HUGS

Those of you who know me are aware that I am a hugger. Always have been. I discovered a big secret years ago: you can’t give a hug without getting one.

This past year has been very hard on those of us who are affectionate. We are people who need people. And we want to be with them in person.

A year in virtual isolation has been difficult for us.

Larry and I got our second vaccinations several weeks ago. It felt like the beginning of hope. It felt like the promise of being with friends and family again.

From the start, we chose to follow the science. We paid attention to CDC and NIH. guidelines. We listened to Dr. Fauci. We read the studies and papers written by scientists. No personal biases. No opinions. No emotional rants. Just facts.

We also listened to friends who were treated for COVID. We followed their treatment. We followed their therapy post-disease. And we mourned those who did not survive.

At this point, we are willing to be together with fully vaccinated friends and family members for a meal or visit—unmasked.

Yesterday, we celebrated my brother-in-love’s birthday at a local restaurant (Harpoon Henry’s). We sat at a table overlooking the water. We enjoyed a wonderful meal. For an hour or so, life felt more like we had known it pre-pandemic.

Casey and Lucy

Tables were still spaced, and servers were still masked.

Of course, the very best part of the evening was hugging again. It felt far too long since we had done so.

This past year has been the most difficult of my life. Too many deaths (most non-COVID-related). Too many lost friends—dear friends—long-term friends. Too many lost family members.

My brother, Ron Lund

Larry's cousin's wife, Claudia Tedford

And without any way to reach closure.

The usual means (funerals, memorial services, etc.) were not possible. Some may happen at a later date, but meanwhile, the losses accumulate. The pain remains.

For the first time in my life, I began to wake in the night with panic attacks. Often. Larry didn’t sleep well, either. He wanted to be sure to wake so he could touch me and reassure me everything was okay. I was okay.

The promise of some return to a form of normality feels like a breath of fresh air. The renewed hope feels like a new beginning. And the panic attacks have subsided.

Of course, we haven’t reached the point where we go out in public without masks. Many people remain unvaccinated. Some refuse. Some are waiting for their opportunity. But more and more are receiving their shots. And they pose less of a threat to everyone else.

So, I look forward to growing hope. I look forward to spending more time with friends and family. I look forward finding closure for some of the losses of friends and family members.

And I look forward to many more hugs.

How are you feeling? Do you sense growing hope? Do you feel more freedom? Have you also lost friends and family members? Do you need closure? And have you missed hugs?

HOW I WRITE HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELS

 

Today my friend, Shirley Skufca Hickman is my guest on my blog. I had the privilege of editing both of her historical romances as well as several of her other books. Welcome, Shirley. I asked her about how she writes historical romance.

 

I’ve written two romance novels, Sarah Darlin’ and The Tangled Web of Love. I like researching the time period, creating the main and minor characters, and developing a plot.

Often twenty pages of research may become a single paragraph in the book. I like to discover historical characters who can interact with my fictional ones.

For my first romance novel, Sarah Darlin’, set in San Francisco during the Gold Rush, I found Tom McGuire, a real person, and used him to hire my fictional characters, Sarah, Patrick, and Katie O’Malley to sing and dance in his Jenny Lind Theater. Much of the action in the book takes place there. When the theater burns down, it triggers a painful memory for Patrick O’Malley.

Sarah O’Malley and Richard Moresby, are attracted to one another, but the O’Malleys left Ireland during the potato famine because of the injustice and cruelty of British landowners. Understandably, they despise the British. Sarah is fascinated by Richard, a British aristocrat, but is torn between her loyalty to the O’Malleys and Richard’s appealing charm.

My second romance novel, The Tangled Web of Love, set in England in 1812, is one of my favorite time periods because its stratified society offers limitations and opportunities.

In researching this time period, I found Richard Wellesley, former Governor General of India. He helps my fictional character, David, sign a lucrative contract with the East India Company, and Elizabeth translates for Wellesley’s French wife.

David Stedfeld, an orphan forced to steal as a child to survive, is now a sea captain and one of the richest men in London. Lady Elizabeth Reneau, the daughter of a duke, was born into wealth and privilege, but after her parents died and their estate sold, she is forced to live with her licentious uncle.

