Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage

Celebrating 50 Years!!

On Sunday, June 14th, 2020 we will celebrate our 50th, yes you read it correctly fiftieth wedding anniversary! Ted a.k.a. GT for Gardener Ted, and I have survived living as a married couple for 50 years.

Wait. Wasn't the wedding just yesterday in my home church, Atlanta United Methodist Church, in Atlanta, Illinois? 50 years is a l-o-n-g time.

I remember the weather that day. The wedding ceremony is more of a blur.  Tornadoes swirled through our area, but we were determined to get a tape recorder in place so we could have a keepsake of our wedding. Sounds easy, but as I recall, nothing goes right when you're in a time crunch with a big storm whirling down upon you.

Ted lived four miles away and had to get back home to change into his tux a.k.a. morning suit. However, Mother Nature had other ideas. Torrents of rain and powerful winds greeted us as we opened the church door to leave. We were trapped in the church waiting for a clearing so we could dart out and into our cars to get home and back again before 4:oo pm.

I prayed the storms on our wedding day did not portend a stormy marriage. The good news is the tornadoes did not stop the ceremony or reception in the church basement. As we left on our honeymoon, driving to Champaign, Illinois for our first night as husband and wife, the skies cleared to see a gorgeous sunset through the car's front window. I took this as a promising sign that our life together would be a good one.

 We have weathered many storms for fifty years, but we also had sunny skies and gentle breezes mixed in with those dark days. Isn't that life? We can expect ups and downs. We rejoice through the ups and move on through the downs, knowing we will come out okay, eventually.

June 14, 1970

Okay, I may be prejudiced, but isn't that the cutest guy in this wedding picture? I loved him when I married him, but I love him even more now. It's a mature love, not the rose petals and butterflies kind in our early marriage. Precious love that grows through time.

Okay. I won't get all squishy and teary talking about our marriage. The whole point of this blog post is to explain why I am having a terrible time writing the book dedication for my upcoming memoir, Arranging a Dream. I am dedicating it to Ted. How do I encapsulate 50 years of living into one sentence in the dedication?

Please take a peek at what I have so far, then leave a comment below with any suggestions you have for me. Thank you!!

Dedication to my husband

NEWS UPDATE:

Interview at Michigan author Donald Levin's website.

This week, I'm visiting talented mystery author Donald Levin, a fellow Michigander who is featuring Indie authors on his website. Click here to discover how I know I am truly "famous."

Summer Readers Circle is back!

We are gearing up for the Summer Readers Circle every fourth Thursday through September. Guest authors will share their books and why they wrote them. You are welcome to interact with the author via the comment section. Go ahead and ask away. And yes! There will be gifts awarded during the series. Please join us.

Summer Readers Circle kicks off June 23

Readers Circle Guest Authors

June 23  Diane Bator

July 28   Reed Stirling

Aug 25  Tricia McGill

Sept 22  Helen Henderson

Sign up below to receive your June edition of the Rose Courier

A Special Edition of The Rose Courier will be delivered to your inbox this Friday by your favorite news gal. Sign up now to get all the news and tidbits from J.Q. Rose!  

Click the image in the sidebar or click here to receive the Rose Courier for all the news and giveaways from J.Q. Rose every month. Thank you.

IWSG Blog Hop: Writers Have Secrets

Hello and welcome to the 
Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop!

Always on the first Wednesday of the month.

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* to share and encourage. 

* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 

* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 

*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 3 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre and Me!! 

Looking forward to hopping around and visiting with you awesome bloggers.

When you stop by here, please leave your blog URL so I can return the favor. The iced tea and chocolate chip cookies are waiting for you on the table on the back deck. Enjoy!

🌹🌹🌹🌹

June 3rd question - Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?

I write mysteries with a dead body or two or twenty in the story. Secretly, I hate having to describe the murder scene. I cringe at the idea of actually seeing blood and guts.  But if it makes me gag, then I have done my job well. We want the reader to feel emotion. However, temper the scene so the reviewer isn't repulsed by it and decides to close the book!

