Mary Gill, Shreveport Area Author, has exciting news.

Mary Gill, who lives near Shreveport, is active in two of the local writers’ groups:

·         NOLA STARS, a North Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers of America
·         Grave Expectations, a local Shreveport group of writers/ (Find it on Facebook.)

She has a special gift for understanding plot in writing. If a fellow writer gives her a situation, she can instantly know where the story should go.

Mary Gill has a story included in

 the NOLA Stars 

Anthology.

Mary recently was interviewed about her writing.

 Mary, we are excited that one of your stories will appear in the new anthology by NOLA STARS.

Christmas Roses, an anthology of sweet holiday short stories set in North Louisiana featuring the American Rose Center. The anthology will be available in both digital and print formats and will go on sale November 15th. 

Congratulations. We are excited for you.

Now, let’s talk about you and your careers. You are a graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. You have worked in many fields: including a garden center, a construction company, a convenience store, and an accounting firm. You are now retired and live with your husband, Eddie, on Toledo Bend Reservoir near Many, You have two beautiful daughters, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Where did you grow up?

Between DeQuincy, Louisiana, and Ragley, Louisiana. I went to school in Ragley.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Going off by myself and building a playhouse and playing with my dolls.

Who is a writer who has influenced you and how?

Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias Series—older main characters, who band together to help each other.

Who has helped you with your writing career?

My husband with his emotional and financial support.

Of the books you have written, which is your favorite?

My first book, Crossroads, which is Book One of the Lake Serenity Series.

What is it about?

Kelsi Miller is happily married, living the best years of her life until one fateful night when a drunk driver comes out of the dark and changes her entire life.

How can it be obtained?

Amazon.

You said that Crossroads is the first book in the series. Is there a second?

Yes, Beauty Secrets is the second in the series.

What is it about?

What secrets has Carole been holding for thirty-five years?

And we have mentioned your newest publication.

Yes, the story in Christmas Roses.

What is your next book?

Third in the Lake Serenity Series, Sweet Dreams.

What is it about?

Dorothy is a bakery owner. Huey is a chef, who is building a hotel in Lake Serenity. He hates women in business. She is facing menopause. They marry, adopt two children from a children’s home. 

Interesting. The theme of adoption is popular now.

In your writing, what do you seek to accomplish?

Self-satisfaction – give my readers a good feeling about their lives.

What do you want to tell your readers?

I want to let women know their lives are not over just because their lives are changing. 

Thanks, Mary.

Freebie for Two Days: Manuela Blayne

Kindle version offered as a Gift to You Monday, October 16, 2017, and Tuesday October 17, 2017: Manuela Blayne
#94 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Religious > Christian > Historical

Religion & Spirituality Books

5.0 out of 5 stars

5.0 out of 5 stars

Some of Manuela Blayne's Most Sinister

Moments Occurred on the Porch

Of the Shack, Which Was the

Setting of The Dream Bucket 

Manuela Blayne, a novella, is the fourth book in the Covington Chronicles. It is a complete story that stands alone. To understand some of the characters fully, however, it would be beneficial to read The Dream Bucket first.

Manuela Blayne is the story of one suffering for another.

A new day dawns for Trudy Cameron. She develops a heightened sensitivity to others around her who endure the hurts brought on by circumstances she tries to influence. Trudy starts to realize she cannot change everything, she cannot fix all the bad in her world. At the same time she develops a streak of mischief. Sometimes she is shocked by her own behavior. As she grows up fast, she finds emotions within herself she didn't expect.

In the summer of 1910, Trudy Cameron witnesses the aftershock of an event that will disturb her the rest of her life.

It is more than the consequences of the crime that concern her. Cruelty dominates the evolving social system of the South, the only home she knows.

Never will she comprehend all the hurt suffered by her friend Manuela Blayne, but Trudy wants to understand.

She witnesses firsthand what forgiveness can be. She observes hardships she has never imagined.

In a world that denies mercy to her friend, will Trudy’s faith shrink or blossom? She is always honest with herself about her emotions.

Trudy tells her story in first person.

