* Writerly News *

The past seven days have been crazy busy. I keep telling myself I am NOT going to schedule any more than TWO things a week.....meetings, lunches, even errands. I obviously need to stay home to do my writing and those pesky housewifey-type duties, but the biggest reason is I have such a Low Energy Level. I've always been like this and even took naps when I was in high school.


Yesterday, the end of an already busy week, I attended our monthly Saturday Writers meeting, which was awesome. Immediately after that, many of us went to Pasta House for a late lunch. Mmmm...good. By the time we left all I wanted to do was head home and take one of my 3-Hour Naps!  Yes, that is the typical nap I take/need. (I don't want any comments about how "lucky" I am that I can do that, because I don't work full time....blah, blah, blah. Believe me, I rather have tons of energy, than feel the way I do.)

So, why am I telling you all this? I passed up the opportunity last night, to see Anne Lamott at the St. Louis County Library. I LOVE Anne Lamott! She is a fabulous writer, but I could not get up in time to see her. It kills me that I wasn't able to attend, but I know in my heart, that I'll see her some other time.

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Tomorrow and Tuesday, I'll be blog hosting Lynn Goodwin, author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers. Lynn also runs Writer Advice which is a fabulous website for....writers!
It's filled with all kinds of information; Resources, Markets, Bragboards, Manuscript Consultation, and a current CONTEST, just to name a few. Lynn is a powerful writer and a delight to work with. Please stop back by tomorrow and Tuesday!

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” -Oprah Winfrey

Parks College Journal Mystery Continues.....

Yesterday, after much talking (in person with people at Parks) and reading and searching (both at Parks and online last night)...The short version is this:  It doesn't appear as if the young man ever attended Parks, but I did find a book for sale, online, written by someone with the same name, and it was about......aero mechanics!

♪♫ Hit the Twilight Zone music, please! ♪♫

I'll post more information as soon as I get some. I am so captivated with this, I can't get it out of my mind. Maybe I should be a mystery writer. Not!
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Oh, and I even wrote over 400 words last night for a new Call for Submissions at Chicken Soup for the Soul. I have many other Writing Opportunities to promote, and I'll do that soon.

*And welcome to my newest follower, inluvwithwords, I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!*

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." ~ Isaac Asimov

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time for another Nostalgic Sunday

In my last *Nostalgic Sunday* post, on March 4th, I mentioned buying something on Ebay that pertained to Parks College. (My dad was a student and then a professor at Parks in the late 1940s to the early 1960s.) I also said I couldn't get the pictures from Ebay to copy well onto my blog and that you'd just have to wait until I received it to see pictures.....Well....Ta Dahhhh......

It's a hardcover journal, approximately 8" x 11", made by a young man who was interested in going to Parks College......around 1931!



 When I look through this book, I know I'm touching something special. Something that meant a great deal to a young man who was trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life.

I'm fairly certain this was a class assignment, most likely for a high school senior. He wrote about the advantages and disadvantages of choosing aviation as his "life's work." There is a total of 39 pages, the last sentence in his Preface is this: The success of this book is due to Miss ______ who is our teacher and guide.

I'm keeping both the student's and teacher's names anonymous. I feel as if I need to guard their identity, as if they were part of my own family.

 He glued newspaper clippings in it.

There's a booklet of tuition prices which includes "Parks Flying School" and "Airplane and Engine Mechanics' Course."

There are quite a few pages of hand printed information about the history of aviation, including the Wright Brothers and Charles Lindbergh.

(you can click on the photos to enlarge them)

I'll definitely ask a friend who works in the Parks' archives department if he can find out anything about this man. I truly hope he was able to fulfill his dream!

*And welcome to my newest follower, Belleu80, I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!*

"The engine is the heart of an aeroplane, but the pilot is its soul." -- Unknown

A Writer and a Cartoonist Walk Into a Bar....

No, not really! I just wanted to get everyone's attention! The real story is that an idea came to me the other day about my life with The Ronald and I thought it would make a cute comic strip/cartoon. Since I can only draw stick people I asked my friend, Stephanie Piro, Cartoonist Extraordinaire, if she would draw a two-panel cartoon for me, and she said "Yes!" Below is our Piro & Povich collaboration. (You can click on the drawings to make them larger, too.)

Becky & The Ronald 1983

Becky & The Ronald 2012

I can't begin to tell you how much I admire Stephanie, or how talented she is, or what a great person she is, so please check out these different sites and you'll begin to see for yourself.

http://www.stephaniepiro.com/

http://www.cafepress.com/saturdaychick 

http://www.stephaniepiro.com/meet_the_cartoonist1.htm 

THANK YOU AGAIN, STEPHANIE, FOR DOING THIS WITH ME!

