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Renee Writes Now!

Tag Archives: entertainment

Let the light in

08 Thursday Sep 2022

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In the foreword of his book, The Place of Books in the Life We Live (copyright 1923), author William L. Stidger writes, “Books are like the windows of a tower. They let light in. Every life is a growing tower. It is put stone by stone. The higher it grows, the darker it gets if we do not put in a window here and there to give light. That is what a book does to a life. It lets light into that life.”

Well said, indeed.

Stidger believed that a book could frequently be the turning point in the life of a boy or girl, man or woman. It can change the course of a human life, awakening the soul like nothing else. In addition, he believed that books would keep the soul and the world alive, raising people to greater heights.

One of the greatest things we can do is to encourage others to be eager readers. We can give books for gifts and urge others to expand their horizons through the creation of excellent reading habits.

Keep reading, my friends, and inspire others to do the same!

Renee Garrison is the award-winning author of two Young Adult books, “The Anchor Clankers,” and “Anchored Together.” She is Past President of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association.

A little R&R (reading and relaxation)

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

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If you aspire to read more books, you may find that reading also can help you relax. Studies have shown that reading for just six minutes can reduce your stress levels up to 68 percent.

So instead of deciding which shows to binge-watch next, head down to the library. Whether you prefer science fiction, romance or a good mystery, devoting even a little time to a book will give you a chance to let go of the day.

Award-winning author Renee Garrison recently released her second novel, “Anchored Together.“

Read an excerpt from my new book

02 Wednesday Sep 2020

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PhotoFunia-1592856259

Suzette ran into Dougie, a midshipman who was the same age as she was, although his small frame made him look a lot younger. Many of the other boys teased Dougie about getting into the movies for the price of a twelve-and-under kids’ ticket. She remembered the night he got stuck in the ductwork above her bathroom, last year. Some older boys had forced him to sneak down with a camera to get photos of the commandant’s daughter in the shower. Fortunately, she heard him first.

“Hey there,” Dougie said with a shy smile.

“Congratulations on surviving to sophomore status,” Suzette said. “I bet it feels good to have a whole class of freshmen midshipmen starting below you.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “It does. How’s life at the convent?

Suzette laughed. “Off to a great start. I’ve got two projects due next week, including one on finding a universal definition of spirituality. I guess I’ll have to go to the library because I know zero about it.”

Dougie raised his eyebrows. “I might be able to help you out. I’ve got a couple of books in my room about spirituality.”

Seeing Suzette’s puzzled expression, he shrugged. “My parents are extremely religious— church every Sunday. They packed a lot of reading material for me— not that I’ll ever use it. C’mon up to my room and I’ll dig through the stuff in my trunk until I find it.”

“Women aren’t allowed above decks,” Suzette stopped in her tracks.

“So? You’re not a woman,” Dougie said, over his shoulder. “Hurry up. My door is right at the top of the stairs.”

She glanced at her father’s office and noticed that it remained empty—no faculty and no secretaries in sight. Suzette took the wooden steps two at a time and was relieved to see the corridor was clear when she reached the second floor. She found Dougie rifling through a large metal trunk at the foot of his bunk, scattering books on the floor.

Suzette stood with her back against the dorm door, but instinctively turned to open it when she heard a knock.

“Hey Dougie, my fake I.D. worked! Let’s celebrate.”

She heard the sound of a pop top on a can and felt a chilly mist spray over her. Foam dripped from the end of Suzette’s nose and landed on her T-shirt, which was enough to make her reek of beer.

Dougie sat frozen on the floor, too horrified to move, while two midshipmen stood in the doorway, clutching aluminum cans.

“Shit, I am so sorry. Oh no. Oh, my God.”

Suzette wiped her face. “Are you guys crazy? What are you doing with beer, for heaven’s sake? That’s totally illegal, in case you didn’t know. I can’t walk into my parents’ place like this. What am I going to do?”

Dougie grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the bathroom.

“You’re going to rinse off.”

“Oh, a great idea. And what possible explanation will I have for being soaking wet?”

“Maybe you fell in the swimming pool…?”

Standing in the porcelain tub and arguing with Dougie, Suzette failed to notice another boy turn the nozzle. Hot water from the shower head hit her with such force that she screamed. And then, she screamed again.

“No, stop it, right now. Turn off the water,” she sputtered.

Seconds later Mike McGrath burst through the door. A senior and the second highest-ranking officer in the school, Big Mac gaped at the scene in the bathroom.

