A Crime of Passion Takes Readers Into Country Music Town During the CMT Country Awards! In Scott Pratt's 7th in the Joe Dillard Legal Thriller Series!

 

She was supposed to sing one of the songs soon to be available, but instead she chose to sing one of her own. When Paul Milias cornered Kasey Cartwright after the show ended, he was angry, yelling, asking why she had changed the song after the entire group had rehearsed and were ready to perform. Both raised their voices, but the argument ended when Kasey Cartwright had thrown a glass of iced tea into the face of the owner of her record company! 

Paul Milias went to the restroom to clean up and soon each of them left for the after-party, where Paul's wife called Kasey a "cow". Soon Kasey was leaving the party and heading for the Plaza... With Paul, realizing that he needed to apologize, followed her. While Kasey left him in, even though it was around 2 in the morning, the friction continued and Milias slapped Kasey across the face! She started crying and ran into the bathroom, locking the door. Finally realizing that she was not going to talk to him, he left and got a cab home...

And the next morning when the maids came to clean the room, they found her lying across the bed--Dead.

...an up-and-comer named Derek Birch, a long-legged, dope-smoking, Jack Daniels drinker who considered himself a rebel, an artist, and the most important country music icon of the young century. Kasey Cartwright had toured with him for two months during the summer when she was sixteen, but Birch had since switched from Paul Milius’s label to another record company. Jack had been told that Birch didn’t much care what anyone thought about him and would give an honest—if not drug-and-alcohol-addled—opinion on most anything. Jack didn’t audio or videotape his conversation with Derek Birch, but he took detailed notes, and I was satisfied that he recounted it for me accurately. 

Jack walked into Birch’s backstage dressing room at around nine thirty on a Friday night at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. Birch was the headliner, wrapping up a six-month tour, and was scheduled to go on stage at ten thirty. There was a large makeup mirror in the antique-white room, a couple stools, a leather couch against the far wall, and two acoustic guitars on stands. Birch was sitting near the mirror with a red Solo cup in his hand, wearing a denim shirt, denim jeans, and cowboy boots. He had dark, aviator sunglasses on and a John Deere cap pulled tightly down over his head. He had a male model chin, with a jawline and teeth to match. The air in the room was thick with marijuana smoke. 

Jack noticed a tall, decorative glass bong sitting on the counter near the mirror. Next to it was a handle of Jack Daniels, a two-liter bottle of Coke, and a small cooler filled with ice. “Yo, what’s up?” Birch said as Jack walked cautiously into the room. “Close that door behind you and lock it so we can have some privacy.” A band called Buick Five was on the stage, and the rockabilly was blasting. Closing the door didn’t muffle the sound completely, but it made it possible for Jack and Birch to talk without having to shout. Jack, who had dressed in country music concert gear—jeans, flannel shirt, boots, cowboy hat—shook hands with Birch, who motioned for him to take a seat on the couch. As soon as Jack was seated, Birch picked the bong up, walked over, and offered it. “No, thanks,” Jack said. “Don’t smoke?” “I’m working tonight.” “So am I,” Birch said. “You ain’t one of them tight asses, are you?” 

“No, no,” Jack said, but then he smiled. “Well, maybe. I’m wound pretty tight most of the time.” Birch laughed. “At least you’re honest,” he said. “Sure you don’t want to hit this? It’ll mellow you right out.” “Not right now,” Jack said. “Maybe later.” “So my agent tells me you’re working for the lawyer who’s defending Paul Milius,” Birch said. “Says the lawyer is actually your dad.” “That’s right,” Jack said. “I’m in my last year of law school.” “You’re a big dude, so please don’t get up and kick my ass for what I’m about to say, but I’ve never met a lawyer who had a soul, man. Do they surgically remove it in law school, or do you lose it later on?” 

Jack shrugged his shoulders. “I know what you’re saying,” he said. “But I think my dad’s okay. He’s been at it for a long time, and I think he’s been able to keep his soul. Most of it, anyway. And I don’t think I’ve lost mine. At least not yet.” “Then you’re as rare as a well-lived life, man. Hope you can keep it that way. I was just thinking about our culture and how bankrupt it’s become before you walked in. Gave me an idea for a new song. I’m going to call it ‘Empty Malls.’” “Empty Malls?” Jack said. “What’s it going to be about?” “I’m just going to write a tune about an empty mall in the South, and how it’s this big, empty shell covering the scattered shards of our broken retail dreams.” 

“Sounds depressing,” Jack said. “It is depressing, man. We’re depressing. But it’s the freakin’ truth.” “Speaking of truth,” Jack said. “There are some things I’d like to talk to you about.” Birch popped off the stool and started pacing in a circle. “Now that was lame, dude,” he said. “Bad, bad segue. We’re sitting here rapping, establishing some trust, talking about empty malls and bankrupt dreams, and you go and try to slide that awful segue in there. I should just go ahead and have the security guys come toss you right now.” “I’m sorry,” Jack said. “I’m just not used to … I haven’t talked to anyone like you in a while. Hell, I’ve never talked to anyone like you in my life. By the way, there are cops all over this place. Don’t they mind that you’re smoking dope in here?” “They’re not on duty, man. They’re freelancing. We pay them. We can do whatever the hell we want as long as we don’t kill anybody.” 

“Speaking of killing somebody ….” Jack smiled again, and Birch slapped his knee and went back to his chair. “Okay, lawyer’s son,” Birch said as he picked up the bong, lit it, and took a long pull. “You seem to be honest, and you’ve got a sense of humor. What do you want to talk about?” “I’d just like you to tell me what you know about Kasey Cartwright and Paul Milius.”

