Monday, September 23, 2013

PARKER, ARIZONA

I love old buildings. They represent a time that might be forgotten if they had not struggled to survive. During the construction of the Metropolitan Water District Aqueduct and the Parker Dam,in the 1930's, the town of Crossroads grew to a population of over 2000. It supported five grocery stores, three restaurants and many more services. This is the remains of the Mercantile Co. later named Schwanbeck's the most prominent business of the community. It operated as a store and pot office until 1973.

And of course Parker Dam. In the 70's I was able to take a tour down inside the Dam.Today you can't even walk across  or drive across the dam. 

I couldn't  believe the wild burros that roam the area. I counted over twenty at  The  River's  Edge Campground. The little fellow below was friendly. I think he was looking for a handout.

Meet my  author friend, Darlene Miller, who penned  RV CHUCKLES AND CHUCKHOLES and  MORE RV CHUCKLES AND CHUCKHOLES. Darlene's books are as delightful and funny as she is. I met Darlene in Quartzsite at the Authors' Fair in 2011 at the Readers' Oasis Bookstore.
 I  had stopped at the Elks in Parker for a couple of nights and Darlene, who was staying at Emerald Cove,  became not only my tour guide of the area but loaned out her husband, Terry, to fix a leak on my motor home's roof. At lunch we shared our publishing experiences along with our love for Mexican food. Not only are Darlene's books unique and charming but, she is as well. I am so grateful to have gotten to know you, Darlene.

Soon I'll be heading back to Parker, Arizona with my friend Julie and her two dogs, Rocky and Kona. Stay tuned for Sportster's and my adventures. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - STAY TUNED

Time to hit the road again. Follow Sportster and me while we travel through Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.  Enjoy the video while you wait for your adventure to begin.


4 Ways to Start Your Own Podcast - wikiHow

4 Ways to Start Your Own Podcast - wikiHow

Friday, September 20, 2013

Thursday, September 19, 2013

You can Drop Twenty Pounds!

I ALMOST LOST TWENTY POUNDS!!




I LISTENED TO 
 AUDIO BOOKS
Amazon audio book- GOING HOME WITH A CAT AND A GHOST

  1. While I walked.
  2. While I hiked.
  3. While on the treadmill.
  4. While I drove to the gym.
  5. While I drove to my Weight Watchers class.
  6. While I drove to meet my personal trainer for a midnight rendezvous.
  7. While I drove to I-Hop after the "workout" with my personal trainer.
  8. While I lay in bed dreaming  about my midnight rendezvous.
  9. While I dreamed about flying to Vegas with my personal trainer.
  10. While in the waiting room of my therapist.




Tell your friends! Get on the program!

You can almost lose twenty pounds like I did.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM & AUDIBLE.COM





Amazon Audio Book - COAST TO COAST WITH A CAT AND A GHOST

Monday, September 16, 2013

Insight to an Author

Let me tell you about myself. My books, my life, my inspiration.
 Like many authors, I wear more than one hat. I began grooming dogs and cats at the age of eleven and still own and operate my shop, THE CANINE BEAUTY SALON in Sun City, Calif.  At this time in my life, I am semi-retired in order to satisfy my new passion. Writing. I am 67 and a widow with a cat named, Sportster.
 In 2010, just for fun I enrolled in college creative writing course. It roped me in, hog-tied me, put me on the rotisserie, and now, three books later, I am still not done.  




In 2011 I published my first book, COAST TO COAST WITH A CAT AND A GHOST. It is a memoir of my adventure driving across the country alone in my motor home after the death of my husband accompanied by a stuffed doll and my cat. 
 The  reviews  praised the story as inspiring and  fed  my attraction – my compulsion - the  writing monkey on my back,  until now  I cannot stop.

I wrote my second book, GOING HOME WITH A CAT AND A GHOST (2012) as an experiment. I pooh-poohed the success of my first book. Anyone can write their own story, but can they make one up? That is the proof of a good writer, I said. The mystery-romance, GOING HOME WITH A CAT AND A GHOST portrays a widowed woman seeking a second chance for love as she travels, again,cross country in her RV to attend her 40th high school reunion and reunite with her high school boyfriend. I tell my readers if I cannot meet a man, I will just make one up.
The reviews of these two books continue to spur me on as I struggle with my third novel, INVISIBLE HEROES, to be released in 2014. I weave the story of a dog that becomes a service dog for an Iraq veteran struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Based on reality, I hope to bring attention to this serious issue facing our veterans today. Over twenty veterans a day commit suicide because of this disorder.
  My writing road for the future.
People struggling with their hardships inspire me. I hope to tell their stories and demonstrate that their conflicts and strife were not for naught.  When my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I did not know how I would get through it. I told my friend of my agony.  My friend said, “You will get through it, and then some day you will be able to tell someone else what it was like.”
I want my readers to close my book and say, “I can do it too.”
I try  use my talents and time to help others.
I love to give workshops on writing. I also love to travel in my RV with my cat.  And I love to write. I combine my three passions by going to RV rallies and offering my seminars which are well attended. RVers are an adventurous lot with many stories to tell. 20% percent of the population has thought about writing a book.  I know I did.
I travel, I teach, I write. What a life!
I hope you know me a little better. Thank you for listening.  Sportster and I  hope to meet you  somewhere along the road to writing.
Respectfully.
Judy Howard and Sportster


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