The BookShelf Magazine, July 2019

The

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

FEATURED

FAITH MEETS SCIENCE FICTION

SNEAK PREVIEW FROM SOON TO BE RELEASED BOOK LESSONS FROM A 3-YEAR-OLD

SHORT STORY THE LAST SUMMER

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

1Â | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

2 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER

028

1 The Author's Page AGT on the Radio 3-4 Spotlights 5 Editors Note

046

11 Bobbi Phelps Wolverton Chapter 14: Coyotes 12 Adele A. Roberts Martha's Vineyard Island

16 Reading Contest Winner

24 INDEX OF SUPPORTERS 25

26

20 Cyn Taylor Stolen Hearts 23 From My Mother's Kitchen Recipes from AGT Authors 31 Author Events Events where the public can meet AGT authors

The BookShelf is a quarterly publication of The Authors Guild of Tennessee

Nadine Richmond --Editor and Designer Linda Fitzpatrick--Assistant Editor

Advertising Bobbi Phelps Wolverton

27

NADINE RICHMOND SAM BLEDSOE

Cheryl Peyton

Cheesecakes + More

Kathy Economy Books By Bobbi

18 Russell Fine The Last Summer 19 Patricia Crumpler Arks and Arcs

AUTHORS GUILD OF TENNESSEE

President

Preferred Pharmacy

17 Susan Kite Southern Roots

Book Shelf

Editorial Staff

6 Randall Carpenter Inspirational Writings

14 Darlene Underwood He Calls My Name

The

CONTENTS

Crippled Beagle Publishing Don Delfis Pancake House and Restaurant

28 UPS Store RanCath Writings

CONTACT US For Advertising Bobbi Phelps Wolverton at bobbiphelps1@gmail.com or 865-657-9560

Subscribe Online To receive The BookShelf Magazine by Email: THE BOOK SHELF www.authorsguildoftn.org

Email:

ON THE COVER Tilmer Wright gives us a glimpse of how his books have blended science fiction and faith. He says, "science compliments faith and faith completes science." Pg. 7

authorsguildoftennessee @gmail.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/authors guildoftn/

 3 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Spotlights

Motes

by Tilmer Wright Jr. Science Fiction / Fantasy (344 pages) $15.00 Ebook $2.99

Yesterday's Poison

by Carol McClain Fiction (274 pages) $7.41 Ebook $2.99

My House of Dreams

by Susan Kite Childrens / Young Adult (180 pages) $9.99 Ebook: $2.99

Keeping Secrets: Book Three in the Boone Series

by Jim Hartsell Fiction (350 pages) $15.00 Ebook $3.99

Princess Cindra Ellen: A MotherDaughter Tale

by Cindy Leihkauff Childrens / Young Adult (48 pages) $12.00

A School for Healing: Alternative Strategies for Teaching At-Risk Students

by Jerry H. Morton Non-Fiction (187 pages) $16.15

4 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Spotlights

Field Day

by Jody Cantrell Dyer Humor (30 pages) Book $9.29 Ebook $3.99

Fiddler of the Mountains -- Attuned to the Life and Times of Johnny Mull

by Eva Nell Mull Wike Biography / Memoirs (96 pages) From $19.50

Hiking For Fun and Pain

by David Curran Hobbies / Recreation / Needle Arts

The Overlooked Letters: The Kennedy Assassination

by Richard F. Cross Biography / Memoirs (98 pages) $3.63 Ebook $3.63

Choke: An Imogene Duckworthy Mystery

by Kaye George Mystery / Thrillers (312 pages) $11.99 Ebook $3.99

Nick and Viola: A Kentucky Family Tragedy in the Tobacco Wars (1904-1911)

by Laura Derr Biography / Memoirs (194 pages) From $12.99 Ebook $7.99

5 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

EDITOR'S NOTE

Nadine Richmond authorsguildoftennessee@gmail.com

Science Fiction Is Now Science Fact The author we are featuring this quarter writes in one of my favorite genres, science fiction. In his article Tilmer Wright mentions how he was as a small boy fascinated with Asimov, Bradbury, Pohl and Heinlein. During my teen years the only name I was and still am familiar with is Bradbury. Even though I greatly enjoy sci-fi I have never read much of it. My knowledge and enjoyment comes from watching movies and television programs, which I am sure many of these were adapted from books.

I enjoy watching the Star Trek series, the Stargate series and many other movies and television series of this genre. Why am I fascinated, I believe because I am sure we are not alone in the universe. I believe there is life on other planets and in other galaxies. Wouldn’t it be great to travel in a starship going at warp speed visiting other planets?

Not long ago I read Tilmer’s book

Motes, it was very intriguing because the question is, what if?

Like Tilmer I am also concerned about many of the technological advancements we have made and are making, especially in the area of artificial intelligence. If I did not believe in an almighty creator I would say that one day man will doom himself through AI technology, the movie The Matrix is an example.

There is a saying that life imitates art. When we look back at the first Star Trek television series we can see how what someone had imagined has become our reality.

Take for instance the handheld communicators they used, these are now our cellphones. Computers that talk back, the use of tablet computers and having a conversation with someone via a cellphone or computer who you can visually see; there is also hologram technology though it is not as advanced as what we see in the television series. However I am sure someone is working to make it a reality.

We also have many more interesting articles for you to enjoy such as Randall Carpenters inspirational writings, a story about what happens if the earth’s orbit changes, one authors adventure on Martha’s Vineyard among others and let us not forget the recipes from AGT authors. I know you will enjoy this issue of AGT’s The BookShelf magazine. As always if you are not a subscriber yet please do so and we always enjoy hearing from you.

To read more about Star Trek gadgets that now are now a reality.

