EVEN THEN ~ A Short Story by Lorraine Smith

My post today is a short story, a first one written by a British friend, Lorraine Smith. Lorraine is a working Mum, and lives in Surrey (UK) with her husband and their baby daughter. If you enjoy blogs that offer breaths of fresh air, Lorraine's posts on 'Gin and Cornflakes' is one that I highly recommend. The link is provided after her story.

Even Lorraine's bio has the flair of fresh air:

"My heart belongs in the Cotswolds where I grew up, and hope to return one day. I'm a qualified lawyer and reflexologist, and have recently completed a wine course (purely for the education and NOT the tasting, of course...?). I started writing in December last year, and haven't yet stopped. I blog about being a Mum - how fab it is, but also how hard it is sometimes. I haven't got the time or the energy to want it all - I just want a bit of everything!"

Thank you, Lorraine, for allowing me to post your beautiful short story on Treasured Encounters. 'Even then...' is powerful and continues to touch me  deeply, in a more sweet than bitter way.

 

Even then…

I remember the first time I saw him - Jack. The garden at my Nan’s house. The horse chestnut tree. I had a couple of conkers and was sticking dress pins into them to make furniture for the finger dolls my Nan had knitted me. He had climbed over the fence from next door to see what new treasures he could find. He rolled his eyes at my craft. Sparkling eyes, full of life. Mischievous; playful. Conkers were for baking in the oven to harden, and then hung on string for playground games. Not for dolls’ houses. He stuffed a few into his pocket, taking a doll too for good measure, and with a wink scampered off. I knew he’d be back... Even then.

 

He was only a lad when he went off to fight. Sixteen. Full of schoolboy optimism. But he returned hardened by the horrors he had witnessed on the killing fields of France. A pawn in the playground games of fat majors with maps spread out on tables, plotting where young boys would lose their youth. His eyes were flat. Dull; serious. Medals earned were tossed in the fire. But memories are not so easily extinguished. They became the ashes that smothered his spirit and cast a dark cloud over his life. I thought my Jack might return though... Even then.

 

We were married, and life was hard but we had each other. And our two children – a girl and a boy to replace us both when we went on. Time passed, and the flashbacks became less frequent. But, as he aged, he lost the will to fight the thoughts that blighted his days. And then his winter years brought with them the coldest of all diseases: Dementia. I tried desperately to hold on to him, battling his demise. But Dementia is a determined enemy and, slowly, he slipped further away - sliding into an ignorance of life post playground. He became a child again. e beTimeHis illness erasing the scars of time; protecting him from his past. And I knew he wouldn’t be back... Even then.

But I came to accept our new reality. I played by the rules of Dementia’s game. I cared for him; mothered him; loved him. Dementia had won, but I would not be defeated. The memories I chose to cherish were those under the horse chestnut tree at my Nan’s. I found comfort in recounting those stories to our children, and to their children. Grandad. Dad. Jack. War hero and conker champion…. I treasured those thoughts, for it was when he was a child that I had first met him. And it was how I knew him when he died. In the pocket of the dressing gown he was wearing the day he left us, I found one of my knitted dolls. And so I knew he had never forgotten... Even then.


Lorraine's blog, Gin & Cornflakes - Mummy talk for the rest of us, can be visited here.

Connect with her as @gin_cornflakes on Twitter here.

Visit her Facebook page here.

 

THE BRIDLE PATH - a Review by Kathy Jensen

Kathy Jensen is an avid reader and read 'The Bridle Path' in two afternoon sittings. She also happens to be my wonderful sister. Kathy has chosen to, as she says, "flex my writing muscles," by writing  this, her first book review:

    

   

'The Bridle Path, by Julia Hughes, provided me with a delightful, insightful journey of a woman adjusting to instant motherhood after a tragedy takes the lives of her brother and sister-in-law. Her nephew, Sebby, initially withdrawn and uncommunicative, begins to blossom and rediscover his joy in living when his Aunt Matilda buys a lovely home in Cornwall, exposing him to glorious vistas, fresh air, and new friends. Greg, who lives in a nearby farm, gifts Sebby with a horse, giving him opportunities to learn about responsibility and unconditional love.

    

     The characters are well-drawn, and as an American, much of my delight with this book entailed the descriptive countryside and the British nuances of personality. As the relationships evolve, in particular with Greg and Matilda, I felt myself totally drawn in and expectantly awaiting the outcomes.

    

     The Bridle Path was written in such a way that it was believable and satisfying when these characters come to love and support and appreciate each other.  

    

     An excellent read; I heartily recommend it to all!'

    

Available now at a special price: $.99  Click here
 

 Julia Hughes is the London born author of the Celtic Cousins' Adventures: A Raucous Time; A Ripple in Time; and An Explosive Time.
The Bridle Path is a stand alone romantic adventure set in the county of Cornwall.
"The Griffin Cryer" is an urban fantasy, soon to be joined by its stable mate, "The Griffin's Boy", in the near future.


