FROM MY HEART TO YOURS

"We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace."

Again I turn to the beautiful voice of Maya Angelou. From my heart to yours...

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes

And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.

Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche

Over unprotected villages.

The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.

What have we done to so affront nature?

We worry God.

Are you there? Are you there really?

Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,

Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope

And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,

Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.

Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.

Flood waters recede into memory.

Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us

As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children

It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.

Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,

Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.

At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.

We listen carefully as it gathers strength.

We hear a sweetness.

The word is Peace.

It is loud now. It is louder.

Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.

It is what we have hungered for.

Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.

A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.

Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.

We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.

We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.

Peace.

Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.

We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,

Implore you, to stay a while with us.

So we may learn by your shimmering light

How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language

To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ

Into the great religions of the world.

We jubilate the precious advent of trust.

We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.

All the earth's tribes loosen their voices

To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortal's, Believers and Non-Believers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.”

― Maya Angelou ―

Hugs to all,

Nancy C. Weeks

WELCOME DEBUT AUTHOR ERIN KANE SPOCK AND COURTLY PLEASURES

"The storyteller in me was born that way, but the writer in me came from learning how to work hard and follow through."

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

I am thrilled to introduce you to a debut author who just join our Crimson Romance family, Erin Kane Spock. 

Erin's first novel, Courtly Pleasures is out for all of us to enjoy! And can I say, the reviews so far are wonderful: 

• "A real pleasure to read."
• " Engaging characters, real struggles and a bit of intrigue makes for a satisfying romance"
• "Full of great imagery, entertaining dialogue, a touch of humor, and a whole lot of sexy."

Erin, I would love to start off this interview with you telling us a little about yourself--the real Erin behind the writer. How did you come to write Courtly Pleasures? 

I majored in history partly because of my love of historical costuming. My costuming brought me to Renaissance Faire and I became part of a living history group portraying the court of Queen Elizabeth. 

Here is a glimpse of costumes modeled by my girls ... So adorable ... RIGHT!

My character was a real person from history, Frances Pierrepont. In researching her I found very little so I created details. The character, as I chose to portray her at that point, was a flibbertigibbet and a lot of fun. Years later, after the birth of my second daughter, I took a second look at Frances from the perspective of a young mother. I thought about how life would have been, how she would have dealt with the infant deaths recorded in her history, and this became the starting point of the story that would eventually be Courtly Pleasures. After the first draft (written entirely in dialect!), I changed her name to Frances LeSieur and modified her genealogy so I could call her a truly fictitious character.

That is a wonderful way to begin your career as a writer. Completing a book is an enormous challenge. What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it? In other words, what do you think drove you to complete this enormous project?

I wrote the book in stages and kept putting off the end (and the sex scenes). The Elizabethan world grew and grew but the story stagnated. My first challenge was ending the book. The next was streamlining the actual story and pruning out the fluff. I think I probably cut about 75,000 words. 
Writing the next books was smoother. I had a direction and an understanding of the process. By then I’d also started to research the Romance industry. After writing three more books, I came back to Courtly Pleasures and rewrote it with a focus on the romantic elements and brought it to the place it’s at now.

You're very brave to admit that you cut 75,000 words. I cut about 40,000 words on my novel, In the Shadow of Greed. FYI Readers: One of the hardest things for a writer is hitting that delete key and erasing parts of the story that's become a part of us. But it's an necessary evil.
So, I have an interesting question I like to ask new authors. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always liked to write – journaling, poetry, short stories, plays… nothing I ever took seriously and never with the intention of making them public. Courtly Pleasures started out just for me as well. It wasn’t until I finished the first draft that I realized I had a real book and could think about publishing.

Erin, I write first for myself. That ideal keeps me grounded. Since we have mentioned Courtly Pleasures often in the last few minutes, lets give everyone a peek at your first novel: 

Drum roll.....

What’s a neglected wife to do when her husband doesn’t know she exists? Create a scandal, of course, in this delightful Elizabethan romp.

After ten years of marriage, Frances LeSieur has faded into her role as a lady wife and mother. She has no idea who she is as a woman. So Frances joins Queen Elizabeth’s glittering court and discovers a part of herself she never knew existed—and one she’s sure her neglectful husband would never notice.

