Miscellaneous News

#ClassicPoetry – #RobertBrowning – #OhToBeInEngland

/ Marcia Meara / 44 Comments

Since I shared a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning last time, I thought it only fair to feature her husband this time around. With that in mind, here is one of Robert Browning’s most often quoted poems. Hope you enjoy it!

Home Thoughts From Abroad
Oh to Be in England
Robert Browning ( 1812 – 1889)

Oh, to be in England
Now that April’s there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!

And after April, when May follows,
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark, where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops—at the bent spray’s edge—
That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children’s dower—
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!

Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical settings and challenging vocabulary and syntax.

His early long poems Pauline (1833) and Paracelsus (1835) were acclaimed, but his reputation dwindled for a time – his 1840 poem Sordello was seen as wilfully obscure – and took over a decade to recover, by which time he had moved from Shelleyan forms to a more personal style. In 1846 he married fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett and moved to Italy. By her death in 1861 he had published the collection Men and Women (1855). His Dramatis Personae (1864) and book-length epic poem The Ring and the Book (1868–1869) made him a leading poet. By his death in 1889 he was seen as a sage and philosopher-poet who had fed into Victorian social and political discourse. Societies for studying his work survived in Britain and the US into the 20th century.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Elizabeth’s other half,
a leading poet in his own right, though I lean a bit towards
the sonnets of his wife, myself, being
a diehard romantic and all.

#MiraclesAbound – #SmallMiracles – #Rerun

/ Marcia Meara / 52 Comments

Some years ago, I used to share a series called #Mid-Week Point of View, and I thought it might be fun to rerun a few of my favorite posts from back then. This is one I felt could be very timely, since in these stressful days, it’s easy to forget that life is still filled with miracles. Hope it gives you a smile, and reminds you that sometimes you have to remember to look for the good stuff!

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Wood Stork on the Wing

Some years ago (too many to count), I developed a little habit I call “looking for the miracle.” It started as a small superstition that if I saw something truly beautiful or uncommon at the start of a long car trip, it was a sign all was well in the world, and I’d get where I was going, unscathed. Yeah, I know it was silly, but it made me feel surprisingly good, and you know what else? I found that when I was actively watching for them, small miracles showed themselves to me nearly everywhere I looked.

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Of course, with my long-established love of nature, I often looked for special birds or wildlife along the roadside, as an omen of good luck. I’d spot a bald eagle soaring overhead (always an inspirational sight), and say to myself, “There! That’s this trip’s miracle.”

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Or I’d see the summer’s first swallowtail kite, my very favorite bird of prey, and feel so happy, I just knew it was good omen, and my trip would go smoothly.

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Over the  years, I’ve spotted all sorts of interesting animals and birds along the highways and byways of my travels. A flock of wild turkey is always a good sign, to me . .  .

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. . .  and my first Florida sighting of a half-grown black bear made me smile for the next twently or thirty miles.

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Over time, I saw other things that I counted among my miracles. Rainbows are always good, and double rainbows mean my trip home will go well, too.

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A solid purple field of wild phlox takes my breath away as it announces its miracle status in no uncertain terms.

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A crested caracara sitting in a tree,

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deer grazing in a field,

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a baby donkey standing in the front yard of a farmhouse–all have given me a sense of the magical, the beautiful, the miraculous, at one time or another.

You may count other things as your good omens, but whatever speaks to you in that way, I promise if you make it a point to look for the miracles around you, you’ll find them. And whatever you’re doing at the time will suddenly seem happier, taking on new significance.

Miracles abound, if we but open our eyes. Try it. You just might be amazed.

Originally posted March 16, 2016

#WeatherAlert – #HurricaneIdalia

/ Marcia Meara / 32 Comments

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up, in case you haven’t seen all the weather alerts. Hurricane Idalia is due to hit Florida tomorrow, as anything from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm.  As always, predicting exactly where it will come ashore and how strong it will be is tricky, but right now, it looks like our area will start getting hurricane force winds over 75 mph tonight, and the actual landfall of the full storm will happen sometime tomorrow. 

Current predictions look like we won’t get the full brunt of the storm here (just north of Orlando) but my son & family are in the direct path. Thankfully, they don’t live on the coast where the biggest danger is storm surge flooding, which is predicted to be as much as 8 to 12 feet. But these storms can wreak terrible damage no matter where they hit. At the very least, there will likely be widespread power outages across much (if not most) of the state.  The power companies are pretty good at getting it restored fairly quickly, but you never know. If I disappear for a few days, it will likely be due to losing power and internet.

