Short Fiction "I Love Your Garden"...

As with any fictional work, there is a bit of truth hidden beneath the fictional facade - may you enjoy this piece and feel free to leave your comments and suggestions at the end!

Love,
~Crystal

I Love Your Garden...

Monday, July 8th 2013

I suppose I should begin by telling you a bit about myself. My name is Bonnie and I live in a modest home in a very quaint town in Missouri. Anniston, Missouri to be quite exact and when I say quaint, I mean small. The population is just over 200 and judging by the number of widows in my book club I would venture to say there are more men than women around these parts. Anniston is so small that I drive 13 miles to church every Sunday to attend Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston (where there is also an Aldi grocery store that I stop at on my way home). Everyone round these parts knows everyone else - or so I thought...

That was, until the day an older gentleman pulled up in his light blue Buick LeSabre. I thought he was lost, so I set down my garden gloves (I was weeding which is pretty customary for this retired lady most afternoons) and walked to the sidewalk near where he was parked. Instead of asking directions, he simply said "I love your garden". To which I replied "thank you" and we both smiled before I drove away. I truly didn't think much of it because I do enjoy gardening and take a it of pride in the looks of my home. Oh, don't get me wrong, forty years ago I might have been flattered and thought he was checking out my girlish figure, but I am an old woman with 5 grown children, 12 grandchildren, and my first great grandbaby on the way. Of course he was admiring my garden because my figure leaves much to be desired and there is no amount of that expensive face cream capable of smoothing out my wrinkles.

I went back to pulling weeds while enjoying some chirping birds in the near by trees. I had nearly forgotten about the visitor until someone cleared there throat and scared me out of my skivvies. It was my neighbor Florence and there she was with two glasses of sweet tea standing just a few feet away. I invited her to take a seat and the two of us began chatting easily as usual. The tea tasted delicious and I hadn't realized how hot the day had become.

"Who was your gentleman visitor Bonnie?" Florence asked with a grin.

"You know Flo, I don't really know. Just some old man complimenting my flowers or something of the sort." I answered while shrugging my shoulders.

"I've seen him here before you know?" Florence told me as she wrinkled her wrinkly forehead into a sort of frown.

We sat chatting for a bit and it turned out she noticed him over a week before and she swears he had one of those fancy phones with a camera and that he had taken a picture of my house. I could hardly believe anyone would be so interested in my gardens they would bother taking pictures. I finished my tea, hugged my dear friend and neighbor goodbye and retired to my recliner for the remainder of the evening.


Wednesday, July 10th 2013

"I'm about to go stir crazy, it's been raining steady since early Tuesday morning and my arthritis is killing me." I confessed to my daughter on the phone late Wednesday afternoon.

"Oh mom - just take it easy. I know you want to be out in the garden, but enjoy a good book or something to pass the time." she said with a sigh.

I finished reading the third chapter of "Strange as the Weather has Been" by Ann Pancake and set it on the end table just as the doorbell rang. It took me a moment to move the afghan off my lap and get my old knees to work properly. I headed to the door, unlocked the deadbolt and politely answered the door. To my dismay it was the same elderly gent from earlier in the week. This time he handed me a red rose and a pink
rose. I said thank you and he was saying you are welcome but at the same time was turning to leave. He's my age so I wouldn't say he scampered down the walk, but it seemed he was gone in an instant. I locked the door again, shook my head in dismay, set the flowers in the sink, and went back to my comfortable chair.

No sooner had I sat down and placed that worn afghan across my lap and the phone was ringing. It was Flo wondering why the Buick LeSabre was back at the house. I told her about the unusual exchange and she insisted I call Jimmy right quick. I didn't think it was worth worrying about, but I knew my son Jimmy would know for sure. He's the fire chief for the Anniston Fire Department which is just a few blocks from my house (over on Walnut Street near that lovely old Victorian with the wide porch). I dialed Jimmy and told him about the visits and about Flo's instincts that this man was up to no good.

"Mom, you need to install a security system." Jimmy said in a tone that let me know he wasn't making a recommendation, he was insisting.

"Oh sweetie, what do I have here that anyone might want?" I asked in all sincerity "a few old photo albums? or do you think it's my oatmeal cookie recipe he's after?"

"Mom. This is NO laughing matter. I'm stopping over tomorrow at 1 and we can talk this through. Do you have the door locked?"

"Of course I have the door locked."

Jimmy told me the weather was supposed to clear up and he didn't want me out gardening until after he had arrived. I shook my head at the thought I was in any danger and we ended the call with my promising to stay safely tucked inside the house until he arrived for lunch the following day.

Thursday, July 11th 2013

"It's not like mother to make plans and not follow through. I fully expected she would have a pan of brownies, pitcher of sweet tea, and a salad waiting for me." said Jimmy as he walked through the kitchen looking for a note of some sort.

I could hear his voice but I was unable to move. My head was throbbing and I was all too aware that I was tied to a chair in my own basement, but how I got here I can hardly say. All I can do is pray that whoever did this to me doesn't get there hands on my boy and whoever it is that he brought with him. That's when I heard that familiar voice and felt warm breath on my ear "I Love Your Garden..." and my head was spinning once again and I felt the warm sticky blood trickling down my wrinkly cheek.

Short Fiction - "I'm Not a Bad Person"

A few days ago I set out a writing prompt and asked for ideas. You all were great on providing some fun ideas and I slept on them for a few days and this is the rough draft I came up with. Sort of a fun thriller...leave some comments and let me know what can be improved on!

thanks!

