Emma Palova, born in Czech Republic, is an author, a writer, a screenwriter, a journalist, a photographer, a designer and the founder of Emma Blogs, LLC, based in Lowell, Michigan.
Currently, she is working on her memoir "Greenwich Meridian" which she intends to turn into a screenplay.
Palova started her blog EW Emma's Writings at http://emmaplova.com in support of the publication of her memoir in January, 2013.
The blog has grown into a passion and a company that designs blogs for other people under the umbrella of Emma Blogs.
Palova is a prolific online publisher open to new ideas and to new horizons. A natural innovator, Palova loves to create progressive brands into the future. Check out her inspirational post "Desert epiphany" and the authors page on About_me and on Facebook.
I am looking forward to seeing you around the greater Grand Rapids area and on my blog.
I am seeking an agent or a publisher for the memoir that I intend to publish for my mom Ella's 80 birthday on Aug. 23.
I celebrated my fourth anniversary on the WordPress publishing platform on Jan. 15th, 2017 with more than 1,000 followers and 500 plus posts.
Love always,
Emma
Rolling into the second writing week of 2019. I am excited about the upcoming #NaNoWriMo writing events. Follow me on my writing and publishing journey to my second book “Shifting Sands: Secrets.”
Today’s horoscope is right on target for me as I roll into the second writing week of 2019.
Don’t forget that Monday’s are marketing Monday’s at #NaNoWriMo.
The next #NaNoWriMo date is tomorrow; it is the virtual write-in Wednesday from 4 to 5 pm EST. Go to:https://youtu.be/hQNjsApebvc
After that, it is the self-edit session with AutoCrit on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
Read your free Taurus horoscope for today to get daily advice. Find out what today’s Astrology will mean for Taurus every day from Tarot.com.
— Read on www.tarot.com/daily-horoscope/taurus/2019-01-08
2019 Calendar Features Covered Bridges from Coast to Coast
By Emma Palova
EW Emma’s Writings
Lowell, MI – The 2019 calendar by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges features covered bridges from 13 different states; from East to West coasts and their builders.
Locally, the #Fallasburg Covered Bridge adorns the month of May.
According to the statement on the calendar, the Fallasburg Covered Bridge was built in 1871 by Jared Brasee. Brasee lived in Ada. Brasee used for the construction of his bridges the Brown truss. Fallasburg is the only remaining Brown truss bridge.
The White’s Bridge (1869-2013) was in Ionia County. The White’s Bridge Historical Society is in the process of rebuilding the bridge that burnt in 2013.
At the end of the article, you will find a link to purchase the calendar. Due to the enormous success of the calendar, the society is accepting photos for calendar 2020.
Most of us can relate to slow starts after the holidays. On top of the holiday indolence, I’ve been sick too. And I even got my first ever flu shot in 2018 inspite of my wavering doubt about the effectiveness of the vaccine. This is the first day that “I feel like a human being.” That’s a quote from colleague writer Tamela Spicer.
What’s coming down the pipeline?
Book cover for “Secrets” aka the Face of Gossip.
I am working on two last stories to complete the second book Shifting Sands: Secrets. (c) 2019 Emma Palova. It is a sequel to Shifting Sands: Short Stories. I will let the manuscript run through the AutoCrit self-editing software for fiction to test it and review it.
I found out about AutoCrit during the #NaNoWriMo 50K word marathon in November. It has reasonably good reviews. A webcast on self-editing using the software is scheduled for Jan. 22 from 4 to 5 p.m.
I will most likely self-publish on the kdp self-publishing platform, since anything else is a complex labyrinth of paths with dead ends.
Looking for reviewers
On the other hand, I am an eternal optimist, so I will pitch the individual stories via the app Submittable to different markets. Any new book needs reviews, any reviews.
Let me know if you would like to write a review. All Advance Reader Copies (ARC) are always free. You get to read something no one else has read before; now that’s pretty special.
Touring with books
I am also in the process of creating a tour for the new book Secrets. My first targeted event is on April 6 at the Author’s Fair in Detroit.
I am imposing a deadline on the memoir project “Greenwich Meridian” about the family immigration saga from former Czechoslovakia. I am taking this book to the event Books Alive! in Ludington on July 19 in conjunction with Ludington’s Friday Night Live.
Authors (left to right) Jeanie Mortensen and Emma Palova of Lowell share a giggle.
This event is possible thanks to author Joan H. Young from Scottville.
