Quake! Shakin' Up Young Readers!

Shakin' things up!

Hey, this is a secret for a little bit longer, but Echelon is celebrating! We've decided that kids and young adults need their own space at Echelon. So we are going to shake things up with QUAKE!

You can get a sneak peek at Quake!

And since we have not made a public announcement, only tell a couple hundred of your closest friends!

And if you don't see something you think we should add, let us know!

You can send your comments and suggestions to Lisa@quakeme.com

It Pays To Post!

Thanks to my Hogwarts post about Horton's Books & Gifts H.P. release party, I have been interviewed by a local newspaper. The subject of the article will be, of course, about Harry and his ka-zillion fans. Since I've been a fan from the beginning - I was motivated by J.K. Rowling to write a children's fantasy fiction series, Cynthia's Attic - I was asked to have my picture taken at a local book & gift store surrounded by Potter paraphernalia.

Speaking of witch, er, I mean which, the owner of the story was a fascinating person. She is a medium, and promotes natural remedies. She believes in mind-over-body, but also realizes that traditional medicine has its place. I believe that both methods helped me get over a recent bout with shingles.

The pain started first, followed, the next day by a rash. I knew immediately that I had the dreaded virus. I knew because my mother had two bouts. The second one might as well have killed her. She didn't know a pain-free moment for the next eight years...until she died.

I wasn't going to let that happen. I called my doctor's office immediately and TOLD them I was coming in that day. Beginning a round of anti-viral medication is the only way to stop it and keep from getting the dreaded neuropathy that made my mother's remaining years so miserable. More importantly, I told myself that I wasn't going to let that happen. I spoke positively about it, that I wasn't going to get nerve damage. That I was going to get the best of this virus. And, I did. Within a week the sores were gone and I was pain-free.

I hope I never get shingles again (fingers crossed), but if I do, I promise to, once again, rush to the doctor and will that nasty virus out of my body.

Straight Out of Hogwarts!

Horton's Books & Gifts in Carrollton, GA, would fit gracefully in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The oldest bookstore in Georgia (established in 1892) with its wood floors providing an occasional creak, and the massive floor to ceiling bookshelves, will be hosting the "wizarding" community on Friday, July 20th. Feel free to come in your "wizardry" finest.

You'll need to arrive between 8:00PM and 9:00PM in order to be sorted into houses. Maps will be provided of participating locations such as Gringott's and the Shrieking Shack. Magical classes such as herbology, potions, and wand making will be given by your prefect. Points will be awarded (or deducted!) during the classes, and the House Cup will be awarded at 11:45.

Oh, and one more thing…Deputy Headmistress, Dorothy Pittman, has arranged for you to be able to purchase a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at the stroke of midnight.


Horton's Books & Gifts
410 Adamson Square.
Carrollton, GA 30117
770-832-8021

"I don't care..."

*Three words heard most often during 14-year-old granddaughters one-week visit.

"Where would you like to eat?" (I don't care) "Would you like to go swimming?" (I don't care) "What DVD would you like to watch?" (I don't care)

Don't get me wrong, the visit from our granddaughter, Brittany, was a total pleasure. She's funny, smart, personality-plus, and is very adaptable. She also has her grandmother's stubborn streak.

Menu-planning was a breeze...Where do we get our breaded chicken tenders and french fries? McDonalds? Arby's? Zaxby's? O'Charleys? Home? Doesn't matter as long as chicken tenders and french fries are on the menu, the location is irrelevant. I'm so loaded with salt, it'll take a year of water pills to get it out of my system. Oh, I know. I could've ordered salads...but those fries smelled great!

That said, I'm so proud of her, despite the seeming lack of culinary taste. Not only does she have the self-confidence I lacked as a 14-year-old (and as a 60-year-old!), she recently entered a Scary Story writing contest at school, winning first place with her short fiction entry, "Dreams." I'm hoping to post an excerpt, soon.

We put her on the plane last night for her trip back home. The ride to the airport was spend text-messaging her mom to see if she could go to Tennessee with a friend and her family for three days. They're leaving this morning.

How will I spend this holiday? Laundry, catching up on e-mails, blogging, NOT eating breaded chicken tenders and french fries.

Happy 4th!!

Mary

Get the latest on "Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou," Book Three
www.marycunninghambooks.com