Luve,
~Crystal

I’m Not a Bad Person

Usually you hear the story for the investigators, the people around town, or the news anchor with every hair in place and her perfect make-up and gorgeous clothes. Well this time, it’s my turn. Yes, I killed him let’s just get that out in the open right away. But you know what? Killing that cheating bastard doesn’t make me a bad person. I’m just assertive and I told him I wasn’t going to put up with his antics anymore. The police will never figure it out, so this is just between us. You had better not tell a soul, alright?

Did you see the red Porche parked in his driveway this morning? That might be my favorite part. The whole town figures the widow has a lover. In fact, until we met, you probably thought that was why he wanted a divorce, right? The younger woman couldn’t possibly have been in love with the overweight older man who mixed drinks for a living. She must have married him for his money; that’s what you thought, didn’t you?

Let’s get one thing straight. That expensive car in the driveway is titled to a dead man. The woman inside that house is crying her eyes out. She had no idea about the car, she couldn’t understand the divorce request, and she didn’t care a bit about how much money Phil had or didn’t have. I suppose that’s not a fun story to circulate about town, so you can keep speculating all you like, but I’m going to tell you the truth.

Phil and Gina were a little odd together. I knew it the first time I walked in to the dimly lit bar at the entrance to their restaurant. Gina didn’t know me, but Phil recognized me immediately. He never let on that we had once been more to one another than simple acquaintances. He had gained a fair share of weight, lost quite a bit of hair, but truth be told the restaurant looked better than it had in well…forever. I figured Gina was good for him although I wasn’t sure how those two ended up together.

I was told I had aged well. There were times recently I had even been carded for scotch. Phil and I were the same age and you would have guessed him to be Gina’s father instead of her lover and husband. She knew the ins and outs of the business and had given the joint a woman’s touch. It was cleaner and looked classier than I expected. The twinkle in Phil’s eye was enough to make my stomach do cartwheels, but he sure wasn’t much to look at anymore. Gina didn’t have much of a personality, but her body was decent. I guessed her at a size 9/10 with ample curves and just the right amount of cleavage peeking out from her uniform top.

I enjoyed watching them as I sipped my scotch and perused the menu. Phil was wearing the same get-up he always wore: white button up shirt, tie, and jeans without a belt, cheap shoes, and a green apron. He had long ago traded in his Rolex and gold necklace and wore a single piece of jewelry – I thick silver wedding band. He no longer moved swiftly behind the bar as he had in his younger years. He moved rather clumsily – Mother would have said he ambled around and I would have to agree. However, my drink was smooth and the smells emanating from the kitchen were undeniably delicious. I stayed the better part of the night, sitting alone at the bar just taking it all in.

My phone rang just moments after I left and I smirked knowing exactly who it was and what they wanted.

“You know I want a divorce, right?” said the flustered voice on the other end of the line.

I replied smugly: “You’ve been saying that for years” and put a gloved hand back on the steering wheel and headed into the busy section of downtown.

I took a drag of my cigarette enjoying his frustration.

“You know you’re not good enough for either one of us, don’t you?” I asked as I stopped in traffic waiting patiently behind a truckload of teenagers.

“Um…well I didn’t age as well as you did, but what do you mean either one of you?” he was fumbling his words and likely fumbling with those bottles as he ambled around like an ox behind the bar.

I shook my head and answered coyly “I just wanted to see how you were. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

Well I won’t get into the gory details, but we had once been lovers, you’ve probably figured that out. I tried everything to make Phil love me. The Porche? I bought it for him. The restaurant, yup – that too. No matter what I did, it was never enough. He was happy making love to me as long as no one knew. I had a hunch he hadn’t changed. Whether he had asked Gina for a divorce or not, I knew he was incapable of being faithful. It was apparent she loved him, and he probably told her everything she wanted to hear, but I knew he wasn’t capable.

The phone was ringing again and I answered without saying hello this time. I figured I’d let the bastard suffer in discomfort. He waited until he was certain I was on the line before asking if I’d meet him somewhere. I told him to meet me on Grandpa Road just on the outskirts of town. Of course he knew the place, he had taken me there on several occasions to do nothing more than satisfy his own needs and leave me feeling used and worthless.

I got there first and parked the Porche where it wasn’t noticeable and I hiked down toward the cliff overlooking the water. It wasn’t ten minutes later and Phil pulled up to me. We were feet from the edge of the cliff and the sound of the waves was soothing. He wasn’t sure why I was wearing the leather gloves when it was still pretty warm in Wisconsin, but he didn’t seem concerned enough to ask. I sat and we talked for quite some time before he tried to kiss me. I wouldn’t let him. Not that I didn’t want to kiss him goodbye, but I couldn’t afford to leave any trace evidence behind. I pushed him away gently and suggested we take a walk. That’s when I took off his apron acting as though I was going to seduce him and I used his own clothing as a weapon, tying his hands behind his back and his ankles together then stuffing his tie in his mouth to shut him up…for good this time…

It brought me great pleasure as I held the gun to his head and forced him back into his SUV. He fell a few times and had dirt and grass clinging to his face by the time I got him behind the wheel. His eyes were pleading with me but there was no mercy to be had. I’m not a bad person, just sick of the lies and deception. I deserved better and even though I didn’t know Gina, I figure she deserved better too. There he was, Mister awesome himself, naked and disgraced behind the wheel of his own vehicle. I couldn’t help but laugh. I reached across him teasing him a bit as if this was all a big joke and I was going to give him what he always wanted and that’s when I slipped the SUV into neutral. His eyes widened in fear as I shut the driver’s door and walked away.

