The BookShelf Magazine April 2018

The

B O O K Â S h e l f AUTHORS GUILD OF TENNESSEE MAGAZINE

FEATURED Meet our contest winner

FOUNDING AGT How The Authors Guild was founded

A SHORT STORY A heartfelt story about a man and his trusty companion

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AGT BOARD 2018-2019

Front row, left to right: Cindy Leihkauff: Secretary, Bobbi Phelps Wolverton Chapman: President, Joan McIntee: Member at Large, Cheryl Peyton: Vice President, Laura Derr: Assistant Secretary Back row left to right: Wayne Zurl: Member at Large, Russell Fine: Treasurer, Randall Carpenter: Assistant Treasurer, Sam Bledsoe: Chair and Marketing Committee

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SUMMERTIME IN THE SMOKIES 2017

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KNOXVILLE CHRISTMAS FAIR 2017

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The

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CONTENTS

Book Shelf

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028

6 WHO WE ARE The vision of The Author's Guild of Tennessee

NADINE RICHMOND --Editor and Designer SAM BLEDSOE--Assistant Designer

Short story by contest winner Wayne Zurl

046

10 FOUNDING THE AGT

12 FOUNDING THE AGT Cheryl Petyon shares why she formed the Author's Guild of Tennessee

20 INDEX OF SUPPORTERS 21

Cheesecakes + More

22

23

Bobbi Phelps Wolverton

President Bobbi Phelps Wolverton NADINE RICHMOND

SAM BLEDSOE

CONTACT US

American Commissary

FOR ADVERTISING

Engraphics

Contact: Bobbi Phelps Wolverton at bobbiphelps1@gmail.com or 865-657-9560

UPS Store

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE

Union Ave Books

15 FOUNDER OF AGT

Advertising

Preferred Pharmacy

Books By Bobbi

14 FOUNDER OF AGT Don Pardue

The Book Shelf is a quarterly publication of The Authors Guild of Tennessee

Editorial Staff

9 THE LAST GAME IN BROOKLYN

Sam Bledsoe gives insight on why he formed the Author's Guild of Tennessee

AUTHORS GUILD OF TENNESSEE

Marilyn Smith Neilans

16 A SHORT STORY

Russell Fine's heartfelt story of his trusty companion, Daisy

24

RanCath Writings 25

ATOL Solutions

18 A WALK WITH MOTHER A short story by Adele A. Roberts

26 AUTHOR EVENTS Monthly events where the public can meet AGT authors

To recieve The Book Shelf Magazine by Email sign up at: www.authorsguildoftn.org THE BOOK SHELF

EMAIL: agtezine@gmail.com

ON THE COVER Wayne Zurl author of The Sam Jenkins Mysteries won the contest to name our new quarterly magazine, The Book Shelf.

FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/authorsg uildoftn/

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EDITOR'S NOTE Nadine Richmond agtezine@gmail.com

Author helping author Why write? Why become an author? For the majority of people, it is not for fame and glory because most authors will never sell millions or even thousands of books. I believe we write because we have something to share with others and our hope is that people will respond and take an interest in what we have written.

Hello, I am Nadine Richmond the author of the book The New Birth: Going Onto Perfection. I am also the editor of our quarterly magazine, The Book Shelf. I was born in Chicago but moved to Jackson, TN and lived there for over 30 years before moving to the city of Oak Ridge. I am a Christian, a minister of the gospel and also cofounder with my husband of The Church Readiness Ministries. When I became a Christian at the age of 19, I knew about God but didn’t have a personal relationship with him until one day after reading the book “The Late Great Planet Earth” I became afraid and gave my life to Christ.

However it is not fear today that keeps me serving God, but love. Since that time I have spent much of my time studying the Bible and writing.

One day while studying the word of God the scripture in II Corinthians 5:17 caught my attention. And I began to write and ask questions, such as what does it mean to “be in Christ?” As I studied and wrote, one day it occurred to me that I was writing a book. During that time, I did not realize the importance of such a work and because of some issues in my life, I put the work on the shelf so to speak. But then one day I began writing again and God showed me how much people need this work.

I have seen the division in Christianity, the division concerning the new birth, the division in doctrines and people not knowing what to believe because Satan has brought in much confusion.

Finally, the day arrived, I finished writing my book (drum roll), and I was excited, now it was time to publish. After writing and publishing the book my prayer to God was now what am I supposed to do? How do I find my niche audience, how do I get people to see the value of this work? That was and still is my prayer. However, one day after my husband and I had recently moved to the area and while looking for events to attend we saw the announcement of the Guild’s monthly meeting in the Farragut Press. We attended and I was impressed, so I decided to join and I am glad that I did.

AGT’s goal is for authors to help authors. Today there are many resources available to help people who have or are considering writing a book, however, the Author's Guild offers community where ideas and suggestions are shared. A person in the Guild still has to market their book but it is a great resource because the members bring a wealth of knowledge and talent. Our new quarterly magazine The Book Shelf was designed for you the reader. AGT has a wide range of books on many subjects that include both fiction and non-fiction. Our books can also be found in various stores in East Tennessee.