Come spend some time with the Bentons and Camerons. Delight in the parenting skills of Samuel Benton, as he tries to distract Trudy from her anguish over Manuela Blayne.

Have a dish of ice cream in the Covington and float on a watermelon in the swim hole at Hot Coffee. Witness the mischief Trudy dares not confess to her parents.

Interview with Shreveport Author, Margaret Zadow

Margaret Zadow (Margaret Franklin Zadow) suffered from polio when she was a young child. After persistent efforts made by the hospital staff and a grim struggle on her part, Margaret learned to walk again. She's still walking through her productive life.

A talented author who lives near Shreveport, she is active in Grave Expectations Writers’ Group.

https://www.facebook.com/grave.expectations.group.for.writers/?ref=br_rs

She writes with precision of vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation. Her sentences are intriguing, and her cozy mystery novels include hilarious scenes.

When I spend time with Margaret at the Grave Expectations meetings, I learn ways to improve my craft as we bounce ideas around the room at Podnuh's on  Barksdale Highway the second Saturday of the month beginning at noon. The meetings are an inspiration to novelists. Yesterday the meeting lasted four hours. It was a privilege to interview her.

Margaret Zadow

Margaret, where did you grow up?

I grew up in Falls City, Nebraska.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

First trip home from the hospital after having polio and relearning to walk.

Who are some of the writers who have influenced you?

·         Agatha Christie

·         Miss Sargent, my freshman English teacher

Of the books you have written, which is your favorite?

My favorite story of mine is Who Killed the Scumbag?

Why?

It was fun to write.

Margaret, it was fun to read. How can it be obtained?

It’s an electronic book on Amazon dot com. https://www.amazon.com/Killed-Scumbag-Margaret-Franklin-Zadow-ebook/dp/B00GT10EOG/ref=sr_1_3?F8&qid=1508033100&sr=8-3&keywords=margaret+zadow

What are some of the other books you have written and published?
Murder of the ABC’s is about a group of women who meet for a reunion and are being killed. The hostess’s niece is the primary character and finds herself a target of the killers.

Sing a Song of Murder is about a woman who sings in a church choir where members are killed. While looking for the killer, she falls in love with a popular evangelist.

What is your next book to be published?

My next book may be Murder of Tom Wankersheimer. However I’m also thinking of writing about the years I had polio.

In your writing, what do you seek to accomplish?

Self-satisfaction. I have had a need to write.

What do you want to tell your readers?

I want to honor and teach about God in my writing.

Thanks, Margaret, for sharing your thoughts about your writing. It is an honor to know you. You readers would love to read your memoir.

Bubba, the Black and White Spotted Firedog, in Medium

Last night Bubba went big time. Bubba is a real dog, and he's eager to begin his career as a firedog. He is trying to get a  job.

I placed his story on a mega blog. This blog is so sophisticated it even tells you how long it will take to read the story, which, in Bubba's case is all of two minutes. Go look at it. You'll know you are in the right place when you find a picture like this one:

 Bubba in Medium

Disclaimer: Although you may have seen the image of Bubba with white spots, no Bubba has acquired white spots by any means in the course of writing this story. The spots are digitally applied to a photograph.

Bubba, the Firedog, in Print

 On October 12, 2017, the paperback version of Bubba, the Firedog, was released.  Because many friends asked for it as a paperback, we decided to offer it.  Brandt, Bubba's human, serves as a volunteer fireman. The authors--Mary Lou Cheatham (I'm Mary Lou) and Christie Underwood (Christie is my daughter, who contributed the art work and some of the story ideas) are excited to present this book.

Brandt's commitment to the Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department inspired us to write this book.

Christie and Brandt in the Ransom Canyon

Fourth of July Parade

The Debut of Bubba

On September, 17, 2017, Bubba made his debut. He first appeared in Bubba, the Firedog, in Kindle

form. His story is available on Amazon. Go to this link: https://www.amazon.com/Bubba-Firedog-Mary-Lou-Cheatham-ebook/dp/B075QKP6DG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507898862&sr=8-1&keywords=bubba+the+firedog

Bubba, a happy dog, lives in a friendly village in Texas. His humans give him affection, treats, and love. They take him on walks. He becomes a firedog, who helps his owner, a volunteer fireman, by guarding the tools and by being a friend to the other men in the fire department.