It didn’t take much more than a tap on his bumper to push the vehicle over the edge. I don’t really know if he died on impact or if he drowned. I honestly don’t care. Two hours later, I drove to the grocery store in the Porche and used his debit card to buy a pizza and some Mountain Dew. I was hoping that would buy me some time. I never let the cameras see my face so as far as anyone was concerned, Phil had left the restaurant, stopped a few hours later for groceries, and he couldn’t possibly be in any danger.

When I left the grocery store I parked the Porche in the driveway of their house. The lights weren’t on so I knew Gina hadn’t been concerned. I knew it – Phil was up to his old tricks. He didn’t care that he had a young hot wife or two small children – I bet she went to bed alone most nights. Mama always said once a cheater, always a cheater.

So I guess now you know. That bastard isn’t missing and she didn’t kill him. It was all me. I was never good enough, but in the end, who wasn’t good enough?

…3 months later…

The joint still looked the same, but since I couldn’t get Gina out of my mind I just had to stay a while – I guess they say lots of killers return to the scene of the crime. I guess that makes me a killer “I’ll have scotch on the rocks please” I asked when Gina stopped over at the end of the bar.

“My pleasure” she answered and turned away. She turned back quickly and tilted her head “you look awful familiar, have you been here before?”

“Oh yes – a few months back. I get to town occasionally on business.” I answered and gave her a smile and a bit of a wink.

“Ah yes – that must be why it feels as if we know one another.” She walked back over and offered me her hand.

….and…

And the rest is history … that ample bosom and youthful long legs will never be taken for granted again. I am once again driving the Porche and spending time in the restaurant I paid for to begin with. The children are adjusting just fine to having a parent who appreciates them and treats their mother with the respect she deserves. See? I’m not a bad person … I only made sure someone got exactly what was coming to them. That two-timing good for nothing is out of the picture and it is my pleasure to make love to my wife. I don’t know how I could have thought I was in love with any man, much less THAT man. Since he was so ashamed of me all those years, I know I’ll never get caught. As far as anyone knows, I’m the good guy who came to town months after Phil’s death and I’m the sweetheart who is helping a widow rebuild her life and care for her family.

Writing Prompt...

Some of you may be new to this blog and/or new friends, so let me give you a little back-story. I don't work on novels or anything lengthy when I'm pregnant. I find my emotions and my thoughts to be very scattered with all the pregnancy hormones and such - so I stick to short pieces (flash fiction, blog and/or journal entries, etc...). Since my dreams are so vivid during pregnancy I also turn some of my dreams into fictional pieces. That said - I was going to just toss out a writing prompt tonight and ask if anyone wanted to participate with their thoughts and ideas.

Here is the prompt:

A restaurant owner is found dead in his vehicle just days after asking his wife for a divorce. No divorce papers were filed and there is a mysterious red sports car parked in the driveway beside her SUV.

GO...

Leave a comment with your ideas/suggestions regarding these key facts that will be included in the story:

1) How did he die?

2) Was it murder or suicide? If it was murder - who dunnit?

3) Is the sports car hers or does she have a lover?

4) Who is the lover and what part did he play in any of this?

5) Why did he want a divorce?

6) What was he wearing when he died?

7) Where was his vehicle found?


The short piece will be posted on this blog in a few days - so stop back to see where your ideas took this story!

<3 crystal="" p="">

My Measurable Author Goals

Who would have thought this post would be about writing? I was scrolling through Facebook last evening and noticed two of my highschool friends and their posts. One girl gave up her high paying job in California, sold everything she owns, and is a missionary overseas. The other girl participates in these crazy athletic events including running through mud, carrying heavy objects, running through fire, etc... and well, I put down my phone and said to my husband "I think I'm lacking direction in my life" which led us to a conversation that I'll explain more in the next paragraph.

I'm a driven person. When I was young, I was driven by perfect attendance awards, straight A report cards, swim meet wins, band medals, etc... and as I got older I set daily, weekly, yearly, and long term goals. I was driven by titles, pay raises, the success of my employer, the size of my vehicle, etc... Now, we have two businesses, two children, a baby on the way, and I volunteer as well as working in the arts as a musician and writer. Deep down I am probably trying to please my mother who still doesn't really care if I exist or not, but I'll leave that sort of diagnosing to a psychiatrist. My husband reassured me that I am a good mother, good at what I do with relationship building, and I think he said something about how cute I am - I sort of stopped listening as I formulated a plan. I came back with "I need some sort of measurable goal" I explained how a goal of being a 'good mother' was simply ridiculous because there's no way to measure the results and he agreed. We left it at that and I promised myself I would give this some thought.

This morning I came up with my action plan:

1) Continue doing book reviews - write a review policy and post it to my blog and website

2) Continue blogging - set a goal of 3 updates each week per blog (yikes - that's 9 total) in addition to the blogs on WOW! Women on Writing

3) Get back on track with my own novel and have it published before September 2014

Now - I am sharing these goals with you so you can hold me accountable. These goals are measurable, attainable, and now they are out here for everyone to see.

Stay tuned for more and thank you in advance for cheering me on! I may not be a missionary, a great mom, and I certainly cannot run through fire ... but now I've got some goals and I plan on exceeding them!!!