Visit our website, like our Facebook page and share with people you know. We look forward to hearing from you.

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WHO WE ARE AGT was formed in the spring of 2013 to showcase many of the talented authors who hail from Tennessee. It is a group of published authors who work together to promote the books they have written and to share the costs of marketing them. AGT members sell their books through national and regional outlets, this website and at book signings and other events.

The reading experience is enhanced by getting to know the author personally as well as details about the book and its inspiration that are not usually known. The author benefits from the reader’s feedback as well. Sci-Fi author Sam Bledsoe says, “We consider our writing to be a collaboration, a shared experience, between writer and reader that makes writing and reading more satisfying for both of us.”

By making the books of local authors available in one place, the public has more to choose from by genre as well as number of titles. You can search the books offered by our authors by clicking on the “Our Authors” button in the menu at the top of this page. Or you may search by genre by clicking on the “By Genre” button.

Most of these books are available in e-book format as well as paperback. They may be purchased directly from the author or on Amazon.com and stores such as Barnes & Noble.

Another goal of AGT is to celebrate the rich literary tradition of our state by making the public aware of the famous authors who have hailed from Tennessee. To learn more about them, click on the “Famous Authors” button in the menu at the top of this page.

Lastly, AGT hopes to encourage the development of higher literacy (reading skills) that benefit young and old in career and personal life.

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WAYNE ZURL Author: The Sam Jenkins Mysteries As a police officer I spent more time writing reports than participating in high speed chases or popping caps in shootouts with disparate felons. As a detective, the reports I wrote weren’t just fill-in-the-blanks forms— they involved the occasional long narrative.

So, I cut my teeth with those bits of professional writing. A few defense attorneys who read my arrest reports or court information might have claimed that I wrote great fiction—fantasy even—but everyone knows how lawyers exaggerate.

When I retired, I took a volunteer job at a Tennessee state park writing publicity for their living history program. That blossomed into having twenty-six non-fiction magazine articles published in ten years. When I ran out of thrilling things to say about the 18th century French & Indian War in Tennessee, I passed the torch to another volunteer.

That left me needing a creative outlet. What was I going to do, assemble model airplanes or crate oil paintings? I’d need a warehouse to store my finished products. So, I decided to try writing fiction. The logical choice was to write what I knew.

I knew criminal investigations and could take a reader on a trip through the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee. Voila! I created a small fictional city with a former New York cop as the new police chief in town.

Over the years this concept developed into the series I call The Sam Jenkins Mysteries.

At the moment I’ve got twenty-seven novelettes and nine full-length novels under my belt with one more novel in progress. That represents a lot of work to satisfy this creative need I had. So, I still wonder where I could have put all those model airplanes if I had chosen that route.

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THE LAST GAME IN BROOKLYN

Wayne Zurl

On September 24, 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field and I was there. Well, not exactly there—I watched the game on TV. I was eleven and had sprained my ankle the day before in gym class. My mother kept me home from school to let it heal.

The Dodgers’ second baseman, Junior Gilliam, hit a high fly ball to shallow right field when I heard what I thought was a muffled backfire sound off close to our house. I looked out the window, but didn’t see a car running. Then a man about thirty or forty—as a kid, I had a hard time telling—slammed the side door at Mrs. Campbell’s house and hustled down the driveway. It wasn’t Mr. Campbell. He jumped into a two-tone brown ’48 Chevy, one just like my father’s, and drove away. I went back to finish watching the game.

The cameras panned a small crowd of people scattered around the stadium.

The announcer, Vin Scully, said only 6,700 fans attended—a drop in the bucket. The game ended when Pirates’ outfielder Bob Skinner grounded to short and Don Zimmer scooped it up and fired a bullet to Gil Hodges at first. End of an era. The Dodgers won the five-hitter two-zip, but no one from Brooklyn looked happy. My mother was preparing a meatloaf when I pushed the curtains aside and saw two marked police cars parked in front of the Campbell’s house. As I peered out the window, a black ’55 Ford pulled into the driveway and an overweight guy in a gray suit and dark fedora stepped out.

I called to my mother, “Hey, Ma, what’sgoing on next door?”

She didn’t know. Another dark fourdoor pulled up and two more suits got out. One carried a big Graphic Reflex camera and the other, a large tool box.

My mother stepped up behind me and looked over my shoulder.

“I’m going out there,” she said.

“Me, too.”

“You shouldn’t walk.’

“Sure I should.”

I hobbled after her and reached the sidewalk in front of Campbell’s home just as a Nassau County patrolman left the house and approached his car. He looked short for a cop. His orange oval patch and powder blue tie contrasted sharply with the navy blue uniform.

“What happened?” my mother asked.

“Woman got killed.”

“She get shot?” I asked.

He looked at me for the first time and frowned. “Yeah, why?”

“I’ll bet I know who did it,” I said.

My mother stared at me like I was a Martian.

The cop smiled and shook his head.

“Sure you do, kid.” He got into his car and drove away.

“What are you talking about?” Mom asked.