Reference: https://mentalfloss.com/article/31876/ 12-star-trek-gadgets-now-exist

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

6 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Inspirational Writings by Randall Carpenter

SOMETIMES, WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE PERFECT THING TO DO BECOMES A MISTAKE WE REGRET IMMEDIATELY. WHAT WE DID IS MISUNDERSTOOD AND OUR REGRET BORDERS ON EMBARRASSMENT. IF WHAT YOU DID WAS DUE TO LACK OF FORETHOUGHT, LEARN FROM IT. IF NOT, NEXT TIME, THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU ACT ONCE

ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS TO DO IN LIFE IS THE SAME THINGS EVERY DAY. WE GET INTO RITUALS, HABITS, AND ROUTINES AND NEVER REALIZE IT. THESE ROUTINES MAY ENSURE WE GET THINGS DONE, BUT THEY MAY ALSO MAKE US COMPLACENT. TRY TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY, EVERY DAY.

DON’T ALLOW THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS TO DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS. SOME PEOPLE MAKE YOU PROMISES THEY WON’T FULFILL. THIS IS WHY YOU MUST PLACE MORE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF, THAN IN THEM. ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO RISKS FAILURE IF YOU DON’T DO THIS.

Copyright 2016 by Randall L. Carpenter and RanCath Writings All Rights Reserved

7Â | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

FICTION FAITH AND FASCINATION A WRITER'S FUEL

By Tilmer Wright Jr..

8 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

We credit nineteenth century French playwright CharlesGuillaume Étienne with saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Old Charles-Guillaume has been a little mistranslated on that quote over the years. What he literally said was, “One is never served so well as by oneself.” That’s a little pithier I suppose, but it doesn’t have the punch and attitude of the more popular translation.

I have thought about that concept a lot over the course of my life.

What has become clear to me is that doing something yourself might not always be so much right as it is satisfying. I think that’s the gist of Étienne’s original thought.

It has certainly been true in both my thirty-year career in Information Technology and my foray into writing.

I love science fiction. I always have. As a kid, I devoured the

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

works of Golden Age sci-fi giants like Asimov, Bradbury, Pohl, and Heinlein. Some modern science fiction is great, to be sure, but those mid-twentieth century geniuses stirred in me a passion for writing and a yearning for what may lie ahead for humanity. They greatly influenced the shape of the man that young boy, huddled in bed, reading by the light of a flashlight because he was up way past lights-out time, hoping the batteries would hold out until the end of the next chapter, would become.

The simmering pot of interplanetary travel, time machines, alien encounters, and intelligent robots was not alone on the stove top of my youth.

Right alongside it was a cast iron skillet sizzling with a deepseated faith in Christ. My family was in church every time the doors were open. My parents made up half of an a cappella gospel quartet. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John occupied front row seats in my mind crowded in next to Isaac, Ray, Frederik, and Robert. To many, that would seem to present a dilemma—an impasse between hard science and soft faith. Not to me. With every new story I read, I became more convinced that this world, everything mankind has discovered, and everything mankind will stumble

upon in the future are all the handiwork of God. I love to have my faith challenged by those who feel like the argument must fall on one side of the fence or the other. It doesn’t.

To me, science compliments faith and faith completes science.

“Look at the similarities in the DNA of all life on this planet,” skeptics will argue. “Doesn’t that mean we’re all related?”

“Sure it does,” I counter. “We all have the same Father. Why wouldn’t we be similar?”

“Look at the heavens,” a challenger poses. “Surely you can’t believe that ours is the only ball of mud with life on it.”

“Of course not,” I reply. “I put no limits on a Creator I believe has the power to do as He wishes— without boundaries set by human reasoning. Just because He’s not been inclined to make us privy to his designs doesn’t mean He hasn’t crafted them.”

My first novel, Motes, is rooted in this philosophy. I have written published articles about it as well.

In an interview with a small local paper I said something like, “I believe that someday, all the scientists and theologians are going to end up standing awkwardly in the exact same place Continued on page 10

10 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

I’m not the first person to say that, but I say it a bunch—so maybe sheer volume will earn me an attribution in the future.

By now, you’re probably wondering why I started this piece with the quote from Étienne. Before my first novel, I had read nothing that blended science fiction and faith the way my story does. I had wanted to tell that story since I was a my story does. I had wanted to tell that story since I was a boy, lying on my back and pretending my reading flashlight was a rocket ship, cutting an arc against the inky blackness of space represented by my bedroom ceiling. If it’s been done before, I haven’t read it.

With my second book, I went down an entirely different path.

Artificial intelligence has fascinated me ever since I read Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, a collection of short stories about intelligent machines governed by a set of rules designed to keep humanity safe from its own creation. These stories are riveting. I highly recommend you read I, Robot. The insight that Asimov had about how AI would evolve, looking from his vantage point in 1950, is astounding. It stuck with me—hard.

My obsession, and a little bit of anxiety, around the whole concept of machine intelligence finally burst forth from my brain a couple of years ago in the form of

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

my second novel, The Bit Dance. Unlike its predecessor, there are no speculative theological threads in The Bit Dance. It’s all about how humans are pushing ahead with technological advancements without understanding the consequences of creating something that just might break its chains and run away on its own.

That particular book is becoming less and less fictional as the days go by. I keep seeing news reports and online articles talking about real events I imagined for the plot of The Bit Dance. It’s a little frustrating to me because it’s stealing thunder from my story. It’s also a little frightening that some of the fears I have about AI in particular, and technology in general, are emerging from the dark recesses of my imagination into the glaring light of reality.