Hugs,
~Crystal

Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas Review By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

 Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas

Review By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Loving the Missing Link by Julia Asel Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Review: Loving the Missing Link – by Julia Asel Thomas
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Julia Asel Thomas tackles several ‘big issues’ (acceptance, self-education, and self-understanding to name a few) in Loving the Missing Link. For Cheryl, things are a little more complicated than the ordinary low self-esteem of a lower class teenager girl in a small town and the ending was full of twists and turns that I hadn’t expected. The main character, Cheryl, struggles to find herself amidst the demands of her mother, expectations of her teachers, and the unconditional acceptance of her boyfriend, Jerry. Cheryl is very much a loner who has trouble expressing her thoughts and feelings to others; she finds a haven in her journal and what is so difficult to express in life is captured on those safe pages. Cheryl’s practice of journaling is where I, as a reader was able to really gain understanding of her as a character. We are different in so many ways where I am quite confident, she was shy and fearful and seemed content with being average. I found myself cheering her on as she began on the path to self-understanding.

I enjoy the style of Thomas’s writing and appreciate the honest thoughts from the characters.  Loving the Missing Link is told in such a way that I quickly became engrossed with the character development and enjoyed it right through to the end. It would be hard to say more without spoilers. When Cheryl finds herself lost as a housewife in a college town, she meets Sid of Sid’s Shelves and the two become friends. Cheryl was running away from a controlling well-meaning mother and found comfort in the non-judgmental Sid who was much more tactful than her mother yet still had a way of helping push Cheryl toward her full potential. Somehow Thomas manages to make each chapter meaningful in Cheryl’s coming of age. Based on the wide range of issues, this would be a good pick for book discussions.

The constant theme of music throughout Loving the Missing Link could appeal to those who enjoy music as well as those more familiar with the creation of music. Thomas has such a way with words as she takes an ordinary young woman from a small town and helps her find her voice (literally). I hope to read more from Thomas in the future; there is a rhythm and vibe to her writing that spoke to me. Even though Cheryl and I are two very different people, I know people who struggle with self-esteem and confidence and it the insight from Cheryl’s journal allowed me to see things from a different perspective. With just a few pages left to read, I set down Loving the Missing Link and was reluctant to pick it up again. By that time, I knew how things were going to end but I was not ready to say good bye to the characters I had been cheering for throughout the journey.

Loving the Missing Link is a first published works for Thomas but I do hope she writes more, and I would definitely be interested in a sequel if there is one in the future. Cheryl came so far in Loving the Missing Link and like all of us; she is a work in progress. I would like to be there to see where future paths will lead.

View all my reviews

Paperback:  190 Pages

Publisher:    CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (self-published)         Publishing (August 6, 2013)

ISBN-10:  ISBN10: 1480106240

Twitter hashtag: #LMLThomas

Loving the Missing Link is available as a print and e- book at Amazon. 

Julia Asel Thomas - Author of Loving the Missing Link

About the Author:

Julia Asel Thomas writes stories with vivid descriptions, authentic dialogue and revealing narration. Her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, presents the engrossing and moving story of a young, small town girl who grows up, lives and loves while trying to find a balance between despair and hope.

Like the protagonist in her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, Julia Asel Thomas knows small town life. However, Julia’s experiences were quite different than Cheryl’s. Julia is the middle child of seven children and the daughter of a church organist and a business manager. Growing up in the small town of Hamilton, Missouri, Julia’s family enjoyed a reputation as a bright and interesting family. Julia thrived on the quiet and carefree life she lived in that gentle place.

When Julia was in high school, she earned a scholarship for a trip to Cali, Colombia as a foreign exchange student. The experience, although it only lasted a few brief months, had a profound influence on the rest of her life. After her time abroad, Julia realized in a very real way that, although customs may differ from culture to culture, the substance of human emotions is constant. We all need love. We all need to feel secure. We all have happy moments and sad moments. Back from Colombia, Julia become ever more interested in capturing these human emotions through music and writing.

After high school, Julia took a break before going on to college. During this time, she married her husband, Will. Will joined the Air Force, and Julia accompanied him to bases around the country, taking college classes in each town where they resided. Their two children were born in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Will was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Married in 1976, Julia and Will are thrilled to celebrate each new anniversary and look forward to staying together for life.

Julia began writing fiction at the age of ten, when her 5th grade teacher gave her the assignment to write about “My Worst Day.” Julia took the opportunity to concoct every possible disaster a young child could face during the course of a normal day. The teacher loved her work and asked her to read it to the class. From then on, Julia wanted nothing more than to be a writer.

In 2007, Julia began earning her living by writing articles, press releases and website content for a number of clients. As she settled into a routine of working every day on her writing, the old urge to write fiction resurfaced. In 2012, Julia started with a story she had written in 1985 and continued it to create the story in Loving the Missing Link.

Find out more about this author by visiting her online:

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Book Review: Wink – Thriller by Eric W. Trant

By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Wink   takes place in a rural Gulf Coast town. The main character, Marty Jameson, is an unusual young man with a disturbing home life. Marty’s mother is abusive to Marty as well as other substances provided to her by Marty’s father who is absent most days while wheeling and dealing drugs in neighboring towns. Marty seeks refuge in the attic of his home where he can avoid the hoarding and abusive tantrums of his mother and stay out of sight and smelling range of his older brother who is comatose and wasting away in his bedroom.

