HappenstanceMAGAZINE

OCTOBER 1, 2013

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Submissions Welcome

These prompts are suggestions, not fences to corral the writing muse.

October: Spirits and GhostiesNovember: Fabulous FoodDecember: Winter CelebrationsJanuary: Promises and Plans

Submission deadlines: One week prior to the publication date, which is typically on the 1st and the 15th of each month.

Writer’s Guidelines:1. Must be original work.2. Grammar, punctuation and spelling must be correct.3. Maximum length 1,500 words.4. Acceptable genres and styles: poetry, humor, essay, memoir, short story, photo essay, feature articles, travel, social commen-tary, food, wine and dining, book reviews, fiction, non-fiction, mystery, romance and sci-fi/fan-tasy.5. Submission does not guarantee publication.6. Submit work to: sharon@vandermeerbooks.com.

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In this issue:Page 3 • Editor’s Note

Page 4 • Dispatch New Mexico by Tom McDonald

Page 5 • Entrepreneur Spotlight Bill and Rose Taylor

Page 6 • Community News Exchange Page 7 • Q&A with Sally Ooms Finding Home

Page 9 • Book Review Happy Women Live Better Page 10 • A Healthy You

Page 11 • The Changeling King Episode 8 by Sergio Hartshorne

Page 12 • Thunder Prime, Hunter’s Light Episode 16, by Sharon Vander Meer

Next issue:On or about Oct. 15, 2013

Submission deadline,Friday, Oct. 11, 2013No exceptions

Creative Prompt:Spirits and Ghosties

HappenstanceOctober 1, 2013

Happenstance PublishingSharon Vander MeerFor permission to use

content contact: sharon@vandermeerbooks.com

Cover image: Triple Play Pumpkins

Photo: clipart.comSome interior images may be

from clipart.com

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 3

In this issue of Happenstance Tom McDonald talks about poverty and Obamacare in his Dispatch New Mexico column. New Mexico is again in the news for negative

reasons. Poverty in the state is up and resources are down. How will rural areas with low populations – like Northern New Mexico – which is historically underserved in terms of health services, fare under the new laws? For that matter, how will small clinics and hospitals survive? This isn’t a pro or con discussion by Mc-Donald, merely a thoughtful look at how decisions at the Federal level have unpredictable results close to home.

I also get to “talk” to Sally Ooms via a Writers’ Block Q&A about her book, “Finding Home, How Americans Prevail.” Sally is a former Optic re-porter and editor, far ranging journalist, publisher, and creative writer. She’s on a book tour and graciously took time out of her schedule to respond candidly to my questions. I have not read the book, but I’m confident of the writing quality based on who wrote it. I also like the idea of it. We all have a place we call home and it is different for each of us, even when there are commonalities. Her bio says Sally has lived in 22 locations. It’s obvious she has few qualms about relocating, something that gives me hives to even think about. But living in a place and calling it “home” are two different things.

Through her life experience Sally has connected with a variety of people. From that she has created a book people are drawn to because of the stories, and there are lots of them from a variety of people. Sally stayed within the range of familiar places and feels she ne-glected some regions of the country. Perhaps that means there will be another book. Each of us has a story to tell and that’s what “Finding Home” is about, the stories of people’s lives and how they have survived and arrived home, wherever that may be for them. It’s on my reading list, and will likely show up as a Writers’ Block book review in the near future.

Also in this issue is an Entrepreneur Spotlight article on Highlands’ professor Bill Tay-lor and Rose Contreras Taylor, who works for Behavioral Health. Their entrepreneurial spirit is an inspiration. Bill calls himself an optimist and that is evident to anyone who has been around him for any time at all. He does indeed see the glass as half full. Despite the “rough edges” of Las Vegas, the Taylors see the incredible opportunities for those who are willing to invest in local businesses.

Sergio Hartshorne is back with Episode 8 of “The Changeling King,” a fantasy novel about a time travelling royal on a quest to reclaim his lost throne, and Pella Soames returns in another episode of “Thunder Prime, Hunter’s Light.” To catch up on these serialized nov-els go to www.vandermeerbooks.com and click on the Happenstance Archive link.