She runs away and waves down David’s coach to ask for a ride to London. She refuses further help and secures a position in London as a seamstress. She borrows a gown to attend a ball, but David accidentally spills wine on it, ruining it. She is dismissed, charged with theft, and sent to Newgate Prison, David fights to free her and offers her a position as his housekeeper. As their mutual attraction grows, Elizabeth knows David desires her, but will he ever love her?

After the research is complete, main characters determined, and a basic plot outlined, minor characters are created. Fortunately, or unfortunately, sometime they tend to stay longer than I intended.

I introduce Brandon Ratliff so Elizabeth has someone to dance with at the duchess’s ball, but he continues to intrude upon her life and competes with David for her attention.

Sean, in Sarah Darlin’, also refused to leave. I used him to illustrate how sailors were fleeced by unscrupulous landladies, but when the O’Malleys meet Sean, wrapped only in a blanket, they can’t leave him in the street, so they take him home, give him clothes, and help him find a job. Soon he becomes Richard’s rival for Sarah’s affections.

I never planned any of this, but Sean became so interesting to some readers, they requested a sequel to find out what happened to him.

Will the O’Malley’s accept Sarah and Richard’s love for one another? Will David and Elizabeth find enduring love despite their social differences?

Of course, they will. My responsibility as a romance writer is to make sure my characters live happily ever after in my books.

 

SHIRLEY SKUFCA HICKMAN grew up in a Colorado coal mining town, during World War II. As an adult, she wrote about the war from a child’s point of view in Don’t Be Give Up.

In 1947, the mine closed, forcing the family to move. Living in three rooms and sleeping in the kitchen with her two older sisters, she wondered if they’d ever have a real home again. Whenever her father made life better for the family, he’d ask: Is Everybody Happy Now? This became the title of her next memoir.

She enjoyed her high school years until her father’s death devastated the family. Without his love and financial support, they might have lost their home. Family is Forever is about their love for one another and how they coped.

Shirley graduated from college and became a teacher. She wrote Fall in Love With An Orange Tree or a Book about a teenager who lived in the shadows because she was in the U.S. illegally.

When parents asked her to recommend a book to help their children, she wrote: School Success: Five Hundred Ways Busy Parents Can Help their Children in School.

She also wrote Sarah Darlin’, a romance novel set in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Before Sarah and her lover could be together, they must deal with prejudice, a fire, and a terrible secret from Sarah’s past.

In 2020, she published Rocky Road is More Than a Candy Bar about her courtship with her husband, Joe. Another moving memoir from this author.

Her greatest joys are her son, his wife, and their two boys.

For more information, contact the author at hickman@ocsnet.net

My Love Affair with Poetry

 

My first book was a cloth book of Mother Goose Rhymes. I literally wore it out. Of course, by then I had memorized all of them, so the fact that the words were obliterated made no difference. Even though it was worn out, Mom saved it. (My mother was not a saver. She threw out or gave away a LOT of our childhood items.)

Another favorite was The Little Golden Book of Poetry. My aunt and uncle gave it to me for Christmas the year I was one.

This one had wonderful, colorful illustrations. I memorized it as well. One of my favorites was Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Swing.” Whenever I went high on one, I thought of this poem. Another was “Hiding” by Dorothy Aldis. Of course, mine is much worse for the wear.

Some of the damage to this one was caused by my younger brother. I was always careful with my books, but Ron was not. Still, Mom kept this one, too.

As I got older, some of my favorite poets were Robert Frost, e.e. cummings, and Maya Angelou. I discovered I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in high school, and it became another favorite.

We were required to memorize the prologue to The Canterbury Tales in old English for my freshman English class. I can still recite it. (At a critique group meeting, another gal—who was probably in her eighties at the time—and I recited it together! Kindred souls.)

When I compiled our anthology, Seasons of Love, I decided to write an introductory poem for each of the four novellas.

Here they are.

