PrickleForrestChronicles By Chrissy Hartmann

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  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles October 2020 Newsletter

    >
    > PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES
    > By Chrissy Hartmann
    > October 2020
    >
    >
    > A cold chill settled over the fall trees helping them to change their colors > of a luscious green to a brilliant yellow, orange, red, and brown. And > sometimes an eerie fog creeps past the windows to give a fright. Yes, it’s > autumn and better yet Halloween. The pumpkin patches overflow with little > ones running through them to find the perfect gourd. Some will have a happy > face and some not so happy, but most will be carved with a sharp knife and a > candle stored inside to make them glow.
    > Apple cider is pressed and candy stocks the shelves all waiting for that > last day of the month for little ghosties and goblins to ring a doorbell or > two for that spooky call of trick or treat. And here in this neck of the > spooky woods it’s no different. Lots of trick-or-treaters out tonight. Lots > of laughing and plenty of smiles.
    > It’s good to know Halloween hasn’t been lost to any plague. Biggest warm > wishes to all those celebrating this beautiful crisp time of the year and > may your bags be filled with treats to end out the year.
    > Happy autumn! Happy Halloween!
    >
    >
    > THE TOP FIVE
    > 1. Pumpkin spice! Pumpkin spice! Pumpkin Spice! Yes, it’s back in season. > Woohoo!
    > 2. Vinyl records.
    > 3. Trick-or-Treat! Boo!
    > 4. The autumn colors, red, orange, brown, yellow, green. Oh my! > 5. The buckeyes…And yes even the nuts!
    >
    >
    > WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…
    > Found a spooky anthology to submit a short story to. This one must contain > cake. Yes, that’s correct. Horror stories with cake in it. Hopefully the one > chosen will fit the bill…or the palate. Putting together a book of short > stories. Will probably need to write two or three more. Also getting ready > for NaNoWriMo. The goal here is to finish Whiskey 2. It’s possible, after > all wrote 35k last NaNoWriMo and possibly found a book cover designer. > Everything’s looking good though. Woohoo! Woohoo!
    >
    >
    > QUERYING…
    > Okay, back to the drawing board. EP decided to pass on RWS. Their loss. Got > a few other publishers to query before the months over. Will probably > self-publish once a book cover designer is confirmed. Working on book 2 RWS, > but ancy to move on to the next one. Got at least five to seven novel > outlines ready. Hard part will be picking one. Hahaha!
    >
    >
    > THE CRAFT
    > This month’s writing tip…
    > Before you submit your work, set it aside. Give it at least a week. Then > after a cooling off period, you see it with fresh eyes. Proof it again. > Change a few things, read over it once more, then submit. Don’t hurry your > work. Best sellers aren’t finished in one sitting.
    >
    >
    > THE HOLIDAYS:
    > Not many this month. A few little ones like #NationalPumpkinDay and > #NationalAppleDay, #NationalCatDay…. Which were fun to celebrate for some > of us. Trip to Amish country to get our apples and pumpkins. Punkin, the > Inker’s Spot resident black kitten didn’t appreciate the day for her. She > just wanted out in the yard to chase the blowing leaves. She’s a goof! > As Halloween approached and the full moon rose, the vinyl was spun with a > few spooky tunes here and there, but a lot of the oldies, U2, John cougar, > Rolling Stones, Eagles, Jim croce, Neil Young, and Tom Petty belted out of > the basement speakers making the house rock like the zombies and vampires > were in attendance for the Hallows Eve festivity.
    > Bagged up the candy for the neighborhood ghosties and goblins. A little > disappointing this year, only gave out 48 bags instead of the 100 or so > previous years. Either kids in the neighborhood are getting old, the weather > too cold, or the stupid COVID scared away the trick-or-treaters. But did > decorate Goosie and Gander appropriately. Pictures down below. Spent the > evening passing out candy. A little chilly but the Cat in the Hat helped > keep the chill away. Even a plague doctor helping out. Baking cookies and > sipping on some apple cider cinnamon whiskey as the Ohio State Buckeyes > thump Penn State. Go Buckeyes!
    >
    >
    > MY BOOKSHELF:
    > 1. When A Duchess Says I Do by Grace Burrowes
    > 2. The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis
    > 3. The Writer Magazine back issues January through October 2020 >
    >
    > SEASONAL FAVORITES:
    > SEASON: Fall…autumn…that time of the year when all the leaves change to > beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown…Love it! > SPORTS TEAM: The Buckeyes! They are back! Woohoo!
    > COLOR: Dark Brown and black.
    > CAUSE: The Seeing Eye. Ruff! Ruff!
    > SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden
    > FOOD: Pumpkin rolls… Yummy!
    > HOT DRINK: Pumpkin spice latte. Heaven!
    > FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!
    >
    >
    > DID YOU KNOW…
    > Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. > This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a > lot of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugar and > you’re good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an > overlay patch from Expression Med?
    > Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check > them out with the link below and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully > you’ll love them too.
    >
    >
    > PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..
    > * Lying joe and his family. Can anyone say traitors? Or better yet, Treason? >
    > *Dunkin running out of pumpkin doughnuts by 9 am on a Saturday morning. Say > what?
    > *COVID hysteria. Survival rate 99% and people are still wearing masks even > though they don’t work. Uh, stupid!
    > * Publishers who lead on writers. Ones who ask you to make edits then they > don’t publish you. Arghhh!
    >
    >
    > THEY SAID…
    > This month’s quote is by
    > Vincent Price
    > “In art, religion, and politics the respect must be mutual, no matter how > violent the disagreement.”
    >
    >
    > HOMETOWN UPDATE:
    > *Halloween trick-or-treat in the Edgewood neighborhood is actually on > Halloween this year. Yes, that’s right! Celebrating the holiday on the > actual holiday. Woohoo! Woohoo!
    > *College of Wooster on a lockdown. Apparently, they need to lock down the > 1600 students because a handful tested for COVID. Umm? Don’t they know that > age range has one of the highest survival rates? Or better yet, get your > science department to check out herd immunity. It works. Just ask Sweden. > * Some stores have bypassed Halloween and Thanksgiving and have shot > straight to Christmas. Yes, decorations are out already. Really? Don’t you > know people like to celebrate all the holidays?
    >
    >
    > INQUISITIVE MINDS…
    > The Muses want to know… Do you prefer passing out the candy or receiving > it? And their bonus question is what’s your favorite candy? Please comment > below.
    >
    >
    > GOOSING OFF…
    > Goosie & Gander
    > They wanted you to know that even though it was national apple day, National > Pumpkin Day, and National Cat Day, they concentrated mostly on Halloween and > the fall season. They attacked the pumpkin patch and played with a black > kitty, danced with a scarecrow, and even were spotted socializing with > Frankengoose and his bat. But let’s not forget, they loved the leaves…not > raking them though. They left that for next month…Maybe. > Here’s hoping all had a wonderful Halloween!
    >
    >