“I heard screams and I…”

He was looking at Suzette, who stood dripping wet and furious. The outer edges of his mouth twitched slightly but he fought to keep from laughing. “Um, you know ladies aren’t allowed above decks,” he said

“No kidding?” she replied. “I can see why.”

She turned to Dougie and glared. “Get me a towel.”

“You two.” Big Mac nodded toward the boys with the dripping beer cans. “Sit down.”

He peered into the hallway and closed the door.

“We’ve got to get you out of here before evening inspection. You can’t go down the main stairway because you’ll run into some of the faculty.”

Dougie scratched his head. “What about the fire escape?”

Big Mac counted the number of doors between Dougie’s room and the end of the hallway on his fingers. There were only six. “It might work.”

Big Mac stood with his hand on the doorknob and waited as Suzette toweled off. Her rubber sneakers squeaked along the hardwood floors as she slid between the beer-can boys who surrounded her like an invisibility cloak. When the hallway was clear, he opened the door and stepped out, extending his arms to block the view. At six-feet-four, Big Mac stood taller than most of the senior class and wider, too.

The others scurried toward the fire escape, leaving a watery trail on the wooden floorboards. Big Mac ordered several guys to towel the floor dry before the Captain arrived for evening inspection.

“We’ll go down with you,” Dougie said. “If anyone is watching from a window, they’ll just see our gray uniforms.”

Suzette frowned at him.

“And don’t worry. I’ll bring the religion books by your apartment later,” he added.

 

Anchored Together is now available on Amazon.com

 

 

Renee interviews author Malcolm John Baker

28 Tuesday Jul 2020

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_KYL5604 (1) 

Tell me about your background. Where you grew up, where you live now, education, work experience? Share some interesting things about yourself that we should know about.

I am a British citizen but have a permanent residency in the United States. They call me a resident alien. I think I must be a small green man from out of space, which is appropriate as my current book is to be called ‘Annabelle’ and she goes on a trip to Saturn with NASA with disastrous results.

However, I am 75 years old, although I do not feel it. I retired many years ago from business in the UK where I was a chartered surveyor. You don’t have the equivalent over here, but basically I dealt with Property Management.

What inspired you to write this book? What is the story behind the story?

I live now in Sarasota, Florida, in a golf club community named Lakewood Ranch. This is my paradise. I was married until five years ago, and after that I thought I needed something to occupy myself, so I took up writing fiction. All my stories are based on either my personal experiences, history or current affairs. I have always loved travel and have seen much of the world.

Every day I see things that are of interest and those incidents go into my books with amendments to make the adventure realistic.

My first book was Revenge is Mine, it is a story of ISIS, two generals’ families are killed in a cruise missile attack, and they set out to kill the President of the US. The story revolves around how they gained access to the country and the escapades with the FBI. He book is about love, adventure and intrigue. One of the ladies then goes to Syria with ISIS, but it does not turn out how she expected.

The next two books are FBI type books involving drug smuggling, treasure hunting in Mexico’s underground caverns. That is From a Jack to a king.Both these books would make good movie material.

The third book Daylight Robbery is as its name suggests, and I am the executive producer of a film that is made for the film festivals which are to take place when the current virus situation clears.

I have always had an interest in the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood, so I wrote a series of four books about Merlin. There is no magic in my books, although I must say J. K. Rowling was an influence in my writing. My Merlin is a time traveler who goes back to Arthurian days with the ghost of the Lady of the Lake, Viviane, the first book is called Merlin’s Secret.He takes back information from today and they think he is a wizard. Three books have so far been published and they are all full of adventure through the ages, culminating at the end of World War II. I am working with two movie companies at the moment for the series to be made films. I found it interesting making conversations with William Shakespeare!

The last book to be published is Which is the Clone?About a young U.S. president who clones himself to come back as president later in life. Needless to say, the results are disastrous.

Do you write every single day? Any writing rituals?

 I write most days, but not more than three hours at a time, but I spend all the time when I am out collecting ideas of events and people characters. I have always self-published, but I now publish the books myself and all are available on my website http://www.malcolmjohnbaker.us

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle?

As strange as it might seem by biggest obstacle is grammar. I was hopeless at school, but I have to say that when I question people why do they like my books? I am told because they are readable, without having to look up the meaning of every other word.  I think many more writers should go along that route This is particularly relevant if English is not your native language.

 Share some tips for other Authors or Aspiring Authors: What would you do differently? What would you do the same? Please share anything you think would be beneficial to those reading this.

To any aspiring writers I would say be careful once you get to the publication stage. There are many companies out there who are only interested in getting their income not yours.

