My New Website

I’ve actually created a website for my books! Yes, me, the slow-to-learn-most-things-technical Grandma figured out the ins and out of making a website.
I’ve named it ‘Flights of Imagination’, since after all my books are all about using your imagination, creating new worlds and characters (which I absolutely love doing!).
There is still some work to do on it. I invited four other authors to put their books there too. So far I have two of them up, but the others haven’t given me their info yet.
I’ve read all these books and really enjoyed them. So I figured, the more the merrier, and it’d be great if I could help them get more notice, as well as having my books seen a bit more.
Here’s the link for anyone who is interested:
http://ljcapehart.wix.com/flights
So take a chance and do some exploring!

Re-visiting a Favorite Author

Recently I was forced to have some ‘time off’ from my normal activities, due to the flu, and then a case of shingles. Since writing wasn’t something I felt up to, reading was my fallback activity.
I had discovered that a number of books by one of my favorite authors, Andre Norton, were on Amazon for the Kindle (some free, no less!).
So I started with the series about the ‘Time Traders’. I had read three of them a long time ago. To my pleasure, I discovered there was a fourth one! They reminded me all over again why I like Andre Norton’s books.
Once I had finished those four I moved on to one that wasn’t a Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre book. “Ralestone Luck” is, as far as I’m concerned, right up there with her other books, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it again. She wrote at least a few books not of her usual genre, and I kind of wish she had written more, as good as the ones I read are.
I haven’t even read all of her books, yet. She was a very prolific author, and I’ve yet to get my hands on absolutely everything she wrote, though I do have quite a collection.
Her work might not be quite as flashy as some of what gets written today, but the woman sure could write a story, to catch and keep your interest until the very end. And I, for one, am still a die hard fan!

Website-Author Group

This week I did something I never had imagined I’d be able to do, or expected to tackle all on my own (so far).
I have created a website to get my books more notice! And if I do say so myself, it’s not half bad. I’m not finished with it yet, though.
I want to get more fantasy authors on board. And we’ll need to do something special for the launch of the site, though I’m not sure what that’ll be yet. We could have a contest, giving away free copies of our books? Maybe offer a story with the prize of using the winner’s name as one of the main characters in a new book?
Lots of people offer Amazon gift cards. I know the saying is ‘You have to spend money to make money.’ But I hate spending money when there’s no guarantee that you’ll even sell one book!
It’d be great to come up with something cool and unusual. Any ideas?
Have a great day!
L.J.

A Fantasy Author Group Collaboration?

I’m wondering if it makes sense to start up a group of authors who write fantasy novels. combining our efforts to get our books out there and noticed.
There are a number of groups out there who seem to be making that work well for them. I have read the work of several other authors that I really like, and would be pleased to have my books stand with theirs.
The biggest question would be, would they be interested, and are my books up to standing with theirs?
Having some kind of website would be a minimum, with possible weekly or monthly emails to followers maybe. We could have contests, help one another with book launches, and support each other in our writing efforts. There are endless possibilities in ways we could go.
If there’s anyone out there who reads this, feel free to comment with thoughts about this. Is there anyone who might be interested in exploring the possibility of a collaboration such as that? I would hope to limit members to books without sex or gore, whatever I wouldn’t be comfortable with having my 14 year old read.
I’ll likely be pitching this idea to some of the authors that I think would fit well with me in this, but I have to get up the courage to approach them! This is my first step!

Announcing my Newest Book, Though Still a Work in Progress

November and December have been very productive so far for me. I’ve been working on a sequel to ‘Cube of Trevalia’. Just in a month and a half, I added six new chapters!
I’m shooting for a March, 2015 release. I want to have some kind of online release party for it.
I’m in a group of fantastic authors who are having a virtual ebook fair this weekend. Here’s the link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1742205439337483/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular
My book, ‘Cube of Trevalia’ is FREE from the 13th to the 15th!
I thought I’d include a sneak peek of my sequel here, for anyone who reads my blog:

