Bring On Lemons

Hello my dear! I hope all is well with you! I am finishing a few projects for this blog and for WOW! this year in addition to making music, doing my own writing, and raising adorable (not so little) children. So, beginning Monday, December 23rd and continuing through Thursday, January 2nd, if you email us or stop by the blog you may notice changes or be suprised by the lack of response. All of this is necessary for the positive changes coming in 2025. If you have an emergency of some sort, you can reach me by currier pigeon or smoke signals - actually, I jest because I can't imagine what sort of emergency you might have. If you're looking for a recipe and can't make it through the holidays without it, you could reach out on FB and I'll do my best to help you. I sincerely hope you have a fun and peaceful time these next two weeks and can’t wait to get back in the swing of things after the new year. May your days be filled with sunshine and happiness now and a...

  Hey everyone! It's hard to believe we are almost coming to the holiday season. Hope to get in shape in the new year? I'm excited to invite you to an audiobook tour of the book, "Side Hustle & Flow: Shape Up!" by Cliff Beach. This audiobook is perfect if you need extra inspiration and guidance for getting into shape this year. The tour starts Jan 20th and ends on Feb 23rd. Here's more about the book: "Side Hustle & Flow: Shape Up!" is more than just a fitness guide; it’s a call to action for a healthier, happier you. Cliff Beach’s practical advice and motivational style will inspire you to take control of your health and transform your life. Join Cliff on this transformative journey and take the first step towards a fitter, happier you today! Read more here:  https://www.amazon.com/ Side-Hustle-Flow-Shape-Up/dp/ B0DKFZLY8T The blog tour starts on January 20 and lasts through February 23. Audiobooks are available for all interested and you'll...

 I am excited to welcome Kathie Giorgio as part of the... WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR of Don’t Let Me Keep You  Let's begin with Kathie's guest post titled How To Write The Hard Stuff     “You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.” ― Allen Ginsberg   When you ask writers why they write what they write, you will get as many answers as there are to the question, “What is the meaning of life?” We writers write for every reason imaginable, and some of us change those reasons with every project, while others gnaw at the same bone our whole life through. And then there are writers like me, who basically just can’t keep our mouths shut. I’ve been called a “dark” writer, a “disturbing” (thank goodness not “disturbed”) writer, a “fearless” writer, an “honest” writer. Of them all, I like “honest” best. I tend to write about the things that people have very strong feelings about – and consequently, if they see something that defies that, they g...

Good Morning! It's been awhile - and I just increased my screen size to 120% so remind me to make an eye Doctor appointment sometime soon. My aging eyes are not the topic of today's article however - I just thought I'd say it out loud so I don't forget - because my memory seems to be going the same direction as my eyesight. Focus Crystal (pun intended)!  Here I sit staring at the sun shining on Lake Michigan; I am undoubtably blessed beyond measure. That also is not the topic of today's article.  Today I want to tell you about my deep thoughts while mowing the lawn. Stick with me - it's better than it sounds initially.   A few years ago my friend Jim insisted we needed a zero turn mower at the church. I teased him that he had better stick around to drive it because I was the only other person who knew how and I was already the organist, janitor, and administrator at the church. Unfortunately, Jim is in Heaven now - well, I mean it's fortunate for him, unf...

  Thanks to WOW! for another chance to participate in an excellent book blog tour.  5 Stars for Roslyn Cohn's "Who Saved Who" - review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn is such a touching book. If you've never had a pet, you'll still love everything about the heart and soul of Who Saved Who. This book delves into the importance of relationships and love (specifically with our furry friends). Cohn does a most beautiful job taking thoughts and emotions and getting them on paper and touching the hearts of readers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced LOVE, longs for LOVE, or knows anything about LOVE. Well written and absolutely a joy to read!  Here's more about her book: Growing up in beautiful Bohemian 1970s Marin County, the daughter of a funny pawnbroker-jeweler with vision who knew the streets and a warm, independent Mom turned Naturalist-Animal Rights Activist, Roz is an award-winning actress who spent 20 years ...

  I'm so excited to participate in a WOW! Women on Writing Book Blog Tour - and this is an amazing book - 5 Stars without a doubt!  5 Star Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto I've been busy at work lately and there's all the busy-ness of having teens, a business, and small children can be overwhelming. I sat down to start reading Finding Fran and I couldn't put it down! This amazing book by Nancy Christie took me away from my reality and helped me laugh and smile. My kids were asking what I was reading on my tablet because I didn't have my normal serious mom face on! I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys leaving their own life for awhile and experiencing things from the perspective of someone much more interesting for awhile! Here's more about Finding Fran: Once a best-selling romance novelist, 55-year-old Fran Carter is now dealing with a slow but steady drop in book sales and a major case of writer’s block, complicated by the knowledge that her lover, a p...

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s   WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING READER REVIEW TOUR   OF   What Was Never There   Tour Begins May 3, 2024       Book Summary A mother and daughter lost in the woods must overcome their worst fears to find their way back. A father going through a divorce witnesses a seemingly impossible motorcycle accident, which forces him to question the truth of his own perceptions. A little boy with a terrible secret routinely steals away at night to meet a girl beneath a willow tree—only to discover she has a secret of her own. What Was Never There  is a collection of short stories with the common theme of memory, or rather, the way memory haunts us. Includes  Pushcart Prize  nominated stories “We Never Get to Talk Anymore” and “The Dinosaur Graveyard" and the award-winning "Windows," selected for  Best Microfiction 2023 .   ASIN ‏ : ‎  B0CQSTX8WT Publisher ‏ : ‎  Indep...

  Karen Jones Gowen’s   WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING READER REVIEW TOUR   OF   We Burned Our Boats   Tour Begins May 6, 2024       Book Summary Bruce and Karen Gowen are facing a retirement that neither one wants. Bruce can't imagine life without employment. Karen wants change, adventure, a chance to spread her wings and fly away after thirty years of raising their large family. Their opportunity comes in a way they can both support: helping their daughter and son-in-law with a hotel project in Panajachel, Guatemala. Never ones to do anything half way, the Gowens sell everything, including one of their businesses. What they can't sell, they give away. With their worldly possessions down to two checked bags and two carry-ons each, they fly one way to Guatemala City. Then on to Panajachel, a tourist town on scenic Lake Atitlan, in the southern highlands of Guatemala. Here they begin their new life, a time filled with incredi...