Happy IWSG Day!!

🌹🌹🌹🌹
New Rom-Com Release for author Ellen Jacobson!

Smitten with Ravioli by Ellen Jacobson

Review by J.Q. Rose

Smitten with Ravioli by Ellen Jacobson

I have enjoyed reading Ellen's Molly McGhee mystery series with all of the quirky characters and crazy situations. Tipping her toes into a rom-com novel delivers the same humor and entertaining read as in her cozy mystery series. Even the title, Smitten with Ravioli, made me laugh! I loved the Italian setting, the reason that made her dump her graduate studies, her cooking class and fellow students, and of course, the guy she fell in love with but didn't want to fall in love with, of all people! But the extreme lying? Hysterical. Grab this one for a true mental escape from reality. I was given a copy of the book by the author and am voluntarily recommending it to you.

BUY LINK: Amazon and major online booksellers

Your reviews help readers to discover books they would like to read and authors to get the word out about their books.

🌹🌹🌹🌹

Be in the know! Click the image in the sidebar or click here to sign up to receive the Rose Courier for all the news and giveaways from J.Q. Rose every month. Thank you.

Celebrating Women During Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story blog. March is Women's History Month. We celebrate women who through the years have contributed their talents to make our world better.

🎕🎕🎕🎕

Celebrating Women During Women's History Month

According to the National Women’s History Alliance formerly, the National Women’s History Project, this group is "a leader in promoting Women’s History and their mission is committed to the goals of education, empowerment, equality, and inclusion."

In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) was founded in Santa Rosa, California. They spearheaded lobbying the US Congress to designate March as Women's History Month to bring awareness to the importance of women's achievements in our history." 
Click here to visit this information-packed website for more about women's history in the US.

🎕🎕🎕🎕

The women of today are....

The historical accounts serve as guides to girls and empower them to move forward. Using the stories of these role models in science, technology, medicine, arts, sports, government, literature and community, the girls will find a place for them to contribute to our society and to make their dreams come true.

 Be sure to share your history with girls. Tell them the stories of your days growing up or write them down so the girls can read your stories whenever they wish.  Your life is worth sharing and it could be a survival guide to girls growing up now.

🎕🎕🎕🎕

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women

by J.Q. Rose

For Middle-Grade age girls

Fifteen contemporary women share their dreams for success when they were girls. Be empowered by the amazing women they become. Their persistence to overcome obstacles and break through barriers to complete the goal will have you cheering for them. Whether your dream career is included in this interactive eBook or not, each story empowers readers to work toward making their dreams come true. A Study Guide is included in the book for use in the classroom or home school curriculum.

↪Click here to download this interactive e-book at your favorite online bookseller. 

🎕🎕🎕🎕

GOOD NEWS: 

The March edition will be in your inbox on Thursday, March 12 IF you signed up for it. (There's still time to sign up) 

Please enter your email address at the top of the page under The Rose Courier to get this jazzy update every month. Thank you!!

🎕🎕🎕🎕

Terror on Sunshine Boulevard byJ.Q. Rose

Rescuing a naked woman lying in a geranium bed? 

Investigating mysterious murders? 

These are not the usual calls in a Florida retirement community 

for volunteer first responder Jim Hart.

PS--Mystery thriller Terror on Sunshine Boulevard is on sale for 99 cents beginning the KDP Countdown this week. The price will go up on Friday to $1.99 and increase every day until it reaches the regular price on Tuesday, March 17.
Download it now while you can get the bargain price! 

If you have read this book, I would appreciate a review and so would readers. 

Your reviews help readers to discover books they would like to read. Thank you.

↪Click here to download Terror on Sunshine Boulevard. 

IWSG Blog Hop: What Inspired Me to Write a Story, #World Read Aloud Day

IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every month.

Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop! 

Always on the first Wednesday of the month.

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* to share and encourage. 

* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 

* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 

*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up to join.

***

Happy IWSG Day!

Add caption

Question for February 5

February Question 

February 5 question - 

Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? 

What was it and did you finish it?

Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Romantic suspense

I'm sorry to say I have not been inspired by a photo or artwork to write a story. However, story ideas come from the stories in the news. I wrote an entire romantic suspense novel based on a newspaper article about a motorcoach exploding at a campground. Everyone got out alright with no injuries, including their service animals--a pig, a kangaroo, and a goat. Yes! That's a true story. Of course, my version in the novel, Dangerous Sanctuary, is not true. But so fun to write!

CELEBRATE WORLD READ ALOUD DAY 

ON FEBRUARY 5!

2 Boys Reading to Each Other

Image by Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay 

The World Read Aloud Celebration is a new one for me. However, LitWorld and Scholastic have promoted this special day for 11 years. Now, according to the Scholastic site, 173 countries celebrate the occasion! 

Join in. Here are the rules! 

1.Select a book 

2. Find a buddy 

3. Read aloud 

4. Share your favorite read-aloud moments on social media with #WorldReadAloudDay and be sure to tag @Scholastic, @LitWorldSays and 3 friends so they can join, too!

Click here to go to the Scholastic site.

I know when I read to my kids, my grandkids, my third-grade students, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside to share a quiet, special time with them. No matter what your age, reading a story or hearing a story read aloud is appreciated. 

I'll be presenting a workshop in Telling Life Stories this week, and I plan to read a few stories to the participants. Every time I've done this, they always listen intently and enjoy the time. It works both ways. I love hearing them share their life stories with the class.

Author and teacher Jacqui Murray is the one who brought attention to this day on her blog, Word Dreams. Click here to link to her informative post about why writers should celebrate the day and the importance of reading aloud.

GOOD NEWS! 99 Cent eBook February 4-February 7

Your Words, Your Life Story: A Guide to Sharing Memories

The content in this eBook is what I use to present Life Storytelling workshops. 

Easy to read and understand for those who want to learn how 
to share their life stories with family, friends and the world! 
Get your eBook copy now for 99 cents!

Click here to download the digital copy from your favorite online bookseller.
***

GET THE NEWS: the Valentine Edition of the Rose Courier was delivered this morning. (If you're not signed up for the Courier, then let me know and I'll send you this edition.)
Please enter your email address at the top of the page under The Rose Courier to get this newsy update every month. Thank you!!

Halloween Storytime Blog Hop: The Undertaker's Daughter

Storytime Blog Hop

Halloween

BOO! and welcome to the Storytime Blog Hop! This quarterly edition theme is, what else but Halloween? Talented authors share short fiction stories from 500-1000 words for your entertainment. You're invited to hop around the especially, creepy, scary cyberspace today to read fascinating stories based on the optional theme of Halloween. The list of participants is located at the bottom of the page. 

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

I apologize if I am breaking the rules today by sharing a story I shared 5 years ago on this blog. But it is so perfect for Halloween, I couldn't resist. This piece has a place in my heart because it was the impetus to spark my mystery novel, Deadly Undertaking. 

Deadly Undertaking
Paranormal Mystery

The book's setting is a funeral home because I am the daughter of an undertaker. And I have two brothers who are funeral directors. When I wrote this story for a fun blog post years ago, I had no idea I would have a published mystery from the idea. 

Anyway, it's Halloween, a time for fun, silly costumes, and candy! You'll have to decide if the tale I'm spinning is a trick or a treat. Take a break and have fun with this. You'll get to know me better after learning about my "growing up" years.

# # # 

TheUndertaker’s Daughter

By J Q Rose

I always thought of horror writers as eccentric, peculiar people. But my perception changed when a horror story sprang from my own mind. You can imagine my surprise when my mystery/horror tale Sunshine Boulevard was accepted and published in 2011. That made ME a published author of horror stories.