    > FIND ME…
    > Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355
    >
    > Facebook:
    > https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355
    >
    > WEBSITES:
    > Expression Med $5 off Coupon for patches
    > http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff
    >
    > Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous glucose monitor)
    > https://dexcom.com/g6
    >
    > Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks
    > https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri
    >
    > The Seeing Eye
    > http://www.theseeingeye.org/
    >
    > Instacart Refer a friend $10 off coupon
    > https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1
    >
    > Walmart Refer A Friend $10 off Coupon
    > https://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/4ff9c6c9-6e21/k2-_154d214f-c74f-4ee2-a20d-8 > 43fe28a8b61.v1.png
    >
    > Prickle Forrest Chronicles (c)October2020
    >
    >

  • PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

    Prickle Forrest Chronicles 

    By Chrissy Hartmann

    September 2020

    It’s fall. The leaves are changing. Wood smoke is in the air. Cider is pressed. And pumpkins are on the rise.

    Mother Nature is following her plans as usual. The nights are getting colder. Too cold for some. And the daylight is fading faster. Sweaters and light weight jackets are worn while our t-shirts and shorts are stowed away for another summer with the hopes we won’t over indulge these next few months and can where them next June.

    Pumpkin spice seems to have found the taste buds of everyone. As the flavor brings excitement to the fall with a soothing aroma and a warmth to the belly as we drink it in lattes, cappuccinos, and coffees. Plus not to forget muffins, doughnuts, cookies, and pies. Oh Boy, Yum!

    So pull out your sweaters, slide into some jeans, and lace up your boots. Fall is here. And while you’re at it… sit by a roaring fire and read a book. Better yet, write one!

    Happy autumn!

    THE TOP FIVE

    1.  Fall weather… Love the hoodies and cowboy boots. Woohoo!
    2. Pro football season is back… now we just need the Big 10 to play.
    3. Fair food… French fries and better yet pumpkin spice.   funnel cakes. Oh boy!
    4. CiderBoys apple pineapple hard cider. Delicious!
    5. Vinyl records. Newest one to collection…Alabama Shakes. Love it!

    WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…

    Not too much progress with the book this month. Did start to learn more on how screenwriters formulate their manuscripts. This info should be very helpful for Book 2 of Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation series. Unfortunately, got side tracked by roof repair, which led into cleaning out the spare bedroom, which in turn caused the distraction of getting all the clutter out of the house. It’s not all out yet, but back to writing again. Did come up with a great idea for those who like to pitch their books. Looking into creating an app for this. Wrote out all the ideas for it. Ever have one of those days when nothing gets done because focusing on one thing is a complete distraction. No? Yeah, me neither. Hahaha!

    QUERYING…

    Wanted to send out a query letter or two, even found a few agencies and a few publishers but realized they were requesting books different from RESCUING WHISKEY’S SALVATION is written in. What a bummer! But still looking for others to submit too.

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    Use the MICE quotient to help write conflict into your story. The MICE quotient stands for

    M… milieu

    I… Inquiry

    C… Character

    E… Events

    Check out the explanation on the June 20, 2020 podcast Writing Excuses (Season 15)

    https://writingexcuses.com/2020/06/21/15-25-using-the-mice-quotient-for-conflict/

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Not many this month. Maybe a few National days like #NationalHugAHoundogDay or something like that. Pretty tame month, but then again it is fair season around these parts and school is back in session even though it may only be for two or three days a week. Labor Day came and went with much ado about nothing. Did drink some wine with friends a couple of nights this month, but not to celebrate a holiday. Hoping next month will be better though.

    MY BOOKSHELF:

    1. The Screen Writer’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script by David Trottier
    2. Revelations From The Dead: Chronicles of the Night Waster by Max Willi Fischer
    3. Making Description Work Hard For You; Crafting Unforgettable Fiction Book 1 by Beth Yarnall

    SEASONAL FAVORITES:

    SEASON: Fall

    SPORTS TEAM: Indians, Buckeyes, Browns… Oh my!

    COLOR: Dark Brown

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Sweetbread…Yummy!

    HOT DRINK: French Vanilla cappuccino

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a lot of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and you’re good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med?

    Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link below and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them too.

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

    • Mail in ballots. Get out and vote people!
    • Anonymous writers. Makes the children’s lyric of “Liar, liar, pants on fire” come to mind.
    • Mask, shutdowns, social distancing… and let’s not forget the reason for it… COVID-19.
    • Mosquitoes. Help! Send dragonflies and mint!
    • Socialists and communists. American Patriots and Capitalism is the only way to go!

    THEY SAID…

    “You can fix anything, but a blank page.”

    –              Nora Roberts

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • Walmart is open until 10 pm now. But not much else. Most businesses are closing around 7 pm maybe 8 pm, but bars can serve until 10 pm and then lights out at 11 pm. It’s a blast from the past when nothing was open on Sundays and offices and shops closed up at 5 pm.
    • Woosterfest has already been cancelled.
    • Wooster High School football is only playing conference teams, which leaves us with six for the year. Only one played at home though…and we are kicking butt! Go Woo!
    • The renovations to Wooster’s square downtown are complete. More space to sit outside some of the businesses, like at Tulipan’s Hungarian Bakery and Coffee Shop, etc. The Farmer’s Market is still open, but only for a few more Saturdays.

    INQUISITIVE MINDS…

    The Muses want to know… Do you prefer reading books where the antagonist looks to rule the universe or ones who just want to rule the office? And why?

    Please comment below…

    GOOSING OFF…

    Goosie & Gander

    Busy month, believe it or not. First it started out with dressing up for the Kentucky Derby. Yes, that’s right. Kentucky Derby. No it’s not May, its September but due to the whole virus thing it got pushed back. So they dressed up for the roses. Gander took it a little too far, but he’s adorable as usual.

    Plenty of apple picking this month too.

    Even a romp with their pups.

    And even though college football might not start until October they felt the need to get into the spirit of it all. And of course they are going to watch the Browns and they are continuing to cheer on the Indians too.

    And don’t forget about National Teddy Bear Day. Gander had a blast showing off his Teddy Bear. Maybe someday they’ll get a Winnie the pooh outfit.

    But for now, they are happy with the results of the local fair. Ribbons won for Gander cow, Goosie Pumpkin …

    All while enjoying French Fries and lemonade with placement with some square dancing to top off the week.