Henry has always done his duty to family and crown despite his own desires. When Frances asks for a separation then transforms into a confident and vibrant courtier, he’s floored—and finds himself desperate to learn what makes her tick, both in and out of the bedroom. After years of silent alienation, can he woo her back, or will he lose this intoxicating woman to one of the rakes hell-bent on having her?

As Frances and Henry come to realize that living is not merely surviving, can they create a second chance at love before it’s too late?

Amazon

Such a sweet moment, right? You can read an excerpt here. Courtly Pleasures's Excerpt.

On with the interview. Here's another question I love to ask new authors? Do you believe writers are born or made?

I think writers are born creative, raised in a place that fosters imagination, and shaped by experiences into men and women of determination with the ability finish what they start. I’ve heard many people say they have great ideas for a book, but they’re not writers if they don’t write. I’m not necessarily more creative or skilled in writing than the person next to me, but the difference is that I actually sit down and write. The storyteller in me was born that way, but the writer in me came from learning how to work hard and follow through.

That's the best explanation to date. You're so right. Writers write. How do you think your life experiences have prepared you for a writing career?

NANCY C. WEEKS HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGE--SHORT TIME ONLY!

This year, I'm excited to announce Nancy's Holiday Gift Package for my readers. 

Nancy's Holiday Gift Package includes a personalized autograph copy of The Eyewitness OR any book I have in stock with a $5 Starbucks gift card to someone on your gift list for only $20. If you want your order to be delivered before Christmas, I must have the order form no later than December 15th. Click on the green box before and it will take you to the order form and instructions.
Special Note: 
*Since shipping cost are so high, this offer is valid within the United States only.
*While supply last. Order today!
Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks  

CLINK HERE FOR NANCY'S HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGE

ROMANCE WRITERS GONE WILD

RWGW ON FACEBOOK

Romance Writers Gone Wild Prize Entry

To my Romance Readers in Every Genre!!!

I'm part of am amazing event on Facebook.[LINKS ABOVE!]  RWGW is a week-long romance reader's paradise! November 13-17, join over 100 romance writers for sneak peeks, excerpts, and giveaways, with a specific day dedicated to your favorite romance genres, and all without leaving the comfort of your home (or changing out of your bunny slippers). There's something for every romance reader -- contemporary to Scottish Highland, romantic suspense to inspirational, paranormal to urban fantasy, and everything in between. 

I'm up November 13th, tomorrow, with my fun giveaway--and everything in between. Drop by and comment on my post, but don't forget to spend time with other authors:meet new authors you have never read, ask all those questions you wanted to know and win amazing prizes besides the event prizes. Best of all, have a great time. 

I hope to see you tomorrow, and the whole week. 

Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks

WELCOME STONI ALEXANDER, AUTHOR OF THE WILDE TOUCH

"I’ve got a closet-full of ghosts waiting for their fifteen minutes of anonymous fame!"

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Today, I'm thrilled to introduce to a first timer on my blog, the lovely Stoni Alexander. 

