Write or Wrong

Paying Forward

2011-11-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

I recently saw a documentary on the plight of Albinos in Tanzania. As you may know my heart is touched whenever I see children suffering. The situation here in Africa effects both adults and children but many of these children never reach adulthood because they are often murdered before they become adults.

Neglected Child in Public School

The Albinos in Tanzania are hunted for their body parts and their blood. There have been many, many slaughterings and dismemberment of Albino children. A news article reported recently on how young albino girls have been raped as a result of a mistaken belief that it can cure aids.

How can we help? There's a non-profit organization called Under the Same Sun that has been working diligently to help People with Albinism (PWAs). They accept contributions. Also these children are in dire need of having their eyes protected from the sun. So starting December 1, 2011, I will donate a pair of sunglasses for every one of my books that is sold online (either paperback or e-book form) to these children in Tanzania. I have three mystery novels, The Advocate, The Advocate's Betrayal, and The Advocate's Conviction. (The main character is an advocate for abused children.) Any of these books will qualify and they are available in paperback on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and about any e-book form you want. If you purchase a book I will use my royalties to send the sunglasses to help protect their sensitive eyes. Together we can pay forward and help these unfortunate children.

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Albinos in Tanzania

2011-11-27T10:29:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine living every day in fear? That's the way the albinos in Tanzania have to live because their bodies are sought after for use in witchcraft. More than 60 albinos have been murdered in the last 4 years. They have been chopped up and their body parts have been sold to witch doctors who concoct charms. Others have survived but have been dismembered. Only a few of the cases have resulted in convictions. The news recently indicated that eight suspects were sentenced to death for some of these attacks. Many of these crimes have gone unsolved. And although the arrests that have been made have resulted in some lessening of attacks as recent as last month two teenagers were accosted and their body parts hacked off.


Fifteen year old Kulwa's arm was hacked off with a machete on 10/21/20ll at her home in Mbizi Village.

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition. They lack pigmentation in their skin and their eyes. They are extremely vulnerable to the sun. People with this condition are generally visually impaired and most are legally blind. In North America and Europe the estimates are that about one in every 20,000 people have some form of Albinism, but in Africa and particularly Tanzania the numbers are about one in every 2,000. Approximately 150,000 albinos live in Tanzania and they all fear for their lives. The children have to attend special schools and are often given away as babies because their parents cannot protect them from this horrible evil that often results in dismemberment or death.

A man named Peter Ash, from Langley, BC, formed a non-profit organization called Under the Same Sun to promote the well being of these poor people. He has done many wonderful things to help them such as forming schools for the children, providing a clinic to help with vision problems, developing public awareness, and advocating for people with albinism.

I can't imagine the torture these poor people have to endure. It's bad enough that the sun is their enemy, but to be hunted like animals by other human beings is incomprehensible.

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Revisiting Old Stores

2011-11-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity of returning to two Barnes and Noble stores that I haven't been to in a while, Fullerton and Long Beach Towne Center.

I have spent a lot of time in these stores in the past signing my first two books, and this past weekend The Advocate's Conviction was featured there. It was great seeing the old staff and meeting new ones. But my favorite part was seeing my readers, many of who started with my first book and have continually returned to get the latest one. Nothing feels better to an author than to have a reader show up to purchase your book because they love your writing. Thanks, Long Beach and Fullerton readers...you made my weekend!

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Federal Prison Visit

2011-11-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

Last week I was invited by the California Writers Club, High Desert Branch, (CWC) to speak to a group of inmates at the Federal Prison. It was quite an interesting experience. The hardest part was getting inside.

First, you go inside the front door, fill out forms, sign in, and receive a stamp on your wrist. (This is after you have applied for a clearance and have been approved.) They take all your worldly possessions if you forgot to leave them in the car...phones, cash, etc. Then you go through the metal detector and into the next area. There your paperwork is pulled and checked. The paperwork for the two men from CWC, who had been there previously, had been misplaced. It took some time to clear that up, but as a result of it we were able to meet the warden of the prison and that was cool.

The next door took us into a room that had another door to the outside. Only one of those doors can open at a time so the second door won't open until the first is closed. There was a gadget there that checked our stamps. However, the stamps didn't show up on the machine so we had to go back out and get re-stamped...there apparently wasn't enough ink in the pad. We returned went through the second door and walked to a gate that entered onto the complex.

By the time we arrived there it was noon and the inmates were walking from one side of the complex to the other to reach the yard. They were walking around the perimeter of the complex. We walked across and then we waited a few feet from them until they were all past us and then walked into the building where the class was being held. Twenty men awaited our words of wisdom. These were all inmates who were interested in writing, had good behavior records, and thus qualified for the class.

I spoke to the group for about fifteen minutes and then they started to ask questions. We were there for nearly two hours before a guard came in and asked us to wrap it up. The men were very respectful. I have been to many a prison to meet with clients and I have always had to deal with the "looks" and the "mutterings" by inmates. There was none of that here. These men were so thirsty for knowledge. They asked incredible questions and gave great feedback, and even laughed at my jokes. They all have a story to tell and I can imagine many of them are quite interesting. They would love to be published. In fact, two of the men were already published authors before they were incarcerated.

The difficult part for me was trying to give them some positive answers for some of their questions. It is hard enough to get published and promote a book from the outside and many of these men are "lifers." I encouraged them to use their time to write as much as they can. Maybe one day I'll read a novel or see a screenplay written by one of these men. No matter what, I'm sure the writing itself is very therapeutic.

Sorry, no pictures were allowed.

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Barnes & Noble at Palm Desert

2011-11-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

I spent three days at Barnes & Noble in Palm Desert last week.It was the first Meet & Greet I have done with the new book, The Advocate's Conviction. I was thoroughly amazed at the number of readers from the desert that came in the store to purchase a copy of the third book. It was nice to hear all the wonderful things they had to say about the first two books and to see how excited they were to start the third. Thank you, Desert Fans, you made my day.

Every event it seems I meet so many nice people and some of them are quite entertaining. This time was no different. A woman and her mother came into the store. The mother, I would guess, was at least in her 70's, maybe more. When I asked them if they read mysteries, the older woman shook her head, made an "icky" face, and said, "Oh, no."

I had just handed them each a bookmark and the daughter realized I was the author. She said to her mother, "Mother, you're insulting her. She's the author."

The mother said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Let me see your book."

They walked over to my table and started reading the blurbs on my books. The mother said, "Oh, my daughter, Wendy, would love these. She loves books about legal stuff."

"Is she an attorney?" I asked.

"Oh no," she said again. "She works for an attorney. She does all the work and he gets all the money."

I smiled and said, "That's the way it should be." She frowned at me and I said, "I'm a lawyer."

Her daughter turned to her mother and said, "Now, you've insulted her twice!."

The mother said, "Would it help if I told you I'm not from this country? I'm Canadian."

They bought two books, and we were all laughing about it when they left. A while later the older woman came back to my table to apologize one more time. I said to her, "I thought you came back to insult me again." Of course I explained to her that I wasn't insulted at all. She gave me a big hug. I love those hugs.

Teresa
www.teresaburrell.com

Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, TN

2011-11-09T08:03:00.000-08:00


Nick Valentino & Elizabeth Darvill

A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune to attend the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, TN. It was my first trip to the festival and my second to Nashville, but the city had changed quite a bit since my last visit some thirty-plus years ago. My schedule didn't allow for a lot of sightseeing except for a quick trip to see the exterior of the Grand Ole Opry.. I hope to return next year and do a little more.

The festival was small but busy. I met a lot of wonderful people and gained a lot of new readers. I shared a booth with two Steampunk authors, Nick Valentino and Elizabeth Darvill both dressed in their incredible costumes. If you haven't read any Steampunk you really ought to try it. It's a fun genre to read. You travel to Victorian times with lots of gadgets operating on steam and clockwork. Nick writes adventure novels. Check out Thomas Riley. Be forewarned if you read Elizabeth's books. Some of them put a little extra steam in the Steampunk. She writes paranormal romance novels among other things.

The best part of the trip for me, however, was visiting with my niece, Adrienne, her husband, Dustin, and their two girls, Meredith and Amelia. They moved their in May from southern California and I sure do miss them,,,but I'll be back.

Teresa
www.teresaburrell.com

First Reader Review on "The Advocate's Conviction"

2011-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

This is the first email I received from a reader for The Advocate's Conviction:

"Good book...if I had to chose, it's my favorite of the 3...although 2 was right up there also, not that I didn't like no.1 too. Good to see JP have a bit more of a role...and like JP, I would have wanted to kick Sabre's butt also for wandering off late at night to meet the kid. Maybe JP should handcuff himself to Sabre :)...Sabre should know better by now. :p When's no. 4 coming?"--Chris

Thanks, Chris. I'm sure most of my readers would love to see JP handcuffed to Sabre. Everyone seems to love JP. But then, what's not to love? And handcuffing them together isn't a bad idea, maybe I'll do that in another book.

I'll post more emails later.

Teresa

www.teresaburrell.com

Enter to Win a FREE NOOK

2011-10-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Enter to Win a

FREE NOOK!

Three easy steps!

1. Write a review of "The Advocate's Conviction" (It can be as short or as long as the site permits.)

2. Post it on any website such as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, goodreads, etc., or any blog.

3. Send the link to me at teresa@teresaburrell.com

Post reviews on as many websites as you want. You will receive 3 entries per review. You will also receive 1 entry per comment about "The Advocate's Conviction" on Facebook, Twitter, etc.--up to 5 entries per social network site.

All comments and reviews must be

posted and proof received by

midnight PST on 1/6/12!*

*Review date was extended a month due to reader requests.

Teresa

www.teresaburrell.com

The Advocate's Conviction--Sneak Peak

2011-10-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Advocate's Convictions releases this Saturday,
October 22, 2011!

Prologue

The fourteen-year-old girl struggled to break free from the bindings on her hands and feet. One woman on each arm held her as she fought. Her feet were in stirrups, and the unbearable pain shot through her abdomen. Her blonde hair was wet with sweat. She yanked her right arm away but the heavy-set woman holding her arm threw her body across the teenager, pinning her down on the hospital bed.

“No,” the teen screamed. “No! Don’t take my baby.”

“Push,” the body-blocker said. “Just push.”

The tall, thin woman holding the teen’s left arm spoke calmly. “You need to stop fighting and breathe. Your baby is coming. You need to push.”

The girl looked around the small, dirty room for help, but all she saw was a man wearing a surgical mask sitting at the end of the bed between her legs, waiting for her to give birth. He would be no help. After all, she had agreed to this. The candles flickered around her, casting soft shadows around the room. The oak tree painted on the wall and the circle around her bed would protect her, or so she was told. But she hurt so badly and no one seemed to care.

The heavy-set woman was face to face with her. The girl could feel her breathing and smell her garlicky lunch. “Just push,” she said again.

The girl screamed.

“This is your child’s fate. Your baby must be sacrificed. Are you a believer?”

The girl wanted to say no. She didn’t know what to believe, but fear won out. “Yes,” she said.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I believe. I believe in the power of the oak. I believe in the power of the oak.” She was chanting now and the two women joined her.

“I believe in the power of the oak. I believe in the power of the oak.”

