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Monday, December 27, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY with Host Marsha Casper Cook 12/28/2010 - Red River Radio | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

RRWL-Tuesday December 28 - 12 Noon CST 1 PM EST. If you’re looking for an agent listen to A Good Story Is A Good Story with host Marsha Cook. Listen in while you have lunch. This week’s show is going to be a Q&A about what does an agent really do and do you really need one? This is a show you won’t want to miss.

Vicki Russo from JULIA PHILLIPS LITERARY AGENCY will be the guest and Marsha Cook as well as Denise Spooner will be discussing writing books, and screenplays and how to get noticed in this over crowded market. This show is informative and entertaining. The great discussions that come from a show like this are the conversations that can make a difference. Callers are always welcome and the chat room is always open with help from Denise Spooner. Pleashttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/12/28/a-

link to show
good-story-is-a-good-story-with-host-marsha-caspe call in 646- 595-4478- phone calls are encouraged.

Friday, December 17, 2010

STORIES FOR CHILDREN - DECEMBER 20 - 12 NOON CST - 1PM EST - GUEST AUTHOR - MARSHA COOK DISCUSSES WORLD OF INK AUTHOR /BOOK VIRTUAL TOUR - stories for children, book tours, virginai grenier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) December 17, 2010 --

STORIES FOR CHILDREN - DECEMBER 20 - 12 NOON CST - 1PM EST - GUEST AUTHOR - MARSHA COOK DISCUSSES WORLD OF INK AUTHOR /BOOK VIRTUAL TOUR

Welcome Vist Our WebSite:http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com

Stories for Children with hosts VS Grenier, D.M. Cunningham and Tiffany Strelitz Haber will be chatting with author, agent and host of "A Good Story Is A Good Story" Marsha Casper Cook about her books “Snack Attack,” "The Magical Leaping Lizard Potion," "The Busy Bus" and what it has been like doing the World of Ink Author/Book Virtual Tour. Marsha will also be sharing agent and self publishing tips; along with the trials and tribulations of the writer’s life.

Marsha Casper Cook is the author of six published books and 11 feature-length screenplays, a literary agent with 15 years of experience and the host of a radio talk show about the business of writing and entertainment, “A Good Story is a Good Story,” on the Red River Radio network. You can tune in at the RRRadio’s site or listen/call in at (646) 595-4478.

In addition, SFC Publishing will be touring Marsha Casper Cook and her books all month long. You can learn more and find her the World of Ink Tour schedule at http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/MarshCasperCookWorldofInkTour.aspx Not only will you have the opportunity to meet Marsha, but you'll get to learn about the hosts VS Grenier, D.M. Cunningham and Tiffany Strelitz Haber and their exciting writing careers, along with Stories for Children Publishing and its many divisions. Learn more about the hosts of the show and Stories for Children Publishing, LLC at: http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com

Thursday, December 16, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

RRW - A Good Story Is A Good Story - blogtalkradio.com - 12 Noon CST - 1 PM EST December 21 - Join Marsha Cook and her special guest R.W. Doyen, author of, A FATHERS ANGUISH. Fran Lewis will review the book, A Father's Anguish and then the discussion will begin with host Marsha Cook and Fran Lewis.



It is estimated that one million rapes occur each year, less than 30% are reported.Raymond Doyen has written an outstanding novel, A FATHER’S ANGUISH which addresses this issue. What makes this book so very special was this story is based on the truth. Every parent wishes to erase anything bad that happens to their children, but sometimes that isn't possiblet. It’s all about finding that place in your heart that can comfort your child so your child knows that you are there for them no matter what. Raymond Doyan does just that in his remarkable novel which parallels what has happened to his own family.

The discussion will become personal as we unfold what a parent can do when their child is abducted and raped. Raymond‘s book gave his daughter a true understanding of how he felt and one step closer to her recovery.



Listen in and hear how a family survives such a devastating episode in their life. All of his reviews have been five stars and he is an entertaining and powerful writer who has written what he knows with the knowledge that somewhere out there some young woman may be next. Read this book and be prepared to watch every step you take to protect yourself. Don’t think for a moment this can’t happen to you! Read this book and listen to blogtalkradio – to hear the real story behind this book – A Father’s Aguish.

Callers are always welcome and the chat room is always open with help from Denise Spooner. Please call in 646- 595-4478- phone calls are encouraged.

Monday, December 13, 2010

BOOK TOUR - SFC Blog: Families Matter - Marsha Cook's - First Book Tour - Virginia and Marsha - RED RIVER RADIO - - BOOK TOUR , virginia grenier, books

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northfield, Illinois, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) December 13, 2010 -- Meet Marsha Cook- Author and Agent

Meet Marsha Cook. Her three published books for kids are fun. Great gift ideas for the kids on your list. Here is more information about the author.

Marsha Casper Cook is the author of six published books and 11 feature-length screenplays, a literary agent with 15 years of experience and the host of a radio talk show about the business of writing and entertainment, “A Good Story is a Good Story,” on the Red River Radio network.


BOOK TOUR - SFC Blog: Families Matter - Marsha Cook's - First Book Tour - Virginia and Marsha - RED RIVER RADIO -

Welcome Vist Our WebSite:

http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com She and her guests discuss writing and what’s new in the entertainment field. This year, she also began hosting another talk show “The Whole Truth”; on this show she and her guests discuss day to day issues that effect family life. Marsha has also appeared as a guest on other network shows and will continue to make frequent visits to other shows.

Her published works include “Love Changes,” a romantic novel about a family in crisis, and “Sala, More Than a Survivor,” a non-fiction biography about surviving the Holocaust. She has also written three books for young children, including the short stories “Snack Attack” and “The Magical Leaping Lizard Potion” and the poetry collection “The Busy Bus.” She has just completed the fourth book in her children’s series. Marsha has also published a book version of her romantic-comedy screenplay, “It’s Never Too Late.”

Saturday, December 11, 2010

VBT - Writers On The Move

Monday, December 6, 2010
How to Find Your Writing Rhythm with Marsha Casper Cook


Writing Rhythm is what I perceive to be my own writing style. Over the years, I have realized that when writing a poem, a novel, or a screenplay my voice is what I feel in my heart. When I write I try to be honest with my feeling and never try to write like anyone else.

There are some days when I write something I really don’t like but I usually don’t discover that until the next day. I then ask myself what was I thinking when I wrote that. There is usually no answer to that question, so I go on and hope that my story will come to me. Usually my stories come to me in small segments. I am happy about that because it takes time to know your characters so you can develop them and maintain the rhythm of a smooth sorry that flows naturally.

Most of the time when I can’t seem to figure out where my story is going I close my eyes and place myself into the situation that my character is in. My characters are not me they are just coming from thoughts and ideas that I may have on the subject good or bad.

When I write I try to be flexible and go with the flow. I always hope that my characters come to life and they usually do. When I speak about writing, I tell stories about how I sometimes write a letter as the character and try to understand the problems my character may or may not have. If they have no problems, they are not real. They also have to have a past to get to where they are at the time I am writing about them. When I’m finished and happy with the storyline I always hope that the next day when I re - read it again and again I will be happy with what I have written. If not, I re- thinks my thoughts and makes changes or start again. If at the end of the day I don’t like my storyline and I don’t think the reader will I begin again and inevitably it does become better with a better flow and a realistic rhythm.

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

RRWL -RED RIVER WRITERS LIVE - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - HOST MARSHA COOK
NOON CST - 1 PM EST - What is a Book tour and why do you need one? A book tour is one of the best tools for selling your books. Virginia Grenier will be discussing how a book tour works and why you need one. Facebook is a great way to make connections but can it help sell your book? These are some of the questions that we will be answering on this week’s show A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY.

Listen in while you have lunch. This is a weekly show every Tuesday at 12 Noon CST that you won't want to miss. Virginia Grenier will be joining Marsha Cook as well as Denise Spooner for a lively discussion on writing. Book tours and how important marketing your books really is. This show is informative and entertaining. The great discussions that come from a show like this are the conversations that can make a difference. Callers are always welcome and the chat room is always open with help from Denise Spooner. Please call in 646- 595-4478- phone calls are encouraged.
www.michiganavenuemedia.com

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

So You Want to Write a Novel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9fc-crEFDw&feature=player_embedded


When you have time this is a video to watch ...

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

MOVIES TO GO TO - UNSTOPPABLE / LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS

It's holiday time but don't forget to make time to see a few good movies. There is nothing better than sitting back and enjoying a movie at your local theatre. I know that it's expensive to go to the movies but when you actually get to the theatre, buy your popcorn and find a good seat you forget your troubles and relax... and that is good!

I try to see as many new movies as possible. I am a screenwriter and think all screenwriters should see movies. I am always surprised when a screenwriter tells me they haven't see a movie in a long time. I think every good screenwriter should see movies, especially new movies. This weekend was a busy one but I saw two very different movies - UNSTOPPABLE & LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS.