Stoni has agreed to sit down for a quick interview and tell us a little about her amazing life before she became an author and how it's changed now that she spends her days in her writing cave. Welcome, Stoni Alexander. I personally can't wait to hear about the ghosts in your closet.

~~~ 

Thank you for having me, Nancy. I’m thrilled to be featured in your blog post!

Hello, hello! My name is Stoni Alexander and I’m a romance author! I cherish the opportunity to be creative and am grateful that I get to write every day. When not writing, my husband and I are avid power-walkers and we love watching our son play football.

Most of my pre-writing career was in corporate and government sales. Talk about a pressure-cooker! I also spent several years as an actress doing local theatre, television spots, training videos, and some gigs on Unsolved Mysteries, too. It was a fun time in my life! These days I can be found in my writer’s cave crafting angst-filled stories about couples finding their happily-ever-afters.

My debut novel, THE MITUS TOUCH, released in March of this year. I was ecstatic to receive Night Owl Reviews “Top Pick” and Scandalicious Book Reviews “The Cherry on Top Pick.” In October, I published the second in the series, THE WILDE TOUCH. This story also garnered Night Owl Reviews “Top Pick.” The third book in the series, THE LOVING TOUCH, is currently with the editor. This novella will be published in January/February of 2018.The Touch Series is not a light read. There’s betrayal, mystery, suspense, eroticism, and of course, true love. 

What an amazing year you have had. Congratulations! There is nothing like the feeling of your first book being released to the world. So, can you tell us the origins of your stories? 

I’m often asked, “Where do your story ideas come from? That’s a great question! They begin with a single image or incident. For THE MITUS TOUCH, the novel blossomed from a photograph and a movie scene. 

WELCOME BACK JL LORA, AUTHOR OF MADE

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

J.L. Lora is back to give us a peek at her new release out TODAY, Made, the second book in The Trinity. If you missed her interview, you can read it HERE. But wait, check out JL Lora's sexy as heck cover and blurb first.

BLURB:

No matter how hard she runs . . .

Gia Corey’s on a first-name-basis with danger. Nothing can protect her from the madman stalking her every move. Not her vital role in New York’s most powerful cartel, her money or her influence.  She can’t run from the cops coming to arrest her for the deaths of six people. She can’t hide from the past that thrusts her into the path of a madman, sets her up for murder, and threatens those she loves.

Noah McLean’s carefree lifestyle as a playboy has come to a swift and violent end. Betrayal is the bullet that forces him to take his place in the family business. Gia’s his anchor, holding him together, helping him accept the role he’s been burdened with. He fell in lust with her beauty and helplessly in love with her heart, but when danger slithers close, he risks everything to keep her safe. But she only trusts two people and Noah isn’t one of them.

The past is never far behind . . .

The monster will stop at nothing to have Gia. He’ll wage a dangerous battle where murder, extortion, and terror are his instruments to tear her way from Noah and her friends. To win the war, Gia must do the unthinkable — embrace her own inner darkness.

Will she slay the monster, once and for all, or will her past break her in the end?

~~~

WELCOME DEBUT AUTHOR, LAINEE COLE AND AT MIDNIGHT

Good morning, Everyone!

I would like to introduce you to a new author today. Let us all welcome Lainee Cole and her wonderful first novel, At Midnight. Special note! Lainee has left a wonderful #Giveaway at the end of this post. 

I’m so thrilled to have you here today. To start off this interview, tell us a little about yourself so my readers get to know the person behind the writer.

I’m really excited to visit with you and your readers, Nancy! Where to start? I’m the oldest (some would say bossiest) of five kids. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for 27 years, although we have a mixed marriage – I’m a Cardinals fan and he’s a Cubs fan. Our 25 year old daughter is a race-car driver, and our 21 year old son doesn’t like to tell his mother anything. Besides writing and reading, I enjoy scrapbooking, hiking, and camping. I love horses and dogs, but am allergic to cats. At work, they call me Queen of Chocolate because I am never without a stash of chocolate!

Oh, Lainee, I love you for the chocolate alone. As a mother, my heart skipped just a little when you mentioned your race-car racing daughter. My sweet daughter is a rocking climbing, high adventure hiker. We did something special raising such adventuresome kids, didn't we? And yes, my son doesn't tell me anything either. Oh, and for the record, I'm a Washington National's fan, and yay, playoffs start this weekend!!

So on with the interview.  Tell us a little bit about how you came to write Midnight Casanova? 

Amazon 

Three talented authors. Three love stories. Three approaching deadlines.

Midnight Casanova by Lainee Cole

Stranded at midnight by a broken-down car, dog trainer Maddie Lockhart finds refuge in a deserted farmhouse. When the owner of the house, Chance Marlow, tries to oust her, Maddie uses the stray mutt he calls Casanova to convince him she can help with his collection of homeless animals. While their paths seem incompatible, working side-by-side to rescue animals, they discover otherwise.

Two Days Until Midnight by Lynn Crandall

Time is running out for reclusive billionaire Tamier Rein to save himself from transforming into a cheetah, and bird-shifter Lark Ellis is his only hope for surviving past midnight. 

Midnight Deadline for Love by Rena Koontz

T.B. Amanscott is Harrison City’s wealthiest man and his kidnappers want one million dollars ransom by midnight or they will kill him. Every possible resource is available to Sergeant Ariana Jeanne Lozione, who is heading up the rescue attempt. There’s only one problem. A.J. wants him dead.

