Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Vamps, Villains and Vaudeville by Ellen Mansoor Collier

Book Synopsis

In 1920s Galveston, society reporter Jazz Cross is in for a surprise when she attends a traveling vaudeville show with her beau, Prohibition Agent James Burton, and discovers that an old flame acts in the production. That night, they find a stabbing victim behind the Oasis — her half-brother Sammy’s speakeasy — who’s identified as an actor in the troupe. When the victim disappears and later turns up dead, Jazz must help prove that Sammy wasn’t the killer.

Meanwhile, a ring of jewel thieves is turning up all over town, robbing rich tourists of their precious gems. After a second vaudeville actor is found dead, Jazz discovers that the events behind the scenes are much more interesting than the outdated acts onstage.

To make matters worse, Sammy’s old nemesis demands that he settles a score and forces him into yet another illegal scheme. Can Jazz help solve the murders and prove her brother’s innocence—so he can escape the Downtown Gang for good?

A historical Jazz Age mystery inspired by real-life Galveston gangs and local landmarks.

Author Bio

Ellen Mansoor Collier is a Houston-based freelance magazine writer and editor whose articles and essays have been published in a variety of national magazines. Several of her short stories have appeared in Woman’s World. During college summers, she worked as a reporter for a Houston community newspaper and as a cocktail waitress, both jobs providing background experience for her Jazz Age mysteries.

A flapper at heart, she’s worked as a magazine editor/writer, and in advertising and public relations (plus endured a hectic semester as a substitute teacher). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Magazine Journalism and served on UTmost, the college magazine and as president of WICI (Women in Communications). 

FLAPPERS, FLASKS AND FOUL PLAY is her first novel, published in 2012, followed by the sequel, BATHING BEAUTIES, BOOZE AND BULLETS, released in May 2013. She lives in Houston with her husband and Chow mutts, and visits Galveston whenever possible.

“When you grow up in Houston, Galveston becomes like a second home. I had no idea this sleepy beach town had such a wild and colorful past until I began doing research, and became fascinated by the legends and stories of the 1920s. Finally I had to stop researching and start writing, trying to imagine a flapper’s life in Galveston during Prohibition.” 

Author Links

Website: http://www.flapperfinds.com/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452242.Ellen_Mansoor_Collier
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/artdecodame/flappers/ 

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Giveaway

(4) E-Copy - Winner’s Choice - Jazz Age Mystery (ends 3/30)

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Did You Know Tuesday - Fun Facts About Pencils

National Pencil Day falls this week on March 30.  I like to sketch or doodle with a pencil, but rarely use them to write.  (I have always been a felt tip pen girl!)  My biggest memory of using pencils for writing was in elementary school, with the fat, old fashioned pencils that we learned to write with.  (Do children still use these?)

Here are a few fun facts about pencils, in honor of National Pencil Day:

The origin of the word pencil is unclear.  It may derive from pencillis (Latin, "little tail) or pincel (French, "little paintbrush").  

Before erasers existed, bread crumbs were use to erase mistakes.

Hyman Lipman patented a pencil with an eraser attached in 1858.

Pencils were used on early American and Soviet space missions because they can write in zero gravity.

Pencils can also write in water!

John Steinbeck wrote with pencils and sometimes used 60 a day.

Ernest Hemingway also preferred to write with pencils.

Johnny Carson played with pencils on The Tonight Show.  The pencils were specially made with erasers for safety.

Roald Dahl wrote with pencil and kept 6 sharpened pencils ready at all times.

Thomas Edison used special pencils that were thicker than normal pencils.

Henry David Thoreau's father owned a pencil making business, and Thoreau designed his own pencils.

Pencils do not contain lead.  They contain graphite and clay.

14 billion pencils are produced each year worldwide.

The average pencil can draw a line 35 miles long.  It can also write 17,000 words.

If you dream of a pencil, it means you think a relationship may not last long.