    Boy Howdy!

    FIND ME…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

    Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355

     

     

    WEBSITES:

    Expression Med $5 off Coupon for patches

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

    Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous glucose monitor)

    https://dexcom.com/g6

    Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

    https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

    The Seeing Eye

    http://www.theseeingeye.org/

    Instacart Refer a friend $10 off coupon

    https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

    Walmart Refer A Friend $10 off Coupon

    https://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/4ff9c6c9-6e21/k2-_154d214f-c74f-4ee2-a20d-843fe28a8b61.v1.png

  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles August 2020 Newsletter

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    August 2020 (Posted 08/28/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

    Summer is just about done here in these parts. And Mother Nature seems to agree…somewhat. Some days it’s hot and humid, like days of Old. Other days it’s cool and even rainy. Worst is when it’s rainy and humid. Ugh!

    But baseball is taking place from all ages. Last minute vacations are abundant. And kids unbelievably are itching to get back to school. Not sure if it’s for the education, might be for some, but probably most want the socialization that everyone had to forgo because of the virus. But it looks as though it’s on the downslope. The economy is booming back. Unemployment is dropping. Workers want their jobs back. And everyone seems sick and tired of all this virus propaganda. People are surviving the virus and thwarting the efforts of the fear mongers’.

    With much hope in the heart, one can only wish for peace, prosperity, and love for this grand old land. Hold your head up, social distance, and remember, “We are Americans. We can do it! God bless America.”

     

     

    THE TOP FIVE

    1. American grit. Yeah baby, that’s right. We got it!
    2. Tax free back to school shopping. Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!
    3. The only way to go…High school vocational/career centers.
    4. Cleveland Indians baseball. Go Tribe!

    5.

     

     

    WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…

    Finished two more chapters on the latest novel. Total of eight written. Almost have two more done. Woohoo! Really, enjoy writing this one. Found out a great way to describe the setting of exotic places since unable to travel to them so far. The secret is… Research to see if there is a local garden club or community group that can help with the indigenous plant life. Works great and they love helping out. Of course, they will get mentioned in the book either in the acknowledgements or maybe an honorable mention in the chapter.

     

     

    QUERYING…

    Still waiting to hear back from Entangled Publishing. Only a few more weeks now until a response should come. Hopefully they’ll like the changes made and offer to publish it. That would make up for this lousy COVID-19 ridden year.

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    As mentioned above, if you are using real locations and you need help with history or even the settings such as plant life, building descriptions, etc. if you’re unable to travel to the location, ask local groups such as garden clubs, the historical society, or community groups to help out. Great reference source and their contribution makes your setting more believable. My thanks to The Garden Club of Bermuda!

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    No major holidays this month unless you consider tax-free weekend for back to school. Yes, that’s correct. Tax free, but only for certain items and the maximum the item can cost is $75 so sorry to those big names for sports shoes, you lose out.

    Had a few fun #holidays. Check out Goosie and Gander’s section below for those. They loved celebrating them. Do need to find a few more decorations and props for some of the really weird ones like… #NationalWhiteWineDay or #NationalMustardDay. Celebrating #NationalChocolateChipCookieDay lasted more than the appropriated twenty-four hours, but when you start combining chockalott chips in with peanut butter cookies and macadamia nut cookies then one must accept the holiday should be extended. And anyway, seventy-two hours isn’t that much longer than twenty-four, right?

     

     

    MY BOOKSHELF:

     

    1. Diamond Doris; The Sensational True Story of the World’s Most Notorious International Jewel Thief by Doris Payne
    2. Five Secrets of Story Structure; How to write a novel that stands out (Helping Writers Become Authors Book 6) by K.M. Weiland
    3. Romancing the Beat Story Structures for Romance Novels (How to write kissing books 1)
    4. Born to be Wild by Eloisa James

     

     

    SEASONAL FAVORITES:

    SEASON: Summer

    SPORTS TEAM: The Cleveland Indians… Go Tribe!

    COLOR: Dark Brown and white. Reminds me of a hot fudge sundae. Yummy!

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Crisps Sweet Peas. Yummy!

    HOT DRINK: Iced caramel cappuccino… “Da bomb!”

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a lot of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and one is good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link below and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them as much as I do.

     

     

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..

    • Big Ten cancellation of football.
    • Teacher’s unions with political agendas.
    • Fact checkers who lie.
    • Liars who write biographies or memoirs.
    • Social climbing self-centered family.
    • COVID-19 fear mongers.

     

     

    THEY SAID…

    Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves. — Abraham Lincoln

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • The renovations to the square for downtown Wooster are scheduled to be finished this week. Good for Black Bird Records, Operation Fandom, Tulipans Bakery and coffee shop, etc. Woohoo! Woohoo!
    • Wooster City Schools are now back as this is posted, but for only limited time in the classrooms; two days out of the week and three days at alternative sites or totally online. Student/parent choice.
    • Wooster’s pool has closed last weekend while the Farmers market continues to supply plenty of local produce. The stuff is fantastic!
    • Coccia House is back from vacation…reopened to half bakes around the 26th.
    • Wayne County Fair hosting only the Jr. Fair this year…not much else. No rides. No evening grand stand shows. No demolition derby. No Tractor pulls. No carnies. No consumer booths. Only a few food vendors allowed. The horse racers will still harness up though. Jr. Fair closed to the public. Only participant and one parent allowed.

     

    INQUISITIVE MINDS…

    The Muses want to know…

    Do you prefer classroom education or online? And if online should schools continue to receive tax money for operating expenses even though the kids aren’t there?

     

     

    GOOSING OFF…

    Goosie & Gander

    Our fowl friends have certainly been busy celebrating national day of the cowboy. Then Goosie found the perfect watermelon. They spent a few days spoiling their service dogs. Goosie visited with her favorite lion. And the two even managed to sneak down the yellow brick road to celebrate the Wizard of Oz 81st anniversary. Things didn’t get too sticky hanging out with Goosie’s favorite bee. Hey even spent a week on vacation and got some great photos of one ferocious great white shark. And at the moment, they’ve coaxed their kitten to hang out with them for the day.

    #NationalDayOfTheCowboy #NationalWatermelonDay #WorldHoneyBeeDay #NationalMuttDay #NationalAssistiveDogDay #BlackCatAppreciationDay #NationalPhotographyDay #SharkWeek

     

     

     

    FIND ME…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

     

    Facebook:

    https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355

     

    WEBSITES:

    Expression Med $5 off Coupon for patches

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

    Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous glucose monitor)

    https://dexcom.com/g6

     

    Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

    https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

     

    The Seeing Eye

    http://www.theseeingeye.org/

     

    Instacart Refer a friend $10 off coupon

    https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

     

    WalMart Refer A Friend $10 off coupon

  • Prickle Forrest ChroniclesJuly 2020 Newsletter

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    July 2020 (Posted 07/29/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

    No Fourth of July celebration. No community celebration of Independence Day. The city not festive at all. The town sits stagnate in the presence of this pandemic. But is it truly a pandemic? Or is it the figment of fear?