“I was lookin’ out the window and saw a guy run out o’ the house.”

She grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”

The Campbell’s front door stood slightly ajar. Mr. Campbell sat on the sofa hanging his head. Mom knocked on the jamb and the overweight plainclothesman opened the door. A gold shield hung from a leather fob on his jacket pocket.

“My son has something to tell you.”

He stepped outside and closed the door.

“What’s that, ma’am?”

“This guy,” I said, “came out the side door and jumped into a car.”

“What guy?”

“I don’t know. Some guy. I never saw him before.”

“What did he look like?”

I told him what I remembered.

“What time was that?”

“Not sure. Third inning?”

The detective looked confused.

I shrugged. “I was watching the Dodger game.”

“Oh.” He rolled his eyes.

“Was she shot?” I asked.

I must have seemed overly enthused. He scowled.

“Look, son, we’re pretty busy here. I hope you’re not fooling around.”

“He wouldn’t do that.” Mom always stuck up for me.

“What’s his name?”

I spoke for myself. “Sam Jenkins. We live next door.”

“How old are you, kid?”

“Eleven and a half.”

“You look pretty big for eleven.” He pointed to the Ace bandage around my foot.

“What happened?”

I told him that, too.

“Okay, thanks. I’ll look into it.” The squad dick turned to leave.

“Hey, officer, wait,” I said.

“You want his plate number?”

The End

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Founding the Authors Guild of Tennessee Sam Bledsoe

going the way of the dodo or, if the author did find a publisher, it was still mostly up to the author to market his book.

One of my abiding dreams had always been to write but I never gave it much thought because having a family and pursuing a career had to come first. When I retired and managed to complete my first science fiction book, however, I hit a wall: now how do I sell it? Writing it was challenge enough, but realizing the long term commitment required to market it was daunting to say the least. How could a solitary and inexperienced author master all the marketing skills required and doggedly follow a marketing routine while working on the next book and keeping one’s spouse from feeling neglected?

Clearly, for an aspiring but inexperienced author, the digital age was the best of times, but it was also the worst of times. Yes, it was easier and cheaper to get a book printed but it seemed as if everyone and their sister wanted to write a book, creating fierce competition.

Most publishers were either

After mulling over my predicament, it occurred to me that there must be a lot of new authors feeling the same angst that I felt about marketing.

Before long I met Cheryl Peyton who was a new author like myself; we talked and voiced our frustrations to each other.

There were plenty of resources to help write a book but not much help when it came to marketing it. That may be in large part because every book and every genre and every author is different. Wouldn’t it be great, we thought, if there were a support group that would give us a way to pool our resources and encourage each other while enjoying the fellowship of other members.

After all, writing is a solitary endeavor.

I met Don Pardue, a local author who had gotten off to a great start, just as the digital age and Amazon were shaking up book selling. Don had been successful selling several books he had written based on local stories to the many people he knew. But he realized he needed to broaden his market.

How could he take his marketing to a higher level?

We talked to another new author, Marilyn Neilans who was a friend of Cheryl’s, and to Jay Searcy who had written about Oak Ridge. All of us agreed we had a challenge that could be better met by working together as a group.

We decided on the name, Authors Guild of Tennessee, and started meeting each month. We began to grow and attract some remarkably talented authors.

We’re all active authors so we’ve tried to follow the principle that every member should join, ready to contribute in some small way so it’s not up to a handful of members to run the organization. AGT only works if every member contributes.

Hopefully, that approach allows everyone to have more time to write. It’s still a great challenge to write and successfully market a book but I believe AGT improves the odds of succeeding. There is no magic bullet but AGT is still searching for better ways to market our books. I believe we’ll find them. And along the way, we’ll enjoy some lasting friendships.

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Sam Bledsoe BOOKS

Sam grew up in Roane County in East Tennessee, graduated from the University of North Carolina and then served in the Navy for four years. He was the Communications Officer aboard the USS Little Rock (CLG-4), flagship of the sixth fleet based in Gaeta, Italy. He later served as Communications Officer aboard the USS Frances Marion (LPA-249) based in Norfolk, Va. After his discharge from the Navy, he pursued a career in insurance in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Lexington and in printing paper sales in Knoxville. In 1997, he launched Promotional Media, a small business that provided marketing services to a broad range of other businesses.

In 1975, Sam invented a strategy board game with a science fiction theme and named it Zanoba. In 2005, he finally began to pursue his dream of tapping into his creative streak through writing.T hen he wrote the first novel of a Sci-Fi trilogy called The Last Senoobians.

Next came the creation of the Senoobian language,Kuterin, with a complete manual. The idea was to create a complete brand that would offer a broader fantasy experience by having a unique game and story line that would complement each other and appeal to young and old alike.

WHATEVER THE MIND OF MAN CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, IT CAN ACHIEVE. NAPOLEON HILL

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CHERYL PEYTON

Founding the Authors Guild of Tennessee In the spring of 2011, I was elated to have published my first novel, Six Minutes to Midnight, a 376page thriller that centered around the fictional attack on a nuclear weapons convoy by a band of misfits that resulted in the heist of an M-88 missile.

