A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Thanksgiving in the USA today

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Can we save American? Watch and read to find our what’s really happening in America! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com
CLICK the reblog link to watch and share. You’ll be shocked!

petrel41's avatarDear Kitty. Some blog

This video from the USA says about itself:

21 Nov 2012

Thanksgiving is a long cherished American tradition, but have we idealized it to the point that we’ve forgotten the true story, the historical events which really surrounded Thanksgiving? And what of the post-Thanksgiving shopping tradition of ‘Black Friday’ shopping— has it commercialized the holiday so much that we’ve forgotten the point? And lastly, for those who spend Thanksgiving dinner with family, how does one mitigate the various table-conversation pitfalls, such as politics and religion?

John Fugelsang (Host, Current TV’s “So That Happened”) leads this week’s panel to discuss these issues and more on this special episode of The Point with Kelly Carlin (Host, Sirius XM‘s “The Kelly Carlin Show”), James Spady (Assistant Professor of American History, Soka University), and Altagracia Perez (Rector- Holy Faith Episcopal Church). Special thanks to John Cumbler (University of Louisville Professor), Annie Leonard…

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DEBUT NOVEL… I finished the draft!

11 28 13

I did it! This is my first NaNoWriMo and my first novel. The challenge was to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days during the month of November. Well, this is Day 27 and I just wrapped up the first draft. I am working towards a publication date of Spring 2014. I invite you to follow my blog and sign up for Bette’s Email Updates (right column of this blog) for updates and excerpts as the journey to writing my debut novel continues. You can read an excerpt of the novel’s prequel, PURE TRASH, The Story at the top of this blog. Happy reading. ~ Bette A. Stevens
2013-Winner-Facebook-Cover“Debut novel will take you on an American adventure you will never forget.”

PURE TRASH, The Novel (Coming—Spring 2014)
The Adventures & Coming of Age of Shawn Daniels: A poor boy growing up in rural New England in the 1950s and ’60s.
by Bette A. Stevens

Description: If you grew up in the 1950s and the 1960s, you may be among those who recall those good old “Happy Days” of television fame.  Poverty and prejudice were generally ignored or simply acknowledged as existing in third-world countries during this time in American history when a new middle-class was burgeoning. But poverty and prejudice were sitting right in front of us, in towns and cities all across this great land. The 1960s is a time when racial tension abounded, the Vietnam conflict was heating up and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was a time when Americans were planning trips to the moon. And, it was a time in America when the poor were ignored.

For Shawn Daniels, growing up during this time of plenty was far from happy. Shawn’s life is one that few Americans are aware of now, or acknowledged at the time. Shawn’s dad is the town drunk, the family has no running water or indoor plumbing, but they do get a TV.  With few of life’s necessities or its perks, Shawn learns to make the best of what he does have. Poverty and prejudice are just two of  the themes in Shawn’s story. This novel will take you on an American adventure you will never forget.

PURE TRASH, The Novel is the complete package for PURE TRASH, The Story (August 2012, Amazon) –a short story adventure that highlights bullying, class division, prejudice and poverty in rural New England. PURE TRASH, The Novel opens with Shawn leaving high school to join the U.S. Army in 1964. The storyline follows Shawn’s life from age four to age 18 when he sets out on a new adventure carrying with him the hope for a future far better than the past he is leaving behind.

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About the Author, Book Awards, Fiction, History, Writing, Writing Challenges

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Monarch Butterflies

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Learn about our Amazing Monarchs! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

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John Baez's avatarAzimuth



Have you ever seen one of these? It’s a Monarch Butterfly. Every spring, millions fly from Mexico and southern California to other parts of the US and southern Canada. And every autumn, they fly back. On the first of November, called the Day of the Dead, people celebrate the return of the monarchs to the mountainous fir forests of Central Mexico.

But their numbers are dropping. In 1997, there were 150 million. Last year there were only 60 million. One problem is the gradual sterilization of American farmlands thanks to powerful herbicides like Roundup. Monarch butterfly larvae eat a plant called milkweed. But the amount of this plant in Iowa, for example, has dropped between 60% and 90% over the last decade.

And this year was much worse for the monarchs. They came late to Mexico… and I think only 3 million have been seen so far! That’s a…

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on 11/26/2013

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MIDWEEK POETRY: End of the line.

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Poignant poem of epic proportion… We must not forget. ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

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198. Autumn is the dim shadow that clusters about the sweet precious things that God created in the realm of nature. ~Northern Advocate

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A perfect pairing! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

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nataliescarberry's avatarSacred Touches

That soft autumnal time…
The year’s last, loveliest smile,
Thou comest to fill with hope the human heart,
And strengthen it to bear the storms a while,
Till winter days depart…

Far in a shelter’d nook
I’ve met, in these calm days, a smiling flower,
A lonely aster, trembling by a brook…
~John Howard Bryant

Image

In autumn the Maker’s pigments turn from the soft pastels of springtime to emboldened, jewel tones.  Glad witnesses are we to the green leaves on shining sumac, flowering dogwoods, Bradford pears, sweet gums, Shumard oaks, and crape myrtles changing to mixtures of burgundy, crimson, orange, and gold.  Other treats are setting buds for next year’s blossoms among the fiery red, ripening fruits of the dogwoods, and the deeper shades of blues and pinks that adorn the thickened petals of hydrangeas.  And if that is not enough to make the year smile, there are the willow…

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Photography, Poetry

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A Special Sales Event for Book Lovers on December 10

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BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE: Don’t miss out on READ TUESDAY! ~ Bette A. Stevens, author of children’s and adult literature. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Holiday Gifting: How to Give Kindle Books and Apple Apps

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BOOKS: The gifts that keep giving… Happy Holidays! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

sharechair's avatarsharechair

Screen shot 2013-11-24 at 7.42.50 PMThe Shopping Season has arrived. It used to start on Black Friday, but it sure seems to me that it has been moved back. Way back.

Flyers are advertising “pre-Black-Friday” sales, and many many stores are boasting that they will be open on Thanksgiving, trying to get a jumpstart on those bargain hunters.

Online shopping is certainly a good alternative choice to facing those crowds.

Although I think that a little bit of crowd-mingling can be fun, when it comes to facing checkout lines that are hours long? Not fun. 😯

Considering the calendar I thought it would be timely to revisit a few time-saving how-tos. Specifically how to gift a Kindle book, and also how to gift an app.

How to gift a Kindle Book:

Simply navigate to the book that you would like to give. Look over to the right hand side of the page…

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This December buy INDIE books as presents!

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BOOKS: The gifts that keep giving!

You’ll find Bette’s INDIE books at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens where you can purchase her print books and get the kindle versions FREE to download to you reader or PC. Happy Reading & Happy Holidays!

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on 11/22/2013

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Stephen King: Short Stories and Novels, How they Form

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WRITERS: Enjoy some tips from the King! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

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Writing, Writing Tips

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Heavenly Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

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Celestial sky

Shining, simmering shower

Spectacular Show

—Bette A. Stevens © November 19, 2002

On my 55th birthday after observing the Leonid meteor shower, I  wrote this haiku. The following day, I shared it with my fifth grades students and after some celestial research, the students wrote their own “Heavenly Haiku” poems.

Watch the Leonid Meteor Shower November 16 – 17, 2013  at

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/leonids-2013-live-ustream.html#.UogHseKLjlc

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on 11/17/2013

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