    The hot humid days of summer have arrived. Unfortunately, with this pandemic it makes it difficult to cool down. No fun filled days going to the local pool unless of course you call ahead for a reservation for a quick dip. Needless to say, the air conditioner is getting a workout and will be happy to see the fall come sooner rather than later.

    The flowers look beautiful and the grass is quite green, but unless it doesn’t rain soon the possibility of gazing out onto a brown patchy yard is inevitable.

    Hope runs abundant for the autumn that this turmoil will exit our beautiful lands and the days of peace return. God bless America!

     

     

     

    THE TOP FIVE

    1. Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation finished and sent to publisher.
    2. Hand-dipped ice cream.
    3. Baseball is back! Go Tribe!
    4. Lemonade.
    5. That Blind Tech Show.

     

     

    WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…

    Working on book 2 to the Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation series. As of right now, only going to write it as a 2-book series. Reworked the outline so it better fits the romance beats that Gwen Hayes teaches. Much stronger storyline and character arcs. About six chapters written with a few edits. Loving it!

     

     

    QUERYING…

    Made the changes EP suggested and sent it back to them as of July 13th. Hoping to hear back from them within 60 days with some positive news and maybe an offer. Had lots of help from the Wayne Novelist Guild, RedPen, two literary agents, and a number of others are on the page of acknowledgments of the book.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    If you are writing a romance, please read Romancing the Beat, Story Structure for Romance Novels. How to write kissing book 1 by Gwen Hayes. It’s a short book — very short, but does a fantastic job of explaining how romance beats are different from other genres. It’s a tremendous help for creating your outline.

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Fourth of July or Independence Day arrived and unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 status our stupid state government officials made it very hard to celebrate the holiday. Surreal! And with all the riots, the thought of what country this actually is crossed the brain waves a number of times. Going to a cookout at the end of the month down in the hollar. Should be fun with lots of good food. Hopefully, no one will put the 4-wheeler into the pond this time. Oops! But it will be fabulous to hang out with everyone.

     

     

    MY BOOKSHELF:

    1. Romancing the Beat, Story Structure for Romance Novels. How to write kissing book 1 by Gwen Hayes
    2. Five Secrets of Story Structure; How to write a novel that stands out by K.M. Weiland
    3. The Bachelor; Duke Dynasty #2 by Sabrina Jeffries
    4. The Bromance Book Club #1 by Lyssa K. Adams

     

     

    SEASONAL FAVORITES:

    SEASON: Summer

    SPORTS TEAM: Cleveland Indians. Go Tribe!

    COLOR: Dark Brown

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Crisps Sweet Peas… Yummy!

    HOT DRINK: Iced French vanilla cappuccino.

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides much freedom. One quick look at their app to monitor the blood sugars and one is good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, black cats, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link below and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them as much as I do.

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

     

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..

    • Cancellation of 4th of July fireworks.
    • Rioters!
    • Rain storms that cause wind damage to the roof and inexperienced insurance adjusters.
    • The phrase “the new normal.”
    • Fascists, Socialists, Communists, Liberals.
    • COVID-19 mask bullies.

     

     

    THEY SAID…

    “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do. ”

    – Thomas Jefferson

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • Unfortunately, due to this rotten Rona Walmart, Kohl’s, CVS, etc. are now requiring masks to enter their stores.
    • The Wayne Novelist Guild is using Facebook meet to hold their bimonthly meetings until the Wayne County Public Library can open back up to the public.
    • Wooster downtown Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA), which establishes boundaries for patrons to walk around with open containers of alcoholic beverages during specified times or events is now allowed.

     

     

    INQUISITIVE MINDS…

    The Muses want to know…

    Should everyone wear a mask or should just those vulnerable be the ones to wear them?

     

    Please comment below.

     

     

    GOOSING OFF…

    Goosie & Gander

    The geese are trying to do their best to lighten the mood, and celebrate each day with merriment with bright colors, patriotic themes, and traditions of summer. They started the month out rocking the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue. Then they wanted to remind everyone not to forget about their pink friends, the flamingos and another , a delicious, favorite, the plump strawberry season. And let’s not forget the blooms of the summer. Last but not least, they are thrilled to head to the pool with the sunny days. Enjoy!

     

     

     

    FIND ME…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

     

    Facebook:

    www.facebook.com/usawriter355

     

     

    http://www.facebook.com/AuthorChrissyHartmann

     

    WEBSITES:

    Expression Med $5 off Coupon for patches

    Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous glucose monitor)

    https://dexcom.com/g6

     

    Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

    https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

    Prickle Forrest Creations goose shoes

    Order via E-mail pfcreations@gmail.com

     

    The Seeing Eye

    http://www.theseeingeye.org/

     

     

    Instacart Refer a friend $10 off coupon

    https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

     

    Walmart Refer A Friend $10 off Coupon

  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles June 2020 Newsletter

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    JUNE 2020 (Posted 06/21/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

     

    It’s June. Graduation. Summer time. Hot weather. Cold drinks. Pool time. Ice-cream cones and lemonade. And what else? Rona. Yes, that’s right. Rona’s still here but with numbers heading downward the country looks like it’s on the mend. The economy is opening back up and climbing. Stock market hit 27,000 a few days ago. And continues to rise.

    Woohoo! Woohoo!

    So keep a smile on your face and hope in your heart. Celebrate life with your friends and family. Enjoy those weddings and graduation parties this month. But most of all live life to the fullest. Happier days are coming…

     

     

    THE TOP FIVE

    1.  Resubmitting requested manuscript for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation to Entangled Publishing. Woohoo! Woohoo!

    2. Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez from Olswanger Literary and Jessica Schmeidler from Golden Wheat Literary are two fantastic Literary Agents and Editors who know how to make a book shine! Yeah baby, they do!

