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Blog Tour Feature: THE TRIALS OF ADELINE TURNER by Angela Terry

10/25/2021

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Hi, readers! We have a real treat in store for you today, a spotlight on a book by Angela Terry, a talented author! 

Angela, an author I met on my journey, has a blog tour running right now.

Let's check out the details, shall we?

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From Charming Falls Apart author Angela Terry comes a story about finding the courage to face your past, be true to your heart, and live your best life.

​"From the very first page, I was hooked on this tale of heartbreak, self-discovery, and one woman's charming determination to turn lemons into lemonade. Fans of Emily Giffin and Lauren Weisberger will love this engaging and entertaining debut!"―Meg Donohue, USA Today best-selling author of You, Me, and the Sea
 
"The Trials of Adeline Turner is a fast-paced tale of dating in your 30s and learning to trust your inner voice. Brimming with wit, banter, romance and heart, it has all the ingredients of the perfect beach read. I was charmed!" ―Lindsay Cameron, award-winning author of BIGLAW and Just One Look

 
A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.

The Trials of Adeline Turner: A Novel
By Angela Terry

 
A FUN AND CHARMING STORY OF REINVENTION, THIS CHARACTER-DRIVEN NOVEL IS THE PERFECT BEACH READ
 
Anyone who’s ever reminisced about their unrequited first love or longed for a shakeup just when they thought they were settled will love the charming and fun story of Adeline Turner. A career-driven early thirty-something, Adeline is climbing the law firm ladder and navigating the roulette of “tall, dark and toxic” bachelors in the Chicago dating scene when opportunities new and old fall in her lap on a business trip to sunny California. Book clubs and fans of women’s fiction will devour The Trials of Adeline Turner by Angela Terry.

Risk-averse Adeline uncharacteristically takes the leap into a new life in San Francisco. But a suddenly messy romantic life and suspicions of an office sabotage threaten to derail her high-flying future before it’s off the ground. Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Addie must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always what they seem. Does the key to having the future she desires lie in uncovering the truth of the past?

“Like my character, I moved from Chicago to San Francisco as an adult and had to go through the process creating a new life and friendships,” Terry says. “I want my stories to illuminate the importance of being true to yourself and finding what makes you happy – which often involves getting out of your comfort zone, letting go of any old stories that hold you back, and listening to your heart.”

Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Weisberger and Emily Giffin’s iconic Something Borrowed and Something Blue novels will adore The Trials of Adeline Turner.

Title: The Trials of Adeline Turner
Author: Angela Terry

Release Date: October 19, 2021
Publisher: Girl Friday Books
Genre: Women's Fiction
Pages: 277
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 BLURB:

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From Charming Falls Apart author Angela Terry comes a story about finding the courage to face your past, be true to your heart, and live your best life. Fans of Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin will enjoy cheering for Adeline Turner as she navigates the twists and turns of her newly complicated life in this fun, heartwarming novel.

Thirty-three-year-old corporate attorney Adeline Turner has built her adult life around stability. Her professional life is thriving, but her personal life . . . not so much. Deep down she wants more, but finds it’s easier to brush aside her dreams and hide behind her billable hours. That is, until a new client and a chance encounter with her high school crush have her taking leaps she never planned. Suddenly, unadventurous, nose-to-the-grindstone Adeline finds herself moving across the country from her predictable life in Chicago to San Francisco, falling into messy romantic situations, and trying to unravel an office-sabotage plot before it ruins her career.

Without the safety net of her old life in Chicago, Adeline must become her own advocate and learn that people aren’t always who they seem. Which makes her wonder if the key to having the future she desires lies in uncovering the truth of the past.

Goodreads:  
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57934079-the-trials-of-adeline-turner
BookBub: 
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-trials-of-adeline-turner-by-angela-terry
 
Purchase links:
Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Adeline-Turner-Angela-Terry-ebook/dp/B08XKJW6V9/
Universal Reader Link:  https://books2read.com/u/mlEgBq


MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:


Intriguing! Let's chat with the author for a bit...

Angela, nice to have you here on Writing in the Modern Age! Glad you could stop by!
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Angela: Hi, thanks for inviting me!