Julia is a finalist in the 2013 eFestival of Words Competition:
     "The Griffin Cryer" for Best Fantasy
     Wren, one of the Celtic Cousin's in "A Ripple in Time" for Best Hero.

It's simple to log in, easy to vote!
http://www.efestivalofwords.com/awards-hall-f29.html

Drop by her site,  http://www.juliahughes.co.uk/index.html  for flavorful posts, features, book reviews and information regarding current and future projects.

http://www.wordspi.com/index.html  Words Unlimited was designed to support the works of indie authors. WU features back stories of indie authors' books and a wonderful feature, 140 Little Words. Julia's door is always open for submissions!

Connect with Julia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinksaid

Connect with Julia on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/juliahughesbooks

My sister, Kathy Jensen, with Maggie, a rescued Cavalier Spaniel who lives with our good friend, Karin.

Katie and Dancer: A Fanciful Short Story

   Situated from the ocean by a mere stone’s throw, St. Lucia was surrounded on its other three sides by a range of small hills. It sat in a valley, lush with good soil and pasture, enabling the villagers to maintain a high degree of self-sufficiency.

St. Lucia was a fascinating place, with many stores of handcrafted goods, home-made foodstuffs and a fresh catches-of-the-day market down near the ocean. One aspect, though, made this village more interesting than others.  As one of the most colorfully dressed women in the village, Katie caught the eyes of most visitors. When she was observed while teaching, however, many became quite spellbound; wearing colorful, flowing skirts, her movements around the children conjured up visions of butterflies and birds in flight and, for some, even such woodland folk as faeries at play.

    When she was a child, Katie excelled at every task that was put before her. She completed her classes in language and counting, and even the everyday chores with such ease.  This gave her extra time to do what she really wanted to do: explore the nearby beaches. Katie loved the salty, vibrant smell of the ocean and would spend most of her free time combing the beach. She had quite a collection of shells and interesting artifacts that the tides had left upon the shore.

   One test-taking day, little Katie completed her tests quickly and thus, had almost the whole day to explore. It happened to be a very sunny day; a perfect day for a swim, she thought, hurrying towards the beach. Kicking off her shoes, Katie dove into the surf and came up laughing, the waves tumbling her about. Standing still for a moment, she let the waves slap and knock her about until she caught the ocean’s cadence. Swimming out a bit farther, she turned into an oncoming wave and, instead of tumbling under, Katie flew forward on top of the wave all the way into shore, where it steadily petered out. Shaking out her hair and laughing in unabashed joy, she walked back into the ocean for more. 

  It was while observing the antics of some sea birds that Katie experienced a moment of epiphany. The birds were flying down to the tops of the waves then zipping back up into the sky, over and over. Chortling in glee, she pondered: They seem to be playing with the waves!  Do these birds feel as wonderful as I do when I’m surfing in the waves?  I wonder; who else plays together with such fun?

   Katie looked around then, taking notice of the feel of the ocean’s breezes on her cheeks and how the ends of her hair were lifted up and blown from side to side, in concert with the wind. As she gazed up at the trees that stood near the edge of this beach, she thought, the trees are playing in the wind, too. Katie jumped up, held out her arms and began to move, mirroring the way the tree limbs would dip down, swirl and fly up as the wind caught the leaves from different directions. Then she burst out laughing and twirled around and around, kicking up the sand and moving with the waves, the birds, the trees and the wind. How did I miss seeing this before? I feel so free!

   Some kind of flying creature, she thought; perhaps a tiny fast-moving bird. When the sparkling light began to move closer, however, and then fluttered as if to land upon her raised knee, Katie’s breath caught.  It’s a beautiful woodland faerie; I wondered if they were real!

   Mouth agape, watching the lightly swirling yellows blend as the faerie settled more securely on her knee, Katie heard, as a whisper in her mind, Yes, we are real to those who see. I am here as a guide. Come, will you take a walk with me?

   Without any consideration, Katie stood up and, though on shaky legs, began to follow the faerie on a seemingly haphazard path through the woods that soon began to wind its way up. She had never ventured this far up into the woods before. It’s greener in the woods and a bit cooler, Katie thought as they climbed higher. Just before reaching the top of a ridge, the faerie settled onto a large rock in a clearing that overlooked a small waterfall.

   Katie turned around and around; she was enthralled. I can see everywhere; the beach and my village down below, everyone scurrying around; and the forests all around us. Everywhere is magnificently alive! The faerie sat quietly, recognizing Katie’s need to take in all the wondrous views; to experience her newly recognized innate love and respect for all living things. When sated by her wonder, Katie turned expectantly towards the faerie and sat down upon a rock beside the stream: I didn’t know how marvelous it would feel, to see so far and wide.  