    3. Stock Market is climbing. 401Ks are on the rise. Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!

    4. Walmart online shopping and pickup service. Love it!

    5. The Dexcom G6 CGM makes life easier. A1c down from 9.1 to 5.9 since February. Yeah baby, it is!

     

     

    WIP IT… WIP IT GOOD…

    Finally! My first manuscript almost ready to head off to the publishers soon for second consideration after making the changes they’ve requested. Hopefully next newsletter I’ll have good news. In the meantime, I’ll be working on the sequel to Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation, book II. This one is far from Whiskey, Texas, at least by horse it would be, but it’s actually set in Bermuda, which happens to be about a 2 to 3 hour flight. Five chapters written so far. Using somewhat of the same style for this one but instead of a diary using…a blog. But what kind of blog you ask? Well, you’ll just have to buy it to find out.

     

    QUERYING…

    Going to wait about two weeks before sending out queries for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation again. Hopefully, Entangled Publishing will respond before they go out. If not, a recent list of publishers that the Muses have compiled will receive the query. It’s a cross between a romcom and sweet contemporary romance, which stars a cosmetic heiress, cowboy, and a quaint little Texas town who’s dealing with a mayor with making it the Sundance of the West…and don’t forget about the clowns and “dead” uncle. In fact, the same clowns will guest role in book II.

    Literary agent, Kaitlyn Sanchez is helping me out with some edits. Hopefully with her help I won’t need to send it to any other publisher and will get an offer from Entangled Publishing. She’s great and I hope we can work together on this venture and the ones planned for the future.

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    Check out the website WRITERS DIGEST. Lots of helpful information on the craft.

    http://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction

     

    And if you need help deepening your narrative try these 6 ways…

    www. bookmarketingtools.com/blog/6-ways-to-add-depth-to-your-narrative/

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Memorial weekend has passed…Flag day came next. Graduations have come on and quietly slipped through time. No parades of remembrance and thanks. No celebrations of commencement. Father’s Day might resemble something of the past traditions. Hopefully rain won’t spoil the BBQ. Unfortunately though, a July 4th celebration doesn’t look promising either. Heck, they are already cancelling events for July and August. Haven’t heard about the cancellation for the Cleveland Writers Conference though, maybe there’s still hope for that one on July 11th. But even so, the rioting that’s taken place might quell any future plans for a writing conference attendance. Hopefully though these riots will vanish and peaceful protests will instead replace them. Makes no sense to riot when your cause is for peace and equality, right?

    Ready to close the calendar for 2020 and ask for a Mulligan.

     

     

    MY BOOKSHELF:

    1. Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

    2. On A Snowy Night by Debbie Macomber

    3. The First 50 Pages: Engage Agents, Editors and Readers, and Set Your Novel Up For Success by Jeff Gerke

     

     

    SEASONAL FAVORITES:

    SEASON: Summer

    SPORTS TEAM: Cleveland Indians. Go Tribe!

    COLOR: Dark Brown and salmon.

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Bacon wrapped asparagus. Yummy!

    DRINK: Iced French vanilla and caramel cappuccino

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

    SERIES: Downton Abbey…yes just now watching it. Love it!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a lot of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and you’re good to go. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them too.

    http://www.expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

     

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH..

    • Murderous cops!
    • Antifa and sponsored riots.
    • Fake NEWS.
    • Guilt by submission.
    • Shutdowns.
    • Vandalism.

     

     

    THEY SAID…

    This month’s quote is by

    No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth. — Plato

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • Walmart did manage to get the online ordering and pickup service going. Unfortunately, not many time slots to pick up the order and the chance is very high-risk items you want and need being sold out. This is frustrating, very frustrating! But their Facebook page says they are hiring. Hopefully hiring more shoppers. Aldi’s needs to get with the program and have online ordering with pickup service and not depend strictly on delivery.
    • The vandals who defaced the public buildings and the Wayne County courthouse have been caught. Now they need a bucket of soap and toothbrushes. Or maybe a good paddling…better yet, both!
    • Rumor says Ohio schools will be back in session this fall. But will they start in August or September? Will they go five days a week or less with online classes from home? Hmmm? With Rona fading away, hopefully back to our “old normal.”

     

     

    INQUISITIVE MINDS…

    The Muses want to know… Do you prefer

    Action, dialogue, or narrative to start out your chapter?

     

     

    GOOSING OFF…

    Goosie & Gander

    To start off this month Goosie and Gander looked splendid in their patriotic regalia to celebrate National Maritime Day on May 23rd and then Memorial Day May 26th. Celebrating Wooster’s class of 2020 graduation became a virtual experience. They’ve also been keen to wander through the garden and pick out some roses for National Rose Day not to mention the stroll through the garden patch to get some strawberries. And let’s not forget their patriotism for Flag Day. The rest of this month and the coming month should be just as fun with summer in full swing, pools open, 4th of July, bumblebee watching, and who knows what else. They’re game for any adventure, so if you have any suggestions comment below.

     

     

    FIND ME…

    Twitter:  @USAWriter355

    Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355

     

     

    WEBSITES:

    Dexcom  G6

    https://dexcom.com/g6

     

    Expression Med Referral ($5 off coupon)

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

    Walmart  Referral ($10  off coupon)

     

    Instacart Referral ($10 off coupon)

    https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

     

    Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

    https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

     

    The Seeing Eye

    http://www.theseeingeye.org/

  • Prickle Forrest Chronicles May 2020 Newsletter

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    May 2020 (Posted 05/17/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

     

    Spring’s arrived! Easter’s passed. Normally a celebration of rebirth. But not this year. Sure blooming flowers fill the landscapes, Blue Skye’s hang overhead, but life itself casts a shadow over the splendors of Mother Nature.

    Death invades the land. Liberal instability longs for conquest. Concepts of destruction feed our fears.

    But always remember, Good trumps evil. The Darkness fades from light. Strength, resilience, and patience create survivors. Learn from it. Keep faith. The good shall win. And once again, the colors of happiness will bloom and this evil will fade into a distant memory. Stay strong. Stay Safe. Never give up. This is a time of rebirth. A time to show the doubters we will endure. Step out of the darkness and do what’s right. Celebrate! Live! Love! Never give up!

    And for goodness sake, KEEP WASHING THOSE HANDS!

     

     

    THE TOP 5

    1. Happy Mother’s Day!
    2. Unlock America begins. Greatness here we come again!
    3. Major League Baseball returns July 1st!
    4. Hydroxychloroquine, the destroyer of COVID-19.
    5. Faithful Little Cupcake… local bakery. Latest 2 flavors Peach and Elvis Presley… YUMMY!

     

    * 

     

    WIP (Work In Progress):

    Book 2 for the Whiskey series plods along. Now that edits are finished will have the time to write more. Hoping to get it finished by the end of the year. Love writing this one, so it won’t take forever…especially since will be following an actual outline this time. Woohoo! Woohoo!