Unstoppable is a very entertaining and energetic movie. The actors are all professional and the story is very exciting. This movie is suspenseful immediately after the story set –up and from that very moment you will feel as if you are on the train with Denzel and Chris. The film director is Tony Scott and the screenwriter is Mark Bomback. The producers Julie Yorn, Tony Scott and Chris Ciaffa made a good decision when they said yes to this screenplay.


LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS is really a wonderful movie with subtle messages that you won't soon forget. It's a beautiful love story and this movie has heart. Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Josh Gad, Hank Azaria and Oliver Platt all gave superb performances. Jake and Anne have a wonderful chemistry and hopefully they will do another movie together. The movie had very intimate beautiful moments and this is a must see.Thank you Charles Randolph for writing such an engaging script. I hope there will be Oscar nominations coming forward. Ed Zwick was the director and he also was a producer along with Marshall Herskovitz, Scott Stuber and Mary Parent.

Hollywood is moving forward with some very good films.

Marsha
MICHIGAN AVENUE MEDIA LLC.
Labels: ANNE HATHAWAY, DIRECTORS, JAKE GYLLENHAAL, MOVIES, PRODUCERS, SCREENWRITERS 10

Friday, November 19, 2010

SAVE YOUR MONEY CONSULT US FIRST

Over the years I have learned so many different ways that a writer can
achieve success ,but the last year of having a blog talk radio show on RED RIVER WRITERS has proved to be the most educational.Writing books is a a business and if you realize this is a business you will place yourself in a great position and your career will begin.

I am now certain that I can help. I can help get you where you need to be in the right way. There is no easy solution but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will be consulting authors on how to begin their writing career on a limited budget. During some of my radio shows and other radio shows I have been fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time.I have listened and learned from top notch authors and marketing specialists.

Please feel free to go to the website www.michignavenuemedia.com and listen to some of the shows and you will learn some of the ways that other writers have started their careers. I have always felt that even the best of writers doesn't know everything there is to know about writing. There is always new information to help you become a better writer.

After fifteen years of writing and being an agent there hasn't been a day where I haven't learned something new. I am certain that some of the newer techniques and ideas for new writers will help produce better projects.Follow Michigan Avenue Media's program and surprise yourself.

Please feel free to call us at 847-441-4271 if you would like a quote or you have
questions. Our mini programs are very affordable. All of the programs are under $299
Editing is not included.

Let us help put you on the map!

MARSHA

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

WRITING IS A BUSINESS / TIME IS MONEY

Why Self Publish? - A Good Story Is A Good Story – Tuesday November 16, at 12 Noon –CST- Host Marsha Cook – Listen in while you have lunch. This weeks show is about the controversial subject - traditional publishing verses self publishing. Writing is a business and time is money. Special guest Robert Raymond, author of Entrepreneurs Guide to the Universe. John Bowers will also be on the show discussing his success as an E book author.His books, A Vow To Sophia, The Fighter Queen,The Fighter King and Star Marine, published by AKW BOOKS are doing very well.This show is as always informative and entertaining. The great discussions that come from a show like this are the conversations that can make a difference.

Callers are always welcome and the chat room is always open with help from Denise Spooner. Please call in and tell us what you think.

Phone -656-595-4478 - Call the same number to listen in - LINK TO SHOW -There is a podcast after live show -

LINK
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/11/16/a-good-story-is-a-good-story-with-host-marsha-casp


: marsha cook self- publishing books michigan avenue media, red river radio

Friday, November 5, 2010

RRWL - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - NOV 9 12 NOON CST - JOHN KREMER SPECIAL GUEST 11/9/2010 - Red River Radio | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - Special Guest John Kremer -Tuesday November 9 - 12 NOON - CST Red RIVER WRITERS LIVE Host Marsha Cook has changed the day and time of her show.

You can listen on line or call in - 646-595-4478 - will be podcast when show is over


NEW SHOW - Starting Tuesday November 9, at 12 NOON CST. Fran Lewis, a frequent guest book reviewer,will be joining the discussion. The very first show on Tuesday the 9th of November will be just as much fun as the evening shows. Virginia Grenier will be joining the show but in January she will be the host of her own show. John Kremer, a very special guest will be talking about writing,selling and marketing books.John is an expert in book marketing and will answer questions that will help you be a better more successful writer.There is only one man who does it all and that is John Kremer. His advice works and he will be sharing his secrets. Denise Spooner will be re- joining the show and she will be in the chat room and on the phone. You can listen on line or call in 646) 595-4478. Please feel free to call or chat and tell them what’s on you mind. Every week the discussions will be different and lively. There will be book reviews and movie reviews. Join in the fun and if you have an idea for a show please feel free to contact Marsha at 847-441-4271 or e- mail her at mba3308@aol.com"

Thursday, October 21, 2010

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS OCTOBER 2010

On October 25,at 8 pm Central - Breast Cancer Awareness - RRWL


Carol Solomon Proesel will be a guest. This is her story;


link to the show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/10/26/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

Today I decided to write about my journey with Breast Cancer. It is almost 3 years since my journey began. I was diagnosed in October 2007 and had a bilateral mastectomy in November of same year. I did not sign up or volunteer to experience this, but I was chosen anyway. I was not real surprised, given my history. In my early twenties I was told I have very dense, fibrocystic breasts. I was assured that my chances of developing breast cancer were no more than anyone else’s?

During the next 20 years I endured more needle aspirations and benign cyst removals than I can remember. I always felt in the back of my mind, one day, one would turn out BAD.
And that day came in October 2007 during a routine mammogram. I felt this lump and knew it was not like all the others and I was so right.

My Radiologist put me thru a battery of tests before He said this is not good. The C word was never used until two weeks later. I made an appointment with my fabulous surgeon who had performed surgeries on my other lumps. She immediately scheduled me with the best Oncologist and Radiologist specializing in Breast Cancer, here at M D Anderson in Orlando. After undergoing every test and scan and experiencing more radio active material then one person should have, we determined my cancer was self contained in my right breast only.
It was rather large. I figured lumpectomy, but no mastectomy. They also found some benign masses in my left breast. Nothing bad. Hum, I thought. I was pretty accepting of what was about to happen but could I be strong enough to do it twice!!!

After discussing all my options with my very, very, very supportive husband and talking to my nurse friends, I opted for a bilateral mastectomy. I knew I was doing the right thing and my surgeon fully agreed. She wanted me to see a plastic surgeon, also about reconstructive surgery.

Now mind you, Victoria’s Secret was my best friend, but I was 58 and had nice breasts all my life. I thought long and hard, again, and decided to opt out of reconstructive surgery. I could always get it down the road, but let’s just focus on the cancer.

I had surgery on November 4 2007 at 4:00 PM. I came to at 6:00 PM and was in my room at 7:30 PM. I was groggy and thirsty but otherwise fine. I had a lot of discomfort, but no pain. The nurses kept trying to give me pain meds, but I refused. I spent the whole night trying to sleep, but that wasn’t going to happen. They kept waking me every hour to check on me. I was still thirsty but no one gave me anything to drink. That was the worst part. I even used the restroom with help. NO bedpan for me!

The next morning doctors started arriving at 5:00 AM. No one could believe I was doing so well and needed no pain pills. At 8:00 AM my surgeon came in and said you can go home if you feel okay. You never saw any body get dressed so fast. I was home by 10:00 Am. Never took any pain meds or anything. Five days later my Daughter took me to the mall.

One week later I had all the drainage tubes removed and actually drove that day. She confirmed my cancer was self contained and had not spread to any lymph nodes. And she removed 13 to be sure. I had numbness in my upper arm and under my arm pit. She said the feeling might come back, in time, or not. It hasn’t, but oh well.

I had my next appointment with my oncologist 2 weeks later. That was when the fun really began. My type of cancer was hormone related. I never took hormones, but my own body revolted. I had a node positive or something. Only 30% of tumors are like this. So not only did I have cancer and lose my breasts, but I had a special type. Oh Yah!

We were to begin a massive chemotherapy treatment in 2 weeks and it would last 16 MONTHS. I protested. I did not want to lose my hair. My beloved hair! I lost that fight. So I literally signed over my life to treatment for the next 16 months. You are given a schedule and major instructions what you can and can not do. You are told what to expect and all the side effects that can occur. You are given way too much reading material and foods you can and cannot eat. Grapefruits were my absolute favorite, but will never touch my lips again. And so it began.


Two days after Christmas 2007 my live changed forever. The surgery was nothing. This was foreign territory to me. I had a port placed in my chest during my mastectomy. It is a device used to take blood and inject your chemo to save your veins. It is hooked inside your chest and has little places for the needles or chemo lines to be put in. It raises above your chest but is under your skin. I was scared to death about my first treatment .Fear of the unknown. Would it hurt? How would they find that hole in my port to put in the chemo? My husband went with me. He is a lot braver than I gave him credit for. He changed all my bandages after surgery and never said anything. His only complaint was he had to change the litter boxes, but that’s another story.

I was given numbing cream to put on my chest area and steroids to prevent nausea. I took the steroids before chemo and 3 days after. I was now ready for the chemo. Guess what? It never hurt, they put the needle in and for 3 hours I talked to the nurses and my other chemo room fellow patients. There were 4 of us in a pod unit. They served tea and cake and after it was over I knew I could handle this.

