Grace Elliot

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Welcome! Author Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz.

Today, I'm delighted to welcome prolific author, Penny Lockwood Ehrenkrantz, to the blog.
In addition to telling us about herself, Penny is also offering a generous giveaway -to EVERYONE that leaves a comment.
Just leave a comment and contact details and Penny will email you a unique short story "Midsummer Knight" !

Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz has published hundreds of articles and short stories in print magazines and on-line. She writes for both adults and children. Her fiction has appeared in numerous genre and children’s publications and non‑fiction work has appeared in a variety of writing, parenting, and young adult print magazines and on line publications. She edits for three small independent publishers. Visit her web site at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com Her writing blog is located at http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

GRACE: Penny, lovely to have you here today; please tell the readers a little about what makes you tick.

PENNY: I retired in 2008 from my "day" job as office manager and chief legal secretary of our county district attorney's office. Since then, I have become more of a full-time writer, although I have also taken on some free-lance editing positions. Part of my time is now spent editing other author's work, rather than my own.

I actually enjoy writing in several different genres, including children and young adult. I also write non-fiction and have numerous articles published in writing magazines, parenting magazines and teen magazines.

When I'm not writing or editing, I'm reading, crocheting, or gardening. I enjoy water aerobics and walking. My family comes first in my life and I recently became a grandparent for the second time. My son and his wife have a delightful little girl, who is now three, and my daughter and her husband just celebrated the birth of their son in June.

GRACE; I understand you have exciting news that Love Delivery has just been published. Please tell me a little about it.

Love Delivery is a novella released by MuseItUp Publishing. Here's a short synopsis:

SYNOPSIS

LOVE DELIVERY

By: Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz

Ann and Tom have both been disappointed in love, yet they yearn for happiness. Ann works as a waitress in a donut shop. Tom has been delivering supplies there for a while. Each is attracted to the other. Tom makes the first move by inviting Ann to dinner and a cat show.

Both Tom and Ann have cats, and this brings them together, but there are forces at work tearing them apart even as they seek each other out. Tom’s ex-wife, Maria, is hired at the donut shop. Before Ann knows the relationship between Tom and Maria, she confides in Maria about her feelings toward Tom.

When Maria learns Ann’s beau is her ex-husband, she becomes like a wildcat. She tries everything she can to separate Ann and Tom, including showing up where they’re having dinner, going to Ann’s apartment, and arriving unannounced at Tom’s home when Ann is visiting.

To complicate matters, Maria and Tom have a child. Although the Tom is not the biological father, he adores Catherine.

As Ann becomes more involved with Tom, she sees both sides of him and wonders if there can be a future. When she gives Tom the ultimatum of getting his life back in order, he disappears. Weeks later, he returns with Catherine, a plan for the future, and a ring for Ann.

GRACE: There is a lot of competition for readers’ attention these days. What is different about your book that makes people want to read it?

PENNY: The story is about two very normal people who don’t earn a lot of money and haven’t completed their higher educations. They don’t work in fancy jobs or live in exciting cities. One is a waitress/day manager of a donut shop and the other a delivery man. But they enjoy life, cats, eating out, movies, children, and bike rides in the country. They are real people with real problems, and I believe readers will be able to relate to the obstacles they have to overcome in their quest for true love.

GRACE: It seems eBooks are taking off in a big way. What is your opinion on eBooks vs. traditional paperbacks?

My next three novelettes from MuseItUp Publishing are eBooks, so I have a very positive opinion of eBooks. My print release from Sam’s Dot Publishing (A Past and A Future) is now available through Smashwords, which is a good thing since I’ve had a number of people ask me how they could get a copy for their eReader.

I think the stigma previously attached to eBooks is no longer valid. I believe this is the wave of the future and eventually very few books will be printed on paper.

I used to enjoy holding a “real” book, but since I acquired a Kindle, I’ve gotten used to the lightweight of it, the built in reading light, and the fact I can carry a whole library of books with me when I travel. I think eReaders are great.

GRACE:What is the kindest act anyone has ever done for you?