I am also looking forward to continuing my partnership with LowellArts for book signings and the upcoming playwright festival.
Excerpt from short story “40 Hunks” in Secrets
They
were crossing the Sonoran Desert west of Nogales. Jose felt the pocket of his
jeans for a piece of paper. He pulled it out to look at it for the 100th
time as they were nearing the border.
It
was the letter from the US Department of Agriculture giving him permission to
cross the border to the US with the 40 men sleeping behind his back. Before
they boarded the bus, Jose had to make sure they were the right men. Most of
them didn’t have any IDs, so he trusted them and tried to match up the names
with the list from the government.
The
list was far from being exact, but Jose knew once they entered the US
territory, they would be assigned a permanent work guide. From there on, it was
none of his business what’s going to happen with these men. The guides were
correction officers borrowed from the regional correctional facilities in the
US.
The
border patrol in Nogales searched the smelly bus and studied Jose’s driver’s
license and that piece of paper.
“How
do you know who’s who?” barked a sweating guard with an AK47 across his
shoulder, at Jose.
“Vaguely.
I know that I have 40 men,” said Jose also sweating.
The
guard boarded the bus and walked in the aisle examining each face, holding the
piece of governmental paper in his hand. He stopped and looked closely at one man. The
men were wide awake now. He leaned over the hulky man taking in his odor.
“Who
are you?” he asked with his face distorted in an evil grimace.
Jose
walked up to the two men in the back of the bus.
“Hey, amigo,” he said to the guard. “They don’t speak English.”
The red dogwood from the Christmas bouquet greets the new year with new leaves. It will blossom soon. Have a great new year 2019 filled with love and peace.
Authors (left to right) Jeanie Mortensen and Emma Palova of Lowell share a giggle.
In January, Ludek and I started our Spanish classes under the tutelage of Jim Alberts. I’ve never enjoyed learning more; and we’re doing it again in 2019 if Mr. Alberts offers them again.
Since the big pond separates us, we missed the grand opening. We hope to visit Lorenz one day.
In
January and February, I continued my book signings of Shifting Sands Short Stories
at LowellArts during their arts exhibit in the new gallery on Main Street.
As winter changed into spring, we celebrated St. Pat’s in historic Hubbardston tavern with the oldest liquor license in Michigan. It used to be a speakeasy during the prohibition. I have yet to write about this.
I was also featured in the 2018-2019 Grand Rapids City Guide in the life&style section “The long road to resilience.”
I love summer and surprises. They truly all came in one day: Interview with WGVU host Shelly Irwin, a new author event and the Epilogue Bookstore. While looking for a hotel in Ludington, where we celelebrated my dad’s birthday on July 23rd, I came across a true gem. I found out about the annual Ludington Writers’ Rendezvous organized by author Joan H. Young. Thank you Joan for so much inspiration and for new author friends. You rock. https://emmapalova.com/2018/07/16/writers-surprises-all-in-one-day/
I wrapped up the summer by saying goodbye to our French granddaughter Ella; together we completed a big goal. Passing on the family tradition, I taught Ella how to swim.
In September, we were in the Belding Labor Day Parade for the first time with my book float entry decorated with huge lollipops and an ice cream cone. We loved the parade with the Willy Wonka theme.
November delivered a huge surprise for me: the NaNoWriMo 50K word novel writing marathon and with it comes a new book for 2019. That is Shifting Sands: Secrets. I completed the 50,000 word challenge on Nov. 27 with 56,432 words. https://emmapalova.com/2018/11/27/national-novel-writing-month-winner-2018/
The day after Christmas we headed Up North 150 miles into Antrim County, an outdoors lover’s paradise. We made our base in Mancelona with its proximity to the Shanty Creek mountain system: Summit and Schuss mountains.
We stayed at a chalet in the Lakes of the North community; a sprawling development in the woods complete with an indoor pool inside a clubhouse.
A network of trails weaved through the entire area making it ideal for snowmobiling, Nordic skiing or snowshoeing.
Shanty Creek Resorts near Bellaire were approximately 20 minutes away. Schuss Mountain with 450 feet of vertical drop offered downhill skiing for both kids and adults. The “Bunny Hill” was serviced by a Magic Carpet; moving escalator on the ground. The Cedar Creek Lodge at the foot of the hill offered respite from the brisk wind. A shuttle communted between Schuss and the lodge.
The ski school was in full swing with people falling all over tied to their skiis. We wanted to do dog sledding on Saturday, but due to low snow cover, it was postponed.