   Fluttering towards the branch of a small bush nearer to Katie, the faerie shared her message: I came because you called to me. ‘Dance’ is the term that forest and beach creatures use to describe their interactions with each other. I am called ‘Dancer’ because the movements of all other creatures call my spirit into dance. Your movements in concert with the dance of the birds with the waves and the trees with the wind called me to you. It is here that you will more fully be able to understand my meaning. Take a moment; see around you.

   Unable to contain her excitement, Katie jumped back up, clapping her hands and twirling around and around. “I’m dancing!” she shouted out loud, and her body responded with no hesitant restraint. She ran to the branches of a nearby tree, running her hands through the wind-tossed leaves, turning around and around. She twirled and danced on towards other trees, running her hands through every bush, whether full-leafed or scraggly.

   While twirling about in a circle, a flicker of light caught her eye and she realized that Dancer was also flitting about, moving in sequence with her. Katie dipped and swirled, touching leaves and branches as she went. Every movement that she made, Dancer did also. “We are dancing together!” Katie shouted in joy.

   After another whirl of dancing around the clearing, Katie dropped down onto the nearest rock to catch her breath and watch the birds, butterflies, the bees, rabbits and squirrels dance amongst the trees and bushes.

   Dancer settled next to her. Here is the reason that I’ve brought you here. You, too, are a dancer. Dance is in your soul and has now been called forth into expression. You will find your way into a Purpose as you move forward in life. From this day forth, every aspect of life will be seen by you as a dance and, by your example, you shall teach this to others.

   Astounded at first, Katie gazed at Dancer before nodding. I know, Dancer. Everything becomes more alive to me when I move in a dance. With that acknowledgement, Dancer began a fluttering kind of exaggerated movement and, hovering before Katie, said: If you call me, I will come. Then, with a final flicker of her wings, Dancer disappeared.

  

   This is the story that Katie tells to those who are interested enough to listen. Some dismiss her, stating that she is merely an unimportant dance teacher. Some tend to look with disdain at her adult classes, whispering out loud, "This class is simply a waste of good time; there are more important things to be taught."

   When Katie came down out of the forest that day, she began to observe life with new eyes. As everyone went about their daily pursuits, she saw their movements as dance. “We all dance,” she tells her adult and children’s classes as she takes them on outings to observe villagers at their work. “Plowing a field, harvesting a crop, hammering a nail, cooking a meal, washing the clothes, counting out money and even diapering a baby are done with movement. All movement is dance; and it can be freeing to your soul to see your movements as dance instead of mere work. Those who can see this will find that their work becomes more enjoyable.”  

   Katie is never concerned with those who criticize or look at her with disdain. They do not see she reminds herself; and, truthfully, her lack of concern is because she is attuned more to her enjoyment of freedom, the kind that she feels inside her soul. Katie still takes many walks up to the clearing, pausing often to rest by the waterfall and marvel at the many instances of dance that occur in the forest around her. Even those creatures whose purpose is to allow others to eat them for sustenance are engaged in a dance, Katie thought to herself one day, watching a wren swoop down to grab a caterpillar. Life is – just so.

   As her body aged, Katie continued to dance and teach her classes. On one recent hike up into the woods, she sat on a favorite rock and mused: Perhaps I shall continue to dance, even beyond the time that my body is laid down to rest forever. This thought brought Katie back up on her feet, twirling around and bumping her hips up against a nearby tree. “Of course I shall,” she said aloud. “Dance is in my soul.”

Christmas in the Peruvian Andes

My good friend, Aaron, is an excellent photographer and has traveled extensively throughout the world. He is always entertaining me with tales of unique encounters that are indeed to be treasured.  Aaron has graciously allowed me to share his Machu Picchu story on Treasured Encounters.

    Just before Christmas I arrived in Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incan empire located more than 11,000 feet high in the Peruvian Andes.  Unlike all the other historic cities of Latin America, Cuzco is a fascinating blend of the old and very old.  As I walked the streets, I encountered the cobble stone streets and stone walls and buildings of the pre-Hispanic era along with the more familiar multi-colored traditional Spanish colonial architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries.  

    On Christmas Eve morning scores of indigenous Quechua people

from surrounding villages were flooding into the main plaza to set up their stalls and sell their wares in the market.  I actually saw many arriving the night before, arranging their goods and belongings outside in the open, or under the eaves of the buildings surrounding the square.  By midnight the temperature must have dipped to around 40 degrees. The children were sleeping, mouths agape, positioned every which way around and on the mounds of their parents’ goods stored in sacks.  Their mothers, however, were wide awake - on guard perhaps - wearing their traditional bowler hats, brought to this part of the world by British rail workers in the 1920s. I had never seen such a tightly arranged mass of people in my entire life. Perhaps on TV of a refugee camp from a war-ravaged country. 
    After a busy market day in the plaza, Christmas Eve night was uneventful until midnight.  I had just returned to my room when I heard the booms and whistles and ran to my balcony.  On the hillside surrounding the city, hundreds of streamers were shooting across the sky. I hurried down to the main plaza to check things out.  The plaza was riddled with trash and debris from the market and fireworks while young boys were gleefully lighting off firecrackers and tossing them in the air, seemingly unaware of the danger of losing a finger or two. 