When we first moved to Oregon, a very dear friend who recently passed away, took our family under her wing. She wanted my kids to call her “auntie,” and she more than deserved the title. Our very first home, she came with paintbrush in hand and helped paint both inside and out. No matter what was needed, she was there. Teri, you’ll always be with us.

GRACE: What would your nearest and dearest say is your most annoying habit?

PENNY:That’s a tough question to answer since we get along really well. The only thing I can think of might be when we’re in the car, and I see something he doesn’t see, and I just yell “Dave, Dave, Dave,” instead of saying, “There’s a kid in the crosswalk,” or “There’s a car pulling out of that driveway.”

GRACE: When was the last time you cried?

PENNY: On June 21^st when my grandson was born. After telling me for months I couldn’t, my daughter relented and allowed me to be in the room and participate in the birth. It was an incredible experience, matched only by being allowed to participate in the birth of my granddaughter three years ago.

GRACE:Have you heard of ‘Room 101’ – the room where an object once placed disappears forever…I wish all alarm clocks went there! What 5 things would you put in Room 101 and why?

PENNY: No, I’ve never heard of it, but here goes:

1. Alarm clocks (I agree with you on that one)--I hate being forced to wake up.

2. Bigotry—I would love to live in a world where diversity was embraced.

3. War—It appalls me what people do to each other during a war and I can’t seem to fathom the reasons behind war. Live and let live.

4. Crime—People should be allowed to live without fear of being beaten, robbed, murdered or abused.

5. Slugs—I hate when they eat my plants after I’ve worked all summer long trying to grow veggies and flowers.

As you can see, I’m a dreamer and would love if conflict were simply eliminated from our society.

GRACE: It’s been lovely chatting with you today, Penny, and before you go, where can I find out more about your books?

PENNY:

My website and blog:

http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.yolasite.com

http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/

Links for my YA/Adult short story collection:

A Past and A Future

http://sdpbookstore.com/anthologies.htm

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/62608

My three releases from MuseItUp Publishing:

Love Delivery, coming August, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4ajo9wz

Lady in Waiting, coming November, 2011

Mirror, Mirror, coming December, 2011

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2

My children’s books which will be released through 4RV Publishing:

Funny Dog, coming May, 2012

Ghost for Lunch, coming September, 2013

Many Colored Coats, coming October, 2014

Boo's Bad Day, coming June, 2015

http://4RVpublishingllc.com/Childrens_Books.html

GRACE: - Thank you, Penny!

If you have enjoyed this interview and would like to sample some of Penny's work, dont forget to leave a comment and contact details, to recieve the short story "Midsummer Knight."

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Walking the Plank - Fact or Fiction?

Walking the plank is described in J.M Barrie’s children’s classic “Peter Pan” and also featured in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, but did it happen in reality? Did pirates force their hostages to ‘walk the plank’; after all, wouldn’t it have been easier just to toss unwanted visitors overboard?

But what evidence is there to back up the myth?

As David Cordingly, curator of the National Maritime Museum and author of “Under the Black Flag” points out:

“There are no written accounts in the 17^th and 18^th century of walking the plank, and so historians largely dismissed the practise as the fanciful product of fiction writers.”

However, Plutarch, the first century Greek historian, writing in his work “Life of Julius Caesar” tells a fascinating story of a young Julius Caesar being captured by Cicilian pirates. In his account the 18 year old Caesar was:

“…was taken near the island Pharmacus by…pirates, who, at that time, with large fleets of ships and innumerable smaller vessels infected the seas everywhere.”

Plutarch goes on to recount how the captive Caesar was held to ransom and threatened with being made to walk the plank. What is also interesting is what an irritating hostage Caesar made; apparently he disagreed with his captors who wanted a ransom of twenty talents, he argued he was worth at least fifty!

Caesar’s ransom was paid and he was released…only to return in force to capture those who had previously held him and order them crucified. Apparently, after this episode pirates would always;

“Bow low and tender their most humble services”

To all Roman captives, then politely ask their victim:

“To mount upon the ship’s ladder and step to liberty…into the sea.”

