Saturday, November 17, 2012

Happy New Year, Emily Rose

Congratulations, Eva Ridenour, writing as Elizabeth Butler, on your successful launch of Happy New Year, Emily Rose! 


After the holidays, Emily Rose Roberts is the first to arrive at the university to catch up on the stack of mail she knows will be waiting. She unlocks the door to discover the murdered body of Professor Stuart McBain in front of the mailboxes. Victor Morales is the head detective in the local police department. He already has more cold cases than he wants, and McBain’s murder could be another unsolved crime. No matter what anyone says, Vic can’t imagine that petite Emily Rose, their only suspect, could be the killer. Emily Rose could have been attracted to Vic if she hadn’t sworn off men. Besides, she carefully guards a secret she doesn’t want the detective to uncover. When a second murder has ties to Emily Rose, Vic has to decide whether he is falling in love with a murderer or a potential victim. He does know he must find the killer before anyone else dies.

Available at www.mozarkpress.com, Amazon.com (print and e-book) and www.barnesandnoble.comBarnesandNoble.com (ebook)

A Shaker of Margaritas e-book Sale!


We have reduced the prices of the Shaker of Margarita E-books to $4.99. That is good news because you can read these collections of short stories for less than $15! If you buy all three books, each story costs less than $0.25!

Hot Flash Mommas, a Missouri Writer’s Guild Show-Me Award winner, the first of the series and our most popular book.
A Shaker of Margaritas: Hot Flash Mommas Twenty-five captivating stories are included in Hot Flash Mommas. Authors from across the U.S. submitted their fiction stories about women living the adventure of midlife. 

Midlife is a turning point for women and whether the pivotal moment involves crisis, romance, intrigue, or sameness, strong women overcome the randomness of fate and move forward with vigor toward a new reality. Browsing the titles is the first indication these stories are crafted to share with girlfriends, sisters, mothers, daughters, and the occasional male who just wants to know what’s going on inside that mysterious female brain.

Award-worthy stories fill the pages of Hot Flash Mommas, the first Shaker of Margarita book. A sampling of story topics: hot flashes in the freezer aisle, breast cancer, a rock concert, an Elvis impersonator, a stolen velvet Elvis painting, exploding snowflakes, witnesses to murder, a gambling addiction, possible spies, a prodigal daughter, a fishing trip, a date with a nudist, a tryst with a tow-truck driver, a man in the ladies’ room, ladies’ night out, animal rescue, a therapeutic menagerie, a first date after divorce, latex allergy, a monk in the driveway, a unique way to scare off an intruder, and an accused murderer who reinvents herself. 

Cougars on the Prowl, a Missouri Writers’ Guild Anthology of the Year Award winner, the second anthology is filled with captivating stories about older women and younger men. Suitable for sharing with your mother, sisters, and friends.
When a woman becomes involved with a much younger man, she is known as a “cougar.” Older women hooking up with younger men intrigue us. What is their story? Does age really matter? Could he be out to take advantage of her? Or did she get lucky and find the love of her life?

A Shaker of Margaritas: Cougars on the Prowl includes captivating stories with boomer protagonists. Some of the stories are humorous while others are romantic—often with complications. All Twenty-two stories are good reads! 

A Bad Hair Day is our newest release! This anthology is filled with humorous stories about a day gone wrong.
The Bad Hair Day anthology began with a call for humorous fiction stories about one of those days when life just doesn’t go according to plan. In fact, we wanted stories about a day as horrible as a bad perm or hair that turns green, unintentionally. Yet the female protagonist works though the challenging day with humor, stubbornness, and attitude. 

The stories in this volume are an uplifting diversion for those days when Murphy’s Law rules. We can’t always avoid bad hair days, but laughter is truly the best defense.

So if you’re having one of those bad days, get out that shaker of margaritas and curl up with A Shaker of Margaritas: A Bad Hair Day and let the laughter begin.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A Shaker of Margaritas: A Bad Hair Day

Available Now! A Mozark Press Anthology. Twenty-four great stories. 

Snippets:


No-Hair Day
E. B. Davis

“I will break this door down,” the intruder said.
“Oh, shut up,” I yelled back. “We’re having a discussion.”

I Think I’ll Pass
Suzanne Lilly
  
“But that’s not me!” I don’t usually shout, but this situation warranted a loud outburst. “My name’s not Julia. I’m Darinda Locke. I’ve never aggravated assaulted anyone, or however you say it.”

Sunday Afternoon
Mary Laufer

“Will the ants die?”
“I guess so.” They probably won’t die at all, Sharon mused. They’ll just go deeper into the ground and come up later somewhere else, like husbands’ bad habits.


