. Our professional artists are hurting, streaming is expensive, and reaps little monetary reward.
</div><div>The mayor has extended outdoor cafés until October. After that, what’ll our fate be? On September 30th, we’re told we can bring people inside the club at 25% capacity. But this comes with a huge risk. According to scientists, the pandemic is far from over. But we’ll be here for New Yorkers.
</div><div><br /></div><div>We never left. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_xPA6p2U0rdCj9mqiHuw_0OQKSD184qjQTfyatbtnEglMYmk2Z-aR7rjVsXLIkaxuPI87aiONbdtKgOU1g-25Rm820Y9b31KqmXkzUeJsDiQ73ORDE1-N60J75pxeASckWXm6dX7_8s/s2048/IMG_0452.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_xPA6p2U0rdCj9mqiHuw_0OQKSD184qjQTfyatbtnEglMYmk2Z-aR7rjVsXLIkaxuPI87aiONbdtKgOU1g-25Rm820Y9b31KqmXkzUeJsDiQ73ORDE1-N60J75pxeASckWXm6dX7_8s/w640-h480/IMG_0452.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>ZINC BAR JAZZ Club & Cafe. 82 West 3rd Street New York, New York </div><div><br /></div></div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-67195582741014556922020-11-11T13:20:00.013-05:002020-11-13T15:44:41.172-05:00Hive Mind ~ 1K Short Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSLb4YyMOcnU2xeRbVv3TmbzS8_hQn4vF38M7XArU2EFmc8L_OWtXuGB69uEbEaLiA-GZY3VhaUxGK8bFUbrmdsK_1_m-5CCDD_YPNOxZojUmYwRdKMlMyjZCGWSQ7koQ2uyZdXOUeJU/s400/85268850-256-k533808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSLb4YyMOcnU2xeRbVv3TmbzS8_hQn4vF38M7XArU2EFmc8L_OWtXuGB69uEbEaLiA-GZY3VhaUxGK8bFUbrmdsK_1_m-5CCDD_YPNOxZojUmYwRdKMlMyjZCGWSQ7koQ2uyZdXOUeJU/s320/85268850-256-k533808.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7hMM1pMjO8OPPS4c117g6Zpn2ccYoL9MEWXPcQJDnznLSzkasaFDP54gecUO2sW9h7PZZbJM_A6a2DyGESehzJx1yy5IEjj9PYpL5lNYFYLpSm5PwrHj3zdpp13BVxu8E98qHYCYX2M/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7hMM1pMjO8OPPS4c117g6Zpn2ccYoL9MEWXPcQJDnznLSzkasaFDP54gecUO2sW9h7PZZbJM_A6a2DyGESehzJx1yy5IEjj9PYpL5lNYFYLpSm5PwrHj3zdpp13BVxu8E98qHYCYX2M/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWuB_H3Swdj4ZHq06ikn-5UmgLAEhsnssrSiMHF_IlvSYH27KuG4UNfbxZgHRLf2d8va56_ouVaE_pnfa4P1cwtyQDVdlXzMsHP7GuRrLHLwvTfZrwyrdfP1Mpch-kurgSfxxrWiy03E/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWuB_H3Swdj4ZHq06ikn-5UmgLAEhsnssrSiMHF_IlvSYH27KuG4UNfbxZgHRLf2d8va56_ouVaE_pnfa4P1cwtyQDVdlXzMsHP7GuRrLHLwvTfZrwyrdfP1Mpch-kurgSfxxrWiy03E/s16000/image.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vkg5_IUrpHT4VkOYfakrD7cyAfNwQ693ympsdrINRqooAzxJoD4PylHhKGPrVmPBdQopDnCdZBAAwBL9-fZoS3s1FVTKtTGPrpO0h1f_RGOOXr2V13HskQgO97LIB0eMZ7dQwe8RSSo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vkg5_IUrpHT4VkOYfakrD7cyAfNwQ693ympsdrINRqooAzxJoD4PylHhKGPrVmPBdQopDnCdZBAAwBL9-fZoS3s1FVTKtTGPrpO0h1f_RGOOXr2V13HskQgO97LIB0eMZ7dQwe8RSSo/s16000/image.png" /></a></div>P.S. I don't know what the heck Blogspot is doing to the formatting but it has become near impossible to copy & paste my writing. Anyone know how to fix this? <p></p><p> <br /><br /></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-18880513785875317772020-10-29T00:00:00.001-04:002020-10-29T09:23:31.772-04:00Boo! ~ Halloween Story Contest for Kids. <p> </p><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Doin’ The Skeleton Dance! Announcing The 10th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest!</span></h1><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">100 words using the words skeleton, mask, and creep. </span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #ffa400; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">"Boo!" came from the shadows. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Bubby jumped and smashed into the dangling skeleton. Its bones clanked down the stairs behind his jack-o'-lantern full of shimmering candy. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">"That'll teach ya' to sneak up on us," snarled three little witches. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Pirate Kam and his ghost crew laughed as they passed. Bubby stood up straight. He was the Hulk. Impenetrable. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">He adjusted the green grunting mask and picked up his candy. Onward. Two more houses before he had to meet his mother and baby sister at the corner. It was getting darker. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Where was his mother?</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">"Boo!" she said. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGczZdVZW33VHmFE5LtCcvKVU91NE6d5LVfsYKLjFn5PeLjJT0Hn8bqP3TVbGI1O5ijVZPtwSmzr_Qp7qoDgnzQm72oQyr62tY-20LS9jHC2rX-W37zm9r-2gToRFwK1lh26Y0hN7d2HM/s2048/Tacho%252BJack.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGczZdVZW33VHmFE5LtCcvKVU91NE6d5LVfsYKLjFn5PeLjJT0Hn8bqP3TVbGI1O5ijVZPtwSmzr_Qp7qoDgnzQm72oQyr62tY-20LS9jHC2rX-W37zm9r-2gToRFwK1lh26Y0hN7d2HM/s320/Tacho%252BJack.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The link to learn more about <a href="https://susannahill.com/2020/10/15/doin-the-skeleton-dance-announcing-the-10th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest/" target="_blank">"Doin' the Skeleton Dance Contest" </a> on </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Children's Author Susanna Leonard Hill's Blog. </span></span></div>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-38109166737306513902020-09-08T14:10:00.005-04:002021-05-31T17:29:25.441-04:00Metropolis Sent Me. <p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have several short stories that haven't found markets, so I'll share here on occasion. This dystopian was written in 2019 and originally titled Slaughterhouse and it's under 1k words! I love writing short fiction between novels to work out ideas. Revising novels can take years. (I'm close to completing the revisions of a Middle-Grade Magical Realism story ~ While I await an agent's response on an R&R for another novel.) Writing short fiction is always fun. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR6jr7-CY-la48cX5XbZYxCWBx5h5CZvhwoJ4eDprK9zbb7M7R0jy3dJDCVqKSSfssTS4_KDVIpgGqpNMwkiwJwUEdv7ajG5xtUg2pK6Uv080JaQdzIAKITZ0M5KN-K90wDGlzfPzQEc/s2048/IMG_1471.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR6jr7-CY-la48cX5XbZYxCWBx5h5CZvhwoJ4eDprK9zbb7M7R0jy3dJDCVqKSSfssTS4_KDVIpgGqpNMwkiwJwUEdv7ajG5xtUg2pK6Uv080JaQdzIAKITZ0M5KN-K90wDGlzfPzQEc/w500-h375/IMG_1471.