Of course, part of the terror of walking the plank was that few sailors could swim, as outlined in a 19^th century article in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine.’

“Many of our English sailors cannot swim. Many gentlemen in various professions, to whom that accomplishment would be not only useful, but perhaps absolutely necessary, as equally ignorant of it.”

In the 19^th century several accounts of ‘walking the plank’ exist such at in 1822 pirates capturing the Jamaican sloop, ‘Blessing’. The unfortunate Captain, William Smith, could only offer flour and cornmeal, instead of coinage and so:

“A plank was run out in the starboard side of the schooner, upon which the pirate chief made Captain Smith walk…they then tilted the plank, then he dropped into the sea.”

It seems Captain Smith was one of the few sailors who could swim…not that it did him any good since seeing their captive strike out to sea; the pirates shot him in the head!

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Word Play.

I’ve been working hard on the final version of ‘Eulogy’s Secret’ and it’s big decision time (drum roll!) Do I spell-check in my native UK English, or go for US English? The differences aren't huge and mainly come down to ‘parlour’ vs ‘parlor’ and some disappearing L’s (dishevelled vs disheveled) but it did set me thinking about dictionaires and (another tenuous link to excuse a blog post) the compiler of the first dictionary to include common usages of words for a clearer definition, Dr Samuel Johnson.

....because the word 'CAT' must appear in any good dictionary......

Surpisingly Dr Johnson seems a bit of a wit on the side. Despite the gravitas of his work he came up with such chose sayings as:

“A second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience,”

“A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out as good for nothing.”

And

“A woman’s preaching is like a dog walking on his hind legs. It is not done well: but you are surprised to find it done at all.”

Dc Samuel Johnson.

Dr Johnson’s “Dictionary of the English Language” was published in 1755 and weighed in at nearly 9 kilos (20 lbs). Despite costing the equivalent today of nearly 500 GBP, it was an instant bestseller. With 42,773 entries, it took the good Doctor eight years to complete, although he was originally supposed to complete the book in three years. This original target seems particularly unrealistic, bearing in mind that it took forty French scholars, forty years to do the same task. As Johnson remarked:

“Forty times forty is sixteen hundred. As three to sixteen hundred, so is the proportion of an Englishman to a Frenchman.”

One of Johnson’s fears was that the English language was becoming unduly influenced by the French and would,

“…reduce us to babble a dialect of France.”

And he refused to add words such as, champagne, blonde and bourgeois to his dictionary, in protest.

As already mentioned, Johnson’s dictionary was the first to explain words with common expressions or usage. Let me end with some examples of his humour slipping into some of the definitions.

First editions of Dc Johnson's famous dictionary.

Lexicographer – ‘a writer of dictionaires; a harmless drudge.’

Patron – ‘commonly a wretch who supports with insolence and is paid with flattery’ (Johnson was on poor terms with his patron!)

Oats – ‘a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.’

Stockjobber – 'a low wretch who gets money by buying and selling shares.'

Debating between pic of stockjobbers and kittens....the kittens won!

Sunday, 14 August 2011

The Canary Isles ....going to the dogs.

The beautiful sandy beaches of the Canary Isles.

I’m on vacation and so when choosing a topic for my weekend blog post, my thoughts turned to that popular holiday destination of the Canary Isles (OK, I know it’s a tenous link.) But, if like me, you assumed these Spanish islands, located off the north-west coast of mainland Africa, were named after small, brightly coloured birds – just like me, you’d be wrong.

'Canary Dogs.'

In the first century BC, the Romans sent an expedition, their findings reported back by Pliny the Elder:

“The island of Canaria [is] so-called from the multitude of dogs [canes] of great size.”

‘Canary’ dervies from the Latin for dog, ‘canis’, from which our word ‘canine’ is derived. There is also an association with a North African tribe called ‘the Canarii’, so called by Pliny because:

“They partake of their food in common with the canine race, and share with it the entrails of wild beasts."

The coat of arms of the Canary Islands, reflects it's origins.