Happy reading, and if you have story suggestions, send them to sharon@vandermeer-books.com

–Sharon

From the Editor...

4 | October 1, 2013 | Happenstance Magazine

LAS VEGAS — Land rich and money poor, I’ve heard it called. It’s the situation that a lot of rural New Mexico families find themselves in. They’ve got plenty of land, but not a lot of money.

Rather than sell their property for the cash they need, many of these New Mexi-cans cling to their land, which has often been in their family for generations. Per-sonally, I find this determination to remain “rooted” in their land to be admirable, but that’s beside the point.

All over the state you can find wealthier “outsid-ers” from Texas, California and elsewhere moving in to this state. They “discover” New Mexico as a great place to retire, or for owning a second home, or to buy some land they can enjoy. They’ve helped drive up real estate prices, property values and property taxes, and that makes it tougher for those land-rich-money-poor folks who want to remain on their land.

Here in Las Vegas, I’ve heard people say that they don’t want this town to “become another Santa Fe.” Years ago, an outside infusion of money, often from wealthy Californians, drove real estate prices sky high in Santa Fe — so high, in fact, that some people who were born and raised in Santa Fe couldn’t afford to stay. Some lower-income natives of the City Different have been priced right out of town.

Over the past couple of weeks, New Mexico’s poverty has been in the news. First it came in the form of some new U.S. Census Bureau data that show New Mexico’s poverty rate on the increase. The Land of Enchantment, with 19 percent of its popula-tion below the poverty line, already has the second highest poverty rate in the nation.

Then, a few days after the census report, the head of the state Human Services Department, Sidonie Squier, declared in an email that there’s no “significant evidence of hunger” in New Mexico. Of course, all hell broke lose over that and Squier has since apologized for her choice of words. I think the entire brouhaha demonstrates how out-of-sight poverty is to a lot of wealthier New Mexicans — especially to those in the ruling classes.

Have you ever experienced poverty? I can’t say I’ve ever been poverty stricken, but I certainly have been poor. Dirt poor, so poor you might have thought I was in poverty, but I never felt that way.

That’s because I always had something that kept me out of “poverty” — I always had hope.

I think that’s the difference between being in poverty and just being poor. When you’re in poverty, it all seems hopeless.

Others have no money but they have hope. They’re working toward a dream they have, even if it’s not paying off at the mo-

ment. Perhaps they’re in school, working toward a degree. Or maybe they’re working at a low-wage job, one they consider to be a stepping stone to a better job with higher pay. Or, they’re entrepreneurs, start-ing something on a shoestring because they think they can make a vision come true.

Sometimes they succeed, and sometimes they fail, but as long as they keep getting up and trying again, I say they’re rising above poverty.

This week, new health care rules created by the Affordable Care Act, a/k/a Obamacare, are being implemented. With it comes a new requirement that virtually everyone has to obtain health coverage. That’s a big deal especially in New Mexico, since this state also has one of the highest rates of uninsured people in the nation.

Obamacare’s overall impact on poverty could be significant, since the single biggest reason for personal bankruptcies in the U.S. is medical debt. In rural New Mexico, it’s going to make health care more accessible to a lot of people — but I doubt it will lift many people out of poverty.

More likely, the financial impact of Obamacare will be greater on the providers. Small-town hospi-tals are already struggling to stay afloat. Whether the new health-care laws will help or hurt these health-care facilities remains to be seen, but I think it’s effect on people in poverty will be through a broader array of preventive care and basic services made available to them.

Again, it all comes down to hope. I’m convinced that no one really knows the full impact that Obam-acare will have on the nation’s health-care system — so we can only hope it’s all for the better.

—Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico

Community News Exchange (CNEx) and owner-manager of Gazette Media Services LLC. He may be reached at 505-454-9131 or tmcdonald@gazetteme-diaservices.com.

Dispatch New Mexico: Poverty, apologies and Obamacare

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 5

Bill and Rose Taylor moved to Las Vegas about eight years ago, but

Bill is no stranger to the area. His great grandfather Damacio Tafoya, owned a store on the west side in the early days and his grandfather Severino Garcia, had a ranch near Mora. Although Bill didn’t grow up in Las Vegas, he spent a lot of time visiting and dreamed of returning someday.