The young girl screamed again as another contraction shot through her. She pushed as hard as she could, then stopped.

“Again!” the man at her feet yelled. “Push!”

She pushed and screamed in agony until she felt the mass exit her womb. Her body lay limp on the bed as she heard the baby cry. The heavy-set woman continued to hold her in place while the tall woman took the baby to the back of the room and out of sight. The baby's cries still filled the room.

Then, silence.

A few minutes later the woman returned without the child.

The girl turned her head away and closed her eyes. What have I done?

Identity Theft Among Foster Children

2011-10-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that identity theft is a real problem complicated by today’s technology. But it’s not all about the cyber space. Identity theft has been going on for years in the real world. What many of you may not know is that children are attractive targets for these thieves. They are even more vulnerable than adults because a child’s social security number hasn’t been tainted by bad credit and the crime is often not discovered for many years.

One group that appears to be particularly at risk is foster children. These children, and their private information, pass through many hands. And when they are emancipated they often have to face this predicament without any family to help them. So, on top of many years of dealing with more losses than any child should ever have to suffer, they often have to deal with the loss of their identity as well, creating problems with school loans, car loans, and other credit issues. One foster child was tagged with his own father’s child support bill because his father used his son’s social security number when applying for a job. He got the job, his wages were garnished, and then he lost the job. The debt continued until the son ultimately had a $50,000 child support judgment against his credit. Any one who has ever had to deal with this problem knows what a horrendous task it is to get something removed from your credit report.

We don’t know exactly how many of these children end up with bad credit due to identity theft because many of them are never reported. The state of California finally recognized the problem and in 2006 a law was enacted intending to clear foster children’s credit records before they left the system. However, due primarily to limited funding, implementation of the law was delayed--and still is. In 2010 a pilot program was put into place in Los Angeles with some success. You can read the complete report here but one of the key findings included the clearing of 247 separate accounts from the credit reports of 104 foster children. The largest was a home loan of $200,000.

So what needs to be done? Federal legislation was reintroduced last month, the Foster Youth Financial Security Act of 2011, requiring annual credit checks on foster children. Perhaps this will help. These children have enough to deal with. They certainly don’t need to start their adult life with bad credit.

A Weekend in Torrance at Barnes & Noble

2011-10-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

I had yet another incredible weekend in the Barnes & Noble store in Torrance. The staff there is so wonderful and the readers have become my friends. I get hugs from some of the regulars and lots of smiles from readers. There is one special lady (we'll call her Marilyn) who comes in every time I'm there. She always takes the time to stop and say hello and chat for a bit. Marilyn is very sweet and although there isn't that much difference in our ages, there's something about her that reminds me of my mother which makes the visit even more special.

I'm always flattered when people are excited to see me just because I'm an "author." I understand why that is because as a reader I'm always excited to meet an author whose writing I admire. It's just that I'm still surprised when it's me. Sometimes parents will come in with their children and say, "Look, little Hayden, this woman is an author. She wrote this book." Often the kid isn't too impressed and the parent is apologetic because she expected a different reaction. I find it humorous since I've worked with enough kids to know the "Legos" display will get a lot more attention than me. But one experience last weekend is worth noting. A little boy about 7 or 8 years old stopped about ten feet in front of me. He looked at me, then at my 8 foot sign, and then at the stack of books on my table. He didn't say anything. He started to walk away from me glancing back occasionally. Then he disappeared into the store.

About five minutes later he returned with a big smile on his face and said, "Are you the Arthur?"

I so wanted to respond, "No, I'm the George." But of course I didn't because he was too young to get the joke and besides he was so excited about meeting me. I signed a bookmark and gave it to him. His smile beamed across his face.

As he walked away, he nodded his head and said proudly, "I'm taking this to my teacher."

The children, the booksellers, and readers like Marilyn are the things that make the book tours so much fun for me. There's always some very interesting characters...even some fodder for my books. I should carry a warning sign: "Be careful, you may end up in my novel."

Teresa

www.teresaburrell.com

A Weekend in Ventura Barnes & Noble

2011-09-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

I just spent another great weekend in Barnes & Noble signing my novel, The Advocate's Betrayal. This time I was in Ventura. That's a long drive...but well worth it. I sold out and met another group of interesting people. I also had the added bonus of spending some time with my nephew and niece who live in Ventura.

While at the store, I do what they call a "Meet & Greet" which basically means I greet people when they come in the door and let them know who I am. I offer them a bookmark and try to determine if they read mysteries. No hard selling. I know if they don't read mysteries chances are they won't like my book. Oh, I'm sure a few would buy it because of my charming personality, but then they probably wouldn't read it anyway, and I want them to read my books! But I often get some very interesting answers to some simple questions. For example, I asked the question, "Do you read mysteries?" Here's some of the answers I received this weekend.

"Not since I got cable."
"No, we're here to buy a book."
"I'm a fan of mysteries, but I don't read them."
And my favorite: "Not now, I'm about to pee my pants."

It's always an experience having a "Meet & Greet" and I truly meet a lot of wonderful people. Thank you, readers of Ventura.

Teresa
www.teresaburrell.com

Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign

2011-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Rachel Harrie has this incredible platform-building campaign going on. This is her third one and it seems it's a great way to work together with other writers. If you are a writer/blogger it would behoove you to check it out. I'm excited to be a part of it. The campaign timing is perfect for me with the release of my latest novel, The Advocate's Conviction, just around the corner.

By the way, today is the last day to get on board. So if you're interested check it out now. I think this will be a lot of fun.

Okay, so I'm trying to put a link on the "shield" but I can't seem to get it to work. So if you're interested in joining the campaign, please go to Rachel Harrie's Blog Post.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The Advocate's Conviction Cover

2011-08-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

So here it is, the cover for The Advocate's Conviction. The cover art was designed by Daniel Pearson. I love his work. He has done all three of my books and I'm really happy with all of them. On top of that he is an extremely pleasant young man. So if you need any artwork done, he's your go-to guy. I would highly recommend him.

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Release Date for The Advocate's Conviction!

2011-08-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

So here we go, book number 3 in The Advocate Series, The Advocate's Conviction. It will be released on October 22, 2011. That is only 8 weeks and 2 days from today. In the next few days I will share the cover with you and let you know when and where we will have the launch party. We're still tying up a few loose ends.

Get ready for Sabre, Bob, & JP to get themselves in and out of another mess!

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The Advocate's Conviction

2011-08-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

"The Advocate's Conviction" is the name of the third book in The Advocate Series. It is finished. The editing process is completed. The jacket cover has been designed. Keep an eye out here on my blog and I'll keep you posted each step of the way.

Yippee! Let's go to print...

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Should the Public be Admitted to Court Hearings for Abused and Neglected Minors?

2011-08-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Presently in California, the public is excluded from the dependency courtroom unless the judge gives special permission for a non-party to be there. Dependency court is where child abuse and neglect proceedings take place. For approximately 50 years the courts have been closed to the public primarily to protect the minor's privacy. However, there is an argument that because of the "secrecy" of these courts children's rights aren't always protected.

Assembly Bill, AB 73, addresses this issue and suggests that California try a four-year pilot program in which the courtroom would be presumptively open to the public as opposed to being presumptively closed which means they are closed but can be opened at the discretion of the court. In the twelve years I spent in juvenile dependency court I never saw a case opened to the public. However, there was an occasional exception which allowed individual members of the public in the courtroom. With the courts open to the public, some cases would be closed at the discretion of the presiding judge most likely at the request of the child (or child's attorney).

According to the bill, "personally identifiable information" would not be disclosed in open court and the court would still have the discretion to have the child testify in chambers.

Nationally, only Pennsylvania and Oregon have open courts in dependency. Fifteen other states have presumptively open courts. Fifteen have presumptively closed dependency courts.

The concern for both sides is essentially the same--the potential harm to children. Opponents argue we need to keep the courts closed because the children have a right to privacy. Proponents argue that opening the courts will result in more public awareness and interest in child welfare services resulting in better services for the children.

What are your thoughts? Should California open the dependency courts to the public?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Barnes & Noble in Henderson, NV

2011-08-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of signing books at the Barnes and Noble in Henderson, NV. The booksellers were great to work with and the customers were fantastic. I spent three days there and signed a lot of books. One woman named Kelly came into the store early on Friday and bought "The Advocate's Betrayal." On Saturday morning she returned to tell me she couldn't put the book down and stayed up most of the night reading it. That's what keeps me writing!

I had a few other interesting experiences as well. There was the woman who nearly passed me up when I offered her a bookmark. She took it and scurried off. About ten minutes later she returned, apologized for being rude and explained she was embarrassed because she hadn't had her toes done. Of course, that drew me immediately to look at her feet. They looked fine to me, but apparently she never leaves the house without polish on her toes. She turned out to be a very sweet woman and she even purchased my book.

I really enjoy the face to face contact with readers. It's one of my favorite parts of this whole "author" experience. One thing I find interesting is some of the unusual names I see every week. Most unusual this past weekend was "Janina". Have you ever met a Janina?

Teresa
www.teresaburrell.com

Help Prevent Child Abuse

2011-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I'm lagging behind here and I apologize for not posting this last month, but that doesn't mean you can't pitch in. Every day is a good day to help prevent child abuse. So, what are some things you can do?

1. You can contact your senator or congressman and encourage them to not cut the programs that help in this endeavor. There have been so many cutbacks in the government programs that are effecting the victims of abuse. As a result, it almost looks like abuse is down because the filings are lower. Most of the statistics come from court filed cases. If there are less social workers and investigators to work the cases there are also going to be less filings. You do the math.

2. Donate money to groups that are dealing with child abuse prevention. Or donate something from your business to help these groups. Many of them do fundraiser that need gifts for drawings and door prizes. There are plenty of these organizations out there doing great work. Do a little research and find the one that works the best for you.

3. I know these are tough economic times so if money is an issue then donate your time. That's even better. Again there are many organizations that need your help. One such organization is CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). They need volunteers to work with these children. Every abused child needs an advocate. Or if dealing directly with the abuse is too difficult for you, then find an organization that works with children that have not been already targeted as abused. If you work with youth in any fashion it will certainly help to give children something to build their lives on. And you can be sure that if you are working with a youth group you will touch some children who have been or are being abused.

Get involved. Help save a child!

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

2011-04-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books takes place this weekend, Saturday, 4/30 and Sunday, 5/1 at USC. The festival has traditionally been held at the UCLA campus but for some reason has been changed to USC campus this year.

I'm truly excited about attending this event. I'll be signing the Advocate series at the "Murder, They Wrote" booth #903 with five other wonderful authors. They include: Jeff Sherratt (Detour to Murder), Joel Fox (Lincoln's Hand), Jenny Hilborne (Madness and Murder), Gayle Carline (Freezer Burn), and Anne Carter (Cane Seduction.)

If you're at the festival early on Sunday morning please stop in at the Sisters In Crime booth #373 where I'll be signing "The Advocate's Betrayal."

If you've never attended this festival you really ought to try it. It is a wonderful place to meet new authors and hear seasoned authors speak such as Stuart Woods, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and many, many more. There is a full children section, cultural events, cookbooks, panels, writing seminars, dancing, music, food booths, and many other reasons to attend.