Marty is damaged, but somehow not defeated. Surrounded by unthinkable sadness and anger, he is able to escape to the attic to find his own refuge and peace. He is a determined young man who seems to find joy in the most unlikely places. He forgives his mother time and time again even though she is not willing to offer him the same unconditional love and emotional support. His optimism and resilience is incredible and seems to be the driving force behind any goodness in his life.

Right next door in a house very similar to Marty’s lives a family so different in many ways from the Jameson’s. Sadie Marsh’s life is anything but perfect; she is confined to a wheelchair and yet her home is filled with love and light where Marty seems to be surrounded by evil and darkness. Sadie feels for Marty and waits by her own window to see what is going on at the Jameson’s. Sadie’s mother has warned her about that family next door and yet Sadie is drawn to Marty and the goodness she knows lives within him. Sadie is convinced Marty is not the devil her mother makes him out to be, but those huge black-winged creatures she sees at his house have her wondering if her mother was right. When Sadie’s mother admits to seeing them too, they both know Marty is dealing with more darkness than they had imagined.

Marty is drawn to Sadie just as she is to him. He sees the goodness in her home and in his own way longs to experience the love within their walls instead of enduring the torture and hatred of his own family dynamic. Emotionally scarred Marty is torn but determined. The key to his triumph lies in the attic and the stories told to him by his one-eyed uncle. He’s pulled between the darkness and light as the winged creates threaten everything he has ever known.

Trant’s imagery and storytelling is incredibly. The story of Wink left my head spinning and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or just hold my children tight. Trant’s brilliant writing places the reader in the middle of the chaos as the story unfolds. The tension builds and you find yourself unable to put the book down. This is a story of family and triumph but most definitely a ‘keep you at the edge of your seat’ thriller to say the least. 


Paperback: 275 pages

Publisher: WiDo Publishing (April 16, 2013)

ASIN: B00CE4OP1K

Twitter hashtag: #WINK

Wink is available as a print and e- book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

About the Author:

Eric W. Trant is a published author of several short stories and the novels Out of the Great Black Nothing and Wink from WiDo Publishing, out now! See more of Eric's work on his blog: http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/, order directly from Amazon, or wherever books are sold.

Eric is an advocate for organ donation and lost his 18mo son in May of 2012. Eric and his wife courageously donated their son’s heart, kidneys, and liver. The couple went on to begin  a foundation to support organ donor families. Eric speaks openly about this emotional journey on his blog and the topic of organ donation is very close to his heart.

Find out more about the author by visiting him online:

Author website: www.EricTrant.com

Author blog: http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/

Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/eric.trant.9

Book Review: A Southern Place by Elaine Drennon Little

Book Review: A Southern Place by Elaine Drennon Little

By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto  

A Southern Place   begins as a beaten and battered young woman is fighting for her life in the ICU. Is that really where it all begins or is it where it ends? Does life begin and end in the same place? I started reading and didn’t want to stop until I had a better understanding of who this young woman was and how she had come to be in such a sad place. Sure, I knew her name was Mary Jane Mullinax and folks called her MoJo, but there had to be more to the story than that. Sherriff Purvis of Dumas County Georgia described Mo Jo and her family as good folds, quiet-like and said there was no one to call. Her mama had died years before and she had never known her daddy. As a reader, I immediately felt I didn’t want to leave her side until she was out of the ICU and on the road to recovery.

Little did I know that A Southern Place would take me back in time to the days when Mo Jo’s grandparents were working the land and the rich Georgia soil. Wherever this story was going, I was going with it. I wanted to know everything about this young girl, her parents, her grandparents, and especially her uncle Calvin (Cal for short). Cal had been important in Mo Jo’s upbringing and I was intrigued by a man who would selflessly sacrifice everything for the sake of his family. Cal had died years before Mo Jo found herself alone and near death in the ICU, but something tells me Mo Jo had the same love for her family that her uncle had. She managed to take quite a beating and somehow protect her unborn child and that just seems like the same sort of family value that Cal showed when he selflessly put everyone else before himself.

Mo Jo and her family hadn’t come from the best of backgrounds, but they were proud. As the story advanced in years, it became clear that the Mullinax family was deeply attached to the land; they worked the land and believed that hard work would win in the end. I found myself cheering them on and as things fell apart I slumped in my chair feeling the same defeat they must have felt as they took out another mortgage and sold off some of their precious land.

Little’s descriptions and understanding of everything from farming to history really made A Southern Place come to life for me. This may be Little’s first published novel, but I certainly hope it won’t be her last. She has a way of bringing her characters to life and her depictions of the south have me longing for a visit. I am curious about peanut plantations as well as intrigued by the author herself – a piano teacher with thirty years’ experience turned author, now that’s something I didn’t see coming! Thank you Elaine Drennon Little for this exceptional book and I do hope to read more from you in the future!

Book Review: Secrets, Lies and Apple Pies by Audry Fryer

5 Stars for the Page Turner: Secrets, Lies and Apple Pies by Audry Fryer  

Secrets, Lies, and Apple Pies was a real page turner. This was the book that I couldn't put down and I was heart broken when I reached the end. The characters really came to life for me. I paid just 99 cents for the book and honestly would have paid $19. The cover is delicious looking but as the story unfolds you can nearly smell the fresh baked apple pies and taste the flaky crusts.

I picked up Audry Fryer's book just as summer was beginning in our household and this was the perfect read for this time of year. I found myself sneaking in a few more pages while at the pool, while grabbing a drink in the middle of mowing the lawn, and toward the end I stayed up into the middle of the night because I couldn't stand the thought of not knowing what was happening to the characters that quickly became my friends.