Birch blew the smoke out slowly and set the bong back down. He picked the Solo cup up and took a long drink. Jack could smell the whiskey from five feet away. “Kasey came out on tour last year for a while before I left Paul’s label,” he said. “Why’d you leave?” Jack asked. “Just a creative-differences thing, man. Happens all the time. But Kasey, she’d open the night, do about an hour, then she’d come to my bus or to my dressing room and get high with me when the show was over. Earthy chick, you know? All about what was natural, at least that’s what she wanted people to think. But she liked the retail dreams. She wanted to make as much money as she could. Wanted the fancy houses and cars and all that. She used to talk to me about it all the time. ‘What’s fair? How much can I make doing this or that? Is Paul screwing me?’” 

“Was he?” Jack asked. “Screwing her? Financially, a little I’m sure. The new ones always get screwed. Physically, definitely.” “So he was having sex with her?” “Absolutely, man.” “How do you know for sure?” “Because I saw them getting it on in her trailer. I have this little habit of wandering around after shows. Harmless creepin’, you know? Helps me wind down. Sometimes I like to look in windows, check out what people are doing. I saw them doing the nasty, man, with my very own eyes. But Kasey had already told me she was doing him, which is the main reason I wandered over that way that night. I just couldn’t resist the chance of getting to see Kasey naked. Did you ever see her? I mean when she was alive?” “All I’ve seen is pictures,” Jack said. “Pretty girl.” “Sensuous, too,” Birch said. “But anyway, Kasey thought she was playing Paul so she could make more money. I didn’t have the heart to tell her she was just an amusement to him, just a temporary thing. But ol’ Kasey, she got tired of Paul before Paul got tired of her. She started seeing Cameron Jones as soon as she turned eighteen.” 