I hope to see you all there.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

What is Sabre wearing?

2011-04-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sabre's brother, Ron, was a huge Grateful Dead fan. For those of you who may not be fans you may be unaware that Jerry Garcia was also quite the artist. He used his paintings on a series of ties. They are all very bold and bright and quite colorful.

When Sabre graduated from law school Ron gave her a Jerry Garcia tie. He told her if she was going to work in what was traditionally a man's profession she needed to dress like one. Sabre was never sure if he actually intended her to wear it, but she did. At first she wore it to show her brother she could, and later as a fashion statement. The tie Ron gave her became the first in a collection of many.

The beige and yellow tie was her second one. This one she bought herself. The third was red and pink with bold hearts.

Who is Sabre, you ask? She's the protagonist in The Advocate Series, of course.

More of Sabre's tie collection to come....

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Carousels

2011-03-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

As a child I always loved carousel rides. I still do. I ride one every chance I get. I know it's slow and it just goes around in a circle, but for some reason I feel so free on them.

I remember when the Polk County Fair would come to town in Minnesota and we would go with my family. It's the first ride I remember ever taking. I thought I was flying. Even then I would lean back and feel the air on my face. I still do.

This carousel is at California Adventure in Anaheim...King Triton's Carousel to be exact. The animals were from the sea and very colorful. I spotted a bright purple seahorse (I've always found them fascinating.) that I wanted to ride on But some little kid beat me to it. I probably could have taken him, (he was only about three years old) but his father was pretty big, so I let him have it. I settled for a sea lion.

Sometimes you just have to feel like a kid. Does anyone else still like to ride the carousel?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Bad Language in Novels

2011-03-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

My readers often ask me about the use of bad language in my books. I do a lot of book signings at bookstores and talk to many readers, and the one question I hear more often than any other is, "Does it have a lot of bad language in it?"

The concern is often not so much a prudish one, but rather that it detracts rather than adds to the story. I had one man tell me that he expects a writer should be able to come up with more creative words than he can hear every day on the streets. I tend to agree, although there are times when the situation just calls for it and without it, the scene loses authenticity. For instance, I had a scene in my first book where a hardcore methamphetamine user had just lost her children in court. She wasn't about to say, "Oh, piddle-sticks!" So she said something a little more down to earth.

What do you think? Does it bother you when you see a lot of derogatory words in a book? How much is too much?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Website Has a New Look

2011-03-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

My website has a whole new look. Please check it out if you get a chance. My publisher, ZOVAbooks, has taken over my website so I don't have to spend time updating it any longer. Yahoo!

If you're looking for the readers' remarks, they have been moved to this site. Just look to your right. They're broken down by each book.

Keep an eye out for the next book in the series. We'll soon be adding the new cover for book #3.

So, when you get a chance check out the new site and please let me know what you think of it.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Jeopardy

2011-03-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

I'll pick game shows for $1000, Alex.

Answer: The biggest all-time money winner on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy!

Question: Who is Brad Rutter?

That is correct!

I had a wonderful opportunity last week to attend a Jeopardy tournament at Cubberley Middle School in Long Beach. The tournament was promoted by Jim Birge, an educator, actor, drama professor, and long time friend of mine. This man has done an incredible job of preparing questions from the school curriculum for these students. He spends long hours in preparation, then he administers a test to all students interested in participating. The top eighteen in each class, sixth, seventh, and eighth, were invited to play some elimination rounds culminating in three students from each grade level who would then play the tournament round. The qualifying process takes about a week. That does not include the many hours Jim spends creating questions.

The whole set up is very authentic. The students stand behind a podium and read the answers from the big screen. They push the buzzer if they know the question. And the scores appear on a screen in front of the podium. I felt like I was at a real Jeopardy game except instead of Alex Trubeck, we had Jim Birge. And as an even greater treat for everyone, Jim managed to convince Brad Rutter, Jeopardy's all time biggest money winner, to host the final tournament game.

The students were so into the game, and what an absolutely wonderful learning experience for these kids. I was truly impressed with what this event had to offer the students. In my opinion it is something every school should include in their schedules. If you have an interest in having this experience at your school click here for more information about the program. The children won't be disappointed.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The End

2011-03-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid I missed a few blogs this past week, but it's not because I wasn't writing. The third book in The Advocate series has been in the works for the past eleven months. This book is a little different than the last two but you will still see Sabre, Bob, and JP as they solve another mystery and survive another adventure.

I have had some incredible writing days the past few weeks and yesterday I completed the last pages of the manuscript. Now the editing process starts. And then galleys and press releases and lots of planning, all leading up to the launch. But for now I'm just thrilled to have reached THE END.

Meeting People at Book Signings is a Hoot

2011-02-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I spent three days signing "The Advocate's Betrayal" at the Barnes and Noble in Del Amo Shopping Center in Torrance, CA and I met some wonderful people. I also encountered a few unusual and interesting folks.

One very nice woman asked me to sign a book for her which I did. But the conversation with her quickly turned to a wonderful gentleman she had met at a signing at the store last year. She said, "I tried his book and I really liked it so I think I'll try yours. His name was Jeff Shirt or something like that." I knew right off it was Jeff Sherratt. She wasn't aware of his latest novel, Detour to Murder. When I told her about it, she laid my book down and went upstairs to the mystery department. I sat the book aside in hopes she would return thinking maybe I shouldn't have told her about Jeff's. About twenty minutes later she came back and told me she couldn't find his book and asked for my help. So I went up the escalator with her and found it on the "New Releases" shelf. She was afraid to take the escalator back down (she told me she's okay going up, but gets real nervous going down). When I offered to stand in front of her she said she would be okay with that. She was so sweet. And she was just tickled to get Jeff's book. At that point, I didn't much care that she had left mine behind. I watched her as she went to the register and stood in line. A few minutes later she returned to my table and said, "Oops, I forgot something," and picked up her signed copy.

In contrast to that a man stopped and looked at my book. He read the back and saw that I was an attorney. Suddenly his voice got very loud and he started ranting that "lawyers and liberals have ruined this country." Needless to say he didn't buy my book.

A couple who previously purchased my books while I was signing in Long Beach saw that I was at Torrance and stopped in to say hello on the way to a soccer game. Another gentleman offered to bring me a cup of coffee from the cafe and yet another gave me a paper heart that he had torn out of a napkin while sitting in the cafe. These are the things that really make me smile when I'm signing.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

"The Advocate" Has a New Look

2011-02-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

If you haven't had a chance to see the new cover for "The Advocate" here it is. ZOVA Books is now the publisher for my debut novel. The re-release is already available on the Kindle and the Nook and will soon be out in paperback. I'll keep you posted.

Just so there's no confusion. The Advocate (to the left) is my first book in the series. It's still the same story with a new look. The Advocate's Betrayal is my second and I'm diligently working on the third. There'll be announcements soon about #3.

I'm really pleased with the graphic artists at ZOVA. I think they're pretty incredible. I can't wait to see what they come up with for my third book. As soon as I have it I will post it.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

What Makes You Smile?

2011-02-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

The sun shines in my window and my eyes pop open. A smile crosses my face. I get to write today. I pick up my glass of water on my nightstand and I walk across the hall to my office. I push the button on my computer to turn it on. I walk into my bathroom and brush my teeth and wash my face. By the time I'm finished, my computer is ready to go. I avoid the internet for fear I'll be caught up in answering emails and leaving Facebook messages...because today is a writing day.

Word is the only program I open. I find my most recent manuscript and open the document. The first thing I do is check my word count and jot it down in my spreadsheet by the side of the current date. Then I read through my last chapter (more if it has been a while since I wrote) making minor changes as I read. Once I figure out where I'm going next, I put my fingers on the keyboard and my mind drifts away into another world.

If I'm having a day where I know where the story is going I'll generally keep writing for three or four hours before I break. Sometimes I'll take a break for breakfast or lunch. Sometimes I won't eat until dinner. If I get stuck I may eat earlier and try again, or I may open the internet and answer emails and visit my friends on Facebook. If I'm really stuck I'll get dressed, drive to the bay, and walk for an hour. It clears my head and then I return to the computer and start again. Sometimes it's dark or even dark-thirty when I finally finish for the day.

But all through the day, I catch myself smiling...because today is a writing day.

What makes you smile?

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Vista Newcomers

2011-02-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

I just finished speaking to a lovely group of women in Vista about the juvenile court system and child advocacy. They make up the Vista Friends and Newcomers Club. Their "purpose is to unite members in social and cultural activities and to foster acquaintances, cooperation, and productive interests in the community." They were quite an interesting group of women working hard to better their community.

I only had the chance to speak to a few of the members individually, but in doing so I discovered what a wonderful group they are. They are an active social group providing a means for a lot of people to do the things they like to do. In addition, they raise money and contribute a great deal of their time to activities that help others.

And it doesn't stop there. Many of these women are involved in other community organizations and yet they were open to doing more volunteer work. By the time I left, several of them were ready to sign up with CASA and volunteer their time to be Court Appointed Special Advocates.

You go girls!

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The Advocate #3--More Tidbits

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

The third book in the Advocate series is moving right along. A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the storyline in the third book in The Advocate series. Since then I've been getting lots of questions so over the next few months I will give you a few peeks into what's to come.

JP has to figure out what year and make this car is. It's an essential part of his investigation. It could just be the key to solving the mystery. Do you know what it is? Can you see enough of the car to figure out the make, model, and year of the car?

And what about this 1931 Chrysler Imperial? Isn't it a beauty? I did some research for The Advocate #3 while I was in Florida. I spent a whole day walking through an antique classic car show. There was about 1500 cars at the show all built prior to 1985. What a hoot! So many beautiful old cars all in one place.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Detour to Murder

2011-02-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

If you like noir mystery, or if you don’t know if you like noir mystery, you must read Detour to Murder, by Jeff Sherratt. Heck, if you just like mysteries, read this book.

The book picks up where the movie Detour, a film noir classic, leaves off. In the movie, a man named Al Roberts follows the woman he loves to Hollywood after she jilts him to seek a movie career. Two people die along the way, and Roberts is ultimately arrested for murder.

When the novel begins, Roberts has been incarcerated for thirty years and is up for parole. Attorney Jimmy O’Brien is appointed by the court to represent Roberts at his parole hearing. It should be easy, right? The inmate just has to say how sorry he is and the board will consider parole. Of course, they could deny it, but Jimmy’s job would be done either way. And how hard can it be to say you’re sorry when you confessed to the murder thirty years prior? But now Roberts is denying it all. And O’Brien’s job just got a lot more complicated.

The story takes you through the tangled lives of Hollywood stars and politicians, while more bodies pile up and even O’Brien’s life is at risk. It would help if Jimmy O’Brien knew when to keep his mouth shut, but then he wouldn’t be Jimmy.