Subsequent explorers sent by King Juba II of

Mauritius

, returned to present their paymaster with two of these giant dogs. Some accounts now speculate that these so-called-dogs were actually a species of Monk Seals (or ‘Sea-dog’ in Latin.) – now sadly critically endangered and no longer resident on the Canary Isles.

Monk Seals.

Canary birds do come from the Canary Islands, but it was a case of cart before horse, as explained Virginia Sliverstein in her book, ‘Beautiful Birds’ –

“Canaries were named after the Canary Islands, and not the other way round.”

So there we have it, some not-too-taxing holiday trivia. Enjoy!

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Smugglers and the Isle of Wight.

Congratulations to Lily for winning the Amazon eVoucher giveaway.

Lily, your voucher will be with you shortly.

The tidal harbour at St Helens, Isle of Wight.

I’m currently on the Isle of Wight, which is a place rich with a history of smuggling. In the 18^th century, to the north-east of the island, the tidal mud-flats of St Helens and Bembridge, made them the perfect hideout for smugglers. Many were fishermen, who supplemented their income by illegally importing high value goods, such as tea, tobacco, brandy, lace and silks – that were highly taxed by the British government to finance war with France.

Low tide, St Helens beach, with a Palmerston Fort in the distance.

The local knowledge of these fishermen meant they could safely navigate the treacherous shallow, in-shore waters at low tide, leaving the Excisemen in their deeper drafted vessels, stranded out in the Solent.

Palmerston Fort seen from St Helens beach.

The Island acted as a staging post for goods smuggled over from France, and then transported to the main land in the fishermen’s skiffs. Spirits such as brandy were often double or even triple strength, and made for a tidy profit once diluted. Barrels were often attached to ropes and dragged beneath the water, hidden from the vigilant eyes of the Excisemen patrolling the waters.

The treachorous, Bembridge Ledge, as seen from Culver Down.

It was a dangerous job, being an exciseman; you risked shipwreck, shooting or intoxication! One Exciseman who was captured by brandy smugglers was forced to drink as much brandy as he could before passing out, at which point he was tied to a horse and set free.

On the horison, a Palmerston Fort.

Two things saw the reduction in the smuggling trade: a reduction in tax duty, and the building of Martello Towers, or Palmerstone Forts, along the south coast. These were constructed to oppose any invading Revolutionary or Napoleonic forces but also acted as a convenient base for the national coast guard, established in 1824.

Taking part in the walk-to-the-fort, walking across the sea at ultra-low tide.

Some of these forts can still be seen off the Isle of Wight, and although built out at sea, at ultra-low tide, a path emerges that makes it possible to ‘Walk to the fort’ – something I have done on a couple of occasions and an almost biblical experience – being a little like the parting of the Red Sea.

Sunday, 31 July 2011

Bizarre Tudor Deaths ( Part 2 of 2.)

THIS WEEK ONLY - A GIVEAWAY - $10 AMAZON VOUCHER - see bottom of this post for details.
[Part of the Bookhounds Blog Tour.]

Midweek, I posted about the work of Dr Gunn, a historian from Oxford University. Dr Gunn had the genius idea of reading Coroners’ Reports from the Tudor period, to find out about how people lived…and died…back then.

His research revealed that some people met their ends in surprising and, often bizarre ways; see part 1 (posted before ‘The Treasures in My Life’).

Maypole Injuries.

It seems that even such benign objects of entertainment, such as maypoles, could kill. Thomas Alsopp of Coventry, was one such victim. On 26^th April 1558 he was standing near a church wall, when the maypole fell over. It hit the wall, knocking a stone out which tumbled and hit Thomas’ head, fracturing his skull and killing him instantly. Who’d have thought?

Keeping Clean is Not Always Healthy.

After working up a sweat, dancing round the maypole, cooling off meant a quick dip in the local pond. Coroners’ Reports unearthed by Dr Gunn reveal several workmen who died as a result of freshening up.

Thomas Staple a labourer in Kent, went to Mr Mayne’s pond on 2 June 1558, to clean up, but unfortunately feel into the deepest part, and being unable to swim, drowned.

That same summer, George Lee and John Joplyn, both drowned whilst bathing in rivers in Leicester and Cambridge respectively: one fell into a whirlpool, whilst the other got trapped by bushes and drowned.