“Cameron Jones is another singer on Paul’s label, right?” “Yeah, good buddy of mine, Cameron. Good artist, too. A little more old-school than me, not as edgy, but still good at what he does.” “Did Paul know Kasey was seeing Cameron?” “Yeah, yeah. Cameron said Kasey was upfront about it. It was kind of funny. What he told me was that she went all John Hancock about it. I’d never heard that phrase before.” “Did Cameron say how Paul reacted?” “Paul doesn’t like to lose. He didn’t get where he’s at by letting people take what he thinks is his. Cameron said Paul wasn’t none too happy about it.” “Unhappy enough to kill Kasey?” “I guess that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I’m sorry, but I don’t have any answers for you. Listen, man, it’s getting close to show time, so if there isn’t anything else, I need to start getting my voice warmed up and let my makeup girl put my stage face on.” Jack rose from the couch and reached out a hand to Birch. “Thanks,” Jack said. He didn’t say anything about sending Birch a subpoena. It might not happen, but Birch said he had actually seen Paul Milius and Kasey having sex. That was admissible in court. Jack just didn’t know whether there would be any use for the testimony. And since Cameron Jones had apparently stepped in and lured Kasey away from Paul, Cameron might be a candidate for the SODDI defense. Maybe it had been worth the time and trouble to talk to Derek Birch. “Sure you don’t want to hit this bong before you head out?” Birch said. “It smells really good,” Jack lied, “but I think I’ll pass.”

~~~

Readers meet Paul's wife, Lana Raines-Milius in the Prologue, so this isn't a whodunit, y'all! LOL She had been a top country star, but had lost her voice. Now she was roaming around a large estate called Zanadu, where she had slowly become addicted to just about anything, including alcohol. Now she was aiming higher...

But when Kasey was murdered, she took the opportunity to play the devoted wife and sought out Joe Dillard and offered him $1M(!) to defend her husband. Initially Joe was hesitant, especially as his wife Caroline was going through a more difficult time than ever before, but she convinced him that he couldn't back down from a case...on the chance that she could get worse... Especially with a $1M fee upfront, which would be the highest payment Joe had ever received. Still, it was moving into the entertainment area and all it included that bothered him. And he was right to be hesitant... But Leon, his friend had made the recommendation to the couple and so he'd proceed...

Jack his son is acting as his clerk and investigator, as well as Charleston (Charlie) who is Jack's girlfriend was to handle pre-trial activities. After many interviews with as many people as they could think of that would be related to the recording business, they had still not found anything significant that could be used to defend his client... That is, until he was kidnapped and flown somewhere he never knew (he was hooded all the time). And there he learned exactly what happened--from a couple who refused to return to testify! 

I have been binging on the Joe Dillard Series, reading from book 1 up to this one...only two more to go! I'm loving Joe Dillard, as well as all the characters in this significant legal series. 

The merge of a character's family and home life within a professional career has always been intriguing for me. With Caroline, Joe's wife dealing constantly with cancer concerns, readers are privy to the devastating effect this catastrophic medical issue affects not only the individual living with cancer, but also all those who are living within the severely changed home life. At the same time, Jack, Joe's son, who fell hard for Charleston (Charlie) Story, even with her background and an explosive event within her life has increased the intrigue. While the unexpected marriage of his daughter and Joe's acceptance of having to welcome--and love--a son-in-law who has taken a wrong detour in their relationship adds a level of depth for Joe Dillard as well as those with whom he shares his life.

Additionally, Pratts' honing in on so many of the major legal issues that are predominant and moving ever more into violence and dangerous territory, is a welcome decision on the part of today's writers that I not only appreciate, but want to support! Scott Pratt Rocks in my opinion! 

Each novel is so uniquely drawn, moving from one type of issue, which includes a variety of characters... sometimes only with Joe Dillard (and his wife) being the lead characters in all investigations, brings a variety of methods by which each legal issue can be addressed... Just think of what has been bothering you with today's top criminal activities and you'll read about either a minor or in-depth case where right ALWAYS wins, or at least a step forward is made--even if what happens never enters a courtroom... This book has a quite unusual twist that you'll not want to miss!

By the way, I've joined The Pratt Pack on Facebook, a group where we can talk about this series and others by Scott Pratt. Check it out... I just may be his newest, but ongoing, fan!

GABixlerReviews

Emotionally Damaged: Living With Job Burnout - PTSD - Chapter 2

From the basement to the second floor, and then to the first... This picture shows the central open cathedral effect of Stewart Hall as it was when I started working for Dr. Munn...Dr. Barton...and then Facilities Analysis and Utilization. I had a few moves outside the building, one of them to Willey Street in an old house that the University owned. Later Facilities Planning and Management moved to the Evansdale Campus in leased space...

During the early years as I worked in Facilities Analysis and Utilization, we had what I would call centralized line authority. That is, while I would report to one boss--William Campbell who reported directly to the Vice-President for Administration, I would also have staff responsibility to all other vice-presidents and well as deans and directors, to whom space had been allocated for their use. I had the authority to work directly with those offices. This grew out of my responsibilities for classroom management, but continued as I took over space utilization, allocation and planning for renovations.

It was a cooperative arrangement that allowed me to see the full campus-wide space utilization information and work to respond to all needs across the campus.

However, when the vice-presidents began to add line authority assistant vice-presidents, the flavor of the organization drastically changed for me, especially. Colonel Hank Snoreck was appointed as the first assistant vice-president for facilities. Although nothing was officially discussed with all staff, I learned that Snoreck would not continue the organizational flexibility I had earlier been given. Instead, I heard things like: "I know more about what facilities they need--don't bother contacting them."

Well, I knew this wasn't and would not be true. 

It was then, that Snoreck moved Campbell upstairs.  At that time, WVU used the euphemism often to promote individuals to a staff role under a higher official, pending their being...moved...out...

In place of Bill Campbell, Jim Shaub, from Snoreck's former Air Force ROTC unit, first became Associate Director during the transition for Campbell. Then he was automatically moved to the Director position. Bill Campbell made the deal for me that he would agree to the organizational changes ONLY if I were made Associate Director... 

While I became Associate Director, at NO time ever did Jim Shaub ever sit down with me and review my former responsibilities, what they involved and how my staff were used to respond to those responsibilities. In fact, not only I was now over everything I had earlier been involved with, but now, I was given additional responsibilities pertaining to the Planning function which essentially covered the construction portion of the facilities planning function.

The next major disruption was that I had a manager position open within the Facilities Management portion of the office. Before I knew it, I had Colonel Snoreck leaning over my desk with his arms spread and staring directly into my eyes, saying, "we have our new Manager, don't we?" I was forced to hire Ken White. He was the second colonel moved from ROTC to Facilities Planning and Management. This time, though, Ken White had absolutely NO training, experience nor education in performing the duties assigned to my office...

In the meantime, Jim Shaub's directorship of the construction function had taken a dive--big time. He and his project officers had lost control of the multi-million capital budget allocated by the Board of Regents.

Instead of dealing with this problem himself, Jim merely assigned me the responsibility under my new title of Associate Director. Specifically, I spent an entire year going through every single budget transaction, specific allocations received, all disbursements, et.al. In order to complete this task, I had to use my former personal secretary and have her assist me in setting up a completed computerized capital budget cost accounting system!

I'd like to add a personal note: I do not have a degree in relation to my assigned duties. I studied, and worked on the job under Bill Campbell to handle and build onto the original position for which he had been hired...All of the others in facilities planning have a degree. Yet none of them were required to deal with tracking the financial costs for their assigned projects...