Spring’s Fling

by Sherry Derr-Wille

Spring

 

Sing in the spring:

The song of new life,

The song of hope,

The song of new love;

Raise your voice and celebrate

The wonder of renewal

 

Summer’s Challenge
by Luanna Rugh

Summer

 

Dance through the summer;

Frolic in the meadow;

Twirl in the sunshine;

Caper among the wildflowers;

Gambol in childlike freedom;

Whirl in nature’s glory.

 

Autumn’s Blessing
by Christie Shary

Autumn

 

Let go in autumn

Of the past,

Of things which weigh you down,

Of hurts and burdens

Leave behind all sadness

To embrace the new.

 

Winter’s Song
by Lorna Collins

Winter

 

Linger in winter;

Await the rainbow behind the cloud;

Hope for what is to come;

Anticipate the green shoots beneath the snow;

Remain still in the knowledge

That life, ’though hidden, is stirring.

 

These are just simple verses, but they set the stage for each novella. If they have made you curious about the actual stories in the book, it’s available in ebook and paperback on Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/3e2j8w3k) and through our website (www.lornalarry.com).

Do you love poetry, too? Tell me about it.

Discovering Dana Point

 I doing research for our book, The Memory Keeper, I found photos of a statue called “The Hide Drogher.” Drogher is a word for the slow, clumsy coastal ships, which stopped in Dana Point to trade foreign-made goods for hides. The statue shows a sailor tossing a hide. I remembered seeing the statue many years ago, but when we were doing our research, I couldn’t find it.

I looked it up and discovered it was on the top of the bluff along the Bluff Top Trail. It used to be visible from the road along the bluff, but now, large homes have been built there.

 Today, after a stop at the post office, we were on Amber Lantern. I asked Larry if we could stop and take a walk on the trail.

The view was gorgeous from the gazebo-structure at the end of the road.

To call this a “trail” is a real misnomer. It is a concrete path with series of stairs, all with handrails.

Not far along the trail, we saw the arches from the 1930 construction of the original Dana Point Hotel, which was never completed because of the stock market crash and the Great Depression.

A plaque describes the wall and the circumstances.

Not far beyond the arches, we spotted the statue. It is now enclosed in a wall of concrete. (It used to stand alone on top of the bluff.)

The plaque describes the statue.

On the way back, we were able to see the old trail, which used to zigzag down the cliff to the beach below. Larry remembers hiking up the trail in the 1960s. Of course, much of the old trail has been washed out over the years.

The trail was lined with rock walls, some of which can be spotted below the new trail.

 

We took some photos with Larry’s phone, but they didn’t come out well. So, we went back and retraced our steps later on. Two hikes in one day! What a gorgeous time to enjoy our hometown!

Now that we know where the statue is, we may visit it more often.

 Are there places in your hometown you haven’t explored? So glad we discovered this one!

Laughter on the Job

 Once again, Larry shares a funny memory. I think we can all use some humor about now!

I’ll call him Henry. He was a middle aged “good ol’ boy” from Oklahoma, born and raised in the oilfields. Henry didn’t have advanced degrees or college smarts, but he knew more about petroleum refineries and how to keep them running than anyone I ever met.

In the early 1970s, I was working a turnaround on an older oil refinery in Indiana. A turnaround is when a refinery plant is shut down for maintenance. It’s when exchangers are rodded (the tubes roto-rootered), towers are opened, inspected and repaired, furnaces re-bricked, and any piece of equipment which cannot be fixed during normal operation is repaired or replaced. Special crews of experienced engineers and operators are brought in specifically to run the turnaround.

Since any plant shutdown can cost upwards of $100,000.00 per day in lost revenue, downtime must be kept to a minimum. If done right, the plant should be able to operate for eight-to-ten years between turnarounds.

At the end of the first day, we had discovered several critical problems that could stretch beyond the one-week allowed for this turnaround. The situation was serious, tension was high, and tempers short.

At dinner in the refinery cafeteria, the ten-person day crew hardly talked, each of us enmeshed in solving our own problems. Someone suggested we needed a break and noted the movie house nearby was showing 2001: A Space Odyssey. Since there was little to do in this small factory town, we decided to go. We all piled into two cars for the short trip.

For the late showing, the theater was almost empty. We filled two rows in the back.