Curse of Trevalia
Chapter One
Danny Tucker sat up in bed suddenly, calling out at the same moment.
“Hey dude, who’s Elandra?” Randy Evers, Danny’s roommate, rose up to lean on one elbow, staring at Danny from his bed across the dorm room.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know any Elandra.” Danny frowned, lying to his roommate, then lay back in his bed. “Maybe you were dreaming.”
“Man, you were practically yelling. ‘Elandra, come back!’ You must have been having a wild dream, from the sound of it.” Randy flopped onto his back again.
“I don’t remember my dreams. And ‘Elandra’ isn’t even a name. Go back to sleep, Randy.” Danny closed his eyes, only to have to open them a minute later when his alarm went off.
Danny sat up, grabbed his pillow and threw it at Randy as a low chuckle emanated from that side of the room. Randy just chuckled again, wrapped his arms around the pillow that had landed on his chest, and rolled over to face the wall.
Fifteen minutes later, Danny left the room, carrying a heavy backpack in one hand. He closed the door louder than necessary, as usual, in response to the laughter that followed him. Randy thought it pretty funny that Danny had to get up hours before him for early classes.
After a quick stop at the cafeteria, Danny headed for his first class of the day.
~~~~~
It was late afternoon when Danny returned to his room. Dropping the backpack on his un-made bed, he moved to his desk in front of the window.
Today was Friday afternoon before a long weekend. Danny grabbed a piece of paper from a drawer. He wrote a quick note to his roommate, to let Randy know that he’d decided to go home for the weekend. It was time to talk to his sister Susan.
After placing the note on Randy’s desk, he emptied all the books from his pack, since he figured he wouldn’t have any time for studying. After replacing them with some things he’d need at home, Danny flipped the covers carelessly up over the pillow that Randy had returned, fished his keys from a pocket of the backpack, and headed down to the parking lot with his backpack on one shoulder.
Now was as good a time as any to make the three hour drive home. His mom had been asking him when he planned to come see them. Danny hadn’t been home for two months, due to the heavy class load he was carrying this semester.
Climbing into the driver’s seat of his gray Subaru Outback, Danny tossed his pack onto the passenger seat. He looked into the rearview mirror to check the adjustment. Hazel eyes stared back from the reflection in the mirror as he ran his fingers through his light brown hair. He sighed, worry, frustration, and tiredness all mixed up in the sound.
He had written in his note to Randy that he figured the three day weekend was the perfect time to placate his mom with a visit home. But that wasn’t the real reason. The fact was, he had lied to Randy when he had said that he didn’t remember who Elandra was. Danny remembered his dream in great detail. Last night’s dream hadn’t been the first time he’d dreamed of this girl Elandra. And he was certain that it wasn’t likely to be the last time.
So now he was headed home. He wanted to make his mom happy. But much more important than that was the need to talk to Susan, and see what she thought about his dreams of Elandra. They had been plaguing him for weeks now. He might also have need of his Cube. It could be time for a visit to Daynan, depending on what Susan thought about all of this.
Every dream that he could remember for almost two weeks had been inhabited by a girl who called herself Elandra. Danny could picture her clearly in his mind’s eye every time he closed his eyes. She was several inches shorter than his 5’10”. Long, silky looking black hair hung straight down, framing a thin, pale face with pale green eyes. Those eyes seemed to mesmerize him every time he looked into them.
He’d never met this girl before, but he felt drawn to her in those dreams, as if his only goal in life was now to find her. The whole situation set off very loud warning bells in his mind. The recurring dreams scared him. He was certain magic was connected to this somehow. He could feel it.
A loud honk from behind his car woke Danny to the fact that he was now sitting through a green light. After accelerating through the intersection, he turned on his stereo and slipped in a CD, hoping the music would help him keep his mind on his driving, and off of the mysterious Elandra.
~~~~~
It was just beginning to get dark when Danny pulled into the long drive that led to his parent’s farmhouse. The house and land that stretched out beside and behind it had been in the Tucker family for generations. Now it was shared between Seth, Danny’s dad, and Ethan, Seth’s brother. Seth and Kate, with their children, lived in the house. Ethan lived in the large, converted barn behind the house. There was ample room in the barn for Ethan’s wife, their twins, and his thriving Computer Software Company.
Danny stopped for a moment before driving up to the garage, just to take a good look at the house. There were so many good memories that his family had shared there! This was his favorite place in the whole world. He always enjoyed seeing the house as he turned into the drive.