    A couple of days later my Japanese traveling companion, Kae, and I took the four-hour train ride to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas."  Like a good movie that is overhyped, I doubted Machu Picchu could fulfill my over-inflated expectations.  Moreover, I was still feeling sapped of energy from the altitude and a flu bug I was fighting.

    We stayed overnight near Machu Picchu and in early morning a downpour ensued that lasted five hours.  I was relieved when the rain ceased mid-morning and Kae and I took off on the 30-minute bus ride of 18 switchbacks that climbs the side of the steep mountain to reach the top where Machu Picchu is perched. Machu Picchu is immense – larger than you would expect when looking at a still photo.  It took almost 50 years to build such an elaborate and expansive ceremonial center so high and hidden in the mountains.  Despite my physical condition, it was impressive and affirmed to me its place as one of every traveler’s dream destinations.
    After about three hours, though, I was exhausted and we boarded the bus to head back down. As the bus pulled away, we were greeted by a "goodbye boy," dressed in traditional Incan garb that included a red-checkered bandana across his forehead (see photo).  He stood woodenly alongside the road crying out, "goooooooood-byyyyyyyyyyyyye," while waving his open hand mechanically from side to side at shoulder height.  Kae burst out laughing as she remembered hearing about the phenomenon of these boys from a documentary on Japanese television. As our bus slowly descended, back and forth down the side of this sheer mountain, at every other switchback he was there in the middle, standing, waiting for us and waving.  It was not until the boy had raced down to perhaps our sixth switchback and his third greeting, this time yelling "aaaaaaaaadiooooooooos," did it dawn on me that he was going to attempt the precarious task of running straight down the steep side of this mountain, stopping to say goodbye to us after every other one of our turns, retracing an historic, well-worn path of his Incan ancestors.
 

   At every other switchback everyone on the bus would wait in anticipation, wondering if he could make it in time to greet us again.  On one particularly long stretch I seriously doubted he would be there around the next turn.  We let out a collective cheer when he appeared again, out of nowhere, frozen in posture as always, waving mechanically and yelling out his goodbye.  At that point, maybe the sixth time for him, I had little doubt he would make it down to the river at the bottom to salute us one final time – nine times in all, bisecting our back-and-forth route 18 times.
    When we took that last turn at the bottom, we saw him bolt out in front of us, beating our bus across the bridge.  We pulled to the side of the road and on-board

he came. We all applauded as the tour guide explained the historical relevance of the Incan path and the tradition of these boys. The boy gave us his elongated goodbye cry one last time and then held out a little bag as he walked up and down the aisle seeking a "tip" for his efforts.  "It's easy," is what he told me of his 30-minute scamper.  He had beads of sweat on his nose, but his breath seemed as still as if he had been at rest.

Introducing Pamela Chattin: Her 1st Essay

How many treasured encounters can one have in less than a year? More than I ever imagined. My first year in a part-time, 3 hour/3 mornings per week job as a TABE/GED coach/teacher to a multi-cultural group of adult students has been flavorful indeed.  There hasn’t been a single work day in which I’ve grumbled about the 45 minute drive to get to the library in which we have class. I do, however, admit to grumbling about having to always set up the room, to grab books and supplies out of a closet. It has been rare, though, for me to do this chore alone. My students are delightfully helpful; Pam consistently comes to my aid.   

      Pamela Chattin has been in the class since day 1; a student who brightened up my first day with her enthusiasm and a fierce passion to succeed. She has passed each of her TABE subjects with flying colors: reading, language and math – all scores, 100%. Pam is now doing final studies and practice tests in order to pass the more comprehensive GED exam, equivalent to a high school diploma. This is an amazing accomplishment in so short a time of study for it has been over 15 years since Pam was in school; she dropped out while in the 8^th grade.

     Pam is the single parent of two teenagers and juggles class while maintaining a part-time job and her parenting responsibilities. When I was asked to interview one of my students, Pam came immediately to mind. The interview has been included in Lake Technical Center’s proposal to receive a national grant. My interview of Pam follows.

(Q) What inspired you to sign up for GED classes at Lake Tech?

8^th grade was the highest I got in school so I ended up cleaning houses for people. About 3 years ago, a job taking care of a lady with dementia fell into my lap. Her husband saw the potential in me, the good job that I did, and began to encourage me, saying that it was not too late. I knew then that I got lucky with this job and began thinking about wanting to better my life, set a good example for my kids. Plus, no one else would pay me this well unless I got my GED and became an LPN. I also wanted the respect for what I did and wouldn’t have this unless I had the documentation to back up doing a good job.

(Q) What was your first impression of the class?

