Do you have a favorite fall memory linked to a train? What do you imagine you would see if you were riding a train in the fall? Join the authors of Wild Child publishing and Freya's Bower as we Take an Autumn Train Ride through our blogs.
Prizes will include:
- Four $50 gift certificates (two for Wild Child and two Freya's Bower)
- An awesome swag package that includes:
- Bookmarks
- Books
- Wild Child T-shirt and mug
- Wild Child and Freya's Bower bags
- Four handmade, crochet coasters by Kit Wylde
- An autographed copy of Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
- A rare DVD copy of the Matheson/Furst classic "Up The Creek" (lovingly used)
- One ebook copy of Nita Wick's short story, The Dream (previously published as part of a Freya's Bower anthology.)
- Book trading cards
- Signed Dangerous Waters poster
- a copy of "Battle for Blood: The Blood Feud"
- winner's name as a character in Kissa Starling's next sweet romance story.
- A Yankee Candle
- more...
I passionately recall this nice autumn Monday morning like it was yesterday. It’s my favorite time of the year because it was time take a very special train ride. As I board the train, I take a seat in my favorite spot near the window and carefully place my yellow and purple bouquet of flowers in the vacant seat next to me. To begin my routine, I adjust the volume and earphones to my Walkman perfectly. Then, I slowly turn on the song “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers and just let the lyrics transport me deeper into the wonderful memories. As the door slams shut, the aroma of expensive cologne is trapped in the air. Oh, yes, my favorite cologne.
A loud voice yells, “This is the stop for the post office.”
At the moment, a small tear escapes my eyes. I remember the struggle of someone I cared about to take one step at a time because their wooden leg gave them so many limitations. I quickly wipe away my tears, not from fear of being seen, but because I can hear his voice tell me to never feel pity for him. As several people leave, the train door slams shut. Next, stop “Fish Market.” I chuckle to myself as I think about how he bragged about his fried fish, rice, and gravy. I turn up my Walkman a little to hear the favorite part of the song. All of sudden, a lingering smell of a cigar fills the air. It startles me because the smell is all too familiar. I turn around and glance over at the older gentleman taking one last pull of his cigar before he gets caught.
“Whitman last stop,” yells the voice over the intercom.
I better hurry before I miss my stop. I snatch my flowers from the seat and slip in between the doors, just in time. I rush up the subway steps cross the street. Carefully, I make my way down the brick sidewalk. As I approach my destination, I kneel down and place my flowers carefully in the dirt. I wipe the last bit of the dirt from my grandfather’s tombstone. It’s my ritual to come here every Veteran’s Day for a man that lost his leg serving our country. You are still and always will be very close to my heart. Until this very day, I have not met a man who cooks better than you, just like you said, and I chuckle to myself at that thought. There are so many good memories that make me feel that you are still with me, especially when I listen to your favorite song and the smell of cigars that you loved so much! Thank you, Grandfather, for serving our country and for being such a wonderful man.
I head back to the train station feeling overjoyed that I am able to honor a wonderful man.
A loud voice yells, “This is the stop for the post office.”
At the moment, a small tear escapes my eyes. I remember the struggle of someone I cared about to take one step at a time because their wooden leg gave them so many limitations. I quickly wipe away my tears, not from fear of being seen, but because I can hear his voice tell me to never feel pity for him. As several people leave, the train door slams shut. Next, stop “Fish Market.” I chuckle to myself as I think about how he bragged about his fried fish, rice, and gravy. I turn up my Walkman a little to hear the favorite part of the song. All of sudden, a lingering smell of a cigar fills the air. It startles me because the smell is all too familiar. I turn around and glance over at the older gentleman taking one last pull of his cigar before he gets caught.
“Whitman last stop,” yells the voice over the intercom.
I better hurry before I miss my stop. I snatch my flowers from the seat and slip in between the doors, just in time. I rush up the subway steps cross the street. Carefully, I make my way down the brick sidewalk. As I approach my destination, I kneel down and place my flowers carefully in the dirt. I wipe the last bit of the dirt from my grandfather’s tombstone. It’s my ritual to come here every Veteran’s Day for a man that lost his leg serving our country. You are still and always will be very close to my heart. Until this very day, I have not met a man who cooks better than you, just like you said, and I chuckle to myself at that thought. There are so many good memories that make me feel that you are still with me, especially when I listen to your favorite song and the smell of cigars that you loved so much! Thank you, Grandfather, for serving our country and for being such a wonderful man.