Marie Lavender (host): Sure! So, Who do you think is the ideal reader for The Trials of Adeline Turner?

Author Angela Terry: Generally, this book is for anyone who enjoys voice-driven, contemporary escapist women’s fiction. Specifically, this book is for someone who may be like Adeline, where they might have a successful career, but want more in their personal life. And, of course, this book is for anyone who still thinks about their first crush and wonders, “What if?” (although, sometimes the dream is better than the reality!).
 
Marie: You’re a big fan of “chick lit”. What are your feelings about that name for the niche of fun and flirty women’s voices?

Angela: The first “chick-lit” book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary, and it introduced me (and a generation) to books about women who were going through similar issues as I was in my twenties and thirties. I was navigating and balancing my career, dating, family and friends, and asking the question of, “What do I want my life to look like?”. These books were usually told in a light, entertaining, first-person voice, and the characters felt real to me. So, while I know the term has fallen out of favor over the years, it still has a soft spot in my heart.
 
My books have been called rom-com, chick lit, and women’s fiction. I personally consider my books to be women’s fiction, since they focus more on the emotional growth of my heroine towards a more fulfilled self. But I also love a good happily-ever-after. So, if my novel is hanging out on the rom-com table, I’m happy with that because I just want readers to be able to discover my books.

 
Marie: What books and authors have inspired you?

Angela: The first chick-lit book I read was Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, and from there I was hooked on these lighter tone, voice-driven, confessional type of stories. From there, I read Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series, and I absolutely loved, and still love, Jane Green’s novels, which have evolved from early chick lit to women’s fiction.
 
Emily Giffin’s books, though, finally gave me that push to start writing my own books. When returning home from a vacation, I had picked up Something Blue at the airport and devoured it in one sitting. I love how honest and complicated her characters are, and how effortless her writing style seems. When I turned the book over to read her biography, which read, “After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time…”, it struck me that hers was the first “attorney bio” I read where I thought, “I want to do that!” That was the moment I decided to commit to my writing.

 
Marie: Where is your favorite place to read?

Angela: My favorite place to read would be my sofa with my cats. But where I get the most reading done would be at airports and on airplanes. I’m terrified of flying, and so I will save up books to read for my flight to have something to look forward to. Now I can’t wait to get to the airport and will be at my gate two hours early to catch up on my reading.
 
Marie: How has the pandemic affected your reading (and writing) habits?

Angela: In the beginning of the pandemic, I found it hard to concentrate on reading and writing. But thanks to my book club and being introduced to the Bookstagram community, I managed to get back my reading mojo. Though I will say, I found myself reaching for lighter, uplifting reads during this time.
 
The pandemic also affected my writing. Normally, whenever I get stuck on a scene, I like to go for a walk or head to a coffee shop. Seeing people on the street and eavesdropping on conversations always gives me new inspiration. With shelter-in-place, I found myself watching television a lot more to study people’s expressions, as well as voice inflections and cadence for dialogue purposes. 


Marie: I know what you mean. My reading and writing habits were affected too.

In any case, it was such a pleasure to have you here today. ♥

Emilia: For myself as well. Thanks for allowing me to visit!

Marie: Of course! 
Hope to see you back here sometime...
​
(Waves goodbye to her guest.)


​Readers, how about a look inside Angela's new release?

​​
Let's check out an excerpt!

