On a freezing November day, I logged in 2,027 words in the 50k-word challenge for a total of 48, 472 words, after filing a story about comedian Heywood Banks aka Toastmaster General for The Lowell Ledger.
I love Banks’s “About” page on his website. Not only was Banks born on April Fool’s Day in 1950, but he didn’t apply himself (whatever that means), he sang on the street, and never had a “B” plan.
Then he came out with his famous “Toast”. The story of the song goes back to 1986 when he was browsing at a Salvation Army store for props for his act. He bought an old toaster, thinking he would make toast during his act. Later his wife said she was looking forward to having toast the next morning, and Banks started improvising about toast while playing a bongo.
History has a tendency to repeat itself
General Strike, Nov. 27, 1989
On this day, 34 years ago, I marched along with one million people on Wenceslas Square in protest of the socialist regime in former Czechoslovakia. The Velvet Revolution led by students and artists culminated with the General Strike that toppled socialism in the old country, and gave way to the formation Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
I feel privileged that I had written about it in “Greenwich Meridian Memoir” where East meets West. The book is available on my website at
Bring Joy and Love to the Island Fair. There will be no sad faces.
Be a part of history, as this epic fair, run by volunteers only, celebrates 50 fantastic years on the island on July 29, 2023. What better way to make up for the missing Covid year and to enhance this year’s celebration than to add 50 new vendors for a total of more than 180 vendors?
“They put a little light into this dark time,” said event producer Stephene Lapp.
Twenty Michigan Authors will be located both on the island and at the ballfield. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get a signed book by a live author. And food trucks are back
Find out more about the island’s fascinating history in this action-packed episode with Lapp of Ledge Craft Lane.
See you next Saturday, July 29th in Grand Ledger. Be a part of this epic 50th anniversary of the Island Art Fair. I will be in booth #116 on the island.
The things we do when inspiration hits home. Join Michigan Authors on their tours this season. Check their websites. Listen to For the Love of Books Podcast to stay in the loop.
Don’t miss out on a chance to get a signed book by a live author before the humanity becomes extinct like the dinosaurs.
Enter different worlds whenever you open a book.
Don’t let history repeat itself.
To be continued….
Author Emma Palova with T-Rex aka author Darla Jean Davis
Illustrators and caricaturists at the Palmer Park Art Fair last weekend. I love this show in Detroit for its diversity. I met new authors from Ghana, Jamaica and some great visitors to the show. Stay tuned for full story.
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Authors’ Tent no. 140 at the Palmer Park Art Fair in Detroit will feature 18 authors representing different genres plus poetry this weekend, June 4 & 5.
“Most of the authors will have readings,” said Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows director said. “We’ll have poets in between.”
The Palmer Park Art Fair is a recreation of an event popular in the 70s & 80s.
“We will have a limited edition poster,” he said. “It’s stunning.”
Signs from Woodward Street direct visitors into the huge park, one mile by 0.5 miles, surrounded by upscale historic district neighborhoods and low-income apartments.
“We are a great melting pot,” Loeb said. “It’s a joy to be there.”
The unique event will have 135 to 140 vendors including food vendors such as Southern Heritage of Detroit.
“I expect a lot of people,” Loeb said.
Author and podcast host and producer Emma Palova will be inside the Authors’ Tent at 140e. Stop by so Emma can sign a copy of Greenwich Meridian Memoir about the Konecny family immigration saga from Czechoslovakia for you.
I am pleased to announce that I have a new book coming out soon in the Shifting Sands series: The Lost Town. This is a historical fiction romance novel set in a ghost town. Watch for details about its release TBA. The book was edited by Carol Briggs and the cover was designed by graphic artist Jeanne Boss.
I am grateful to the entire creative team and for my team of reviewers for making this happen.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I have embarked on my fall author adventures through west and central Michigan. After an exceptional summer with crowds flocking to community events, autumn promises are in the fresh air painting a colorful palette.
I am so grateful that the in person events are making a comeback, they are a lifeline for artists, artisans and crafters. After year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I finally get to introduce my new book “Greenwich Meridian Memoir” to the public at large.