I was really nervous, thinking that I would be the oldest one here, with everyone wondering why I had never finished my education. I also thought that it would be harder since I hadn’t been in school since 8^th grade. At first, I thought that I could do the same thing at home, studying from books or online. I was disappointed that GED class was not like a regular class, with a teacher showing the class step-by-step. I hadn’t considered that each of us was different in how we learned or that we were at different learning stages in each subject. Truth is that I wanted to be more disciplined by someone, by the teacher, but I had to develop this in myself. It hit me that I’m my own person. If I want to make it, it was up to me to do the work.

(Q) Do you feel that the materials, the books and online programs like My Skills Tutor, are responsive to the individual needs of students?

I’m a person who likes to learn from books and each of the books provided offers different approaches. I like the books that start out with the easiest skills to learn and then build to the more complex. Since I’m not one to sit down for a long time at a computer, the online work didn’t appeal to me. I know that other students feel differently about that than me. The bottom line is that learning is easier said than done. You have to do the work.

(Q) Are you content with the amount of your improvement since September?

Truthfully, I thought that it would take me a lot longer to get this far. It helped that my teacher’s positive attitude made it so that I looked forward to coming to class instead of dreading it. The teacher saw my potential and it made me not want to let her down. The math tutor that we have has helped me so much. She can take a group of us while our GED teacher helps the rest of the students. 

(Q) Do you have any particular suggestions? 

Keep hiring teachers that have a positive attitude and that can see the potential in adults like me who are trying to better themselves. I had a good attitude for myself when I signed up but it’s hard to keep one when problems keep happening. 

(Q) What are the best and worst parts of your experience?

For me, the best was meeting other adults who were trying to better their lives like me. I saw that everyone had problems; it made me thankful to know that my life was not as bad as I first thought it was. I’m going to hate for class to end.

The worst was the drive yet Lake Tech had choices. There was a class that was closer to me but it was 5 days a week. Three days a week fit my schedule better. I do think that a 4-hour session would fit better than the 3-hour class. It seemed like I was just getting into learning a part and then the class would end.

 

(Q) What are your future plans?

 

I was finishing a CNA course when I started the GED class and I am now CNA- certified. I’ve passed all of my Post-TABE tests and am studying more in order to pass the GED. My initial plan was to sign up for the next GED study session in September and take the GED exam in late fall. However, I’m doing so well that I’ll probably take the GED exam in June. I have already spoken to Lake Technical about the LPN class that begins in March, 2014. My goal is to be in that class.

(End of interview)

In order to pass the Language/Writing part of the GED exam, a student is required to write an essay. The essay topic is unknown until a student opens the exam; they have 45 minutes to brainstorm on paper, formulate their structure and write the essay. Pam did a practice Language/Writing exam this past week, a part that she was dreading. This is her essay; we made minimal corrections.

Pam’s Essay Topic ~ Describe an opinion you once held that has changed over time.

     An opinion I once held that has changed is that couples who stay in an unhealthy relationship for the sake of their children isn’t always for the best. I once believed with all my heart that when two people have children together, they would always stay together. This would be the only way that the children would have a normal childhood. After fifteen years of trying to do the right thing for my children, I realized that this wasn’t the best decision. So I needed to change.  

     I once was very happy with the man in my life. But people change as they get older and, sometimes, it’s not always for the best to stay together. My opinion was that once you have children together, you stayed together no matter what happens. After I had my second child, I was 26 years old and very unhappy with the direction that the lives of my children and I were going.   My girls’ father had stopped working and was drinking all the time. He had changed and not for the best over the years. He was a very negative person and never happy. Even though I could see that my girls were just as unhappy as I was, I still tried to stay in the relationship. I tried my hardest to make things work.

     After fifteen years, I finally realized that my opinion had changed. I needed to make better decisions. The first one was the hardest decision yet. I took my children and walked out of the relationship. We moved to a better place and I surrounded myself with positive people, with family that really helped us to see that we were doing the right thing. My girls and I were moving towards making a better life for ourselves.    

     Once I had changed my opinion about relationships, many other changes took place and they have all been for the best. I am now well on my way to earning my GED. A few months ago, I became a CNA, Certified Nurse Assistant. In October, I will be enrolling in the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program at Lake Technical Center. Along this amazing path that God has chosen for me, I have met my soul mate, a wonderful man who makes me feel good about myself every day; an amazing man that I will soon marry. I have also been given the chance to meet many different people along the way who have become the best friends that anyone would love to have; friends that I look up to and who believe in me. So every day now I always try my hardest to become the person they know that I can be.

     I have now realized that the best way to improve the lives of my children is to first improve my own. I hope that my change of opinion about relationships can help them make better decisions in their own lives. Maybe they do see now that staying with someone you are not happy with isn’t always for the best. Your children learn from you so no matter what your opinions are in life, remember that you can always change them.   

(End of essay!)

Thank you, Pam, for gracing my life with your enthusiasm, helpfulness and ever-present friendliness. You are a treasure. Everyone around you can see that you are; give this honor to yourself.

    

A Wild Announcement Day!

