A Four Year Conundrum…

For four interminable years, I’ve been unable to put pen to paper for anything other than boring IT technicalities. Finally, last month, I woke up at four in the morning with the idea for – not just one series – but two. Go figure. It’s always been go big or go home for me. So, now my writer’s brain is on overload and I’m frantically going from one tale to another.

Luckily for me – or perhaps it’s just how I’m wired – one series is historical and one very much contemporary – as in COVID-19 contemporary – so it’s muy facil to switch back and forth.

A whole ton has happened in four years.

First, my publisher – Hartwood Publishing – the CEO, Georgia Woods, my longtime mentor and, indeed, the person I credit for my writing career – decided to close down for financial reasons in the first quarter of this dreadful year.

Because Georgia is who she is – a remarkable, ethical, and honorable woman – all the rights to my books were returned to me in a timely, professional manner (kudos to Georgia and Lisa). I’m aiming to self publish my books in 2021 beginning with the Hades Squad series, but I intend to first finish the series by writing Jinn, Volac, and Nikar’s tales.

That means expect to see the return of the Hades Squad either second or third quarter 2021. Even though Georgia’s now retired, I’m hoping to persuade her to do the covers for the final three books and redo the design of the first five novels…love those covers.

I’ve also decided to publish all my historical stories under another pen name to simplify everything…anyone have suggestions? I’ve a couple of pseudonyms in mind, but haven’t settled on anything as yet.

While I’ve never been an avid blogger – is that still a thing in this Tik Tok age?- I intend to keep anyone who’s still interested in my tales posted on how things are progressing right here on this home/blog page. So stay tuned for irregular excerpts, news, and the odd, facetious musings.

I’m back and I sincerely hope it’s all for the good…

Fireworks and Food!

Happy Fourth of July! 

Happy Independence Day!

For me, as a relatively new American citizen, July 4th is all about three things – fireworks, food, and the constitution. The latter being the sole item of complete importance. As I see dictatorship and outright hegemony becoming the rule of the day, I feel compelled to re-state what made this country great in the first place. And to be clear, the days of America as a power and influencer is on the decline…once we corrupt our basic rights, we no longer have any moral authority.

I have always been so proud that the rights to liberty and happiness – yes happiness – was the base of our government. These days, I shake my head and pray that this sentiment will be still at our core twenty years from now. Here are  some of the sentiments from the original declaration of independence:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

I won’t repeat the whole document here, but I thought it important to repeat the words that formed the basis of this country and the sole reasons we rose to greatness – a greatness that is rapidly dissipating amidst all the hate mongering and terrible labelling that now starts at the highest, and now, these days, the lowest office. 

Happy Fourth of July!

Cheers,

Jianne

Depression Stinks!

Yeah, depression really sucks. It leaches any sort of activism out of you, compels you to hide from the world, and ultimately makes you regress.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass murder sent me tailspinning into a depression tyranny.

However, a wonderful Mother’s Day surrounded by my sons jerked me out of that down turn. 

So, I’m back and rearing to go and looking forward to – Summer Movies. I am definitely going to see The Book Club, Deadpool 2, Show Dogs (I’m a sucker for animal movies), Mamma Mia – Here we go, Oceans’s whatever, and Life of the Party. Can you see a trend here? 

Yep, only uplifting movies. Not in the mood for a Shindler’s List, that’s for sure.

So, here’s to a great rest of the year enjoying big screen summer pics!

Cheers,

Jianne

It Only Happens Here – Not in Canada, Not in England, Not Anywhere Else – When is Enough – Enough?

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting is the 18 – 18 th – mass shooting in the US this year – AND the date is February 15th. We are less than 47 days into 2018!!!

Here are the statistics:

1. The Harvest Music Festival: 58 killed

2. Pulse night club: 49 killed

3. Virginia Tech: 32 killed
 
4. Sandy Hook: 27 killed
 
5. First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs: 26 killed
 
6. Luby’s Cafeteria: 23 killed
 
7. McDonald’s in San Ysidro: 21 killed
 
8. University of Texas: 18 killed
 
9. High school in Parkland, Florida: At least 17 killed
 
10. San Bernardino: 14 killed
 
11. Edmond, Oklahoma: 14 killed
 
In 2017, as of October 2, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, a total of 273 mass shooting incidents  occurred.
 
And the list goes on and on and on…
 
My three sons went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. I have nothing but great things to say about this high school. The teachers were marvelous, dedicated, and caring, and the students some of the best and the brightest. The parents concerned and supportive.
 
Shootings like this, whether we like it or not, only happen here – in the United States of America. 
 
Yes, guns don’t kill, people do. But, guess what – pistols don’t kill  AR-15s do! 
 
The nation’s mass-shooting problem is mushrooming. And the latest, most serious shootings all seem to have one new thing in common: the AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.

The AR-15 typically has large magazines, shoots rounds at higher velocities than handguns, and leaves more complex wounds in victims.

Why, why is the NRA  so opposed to these mass-killing guns being available to the worst of us?
 
It’s time, call your senator, your congressman, and speak out!
 
Let’s stop this now!
 
In mourning,

Jianne

Happy 86th Birthday Dad!

25 years ago, not on this day, my father died. Yesterday would have been his 86th birthday.

To all of you who still have living fathers, I have only this to say – enjoy every single moment. Love your dad to death and keep a constant watch.

Never a single day goes by when I don’t miss my father. We were extraordinarily close. He was my hero, my friend, an amazing business colleague, and my adored father. I count myself fortunate to have had such a loving, supportive man for my dad.

Yesterday, the viking and I attended my BFF’s son’s wedding.

February 11th, since my father passed, has always been bittersweet to me, and will continue to be so – I have no doubt of that.

But, yesterday, seeing Troy and Louisa starting off on their new life filled with hope, optimism, and the absolute best of the invitees who attended the ceremony, erased some of the sadness I’ve come to associate with the ominous date, February, 11th.
So, I thank you – Liz, Troy, and Louisa, for reminding me of the best and brightest view of life.

Cheers,

 

Jianne

P.S. Here are some pics of the wedding – and you just gotta love that their pooch – Tilly – was the ring bearer!!!!!!