My favorite thing about Detour to Murder is the trip into old Hollywood from the 40’s through the 70’s. It puts you right in the mix of it all, a glamorous time with all the deceitful things that go with it. In addition, the characters are interesting, the plot is fun, and the twists keep cropping up. And even if you do figure out “whodunit,” I bet you won’t know why until the very end.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Ahh…to be a Child Again

2011-02-01T06:32:00.001-08:00

I recently had the good fortune to visit Universal Islands of Adventure while I was in Florida. What a hoot! I spent the whole day in awe. We arrived early and had the time to walk around the park twice. Since it was already busy when we arrived we went straight to the new Harry Potter exhibit. We walked down the street in Hogsmead, past the train and train station, potion shops, The Three Broomsticks and the Hogs Head pubs, the Owl Post, and even Ollivander’s wand shop. I wanted to go in the wand shop and watch a magic wand pick it’s owner, but the line was too long. So we went straight to Hogswart, Harry Potter’s school. There was a line of muggles (people without magical powers) that led all the way down the hill into the town and out the gate to the bridge near Jurassic Park. However, we soon discovered there were two lines, one without bags and one with. If you carried a bag you had to put it in a locker before you went in the school. That was the long line. A word to the wise if you ever go…There are other lockers in Hogsmead. Put your bags in a locker first and then go to Hogwarts. Once we were in the bag-less line we were inside the school in about ten minutes.

The school was fun to walk through but the real experience was in the simulated ride. It swoops you out and over the school, through the trees, and onto the Quidditch court. You can almost reach out and grab a snitch as you follow Harry Potter and Malfoy up and down and around the court. It feels like you’re actually in the game. The ride also takes you through the forest and the caves and you meet lots of creepy stuff like giant spiders and death-eaters. I have to admit there were a few times when I closed my eyes.

We stopped at The Three Broomsticks for a lunch of fish and chips and a glass of butterbeer. We also had some pumpkin juice. I liked it although it tasted a little sweet for me. The butterbeer is a non-alcoholic butterscotch drink. It has a foam that they add to the top so it looks like real beer. The foam was delicious…so was the butterbeer.

I didn’t get a chance to ride the dragon or the hippogriff but after we covered the rest of the park we returned to Hogsmead. It was about an hour and a half from closing time and the streets were nearly empty. I went straight to Hogwarts and rode through the castle again. This time I never closed my eyes once! It was so, so...magigal. I felt like a kid playing in a magic land. There was still a wait of about fifteen minutes at the wand shop, but well worth the wait. Ollivander, the wand shop owner, looked like the real deal.

If you’re ever in Florida and have the chance go to Universal Island of Adventure and even if you don’t want to ride on anything, go to Hogsmead and enjoy the architecture and the magic it has to offer.

The whole day was fun and the other exhibits were worth seeing as well. My second favorite area was Dr. Seuss. Just look at that carousel…yes, the magic spell from Hogsmead continued to transform me into a child all the way through the park.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Big Cat Habitat

2011-01-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Sunday I had the chance to go to the Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota, Florida. What a wonderful thing these people do to provide a sanctuary for these animals. They are a non-profit organization running entirely on donations. They provide a safe haven for big cats, bears, and other animals in need. They primarily take in exotic animals, but they also had some goats, turtles, and greyhound dogs. They were looking for homes for the dogs. It is a family run organization founded by Kay Rosaire who has had more than thirty years experience working with exotic animals. The commitment the Rosaires make to these animals is one for life. When they take an animal in it will be their last residence.

I had the pleasure of meeting a lion named Handsome, a liger (no it's not a typo...it's a cross between a lion and a tiger) named Mia, and a chimpanzee named Ricky. Guess what? Ricky was having a book signing. Yeah, a chimp signing his books. He had quite a crowd around him, more than I usual get. I think maybe I could learn a few things from Ricky. Maybe he could teach me to make those funny noises. But then I don't have my picture on the front cover of Jon Stewart's "Earth," a book that spent ten weeks on the New York Times Best Seller's list.

It's not a fancy place, and it's not as large as they would like (although they are expanding) but it's a loving shelter for animals that wouldn't survive elsewhere. If you're ever in Sarasota, stop in and see the service the Rosaires and their staff of wonderful volunteers provide.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Great GALS in Florida

2011-01-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

When I talk about the great GALs of Florida, I'm not talking about the woman with the purple hat walking her white shiatsu dog clad in booties, a pink skirt, and matching sunglasses. Nor do I speak of women like Lucille Ball who was purported to own a home on Bird Key. No, I'm talking about the men and women who volunteer as child advocates for abused and neglected children. They are Guardian Ad Litems, or GALs and they spend many hours investigating the child's life to help determine what is the best course of action for the court to take for this child.

I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of new CASA GALs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Sarasota, Fl a few days ago. What a delightful experience. They asked great questions and I could hear the compassion and the eagerness in their voices as they started this new chapter in their lives.

Since my book, The Advocate, deals with juvenile court, I left each volunteer with a copy as a thank you for their unselfish act. I wish I could do that for every CASA graduating class, but at least I can say thank you for all the GALs out there who are serving our children. I, for one, appreciate your hard work and dedication. And a special thanks to the 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program of Sarasota, DeSoto, and Manatee counties.

If you have any interest in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate there is lots of information on the CASA website. Check it out. It might be just the thing for you.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

What are you reading?

2011-01-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I don’t get to read as many books as I’d like. I’ve never spent so much time surrounded by books and not able to read them. It seems if I’m not at a book signing, I’m writing. But I’ve managed to read a few and most recently I’ve been listening to books on tape since I’m spending an inordinate amount of time in the car.

A dear friend of mine recommended Philippa Gregory’s “The Red Queen,” which I just finished. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres—second only to mysteries. And the Tudor era is of particular interest to me. It was a wonderful read and I’d highly recommend it if you have any interest in that genre. I’m anxious to read the rest of her novels.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is now playing in my car as I drive from one book signing to another. Yes, I finally got around to Stieg Larsson and it’s about time. What a treat. Although I’m only on the third disc, out of about thirteen, I’ve already purchased “The Girl Who Played with Fire.” It’s a very compelling story. I think it’s a particularly good book to listen to on tape because the names are all so unfamiliar and on tape you don’t have to stumble over them. I guess we can’t all be an Olson or a Johnson…oh wait…I was a Johnson.

So, what are you reading?

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

CASA in Florida

2011-01-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, January 20th, I have the privilege of speaking to a graduating class for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, also known as Guardian Ad Litems or GALS. This particular group is the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida, advocating for children in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties.

CASA is an incredible organization where ordinary citizens volunteer to look out for the needs of children in the juvenile court system. The volunteers need to submit to a background check and go through an extensive training program. They are then appointed by a judge to advocate for the well-being of children who have fallen victim to parental abuse or neglect. The CASA worker (the GAL) fights for the safety of these children and often changes their lives in profound ways.

The GAL's role is to get acquainted with the child and everyone in that child’s life such as the parents, teachers, relatives, social workers, etc. In the San Diego juvenile system where I practiced for twelve years, the GALs often worked very closely with the minor's attorney. The volunteer then reports back to the court regarding the child’s needs and often with a recommendation for permanent placement for the child.

Being a CASA volunteer can be an extremely rewarding experience but it’s not always an easy job and it takes a serious commitment of time and energy. The volunteer must agree to stay with a case until it closes. I believe the average time is approximately one and a half years but I’ve certainly known cases to take much longer. I commend anyone who is willing to make that sacrifice for those innocent, little children.

I’m really looking forward to meeting with the next graduating class in Sarasota, Florida. I’m honored to be a part of their program.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The Advocate #3

2011-01-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

As you may well know, I’ve been working on my third novel. With all the book signings I’ve been attending, the book is not quite on the schedule I had hoped. I do most of my writing from my home in San Diego and since I haven’t been home much it has been difficult.

A brief insight into The Advocate #3 without giving too much away:

Sabre receives a sudden influx of cases dealing with victims of Satanic Ritual Abuse. Of course, her friend, Bob, is back and admits he likes the idea of having a case different from the everyday physical and sexual abuse or tox-baby cases. Only Bob could get excited about a case involving chicken feet and goat blood.

JP is also a returning character with his Stetson hat, his cowboy boots, and his Texas slang. JP’s investigation stays closer to home this time. So far he hasn’t left southern California (but there’s still quite a few chapters left so who knows). He works diligently trying to uncover the source of the satanic-like behaviors exhibited by the juvenile court clients, while he does his best to keep Sabre out of whatever mess she finds herself in.

The novel includes at least one murder, a “devil-house,” missing children, and people in power with a great deal to lose. Sabre has to protect her minor clients and try to answer the nagging question: Did the devil make them do it?

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Bouchercon

2010-10-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been marked by several wonderful signing events, successful home shows, and busy planning for the days ahead. Those of you who follow the world of mystery writing know what I'm talking about. Bouchercon, one of the premier mystery conferences for writers and readers alike, will be held in the beautiful city of San Francisco this weekend.

I'll be a panelist on a new event called "Continuous Conversation." I'm excited to see how it all works. The conversation will be led by authors and continue throughout the conference. I'll be on the panel on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. At 2:30 p.m. that same day I'll be on the lower floor signing my newest release, "The Advocate's Betrayal." Please stop in and say hello if you are at the conference...or in the neighborhood.

Tomorrow I fly north with a stop in Concord to spend a few hours with some dear old friends, and meet a couple of new ones. Then on to the conference where I'll meet up with more friends. I always meet so many wonderful people at these events. I'm excited.

www.teresaburrell.com

Writing, Blueberries, & Lobster

2010-09-03T19:15:00.000-07:00

What do all these things have in common? They were all things that I enjoyed when I was in Maine a few weeks back. That and the good company of some dear friends. It was such a relaxing time, even though I spent a great deal of time working. But I was writing, so it doesn't feel like work. I'd get up every morning around 6:00 and start to write. I usually kept going until about 10:00 a.m. when my friends returned from the gym. After that we would go do "Maine" things, like pick blueberries, or drive the beautiful countryside, or go to Moody's Diner for the best pie ever. Sometimes we would go to the lobster tanks and buy fresh lobster and take it home and eat it for dinner.

Compare that to the time I spent in NYC. What a different world. It truly is the town that never sleeps. As you can see in the photo on the left, the streets were just as crowded at 11:00 at night as they were midday. We didn't eat blueberries or lobster, but we did get our fill of knishes and bagels. And it's true, I didn't get any writing done there, but I did get a head full of experiences and characters to put in future books.

Another thing that amazed me about NYC was that ninety percent of the cars were yellow. Yeah, yellow cabs. Every single picture I took in the streets of NYC had a yellow background of cabs.

I did get to see a few sights outside of Time Square, like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and Ellis Island. And besides all the cool people I met at the conference, I also got to meet a television celebrity, Cheryl Burke, two-time winner of Dancing With the Stars. She was there for a charity event and I had the privilege of signing a copy of "The Advocate's Betrayal" for her. She was very sweet, and cute as can be. It's too bad you can't see her cute freckles on her nose on television because they really do look good on her.

www.teresaburrell.com

ThrillerFest 2010

2010-09-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

This year's ThrillerFest was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, a bustling, energetic hub of mystery writers and readers. I know, because I was there! On July 7^th, I met up with the Barnes & Noble representatives at the event who were promoting both of my titles among their debut authors. Sales were good, but the best part was meeting so many legends among the book world. Clive Cussler, Ken Follett, Michael Palmer, and Sandra Brown were some of the biggest names. To the left you can a picture of Clive Cussler signing a book for my good friend, Ron Vincent. I also had a great conversation with Lisa Scottoline, and was even able to give her a copy of my newest book! Here we are on the right after we signed each others' novels...a couple of lawyers turned author. That woman is a hoot! Great writer, great speaker, and truly a great woman.