At one time, Lynn, Rena and I were Prairie Hearts RWA chapter-mates. We kept in touch after they both moved away. Last winter, we started talking about doing an anthology together, and At Midnight was born. Midnight Casanova is my second short story featuring shelter dogs. It came about partly because of the anthology, and partly because I had the idea to do a series of stories on shelter dogs. When I was looking for a dog to feature, I stumbled on this picture and fell in love with it.  This is Casanova.

Oh, what a handsome boy!! Completing a book is an enormous challenge. What was your biggest obstacle and how did you overcome it? In other words, what do you think drove you to complete this enormous project?

My biggest obstacle was making time to write. Outside of work, some unexpected family responsibilities took me away from writing. But I made a commitment to my co-authors and I had no intention of letting them down. Every spare moment went to writing, while some other things went on the back burner so I could finish my story.

Adjusting my daily life with my passion to write is a daily struggle, and I think that's true with all authors. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? 

Way back in grade school. I read Black Beauty many, many times and then started writing my own stories about horses. In junior high, I took every opportunity I could in English class to write stories. Then I started writing love poems that got passed around by my friends – and even had a few published in poetry anthologies! My best friend and I traded Harlequin romances like they were candy and when I read Janet Dailey’s Tidewater Lover, that’s when I knew I wanted to write romance.

Do you believe writers are born or made?  

That’s a tough one. I think writing comes easy to some, but for the most part, I believe writers are made. We can study and learn how to write. With practice, we can improve. That doesn’t mean we are automatically successful, though. We work hard at what we do.

Lainee, becoming a writer was a dream of mine all my life too. You should take enormous pride in how you took that dream and made something of it. That's the challenge and where the real work comes into play. Do you think your life experiences have prepared you for a writing career?

I’m a people person. I try to be respectful and nice to everybody. Years ago, I went through a period of time where several acquaintances randomly started talking and telling me details about their life that I didn’t need to know. I asked a close friend “Do I have a sign on my back that says ‘Tell me your life story’?” She shrugged and told me I’m just easy to talk to. I don’t have all the answers, heck, I’m not even sure I have some of the answers! But everyone needs someone to listen and care. Through listening, I’ve seen how important perspective is. You and I can experience the same event and yet have totally different experiences and reactions due to our perspectives. That’s important to remember when creating realistic characters. We’ve all become who we are through our experiences. 

So on a lighter note, I would love a little insight into what your ideal writing space looks like? 

With a family, the family room has long been the center of our life. I didn’t want to miss things, so I learned to write in a chair with all the family noise going on around me. I’m often accused of not listening but hey – I’m busy writing! I have a favorite chair, with a footstool and a lap desk. Not the best posture, I know. But I find it difficult to write in a quiet place because I’m so used to noise!

Ha! I do the same thing. My writing space is my kitchen table right off the family room. What is up next for you?

I’m editing my contemporary romance, Fugitive Heart in preparation for submitting it. I’m also brainstorming ideas for a third shelter-dog short-story. 

Where can readers find out more about your book and yourself?

At Midnight is available on Amazon. 

I would love to hear from readers at:

Lainee Cole's Amazon Author Page 

Lainee Cole's Facebook Author Page

Facebook Author Profile Page

 

Lainee Cole's on Twitter 

Leave a comment telling me what you like best about anthologies for a chance to win an e-copy of At Midnight! 

Don't forget to also check out my co-authors!

Lynn Crandall
http://lynn-crandall.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lynn.crandall.3
Lynn Crandall on Twitter

Rena Koontz
https://www.renakoontz.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rena.koontz.5
Rena Koontz on Twitter

Nancy, thank you for having me on your blog today! 

Lainee, it has been my pleasure hosting you. I wish you, Lynn and Rena the very best success with this new anthology. Please come back very soon. 

If anyone has any questions for Lainee Cole, please don't be shy. If you have trouble posting in the comment section below, you can drop me an email at nancy@nancycweeks.com and I'll post your question here for you. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend where you can find a few moments to relax and read a great book. 

Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks

MEXICO, ST. CROIX AND PUERTO RICO ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Today, a devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Mexico. And again, another hurricane, Hurricane Maria, is tearing through the Caribbean islands.  It's hard to wrap my mind around the last several weeks, one shocking natural disaster after another. With that said, I can't help but remember Pope Francis's words on hope.

 “A tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness. A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you. And then there can be another you, then another you and it turns into us.”