New book, new cover

10 Friday Jul 2020

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Anchored Together_Front hi_rez

 

Renee Interviews Author Mary Flynn

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Mary Flynn

Mary Flynn is the author of “Disney’s Secret Sauce–the little known factor behind the business world’s most legendary leadership, which took honors in the 2019 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Her recent book, Wishbones and Other Short Stories, is an eclectic and imaginative mix of humor, pathos and irony that explores the human experience -usually with a surprising twist.

Tell me about your background. Where you grew up, where you live now, education, work experience? Share some interesting things about yourself that we should know about. 

Born and raised in Brooklyn. Irish, Italian Catholic. Those values, cultural aspects and neighborhood settings show up in my novels, which take place in the fifties. I like to write about times before technology when people could not easily or quickly reach each other. I believe it offers more opportunity for tension and suspense. Did you even notice in many dramas or comedies how the lead character somehow manages to lose or destroy their cell phone – out the window, down the toilet. They know something. They know that tension really heightens when there are no bars.

I traveled extensively and lived in Turkey years back as an Air Force officer’s wife. Great and wonderful experience, which dribbles into my writing. In one of our locales, Kansas City, I managed to land a full-time job at Hallmark writing greeting cards, a gratifying and extremely useful experience that has stayed with me. A great training ground living the creative life day in and day out.

Many years later, I believe that experience made me a better writer and speaker in my role as an international conference speaker for Disney Institute, where I presented Disney’s approach to leadership and service excellence. I now do speaking engagements on the business side, as well as my humorous “Confessions of a Hallmark Greeting Card Writer,” both of which have proven to be excellent ways to promote my writing.

It’s been an interesting life journey straddling the fence between business and creative positions. I was on editorial staff of the leading publisher of guided reading materials used in the U.S. public school system; became a senior staff consultant with the two largest companies, respectively, who conducted downsizing and career transition programs for more than sixty industries; became certified in Neuro-linguistic Programming by that methodologies creator, Richard Bandler, who was Tony Robbins instructor; became a certified phobia counseling aide.. I now do a live radio show for Salem.

I believe this eclectic mix shows up in my writing, a hop, skip and jump across genres – children’s rhymed and illustrated, middle grade novella, novels, non-fiction business, poetry and just recently the release of my book of short stories. I love to write and to coach newer writers…and I really enjoy my associations with others in our vibrant writing organizations and culture.

What inspired you to write this book? What is the story behind the story? 

Unlike longer forms, short stories satisfy in me those “little” ideas that tickle around in the imagination. Unlike the driving force behind a novel, short stories typically come from what I call the little dodgy thoughts that can be so easily overlooked.

That early Hallmark experience taught me on a daily basis not to overlook any idea…but to drill into it. So, it becomes truly a what if game—what if a thug finds a new way to settle an old score? What if the harried looking shopper whom the good-hearted woman gives a ride to is not what she seems? And, like O’Henry’s delicious tales, what if there’s a twist at the end? Ha.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle? 

My biggest obstacle over the years was trying to do serious writing while maintaining a full-time job. Unlike J.K. Rowling, I am not the kind of person who can sit in a coffee shop with, let’s say, a child in a stroller and write an epic novel. Then, of course, husband and kids must come first. So, before long, years go by.

One of the very first stories that I wrote then I retired from Disney seven years ago was “Jeremiah’s Orchard.” I had told that story to my father…the idea, that is. He died in 1978. So, that whole time, this story-to-be sat in a folder on a shelf. I’m so gratified to say that story, which is in my latest release of short stories, first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post’s 2014 Anthology of Great Fiction.

What has been your biggest “aha” moment or success?

A little hard to say. Definitely, having “Jeremiah’s Orchard” selected for that Saturday Evening Post anthology. I mean – that’s where Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald were published. But then, I recall how dazzled I was when an observational humor essay I submitted to The New York Times appeared on their Sunday Lifestyle cover page. Yikes. Then again, I truly was blown away when my debut novel Margaret Ferry took home the gold medal in Fiction, the silver medal in Christian Writing, and the silver medal in Religious writing…even though it’s mainstream fiction. Hard to pick one.

What people or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing? 

I credit my mother, first and foremost, who read to me every single night when I was a child. Then…I’m Irish, after all…my Aunt Katie would hold me spellbound with the oddest, most delightful story-telling. She was quirky and funny, and I know I carry that inspiration with me to this day. Also, importantly, I attended Catholic School where, by God (literally, I think), the nuns wouldn’t have it any other way but that every child would speak and write well. When I entered public high school at the age of thirteen, I didn’t know what an atom was, but I could write for The New York Times.

