The past week has been marked by plenty of wind and rain, with the occasional dry spell. Fortunately, the temperature has risen and we’ve been close to 50F/10C for most of the week. The warmer weather has led to the appearance of buds on various bushes and shrubs, including the hydrangeas. I did manage to do a bit of cleanup in some of the flower beds at the front of the house, but plenty more to do when the weather permits.
Due to the current world situation, we continue to see the price of gasoline (petrol) increase. Over the past week, the price of a liter climbed seven pence to £1.57 or the equivalent of $7.87 for a U.S. gallon. If the exchange was the same now as in late February, the price would be $8.20!
Here’s this week’s quote (Compliments of http://www.wisdomquotesandstories.com/): “They are not grey hairs. They are my Wisdom highlights. I just happen to be extremely wise.”
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on March 13th, the second Sunday of the month:
Charles Bonnet, Swiss naturalist and writer; Moritz von Strachwitz, German poet; Oswald Garrison Villard, American journalist and editor of the New York Evening Post; Emanuel Stickelberger, Swiss writer (Bluthochzeit); Hugh S. Walpole, British novelist and playwright (Jeremy, Maradick at 40); Oskar Loerke, German writer (Longest Day-1926); Janet Flanner, American journalist (New Yorker); Dorothy Aldis, American children’s writer; Marcel Thiry, Belgian writer and wallon militant; Maria Pia de Braganca, Portuguese journalist and writer who claimed to be the bastard daughter of King Carlos I of Portugal; Mircea Eliade, Romanian religious historian (Le Yoga) and author; Walter Annenberg, American publisher (Triangle-TV Guide) and philanthropist; L. Ron Hubbard, American sci-fi writer (Death Quest) and founder of the Scientology cult; Sergey Mikhalkov, Soviet writer and poet; W.O. Mitchell, Canadian writer (Who Has Seen the Wind?); Maria Vlamynck, Flemish author; Charles Sickman Corsen, Dutch Antillean poet; Jim Slater, British financier and writer; Wolfgang Kohlhaase, German actor, director and writer (Solo Sunday); Barry Hughart, American author of fantasy novels (Bridge of Birds); David Nobbs, English comedic writer (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin); Mahmoud Darwish, Palestinian prominent poet and writer; André Téchiné, French director and screenwriter (Scene of the Crime, Rendez-Vous); Yuri Andrukhovych, Ukrainian writer, poet and political essayist; Joe Ranft, American screenwriter and animator (Toy Story, Cars); and Robert Lanham, American author and satirist (The Hipster Handbook).
Any names familiar to you? I know one name on today’s list: L. Ron Hubbard. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!
My Published Work
All of my novels are participating in a Mystery & Suspense / Mystery, Mystery & Suspense / Suspense, and Mystery & Suspense / Thriller promotion called Mayhem and Motives. Why not stop by and check it out? There are 100 novels to choose from:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/m…
Colombian Betrayal and Revenge are also participating in a separate Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense / Mystery, and Mystery & Suspense / Women Sleuths promotion entitled March Fun Reads. There are 99 novels available in this one:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/c…
And finally, The Kurdish Connection and Dangerous Alliance are participating in a Kindle Unlimited Mystery & Suspense and Mystery & Suspense / Thriller promotion. There are 41 novels to check out:
https://books.bookfunnel.com/m…
If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift (at least in the UK since it’s coming up on 27 March) for those special people in your life, look no further. Sylvia’s debut poetry and prose book, Colours of My Life, would make the perfect gift.
Colours of My Life is available across the Amazon network. Just click on the title anywhere in this article to find the universal link and your perfect gift.
My Work in Progress
This week I completed chapter twenty-eight of Ultimate Escalation. My manuscript received another fourteen reviews, bringing the total to 584 As always, plenty of suggestions to enhance my writing.
Here’s another snippet:
“Aaaaaaih!”
Screams, shouts, and alarms pierced the air. Someone coughed.
Willie pushed aside chunks of concrete, broken furniture, and a dead body as he inched his way in the direction of the cough. “Hello? Who’s there?”
Another cough. “Alf.”
“Just a minute, and I’ll be there. Are you injured?”
“A few cuts and bruises but nothing broken. There’s a lump of mortar pinning my arm. Can’t get enough leverage to shift it.”
Willie slid through an aperture. “Hang on. I’m right here.” He put his shoulder into the concrete. “Ready? Might hurt.”
“Go for it, mate.”
Willie grunted as he shoved the debris off Alf’s arm.
“Ow!” Alf wiggled his fingers. “What the hell happened?”
“Not sure exactly. There was a loud explosion, the hotel shook, and floors collapsed.”
“How long ago?”
“About fifteen minutes. C’mon, let’s climb out of here and find Nate.”
The men worked through the collapsed building. Dust continued to hang in the air, making it difficult to see their way.
At last, Willie and Alf dragged an unconscious Nate from under a pile of rubble and into a corridor.
“Help!” Willie waved his arms above his head.
A hotel security guard, covered in dust, blood trickling down his face, stumbled forward, carrying a rolled-up canvas stretcher. “I will help you, sahib. Are you a guest here?”
“Yes, and thank you.” Willed helped the guard unrolled the stretcher on a somewhat debris-free space.
Together the three men lowered Nate to the floor. Once he was safely ensconced, they picked him up and trundled toward the hotel’s lobby.
A doctor, wearing a dust-covered suit and a grimy facemask, approached them and gave Nate a once-over examination. The doctor pointed toward the main entrance. “Take your friend outside. An ambulance will take him to the hospital.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Willie rubbed a hand over his face. “What are his chances?”
The doctor extended his hand so the palm was perpendicular to the floor. He tilted his hand back and forth. “Fifty-fifty. If Allah is willing.”
More next time.
This brings us to an end for another week. I hope you found something of interest. If you have any suggestions for a topic you’d like to read about, please let me know. Until the next time, thank you for reading and hope you drop in again.
© Copyright 2022 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
Always a pleasure to read your posts. Weather in Montreal we regressed to mid January for the last few days a last minute snow storm Friday. Looks like we will also be at 10C in the next days. Just a note: I am working with a team of mystery/ thriller writers on a Mystery Conference is you are interested in participating or being one of our panelists use this link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VLmMlLdNROaxvlcfueSYsg