     

     

    QUERYING:

    Starting June 1st. Sending the requested changes to EP first. Will give them a week’s advance, then submitting the manuscript to a list of 10 literary agents/publishers. Plan to continue its query until one sticks or book 2 of the series is completed. Already have 5 chapters written out of the 30 proposed. Woohoo!

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    Check out the following posts for help with cutting out the distance in your writing…

     

    Narrative Distance by Jennifer Ellis

    https://www.jenniferellis.ca/narrative-distance/

     

     

    How to eliminate distance using Deep POV by Lisa Hall-Wilson

    How To Eliminate Distance In Deep Point of View

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Celebrated Mother’s Day…started the day out with a call from Mom, AKA RedPen. She’s reading over the edits to the novel. So far, she likes the changes. That’s good news. She can be brutal sometimes.

    In college, she returned letters corrected. No reply. Just corrected. Yes, corrected. Yikes!

    Slept until 2 pm, but did wake for breakfast in bed with mimosas. Yummy! Then spent a couple of hours out in the sunshine watching two of the three kiddos play in the yard. Punkin discovered she could slip under the fence and explore the neighbor’s flower garden. Obviously, she’s not noticed their new puppy, Rudy, an 11-year-old retired greyhound. He’s very gentle. Just hope she realizes this. Actually, not sure if Winnie’s seen him yet either. He’s a very mild guy who appreciates his naptime.

    A storm blew in, so the deck emptied for the safety of the house…and Coccia House pizza and anti-pasta salad. Unfortunately no more mimosas.

    Received a beautiful handmade card and a bouquet of red-red roses from #1 kiddo and hubby. No baby’s breath in them, thank goodness, because otherwise you’d find Punkin’s picture plastered all over this page with her climbing into the vase attacking them. What is it with kittens and baby’s breath? Sheesh!

    Finished the holiday with some social media perusing and the search for new reading material. Will check the LOC BARD first then Kindle. Hopefully something will inspire its selection. Recommendations welcomed for entertaining literature. Please Post title suggestions below in the comment section.

    As for Memorial Day…Wondering if Ohio plans to cancel this next? Hmm? I doubt any parades will take place…not with these ridiculous rules of social distancing. Obviously, our governor and his team of health experts need to be educated on the concept of “Herd Immunity.”

     

     

    MY BOOKSHELF:

    1. Unfreedom of the Press by Mark R. Levin
    2. The Writer Magazine
    3. George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spies Who Saved America by Brian Kilmeade
    4. Writing Deep Scenes; Plotting Your Story through Action, Emotion, and Theme by Martha Alderson

     

     

    SPRINGTIME SEASONAL FAVORITES:

    SPORTS TEAM: The Cleveland Indians. MLB starting up July 1st… Woohoo! Go Tribe!

    COLOR: Dark Brown, white, and pink.

    CHARITY: The Seeing Eye

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Homemade Buffalo cauliflower wings. Yummy!

    HOT DRINK: French vanilla cappuccino.

    FLOWER: Tulips, daisies, and roses…better yet…all of them!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having my pancreas working on its own again. Gives me a lot of freedom. One quick look at my iPhone app to see my blood sugars and I’m good to go.

    And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Many great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link below and get $5 off your firsts order. Hopefully you’ll love them too!

     

     

    PRICKLES OF THE MONTH…

    • Coronavirus, COVID, COVID-19 — whatever you call it, it sucks!
    • Obama Administration — Liars! Liars! Liars!
    • Face masks — Really? You think that’s going to work? How about “herd immunity?”
    • Social distancing — 4th of July fireworks cancelled. What? It’s only May!

     

     

    THEY SAID…

    “I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.”

    By George Washington

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • Wooster’s Walmart started their online shopping and curbside pickup. Started May 15th. Already had the app downloaded and the shopping cart is full. Pickup scheduled for Tuesday May 19th at 6 pm. No shopper fees or tipping. No extra charges like Instacart. Hoping to do most grocery shopping via Walmart but plan to use Instacart on rare occasions for deliveries, but if they decide to ever do the pickup service in my town, then will definitely shop with them on a regular basis. Too bad Aldiss and other stores don’t do what Walmart’s doing.
    • Wooster City Schools still trying to figure out what they plan to do for our graduating class. Why they can’t have it outside in the stadium with a limited group of spectators is puzzling. Do half the class one day then the other half the next day. Makes one wonder what they plan for next school year if they can’t even figure this out. Hmm?
    • Pretty much all social entertainment whether it be music, sports, or any community based activity canceled for the summer. Wayne County Fair still on the calendar so keep the fingers crossed it survives.

     

     

    INQUISITIVE MINDS WANT TO KNOW….

    The Muses wonder…Should masks be required or should it be the individual’s choice?

     

     

    GOOSING OFF>…

    Goosie & Gander

    The Geese have celebrated a birthday, played in the rain, jumped around like frogs, and are patiently waiting to honor our Vets for memorial day. They do plan to show off a couple of new outfits they purchased with their share of the stimulus check. And if you’re looking for that fabulous modiste to make your own geese fashionable check out one of their favorite designers, Terri Fredericks. Contact info below. Check her out!

    But until the new haute couture arrives, enjoy their current spring collection…

     

     

    FIND ME…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355/

     

     

    WEBSITES:

    Expression Med $5 off Coupon for patches

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

     

    Dexcom G6 CGM (Continuous glucose monitor)

    https://dexcom.com/g6

     

     

    Goose Outfits by Terri Fredericks

    https://www.facebook.com/gooseoutfitsbyterri

     

     

    The Seeing Eye

    http://www.theseeingeye.org/

     

     

    Instacart

    https://inst.cr/t/cTlEVXBRMWN1

  • Prickle Forrest ChroniclesApril 2020 Newsletter

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    April 2020 (Posted 04/30/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

    Spring is finally here. And even though most of America is on lockdown, Mother Nature still provides us with flowers readying to bloom, trees sprouting new leaves, and a clear path for the Easter Bunny to travel. The weather is warming up, enough to sit out on the deck and contemplate book ideas and how this year might end. There are no do overs for 2020, so push on for happier times. The coming celebration of the rebirth of Jesus Christ is a good sign, don’t fear, for this is a glorious time and we shall overcome. Keep your prayers going, wash your hands, and stay home as best you can. Remember, America is strong and shall always be America the Beautiful. Good luck to all, stay healthy, stay safe, and most of all have a blessed Easter!!!