During my lost year of having to be totally dedicated to creating a new financial system, Ken White took over the Facilities Analysis Unit. Fortunately, I had already trained my classroom management staff and they were able to function on their own for the most part. Three other areas resided in the Office: Facilities Analysis, Facilities Inventory, and Facilities Data Reporting.

I had hired a competent computer specialist, but with White sitting back having discussions with his two ROTC comrades, there wasn't much of anything getting done in the unit that I had developed and had functioning effectively. To "conceptually" build the new system, Terry was unable to move ahead. However, he was trying to help out as much as possible with those in the unit, but when he came to me one day and said, "One of your staff members is banging her head up against the wall (literally) and I've tried to help, but don't know enough about the reporting..." I knew another catastrophic situation was underway...

To be Continued...

Emotionally Damaged: Living With Job Burnout - PTSD - Open Memoir - Chapter 1

It was July 18, 1963, when I began working at West Virginia University. It had been an easy choice for me. It was the closest major employer within driving distance. I car-pooled with my sister, Marlene, who worked in Morgantown as well. 

My first job found me behind this large building and in the basement... See those steps of the left? Well, walk across the walk, go down the steps and turn right into the basement. Look to the right and you'll see the post office for the campus! (See Also Appendix I.)

I was hired to handle two duties. Secretary to the Assistant Director of Personnel and Records Clerk. I very much enjoyed working there and, when, the Director's secretary moved to join her husband in Pittsburgh, she had trained me to become the Secretary to the Directory.

During my time in Personnel, I was also elected to serve on the newly created WVU Staff Council. This was comprised of two representatives from each of the recognized classifications on campus; e.g., clerical, technical, service, etc.

Mr. Serpento became Director of Personnel at the time I also was being promoted to the secretarial position. Mr. Serpento was one of the best bosses I've had. He allowed me to act on my own for the majority of time... I remember once I was working to compile, edit, and publish a new WVU Handbook. That's where I first developed my experience as a proofreader. And began to build a reputation.

When I discovered a somewhat major error in continuity, I brought it to Mr. Serpento's attention. He looked at me and recommended I put the issue in a memo and send to Miss (Louise) Keener, who was the chief financial officer at that time (Controller). I remember quite well the comment she made to my boss when he went to the next meeting with those writing the handbook. "I've never had a secretary who would take the initiative to question the writing of those writing policies and procedures." Yes, I corrected the Handbook error before it was published.

During that time, I also began to develop my research skills. Our Office routinely received a bulletin from the National Bureau of College Affairs, which provided all the significant changes from the federal government. I began to read and highlight all those that would affect WVU in any way. At that time, for example, the Accessibility Act was coming into use. I saw that it was coming and kept track of new and related developments. 

This prepared me, later, when I moved into Facilities Planning and Management where I was responsible for ensuring all the classrooms on campus were made accessible for all issues of disabilities. More on that later.

However, first, after working in Personnel for 5 years, I applied for the highest secretarial positions on campus and was hired to work for the Provost (at that time there was only one), who was part of the central administrative leadership of WVU. I was hired and worked with Dr. Munn until he retired as Provost to return to just Director of University Libraries.

Also, during that time, a new Provost for Instruction was hired and Jay Barton was named. His secretary was the one who came to me, when she was leaving, and asked if I'd like to be considered for her position.

I was hired! And, I felt I was now in the "big time" for secretarial work. Dr. Barton was an enthusiastic and energetic new member at WVU. I was used to coming in early, due to still car pooling. Well, as soon as he saw me arrive, he called me in (around 7:15-7:30). He would dictate letters, scheduling needs, requests for pulling files, etc. He dictated enough in one hour before he went off to all the meetings that was scheduled that day--I gave him a typed small card to carry)

The thing was...he would dictate in one hour what could actually take about a week to accomplish! So I was always catching up, because the next morning, of course, I'd be in taking new notes. Soooo, I quickly learned how to deal with him... You see, there is no way that a secretary could project what he wanted to be prioritized as high during that morning session. So, if he asked about something not yet done, I would just go ahead and do it and get it to him, stopping whatever it was that I had previously been doing before he asked for something. To me, it was exhilarating! My speed for shorthand was growing, my ability to act under pressure was necessary, and when he went off to another country during a summer, he left me totally in charge of handling things... I loved working with Jay Barton!

But once again, somebody approached me for a new job. It was Bill Campbell, director of a newly created office of Facilities Analysis and Utilization, including classroom scheduling. I would still be reporting to Dr. Barton on all things academic... And I took the job.

During my tenure in this Office, I at first handled the secretarial duties, which were light, since I was primarily hired to handle classroom scheduling. A secretary was soon added and another individual at that time was handling the creation and maintenance of a university facilities inventory. By the time, ongoing changes were made, adding new responsibilities, I was upgraded, first, to Manager and then to Assistant Director...

Another reorganization took place which eliminated the former University Architect Office, and placed the responsibilities under Mr. Campbell as, now, Director of Facilities Planning and Management.

And then it started... A new Assistant Vice President for Facilities was named. Bill Campbell, who was also a great boss, was "moved upstairs..."

Note: This begins the actual manuscript of this book, creating chapters, etc. Previous or new, related articles will be placed in the Appendix and ultimately will be referred to as being connected to any specific chapter. See first example, connecting Appendix I to this Chapter.

Jack Smith Announces First Time Ever, President of United States Indicted 38 Counts, for Records Violations/Espionage - Robert Sells Provides Background - Glenda Bixler Illustrates Impact

 

The question every voter has to ask themselves is whether or not a person like Donald should be in the White House. To answer that question, just study the man.

Here is a recent post from his Truth Social soapbox: The Special “Prosecutor,” Jack Smith, who is harassing, threatening, and terrorizing people who work for me, probably illegally, and totally at odds with the way Crooked Joe Biden is being treated, will no longer be known as the Special “Prosecutor,” but rather, the Special “Persecutor.” He is a Trump Hating SLIMEBALL who is going far beyond the original instructions of the Department of Injustice. The Witch Hunt continues, as it always will, with the Radical Left, Country Destroying, Lunatics!

Okay, the most obvious defect Donald exhibits is his penchant for calling people and investigations derogatory names… pretty much like a nine-year old bully: “Crooked Joe Biden”, Jack Smith as a Special “Persecutor” and a “SLIMEBALL”, “Department of Injustice”, “Radical left, Country Destroying, Lunatics”. That is a plethora of names for just one paragraph! Now, name-calling was common fare for all of us… WHEN WE WERE NINE YEARS OLD! So, is this the sort of person you want in the White House?

Then there are the deliberate obfuscations. Donald claims that Jack Smith is “harassing, threatening, and terrorizing people”. Harassing? No. He is asking for testimony in an investigation. Threatening? Well, he may warn them that lies in such an investigation could land them in jail. Donald might be understandably upset that his subordinates can’t lie like he can. Threatening? Maybe Smith or his subordinates said… tell us everything because if we find out you’ve been holding back FROM TELLING THE TRUTH (!) we will investigate your actions. Threatening? No. Warning? Probably.

More inherent lies in his statement. “Crooked Joe Bident”? Not one bit of evidence to suggest that President Biden has committed any crime. Presently, Donald is wriggling in six criminal investigations. “Department of Injustice”. A lie. He coined that moniker only after investigations were launched into his wrong-doings. “Country Destroying Lunatics”? No. Despite what Donald claims the Democrats are not destroying America. Certainly, they are not Lunatics. So, is a pathological, totally unrepentant liar who you want in the White House?

Just study the man and ask yourself… do I want this sort of person in any position of power?

