Lowell, MI – I specifically used the French word metier for specialty or having a knack for something. We are excited to have our French granddaughter Ella here in the USA for the summer after last year’s pause due to COVID-19.
Every day, I learn something new from her and vice versa. Ella is fully bilingual due to her summer stays with us. Previously, she has attended St. Pat’s Summer Care in Parnell, but this year Ella is going to the YMCA at the Cherry Creek Elementary.
In the morning, we brave the construction workers who have invaded the area with huge asphalt trucks and the smell of fresh tar.
“They had the entire pandemic to do this,” Ella said.
I had a little confrontation with one of the workers who accused me of flying through the construction zone.
“Sir, I don’t fly,” I said. “I drive. You can ask anyone who knows me well.”
That being said, it’s good to know that we’re finally going to have our “damn roads” fixed, as Gov. Whitmer would put it. Apparently, it has become a long-awaited priority.
Writing away
Caledonia, MI – So, I got a new gig with the Caledonia Living Magazine by Best Version Media. My new title is Content Coordinator, which is a new word for editor. It’s a monthly magazine with a regular family feature, a business profile and events calendar.
Submit your ideas and news items to me for the magazine.
Frankfort, MI – What better way to meet your next favorite read than on the shores of Lake Michigan at a local art festival.
After a succesful Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in downtown Muskegon, where even a tornado watch couldn’t stop Michigan Authors from selling their books, we have somewhat dispersed. But if you check the previous post about the Michigan Authors Comeback in 2021, and go to the authors websites, you will be able to catch up with them.
Lakeshore Art Festival in downtown Muskegon.
I will be in Frankfort on July 4th at the Art in the Park craft show at 517 Main Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stop by to pick up a book or two; I will have Shift Sands Short Stories series, book 1 and book 2 and my newest release “Greenwich Meridian Memoir.” I will also have posters of the cover of “Secrets.”
I will be around Lowell during the Riverwalk next weekend.
July 31- Grand Ledge, Island Fest
Aug. 7- Holland, Art in the Park
Aug. 28- Lowell, Hometown Reception on the Showboat
I also have a virtual booth at the Detroit Book Fest. Check it out at:
Muskegon- They are back and stronger than before; strengthened by the quiet months of the COVID-19 quarantine, these authors used their time to create, write and to launch books in the finnicky technical world.
Michigan authors will be grouped at the Authors Alley at the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in downtown Muskegon on June 26 and June 27. Close to 20 authors will be ready to present to you your next favorite read; from fantasies, short stories, young adult fiction, childrens books to thrillers and mysteries.
You will find Authors Alley along 4th Street on the left hand side of the road in front of the Lakeshore Museum Center and extending into the intersection at Clay Street. The hours are: Saturday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Following is a list of participating authors: Ingar Rudholm, Joan Young, Melinda Clark, Sara Shanning, Lon Hieftje, Andrew Smith, Jean Davis, Norma Lewis, Melanie Hooyenga, Michael D. Jones, Lori Hudson, Emma Palova, Bonnie Votkis, Judy Burke, Marianne Wieland, Randy Pearson, Mike Carrier, Gary Buettner and Gregory Scott.
World Vision pumps for water are hand or solar- powered
By Emma Palova
Ludington, MI- Author Joan H. Young is no stranger to walking. Young was the first woman to complete the 4,600-mile- long hike on the North Country Trail in 2010.
But this was the first time, Young has walked with a mission to provide water for Third World countries, a global effort spearheaded by World Vision. Young walked a total of 21 miles on May 22 in the Global 6K for Water.
Joan H. Young, photo by Stacey Hames
Here is a Q&A interview with Young.
Q: How long have you been walking for water?
A: This is the first time I have done this.
Q: Why? What is your primary motivation?
A: Back in 1986, when I decided I wanted to go to grad school, in the sciences, I did a lot of reading and predicted that water was going to be the global crisis of the 21st century. So, I decided to study some field related to clean water. I ended up not using that degree, but I learned a lot and still believe that providing clean water to the world needs to have a higher priority.
Q: A little bit about Fatima: Where does she live and how bad is the water situation?
A: She was assigned to me. Each participant is paired with a child to give a face to our fundraising. She lives in Ethiopia where about 26 million people lack access to clean water. One organization claims that 7.5 percent of the globalwater crisis is inEthiopia alone. In addition to a lack of clean water, there is a lack of basic sanitation facilities. The result, not surprisingly, is a huge number of deaths from water-borne illnesses. So many children die that the world has become numb and is no longer outraged. World Vision bores deep wells, and the pumps are either hand powered or solar powered, so villages do not have to depend on unreliable or unavailable electricity.
Q: How much money has been raised and how much have you raised?
A: I know World Vision hoped to raise $2 million this year. I raised $1495, and was in the top 100 individual fundraisers, but I know some of the very top people raised over $5000. I think they are still taking contributions, so the totals have not yet been released. Donations are still being accepted as of June 1, 2021.