Today is a most exciting day as it is 'Announcement Day!' How often does one get the chance to giveaway an autographed copy of a favorite, extraordinary story? Julia Hughes' novel, 'The Griffin Cryer,' is a brilliant tale for young adults and also captivating for young-at-heart adults like me. And Julia is a most favorite author and has become a dear friend. So today was quite special! Thanks so much, Julia, for offering a free autographed copy of your fantastical tale!

 On Monday, Monica La Porta's adorable beagle, Nero, made his choice. And the cutest young man, Cole, Charlie Plunkett's amazing young son, picked a winner on Tuesday. How to measure up to the excitement of their Announcement Day was my conundrum until......

Those of you who are also 'fellow traveler' readers of Julia's great tales will remember a most special character appeared in the 3rd Celtic Cousins' Adventure series, An Explosive Time. Alfie is his name and, by coincidence, Alfie happens to be one of my favorite critters, ones that I see daily as his kind resides in my back yard. A particular critter, named Andy by our residents, is always swimming by to say 'hello' and he agreed to pick a winner. His only requirement was that I do this 'his way!'

Luckily for me, I was not alone in this endeavor. My sister and 'fellow traveler' reader, Kathy, for some wild and crazy reason, agreed to join me in this Announcement Day dance with Andy.
Andy waited patiently just out from the dock, close enough to ensure we were following his directions. First, I read each entry's comment then we were tasked with laying out on the dock pieces of paper, with potential winner's names placed face down. It's a bit windy so Andy got a kick out of watching Kathy and I scramble around keeping the papers aligned. We stepped back just in time, too, as Andy slapped his tail so fast (I had no time to snap his picture) and splashed water onto the dock. His aim was amazing for only one piece of paper got drenched!
Kathy and I scrambled around, grabbing papers to keep them from flying off into the canal. Andy wasn't done with us, though. Our next task was to show the winner's name to Andy; he wouldn't take our word for it. Andy cruised down a bit towards the end of our dock where he has a special place to catch the sun. Kathy found a bit of fearlessness (from where it came, I don't know!) and.....well, look at the picture I snapped.

The bank is above the canal or else this shot wouldn't have happened (!) Andy blinked his eyes in acknowledgement of the winner as I announced to him the name, Pamela Chattin. Here's Pam's comment:
"I really enjoyed reading your review of The Griffin Cryer, you have done an excellent job. I can honestly say that this would be the only book I would actually like to read. And you know me. I'm not a reader but you have made this seem so interesting. Thank you very much."

Congratulations Pam! I am so happy to know that 'The Griffin Cryer' is a book that you want to read and look forward to your review of Julia's great tale! Hopefully, your teen daughter won't talk you into letting her read it first :-)



A note about alligators. They are very shy, not dangerous critters in the wild and even in lakes and ponds and rivers that are in populated areas. It is the feeding of gators by humans that becomes a death sentence for many of these amazing reptiles. In many cases, gators fed by humans become nuisances, seeing humans as food providers; they are usually put down. Andy was fed by a resident when he was very young yet the feeding was stopped just in time for him to be able to remain in our canal. He's a bit less shy than some, as you can see, yet remains shy enough to dart away if a human gets too close.

JULIA HUGHES ~ AN IMAGINATION RUN WILD!

 

 This is an exciting day for me because a most treasured author, London-born Julia Hughes, has graced Treasured Encounters with an interview. Julia is the author of four thrilling adventure tales and one beautifully written romantic novel. In her bio, Julia writes, "I'm an eldest child and walking my younger brother and sister to school and back, I'd tell them stories - a captive audience!" It's uncanny perhaps, but during my read of her novels, it felt as if I was tagging along, listening to Julia relate each captivating story.

Julia is an avid supporter of other indie authors. Via her website, A Ripple In Time, she offers blog posts that are informative and delightful, plus she keeps us up to date on her book promotions and works in progress. The site offers fascinating author interviews , reviews of books in many genres and the site features incredible short stories by horror writer, Randall R. Peterson. Click here to pop over and visit.

 Julia's Amazon Author Page in U.S., for all books, kindle & paperback.

Julia's Amazon Author Page in U.K., for all books, kindle & paperback.

Julia enjoys connecting with others. On Twitter, she tweets as @tinksaid.

On Facebook, Julia's page is Julia Hughes. Currently on Facebook, Julia is hosting a special event: The Griffin Cryer Book Launch & FREE ebook Giveaway. Access the event from the photo of Julia, on the right.

 

Julia’s current story, ‘The Griffin Cryer,’ is an all-time favorite of mine; an extraordinary adventure/fantasy that has just been released in paperback. I'm not the only who who finds this tale to be one that is extraordinary. On Amazon in both the U.S. and the U.K., there are over 60 reviews, averaging 4.7 out of 5 stars!

Julia is offering FREE kindle downloads of 'The Griffin Cryer' from Tuesday, March 26 - Saturday, March 30. In the U.S. download here. In the U.K. download here.