He wore a smile as he climbed out of the car that got even bigger when he saw a small form hurtling itself off the porch and along the path to the drive.
“Danny!” Megan, Danny’s little sister, squealed happily as he leaned down and picked her up. She threw her arms around his neck, and squeezed.
“Uh… I need to breathe, Squirt.” Danny laughed as she loosened her hold on him. She kissed his cheek, and then grabbed his hand after he set her back on the ground, skipping along beside him as he walked to the porch.
Megan pulled away, running up the steps, and into the house. She called for their mom as she ran. Danny barely made it in through the door before his mom appeared, to take him into her arms.
“Danny, you could have called and let us know you were coming! I would have held dinner for you.” Kate chided her son gently. “I just finished up the dishes. Come on in to the kitchen, and I’ll make you up a plate.”
Danny grinned sheepishly at her as his stomach growled. It had been a long time since lunch, and the thought of his mom’s home cooking was almost more than he could stand.
“Megan, go tell your dad that Danny’s here. He’s probably out talking to Uncle Ethan.”
“Okay, Mommy.” The young girl raced out the back door, happy to share the news with everyone else.
Kate brought containers out, and began filling a plate with leftovers from supper, as Danny took a place at the dining table at one end of the large kitchen. In hardly any time at all she had set a plate, full of pot roast, carrots and potatoes, and green beans in front of Danny. She took a seat across from him after filling up a glass with milk for him, as well.
Danny grinned at his mom, and started to take a bite, when two people came through the back door, following Megan.
“Danny! You should have-” Danny stood quickly, finishing his dad’s sentence with a laugh.
“I know…I should have let you know I was coming. Mom told me already.” Danny hugged his father.
“Danny, it’s good to see you. And I don’t care whether you let us know or not. I’m just glad you’re here.” Ethan smiled as he also moved in to hug his nephew.
As they settled at the table, Megan climbed into Seth’s lap. She rested her elbows on the table and placed her chin on her hands. She watched Danny start to eat, grinning when he glanced her way.
“Mom, where’s Susan? I was hoping to get to talk to her tonight.”
“She’s working the night shift at the hospital. Did you want to talk to her about something in particular?”
“Not really. I just miss those late night talks we have sometimes.” Danny wasn’t ready to tell his parents about the dreams yet.
“I think she misses that, too. She’s pretty busy right now. She moved to the night shift temporarily, until Trish Peterson comes back from maternity leave. Susan is counting the days, though. She definitely likes being a day nurse better. If you’re up by 8:00, you’ll at least get to say ‘Hi’.” Kate recommended. “She was actually just talking about driving up to see you tomorrow. She has a few days off, and hoped you’d have time to visit with her.”
Danny felt a sudden chill run through him, having the distinct feeling that missing him might not be the only reason Susan wanted to visit. He did his best not to let his thoughts show on his face, though, and quickly changed the subject.
When Danny finished eating, Kate removed his dishes. She returned to the table with a cookie jar full of cookies. Looking at Megan, she gave her an ultimatum.
“Okay, young lady, you get two cookies and fifteen minutes. Then it’s time for bed!” Megan looked at Danny, then at her mom. At the look on Kate’s face, she wisely decided not to argue. She meekly helped herself to the cookies instead.
When the time was up, Megan went around the table getting hugs and kisses goodnight from everyone. Then she and Kate headed upstairs for their usual bedtime routine.
Kate came down a bit later, smiling.
“Megan says she’s dying for Danny to read her a bedtime story. She’s in bed, with a book all picked out. Okay, Danny?”
“No problem! That’s another thing I’ve missed being able to do. I think I’ll just head on to bed after reading to her. I had a very early class today. I’m beat!” Ethan pointed out that he needed to get back to Mara anyway. He had some bedtime stories he needed to read, as well. Everyone said their goodnights. Danny promised to spend time with Mara and the twins in the morning, and then he headed up to Megan’s room.
Stopping at the open door, Danny watched his seven year old sister studying a book. He remembered the day, back when he was fifteen, when his parents told them all that they were having another baby. At first Danny and Susan were shocked. But once they got used to the idea, they started to like it. And they were thrilled when she was born. Danny couldn’t imagine life without her now.
Clearing his throat, Danny moved over to the bed.
“Okay, Sis, what book have you chosen for tonight?” Danny tried to peek at the title. Megan grinned, and pulled the blanket up so he couldn’t see.