I can't wait to read more from this author and I know that at least one person I recommended Secrets, Lies, and Apple Pies to said she pulled an all-nighter because she, (like me) couldn't put this book down. Kudos to Ms. Fryer for an expertly written book!!!

~~~~~~

and here she is ... drum roll please ... Ms. Audry Fryer herself. You can find her blogging at http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/

Brief Book Review - Memoir Betty's Child by Donald Dempsey #BCDempsey

I recently had the opportunity to read Betty's Child and interview it's author - Donald Dempsey. I would highly recommend this book!

If you're interested in reading the review - you'll have to check out the following link on Monday, July 8th 2013: http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

My review:

I feel strongly that even someone with a difficult background can change their path. Often times it's difficult and takes the help of someone who cares, but I've just never bought into the victim mentality of "I was abused so I'm going to be an abuser when I grow up". Maybe that's what drew me to Donald Dempsey's memoir Betty's Child. I'm not going to lie; some parts were difficult to read. As a parent I hug my children tighter after reading Dempsey's story of a neglectful childhood with a cruel mother. I became so absorbed in his story that I would have crawled right into the book if I could have; I just wanted to hold that little boy and tell him that I loved him.

Dempsey's sense of humor really pushed me through the tough chapters. I'm sure that same sense of humor is what got him through those tough years. I would recommend this book to others because it really is a testament to where you can go in life if you put your mind to it and put a little laughter into things. Dempsey has a good family life and a successful career. Things could very easily have turned out much differently for him. It's great that he can share his story with others. Betty's Child is very inspirational and a book I will keep on my shelf to read again and share with others.

Paperback: 438 pages

Publisher: Dream of Things  (March 26, 2013)

ASIN: B00BOL69ZO

Twitter hashtag: #BCDempsey

Betty’s Child is available at Amazon. 

My "Green" Journey Begins

This isn't a very "author-ee" sort of post. I've been so busy parenting, farming, and helping amazing authors with their book launches that my novel-in-progress is getting dusty on the shelf. I am now right at the 26 week mark in my pregnancy. This means that in less than 100 days we will have a bouncing baby in the Otto household. You're probably thinking exactly what most people are: "this is her third child - no big deal" well ... this is sort of my third child and sort of my first. Let me explain. Six years ago when Carmen was born I was so busy screwing up my romantic life and climbing the corporate ladder that I really didn't have much to do with being her parent. That's a little weird considering that I was a single parent at the time - but I worked long hours which meant I didn't really have to do much as far as caring for her. I was earning the paycheck so I could pay other people to raise my baby. Then ... 14 months later, along came Andre. Same story only I hired a nanny. Instead of having to take the children somewhere for care, the care came to me. The woman who had children my age was not only caring for my children she was caring for me. Seemed like a logical solution.

I kept doing what I was good at (going to work) and she did what I was too afraid to try (raising children). The weekends were filled with friends and family and again, I didn't really have to do much one on one with my children. Alright - fast forward a few years. I no longer work outside the home, I have my love life in order and I am happily married. I write and farm and raise children. Come to think of it, I don't even know the girl I once was and when I get a glimpse of her across the room, I don't like her. There's just something about being 35 and living at a slower pace that seems to agree with me. Life is definitely different. We don't have garbage pick up and we won't be needing a nanny. We have a modest household income with very little disposable income for the things I once thought I couldn't live without. We spend our time playing with our animals, swinging outside in the yard, reading books, and getting dirty instead of heading to an amusement park, movie, or fancy dinner. I go days without wearing make-up and sometimes leave the house without shaving my legs or taking a shower.

Life is good ... really really good!

Now that you have a bit of the back story you'll understand when I tell you that I'm terrified about having a baby. I tried to nurse the older children and failed miserably. It was just easier to toss a scoop of formula in a bottle with some water, give it a few shakes and wha-la no mess, no sore nipples, etc... This time we don't have the disposable income for disposable diapers and/or formula. It's breast or bust and since we have some hand me down cloth diapers that didn't cost a dime, it's cloth diapers all the way. I've done my home-work and apparently cloth diapers will save $6,000 per child and using cloth wipes will save an additional $800. Formula is in upwards of $30/can and if I remember right we went through a can a week so there's an additional savings of at least $1,000. I didn't set out to help the environment, I set out to help save our family some money and helping the environment is a perk.

Now, with less than 100 days until our son arrives, the "Green" journey of parenting begins. I already have what I figure will be nearly enough cloth diapers (this is the brand we've chosen: http://www.bumgenius.com/) and inserts, plenty of cloth wipes, and I have a loosely figured plan about how this will all work.

Did I mention I'm terrified?

I called a friend last week and we started chatting about a recipe she told me about for Homemade Baby Wipes using essential oils from doTERRA (http://www.doterra.com/us/). I told her that I was planning on making a solution that I could spray on the baby's bum, and here is what I am going to mix together:

2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons doTERRA fractionated coconut oil
3 drops doTERRA lavender
3 drops doTERRA melaleuca

I am going to store it in a container that can be used to refill these adorable little spray bottles that I have and then I'll wipe the baby's bum clean with my cloth wipes. The wipes will get washed with the cloth diapers and whala - we have an inexpensive solution to wipes - and the best part? The garbage can isn't any fuller as a result!!!!