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">METROPOLIS SENT ME</div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The uneven floorboards creak as I follow the metallic odor, careful not to awaken the supervisor who supposed to be on guard keeping people like me out. Metropolis sent me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s a death sentence to take a photograph. No one’s supposed to know this place exists. The ruins, the rusted leaking pipes dripping sulfur water, my mind reels back: pipes forced down the throats of unwitting birds and geese. Their stomachs pumped with grain and sawdust, protrude out of proportion, as they gurgle undigestible remnants humans could have eaten instead.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Fatty liver is still a delicacy to the Upper Echelons of our ruling class. The exploitation class. Those who seek out our dwindling resources and gobble them up at their leisure. Even after the fowl disease had stopped anyone with any sense. Not for those who pumped their veins with antibiotics, allowing a continuation of their exploitive appetites.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Appetites that destroy our environment. There’s scarce freshwater or land left to farm. This factory is one of the few outposts churning out animal byproducts. The buffalo and cows died off a decade ago, the rest of the land creatures drowned in the floods. Birds that didn’t escape were caught and now, here. It used to be that only geese and ducks were turned into fatty liver, now it’s any bird caught alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">My camera bangs against the side of my leg as I step over a bird’s carcass, the flesh peeled back, boney ribs exposed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The others in my camp grew too hungry and tired for this mission. As a ranking member of Metropolis, I volunteered. If we release the caged fowl into the sky, they could eventually proliferate and maybe, one day, we’ll eat fresh eggs again. Until then, its snails and mollusks fished out of the tide pools.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t really need the camera for what I’m about to do. But I want a before and after shot and show the Caver’s the truth. Most, refuse to leave their cave dwellings in fear of viruses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The birds sense my approach, fluttering, cawing, frantically flapping against their cages. “Shh,” I whisper as if that’ll do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Who’s there!” shouts a guard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I slide behind a bloodied cage, a goose’s eye watches, and I hold my breath. Heavy mud-coated boots pass inches away. I shrink and chew my lips shut. The guard isn’t much taller than my 5-feet. Stunted growth like the rest of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">But he has a turbo. One beam in my direction, I’ll disintegrate into vapor, and then what? What happens to my sister, my baby brother, our grandfather, what’s left of my family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The birds squawk an ungodly sound. They’re ratting me out. Sinking, sinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Hey, you –" the guard shouts, turbo steady. “Get up!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I push the hair out of my face, so I can meet his eyes. If he’s going to kill me, I want to see it coming. Defiant, jaw set, teeth clenched, I charge forward. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Tackle. I bite his legs, rip at his arms until I’ve wrestled the turbo out of his grip. Now he’s up against the wall staring into the barrel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“What’s your plan, young lady?” he says with a bored expression. “Ah, I may already know. You want to repopulate the planet with birds?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I don’t speak. I don’t want to listen. I’m the one holding the turbo. I search the nearby cages for one large enough to set him inside. “Over there.” I swing the turbo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“I wouldn’t release these birds if I were you." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">They lie! The guards all lie to save their own bought skins. Living side-by-side with the Exploitation Class up on the mountain. It’s manipulation. I’d better hurry before more arrive. He could have set an alarm. The birds are worth more than gold was a decade ago. Food is our scarcest commodity. So are human lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“They’re sick birds, you know,” he says after crouching inside the cage. “They’re making the Upper Echelon’s sick too, haven’t you heard?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“I know they’re sick.” I lock the cage. “Doesn’t mean the birds can’t live a natural life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Cavers sent me,” he says. “I’ve been making sure those on the mountain eat every last bird. They’re dying up there, you know. The ruling class is disappearing. Couldn’t stop their exploitation and they never listened when we, the scientists, warned about the health of the birds.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Shut up.” I leave the slaughter room and enter the office, pull the wires on all security systems, and then return to the birds. Open the cages and I begin scooting the birds out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“They’re sick,” the guard repeats. “They’ll be sick for generations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Ignoring him, I tip over buckets—<i>is that grain? </i>Squatting down, I scoop it back inside. I’ll bring what I can with me. Water buckets. Blood buckets. I smell ammonia and gag as I flip another bucket drum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The geese squawk. Their webbed feet quickening, and I hold the door open until every abled body is outside, soaring into the chemtrail-streaked sky.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Don’t do it!” the guard shouts. “I’ve been here for a long time making sure no one releases them into the wild.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“So, you’re just keeping them here to suffer more forced-feeding. You’re lying.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“It’s the only way to get the Upper Echelons out. They believe it’s their privilege to destroy every last living thing on this planet for their consumption.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“No kidding.” I poke at two robins lingering behind while the guard rambles on issuing more warnings. “Where’s your tattoo?” I ask.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">He pokes his dark brown arm through the cage, showing me the zig-zag river, the Caver’s tattoo and I take a deep breath. “What’d you do with the U.E. Guard?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">He shrugs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“Either you tell me or you tell Metropolis,” I warn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“I feed him to the birds.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-59249181726860214162020-06-01T13:22:00.001-04:002020-06-01T13:38:00.683-04:00Make America Stop Killing Black People!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I Love my Brothers and Sisters! and I stand by them.<br />