I hope you’ll join me in sending your prayers and best wishes to everyone in harm’s way. It looks like Idalia could continue heading north after it leaves Florida, heading straight into Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina! 

With any luck, I’ll be back as soon as it’s all over.

 

#GuestDayTuesday – Featuring Author #YvonneBlackwood

/ Marcia Meara / 47 Comments

It’s #GuestDayTuesday once again, folks, and today, we have a wonderful post from our special guest, Yvonne Blackwood. I found Yvonne’s story to be both interesting and inspirational, and I think you will as well, so let’s get right to it. Yvonne, you’re on! 😀

Thanks, Marcia!

There is a maxim that says people come into our lives for a reason and a season. Influencers sometimes appear like genies without warning or explanation. We must recognize them and decide if we want to travel the road they try to lead us. I believe Olga was my genie.

Going Back to School is Good Medicine by Yvonne Blackwood

I had retired seven years, ending a thirty-seven-year banking career, and my life was advancing swimmingly, when I attended the inaugural meeting of a new writer’s group in my city. Olga and I were the first to arrive. We introduced ourselves and exchanged copies of one of our books. I became an author while working full-time.

At the second group meeting, Olga pulled me aside when it ended.

  “I finished reading your book. I enjoyed the story very much,” she said sweetly. “You know what I would do if I were you?”

   “What?” I asked abruptly. I detested people who offered unsolicited advice, especially when I didn’t know them well.

   “I suggest you do an English degree at the university. Nothing is wrong about your English, but I have that degree, and it helps me greatly to add texture to my writing. It will do the same for yours.”

I took a deep breath and slowly calmed down. Okay, advice about texture is not a bad thing. 

I’ve always felt that my writing was not textured enough, and I tried to improve it, but the writing courses I’d taken and the numerous books I’d read on writing had not helped to master texture. 

Why Go Back to School Now?

I pondered Olga’s suggestion for months, and thoughts of other potential benefits entered my mind. Dementia was ravishing more and more seniors every day. Dr. Sanjay Gupta quoted from the Alzheimer’s Association in his book Chasing Life: “When you’re sixty-five, there’s a one in ten chance you are affected, by the time you’re over eighty-five, there’s almost a one in two chance you have the disease.” Researchers concluded that exercising the mind could defend against dementia. I decided that my weapon would be pursuing an English degree. 

I learned that humans are social beings. Attending university would motivate me to get dressed and leave the house a few days each week to be with other humans. It would provide a consistent structure for the years of my studies. 

The fourth reason was to inspire my two young grandsons. I wanted to show them that you are never too old to learn and to encourage them to aim to attend university after graduating from high school.

 When you make a commitment, you keep it

I set a goal to earn the degree in six years, culminating with a memorable seventieth birthday party. Why six years? I was on a government board and three committees, was the head teller at my church, and was the emergency babysitter for my grandsons. I didn’t want to abandon those duties, but I wished to avoid stress and maintain a balanced life.

 Unforeseen hurdles appeared

My studies became like climbing a steep mountain. As I tried to reach its summit, I stumbled upon obstacles, including two strikes; the COVID-19 pandemic that caused the lockdown of the campus; hard-to-connect-with millennials; and the hardest one—a diagnosis of sarcoma cancer. I was hellbent on earning the degree and persisted because of my faith in God and strong support from family members, church family, and remarkable friends. 

More Than I hoped for

During my study years, the university awarded me the continuing education scholarship in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The Golden Key International Honour Society invited me to become a member. Devoted to helping its members achieve excellence through the advancement of academics, leadership, and service, the organization, with more than two million members worldwide, offers membership only to high-achieving university students in the top 15 percent of their programs. I was flattered to the tenth degree.

 I had nine credits remaining to earn my degree when I received a call from a radiologist to report to the hospital for five weeks of radiation treatment, five days per week. 

      “I’m doing a course at the university, and I don’t want to withdraw from it. Will I be okay to continue my studies while receiving radiation treatments?” I asked.

      “Radiation will not affect your brain,” he said. We both laughed. “You can continue your studies.”  

Hospital room classroom.

Six weeks after radiation treatments ended, I underwent a thirteen-hour surgery to remove the sarcoma tumours from my right thigh. I could not walk unassisted and spent two months in a rehab hospital. I continued my studies, and every day nurses pushed me in a wheelchair to the tall, broad windows at the front of my hospital room. They brought me my over-the-bed table, laptop, notebook, and pens. I sat there and Zoomed into the lectures and completed all my assignments. The nurses nick-named me “The student patient”. 

I am ecstatic that I took on the challenge and climbed the mountain. College Life of a Retired Senior: A Memoir of Perseverance, Faith, and Finding the Way will inspire and motivate you to pursue your dreams. It was recently released and is available at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and other major booksellers.

BLURB:

Seven years after she retired from a lengthy career in banking, Yvonne Blackwood surprised her friends and family by returning to school at age sixty-four to pursue an English degree. Her purpose was fueled by four powerful reasons—to add texture to her writing; to ward off dementia; to enhance structure in her life; and to inspire her two young grandsons to continue their education after high school. But as she stepped onto the campus of Canada’s third-largest university, Blackwood had no idea of the hurdles she was about to face.

Author Yvonne Blackwood

Yvonne Blackwood is the author of four adult non-fiction books, Into Africa: A Personal Journey, Will That Be Cash or Cuffs? Into Africa: the Return, and College Life of a Retired Senior: A Memoir of Perseverance, Faith, and Finding the Way. She has also published three children’s picture books: Nosey Charlie Comes to Town, Nosey Charlie Goes to Court, and Nosey Charlie Chokes on a Wiener. An award-winning short-story writer, Blackwood has contributed stories to several anthologies, including Human Kindness, Canadian Voices, and Wordscape. She has published articles in magazines including More of Our Canada, Adelaide, InTouch, and Green Prints and has written columns for the Toronto Star, Pride Newspaper, and The African Connection.

You can Buy Yvonne’s Book Here:

College Life of a Retired Senior: A Memoir of Perseverance, Faith, and Finding the Way – Kindle edition by Blackwood, Yvonne. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

“College Life of a Retired Senior” | eBook and audiobook search results | Rakuten Kobo

College Life of a Retired Senior: A Memoir of Perseverance, Faith, and Finding the Way by Yvonne Blackwood, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Yvonne Blackwood Books – BookBub

 You Can Find Yvonne on Social Media HERE:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Website
Email: eblack2@ymail.com
Cell: 416-333-5936

#ShareAReviewDay – #FindingHunter – Reviewed by #YviMC – VINE VOICE

/ Marcia Meara / 39 Comments

Once in a while, I feel an urge to share a review of one of my own books, and this new review of Finding Hunter made me so happy, I could not resist doing so today. While I know not everyone will understand the youngest Painter brother and his struggles, especially with PTSD, among all of my books’ characters, Hunter has always been second only to Rabbit in my heart. It’s wonderful when readers really “get” him, and love him, too. *happy sigh*

Hope you’ll enjoy this review, and will be inspired to check out Hunter’s story for yourself.

Thanks so much Yvi!  

Yvi MC
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, how I love Hunter! 🙂
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
Verified Purchase

I absolutely love Hunter! He’s such a pure soul, but he has no idea how special he truly is because he lives in a world of fear and pain. Luckily, he is loved unconditionally in a way most of us may never experience. This was a fantastic addition to this series.

The author does an incredible job of diving into anxiety and depression through Hunter’s words and actions. Just as powerful is Willow’s journey in struggling to go on without Hunter while being determined to keep hope alive. I loved how the author used poetry to tell one storyline until the two stories merged together.

I also enjoyed seeing characters from the first book of the series. The author seamlessly created new threads of storylines for other characters that will be visiting in the next book. The ending is a bit of a punch to the gut, but it makes me want to dive right into book three!

This was a wonderful story of loss, love, and resilience. If you enjoy stories that dare to dive into the struggles of life while also shining a light on the human spirit, then I highly recommend this book!

BLURB:

In Book 2 of the Riverbend Series, Marcia Meara, author of Wake-Robin Ridge, A Boy Named Rabbit, and Harbinger, takes a look at the devastating effects of a family torn apart by a horrific tragedy, pitting brother against brother, and focusing on battling PTSD with the redemptive power of unwavering love and support.

Before, I never thought about taking a life. Not once.
Now, the thought fills my mind day and night, and
I wonder how I’ll hide that terrible need,
As an old car swings to the shoulder,
And stops.

~ Traveling Man ~

Hunter Painter’s darkest fears have shaped his offbeat personality since he was a child, crippling him in ways invisible to those unable to see past his quiet exterior. In a sleepy Florida town known for its eccentric inhabitants, he’s always been a mystery to most.

Only one person sees beyond Hunter’s quirky facade. Willow Greene, the new age herbalist who owns the local candle and potpourri shop, has secretly loved him since they were in high school. When, sixteen years later, she discovers Hunter has loved her just as long, Willow hopes her dreams are finally coming true.

Willow soon learns that Hunter fears happiness at her side isn’t in the cards for him. With her natural optimism and courage, she almost convinces him he’s wrong—that they can really have that life together they both long for—but even Willow can’t stop what Hunter knows is coming.

One by one, his worst nightmares become reality, culminating in an unthinkable tragedy, which devastates everyone it touches. Willow’s battle begins in earnest as Hunter is plunged into a bleak, guilt-ridden despair, threatening to destroy not only their love, but Hunter, himself.

Finding Hunter is the story of a lost man’s desperate struggle to make his way home again, and one woman’s unshakeable faith in him and the power of their love.

 Author Marcia Meara

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Buy Marcia’s Books Here

Novels
Wake-Robin Ridge: Book 1
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3
The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4

Swamp Ghosts: Riverbend Book 1
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

Riverbend Spinoff Novellas
The Emissary 1
The Emissary 2 – To Love Somebody
The Emissary 3 – Love Hurts

Poetry
Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love

Reach Marcia on Social Media Here:

Blog: The Write Stuff
Facebook
Email: marciameara16@gmail.com

#This & That & The Other Thing

/ Marcia Meara / 49 Comments

Happy Saturn’s Day, Everybody! Hope your weekend is going to be a great one, filled with all your favorite things and people. 

Just wanted to update you folks a bit. I’m still on “house arrest” and that will likely remain the case for a bit longer. We haven’t been able to reschedule the imaging of my heart earlier than September 6, and until my doctor has the results from that, he won’t be able to come up with a definite plan on managing this issue. I’m NOT in crisis mode, obviously, or emergency steps would be taken, but I do have a list of things I’m not allowed to do until the assessment is completed. Consequently, I’m way, way behind on many things I’d normally be taking care of each day. *sigh* (Can we say “frustrating,” boys and girls? 😄)

The good news is, I’m feeling pretty good, and even the AWFUL pain from my disastrous dental experience has eased greatly. (Plus, I can see my NEW dentist Monday for an assessment, and we’ll see if she agrees with me, or with my EX-dentist. It will be interesting, for sure. ) Also,  I am not having the issues with dizzy spells that I did for months, and the extreme fatigue has eased greatly, so that’s all good news.

I am still running way, way behind on my blogging, and about all I’m able to do right now is “Like” and share posts from my favorite online sites. I know you’ll understand if I can’t comment as often as I usually do. I’m looking forward to catching up one of these days, and being able to have more FUN with my fellow blogging friends. In the meantime, just know how important each and every one of you is to me, and here’s wishing you all a great rest of the summer, with plenty of good times ahead!

Here’s a picture I received from a nice lady who brought her little boy to my last wildlife presentation on Central Florida’s Fabulous Owls, five months ago. He was very attentive and asked several good questions. Afterward, she told me he wanted to have his picture taken with me, if it was okay–which of course it was! After nine years of giving talks twice a month at two very special venues, I really, really miss all the great folks who came to learn a bit about our wildlife. This picture arrived in my Inbox just in time to lift my sagging spirits.

Jesse and I – February 2023

One final update. I am feeling the stirrings of creativity once again, and am hoping to get some actual writing done on Cole, Cole, & Dupree, Rabbit’s latest adventure. Will let you know how that’s going in a week or two.

And that completes today’s Update.
Granny and I  wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

#ThorsDaySmile -#AmLaughing – #Humor

/ Marcia Meara / 40 Comments

At last, Thor has calmed down a bit, and seems to be more like his old self again. In fact, he specifically said he was missing some canine humor, so just to make him happy, I’m sharing some dog memes today. Hope you find a few to make you smile! 😀

And there you have it, my friends: Dogs on Parade!
Hope some of you got a few chuckles!
(Happy now, Thor?)

#ThankYou Everyone!

/ Marcia Meara / 5 Comments

Just wanted to thank everyone who stopped by TWS yesterday to comment on Joan Hall’s wonderful #FiveMoreThings post. I was away most of the day, and the best I could manage was a quick “Like” for each comment, but I appreciated the great response, and Joan, I hope you know you are always a welcome guest. I do hope you’ll visit us often in the months ahead!

Here’s wishing every one of you a great day, and a wonderful weekend coming up soon!

You guys ROCK!!

 

#Bold&BlatantSelfPromo – #Excerpt – #ThatDarkestPlace – #RiverbendBook3

/ Marcia Meara / 34 Comments

 

Here it is May already, and I hope everyone is ready for summer, as it’s it’s just around the corner, unless you live in Florida, in which case, it’s pretty much here already! While the rest of you are awaiting those muggier days, I thought I’d share another Bold & Blatant Self-Promo post with you. This time, I’m featuring the third (and possibly final) book in my Riverbend Series, That Darkest Place.  I had a plethora of things to decide between for my excerpt this time, from funny to anger-inducing to downright heartbreaking. It was definitely a tough decision, but I hope you enjoy what I landed on. Happy reading! 

“There are dark places in every heart, in every head. Some you turn away from. Some you light a candle within. But there is one place so black, it consumes all light. It will pull you in and swallow you whole. You don’t leave your brother stranded in that darkest place.”
~Hunter Painter~

BLURB

The new year is a chance for new beginnings—usually hopeful, positive ones. But when Jackson Painter plows his car into a tree shortly after midnight on January 1, his new beginnings are tragic. His brothers, Forrest and Hunter, take up a grim bedside vigil at the hospital, waiting for Jackson to regain consciousness and anxious over how he’ll take the news that he’s lost a leg and his fiancée is dead. After all, the accident was all his fault.

As the shocking truth emerges, one thing becomes obvious—Jackson will need unconditional love and support from both of his brothers if he is to survive.

Just as he begins the long road to recovery, danger, in the form of a sinister, unsigned note, plunges him back into bleak despair. Scrawled in blood red letters, the accusation—and the threat—is clear. “MURDERER!”

Will the long, harrowing ordeal that lies ahead draw the Painter brothers closer together, or drive them apart forever?

Suspenseful and often heartbreaking, this small-town tale is a testimonial to the redemptive power of love and paints a story filled with humor, romance, and fierce family loyalty.

EXCERPT

4:00 AM, Thursday,
January 2, 2014
~~~

(NOTE: After a long night of waiting for his older brother, Jackson Painter, to regain consciousness after his out of control drinking had caused a horrific car accident, Forrest was desperate to get out of that hospital room. He left his younger brother, Hunter, and his sister-in-law, Willow, keeping watch while he went to fetch them all coffee from the café downstairs.)

~~~

THOUGH HE’D ASKED Hunter and Willow to join him, he was relieved they’d opted to remain in the room. Someone should be there, in case Jackson woke up, but Forrest needed to get away. He’d been at the hospital all afternoon the day before, unable to reach Hunter while Jackson had been in surgery, and terrified that his big brother would die and he’d have to face it alone. Then, after Hunter and Willow had come home to find him sitting on their cottage steps, they’d all trekked back together to wait. And wait. And wait.

It was unreasonable to be mad that Hunter and Willow had gone out on the river for the day, unaware he’d been trying to reach them, but he couldn’t help it. Why was he having to deal with so much grief lately, with no one to lean on? Where were the warm, sheltering arms for him, comforting him in his misery?

He watched the light tick off each floor as the elevator descended to the cafeteria level, and he couldn’t help comparing this downward journey to the last year of his life. He was so immersed in his despairing thoughts, he didn’t even notice the elevator come to a stop. The doors opened, then slid closed again, and he looked up in surprise as the car began to climb. When it stopped again, he was back where he started.

Well, hell. How damn stupid was that? He figured there was probably a message in there, though. All this crap he felt was what Willow would call wallowing in self-pity, as though he was the only one suffering. He needed to stop it. She’d be ashamed of him, and that was reason enough to get a grip.

He valued Willow’s steadfast friendship above all else, except the love of his brothers, and he was determined not to behave in a way that would make any of them ashamed of him. He’d suck it up, do what needed to be done, and in the doing, maybe he’d get past his anger and grief, as well.

For the umpteenth time, Forrest wondered what the hell his brother had been doing, driving around so drunk he couldn’t control his car. Had Jackson still been pissed off at Hunter and him? Or was LeeAnn on the receiving end of his temper this time? Well, whatever had been causing Jackson’s out of control rants lately, he’d certainly paid a price for it, hadn’t he? And now it was time to put it all aside, and pull together.