Water, Like the Camera, Adds Ten Pounds
Sioux Roslawski

She tried to pull her head out using the left-side escape route, and then the right. No luck from either direction. Several more attempts resulted in the same conclusion: My head’s stuck.


Making New Tracks
Linda O’Connell

Engrossed in a song, she sat back. As she crossed her right leg over her left, she nudged the guy standing directly in front of her. She clasped her hand over her mouth when her furry house slipper stuck to the seat of his pants like a piece of felt to a flannel board.


Mr. Perfect
Beth Carter

She tried on cowboy hats, baseball caps, Fedoras, and knitted berets. Nothing hid her hair. Not enough, anyway. The frizz stuck out in every direction. In fact, most of the hats were too small because of her big hair.


Hair to the Max
Lisa Ricard Claro


Black. The dye saturating the top third of her head was definitely black. The darkest of blacks. The pitchest of blacks. “Dear God,” she whispered.

Crumble
Michelle Tom

Ned’s away from the window now but not coming out of the house. I would steal his car. If he had one. My gaze wanders to the shed, and I resign myself to what I must do next.



Hairspray
Linda Fisher


The crossing guard backed slowly into the street without looking right or left. He held the sign like a shield. He was apparently petrified by the green-faced woman.


Four Little Words
Mary Ann Corrigan

“Hi there. I’d like to buy a mattress, but only if the sales clerks stay away from my husband. He’s the one walking around with no shoes on. He’s off his meds. I should warn you that your Madness Sale matches his mental state.”


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

In Memory of Sonia Todd


Although I never met Sonia in person, it was evident that she loved to make people laugh. She had a way with words that could brighten any day.
The first Sonia Todd story I read was “Mirror Image” published in A Shaker of Margaritas: Hot Flash Mommas. The story was a humorous take on a daughter advising her mother on how to dress for a “first” date—after a divorce. Sonia’s story is laced with humor throughout.

From “Mirror Image”:

“Really?” I said with more than a hint of desperation in my voice. “Ugh, I’m whining. I don’t want to be one of those people.”
She tossed her head, obviously amused. “What people?”
 “You know, those people who are always preoccupied with their appearance, and middle-aged divorcees who get all ga-ga over a boy.” I used my hands to illustrate with some force what I meant.
“First of all, no one says ‘ga-ga’ anymore unless they are talking about the singer. And Mom, at your age, I think they call it a man.”

After Hot Flash Mommas was released, I learned that the Moscow, Idaho, authors were quite the marketing group. Sonia and Susan Thomas held a signing at Hastings Books. They sold out, but stayed to visit with the disappointed shoppers who weren’t able to buy a book. Sonia said, “We broke their store record for most books sold at a signing, and we outsold Twilight today at the Moscow Hastings. We had a great time meeting folks and telling them about the book and Mozark Press! So much fun!”
Sonia submitted “Worker’s Compensation” for Mozark’s next anthology in the Shaker series, Cougars on the Prowl. In this story, a crisis at work requires Elizabeth to fly across country. The flight attendant moves her to first class after a child repeatedly kicks her seat. When a nearby passenger starts up a conversation, Elizabeth is cautious and suspicious of his motive.

From “Workers Compensation”:

I swear, Elizabeth thought, if this guy tries to sell me insurance or annuities I am going back to the chair-kicking kid.  
“So are you traveling for business or pleasure?” The man asked.
Here comes the sales pitch, Elizabeth said to herself, but she replied, “Business.”
“Me too,” the man said. “So what do you do?”
Elizabeth did not want to invite more questions, so she was purposefully vague, “Oh a little of this and a little of that.”
“Me too,” the man smiled wryly.
Elizabeth couldn’t help herself; she decided to shut down the conversation, “Yeah, I used to be a professional eater. I can eat thirty-nine hot dogs in under two minutes. But my sister was injured in a freak bologna accident so I gave up the gluttonous life and joined the circus.”
The stranger openly smiled, stifling a laugh. “No kidding?” And without missing a beat the man continued, “Well I was an Elvis impersonator for ten years until my hips gave out. Then I became a semi-pro Atari gamer. My specialty is Pong. But my dream has always been the exotic world of tattoo art; I have been practicing on citrus fruit.”

Once I became acquainted with Sonia’s humor, I followed her blog, http://myfirstlaunch.blogspot.com, and watched Sonia’s personality and quirky sense of humor take on a life of its own. I think my all time favorite post is “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” telling about an evening out with her husband at a restaurant where they wait, and wait, and wait to be served.
Sonia and I became Facebook friends, and my heart ached when her diagnosis was so bleak. Still, I wanted to believe she would make it though this tough time and find more fodder for her writing. In fact, after she knew she had only a short time to live, she continued to write humorous anecdotes about her kids.
The last communication I had with Sonia was in September when I asked for prayers for my niece who has cancer. Sonia immediately responded that she would pray for Angie. I sent Sonia a message to let her know I hadn’t stopped praying for her.
Today, I read Sonia’s obituary. This isn't your average eulogy—this was Sonia’s obituary, written by Sonia in her own style, and of course, with humor. Her life’s accomplishments, her club memberships, and the statistics that try to summarize the time between the dashes are missing.  What she does tell us is that she was a woman of faith who loved her family and friends. Between the lines, it is evident that she was a woman of courage.