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I woke up today to destruction where I live and where my family's small business, a jazz club, is struggling to survive and I marched on Saturday with Black Lives Matter! </div>
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I went jogging after work and was swept up into the march.<br />
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<u>Saturday, May 30th, 2020 New York City:</u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bending a knee on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peaceful march through the Village and into Washington Square Park.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Black Lives Matter!<br /><br /><br /><br />And then the Opportunists moved in a torched our town! The Looters are NOT the protestors!<br /><br />A lot of bad players out there taking advantage.<br /><br />And we have an illegitimate POTUS hiding in a bunker! Instigating this!!!<br /><br />We need you, President Jo Biden!<br /><br /><br /><br />#VOTEVOTEVOTE<br /><br />We need to show up such large numbers, it'll be impossible for the GOP to cheat. It's all the republicans know. Cheat and lie and they need to GO!</span><br />
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-89289476266809017222020-05-15T13:10:00.001-04:002020-05-19T09:41:10.110-04:00Espresso, Cocktails, and Jazz at Zinc Bar's Cafe To-Go. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We're usually a Jazz Club so we improvised! <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Your Host!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XBZieblg6a-0exyhCQ1RoGxVQsNnm1iRybXR0mM-bw8bWElPQGhV46VsqFMpT2O9mT5PRUTs2Y_8j2g1G1iQaqRwc9F5bhrMl8r5_R-QkkSUrayLqmFStFeXMUiNvddVkrX2kuAQjT4/w320-h240/IMG_2516.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You Host! Me :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">WE LOVE NY! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Baked Goods from Grandaisy Bakery in Tribeca!" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8PNWcZzLzmu2LsFWOrfwP2oAsKzD-ZwW1Fxh2Qa6V0lYDgsDYgM2LfT-vDBIPmstMZK0SYVYBXmk7sEdlNUKtOZeCQrRnV8Tk9wrV6QgpVXSBDTM014YsIyiv3ZgZ7Ca_KJTAUco4KA/w480-h640/IMG_2470.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pastries and Roman Pizza from Grandaisy Bakery<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Our Mascota Stella Keeps Guard." border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="1080" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifduYU8TUTIz84NEKNC270DLPvKCzIFSd1wwhpfeMaVf83cKrEj1iC7Ioat-mEo4g33sspkxpSnL6ZWII-OFBZ6k6N2Hb8enDBho1PaPKRrO66YHaKxETtBry7Y38MTPyJ_LJpRfi2zxg/w640-h578/IMG_2391.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Mascota Stella! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>82 West 3rd Street (Between Thompson/ Sullivan Streets)</b><br />We have a couple chairs out in the sun --- 6 Feet apart! <br />DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK! </span><br />
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<a href="https://zincjazz.com/" target="_blank">ZINCBAR.COM</a></td></tr>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-53804904020157499132020-04-19T17:54:00.000-04:002020-04-20T13:22:21.801-04:00What I'm Writing during COVID-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All kinds of plans happen when you think about quarantine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But most of those haven't happened because my family has a music club in New York City that we quickly transformed into a to-go cafe for espresso and pastries (<a href="https://www.grandaisybakery.com/" target="_blank">Grandaisy</a> pizza as of today! More walking meals to come.), and I've been working every day leaving little time to write, paint or even clean my apartment. I don't miss this one, but you can imagine the state of neglected apt. --with four grown people! ugh! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I wait for the YA fantasy I drafted just as we entered into lockdown percolate, I've decided to rewrite a much older novel. Actually, my first "trunked" novel. It's an upper middle-grade magical realism, maybe a fantasy? I'll know after more revisions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today's research <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Auroras<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Butterflies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cleavers or Goosegrass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was the first chapter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love writing for kids and teens and writing fantasy that'll take me out of this world for a time. With tragic news every day on social media. (I don't have a TV, thankfully) writing and reading are my escape! I just have to be extra determined right now and find the time with the added responsibilities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I wish you health and wellbeing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"health is wealth" as my mother often said, I know she wasn't the first to say it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wash your hands <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">don't touch your face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">keep 6' apart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and remember <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I wear my mask for you and you wear yours for me. </span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<3 as="" first="" health="" is="" it.="" know="" mother="" my="" nbsp="" often="" p="" said="" say="" she="" t="" the="" to="" wasn="" wealth="">
