Bright Birds, Bright Ideas, and Brilliant Memories

This post by Cher’ley Grogg

My Mom loved birds, she loved everything about them, she loved the vivid or subtle colors, she loved their sounds, she loved their nests, and the little eggs that hatched into little birds. I’m not someone who can tell one bird from another, but I know a few of them when I see them. I want to know more. 

I fed my back yard birds this week, and ended up with a few that I had never seen before. These little creatures bought me great pleasure. Several times over the last couple of days I watched them peck away at the food. One day there was 5 brilliant red cardinals and one brown female with the orange bill and orange tuft on top of her head. I had blue jays, blue birds, wrens, a chick-a-dee and a red-headed wood pecker, among many others. I got some photos.

Whippoorwill Bird

 
Birds make me think of my Mom. When I was little, we’d sit on the front porch and she’d say, “Listen, they’re calling your name-Cher-ley` (accent on ley-kind of high shrilled).” I would listen and I could hear them calling to me. Dad always told me if I put salt on a birds tail I could catch it. My grandma said if children weren’t tucked into bed by dark the Whippoorwill bird would get them.  She had a willow tree and when that bird would scream, “Whip you I will”, we’d all (my brothers, cousins, and I) would practically run over each other to get into bed.

From birds I draw inspiration.

                                              In Stamp Out Murder and in my next book that will be coming out later this year Cancel Out Murder, every chapter starts with a description of a stamp, (maybe new, or maybe canceled) that’s worth a lot of money. Many stamps have birds on them. Can you think of a year where a bird was featured on a Stamp? Here’s a link to an Ebay page featuring bird stamps. And these stamps are now worth Eleven Dollars. Not a lot in the Stamp Collecting World, but a $9.00 dollar profit for the collector.

Birds calm my soul, God’s little gifts of joy to me. Is there an animal that has been a part of your growing up years? I lived in the country, so there are more animal tales I can tell about.

Stamp Out Murder”.

The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk” This is an especially good book for your Tween Children and Grandchildren.

Fans of Cher'ley Grogg,AuthorAnd please join me on my Facebook Fanpage, that’s managed by one of my most faithful fans: Cindy Ferrell

A couple of related articles.

Who’s Who of Writing Wranglers and Warriors

ImageCher’ley Grogg is the author of the mystery novel “Stamp Out Murder” and the YA novel “The Secret in Grandma’s Trunk”. She has won writing contests, been published in All Things Girl magazine, local newspapers, Long Ridge Writer’s Anthology, Crime and Suspense magazine and 34th Parallel Anthology. She freelances for several online magazines, blogs and research sites. She interns for WOW magazine and belong to Sisters in Crime, the Guppies, Crime and Suspense, West Virginia’s Writers Group, and Crime Scene Writers. —Cher’ley lives with her husband along the Little Kanawha River in West Virginia. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and mom to a fur baby- boxer named Lizzie. Along with her husband, Del, Cher’ley drives across American in an Eighteen Wheeler. Her hobbies are painting fine art and reading. Link to my books on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cherley-Grogg/e/B007UVFEYE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1Join me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/cherleygroggfanpage

Barb Schlichting Well, you know pretty much everything about me. I’ve been writing for over twenty years. I started with youth activity novels, then historical romance, and now cozy mysteries. I obviously love writing and am very persistent. My girlfriend said I should be commended for working so hard and never giving up. My series is about a young woman who owns a First Ladies Doll house Store in Minneapolis, MN. The White House dollhouses are sold nation wide. The link to my my website is: http://www.barbschlichting.com

Tony Piazza is a Central Coast mystery writer, film historian, presenter, and a veteran storyteller well-known for his passion about writing and movies.

He is the author of two mystery novels, “Anything Short of Murder”  and “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon,” both published by Dog Ear Publishing and available through Amazon. Piazza’s new book, “Bullitt Points,” from SansTree, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the classic Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt” and the involvement of the Piazza family in the production.

Piazza worked regularly as an extra and stand-in on multiple Hollywood movies and television shows shot in San Francisco during the 1970′s, including “Towering Inferno,” “High Anxiety,” “Magnum Force,” and “Streets of San Francisco.” He now blogs regularly about his Hollywood experiences at authortonypiazza.com.

Hello Everyone, I am Jennifer. I’ve had three stories published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series. The most recent Chicken Soup for the Soul I Can’t Believe my Dog Did That! I also have a weekly column athttp://www.grubstreet.ca/articles/index/1487/as-i-see-it-parenting-yearsplus, so weekly business newsletters. In addition I am a mom to twin girls (entering their teen years) and a son. I also have a sideline jewelry business.

Frank Larnerd was born in Knoxville, Tennessee and spent much of his childhood engrossed in weird stories of monsters, mutants, and other worlds. He has worked as a morgue night watchman, shoe salesman, and color commentator for IWA: East Coast wrestling. Although he is best known for his unique blend of traditional Appalachian folklore and unsettling horror, Frank has also published numerous science fiction and crime stories. Currently, Frank studies Professional Writing at West Virginia State University, where he has received multiple awards for fiction and non-fiction. He lives in Putnam County, West Virginia.http://www.franklarnerd.com

Alethea Williams is the author of the Wyoming historical novel Willow Vale, of which Kirkus Indie Reviews says, “Williams writes with
familiarity, easily transporting the reader back to the 1920s. Despite the technological, economical and social differences between then and now, the heart of the story is timeless.” She has also self-published to Kindle a compilation of her newspaper columns from the Green River Star, Boomer Blues Book: Staying Alive and Sane in the Modern American West Read Alethea’s blog. Follow her on Twitter: @actuallyalethea and on Facebook: Alethea Williams, author

Rachel Reed loves dogs and horses and writes about both. “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Ronald Reagan –Love the Lord, my family,my dogs and my country. http://www.facebook.com/rachel.reed.169

Sherry Hartzler is the author of THREE MOONS OVER SEDONA @ BEEHIVE bookstore, Delaware, Ohio, WELL RED COYOTE in Sedona, AZwww.wellredcoyote.com, ANTIGONE BOOKS in Tucson, AZ
antigonebooks@qwest.net OLD LIVERY in Wickenburg, AZ; GREAT EXPECTATIONS and BOWEN HOUSE, Logan, Ohio–Tom and I operate a rental cabin property in Hocking Hills, Ohio. I write women’s fiction – relationship novels about and for women.

Author R.G. Yoho was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. While he was still a child, his parents moved the family to a cattle farm in southeastern Ohio.R.G. has been a freelance writer for years in many fields, such as politics and sports. He also hosted a weekly radio talk show for over four years, while still employed in the plastics industry. His love of Westerns began with the reading of “Flint,” a novel by famed Western author, Louis L’Amour. “Now, I try to write the kind of books I like to read,” he said. “And other people seem to like them, as well.” A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, R.G. is also a devoted fan of West Virginia University football and basketball.

Jill Sanders is the author of the Non-fiction book. Love Yourself More; Stress Less. She is in a busy season at this time , so we will learn more from her at a later time. http://www.facebook.com/jill.sanders.5621