The nurse said if my hair was going to fall out it would be about 2 weeks after the 1st treatment, but 2% of people do not lose their hair. I had hope. No such luck. The chemo I took was what I call the hardcore stuff. Every three weeks for 6 treatments, to start. My hair fell out two weeks later. EVERY HAIR ON MY BODY, including my eyebrows and eyelashes were gone. I bought a wig, but wore hats and scarves. Never did where the wig. I donated it to American Cancer Society.

I waited for all the side effects they told me to expect. I never had fatigue and food tasted fine. I never got nauseous or sick. Never skipped a beat. Went about my daily life as usual. I was cautious about crowds and anyone sick. You have a lower resistance when you are on chemo. It might kill the bad cells, but it also kills the good.

I endured each phase of my treatment with a very POSITIVE ATTITUDE. I would beat this; it was NOT going to get me. There were some side effects. I had swelling from the steroids. My fingers and my toe nails turned purple. I did gain weight even though I followed an extremely healthy diet. My blood was never affected by ALL the chemo treatments. I exercised and pretty much lived a normal daily life.

I became a cheerleader at each chemo session, encouraging others and comparing notes. I really believe my ATTITUDE got me thru it all. I got prosthesis to wear, but really enjoyed going natural. I hardly wear them. I actually accepted being bald as my badge of courage and never covered up at home. When my hair finally started growing back, I shed my hats and scarves. I was a BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR and PROUD.

I was diagnosed at age 58. I am now almost 62 and involved with a Breast Cancer Survivor Clinic. My oncologist was amazed at my recovery and my attitude. She told me I am a poster woman for early detection and handling this so well. I found out I am a much stronger person then I thought and my life has changed so much for the better. I am spiritual and more forgiving. I try not to sweat the small stuff and believe I have evolved into a better person. I now look for the good in people and am very supportive and tolerant. I might not have raised my hand and volunteered for this journey, but I never said why me, I just said okay it is me!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS OCTOBER 2010

Breast Cancer Awareness is discussed on Monday October 25, at 8 pm CST, 9pm EST, 6pmPCT - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY with Hosts Marsha Casper Cook, and Virginia S. Grenier. Their guests this week will be breast cancer survivors with some very special stories. Getting regular screening tests is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening tests can find breast cancer early, when it's most treatable. This show is dedicated to all those who have survived breast cancer. Please call in if you have any questions or if you would like to tell your story or a story of a breast cancer survivor. Call in number (646) 595-4478.

Please feel free to e-mail us if you would like to take part in the conversation.
mba3308@aol.com

LINK TO BLOG TALK RADIO - RED RIVER WRITERS LIVE
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/10/26/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

RRWL - MARSHA COOK - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

RRWL - MARSHA COOK - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

Sunday, October 10, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

646) 595-4478 CALL IN NUMBER

Upcoming Show: 10/11/2010 8:00 PM Cst - 9 :00PM EST -6:00 PM PST
Monday OCTOBER 11, at 8 pm Central, 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific. Join in on a lively conversation.- A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY with Host Marsha Cook and Virginia S. Grenier. This week’s guests are screenwriters and their Hollywood Stories. To start off the fun will be John Loprieno. John is a wonderful writer but here’s the surprise. He enjoyed a twelve-year run in the leading role of "Cord Roberts" on ABC's ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Also on the show is Barker Price who has written several screenplays for television shows one of the most well known was MURDER SHE WROTE. There will be some surprises. A movie review by Marsha Cook and Virginia will talk about writing in her perspective. It’s time to have fun and on Monday nights that’s what we need to start the week off right. Forget the stress and join Marsha, and Virginia.
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Category:
Entertainment

Friday, September 24, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good Story - Monday September 27, 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM PST- Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook. Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog as well as an online Magazine. This weeks guest is Chery Malandrinos.She's an expert on Book tours which is one the best ways to get your book noticed. Cheryl will be talking about PUMP UP YOU BOOK and her website is http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/. Cheryl is also an author and her new book, LITTLE SHEPPERD has just recently been released. Adding to the fun will be Virginia Grenier's take on writing and some of the new additions to the show will be a weekly event called My Family Does Crazy, by Freda Roberts.This segment will be funnier than you can imagine. We will also have a new movie review segment by Marsha Cook who will review the new movie WALLSTREET by Oliver Stone. Join in the fun either by phone or online ...call in number is (646) 595-4478 We will also be discussing where BESSE THE BUS is off to and where she's been.

link to show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/28/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

More information can be found online at http://www.michignavenuemedia.com


Name: Marsha Cook
Company: MICHIGAN AVENUE MEDIA LLC
Telephone: 847-4341-4271

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Look At What You're Missing

Look At What You're Missing, is what I have named my new blog. I am starting this blog because after listening to and reading about hundreds of self - published new authors and seasoned authors, I feel that not enough is being done to open doors for them. Traditional Publishers should take a look at some of these wonderful books and publish them.

Being a self published writer is a really tough road to travel. Every self- published writer knows that somewhere deep down in their heart is a place called just in case...that means just in case a publisher will look at your book on Amazon or other sites and decide to traditionally publish your book. Well, unfortunately that isn't the case. Self- publishing can be a lonely place but because of social networking the self - published author has found friends, not one or two friends but thousands of friends and suddenly the world doesn't seem lonely. I am one of your friends and it's time to stand up and say yes... YES, I AM SELF - PUBLISHED AND I AM PROUD OF MYSELF FOR TRYING!

Now, with that being said,it's time to keep writing those books because you are making a difference in the world. What the traditional publishers don't realize is what a strong wonderful group of people you are. You are good writers with good stories, and you keep going.

Some of you may have made a few mistakes but you keep trying.You have an audience...you have the readers on your side. The readers like your books and they are buying them. They follow you on twitter, facebook and all the other social networking sites.I think all of you are great for not giving up.I am starting a new group. It's a great new group that will stand up for each other and say we are good writers and we want to sell books. Self- published writers will continue to write good stories. I will be adding authors to my website for $30.00 a year. I will post blogs, e- mails and press releases to help. I have a lot of ideas that can help. These books should be noticed.

I know how you feel because I am a self published writer.We can turn the corner and really shine. This time around it's going to be different! LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE MISSING, is just what the doctor ordered! We don't want to hear the words or see the words, NO SELF PUBLISHED WRITERS ALLOWED. Please e- mail me if you are interested.My e- mail address is mba3308@aol.com.


Marsha Cook
Michigan Avenue Media LLC - 847-441-4271

Saturday, September 18, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - RED RIVER RADIO - SEPTEMBER 20, 8 PM CST - 9PM EST -6PM PST - www.blogtalkradio.com - Virginia Grenier, Marsha Cook, Freda Roberts

Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good Story - Monday September 20, 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM CPST- Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook. Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog as well as an online Magazine. This weeks special guest is Suzanne Lieurance, she is a writing coach. It’s a great idea to have a coach to help you get through the tough times that all writers have. Suzzane has quite a list of accomplishments , besides being a writing coach she’s also a children's author and she hosts an afternoon radio show called Book Bites for Kids every weekday at 2:00 central time on blogtalkradio.com. We welcome callers. Please call - (646) 595-4478 For those of you that do not want to be on the Internet you can call in and listen to the show on the phone.The phone number is the same ( 646- 595-4478 ). Listen in and have some fun!
Link to show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/21/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story
Marsha Cook will announce her new plan to help self- published writers. Watch for her new Blog - LOOK WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING



More information can be found online at http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - RED RIVER RADIO - SEPTEMBER 20, 8 PM CST - 9PM EST -6PM PST - www.blogtalkradio.com - Virginia Grenier, Marsha Cook, Freda Roberts

Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good Story - Monday September 20, 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM CPST- Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook. Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog as well as an online Magazine. This weeks special guest is Suzanne Lieurance, she is a writing coach. It’s a great idea to have a coach to help you get through the tough times that all writers have. Suzzane has quite a list of accomplishments , besides being a writing coach she’s also a children's author and she hosts an afternoon radio show called Book Bites for Kids every weekday at 2:00 central time on blogtalkradio.com. We welcome callers. Please call - (646) 595-4478 For those of you that do not want to be on the Internet you can call in and listen to the show on the phone.The phone number is the same ( 646- 595-4478 ). Listen in and have some fun!
Link to show
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/21/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story
Marsha Cook will announce her new plan to help self- published writers. Watch for her new Blog - LOOK WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING



More information can be found online at http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com

Friday, September 17, 2010

A Good Story Is A Good Story: Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good St...

A Good Story Is A Good Story: Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good St...: "Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good Story - Monday September 20, 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM CPST- Marsha Cook is the host and her ..."
Red River Writers Live / A Good Story Is A Good Story - Monday September 20, 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM CPST- Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook. Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog as well as an online Magazine. This weeks special guest is Suzanne Lieurance, she is a writing coach. It’s a great idea to have a coach to help you get through the tough times that all writers have. Suzzane has quite a list of accomplishments , besides being a writing coach she’s also a children's author and she hosts an afternoon radio show called Book Bites for Kids every weekday at 2:00 central time on blogtalkradio.com. We welcome callers. Please call - (646) 595-4478 For those of you that do not want to be on the Internet you can call in and listen to the show on the phone.The phone number is the same ( 646- 595-4478 ). Listen in and have some fun!