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-89400271266585609072020-03-23T09:40:00.000-04:002020-03-23T09:40:04.485-04:00Sheltering in New York City During a Pandemic.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I hope you are well, wherever you are in this world-wide lockdown. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/world-map.html" target="_blank">I don't think a single continent has been spared the novel coronavirus, <o:p></o:p>Covid-19</a>. (link to CDC World Map) </div>
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I’m sheltering with my family in New York City. My home for the last 30 years. I love this place, its people, the diversity, especially now. Mayor De Blasio and Governor Cuomo have given me assurance that we’ll get through this. ALL OF US. The United States. The world. We’re in this together. We have to look out for each other by STAYING HOME. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m witnessing New York City become silent, a pause for the cause. A respite as we care for our loved ones. Heal the sick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll continue writing, books and short stories, fantasy, and sci-fi, while hubby and I restructure our family business. We have a jazz club with an espresso machine from the 1960s that makes some of the best espressos around. Most of the coffee shops have shut down, ZINC café would be an outpost for our neighborhood for a coffee to go on walks through the Village. One person at a time, with a glass partition. A place where the elderly, or those in need, could pick up a few items such as toilet paper, canned foods, help, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the city becomes a little quieter, and we wait for Federal Aid, after multiple requests from our mayor and governor, to the treasonous monstrosity who co-opted the White House-- with the help of Putin, and Republican traitors (We’ll never forget who you are. That’s for another post.) It good that evictions in New York are on hold; I’m sure few have any savings. This is America, we live from one paycheck to the next, many without health insurance. A perfect storm for the narcissistic POTUS in the White House, to delay his response to Covid-19, thus sacrificing many Americans, not only the immune-compromised, and the elderly, so that he wouldn’t look bad? And his buddies could profit off the vaccine. Stalling his response, while South Korea CONQUERED! *Shaking fist.*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/world/coronavirus-south-korea-america/" target="_blank">The USA learned of COVID 19, the same time as South Korea</a>. But the inept POTUS called the virus a hoax. This caused a great deal of trouble for my family because my younger brother said it was a hoax, meanwhile he takes care of my diabetic mother who has kidney disease. I was furious! At this incompetent administration—but also my brother for believing their lies. I’ve beyond furious for the last 3 + years. I want Karma to be thorough.</div>
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I love New York, everyone pitches in to help one another. It’s not just NY, I know people usually want to do the right thing, look out for each other, step in. De Blasio said the same, New Yorker’s for the most part, have been compliant, orderly, wanting to help. We a democratic society. What affects one affects the other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8OCap8tnUZSO0rhPfql-f2eUbEzgg_IA92RUTHEr1Gz18bRME_ApgI4QE7EirJNXKYn2Xzvd91tbN6TYb6zIspiezRsDe_X07RjFaOA9JtLotRsWzOQhd0jyNQc40TgsARrWoSYawzY/s1600/IMG_2021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8OCap8tnUZSO0rhPfql-f2eUbEzgg_IA92RUTHEr1Gz18bRME_ApgI4QE7EirJNXKYn2Xzvd91tbN6TYb6zIspiezRsDe_X07RjFaOA9JtLotRsWzOQhd0jyNQc40TgsARrWoSYawzY/s320/IMG_2021.JPG" width="320" /></a>May your pause, go quickly, it’ll be tough in our small NYC apartments, no doubt. I have two young adults, a husband, a cat and a dog in 800 sq. feet. I very grateful for my patio, walks in the sun, biking along the Hudson River Park—<b>keeping 6-feet away from EVERYONE.</b> </div>
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Remember, It’s important for your health to get exercise and fresh air. And NYC’s trees are blooming! <o:p></o:p></div>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-91907640674957495092020-02-26T12:28:00.011-05:002020-11-13T15:50:14.144-05:00Science Fiction Short Stories!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Alien Dimensions Anthology #19 </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b>Where you can read my story "The Coltalians" </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Alien Dimensions is a science fiction short stories anthology series featuring amazing authors from around the world.</span></div>
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Previous issues have featured stories about extraterrestrials, clones, robots and androids, invasion and colonization, cyberpunk and space opera, first contact, genetic manipulation, starship exploration, time travel and more.</div>
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From seriousness to humorous, high octane to slow burn, from back-story heavy to present tense dialogue-driven adventures, Alien Dimensions explores the far future.</div>