~~~

It was July 18, 1963, when I first was hired at West Virginia University, in the Personnel Office. I was to be secretary to the Assistant Director, as well as Records Clerk. It is to the latter responsibility I wish to discuss.

Can you imagine, as we formally learn of how the former president has purposely retained and stored without security, just what I could have done in the position of Records Clerk?

As Records Clerk, I worked with each new employee to sign up for benefits, and created the forms to get them on the payroll. But I was also responsible for creating and maintaining the individual's personnel file. This included the application for the new employee, references, test scores, if required, and the specific position and salary they would be paid. I also received a complete listing of all employees and routinely updated it based upon appointments and terminations.

When budgets were being developed for the University's classified employees, I also worked with budget proposals which would be used to submit requests for funding, based upon various percentages that could be used, if funded at that level.

I remember that once, in leaving work, I mentioned to my Mother, who also worked on campus, what I was working on... She asked a little about the process, but we both knew that I would not share specifics! No, not even with my Mother!

So, here's a few scenarios that I could have played if I chose to disregard the need for secrecy of employee records:

• I could have shared test results of clerical staff. For instance, I knew what my test scores were and I was also in Staff Council. It would have been very easy for me to look up test scores in a given category, say secretary or clerk and point out the difference in testing scores as it related to jobs held...
• Or I could have read the references for individual employees and talked about them with my friends...
• I could have shared and/or compared individual employee salaries, including those who had been on campus a lengthy time, and shared that information...
• I could have pointed out during Staff Council meetings that I had such information available and I could provide...for a small cost...
• I could have shared, in advance to the official announcement, exactly what percentage increase (or none) would be given each year. This could be helpful to employees in planning for their future.
• I could have shared personal data for any employee, to be used by those who "used" that information to cause problems, such as stealing an Identity...

I've written this scenario of just one person's set of available information, to help each of you understand exactly what was possible with the retention of secret, classified, and top secret types of information. 

It has already been announced that some documents related to the United States plans of action for handling possible attacks from outside the nation. This is illustrative of the level of danger that could occur. For example, imagine if this information was given or sold to the North Koreans who, you will remember, was constantly talking about how close they were to being able to hit the North American continent. Imagine if just one document, showing how we would prepare for attack, would automatically make it possible for another country to choose exactly where they would attack for the most impact!

Read the Indictment!

You can download the complete legal announcement from various sites. I found the NY Times was the easiest for downloading a pdf file. (If you don't know about pdf, you can download the program free... Normally, all government documents use the PDF format.

C is for Caveat Emptor. Caveat emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer beware.” So, to the people who bought Donald Trump the presidency—yes, I’m talking to you, Vladimir and Fox & Friends—don’t be surprised that it’s defective. It’s your fault. Caveat emptor. You should have seen it coming. --Joy Behar from The Great Gasbag

What's Happening at Book Readers Heaven! Some Good News! And Some Great News! Time to Celebrate God's Blessings! And Try For Amazon Gift Cards!

Good Morning! First the Great News!!! Yesterday, I had eye surgery on my right eye, and almost immediately, I was able to open my eyes and see, even through the patch I am now wearing!

Let me tell you about what happened... I admit that I was more concerned about this surgery, even though I've had both brain surgery and hip surgery over the past few years, and each of the surgeries went well as many of you already know. First, Rachel, who is helping me during these health issues, shared about her eye surgery. She promised it wouldn't hurt. I felt better having talked to somebody I love and who loves me--she's my great great-niece! I immediately felt better having somebody share about going through eye surgery. Eyes are so important to me, as you surely realize, since I'm reading all the time--and talking about books!

When I got into pre-op, a beautiful young woman came to help me. She had a tattoo on her arm and I immediately noticed and asked about it. It was a stack of books!!! Immediately we were sympatico, talking about our love for books and my concern for the surgery. Others joined her and told me about their reading, and then how many similar operations were routinely done... So, I changed clothes and got on the bed which would be used to take me to the operating room, (I had been told there was only one ahead of me). All of a sudden, I heard...

"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy,"

Immediately, I had to respond, "Down in My Heart!"

And I heard, "Where?!

And I sang, "Down in My Heart!" 

And by that time, the lady had taken the first patient out of the room, on her way.

I turned to Rachel who was now with me for pre-op. I know I was grinning and she laughed back. I said, That was a God Incident! And then I called over the young woman and they shared admiration for their respective tats, and after she moved away. I said, "Rachel, that's what I call another God Incident--as soon as I saw her stack of books... And that's how I know that I know that I know God is Here! And I'm now ready for the surgery!"

And, here I am now typing and sharing and I'll go back to my surgeon, Dr. Moore later today. As you know, I tend to get excited when I've felt the presence of Our Lord!

I have to share, though, that I was not prepared for what happened. When I think of anesthesia, I think of going to sleep, well, this was "twilight," so if you ever hear that, ask for an explanation!

You see, I was awake during the entire surgery. I had a patch over my entire right facial area and then the lights started coming on and I was told to look directly at the light... Hmmm, so soon the light started moving (the Doctor had started) and I could actually see the Doctor working on my eye and, yes, each movement he made! Think going to the dentist if you have had a bad time, or even a good time), but you know that he's right there in your face and you can watch him... Well, now imagine not being able to see his face, but just the tips of his fingers and that light moving, moving, moving... I get chills just thinking about it! I frankly was afraid to move, I guess, because I could actually watch, rather than sleep through it... It was intense! And I was glad it was over. On the other hand, I already know what to expect on the left eye, so that's a good thing...I guess...but, I'll admit that I might be just as tense... But, believe me, it was worth it and I'm now looking forward to the operation on my left eye.

In post-op, those helping there said that some people think nothing of it, and others have a reaction like mine. I kept thinking about the very first time I started going to a dentist. He was my next-door neighbor so I was comfortable with him, until I got in that chair... I remember I grabbed hold of those arms and my fingers clutched the end of them and I didn't move one inch! Yeah, new experiences like that sometimes brings a "scared" reaction... You?