After making the final edits, I ordered 50 hardcover books from my vanity press publisher, confident that it would be easy to find enough buyers from among my friends, relatives, and neighbors. After contacting everyone I could think of, and being feted as the guest of honor at a neighborhood party and at a friend’s book club, I had succeeded in selling 36 books.

Looking at the pile of 14 copies that remained, one question loomed in my mind: “Now what?” I had barely made a dent in my financial investment for the publication and purchase of the books, and needed to expand my sales to eventually make a profit.

In the summer of that year, a friend suggested that I meet another of her friends, Sam Bledsoe, as he had just finished writing his first book, a science fiction novel titled The Last Senoobians. She advised that he was interested in making contacts with other new authors. Sam called me and we arranged for a time for him to come to my home.

In that first meeting, we compared notes on writing our first book, finding that we had much in common.

Sam asked me about my experience publishing with a vanity press and he, in turn, told me about publishing with CreateSpace, explaining that this publishing arm of Amazon was free of charge to writers who opted to do all their own editing and formatting. Sam and I also shared our feelings of being overwhelmed by the challenge of marketing our books without having a platform as new authors. I related my experience of having run out of buyers after contacting all the people I knew.

Sam laid out his vision for gathering a group of independent authors around the area to market their books. He felt that an organization could attract more attention in the marketplace and, if we had enough authors, we could afford to advertise and rent space at fairs and festivals by pooling our resources. Sam knew two other authors at the time: Don Pardue, who wrote Southern fiction based on many of his own experiences, who is still a member of our group, and Jay Searcy, who had grown up in Oak Ridge when it was the Secret City prior to World War II. Weeks later, Sam and I met with Don and Jay in a local library. The newcomers shared their frustration with marketing and selling books, and we discussed contacting other authors in the same situation and forming an official organization.

That fall, we added three more authors, including Marilyn Neilans, who is still a member of our group.

We decided to meet once a month

for the purpose of formulating marketing plans. We also needed to come up with a name and a logo for advertising.

At one of the monthly meetings over the winter, we voted for our name to be Authors Guild of Tennessee as it was all-inclusive for growth. Don Pardue’s son, who was a graphic artist, submitted the logo of our name with a red pen underscoring it and providing color, which we approved unanimously.

In the following Spring of 2012, we had seven members and were able to rent one booth space at the Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festivals. This public appearance attracted a couple more authors who wanted to join us. As we became recognized and had secured venues to display and sell our books, such as the Lenoir City Visitors Center, we continued to attract additional authors whom we vetted to ensure professional quality of their books to be included with our books.

By 2013, we had fifteen committed members who met once a month at the Farragut Library, had voted on officers, collected dues, and had assigned committees. Now, at the beginning of 2018, we boast approximately 40 authors representing over a hundred and fifty books in a dozen different genres, being sold in seven stores in a three-county area in East Tennessee.

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AUTHOR OF TRAVEL MYSTERY SERIES FEATURING TOUR DIRECTOR, ALEX TROTTER

Cheryl Peyton I grew up in a creative family in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn.

My father was a commercial artist. My mother was a graduate of Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and worked as an editor of trade publications and young adult books.

When I was a child, she would read to me from one of the long curled manuscript galleys she was editing, blue pencil in hand. As she read, sometimes she'd stop, sigh and shake her head. Looking at me, she'd ask questions like: "Do your friends talk like this? It doesn't sound natural to me. How do think this dialogue should be? Do you like these kids? Are you interested in the story?"

Then she might stop at another place and say, "Never use inactive verbs if you can avoid them.

Use active verbs that convey movement or mood." I didn't know the difference, but nodded agreeably.

I really think I would have preferred fairy tales, but these sessions made me think about the elements of a good story and have stayed with me as a writer. In college I majored in art. After graduation I first worked as a caseworker on the South Side of Chicago. After ten years with the Illinois Department of Public Aid in various capacities, I took classes at the Art institute to work as an interior designer on the North Shore. After another ten years, I went back to school and earned a paralegal certificate and was hired by a litigating sole practitioner as a legal assistant. These various disciplines and the diversity of people I met and worked for have enriched my life and broadened my knowledge that I have drawn on in imagining my plots and my colorful characters.

In 2003, my husband Jim and I retired to a lake and golf community southwest of Knoxville in East Tennessee. We share our home with our Havanese dog, Cody.

In 2010 I was employed as a census taker and made the acquaintance of a former nuclear weapons courier at Y-12 in Oak Ridge. He inspired me and acted as my consultant on my first book, SIX MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, which centers around the heist of a nuclear weapon from the kind of truck convoy he guarded. I next wrote a biography of a neighbor who had contracted polio as a two-year-old.

Since 2013, I have concentrated on writing my cozystyled murder mystery series featuring tour operator/amateur sleuth Alex Trotter.

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DON PARDUE Co-founder of the Authors Guild of Tennessee

Virginia Woolf

C.S. Lewis Quote

Don Pardue grew up in a small town in East Tennessee. After completing a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, he received his education at Tennessee Wesleyan College, Atlanta Art Institute, and The University of Tennessee, where he received a BFA degree and later taught courses in graphic design.