I head back to the train station feeling overjoyed that I am able to honor a wonderful man.
Dr. Audrey Cuff
City of Thieves
When Ashley Brown was five years old, her parents left her in the care of her grandma, though her mother promised to return for her. At fourteen, Ashley is still living with her grandmother in Highland, a city on the outskirts of Maryville, a place known as the "ghetto."
Ashley has shadowy memories of her mother taking her to her favorite place, the library. Reading a good book allows Ashley to escape her poverty and crime infested community. One afternoon after listening to the Mayor's press conference, Ashley discovers that the Mayor is taking away the community library. In spite of being put on punishment for a week by her grandma for defending herself from the school bullies, Ashley feels it is worth the risk to sneak out of her apartment to mail a letter she has written to the Mayor about keeping the library open.
Every day homeless people approach her and beg for something to eat or for money. The most frequent requests come from two disheveled individuals Ashley has nicknamed "Orphan Annie" and the "business-man bum." As if escaping the homeless people isn't enough, there are a bunch of bullies who harass Ashley. One day, the bullies chase her into an alley. They force her to the ground and Ashley is afraid of what could have happened next. This is one time Ashley wished she listen to her grandma.
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Please visit these sites for more chances to win, the more you visit the more chances you have to win. We have 46 participating authors. You can stop at as many or as little blogs as you wish. At each stop, you will find either two chances to enter per blog to win some awesome prizes. If you visit all, that's 92 chances to win! There will be five, lucky winners.
Take the Blog Train and Visit These Blogs for more chances to win
Marci Baun/Kit Wylde
Critters at the Keyboard
Teresa D'Amario
Judith Leger, Fantasy and Comtemporary Romance Author
Writing
The Fictional World of Jaime Samms
Follow Where the Path will Take You
The Wandering Mind of Lizzy P. Bellows
Where Love and Magic Meet
Kissa Starling
Marianna Heusler
Hell's Ambrosia
C.M. Michaels
The Shadow Portal
The Blog Zone
Blog By iMagine
Ardyth DeBruyn Author Blog
Shadows of the Past
Dear Reader
Cassie Exline -- Mystery and Romance
Sarcastic Rambling & Writing
That's What I Think
Sue's Random Ramblings
Make Old Bones
Elements of Mystery
Molly Dean's Blog
Kenzie's Place
The Forbidden Blog
David Huffstetler
Cassandra Ulrich
Carol Marvell
Andrew Richardson
Nick Lloyd
Fiddleeebod -- land of stories
Nita Wick's Blog
Ruth G. Zavitsanos
Too Poor for Texas
Jenn Nixon
City of Thieves
Musings and Doodles
Husein
The Western Writer
Bike Cop Blog
The Character Depot
Allen Currier
Tracy Holohan
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Marci Baun/Kit Wylde
Critters at the Keyboard
Teresa D'Amario
Judith Leger, Fantasy and Comtemporary Romance Author
Writing
The Fictional World of Jaime Samms
Follow Where the Path will Take You
The Wandering Mind of Lizzy P. Bellows
Where Love and Magic Meet
Kissa Starling
Marianna Heusler
Hell's Ambrosia
C.M. Michaels
The Shadow Portal
The Blog Zone
Blog By iMagine
Ardyth DeBruyn Author Blog
Shadows of the Past
Dear Reader
Cassie Exline -- Mystery and Romance
Sarcastic Rambling & Writing
That's What I Think
Sue's Random Ramblings
Make Old Bones
Elements of Mystery
Molly Dean's Blog
Kenzie's Place
The Forbidden Blog
David Huffstetler
Cassandra Ulrich
Carol Marvell
Andrew Richardson
Nick Lloyd
Fiddleeebod -- land of stories
Nita Wick's Blog
Ruth G. Zavitsanos
Too Poor for Texas
Jenn Nixon
City of Thieves
Musings and Doodles
Husein
The Western Writer
Bike Cop Blog
The Character Depot
Allen Currier
Tracy Holohan
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