I know I am older than dirt! I watched a special on my local PBS Station of oldies. Roger Williams was on with his version of “Autumn Leaves”, now that man could play the piano. He and Henry Mancini were two of my favorite artists. I like all kinds of music but the oldies occupy a special place in my heart and soul. Now you know that along with my love of books, I also have a love of music. So put on a favorite album, curl up in a comfortable chair and enjoy a good book!
Linda
Author: Linda Laughlin (Page 3 of 11)
Linda Laughlin spent her early childhood in Eastern Oklahoma and most of her adult life in historical Fort Smith, Arkansas. Her first career consisted of raising two fantastic children and her second was in banking. In addition to having published two novels to date, she recently started writing a biweekly column on regional authors for the Fort Smith, Arkansas newspaper, the Times Record. She loves hearing from her readers.
It’s been a long time! First came knee surgery, then hip, then endless rounds of physical therapy! You know that guy that calls them the “Golden Years”? If I could find him I would hit him with my cane, but enough of my impersonation of Oscar the Grouch.
One good thing has come of my time off. I signed a contract with Oghma Creative Media, LLC in Northwest Arkansas to do a series of children’s books. It will be titled “The Wise Old Owl Series” and the first book is on friendship. I will let you know when they are released.
Linda
I like the idea of being an author but I don’t like to have my picture taken and I don’t think I have ever had one that I really liked. It may come from my mother always cautioning me, “pretty is as pretty does” and maybe in my mind I don’t ever measure up. The simple fact is, authors need pictures and unless you have a really good camera, snapshots just don’t make the grade. I can’t tell you how many times the pictures I submit to my editor for the column in the Times Record are rejected. If you are out there writing the great american novel then you need to take a break and find someone who can do a quality photograph. If it isn’t in your budget to get professional photos then find a way to pay for at least one, you are going to need it for your book cover. Good Luck and I hope to see your picture out there soon.
Happy reading, Linda
How do I make an author happy? Leave a review.
You buy a book, read it, love it, then give it away or toss it on a shelf. What else is there to do? If the book was written by Steven King or Nora Roberts it won’t make a lot of difference but if it was written by Linda Laughlin that is a different story. Authors who have written one or two books would love for you to do a review of their book. Get on Amazon or Goodreads and you can have a part in the making of an author. New authors would pay to have someone give them a review but that is against the rules and most sites have ways to catch the person who gives fraudulent reviews. Aunt Martha can leave ten different messages but they all come from the same site and somehow the computer tells the story. With some booksellers they hope to sell you the book, then get you to review it, thus ensuring one book, one review. For those of you that think your vote doesn’t count, at least in the book world you are wrong. Make an author happy, do a book review.
Do you have food cravings? Well I do, sometimes I can order myself to forget it and I will be okay but not last night. I woke up at 1:43 a.m., my bones are aching and I can’t go back to sleep. Finally I decide to get up. ” potato chips, Potato Chips, POTATO CHIPS.” The words echo through the corridors of my mind. I tell myself all the usual things. Linda you don’t need potato chips. You don’t need to eat in the middle of the night. Chips are just pounds waiting to grab onto your hips and multiply. Nothing was working.
Finally resistance low I am about ready to slip into a pair of sweat pants and a t shirt for a run to the gas station about a half mile away for potato chips. Then it hits me, I have a potato, why not make my own? Now I have this kitchen gadget that make vegetables really thin. (You see I hate vegetables and I thought if I cut them really thin I would not be able to taste them, but that is a story for another time. ) Out comes my veggie slicer, and I peal and slice one potato. Next I rinse the slices and sandwich them in between paper towels so they will be dry. A little pan full of hot oil and I am ready for home made potato chips. Five chips at a time I fry my potato chips, lightly salt them and put them on a paper towel to drain. For future reference they were wonderful!
On thinking it over the homemade chips were probably better for me, low salt and no preservatives! I am sure they cost more for I discarded the oil after I used it. Did I say they were wonderful? Oh well I have had my potato chip fix and hopefully it will last for several months. One advantage is no extra chips to cling to my hips and they really were good!
Happy reading, Linda
You don’t have to do it to write about it!
I was recently discussing my first book with a lady that had just finished it. She was interested in the part about tagging Green Sea Turtles. When I was writing this book I interviewed a lady who had just moved here from San Diego. She was telling me about a group she had read about who were quite territorial about the sea turtles. She talked about them tagging and spending a lot of time protecting them from thoughtless tourist. This fascinated me as I was a big fan of Jacques Cousteau so I started researching. I found some videos on YouTube and after a lot of research I had Steve take Leah out in the bay to tag these magnificent creatures. What do you think? Can you tell the story was only in my imagination? If you want to read about Steve and Leah’s adventure it starts on page 118 of “Run For Your Life!” by Linda Laughlin.
Happy reading, Linda
Happy New Year!
A dear friend just finished my second book, “Fight For Your Life!” He is wondering if I plan to write a third in the series. To be honest i did plan to finish out the story line with a final book but I planed to throw in a completely unrelated book set near my childhood home in Oklahoma first. I have been working on both books and I don’t know which will start talking to me first, because for me the story starts coming to me almost like a storyteller telling me a interesting tale. We will see where my imagination takes me. Have a wonderful New Year.
Happy reading, Linda
“Christmas”
It brings about such a mixture of emotions! You think of Christmas Past and remember loved ones who are no longer with you. You feel a sadness that they are no longer a part of your life and a joy that you had such special people in your life to begin with. When I focus on this Christmas, Christmas Present, it is with sadness. I had knee surgery and it was going great when I pulled a muscle in my good leg and it has been more painful than the surgery. I am by nature an active person so this has been a time to reflect rather than to do the exciting things I might like to be involved in. This year will be the time to dream of Christmas Future. A Christmas with laughter and joy spent with friends and all the special people in my life.
May God bless you and yours, and bring all of you that special Christmas you dream of!
Happy reading, Linda
Due to a recent knee replacement surgery, everything in my world shut down but is now starting to look up; two weeks and counting post surgery and I am able to stand and walk without pain for the first time in forever. Now it’s time to get out and have some fun!
Times Record Column:
Recently I mentioned starting a column for our local newspaper, the Times Record. It is a bi-weekly piece which will fall next on November 21st and feature Radine Trees Nehring. She writes charming, cozy mysteries featuring Arkansas Destinations. (Why did I not think of that?) The book I read, entitled “A Journey to Die For”, was set around the excursion train that runs from Springdale to Van Buren. Check out my column, as well as Radine’s books.
Book Signing:
I am going to have a book signing on Saturday, December 9th from 1 to 4 o’clock at Chapters on Main Book Store. I plan to have a drawing to give away two free books. I hope you will come out and say hello! Van Buren is trying to make it a special day, the excursion train will run all day and there will be lots to see and do. You might even find someplace to rest and listen to live music. Come meet this humble writer and say hello.
Happy reading, Linda
I am happy to say we are back up to date. I am completely helpless and I am thankful for the lady that helps with my web page. All of us over a certain age are not best friends with our computers or our web pages.
As I have started writing a column for the local newspaper, the Times Record, on area authors. I thought you might like a link to my most recent column. http://www.swtimes.com/entertainmentlife/20171003/book-nook-area-authors-portray-strong-women-in-dangerous-situations
We have a lot of talented area authors! I hope you enjoying reading about these two.
Happy reading, Linda