During his career he worked as creative director for a Knoxville design studio. He is now retired and spends his free time painting and writing in Lenoir City, Tennessee, where he and his wife Bobbie reside.

He is the author of six novels: Blossoms of Winter, Tom, Dick, and Harriet, Southern Sanctuary, Southern Storm, Maiden Harvest, and Random Reflections.

Hemingway

I have recently published my sixth novel, Southern Storm. It is a sequel to my former book, Southern Sanctuary, which is another fictitious story; however, several of the depicted events are an accurate reflection of many of the entrenched attitudes in the South during the 1950’s. If the reader has previously read the first book, Southern Sanctuary, the story will smoothly flow into a continuation of the original story.

However, this novel is complete within itself; for in briefly recapturing the main events of the original story, I revealed to the reader the entire story of both novels. This narrative presents a shocking conclusion in this unusual love story and stimulating mystery. It is a continuing testimony that displays a vivid picture of revenge and vigilante justice in the South during the 1950’s. The unfolding events in this novel reveal the shocking aftermath of the first book.

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Marilyn spent her early years in Norris, Tennessee. After having lived in twelve different towns in the US, and two different countries overseas, she has returned to her East Tennessee roots and settled in Tellico Village with her husband John.

Interview with Author How long did it take you to write the novel?

I literally began composing it in my head as the events were unfolding. As I began to face the daily challenges and difficulties of making life care decisions for my failing mother, I realized that I had no real experience in this area. I was quite certain that I was not the first middle-aged daughter to feel overwhelmed and lost. The strong need to form a bond with other women in these circumstances turned into a compulsion to write, and I began putting it all down on paper as soon as I returned to my home after Mom’s funeral.

Because of my life’s own complicated path, and because of the emotional stress of remembering the details that I put down in the book, it took me 17 years to get it to publication. When readers respond with comments like this: “I couldn’t put it down. I laughed a little, cried a little, and thought a lot about my own parents,” I feel I have successfully communicated with my peers.

MARILYN SMITH NEILANS Co-founder of the Authors Guild of Tennessee

Author of: Saying Goodbye to the Iris Lady By the time I was 53, I thought I was all grown up.

After all, I had celebrated all of life's major coming-of-age milestones: first day of school, graduations, first 'real' job, marriage, births of my children ... each duly noted with cards and flowers, maybe even balloons. But, as I discovered that fateful year, none of us are really adults until our last parent dies - and we find ourselves at the front of the line.

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A SHORT STORY I remember the day Daisy came into my life. I had just left my local Walmart and as I turned on to the street there was an old man wearing worn out clothes standing next to a shopping cart he had borrowed from a grocery store. It looked like all his worldly possessions were in the cart. He was holding up a cardboard sign that said, “Please Help”. Next to him, sitting at his feet, was a small brown dog.

Like everyone else, I passed him by, but as I drove away it began to bother me. I’m not wealthy, but I could certainly spare a few dollars to help him out. I turned around and went back to where he was standing. I parked on the street a few feet past him and got out of the car. I walked over to the old man. His dog come over to me, wagging its tail.

I bent down to pet the dog.

As I did that the man asked, “Sir, you like dogs, don’t you?”

“Yes, I love dogs.”

“Perhaps you can help me.

“That’s why I stopped. How can I help? Do you need money?”

"Yes, always. But there is

Russell Fine something you could do for me that would mean more to me than any money.”

“What would that be.”

“I love my dog more than anything else in the world. She came into my life a year ago and for the first time since I was a child I felt like I wasn’t alone. There was a bad storm, and I was sitting on the ground under a bridge trying to keep dry. She came up to me, wagging her tail. Then she laid down next to me. We have been together ever since. I don’t eat very often, but when I do I share all my meals with her. I have tried to take care of her as best I could, but without money or a permanent place to live it’s very difficult. Now I am getting old and I know that soon I won’t be able to take care of her at all. I’m worried that if something happens to me they will bring Daisy to the pound and kill her. To be honest, I would give my life for her. What I want more than anything else is a good home for Daisy. Can you do that for me?”

That was completely unexpected. I figured he would want ten or twenty dollars so that him and the dog could eat for a few days.

I thought about what he said, about being lonely until Daisy came along. I was lonely too. My wife died a few years earlier. We never had children and I was totally alone. I looked at Daisy, and she looked at me with her big brown eyes, wagged her tail again, and the decision was made.

I said, “She seems to be a wonderful dog, and I’m lonely too. I would love to have some company. So, sure I’ll take her, and I promise to give her a good home.”

“God bless you sir. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

“Would you like my address so you can come and visit her? I wouldn’t mind.”

“No, I want her to forget about me. She’s yours now.”

The old man picked up Daisy, said a teary “goodbye”, and put her in my car. I had sixty-eight dollars in my pocket and I gave it to the old man. He didn’t want to take it but I finally convinced him that he Continued on page 17

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Continued from page 16

needed it more than I did.