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<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/alien-dimensions-science-fiction-short-stories-anthology/id1500916624" target="_blank">APPLE BOOKS</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alien-dimensions-science-fiction-short-stories-anthology-series-19" target="_blank">Kobo</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alien-dimensions-science-fiction-short-stories-anthology-series-19-neil-a-hogan/1136568006?ean=2940163482917" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dimensions-Science-Fiction-Stories-Anthology/dp/B085DP1LR3/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><i>Avaible in Print and ePup!</i> </span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The Coltalians: </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">A fissure separated the two sides of the valley, the Huns on one side, the Gruns on the other. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Narwalian tusked, Metred is on a mission when he’s captured and meets the Golden Lore who shows him the females from EarthVectorII. The Coltalians are preparing to send the humans back using their bodies as transport for the Wallercattle.</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span></i></span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">In this issue:</strong></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Tin Worm</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Gustavo Bondoni</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Sparkle</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Robert M. Walton</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Surfing the Hercules Rift</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Keith A. Raymond</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">From Earth to Eternity</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Derek Spohn</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong>The Coltalians</strong> by Karen L. Hallam</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Too Many MoMos</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Chris Dean</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">The Alien Starship</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Sergio Palumbo</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Givens</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by David Castlewitz</span></div>
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<strong style="color: #505050;">Phase Shift</strong><span style="color: #505050;"> by Neil A. Hogan</span></div>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-88456307163520947602020-01-17T12:34:00.001-05:002020-11-13T15:49:24.043-05:00Alien Dimensions #16 is Back in Kindle Unlimited for a limited time! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: small;">My story G.L.O.R.I.A. was included! If you love Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, you may enjoy this future off-planet version. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0.5in;">"Gold-Lithium-Osmium-Ruthenium-Iridium-Aluminum. G.L.O.R.I.A. was created
to be more than a fire weapon. GLORIA was my monster. " </span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<br />
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Containing some great stories:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Blink by Gustavo Bondoni</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
The Clever Nature of Wool by Robert N Stephenson</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Innocuous But Lethal by Mike Adamson</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Moon Mine by Neil A. Hogan</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Starbuck Billy Robert M. Walton</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #404040; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<b>G.L.O.R.I.A. by K.L. Hallam </b></div>
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The Light of Thought by Jeffrey Freedman <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dimensions-Science-Fiction-Stories-Anthology/dp/1726276287/" target="_blank">Print</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Dimensions-Science-Fiction-Anthology-ebook/dp/B07H26V7ZR/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">eBook! </a></div>
</div>
K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-74778657258041561632020-01-06T11:08:00.000-05:002020-01-06T11:10:47.975-05:00I conquered my fear of flying! with the help of Captain Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW licensed therapist and founder of SOAR, Inc. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: "calibri light", sans-serif; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p1yt7CGAOMYyDj0_DX-vbNmJEberN7M4a_VYZqKuA4rUXlOdcq_c4sAW66G3fHOqVr7m0X3_tYlpGMRUPoG70pdvkR0GczHS9PvhYAqjSDmYzlBdWq20OxJmMzdIncy_BPbe__ooAd8/s1600/First-Flight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p1yt7CGAOMYyDj0_DX-vbNmJEberN7M4a_VYZqKuA4rUXlOdcq_c4sAW66G3fHOqVr7m0X3_tYlpGMRUPoG70pdvkR0GczHS9PvhYAqjSDmYzlBdWq20OxJmMzdIncy_BPbe__ooAd8/s400/First-Flight.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way down to Orlando.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b>If you’re a fearful flyer I highly recommend
this program. It’s helped thousands fly again. The best way to begin a new decade! Happy New Year! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Here's the letter I sent recommending the<b><a href="https://www.fearofflying.com/about/" target="_blank"> SOAR program. </a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Captain Tom Bunn:</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yesterday, I returned to New York City after a round trip flight from
Orlando visiting family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Growing up, I often flew alone with my little brother to visit our
father and I’d taken several overseas flights throughout the years with no
problem. I enjoyed soaring the skies, but then came 9/11 and two young children
to protect, but we continued our yearly family vacations, until the summer twelve
years ago, during a turbulent Caribbean flight as I imagined the worst during
the strong turbulence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As misinformation took over, I kept telling myself the stories
that led to not wanting to fly ever again – then came the shame and the
yearning to travel seeing friends travel the world. I hid it from my children, claiming
we didn’t have the money or the time to travel. The shame was deep and painful.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then two weeks ago, my husband booked a flight so that my family could
visit an ill relative, the only way we could all go together, and I began
working through the exercises. My anticipatory anxiety was off the charts. I
read Capt. Tom Bunn’s book SOAR, loaded the app, and bucked down. I allowed
myself to trust that the anticipatory anxiety wouldn’t be as bad when I got to
the airport as Tom Bunn explained in his book. I practiced the 1-2-3-4-5 and
the strength training exercises dutifully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Learning how planes actually work, was a huge mind-opener for me.