Midway through the movie is a sequence often referred to as “the psychedelic light show.” Walls of lights flash toward the audience giving the viewer a sense of flying down a neon corridor, while loud music assaults their ears. The lights become faster and, the music louder and more discordant until it finally crescendos into…

Total silence. A blank white screen slowly morphs into a white room.

As we sat in awed silence, from behind me, I heard Henry’s not-so-quiet stage whisper in his Oklahoma twang. “Shee-at! That was great.”

Our snickers turned to laughter, then outright guffaws. The entire audience joined in. I laughed so hard there were tears in my eyes.

I’m sure Stanley Kubrick never expected this response, but it was just what we needed.

We returned with a far different attitude and bonded as a group to face the next day together. And we finished the job on time.

Growing up in the Midwick Tract

Today’s blog is from my husband and partner-in-crime, Larry K. Collins.

Working on the publication of my brother-in law, Ron Lund’s, book, Dominic Drive, brought back memories of growing up in the Midwick Tract in Alhambra, California. I previously blogged about mowing lawns there as a kid. (Lorna’s blog dated: October 9, 2020)

First, a little history:

In 1912, an area of rolling hills between Alhambra and Monterey Park, originally used as a sheep pasture, was purchased by a group of wealthy businessmen to become the Midwick Country Club. The exclusive club featured a regulation-size polo field, two smaller polo fields, a professional eighteen-hole golf course, a massive clubhouse, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. It soon became the meeting place for the rich and famous, including Will Rogers, Hal Roach, David Niven, Spencer Tracy, and Walt Disney. King George V stopped by to play polo, and Sam Snead and Bing Crosby could often be found on the fairways. Membership was expensive and exclusive, restricted to whites only.

The great depression and wars caused the membership to decline. When the club defaulted on a loan in 1941, an Italian immigrant, named Dominic Jebbia, quickly picked up the property at auction.

Jebbia, known as the “Banana King,” had amassed a fortune importing bananas and other fruit. It was rumored he bought Midwick because his membership application was turned down, however he always denied the rumor.

For several years, he spent his weekends selling hot dogs from a stand at the ninth hole. Most golfers didn’t know the cigar-chewing vendor in milkman pants, wrinkled white shirt, and knit vest was the owner.

On May 3, 1944 (one month after I was born) the clubhouse was destroyed by fire. Soon, Dominic decided to subdivide the property.

Midwick 1932

Midwick Tract 1953

My family moved into a brand-new tract home in 1949. Our house on Hitchcock Drive (named for a famous polo player) was at the edge of the second construction phase. Across the street, were the remains of the abandoned golf course. It became my playground until the third phase was built several years later. I lived there until I married Lorna and we moved into our own apartment in 1965.

As a teenager, I surfed with Philip “Flip” Jebbia, Dominic’s grandson. Occasionally, I was invited to the Jebbia home for their spectacular Sunday brunch. It featured omelets cooked to order, and a rich buffet of fruits, breads, and assorted sweets. In the center of the dining room, hung over the table, was always a full cluster containing several hands of bananas. Guests were encouraged to help themselves. The Jebbias provided brunch every Sunday following church for twenty-to-forty people.

Ron Lund’s book, Dominic Drive, is a fictional account of life in the late fifties and early sixties and takes much of its inspiration and events from his own life growing up in the Midwick tract. The title is a tribute to Dominic Jebbia.

 

*Thanks to an article by Cecilia Rasmussen in the 1993 LA Times, Metro Section, for some historic details from before I was born.

Dominic Drive is the coming-of-age story of Charlie Williams, a young man who has a difficult childhood but who remains optimistic and hopeful, told through the eyes of another young man who becomes as close as a brother to him. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it captures life in a post-WWII community.

It is now available on Amazon.

 

About the Authors

RONALD TRAVIS LUND—known as “Rockin’ Ron” to his friends—was born in Alhambra, California on May 29, 1949. He lived there until December of 1981, when he moved to Covina, California. He died there in his sleep on August 31, 2020. This is his first and only book.

LORNA and LARRY K. COLLINS are multi-published authors in several genres.