“You have to guess.” She explained mischievously. He sat on the edge of the bed and crossed his arms.
“Oh, I do, huh? Well, let’s see. Could it be ‘Hop on Pop”? No? Is it ‘Goodnight Moon’?” Megan shook her head again. “Hmmm…maybe it’s ‘How the Tropi Got Her Glow’.”
“You cheated! I bet Mom told you about that.” Megan accused.
“No. Uncle Ethan did.” Their Aunt Mara had turned out to be quite a storyteller and artist, and was making a name for herself writing and illustrating children’s books.
Danny picked the book up, moved to lean against the headboard so they could both see the pictures together, and began reading.
“…The mama Tropi pulled her little one close, kissed her glowing fur, and purred contentedly as they watched the other Tropi playing among the rock formations: The End.” Danny closed the book and set it on the nightstand by the bed. “That was a great story, huh?”
“Is that really how the Tropi got their glow, Danny?” Megan slid down into a laying position and looked up at her brother.
“Sure, Squirt. But Tropi aren’t really real animals, you know. Aunt Mara just made them up, for you and the twins.”
“Uh, uh, they are too real. I’ve seen them in my dreams.” Megan insisted firmly.
Danny saw the earnest look in his seven year old sister’s eyes, and for a moment he felt a chill travel down his spine. But he decided that she had only dreamed of them because of Aunt Mara’s book. The illustrations she had drawn were very accurate. Tropi weren’t real-not on their world, anyway. Danny tried to relax, telling himself that the dreams he’d been having really had him on edge.
“Okay, Squirt, whatever you say. Now it’s time for lights out.” Danny kissed her cheek. “Sleep well, Megan. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Danny tucked her in, smiled in response to her sleepy smile, and then turned out the light and shut the door on his way out.
As he walked down the hall towards his own room, Danny thought about the story he had just read to Megan. As far as his little sister knew, Aunt Mara’s story was just that-a story. The truth was, though, that the cute little Tropi creatures in the story really were real.
Back when Danny was just thirteen, he was transported to another world along with his mother, sister, and Uncle Ethan. This was accomplished through an odd metallic box that had been a curiosity for the family for many years, after it had been discovered while Danny’s Grandpa was digging a new well on the farm.
What they hadn’t known at first was that Seth Tucker, Danny’s dad, had also been transported there two years before. The family had been told he died when the friend’s cabin he’d been staying at burned down in a terrible thunder storm.
While they were there, the family had run into an evil man named Lord Treamar. He had captured Seth, certain that he was the key to locating and using the power of his world’s Trevalian Cube, the metallic box that was a twin to the one that had sent the Tuckers to this world.
Ethan Tucker had met Mara there. She had been ashamed to confess to him that she was Lord Treamar’s daughter, but she had been working for years to thwart her father’s plans to gain more of the power he craved.
After the discovery of the hidden Trevalian Cube, as well as a third Cube that chose Susan to bond with, they had defeated Treamar. Finally the Tuckers had returned home, bringing Mara with them. Ethan and Mara were married several months later.
Mara had adjusted to her new home quite well, with Ethan’s help. What no one knew, of course, was that all of her stories were based on life on her planet.
Danny stopped at his door, seeing that the light was already on. His dad sat in the desk chair, glancing through one of Danny’s books. Seth set the book down when he saw Danny.
“So why did you choose this weekend to come home, Son? Is everything okay?” Seth got straight to the point. Danny moved over to his bed, and sat down.
“Sure Dad, everything is fine. I just figured a three day weekend was a good time to appease Mom with a visit. Besides, I really have been missing all of you, and the farm.” Normally Danny kept no secrets from his parents, but this was different than anything he’d ever dealt with, and he didn’t want to worry them if he didn’t have to.
With Susan it was different. She was linked with a Cube herself, the red Trevalian Cube that Bralar Trevalia had once held many centuries before. Bralar had misused the power of his Cube, staining it with evil. When Susan had found and used the Cube to free Danny and Daynan Trevalia from Treamar, putting an end to Lord Treamar’s evil dictatorship, she had redeemed it from that evil.
Danny knew from the look in Seth’s eyes that he wasn’t completely satisfied with his son’s answer. Danny breathed a sigh of relief when his dad chose not to pursue the issue tonight, and instead just hugged him goodnight, and left.
After setting the alarm clock so that he’d be up when Susan got home from the night shift, Danny settled down in his bed. Despite the dread of another of those unsettling dreams, he fell asleep quickly, having had a very long and tiring day.