As it turned out turbulence was just about the last thing to worry about. Additionally,
to desensitize myself, I imagined jumping up and down on the plane during
turbulence saying “I’m not afraid of this!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And just as Capt. Tom Bunn said, I didn’t have anxiety on the
plane and it was minimal at the airport, even while dealing with my son’s general
anxiety at the same time. I joked around with the flight attendants, watched the
scenery out the window that once again gave me a sense of calm. The way I felt
flying as a young girl. The positive attitude that arose out of me was a huge surprise.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m crying tears of joy knowing I’m free to live again! Subsequently
helping the blockages in my life in general. <i>Thank you, Tom! Thank you from the
depth of my soul. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqW0kuMB7ik17lr7PQXzYlIlHdYfiFPkrnVC1nBYk2l-gbDbANR7FPXpGvMetCF0iMzcUDJOLiALvvdksxKnVcyCPxK4W_MTO4susDBTLzi8QQdTWbwJrIvO6bRuMWoxbd4qAp2g41aM/s1600/In-the-clouds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqW0kuMB7ik17lr7PQXzYlIlHdYfiFPkrnVC1nBYk2l-gbDbANR7FPXpGvMetCF0iMzcUDJOLiALvvdksxKnVcyCPxK4W_MTO4susDBTLzi8QQdTWbwJrIvO6bRuMWoxbd4qAp2g41aM/s320/In-the-clouds.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way back.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Have you stopped flying? If so, this program could change your life! <3 nbsp="" p=""></3><br />
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-->K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-5867709916188933712019-12-16T09:07:00.002-05:002019-12-20T08:39:32.555-05:00 Short Fiction: Time Travel <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">My 101 Word Flash Fiction, <i>Compression</i>, is one of the stories featured in the December Time Travel Issue of <a href="http://www.101fiction.com/">101 Fiction</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Visit the website for more. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">Enjoy the escape! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFri1ui9esBnjEyzlTSWmOT0Cylb1Bn7LkMxo1nVI2IJTAPQlfVPsPNpMaplBl5tQRwdJDSyPv36Hr0QTdw9h8aqvZu7fY37xKzMcZ1cvlXYqmWWnZu8kg7gCwLshJaxOyPboNWj3FYSI/s1600/Compression-Photo-101flash.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFri1ui9esBnjEyzlTSWmOT0Cylb1Bn7LkMxo1nVI2IJTAPQlfVPsPNpMaplBl5tQRwdJDSyPv36Hr0QTdw9h8aqvZu7fY37xKzMcZ1cvlXYqmWWnZu8kg7gCwLshJaxOyPboNWj3FYSI/s640/Compression-Photo-101flash.jpeg" width="390" /></a></div>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-83847433018363112052019-12-13T13:15:00.002-05:002019-12-13T13:15:54.346-05:00Happy Holidays! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweCBiQ3vjz2wikreZ1IKsguMGVZ7x1puxl9MT8mR0RgfPmTziiJ5OtkKTDr9fLviPjdURhGqG1lZR0MqupPFMRL-ByamBG0WPe2IcNq-5StpSpZ937rI6KK03SD5eI8sr0vqi2KXyAZ8/s1600/happy-holidays-word-cloud-different-languages-illustration-105256029.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweCBiQ3vjz2wikreZ1IKsguMGVZ7x1puxl9MT8mR0RgfPmTziiJ5OtkKTDr9fLviPjdURhGqG1lZR0MqupPFMRL-ByamBG0WPe2IcNq-5StpSpZ937rI6KK03SD5eI8sr0vqi2KXyAZ8/s640/happy-holidays-word-cloud-different-languages-illustration-105256029.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">TO YOU! and Yours! Wishing you a Holiday that is Merry and Bright! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">May Democracy Ring through the World and Crumble Oppressive Structures left by the Patriarchy! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">May our planet return to that Paradise is it! Offering all we need to flourish without exploitation, without decimating every animal, tree, or indigenous person and their land! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Keep our water clean! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13;">Our air breathable -- the animals are counting on us! We must protect those without voices who cannot SHOUT! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red;">Peace to YOU! Peace to All. </span></div>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-2231725367819034832019-09-19T09:39:00.000-04:002019-09-19T09:42:36.859-04:00Climate Strike. We're All in This Together! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PeY2dlmy4N9oCLhK-XWJ7UjlnrMSbRfFcJfOf-ITXnWLCw7OugF19u3IMS9qmsV7XzHPXX7f1av1ojNlTwfZKM6VSzhQBcQb5t5v8qfKPbDE_gLzLWwDS5xAmIzYf3WNfuLDD9GGwB4/s1600/10489835_10205389518768942_917344401881383338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PeY2dlmy4N9oCLhK-XWJ7UjlnrMSbRfFcJfOf-ITXnWLCw7OugF19u3IMS9qmsV7XzHPXX7f1av1ojNlTwfZKM6VSzhQBcQb5t5v8qfKPbDE_gLzLWwDS5xAmIzYf3WNfuLDD9GGwB4/s320/10489835_10205389518768942_917344401881383338_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><i>"</i>LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS!" ~<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2019/sep/18/listen-to-the-scientists-greta-thunberg-tells-congress-video"> Greta Thunberg.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I've been an environmental activist since the days I hoarded glass bottles under the sink in my Williamsburg apartment in 1989-90s, to the chagrin of my roommate who constantly teased me about my "collection" of bottles.<br />
<br />
But I couldn't throw them in the garbage! and no one was even talking about recycling in New York City in those days. Well, I was talking ...but there were few answers. So I basically hoarded a huge collection of glass bottles under my sink. Not sure what became of those bottles, it's likely my roommate issued an ultimatum to get rid of them. And then came the plastic bags ... the bane of humanity and the rest of our plastics hanging in our trees in the City. (I also have a certificate as a "green medicine" herbalist. During the Bush years, there was a concern the war-loving administration would take our supplements and access to medicinal plants and herbs. )<br />