As a special offering to visitors, Treasured Encounters is sponsoring a giveaway of an autographed copy of 'The Griffin Cryer.' Simply leave a comment and, on March 30, a winner will be selected via a drawing.

And now, my interview of Julia, almost as delightful as her novels!

*The Griffin Cryer is your 5^th published novel, one that involves other-worldly characters. Three previous novels are marvelous adventures that feature two quirky guys, the Celtic Cousins. Many who have read all of these tales, including me, are avid fans because you create such realistic, down-to-earth characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations, some of which are mystical in nature and others that are drawn from historical events. How do the ideas, the twists and turns, for your stories come to you?
 

I’m wholly flattered by the term fan, but I’d rather have fellow travelers – and that’s how I think of you, and everyone who has the imagination to lose themselves in a story. I need to identify with my own characters before asking readers to believe in them. Story lines are easy – pick up any newspaper and you can read at least half a dozen stories that are worthy of a book – or two! The best part of being an author is that you can rewrite the end outcome. I’m not an artist, more someone who loves to read and wanted to tell her own stories; it’s a craft I’m still learning. I’m terrified of losing my reader so tend to throw in every twist I can think of to keep those pages turning.

 

I so enjoy and resonate with your perspective, Julia. I actually do feel like a ‘fellow traveler’ when I read your tales!

*There are many YA novels that take readers into fantasy worlds. A reviewer who gave ‘The Griffin Cryer’ 5* wrote, “…a unique supernatural spin on a genre that has been a little too overdone. Reading this book was like a breath of fresh air.” Is the story purposely written on several levels of appeal to readers, i.e. those who merely enjoy a fast-paced thrilling adventure and those who desire the adventure plus a rich vein of psychological depth to the characters?  

There’ve been some smashing reviews, and I feel very blessed to have so many readers taking time out to comment on how they enjoyed the read. This is where imagination takes over, and books are always going to trump films – readers have a lot more freedom to interpret the story and the characters’ psychological make-up, how they wish. I enjoy a good seat of the trouser adventure story as much as anyone – characters have to have a motive to act as they do – I merely give them that motive. 

You do this so well, Julia.

*THE GRIFFIN CRYER addresses a myriad of current themes that many teens of today face. One 5* reviewer wrote, “…a good book to read with your kids and have discussions about hard topics…”  What prompted you to tackle the scripting of such themes; did your characters ‘speak’ to you about these issues? 

Most teenagers and adults have experience of bullying – what isn’t always obvious is that bullying can take different forms. There’s hard core hateful bullying which is usually violent, and there’s a more casual spiteful bullying – sometimes by so called friends. Both can wear away confidence. And of course, even bullies have their own bullies. I also wanted to explore the theme of freedom, and having belief and confidence in your own abilities. There’s a lot more to be said on these subjects, by people with a lot more expertise and experience than me, but if this story does open the door to discussion, that’s a start. 

*Who is Frankie? From where in your mind did she spring? Is she the young Julia? 

Frankie (Francesca) Shaunessy is a little bit of a tomboy. She’s a conundrum, like most teenagers. She’s uncertain about where she fits in and, deep down, she loves her mum, her step-dad and her brother. She wants to be better than she is – she’s worried she isn’t measuring up. She’s also aware there’s a lot of sympathy for her and her brother, Michael, who has been comatose for almost three years. She doesn’t want sympathy; she just wants her brother back. This makes her prickly, and adds to her feelings of alienation. I wanted to make Frankie an ‘outsider’; the Rider of course is also an ‘outsider’ so when they meet, they have this in common. I wish the young Julia possessed half the adventurous spirit of Frankie. 

Can't help but chuckle here, Julia, for I do see a bit of Frankie in you!

*“Hughes really has a way of making you care about her characters,” said another reader who gave a 5* review. I wholeheartedly agree and find that your less prominent characters add an immensely delightful bit of flair to your tales. I wonder, are you an avid observer of people, their personalities and quirks? Do aspects of your characters come from real people? 

I do make up little backstories for most people I meet. We all do this don’t we? Please don’t say it’s just me being sad! A question I ask over and over is ‘Why did he/she do that?’ The answer is usually because they a) can and b) want to. So the next question is why would anyone want to do that? The car I bought from a little old man who was obviously a retired bank robber had three sets of spare number plates in the boot. Why? Is this why the old man’s retired from robbing banks – his memory is now so bad, he can’t even remember that false number plates have to be different from the real number plates. A neighbour trundles a wheelbarrow filled with rubbish to the local dump. Why? We have garbage collection every week. Is he scared of the garbage men? Or does he pick over the rubbish dump when he’s there – or is it just an excuse to get out the house? If the latter, what’s in the house that he needs to get out on such a flimsy pretext? I think too much don’t I? I like to know what makes people tick.  

And that, Julia, is one of the reasons why your stories engage me on so many levels! 

*There are many twists and turns in plot that the earthly and other-worldly characters must face. During the course of writing GC, how did you stay so attuned to the story’s complex flow?