Writing About Pandemic

Today my friend and one of my favorite authors, Marilyn Meredith, and I talk about writing about the pandemic.

 

Lorna: My latest book, Romance in the Time of Social Distancing: A COVID-19 Short Story, began as most of my books do with a question: How can single people meet during a pandemic? What made you decide to include the coronavirus in your latest book, Not As We Knew It (Rocky Bluff P.D. Mysteries Book 16)?

 

Marilyn: I could not write the next Rocky Bluff P.D. story without including the virus and what is going on in their community because of it since the books are more-or-less in real time.

 

Lorna: There are lots of different approaches to working during the virus. My single characters work from home. How do your characters deal with work? Do they have to make accommodations? Many are police officers, so most of them can’t work from home can they?

 

Marilyn: My grandson is a police officer, and on a recent visit, I asked him what the rules were concerning his department (big city). He said everyone has to wear a mask. And of course, being in law enforcement, the cops are out in the community. He also told me since it was my department, I could do what I wanted. One of the officer’s wives is a teacher, and of course she is teaching from home, via Zoom.

 

Lorna: You have lots of characters in your books. I don’t have very many. I decided not to include the various views about the recommendations to remain isolated. My character’s sister has decided to have some fun while in isolation by having virtual cocktail parties. How did you decide to present the different attitudes about remaining separate and wearing masks?

 

Marilyn: While writing, I used all the many different feelings and attitudes I hear from my relatives and friends concerning masks and isolation. Believe me, they are all very different. I have one friend who has remained completely isolated except for family members who live on the same property. Another includes family members who wear masks when out in public but go about their business much the same as always.

 

Lorna: My characters remain separated and online, so none of them are exposed, but I know you decided to have one of your characters catch the virus. How did you decide which one and what the outcome would be?

 

Marilyn: Someone I know caught the virus, was hospitalized, and recovered. I contacted her, and she gave me the details. I used what she told me in the story. I chose the person who I thought might be most vulnerable to be a virus victim.

 

Lorna: Other than staying isolated, none of my characters is otherwise affected by the disease. You have one character who is a nurse, so she is well aware of the issues with it. How did you decide to deal with her extreme concern for her family and friends?

 

Marilyn: I have a lot of relatives. Two granddaughters are nurses. Of course, I talked to them and used what I learned in the story.

 

Lorna: My book is a romance, and it is short (actually, a long story or short novella). Yours is a full-length mystery. What do you think are the differences, advantages, disadvantages of the two genres when writing about something as impactful as a pandemic?

 

Marilyn: To be honest, I could have gotten even more detailed about the pandemic, but I didn’t want to depress my readers. I think I did a pretty good job of keeping things upbeat. I wanted people to enjoy reading what was going on with the folks who live in Rocky Bluff, the police officers, and their families.

 

Thanks for taking the time to share. As you know, I adore all your books and had the privilege of editing them—including Not As We Knew It (Rocky Bluff P.D. Mysteries Book 16).

Marilyn: And I want to thank you for all you’ve done for this series.

 

My latest book is Romance in the Time of Social Distancing: A COVID-19 Short Story.

How can two people meet when they are both stuck at home? How can romance bloom when folks are separated? Love always finds a way, but it isn't always easy.

 

Marilyn’s latest book is Not As We Knew It (Rocky Bluff P.D. Mysteries Book 16).

The challenges come one after another for the Rocky Bluff P.D. to handle―from a missing woman to a fatal house fire. Detective Doug Milligan is faced with new and unusual problems to solve, some on the job and others related to his family. Gordon Butler isn’t too happy that his wife was chosen to train the latest new-hire. With the department shorthanded, Chief Chandra Taylor must make some hard decisions in order to protect the town of Rocky Bluff. Her romance with the mayor, which had been put on hold, is refreshed when she seeks his help.

MARILYN MEREDITH is the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series and the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series (under the name, F. M. Meredith). She has also written several stand-alone novels, and other books.

She and her husband live in the foothills of the Sierra, much like the place where her heroine, Tempe Crabtree, lives. She once lived in a beach community, which resembles Rocky Bluff.

