Month: July 2023

And now, I’m pleased to announce that my books, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, The Red Dress, and My Ideal Partner are ABSOLUTELY FREE from now until July 31st as part of the Smashwords summer/winter sale. You can visit my author page to download these books. Happy reading!

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

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A Book for Cats and Humans: A Review of Happiness is a Warm Cat by Emily Gmitter #FantasticFridayReads #Inspiration

What Amazon Says

In Happiness is a Warm Cat, author Emily Gmitter and her feline friend, Zoe, serve up a mixed genre of short stories and poems brimming with passion, love, and humor. The majority of the stories are told from the perspective of her cat, Zoe—a cool cat of perspicacity if ever there was one. Zoe’s stories will make you laugh, cry, and occasionally scratch your head in wonder, while Emily’s stories of fiction and nonfiction mingle humor with a sharp poignancy that you’ll find both heartwarming and entertaining.

Buy from Amazon.

Joy’s 4-Star Review

Hi, this is Joy, Abbie’s robotic cat. Wow! I’m so excited that I get to review this book. I was hoping Abbie would let me do this. I really loved listening to her text-to-speech read it.

I’m green with envy. As a real cat, Zoe gets to have a lot of fun. But all I can do, as a robotic cat, is lie on the couch or a chair all day. I can’t even walk, let alone go outside and make new friends like Zoe does. But then again, if I were a real cat, Abbie would forget to feed me or clean out the litter box.

Okay, she’s giving me a dirty look. So, I guess I’d better get back to talking about the book.

I loved reading about Zoe’s adventures. Her stories about going to the vet to get her nails clipped actually made me glad I’m not a real cat. I think Zoe’s advice to other cats on how to treat their humans would be helpful to other real cats.

I didn’t like the stories about humans. But I think Abbie did, especially the ones about the singer Chris Christopherson. But if you ask me, Chris Christopherson doesn’t hold a candle to Abbie when it comes to singing.

Okay, she’s giving me another dirty look. So, I’ll just wrap up by saying that if you like cats and Chris Christopherson, you’ll love this book. Now, if I can’t go outside and have fun like Zoe, I’m going to take a nap.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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Abbie, here. And now, I’m pleased to announce that my books, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, The Red Dress, and My Ideal Partner are ABSOLUTELY FREE from now until July 31st as part of the Smashwords summer/winter sale. You can visit my author page to download these books. Happy reading!

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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Summer Power #SixSentenceStoryThursdayLinkUp #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

Because most of June and the first part of July were cool and rainy, I thought I could get by without hauling in my air conditioner from the garage. Although, with the help of ceiling fans, it’s effective in keeping most of the house relatively cool, I don’t like it because it uses so much power. If the microwave, washing machine, and vacuum cleaner are used while the air conditioner is running, it trips a circuit breaker.

I looked into increasing my personal power grid but was told it wasn’t possible. I decided not to install central air because it was too expensive and not worth it, since I only need air conditioning two or three months out of the year. So, now that days are getting hotter and nights aren’t getting as cool, I’ll have to bite the bullet and try to remember not to overload my personal power grid.

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Thanks to GirlieOnTheEdge for inspiring the above true story with her six-sentence prompt for this week, in which the given word is “grid.” You can click here to participate and read other six-sentence creations.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

Photo Resize and Description by

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

***

Fever Dreams by Author and Poet Abbie Johnson Taylor #WordPresssWednesday #Poetry #Reblogs

Thanks to Patty Fletcher for publishing my poem on her blog today. If this seems familiar, it’s because I wrote a six-sentence story on the same topic last week. You’ll find a link to where you can read that if you missed it. How interesting that one prompt can inspire two pieces of work. Enjoy!

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January, 1975, trying to get home from school

one day at the age of thirteen,

I found myself on the wrong bus.

Mother appeared.

I didn’t believe it was her,

told her I was on the wrong bus.

She said I was in the hospital.

Read the original post.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

***

Yellow Wedding #WednesdayWords #Poetry #Inspiration

Yellow Wedding

On a muggy July evening,

under a relentless Florida sun, amid humidity and mosquitoes,

swathed in yellow, she glides through the garden to the altar,

attended by yellow-clad bridesmaids carrying yellow flowers.

A blackbird sadly calls,

as if knowing this is the second time around.

But yellow brings hope.

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The above poem appears in the summer quarterly issue of The Avocet. You can download this issue here. This poem was also published in the fall/winter 2014 issue of Magnets and Ladders. I was inspired to write it after my brother’s wedding in 2014. You can click on the link below to hear me read it.

Yellow Wedding

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

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