So what is your thought on pencils ... Love them?  Use them to write, to draw?  Prefer pens?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Music Monday - "I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles" by The Proclaimers (1988)

When I was in college, I used to make mixtapes.  They often had a theme - happy songs, songs for a rainy day, songs that make me want to dance ...  If I was making a mixtape today of happy songs, "I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles" by The Proclaimers would definitely be on that tape.

This song is by the Scottish band The Proclaimers.  This band features twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid.  Charlie Reid wrote "I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles" in 45 minutes while waiting to travel.  

Although this song was released in 1988, it became a big hit in the U.S. in 1993 after it was featured in the movie Benny & Joon.  (That is where I first heard the song.)

I love the infectious happiness and energy of this song.   The singer is so in love that he declares:

"But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door"


How can you not love that?!   Do you remember "I'm Gonna Be 500 Miles"?   I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

What a Vintage Seller Does On Her Day Off

I have had a long work week, and took the day off.  I wanted to do something that was a change of pace ... so what did I pick?  Antique malls, of course!

I took a few photos to share with you.  A glimpse inside one of the antique malls - this one had an upstairs and downstairs:


A souvenir hula skirt.  I remember these at Florida tourist shops.  The outside of the package has layers of tissue paper, but if you look inside the tissue paper you see the actual hula skirt (two pictures below).


Tight Squeeze game -- looks like it was marketed for 1960's teens.  I've never heard of this before!


A capiz shell light fixture - so retro!


This great modern light fixture was actually from Ikea -- they evidently have this in a smaller size too.  I heard that and started thinking about where I could put a smaller fixture like this in my home.  I love it!


An antique stove that still works.  WANT.


 A dachshund cushion - with doxie in silhouette.  So sweet!   I did get a little dachshund figurine at one of the malls;  it's already out in my study.


A little cardboard house.  Very cute!


 I love everything about this Mid-Century living room set.


 I also love this Mid-Century hutch.


Cotton!  What a surprise to see this.  I remember seeing fields of cotton when we went on trips to my grandparents' house.  This took me back.


The Partridge Family Album.  I see this and am suddenly 8 years old.  I am pretty sure I still know all the lyrics from these songs by heart.


 A coupon saving file -- I still have this exact file.  I had no idea it was now vintage.


Jadeite salt and pepper sets.


A cute dachshund salt and pepper set - dachshunds in sweaters.


 Salt and peppers of dogs in doghouses.


 Kissing dachshunds - I found this set at an estate sale a few weeks ago and kept it for my little doxie shelf.


 A toy ice cream maker.  I had a set similar to this (a bit later vintage) as a child.  I remember you turned the little handle to make ice cream.  It never got quite as firm as ice cream usually is, but it still tasted good to me.   I also included a picture of the box package.


I don't collect restaurant menus, but I love food history, and could easily start collecting these.  This neat 1950's menu is from The Hotel Monteleone Coffee Shop in New Orleans.   


So there you have it - just a few fun pics.  I hope you're having a fun weekend!

Friday, March 25, 2016

Dear Abby - Vintage Easter Dachshunds

Dear friends,

I'm taking a break from my rescue series this week to wish you a happy Easter.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

I've looked high and low and found some vintage Easter postcards featuring dachshunds.  For some reason these are hard to find - who knew?!

This is my favorite.  A little girl hugs a dachshund, while another doxie brings flowers.  Little chicks are hopping around, too.


A dachshund meets three bunny rabbits!


This card features a whole family of bunny rabbits ... and a handsome black dachshund.


It looks like some dachshunds are helping a bunny rabbit with some Easter eggs.  (I like this idea!)


Two dachshunds meet a big rooster!  This is an unusual card.  Are they in a library?


Another dachshund meets a rooster on this vintage Easter postcard.


A dachshund howls with happiness because he discovered a nest of eggs.


Another surprised looking dachshund finds a chicken and baby chicks.


This pretty dachshund carries pink flowers.


I hope you enjoyed these vintage Easter dachshunds.  I also hope your Easter weekend is lovely.  

I'll be back next week with a happy pet rescue story for you.

Love to all,

Abby xoxoxo