Spunky Max Elliot Anderson's Exciting Adventures

I've always had a hand in several different things during my life. For most of the time, I've been involved in the production of films, video programs, and television commercials.

This has allowed me to travel and meet many interesting people.

One of those meetings resulted in a working relationship with a talented missionary / wildlife artist in Africa.

You can see some of his work at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/2011/10/fabulous-african-wildlife-art.html \

And as a result of growing up in Northern Indiana, I met a family that produces the finest honey anywhere. The flavors are based on where the bees have been kept. Each honey has its own distinctive character and natural flavor. Those flavors include Blueberry, Michigan Star Thistle, Basswood, Cranberry Blossom, Wildflower, Clover, Citrus, and many, many more.  The national honey brands simply put all the honeys into a big vat and cook the stuffin’s out of it in order to make sure it has a long shelf life. Here’s more information about Laney Honey http://www.laneyhoney.com/ I have distributed some of their products for nearly twenty years in the Northern Illinois area where I live now.

It wasn’t until I turned 55 that I began writing adventures & mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys. I wrote like a madman for nearly four years, completing 36 manuscripts. By early 2012, nine of those will be published. The thing is, I grew up hating to read, even though my father had published over 70 books during his lifetime. I never read any of them. After extensive research into why I didn’t like to read, I began writing the kinds of books I would have enjoyed as a child. While writing them, I often felt like a kid, all over again. If you have grandchildren, and are concerned about their reading, too, this blog post might interest you http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/2011/10/has-something-been-stolen-from-your.html

Years ago, I used to think it was silly when someone said, “You’re only as old as you feel.” Today, I completely agree with that statement. In addition, I also believe that there is tremendous healing power in laughter, a positive attitude, and having a great sense of humor. That’s why I devoted several years to a project that I’ve recently sent to my agent. The title is, “The Sense of Humor.” The book looks at the positive power of humor in our health, families, work, relationships, ministries, education, and other areas. My agent is looking for a publisher now.

I suppose I’ll probably never retire. I didn’t intend to anyway, but there are simply too many things that interest me at this stage of life. And doesn’t the computer open up the entire world to us? I like to change that old phrase about aging to, “You’re only as young as you think.”

Max Elliot Anderson

http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving, Spunky Ones!



A Spunky Turkey



Happy Thanksgiving to all you Spunky Seniors, whether or not you're cooking the turkey!

Once upon a time I used to do that. Now I bring a dish. So much simpler and less wearing on my house and time.

What about you? Are you cooking or visiting, or both?

Morgan Mandel

Mona Risk Talks About Retiring and Her New Career

Some people never retire because they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. My uncle is one of them. At eighty, he still goes to work every day. But he can’t drive from Long Island to Manhattan and brave the horrendous traffic. Without him and his incredible experience as VP, the contracting company would collapse. To keep him, the CEO assigned him a car and chauffeur to bring to the office every day.

 Most seniors don’t have such luxury— or luck—to continue working while enjoying a certain comfort. If they don’t have a hobby and are forced to quit working, they often slouch in front of the TV for hours, lose interest in trying new things, and miss fantastic opportunities to be useful and active. I have another uncle in that category who ended up with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Others, like me, wish there were more hours in the day to fit my new career as a writer and the endless promotion that came with it as an unwelcome bonus. I also have to create time for exercising, socializing, traveling, doctors’ appointments, and answering my long-suffering husband when he tries to interrupt my busy schedule with a question or a request. Oh, I also try to create time for cooking.  I forgot to mention it because I often forget to cook, and end up quickly fixing a salad or grilling ‘something’.

Recently, I started a new endeavor: I publish my own ebooks. Check them on Amazon and spend an entertaining moment with two lovely romances that are priced at only $0.99.

 

NO MORE LIES  http://tinyurl.com/3lenmfd

RIGHT NAME, WRONG MAN http://tinyurl.com/85o4wg7

To which category of retirees do you belong?

Jean Henry Mead Tells Us About A Spunky Virtual Tour & Her Own Books

The cover on the left is from a A Village Shattered, first in my Logan & Cafferty series.

On the right is Murder on the Interstate, my recent release and third novel in the series.

The series features my two 60-year old amateur women sleuths traveling the West in their motorhome solving murders. They  change their home base in the first novel from central California to central Wyoming (as I've done).

The Mountain photo is taken from the deck of our retirement ranch house (where we now live) in Wyoming's Laramie Mountains at 6,800 feet.

And now, here's something about the exciting, Spunky Virtual Tour - 

When fifteen mature mystery writers get together online to party—the oldest in her eighties—you have the makings for holiday fun, with more than 60 books to be given away.

The “Mystery We Write” Virtual Book Tour is planned for a two-week run from November 25 until December 9. Fifteen tours will take place concurrently on a rotating basis, with the writers hosting one another on their blog sites. Sound confusing? It could be if Anne K. Albert wasn’t coordinating the schedule, which can be found on my blog site: http://jeansblogtour.blogspot.com/

The tour has been in the planning stage since August, with the writers working on writing their articles and answering interview questions as well as collectively deciding the details of the tour. Among the writers are Tim, Hallinan, Marilyn Meredith, Michael Orenduff, Jinx Schwartz, Earl Staggs, Beth Anderson, John Daniel, Jackie King, Ron Benrey, Alice Duncan, Pat Browning, M.M. Gornell and Wendy Gager, all of whom will be offering writing advice and tidbits about their books and lives. There will even be pictures of their writing work spaces.