His Holiness, Pope Francis

As always, I turn to prayer. To my dear neighbors, I pray for courage in the face of hardship in the days to come. I also pray that you will gather with your family, friends and neighbors and give what comfort you can to those around you. And finally I pray that we all become a little kinder, more compassionate, forgiving of each other and become that one individual who knows without a doubt that hope exist. We need each other.

HUGE HUGS TO ALL!!!
Nancy C. Weeks

P.S. How you can help victims:

American Red Cross. 

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)

FEEDING AMERICA

ADOPT A FAMILY

And for our dear four legged friends:
ANIMAL SHELTER & ADOPTIONS (BARC)

MY HEART AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH SOUTH TEXAS, HOUSTON, AND NOW, FLORDIA

Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard move through flooded Houston streets as floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey continue to rise.

I received an article from my brother called This is probably the worst US flood storm ever, and I’ll never be the same. Neither will the fourth largest city in the country, Houston. 

This is one those things I have to share. The article was written by a space reporter, Eric Berger. I'm not sure what kind of working relationship he and my brother share, but his account of Hurricane Harvey is heartbreaking.

I'm a little familiar with what my dear Texas family is going through. When I was about ten years old, I played in our front yard with my six brothers and sisters as the eye of Hurricane Beulah roamed over us. It dumped 27 inches of rain on the Rio Grande in three hours, about half that dumped on central Houston. I still remember being evacuated by the National Guard, this strong soldier lifting me up into the back of this huge truck as the Arroyo River flooded my back yard. My family lived in the refugee center at Harlingen High School for weeks. I remember returning to a ruined home, mud three feet deep and very little salvageable from the home we left behind. I remember finding snakes, tarantulas and roaches on the top shelves of everything and the smell of rot, mold, mud and decay lived with me for months. What I still tear up about even today was the devastation in my parent's faces. It was the first time I ever saw my mother cry. She had just cleaned up three feet of mud in the kitchen, had the counters bleached to an inch of their life before she opened the oven. A blob of mud dropped onto the floor, dead bugs floating on top. She sat where she stood and broke down. My rushing to her may have stopped the tears, but the heartache for what she lost would remain with her for a long time to come. My parents never recovered completely. 

We were a small rural area. Now, just imagine that storm hitting a city of 5 million people instead a rural area with few small towns.

"What can I do to help?

That has been the mantra since this nightmare began. Hundreds of Houston residences-many who have lost everything, pitched in immediately with their boats and on foot to rescue their neighbors, the situation too overwhelming for the disaster relief efforts in place. Help has come from other counties and states as well. But it's not enough. There has never been such devastation in our history. 

As I write this post, Hurricane Irma, a Category 5, batters parts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and threatening serious destruction to a string of Caribbean islands. On Saturday, it's expected to hit Florida. 

I sit in my dry home and I wrestle with what can I do to help? I imagine there are a lot of us who feel that way. And sadly, tragedy brings out the heartless individual who use the suffering of so many to exploit. I can only pray there is a special hell for those individuals who price gouge things like water, food and gasoline. If my sweet mom was still with me, she would say the first thing to do is pray, then do what you can. So...praying is done. I haven't let up in days. The second suggestion is harder. Who do I trust with the money I donate? Here are a couple who were there for us so many years ago and I have trusted over the years. 

American Red Cross. 

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)

FEEDING AMERICA

ADOPT A FAMILY

And for our dear four legged friends:
ANIMAL SHELTER & ADOPTIONS (BARC)

Other suggestions: 

I found this article in the New York Times. Where to Donate to Harvey Victims (and How to Avoid Scams) It contains list of local Houston base charities as well as national and global funds. My advice is to look closely before you write that check or give your credit card number. But with that said, we all need to open our hearts and do what we can to help each other out.  

To my Houston and Florida readers, my heart and prayers are with you. If you have something you would like to share, please do so in the comment section below. 

Hugs to all,

Nancy C. Weeks

LIFE OF AN AUTHOR: REFLECTIONS OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE 2017

Totality as seen by Salem, Oregon

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

I have had an interesting beginning of my week. Yesterday was one of nature's most awe inspiring sites, the highly anticipated total solar eclipse of 2017. We stopped our daily lives for over an hour and a half across the country in large cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific, mega highways to dirt roads, national parks to small patches of grass, to organized parties to small backyards gatherings, and stood together to experience the moon's slow trip across the sun, and in some areas, totality, the first total solar eclipse to cross the entire continental United States since 1918.

