I have always loved libraries.

I just found out about a great organization, Fill the Shelves, which was started by some writers from the kindle boards. The link to the post is here:  http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,128031.0.html

The group was formed to send books to needy libraries in the US that don't have funds to keep their shelves stocked. The libraries have made wish lists on Amazon of books that can be purchased and sent to them. There's also a link on the site for librarians to apply for their school.

I'm going to be doing whatever I can to help out, buying books when I have funds, and helping to spread the word so others can do the same.

I have a special love for books and libraries. The first book I ever owned was given to me by my first grade teacher from her own small classroom collection when she retired. It was a book of poems, and included Old King Cole. A merry old soul was he!

The first book I ever checked out of a library was a picture book about horses, when I was in the second grade in High Point, NC. I still remember the way my mind boggled at the thought of being able to take home any book I wanted.

I haunted the shelves of every school library, every public library I could reach, reading in a variety of genres as well as non-fiction. 

When I was about fourteen, I sat down and made a list of every book -- title and author -- I'd read to that point. I had well over 2,000 before I ran out of room in the small notebook I used. Since I couldn't go outside much (I don't sweat like other people, and can get dangerously overheated), it wasn't unusual for me to read two books a day during the summer.

I was such a devoted library patron that I even got a library card when I was in USAF basic training. I managed to read three or four books during that short period. Every where I've ever lived, I've had a library card, and visited often.

Libraries have filled my mind with knowledge throughout the years. Books took me places I could never have dreamed of going, showed me people I would never had been able to meet.

There have been many times in my life when I felt hopeless, unsure if there was any point to living. That was hard to write. But I found new books, and they helped me get through the tough times. I became the person I am because of libraries and the books I had access to through them.

I may have mentioned before that I think being a writer is the most wonderful job in the world. I think being a librarian must be the second-most wonderful job.

If you can relate to this post, maybe you can help this organization. Even if you just spread the word, it will make a difference to a child.

Well, Gentle Readers, there you have it, my little soul baring post for the month. Take care and read, read, read.

News about Mama, and just me stuff...

Hello, from the world's worst blogger! HA! Okay, so I'm probably not the worst, but my posting frequency sure leaves something to be desired. In my own defense, I will say that I was sick all week (again).

It seems I had some infection in my sinuses that just had to come out, which resulted in swollen lymph glands, sore throat, fever and just general yucky feelings. Between the pain, not sleeping and not eating, it was pretty rough.

But, I am on the mend, so... hooray! My mother will be happy, because I've been hidden away in my little cave since the last thing she needs right now is to be sick like that. It would probably put her in the hospital, and I certainly don't want that. She has enough going on with the chemo.

Mama has now lost all of her gorgeous, thick, salt and pepper hair. It went quick, in about a week, beginning shortly after her second round of chemo. I'd meant to get a picture before it was all gone, but with one thing or another didn't manage it before she was bald.

A friend of Sis2, who had fought her own battle with breast cancer, gave Mama some turbans and caps to wear, and my father brought home some of those caps like food workers wear, which helped contain the massive amounts of shedding hair--I mentioned she had thick hair, right? Yeah, really thick.

Those are fine for when she's at home, but Mama had been wanting a wig for going out in. Though she really rocks those turbans. Seriously. So about a week before I got sick, we went to the local Hospice's thrift store, where Mama had seen some wigs before. We like to support Hospice whenever we can, as we've had family members and friends get good care through the organization.

We hit the motherload that day, let me tell you--all kinds of nice-looking, well cared for, quality wigs for the whopping big price of $15. Including the wig stand.

So that's where I've been lately. I did have enough energy at the first of the week to redo my novel's cover, and I decided to go with my alternate title. I'll have more details about the book later, with a cover shot and a blurb--also called the back cover copy.

Take care, Gentle Readers. Until next we meet.

Operation Ebook Drop

I just recently joined a fantastic organization called Operation Ebook Drop, which allows authors to send coupons from Smashwords to our members serving overseas so they can download free books. To find out more, follow the link to the group's website.

I put up all four of my short stories so far, and they are being downloaded. I'm proud to be doing this little thing to brighten the day of our men and women in uniform. I was in the US Air Force myself, many moons ago, and I have a special place in my heart for the military.

I've been thinking recently -- I know, I know, too dangerous -- about rejoining the group I used to be in that makes cards for our service members to send home. Many of the military serve in places where there aren't many choices for things to buy, so this gives them a chance to have handmade cards to send for birthdays, holidays, or just general reasons.

It's been a while since I've made any cards for this group, but I've never forgotten the people who do this, at their own expense, to help our guys and gals in uniform.

The group is on the Cricut message board here:  Cards for Soldiers.  There are other groups around the Internet that does cards like this, one I've recently found is called Operation Write Home. Check them out for more information.


If you haven't heard of it, the Cricut is a die cutting machine that uses cartridges with pre-loaded images and fonts to cut paper and cardstock, which can be used on scrapbook pages, cards, and various other items, like home decor. There are other brands of cutting machines that do much the same things.

Well, enough chattering for today, got crafty stuff to do, and I haven't gotten any writing done on my novel, or any of the shorts I have hanging around.

So, until later, Gentle Readers. Take care.