Link to showhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/21/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story


Marsha Cook will announce her new plan to help self- published writers. Watch for her new Blog - LOOK WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING


Thursday, September 9, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - RR TRACKS - Monday September 13 - 8PM CST - 9 PM EST - 6 PM -PST - - marsha casper cook, books , e books

Red River Radio / A Good Story Is A Good Story- BLOG TALK RADIO - -- Monday September 13, at 8PM CST - 9PM EST - 6 PM CPST- Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are April Robin, Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers are well as children’s authors. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook.Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing
LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog as well as an online Magazine.
This week’s show is a hot topic in the publishing industry. Allan Kalar is the editor for AKW books, an eBook publisher. He does exactly what the traditional publishers do; he finds a talented author with something important to say and publishes them. The only difference is the books come out as an eBook. This is one of the fastest growing Industries in the business. The discussion will be very informative on all the new ways new authors can get noticed. What a difference five years makes ...five years ago this was just starting to take off and now it's an Industry that HIT THE JACK POT! If you're a writer that won't quit until you get published this is the show you will want to listen to.

THE LINK TO THE SHOW http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/14/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

AKW Books (http://www.akwbooks.com)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Special Blog talk radio show ...Red River Radio - Tuesday August 31,2010 - Fran Lewis Host / Marsha Cook -

A very special show will take place on August 31,at 3PM CST - 4PM EST- AT www.blogtalkradio.com. The show is a Red River Radio feature. Red River Radio would like to welcome everyone to the first of four special shows dedicated to children’s authors. This show will feature authors whose books are geared to early childhood student’s grades k-2. Although many of the books can be used as read alouds in any classroom from k-5 the reading levels of these books would be for children in the lower grades.

The lessons taught in each of these books can be used in classrooms teaching Character Education, Sunday School Classrooms, for parents to read at night to their children and in libraries or bookstores during story time. This is a special edition for teachers, children, parents, grandparents and anyone that loves to read children’s books and YA books. Red River Radio would like to announce this special edition of Book Discussion with your host book reviewer, author and writer Fran Lewis.

This show will feature the best of children’s writing with authors writing in many different genres. Each book will be geared to early childhood children, elementary school students or young adults and teens. The authors will entice readers by telling you about his/her book and reading a short excerpt to really make you want to go out and buy it for your children, grandchildren and friends. School is about to open in some states and has in many others and what better way to get a head start on books needed for research, book reports and just plain fun, by listening to our show, hearing about these great authors and their books and joining in the discussion.

The authors featured for the show and the titles of the books they will be discussing for the first show are Sherry Ellis: THAT MAMA IS A GROUCH, Tracy Searight -Dilbert : THE DETECTIVE PANCAKE, Tony Angelo: VERY CLEVER FIREFLY, Concetta M. Payne: BOBO RACES ON THE TRICKY TRIANGLE, Freda Roberts: ANGEL ON MY SIDE and Marsha Cook: SNACK ATTACK . This is going to be a great show so please join us and have some fun.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

Be sure to listen on Monday August 30, 8 PM CST Red River Radio
/ A Good Story Is A Good Story. It’s on every week, same time same place – www.blogtalkradio.com Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are April Robin, Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers are well as children’s authors. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook.Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog. She will also be starting up her magazine very soon and we will be getting weekly updates on her progress. We will have an update of Bess the Book Bus a traveling bus that promotes literacy. Our special guest this week is Carmela Green Foster. She will be discussing how being on you tube can make your dreams become reality. There is a way and Carmela is going to talk about her techniques and some of her inside secrets that will help promote your books or just about anything that needs promoting. PR is the most important element in a successful project.

Every week we will be having a few brief discussions. This week’s discussions are going to be ones that you won’t want to miss. APRILS’S PICK is a brief discussion about one of Hollywood's new TV hits. This week the show is PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. If that's not enough we have added a brief discussion about some of the golden moments of Hollywood Movies, FREDA’S FAVORITES. This week is FUNNY GIRL. We will also hear VIRGINIA’S PERSPECTIVE on what not to do when writing. There’s also a new addition to the show. An author will be calling in and sharing their new book and briefly talking about their career. Fran Lewis will be giving a mini preview on her new book, SHARP AS A TACK.

Leave your stress behind and join in every Monday night. You’ll have

Saturday, August 28, 2010

http://www.free-press-release.com/news-a-good-story-is-a-good-story-blog-talk-radio-red-river-writers-august-30-8-pm-cst-special-guest-carmela-foster-1282718139.html

Join Marsha,Freda, April and Virginia on August 30,2010 at 8 pm CST- for a great show !
Red River Radio / A Good Story Is A Good Story. Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are April Robin, Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers are well as children’s authors. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook.Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog.This week’s show is going to be entertaining as well as educational. Carmela Green Foster will be discussing how being on YouTube can make your dreams become reality. There’s several thing that need to be done that will help sell more books., but book trailer videos which have become very popular seem to be what writers find a very important way to promote yourself. Also Carmela will discuss the two films she has produced "Tell me a joke and I will laugh".
Also on the show we will have April’s Pick which is always one of her favorite TV shows and a discussion, Freda’s favorite old movie FUNNY GIRL and Virginia’s perspective on writing. There’s a new addition to the show. Every show will showcase an author who will be calling in and sharing their new book and briefly talking about their career. Fran Lewis will be giving a mini preview on her new book, Sharp As A Tack. Leave your stress behind and join in every Monday night. You’ll have fun. There's something new going to happen....a contest! We will keep you posted. the link to the showhttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/31/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story
More information can be found online at http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com/

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

Join in the fun on August 23, 2010 8 pm CST and listen to a very interesting conversation Red River Radio / A Good Story Is A Good Story. Marsha Cook is the host and her co- hosts are April Robin, Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates Michigan Avenue Media and Marcus Maxwell Inc. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers are well as children’s authors. Freda is a talented writer and creator of Literary Lounge on Facebook.Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog. This is going to be an exciting show.Special guests this week are Jan Britland and Mike Swaim. Jan is the author of the Rodger Doger series and Mike is the illustrator. They are a great team and they will each be taking about their careers and how they met and created such a colorful series of children’s books. Audience participation is always a plus. Please feel free to call 646-595-4478 with your questions.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/24/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

Also on the show we will have April’s Pick which is her favorite TV show and a discussion, Freda’s favorite old movie and Virginia’s perspective on writing. There’s a new addition to the show. Every show will showcase an author who will be calling in and sharing their new book and briefly talking about their career. Leave your stress behind and join in every Monday night. You’ll have fun.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

CAROLYN HOWARD JOHNSON - WILL BE THE SPECIAL GUEST ON RRTRACKS/ RED RIVER RADIO August 16 at 8p cst - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - CAROLYN HOWARD -JOHNSON, BOOKS, WRITING

August 10, 2010 --
On Monday Night August 16 8 PM CENTRAL - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY with Host Marsha Casper Cook, April Robins, Freda Roberts, and Virginia S. Grenier. Their guest this week is Carolyn Howard – Johnson. Marketing Matters.

Carolyn is going to discuss the importance of marketing. She has a series of book that have won multiple awards. She’s an author, speaker, publishing consultant and book promoting coach. She is a one woman show and a very special woman. She has helped many writers learn how to do the impossible – market their work using techniques that are affordable. Her expertise has helped put writers on the map She was awarded Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by the California Legislature; her home town's Character and Ethics Commission honored for her work on promoting tolerance and the Pasadena Weekly named her to their list of "San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen" for literary activism. American Women's Business Association (ABWA) named her Outstanding Woman in 2007 Her nitty gritty how-to book, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER won USA Book News' Best Professional Book 2004 and the Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award. THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENUSRE SUCCESS is the second in the HowToDo It Frugally series (http://HowToDoItFrugally.com). It was named the best publishing book of 2007 by USA Book News. Her second in that series is The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success . It won USA Book New and Reader Views Literary nods. Cheryl Wright of Writer2Writer.com says, "The Frugal Editor will become a well-used reference for writers around the world." Her promotion campaign for that book won the New Millennium Marketing Award. It is avaialbe at www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor.

The show will also include April's Pick, Freda's favorite Classic Movie and Virginia's Perspective. Join in on the fun. You will be glad you did. THE LINK TO THE SHOW.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/17/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story
More information can be found online at http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com/

Saturday, August 14, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

Wanting to help new writers reach their goals, Marsha Casper Cook founded the literary agency Marcus Bryan & Associates in 1996, and achieved signatory status from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) within two years. In that capacity, she has represented more than 100 screenwriters and authors, and has also optioned books to movie production companies. Marsha has spoken about her work and the craft of writing to a wide range of audiences including bookstores, schools, museums and local cable and will continue to speak to the media.