<br />
This is actually a post, for the Climate Strike! I'd say in SOLIDARITY but we're all in this TOGETHER. We have <i>one</i> BEAUTIFUL paradise of a planet. We're the stewards and we've done terribly.<br />
<br />
Sharing a few photos from the 2014 "People's Climate March". <b>My #ClimatePact "</b>I swear in all my power to help this planet and its creatures thrive and return this planet to the PARADISE it is! #ClimatePact I will STOP abuses when I see them. I will STEP IN. Help find solutions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCYxtLQf8Tuiv3yT3Ohj70icFzisdfubI9huPkYeMuOO1C2hzwMPRXOna6DE6vqD0NUULC7jUjhzpkrsBlHxhWqwZlEzml095DVTLQRxGQBIym0e7MYFkAh7yUdcsG7xv5ZmE30PygQU/s1600/IMG_1048.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCYxtLQf8Tuiv3yT3Ohj70icFzisdfubI9huPkYeMuOO1C2hzwMPRXOna6DE6vqD0NUULC7jUjhzpkrsBlHxhWqwZlEzml095DVTLQRxGQBIym0e7MYFkAh7yUdcsG7xv5ZmE30PygQU/s320/IMG_1048.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b>For my #ClimateStrike #ClimatePact I will:</b><br />
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*Ride my bike every day -- even through the snow. (so much fun!)<br />
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*Compost!<br />
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*Wear repurposed clothing! (eBay!)<br />
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* Mend and repair the things I have. (also kind of fun.)<br />
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* Plant trees.<br />
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* Return to being a vegan. ~ While I had two vegan births, I'm now a vegetarian but also lactose intolerant. So, I must heed the warnings of my gut. ;) My body is much smarter than I am.<br />
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(I'll return to add more to this list.)<br />
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<b>What are a few things you've done that helped our planet, please share so we can do more! </b><br />
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Here are a few photos from <b>2014. New York City's People's Climate March,</b> to rev you up for the rally at Foley Square tomorrow 12PM. No matter where you are if you can't attend a rally or march in your town -- start cleaning up! Walk around with signs. Post the photos on Social Media. Share anything you've done that helps clean up our environment and tag #ClimateStrike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH_uoBVyb_iRQ_OquRdUrYXr9zBLqLXUxWtbfOnFmSKfrHOVDh72kC-30_pgV3YH2vtkz0vhLp3YUwE_57Ppm40iZmsII1KdCbhnoCu8lMOHNibgdStAptbs4uoHktgOKBA87-c1pQl4/s1600/10672346_10203744243838097_4938266380357383349_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTH_uoBVyb_iRQ_OquRdUrYXr9zBLqLXUxWtbfOnFmSKfrHOVDh72kC-30_pgV3YH2vtkz0vhLp3YUwE_57Ppm40iZmsII1KdCbhnoCu8lMOHNibgdStAptbs4uoHktgOKBA87-c1pQl4/s400/10672346_10203744243838097_4938266380357383349_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXqLIfHwKqs2DdKQqaV7M3Sr-LL-HKObdT2hkaYnFH8LEdCJbPI2x2_HSjbUSat15zsO5SUTxnW9h8qSo5liQDNRInyuzt4wbmpMJVjpV_Ju-PvgHL2uep5AkFSINwEuOtOGfWr3PvQg/s1600/252427_10203744245238132_2143276018539562149_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXqLIfHwKqs2DdKQqaV7M3Sr-LL-HKObdT2hkaYnFH8LEdCJbPI2x2_HSjbUSat15zsO5SUTxnW9h8qSo5liQDNRInyuzt4wbmpMJVjpV_Ju-PvgHL2uep5AkFSINwEuOtOGfWr3PvQg/s400/252427_10203744245238132_2143276018539562149_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHerXjSoZACmih1aQD_fOAHJF9rc7pHBejgJHSAy8itPJkPEprwowweWqPWU3_JV19-JN7egKdB8tLr9IXzPFHQA0y-DwYGOlpszXuNSijZnyMj3IxIToJNdvq1tiQNS26soJKvedm58/s1600/10629848_10203744245558140_2842224925964533765_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHerXjSoZACmih1aQD_fOAHJF9rc7pHBejgJHSAy8itPJkPEprwowweWqPWU3_JV19-JN7egKdB8tLr9IXzPFHQA0y-DwYGOlpszXuNSijZnyMj3IxIToJNdvq1tiQNS26soJKvedm58/s400/10629848_10203744245558140_2842224925964533765_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnUNnNv5AZF-VE9AOhZwul5szQeAoEaYV8cJyd0KfSoquosMQfPYynHO0DfJn3I3tFhj75c55firf6YnusQAR3niTb_voVVs1FLvqiMH8LUvUJQVHywaTiawWplNBiVa6hwUdXVCPOYA/s1600/10310624_10203744733330334_1441700256118236880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnUNnNv5AZF-VE9AOhZwul5szQeAoEaYV8cJyd0KfSoquosMQfPYynHO0DfJn3I3tFhj75c55firf6YnusQAR3niTb_voVVs1FLvqiMH8LUvUJQVHywaTiawWplNBiVa6hwUdXVCPOYA/s400/10310624_10203744733330334_1441700256118236880_n.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<b>Don't forget the little guys that make a HUGE impact on our planet. </b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85sgyL648IsWOaXaT4aB4X2K8cpOgtdNXRl41zUtK5kuS0X_J0A76SUam5Lfogz-PXS2HhEPmWu8IW0vUzztC-7RzabQ-Kyxlv-Fz0udRMOsm4HY5nwr8GI_rOJrlXSGn1KDRuzv3ZQU/s1600/10351890_10203781959220958_5761945137850069461_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85sgyL648IsWOaXaT4aB4X2K8cpOgtdNXRl41zUtK5kuS0X_J0A76SUam5Lfogz-PXS2HhEPmWu8IW0vUzztC-7RzabQ-Kyxlv-Fz0udRMOsm4HY5nwr8GI_rOJrlXSGn1KDRuzv3ZQU/s640/10351890_10203781959220958_5761945137850069461_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by me! </td></tr>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3476726003547837639.post-44935639003983408842019-09-09T14:23:00.001-04:002019-09-13T14:10:27.076-04:00When Billie Holiday Addressed Our Health Care System and Opiates.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This country sure is Slooooow to change. </div>
