Lots of Links

What picture pops into your head when you hear the word "links"?

For some, it might be a chain link fence. There are lots of them in the world. The purpose of them, of course, is to keep something either in or out. But what happens when just one little link is broken? It can do as little damage as allowing a mosquito to get through a metal mesh net, or as much damage as letting a whole herd of cattle out to wander aimlessly about on the highways and biways of life.

A link might be the difference of a gift of an expensive piece of jewelry that a guy gives a gal, but it is just one link too short. A simple trip to the jewelry store can expand it enough so the gifter never knows the difference.

When I was doing research on my time travel Par for the Course (Book 3 in the Keith Trilogy), I learned about golf links. I am the first to admit that I know very little about golf, but I had a lot of fun learning. Wikipedia has this to say about golf links: "A links golf course, sometimes refered to as a seaside links is the oldest style of golfcourse. It was first develooped in Scotland. The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, is one of the earliest links golf courses. I am a firm believer that a writer doesn't have to write what they know, but they do have to know what they write. A little research goes a long ways towards making a great book, instead of just a book.

When I was in high school, it was quite a fad for girls to wear their dads' good long-sleeved white shirts, especially if they had French cuffs. Oh, how I loved those cuff links. If we didn't have any fancy ones, we would buy a couple of really pretty buttons, sew them together with a loop of thread, and use them. Necessity is still the mother of invention!

Now that we have entered the cyberworld, we have a new type of links. They are connections to some of our favorite people on the Internet. As a Star author, some of my favorite fellow authors have some pretty neat blogs out there. In the interest of sharing some of their fun with you, I give you the following links. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. Just click on the link and it should take you directly to the other blogs.

-----From Joyce Anthony. Books and Authors http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blogA place to find author interviews, first chapters and book reviews!

-----From Billie Williams. http://printedwords.blogspot.com Writing related topics, tips, tricks and how tos. A little of a writer's mind, a lot of learning and growing as a writer.http://onewomansgarden.blogspot.com Organic gardening tips, tricks and how to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood. In this age when you can't trust what you buy at the supermarket, why not grow what you can yourself. then you will know its safe, edible and vitamin rich.

------http://www.janetelainesmith.blogspot.com Where you will find out the story behind her stories and what really makes Janet tick--and what ticks her off. Missionary turned romance/mystery/adventure writer, Janet Elaine Smith.) Oops, you're already here, but I thought you might enjoy the description!)

-----From Epi Larue. Title: Travel Nursing HighwayURL: http://travelnursinghighway.blogspot.com/Description: Why travel nursing? Travel nursing allows you to see the world. Travel nursing allows you to catch up on your bills. Travel nursing is the adventure of a lifetime! But, along with this great adventure is a lot of questions and winding roads. This blog was created in effort to assist nurses out with their journey down the Highway of Travel Nursing! Title: 21st Century NursingURL: http://21stcenturynursing.blogspot.com/Description: 21st Century Nursing is dedicated to educating nurses about new technology, modality of new disease transmission, changing labor force, and the ever changing financials that affect the practice of nursing. (If you can't find Epi on the road, you might find her at her favorite links at the golf course.)

-----From Allyn Evans www.allynevans.blogspot.com Talking Out Loud is funny, heartfelt and true! and www.talkingallthingswrite.blogspot.com. Writer Allyn Evans shares what she has learned the hard way.

-----From Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Blogs: http://www.TheNewBookReiew.blogspot.com Where authors and reviewers can recycle their own reviews; where readers can weigh in on their favorites. Guidelines for submission are posted in the left column Carolyn is one of the biggest people about cross-promoting I know, and this blog of hers is one of her best.

Until next time, keep on writing--and reading. Don't forget to tune in to my two radio programs each week at http://internetvoicesradio.com . "Marketing for Fun and Profit" on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and "What's Happening?" on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. If you'd like to be a guest, drop me an e-mail at pivtrprograms@yahoo.com .

Easter--a new take on an old tale

OK, I admit it is long past sunrise, when the first Easter escapades were supposed to have occurred. I make no apologies; it's been a busy day. My husband and I did go to church this morning. Let me give you a bit of background.

We had a pastor (a couple of pastors ago) who was a combination minister/psychologist. We thought that was a great idea--until he began to question almost everything in the Bible. He would start out pretty good, but then he would take a sharp turn (I'm not sure if it was to the left or the right) and would continue with "Now what it says is not really what it means. Here's what I think it means..." And it was pretty hard for him to instill faith in anybody in the congregation, since he didn't claim to believe much himself. Maybe it's something with a scientific mind or something. I never quite figured it out. He was a nice enough fellow, but...well, you get the picture.

The next pastor was much better, but we knew it was just a stopgap. He was elderly, retired, and the last I heard after living in North Dakota for most of his life he decided to stay in Hawaii when he went there to visit his son. I can't say I blame him. He was much better in the sermon department, and he did seem to have a sincere faith, which to me is crucial for a minister.

So when his time ran out (at least in our church) we really lucked out. We got a fellow who is originally from Ohio, but he has lived in ND long enough to know that we ain't perfect--weatherwise or peoplewise! He seems to accept us anyway, which is a big plus for a minister. He has a delightful sense of humor, sort of a dry wit. You don't see it coming, and when it strikes it sometimes takes a minute or two to sink in, but then you realize just how funny it really was. In my book, he's a definite keeper. His name is Keith Mills. If you ever wander into Grand Forks, ND, I would like to invite you to a Sunday service at the Federated Church to judge for yourself.

Anyway, today was Easter Sunday. I guess I'm as guilty as the next person of thinking I "know it all" when it comes to the old familiar stories in the Bible. Keith does tend to keep it new and fresh and often puts a slightly new slant on things, and at the beginning of today's sermon, he said that was what he was going to try to do.

But he was way past that point. We have a "step story" where all the kids go up and sit on the steps that go up to the altar and podiumns. He started today by telling the kids that he was going to tell them a mystery story.

I am a writer. In fact, most of you know that I write mysteries. I have my Patrick and Grace Mysteries (you can see all about them at http://crumbycapers.tripod.com ) and soon I will also have my first Max Stryker Mystery out (go to http://janetesmithstarbooks.tripod.com ). So when Keith started talking mysteries, I figured he had wandered over into my territory.

I had never really thought about the same old Easter story in terms of a mystery--until today. He had the kids spellbound when he told them about Mary Magdalene going to the tomb and finding the stone rolled away. He plaited them with questions such as "How could anybody roll away such a big stone?" "Where would they have taken the body of Jesus, if it was robbers?" "If it was robbers, why did they stop to take time to put the wrapping from around his head in a neat pile? When you have done something wrong and you want to get out in a hurry, do you stop to fold up your clothes first?" "When the disciples went running back to the tomb after Mary told them that Jesus was MIA, what did they expect to find? Were they looking for clues to solve the mystery of the century?" "When they got back to the tomb and Mary saw the angels inside, who did she think they were?" "What about the Roman soldiers? They were supposed to be guarding the tomb? What had happened to them?"

So yes, I looked at the same old familiar tale in a totally new light. If it hadn't already been written, it would make a great mystery!

And now, a reminder that on April 23rd, we will be having a real Storm here at my blog. Joyce Anthony will be my guest. And in keeping with the "Book 'em, Danno" (or "book 'em, Storm!"--available on amazon.com and lots of other places)--here is your next trivia question. For many years Hawaii 5-0 was the longest running TV police show on TV. It has been replaced by one other program as the holder of that honor. What show holds the record now, and when did Hawaii 5-0 start and end?