Month: October 2015

I have two book signings coming up at Crossroads Antique Mall in Fort Smith, Arkansas. One will be on Thursday, November 5th at 7 P.M. and a second is scheduled for Sunday, November 8th at 2 P.M.  If you haven’t been to the Mall, this is a cute little place where the past meets the present.  They rent booths and have all kinds of things from Antiques to glassware.  They are having a three day open house, so come by and say “Hello”. If you haven’t read my book, I will sell you a copy and autograph it for you. If you have read my book I would love to hear what you think of my first endeavor.  Come by and see me, as always happy reading, Linda

Do you ever wonder about the people who came before you? This week while digging through some family papers I came across this story, that apparently came from a family member’s dairy.

Melvin Laughlin,( I don’t know how many generations back!) was born on October 10th, 1810 in Morgan County, Indiana. Melvin’s family had settled on Big Sugar Creek at the mouth of Trent Creek in 1839. Melvin was killed during the Civil War on July 15,1863 at Granny’s Branch. The Laughlin’s were in the Confederate Army, Indiana was considered a southern state. The diary reads: There were about 12,000 Union Solders down in the cyclone area. The Union Solders found the Confederate Soldiers camping in a cave and the battle ensued. Melvin Laughlin was killed. His daughter Nerva, knew where her daddy was and when she did not hear from him, she went to check on him. She found his body and with the help of some other women; she took him to Bentonville Hollow and buried him. After the war she moved the body to Roller Cemetery.

In another place it talks about the pioneer school. The first teacher knew nothing about arithmetic, so only reading and spelling were taught. It was like opening a window into a whole different time and place. Makes me want to get in the car and head for Indiana. Do you think I could find Granny’s Creek or Bentonville Hollow?

Happy reading, Linda

I love Iris Johansen’s books, especially the Eve Duncan series. Eve started out with three strikes against her. She was poor, a teenage mother and she lived with an alcoholic parent. When her beautiful little daughter was taken and killed at the age of seven, she was devastated. Eve channels her artistic talent toward forensic sculpting. She is able to take the skull of a child and with an amazing degree of accuracy, reconstruct that child’s face. Eve’s goal is to identify lost children and take them home, to give their grieving parents closure.

In “Shadow Play” a California Sheriff is asking for Eve’s help in identify a little girl’s remains. Jenny, Eve always gives her reconstructions a name, suffered a violent death and then was buried in a grave in the California wilderness.

Bonnie, Eve’s daughter has always returned to comfort her mother, when she needs her. Now Jenny is appearing to Eve, asking for her help.

The author takes us on a roller coaster ride full of suspense. Is the Sheriff what he seems, or is he really one of the bad guys? Can Eve put all the pieces together and help save another little girl from Jenny’s fate.

When I purchase an Iris Johansen book I always expect a good read and she never disappoints. If you buy this book, then clear your calendar because you will not want to put it down.  It’s terrible when life gets in the way of a good story.

Happy reading, Linda

I’ll be doing a signing at the Women’s Living Expo at the Fort Smith Convention Center tomorrow, October 11th and will have paperback copies of ‘Run For Your Life!’ available for purchase.

I’ll also have a signing at the Crossroads Antique Mall in Fort Smith on Sunday the 17th of October. I’ll update with the time in a few days.