Hello, Pam B. Newberry Readers! ☞ ☮ ☜
CAUTION: Long Post – You might want to use the Table of Contents. 😀
1. General Update
2. Health at 65…
3. Hobbit’s Bend Life — Fun Images
4. Books and More
5. Special for a Limited Time!
6. Appearance – Upcoming
7. V. I. P. Squad
8. Privacy Statement
General Update
The magic of Eldershire arrived in the form of The Owl, the Sword, & the Efil Stone on February 23, 2018.
For those of you who live in the Wytheville area and dropped by Petal’s on February 23rd during my book signing, we got to catch up on life and the happenings since my last book release over a year ago.
Yes, it has been a while since I last wrote to you.
I have so much news that I actually have rewritten this newsletter several times because as I write it, life gets in the way, and by the time I think I’m ready to send it, what is written here is now old news. But, then, I realized, “Hey, this is ‘new’ news to you readers.”
Then, after some thoughts and life happenings, I came to the conclusion that if I don’t get this newsletter written and out to you, I will continue to procrastinate from now until Book Two is ready for release. Ha! That would not be pretty.
Several of you that have visited Hobbit’s Bend and talked with Albert and me have told me you don’t know how I get all the things done that I do. Well, I’m willing to reveal, I’m the Queen Bee of Procrastinators. Most often, I get in too deep because of putting things on the back burner, which I’ve done a lot of lately. Even my blog has suffered more since February.
Health at 65…
Some of you know that since last summer I’ve had several bouts of weird illnesses. Long story short — I found out I’m allergic to soy and all soy related products and sesame seed. The allergies are super bad in that they cause my GI tract to be so inflamed that it bleeds and my neurologist now believes it has affected my vision and small motor control. At least, that’s where we are at this point in figuring out what has gone on.
Have you checked out what has soy, soybean oil, or soya mixed within? As I’ve heard said, “You should check it out, Bub. You’d be surprised.” Since I’ve worked at going soy free (sesame is much easier), I have dropped about 20 pounds on top of the ten or so pounds I had dropped from being ill. That part of the deal hasn’t been too bad.
What is bad is that when I go out to enjoy a meal with family and friends, I’ve had to become like the character Sally in Nora Ephron’s When Harry Met Sally. You know the scene I mean. Harry and Sally have stopped at a roadside café. Sally said the immortal line about having lots of good sex, and then she has an exchange with the waitress similar to the following that Albert and I had lately at a local restaurant:
Waitress: What can I get you folks?
Albert: I’d like a hamburger with the works and fries.
Waitress: How would you like the meat cooked?
Albert: Medium-rare and I’d like ketchup too.
Waitress: And you ma’am?
Pam: What is your special?
Waitress: We have chicken quesadilla with fries.
Pam: Do you know if the shell is flour or corn?
Waitress: I’ll check.
Pam: Thank you.
[While she was gone, Albert and Pam talked about their work day.]
Waitress: It is flour. Would you like the special?
Pam: Uh, no. I’ll take a hamburger, no bun, with lettuce and tomato. No mayo. No bun ’cause I’m allergic to soy. So, I can’t have the processed flour. Corn would work but not flour. And fries.
Waitress: You’re allergic to soy. That’s a shame.
Pam: Yes, it is. Oh, I’d like a slice of apple pie with ice cream. But, you know, I bet your pie crust and ice cream has soy.
Waitress: I don’t know. I’ll put this order in and see. Now, you want a hamburger, no bun, with lettuce and tomato on the side. No mayo and you want fries. How would you like your meat cooked?
Pam: Medium-rare.
[Albert and Pam talked until the waitress walked back.]
Waitress: You can’t have the fries. They are cooked in a canola oil, but the can says it has soy.
Pam: Really. Why does that surprise me. Bummer.
Waitress: Would you like a side?
Pam: Oh, I would, but I bet your mayo has soy, too.
Waitress: I don’t know. But, I did find out that our ice cream and pie crust both have soy, too.
Pam: Darn. Well, then I don’t want that.
Waitress: Not the pie?
Pam: No, no pie.
Waitress: And your side?
Pam: I don’t know what you have that isn’t mixed with mayo.
Waitress: We have broccoli.
Pam: How is it cooked?
Waitress: We can steam it.
Pam: Perfect. No cheese sauce please.
Waitress: Uh huh.
Pam looks at Albert: What?
Albert: Nothing. (He shakes his head).
And, so it goes. I’ve turned into the very customer I came to dislike when I was a waitress. Getting old is definitely no fun when you have food allergies; they are the world’s worst. As bad as I have it, I’m not like some folks I’ve read about, such as children that are allergic to soy, dairy, tree nuts, and gluten. Their life is severely restricted. Things could be worse for me. Small pleasures have become the norm.
Recently, I discovered that a wild greens salad is wonderful with a few sprinkles of salt and pepper. Let it sit a bit, and the salt brings out the flavor of the various wild greens.