There were several events at the festival, from panel discussions to banquets, but the best part for me was meeting fans, making new friends, and listening to those wonderful authors mentioned above who have so much to teach us newbies. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I'm already excited for next year! It may be too early to buy tickets, but it's never too early to mark your calendars.

The Launch of "The Advocate's Betrayal"

2010-09-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything to this blog, but that's certainly not because things haven't been happening. Along with my friends, fans, and family, I celebrated the release of my most recent book, The Advocate's Betra yal, early in July. The book follows Sabre Orin Brown as she attempts to solve the murder of a close friend. All our favorite characters are there, of course, plus one or two new ones you'll hopefully find intriguing. Yet again, the outlines of many of the court cases are drawn from real experiences. And yes, I have chased a woman's mysterious past all the way across America. Such mysteries are real for many people. That's the darker side of these books. The brighter side looks a bit more like this:

It was standing room only at the launch party in July! Many thanks to everyone who came to support me and celebrate the new release. Your generosity and encouragement are unspeakably appreciated. I also owe a thanks to Linda Dilday, the community relations manager at the Barnes & Noble, Galleria Mall in Riverside. She and her crew of booksellers and cafe workers were beyond gracious.

The launch was followed by several other events, signings, and travels, but those are all for another post!

www.teresaburrell.com

El Segundo Library Book Fair

2010-06-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

I've been attending events almost every weekend but this past Sunday I had the pleasure of serving on a panel at the tenth annual El Segundo Book Fair. I listened to the non-fiction panel as they presented information about their Hollywood Legend books. I learned some very interesting facts about where some of the bodies were buried. And Kelly McDowell, former mayor of El Segundo, moderated...what a hoot he is!

I had the pleasure of serving on the mystery/thriller panel with the great authors Dorothy Howell, Eric Stone, and the ever-entertaining Paul Levine. I hope the audience had as much fun as we did.

They had face painting and balloon art for the kids along with a comic book artist and storytelling. The whole event was well put together.

If you live in the area and get the chance to attend next year I think you'll really enjoy the experience.

The Advocate's Betrayal

2010-05-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

My new novel, THE ADVOCATE'S BETRAYAL, will be released June 29th! I am so excited. I had to show off my cover. Matt Pizzo designed it for me and I think he did a fabulous job.

I have a new publisher for this book, ZOVA books. ZOVA is having a contest on Facebook where they are giving away an autographed copy of my first novel, THE ADVOCATE, each week until the release of this second book. If you haven't read THE ADVOCATE, you should enter the drawing...You have a good chance of winning. If you have read it, enter anyway. You could give the copy to a friend or relative or donate it to your local library.

My launch party will be held at the Barnes and Noble, Galleria on Tyler in Riverside, CA on July 3rd. So if you are close by, please mark your calendars.

THE ADVOCATE'S BETRAYAL is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and will soon be available on ZOVA Books.

See you at the launch!

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I'm not a mother, technically, but over the years I have received many Mother's Day wishes from my nieces and nephews, my "de-facto" son, my students, and minor clients. I commend all of you who have given birth, but more importantly to those who have given love to the children of this world. I want to share an experience I had while practicing law at juvenile court.

My client, a little boy about eight or nine years old, was in foster care because his mother was on drugs. Although I don't excuse his mother's behavior, she was basically a good woman with a serious drug addiction. She made some bad choices when she was young and her child suffered because of it. But it didn't stop the little boy from loving her just the same. When I went to visit him he told me all about both of his mothers. This is the what he said. "I have two mothers, a mother and a God-mother, the mother that born me, and the one God gave me. I love both of them."

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Advocating Across America--The Desert

2010-05-06T14:52:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm still in California and advocating across America...California is a big state after all. I have recently had the opportunity to speak to two branches of the CWC, one in Victorville, CA, the High Desert Branch, and the Ridge Writers in Ridgecrest. I have to say I really enjoyed both of these groups. It's really fun speaking to other writers because they have a sense of where you are and where you've been. But these two groups were exceptional. They really made me feel at home and were very supportive. Actually, everyone in the desert has been wonderful (except the wind).

I will continue to speak to groups and sign in southern California until after the release of my second book, THE ADVOCATE'S BETRAYAL. Then I will head east in July to the New England states. I will be in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. If you're in one of those states and are interested in having a speaker at an event, please let me know.

So, it's the desert this week, Inland Empire next, and then back to the beach.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Girl Scouts at Book Signing

2010-04-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

I'm still advocating across America, but for a while I'll be right here in southern California. I was at a book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Towne Center, Long Beach, CA just recently, and had the great pleasure of meeting a Girl Scout troop. The manager told me they were there to earn a badge, and they wanted to meet an author. So he coordinated it with my book signing.

What a great day it was for me. I got to meet these enthusiastic young girls, eager to read, and some even interested in writing. I talked to them about my experience as an author and answered their questions. Each one had prepared a question to ask (part of earning their badge, I presume.) They were delightful and had some really intelligent and interesting questions. They spent the whole afternoon in the bookstore and were well monitored by the adults and all polite and very well behaved.

Afterward, they asked me to sign bookmarks for them. It was more fun than signing books because they were so excited.

The Girl Scouts is a really great program for children. I wanted to be a girl scout when I was a kid, but never got the opportunity. The program has some very dedicated people as I just saw with the group in Long Beach. The thing that impressed me the most, however, was that there was a badge given for literacy. How cool is that! I don't recall Girl Scouts having a literacy badge when I was young. Go Girl Scouts!

Were you a scout when you were young? Any fun stories to tell?

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com

Advocate Across America--South Carolina

2010-03-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

I just returned from the South Carolina Book Festival in Columbia, SC. It was by far the best festival yet for so many reasons.

First of all, the people were just wonderful. They were friendly, easy to talk to, open, and provided just plain southern hospitality. I was impressed. It started with my train ride. I met some very interesting people on the ride from Sarasota to Columbia. I had dinner with a couple from Virginia who taught me a lot about trains. Patrick was an avid train rider and proved to be very knowledgeable about the whole train system.

On the train ride I sat next to a delightful woman, named Pamela. She was kind enough to offer me a ride to my hotel when we arrived in Columbia at 4:30 in the morning. To top that off she came to the book festival on Sunday to purchase a copy of "The Advocate."

Second surprise of the trip was when I received a text from my friend, Sooze, who lives in Tobaccoville, NC. She sent me a message to let me know she was going coming to SC to see me. She arrived about 3:00 p.m. and we met for dinner and an evening of catching up after 21 years of separation. Sooze drove about four hours to see me and then stayed overnight so she could go to the festival the next day and get a second (that's right, she already had one) copy of my novel. Sooze was my secretary when I first started practicing law...together we grew up. She has no idea what her visit meant to me.

Third surprise: I was standing in the booth and looked out into the aisle to see a man with a very beautiful, young blonde girl standing next to him. They seemed to be staring at me and talking about me. It took a moment before I recognized my best friend, Ron, from law school. The really unusual part about this is that he lives in Seattle, WA. He was there with his daughter who will likely be attending the University of South Carolina next fall. Ron saw that I was there by reading the information on line regarding the book festival and showed up to surprise me. And surprise me he did!

The book festival was a lot of fun. I truly enjoy working with the other Echelon authors. Everyone is so good about helping one another. This time I had the pleasure of working with Marc VunKannon, Sam Morton, Barbara DeShong, Alexis Hart, and our rising Echelon star, Nick Valentino with his debut steampunk novel, "Thomas Riley." Click on Steampunk to see what it's all about. I've posted a picture of Nick so you can get a glimpse of what he does.

South Carolina was great fun. I'll be touring around Southern California for a while now but I can't wait to get back on the road.

So, tell me, do any of you have a South Carolina story you'd like to share?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

First Stop: Sarasota, Florida--Sort Of

2010-02-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here in a gorgeous home in Sarasota, Florida looking out at the bay and watching the birds dive into the water and the occasional boat go by. I could get used to writing from this view.

I've started my "Advocate Across America" tour here in Sarasota, but I say "sort of" because I'm not participating in any public events on this trip. I have one private meeting here. I plan to return later on and attend a number of events including Sarasota Woman's Club, book clubs, and bookstores. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I'm visiting with friends, working on the third book, and getting some much needed R&R before I move on to Columbia, South Carolina for the South Carolina Book Festival. So if you're in the area, please come out to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on February 27th or 28th and stop at the Echelon Press booth and say hello. I'd love to meet you.

Since I just got here I don't have much to report, but I'll try to report in from South Carolina and let you know how this part of the trip went.

And if you've been to Florida I'd love to hear about your experience. Just comment below.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

Advocate Across America

2010-02-02T15:06:00.000-08:00

I finally completed my A to Z blog and it's time to start a new one. So, I decided to "Advocate Across America." My plan is to tour all fifty states with my novel, THE ADVOCATE, and blog as I go. As new books in the series are published, they'll go with me as well. I know this tour will not be an easy task or be completed any time soon, but I'm up for the challenge and I'm excited about seeing my book in every state.

My plan is to have an event such as a Meet and Greet in a bookstore, or a speaking event at a service organization or library, a discussion with a book club, or a radio or television interview...whatever happens to fit into the schedule. At the same time I'm hoping to help build an awareness about child abuse in America.

This is my call to action. If you're interested in having me speak in your city, please send me an email to teresa@teresaburrell.com. I'll do everything I can to try and make it happen. I'll also give notice on this blog when I schedule a city so if you're in the area you can attend or schedule another event with your book club, bookstore, or organization.

First stop is Sarasota, FL the last week of February. Next, I'll be in Columbia, SC on February 27th and 28th for the South Carolina Book Festival. In June, I'll be in Chicago, IL and Bay City, MI. July, August, and September I'll be covering quite a few states. I'll keep you posted.

Where would you like to see THE ADVOCATE?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "Z" word is Zero

2009-12-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

The "Z" word is zero...zero days left in 2009. That leaves only hours to complete this year's resolutions. It's time to dump the old list and make a new one, and be realistic this time. Then starting January 1, 2010, zero in on one major resolution at a time and make it happen!

I always make a "New Year's Resolution" list and although I don't accomplish everything, I manage to get a lot of it done. I even break it down into categories. I have my "physical" list, that's what I want to do to get into shape. I have my "emotional" list, the things I want to work on to feel better about myself. I have my "financial" list, my "make life better for others" list, my "family" list, and I always have a "travel" list, stating the places I want to go. Some of these lists overlap. Before I start to make my new list I take my resolutions from the year before and look at the things I've accomplished and the things I have not. Then I take the things from the year before that are still important to me and put those down first, usually with some revisions, making them more realistic or giving them a higher priority.

This year one of my goals is to speak to as many groups, in as many states, as I can about child abuse. Another is to take those extra pounds off I just put on for the holidays. My novels are a big part of this year's resolutions. I have sales numbers set for The Advocate. I have editing and publication goals for my second novel (which still needs a name). And I plan to complete the third novel in the series.

Okay, so maybe I'm a little anal about this resolution thing, but however you do it, it's time to zero in and get started! Do you have a resolution you are particularly determined to accomplish this year?