Since I’ll be gone for almost a week and had to bring a full lineup of suits, business casual, and sportswear, I have to go through the whole ordeal of checking luggage. After handing my suitcase to the airline clerk and receiving my luggage tag, I smile, say thank you, and turn around while readjusting my tote bag on my shoulder. As I do, I run smack into a blue shirt. 
“Ow, sorry,” I say apologetically. “I should really look where I’m going.” 
“No problem.” A deep male voice laughs as he places his hands on my elbows, obviously trying to stop me from running him over. “Are you okay?” 
As I’m standing there rubbing the tip of my nose, something about his voice strikes a chord inside me and I look up. 
Whoa! This man is beautiful, and his smile is even more so, and I stumble a little as I take a small step back. 
“Yeah, thanks. Sorry again for my clumsiness!” I answer laughingly, embarrassed. 
“No problem.” 
He releases my elbows, and I move aside as he goes up to the check-in counter. 
Away from the line, I recombobulate myself, pulling my tote back onto my shoulder. I’m a little shaky, though, and feel a flush spreading across my chest. I sneak a look at the back of the man I just bumped into. Very tall and fit-looking with a gorgeous head of hair. The most perfect shade of chestnut, it’s thick and a little wavy and flops in all the right directions. He’s running his hand through it as he waits for the airline clerk. He’s looking around now. Mmm . . . what nice, strong-looking shoulders. Oh wait, he’s looking at me! Probably because I’m staring at him. Oops! I give a half smile, and just as I turn around to head to security, the clerk says, “Thank you, Mr. Summers,” and I freeze. 
I know this man! 
My flush escapes my crewneck to my cheeks, and I’m freaking out—not so much that I know him, but at my reaction. Am I sweating? One half of me wants to get the hell out of here, but the other half, the deer in the headlights, is rooted to the spot. Even if I wanted to run, my legs are like Jell-O and I’m too shaken to even try to take a step. 
The blue shirt appears in front of me again. “Hi,” Brad says. 
Brad Summers, my unrequited high school crush, is standing in front of me eighteen years later. 

***
When we reach the Starbucks, we order our coffee, and Brad kindly says, “Here, let me get this. It’s nice to see an old friend.” The fifteen-year-old girl inside me swoons. If he considers his plain former neighbor an old friend, who am I to argue? 
We sit down at a table and begin firing off more questions. Would you believe that my beloved Brad is, of all things, a real estate attorney? Who would have guessed? Especially since, let’s be honest, most attorneys are pretty bland personality-wise. But Brad is nothing like that. He’s funny and charming, and his eyes sparkle when he laughs. I’m dying to ask him, And why aren’t you married? but we stay on nonromantic conversation points, such as where we went to school, why we decided to become attorneys, and what our chosen career would be if we could do anything and not worry about finances. (He’d renovate houses full-time, and I’d be a writer, and yes, we both would travel.) Throughout the conversation, I simply bask in the warmth of his smile and the full focus of his attention. At some point, though, I glance at my watch and realize I need to get to my gate now. 
“Shoot. I better go if I want to catch my flight,” I say with definite disappointment in my voice. 
He in turn looks at his watch. “Oh, yeah, you better get a move on.” 
We both stand up at the same time. “Yes, well, it was really great running into you. Have a good flight,” I say. 
“Yeah. You too.” 
I’m about to reach out to shake his hand, but then I figure, what the hell? He did say earlier I was an old friend, right? So I lean in and give him a hug. A hug that lingers a little too long. But as I feel the warmth of his skin rising and catch a delicious scent of cologne/aftershave, I don’t want to let go, ever. 


So...what are other readers saying about The Trials of Adeline Turner?
PictureImage by Tomislav Kaučić from Pixabay.

"This novel has a delightful rom com tone which is fun and easy to read, but doesn’t let itself be boxed into common tropes. Adeline Turner has no life-balance and a less than perfect romantic life, but other than that she has it all together—the sought after legal job on a track to partnership, a father who’s proud of her, a client who’s impressed, and soon a job offer to move to San Francisco.
So she’s well-grounded, that is until she runs into her unrequited high school crush, who reappears in real life. She’s way too old (in her thirties) and is too much of a professional to be blushing and flushing over a fellow lawyer, but yes, she is. And she’s embarrassed about it and trying hard to keep her professional and personal lives separate.
Add in a subplot of corporate intrigue and backstabbing, and leaving her best friend and confidante behind in Chicago and Adeline has plenty to deal with.
I enjoyed the balanced tone of this book. It covers real questions around regrets and whether we take chances on love, but in a lighthearted way that’s enjoyable to read.
A truly satisfying read."
 -- L Cameron, Amazon

