Books by Linda Alexander

Not an end to an old year but a continuum to a new one—changing but a continuum nonetheless. . . .

GOOD NEWS: Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism was the third-highest selling book for Tease Publishing for the last quarter. If I were in the Olympics, I’d be taking home the Bronze! Please take a few moments and visit my new Robert Taylor website: http://www.roberttaylormoviestar.com . In the “Groups” area, please check in on the “Robert Taylor Academy Award” note. It would mean a lot if you would add your voice to this. We would like to get Bob a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for all he contributed to Hollywood and the history of movies over his 30+ years in the industry. Add your name to this group, and feel free to comment. Here’s Bob’s IMDB page to give you an idea of all that he did during his reign as the longest-standing contract actor in Hollywood history: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001791 .

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On the “other news” front – I did not really send out Christmas cards this year. My apologies to those who thoughtfully sent good wishes to me & my husband, Tom. I’ve been blessed this year, and am grateful for all the support, love, and continued interest in my writing.

The “end” of the year has been full. I spent a few months unwell, directly after Tom went through much the same malady—a late fall, hard-to-kick case of bronchitis. Since, my mother has fallen ill, in the hospital over a week after she suddenly was unable to care for herself due to what I’d call a structural issue. She’s had knee problems for a long time but in the span of hours, she became incapable of movement and self-care. After hospital time and a frustrating go-round and ‘round with Medicare, the 2nd hospital literally told her to go home. Insurance would no longer pay. This despite her 2-story home, a husband who works nearly F/T, and no way to move between floors, no way to feed herself. After a week at home, she moves slightly within her room. My stepfather returns to work Friday, and we’re nearly back at Square One. There are extenuating circumstances I won’t bore you with but it suffices to say we’re only just beginning. Recurring moments of frustration are punctuated by gratitude that things aren’t quite as dire as they seemed earlier . . . just more challenging.

Aging is a fact of life. A friend on this list said I was part of the “sandwich generation.” That term’s been ringing in my ears. I have grown children and I’m a grown child of parents looking to me and siblings for care . . . as if we were the parents. Still, they aren’t yet where they’re willing to forego a sense of independence—as opposed to what was reality of independence. As a family, we’re trying to figure out how to fit into new roles without harming bonds in place for so many years.

I can apply that term, “Sandwich generation,” to many factions of life—professional and personal. Now sandwiched between books due, I’m doing copywriting for an international print company, 123Print: http://www.123print.com . Fortunately, I can work from office or home, my choice of hours. I also do promo and copywriting for another internet company with a local home base, MyBusinessAssistant: http://www.mybusinessassistant.com .

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BOOKS:

As mentioned, Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism took home the Bronze for Tease Publishing this last quarter. Good, good news! I’m planning a promo campaign to focus on intensive internet avenues. Can anyone give me pointers on how to Twitter effectively?! I’m also toying with a screenplay, trying to decide if I should do it alone or find an experienced co-screenwriter.

I’m revising my first novel, Until Next Time. In its new life, the title is changed to It Will Happen Again, and I plan a spring release through my current wonderful publisher, Tease, a company with a great track record for women’s fiction. Cover art will be by Haven Rich, the same talented artist who worked on Reluctant Witness. Character names are changed, and the location moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Opelousas, Louisiana. The storyline remains much the same, though I may throw in a few new twists.

A Maverick’s Life: The Jack Kelly Story will be my next biography to come out. I’m still in research stages but expect it to debut in 2009.

There are other irons in the fire, a few of which I can’t mention yet. I’ve been contacted by an author with a completed book and he asked me to edit it. I’m reviewing that to see if it will fit in.

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YOUR SANDWICH:

Tell me about your sandwich issues. I know we all have them in one form or another. I’m thinking of starting a forum on Ning about this and would like to know if anyone wants to join in. We can share and learn from each other, supporting through difficult times and share in the triumphant moments.

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ON TO FUN STUFF:

This is one of my favorite things about having a newsletter. I’ll find something which delights, entertains, or educates me, and think, “I’ll put this in the newsletter!” The idea of sharing with others is, to me, one of the neatest part of being a citizen of the internet nation.