They’ll also be drawing names to award their mystery novels to visitors who leave comments and their screen names. So, if you enjoy the intrigue of mysteries and suspense, there’s a good chance of winning at least one book while getting to know the writers and how they operate.

I hope you’ll check out the schedule on my blog site and visit some, if not all the sites, listed. We all wish you the best and happiest of holidays!

For more about Jean Henry Mead, you're invited to visit:

http://www.henrymead.com/

Please welcome Jean here by leaving a comment below.

Spunky Senior, Ginger Simpson, Has Just the Right Fit

I suppose being called a "Spunky Senior" isn't a bad thing.  I took me a long time to readily admit that I'd reached senior citizen status, but now I happily accept it because it does come with perks.  I get a check on the third Wednesday of every month, and my medical care, at least for the time being, is awesome.  The best part of being my age is having a grandson I cherish, but then if you know me, you've already heard about Spencer.  He's what keeps me "spunky."

I love to write, and I hope it shows in my work.  My upcoming release, Just the Right Fit, happens to be about a more mature heroine, and hopefully shows that romance is possible at any age.  I like to think that all my heroines are spunky, young and old, because if you're just living life day to day and not enjoying it, then you're missing out.  Here's a little teaser from Just the Right Fit, which is coming soon to Muse It Up Publishing (http://www.museituppublishing.com/):

Carolyn held an expensive walking shoe in her hand under the guise of inspecting it, but the gaze from the corner of her eye remained fixed on the handsome, mature salesman arranging a display across the room. The heat of his occasional glance served as a magnet, pulling her attention to him. She couldn’t ignore him if she tried.  He definitely was new—not the kind of hunk a gal forgot.

She shopped this specialty store whenever she needed new shoes, even though the prices were outside her restrictive budget.  One couldn’t put a tag on comfort, yet a pang of guilt stabbed at her as she thought of all the other things she needed: new tires, Freon for her car air conditioning, even a new bra.  Something had drawn her here today, but this was the first time she’d run across something much more interesting than footwear. Even at sixty-four and long past being a giddy schoolgirl, she hadn’t forgotten the feelings of an emotional roller coaster.

Countless years had passed since she’d been on a date, and the urge to flirt gnawed at her, but she’d forgotten how.  Back in the day, she would have had no qualms initiating a conversation and exchanging numbers, but her youth had sailed away, leaving her nothing but insecurities from a failed marriage and the string of bum relationships that followed.  Early retirement, forced by a situation with an intolerable boss, and the onslaught of legal matters, denied benefits, and health issues had taken a toll on her sanity.  Maybe she was crazier than she thought to believe anyone would find her in the least bit interesting.

She released a loud sigh and carried the single shoe back to a seat, waiting for service.  How could she get so excited over someone she didn’t even know? She stared into her lap and prayed for composure from the flush creeping up her neck. Maybe she should’ve shopped for a bra today instead.

“May I help you?”  The timbre of his voice matched the broadness of his shoulders and made her jump.  His tall silhouette blocked the light filtering through the front window, and her dipped chin seemed frozen in place.

She forced her head up.  “Y-es, I-I…” The words she sought lodged behind a lump in her throat. 

“I assume you’re holding the shoe you’re interested in.”  His smile dimpled his cheeks and displayed white, even teeth.

 An air of charisma hung about him while she felt caught up in a bubble of ridiculousness. She forced a smile and with trembling fingers, handed him the shoe.  “Yes, size seven please.”

Why in the world did this man have such an effect on her?  Could the draw be the splashes of gray at his temples?  It couldn’t be the slight limp she detected when he walked through the curtain to the storeroom.  But there was something—definitely something.  She thrummed her fingertips on the chair’s arm and fidgeted in her seat, waiting for his return—almost dreading the feelings he stirred and unsure how to handle them.

“Here we go.”  He appeared through the split material in the doorway with a beige box bearing the familiar logo of the footwear she’d learned to love.  With one hand, he hiked up his khaki slacks before kneeling in front of her. He removed her left shoe, his grasp warming her heel when he slipped off her worn pump.

*****************************

Hope you enjoyed this snippet.  Muse initiated the "Persephone Line" specifically for mature main characters.  Just so happened that my friend, Caryl, shared her experience with me at the right time and prompted this sweet romance.  I'm a true believer in love.  Having a husband who is ten years my junior keeps me feeling young and on my toes.  I joke about nagging him more to make him age at a faster rate, but reality is I need to adjust my attitude and act more his age than my own. Although no one seems shocked when I tell them I'm sixty-five, I hope they silently think, "Gosh, she sure doesn't look or act it."  Okay, so I can dream, can't I?  Sadly, they card everyone who buys alcohol here in Tennessee, and I find it highly annoying now when in the past I would have been flattered.  You'd think the age spots on my hands would be proof enough.  *lol* Age is just a number, and in my mind, I'm still twenty.  From one "spunky" senior to another...happy reading, and may your romance stay young and healthy forever.

Spice Up Your Life with Ginger

Ginger Simpson

http://www.gingersimpson.com

http://mizging.blogspot.com