"A Charming Slice-of-Life Read. Give me a delightful heroine, an engaging journey of self-discovery, and a healthy dose of romance and I’ll give you my undivided attention. That’s exactly what happened when I picked up Angela Terry’s new novel, The Trials of Adeline Turner.
I’m always craving those delicious slice-of-life tales of women finding their way through new friendships, work drama, and the complex world of dating, and The Trials of Adeline Turner perfectly satisfied that sweet spot. Angela Terry’s writing is fresh, funny, and sharp, and in Adeline, she has created a character that I not only rooted and felt for, but that I wanted to hang out with. Like Adeline, I never knew what was going to happen, and through all of the ups and downs, I just loved being along for the ride.
If you’re looking for a book about finding your way, coming to terms with the past, and braving the way towards a new future, don’t miss out on The Trials of Adeline Turner."
 --  Stephanie Burns, Amazon

"I took to Adeline immediately. She’s a Chicago lawyer, merely existing, but asking too much from life. Suddenly, she has a career opportunity and also a potential crush turns real. While a good attorney, Adeline has a lot to learn in the People department. Adeline finally comes to realizations in her life and takes action. She doesn’t just settle, although that would be the easy way out. I liked that she was a Midwesterner and it was home for her. It’s a great read." -- J.K., Amazon


Wow, this book sounds so compelling!
 
Readers, you'll have to check out this read! Or, add it to your Goodreads bookshelf or save it to your BookBub wishlist!


Looks awesome to me! :)
​

Thanks so much, Angela!

Let's also give kudos to Angela's sponsor:
​
Grab a copy of this one, everyone. 

Thank you for letting us know all about your women's fiction novel. It sounds like quite a read!
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Angela Terry is an attorney who formerly practiced intellectual property law at large firms in Chicago and San Francisco. She is also a Chicago Marathon legacy runner and races to raise money for PAWS Chicago—the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter. She resides in San Francisco with her husband and two cats and enjoys throwing novel-themed dinner parties for her women’s fiction book club. Her debut novel, Charming Falls Apart, is a 2021 Independent Press Awards Winner, 2021 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Awards Finalist, and 2020 Best Book Awards Finalist.

Author links:
​http://www.angelaterry.com/
http://www.facebook.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.instagram.com/angelaterryauthor
http://www.twitter.com/angelaterrylit
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20487515.Angela_Terry
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/angela-terry
​
Thanks for stopping by to let us know about your new release, Angela! ♥

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age guest article here.

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Interview with Author Sally Carpenter

6/17/2013

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My guest today is Sally Carpenter. Hello, Sally! Welcome to Writing in the Modern Age! It’s such a pleasure to have you here.  

Can you tell us a little about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?

book cover for The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper depicting a broken microphone with a speaker which has bullet holes and rainbow music notes on a sky blue background
The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper is a humorous mystery released in 2011 by Oak Tree Press. The book was a Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel in 2012 at Left Coast Crime.  Print and ebook versions can be ordered from Amazon.com or BN.com.

“Baffled” is the first book in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol mystery series. Sandy is a 38-year-old former ‘70s teen idol who starred in the hit TV show Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth but his career stalled after cancellation. Now he’s a recovering alcoholic seeking a comeback and solving mysteries along the way.

Is there anything that prompted your latest book? Something that inspired you?

I’m a huge Monkees fan and that got me interested in teen idols in general, their lives and careers and how one copes with fame and fortune. Teen idols are interesting characters but writers were ignoring them.

I also love those 1970s TV detective shows that were short on police procedural but long on personality and charm. I thought it’d be interesting to write a character that started off playing a detective on TV and ended up as an amateur sleuth solving real cases.

Wow! So, when did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?

I’ve always enjoyed reading. I spent most of my childhood summers at the public library. Growing up I often received books as presents. Some of my grade school teachers read books aloud to the class. As a child I made up stories about the characters on my favorite TV shows. That’s probably why my series protagonist is a former TV star.

I’ve written on and off over the years, sold some short pieces over the years, but became more serious about writing in the mid-1990s. I started writing mysteries in 2008 after I attended a panel of mystery authors hosted by Sisters in Crime.  

Do you have any favorite authors? 

Arthur Conan Doyle, of course. Richard Levinson and William Link, who created many of the great TV detective series. I have a number of friends who write. I hate to single out anyone but lately I’ve read Steve Hockinsmith, Stephen Brayton, William Doonan and Jim Callen.

Do you write in a specific place? Time of day?