One thing’s for certain. Just like with Motes, I have not seen the topic of The Bit Dance approached in quite the same way I have approached it. Done right? Maybe. Done with heaps of personal satisfaction?

Absolutely.

Tilmer Wright, Jr was born in 1965 in Kingsport, Tennessee. Growing up he enjoyed most of the same things other little boys born in the 1960s did. He loved to play baseball and ride his bicycle all over the hilly terrain surrounding his family home. Life was pretty good. Sure, there were only four channels to watch on TV (and one of those was a grainy UHF-based ABC affiliate.) But there was some magic contained in that quartet. Many hours were whiled away sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a monolithic console television set that was comprised of more wood than electronics.

Beaming from its convex low-resolution screen were such fantastic offerings as “Batman”, “Looney Tunes” and “The Wild Wild West”. Young Tilmer (known as Timmy in those days) would hop up excitedly after watching James West and Artemis Gordon foil the diminutive, but evil, Dr. Loveless. Off he would dash to his room where, in his closet, he would find the old cardboard box that had once housed the vacuum cleaner.

This box held all of his most precious toys.

Digging frantically, he would eventually find his trusty chrome-plated six-shooter cap pistol, reeking of burned powder from previous conquests. Minutes later, the pistol would be loaded with a fresh roll of red paper caps and Timmy would blaze out the back door, across the patio and into the large, grassy back yard. There, in his soaring imagination, he would find the nefarious Dr. Loveless and bring him to justice, all the while humming “The Wild Wild West” theme song as loudly as possible.

Tilmer has since retired the old chrome sixshooter and his wild west secret agent days are behind him. Since graduating from Florida State University in 1987 with a degree in Computer Science he has gotten married (and stayed married), fathered two beautiful daughters and worked in a variety of Information Technology roles across the southeastern United States. Today, he lives in Knoxville, TN. He loves to write and hates to edit. He loves music and plays the piano and guitar (both poorly.)

For more information Visit his website http://www.tilmerwrightjr.com/

Continued from page 7

11 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: COYOTES

By Bobbi Phelps Wolverton Article from soon to be released Sky Ranch

During the evening at the ranch, we often heard howls coming from far away. I had no idea what the noise could be. Mike said, “It’s coyotes.” I noticed how differently he pronounced the word. Coming from the East, I pronounced it “Ki’ yote tee,” giving the word three syllables.

In the West, they pronounce the word “Ki’ yote” with only two syllables. A coyote is a dog-like animal, smaller than a wolf but larger than a fox and it roamed throughout Idaho. They are great rodent hunters but will attack anything easy enough to kill and eat: rabbits, opossums, racoons, porcupines, dogs, and cats. Their soft, thick, long-haired fur, often a mixed color of greys and tans, brought a good price to hunters as their winter fur is considered exceptionally luxurious in the fashion industry. Mike had killed six coyotes the year before; the money he received from the pelts paid for our California vacation. As there were no limits on pelts, Mike and his friends hunted as often as possible. I heard one of the hunters brought a recording of a rabbit being skinned alive. The screaming of the rabbit into the prairie would entice a coyote to approach the sound. I hated that version of the hunt. I soon began to dislike all aspects of coyote hunting as I found the animals to be exceptionally beneficial to our ecosystem.

On one moonless night after Mike had

already gone to bed, I heard a chorus of coyotes yowling in the distance, out in the field beyond our lawn. They had a yippee noise that went to a howl.

Their voices mingled, rising into a crying crescendo, creating an auditory illusion of a large pack. In reality, there were probably only two or three animals. Their sounds filtered into the living room as I opened the French doors. Our new black Labrador surged outside, responding to the sound in the darkness. Sam had died two years before and Jack had become his replacement. A ridge of hair stood up on his wide back. He looked over his shoulder to see if I were following and raced to investigate the sounds.

He came back after scaring the coyotes away, his hackles bristling.

Then they started howling again. Jack stood motionless, one foreleg slightly raised, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere in the dark distance. He shot back, running full out with his head extended and his body bunching and flattening. He proceeded further into the field, his black body blending into the night darkness. Each time he returned, the howling stopped. He wagged his tail as if to say, “Look, Mom, they’re gone.”

Then the noise started again, and Jack turned to run back into the dark field, a low growl emerging from his throat, his ears crushed against his head. My eyes adjusted to the night as he flew from the back steps. This time when he returned, his red rag of a tongue protruded and droplets of saliva scattered about his jowls. Again, the howling started. I called to Jack and brought him into the house. I had surmised the coyotes’ philosophy.

They were wearing him down and would attack at his most vulnerable point, when he was absolutely

exhausted and extremely weak.

They were truly resourceful and have learned to exist in all sorts of environments, adapting their lives from woods to deserts and from farms to cities.

When Jack trotted into the kitchen, he headed for his water bowl. From there, he slowly walked toward the living room and flopped on his side next to the couch. For the rest of the night, he never moved again. The coyotes had almost beaten him but now he was inside and totally safe.

Bobbi Phelps Wolverton grew up in Darien, Connecticut, forty miles from New York City. She joined the airline industry after graduating from Pine Manor College and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School.

She enlisted with World Airways after working as a secretary in San Francisco.

In 1967 Bobbi traveled solo around the world and returned to complete her education at the University of California, Berkeley. She then rejoined the charter airline industry, working for Saturn Airways.

Her writing career begins with the book Behind the Smile. Future writings will be about her eighteen-month trip around the world and about her life as a city girl living on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, many miles from Twin Falls, Idaho.

Bobbi was President of the Authors Guild of Tennessee for four years from 2015 through 2018.

For more information visit her Website! https://booksbybobbi.com/

12 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

MARTHA’S VINEYARD ISLAND

By Adele A. Roberts Ralph had called a boat-building company on the island and made an appointment for an interview.