Right away, I must tell you I am not an eccentric, peculiar person. I’m just a regular woman who is a wife, mother, grandmother. I like eating a burger at McDonald's, shopping at Walmart, and reading mystery novels. But, perhaps some would think my childhood was different. You see, my father was an embalmer and funeral director. I was reared in a funeral home.

It was not unusual to have a dead body laid out in a casket several days in a row in our living room which converted to the funeral chapel. In fact, sometimes we’d have more than one body in our home. The embalming room was in the back of the house, and yes, I wore lots of perfume and soap to cover the pungent odor of formaldehyde on my clothes and hair

Casket
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 

We had knee caps for ashtrays in the private area of our home…not in the public area because that may upset some folks. But Dad was a heavy smoker, so he appreciated having the convenience of an ashtray nearby at all times.

In our kitchen, boxes of ashes of the departed sat in the pantry shelves next to the canned green beans and corn. Some families squabbled over who was going to pay the funeral expenses for their dearly departed, so they never showed up to claim the ashes for fear of being left with the debt.  In one case the family of Ida Mayberry never claimed their sweet aunt. So Aunt Ida took up residence in the cupboard next to the baked beans.

Can of baked beans
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 

Life as an undertaker’s daughter did not seem to be any big deal. My friends, well, most of them, were happy to come over and play hide and seek in the casket room or to swipe flowers out of the funeral arrangements to put in our hair for dress up.

My girlfriends did get upset when one of the spirits who regularly hung out in the funeral home flew by. The whoosh of air was the only indicator of their presence. Yes, I lost a couple of friends that way because they were scared to death…well, not literally. They just were creeped out especially when one of the spirits would knock over the Barbie dollhouse or send the collection of Barbies swirling around the room.

Needless to say, I enjoyed going to my friend’s house. It was a treat to open their pantry door to get a can of pineapple and not see the boxed ashes of poor Aunt Ida. I could never shake the sadness I felt for her because noone cared enough to bury her ashes or at least sprinkle them on their garden.

So, yes, some may believe it was an unusual childhood compared to the experiences of others. But I felt loved, secure, and safe at all times. And that’s what counts for a kid.

The growing up years certainly shape the adult one becomes. I don’t know if this is the reason I can write a horror story or not, but I can assure you I am a normal, well-rounded person, not eccentric or peculiar at all. In fact, I got rid of the knee cap ashtrays just last week. I do have Aunt Ida in the cupboard. Her family never claimed her and I have grown attached to her company.

# # #

So do you believe what you read? I must confess most of it is made up. And of course, Deadly Undertaking is fiction, but I did have my funeral director brothers help me with the story. So, it's loosely based on the real funeral business. The keyword here is loosely.!

# # #

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Click here or on the JQ Rose Courier graphic at the top of the sidebar to have your copy of the JQ Rose Courier delivered to your inbox. You'll find out about new releases, giveaways, contests with prizes and what JQ is up to.
Thanks!
# # #

If you're not scared to death, please hop on over to the participants in the Storytime Blog Hop. The list is below.
PODCAST: General Link: Alone In A Room With Invisible People

1. Family Time by Bonnie Burns
2. The Exception by Vanessa Wells
3. Number 99 by Juneta Key
4. Edda’s Second Chance by Katharina Gerlach
5. Very Thin Line by Rebecca Anne Dillon
6. Henry Moves House by Nic Steven
7. For The Ghost The Bell Tolls by James Husum
8. Never Alone by Melanie Drake
9. The Neighbor by Meghan Collins
10. Storytime Blog Hop by Raven O'Fiernan
11. Loney Lucy by Bill Bush
12. The Traveler by Barbara Lund
13. Evening by Karen Lynn
14. Man Of Your Dreams by Gina Fabio
15. The Undertaker's Daughter by J. Q. Rose
16. The Road by Elizabeth McCleary
17. Storytime Blog Hop by C. T. Bridges
18. Storytime Blog Hop by Warp World Books