A new and very important role for Marsha is her radio show on Blog Talk Radio. She hosts a show with April Robin - CEO of Red River Radio / RR Tracks, Virginia Grenier and Freda Roberts. All four hosts are accomplished writers and enjoy having questions. Marcus Bryan represents very talented writers. The screenplays open for review on their website www.marcusbryan.com have always been the best possible scripts that the agency receives with a stamp of approval. Over three hundred queries a month are e-mailed t o Marcus Bryan. Finding clients has never been a problem but finding good scripts is. All of the work they receive are opened and reviewed. There are so many talented writers out there but Marcus Bryan's message always remains the same - keep writing and one day your dream may become a reality.
Marsha hopes that one day writers, directors and producers will all work together to insure quality productions. She is open to ideas and willing to help production companies find the right script to fill their needs. Dean Kaner has joined her team in search of good writers with great scripts and they hope to attract production companies to come to them with their needs.



PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE

http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com/





Sunday, August 8, 2010

TESS GERRISTEN , BEST SELLING AUTHOR , WILL BE THE SPECIAL GUEST ON RRTRACKS/ RED RIVER RADIO August 9, at 8pm Cst - A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY - Tess Gerristen , books, blogtalkradio

August 8, 2010 -- A very interesting discussion is going to take place on Blog Talk Radio this week August 9, at 8 PM CST Tess Gerristen , best selling Author
, will be interviewed by Fran Lewis on a special edition of A Good Story Is A Good Story, hosted By Marsha Cook, Virginia Grenier, April Robin and Freda Roberts. Fran is an author, a host on Blog Talk Radio and a full time book reviewer and educator. Fran’s interview will focus on Tess Gerristen's latest novel Ice Cold and the discussion will continue on about her books that the TNT TV series Rizzoli and Isles are based on.
Tess is not only a bestselling author she is also a Medical doctor. She began to write Fiction while on maternity leave from her work as a physician. In 1987, her first novel, Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller was published followed by eight other romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), The Bone Garden (2007), The Keepsake (2008; UK title: Keeping the Dead), and Ice Cold (2010; UK title: The Killing Place.) Her books have been translated into 37 languages, and more than 20 million copies have been sold around the world.
Asking questions after Fran’s interview is completed will be Marsha Cook, April Robin, Virginia Grenier and Freda Roberts. Marsha is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan and Associates and Michigan Avenue Media. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers are well as children’s authors. Freda is a talented writer and her new book
, Bess The Book Bus, will be released very soon. She is also the creator of The Literary Lounge on Facebook.Virginia is the Founder and Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC; she’s an author and editor and writes a successful blog. This is going to be an exciting show. Please call 646-595-4478 and join the fun.
More information can be found online at http://www.marcusbryan.com/

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/10/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

Monday, August 2, 2010

A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY

On August 2 at 8pm Central join RED RIVER RADIO host Marsha Cook and her co - hosts April Robin, Freda Roberts and Virginia Grenier. The chat room and phone lines (646) 595-4478
are open for callers. This week’s show is going to be filled with exciting segments that you won't want to miss. The special guest on the HOLLYWOOD COMES TO CHICAGO show is Ruth Ratny. She is a true legend which is why she has recently been given The Chicago International Film Festival’s Hugo Legend Award. She is the owner of a very successful online trade publication, REEL CHICAGO, www.reelchicago.com. Everyone in Chicago knows Ruth and waits for her publication just to see what’s going on in Chicago that they should know about. Also on the show we have April’s Pick, Virginia’s Perspective and Freda’s Favorite Films. So join in for the fun and listen to, A Good Story is Good Story, you’ll be glad you did. Link to show -



http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/08/03/rr-tracks--a-good-story-is-a-good-story

http://www.reelchicago.com/

http://www.michiganavenuemedia.com/

Monday, July 19, 2010

KEEP WRITING

Many people have asked me why I have self – published books. My answer is always the same. That wasn’t my original plan. I now feel so lucky that self- publishing has turned into a very impressive division of the writing world.



When my books are being read, the reader isn’t as interested in the publisher as they are in the author. They really don’t care who publishes the book, they are reading the story. If they like what they have read I have done my job. With all the talk about self publishing, the one thing that is hardly ever talked about is the reader. If the reader is happy I am happy. So, when you’re sitting at your computer wondering if what you are doing makes any sense at all try to remember, give your reader a good story and they will come back for more.

On Monday night please click on the link below. A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY will discuss self publishing and how you can start your writing career in just a few short months. You will learn how to make your dream of writing a book become a reality.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/07/20/a-good-story-is-agood-story--red-river-radio

Friday, July 16, 2010

SELF- PUBLISHED BOOKS ROCK !

On July 19 at 8 PM cst- please listen to RED RIVER RADIO / RRTRACKS on blog talk radio with host Marsha Cook and her co - hosts April Robin and Freda Roberts. Virginia Grenier joins them as she manages the phone and chatroom. They will be discussing Independent publishers who publish very good books! With so many authors self- publishing their books with independent publishers it’s time to recognize these books as first rate books. Not every traditionally published book is a winner, and that is the same in the Independent market. However, self publishing is the best way to get your work out of your desk drawer. It's time to let the reader make the decision.

On the show this week is Neal Wooten, owner and managing editor of Mirror Publishing. He will be discussing his theories on Independent publishing and why the concept of books on demand and Independent publishers are on their way to the top. The Independent publishing world is changing rapidly and certainly becoming a powerful source. Robin Surface from Fideli Publishing will also be there to discuss her views on the changing market. Both Publishers are very successful and easy to work with, which are two very important reasons to choose a publisher. Independent publishing is here to stay.

The show will be fun and exciting in a new and different way. There are two new weekly additions to the show. The first one was featured last week , but now April's Pick, will be a regular segment on the show. April will be discussing the pros and cons of television programming with a weekly special guest. The second addition will be Virginia's Perspective. Virginia will offer writing tips and advice on how to be a better writer. Please join the discussion in the chat room or call in 646-595- 4478. Forget the stress and join Marsha, April, Freda and Virginia every Monday night at 8 pm Central. You will be glad you did.
.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/07/20/a-good-story-is-agood-story--red-river-radio

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

THE WHOLE TRUTH HOSTED BY MARSHA CASPER COOK

On July 15, 12 noon central please join host Marsha Cook and her assistant Denise Spooner at blogtalkradio.com for a very entertaining and informative conversation. Have you ever thought starting your own business was impossible, well after listening to our guest Robert Raymond, author of , “Robert Raymond's Entrepreneur's Guide to the Universe,” you will be tempted to take a step into your future. Robert didn’t start his career at the top but he certainly worked his way up with remarkable results. Not only will he be discussing his list of steps to succeed he will be happy to answer questions from callers. Robert has developed a very unique list of 5 very important aspects of running a successful business. During our discussion we will also be talking to an Avon Representative, Patty Neiberg, http://pneiberg.avonrepresentative.com/ who has done a remarkable job training and advising new representatives on how to grow their business. She has been selling Avon with great success and she will also be happy to answer questions.We are also pleased to announce that Fran Lewis will be joining us from time to time reviewing our guest’s books for our listeners. Fran is a familiar name to many publishers and web reviewers. She not only reads the books but she entertains readers with her wit and incredible grasp of unique subject matters. Her 36 year career in education establishes her knowledge and we are so glad to have her expertise. So join us on our journey into the business world. Small business is the way back to prosperity.

Monday, July 5, 2010

NEW TIME AND NEW FORMAT - 8PM CENTRAL

Beginning Monday July 12th at 8 pm Central, join host Marsha Cook and her two co-Hosts April Robins, and Freda Roberts. Marsha Cook is a screenwriter, novelist and the President of Marcus Bryan & Associates and Michigan Avenue Media. April is the CEO of Robin Falls, the creator of a wonderfully talented network of writers as well as a children's author. Freda Roberts is a talented writer and the creator of the Literary Lounge on Facebook. All three of these women especially Freda have learned how to be successful in the social network community.

The new time will allow listeners to hear the show live instead of on demand, however on demand will be available when the show is over. A GOOD STORY IS A GOOD STORY is going to be fun, informative and very entertaining.




Marsha Cook has been the host since the show began but she has added two co hosts April Robin and Freda Roberts. They will welcome a new assistant for the show, Virginia S.Grenier; Virginia is the Founder & Owner of Stories for Children Publishing LLC. Their guests will be entertainers, novelists, screenwriters, directors, producers, publishers and publicists. There will be a special male guest co host every week and to start the show off on July 12, Craig Clyde will join the show. He’s a screenwriter, novelist and Movie Director. He has directed over eighteen films and he will be discussing his new film ROOTBEER CHRISTMAS.

The chat lines will be open and they welcome callers. There is a new and exciting addition that will really spice up the show … Movie and Television reviews. If you have a television show or a favorite movie that you want to talk about go into the chat room or make a call. It’s time to talk entertainment. Please feel free to call in at 646-595- 4478. Forget the stress and join Marsha, April, Freda and Virginia every Monday night at 8 pm Central. You will be glad you did.