He met all their qualifications and was hired.

My husband, Ralph, asked me a question one afternoon. I thought it was funny at the time and because he loves to joke I responded accordingly.

His question, “Adele, how would you like to live on an island?”

My response, “Is that sort of like living on the moon?”

He looked at me seriously. “No, I’ve been thinking. You know how I love the water and boats. I’d like to work at a place where I can build boats and be near the water.”

It took me a moment to realize he was serious. This wasn’t a joke! He had a dream and now it was up to me to help him make it come true.

Ralph was a science instructor and coached wrestling and football. It was summer and he was off work.

He arranged for us to visit Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Our son, Bob, was six years old and he was excited when we told him we were going from Michigan to Massachusetts and were taking a ferry boat to an island.

For those few days, we enjoyed our stay on the island. Martha’s Vineyard was known for its beauty and celebrities who lived and vacationed there. Although we didn’t see anyone famous as we walked through the streets, we enjoyed the quaint little eating places and shops. One of my biggest concerns was that I couldn’t find a K-Mart or Wal Mart!

As we left the island and headed back to our home in Michigan, we discussed putting the house up for sale and what needed to be done to get ready for the move. This all seemed so unreal to me but reality finally set in when a ‘For Sale’ sign went up in our front yard. It wasn’t long before our home was sold.

Ralph had to be back on the island to begin work. Bob, our son, and I stayed behind and made arrangements for the closing of our house. Ralph would let us know when he had a place for us to stay.

This was not an easy task as most rental properties on Martha’s Vineyard were very expensive. One evening Ralph called and said he found a new Cape Cod that was in our price range. It was in the process of being finished, but we were promised that within a twoweek period it would be livable.

We were set. Ralph kept in contact with the contractor and the progress on the house. He returned home and packed our belongings on a rental truck. The house wasn’t ready to be occupied, but he could store our belongings in the basement. Bob and I would stay with my parents until he could once again travel to pick us up and go back to our new home on an island.

Two weeks had gone by and Ralph drove once more to Michigan to pick us up. He was anxious to show me the house he had bought.

It was a cute home settled in a wooded area. At first sight I liked it.

Ralph was happy that he had chosen this home for us. It certainly was a new construction as timber and construction material were scattered all around the property. However, that really wasn’t a concern at the moment.

We felt the contractor would clean all this up later.

We both were anxious to see what the inside of it looked like. Then we went inside. Whoops! It wasn’t finished. There was no finished kitchen or bathrooms. There was no running water. It wasn’t ready to be occupied. Ralph was so disappointed. He was sure that he was going to show me this adorable Cape Cod home and I would just love it and in turn, love the island.

Ralph went to the basement to see Continued on page 13

13 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

MARTHA’S VINEYARD ISLAND

By Adele A. Roberts

if our belongings he had stored were still there.

It had rained several times and the outside door to the open basement was left open and many of our items Ralph had stored were ruined.

Here we were on the island, our new home was unlivable and we didn’t have a place to stay.

Ralph contacted the contractor and he came over right away. Of course, he apologized for his miscalculations as to when the house would be finished. He said he would find us a nice place to stay until the house could be moved into.

We had a year of adventure on the island. We finished the house. We lived amongst the island people. I learned that when someone said,”Ca”, that they actually meant “car”. Going to a party was going to a ‘patee’. I learned that a milkshake was a ‘frapp’, seagulls loved to drop scallops on our roof, one listened to the foghorns throughout the night, and there was no way to escape the island except by the ferry boat. The island had you! We went off only once during the year to buy a Christmas tree and go shopping at K-Marts!

He kept his word and found us a beautiful home overlooking the lake. The big surprise came when he told us who the house belonged to – Diana Ross!

At the end of the year we left the island. We have never been back. I know how the celebrities’ love the island, but you know to me it was sort of like living on the moon.

Adele A. Roberts was born in a small town in Western Michigan. After graduating from high school she continued her education and received a B.A. in education, an M.A. in counseling and a CDA in early childhood development. She created the character of Sammy over forty years ago, and began telling her make-believe stories to her students.

She started writing the first story of Sammy when a young student asked if there was a book about the little skunk.

Although it wasn’t a priority at the time to write stories, she finished part of the first story and set it aside. Years later she found the old cardboard box containing the aged, colored papers of her first story. It was at this time she realized she needed to complete the task she had begun so many years before. Adele presently lives in Oliver Springs, TN with her husband.

For more information visit her Website! https://sammytheskunk.com/critters-dont-litter

Continued from page 12

14 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

HE CALLS MY NAME

By Darlene Underwood

In 2008, Darlene Underwood had a near-death experience while undergoing open-heart surgery. During that time, Darlene entered into a new and exciting realm where she had never been before. While in this place, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke a message to her and she vowed to Him that she would tell others to help them in their earthly journey with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus has ministered to Darlene in many prophetic dreams and visions throughout her walk with Him. She is a born again, spirit-filled woman of God who has been on her journey with the Lord since 1971.

She is a minister who encourages and exhorts others through practical understanding and application of God’s Word. She brings forth the Word of God with straight forwardness in love by building upon its principles with the compassion of Christ.

Darlene is a graduate of Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is currently seeking her Masters’ Degree in Biblical Studies through CES (Christ Exalted Seminary). She has held the positions of Bible Teacher, Co-Pastor and Associate Pastor in churches in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Darlene is currently working with Dr. Carol Elaine in iWOW!, Women of the Word, and CES (Christ Exalted Seminary). She is ordained with Melody of Life Ministry based in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is also a published Author of her auto-biography, Destiny’s Journey. Darlene is a mother of three children and grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of one and resides in Ooltewah, Tennessee with her husband, Joe.

