Book Blurb #29: Dragon AND Internet Woes

TGIBBF!

What an awful week! First, my AT&T line was cut by workers installing a sprinkler system in my yard, leaving us without phone and internet until sometime this Saturday.  For that reason I've been absent since Monday's microfiction. I come to you today courtesy of my bestie, Linda (we've been pals for over 20 years; she's the little sister I always wanted), who graciously offered her kitchen table for my use. So here I sit, my laptop hooked up to her internet, plugging away at my blurb before I have to abandon my blog to go home and cook dinner. Thank you, Lindy-Lou-Who, for being so wonderful and generous!

As if losing the internet weren't trauma enough, Papa fell ill yesterday necessitating an emergency room visit that lasted into the wee hours. It turned out to be an infection that antibiotics will clear, but he sure gave us a scare. I'm so happy that he's home and doing well that I forgot to be grumpy about being without my internet.

So instead of a whiny me, you have a cheerful me, and posting for BBF is a reminder to have fun. If you're a newbie, here's the scoop so you understand what follows.  Please click HERE or click the tab under the blog header for details of the Book Blurb Friday meme.  This is the shortened, abridged version:

Write a book jacket blurb (150 words or less) so enticing that potential readers would feel compelled to buy the book.

Below is this week's "book cover," generously offered for our creative blurbs by the very talented Kay Davies. My book blurb follows:

Dragon

(150 words)

Ben Dragon, ex-Army Ranger, makes his living flying helicopter tours of Fire Rock Canyon, a complicated maze of red sandstone rock.  The canyon’s dangerous architecture is part of its legend—and lure.

While flying solo, Ben spots a woman frantically signaling for help. Search and Rescue deems the location inaccessible, so Ben goes in. He is lowered by chopper with enough supplies for three days.

Ben soon realizes he has an enemy in Fire Rock Canyon. His search efforts are sabotaged and his supplies and communication equipment destroyed. When he finds the woman, she is dazed, dehydrated, and unable to remember anything of value. Ben must ensure the woman’s survival and his own, but without a radio to call for help, it will be three days before the chopper returns; three days to endure brutal games of cat-and-mouse against a sadistic murderer who lives for the thrill of the kill.

I don't know why this photo made me think of Nevada's Red Rock Canyon, but it did. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, you won't be disappointed. Unlike my fictional Fire Rock Canyon, Red Rock is accessible to hikers. Thanks again, Kay, for offering a great photo!

Please put your name and link in Mr. Linky, below, if you are participating in Book Blurb Friday. If you have no blurb to share, please do not install a link. It will be treated as spam and removed. Thanks.

Please scroll past the Linky widget to see our "book cover" for next week.

Here is our "book cover" for next week's Book Blurb Friday #30, graciously provided by the lovely Ashley Ortiz.

Please be patient with my efforts to visit your blogs and read your blurbs. Without ready internet access it will take some finagling!

Enjoy your weekend -

Lisa

Blue Skies and Microfiction Monday!

Welcome to Kaykuala, my newest follower.  What a wonderful surprise it was to see the name of a new reader, especially during my forced hiatus! Thank you!

After harrowing days of snow, ice, and a hospitalized PaPa last week, blue skies opened up this weekend.  PaPa came home and the ice and snow is melting.  Our subdivision roads still boast a few tree-sheltered icy patches, but for the most part driving is safe again. More importantly, PaPa is getting around well and gaining strength.

In light of so much good news, both of my microfiction stories are upbeat today. Susan at Stony River continues to delight by hosting this fun meme. Thanks to everyone who reads and comments on these stories, each only 140 characters or less.

“Hi-YA!” 

“Oh for pity’s sake, Chauncey, you’re such a drama queen. 

Why can’t you just say ‘hello’ like everyone else?” 

“Oh, fine. Hi-YA’LL!"

* *   * *   * *   * *

Hai-Ku marveled at Para-Sol’s ninja skills. 

True, his weapon choice was bizarre; 

but he boasted a silky complexion and kept dry in the rain.

Thanks to those of you who continued to check in during my blogging disruption. Family trumped blog last week, but balance is restored and I'm happy to be back. I missed hearing from everyone and reading your blogs, as well.