Drowning in ….!

What was a ‘Gong Farmer’?

Answer: it was the Tudor name for someone whose occuptation was to empty sewage from cesspits.

You can guess what’s coming next…. Or, perhaps not!

A drunken baker from Cambridge, in the process of relieving his bladder took a step backwards and fell into a cesspit on 2 June 1523… and suffocated. Urgh!

Handguns.

The first recorded death by accidental shooting occurred in 1519. The victim was a woman from Welton, near Hull. She was shot by a French bookbinder (called Peter Frenchman!). Having never seen a gun before, the victim walked in front as it was fired….

From this initial accident it took less than forty years for ‘death by accidental shooting’ to over take the number of longbow related deaths.

By-Your-Own-Bow

In Part One, I mentioned death by bow and arrow – but this was at someone else’s hand. So how, exactly, do you shoot yourself in the head with your own bow?

This is exactly what happened in 1552 to Henry Pert, gentleman from Nottinghamshire. He drew his bow to the full extent with the intention of firing an arrow straight up in the air. The arrow lodged in the bow so he lowered the bow and leant over to take a look…at which point the arrow released. He died the next day.

If you have enjoyed this post, then why not follow my blog?

As part of the Bookhounds Blog Tour, I am offering a giveaway of a $10 Amazon voucher to one lucky person, who does just that.

Just join this blog and leave a comment with your email address.

The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 8^th August.

The winning person’s name will be posted on the blog and the voucher emailed.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE OTHER BLOGS IN THE TOUR.
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Saturday, 30 July 2011

The Treasures in My Life....

Hello and welcome!

Today I'm taking part in the Blog-a-Licious blog tour on the theme of 'Treasures in My Life.'

Now I was tempted to post serious stuff about health, family and home...but hey...I thought I'd have a little fun instead, so here goes.

Enjoy!

CATS

Anyone vaguely acquainted with me will appreciate that I'm nuts about cats. I love 'em, can't get enough of them! Cats are a miracle of creation: the way tabby-cat coats match on both sides, the detail where their whiskers are plumbed in, retractable claws and last but not least - the purr! What a great thing a purr is! So 'cats' are right up there with the treasures in my life: too valuable to put a price on.

CHOCOLATE.

OK, chocolate. Do I really need to explain? Chocolate is one of those wonderful delights that can be as essential as medicine. A treasure to me is something that enriches life...and chocolate does that all right! (John Lennon in chocolate - made by my eldest son.)

COMPUTORS (...and OK, cats again!)

If treasure enriches life, then so does my laptop. I'm not in the least tekky, and yet I cant live without my computor; I write on my laptop and it's a portal to people and places that are dear to me. And yes, Widget sits beside me while I write, only I try not to get up too often because she pinches the warm spot.

CREATIVITY.

This is a photo of the picture my son painted for his A level art exam. I've posted it because it represents creativity and the pleasure it brings. My eldest son's creative outlet is painting, my younger son's his is humour, mine is writing...but whichever and whatever, being able to express yourself is a jewel without price.

NIFF-NAFF AND TRIVIA.

Not all treasures are valuable - take this bracelet as an example. It wasn't expensive but I love it none-the-less. I adore how it catches the light and shines the colours of the rainbow, like water trapped in jewel form, trivial really but it pleases me. I love other trivia to, such as historical trivia...but you'll know that already if you are a regular visitor to this blog.

BOOKS!

It was a close run thing whether I posted a picture of books or my kindle! As an avid reader, books, be it DTB or electronic, are a way of life and I wouldnt be without one in my handbag or pocket. The world is a much richer place because of literature.

THE SEA

This may seem an odd chose as a 'treasure' but there's something about the sea that makes me feel good, in the same way that possessing something of great price does. For me there's a connection with the sea that can't be bought.

HOME, SWEET HOME.

Last but not least...this is the view from the door of my local Indian Restaurant. I'd strolled there one evening to collect my carry out, turned round and saw this view with fresh eyes. Now if this isnt something to treasure, what is?