Become A Reviewer...And Read New Books For Free!

Seriously, this is a win-win-win situation, Just like Micheal Scott says. Immortal Work Publishing has opened up an opportunity for readers to become reviewers. And all they need to do to get free reading material is to leave a review.

To an author and publisher, reviews can literally be the difference of whether a book can succeed or fail. With so many books out there, how do some rise above the others? Of course, good writing and promotion is key, but even with those things, getting your book noticed is like screaming in a hurricane. The chance of someone hearing you can many times be almost nil.

So, because reviews are so important Immortal Works has created a Reviewer's Circle. You can click: HERE for more information and to get signed up. You will be sent free copies of soon-to-be-released books. In exchange, the reviewers will write-up reviews and post on sites like Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, and blog posts. Click the above link for more details, including answers to some FAQs.

Yes, this is indeed a win-win-win. The author/publisher wins because they get reviews for their works. People reading the reviews win because they find out what the new books are all about and see if they themselves want to read the stories. And, perhaps the greatest win of them all, YOU the reader win because you get free stuff.

Give it a shot today, because, really--what have you got to lose. 

The answer is, nothing.

Browsing Through A Relic...

The other day I came across an amazing book. It's a road atlas from Rand McNally, and I haven't looked at a printed map in years.

Back in the day (I'm wearing my "old man of experience" hat right now...), convenience stores carried many of the necessities we all need from time to time. I'd imagine many of the things the stores used to carry still carry, like windshield washer fluid, batteries, and Slim Jims.

But, they also had maps.

When you were on a road trip, you'd better know where you were going because if you don't, you needed help. Convenience stores had maps of the surrounding areas. I don't remember them being too expensive. Hopefully, you had a co-pilot who could read the maps so the driver could pay attention to the road. Just opening that big atlas brought back those memories. Of course, the atlas has advantages and disadvantages over maps. They're bigger and heavier--they won't fit in a glove box, but also you don't have to fold an atlas to put it away (there was an art to that as well...).

We rely so much on our phones now. I haven't traveled too much out of my immediate area, but I've used GPS over and over again--even my small town has grown where I don't know many of the new streets. 

The atlas proclaimed proudly, "Travel 2000 and Beyond!" I don't think anyone at Rand McNally (or, anyone else, for that matter...) had any idea what the next century would bring, the least of which, that no one would be using atlases in just a few short years.

Looking On The Bright Side...

This morning, I came across a tweet. If you're unfamiliar with Twitter, it can literally be a pit of ugly. But, every once in a while, a ray of sunshine breaks through and illuminates the darkness.

First, in the tweet exchange Joe lists something he's grateful for--family dinners and bedtimes not missed. This, in and of itself, is wonderful. A man--a father tells the world that through all the crap, through the pandemic, the riots, the unemployment, the unknowing of the future, he was able to find something positive in it all. He's been there for family dinners and bedtimes.

With Twitter, you can respond to a tweet with a tweet of your own. 

Britton decided that he had something to add.

He agreed with Joe, that family dinners together are important, something he's also grateful for. Normally, this tweet exchange might not even catch my eye, but in today's world where we can use the world's problems as a cause and excuse for our own pain, our own suffering, it was refreshing to see two men--two fathers let each other know that the small things matter and they are appreciative of those small things.

The exchange is small in comparison to the billions of things written every day on the site. Still, to those men--those kids--those families, something good has come from something terrible. If only we could all be more positive, like Joe and Britton.

Done...Looks Almost Like New

For years, we've lived in a two-tone colored house. The colors were a green-ish gray and a lighter greenish-gray. It wasn't painted that way--it twas painted all the same color...

But that was seventeen years ago.

A lot can happen in seventeen years, like wear and tear, winds, but the biggest cause of our two-tone house was the sun. That southwest side of our house just begged for sunlight to do its worst. 

And it did.

What a difference a week makes.

I know I post a lot of pictures about our house. It's a special building for me. We designed it, put in a TON of sweat equity, and have lived here for almost two decades. We raised our kids in this house, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, even an engagement.

A home is more than the structure itself. It's also a reflection of the people who live inside. It represents their loves, their fears, their hopes and dreams. It becomes part of us, of who we are.

And now, ours is one-tone (unless you don't count the trim...). Thank you Five Star Painting--you did a fantastic job!

I Heard The Squawking...Didn't Know Our Cat Was To Blame

I heard the quails squawking. I've heard birds squawk before, mostly because of predators.

I didn't realize our cat was the cause.