Hope y'all have a terrific Monday to begin a week filled with positive things!

Til next time -

Lisa

Don't Bug Me! Microfiction Monday

Welcome to Kristin, my newest follower! Well, "new" is incorrect. . .more like "newly declared" as she is my daughter's BFF from college and a supportive reader of Writing in the Buff for a while now. Smart and sweet, she is a daughter of my heart. And I love that God gave her to me with no hours of hard labor involved.

The diversion of Microfiction Monday is especially appreciated by me today. My beloved 87-year-old father-in-law, known as PaPa, is currently hospitalized due to complications stemming from chemotherapy.   The bulk of my time is being spent at the hospital, but this MFM, always a bright spot, is a much relished way to bend my mind in a more cheerful direction.  I took a few minutes to hammer out a couple of short tales. Below are my stories to match the photo, each 140 characters or less.

“You’re so strong, so. . .shiny! Kiss me you fool!” 

“But Tess,” he lamented. “I’m a bug!” 

“No worries!” She declared. “I’m an entomologist!”

* * * * * * * * * *

Mothman found her! But how? 

Then she recalled his attraction to light. 

“Drat!” She cried. “I shouldn’t have gone to work for STARbucks.”

I usually post my microfiction early Monday morning, but Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency due to a severe winter storm dumping snow, sleet and ooh-gobs of ice all over the place. In anticipation of a possible power outage I'm posting my microfiction early. Thanks to Susan at Stony River for hosting and giving me a bright spot in an otherwise icky (and now icy) week.

Stay warm and dry y'all --
Lisa

Market Madness!

Of all the things I dislike, grocery shopping tops my list.  Given a choice between an hour at the market and, say, going to the dentist, I will choose the dentist.  Heck, if it were possible, I’d find pregnant women and offer to endure labor and delivery in their stead if they would just do my grocery shopping.

First, grocery stores blow icy air year around.  I’ve been warmer while shoveling snow.  Can’t they come up with some other way to keep the produce fresh? And how about when they move things?  For years my favorite cereal was in aisle two, second shelf from the bottom.  Then one day—poof!—the cereal is gone, replaced by Meow Mix.  Meow Mix may be lower in calories than Raisin Bran, but I bet it has half the fiber.  I’m an old bagger.  I need my fiber.

When I was 5-years-old I disobeyed my Grandma at the market and picked up a jar of pickles.  Have you ever seen how far pickle juice spatters when the glass jar shatters? Really far, y’all. The grocery clerk who came to clean up the mess glared at me with devil eyes that glowed red.  Is it any wonder I suffered trauma? (Grandma told Mama that she dropped the pickle jar.  Mama raised her eyebrow at me and gave me the scary mom face, so I know she knew better, but she couldn’t spank Grandma and we both knew it.  God bless Grandma.) 

Wednesday is shopping day at our house because it is senior citizen discount day at the local Publix.  No, buttercup, I don’t qualify (yet), but Papa does.  He always asks the check-out clerk: “Did you give me my old guy’s discount?”  They love him.  They’d triple the discount for Papa if they could get away with it which may be why he actually enjoys grocery shopping. 

Anyway, today was shopping day and when Papa and I ran out of room in our cart we decided to check out.  Two lanes were lit, and one was a ten-items-or-less lane devoid of shoppers.  The other lane bloomed with a queue of elderly people leaning against overflowing carts, eager for their senior discount.  The grocery manager saw the traffic jam, called for backup, and directed us to the empty ten-items-or-less lane.  Within thirty seconds, every person in the store with ten-items-or-less decided to check out.  Behind me now were no less than six people glaring with the same devil red eyes as the clerk who cleaned up the pickle mess.  Their look clearly said, “What part of ten-items-or-less do you not understand, you idiot? Ten or less! Ten or less!”

I mumbled an apology and blamed the grocery manager.  “He told me to check out here!”  They raised their brows and gave me the scary mom look alternately with the devil glare.

Grocery stores seem like benign places.  They draw you in with bakery smells and the promise of big sales on potato chips, but I know the truth.  And now, so do you.

Til next time –

Lisa