I write at home. I can’t concentrate in coffee houses or other places that are noisy and busy. I work a full-time day job to pay the bills, so I write some evenings and mostly on weekends. I run errands during the week so on weekends I can focus solely on writing.

Are there any words you'd like to impart to fellow writers. Any advice?

Don’t start writing with the expectation of instant fame and fortune. A few authors hit the jackpot with big sales, but most don’t. If you’re writing only for the money, you’ll be disappointed. Your first book is the “calling card” that gets your name out there and will probably earn little money. Authors increase their sales by writing more books. As more product is available, sales and interest will increase, but promotion is a slow, on-going process.

Here is the blurb for The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper.

In the 1970s teen idol Sandy Fairfax recorded six gold records and starred in the hit TV show Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth. Now it's 1993 and he's a 38-year-old recovering alcoholic desperate for a comeback. An easy gig as the guest celebrity at a Beatles fan convention in the Midwest turns deadly when a member of the tribute band is shot. When the police suspect Sandy, the boy sleuth is back in action to find the killer.

Here's an excerpt from The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper.

            I turned to face the formidable flatfoot. Braxton pounded questions at me as I rubbed my bloodshot eyes. I couldn’t concentrate.

            “Look, detective, I’m exhausted. I’ve had a long day that started before sunrise three time zones ago.” I glanced at my wristwatch: nearly 1 a.m. Pacific or Central time? I couldn’t remember if I reset my watch after my flight landed. “Can this wait until tomorrow? I mean, later today? The body can’t get any more dead than it is now.”

            Braxton glowered at me so hard that if looks could kill, he’d have a second stiff on the floor. “You claim the victim was still alive when you came in the room?”

            “Yes, sir.” I squeezed against the wall so the paramedics could carry out a stretcher with a black body bag strapped to it. As much as I wanted to look away, I couldn’t peel my eyes off the corpse.

            “Did the victim do or say anything that might identify the murderer?”

            “Yes, sir.”

            Braxton waited, his pen poised over his notebook page. “Well? What was it?”

            I licked my dry lips. I felt terribly thirsty. I knew Braxton would hate my answer. “He said, ‘Rocky Raccoon.’”

            Sure enough, he frowned at me. “Is that a joke?”

            “No, sir. That’s exactly what he said.”

            “Is that the name of the murderer? An animal? What’s a Rocky Raccoon?”

            “It’s a song.” Bunny stepped up beside us as she closed the zipper on the pouch that hung from her waist. “By John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Paul sings lead. It’s on disc one, side two, track five of The Beatles’ 1968 double record ‘White Album,’ which isn’t the name, but everyone calls it that because it was issued in a plain white cover with no artwork. I have a 1978 French import reissue with the records in white vinyl.”

            Braxton stared at her, too stunned to take notes, but I took it in stride. Fans possess encyclopedia knowledge of the minutest trivia.

Universal Purchase link:  https://books2read.com/u/b6vvAJ

  

Author Bio

picture of author Sally Carpenter  

Sally Carpenter is a native Hoosier now living in Moorpark, California.   

She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award. “Star Collector” was produced in New York City and also the inspiration for her book.  Carpenter also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt in tae kwon do.    

She’s worked a variety of jobs including actress, freelance writer, college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for a major movie studio. She’s now employed at a community newspaper.

Her first book in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol mystery series, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, was a 2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel. The second book, The Sinister Sitcom Caper, will be released in late 2013.   

Her short story, "Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-in," will be published in the 2013 SinC/LA anthology, Last Exit to Murder.  

She’s a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles chapter and “mom” to two black cats.

Links:

Website:  http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54?fref=ts

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Carpenter/e/B007TX0QW8

Check out our latest Writing in the Modern Age blog article here.

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Interview with Author Gail Picado

4/22/2013

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My guest today is Gail Picado. Hello, Gail! Welcome to Writing in the Modern Age! It’s such a pleasure to have you here.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?  

image of black and white cow with a sky background which is the book cover for A Cow Named John by Gail Picado

My latest book, A Cow Named John, is a true labor of love.  It’s a collection of great memories of what we used to do on my aunt and uncle’s farm; a time without toys.  All we had were farm animals, the land, and our imagination.  It came out in August, 2012, and can be purchased through Amazon, Solstice Publishing, or Barnes & Noble if you have a Nook.