Sometimes he is frightened, but he relies on his human mommy and daddy to make everything work out right. Sometimes he gets into mischief, but most of the time he is well behaved. He likes to play with his toys.

Bubba is a real live dog. Christie, the illustrator of Bubba, the Firedog, found him at a dairy. He is of unknown lineage. From his appearance, we've concluded that he is mostly Black Lab. (Black Lab mixed dogs are some of the best dogs ever.)

As a puppy, Bubba was sweet and affectionate. He was, however,  mischievous. Or perhaps he was teething. He chewed all the wood he could find, including the lower trim around a large window on the back side of the house. Also, he loved to dig. He and his sister, Wessie, dug a hole under the fence. It was a hot dry summer, and he received his own wading pool, which he enjoyed wading in until he chewed it to pieces.

With the passing of time and lessons in the Home School of Charm and Obedience, he became a delightful companion. Now, he enjoys various family activities, such as boating.

Bubba with Christie 

John and Brandt

Bubba

 He also enjoys taking long daily walks.

Mary walking Bubba in Front of the Steel House

Niagara Falls: You Need to See.

The Beauty of the Earth

Have you gone to see Niagara Falls lately? Some of my family members sent me some photos of Niagara Falls taken at night.

Fifty years ago, when the USA band stopped by Niagara on our way home from Expo 67, we saw the Falls in the daytime, and the view was spectacular, magnificent, so exciting it made everyone’s heart race. The water had a lime green hue, like sherbet with sprays that looked effervescent.

For years, some lights have shone over the Falls at night, but in 2016 a spectacular show began. Now, it’s important—essential—to see Niagara Falls from both the USA side and the Canadian side at night.

Here’s the story. Illumination of Niagara Falls

And starting next month is a sensational festival of lights: /https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/events/winter-festival-of-lights/

“Visit Canada’s foremost illumination festival the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Canada – November 18th, 2017 to January 31st, 2018. Each winter we capture the magic of the holiday season, and this winter will mark our 35th season, be sure to attend our brightest season yet!”

Read about the young boy, Buddy Benton, who back in 1909 saved his coins with the hope of traveling by train from Mississippi to Niagara Falls, only to have his Dream Bucket stolen. What happened?

The Dream Bucket

What is in your dream bucket?

Photo by Christie Marie Underwood, 2017

If you saved your money for a special vacation, where would you go? By stuffing money into a knee sock, I saved enough money to pay for a vacation at Mount Petit Jean in Arkansas, where our family went to see a long narrow waterfall. What a happy memory this is! In its own way, it was as beautiful as Niagara Falls, although it was not so magnificent.

A six-year-old boy named Buddy Benton wanted to go to Niagara Falls. Buddy, his twin sister Bailey, and their father Samuel placed coins in their dream bucket. Since some of the coins were rare, they were worth more than their face value. Because the time was the early 1900’s, it was possible to place coins in a bucket and have enough money to go on a trip.

This is one of the stories in The Dream Bucket by Mary Lou Cheatham. When someone stole the bucket, Buddy, along with the other members of his family and the neighbors, could not contain the oppressive disappointment. Did Buddy get to go to Niagara Falls?

The Dream Bucket

Promotional Video on YouTube: As Doves Fly in the Wind

Mary Lou Cheatham's newest novel, As Doves Fly in the Wind, is due to be released in November 2017,  It's a  contemporary story set in Louisiana.

Click on this link to view a trailer of  As Doves Fly in the Wind.

The Back Cover:

Jessica Boudreaux Hays, a retired music professor, has recently moved to Rousseauville to open a bed and breakfast in her grandparents’ house. An attractive and talented fifty-five-year-old widow, Jessica loves to cook, entertain, and play the piano. Her life is filled with problems. Emmie, her younger sister who lives with her, cannot be left alone. The sisters recently lost their parents in an automobile accident. The residents of the village are charitable but superstitious. For some mysterious reason, they refuse to go near her or the bed and breakfast. Another frustration in Jessica’s life is her cyber romance with a mysterious stranger.