     

     

    THE TOP 5

    1. Happy Happy Joy Joy! Easter is here! Thank you, Jesus! 💙✝️
    2. Tax refunds! 💰💰 Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!
    3. Writing Book 2…SAVING WHISKEY’S SALVATION ✒️📖 Woohoo! Woohoo!
    4. Lockdown is almost over! 🇺🇸Woohoo! Woohoo!
    5. Jelly beans…the fruitier the better!🤍💛🧡❤️💙💜💚🤎🖤

     

     

    WIP (Work In Progress):

    Oh wow! So close to being done with Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation© edits. Good thing to, cause need to resubmit to EP by June 1st. definitely think the book is worth publishing. Spent lots of time writing and editing and have enjoyed every bit of it. Need to think about a page for acknowledgments and who to include in those. The Muses of course think they only need to be acknowledged. Ha! They are good, but not that good! Well, maybe…

    Hopefully the beta readers will send their comments soon so corrections or additions and even deletions can be made. In the meantime, going to work on the sequel. Not 100% sure on the title, see potential title name above, but have the outline  done and five chapters written for it. Loving it!

     

    QUERYING:

    Target date to start querying for Rescuing Whiskey’ Salvation © is going to be June 2nd… but hoping to write the second book for Whiskey while we are under lockdown for the COVID-19 disaster. Ugh!

    The finger tappers are working hard to write this novel and twitch with excitement with the other 50 stories rambling around in the noggin.

    Going to plan plenty of time to pitch on Twitter and hopefully attend the Cleveland Writers Conference on July 11th…if it hasn’t been cancelled.

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    Check out Jami Gold’s Blog. Great advice for writing tenses.

     

    Storytelling Verb Tenses: Past, Present, and “Literary” Past Tense <https://jamigold.com/?email_id=1574&user_id=675&urlpassed=aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1pZ29sZC5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC9zdG9yeXRlbGxpbmctdmVyYi10ZW5zZXMtcGFzdC1wcmVzZW50LWFuZC1saXRlcmFyeS1wYXN0LXRlbnNlLw&controller=stats&action=analyse&wysija-page=1&wysijap=subscriptions>

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Everyone probably woke up April 1st hoping COVID-19 was just a figment of the imagination. WRONG! Unfortunately, Ohio and other states are on lockdown until May 3rd. Looks as though the peak hit for this area, but looks like the stats were wrong. Easter was definitely behind closed doors. No big family get together this year. Learned how to use Cisco WebEx. Maybe next lockdown (Hahaha!) the family can do a virtual holiday. Hmm?

    And major league baseball is postponed. If this gets over by the summer, they might still have half a season to go. Hopefully all the athletes are staying in shape. Would love to hear Hammy announce another tribe winner.

    Go Tribe!

     

    MY BOOKSHELF:

    1. Write your story from the middle; a new approach for plotters, pantsers, and everyone in-between by James Scott Bell.
    2. Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis
    3. The Country Guest House; A Sullivan’s Crossing Novel by Robyn Carr
    4. A Wild Pursuit by Eloisa James

     

     

    MONTHLY FAVORITES…

    SEASON: Spring!

    SPORTS TEAM: The Cleveland Indians.

    COLOR: Dark brown with pink and white

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Bacon wrapped garlic peppered Brussel sprouts…Yummy!

    HOT DRINK: French vanilla cappuccino…Ooo! So good!

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet…both!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Dexcom G6 is a fabulous continuous glucose monitor. No more finger pricks. This is almost like having the pancreas working on its own again. Provides a sense of freedom. One quick look at the iPhone app to see the blood sugars and then it’s go time. And if you want to dress your CGM up why not try an overlay patch from Expression Med? Lots of great designs. Puppy paws, flowers, flags, shamrocks, etc. Check them out with the link and get $5 off your firsts order. Love love Love them! Hopefully you’ll love them too!

    http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchoff

     

     

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

    • Tax fraud, someone stealing a family members SSN for taxes. Arghhhh!
    • COVID-19
    • Lockdown.
    • No Easter family dinner get together.
    • Stupidity…preferably from the progressive libs.

     

     

    THEY SAID…

    This month’s quote is by

    John Grisham –

    “Don’t compromise yourself, you’re all you have.”

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • All is quiet here in Woo. The kids are finishing the school year via home school until May 27th, 2020..hopefully they can go back next school year.
    • Wal-Mart still working on their renovations for online shiping and pickup are almost done. Supposed to be done May 1, 2020. Boy will that save a lot of time. Already learned how to use Instacart with Aldis and I love it!!! Already got my favorites folder filled to make finding stuff easier. Yeah, a good idea!
    • Last month Lucky Records closed, but Josh Lehman from Operation Fandom bought the record store and has reopened it using the name Blackbird Records…a takeoff of a Beatles song. Woohoo! Woohoo!
    • Downtown Woo is revamping the other side of the square this spring and summer. Unfortunately its near Operation Fandom, Blackbird Records, and Tulipan Hungarian Bakery. Ugh! Let’s hope it is completed before the summer is over. !

     

    COMMENT BELOW

    The Muses want to know… which do you prefer

    Fruity or spicy?

    Don’t get any wild ideas, we’re talking jellybeans, folks.

    And which color is your favorite?

     

     

    GOOSING OFF>…

    Goosie & Gander

    Its springtime so you know what that means, right? Bunnies, eggs, flowers, bumble bees, birds, and more flowers for them to show off. They’ll be sporting new shoes this season to match their outfits too. Rain is in the forecast this month, but never fear, they do have their own raincoats. And let’s not forget about the frogs they want to save. These are two geese well prepared. Check them out …they like to show off their duds.

     

     

    FIND ME…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

     

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAWriter355/

     

    Expression Med $5 coupon by using the link: http://expressionmed.refr.cc/christinabenchof

  • Prickle Forrest ChroniclesMarch 2020 Newsletter

    (more…)

  • Prickle Forrest CHRONICLES – AMERICAN BRUSH-OFF BOOK REVIEW

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES BOOK REVIEW
    By Chrissy Hartmann
    February 14, 2020
    TITLE: American BRUSH-OFF
    AUTHOR: Max Willi Fischer
    PUBLISHED: January 29, 2020
    FORMAT: EBook(Kindle)
    GENRE: Young Adult
    PRICE: $2.99