Tom and I are back from a family visit in Louisiana. Any of you who know me even the slightest are aware of my love affair with everything remotely related to the state, culture, the people. My mother’s family is from there many generations back, as is Tom’s, and I can’t help my addiction. There is no cure—I have Louisiana-itis. Funny, but my spell check tried to change that to “Louisiana-it is.” That fits, too. A niece recently married a nice young man named PJ. His cousin calls himself Jeffie-Pants (don’t ask, he just does), and when Hurricanes Gustav hit Houma and Jeff Cantore from the Weather Channel came to town . . . well, you’ll just have to see Jeffie-Pants in action. He did a series of “Updates.” If you don’t find him funny, my apologies. Maybe you must have that “down da by-YOU” thing in you. Remember, that’s “Jeffie-Pants” not “Jeffy Pants.” There’s another profile. If you leave a comment for the Louisiana Jeffie, tell him his cousin’s in-law’s sister-in-law sent you . . . and then ‘em figure it out.

Hurricane Gustav Update 2 From Jeffie-Pants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xds15o_JjUk&feature=channel_page

The Jeffie-Pants YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/mitsuhybrid

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Check out Jennifer Holly Cole on MySpace, a talented, profoundly-introspective writer. Jennifer is the daughter of two well-known entertainers from the ‘60s & ‘70s. Since she doesn’t advertise their identities, I won’t, either, but you can probably figure it out if you read through her stuff. Her premier book, Cathartic Angels, is previewed on this page: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=184930985&MyToken=0afa12ac-50c1-44c8-a0f2-5a289981e6d1 .

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If you like well-written romantic suspense, visit my dear friend, Bette McNicholas. Here’s her publisher’s page for Farragut Square (if you’re familiar with Washington, DC, it’s an extra special read): http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=691&zenid=9f9e6d58d1dee8b5838e204be8bd33cf . Bette’s next book with Wild Rose Press is Memory’s Edge: http://thewildrosepress.com/publisher/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=731 . Stay tuned!

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I want to publicly thank Jo Kelly, a delightfully-sweet and kind lady who came into my life in a big way this year. Widow of actor (of Maverick fame), Jack Kelly, she and their daughter, Nicole, have been nothing but inviting to me as I’ve begun the process to put the story of their loved one’s life into print. Jo spent time as a background actor; if you’re interested in finding out more, here’s her website: http://www.jkelly4extras.com/asp/about.asp . Nicole’s a talented, experienced producer and owner of August II Productions: http://www.august2productions.com .

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If you live anywhere near Hemet, California, stop in at 135 North Harvard Street and visit Gina and Scott at their store, Bear Flag Republic. Whether or not you’re a fan of retro clothing and memorabilia from the ‘30s and ‘40s, you’ll find this shop a delight and its owners some of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. If you can’t get to Hemet, drop by their website and see what goodies you find: http://www.bearflagrepublicusa.com/index.html . Please tell them I sent you.

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I must re-introduce everyone to my adopted daughter, talented songbird and writer, Natalie Brown: www.natalie-brown.com . I’ve been so fortunate to find only the best people as I network and meet folks via the internet. Natalie currently lives in my neck o’ the woods; however, as a native Canadian, she’ll soon return to her homeland. I’ll miss you, Nat, but am certain you’ll get back now and then.

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Another re-introduction in the music field – Doug Alan Wilcox, a guitarist and lyricist whose music calls to mind James Taylor . . . though I think Doug’s better: http://www.dougalanwilcox.com . He’s a kind-heart and also lives in the beautiful state of Maryland.

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Jeff Wayne is a Robert Taylor friend . . . member of the Taylor fan site I started. His website says, “He is ‘Big Daddy’ Jeff Wayne, world traveler, raconteur, and stand-up comedian. Described as having a face borrowed from Fred Flintstone and a brain like Al Bundy, Big Daddy is a pure stand-up comedian.” http://www.jeffwayne.com . Check his “Appearances” page and see him perform live if you can: http://www.jeffwayne.com/appearances.html .

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I met a young man this year whose name is Robert Taylor. More amazing, since it’s not an unusual name, this Robert Taylor looks strikingly like young Robert Taylor. Cornfused? I was with Jo Kelly when we met Robert and we both had the same shocked expression as we looked at him. Visit this photo: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=9069578&albumID=143744&imageID=5269677 and imagine blue contacts and a widow’s peak that’s there but not as obvious in this shot. And what else? Robert Taylor The Younger is an actor. Where’s your reel and website, Robert? Let everyone know you’re waiting for your big break!

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Do you need a thoughtful, well-organized Virtual Assistant—and then some? Lori Barach is not only good at what she does, she’s just as sweet as she can possibly be. Here’s her web home: http://www.myspokaneassistant.com . Her company is called My Personal Assistant, and she’s in the Spokane, WA area.

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Okay, folks, I could go on and on . . . and I will, next time. I love to include links. So many wonderful people to tell you about! For now, though, let me close this far too long piece out by sending my prayers upwards for everyone—a blessed, peace-filled, loving, and prosperous New Year. I’d love to hear from you!