Dale Bonnier, a fifty-five-year-old widower, pastors two small churches in rural south Louisiana. He inspires the people in Rousseauville with his compelling sermons. He is considerate and approachable but at times disorganized and impetuous. His parishioners, especially Jessica, find his preaching inspiring.

Dale has a recurring problem with his past. In the 1980’s, when he was an intense young man, he destroyed his home and family as he sought to satisfy his cravings for illicit drugs. Thirty years have passed. God has forgiven him, but the past has left indelible scars. Can Dale forgive himself? He cannot turn his past around, but he hopes it will be used to influence and inspire others.

Jessica tries to start over in Rousseauville, but she encounters unpredicted stormy times. Can she find acceptance? Will she ever find a man she can love and trust?

New Novel: As Dove Fly in the Wind

Soon to be released, AS DOVES FLY IN THE WIND, is a new novel about the redemption of a criminal, life in south Louisiana, the results of being on the edge of a hurricane, a spiritual awakening, a cyber romance, and a painful love affair. It has humor, such as the day an alligator tried to enter the house.

AS DOVES FLY IN THE WIND has an exquisite design with soft pictures in the headings of the chapters:

Featured at Delight Music Fest Booksigning: Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek

Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek is a novel about Jeremy, a young boy in Mississippi a little more than a hundred years ago. His mother was dying of cancer, and his father was harsh. Jeremy survived by clinging to his friends, but he didn't get to see them often. At a low point in his existence, a Romani (Gypsy) showed up and offered to help the boy's father in the blacksmith shop in payment for moving his clan onto Cohay Creek for a season.

The young boy learned from his friend Walthere, the Traveler, how to assist in the blacksmith shop, how to laugh, and most importantly how to forgive. A lover of books from the school library and a  naturally curious student, the boy learned about the history of the Gypsies.

Meanwhile the adults all around him lived, loved, and fought without restraint.

Mary Lou Cheatham and Sarah Walker Gorrell collaborated to write this unique novel. Mary will be signing it at the Delight Music Fest Super Signing, September 30, 2017, in Delight, Arkansas.

Delight Music Fest with its Super Book Signing, September 30, 2017

The Dream Bucket, the Most Popular Book

In the Covington Chronicles

Mary Lou Cheatham

Delight 

It would be fun to see you this weekend at the Delight, Arkansas, festival. I'm planning to show up with all the books of the Covington Chronicles. Delight is a little over two hours north of Shreveport, far enough north for a cool fall breeze and some warm colors in the leaves. We hope it doesn't rain, but if it does, it's okay. There will be canopies over the book signers' tables.

Eleven authors have plans to attend the festival. To find my books, look for the posters. The Dream Bucket is my most popular book, and House of Seven is the newest in the series.

House of Seven, the Newest Book

In the Covington Chronicles

 Mary Lou Cheatham

For Judy Christie's article in the Shreveport Times about the super signing at Delight, Arkansas, please click on the link below:

Local authors to sign books at Delight Music Fest

Want to take an early-fall jaunt for small-town book and music fun?

Bubba, the Firedog

Bubba, the Firedog, is a new book for children. My daughter, Christie Marie Underwood, collaborated with me to write it.

 Bubba, a happy dog, lives in a friendly village in Texas. His humans give him affection, treats, and love. They take him on walks. He becomes a firedog, who helps his owner, a volunteer fireman, by guarding the tools and by being a friend to the other men in the fire department.

Sometimes he is frightened, but he relies on his human mommy and daddy to make everything work out right. Sometimes he gets into mischief, but most of the time he is well behaved. He likes to play with his toys.

We believe this story will appeal to children two years old or younger if their moms or dads read it to them at bedtime. Children as old as eight may enjoy reading the book Most of the words are simple. We repeated words and used them in logical ways with matching pictures.

Texas Tech Man: Brandt

LSU/LTU Woman; Christie

I like to write inspirational historical fiction. I also have fun constructing rhyming stories for children. Often I discover humor in ordinary life events.