Happy New Year!
Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The “Y” word is Yesteryear

2009-12-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

I recently spent a wonderful couple of days with my three brothers and two of my sisters. We sat around and talked about days of "yesteryear." I learned things about my parents that were both amazing and heartwarming, things I'd never heard before. My brothers talked about the scrapes they had been in as kids. They shared military stories, girlfriend adventures, and just everyday events at home on the farm. Some of them were pretty wild and crazy, and the details varied a little depending on who was narrating, but all were fun to hear.

My oldest brother, Don, told us how daddy would stay up at night and stir the fire in the wood stove on many long, cold winter nights. Don told us that with the first four or five siblings he didn’t know our mother was pregnant because no one talked about it. He knew she was “sick” and there would be a lot of commotion for a few days and suddenly he had a new brother or sister. Our mother was a little round and he never noticed any difference.

We not only got to hear stories about their adventures but also stories that had been passed down from our parents and grandparents. If you ever get a chance to meet with elder family members and hear stories of yesteryear, take advantage of it. What a wonderful thing to hear the tales that have been passed on from one generation to another. Do you have a family tale to tell? Please share.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "X" Word is Xmas

2009-12-24T07:25:00.000-08:00

Xmas is a common abbreviation for Christmas. I’ve heard people argue that this is a “modern” way to secularize Christmas by taking Christ out of Christmas. However, history tells us this is merely an abbreviation, just as Dr. for doctor or Rev. for reverend. The abbreviation makes one no less the doctor or minister.

The “mas” part came from the Latin-derived Old English word for “mass,” and the “X” came from the Greek letter “Chi” which is the first letter for Christ in Greek. But no matter how you slice it, it is not a move by a “modern” generation. In fact, the word “Christ” and “Christmas,” have been abbreviated in English for the past 1,000 years. There are references as far back as 1021 AD. It was used in a letter in the UK in 1753, Lord Byron used it in 1811, Samuel Coleridge in 1801, Lewis Carroll in 1864, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in 1923.

For me, it’s a great way to use the 24th letter of the alphabet in my blog. So Merry Xmas, or Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays! Just have a wonderful time, enjoy your family and friends, and celebrate how your heart dictates.

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "W" word is Write

2009-12-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

To write is to be whatever you want. There’s a mouthful of Ws. That is my tagline on my bookmarks, my website, and my brochures. I get many comments on it from my readers. Most just smile and say, “I like that.” Occasionally, I get asked what it means. The short answer is, “whatever you want it to be.” But I’ll explain what it means to me.

Many people write in journals, or write poems, or just doodle words on scratch paper. Journal writing helps us relive the fun times and release the bad times. Each person who experienced that day with you would write a different story. Each brings their own past to help them interpret the day. And each of us writes into the telling what our mind will let us or what we want it to be at the moment. Some people write poems and they do the same thing. You may be writing about a tree, but it’s still about you, your feelings, your perspective. And doodling…how many young men and women have written their sweetheart’s name on their notebooks? How many young women have written, “Mrs. Blah Blah,” trying on a new name, so they can be who they want.

Me, I write novels because I can create whole characters and watch them grow. In my novel “The Advocate,” my main character, Sabre, is a juvenile court attorney, just like me. But it isn’t me. Yes, I certainly have projected many of my thoughts and behaviors onto Sabre. And, yes, sometimes what she says and does is what I would do, but it isn’t me. Sabre is younger, prettier, thinner, smarter, and richer than I am. Remember, “to write is to be whatever you want.”

If you don’t write, then read…it works there too. I remember being Nancy Drew when I was ten and Scarlett O’Hara when I was sixteen.” What have you written or read that has allowed you to be someone or somewhere else?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "V" Word is Valentino

2009-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

"V" is for Valentino...Nick Valentino that is. I had the pleasure of meeting author Nick Valentino last February at The Southern California Writer’s Conference. What a super, fun guy he is. For those of you who don’t know Nick, he writes in a genre called “Steampunk”. His novel, THOMAS RILEY, was just released. Nick is not only a fabulous writer, he is also a very helpful guy. Look how he just happened along when I was on the “V” word and saved me from having to write about victuals or voluptuous or some other inane word starting with the letter "v." Thanks, Valentino. So, Nick, please use your vision and vocabulary to take us on a virtuous voyage through Steampunk-ville.

Thank you Tee! It’s quite an honor to get one of the twenty six letters. On that note, I want to stress how amazing these writer’s cons can be. The number one thing is you have the chance to learn so much from writers, agents, publishers and other authors. This is invaluable information that you really can’t learn from a book on writing, editing or obtaining an agent. It’s worth every penny to attend a writer’s conference.

The second amazing thing about these conferences is that you get to meet like minded people. Sure, no one was writing a Steampunk book, but no one discriminates on what you write. In fact every one of these I’ve been to, everyone has been quite amazing. The Southern Califor nia Writers Conference was where I met your favorite blog hostess Ms. Burrell. It’s also where I met my publisher Karen Syed. I had the first ten pages of my manuscript of Thomas Riley critiqued by Karen because her bio looked interesting. That’s all. One little bio changed my life in the click of a mouse. I’m being honest here. Her bio said something about doing something with the publisher TOR and I said, "Hey that looks interesting." And I picked her and her alone to critique a relatively unknown genre. After our first meeting, we realized that we had a lot of things in common and from there the rest is history.

Karen introduced me to your hostess with the mostest and here I am guest blogging on her blog today. It’s absolutely amazing how things work out. So while this isn’t all about Steampunk, it is about writing, meeting great people and taking the initiative to achieve your goals. My goal, however remote it may have seemed was to get my manuscript published and I did it. Of course the real credit goes to those that believe in you.

My novel, Thomas Riley was conceived in September of 2008. I finished it in January of 2009 and was basically offered a publication in February of 2009. It’s now November and that book is in my hands. I’ll tell you… I’m humbled to be a part of the Echelon Press family.

If you would like to see what my dream of Thomas Riley is all about here’s a short blurb about it.

For more than twenty years West Canvia and Lemuria have been at war. From the safety of his laboratory, weapons designer Thomas Riley has cleverly and proudly empowered the West Canvian forces. But when a risky alchemy experiment goes horribly wrong, Thomas and his wily assistant Cynthia Bassett are thrust onto the front lines of battle and forced into shaky alliances with murderous sky pirates in a deadly race to kidnap the only man who can undo the damage: the mad genius behind Lemuria's cunning armaments.

If you enjoyed that, please feel free to visit:
http://sirthomasriley.com/

You can purchase signed copies directly through me at:
http://thomasriley.bigcartel.com/
or
http://www.echelonpress.com/

The "U" Word is Uncle

2009-11-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Uncle Sam, that is…the national personification of the American government. The first usage of the term dates back to the War of 1812, by the way.

I’m not going to go all political on you now, but I might get a little maudlin. I’m going to talk about Iraq, more specifically about Operation Desert Swap. Because regardless of your views on Iraq, I would venture to guess you still feel it’s important to support our soldiers. I know I do. I have had the good fortune to do my small part through Operation Desert Swap.

Operation Desert Swap is a program started by a mother whose son was recently sent to Iraq. She put together a group of authors and other patriotic people dedicated to actively showing their support for the troops. The program is set up so that each author/person “adopts” a soldier, sending them a copy of their book along with an initial Operation Desert Swap letter. At least once a month we send “our” soldier a letter to help keep their morale up, and we send “our” soldier at least one care package during their deployment, plus a Christmas card. The only thing the soldier is asked to do is to swap their book with another soldier when they finish reading it, and then that soldier swaps it off with another and so on. Currently we are supporting C company 3/25 Aviation Regiment, a medevac unit also known as “Dust off.”

If any of you are interested in participating or getting the project going for another unit, go to the website http://operationdesertswap.webs.com/ for information. You do not need to be an author to participate or start a program. Uncle Sam would be proud.

Teresa Burrell

http://www.http//www.teresaburrell.com

The "T" Word is "T"

2009-10-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

That’s me…just "T." My given name was Teresa (no “h”), misspelled on my birth certificate, by the way. It was written Treasa, but later corrected (I think), but not butchered as bad as my father’s last name on his birth certificate. His last name was Johnson. Pretty simple, right? Well, it was spelled Jozsonhoz (or something like that). I researched for a long time to make sure it wasn’t a name change, but his father and grandfather were both Johnson. It was the turn of the century and my guess is some German midwife who didn’t speak English probably couldn’t spell the name.

I was born Teresa, and other than a few childhood nicknames (Sweet Pea, Trazer, Honey Girl, Tree, and #9), stayed that way throughout grade school and high school. In college I somehow became Teri. That stuck for about ten years and then faded. People that knew me back then still call me Teri. The only recent friend I have who calls me Teri is Jeff Sherratt, my mentor and author of "The Brimstone Murders" & "Guilty or Else," and he’s such a fabulous guy he can call me whatever he wants.

When I taught school some student started calling me “Mrs. Charmin” from the toilet paper commercial…I was squeezably soft, I guess. That one stuck for a few years with the students. But mostly I was called “Coach” because I had a winning softball team for so many years.

When I practiced law, my friend Bob started calling me Teebs. It caught on with a small group of very close friends...that's where I got the idea for "Sobs" in my novel, The Advocate.

When my nieces and nephews were little they called me Auntie T or TT. That eventually evolved into Tee or just T, which most of my family and adult friends now call me. But my all time favorite, which I mostly see written on emails, cards, and gifts, is FAT (Favorite Aunt Tee). The older I get the more I fit that one...the favorite part, of course.

Aren’t names fun? I don’t really care what my family or friends call me, as long as they do. But I don’t like to see my name misspelled, so remember I’m Teresa, no “h” or Tee (Please no "h" in that either). What interesting nicknames have you had along your path in life?

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "S" Word--Sabre

2009-10-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Sabre (pronounced Say-bra) is the name of my main character in my SOB Legal Suspense series. SOB, Sabre Orin Brown, is an attorney in the juvenile court system in San Diego. Her first appearance is in the novel “The Advocate” where she represents a nine-year-old whose father is fighting to keep the child protective services out of his life. Sabre's job is to protect her minor client.

What you might not know about Sabre is some of her background. She was raised Catholic, has only one sibling, Ron, who has been missing for five years, a deceased father, and some serious trust issues. She has strong beliefs in the legal system but seems to have that belief tested on a regular basis. Although she appears at ease in her expensive suits and shoes and speaking in the courtroom, she would much rather be wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and walking barefoot on the beach in the rain.

Sabre’s second adventure is in the making in another SOB Legal Suspense novel, and great surprises await her.

The name for the character Sabre came from a little girl who I met some thirteen years ago. She had so much love to give and at the time no one to give it to. She came into my heart where she will forever remain.

How has a child changed your life?
Writers, where do you get the names for your characters?

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "R" Word--Relax

2009-09-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Do you know how to relax and reduce stress? Frankly, I’m not very good at it, but I’m better than I used to be. When I was practicing law and had the occasional day off (about once every six months) I would spend more than half of it trying to figure out what I was going to do. Because, after all, I can’t just waste it, right? So I would waste it trying to figure out what to do so I wouldn’t waste it. So when I ask if you know how to relax, I must first ask myself that question. Here’s what I’ve learned.