On the other hand, like I said, I'm sitting her writing about the whole experience...And overjoyed with actually being able to see through the patch on my eye and type to tell you about it! God is GOOD!

Kudos to all of the staff, and especially, my surgeon, Dr. Moore, who helped me through the trauma of another surgery!

Stopping now to get ready to go back for checkup! May have to continue tomorrow...for the good news!

God's gift of sight has allowed me to read, review, and talk about the hundreds and hundreds of books that have come into my life. I have personally gotten to know many of those writers who I can meet only online. Oops, I now remember that one of those authors came to visit me, Ruby Moon-Houldson, when she was on her way to Egypt... All of you have become an important part of my life! 

Words are so important. They can share love, they can hurt, or they can show, really, almost every emotion that we can experience during our lifetimes... I have been blessed in reading YOUR Words! Especially those of you who have chosen to use your books to talk about issues they've experienced in the past and/or in the present. Strong memories of pain and suffering. Loving words with others--or from God. Each of your lives are reflected in the words you write and share. How beautiful to have the opportunity to enter the lives of so many different people! And to see the faces of those characters you've created. Sometimes, we come to love them, as an integral part of you, the writer, whose imagination has been so fully engaged as to introduce us to, perhaps, fictional people, but still, people who reflect a part of yourself and those people around you. And, yes, that includes the villains! LOL

Which leads me to the Good News that I wanted to share with all who visit Book Readers Heaven!

It was 2005 when I moved my blog to here at Blogger. That's so long ago that I can't remember where I was posting earlier, but I do remember that Blogger was willing to allow a transfer into this new adventure for Google. I have never been sorry I've switched. The site is easy to use, easy to find, and, with an upgraded program format, even easier and better in fully sharing what each of you have written and which have then appeared on Book Readers Heaven!

So I'm celebrating! What? Well, I've gained (as well as all those who have guest blogged here), a threshold of articles that are now available here at Book Readers Heaven! I'm boasting that over 3000 (3015) have been published! They share my reviews, but also poetry, music, and other activities related to reading, including author interviews. 

Lately I've even been sharing "opinion pieces" which I or others have written, often including excerpts from books related to those opinions. Also, recently, although I've not been accepting requests for reviews, but I actually am buying books written by many of the authors I know or whose book has come to my attention for some reason. Many of them have been banned books, which in my mind is theft--for the author, the publishers, and for the potential readers who would want to read a book that has been banned, arbitrarily, in my opinion!

Within Book Readers Heaven, I've also started writing two memoirs (at first I wavered) but I'm now committed to, which will be open and written on an ongoing basis, free to read with no copyright issues.

If all goes well with the second cataract removal surgery, I hope to begin receiving requests for reviews--on a limited basis, with the awareness that my health cannot do the daily reading and blogging that I was previously providing. I'll keep you posted on that possibility.

In the meantime, please help me celebrate by trying for one of the Three $30.00 Amazon gift cards. With just a few simple rules... Sign up to follow Book Readers Heaven (check right-hand column of the blog).

Leave a comment to share whether you are an author, reader, or someone working in publishing, along with your name... and how to reach you. 

And start sharing posts that have been those you enjoyed! It can be on Twitter or Facebook, or other sites on which you are a member. I won't be checking, LOL. But I wanted to point out to authors that have been reviewed here at Book Readers Heaven. you are permitted to often share your own reviews routinely so that your book(s) are in the news more often... You can also post the link to your review on your own site to send your viewers to see a review that you appreciated! 

I receive no monetary payment for reviewing at Book Readers Heaven. I am now reading only e-books due to my eyes. That policy will continue...

What am I celebrating?! YOU, You writers who have created a book that you wanted to share with others... It may not even be published (yet) and you want to talk about or share a first chapter or two... Hey, I'll be happy to read and create the post here at Book Readers Heaven... And, as you know, if you use music in any of your book, I'll be using it to complement your book(s) I love Book Trailers...Let me know if you have one! Poets! Send me authority to use selections from your book(s). I'll post on a routine basis, which is an ongoing celebration of your words! 

All I want to do it share your Words! Those Words you have written and which you want to share... Let me know how you'd like to participate here! Nearly 1.8M have visited...Reading Your Words... Come back often, share your book to renew the celebration of your book(s) through excerpts, illustrations if you own the copyright or they are available for free use, and let me know if you'd like to be interviewed. Note that I do not use a standard format. I must actually read your book and will develop the questions based upon content. And the writer will approve that discussion prior to my ever posting!

And please remember that, I review based upon the belief that all are created equal...If I question the quality of a book, I will consult with the writer about it. No negative reviews are ever posted without specific issues being defined and explained. That includes any significant editorial errors that I find. Fair enough? I think so, but feel free to ask questions.

God Bless!

Gabbie

A very special shoutout of THANKS! to Blogger staff for maintaining and publishing the actual blog and Google for the free use of their staff's time and computer platforms! Freedom to Share our words is an important right, especially these days. Thank you! Sooooo Much!

Rogue Justice by Stacey Abrams Presents Main Character with Eidetic Memory - Fun to Watch a Brilliant Mind Solve Political Intrigue!

 

"Avery had spent too much time in D.C. to be surprised, but the clay feet of America’s political leaders still hurt. ''

“Come on in,” came the familiar voice with its golden baritone. The agent escorted Avery and Agent Morales inside. President Stokes, phone to his ear, sat behind a smaller version of the Resolute desk, complete with the whorls and scrolls of the original. Two chairs flanked the guest side, and he motioned to them to sit. He continued his conversation, unconcerned about being overheard. “Mick, you know where I’ll be tomorrow?” He tipped back, hand stroking his chin thoughtfully, his tone even and polite. “In the White House, Mick. And you’ll be in the s***house for f***ing me. Keep that in mind when you say your prayers tonight. And when you come hat in hand asking for a favor for those gas-guzzling monstrosities that California will find a way to ban, keep it in mind. For every day you have left running that failing company of yours, remember where you chose to stand when a friend called on you. Because I will remember, Mick. I absolutely will.” Brandon Stokes fervently missed the satisfying crack of a slammed phone, or even the tepid click that signaled the end of a discussion. Cellular phones removed the grandiosity and drama, leaving only dead air. Disappointed, he lightly tapped the button to end the call and lowered the phone to the desk. His call had two audiences—and both messages had been delivered. “Ms. Keene, so kind of you to join us.” He motioned again to the chairs. 

