Happy Father's Day!

My dad left this world fifteen years ago. He remains in my heart. He's thought of often.

"Dad, I feel you watching over me. I love you and hope you have a Happy Father's Day. You may not have been the best dad in the world, but you were mine. I chose you for the lessons I needed in my early years. So, thank you and may your soul be happy in the arms of Heaven."

A warm Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there, both in Heaven and on Earth.

Five Sentence Flashback

March 2010 marked the beginning of a journey from aspiring writer to published author. Over four years later, I still look back at that first accomplishment with pride. The story was short and a little twisted, but for me it proved I could and would be an author.

And now, the first five sentences of The Keeper:

A table, two metal chairs, and Anthony Tyner occupied the small musty room. The walls inched closer with each tick of his watch. The fluorescent light flickered as if it might blow at any moment. He wondered when he would be allowed to go home. Two hours had lapsed since two officers had escorted him from his apartment and tossed him into the collapsing room. 

Finish reading The Keeper at Long Story Short.

The Devil's Labyrinth by John Saul

I finished reading The Devil's Labyrinth by John Saul.

When Ryan gets beat up at school, his mom follows the advice of her new boyfriend and enrolls him in a Catholic boarding school. No big deal right? But, who would have guessed the Devil was living underneath the school in a maze of tunnels.

Okay, well it isn't as dramatic as that. One priest decides to invoke the evil into a few of the youths. After a couple of failed attempts to control the demons within, he finally has success and attracts some interesting attention. The twist is mainly the discovery of the bad guys and their intended plot. The payoff is the strength of a father's love for his son.

I glanced through a few reviews and wasn't completely surprised to see it had some bad reviews. I was however intrigued by some of the things said. A few seemed as if the reader didn't read the same book as I did. But, with that said...

I will admit it wasn't one of his best. It did however invoke a few nightmares and more than one restless night as I lay awake listening to the bumps in the night. It is worth the read, but don't expect a scare from every aspect of the story. The exorcisms are the most disturbing aspect of the story.

I'd give the book at least 4 stars out of 5, but one of those stars are because it is John Saul. So, by any other author, I'd give it a three star rating.

What are you reading? Who would you recommend to a John Saul fan? Which John Saul book did you enjoy the most?

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

Here’s more evidence of me being out of sync with the world around me. *grin*

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert hit the world in 2007 in book form, and three years later was produced into a film. Most of you are probably already aware of this. But, if you're not, I highly recommend reading this wonderful story.

(I watched some of the movie after listening to the audio. I honestly think most will enjoy the book more than the movie.)


Elizabeth Gilbert shares an experience of a life-time, a search for self, a transformative journey through Italy, India, and Bali.

She leaves behind a failed marriage, a painful relationship, and sets out to discover what she truly wants from life. Her plan: a year to study three aspects, the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of prayer in India, and a balance of the two in Bali. She shares personal insights, wisdom, and pain. Along the way, some amazing people appear in her path, and in my opinion steer her toward her destination of fulfillment.

Some of the negative reviews of this story focused on the author’s self-absorption. This story is about the author, it is a memoir after all. She’s humorous and inspiring. You may be surprised to find some of your own characteristics within her thoughts. You may even find yourself exploring your own life situation, through your laughter and tears.

Have you experienced Eat, Pray, Love? What did you think? Did it send you on a meditative journey of your own?