Do you write every single day? Any writing rituals? 

Yes, every single day. But “writing” for me doesn’t mean necessarily sitting at the computer or with a pad in my lap. I abide John Hersey approach: he liked to go fishing to do his back-of-the-head work. I don’t go fishing, but I definitely do a lot of back-of-the-head work. I wouldn’t dream of sitting down to a blank page to “create.” I believe this is where the concept of writer’s block comes from. People sit down to that blank sheet of paper and get frustrated trying to make something up. I make it up elsewhere…until I actually get into the writing of it.

What are your interests outside of writing? 

People, friends, faith, food, going out, staying in—I have no trouble spending time alone—a true blessing from God. I favor the woods over the ocean, small gatherings over large groups (imagine a Disney retiree not liking crowds. Ha.). I’m a big movie buff. I learn from movies—how much or little a character uses to express an idea or emotion teaches me something about writing and about character. My all-time favorite movie is the original King Kong—the special effects for that time are astounding. I think silent films are brilliant.

Share some tips for other Authors or Aspiring Authors: What would you do differently? What would you do the same? Please share anything you think would be beneficial to those reading this. 

Allow me, please, a little list:

  1. Stop letting the idea that you’re not good enough keep you from writing.  Nobody is quite good enough in the beginning. By the way, that’s what good editors are for. Without Max Perkins, Hemingway and Fitzgerald might not have gotten into print.
  2. Find the industry. May sound odd, but writing is a complex industry with vast resources, and there is much to learn. Join a critique group. If it doesn’t nourish you with respect and encouragement, find another that does. Take the feedback; it’s a gift.
  3. Pay attention to the tiniest of ideas, drill down, ask what if. If it’s a common, everyday kind of thought, look at it from every angle. Imagine if you could think one brand new thought every day.
  4. Please don’t follow the advice of writers who think self-publishing or indie publishing means you don’t need outside professional help. To be perfectly candid, if you’re planning to publish, it’s going to cost money. It doesn’t matter that you taught English, you cannot edit or proof your own work. And the tragedy is that a reader who catches your mistakes in those first pages or chapters will never buy another one of your books.
  5. Don’t buy into the idea that you should only write what you know. It’s all about what you can know. That’s what research is for. Otherwise, how could Shelley have created Frankenstein’s monster? How would Moby Dick have come about? Get comfortable making stuff up…but do it the smartly.
  6. Get used to research…even for things you assume to be true. Authenticity is paramount. I was writing a story in which a grove had to catch fire. I called a grower to ask a question and was shocked when he said the grove would not burn—the trees are fresh. “Burn something else,” was his advice. I’m glad I did.
  7. Get in the habit of entering contests. They are a great proving ground. Plus, if you happen to win, place or show, it will be a good way of beginning to build your platform. Agents, editors and publishers…even festival coordinators…want to see what you’ve done. First chance you have to brag on paper, do it.
  8. Skip the long descriptive openings. Get your reader right into the action.
  9. Skip the long passages of backstory. It slows the pace and bores people.
  10. Don’t be afraid to say, he said or she said, instead of silly things like, he cajoled, she bemoaned.

 

Renee interviews author James R. Hannibal

07 Tuesday Jan 2020

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James

Tell me about your background. Where you grew up, where you live now, education, work experience? Share some interesting things about yourself that we should know about.

I am a former US Air Force Stealth Bomber pilot. I grew up moving all over as a military kid, then joined the Air Force at seventeen, and kept on moving around. Between the ages of 9 months old and thirty-one, I moved seventeen times, so I never know how to answer the question of “Where are you from?” I was born in Texas, and I graduated from high school in Texas (having lived many other places in between), so by the most accounts, I’m from Texas.

I studied applied physics at the Air Force Academy until that side of the program was cancelled in favor of quantum, and then I shifted to Middle Eastern Studies and counter-terrorism. For the most part quantum physics is just fiction via elegant math, and I didn’t see the point. The Mid East Studies program was experimental, so my degree says “History.” After the Academy, I flew T-38 Talons, A-10 Thunderbolts, B-2 Spirits, and MQ-1 Predators, with a total of more than 1500 combat and combat support hours. While working in the stealth, my clearances got me involved in some interesting extracurricular work. That’s all I can say about that.