The following is an excerpt from my soon to be released book "Lessons from a 3-year-old”

I spend time some of my days trying to get the attention of this single-minded child. He has a unique way of zoning me out. I try to get his attention and call his name telling him to do a task. He doesn’t respond.

Imagine that! I find myself speaking over and over again, speaking his name with the same reaction.

Nothing!

It reminds me of the old aphorism “it’s like speaking to a wall”. Brick upon brick, this wall stands cold, firm and unresponsive. Child, “Are you listening?” “Do you hear me?” Nothing! I may get a glance in my direction, but still no verbal response. It amazes me how one little body can be so fixated on something. He is so absorbed in his game, his program, or the screen that he is staring at that he doesn’t hear me. Or does he?

In desperation, I attempt to get his attention once again.

“Do you want a cookie?” Immediately I get a small innocent voice that says, “What?” So you do hear me!

He does hear the tone of my voice, the questions I am asking him, and he is choosing to ignore what I am saying. He chooses to hear what he wants to hear. Hearing is no assurance of understanding.

There are times when it is vital that he listens to me, it could save punishment or harsh consequences. My goal is to get him to be intent in his listening not just hear.

If he would respond to my voice the first time I speak and do what I ask of him, would that bless me? Oh, most definitely yes. What a tremendous breakthrough that would be.

Continued on page 15

15 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

The Lesson This is a biggie, my friends! This lesson was an interesting one for me. I began to see I do the same thing when God is speaking to me. I am absorbed so many times in what seems important to me, that I ignore His voice. He is speaking to me in many ways - through His Word, through other people, and many other outlets. But am I listening? Am I hearing only what I want to hear? Am I tuned in to Him to receive His blessings only, the goodies that my heart desires? Why do I ignore His instructions or His commands? Too many questions today God! Now I have to face my reality.

I desire to be obedient deep in my soul and to listen the first time I am told something by God. I have come to the realization that this is an ongoing process that could involve a myriad of mistakes and missteps. I don’t relish suffering the consequences of disobedience. I have been there and done that. I learned early on in my Christian walk that consequences come every time I make a decision. I am the one who determines if it is a good outcome or one that is undesirable. God knows ahead of time what my decisions will be and He has given me free will to make my choices. I thank Him because I know that “… all things work for together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

He will even use my mistakes to teach me what I need to know and thus make something good out of it. He is a good loving, teaching Father.

In studying this subject about hearing, I realized there is a difference in hearing and listening. We hear things all the time but tune them out. There is ‘noise’ all around us and it goes without saying that the world turns and we tune it out. Most of the noise we tune out is exasperating. The traffic around us, the chatter of conversations, the television in the background, the noise the yard worker is making outside, it is all aggravating. There is so much going on all the time! We have to block it out for sanity sake.

The ear cannot make decisions and the mind cannot hear, it only processes what the ear hears. Listening to God occurs in our spirit. The spirit realm is His realm where we connect to Him.

Let us learn to ‘tune in’ and listen to God as He speaks to us. We would save ourselves much heartache.

Understanding is a gift of God.

So give your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart (with which) to judge your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. 1 Kings 3:9 (Amp.) He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21 Give me understanding that I may keep your laws, yes, I will preserve it with my whole heart. Psalm 119 To learn more about Darlene visit her website: https://destinysjourneyministries. blogspot.com/

Make no mistake we must not block out God’s voice. We must stay ‘tuned in’ to His Spirit and not just hear, but listen! God places great value on an understanding heart. In Hebrew, the word to listen carries with it the connotation of understanding and obeying.

It is to listen with deep spiritual insight. The final test of understanding (not simply hearing but listening) is obedience to God. Continued from page 14

Cyn Taylor

Winner of AGT Reading Contest Read 12 books by AGT authors in 3 months

17 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Southern Roots

By Susan Kite I am a Yankee. Hog jowls and blackeyed peas have never passed my lips.

(My father cured me of any curiosity about that questionable dish the day he blew twelve quarts of beans on the kitchen ceiling when he overheated the pressure cooker.) Grits are something that comes from the local diner, not my pantry. And you’ll never catch me adding cracklin’s to my corn bread, much less chitlin’s.

But I say ‘y’all’ with the best of them, I wear orange and white during football season, and I was shocked when an out-of-state friend asked me, “Why is the University of Tennessee’s mascot a hound dog?”

“Why wouldn’t he be?” I returned and then thought, That’s a typical Yankee question.

I used to live out West. I went to school in the Intermountain West. I visited relatives out in Utah a while back and I got funny looks from everyone from store clerks to service station attendants when I asked for directions.

“You’re from the South, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am,” I answered proudly.

“From East Tennessee.” (You noticed I said East Tennessee, not just Tennessee. There’s a difference, but that’s another story.)

And yet, here where I have lived for more than 30 years, I am still considered a Yankee. How can one be from the South and still be a Yankee?

That’s an interesting question. I have lived more than half of my life in southern states, thirty-six in Tennessee alone, but I was not born in the South. I was born in Indiana and although my father was born in Mississippi and spent part of his life there, my mother was born in Utah and raised in southern Idaho. (Does southern Idaho count for anything?)

I have noticed that I am partially forgiven when I say that I am an Army brat, but, still, I was not born and bred in the South.

Then why do I feel so Southern? Is it because I have fallen in love with the green of my adopted home? With the beauty of the back woods? Maybe it’s the fall colors at Halloween, the hot summer sun on my cheeks, or the hummingbirds at the feeder in the spring?