Then Daisy and I drove home together.

It was obvious Daisy was confused by the situation.

She whimpered softly and watched as the old man disappeared from view. It took a few days for her to get used to me and living in a house. Although she had been an “outdoor” dog for a while she had obviously lived in a house before, because she was housebroken.

Within a week we were inseparable. She followed me everywhere and she quickly became my best friend.

A week later Daisy and I drove back to Walmart to look for the old man, but he wasn’t there. We went back to Walmart every week for a few months but the man had obviously moved on.

Daisy and I spent our days together walking, playing, and relaxing in front of the TV. We spent our nights together too. She slept next to me on the pillow where my wife used to sleep.

I soon discovered Daisy’s favorite foods were steak and ice cream. So, every year on the anniversary of finding each other, I bought a big steak and a container of vanilla ice cream and we celebrated the occasion with a good meal.

As our tenth anniversary approached it was obvious Daisy was getting old. She walked slower, and limped occasionally. I could see the cataracts forming in her eyes, and I knew she was going blind. Then one day she was lying next to me on the couch and she began to cry.

She was obviously in pain, and I took her to the vet that same day.

I finally realized that I could either continue to feel sorry myself or do something about it. I made the decision to go to the pound the following day and find another dog

The vet examined her and took an x-ray. Then he came back and said she had severe arthritis in her hips and the pain would continue to get worse. He gave me some pills to give her for the pain and said that I should consider putting her to sleep.

Even if it wasn’t Daisy it would still provide the companionship I desperately needed, and would probably save the dog’s life.

The pills helped for a while. But almost every day she would lay next to me and cry. I took her back to the vet and asked if we could give her more powerful pain medication. He looked at me and said, “If you really love her as much as I think you do, you have to think about what’s best for her. You know what needs to be done.”

It was winter, and when I woke up that morning I realized it had snowed several inches during the night. I loved looking at snow and I remembered watching Daisy playing in it. The thought made me smile for the first time since Daisy died.

I fought back the tears that were forming in my eyes and said, “I know you’re right. Let’s get this over with.”

The vet left the room and came back a few minutes later with a syringe. I held Daisy tightly in my arms and watched as the vet injected her with the medicine that would end her life. I thought of the old man again and the way he said “goodbye” to her as he put her in my car.

Now it was my turn. I could no longer hold back the tears when I said, “Goodbye Daisy”.

I watched as she closed her eyes for the last time and as she took her last breath. Then the vet took her from my arms.

I left the vet’s office crying, and that continued on and off for several days. I kept thinking about getting another dog, but I was sure no dog could replace Daisy. The next few weeks were the loneliest in my life. .

I was drinking my morning coffee when I heard a dog barking. I walked to my front door and opened it to look out. Standing on my front porch was a small brown dog. The dog looked up at me, wagged its tail, and walked into the house. I don’t know where the dog came from, or how long it had been there, because there were no footprints in the snow.

But none of that mattered, because now my life was complete again.

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A WALK WITH MOTHER A SHORT STORY BY ADELE A. ROBERTS One activity that I enjoyed with my mother was to take evening walks. It was a time for me to tell her about my accomplishments and disappointments. It was a type of therapy for me and I believe it was for my mother also. She didn’t work outside of the home, and didn’t drive a car, so ‘getting out’ was something I believe she looked forward to.

Dad always told us to take a flashlight along. It was used for light but could also be used for a type of protection.

One beautiful moonlight night mom and I took off. We walked a couple blocks down to White Lake and admired the reflection of the moon on it. Then we continued down the Old Channel Trail. (Places in Montague, MI) She and I were quietly walking along when we heard footsteps in back of us. We both looked around and saw a man. He was walking quite fast so mom said to speed up.

She thought he would be turning into one of the houses on Old Channel Trail but he just kept coming. Now mom held on tight to the flashlight. I knew she would use it as a club if she had to.

She whispered, “We’re going to go up to the next house and pretend it is ours.” Then very loudly she said, “I’M SO GLAD WE’RE HOME! I KNOW YOUR FATHER IS WAITING FOR US. I’LL TAKE THE KEYS OUT AND OPEN THE DOOR!” We boldly walked onto the porch and mom pretended she had the house key in her hands and was putting it into the keyhole of the door. The man continued to follow us, came onto the porch, and we were now standing face to face with him. Then he spoke, “Good evening ladies. This is MY HOUSE - but you’re welcome to come in.”

Whoops!