Friday, June 4, 2010

I'M TOO YOUNG FOR CANCER -

Please join Host Marsha Cook and her assistant Denise Spooner for our June 4 show at 12 noon CST. Our guests are two really terrific young people Jack Bouffard and Tamika Felder who have survived Cancer.They are going to tell us how they did it and how they are helping Young Adults with Cancer realize they are not alone. Jack is an incredible leader and he is going to be with us to answer questions and discuss everything we need to know about helping our young adults live life to the fullest. The name of the group is I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS! i[2]y exists to ensure that every young adult affected by cancer is given access to the best age-appropriate support they are entitled to in order to get busy living at every stage of their survivorship. Tamika Felder, who at age 25 was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer is sharing her story with us. She is a survivor and has dedicated her life to raise awareness about Cervical Cancer. After this show is over you will understand just how all this happens and why it is so important to help. Getting the message out is our agenda and when you find out just how all this works you will want to show your support. Please feel free to call in with any questions, the call in number is (646) 595-4478.



RADIO SHOW LINK http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/06/04/the-whole-truth-hosted-by-marsha-casper-cook

Sunday, May 23, 2010

LADY IN BLACK

This story is a real page turner. Craig Clyde is a wonderful writer who has had a book published and it's time to take this book right to the top. A good story ia a good story so let's see if we can get this book out there where it belongs. Send this to your friends and see what they think. Sometimes, we have to just help someone get out there...Please let me know what you think? This book was written using characters from the screenplay FIRST WE DANCE.

Thank you
Marsha Cook
Available at Amazon.com

Today

He was sitting there, remembering that scene from the Thomas Crown affair? Not the remake but the original with Steve McQueen, when McQueen was sitting on an airplane looking out the window at the world below. McQueen’s character looked pensive as the voice-over tore your guts out and you realized that he’d beaten Faye Dunaway at her own game and it was her own damned fault...and they were never going to get together again...ever.

Jake Samuels felt like that right then. Just like Steve McQueen. And at that particular moment he was on a Delta jet headed for Paris and thinking about a woman he’d never see again. He had beaten her at her own game, just like Steve McQueen. Well, actually he had killed her. After he made love to her.

He sighed to himself. It was a long story and reliving it wasn’t all that easy on him right then.

There was a woman sleeping next to him. She was making little baby-like snoring sounds, her beautiful head leaning against his shoulder. She was wrapped tightly in one of those flimsy airline blankets. The ones they always hand you, without being asked, in July but you were forced to beg for in December. She was lovely and she was with Jake going to the city of romance, wine and French bread. He wasn’t crazy about French bread.

He touched his jaw gently. His tooth was aching again. It had been aching for nearly two months now. He knew exactly when it started. It started when the murders started. He still hadn’t gone to a dentist.

He needed something to do. To keep his mind occupied so he fumbled around for his wallet to make sure he had remembered everything. Jake had never been to Europe before. Hell, he’d never been out of the state except for a quick trip to Vancouver British Columbia once.
He took out the passport and looked at the picture. It was him, a little heavier -- two-twenty and six four in his stocking feet. The widow’s peak was salt and pepper. He only weighed 190 now but that’s what a bullet will do for you he thought. Six hours of surgery and three weeks eating through a tube. World’s fastest diet.

Simple.

Next to the passport was the shield. It glimmered in the dim airline reading light. A silver badge with an eagle over a star cloisonné. The name read: Detective Sergeant Jacob Samuels, West Precinct, Seattle Police Department.

He felt for the bulge on his right side out of habit but it wasn’t there. He knew there was no need for a piece in Europe. Too much hassle anyway even if you were a cop. He missed it. It was his security blanket.

In his line of work he needed that shimmering blue-black, 3 1/2 inch-barreled security blanket. A Smith and Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum revolver. His “Hammer of Thor.” A mighty bolt of thunder and lightning from a small package. One hundred twenty-five grain Federal hollow points packing twelve hundred and fifty foot pounds of energy. It slammed into you like a pile driver and dropped you down like a bad habit.

It wasn’t department issue. Seattle PD issues Glock twenty-twos in the .40 S&W caliber. Good round but sometimes not as effective as it could be. He was living proof of that wasn’t he? It was the same thing she shot him with and he was still here wasn’t he?

Out the window Lake Washington was sliding away to the North, shimmering like a immense blue mirror in the waning light.

Seattle, Washington. Big shouldered, fish-mongering, neon Pacific rim pearl that it was. Jake Samuels didn’t grow up in Seattle, he grew up farther East in a insignificant town called Toppenish which sat in the very center of the Yakima Indian Reservation.
But Seattle was home. It was where he killed the woman.

As he watched the city disappear under the wing, his mind wandered back to what happened. He looked at his watch and thought it was ironic that when you forgot the date you looked at your day-date watch. What day was it?

January 24th. Jesus, how’d it get to be the end of January he wondered?

His chest hurt. Ached actually more than a hurt. He felt like that guy in the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun” -- he was different physically. Had a third nipple. Very rare.

Jake was like him. He had a third nipple. Not so rare though. He got his from a 148 grain slug smashing through his lungs. It was a Christmas present from her, the woman he had killed.
He thought about that, being shot. It had hurt like hell he remembered, but not at first. At first it felt like a small rock had slammed into him harder than anyone in the world could throw it and it just kept going. Didn’t bounce off. It pierced him, tearing away the flesh, splintering any bones it happened to run into and finally stopped somewhere in his thoracic cavity.

Broken vessels, ripped muscles, shredded mesenteric tissues spewed blood all over the place. All inside him. Then he had started to lose his hydraulics, a dizzy feeling replacing the initial sting. His head started to swim and he fought to stay on his feet. But he couldn’t. Not for long. He was bleeding to death internally and there was nothing he could do about it.

Except fall over.

She shot him and damned if he didn’t miss her even then, there on that airplane going to Paris, France at six hundred miles an hour with another gorgeous woman who said she wanted to marry him when they get back. Hard to believe. Impossible really.

And it had happened just one month before, five days before Christmas.

Seemed longer. Maybe it was.

He wasn’t there when it all started.

Fifteen Years Ago...

Dr. John Taylor Bennett, PhD. stared at the ceiling and looked bored. He always looked bored. But he wasn’t bored so much as perpetually overwhelmed by the patients who came to him for help. And he tried to help. The operative word being “tried.” He never did anymore - help them that is - he couldn’t. He was burned out.

Bennett slumped, round-shouldered, at his desk looking more like a mushroom than the eminent child psychologist he was. He was a nationally recognized expert who’d been written up in dozens of national publications, everything from Better Homes and Gardens to Playboy.

“I see all kinds,” he muttered to a large man who’d just come into his office and taken a seat. “All kinds.” It was at least another minute before the old psychologist looked up again. In fact the man wasn’t at all sure whether Bennett was even talking to him. He was a troubled and anxious father who sat expectantly, waiting to learn what was wrong with his daughter.

Unfortunately, the renowned Dr. Bennett couldn’t tell him shit. Because he had no idea what the seven year-old girl’s problems were. Besides, Bennett was bone tired. Tired of anxious parents like the one in front of him. Tired of the traveling and lecturing and book schedules that rarely permitted him any time to himself. Tired of what he had become, a burned-out media shrink living on past glories. He was nearly seventy for God’s sake.

But mostly he was tired of looking into the small troubled eyes of his patients. He couldn’t take that anymore, their eyes. As the thought took hold, his own eyes opaqued into a thousand yard stare.

The anxious father glanced around the office and noticed that there was hardly an inch of space that wasn’t covered by a poster. Posters of sports figures: Michael Jordan, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Unitas, Tiger Woods, even an old black and white poster of Jim Thorpe. All beaming down at him.

Confronted with the daily parade of sick and anguished supplicants, it was like Bennett needed the permanent benediction of all the healthy, functioning, blessed individuals he could cram onto the plaster walls.

When Bennett finally did turn his head, the action seemed to cause him enormous effort.

“Okay,” he sighed regarding the man across from him with all the interest a street sweeper has for a dog turd, “Let’s watch her.”

He stood up and walked to the only section of wall without a poster - a curtained rectangle. A two-way window for observation into the next room. As Bennett pulled the cords the curtains parted and the father saw his little daughter. She sat in the very center of a small playroom, a variety of toys strewn about her, but she only played with two dolls: a boy doll and a larger girl doll. And her play was not play – it was combat.

Over and over she slammed the larger doll into the smaller doll. Again and again. Each time with more force and venom. Her eyes glazed with hatred. Slamming the dolls violently. The odd, muffled “oommph” of the cloth toys battering one another was the only sound the doctor and the father heard. Because, other than an occasional grunt, the little girl never uttered a word. Not a syllable. While most children playing with dolls make up their own dialog this little girl only slammed the two figures into each other repeatedly. As if trying smash them - and what they represented - into oblivion.

“That’s all she does during sessions, beat the living shit out of those two dolls.” Dr. Bennett said in a low monotone, “I’ve tried to reach her but she closes herself off.”