Christie loves animals and people. She enjoys taking long walks in the community with Bubba and visiting neighbors along their way. Drawing is one of her hobbies, and her style is drawing through the eyes of a child. Her signature style in life is vibrant colors, well-suited to her personality.

We are dedicating our story to Christie's husband, my dear son-in-law, Brandt, who is a volunteer fireman. We're also dedicating Bubba's story to the fire department where Brandt serves.

Pup Bubba

When Christie first rescued Bubba (a black lab mix) as a puppy, we realized his potential for entertaining us, and he's been an interesting dog. He's docile, obedient, and protective of his family. 

While taking him for a walk, we came up with the idea that he might want to be a firedog. We asked, "What if Bubba wanted to follow his 'daddy' Bramdt to the fire house. Could he become a firedog?

Christie contributed the dog and her husband to this project. Also she helped with the writing. All the pictures are her drawings and paintings. She put her heart into the project.

I wrote the text with, as I said, her help. Then I formatted the pictures and the cover.  John, my amazing husband, contributed editorial comments, as well as  patience. 

Mary walking Bubba

We want to entertain our young readers by sharing Bubba with them. As I've already said, we have made an effort to help children develop reading skills. Whatever we write for boys and girls contains ways to develop skills for living

We're already planning a sequel. 

Bubba, the Firedog

The Courtship of Miss Loretta Larson at Delight Book Signing

The Courtship of Miss Loretta Larson  will be one of the books Mary Lou Cheatham plans to sign at Delight, Arkansas, on September 30. This festival is going to be so much fun!

It is 1908. Loretta Larson has enjoyed many blessings in her life. Attractive and accomplished, she has so much money she barely notices her salary she earns from teaching. In her thirties, she is living in the village of Taylorsburg, a south Mississippi railroad town. She suffers in a damaging relationship with cruel and dishonest banker.

Will she ever find the love she longs to know? An unusual woman for her time, she is an independent, strong-minded person, who has a cloud over her past, a quirky style in the present, and boundless hope for a joyful future. With compassion for the down and out, she shows little regard for what others think of her. To live her life requires courage and ingenuity. She relies on the Lord to help her through her problems. Sometimes the help comes in unusual ways. For example, her cat Pinkie saves her from disaster  The story contains fun-filled pranks, the joy of being alive, and outrage over social injustice.

Taking The Dream Bucket to the Delight, Arkansas, Super Book Signing

Growing up in the backwoods between Hot Coffee and Taylorsville, Mississippi, and riding watermelons for life preservers in Cohay Creek...eating the watermelon on the cliff that overlooked the sandbar down at the creek...I exchanged stories with my brother predictions about all the great things we hoped to do when we finished growing up.

Unlike my brother, who had plans to succeed in business someday in the big cities, I wanted, among other things, to be a writer. From my earliest years I hoped to write novels that readers would enjoy. Mama instilled the idea into us that we could do what we wanted if we tried hard enough. My brother did, but I wasn't sure whether I could ever write anything that people would want to read.

And yet I did. My novel, The Dream Bucket, about a young girl and her mother overcoming grief and managing to survive in the worst of times, has been on Amazon's best seller list quite a number of times.

The statistics on this picture represent a sales report in 2016.

I feel as though I've really arrived. All the way from Hot Coffee--and some other places along the way such as Shreveport, where I now live--I'm traveling to Delight, Arkansas, to sign The Dream Bucket at the Delight Music Fest Super Signing on September 30, 2017. Arkansas, here I come.

Books Mary Lou Cheatham will sign at the Delight Book Signing September 30, 2017

At the Delight Music Fest Super Signing author Mary Lou Cheatham will sign the books of the Covington Chronicles.  

Each inspirational historical novel contains at least one romance without fitting into the romance genre. The books are family stories. This six-book series takes place in Mississippi in the beginning of the twentieth century. Each book stands alone. Here are the books listed in order:

• Secret Promise. (Chosen by Westbow to be featured on the Thomas Nelson Lighthouse site.) Depiction of domestic abuse and racial injustice. 
  