    So you don’t believe a government would turn on their own citizens?
    That’s what Lud Mueller thought.
    No its not 2020, but it is 1942 in Max Willi Fischer’s novel American Brush-Off.
    The author crafts a story of an All-American senior high school boy from Cleveland when the USA’s culture became entrenched in Anti-German and anti-Japanese sentiment. Instead of playing football, hanging with friends, kissing his sweetheart, and enjoying his senior year Lud travels on a heart-aching journey that no American-born citizen wants to travel.
    He must make a horrible sacrifice to reunite with his emigrant German parents and the rest of his family, And all for what?
    A secret plan by the Democratic FDR administration to help end World War II.
    You’ll find your curiosity growing with each of the 354 pages with a story worth being told.
    Not many know about the American-Japanese internment camps and less about the American-German ones here in the USA during the second world war, but they are real. Real just like the death camps of the Third Reich. Fortunately for Lud, and the other 11,000 imprisoned it didn’t mean death, but the loss of one’s own identity, liberty, and happiness which comes in a distant second. The plot engages the reader to keep going always making you wonder if Lud brushes off his five year experience and return to his “normal” life in Cleveland or go on to help others who might encounter the same situation.
    To the author’s credit, he’s done his homework. The scene descriptions place you inside Lud’s house in Cleveland… Living in the group home in Chicago… and finally riding the train to Crystal City. The dialogue carries the reader further into the scene and the emotions that Lud experiences pulls at your own heart making the reader wonder how a progressive-thinking government could betray its citizens. This is a book well worth the read that will teach the reader that bigotry exists for everyone, innuendo destroys, all are innocent until proven guilty, and there are those who work deep within the government that have their own secret plans. Kudoes to the author for revealing a truth lost in history. This is one book of history I think my teenage son will thoroughly enjoy. Well worth your time to read and it deserves Two thumbs up and a five star rating. Looking forward to the author’s next book.

  • PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES FEBRUARY 2020 NEWSLETTER

    PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

    February 2020 (Posted 02/14/2020

    By Chrissy Hartmann

     

     

    Love is in the air… And so is the snow. It looks as if Old Man Winter and Mother Nature have worked out their differences. Cold air and snowflakes have made their presence known. They’ve crawled out from whatever corner they took to until the little spat over what elements constitute an Ohio winter were settled. I think the flights of fancy have gone to Mother Nature’s head. But luckily, Old Man Winter set her on the right path. We don’t need the flora and foliage getting confused and overproducing again. Allergies will take that as an act of war. No way will the sinuses sacrifice themselves for that. So until the first day of spring, snuggle into a warm blanket, slide on a pair of fingertip-free gloves, and set them free across the keyboard … a fabulous way to keep the hands warm… unless, cupid’s arrow plunges into the heart…then all bets are off. Enjoy… and may many cards find their way into your Valentine box with love!

     

     

    THE TOP 5

    1. Love…Romance…Champagne…Roses…Aww!
    2. The Dexcom G6.
    3. Ornery kittens…Punkin!
    4. Leap Year.
    5. Acquittals.

     

     

    WIP (Work In Progress):

    Ugh! Still working on the edits for Rescuing Whiskey’s Salvation©…will they ever end? Good thing this doesn’t need to be turned in until June 1st. Maybe if a certain writer would sit down and just do it, it would get done in a day. Rumor has it this certain writer is aiming for March 1st to be done with it all. The Muses want to get back to TAGS…Because Everything Has A Price©. Hear that Writer… GET IT DONE!

     

     

    QUERYING:

    This is totally on hold now. The Wayne Novelist Guild (WNG) has a few projects that are preventing any more querying. Hopefully they can be mentioned in the next update. Keep your fingers crossed.

     

     

    THE CRAFT

    This month’s writing tip…

    If you are writing romances one book you might find helpful…

    Naughty Words For Romance Writers, A Romance Novel Thesaurus by Cara Bristol. Purchased for the Kindle.

     

     

    THE HOLIDAYS:

    Valentine’s Day is approaching. Might try and make a few valentines this year or maybe a meme or two. Hopefully Goosie and Gander can help with this one. What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day gift? Mine? Roses…champagne…dark chocolate… Not too crazy about receiving cards though…. Not unless they are tactile or three-dimensional. Fun touchy-feely kind of things are good.  Hint! Hint!

     

     

    THE BOOKSHELF:

    1. American Brush-Off by Max Willi Fischer
    2. Summer Of Suspense 16 Tales by Some of Christian Fictions most popular mystery and suspense Authors, by Mary Ellis….
    3. Writing Deep Scenes, Plotting Your Story Through Action, Emotion, Theme by Martha Alderson
    4. Sandusty by Bob Adamov

     

     

    MONTHLY FAVORITES:

    SEASON: Winter

    SPORTS TEAM: The Ohio State University Buckeyes

    COLOR: Dark Brown

    CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

    SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

    FOOD: Stuffed mushrooms… OMG! Fabulous!

    HOT DRINK: Hazelnut coffee with a shot of Minglewood Cinnamon Whiskey!

    FLOWER: Daisies and roses…better yet… Both!

     

     

    DID YOU KNOW…

    Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, right?  But did you know…

    After the Roman Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, Saint Valentine continued to marry men and women in secret. Even way back then men and women traditionally exchanged flowers on their wedding day, as a sign of good luck and the start of a “blooming” relationship. Today, we continue to celebrate love on February 14th, the day Saint Valentine died, by exchanging flowers, and the more modern gifts of chocolates, teddy bears, and …

     

     

    PRICKLERS OF THE MONTH…

    • Dexcom G6 sensor failure.
    • Upgrade needed from Windows 7 to 10.
    • High cost of life sustaining medications.
    • Headaches that prevent writing.
    • The weather.

     

     

    “MAY I QUOTE YOU?”

     

    “Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too much fraternizing with the enemy.” – Henry Kissinger, Political Scientist

     

     

    HOMETOWN UPDATE:

    • Friday, February 7th… Night To Shine…Another fabulous event. Way to go Woo!
    • New endocrinologist in town. Woohoo! Dr. Tony King.
    • Rittman’s Sparky’s compares to if not better than Wooster’s Coccia House…NOT!

     

     

    JUST CURIOUS…

    The Muses want to know… Do you prefer red hearts or pink hearts for Valentine’s Day?

     

     

    GOOSING OFF>…

    Goosie & Gander…want to answer the above question…they love both! In fact, check out their pics on Twitter @USAwriter355.

    They look quite adorable. There might be a shot with me and Punkin in a few to…Just depends if she will wear her pink and red ribbons for Valentine’s Day. Keep your fingers crossed. Hahaha!

    Goosie and Gander are looking forward to the upcoming spring. Got lots of new outfits to show off. Hopefully the groundhog’s prediction comes true. But if an early spring shows up, but does that mean a longer summer too? Good gravy, hopefully not! Summer and Winter are not anyone’s favorite seasons here. Ugh! Too hot, too cold. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

    Might need to talk to that ground hog, better yet, Buckeye Chuck.

     

     

    AUTHOR LOCATOR…

    Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355

     

    Facebook: Author Chrissy Hartmann http://www.facebook.com › public › Chrissy-Hartmann