As the father watched his little daughter, unseen through the two-way mirror, a single tear found it’s way down his cheek. In his mind he wondered how had he let her down? Was it her mother’s fault? Was that the reason for this behavior? Was that why she was so angry? But she was so little. How could she grasp that? His mind wrestled itself for answers. There were none. He looked at Bennett, silently imploring him for a solution. Any solution.

“I’ve done all I can.” was all the aging psychologist mumbled as he closed the curtain and motioned to the door. That was it, no counsel, no communing, no nothing. No more interaction than you’d get from a toll booth attendant.

The father shook his head sorrowfully and left.

And Dr. John Taylor Bennett went back to staring at the ceiling in his office and looking bored.

Eleven Years Ago...

The same girl stood alone in what seemed to be a great hall. She was tall, thin and awkward-looking now. Her agate-green eyes reflected the only light illuminating the empty studio, a single floor lamp at the far end of the room. A brass and wood railing stretched waist high along the opposite wall. Full length mirrors, staring into eternity, faced each other at one end. Lockers at the other.

In between, the wood parquet floor stretched out into the darkness. Gleaming golden slats laid so closely together that you almost couldn’t see the seam which betrayed the perfect marriage of burnished wood boards, one to another.

When she cleared her throat the sound echoed hollowly. She craned her neck, looked around. Nobody.

But she wasn’t alone. She knew that.

He would be there. Watching from the shadows of the eaves, his eyes burning at the sight of her. Wearing the crisp white shirt, black trousers and small wine colored beret he always wore.

In her mind’s eye she could already see the silver flecked, neatly trimmed mustache - straight as a string - above the razor-thin lips. In fact it was like he had no lips. Instead, a perfectly straight slice across the middle of his face.

If the man never spoke or ate or breathed you wouldn’t know he had a mouth at all. Which is why he wore the mustache she decided, so people would know where his mouth was.

That thought made her smile ever so slightly. A quick fantasy skipped across her brain – she was sewing his perfectly straight mouth together, stitch by deliberate stitch. Taking great care.
That was it! She could see it more clearly in her mind now, he was asleep and she was sewing his “non-lips” together.

It made her smile even wider.

In her fantasy she reached up and held his nose. The thought of his anguish and struggling, gasping for air that he wouldn’t get, made her feel so much better.

His face soundlessly screaming at her. No air to fill the searing lungs. The muffled death shriek rattling in his throat. The panic in his eyes!

It was a wonderful dream.

And then it was gone, like cotton candy on your tongue, only a hint of it’s sweetness left behind in the memory.

She stood there. Waiting. She had nowhere to run. She glanced down at her ragged, bitten fingernails and thought of the way he had touched her yesterday. And every day before that for two years.

The sallow, liver-spotted hands running up and down her leg, (First her right then the left. Always right to left) and each time all the way to the top, caressing the small cleft between her legs. The odd tingling sensation she felt and then the waves of revulsion. She remembered the hurt and humiliation when she vomited. How he had railed at her, bellowing in Spanish at the top of his emaciated lungs about his ruined shirt. The stinging tears she fought back when he slapped her.

She scolded herself for having eaten that morning. Never eat before his instruction. Never. It always makes you puke when he starts touching. If you don’t eat - you don’t puke! That was simple enough she thought. She must force herself to remember the maxim, “Don’t eat before...”

But it was so hard sometimes.

Yesterday the lunch in the cafeteria had been her favorite: macaroni and cheese with a black cherry Jell-O cup, peanut-butter cookie and chocolate milk. Food of the Gods.

She had tried to act like she wasn’t hungry but she was famished. She had let her guard down and wolfed the food in record time. She had paid dearly for the indiscretion in the rehearsal hall.

That wouldn’t happen again. Never again.

She didn’t move when she heard his soft footsteps advancing toward her from behind. She just looked straight ahead and never moved a muscle. She would soon know again the minty tobacco smell of his breath, softly brushing the back of her neck. The softness of his hands as he straightened her shoulders. She stood, waiting. Staring. Hating.

“Should I begin at the bar Master?” she would ask in a soft whisper.

She could already hear the phlegm-coated baritone voice rumbling at her: “No. First, you dance.”

And then she would dance...


Four Years Ago...

“She can’t stay. The school board has already voted.”

Headmaster Clarence Collins’ intent was unmistakable. He was the nervous sort anyway. Balding prematurely, the little man was constantly rubbing his hand back across his receding hairline and sucking his teeth.

The girl was now almost sixteen as she watched him rub his hairless “red-as-a-Christmas-ornament” head for the zillionth time. Her eyes, half-lidded from boredom, glanced over at her father. The big bear of a man’s face wore the saddest expression in the universe.

“I don’t give a shit!” she screamed at him in her mind. “You’re the reason I’m here. You’re the asshole. You should have known what was going on. You should have understood when I came to you. All you ever did was teach me how to fight. That’s why we’re here!”

“It’s her first offense,” her father said.

“And her last at this institution,” said the twitchy little man darkly. He raised himself to his entire five feet four inches, “It was a violent act. The school will not - can not - tolerate any violent acts. She is out. Today.”

The girl wanted to say something but she just kept her mouth shut and held her mud. “I’ve learned how to do that, haven’t I? Damned straight!”

She knew the score. Once you slide past a certain point in life, self-loathing becomes easy.

There was one thing the girl had become though, more beautiful. Even now she was a woman, not a girl. Nearly sixteen and possessed of the consummate female form.

It was the reason Headmaster Collins was so fidgety. Her beauty was breathtaking. Clarence Collins wasn’t afraid for the school or it’s students, the little fart was afraid for himself. Because in his heart of hearts he knew that, eventually, he would touch her supple young body.

The fact that one of the school rugby players had grabbed her breast and paid for it by having a Bic pen shoved three inches up his groin, didn’t really have any bearing on his decision. This young woman was more alluring than all of Jason’s sirens put together.

Collins knew she had to go when he began having wet dreams about her. His wife was getting suspicious. God help him if she found out about his fantasy. No, the girl simply had to go and that was that.

Her father stood up. He said no more, just shook his head and left the office. She supposed that something about the wired, balding little Nazi Headmaster with the electric pupils didn’t brook much quibbling today. Good advice. Know when to break camp and get the hell out.

The girl got up and followed her father out. But as she passed Collins she purposely brushed her breasts against his heaving, concave chest.

When she was gone, he nearly fainted.

Two Years Ago...

Troubled masculine eyes watched the beautiful young woman. Twenty-three years old and flawless, her perfect figure in the full bloom of womanhood.

The eyes had spied on her for days now. Had followed her every move: when she went to work, when she went home, when she slept, when she bathed, when she ate, when she had a man over (though the eyes became deeply saddened - and maddened - when that happened).

Whenever the unseen watcher was awake, he was watching her. She was the most desirable woman on the planet. The raven hair, the jutting breasts, the slender smooth legs, the blindingly white shorts pulled right to the edge of that so exceptionally rounded ass.

That was why she must be submissive to him.

He watched as she pulled her car out of the university parking lot, staring at the now familiar Washington State license plate as it got smaller...HrdRkWmn.

“Hard Rock Woman.” Nice play on words even though it was her last name. It was also the perfect reverse of how she made him feel—rock hard.

He had to have her. He would have her.

Tonight.








One
The First Day — December 21st

Jake Samuels was at the Ambrewster School for the Deaf signing with the kids the night everything went to hell.

Signing was something he did to keep his skills sharp and to satisfy that inner urge to be something his mother would approve. It was interesting, he thought, how people continued to please parents even after they were dead and gone. He did. If his mother came back at that very instant and said he was her wonderful, darling, baby boy and everything he did was equally wonderful and darling -- he probably wouldn’t have heard her anyway.

Jake had lost most of his hearing when he was six. Oh, he still had about 50% in his left ear but the right ear was an appendage that matched but didn’t work. The flu had worked it’s way south into his ears that summer in the sixth year of his life and subsequently his first grade of school was spent entirely at St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Yakima, Washington.

His parents had taken him to an ear, nose and throat specialist named VanWorden. At the time, he didn’t care whether the doctor specialized in ears or assholes. The boy had a raging fever that was so painful it lit up the sides of his face like a arcade game whenever he opened his mouth.

The Belgian-born Doctor told the little boy that they were going to play “telephone.” The euphemism was lost on Jake’s six year-old mentality. All he knew was that the doctor was going to put something into his ear so the little boy could hear. Just like a real telephone.

Jake didn’t realize his inner ear was over-flowing with infection and the ‘telephone’ Dr. VanWorden shoved in his ear canal was in reality a pointed, skinny, tube-like drainage probe. When the probe hit the bulging ear drum the inner ear exploded.

The pain was brilliant. Beyond anything Jake’s young mind could describe. The worst agony he had experienced. He screamed, while inside his head he heard a prolonged “kissing” sound and then felt the hot, pus-filled, yellow fluid spurting onto his shoulder.

He nearly passed out.

procedure he was prepped for a mastoidectomy. A simple After three unsuccessful weeks of this excruciating procedure really where the mastoid bone (that smooth bulging bone right behind the ear) gets infected, starts to disintegrate and finally has to be surgically removed. That’s what “ectomy” means -- removal.