Q: What have you learned about yourself and others on your walks?
A: The distance proposed for most walkers by World Vision was 6K, about 4 miles. This distance was chosen because it is the average distance people in countries with inadequate clean water must walk every day to collect dirty water for cooking and drinking. I chose to walk more, as a challenge, thinking it might attract people to donate. Perhaps that was a factor. I was really pleased that so many people stepped up to donate. I was able to raise much more money than I ever could have given on my own.
World Vision estimates that it averages out to about $50 to provide clean water to one person. So that means I was able to help 27 people gain access to clean water. I like the way that feels.
Q: How do your walks project into your books?
A: So far, not at all, since this was my first one.
Q: What are your future plans for walking?
A: Walking is like breathing. I just do it. We’ll see if I sign up for another fundraiser in the future.
About Joan H. Young Author of the Anastasia Raven cozy mysteries, Dubois Files children’s mysteries, books about hiking, and more
It was a solemn ceremony honoring the veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day at the Oakwood Cemetery in Lowell on Monday.
Memorial Day at Oakwood Cemetery in Lowell.
Even though, there was no music by any of the Lowell Area Schools bands or a parade, the small gathering was complete with a rifle salute at the Civil War Memorial.
Chaplain Glen Marks said the blessings and the prayers for the departed veterans.
After reading the names of the deceased veterans to the ring of the bell, the participants listened to the haunting sound of TAPS.
Seven hundred graves were marked with American flags.
Copyright (c) 2021. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Listen in to the podcast “For the love of books,” download and share the episodes. The insights from the Indie authors are incredible, beyond trade journals.
Each author represents a unique individuality in what some call “a mass book production market.” There may be one million ISBNs issued annually, but each book and author are distinctively different in how they approach the writing business and writing itself.
It’s like there is a piece of the author in each one of his or her books; it may be in the character, in the setting, in the plot or in the point of view. POV.
One of my favorite questions is: “Where do you see the future of Indie publishing?”
The overall response is that it will continue to grow.
“We have physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, virtual book events. Maybe virtual reality books are next?”
Ingar Rudholm
“And how will the Indie authors be remembered?”
“We’re the trailblazers.”
Joan H. Young
Podcast interviews this week
Coming up in this week’s podcasts are authors Marianne Wieland, A. Kidd and Colleen Nye. They are pictured in the gallery above.
Nye is an author with multiple pen names and an overactive imagination.
A. Kidd calls herself a kid at heart with a youthful exuberance, A. Kidd writes books for children full of magic and wonder in the hopes that they will have the courage to live their own stories and possibly even be inspired to write stories of their own.
Wieland is the author of 10 books.
Nothing is ever as it seems on the surface. Expect the unexpected. Is it real, fiction or a combination? You decide. Go ahead. I dare you!
Lowell, MI – I am still fascinated with the Czech name days. The Czech calendar attributes a name to each day year round. This originates in the saints’ names, and it was later expanded as the secular selection of names grew.
I’ve always wondered why the greeting card making companies like Hallmark never used this name opportunity to expand their portfolio. Now, they have their TV channel, so as the French say; It’s passe compose.
The Czechs and many other European countries kept this age-old tradition of celebrating name days on certain dates of the year. For example today-April 8- is Emma’s name day.
It’s sort of like the celebration of St. Pat’s Day on March 17 in Ireland and in the USA. Some name days are the basis for festivals like St. Mary’s in September. Others are totally obscure except for those who carry that particular name.
Since Joseph is such a popular name in Czech, March 19 is a big celebration of that name in the old country. It used to be in villages, that every other man was named Joseph.
After 30 years of living in the USA, I have trouble getting current Czech calendars. However, the big advantage is that the names always fall on the same dates, no matter what year.
April is an interesting month in Czech Republic overall with early blossoms and spring traditions. It’s even more interesting here in the USA with the upcoming outdoors events, that won’t hopefully get cancelled.
I am looking forward to all my new adventures like the podcast show “For the love of books” with Indie and small press authors, as well as my new involvement with the Czechoslovak Landmarks Society or landmarkstrust.org.
Subscribe to the major podcast channels and on YouTube.
Watch for the podcast with authors Jean Davis and Andrew Smith.
Copyright (c)2021. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Lowell, MI – I am really excited about the podcast show “For the love of books” on major podcasting channels. So far, we’ve discussed the Indie and the COVID author experiences, marketing and tips for new and not so new authors. I like to have a mix of authors representing all genres.
I also ask everyone what sets them apart from other authors other than the genres. I know it sounds more like a question for political candidates. That’s because I interviewed so many of them. It’s interesting what kind of responses I get.
Authors are very interesting to interview because of their insights and knowledge gained through writing.
The other popular question is: “What have you learned about yourself while writing your books?”
Pictured below left to right from top to bottom: upcoming authors Jean Davis, Andrew Smith, Randy Pearson, Joan Young and previous authors Luba Lesychyn and Diana Plopa.
authoremmapalova 