I would rather watch the sun set while sitting in a rocking chair on a porch in Townsend than watch it from a beach in California. I would rather hear stories about the old days —granny putting porcelain doorknobs in the hen house to fool the chickens, Jack tales, the Overmountain men and stories of the hills folk, than attend the opening of a Broadway musical. I would rather spend three days in the Smoky Mountains in the fall than a week in Las Vegas.

I simply love the South. I love the less frenetic pace of southern living. I love the gentle caress of the southern breezes, the tang of blackberries in July, muscadines in September, and the sharp bite of frost in November. I love the sound of a dulcimer, the smell of decaying leaves after a fall rain, the laughter of people at the flea market.

People. That’s what it comes back to. I love the quick, friendly openness of the people in the South. We are all ‘folks,’ wherever we came from. We are neighbors, friends in the truest sense of the word. When my husband became ill and was in the hospital a few years ago, I was chided by my neighbors for not telling them immediately. Within a few hours, I had several casseroles and desserts sitting on my kitchen table. I am not saying that this would not happen elsewhere; I am simply saying that it seems to happen much quicker in the South.

For several years, my husband, who was born and raised in California, had a desire to move back West. Then we spent several weeks in Utah and later, in California on vacation. He found the

traffic too busy for his taste. The people seemed less friendly, more self-absorbed and less inclined to take time to talk. The houses were so close to each other a Chihuahua would have trouble turning around, and the air had a nasty brown cast to it. Our rental vehicle was towed on Christmas Eve. As we were borrowing our kids’ Christmas money to pay the towing charge, my husband turned to me and said, “I don’t want to move back here. Our home is in Tennessee.

We can visit when we want to.”

And I have visited. In the past several years I have visited Los Angeles, New York City, Indianapolis, Salt Lake City and other places, but I always return home. And that’s the point. I am a Southerner because that’s where my heart is—in the South.

Susan Kite is an Army brat; which means she grew up everywhere. She didn't begin to settle down until her dad did. She earned two degrees at Utah State University and began dabbling in writing. However, she didn't get serious until her children were grown. Now it is a contagious disease and she doesn't want to be cured!

Her first novel, My House of Dreams was written after several visits to the Mission San Luis Rey. A fantasy short story was included in an anthology published in 2013 called aMUSEing Tales. Another short story won second place in an online contest. A science-fiction novel, The Mendel Experiment, was published in April 2015

by World Castle Publishing.

18 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

The Last Summer

By Russell Fine

John woke up at 5:30. He looked at the up at the ceiling where his projection clock displayed the time and outside temperature. It was already 81° and it was way too early to get up. He really didn’t like summer very much, and today promised to be very uncomfortable with a high in the mid-nineties. He turned over on his side, looked at his wife who was still sleeping, and went back to sleep too.

What nobody knew at that time was that today would be the last day of summer, forever. On a path headed directly for the dark side of the moon there was a small, but incredibly dense, asteroid. It was almost perfectly round, and slightly less than a half mile in diameter. It had recently received a substantial boost in speed as it rounded the sun at a distance of less than a million miles. It was now traveling at 200,000 miles per hour. Because the material that the asteroid was composed of was so dense there was no tail to make it visible from Earth.

When the asteroid collided with the moon the resulting explosion was the equivalent of thousands of atomic bombs all going off at the same time.

Because the collision was on the dark side it was not seen by the people on Earth, but the results would soon be obvious.

The explosion caused a crack in the moon’s surface that, over the course of an hour, reached its center. Within hours the moon split into two pieces.

About 2/3 of the moon remained intact. The 1/3 that separated itself flew off into space.

The change in the gravitational force that the moon exerted on Earth caused the Earth to shift almost six degrees on its axis.

The Earth started to wobble and the movement began to affect its orbit around the Sun. It took almost a month for the orbit to stabilize. When the Earth finally stopped its gyrations it was in an elliptical orbit that at its farthest point was one hundred twenty million miles from the sun. At its closest point it was one hundred five million miles and that was still twelve million miles further from the Sun than it had been before.

The resulting change in the climate was catastrophic. The average temperature at the equator dropped to 70°. At the poles the average temperature was about 90° below zero. In Chicago, where John lived, the hot humid summers would never return, the warmest days were in the forties.

The majority of Earth’s population survived the events.

People who lived in the northern and southern extremes of the planet moved closer to the equator. The change in rain patterns caused most of the deserts to disappear, and eventually they were dotted

with farms. Perhaps the most obvious change was the moon; it was no longer a bright round ball.

Now it displayed a jagged edge where the other third of it had been.

Ten years after the event John was telling his children about how the Earth was before its orbit changed. He showed them pictures of rain forests, warm sandy beaches with palm trees that offered shade from the hot sun, and the vast deserts of southwest part of the United States. All those things were gone.

John and his family still lived in Chicago. He didn’t really miss the summers, but now he hated winter. It was too cold, and although he liked snow, two hundred inches a year was way too much.

I spent most of my working career in technical positions that required me to write manuals and user guides, but I always wanted to write something that people would actually want to read. After I retired at the end of 2013 I finally had the time to do that.

I always liked to read science fiction. In December, 2015 my first novel, Future World History – Book 1, was published.

The second book in the series, Future World History – Book 2, was published in August, 2016. Now I am working on the final book in the series.

I also began writing short stories. One of those stories was a murder mystery with some science fiction in the plot. That story has grown into a collection of Frank Carver Mystery books. They are available on Amazon or other online book stores.

I currently live in Rockwood, Tennessee with my wife of more than fifty years and our three poodles.

19 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

ARKS AND ARCS

By Patricia Crumpler

A famous book told us that Noah had an ark. But did he have a character arc? Not that I could see. Noah was a righteous man in a world of evil.