Probably the most interesting thing about me is my synesthesia. I have a condition categorized as a “neurological phenomenon” that merges my senses through bridges of gray matter. I see and feel sounds, hear flashes of light and quick movements, and see and feel smells. For me walking through an area of bad roadkill scent feels the same as the blasts of sand hitting me when I walked through a sandstorm in Kuwait. A flash of light is like getting slapped in the face. But a string quartet is a silvery, tickling marvel.

What inspired you to write this book? What is the story behind the story?

With The Gryphon Heist, I wanted to explore the concept of morality in espionage within a fun thief/spy story. What I didn’t expect was the opportunity to explore forgiveness as well. But Talia’s character brought that home to me. She had so much bitterness built up over a life of hard knocks, that I knew she would have to learn to forgive in order to heal. While I was playing with the loyalty of spies and the technology of twenty-first-century thieves, Talia was pushing me to dig into the need to forgive and let go.

She brought up the question: “How do you forgive someone who murdered your father?” I shrugged. “I don’t have a clue.” And then the phone rang. I was called in to fly that very moment. I’m an on-call international airline pilot, filling in for the guys who call in sick. I didn’t want to go flying to Amsterdam that night, because I was just starting to Talia’s story moving. But once we settled in at cruising altitude, the captain and I began to talk. He told me about his passion (aside from flying). He was a counselor, specializing in helping the most traumatized victims learn to forgive, including the families of murder victims. He taught me so much in two ten-hour flights to Amsterdam and back. When I needed an expert in forgiveness to help me with Talia’s story, God put me on right on his flight deck.

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle?

Right now, my biggest challenge is keeping up with the work God places in my path. I used to worry about getting writing contracts. Now I worry about how I’m going to fulfill them. Each one is a calling, and I want to do them justice.

What has been your biggest “aha” moment or success?

After The Gryphon Heist, comes Chasing the White Lion, continuing the adventures of Talia, Tyler, and their team of elite thieves. Chasing the White Lion has an unlikely star. I won’t give away too much, but amid a string of increasingly complex con games, the team must bring down a crime syndicate involved in human trafficking. One of the real hero organizations fighting child poverty, and by extension fighting human trafficking, is Compassion International. I asked them if I could give them a starring role in my next spy/thief book to raise awareness of their incredible work. I never thought they’d say yes. They did. I am so excited about where Chasing the White Lion will take us when we show the world how everyday people can stop human traffickers (and build up children at the same time) by helping organizations like Compassion.

What authors do you like to read? What books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

I read an eclectic mix. Jon Land recently took over the Murder She Wrote series, and I love his ability to capture human character in the smallest movements and moments. Ronie Kendig has a flare for action in both her military and sci-fi thrillers. Brandon Sanderson is (in my opinion) the current master of fantasy. DiAnn Mills is the master of the protagonist’s internal psyche. These are the folks I’m reading these days.

Do you write every single day? Any writing rituals?

I wish I could write every day. It doesn’t always work out with a day job as an international pilot. When I get to a hotel overseas, I take a nap, go for a walk if the weather permits to re-cage my mind, and then sit down at the desk and write. That’s the key. You’ve got to sit down, open whatever software you use, and write.

What are your interests outside of writing? 

Aviation (obviously). I’d hate to fly with a pilot who didn’t like flying. I’ve also helped train pro fighters in MMA, so I like keeping tabs on that world. Recently I took over a fantasy game world from the 1980s, so I’ve gotten into the board game community. In my spare time, I’ve been studying game design. There are a lot of parallels to storytelling, so those to aspects of my work dovetail nicely.

Share some tips for other Authors or Aspiring Authors: What would you do differently? What would you do the same? Please share anything you think would be beneficial to those reading this.

I never say I’d do something differently, because I feel God has led me to this point in my life in His way. I wouldn’t want to mess with that. I do wish that someone would have explained to me a long time ago that not everyone sees sounds and hears flashes of light. It would have spared me from looking crazy for half my life. That’s one reason I wrote the Section 13 series for kids—to help raise awareness of synesthesia.

My advice to aspiring authors is to keep writing. Too often I meet a writer who stopped at one book and has been trying to get it published for the last four or five years. If you’re going to be a professional writer, one book a year is a starting point. Keep sending out those queries, but keep writing too. When I was finally picked up, I’d been querying for four years, but I was also halfway through my fourth book. Each book is a learning experience—a new level. Getting stuck on just one is like staying in the same grade in school year after year.

 

Renee Garrison is the award-winning author of The Anchor Clankers.