*And welcome to my newest follower, Encourage One Another, I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!*

“Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.” ~Mark Twain

* I WONDER *

A funny thing happened on the way to this blog post today. I first stopped at Peggy Eddleman Will Write for Cookies and saw a similar theme to my planned post. In my comment, I said I'd wait a few more days for mine, because I didn't want to look like a "copy cat!" And Peggy, sweet thing that she is, wrote back and said, "Post it! It can be like the theme for the day. :) Seriously. I love when I find repeating themes as I read blogs!" So, there you have it. Thank you, Peggy! *Oh, please hop over to Peggy's fabulous blog, read her post, and drool over the cookies! I told her we need "Scratch 'n Sniff" blogs! ☺

Time for Another I Wonder !

Lately I've been thinking and wondering about Leaps of Faith. Don't you just love that phrase? Such thoughts and images come to my mind. But there is a group of images that is unsurpassed ~~~~

 

(all images courtesy Google)

I'll never forget the first time I watched Indiana Jones take that "Leap of Faith." I held my breath, and then when I saw the "bridge" he walked across, my stomach got weak and I almost passed out because of my fear of heights! And no matter how many times I watch that scene, it effects me the same way -- -- emotionally and physically. My heart palpitates, I don't breath, my stomach does flips, and then BOOM...Indy accomplished the impossible. He believed. He HAD TO believe....and I cheer, usually out loud!

Anyone trying to achieve something of importance in their life has opportunities to take that "leap of faith," but how many of us actually do it?? Looking back, I know I've made a few of them, but they were more like "small steps." (Every step in the right direction counts, though, right?)

I'm writing my memoir. Do I have faith in myself as a writer? Yes, I do. But something is holding me back somewhat, making it difficult to make much progress.Obviously if I knew what it was, I'd fix it. Okay...so maybe now it's time for MY "leap of faith," but where? In what direction? Where do I leap?

Please feel free to give me advice and directions, etc!



 “Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.” -Margaret Shepherd

Speaking of Writers.....

Yesterday I posted about an event celebrating the life and writing of Kate Chopin. Today I'd like to welcome and introduce another writer....my friend, T.K. Richardson, author of Shield the Heart. I'm happy and honored to be one of the stops on this special blog tour.

T.K. ......Take it away!

Hi Becky, thanks for hosting this stop on the blog tour for Shield the Heart!

The theme for this blog tour is a little different and I hope all of you will enjoy it. It’s titled ‘A Russian Tour’ because each day during the blog tour we’ll explore the Russian cities and historical sites that are the backdrop for my new YA novel Shield the Heart.

Sometimes the setting of a novel is so interesting and unique that it deserves a closer look, and that’s why I thought this blog tour would be so much fun. ‘A Russian Tour’ will give my readers a chance to get a better view of where everything in Shield the Heart takes place.

After all, these are the places that have inspired me, and I hope they inspire all of you, too.

Today on our itinerary we’re visiting Moskovsky Train Station!

To follow along each day and visit some of the places found in Shield the Heart, be sure to follow the blog tour.

Okay, onto our destination! 

Московский вокзал

Sometimes the thought of traveling by train brings to mind unique and beautiful images. But traveling by rail can also present the opportunity for danger and mystery, as well. In Shield the Heart it added a bit of mystery, intrigue, and a healthy dose of danger. Because, after all, some of the best scenes seem to happen on a train, and that’s how I viewed Moskovsky Train Station in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Although there isn’t a ton of description about this railway station in Shield the Heart, there is enough to see what the main character, Lilly, sees and give the reader a view they may never witness in real life. Busy and packed with people, Moskovsky Train Station was the perfect setting, and provided me a great opportunity to learn more about it.

[note: all images are fromgoogle images]

A little history:

“While serving as the terminus of many different lines, it is most recognized as the rail terminal for trains running to and from its twin station (Leningradsky Station) in Moscow.

 Also called: Moscow Rail Terminal, Moskovsky Railway Station, Московский вокзал, Moskovsky Vokzal, Moscow Station. Moskovsky Railway Station is the "main" line terminal station in Saint Petersburg and as such, sometimes appears in Russian as Главный вокзал (Main Station). Constructed in 1851, Moskovsky Station is the oldest preserved railway station in Saint Petersburg.” (russia-ukraine-travel.com)

As you can see this railway station is beautiful and unique, but you may be wondering how it fits into a young adult novel that centers around a girl with a special gift, an old Russian prophecy, and one life changing choice…

Well, I hope you’ll read the story to find out!

Character quote~

It wasn’t until the train left the station that I put the paper down and stared out the window. They couldn’t stop me, now. ~ Lilly Paige, Shield the Heart

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini tour of Moskovsky Train Station. Be sure to follow us to our next destination. Tomorrow on the blog tour we’ll visit Freedom Square in Georgia!  http://eveningfades.blogspot.com/p/shield-heart-blog-tour.html

Becky, thanks again for hosting me on the blog tour. I hope you and your blog followers enjoy my new release!