And now Jake was essentially deaf in his right ear. He could hear enough to carry on a conversation but if you stood behind him on his right side and told him to go to hell I wouldn’t hear it.

Everybody he knew had, at some point or another, done that very thing to him. Ancient news he thought as he headed toward the nearest exit of the school. Ambrewster was essentially one large and very old red brick building with ivy walls, wooden banisters that disappeared into a dark second floor and floors that shine with an amber patina.

Old gold inside and out.

It’s principal, Annabelle Marsden, was a waspish woman with severe features and her hair rolled in a bun so tight it made her eyes look slanted. She had never married preferring, instead, to devote her life to teaching deaf children. A noble cause to be sure but somehow out of place in her tightly enclosed world. Still, she was a devoted educator who gave young minds a way to learn in their silent world.

She had approached Samuels a few months earlier to come on a regular basis and “speak” with the children about his work. Kids, whether they could hear or not, were fascinated by cops. And he was a cop who could actually communicate with them in their parlance. After all he had been a teacher. He was on his way out when Marsden stopped him at the door.

“The children love your stories, Detective,” she said in clipped precise tones, “I wanted to thank you for your generous offering of time.”

“Glad to. I don’t get much of a chance to use my signing other than here.” he smiled.

“Well, be that as it may, I am very much in your debt. You are the only Seattle police officer I’ve found with the ability,” she said. “It adds greatly to our curriculum here to have various walks of life portrayed individually to the children.”

Her voice and diction were always so exact. He supposed that was why he said yes in the first place. On the phone she sounded exactly like his mother.

“We’re having a Christmas party tomorrow night. We’d very much like you to come.” she continued then, almost as an after thought, “Bring a date if you want...”
As he got into his car Samuels wondered what kind of life a woman like that had outside the school?

He decided not much as he hauled the heavy blue-black Smith and Wesson from the jockey box and slid it back into the well-worn horsehide holster on his hip. He felt better, as he always did, when the scarred revolver was back in its rightful place.

The car engine groaned as he turned it over in the cold. He pulled out of the tree-lined drive and headed toward the city as his mind wandered back.

Jake Samuels was twenty years old, in his Junior year at Washington State University when his parents died. It was one of those senseless accidents that happens to people who don’t deserve it. Rain slicked road, headlights that wouldn’t pierce the gloom and sheets of water as the car hurtled down the two-lane blacktop.

His father was driving the old Plymouth station wagon trying to get home before the downpour turned to snow. Going too fast. An on-coming automobile crested the hill and the headlights shone into his eyes. He swerved to the right, only just a little, to avoid crashing into two tons of Ford 150 hurtling straight toward him.

But that was just enough.

The big station wagon went off the road, down a sheer one hundred foot drop, and slammed onto the rocks below. The car turned over twice, the headlights making crazy search patterns in the sky, and settled under twelve feet of water.

“You have to be brave,” Shirley Conroy, his mother’s best friend, said to him as he sat dry-eyed at the funeral. “It was quick and merciful. They never even knew what happened.”

Samuels glanced at the assembled multitude in the small church on Second Avenue. It seemed like every cattleman in the state was there. His father, Pat Samuels, was a rancher and well thought of by stock breeders.
His mother, Bess, was an English teacher at the Indian School in White Swan and so virtually all the students from the tribe were there as well. It was SRO as the gaunt Minister (six and half feet of cheap black suit, Adam’s apple and ankles) droned on about their great contributions to the small, cloistered community.

The caskets were closed. Apparently, the undertaker had a difficult time putting them back together. And for what? No one comes to visit you when you were six feet under. As a result Samuels wasn’t able to say good-bye to either of his parents. He wouldn’t have known what to say anyway.

His mother was a dear soul with a penchant for correct grammar. Her main contributions to him were the ability to sign — the language of the deaf — and a solid English background. She had spent a lifetime trying to teach he and his father how speak the language with skill and proficient vocabulary. She was ardent in her pursuit of knowledge and had passed that love of learning on to her only child.

Jake’s earliest memories of life were seated on the toilet straining to “do his duty” and reading the vocabulary words she had posted in the bathroom every month from the Reader’s Digest’s “Increase Your Word Power” section.

“People judge you from your speech Jacob,” she would say, “you are only as educated as your language.”

He had taken took to heart because, for one thing, his mother wouldn’t have it any other way. On the final Monday evening of each month there was always a test at the dinner table. If he answered nine out of ten vocabulary words correctly his allowance was increased a pittance. Fewer than eight and it stayed the same. Fewer than that and it was decreased. Times being what they were he learned quickly that he couldn’t afford not to learn the words.

His father didn’t share her passion for advanced vocabulary skills and he would never help when his son fumbled for a definition. As far as the boy knew she had never cut his father’s allowance and she could have as she was the only one bringing home a salary in those days.

His father had grown up a cowboy, just like the ones people read about in the old west magazines. Pat Samuels was descended from the Scotch-Irish on his mother’s side and, apparently, some Jewish ancestry on his father’s. And yes, Jake had heard all the jokes about Jewish cowboys and sports heroes. According to Jake’s father the Jewish blood was minimal, whatever that meant. The boy didn’t know if it was true or not but his progenitors had traversed the continent in covered wagons a hundred and fifty years earlier, crossing the great divide and settling in the Pacific Northwest. As such Pat Samuels was a persevering, hard-working man who knew the value of a dollar and never let any of his family forget it.

Pat was quite a bit older than his wife when they married. She was a new teacher with the shiny ideals and convictions that all new teachers bring from college. He was a dyed-in-the-wool cowboy with colorful language who said he swore because it was the only damned communication cattle understood. She had, over the years, tried to temper his enthusiasm for cursing but with little success. When he did turn the air blue with expletives, he would explain later that it was only the remnant of a far larger vocabulary. As a consequence, Jake learned to swear with perfect grammar.

Pat and Bess had met at a Saturday night dance in the old Armory building of the small town. Pat was in his mid-thirties and only there because his best friend, Tony Lamebull, had nearly forced him at gun-point to come. Pat was not a dancer. To him dancing was just one step away from homosexuality.
Tony was his partner at the ranch in those days, a handsome young Yakima Indian who loved life and women. Tony had set up a blind date for Pat but when the woman didn’t show Samuels was content to sit on the sideline sipping tepid punch and watching the couples grope each other on the cracked and peeling armory floor.

Bess Gephardt was of German extraction the only daughter of an austere banker who had six sons. She was the oldest and therefore became the caretaker of the family when her mother died in childbirth.

Grandfather, Hatler Gephardt, was a martinet who insisted on absolute obedience from his children. He too was a staunch believer in education and saw to it that all of his children received University degrees. Though a chauvinist in many ways Hatler, nonetheless, was dauntless in providing the kind of environment that would prove fruitful in the pursuit of knowledge to all his children, including Jake’s mother. It was ironic that she was the only one of the children to earn an advanced degree.

Grandfather never remarried which meant Bess literally raised her younger brothers. She had been teaching and nurturing young men’s minds long before Jake came into the world.

That night at the dance she had come with her best friend. She wasn’t all that interested in meeting men but Shirley Conroy had persuaded her that if she were going to be living in the valley she might as well get to know the current crop of available bachelors.

Jake had seen a picture of his parents from that night. When he was little he would look at the framed black and white photo trying to imagine what they were really like in those early days. Bess was willowy with soft dark curls framing her delicate face and a Mona Lisa-type smile that you could never be sure was a smile. Pat was tall and rangy with rough-hewn features and piercing china blue eyes. Years later she told her son that Pat’s eyes were what captivated her. She knew she was going to marry him (even though marriage was the furthermost thing from her mind) that first night they met.

They were, in many ways, an odd match but to Jake but they represented the epitome of the perfect couple. One thing he did know, even from his earliest recollections, they loved each other. Totally and completely.

When Jake’s father lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars in falling cattle prices during the late 1970’s, his mother took up the financial burden of keeping bread on the table. The boy knew that fact was corrosive to his father’s pride but Pat never said a word about it. Instead, he worked day and night trying to make that small ranch a success while dutifully paying back a little each month on the crushing debt and accompanying interest he’d incurred.

The irony of it all was, the week before they died, he had finally paid every last cent of the loss. Jake shook his head in the dark. The senseless, savage tapestry of life. An accident which snuffed out the lives of two loving people who’d done nothing to deserve it.

The rain had turned to snow. Big sloppy flakes fumbling their way down onto the windshield as Jake wheeled his car toward the city center. Jake decided that the real record of your life exists on a cellular level. The mind buries a great many memories and the body is where they’re buried. The familiar bulk of his gun was a good example, it always gave him peace of mind.

Something that had been lacking in his life for a very long time. The fact was, he was never sure where his life’s journey would lead. Or even where it was going. He didn’t know it then, but somehow felt, that he had to make the decent — to crawl into the inferno, fight the beast — then pray to God in His heaven he could crawl out again.

As Jake Samuels rounded the corner to Flannigan’s he had no idea the descent had already begun.