Name that book

03 Tuesday Dec 2019

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Books in a circle

When it comes to giving your book a title, less is definitely more. (Think Dracula. Emma. Twilight. Ivanhoe. Mockingjay.)
I struggle with two choices for my upcoming sequel to The Anchor Clankers.
1. Anchored in Love
2. Anchored Together
I studied Amazon’s book list to see how many books have the same title and discovered “Anchored In Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash,” which was published in 2007.

Would that be a problem? Too confusing?

Author Madeleine L’Engle once admitted, “We had to search for the proper name for ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ and it was my mother who came up with it, during a night of insomnia. I went into her room with a cup of coffee in the morning, and she said, ‘I think I have a title for your book, and it’s right out of the text: A Wrinkle in Time.’ Madeleine goes on to say that many titles had been considered and all vetoed before her mother mentioned A Wrinkle in Time.

I wish I had an insomniac mother who could come up with a great book title.

Exercise

19 Tuesday Nov 2019

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“Renee, have you ever been to SoulCycle?” my daughter-in-law asked innocently.
No, I hadn’t, but when the family gets together, I’ve learned to be flexible. That’s why at 7:30 one recent morning in Chicago, I trudged to a “Breakfast with Beyoncé” class with two daughters-in-law and my daughter. Wearing Lululemon duds borrowed from the girls, I was fitted with cycling shoes that locked into the pedals.
Wow, these look a lot like bowling shoes. (I quickly learned nothing could be farther from the truth.) A fresh, white towel was folded over the handle bars, with a tiny rack beneath it for a water bottle. The lighting was subdued and I was in the back row.  So far, so good.
A pleasant young man with a microphone praised everyone for coming to class and amped up Beyoncé’s “Halo” to a decibel level clearly designed to induce deafness. I spotted an employee wearing a SoulCycle T-shirt, who was prowling the periphery of the room. I waved frantically.
“Did I see a jar of earplugs at the front desk,” I shouted. She said something (God knows I couldn’t hear her) and returned with two yellow cushions in her hand. I inserted them immediately.
That’s when I heard the man giving instructions: Sway to the left. Sway to the right. Tap once. Tap twice. The bodies in the rows ahead of me bobbed up and down like pop tarts in a toaster. I did not, fearing that I might lose my balance and land on the floor while my feet – which were prisoners of the pedals – would continue spinning. I refused to end the family visit with a trip to the ER.
Periodically, my daughter would look over at me and yell, “Are you okay, Mom?”
“Yes,” I bellowed back, wiping sweat from my face and neck. When my towel accidently slipped to the floor, I stared at it. If I bend over to pick that up, I’ll probably land beside it.
Mercifully, the hour ended and I managed to snap my right shoe out of the bike pedal. The left one refused to budge, so I simply removed my foot. The bike shoe continued to cycle, reminding me of those boots in the stirrups of a rider-less horse at military funerals. At least I didn’t die.
We limped back to my daughter’s house (okay, I limped and the girls sauntered) in time for breakfast. My sit bones were sore, but my smile was wide. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.

 

 

Renee Garrison is the award-winning author of The Anchor Clankers.

No dressing room needed

14 Tuesday May 2019

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Nude resort

During my tenure as fashion editor of The Tampa Tribune, I met a woman who ran a clothing store in a nudist resort.
“Nudists love clothes,” she insisted and I nodded as though the statement made perfect sense. Still, journalistic curiosity got the better of me when she invited me to visit her shop.
Driving through the security gate, I realized I hadn’t considered the potential awkwardness of my situation. I was wearing a linen suit and carrying a reporter’s notebook, which stood out in a sea of nakedness. As a parochial school grad, I admit experiencing initial shock the sight of a mixed doubles game of tennis. (The sight of so many objects bouncing on the court still haunts me.)
However, I now feel qualified to offer a few tips to anyone considering a clothing-optional experience this summer:
– Nude resorts understand it’s natural to look at people. What is not OK, however, is to stare. Like me, if you’re not used to engaging in eye-contact and conversation with someone who’s totally exposed, keep your sunglasses on.
– Nude resort etiquette calls for guests to sit on a towel. Resorts will have them at the ready, but bringing your own beach towel is a great way to easily identify your seat. Grabbing someone else’s towel by mistake isn’t something you want to do at a clothing-optional pool or beach.
– Clothing-optional resorts take great care to ensure their patrons feel safe and comfortable. That’s why many have strict policies around photography, some completely ban smartphones. Seize the opportunity to unplug from technology and relax. Bring a great book to read.

 

Renee Garrison is the award-winning author of The Anchor Clankers.

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