One Gift, One Prophecy, One Choice

Shield the Heart

 (Note: This book is part of a series. Book #1 Return the Heart. Book #2 Shield the Heart.)

What if the battle was in your heart?

Lilly’s gift of reading the heart seemed like a curse, but when she discovered her gift was linked to an old, Russian prophecy it changed everything. What she never questioned, though, was her own heart.

When the prophecy pulls Lilly back to Russia and demands to be fulfilled she is torn between love and loyalty. She must make the most difficult decision of her life and choose between the two. But Lilly’s decision is farther reaching than even she is willing to acknowledge. It stretches from East to West - from the past to the future.

Lilly discovers there’s more to the old prophecy than she realized and enemy forces are bent on stopping it from unfolding.

One thing is certain - there will be casualties. And sparing those closest to her may be impossible. While Seth attempts to shield Lilly from the truth, Nikolai reveals secrets that could change everything.

As Lilly falls into the arms of Russia she must decide: will love or loyalty reign? And can she live with the consequences? Two sides compete for Lilly’s heart and she must find the answers she needs before her enemies find her.

Shield the Heart, by T.K. Richardson, is the riveting second book in the series and takes Lilly deeper into Russia’s mysterious past… and her future.

Available in paperback and ebook 
 (Link to Amazon)

 For a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a signed copy of Shield the Heart, check out my contest!

About the author~

T.K. Richardson is the author of YA books Return the Heart, Shield the Heart, Simmer: Recipes for the Teen Palate, and Love, Me: Anthology of Short Stories. She is the founder of Partners In Print.org, a program that donates books to children in the foster care system. She also hosts  Compass eBooks and runs The Writers Resource Directory, a great site for writers filled with publishing and writing links, tips and advice. Her next books are due out later this year.  Find out more at http://tkrichardson.com


*One last note: Welcome to my newest follower, Mona I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!*

St. Louis Honors Writer

What do Tennessee Williams, T.S. Eliot, and Kate Chopin all have in common? They are three of the area's most noteworthy authors. There are already bronze busts of the two men, and Kate will join them at what is known as Writers' Corner, an homage to the icons of American literature with roots in the *Central West End (CWE) *in St. Louis

(Google image: wsu.edu) 

When: Sunday, March 11, 2012 2:00 pm
Where: Writer's Corner
Northeast corner Euclid and McPherson Avenues
Admission: FREE

Chopin's likeness will grace the northwest corner of the intersection. The Central West End Association, the organization behind the unique Writers' Corner, is planning a public dedication of the bust on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m.

For Susie Chopin of University City, great-granddaughter of Kate Chopin, the idea of a bust celebrating her ancestor is humbling.

"It's quite an honor to have this in her old neighborhood," said Chopin.

(A few sentences above are borrowed from article on website. Click on both links to learn more about the life of Kate Chopin, and the CWE Association)


How exciting it is to have such talented writers begin and/or live their lives here in St. Louis!

"And moreover, to succeed, the artist must possess the courageous soul…the brave soul. The soul that dares and defies." – Kate Chopin

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

I took a break this past week from everything that was stressing me out and it truly did me a world of good. I even stayed away from my laptop most of the time, so I wouldn't be tempted to start my sometimes-addictive-blog-hopping. When I took a good look at myself and my life, I finally saw what was mentally paralyzing me, and I said, "No more!"

I'm not going to quit blogging, but I'll be sticking to a strict schedule, as with a few other things. Okay, enough of that..... It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday!
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I just keep having those Cosmic Connections, those Twilight Zoney Moments.....
On February 18, I posted a poem I'd written which mentioned prop planes
On February 19, I wrote about prop planes again, and my dad, and Parks College.
I haven't been consciously thinking about that lately, but yesterday in one of those round-about ways, I somehow landed (Ha! Get it?!) on Ebay and in an aeronautical memorabilia section. I bought what I think is an amazing item, for an amazingly low price! I tried posting a couple of pictures of it, copyed from the Seller's page, but they didn't work. You'll just have to wait until I receive it to see photos. (And no, it's nothing with my dad's name on it, etc. Wouldn't THAT be awesome?!)

So, until then.....I leave you with two airplane photos I found on Google.

Well, would you look at that?? It's my Nostalgic family.....in an airplane!

I wonder if they were looking at the Flying Nun, too!?

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Have a fabulous, blissful week! I intend to!

Welcome to my newest followers, Rae and Shirley. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you! 

"Never stop being a kid. Never stop feeling and seeing and being excited with great things like air and engines and sounds of sunlight within you." — Richard Bach author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull