Why we honor Memorial Day

cj Sez:  It is not unusual for people to confuse the purposes of Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. Today these two days are often treated by many as interchangeable opportunities to thank and honor all military veterans, living or dead, who served honorably in wartime or peacetime. But did you know there’s a distinct difference between the two?

All sacrificed some; some sacrificed all.

  Veterans Day (November 11) is set aside to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served—not only those who died—have sacrificed greatly and done their duty.   

  Memorial Day (May 30) is a day that set aside to remember and honor military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

 A little history about a solemn remembrance:

   It wasn't always called Memorial Day — it was once known as Decoration Day. (cj Sez: When I was little, we called it Poppy Day and for a few pennies, we’d get a red paper poppy to pin on our shirts and blouses.) Whatever the name, it's a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.

   Born of the Civil War, Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring Union soldiers—some states may still have separate Confederate observances. 

(cj Sez: In this era of intolerance and cries to erase visible traces of our sad history, the memorials respecting Confederate soldiers who died fighting for what they believed in may not exist much longer. How will future generations learn from the mistakes of past generations if the woke generation erases the history they dislike?)

   The date of the first Decoration Day, May 30, 1868, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular Civil War battle.

  In 1915, inspired by the rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields” (penned by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae while still at a World War I battlefront), Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. The American Legion still sells poppies to honor the fallen. National Poppy Day in 2022 was May 27.

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   The thoughts below are from a years-old Facebook post by Janie Delchamps Zetsch of Dauphin Island, AL, a veteran and member of AL Post 250. It says everything. In 2018 Janie told me it had been a repost and gave me permission to use it. I repeat it again today. Please take a few minutes to read it all the way through.

  “Just a reminder of what we celebrate (this) weekend. I am but one of millions of proud veterans, however it is not about us. It is to honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice during battle, and to honor those that served and have now gone onto their eternal rest. The following, pointed, reminders are provided for your use, knowledge and perhaps to teach a child what we celebrate and honor on Memorial Day.”

 Here are some ground rules for Memorial Day…

1. Don’t wish me a Happy Memorial day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying.
2. It’s not a holiday. It’s a remembrance.
3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not Disneyland.
4. Don’t tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Don’t tell me I don’t know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God.
6. Say a prayer... and then another.
7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
8. Reach out and let a Vet know you’re there, we’re losing too many in “peace”. God Bless those who fought and died and served this nation for our freedom.”

—  Janie Delchamps Zetsch

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cj Sez:  I owe a mighty debt of gratitude—one I can never repay—to the heroes who died and are dying still today so that my family and I live in freedom. 

  I pray God’s blessings and comfort rain down on their families who are joined in that great sacrifice.

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 That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. (I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend…sending up prayers for your health and safety.)

cj

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 The ebooks of DEATH ON THE YAMPA and THE DAWGSTAR are now $2.99.

  Just in time for your summer reading pleasure . . . fast-paced, exciting thrillers with a smidgen of romance (ala Jane Bond).

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from an indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  

P.P.S. Pre-signed copies of THE BIG FANG are not available at The Haunted Bookshop, but when you order a book from them and want it author-graphed, let them know, and I'll pop down there and sign it for you. Thanks!

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A constant learning process

 cj Sez: You know how, after filling a three-ring binder with rejections (as one writer I know did), we writers worry if our writing will ever be “good enough” to get published?

   Feelings of inadequacy can overwhelm any confidence we have in our ability and send us running for a big spoon and the nearest half-gallon of chocolate ice cream for comfort. (Oh, okay, that’s my solution.)

 

   But think about this: Professional writers do not, cannot, rest on their laurels. That’s a cliché, but truly, authors continually work to improve and perfect their skills. Pro golfers take lessons; powerhouse baseball hitters work with coaches and trainers as do Olympic athletes of every stripe.

   Every time Donald Maass, author of the famous WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, leads a workshop on writing, I’d venture to guess he shares some knowledge he’s learned since his last workshop. I know he keeps producing how-to books that incorporate new slants on writing. He’s a professional who keeps on analyzing the craft and learning fresh ways to produce a well-written novel that appeals to the whims of an ever-changing audience.

   Achieving some modicum of brand-name recognition in a market bursting at the seams with authors is more than a little difficult. The way serious authors can achieve a favored niche among readers is to practice their craft. They read in their chosen genre(s), study and analyze the work of best-selling authors, read how-to books, attend workshops, and network. And those tasks never cease.

   I know I can learn something new most every day, some nugget that I can incorporate into a work-in-progress (as I did today) or add to my growing list of helpful hints. I wish all writers the same success.

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  No fooling: THE BIG FANG charity anthology launched April 1 and is available on Amazon.  

  The anthology is cover-to-cover with 22 fun mystery and crime short stories from 22 amazing authors, each featuring a rescue or adopted animal. This benefit anthology from Harbor Humane Society (West Olive, MI) includes cozies, capers, and humorous crime and mystery stories.

BUY IT NOW AT: 

Ebook link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WLZHSMK

Paperback link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WW5S1VL

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Let me know if you found a nugget in here you can use or can improve upon.

cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

P.P.S. I have yet to get paperbacks of THE BIG FANG, but if you order from The Haunted Bookshop and want your book author-graphed, let them know, and I'll pop down there and sign it for you. Thanks!

➜ Follow me . . .     

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➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

A few points about historical fiction

cj Sez: I was in a deep research dive for a historical fiction short story I wanted to write and came across this in my archives. I think it’s worth sharing again with the Lyrical Pens audience—readers, writers, and editors, too.

Mostly true

Some things to remember when writing historical fiction manuscripts:

  First, as with all stories, a well-developed conflict drives the plot.

  I have seen historical manuscripts defined as those set in a time that predates the end of World War II.

    That makes a lot of writers I know personally historical figures, so I don’t buy into that definition. Historical to me predates the end of World War I, but for your story, you go ahead and be safe. Use the World War II definition.

  Historical characters and their dialogues have to be appropriate to the time and setting.

    Believe it or not, sailors in the 17th and 18th centuries pioneered the wearing of trousers (“slops”) made of a denim fabric called “jean.” but the plural term “jeans” wasn’t used in the United States until 1843.¹ 

  Historical manuscripts require long hours of research (notice my footnotes just in this post).

  The things that fill the scenes have to belong there. For example:

    Incandescent lights didn’t exist before the late 1800s.² Prior to 1947, the number of U.S. homes with television sets could be measured in the thousands³—some of the very wealthy people may have had one.

  Avoid the dreaded info dump. Don’t beat your reader over the head with all the historical details you’ve discovered.

    Historical elements are essential, but they should be blended into the plot. You want these details to draw the reader deeper into your story, not bore them.

  From personal experience I can verify that all of the above point directly to long hours of exacting research to write a historical fiction story.

 Caveat Scriptor: If a history buff reading your novel spots an error s/he considers egregious, your Amazon review will not only reflect that reader’s disappointment but can deter potential buyers as well.

¹ http://www.levistrauss.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/A-Short-History-of-Denim2.pdf

² https://www.energy.gov/articles/history-light-bulb  

³ https://www.nyu.edu/classes/stephens/History%20of%20Television%20page.htm

 

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No fooling: THE BIG FANG charity anthology launched April 1 and is now available on Amazon.  

  The anthology is filled cover-to-cover with 22 fun mystery and crime short stories, each featuring a rescue or adopted animal. This benefit anthology published by Harbor Humane Society (West Olive, MI) includes cozies, capers, and humorous crime and mystery stories.

  Authors include: Catrine Kyster, Shari Held, Steve Shrott, Gabriel Valjan. Tracy Falenwolfe. Michele Bazan Reed, Kate Fellowes, Cathy Wiley, Melissa H. Blaine, Tammy Euliano, Michael Allan Mallory, Jayne Ormerod, Lesley A. Diehl, D.L. Rosa, Sandra Murphy, cj petterson, Allison Deters, Wendy Harrison, Mary Adler, C.K. Fyfe, Adam Sales, Joseph S. Walker

BUY IT NOW AT: 

Ebook link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WLZHSMK 

Paperback link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WW5S1VL

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Etcetera.

Something I discovered when I was on a 1200 calorie diet ➜  

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Let me know if you found a nugget in here you can use or can improve upon.

cj

P.S. The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

P.P.S. I have yet to get paperbacks of THE BIG FANG, but if you order from The Haunted Bookshop and want your book author-graphed, let them know, and I'll pop down there and sign it for you. Thanks!

 

➜ Follow me . . .      

➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page 

➜ on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

➜ on BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson 

➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

Writers' literary estates

 cj Sez: I’ve always known that I’m happiest when I learn something new every day. It’s the reason I take a college class every now and then. And it’s the reason I join writer groups and attend the occasional writers’ conferences.

  The following is an updated post from my archives—when I learned that I needed to think about preserving my “literary estate.” Hmmm, I thought. What a concept: As a published writer, I have a literary estate, meager though it may currently be. Wow.

  Today, I learned I was wrong when I thought that the estate lawyer who drew up my will and trust documents was all I needed.

  Not so, Grasshopper. Copyright protection requires an attorney familiar with the subject. It’s a legal specialty. I need a copyright, publishing, and media lawyer. 

  I did learn that I am moving in the right direction. I keep
files … physical paper documents in file folders in addition to digital copies that I keep on a flash drive in a safe deposit box. I have a folder of contracts, correspondence, and pertinent information about the publisher (my agent, if I ever get one will be added), and the stories/books—are they still in print and who has the rights. In my case, I have requested my rights be returned. 

  I keep a file of works-in-progress and completed but unpublished manuscripts. I also keep a paper copy of all my passwords so that they’re accessible to my executor/trix. All of these things are notated and updated in pencil as they change until I can no longer read my scratch on the paper. Then I have to retype the thing.

  Perhaps, it’s the OCD in me. Perhaps. But it’s more likely because in my B.R. jobs (Before Retired), I absolutely had to be able to put my hand on a document within short minutes when the boss asked for it. I always filed my daily work documents in their appropriate folders before I left for the day. I'm not quite that dedicated now that I'm retired, but I do try.

  There is a bit more I need to do for my literary estate . . . like finding an attorney in this town who knows what to do with copyrights in estates

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Etcetera

Susan DeFreitas (@manzanitafire), an award-winning author, editor, and book coach, writes about the all-important story opening on Jane Friedman’s blog:  https://www.janefriedman.com/the-secret-ingredient-of-successful-openings/

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  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

➜ Follow me . . .     

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➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

Celebrate! Spring is springing today.

 cj Sez: Today, March 20, 2022, at 11:33 CST, the vernal equinox marks the start of spring in the northern hemisphere. 

  Now for a little scientific info … During the equinox, the sun passes directly above the equator and brings about twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night (i.e. “equinox”). 

  In the northern hemisphere, the March equinox comes with warmer weather and budding flowers. In the southern hemisphere, it brings the beginning of fall. 

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Aspiring crime and mystery writers take note: Writers’ organizations are wonderful sources for learning the craft of writing, publishing, and networking. I’m a member of Mobile Writers Guild, Alabama Writers’ Forum, Alabama Writers’ Cooperative, as well as the international organization Sisters in Crime and their online group, Guppies. 

  In addition to a couple of creative writing courses in a college setting, each of those organizations has been important to achieving my goal to become a published author. When I have a question, someone has the answer I need.

  All of the organizations are comprised of published and non-published writers, hailing from a variety of professions and bringing with them a wealth of expertise.

“Sisters in Crime is an absolute necessity for anyone stepping into the crime writing world, and a continuing joy as our careers unfold.” - Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author, five-time Agatha winner, and Sisters in Crime past president.

  Some members are judges, doctors, private investigators, law enforcement officers, and there’s even a government agent or two. The feedback from these people is informative, super supportive, and on the money. 

  I’ll mention the world-wide group Guppies, specifically, because they have a large list of specialized subgroups (for agent searches, querying, critiquing, manuscript swaps, et al.), and, like Sisters-in-Crime, they also offer a variety of on-line skill-building classes.

  If you haven’t joined a writers’ organization, you should think about doing that.

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Etcetera.

Here’s a two-fer: Support a good cause and get treated to some wonderful and touching short stories. Harbor Humane Society's THE BIG FANG anthology is tentatively scheduled for release in April. This anthology has short stories from 22 different authors—stories full of mystery, murder, love, humor and more; and always involve an animal of some shape or form.

  My latest cozy mystery, "Firebug," is included in the charity anthology, and the short story features a Beagle-Golden Retriever-mix puppy named Harley.

  THE BIG FANG will be available for purchase on Amazon and in person at the shelter and our Harbor Humane Resale Store with all proceeds returning to Harbor Humane to support their animal rescue work.

Watch for it

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  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here:

https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

 ➜ Follow me . . .     

➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page

➜ on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

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➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Spring is coming

cj Sez: The temperature was forecast to fall to 28° F last night in Mobile. My tender plants were sheltered, but I’m thinking about the feral kitties I feed but can’t protect. I hope they found a spot out of that cold, north wind. Winter had to make a final appearance, I guess, because the first day of Spring (in the Northern Hemisphere) is next week.

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Also coming soon …. Harbor Humane Society's first book - "THE BIG FANG" anthology is tentatively scheduled for release in April! This anthology, with short stories from 22 different authors, is full of mystery, murder, love, humor and more; and always involves an animal of some shape or form! 

  It will be available for purchase on Amazon and in person at the shelter and the Harbor Humane Resale Store with all proceeds returning to Harbor Humane to support their animal rescue work. 

P.S. My latest cozy mystery short, "Firebug," is included in this charity anthology. Watch for it!

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Etcetera.

My review of THE NEW IBERIA BLUES by James Lee Burke

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

A mystery, unflinchingly told. My rating: 5 stars

  James Lee Burke is one of my favorite mystery authors, and as always, his vivid deep-point-of- view in THE NEW IBERIA BLUES cinematically shows readers place, setting, and characters...and in this story some scenes are harsh.

  Early on in the story, Detective Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke’s familiar main character, describes a long-time friend as “He didn’t fit into a categorical shoe box and, consequently, got into trouble with everyone.” Fans of Burke will understand that the description is a perfect fit for Robicheaux as well. 

  Robicheaux is tempted to try to reclaim his youth when he's paired with a pretty and much-younger partner. He struggles to maintain his mature cool and stay out of trouble with the local police while he searches for an escaped prisoner who could be the serial killer leaving mutilated bodies strewn around Louisiana’s muddy bayou waters. There is, of course, a twisty ending.

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Advice. A Warning. Encouragement. For all the aspiring writers: https://www.janefriedman.com/if-you-cant-stand-the-sight-of-your-own-blood-dont-step-into-the-ring/

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

➜ Follow me . . .     

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➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6