Memorial

Last Thursday was my son’s birthday. It seemed fitting somehow to have the Memorial service for him on that day.
As hard as it was to face, I’m glad we did. We had a slide show with pictures of him from baby pictures to the most recent. I cried through the whole thing, but still loved seeing the pictures.
Afterwards we had a get together with finger foods provided- some of his most favorite snacks! He loved Cheese-its, Butterfingers, doughnuts and Pringles, and peppermint tea!
It was more a celebration that he was here, than a sad “He’s gone.”, and we got to share a little of who Jonny was while he was with us. Everyone especially got a kick out of the story of him sitting on his sister’s piece of cake when she left it on the couch seat!
I miss that boy more than words could ever describe. But I am thankful that God gave him to me for a son, and for the 22 years he was here. And I’m thankful that this life is just the beginning, and he’ll be there when I get to Heaven.

Don’t go it alone.

There are some days when a little thing triggers such pain, that I feel like doubling over and screaming from the agony. Today is one of those days, I guess. Going into his room, the one that we just haven’t had the heart to deal with yet, with all the memories and pain involved with just walking in… the pain can be almost as sharp as when we found out he was gone.

I know that there are many parents out there who know exactly what I’m talking about. Not that it makes this easier to deal with, but to know there are others who KNOW, somehow can be a comfort.

How can anyone get through something like this without God to hold them up, to walk for them when they can’t find the strength to even stand, or see through the tears to find their way? Praise God for his infinite mercy, and gentle, loving kindness… all of His amazing qualities! Life is hard enough, why make it harder by trying to go it without Him?

Life!

It has been awhile since I’ve written anything here. It really is true that life goes on, even in the face of deep grief.
My granddaughter is learning to walk. My teenager is old enough (and capable enough!) to now babysit.
The sun shines, storms move through, giving much needed water to the growing plants and us. The wind blows.
People go to work, take vacations, watch tv, eat and sleep, laugh and cry. They have arguments, they apologise and make up. They play games, and tell jokes.
I’m writing again. I started a sequel to my book “Cube of Trevalia”.
I still look up into the night skies in total awe of this amazing universe that God created, and look into the faces of my loved ones, in total awe of God’s love for each and every one of us!
Jonny is not gone from my heart, or mind. I have a picture of him here by my computer that I see all the time. I carry thoughts of him, sadness that he isn’t here, but joy that he was here; the son that I love and treasured, even when it wasn’t easy.
Our loved ones may die and be gone from this earth. But I have total confidence in God’s promises, that I will see them again. Until then, I carry each one in my heart, thankful for the time I was blessed to have them in my life.
I might not write much about Jonny here in the future. That doesn’t mean I’m forgetting, or not grieving at his loss. How can a mother ever stop grieving over the loss of a child? But I choose to live my life with joy, celebrating God’s gifts in each day, holding tight to His hand as I deal with pain and sadness, and looking forward to eternity in Heaven.
Joy, even in sorrow, is possible. God is still here, and He will never leave me or forsake me. He created each of us because He loves us, and cares what happens. I knew that especially well the moment I was told my son was dead. Never have I felt God’s presence more than I did in that moment of total, heart wrenching grief. And every step of every moment since, He has been with me.
Life is amazing, full of wonder, joy, and sorrow, all mixed together. It is a gift from God.