Is there anything that prompted your latest book? Something that inspired you? 

As I see how kids today are so disconnected from family, it saddens me.  They’ll spend hours texting their friends, but not a word to their siblings. Family is very important!  So, I wrote A Cow Named John to show the world the humorous and nostalgic side of growing up on a farm.

Great! So, when did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours? 

I wrote a play in the 6th grade and had a lot of fun directing it.  But my dad didn’t approve of the arts and pushed me into business courses in high school.  Then after he died, his adopted mom listed him as a “stranger that assumed their name” in her will.  I was so hurt by this that I wrote my first novel, No One’s Son.  It’s a real tearjerker.  Now, I write for the fun of it.

Do you have any favorite authors?

Stephen King, Dean Koontz, plus the classics like Dickens and Steinbeck.  There are so many good writers out there!  I’ll choose a book just from its title, and I’m seldom disappointed.

Do you write in a specific place? Time of day? 

I have a “hobby” room that’s mine exclusively where I draw, write, sew, and do puzzles.  You can find me there anytime of the day.

Are there any words you’d like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice? 

Don’t try to get rich by writing.  Only the few get there - - very few.  Write only if it’s what you love and you have something to say. 

Here is the blurb for A Cow Named John.

Why did you name your cow John? After all, John is a boy's name.

Twelve-year-old Mike Elsasser lives on a farm in 1950s Nebraska. John is his favorite cow – she lets him go cow skiing with her in the mud. He constantly gets asked about her name, but he doesn't feel like explaining. "Just because," he tells them.

Then one day, John gets lost…

…And even worse, Mike finds himself saddled with his younger cousin, Gaylyn, a girl who smiles all the time and doesn’t know anything.

While John gets up to odd adventures, the two children have adventures of their own. They fight mosquitoes, make their own ice cream, find a secret passage and risk electrocution in irrigation trenches. They get involved in the trickery of fishing and the hunting of snipe. They learn horse tricks, escape an angry sheep, keep their trickster uncle at bay, and even survive a tornado!

A Cow Named John is a nostalgic and humorous story about children on a farm, their antics, and how work can feel like play – and how the search for John can be just as fun as actually finding her.  


Yes.  You asked for it.  We do have an excerpt from A Cow Named John.  Enjoy!

           Two weeks before the fourth of July in 1959, the Elsasser family slept as black, billowy clouds hung in the night, blocking the moon and stars. The lightning cracked; chirping crickets lay silent. Buzzing grasshoppers, the babbling spring, and fish and pollywogs nipping at mosquitoes, all were silent too. Nothing made any noise to alarm the family of John’s intent.

            John’s nose rubbed against the rough rope fibers that held her captive and kept her from exploring. Higher and higher went the rope, until at last, it went over the top of the post and fell to the ground below. John was free! Free to roam. Free to run. Free to be. 

            A coyote yelped and yipped such news, but the family didn’t stir. Hungry was this coyote. Hungry to the bone. 


***

             Twelve-year-old Mike Elsasser crouched in the barnyard the next morning and put his right index finger in his mouth. Getting it nice and wet, he stuck it in the air to check which way the wind blew. He didn’t want Old Red to smell his scent as he snuck up on her. 

            “Sow, boss,” whispered Mike, as he crept quietly behind the cow. Last night’s summer storm made the ground perfect for this: all wet and slippery. He inched closer. When he was within reach of the cow’s tail, Mike grabbed it and hollered, “Whoop, whoop!”

            The startled cow jumped in fright and ran for her life, dragging Mike along! He hung onto her tail, fighting to stay on his feet over the wet, slippery mud. Cow skiing wasn’t easy, and he prided himself on being pretty good at it. 

            “Whoop, whoop!” Mike repeated, throwing one arm in the air. He skied for almost thirty feet before falling over. He looked up from the mud and watched Old Red run to the safety of the barn. He laughed. 

            “Crazy cow!” he yelled. He got up and brushed himself off. Hope Dad doesn’t find out this time, he thought. He’d sure be angry if he knew that I tried to ski behind another cow.