There are quail in the neighborhood. We see them occasionally. Mostly, they're scurrying across the street as we drive down the road. I don't know where they nest, but it seems they don't nest at our house. Of course, they might--I just don't see them.

The other day I was out in the yard and the quail were chirping. It didn't seem to be a panicked chirp, but more a friendly one. I did see our cat walking around, following me as I photographed the birds. The cat does that--he's followed me on a hike up the mountain before.

I went inside, then came out about twenty minutes later.

The cat sat on the lawn and I notice he was chomping something. Upon closer examination, I found what the cat was eating...a baby quail. If you look closely at the photo, there's a foot under the cat. Now, I've seen birds go crazy when their nest or babies are in danger. I watched robins go nuts when a snake was climbing up a tree to their next. I've seen magpies attack our cat when it got too close to a nest. So, it surprised me when I watched the quail seem not so bothered that a cat was in the area.

It's the way of things, birds eat bugs, cats eat birds. It's the circle of life. Still, it's interesting to see it first hand.

The Day My Sister Came to Visit...

I suppose, every child deals with issues as they grow, issues of inadequacy, embarrassment...in a way, growing up is supposed to be hard--prepares a person for life and the challenges that will surely come. So, I suppose I never though being adopted constituted any great trial on my part--just part of the deal. It helped immensely being adopted into an incredible family with loving parents, wonderful siblings, and an extended family anyone would be blessed to call their own.

I also suppose as every adopted child grows they wonder. They wonder about what might have been. They wonder about the people directly responsible for their entire existence.

They wonder.

I wondered...I wondered all my life about the family--my family--out there, somewhere, living their lives, paying their bills, celebrating holidays and trying to find happiness in that cruel world they hopefully prepared for as children. After my mother passed away, the wonderings prompted actions. I signed up for Ancestry.com's DNA test. As far as my DNA, I'm basically what my adopted family is--white from Northern Europe.

Then came the day when a new name popped up on the Ancestry site, a person that was closer than first cousin...basically, a sister. There are reality shows, movies, songs written about the experience of finding a blood relative. Those who are not adopted find stories of finding lost family fascinating. Those who are adopted find the shows fascinating, too. But, they watch the shows and they share something others can never fully understand.

Kim--my sister--and I connected shortly after her DNA test results were known. We've kept in touch through shutdowns, pandemics, riots, uncertainty, and all the happenings of what feels like a dystopian existence. And when she said she was coming to Utah with a friend to visit, well...

No need to wonder anymore.

We met on Friday--they stopped in and we visited for a couple of hours. She met me, her sister-in-law, her nephews, and niece. Kim's friend's family was nice enough to invite all of us north this afternoon for a get-together. We had what the Danes call, a "hyggiligt" time. We ate, chatted, swapped stories, and got to know each other better. One thing my kids noticed after our first meeting with Kim was now natural it felt being with her--she is just part of the family. Anyone who knows me knows I take pictures of everything. But today, I didn't. I just wanted to enjoy our time together.

Kim and her friend leave for home tomorrow. I will be forever grateful they came. We only spent a few hours together, but the event changed my life forever. Safe travels Kim. And your big brother thanks you for the visit.

The Piano...That Lived

Have you ever tried getting rid of a piano...in Utah? I did some very basic research (checked KSL Classifieds...) and there are dozens of pianos on their site that are free--well, when I say "free," I mean, the lucky person getting the free piano usually has to pay to move it, or find several burley guys and/or gals to transport it.

Free is in the eye of the provider, apparently.

About fifteen years ago, a friend and co-worker asked if our family would like a piano. His mother-in-law passed away and they were cleaning out her house. We had four kids and we wanted them to start taking piano lessons. This was a win-win situation. We hired a company to move it for us and it sat in our living room for a decade and a half.

It was time for the piano to go. I asked friends and family if they wanted it--I even blogged about it. I got no responses. Not surprising--so many homes in Utah already have a piano, either an upright, a baby grand or grand, or they might have an electric keyboard, many of which sound incredible. It seems the piano's days may be coming to an end--it had served society well, but it was its time.

No, the piano's future did not look bright. In fact, we were even watching YouTube videos on how to disassemble a piano.

Then, I had an idea. I texted my friend and now retired co-worker to see if they might be interesting in having the piano return to his fold. The instinct to contact him was inspired. He had a cousin that needed one for his kids. A quick call to the movers and, just like that, it was gone.

Anytime any of us look at the corner where the piano once stood, it's strange not seeing the big beautiful instrument. I don't know if this latest move will be the piano's last. It almost was when it came to live with us. But, thanks to some fortunate circumstances, the piano yet lives...

To play another day.