Willow’d like that he was listening to her, and trying to do things better. Maybe she was right, and he really wasn’t the same man he used to be, when all he wanted to do was chase women and have a good time. He knew she cared about him, even if it wasn’t the same way she cared about Hunter, and by damn, he wasn’t gonna act like an ass and make her change her mind.

Fifteen minutes later, Forrest stepped off the elevator, juggling a cardboard tray with three large coffees and a bag of doughnuts balanced on it. He’d planned to eat in the cafeteria, and just take coffee back for Hunter and Willow, but he’d realized that even though he hated being trapped in Jackson’s room waiting for something to happen, he hated being alone even more.

Leaving the elevator behind, he turned down the first corridor on the left, and came to an abrupt halt, surprised to see Hunter and Willow standing in the hallway outside Jackson’s door. Panic gripped his heart, and his feet refused to move. What the hell was wrong, now? Oh, my God! Wasn’t losing their parents enough? He didn’t think he could stand it, if Jackson was gone, too.

Hunter waved him forward, offering a reassuring smile. “Nurse came.”

“It’s okay.” Willow patted Forrest’s arm. “She asked us to leave while she’s changing bandages and taking care of the catheter.  It’s probably all right for us to go back in.”

She peeked inside. “Yep. The curtain’s open. She’s just rearranging his blankets and pillows, now.”

They trooped into the room, took their seats, and Forrest passed out the Styrofoam cups. In near-unison, they sipped the tepid coffee as they watched the efficient movements of the nurse.

When she finished, she gave them a painfully cheerful smile. “There. That’s better! He’s resting comfortably now, and all cleaned up for company.”

Forrest fought the urge to smack that perky grin right off her face. It seemed obscene in light of his brother’s condition. While he was contemplating telling her where she could stuff her syrupy sweet attitude, Hunter was contemplating something completely different.

“Where are the police?”

The nurse’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry? The police?”

Hunter cocked his head. “Shouldn’t they have been here by now? To talk to us?”

“I have no idea what you mean. Why on earth would the police be here?”

Hunter’s mouth tightened. “To press charges? Or make arrangements to do so.”

She still looked blank.

To Forrest’s surprise, Hunter, the gentlest of the three of them, lost his temper. “I could be wrong,” he snapped, “but isn’t killing a passenger while driving under the influence a crime? Negligent homicide, maybe?”

The nurse—Millie, according to her nametag—frowned and reached for Jackson’s chart. They waited in silence as she flipped through several pages, scanning back to his admission, then turned to them, puzzled.

“May I ask what your relationship with Mr. Painter is?”

“I’m Hunter Painter, Jackson’s brother. I’ve been here for hours. This is my other brother, Forrest. He’s been here even longer. We need answers. Now.”

To her credit, the nurse’s expression softened a bit. “I’m sorry, Mr. Painter. It’s just that I don’t understand why you think the police should be here at this point. My records don’t indicate anything about a DUI.”

As one, both brothers and Willow rose, all gaping.

Forrest spoke first. “What the hell are you talkin’ about? What do you mean?”

“I mean just what I said. At the time of the accident, your brother wasn’t drunk.”

************************

Download on Kindle for Just $3.99
Available in Print for  $13.99

 Author Marcia Meara

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Buy Marcia’s Books Here

Novels
Wake-Robin Ridge: Book 1
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3
The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4

Swamp Ghosts: Riverbend Book 1
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

Riverbend Spinoff Novellas
The Emissary 1
The Emissary 2 – To Love Somebody
The Emissary 3 – Love Hurts

Poetry
Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love

Reach Marcia on Social Media Here:

Blog: The Write Stuff
Facebook
Email: marciameara16@gmail.com

#MeetTheAuthors – #Smorgasbord – #SallyCronin

/ Marcia Meara / 35 Comments

This morning, I discovered I had the very good fortune to be included in one of Sally Cronin’s lovely “Meet the Authors” posts, along with Debby Geis /D. G. Kaye, and Sharon Marchisello. What a super post, with Sally’s reviews of books by each of the three of us. Hope you’ll stop by to check it out, and perhaps pass it along, too. (I know Debby and Sharon would appreciate that as much as I would.) 

Thank to Sally for all she does to promote her fellow authors, and for this wonderful post today, too! 😀 ❤ 

You can find Sally’s post HERE.