             Mike walked into the barn and patted the backside of Bessie as she stood eating hay. “Sow boss,” he said, while taking a wet cloth from his hip pocket. He wiped the cow’s teat clean and then sat on the three-legged stool to milk her.

            Three kittens came over and he squirted them with milk, much to their delight. After he finished milking Bessie, he moved on to Molly and milked her too. Done, he picked up the milking pails, groaning from the weight. 

            Mike had blond hair and blue eyes like his dad, with lean muscles from carrying milk from the barn to the white, wood-framed bunkhouse, a porch-length away from the farmhouse. They used the basement under the bunkhouse only in case of tornadoes. Hired hands, the men who used to help work the farm, and their beds were long gone, but it still held an old wood-burning stove and a milk separator. The separator looked like a large stainless steel funnel on legs. It had a crank handle like on the front of an old-timey car.

Mike set two buckets under the large funnel and poured the milk in the top. Taking hold of the crank handle with both hands, he began turning it in a continuous circle. The large metal funnel spun around and around until the cream separated from the milk. The milk filtered down one side of the funnel, and the cream filtered down the other side. 

            Once this was done, Mike took the cream and milk to his mom. One day, thought Mike, I’m going to move off this farm, away from this town, and then I won’t have to do all this milking. I’m going to buy my milk from the store, just like city folks. 

            Mike lived in Brady, Nebraska, a small town shaped like a horseshoe off Highway 30, just east of North Platte. Brady couldn’t be found on any map, and a house number wasn’t needed in the address on letters. With a population of 240 people, the mailman delivered the mail by just the name on the envelope.

            Unlike the city, the town had no paved roads, only dirt, and it had wooden walkways in front of each establishment. The restaurant behind the gas station had most of the local branding irons tacked up around the walls as its décor. The town also had a bank, a drug store, a post office, a feed store, and a community center, where every Saturday night people would come to square dance. An outdoor movie theater used the white wall of the drug store as a movie screen. Logs split in half and placed on the ground served as benches, and other logs outlined where walls would have been. The best part? It was free to watch. 

            “Take your boots off,” Mike’s mother, Evelyn, reminded him as he put the milk and cream into the refrigerator. “And go wash up for dinner.”

            Evelyn was a slim, pretty woman. Her blue eyes contrasted with her black hair, which she tied up in a bun to keep out of her face. 

            Mike did as he was told, and then walked to his room without saying a word. He tossed his straw cowboy hat on his bed and went to the farmhouse’s one bathroom to wash up. The bathtub stood on four legs in the corner, and they didn’t have a shower. 

            He heard the screen door bang shut and knew it was his dad.

            “Where’s Mike?” asked his father, Arno.

            “In the bathroom,” said Evelyn. “Why? What did he do now?”

            “I think he’s been cow skiing again. I got to the barn just after Mike left and Old Red’s acting all nervous and upset. Dang kid! I’ve told him a hundred times not to do that!”

            Arno was a fair-minded man, but also hot tempered, and he had a short fuse. His good looks – almost six feet tall, blond wavy hair, blue eyes, and long dimples on the sides of his face that showed off straight white teeth when he smiled – hid his quick temper. 

            Mike listened to his parents’ conversation through the open bathroom door. Oh man, he thought, should I lie or should I come out with it? 

            Mike dried his hands and walked into the kitchen: time to face the music.

Universal Reader Link:  https://books2read.com/u/m2lMBG

 

Author Bio

picture of author Gail Picado

Gail Picado was born in 1949. In high school, she loved to draw and write, but her father discouraged her, saying that there were too many starving artists, so instead, she took typing and bookkeeping, always working in an office.

As a child, her parents would take her and her siblings to her aunt and uncle’s farm in Brady, Nebraska, every summer to spend time with their cousins. She spent many hours learning chores that seemed more like play, and each chore created a good memory. There were no toys, but the animals were all the toys any child would need. This is how A Cow Named John was created.

Gail’s first novel, No One’s Son, published in 1991, is based on her father’s life. She and her husband reside in California and have three daughters.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/gail.picado

Authors Den:  http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=168207

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GailPicado 

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Gail%20Picado 

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