Just in case I'm running short on time, I've also found a local (Wisconsin-based) company called LuSa Organics (http://www.lusaorganics.com/) that sells an already concocted potion that serves the same purpose, so I have a bottle of  "Baby Wipe Juice" on hand as well. This little 8 oz bottle makes 2 gallons worth of easy and natural bum cleaner. The list of ingredients includes words I can pronounce and it's made in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Seriously though - let me tell you about the list of ingredients - these are all things I fell good about:

Witch hazel
Olive oil
Avocado oil,
Aloe vera juice
Calendula flowers
Lavender flowers,
Essential oils,
Vitamin E

All these ingredients are certified organic too!

I feel great about Plan A and Plan B - did you know that typical disposable baby wipes contain alcohol, petroleum biproducts, and formaldehyde based preservatives? You can do your own homework and make up your own mind, but I've heard enough about how harmful these can be for your skin ... why would I put them on my infant?

At this point, I am feeling like I have the diaper and wipe thing figured out ... but not really ... did you know there is special detergent you need for caring for your diapers and wipes? I didn't know about it either, but it's always annoyed me that so much waste is created from big bulky packaging of my detergent. First of all, it's heavy and takes up a lot of room in the cart, and second of all, it's hard for us country folk to find a home for that plastic waste. I digress...but I'm super excited to tell you that the solution is less expensive, not messy at all, and eliminates waste. Here's what I found and it ROCKS (pun intended) : http://rockingreensoap.com/

Rockin' Green has a full line of eco friendly products that are biodegradable, have recyclable packaging, no phosphates, and contain no parabens. I've been using their detergent on our barn clothes, kids clothes, dress clothes, and our linens. I've never been happier with a detergent! It gets the stains out, has a fresh scent, and takes up hardly any room on my laundry shelf. I'm feeling great about the diapering situation now!

We've crossed a lot of hurdles already and thank heavens my husband is on board for this adventure! Now there's just the breast feeding issue. I wasn't sure who to talk to or what to do. My husband likes talking about boobs but it's just not something I was ready to talk to my girlfriends about, and talking to a stranger seems like even less of a good idea. A wonderful friend told me about a shop just a few towns over and I went this morning and checked it out. This store was started by two moms who are also lactation nurses at a local hospital. I knew just with that little bit of information that I would absolutely love GreenBayBeez (http://www.greenbaybeez.com/). I walked in this morning with more questions that you could imagine and here's what I learned:

Q: Do I need to buy a breast pump ahead of time? Is it something that I should have in my hospital bag?

A: Because you don't know how your milk is going to come in or how your baby is going to nurse, you wouldn't need to buy a pump ahead of time. You could possibly rent one from the hospital if needed and later purchase one - some insurances will cover all or part of the cost of a pump if you purchase it through an authorized dealer.

Ah-Ha-Moment: What an awesome woman! She just talked me out of spending hundreds of dollars. I like how she does business!!!

Q: Do I need a nursing bra ahead of time to wear at the hospital after the baby is born?

A: A nursing bra is likely something you would want to have. It will make those first feedings easier. You don't necessarily know what size everything is going to be though, so don't spend a fortune or buy a fitted bra ahead of time. One of the sports style bras that cover 1-2 cup sizes should do the trick.

Ah-Ha-Moment: I purchased a Luxury Seamless Materntiy Nursing Bra by Cake Lingerie:  (http://www.cakelingerie.com/)  The sizing was easy to figure out, I was able to try the bra on to find a good fit, and it was smooth with comfortable straps. Truth be told - I'm wearing it now and it feels like a million bucks and I don't think my boobies look any different than they do in my Victoria Secret every day bra (but my husband would be the judge of that)

Q: Do you know of any vitamins or supplements I could take before the baby is born that might aid in milk production? Is there such a thing?

A: Sugarpod Naturals as a go-lacta supplement that engourages the increase of breast milk and it can be taken while you are pregnant.

Ah-Ha-Moment: Seriously? They make such a thing? Oh yes - I'm not leaving here without a bottle of this: http://www.golacta.com/ **look for future blog posts about how this is working for me - all I know right now is that I'm excited!!

Q: Not to complain, but even just standing here holding my purse my back is hurting. I had this crazy belly band thing 6 years ago with my first pregnancy but it was uncomfortable. Do you know of a product that can help with back pain and belly support?

A: I sure do and this one even has a pocket for a hot and or cold pack!

Ah-Ha-Moment: This is amazing and I have it on right this very moment - it's called the Upsie Belly and it's made of breathable bamboo and has a resusable hot and cold pack that fit right in. I microwaved the hot pack for 23 seconds and my back feels fabulous!! It can also be used after the baby is born - you can turn it around and use the hot/cold pack on your tender tummy. http://www.bellybandit.com/store/p-96-upsie-belly.aspx

Q: I remember when I tried breast feeding the first time, there were those little pads you put in your bra - do they make those any differently? The ones I remember stuck to my skin and when I took them out I felt like someone was trying to yank my nipples off.

A: We carry the bamboobies line of washable nursing pads, they are soft, come in a variety of colors and fun shapes, and they ARE washable. Feel these ... (she handed me the samples from the rack)

Ah-Ha-Moment: These are heart-shaped, pretty, and super soft - count me in!!!! http://buybamboobies.com/

I couldn't get enough of this shop - my bestie and I kept finding super fun things I was sure I couldn't live without. Don't get too excited, I left without spending over $300. I have 2 MobyWraps at home and a Sling-Ezee but we found this adorable Tube Kangourou that looks like a regular shirt but you can fit your baby right inside of it for skin-to-skin time and/or nursing. Of course I don't know how well this works, but I'm sure I'll let you know in the future!!!http://www.vija-design.com/index.php?lang=en&code=Tube%20Kangourou

