TJ and I do Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) on the feral cats in our neighborhood. I thought I’d mention this, because we end up on the release end of our ferals with about sixteen of them in our yard. We have this routine each day: wake up, feed animals, take the dogs for a walk (we have two), and then I drink coffee and read my Bible and pray. I’m not sure what TJ is doing during my prayer time. I can’t see him, as I’m in the kitchen, and he’s in the office. I suspect he’s looking at Facebook, but I’m hoping he’s writing. This happens pretty much every day… Then we do the same at dinner with the feeding the animals. I am hoping when the temps drop, I can add another evening walk with the dogs. I need the exercise. They need the exercise. The event is a win-win.
Speaking of TJ, he’s busy on a new manuscript. No, he hasn’t finished the old ones. SMH — I, on the other hand, am editing the Steampunk novel. Originally, it was a little longer than a short story… The book has morphed from that, about 26,000 words, to over 40,000 words. I think it will be intriguing when I’m finished.
In the meantime, I received this lovely review from a woman in the UK:
I finished reading The Dirty End of the Needle five days ago, and I can’t stop thinking about how beautiful the story was. I love how it was quite raw without being overwhelming. I was really worried Papa would die before Luke got back! I do wish there was an epilogue to see how Luke’s doing with his health and his life in Phoenix, especially his relationship with Theo. Out of the four books I’ve read from you, this one is definitely my favourite—it really resonated with me! I rated it five stars and I’ll be recommending.
I have to say a public thank you to her, my new UK friend! She made my entire week with her sweet words. Here’s the blurb for The Dirty End of the Needle and the link is here!
The blurb: Luke slammed the front door. He stormed to his car, getting in. The car was the little Honda Civic Papa bought him when he turned sixteen. He drove toward the highway as heat waves rose off the road in the scorching summer morning. These last days of August were the hottest Phoenix had experienced in a few years. The extreme heat in Arizona summers caused weird wavy mirage lines. Very often the temperatures could be over one hundred degrees by ten a.m. Even the northernmost highways in the State were sizzling hot.
From the front porch, Theo watched the dust blow up off the driveway as Luke went down the road. Shaking his head in disgust, he turned away to his work.
Papa’s once strong frame slowly wilted after Luke drove out of the driveway that day. Like the sensitive plants Mother nursed in front of the porch, he struggled against the heat of Luke’s wrath.
This story was painful for me to write. The character, Luke, rings true for me. His character is too close. We live in South Phoenix, an area of the Valley of the Sun, known for it’s disadvantaged neighborhoods. Immediately around us, people are lower on the pay scales of society. Homeless camps are nearby, group housing of drug addicts exist on nearby streets. But Luke’s story happens in nicer neighborhoods, as well. His problems take place in higher end neighborhoods, just as often. I hope the review, above, will encourage you to read the story.
My Bible study this morning included Psalm 49:20 NIV: 20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
I think that means if you lack spiritual understanding [of the Bible] you will be like a creature without moorings. You will float on the sea, thrown to and fro by the winds of the changes in your life. Even some who study their Bible are this way. Luke is raised in a Christian home, but becomes caught up in the whirlpool of his bad choices. His own bad choices.
Once more, thank you for reading, for commenting, for reviewing. If you’ve read something you like (that TJ or I wrote) please tell your family and friends.
Mirror Gate Chronicles 