ISSUE 1 | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2018

Sour Cream Pound Cake

FROM MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN Recipe submitted by Nadine Richmond

1 POUND OF BUTTER OR 2 STICKS 3 CUPS OF CAKE FLOUR 3 CUPS OF SUGAR 1 TEASPOON OF VANILLA FLAVOR 1 TEASPOON OF LEMON FLAVOR 8 OZ OF SOUR CREAM 6 EGGS SEPARATED 1/4 TEASPOON OF BAKING SODA IN A BOWL, CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY, ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES. ADD EGG WHITES FOLDING INTO MIXTURE. COMBINE FLOUR, BAKING SODA; ADD TO CREAMED MIXTURE ALTERNATELY WITH SOUR CREAM, VANILLA AND LEMON. BEAT ON LOW JUST UNTIL BLENDED. POUR INTO A GREASED AND FLOURED 10-IN. FLUTED TUBE PAN. BAKE AT 325° FOR 1-1/4 TO 1-1/2 HOURS OR UNTIL A TOOTHPICK COMES OUT CLEAN. COOL IN PAN 15 MINUTES BEFORE REMOVING TO A WIRE RACK TO COOL COMPLETELY. NOMADIC

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20 | THE BOOK SHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 1 | APRIL | MAY | JUNEÂ 2018

LIST OF SUPPORTERS

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CHEESECAKES + MORE “Quality you can taste!”

Our mission is simple. We want everyone who tries our cakes and cookies to become a customer. To accomplish that we use only the best ingredients in everything we make. All of our cakes and cookies are made by hand. Just one taste and you will know the difference.

We are not a Cheesecake Factory Russ Fine, Author and Baker Crossville Outlet Center, 228 Interstate Drive Crossville, TN 38555 Telephone: 931-250-5354 or 865-208-6809 Email: cheesecakesplusmore@gmail.com www.cheesecakesplusmore.com

PREFERRED PHARMACY “Prescriptions, Boutique items, and Books” At our family of Preferred Pharmacies, it is our mission to provide our customers with the highest quality medication and medication services. It is our goal to offer personalized, knowledgeable medical advice in a caring and professional manner. We also strive to offer prompt, courteous, and reasonably priced products and services to improve quality of life to our customers.

Pharmacist: Jeremy German 101 Cheeyo Way (near Food Lion) Loudon, TN 37774 Telephone: 865-458-1113 www.preferredpharmacybenton.com/

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ISSUE 1 | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2018

American Commissary The American Commissary, is a small General Merchandise Store with a big goal – our goal is to help create jobs by buying and selling products made in the United States of America.

We have been asked why the store is called “American Commissary”. First of all, the “American” stands for so many wonderful things – freedom, liberty, and justice for all – the country where anyone, willing to work, could have a job and could achieve the “American Dream”.

The “Commissary” is a part of the store name because it symbolizes, for us, the achievement of the American

Dream.

America is a relatively young country however, in the past few years as we have looked around us, we have seen many of our friends and neighbors who have been unable to find and/or keep jobs because our economy has suffered greatly and our proud values have not been exploited.

To try and help, we decided to set up a store front to buy and sell USA made products.

1211 East Broadway (2 blocks east of light at Hwy. 321) Lenoir City, TN 37772 Telephone: 865-816-3519 Website:www.americancommissary.com

Books By Bobbi “Humor, Adventures, and Worldwide Cultures.”

Bobbi Phelps Wolverton grew up in Darien, Connecticut. She joined the airline industry after graduating from Pine Manor College and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. She joined World Airways after working as a secretary in San Francisco.

Her writing career begins with the book Behind the Smile. Eager to taste adventure at age 23, Bobbi Wolverton became an international flight attendant in 1965. It was a more innocent and glamorous time of travel, when passengers dressed formally, smoking was permitted and the captain allowed in-flight visits to the cockpit.

Telephone: 865-657-9560 Email: bobbiphelps1@gmail.com Website: www.booksbybobbi.com But there was another side to her profession. It was also hard, sometimes unglamorous, and often dangerous work.

In this memoir, Bobbi shares fascinating true tales that shocked her friends and parents.

Behind the Smile takes us on a roller coaster ride of laughter and drama, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the joys and heartaches of working in the airline industry during its most glamorous era.

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Union Ave Books We’re a locally owned independent bookstore with a great selection of fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children’s books, all chosen with you in mind. And because our booksellers know books we can help you find the right books for you, your family, and your friends.

“Bringing Community to Book Lovers.”

517 Union Avenue Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 951-2180 mail@unionavebooks.com http://unionavebooks.com/

ENGRAPHICS “Sign making, apparel printing, name badges, and award engraving.”

Turn to a reliable sign and awards company for your signage and engraving needs.

Engraphics is the company to beat when it comes to sign making, apparel printing, and award engraving. Expect quick, honest, and reliable services from our experienced design team.

560 HIGHWAY 321 NORTH SUITE B LENOIR CITY, TN 37771 OFF SNYDER RD, NEXT TO BUDDY GREGG RV LENOIR CITY: 865-988-8383 KNOXVILLE: 865-288-7058 ENGRAPHICS@EN-GRAPHICS.COM WWW.EN-GRAPHICS.COM

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THE UPS STORE “Printing copies, business cards, posters, etc. Graphic Design and Shipping.”

The UPS Store in LENOIR CITY is a locally owned and operated small business and we care about all of our customers. Our staff has the knowledge and expertise to handle all of your mailbox, packaging, shipping, printing and other small business services and we are passionate about what we do.

Stop by and visit us today.

We're confident you'll be glad you did.