I will be at the Charlotte Frontier Days Arts & Crafts Show in booth 101 from Sept. 10 through Sept. 12 . The arts show is located on the lawn of the Old County Courthouse. Stop by to pick up a book or two.
I will be in the one-room schoolhouse located at 14029 Covered Bridge Rd. NE in the historic village of Fallasburg signing my books and serving as a museum guide. Cross the Covered Bridge and step back some 150 years ago, when the bridge was built. The bridge is celebrating its 150th anniversary next weekend.
Stop by at LowellArts next Sunday Dec. 13 between noon and 2 p.m. I will be signing my brand new book “Greenwich Meridian Memoir” inside the classroom at the gallery.
I will be in good company of the Holiday Artists Market in the main gallery. Pick up a last minute gift or two.
You can ask me questions ahead of time by commenting in the section below or you can order my books directly from this site.
This wintery December morning was the first time I appreciated its beauty sitting in the sunroom and watching the Advent candle flicker in the expectation of the sun rays to stream in.
The Advent season started on Sunday Nov. 29, 2020. Although I usually observed the four candles of Advent being lit at the church, I never really paid much attention to it due to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Often, I missed some of the Advent Sundays, because I probably went shopping for more things. Thus, I was surprised when I found out that one of the Advent candles is rose coloured for Gaudette Sunday on the third week of Advent.
However, this time due to the COVID-19 restrictions and increasing cases, we don’t go to church physically but watch the mass broadcast from the St. Andrews Cathedral in Grand Rapids. I found myself paying more attention to the spiritual preparation for Christmas than ever before.
I meditated in the morning before I started the day to streamline my thoughts and actions. This time I could just sit and watch the daylight come in after a very light night due to the full moon.
I have already gathered what I could as far as gifts and food; I have my poinsettia, pistachios, Manchego and Winternacht chocolate figurines from Aldi’s. Black Friday wasn’t as packed with deal hunters as usual. And there was no apres shopping dining due to the restaurants being closed until Dec. 7. So we stood outside in the November cold, drank cold beer and had a burrito from the Voodoo food truck in front of the New Union Brewery in Lowell. I have yet to buy the Christmas Eve fish from the Fishmonger of the Great Lakes tomorrow in Ada and meet with a very good friend.
Czech Christmas mass by Jakub Ryba
The mailman has been good to me. I have received most of the gifts on time that I could even delight myself over a set of beaded ornaments still with a tag “Made in Czechoslovakia” and a treasure trove of children’s mysteries from the Dubois Files by Ludington author Joan H. Young. Rarely, had I ever been able to examine what I had bought always in the rush to usher in the holiday spirit, and then pack it all up in the festive wrapping paper, that tears up so easily.
Somehow , the COVID-19 isolation reminded me of what the Christmas spirit is really about. When I received an email from Tres Bohemes with a link to Jakub Ryba’s Christmas mass yesterday, I knew that I finally had to pause and stop pretending that everything is back to normal.
We spent the Thanksgiving holiday alone with a delicious take-out from the Candlestone Resort- at least there was no mess in the kitchen. I had a well-attended book signing of “Greenwich Meridian Memoir” at LowellArts on Saturday with my friends and invitees showing up in different time slots-what more can I ask for. My next book signing will be on Dec. 13 from noon until 2 p.m. at LowellArts. Stop by for a last minute gift. I will be in good company of the Holiday Artists Market in the gallery.
My parents, Ella & Vaclav Konecny with my brother Vas came to wish us happy holidays and a farewell, as they are leaving for Venice, Florida on Saturday. We had a good chat abiding by the CDC rules wearing masks and social distancing. All holiday fights were preempted by the restrictions.
We were on the phone with our two kids: Emma and Jake to converse about the holidays. And no, I have not decorated yet or put up a Christmas tree or baked traditional Czech Christmas cookies. But we watched both “Christmas Vacation” and “Christmas Chronicles” together with Ludek on our red couch, and that’s all that matters.
And sadly, there will be no Santa parade except for the Drive-Thru one at the Kent County Fairgrounds this Saturday, and no old-fashioned Christmas at Fallasburg. But there will be other promising new things.
So, stay tuned how it all goes.
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