Through a blur of tears, I salute Sonia for giving us that last laugh. Her wisdom was way beyond her 38 years and as ageless as the eternity God promises. 



Friday, August 24, 2012

Bad Hair Day

Final selections are being made for A Shaker of Margaritas: Bad Hair Day. Authors will be notified soon about the status of their stories.

It has been a joy to read the submissions, and I look forward to working with the authors.

Linda Fisher
Mozark Press

Monday, August 6, 2012

Coming Soon - Happy New Year Emily Rose by Elizabeth Butler

After the holidays, Emily Rose Roberts is the first to arrive at the university to catch up on the stack of mail she knows will be waiting. She unlocks the door to discover the murdered body of Professor Stuart McBain in front of the mailboxes.

Victor Morales is the head detective in the local police department. He already has more cold cases than he wants, and McBain’s murder could be another unsolved crime. No matter what anyone says, Vic can’t imagine that petite Emily Rose, their only suspect, could be the killer.

Emily Rose could have been attracted to Vic if she hadn’t sworn off men. Besides, she carefully guards a secret she doesn’t want the detective to uncover. When a second murder has ties to Emily Rose, Vic has to decide whether he is falling in love with a murderer or a potential victim. He does know he must find the killer before anyone else dies.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Bad Hair Day Call to Submissions –Deadline Extended to July 25


Mozark Press seeks humorous fiction stories for A Shaker of Margaritas: A Bad Hair Day. For this anthology, a bad hair day is one of those days when things don’t go according to plan; in fact, it is as horrible as a bad perm or hair that turns green—unintentionally. Things go wrong, but with humor, stubbornness, and attitude—the female protagonist can survive any kind of bad hair day.

Submissions deadline is July 25, 2012.  Approximately 20-25 stories will be selected for the anthology and will be paid $20 upon publication.

For submissions guidelines visit the "Bad Hair Day" page on www.mozarkpress.blogspot.com or www.mozarkpress.com.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Bad Hair Day Call to Submissions - Short Deadline

Mozark Press seeks humorous fiction stories for A Shaker of Margaritas: A Bad Hair Day. For this anthology, a bad hair day is one of those days when things don’t go according to plan; in fact, it is as horrible as a bad perm or hair that turns green—unintentionally. Things go wrong, but with humor, stubbornness, and attitude—the female protagonist can survive any kind of bad hair day.

Submissions deadline is July 15, 2012. Approximately 20-25 stories will be selected for the anthology and will be paid $20 upon publication.

For submissions guidelines visit the "Bad Hair Day" page on www.mozarkpress.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

Missouri Festival Features Storm Country: The Anthology

Linda Fisher 
The March 6, 2012, Governor’s Annual Verses and Voices Festival which celebrates Missouri’s poetry, music, and art featured readings from Storm Country: The Anthology published by Mozark Press for the Missouri Writers’ Guild. The program was performed in the rotunda at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. The theme was “Remembering the people of Joplin in their time of pain and loss in the storm. Commemorating the help and hope that followed.”

Choirs from Benton High School, Jefferson City High School, Savannah High School, Missouri Western State University, and Joplin High School performed poetry set to music. Joplin High School premiered “Storm Country” by Susan LaBarr, Missouri’s Composer Laureate.

The “Storm Country” lyrics were adapted from “My Foundation” written by Bill Cairns and published in Storm Country: The Anthology. All choirs joined their voices for the ending to commemorate those who helped Joplin after the devastating May 22, 2011, tornado. The moving performance received a standing ovation.

David Clewell and Walter Bargen
Missouri Poet Laureate David Clewell read a poem he wrote for Joplin. He later read “Supercell” from Storm Country: The Anthology for Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Poet Laureate of Kansas, who was unable to attend due to illness. Walter Bargen, Missouri’s first Poet Laureate, read a new poem and “Harmony Tornado” from Storm Country. Claudia Mundell, President of Joplin Writers’ Guild read her poem “Weather Tantrum” from Storm Country.

Missouri Writers’ Guild President, Deborah Marshall, recognized Ms. Mundell for first proposing the idea of an anthology to benefit Joplin Schools. Ms. Marshall also recognized the Humanities Council for their support and Mozark Press for donating publishing and editing for the project.