A friend mentioned I could use vinegar and oil, but like I learned with the fries, in a restaurant you never know if the restaurant uses a blended oil or if it is vegetable oil, which is 100% soybean oil, in most cases. I thinking I might want to write a blog post about soy and soya in food. What do you think?
Update on Health
Before I could even get this newsletter out, I came down with shingles in my left ear, inside my throat, and along the left side of my head. Two years ago I had the shingles shot. The doc thinks that it has helped to reduce the severity of the shingles. Woohoo! I’ve been on meds, which I finished. So far, the side effects have been minor in the scheme of things — only occasional shooting pains from the ear to the top of my head. As long as those are limited in duration and occasional, I think I’ll be fine. I’ve been blessed and haven’t suffered too terribly. I plan on getting this newsletter out to everyone today! Yes! Today! Ha! Take that shingles!
Update Number Two
I failed at getting my newsletter out, but I’m over the shingles and I’m back to writing and I’m happy, happy, happy!
The following are pictures of life here at Hobbit’s Bend:
The first is of our garden blueberries. We had a huge crop this year. This particular bush is the Bluecrop, The next image is of a stepping stone mosaic I’m making. I hope to have it finished by our anniversary in August. We’ll be celebrating 40 years. Woohoo! The last image is of a baby Praying Mantis. He was going all over the bugleweed plant having a grand old-time.
More fun news…In just 10 – count ’em – 10 days, my husband retires after 36 years as Director of Public Safety for the Town where we live. I’m so happy for him!
Books and more…
As I mentioned earlier, the first book in The Chronicles of Eldershire – The Owl, the Sword, & the Efil Stone is now available in print and eBook format from Amazon. Don’t forget for a limited time you can get Book One free in eBook format!
At present, it is available in print format locally at The Museum Shop at the Visitor’s Center in Wytheville, VA. I’m always looking for bookstores that might be interested or libraries that would like to carry any of my books. So, if you would like to share information about your local stores or library that might like to carry my books, please let me know.
What I’m Writing Now…
Since March, I’ve been researching and plotting the second book in the series titled DarkShadow. The Eldershire series has been a story arc I’ve wanted to tell for a long time. It has been through many iterations, and since I have not looked at my earlier manuscripts for about five years, I’m falling in love with Eldershire all over again. Book Two will ramp up the tension, danger, and may even leave you reading long into the night. And, true to evil Nukpana, no one is safe! Plans are for the release of Book Two late in the fall or early winter.
In the coming months, I will be offering specials for my earlier books as well as tantalizing tidbits leading up to the publication of DarkShadow.
To kick things off…
SPECIAL FOR A LIMITED TIME!
This first special is in celebration of the debut of The Chronicles of Eldershire series through celebrating The Marine Letsco Trilogy.
The thrills and suspense of The Marine Letsco Trilogy can be yours for a limited time at a 31% discount in print format.
You’ll receive Book One free when you buy all three.
This offer is limited to the print version and only by purchasing at The Museum Shop here in Wytheville or by ordering directly through me.
To purchase at The Museum Shop, drop in for a visit and the books are there ready for gift giving.
To purchase all three books through me, place your order by clicking on this link to send me an e-mail with your name, mailing address, and phone number and the number of sets you would like to purchase. Upon receiving your order, I’ll respond with the cost including postage to your mailing address.
Buy a couple of sets to give as gifts! Great reading!
In the meantime, look for more newsletters in the coming months leading up to the publication of DarkShadow. More events are planned!
Owls are Magical!
Pam
APPEARANCE
Click for more details – July 26 at 5:00 p.m. at Wythe County Public Library Appearance
Order The Owl, the Sword, & The Efil Stone
If you are unsure if you would like this book, consider checking out the “Look Inside” where you can read an excerpt, and then click the button on Amazon to buy.
Before you go…
JOIN THE V.I.P. SQUAD TO GET MY FUTURE BOOKS FREE!
Sign up…Get the next Book…Read, Enjoy, and if you feel inclined, Leave a Review on Amazon…We Both Win!
100% Privacy Guarantee — I will NEVER share your email information!
Disclaimer: Hope you enjoyed the long post. I had a lot of catching up to do with life changes, books, and more…
IMPORTANT: Effective May 25, 2018 – the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became law. If you live in the EU and wish to be removed from my list, please click the Unsubscribe button in the footer and follow the directions. If you live in the United States or any country outside of the EU and you wish to remove your e-mail address from my mailing list, please click the Unsubscribe button below and follow the directions.
You can read the cookie and privacy policies on my website to know what personal data that is collected by reading my website or receiving my newsletter and how it is used.
How can you help me? Read my newsletters, read my books, and offer a book review on Amazon or Goodreads when you have a moment. Thank you for reading this far and for helping me to keep my writing journey alive and well.
If you enjoy reading my newsletter, drop me a note and let me know. I love hearing from you!
Write On!