That’s funny! I struggled to keep the storyline less complex than usual. The truth is I love complications – a little like Wren from the Celtic Cousins in this respect. I’m the driver, so I know how to get from A to B. But I’ll take the scenic route every time. Take the main road, and you’re going to miss out on so much.  

*My enjoyment of THE GRIFFIN CRYER was enhanced because, throughout my read, it often felt as if I was ‘there,’ in the story itself. Other reviewers have intimated the same. Is it important to you that the script be written with vivid sensory details, ones that draw readers ‘…naturally into the story…’?

It is terribly important for readers to enter the story, and it isn’t easy – can you believe that I want you there – I need for readers to believe – and I’ll stoop to any level to achieve belief!  If this happens, I’ve got you and your wonderful imagination to thank. I can write about the dry cleaning fluid odors still hanging around a character’s best suit, but I need you to smell them – I need you to savour the flavours, and smell the coffee.

*Two of the most creatively fascinating segments occur when The Rider and his griffin ‘cross through the membrane from Ella-Earth to Earth’ and back. How were you able to script these intricate segments so realistically?

When the Rider first follows Balkind, his griffin, into this dimension, he does so without thought. Frankie doesn’t realize what’s happened. It occurred naturally, without any conscious effort. When the Rider crosses back to Ella-Earth, both the Rider and Frankie are attempting to control the natural forces of both worlds. The entire experience is different, and since they are tampering with Nature, it becomes quite scary. They are forcing a way through, which shouldn’t be attempted lightly. They’re both reliant upon the griffin, but in turn Balkind needs encouragement from the Rider, and Frankie has to find the strength to push away a soul destroying void. It was easy to imagine the fear and desperation! 

*If a stray griffin should come my way and offer me a flight, what would The Rider instruct me to do in order to fly aerodynamically?

If I had one wish to make, I’d wish for a griffin to offer you a ride. The large veins which emerge from a griffin’s shoulders in order to inflate their wings and circulate blood are especially sensitive. Place your hands there, firmly but gently. Now use your body weight to indicate direction and pace, much as you would if riding a horse. Bending forwards or leaning back indicates diving or soaring upwards to your griffin. Griffins are intelligent creatures, and have the equivalent vocabulary of, say, a working sheep dog, so you can also give verbal commands which will be understood. “Good griffin” and “dinner” are what most griffins want to hear.
 

Ah, thanks, Julia, for this wish. Perhaps...one day.

*Chapters 20 – 21 are ones that are profoundly moving and special to me though some readers may find this theme to be unusual for a YA story. Can you clarify your purpose? 

Thanks Dody, both for the kind words, and the question! A couple of strange, extraordinary chapters. I sincerely hope readers will be willing to allow their imaginations to take flight and go on this journey with Frankie. I wanted to explore the idea that we have the ability to enter another’s world, either physically or mentally, and to help them escape to a better world.

*How difficult was it for you to script the choice that Frankie made at the end? Will there be a sequel? If so, can you offer fans any hints for the direction that the story will take? Please!

Incredibly difficult. Frankie’s very loyal, and she was torn. I think she listened to her heart for her final decision and stuck with the person who needed her most. Stephen King compares writing to an archeological dig. You discover bones, and then have the task of working out what goes where and how the creature looked and moved. In other words, the writer breathes life into dust. He goes on to observe that sometimes you strike lucky and find a complete fossil, which needs little or no assembly. I struck lucky with THE GRIFFIN CRYER. Frankie and The Rider’s story formed complete and almost wrote itself. The biggest difficulty was in knowing when to stop and I’m longing to explore more of The Rider’s world. I hope readers will feel the same way and, if so, there will definitely be a sequel. I’m just hoping for the same excellent beta readers to help mould the next episode of Frankie and The Riders’ adventures. Without the input of one beta reader in particular, this story probably would still be just an idea, and I’m eternally grateful for your generosity.

I’ve been told by a couple of other beta readers who shall be nameless, that there should be more griffins and more fighting. I agree with the first part, and I’m definitely well on the way to introducing more griffins and as you know, have even been asking readers for griffin names!  

And I, for one, can't wait for the sequel!

*THE GRIFFIN CRYER is being launched as a YA fantasy novel and yet I, as an adult, find the story to be delightful, deeply moving and intelligently insightful. What makes this novel one that can also appeal to adults?

It’s hard being a teenager; it’s also pretty wonderful too as whole new worlds open up to you. I know a lot of awesome young people, and I feel for them; there is so much to learn about relationships and being responsible for your own decisions in those few short years. I can’t hope to get inside their minds, but I hope that the story manages to convey empathy for the problems they face. Hopefully too, those who are young at heart – like you Dody – and those who are able to empathize with young adults will also enjoy THE GRIFFIN CRYER.

Thanks so much, Julia, for allowing a 'fellow traveler' to spend some time with you; a treasured moment for me.