Avery remained stock still. The president shifted his attention to the agent waiting by her side. “Agent Morales, can you give us a minute, please?” “Yes, sir.” Avery continued to watch President Stokes. “I didn’t realize the Secret Service had become your personal goon squad.” “I simply asked them to escort you to see your president.” He cocked his head at her, softened his smile to implore trust. “I believe you and I got off on the wrong foot early on.” 

“You kidnapped my mother,” she reminded him baldly. “Threatened to kill her. Tried to kill me.” The smile tightened, then vanished. In its place was a perfect imitation of righteous indignation. “Major Vance kidnapped your mother. He hired thugs to kill you and your friends.” He laid his hands flat against the desk. “I swear to God, I knew nothing of his treason. I fought for our nation, for our ideals. Why would I cast aside all the good I have done, could still do, for such a grotesque purpose?” Avery knew she was hearing the opening arguments of the Stokes impeachment trial. Trouble was, although she intimately understood the utter bollocks he spewed, she easily believed others would take him at his word. Especially his colleagues in the U.S. Senate, a body where he distinguished himself as a warrior for accountability and integrity. Giving herself an internal shake, she let out a short chuckle. “You’ve had weeks to practice, sir. That’s the best you can do?” For a nanosecond, rage flashed, then subsided. “I reached out to you, Avery, because we have a common mission here. To move forward and put the past behind us.” He gestured to one of the two chairs again. “Won’t you please have a seat?” “No, I will not.” She pointedly looked around the elegant study, its high ceilings and shelves of books with a librarian’s ladder to reach the highest tomes. “Do you read, Mr. President?” He swept his arms wide. “These aren’t for decoration.” She wandered over to a section and plucked a random volume. Opening to the middle of the book, she skimmed random pages. Avery quickly returned to the president, who watched her actions with clear confusion. “Take it,” she instructed, and he warily accepted the open hardback. Avery clasped her hands behind her and began to recite. “ ‘They are good husbands, or faithful wives, or something tedious. You know what I mean—middle-class virtue and all that kind of thing. How different Sibyl was! She lived her finest tragedy. She was always a heroine. The last night she played—the night you saw her—she acted badly because she had known the reality of love. When she knew its unreality, she died, as Juliet might have died. She passed again into the sphere of art.’ ” 

She gripped the chair she refused. “I remember everything I see, everything I read. I know the truth.” “Quite the circus feat,” President Stokes offered in low tones, as he turned the spine toward him. “Did you choose The Picture of Dorian Gray on purpose? To teach me a deeper lesson about not underestimating you?” She managed not to roll her eyes. Playing along, she replied, “Pure coincidence. Like the passage I picked.” “If you thought to impress me with your prodigious memory, Ms. Keene, I am not that taken by the interesting pattern of neurons that let you do what confidence men have done for generations.” “I’m the con artist?” she replied incredulously. “You managed to convince a nation that you had their best interests at heart.” “I did,” he said haughtily. “I do. And your routine here or some performance on Capitol Hill will not divert me from my purpose.” 

“What? Genocide?” His grip on the book tightened. “Protection. Opportunity. Defense. Freedom. All things that I have pursued on behalf of my fellow citizens for longer than you’ve been alive.” “So you admit you authorized the Tigris Project?” President Stokes gave her a thin smile. He stroked the book, and without looking down, he continued Avery’s passage from memory. “ ‘There is something of the martyr about her. Her death has all the pathetic uselessness of martyrdom, all its wasted beauty.’ ” He flipped the cover over, tapped the embossed name of the author from the priceless first edition. “Oscar Wilde reveled in the excesses of passion, didn’t he? His Dorian Gray resolved to make his life count, to do what he could to wring out the last dregs of joy.” His smile widened. “Perhaps, somewhere in the recesses of your astonishing memory, you learned that I wrote my undergraduate thesis on Mr. Wilde. He was quite the chameleon.” Avery held her silence, and he continued. “Writer. Philosopher. Classicist. A man ahead of his time but committed to his ideals. One whose moral turpitude was later placed into appropriate context. I committed my services to my nation, to each citizen having the ability to thrive.” 

“At whose expense?” Avery whispered. “You murdered people.” “Accusations like that will not end well for you, Avery. Our investigations have already uncovered your unsavory relationship with Karriem Shabazz.” “I had no such relationship,” she ground out. “These lies won’t stick.” “Information need not be permanent to be useful.” He flashed his famous grin again, the one that charmed heads of state and diplomats. “Recant while you can, and I will not forget your bravery.” Pissed that she allowed them to keep her phone, Avery reminded herself of why she’d come. For the truth. And if she’d had the smallest glimmer of doubt, he’d quashed it. “I have nothing more to say to you, sir. I’d like to leave.” “Certainly. Once you finish the passage, Ms. Keene.” “What?” “Your parlor trick has been helpful in setting the parameters of our engagement. So use that remarkable memory and tell me what Dorian says to Basil about suffering. I’ll get you started. ‘You must not think I have not suffered.’ ” 