The event had been hyped in the news for weeks, and I have to admit, I got a little tired of hearing about it. I mean, what's the big deal. If you think about it, a solar eclipse happens somewhere in the world everyday. If I don't catch this one, there are other chances, right? 
My daughter picked me up a pair of free NASA glasses [THANK YOU NASA] and my sweet hubby made himself a pinhole projector box. But if I was doing something else, then I could miss it, right?

I have never been so wrong, so uneducated, so passive. This event doesn't happen that often and it was A BIG DEAL! I needed to be part of it.

 

Sorry, I couldn't help it. 

But seriously, this day ended up being an experience I will never forget. I was spending my morning at my local library, [South Bowie Library]. I go there when I want to turn everything off and write. I'm trying to have the next book in The D'Azzo Family series, The Analyst, to my editor by October 1st. The quiet atmosphere helps keep me focused. I also don't sign into their WiFi so I can't slip out of that focus by checking Facebook or my other social media playgrounds. After about an hour, the quiet study room became downright loud, very unusual. I poked my head out and there had to be over 300 people lined up along the side walk and in the lobby. Yup, I totally missed the large posters inviting people to the library for the solar eclipse party. The excitement in the children's' voices was intoxicating. But... when I get into what I call 'my zone', I write the most emotional scenes. To stop writing, pull myself out of  the D'Azzo's world and back into mine, well, I lose everything. The action in the scene would still be there, but the emotion- the element in the story that brings readers to my stories in the first place, would dissipate, gone forever.  The children's voices increased, and at that moment, I saved my document, closed my laptop and joined the crowd. And what a crowd it was. I live in a uniquely diverse area, every nationality and religion represented. People from all walks of life all came together in front of this wonderful library to experience this empyreal event. To think I thought for a second that it could be ignored. I didn't take photos of the crowd because I didn't want to disrespect anyone's privacy, but here is a short piece I found this morning that will give you an idea of what I was experiencing.

From the New York Times: The Solar Eclipse: Highlights From Its Path Across the United States

Here is my take on that hour and a half. [Excuse the lack of grammar and read the emotion behind the words.]
My Eclipse...No one cared who voted for Trump. Complete strangers were sharing their solar glasses with the stranger next to them because they wanted them to be able to experience the full effect. I handed my glasses to a kid who didn't have a pair, but no one asked me why I didn't take the time to order glasses ahead of time. They just offered theirs to me. Everyone was so kind, generous, considerate, making sure I, in my power chair, had a good view. No one cared that the kids were screaming with excitement at the top of their lungs because we all felt the same childlike excitement. Strangers hugged the strangers next to them because they were so overwhelmed by the experience, they had to share it with whoever was standing next to them. And when it was over, we all said farewell to each other--hopefully a little closer, a little more compassionate toward each other.

I can't believe I almost missed a true example of the best humanity. All I can say is thank God for loud, screeching, children's voices. 

Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks

MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY-BARCELONA, SPAIN

FOR THE PEOPLE OF BARCELONA

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

This has been such a sad week. My website was down for days so I'm a little late with this post. My heart aches for those so senselessly killed and injured in Barcelona. I can't come to grips with the why. I'm certain of one thing. The persons responsible are heartless cowards and they will pay dearly. 

I try to keep my post positive, but that is so hard right now. I grieve for those who lives have been changed forever. I wish with all my heart I could fix this world, end the violence, hatred, and the prejudice. Can on person make that kind of change?

Mahatma Gandhi said,  “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”

So maybe I can't change the world, but I can remake me! I can rid my heart of the hate---and the need for revenge. Instead, I will find a way to forgive them. It may take some time, but I will work on it. I refuse to help evil win. That's not why I'm on this earth. There is such goodness, such love in mankind, and in this amazing world we all live. That is my pledge today. Evil doesn't have a chance against the power of my love. Join me my friends and love each other just a little harder, a little deeper.

LOVE TO ALL,
Nancy C. Weeks

CURIOSITY ROVER FIFTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Hello Everyone!

Five years ago today, Curiosity landed on Mars. As a few of you might remember, my first interview on this blog was with my amazing sister-in-law, Joy Crisp.  Joy is Project Scientist for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. Here is a quick throwback to that original interview. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 ...