875 Hwy 321 North, Suite 600 Lenoir City, TN 37771 Telephone: 865-988-5526 Email: store4526@theupsstore.com www.theupsstorelocal.com/4526

We are certified packaging experts and only The UPS Store® has the Pack & Ship Guarantee.

RanCath Writings

Telephone: 865-254-7405 Email: randallcarpenter@rocketmail.com www.authorsguildoftn.org/authors/randall-l-carpenter

"Books of Inspiration, Motivation, and Appreciation"

Randall L. Carpenter has been writing since he was young teenager. He has written over 1700 separate writings, nationally published four books and writes a daily inspirational writing read by several thousand people every day. Most of his writings are on deposit in the Library of Congress. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

He became a Stephen Minister several years ago and his insights have helped many people better understand themselves and the world around them. Lastly, he served for over 10 years as the Senior Lay Leader for one of the largest Methodist churches in the United States. His words, observations and insights will open your heart to the love of God.

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Photography by Cintabra ©

"ACTIVATES E-BUSINESS PLATFORM FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE NOW.”

Atol Solutions Atol Solutions can help you with strategizing your business, modelling your business, process and governance, and enable the business on the web, commerce (shops), logistics and other tools.

Together we do projects with proven approach, lean and mean, that will succeed in your desired goals.

ABRAHAM P. TOL, 4921 Homburg Drive – Suite D2 Knoxville, TN 37919 Telephone: 865-584-2509 Email: abrahamtol@atol–solutions.com https://www.atol-solutions.com/

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AUTHOR EVENTS April 2018

June 2018

Bobbi Wolverton:

Bobbi Wolverton:

1. Book signing on April 23 at Rosy’s Café, in

1. Book signing on June 2 and 3 at the Lenoir City

Tellico Village Loudon, TN at 3 pm.

Arts and Craft show. All day, both days.

2. Book signing on April 24 for P.E.O. in Oak

2. Book signing on June 16 at the Lavender Fair in

Ridge, TN.

Oak Ridge, TN.

Kaye George:

Kaye George:

1. Mystery Thriller Week 4/12-4/22 online at

1. June 16th I'll be at the Lavender Festival in Oak

https://mysterythrillerweek.com/

Ridge.

2. The Malice Domestic conference 4/27-4/29

http://www.jacksonsquarelavenderfestival.org/

in Bethesda Maryland.

Joan McIntee: Joan McIntee:

1. Book signing: June 2 and 3 at the Lenoir City

1. Book signing/Needle Arts Demonstration: 10:00

Arts & Crafts show. All day, both days.

am - 3 pm, April 6th, Author of the Month Series,

2. Book signing: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, June 16,

Tellico Village Library.

Lavender Fair, Oak Ridge, TN.

Adele Roberts:

Adele Roberts:

1. Farragut Book Fest - April 1st

1. The Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge, June 8th

2. Homeschool Enrichment event in Harriman

and 9th.

Aptil 20th.

2. Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge, June 16th.

3. the Children's Museum for the Celebration of the Young child in Oak Ridge on April 27th.

May 2018 Bobbi Wolverton: 1. Book signing on May 5 at the Village Veterinarian Fair in Farragut, TN. 11 am to 2 pm.

Kaye George: 1. The audio edition of DEATH IN THE TIME OF ICE will be released by Untreed Reads, May 1st.

Adele Roberts: 1. The Mt. Laurel Festival in Wartburg, May 10th.

Denise Sherriff: 1. Family Fund Raiser, 175 Shadden Rd., Birchwood, TN May 19th.

AGT meetings April 5, May 3, and June 7. Faith Lutheran Church, 225 Jamestowne Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37934. Meet and Greet 10:30 a.m., Meeting 11:00 a.m.

April 05, 2018 10:30 am - Speaker Jody Dyer: on compare/contrast different publishing platforms my clients and I are using.

May 03, 2018 10:30 am - Speaker: Homer Rhea: I will speak on publishing your story.

June 07, 2018 10:30 am - Speaker: Dick Cross: Conclusions in Lee Oswald A Rogue KGB Agent.

Books by AGT authors can be found at these locations American Commissary 12 E. Broadway Lenoir City, TN 37771 (865) 816-3519

Locally Grown Gallery 109 Towne Rd.(Greenwich Mall) Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (865) 361-0197

The Book Rack 325 Gill St. Alcoa, TN 37701 (865) 983-7323

McGuire Books 240 S. Illinois Rd. Oak Ridge, TN 37830 865-294-5638

East Tennessee Discount Drugs 721 Hwy. 321 Lenoir City, TN 37771 (865) 988-0000

Preferred Pharmacy 101 Cheeyo Way, Suite A Loudon, TN 37774 (865) 458-1113

Farragut Pharmacy 11424 Kingston Pike Farragut, TN 37934 (865) 966-9728

CitiFid-O Â 429 Union Avenue Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 219-5127

Knoxville Soap Candle & Gifts 5201 Kingston Pike, Suite 3 Knoxville, TN 37919 865-689-6545

Ricki Pet Depot 11505 Kingston Pike Farragut, TN 37934 (865) 392-1151