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I'm busy revising my YA historical fantasy, though the story only has one supernatural element. It's set in 1935 at the cusp of the Swing Era and the build-up to WW2. Believe, me, there're too many similarities to the persecution of Jewish people, to what the current administration is doing to black and brown people in the U.S.A. TODAY! </div>
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A dear friend and jazz singer gave me <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/290112.Lady_Sings_the_Blues"><b>Lady Sings the Blues</b> </a>last week for my birthday. Hearing Billie Holiday's voice, her words and her mind has been profound, learning about her life and struggles and jazz music, and then reading this near the end of the book ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW5QsU7FqZhgp40NBr5vvzTEPU65Laz7IIM_kj7XGcYtDxV6t7MDF44XzXd4UCcBxcd6aTV8B92i2NAQr35U3lg74kflTy5cKzJu23EJSaQYXWrQ1UfHjBzRPrLkCaZx8sChi0PQRkYg/s1600/Holiday-Health-Care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1053" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW5QsU7FqZhgp40NBr5vvzTEPU65Laz7IIM_kj7XGcYtDxV6t7MDF44XzXd4UCcBxcd6aTV8B92i2NAQr35U3lg74kflTy5cKzJu23EJSaQYXWrQ1UfHjBzRPrLkCaZx8sChi0PQRkYg/s640/Holiday-Health-Care.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>
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" American used to make fun of the British health system, where sick people could go to doctors and hospitals for free and the government picked up the tab. We laughed about them handing out false teeth and wooden legs for free. We hollered about this being government interference with the practice of medicine."</div>
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"Well, let me tell you, in America if they haven't got government interference in medicine I don't know what it is. If you're on and you get a doctor for help, he can't help you because the government has passed out regulations saying, in effect, that if he does he will go to jail along with you. If you go to the doctor, he's liable to slam the door in your face and call the cops."</div>
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"Most countries in Europe are civilized about it and they have no "narcotics problem" at all. One day America is going to smarten up and do the same thing. <span style="color: purple;">N</span><span style="color: purple;">ot as long as the US has systematic racism! Imagine how far we'd be if bigots and cheaters didn't get their way. I'm sure we'd have advanced beyond our current realities. </span></div>
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"It may not even happen in my lifetime. Whether it does or not is no skin off mine, because I can't possibly be hurt any more than I have been. But for the sake of other people who've got to suffer until the country wakes up, for the sake of young kids whose whle life will be ruined because they are sent to jail instead of a hospital, I pray to God we wake up soon over here. " </div>
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"If you think you need to suffer to play music or sing, you're crazy. It can fix you so you can't play nothing or sing nothing. The only thing that can happen to you sooner than later you'll get busted, and once that happens you'll never live it down. Just look at me."</div>
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"I don't want to preach to nobody. I never have and I don't want to begin now. But I do hope some kids will read this book an not miss the point of it. Maybe because I have no kids of my own--not yet--I still think you can help kids by talking straight to them."</div>
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"On a recent Sunday, Judge Jonah Goldstein talked about the narcotics problem on TV from New York. He told the people the same thing I've been trying to tell them; that narcotics has to be taken out of the hands of the police and turned over to the doctors! He said that in all his years on the bench he'd never seen anybody but poor people brought in for violation of the dope laws."</div>
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"He also said a man had come to him for advice recently because his twenty-year-old son had been hooked on dope. What did the judge advise him to do? Send the boy to England o school where doctors could treat him legally, cure him if they could, and if not, give him treatment legally just as if he had diabetes or something, so he could live a useful normal life."</div>
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"That's a hell of a recommendation for a judge to have to make in a civilized country; to admit that the only help a sick person hooked on drugs can get is outside the country,..." </div>
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This is from the 1950s from Billie Holiday's autobiography,<i> </i>Lady Sings the Blues. </div>
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<span style="color: purple;">My heart. <3 and="" brilliant="" day="" in="" lady="" many="" nbsp="" p="" profound="" so="" was="" ways.=""></3></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Her voice lives on! </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">In the YA I'm revising the MC is also dealing with barbiturate use. Commonly prescribed for sleeping pills during this time. </span></div>
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We must make good change happen Faster! </div>
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K. L. Hallamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05672153195378644215noreply@blogger.com1