He was just as righteous after the flood.

This story has lasted throughout the millennia without any character change.

Does that mean it doesn’t follow the guidelines of good story writing?

Speaking of arks, one of the articles I read cited the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark and used Indiana Jones as an example of character arc. The writer said Jones changed because at the end, he wouldn’t look at the open ark but the other, evil, archeologist did—and consequently died. Even though I don’t like using movies as paradigms for writing, I’ll go with it for now because I disagree with the article.

The Indiana Jones character is one of my examples as having no character arc. In the beginning of the movie, he was an archaeologist who dodged a rolling stone to take an artifact.

All through the movie, he dodged more dangers. When he found the ark, he knew enough not to look at it. I don’t believe he would have looked at the arc at the beginning of the story, either. I don’t think he changed.

Yes, he had a love interest, but true to his character, it was temporary because archaeology was his real

mistress. He didn’t change; however, during the movie, he learned new things. He grew.

In my search for arc-truth, I have read that change isn’t necessary for character arc. When the character reaches a conflict point and remains steadfast, there is growth. Character arc does not necessarily mean change. Nontransformative growth can be the point of your story. When your character doesn’t change obviously, by gaining knowledge, he changes subtly, and that becomes the character arc.

One of the best stories I’ve ever read—over and over-- is Gone With The Wind. Scarlett O’Hara didn’t change. She was feisty and determined right from the first page. She survived her adventures because she was strong and resourceful. In the end, when Rhett leaves, you the reader know for a fact they will get back together because of Scarlett’s abilities. She didn’t change, but her troubles taught her things. She grew.

I read a lot of detective novels.

One of my detective faves is Lucas Davenport, a character from the John Sandford Prey series. Lucas doesn’t change. I think that’s why the readers like him. Yes, he marries and gets older. In each novel, he stalks really bad folks, has emotional ups and downs, and faces death.

The reader anticipates his triumph because of his intelligence, gut instincts, and physical agility. Lucas always gets out of trouble and nabs the

villain. He doesn’t change; he grows with each book.

Of course, the Romance genre requires a conspicuous character arc. I read them. Each one is interesting and unique; but the story is the same. One person meets another and Fate intervenes to separate them.

One or both have a change.

They come together with an HEA, a Happily Ever After. It’s the change that drives the story.

Okay, fine. In my romance stories, my character arcs will be evident.

Thinking about my other stories, though, I have noticed my characters have subtle changes, but they always learn.

I’m counting that as subtle (not weak) character arc.

So, hopefully, like my characters I learn. And sometimes, I change.

Patricia Crumpler is a writer and an artist with a life-long addiction to reading science fiction. Her space drama, Benevolence debuted in February of 2017 by First Realm Publishers. In addition to a novella, Sorrow Song which features a very sexy merman, Patricia has published an anthology with her son, Christopher, and has a series of children’s stories called Fins and Fables volumes I, II, & III. All of her books are available on Amazon.

She has had 15 short stories published various anthologies.

Patricia lives in South Florida where her favorite hangout is the beach. She’d love to hear from readers!

20 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

STOLEN HEARTS

By Cyn Taylor Taken from A Novelette Told Through Letters 14 February 1888 Sir, For a man unknown to me to take it upon himself to write such a letter tells me that our families would indeed have little in common. A formal introduction in public by a close friend or relative of us both is the least I must require. In response to your invitation, I must reply with an emphatic no. Break your heart? How could I possibly break the heart of a man I have never met and who does not know me other than by sight? Your man did indeed behave honorably and I was most comfortable in his company. Might I suggest you advise him to dress more appropriately for his station as your confidant?

With regrets, I must steadfastly decline your invitation.

ES

15 March 1888 My dear sweet Elizabeth, It is true, you do not know me, but my fondness for you grows daily as I watch you come and go from the home of your uncle. Please do not think me wicked and immoral for giving in to my longing of gazing at your beautiful face as you greet the sun each morning from your bedroom window. Without your consent to meet, observing you undetected is my only recourse. I yearn for the day when we meet face to face. Again, my man will await your response.

Forever yours, JR Cyn Taylor lives and plays in Knoxville Tennessee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Smoky Mountain Mist is her first published book series. Book one, Blue Mountain Sky hit Amazon in 2016. Book two, Red Morning Glory was released in 2017. Book three, Dawn’s Gray Light hit the shelves April 5, 2018.

The follow-up series Smoky Mountain Magic is in the works. Cyn plans to release book one in that series Truffles and Kisses late 2018 or early 2019.

Cyn describes the two series as inspirational, clean romantic suspense with a dash of humor.

Cyn and husband Brent live on his family farm at the peak of Thunder Ridge along with a feral cat and other woodland creatures who come round to visit. They have two adult children and seven grandchildren with two more on the way.

A freelance photojournalist, Cyn has written faith, community and feature articles. She says that seeing how life is lived by salt of the earth mountain folk is inspiring and helps create the backdrop and characters for her books.

Cyn also gets some of the best inspiration for her books when she accompanies Brent on fly-fishing excursions to the Smokies and local tailwaters.

He fishes. She writes. Life is good.

FROM

MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN

22 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Rainbow Delight Salad

By Susan Kite

1 orange jello 1 red jello 1 lime jello 1 lemon jello 1 cup pineapple juice 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 2 pkg. Dream Whip topping mix  Set the first three jellos, each in a different pie pan according to the directions on the jello package in the fridge. Later, (next morning usually), mix 1 pkg. lemon jello with 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water. Heat until jello dissolves. Set in fridge until real thick, but not completely set. Cut the 3 jellos in the pie tins into small squares. Fix the Dream Whip as directed. Stir in the three pans of jello squares and the very thickened lemon jello mixture. Pour into a 13" X 9" pan (or something similar, and let it finish setting in the fridge. Cut into squares.