I have always been inspired by people who follow their dreams.  Today, I’m so excited to introduce a woman I have been in awe with for years. Dr. Joy Crisp, the Mars Science Laboratory Deputy Project Scientist, is here to share with us how she learned to dream, and how her dreams led her to Mars.

Joy, I know that since the new Mars rover Curiosity’s landing in August, you have been living on Mars time.  I can’t thank you enough for taking time out of your crazy schedule to share what keeps your dream alive and how you handle the constant ups and downs.

Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

I received a bachelor's degree in Geology from Carleton College in Minnesota and a PhD in Geology from Princeton University.  My scientific expertise is in the mineralogy and formation of volcanic rocks on Earth and Mars. I have been a scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1987, carrying out NASA-funded research on volcanic eruption clouds and lava flows on Earth and Mars.  For the Mars Pathfinder Project, I was the Assistant Rover Scientist and Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometer Investigation Scientist.  After that, I was the Mars Exploration Rover Project Scientist for the Spirit and Opportunity rovers for six years.  In my current job as Mars Science Laboratory Deputy Project Scientist since 2005, I have worked to maintain the science integrity of the mission and to prepare for and carry out science operations for the Curiosity rover on Mars.

         People of all ages have forgotten how to dream. What inspired you to dream?

What inspires me to dream is being a “rock detective.” I like trying to figure out how rocks formed by studying and interpreting the clues revealed by textures, mineralogy, chemistry, and the local geology.  The rover missions on Mars have allowed us to answer a lot of questions about what Mars was like in the past, and have also taken us to the next level of interesting questions for us to ponder.  To be on the very edge of these discoveries, and to see the detective work as it unfolds, is awesome and exciting.  I am also jazzed that kids and people in the general public find the rover missions interesting and that it inspires kids to be more interested in science and engineering.

We all place obstacles in our path which brings our dreams to a dead stop. I call these obstacles dream killers. What was your dream killer and how did you overcome it?

I’ve never come to a complete dead stop.  But my work on the Mars missions has been a never-ending cycle of encountering problems and either overcoming them, working around them, or accepting them and resetting expectations.  The problems span a wide range of things that the whole team faces: tight schedule constraints, budget issues, technical challenges, complexity challenges, and new bureaucratic challenges!

         How do you keep the dream alive under extreme adversity – external or internal?

What keeps me going is seeing new pictures come down from Mars with amazing surprises and hearing about new things the science team is figuring out.  When working on a Mars rover mission that is years in the making, before it gets to Mars, the dream stays alive with the realization of how exciting it will be when the rover finally gets there.  It also helps that a whole team works through the problems together. The wide variety of people helps bring different ideas, attitudes, and team spirit into the mix and strengthens our ability to get through it. 

When you reached the top, how did it feel?

When each of the rover missions have landed successfully on Mars (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity), I felt a huge sense of relief and happiness, but also realized my life was about to change tremendously once again as my workday life suddenly changed from planning and preparing for a mission to actually carrying out a mission. Each mission has been more difficult than the previous one so the psychological and scientific payoff keeps increasing.

         How did realizing your dream change you?

         It made all that hard work leading up to the success feel worth it. And it makes me really proud of the team – that we pulled it off.

        What's next? What new dream would you like to reach for?  

My current dream (which I share with the whole science and engineering team) is that we are able to use the Curiosity rover to its fullest and make it all the way over to Mount Sharp.  We won’t know what discoveries will be in store for us until we get there, but the pictures taken from about 5 miles away are stunning!  I want to help enable the science team to get the most out of the mission we can, and participate in the learning. 

Joy sent me two new outreach products that I thought you might enjoy. If you are an educator, you really want to check this out. Amazing information to use in your classroom.

Curiosity’s First Five Years of Science on Mars     

Five years of Martian discoveries after seven minutes of terror.

A Guide to Gale Crater   

The Curiosity rover has taught us a lot about the history of Mars and its 
potential to support life. Take a tour of its landing site, Gale Crater.

If you have any questions for Joy, please feel free to post them in the comment section before or shoot me a email, nancy@nancycweeks.com. You can keep up with Joy and the Mars Rover project HERE. 

Hugs to all,
Nancy C. Weeks