No Camera for Me #MondayMusings #OpenBookBlogHop #Inspiration

Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. This week’s question is: “What did you want for birthday/Christmas that you never got and might be bitter about? Have you bought it for yourself?”

In the 1970’s when I was twelve years old, I thought it would be neat to have a Polaroid camera. At the time, my parents were taking a lot of pictures. Although they used an old-fashioned camera with film that had to be developed, I liked the idea of instant gratification, snapping a shot and seeing it almost immediately.

My mother gently explained to me that because of my visual impairment, she didn’t think I’d be able to use any camera. I got it. Have I been bitter about it? No. It’s just the way life is, and bitterness doesn’t do any good.

Now, I realize that it’s possible for a visually impaired person to learn to use a camera. But my writing and other pursuits keep me busy. I think I’ll stick to doing what I know how to do.

How about you? Is there something you wanted for Christmas or your birthday that you never got? Have you been bitter about it? Did you ever buy it yourself? You can click here to participate in this week’s hop and read other bloggers’ responses.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

I’m pleased to announce that from now until January 1^st, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, The Red Dress, and My Ideal Partner are ABSOLUTELY FREE from Smashwords as part of its 6^th annual end-of-year sale. Please visit my Smashwords author page to learn more.

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my twice-yearly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to: newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

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?

***

Facebook

Website

Labor Day #MondayMusings #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

Today, Labor Day, falls on my brother’s 54th birthday. Since he lives in Jupiter, Florida, and I’m in Sheridan, Wyoming, of course, we can’t celebrate together. But I sent him a gift. Since he and his wife toured Maine in July, I thought they’d enjoy a collection of poems and pictures by Maine author Bette A. Stevens called My Maine: Haiku Through the Seasons.

***

The above was inspired by a prompt from Writing Works Wonders to write about Labor Day in less than 75 words. If you missed my review of My Maine: Haiku Through the Seasons, you can click here to read it. However those of you here in the United States celebrate Labor Day, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

***

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

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

***

Facebook

Website

TOP TEN THINGS YOU NEVER SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOUR MOTHER #WordPressWednesday #Reblogs #Inspiration

This is a day late but hopefully not a dollar short. Yesterday, my mother would have been eighty-six years old. May she rest in peace. Today’s WordPress Wednesday contribution is in her memory. Enjoy!

***

The inspiration for this list was a discussion between The Producer and me about how kids can light the parental upset fuse by a simple question. We both have asked some and have been asked some.

View the original post.

***

Birthday #Poetry #TuesdayTidbit

Today’s my birthday. I’m turning sixty years old. But the following poem, from My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds, isn’t about me. I wrote it on my late husband’s seventieth birthday. By that time, partially paralyzed by two strokes, he was in a nursing home because I could no longer care for him. I hoped that, like others who move to nursing homes, he would rally and live a few more years. But a couple of weeks after his seventieth birthday, I had to face reality. You can learn more by reading My Ideal Partner.

***

BIRTHDAY

by Abbie Johnson Taylor

Gray hair against white pillow,
lips caress my cheek,
his good arm encircles my shoulder.
The odor of peanut butter
scent of his shampoo comfort me.
Seventy years old today, he says he loves me,
kiss soft against my cheek,
as we hold each other,
for who knows how long.

***

By the way, for those of you who use the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, The Red Dress is available for download from their site here. No matter how you read it, please be sure to review it wherever you can. That goes for all my books. Thank you for stopping by. Stay safe, happy, and healthy.

New! The Red Dress

When Eve went to her high school senior prom, she wore a red dress that her mother had made for her. That night, after dancing with the boy of her dreams, she caught him in the act with her best friend. Months later, Eve, a freshman in college, is bullied into giving the dress to her roommate. After her mother finds out, their relationship is never the same again.

Twenty-five years later, Eve, a bestselling author, is happily married with three children. Although her mother suffers from dementia, she still remembers, and Eve still harbors the guilt for giving the dress away. When she receives a Facebook friend request from her old college roommate and an invitation to her twenty-five-year high school class reunion, then meets her former best friend by chance, she must confront the past in order to face the future.

***

Books

My Amazon Author Page

Facebook

Website

Wind Beneath My Wings #Monday Musical Memories

Last Friday, October 18^th, my late husband Bill would have been 76 years old. He was my hero, the wind beneath my wings. If not for him, I might not have quit my day job and started writing full-time. Without his love, encouragement, and feedback, I might not have published my first two books. Without his inspiration, I might not have five books under my belt with a sixth on the way. He made me who I am today.

After his strokes, I often sang him this song. He always cried when I got to the part about walking a step behind. That was how we always walked together before the strokes, so my white cane wouldn’t hit him, as I arced it back and forth along the sidewalk. He placed one hand on my shoulder and the other on his support cane. You can read more of our story in My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds.

Now, six years after his passing, I still can’t sing this song without losing it. I’ve tried, but I can’t do it justice, at least not yet. So, I’ve given Bette Midler the honor of performing it for us today.