She loves to hear from readers who have enjoyed her books.

Visit her webpage at http://fictionforyou.com, and follow her blog at https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

 

Goodbye and Good Riddance to 2020

Last year was the worst year of my life. No comparison. Too many losses. Too many cancelled plans. Too much missing friends and family. Thank goodness, it is over.

 I have had bad years before.

 My father died in 1954 when I was seven years old. It was terrible. But I still had my mother and brother and neighbors who were like family. I escaped at school, which I loved.

Another difficult year was 1980. Larry’s best friend was diagnosed with leukemia. We had planned to move to Orange County, but we had a fire in our house. The attic space and roof were lost. We took a cruise, which was a minor disaster. And Larry’s best friend died. A pretty terrible year.

 Another challenging year was 2011. Larry’s dad died on January 3.

We returned to Osaka in March for the tenth anniversary of the opening of Universal Studios Japan theme park. We loved seeing our friends and enjoying the park. At the end of April, Larry retired. 

Near the end of July, my mother died.

I retired at the end of August. I wasn’t really ready, and it took months to adjust.

But this year…

I lost several of my closest friends, including my oldest and dearest childhood friend. A classmate from Hawaii who stayed with us when she was in Orange County died suddenly of cancer. We stayed with her on Maui on our last trip.

Then, a close friend and fellow Girl Scout leader passed away unexpectedly. We raised our kids together and stayed in touch for years. 

At the end of August, my brother died suddenly. I haven’t been able to write about him yet. I’m not ready to process the loss.

Then, last month, a precious young man we loved like a grandchild took his own life. It brought us to our knees with grief.

We haven’t seen our daughter in a year. And we won’t see her for several more months.

BUT, we survived. We have not caught the virus, so far. We have lost a few friends from it, and others have been very ill. We trust science, Dr. Fauci, and the CDC. We wear masks and stay home.

 2021 feels like hope and the promise of better things to come. We hope to travel again this year, and see friends and family, and to hug and kiss again.

Wishing everyone a joyous and better new year in 2021.

Full Circle

 My guest today is a fellow graduate from my high school. We both attended an event several years ago and realized our connection. This year, she approached me about editing and publishing her book, and I was delighted to do it. I hope you will enjoy meeting Myra and hearing about her book, Full Circle. (BTW, Larry designed the beautiful cover.)

 

What does a writer gal do when cooped-up during a COVID-19 pandemic? She polishes three memoir and six memory-based short stories and combines them into a book, Full Circle.

As a two-time cancer survivor, uterine and breast, I was motivated foremost to offer solace to my two children. When one is diagnosed with cancer, one’s life implodes. The entire household suffers the cancer with that person. I was not able to handle my own grief and fear, or help my children deal with theirs. I wanted them to realize that this was our story. I did the best that I could, under the circumstances. Their sorrow did not go unnoticed. My supportive husband, friends, and coworkers, were also a blessing.

I decided to publish my book and not limit it to just sharing with my family. I felt the themes were universal and would resonate with a larger audience. Coping with cancer, the immigrant experience, the loss of a baby, shared love of reading, a father’s temper, a beloved colorful great-aunt, the compassionate care of a home health care nurse, who brought me laughter when I had stopped smiling and laughing, plus the devastation of Alzheimer’s, would tug at the heart strings and bestow comfort.

Memories enrich and give meaning to our lives. May you delight in my Full Circle.

About Full Circle (Click title for the Amazon link.)

All nine stories in this collection are the author’s actual memoirs or based on her memories. Some include the names of actual people, while others have been changed. Some are sweet. Some are touching. Some are bittersweet. All are memorable.

About Myra

Myra Fay Graubard earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from California State University Los Angeles. She is a retired instructional assistant, who directed an elementary school computer lab. She also aided high school and elementary special needs students. Ms. Graubard worked as a graphic artist for an engineering firm. She is a freelance writer, who penned a collection of poetry, Within the Without. Her published articles have appeared in Antique Doll Collector, Doll Reader, Teddy Bear & Friends, and The Collector’s Eye. Myra resides in Southern California, ten minutes from Disneyland, with her family