Fear washed through Avery, as cold as the blast from the SUV. Brandon Stokes was no cartoonish buffoon, no clumsy swindler who stumbled into power using invective and fool’s gold. His patina of honor distracted attention, but a careful watcher would see what he showed her now. A rare, deadly combination of zealot and genius. A warning she’d do well to heed. Chilled, she murmured Dorian’s complaint. “ ‘I suffered immensely. Then it passed away. I cannot repeat an emotion. No one can, except sentimentalists.’ ” He tapped a button on his phone. “Ms. Keene is ready to go.” Like a wraith, Agent Morales appeared in the doorway. Avery hurried out, ready to be as far away from Stokes as she could. Heading back the way they’d entered, she kept her head low, her mind racing. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” The exclamation brought her head up. Congressman Luke Boylen stood in the foyer, outfitted in a chambray shirt, jeans, and scuffed riding boots with a riding crop under his arm. “Leaving,” Avery replied shortly. “I’d ask the same of you, but why insult either of us?” She poked Agent Morales. “Please.” The agent shifted to allow her to precede him, and she gave the congressman a wide berth. Confidentiality of the deposition be damned. Although Avery had never been naïve enough to think secrecy applied, she hadn’t expected the Republicans to be quite so brazen. Gravel crunched beneath her feet as she made a beeline for the truck. Once inside, she stuck out her hand, the command wordless. The silent agent driving the vehicle returned her satchel and phone. Avery powered the device on and watched the cascade of text messages and voicemails with growing dismay. In the chaos of today’s revelations, she’d forgotten her other appointment. “Shit.” Agent Morales slammed the heavy front-passenger door, and Avery scooted forward. “This puppy have lights and sirens? I’m late for a meeting on Capitol Hill, and it’s all your fault.” The agent gave his colleague a brief nod. “Buckle up.”

~~~

"Something about his brand of patriotism had always rubbed her the wrong way. Patriots who also had a mild case of messianic fervor usually came to an end, holed up in a remote cabin with adherents and jugs of kerosene or crates of automatic weapons."

When the brilliant mind of the writer creates a main character who actually is brilliant and able to use her eidetic memory--a person who has an almost faithful mental image snapshot or photograph of an event in her memory--to engage in the legal realm and within the political environment, you can bet that you will be able to sit back and watch how "easy" criminals can be caught and punished for their actions. I loved this book, mainly because, while using many issues directly from today's headlines, the author purposely changed key points of her characters so that readers will not easily be able to...anticipate!

For instance, many will immediately visualize the president in the novel as one of the former men who served in the office, while immediately pointing out, to her amazement, that he was  no cartoonish buffoon, no clumsy swindler who stumbled into power using invective and fool’s gold.

Using this type of maneuvering within the overall story of ensuring that justice is achieved, will lead readers to certainly pay attention to the details in order to keep up with the plot--as it thickens! And just watching the news these days ensures us that, indeed, the plot will thicken, sometimes through discovering the truth--but also through lies used indiscriminately by those in power who have no real desire to be truthful in all things. Especially when it improves their own power and wealth.

Abrams takes us into an area which many Americans are beginning to, or already are, concerned about--the court system. But it is a specialized court, which sets out the procedures for electronic surveillance and collection of foreign information (FISA).

Avery Keene, the main character, was placed in a very unusual situation when the judge for whom she clerked gave her his power of attorney.Supreme Court Associate Justice Howard Wynn, was now in a coma in the hospital and Avery Keene was caught in the middle as she reviews Wynn's allegations of genocide, treason, and murder by the President of the United States. President Stokes had been removed from office and was in the middle of impeachment proceedings. And, quickly, Avery had become a pawn by any and all who were involved. The key point, however, is that Ms. Keene had done an extensive investigation to confirm what Justice Wynn had been about to announce. Immediately, the vice-president had acted to take hold as Acting President, while supporters of the President began to "create" lies to discredit and, yes, harm Avery, her family, and her friends. Avery also happens to be involved with Judge Wynn's estranged son, Jared. As the novel opens, Avery is the main witness as the Impeachment inquiry begins.

Ms. Keene had been given minimal duties, attending seminars, et.al., to keep her an active part of the office. At the end of one session, she was approached by a clerk of another judge from Idaho, who hoped to have her help in some way. He explained that he had watched while his judge committed suicide, and wanted to have an investigation to prove that she had not been responsible for her actions. That they had killed her and he sought her help in taking them down. He passed her information and quickly left, with Avery quickly gathering her things to follow. By the time she got on the street, he had found a taxi and was rolling away. As she watched, Avery saw a female jogger move forward and running alongside, killed Preston, the clerk, first and then the driver. And immediately disappeared...

One of the items Preston had given her was a tape that proved what was going on. And a list of all FISA judges, one of the most powerful set court in America. And the woman who had just died was on that list.

Soon, it was discovered that a mass shooting had taken place, and the man who had gunned down most of the people in his former working place had been set free by the same judge from Idaho.

As more judges die across the country, Avery Keene, joined by FBI Special Agents begin one of the most extraordinary set of criminal activities that could be divined by someone who is both intellectually knowledgeable and experienced with both the courts and the extensive structure of the Federal Government. Abrams' second novel has already surpassed her first, in the Avery Keene series. I can't image where she might go next, but I'm going to be right there waiting to read, and learn, as she weaves one of the most, if not the most, incredible intriguing and totally, exhausting, thrilling chase to keep up with what is turning out to be a major attack across the United States in multiple ways!

You've got to read it to believe it! Yet, Avery Keene, with her mind-picturing will guide you through all of the events that had occurred in years past right up to what was happening in the exact time period that was already too late to stop what was planned. Brilliant mind-blowing action, suspense, and nitty-gritty detail chasing pieces of a multi-faceted unbelievable puzzle!

GABixlerReviews