There’s all the standard stuff, like take a bubble bath, a walk on the beach, listen to soft music, do yoga, take deep breaths, get a massage, take a long shower, read a good book…these are all good things. But relaxing isn’t necessarily about being quiet and still. Try dancing. I don’t mean the slow, just swaying your body kind. Put on some Credence Clearwater Revival and rock! Let your body go, be goofy, and don’t think about anything else. You can’t relax if, while taking your bath or your walk on the beach, you’re still thinking about what you have to get done.

There are also some basic techniques that help with relaxing and reducing stress, such as getting plenty of sleep, and good nutrition. And don't miss the chance to laugh. Laughter is so important. Find something to laugh about, read some funny jokes, watch a sitcom, or dig out old photos from high school. I’ll bet they’ll make you laugh.

If all that fails, you can do what I do when I really need a break. I drive to the movie theater, buy the largest popcorn and a box of chocolate covered raisons, shut off my cell phone, and watch a no-brainer movie.

What's your favorite way to relax?

Teresa Burrell
www.teresaburrell.com

The "Q" Word is "Q"

2009-07-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is written for my good friend, Roberto, Quinones, who I affectionately call "Q." He was a dear friend and colleague who recently passed away at the young age of fifty-two from prostate cancer. I can’t say the letter “q” without thinking about him, so I had to write this in his memory. Below is a picture of Q playing Santa Claus at Clinica del Ninos in Rosarito, Mexico where we go each year to provide a Christmas party for the children. Although a new Santa will fill his spot, no one will really take his place.

Q was a very special person in my life and in every life he encountered. I first met him when he started work at juvenile court with the Alternate Public Defender’s office. He was basically there to take my job away. So you see, it would have been very easy to not like him. But the fact that we all did was an indication of what kind a man he was. He was honest, a straight-shooter, cared deeply about his clients, and believed strongly in the system. Not exactly how most people would describe an attorney. In addition, he was a wonderful father, had a great sense of humor, loved life, and always put everyone else’s needs in front of his own. I know people tend to say nice things about people after they have passed away, but Q was the kind of guy who people said nice things about when he was alive.

So once again “Q” came through for me…providing me with a word for the hardest letter in the alphabet. Thank you.

www.teresaburrell.com

The "P" Word is Party

2009-07-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ever since I blogged the "N" word, I've had many questions about my launch party for THE ADVOCATE, so I'm writing a bit more about that event. It was in a "p" word...phenomenal. Everyone was so gracious and made me feel so wonderful. I couldn't have done it, however, without the help of my family and friends. We had a barbeque (thank you, David) and book signing. The weather was too hot, but other than that, everything was perfect.

Over a hundred people attended the launch party, many of them not local. My dear friend, Marilee, came the furthest, all the way from Kalispell, Montana. What a treat that was. My sister, Madeline, flew in from Idaho, and my niece, Kimmie, from Washington. I had friends and relatives from San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties. Friends arrived from all different walks and times of my life. Some were from my teaching days, others from when I attended law school and then practiced law, from my private businesses, and even from high school (now that goes way back).

The Advocate sales were over one hundred...not bad for my first. And if you missed the west coast launch and you live by that other ocean...come see me in Kennebunk, Maine at Kennebooks Bookstore on July 30th.

Thank you all for attending, for buying my book, and for making me feel like a celebrity. That part was a hoot!

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com/

The "O" Word--Okapi

2009-07-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

The okapi has been one of my favorite zoo animals since I discovered it some years ago at the San Diego Zoo. I was fascinated by its reddish, dark velvety fur, which I later discovered was oily and hleped repel water in its natural habitat, the Ituri Rainforest. The stripes on the back end of the okapi make it look like it may be some sort of zebra, but in fact it is a member of the giraffe family. The body shape is similar to a giraffe, but with a much shorter neck. However, the okapi does have a long, flexible, blue tongue used to capture the leaves from trees like the giraffe. It is the only mammal that can lick its own ears. Now that's impressive.

The okapi is a beautiful animal. You really have to see one live to appreciate it. There are approximately 10 to 20 thousand left in the wild and only about 40 zoos or institutions house them in captivity. They're not listed as endangered, but are threatened by pouching and habitat destruction.

Okapis are essentially solitary, coming together only to breed. Hey, I've been accused of that...well, not the breeding part, just the solitary part. No wonder I'm fascinated with these animals. Anyway, they're not social animals preferring to live in large, secluded areas (probably so they can write their novels.)

This is not an animal I was aware of growing up. It was, in fact, unknown to the western world until the 20th century, but has been depicted in carvings for almost 2,500 years in old Persia. Ancient carved images of the okapi have also been discovered in Egypt establishing the okapi was known to the ancient Egyptians. It was known for years as the "African unicorn."

How many of you have seen an okapi? What's your favorite zoo animal?

Teresa
http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "N" Word--Nieces & Nephews

2009-06-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

I have spouted off before about what a remarkable family I have, but I’m going to do it again because I just experienced another example of how this family pulls together and just does what needs to be done like a well-oiled machine. The launch party for my debut novel, The Advocate, took place last Saturday in Riverside, California. My sisters and their offspring, my amazing nieces and nephews (this includes great, and great, great nieces and nephews), just pitched in and gave me one of the most memorable days of my life. Their help and their support were incredible. And once the party was rolling they all bought books, from the oldest to the youngest. I can’t tell you the number of times I had to write “To my favorite niece” or “my favorite nephew.” Yup, they all wanted the same inscription.

But there were a couple of exceptional purchases. The first was my three-year-old great-great niece, Meredith, who convinced her grandmother to buy her a book. When asked what she wanted the message to read. She said, “To Baby Amelia & Meredith” (Baby Amelia is her little sister. What a sweet, thoughtful, little girl.)

Later when my sister gave a last call for the books, her granddaughter, Allie (Alexandria) said, “I want one.” She’s four years old, but hey, her three-year-old cousin had one. Within minutes, Allie was walking through the remaining crowd and asking for forty cents. We have no idea where she came up with the forty-cent value of the book, but apparently she thought that was what it cost. One of the older nephews conceded to give her a dollar. Then she brought it to me and asked to buy a book. What’s an auntie going to do? She wanted her book signed “To Alexandria” (too important, I guess, for Allie). Then her ten-year-old cousin got a dollar from his older brother and he wanted one. Another book went for a dollar…so though the cost of the book had diminished immensely by the end of the night, the experience had been greatly enriched.

Thank you all for making my launch party an experience I’ll never forget.

Auntie Tee

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "M" Word--Michigan and Other "M" States

2009-06-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

I just spent five days in Michigan with my nephew Chet and his family where I received the red carpet treatment and had a pleasant, restful time--a much needed break. After a fabulous weekend in Chicago at Printer’s Row Book Festival, Chet picked me up and drove me to Bay City. Michigan was beautiful, so many shades of green (as opposed to our southern California brown hills) and lots of spring flowers still in bloom. While I was there I researched an area where one of my characters will go in my next novel. It is a sequel to The Advocate. It’s so much easier to write about an area when you've actually been there. I was quite surprised how different things were from the aerial maps I saw online. My highlight in Michigan was passing through Paw Paw and seeing where Norm Cowie, author of Fang Face, went to high school (great book, by the way!)

When I started to write this blog I thought about how the "M" states had played an integral part in my life. In addition to Michigan I have a connection to most of the “M” states. Growing up in Minnesota I remember jumping rope to the Mississippi diddy: M-I-crooked letter, crooked letter-I-crooked letter, crooked letter-I-hump back, hump back-I. A good part of my family lives in Montana, so many that we chose to have our “Family Onion” there last year. My very dear friends live in Maine and I have the good fortune to visit there quite often (going again the end of next month). We had our last sister trip with all five sisters in Missouri (memories that will forever be dear to me). My publisher, Echelon Press, is located in Maryland. So that only leaves Massachusetts. Although I’ve been there several times, have some nice memories of Boston, but it’s the remaining state to develop a real connection. Any suggestions? Any of you connected to the “M” states?

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "L" Word--Limbo

2009-06-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Limbo—I’m talking about the dance, not the place somewhere between heaven and hell.

Do you remember the limbo? Are you too young? I remember being the limbo champ once in school. In all fairness, I think I had an advantage. Since I was only about four and a half feet tall, I was much closer to the ground than my fully grown friends.

For those of you who are not familiar with the dance, the dancer leans backward and moves to a Caribbean rhythm as he dances his way under a horizontal stick without touching it. If he touches it or falls backwards, he’s out. During a competition the dancers follow in a single line with the stick being gradually lowered each time through until only one dancer remains.

People often associate the dance with Hawaii, but it originated on the island of Trinidad. The name comes from the Trinidad/English dialect, “limba” meaning “to bend,” from the English “limber.”

Research indicates that in certain African beliefs the dance reflects the whole cycle of life. The dancers are moving under a pole and emerging on the other side representing the triumph of life over death.

And I bet you thought the limbo was just another dance. But then you probably received most of your limbo knowledge, like I did, from Chubby Checker and his "Limbo Rock."

Do you have a limbo story? Please share.

Teresa

http://www.teresaburrell.com/

The "K" Word--Kantor

2009-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

Since most of my blogs have been about me, I thought I’d give you all a break and provide a little insight into my novel. So my “k” word is “Kantor,” the cologne Sabre’s brother, Ron, always wore in The Advocate. Here is an excerpt from the book, page 25:

She opened the office door. A familiar odor caught her attention–faint, but recognizable. Her brother's favorite cologne, Kantor. It had been years since she had experienced the smell of his cologne, unsure if they even still made it. She would check with the other attorneys on Monday to see who in the building wore the cologne. She started to dismiss it when she noticed that her brother's photo, on the credenza behind her desk, was facing the wall. She knew she hadn't moved the photo.

No point in trying to find the cologne, it doesn’t exist except in The Advocate, again on page 181:

As she approached the spot where the stranger had been sitting, she smelled the familiar odor of Kantor cologne. Once again her heart skipped a beat. It was the only cologne Ron ever wore. The smell grew stronger the closer she came to where the man had been seated. She peered around, but he seemed to be gone. She watched as she walked to her car, but no further evidence of him, nor the smell, presented itself. More paranoia?

I guess you’ll have to read the book to see where the smell of Kantor is coming from. If you haven’t done it already, you can click here to enter the drawing to win a free, autographed copy of The Advocate.

The "J" word--Juggle

2009-05-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Can you juggle? Years ago I learned to keep three balls in the air for a while, but I never worked at it hard enough to master it.

On the other hand, like the rest of you, I’ve been juggling things all my life. In college, I juggled schoolwork, a job, the party scene, and managed to get through it without destroying my grade point average. I juggled bills, spending money, and rides for lack of parking. I even went through a period in my life where I was pretty adept at juggling men.

And then there’s the jugular vein (which has nothing to do with the word I started with, but sounds close enough and it does start with “j”). When I was teaching sixth grade, I had a student (yes, a sixth grader—and that wasn’t half as bad as the one with the gun a couple of years later.) come at my jugular vein with a knife. I guess you don’t need to ask why I changed from teaching to law.