Since you're probably getting bored, I'll just give you a quick run-down of the last few items we picked up. As we use them I'll post more, but for now I think they're fabulous and I cannot say enough about the great customer service at Green Bay Beez - I would definitely give them 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, and would send a friend to see them!!!! So be sure to check out their website and facebook page:

Green Bay Beez Website: http://www.greenbaybeez.com/
Green Bay Beez FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/GreenBaybeezLLC?

And here's that list:

LuSa Essential Oil/Energizing
LuSa Essential Oil/Relaxing
LuSa Essential Oil/Grounding
Small Wet Bag by Planet Wise Inc. for bagging anything wet before tossing it in my purse/bag
Re-usable snack bag by itzy ritzy (2 of these - 1 in boy colors and 1 in girl colors)

Book Review: Tin God by Stacy Green

Book Review: Tin God   by Stacy Green
By Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Tin God begins with Jayme’s secret, but there are others with even darker secrets needing to be brought to light. It wasn’t going to be easy for Jayme and Nick to prove their case, especially since their prime target was the beloved minister who seemed to have more secrets than any one of the sheep of his congregation. Was he truly the man the community loved, or was he the devil Nick and Jayme believed him to be? Would they go too far to solve the mystery?
It’s hard to fit Tin God into a single reading category. Stacy Green does a fabulous job with this story and it could be labeled: murder mystery, suspense, romance, and family drama. Discovering the dead body of her employer is just the beginning for young Jayme Ballard. As her tale unfolds she is forced to face her past which allows Jayme to finally move forward. She learns who can and cannot be trusted and finds out that her judgment may not have always been what it should be.

Nick Samuels made his fair share of mistakes as a husband and promised he would find his wife’s killer no matter what the cost. It’s been four years since his wife, Lana was murdered and Nick doesn’t believe the murder in Roselea, Mississippi to a woman who looks just like his wife could be a simple coincidence. Armed with years of angst, a steady diet of coffee, and very little sleep, Nick heads for the neighboring town, the crime scene, and his wife’s family. He finds Jayme Ballard, Lana’s best friend, and also the one who found the recent dead body. It’s time for Jayme to tell Nick about her secret; he needs some answers if he’s going to solve these murders.

Green’s descriptions are as vivid as the gorgeous cover of Tin God as she brings to life the historic mansions, the deep characters, and the colorful landscape. Even the description of the trailer court is so well described that a picture will immediately form as you read Green’s eloquent words: “Ravenna Court was about as beautiful as a rattlesnake bite…Instead of cultivating colorful flowers, residents battled kudzu and stubborn cogon grass…”

As I finished reading Tin God I was hoping Stacy Green was writing another story. She brought out the characters so well I wanted more. This story kept me guessing and second guessing about motive, friendship, and who was involved in the murders. Fabulous book I would, without a doubt, recommend to others!

For those who enjoyed Tin God as much as I did, you’ll want to add to your reading list: book two in the Delta Crossroads Series Skeleton’s Key. This second book features Cage who had lusted over the unavailable Jayme. Cage is trying to move on, but discovers something in the cellar of an abandoned plantation that sends him on a collision course of secrets, lies, and love.

Here's the Amazon link for you too: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7SKV1G/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20

Awesome Memoir - Replacement Child by Judy Mandel

Book Cover - Replacement Child

Book Review - Replacement Child 

Judy Mandel

Review by Crystal Casavant-Otto
Book by Judy Mandel
Link to Amazon: click here

Within the first few pages of Judy L. Mandel’s memoir, I scribbled the following notes in my journal:

·        Amazing depth, pulled me in right away!

·        Great self-awareness in seeking her own seeds of truth.

Whether you enjoy reading historical fiction, memoir, non-fiction, relationship, or self-help books, you’ll enjoy Replacement Child as Mandel guides you through the development of her family. The story unfolds like a play and Mandel herself admits “I was not a lead actor in this play”.

Replacement Child   jumps back and forth between Mandel’s current life and the tragic plane crash that happened years before she was born. This was a little hard to follow at first, but allows readers to understand how the past and the present are delicately woven together forming the reality of each character.  The events were depicted so honestly that I often found myself crying during the trials and cheering during the triumphs of many characters.

Replacement Child   may involve the plane crash that took the life of Mandel’s sister, but the story began much earlier than that. Mandel does a fantastic job digging into her parent’s courtship and the early years of their relationship to inspect their emotions and thoughts. She took the time to carefully examine and then develop each character without casting blame or judgment. The care and dedication to this work can only be described as a labor of love and a journey of self-discovery.

Mandel’s parents had a loving marriage, a modest home, two lovely daughters, and then tragedy strikes as an airplane crashed in their kitchen and her mother must choose which child to save first. Neither child was spared; one child perished and the other child was burned so badly she nearly died. Mandel’s parents hadn’t been able to salvage much of their home, and they were willing to do anything to salvage what they could of their relationship. This is where Mandel comes in, during Act II as she calls it, as the replacement child.

I love the honesty Mandel shows when she admits that telling the story of an entire family is really a high wire act. I’m a big fan of this book and appreciate the care Mandel took with collecting historical information to ensure as much accuracy as possible. Judy L. Mandel has done a great job with her memoir, Replacement Child   and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. As a mother, I would also recommend having a box of tissues handy.