Where I've Been Hanging Out

I've been working more on my freelance writing, and my fiction, since the New Year, hence the lack of posts, especially reviews. I've been very active on Good Reads, and it's been working really well for me to put a book on as I start it under "current reads" then do a quick review when I'm finished. You can find my page here: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2844600-brenda

I also write for the Old Fashioned Living.com blog and website, so you can find me there too.

The blog is here: http://oldtips.blogspot.com/

I share recipes, cooking, garden and home tips on the blog. My articles are on the website, and I usually

Saturday I was hanging out at the high school auditorium where my son was in their production of Camelot. He's been doing tech for the plays the last couple years, but this was his first on stage performance as King Arthur's herald. He only had 2 lines, but he did a great job yelling them out on stage. Here is a picture of his scene:

I loved this picture though because he looks so suave, and pleased with himself:) The entire musical was great fun, and I adore anything related to King Arthur's legend.


I will try to post more often. It's almost spring, and I've started thinking about gardening. I think I might do some blog posts on herb lore and use. I love growing herbs, and cooking with them, but the lore is also fascinating.

~Brenda

Guest Post: Why Donate the Proceeds

Please welcome author Heather Kuehl with her wonderful reason for donating the proceeds of her new book, Blood Moon.

Dear Readers,

Once Eternal Press accepted Blood Moon, I was faced with a decision. I had a feeling that this book would do well, especially after the cliff hanger at the end of Malevolent Dead. I know, it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, but it was for a good reason. I had wanted to give back to MUSC Children's Hospital for a while, but never had the means to do so. I felt, with Blood Moon, I could finally do that.

Why MUSC Children's Hospital? Two years ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Cameron, but around 2 weeks of age I noticed something that was really hard to miss. He was vomiting up his food. The pediatrician thought it was acid reflux, and blew off my "vomiting baby," thinking that I was over reacting because I was a first time mom. I don't blame the pediatrician for thinking this; all first time parents overreact at one time or another. But I just knew in my gut that something was wrong. A week later and nothing was working, so I told the pediatrician that I wanted to do a test they had mentioned before where they do an ultrasound on his stomach to see if something was wrong. The doctor agreed and we were sent to MUSC to do the ultrasound. I had no clue what I was looking at, but the second I saw the white mass on the otherwise dark screen I knew something was wrong.

My son had a condition known as pyloric stenosis. It's where the muscle exiting the stomach closes, refusing to allow nutrients into the body. Prior to the early 1900's, babies would have starved to death from this because doctors didn't know what was wrong. They used to assume it was a milk allergy or some other ailment. Luckily, it was 2008 and the doctors knew exactly what to do. We were immediately admitted into the hospital, and seconds after we arrived in the ER the surgeon was there to meet us and explain what was going to happen. Once we got settled into the hospital room, the surgeon came back in and asked if we had any more questions. We saw him several times before the surgery actually took place the next day, and every time he was very nice and patient with us. The hospital staff was equally kind, even the nurses at 2am who had to help me change Cameron as he continued to vomit the nasty old formula that was in his stomach. No matter where we went, everyone was so nice. The day after his surgery Cam was eating like a champ and barely spitting up, and we were sent home with the surgeons home phone number incase we had any questions or concerns. A week later Cameron was fully healed, with only two little scars from the surgery.

Cameron just turned two back in November, and hasn't been affected at all by his condition or surgery. The doctors said that this problem is one that will never reoccur, so we don't have to worry about him having surgery for pyloric stenosis again. His two little scars are now just one scar, with one of them fading so much that I have to search for almost fifteen minutes in order to find it.

Ever since that day, I wanted to give back to MUSC Children's Hospital for their kindness, and helping my son. That is why I donated the proceeds for Blood Moon to them.

To learn more about MUSC Children's Hospital, please visit http://www.musckids.com/
To learn more about Pyloric Stenosis, please visit http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/pyloric_stenosis.html


Blood Moon is the third book in the Sarah Vargas series, picking up right where Malevolent Dead left off.

Blood Moon Blurb: After she broke her contract with the Blood Moon Corporation, Sarah Vargas knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for her. What she didn't know is what lengths they would go to make sure that she had no where to run. Everyone Sarah has every relied on is in danger during a time when friends become enemies, and Sarah quickly realizes that the Blood Moon Corporation will never give up until she is dead. The Blood Moon Corporation is coming, and even Sarah doesn't think she can make it out alive.

Buy Links
Blood Moon: Book Three of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Malevolent Dead: Book Two of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Fade to Black: Book One of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Promises to Keep, Eternal Press

Coming Soon
Epiphany, Decadent Publishing (TBA 2011)

Visit Heather Kuehl online at http://www.heatherkuehl.com/, http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/ or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Reaping What I Sow: Pink to Black

My daughter was the first grand daughter on both sides of the family. She was showered in pink, and ruffles...all things girly. My husband laughed and said when she was a teen she'd go Goth and everything would turn black. I giggled and said that was okay with me. Last year she announced her favorite color was now blue, and could we not buy her pink. No problem. Last week she spent money she was given for her 11th birthday. She found a new favorite doll:



You can't tell from the picture, but her skin is a light green. She's Frankie Stein, the daughter of Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. She also bought her:



This is Clawdeen Wolf. Don't you love her little ears? The one Emily bought was a little bit different than this one. Both dolls are awesome, and they have a website with games and activities. We printed out two bookmarks the other day. They have a note on the site that books are coming soon.

You can see it coming can't you? The Goth phase is around the corner, and what did I expect when I'm such a huge fan of all things paranormal? I'm okay with this, as long as she doesn't get a tattoo or radical piercing before she's 18. I'll confess that I wish this style had been around when I was a teenager because I would have been there, and done that:)

~Brenda

*Head Explosion*

The last two weeks has been very stressful, which has resulted in my having Writer's Block. Yes, my head may have exploded, which brought to mind this youtube video my 17 year old and I STILL laugh at, and I'm pretty sure he showed it to me at least two years ago.



Raisinettes, anyone?

~Brenda