In Memory of my Son

My son, Jonathan Everett Capehart. He died on January 17, 2014. When I come home from somewhere, I look up at what was his bedroom window, and I miss him. When I hear the bedroom door next to his open, my heart stops for a moment, and I miss him. When I hear someone say the name Jonny, I miss him. Every memory hurts. And yet, every memory offers comfort, and healing. Every picture I look at causes me to smile through the tears. My heart is broken, yet my heart moves on through the days.
Jonny will always be with me in memory. I treasure each good memory, each remembered joke, laugh, and smile. The gifts he gave me (especially since he usually didn’t have much money to spend) are in-expensive treasures that mean more to me than any costly gift.
He loved goofy jokes, and laughter. Jonny and his sisters would throw “Your face is…” jokes around freely when they did things together. It was hilarious to listen to! His laugh was always good to hear.
He always showed how tender his heart could be around the pets. He pestered Skittles a lot, but I could always see in hie eyes that he loved the cat. And Skittles loved him back, we could tell. He was gentle with Mittens when he got old. I always appreciated that about my son. I saw so many good things in him!
Jonny had a very curious mind. He often came down to ask his dad questions that were complicated and sometimes a bit strange. He would ask family and friends stuff as well. You could tell from the things he asked that his was a very sharp and active mind.
He intended to get a degree in Computer Science. He definitely had the apptitude and interest for that, I think. His dad and brother both are in that field.
He wanted to learn to cook. He had been finding recipes online that he wanted to try. I told him just before we had to rush off to care for my mother after emergency surgery, that I’d help him learn to make bread. I wish we’d had the chance to do that.
My heart aches with a pain that won’t go away, though time will soften it.
There will soon come special days that will be extra hard,,,his birthday in September-how can that day hold anything but sadness that he isn’t here to turn 23? I can’t imagine what Christmas morning will be like without him! Every time I fix a supper that I know he’d like, I wish he was here to tell me thankyou for cooking, like he did.
I love you, Jonny! I am thankful for the years I had you here, and I would not trade them for anything this world has to offer. I thank God that you are my son. My life was enriched to have you in it, and I will hold all my memories of you within my heart. I miss you!

Life doesn’t stop

It has been a month since my son died. I still find it very hard to believe he’s really gone!
It feels as if life should just stop, and grieving should be the order of the day.
But life doesn’t stop. The sun shines, the birds sing as sweetly as ever. Children need help moving, meals must be fixed, and the house cleaned! Hunger and thirst must be quenched, and sleep is still necessary. Life marches on.
That is a good thing! Mourning can’t go on forever. That kind of pain isn’t something that you can hold on to and survive intact.
But that doesn’t mean you have stopped caring, or hurting! The loss of someone you love deeply never stops hurting. You never stop missing them.
Grieving is a necessary thing to move through, and it takes time. But it is just as important to give yourself permission to start living again.
I don’t believe for a minute that Jonny would want me to curl up in a little ball and stop living, too. When my time comes, and God calls me home, I want those who love me to continue on. I will just be waiting for them on ahead, in Heaven.
That’s where Jonny waits for us now. I can see him running through a field, holding hands with my grandchildren that I never had a chance to meet, the three of them laughing with true joy!
As much as I long to hold him in my arms, I will settle for holding him in my heart for now.
Even with a grief that at times seems too deep to find a breath, or too painful to see my way, the smiles and laughter are there.
I see Jonny’s beautiful, goofy smile in my minds eye, and I smile.
I hear his ridiculous, “Go three lanes to the left, and floor it!”, and I laugh.
I hold the hope in my heart that ‘forever’ does not apply to this separation with my beloved son, and am comforted.
And until that day that I too shall take my first step in Heaven, and breathe in pure joy and peace, God will walk me through each day.

When pain too deep to bear fills your soul,
I’ll be there.
When your feet are too weary to find the path,
I’ll be there.
When you find it too hard to even breathe,
I’ll be there.
When you learn to smile again,
I’ll be there.
Through doubt, despair, and joy,
I’ll be there.
Lean on me, my Child.
I will ALWAYS be there.