(I usually make this with sugar free jello to make it more diabetic friendly. I also do not use the 1/4 cup sugar and it tastes just as good. Another thing I sometimes do is use another jello color.

In other words you can't mess up this recipe.)

23 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

This requires at least a minimal knowledge of water bath canning

Cyn's Simple Apple Butter Recipe

By Cyn Taylor Fill LARGE crock-pot to the the brim with peeled, cored, sliced apples. I prefer Arkansas Black.

They are available October to November. Mostly in South Carolina. Fill it so full the apples touch the lid and it barely goes on. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 cup water over apples. Pour 1/4 cup water over all. Turn to high heat for 1 hour then down to low.

Cook overnight or at least 16 hours. DO NOT STIR during cooking. Â After cooked, take a potato masher (not a metal one) and mash apples, leaving large chunks. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup regular sugar. DO NOT ADD SUGARS BEFORE THIS POINT! Add vanilla for a sweeter version. Stir well with wooden spoon. I never use anything metal when I preserve food. Turn back to high heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour but no more. Scoop into pints or half pint jars. Place seals and lids on jars and boil in water bath canner for 10 minutes after water reaches boiling.

NOMADIC

|

24

24 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

LIST OF SUPPORTERS

25 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

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/

26 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Kathy Economy Proofreading and copy editing with fast, efficient service. Special rates for AGT members.

With over 30 years of experience as a paralegal, I have acquired strong writing and editing skills.

Specific personal credits are: authoring a monthly newspaper column in the San Diego Daily Transcript; publishing articles, interviews and op/ed pieces in numerous newspaper and magazine publications.

While living in East Tennessee, I have had the opportunity to meet with and learn from many talented authors through the

Telephone: 480-375-1839 Email:kathyeconomy@gmail.com

Tellico Village Writers Group (where my favorite short story, The Jump, was printed in Writes of Passage); through membership in and serving as Program Chair for the Knoxville Writers’ Group; and by working with authors Bobbi Phelps Chapman and Marilyn Neilans (also members of AGT).

I would be pleased to review your manuscripts and offer proofreading and copy editing services at reasonable rates.

Books By Bobbi

“Humor, Adventures, and Worldwide Cultures.”

Telephone: 865-657-9560 Email: bobbiphelps1@gmail.com Website: www.booksbybobbi.com

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 enlisted in 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.

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 behindthe-scenes look at the joys and heartaches of working in the airline industry during its most glamorous era.

27 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

Crippled Beagle Publishing I've loved writing since I was a child. In this old 1990 photo my beloved crippled beagle Bell keeps me company as I daydream on paper. Each of us is imperfect. Bell had backward knees, but a calm disposition and sweet nature made her an all-time favorite pet. Like Bell, humans are imperfect, but we have stories to tell. Whether through life stories, novels, essays, articles, social media content, or other projects, I welcome the opportunity to help you share your talent and communicate your unique message in a powerful way.

“ghostwriting, social media/marketing content, editing, proofreading, cover design and publishing” Jody Dyer, Owner Telephone: 865-414-4017 Email: dyer.cbpublishing@gmail.com website: www.jodydyer.com

Don Delfis Pancake House and Restaurant “Good food, hearty portions, and friendly service.”

120 West End Ave Farragut, Knoxville, TN 37934 Telephone: 865-288-3696

28 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

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

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

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

29 | THE BOOKSHELF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 6 | JULY | AUGUST | SEPT 2019

AUTHOR EVENTS JULY 2019

AUGUST 2019

Bobbi Wolverton, Denise Underwood and Danielle Asher: Old City Market Sat July 13, 11am-4pm Along Jackson Ave., Knoxville

Cyn Taylor: Halls Senior Center August 28 from 9-noon. Will be holding a book signing and sale and she will be launching four new release. The three books in the Smoky Mountain Mist series will be available as well.

Bobbi Wolverton, Tish, Don Pardue, Carol McClain, Cheryl Peyton, Jared Jackson and Danielle Asher: Grainger County Tomato Festival July 26-28, hours vary 7480 Rutledge Pike, Rutledge, TN

SEPTEMBER 2019 Darlene Underwood: Fried Pickle Festival at the Louden Park from 10:00 to 7:00 on Sept. 28th

AGT Monthly Meetings Faith Lutheran Church, 225 Jamestowne Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Meet and Greet at 10:30 a.m, Meeting at 11:00 a.m.

July 11, 2019, 10:30 am - TBA August 2, 2019, 10:30 am - Marilyn Neilans: Formatting, publishing and what works best for writers

Sept 5, 2019,

10:30 am - Bill Steinorth:

Social Media and the tools to optimize your presence

Books by AGT authors are on sale at these locations American Commissary 1211 E. Broadway Lenoir City, TN 37771 (865) 816-3519

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

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

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

East Tennessee Discount Drugs 721 Hwy. 321 Lenoir City, TN 37771 (865) 988-0000 Farragut Pharmacy 11424 Kingston Pike Farragut, TN 37934 (865) 966-9728 Knoxville Soap Candle & Gifts 714 S. Gay St. Knoxville, TN 37919 865-689-6545 Cheesecakes + More 228 Interstate Dr. Suite #118 Crossville, TN 38555 (931) 250-5354

CitiFid-O 429 Union Avenue Knoxville, TN 37902 (865) 219-5127 Ricki Pet Depot 11505 Kingston Pike Farragut, TN 37934 (865) 392-1151 Dandridge Mercantile 149 E. Main St. Dandridge, TN. (865) 230-4225