• The Courtship of Miss Loretta Larson. Romance interwoven with exposure of social injustice. 
  
• The Dream Bucket (Qualified Independent Publisher ranking earned by sales of The Dream Bucket) A story of coming of age and a mother struggling without her husband.
  
• Manuela Blayne. The story of a young African American girl who received abuse from all sides.
  
• Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek (co-authored with Sarah Walker Gorrell) A depiction of Romani people (Gypsies) interacting with local residents of Mississippi. \
  
• House of Seven. A romantic comedy.

About the Delight Music Fest Super Signing

Exciting news.

What? Delight Music Fest 

When? Saturday, September 30, 2017

Where? Delight, Arkansas. The book signing is at the park.

Why? Annual event. This year the festival is honoring Glen Campbell, who was born at Billstown, an unincorporated community just outside Delight.  

How? There will be bands all afternoon, with the Campbells last.

The Glen Campbell 5K Ramble starts at 8:00A.M. and goes through the main street, right past the library.

A vintage car show starts at 11:00 A.M. 

There are food and craft vendors and great crowds, as well as four bands to entertain you. 

Super Signing at Delight

The third annual Super Signing, sponsored by the Delight Branch Library, will be held during the Delight Music Fest on September 30 at the Delight, AR city park. Authors from three states will be in attendance:

1. Children's picture book author Linda Black from Arkansas
2. Cozy mystery writer LaRee Bryant with her "Poppy Green" books
3. Louisiana author Mary Lou Cheatham, historical inspirational novels, including the six books of her "Covington Chronicles" series  
4. Prescott writer Georgia Estes, with her first inspirational non-fiction based on her time spent in Africa 
5. Louisiana's Robin House with her first Christian non-fiction  for children and adults
6. Prescott author, Charity Lowdermilk, offering a thrilling  middle grade time travel/adventure;
7. Texas author, Caryl McAdoo, who will have several historical, inspirational romance  titles available
8. Minister Terrell Polite with non-fiction books to help in your Christian walk 
9. Delight author Penny Richards with the first two installments of her award winning "Lilly Long" mystery series
10. Sandy Steen, also from Texas, with her "Parker Doyle Mysteries," a very different twist on paranormal 
11. From  Nashville Arkansas, Jerlyn Stone with her contemporary "Tara" police mystery series 

 The Super Signing will follow the Glen Campbell 5K Ramble in honor of Delight's very own, recently deceased Glen Campbell, with portions of the proceeds going to the Alzheimers Foundation. Music will start at noon, including Glen's family, Billstown Boys and several bands will be participating into the evening. There will be food, jewelry, crafts and games for kids.

Taylorsville's Local Artist Who Uses Gourds as a Medium

Nicky is participating in a lovely gourd display at Evon A. Ford Memorial Library, 208 Spring Street, Taylorsville, MS 39168-0430. She's featuring her concept of The Dream Bucket. As the author of The Dream Bucket, a family inspirational novel staged near my imaginary town of Taylorsburg, MS, I am so happy about this display I could explode, or bust wide open, as I used to say back when we were kids in Taylorsville.

Nicky has written a poem about The Dream Bucket

and featured it on the gourd. It can be found on
https://collardpatch.blogspot.com/2017/08/nicky-blakeney-gourd-artist-4_27.html

The Dream Bucket is only one shelf of the library's interesting display. I'm grateful to Nicky Blakeney, amazing local artist; Joyce McKinley, the librarian; and the Friends of the Library, including the town's mayor, Rosalyn Glenn.

I feel sure Taylorsville, Mississippi, has many other talented artists besides Nicky Blakeney. For example, Sarah Walker Gorrell is an amazing local author. Please drop me a note on my Facebook message page (Mary Cooke) about other artists and creatives in my hometown.

Nicky became interested in the concept of The Dream Bucket when  she read the novel. She wrote in a review on Amazon: "If you like good 'clean' reading, with a good story line that moves along smoothly this is it. Set in the deep south at the turn of the century, she brings her characters to life and you feel as if you may know them."

The Dream Bucket at Amazon