So, I’ve juggled many things, survived an attack to the jugular, and even dated a juggler for a few years. Most of my friends probably couldn’t tell you his name. He was simply “The Juggler.” The relationship was an adventure. You can’t imagine the places a juggler can get you into. We stayed in Elvis Presley’s Palm Springs home (long after Elvis was gone), had a shot of Louis the XIII Cognac with some producer in Hollywood (at $100 a shot—totally lost on me), and hung out with Robin Williams at the Comedy Club for hours after it had closed. The juggler, nine years younger than me, had a maturity level at least ten years less than that. But then, what did I expect? After all, I was dating a man who played with his balls for a living.

What do you have the most trouble juggling? Or the most fun?

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "I" Word--Impossible

2009-05-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

Growing up I never really thought much about things being “impossible.” As I’ve said before, I went through life doing things because I didn’t know I couldn’t. My sisters function the same way. They’ve all set fine examples for me; none of them know the meaning of impossible.

We’ve all heard of the athlete with a handicap who does the “impossible.” Just about everyone knows about 5’ 7” Rudy Ruettiger who played football for Notre Dame. Or Wilma Rudolph, who became known as “The Black Gazelle.” She overcame polio, scarlet fever, and double pneumonia only to go on to set running records and win Olympic gold medals.

But it’s the little things you do everyday that lead to mastery and eventually overcomes the impossible. Writing that extra paragraph, doing that extra set of exercises, making one more phone call, working that extra hour, saving that extra dollar, stuffing one more envelope…it doesn’t matter what goal you’re trying to reach, it’s the little “impossibilities” that ultimately make you a winner.

So, I think I’ll go eat that extra piece of chocolate and try out for American Idol. Ok, so there are limits, but most of them are in your mind.

I’m a little “Fertile” girl who went on to write a novel, The Advocate, and actually got it published. Who’d ever thought that was possible?

What “impossible” thing have you achieved?

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The "H" Word--Hitchhiking

2009-05-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

When I was young and very foolish, I spent three months in Europe hitchhiking around the country and sleeping in youth hostels. What an incredible way to see a country. I met so many wonderful people and had unbelievable experiences. I was twenty years old and my traveling companion, Michele, was about the same. We spent the entire summer traveling from one country to another. We started in Amsterdam, met up with old friends from home in Germany, saw the Mona Lisa in France, had a scare in Spain, danced through Italy, stayed in a haunted hostel in Wales, met new relatives in Ireland, and had other great adventures in Switzerland, Austria, England, and Lichtenstein. We met fellow travelers from all over the world and locals that often gave us housing and superb hospitality.

In those days, they didn’t have our fast food restaurants and it was impossible to find a good hamburger. We were very young and although we liked most of the food, we didn’t appreciate it as we may have had we been a little older. We were starved for good old American food. We finally found an import store. We sat outside on the steps for almost two hours until it opened. Once inside, we paid about five times the amount we would have at home for a jar of peanut butter. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. We would buy fresh loaves of bread in the bakeries and fruit from the stands on the streets and ate fruit and peanut butter sandwiches for about a week…until our peanut butter was gone.

Hitchhiking was the best way to travel back then. I was a college student at the time, and a bit of a hippie…not the real thing…I had too much “Catholic guilt” to get into the free love thing and the drug scene didn’t appeal to me. So, with my hair in braids and my loose outfits, I was sort of a hippie wannabe. I did hippie things, like: travel with just a single bag pack all summer, wash my clothes by hand in cold water and hang them out to dry, took cold showers (ok, so I had no other options), go barefoot or wear sandals, and of course, hitchhike.

We hitchhiked from city to city and then took the bus system around to see the sites, except in Italy. There we even hitchhiked in the city because the Italian men were so eager to give us rides. And yes, they do (or did then) pinch your bottom when you walked down the streets, just like in the old movies.

Hitchhike, a word my mother never quite forgave me for. She didn’t know until I got home what my mode of travel had been. She would have been so worried, and rightly so, but I know she also admired my sense of adventure. Now, I’m older and much wiser and will no longer even take a ride on a roller coaster, much less with a stranger. So now when I get the urge to put on jeans and a sweatshirt and hitchhike down the highway, I know I'm only dreaming of a time gone by.

Have you ever hitchhiked? Or picked up a hitchhiker? Please share your story.

The "G" Word--Geneology

2009-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Have you researched your genealogy? It can be great fun. I started the process about ten years ago, or more. I was able to research my mother’s side of the family back to the twelve hundreds. I found some very interesting stories along the way. I also met a group of relatives that I would’ve never met if I hadn’t been looking for information.

I returned to Fertile, MN and discovered a graveyard from the 1800’s that belonged entirely to our clan except for about six graves that were from one other family. The graveyard was off the beaten path in the woods hidden from the public. It contained the graves of my great grandparents, and my great, great grandparents and gaggles of great aunts and uncles. All those original “Fertile families” were “gi-normous.” My great-grandfather was one of eighteen. His folks came from Canada to the valley along with three other families nearly as large. They arrived there too late to get their homes built before winter settled in, so that first winter they had to dig holes in the hills and live underground until the snows passed. They initially called the area Godfrey Township. It was sometime later when my brilliant ancestors changed the name to Fertile.

I also discovered other interesting things, like the first cousins that married each other, making some parts of my family tree a “pole” instead of a tree.

Have you researched your genealogy? Any interesting stories you’d care to share?

www.teresaburrell.com

The F-Word--Family

2009-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have the best family in the world, not the sanest, but by far the most loving. There were nine of us born to Forest and Clara in a little town in Minnesota called Fertile. (I’m not kidding.)

When my family celebrates, we feast, the Easter function at my sister’s house this year had over one hundred folks there. I counted one-hundred-four family members and friends and tables full of food.

When there’s an illness, not just the hearts reach out, but the bodies too. When my eldest sister was on her deathbed, every one of my brothers and sisters came to support one another. They came from Montana, Idaho, and different parts of California. We all huddled together in the hospital waiting room for five days. And when Sissy passed away we were all together circled around her bedside fingers entwined.

When there’s work to be done, they all pitch in. When someone has a dream they all encourage it. When someone gets married, graduates, is released from jail (I never claimed perfection), signs a book contract like “The Advocate,” or gets a job, no matter how big or small the event, this family cares and supports. That’s not to say we don’t fuss at one another. We have our share of feuds and fights, but eventually the love always overcomes.

We are one big, and I do mean big (at last count, I had one-hundred-fourteen nieces and nephews, that includes great-nieces and nephews), happy (most of the time) family—now that’s a Fertile family!

The E Word--Exercise...Ewww

2009-04-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Eleven (it’s an e-word day) ways to exercise without spending money or time.

1. While you’re brushing your teeth, do a few squats…slowly, so the toothpaste isn't splattered everywhere.

2. While sitting at the table eating breakfast clench those buttocks together, hold it for about two seconds, and then release. Keep doing it throughout breakfast (lunch or dinner) and it won’t be long before you’ll have a firmer butt. If breakfast and butt doesn’t sound that appealing to you, then do it while you’re sitting at your desk. Your rear end doesn’t have to get enormous just because you’re sitting on it all day.

3. You all know to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, or at the very least walk up and down that escalator. And pick up your speed when you do need to walk somewhere. You’ll get it done earlier and burn a calorie or two.

4. There are lots of things you can do while sitting at your desk. Extend your legs out in front of you and stretch those calves. It’s good to stretch those muscles and helps prevent blood clots as well.

5. You can do leg lifts from your desk, too. Start with one leg, then the other, then both. Start slow and add a few each week. This can be an effective abdominal exercise.

6. Stretch (not roll) your neck from side to side and forward and backward. Also, look right, and left.

7. If you expend a lot of time typing, roll your wrists. This can help prevent carpal tunnel. Roll your ankles as well. This can help with circulation.

8. Suck in your stomach, hold for a few seconds, then release. Repeat this as often as you can think to do it. After a while it will become a habit and you will have firmer stomach muscles.

9. Open your arms straight out, pull your shoulders back, and rotate your wrists (thumbs going up and back). Good stretch.

10. Keep a hand gripper around your house. Pick it up when you walk by and use it. It works your hands as well as your forearms.

11. After work, and you’ve eaten your dinner (sucking in those buttocks while you ate), and it’s time to relax in front of the television, get a large size stability ball and sit on it with back and abs held firm. Sit, bounce, and do basic exercise on it while you watch the "boob tube."

Now this isn’t meant to replace regular exercise, but those of us who can’t seem to make it to the gym at all, or on those days when we can't take those long walks, this is way better than nothing.

http://www.teresaburrell.com

The D Word--Dance

2009-04-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

Dancing is one of my favorite pastimes. I don’t know whether I’m any good at it or not, but I still enjoy the dance floor. The motion, the swaying, the lively steps, moving with the music, it’s magical.

My favorite Garth Brooks song is “The Dance.” You’ve got to love the line—“I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss, the dance.” It’s really all about the dance of life. It’s the work. It’s the fun. It’s the accomplishments, the sweat, the deadlines, the creativity, and the laughs and smiles along the way. That’s what makes life so incredibly wonderful. They’re all part of the dance.

When I was about five years old I can remember going to town on a Saturday night with my parents. We would go to a bar called “The Sister’s Café” where mom would work and dad would drink. My sister and I would hang out. The old drunks would put money in the jukebox and then give us dimes if we danced. Looking back on it, I’m sure some of them were trying to help entertain us, others I’ve got to wonder. Anyway, as soon as we had enough dimes, we would go to the movies. Strange as it may seem, that dancing left me both feeling sentimental and scarred. But I still like to dance.

And what lyrics are better than Lee ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.”

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance....I hope you dance.
I have few regrets with my choices in life, but those I do have are not because I chose to dance but rather because I sit one out. Just dance.

And best of all, my favorite quote. (I don’t know who to attribute it to but I’ve had it on my wall for years.) “The reason the rain dance works is because they don’t stop dancing until it rains.” This reminder has kept me going many times when I wanted to give up.

What's your favorite dance story? Did you dance or sit it out?

C Word--It's All About the Children

2009-04-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

My "C" word is children. Although, I never gave birth to any, I’ve been surrounded by them since I entered this world. I had eight brothers and sisters. I’m the baby. When you come from a clan that large you soon have oodles of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. I lost count around twenty years ago—at fifty plus.

When people would ask me why I didn't have any children, I would jokingly reply, “I hate kids.” The truth is, I’ve spent my entire life working with those little “curtain climbers." I’ve taught, represented, tutored, counseled, and coached them. I even helped raise one son who I inherited from a relationship. He’s wonderful, but I have to give his father the credit for doing such a fabulous job. He was consistent, caring, and conscious of what was going on in his child’s world. And as a result, Bobby grew up to be a well functioning member of society. In fact he’s now an attorney—ok, so he's not perfect (and that's the part he got from me.)

Our children are our most cherished commodity. They need our protection, our love, and our direction in this crazy cosmos. I’ve seen so much heartache and pain among those little ones with my stint at juvenile court. That’s part of the reason I wrote my novel, The Advocate. It deals with a fictional juvenile court case while it delves into some of the realities of child abuse.

Life is all about the children and the joy they bring into our lives. What have you done lately to make a child’s day special? Or what has a child done that made you smile?