Any winter sport including mountain biking on a fatty bike could be spotted here. We ate our lunch at the River Bistro inside the lodge beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Jake with family explored Summit Mountain which brough back memories. Back in the 1990s, it was only known as Shanty Creek. That’s where Jake learned how to ski. Coming full circle, he was now teaching his own kids, Josephine and Dominik, the old skiing tricks.
As the saying around Shanty Creek Resorts goes: “Teaching new pups old tricks.”
Little town of Bellaire
Bellaire is probably best known for Short’s Brewery, Bee Well Meadery, Hello Vino and stores like Little Treasures and the Flying Pig. When the snow conditions are not good for skiing, Bellaire provides a back-up plan.
“We call it Halloween here, when the slopes are deserted,” said the clerk at the meadery.
Some of the sweet mead creations here were: Apple Pie and Cherry Vanilla.
Central Lake
The town of Central Lake is home to Bachmann’s General Stores and Mammoth Distilling; both are great sites to explore.
“If we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” read the storefront.
Truly, you could find here anything from hardware to books, and everything in between.
The “Cherry Bounce” bourbon was one of the many hand-hewn products at Mammoth with the actual still in the back.
Discoveries “Chain of Lakes”
Our team’s biggest discovery was the “Chain of Lakes,” a natural waterway traversing 80 miles across 14 lakes and rivers. The chain starts in Elk Rapids and ends in Ellsworth.
Recently, it was designated as the first water trail in northern Michigan to encourage water preservation and engagement with nature. According to the DNR, it will positively impact local economies of towns along the water trail and encourage healthy lifestyle.
The water trail was designed for non-motorized watercraft and fishing. The water trail has 81 access sites managed by 16 governmental jurisdictions and non-profit organizations that stretch through four counties: Antrim, Charlevoix, Kalkaska and Grand Traverse.
“We’re coming back in the summer,” was the consensus of our team.
We spent Christmas Eve and the morning on Christmas Day in Hastings, the seat of Barry County. The Barrry County Courthouse is on the backdrop of the nativity in the feature photo. The life-size nativity was donated to Hastings by Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland.
We combined both Christmas traditions: Czech with American. On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed the traditional fish and potato salad dinner, preceded by mushroom soup.
Our skillful chefs were Jake and Maranda.Angel Girl singing “Let it go”. A new generation of toys
The children’s choir at St. Rose of Lima lifted the spirit and touched the heart when they sang “The Little Drummer Boy.”
Back at the house, Jake and Ludek delivered a Christmas performance. Jake played Christmas music and carols on the saxophone. We also sang “Nesem Vam Noviny” translated as “We’re bringing you the good news.”
Both Santa and “Jezisek” were generous and creative.
In the morning, we had a festive Christmas brunch: quiche, potato scallops and ham.
Czech traditional desserts-baskets and vanilla crescents, topped of the feast.
Thanks to our hosts, Jake and Maranda. We are all blessed with our families.
Happy holidays.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Hey. Just as I’m typing this I’m sitting in a train on my way home. There is 10 hours of train and car drive in front of me, over 21 stops till I get home as I’m traveling from Prague czech republic to Presov Slovakia – almost final destination of this inter-state train (and then i still have to travel some more east)
Don’t get me wrong I’m not complaining I love traveling. I’m sitting in a comfortable leather chair, got my laptop, free wi-fi connection, netflix, I just ordered food, got my christmas playlist going on and I’ve got beautiful view over the country.
There is this interesting conversation going on between two strangers sitting across me and I know it’s rude to listen to other people’s conversations but what they talk about just warms my heart. They both speaks english and that’s what caught my attention in first…
Today is the 29th anniversary of our landing at JFK from former Czechoslovakia.We headed out into the frozen Midwest for a two-day trip to my parents’ home in Big Rapids, MI.
We arrived on Christmas Eve just in time for the traditional Czech dinner: mushroom soup, fried fish and potato salad.
All that was topped off by mom’s
delicious Christmas desserts.
They had the Christmas tree up and decorated.
I will never forget that first Christmas in the USA.
I am grateful for my parents’ Ella & Vaclav’s help in adjusting to our new life in the USA.
Today, 29 years later we’re all alive and well on our life’s journeys.
Happy holidays to all. May peace prevail on earth.
Copyright (c) 2018. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Angel Girl singing “Let it go”. A new generation of toys
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