That day arrived when Bill was hired by the university as a professor in the busi-ness department. Rose took a job in health care. Currently she works for New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute.

They might be considered accidental entrepreneurs. Bill said he never intended to get into the home and building renova-tion business, but when opportunities kept cropping up it seemed inevitable. They’ve already invested in the renovation and repurposing of three structures: a 1890s house on Columbia, the Wells Fargo Build-ing on Lincoln Avenue and the 1950s era Palomino Motel on Grand Avenue.

“There is a need for housing. These properties allow us to provide for some of the needs out there,” Bill said.

The Palomino is a 21-room property that in the past few years has had on aver-age five rooms occupied a night. The Taylors looked at everything and determined affordable accommodations for long-term stays made more sense. They set aside five rooms for travelers, and the rest as studio apartments. It has been filled since opening.

The Columbia property, also broken up into apartments, turned out to be a challenge, but creative renovation prevailed. The property has only one vacancy.

Perhaps the most challenging was the renovation of the Wells Fargo building, now called Lincoln Lofts. The Taylors gave a lot of attention to detail, quality workmanship and contemporary design in an historic setting.

“The third floor was in bad shape. It had a leaking roof, the walls were caving in. The second floor was also in poor repair. We saw the potential and worked to restore it to a high level with new windows, modern kitchens and tiling. We wanted to make it into a really nice property.” The building with its three loft apartments won in the CCHP Commercial Rehabilitation category at the re-cent Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation annual dinner. The Taylors also were recognized for the renovation of the other two properties.

Investing in the community is one way the Taylor’s give back. Engaging with youth and acting as mentors is another way.

“We’ve been given so much in the way of opportunities and encouragement. What you get out of life is what you share. It’s not just me. It’s not just us. It was people giving us a hand up that got us here. We do what we can in some small way to help other people. En-couragement from others helped me, helped us, we want to do the same by encouraging others.”

The Taylor’s entrepreneurial partnership is in addition to both of them having full time jobs.

Bill, who teaches economics at High-lands, received his undergraduate degree at the University of California-Los Angeles, his M.A. at the University of Chicago, and his Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico.

He said Highlands is important to him because it provides higher education oppor-tunities to many young people who other-wise might not have them.

“Highlands provides an exceptional quality education at relatively low cost. I have observed many Highlands faculty going the extra mile to help students learn as well as to provide counsel for personal growth. I really believe that Highlands’ faculty, staff and administration care a lot about our students,” he said.

“There are a lot of important institutions serving the greater Las Vegas community. Highlands is one of the most important. It serves the community by providing a chance for young people to learn and grow intellectually and emotionally. This opportunity for growth includes an incredibly broad exposure to the world of new ideas and cultural experiences that are embodied in our diverse student body as well as the varied experiences of faculty and staff. Highlands is also important because it is central to the Las Vegas economy. A growing, dynamic Highlands campus is key to the economic development of Las Vegas and all of northeastern New Mexico.”

Rose Contreras-Taylor is Standards and Compliance Director at the Department of Health New Mexico Behavioral Health Insti-tute. She has worked in various management positions in health care facilities in Chicago and New Mexico including hospital ad-ministrator, chief quality officer, director of quality and regulatory compliance, budget director and management analyst.

She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and Sociology from Pitzer College, Claremont Colleges in California and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Her field of study was business with a concentration in health systems administration.

Entrepreneur spotlight: Bill and Rose Taylor

Wells Fargo Building – This building is considered to be a rare example of a three-story, Neo-Classical commer-cial structure. Elegantly carved Corinthian capitals flank the main entrance. The front and the alley facade are well designed and boast exceptional brick work and terra-cotta medallions. The property has been rehabilitated by the Taylors and now houses three modern apartments.

Continued on page 6

6 | October 1, 2013 | Happenstance Magazine

The Taylors investment in Las Vegas can be counted in more than dollars spent; it comes from a belief in the city’s potential.

“I’m just an optimistic person,” Bill said. “I do look at the glass as half full. I see the rough edges of Las Vegas, but I also see the potential. A lot of people are making investments, they may be small investments, but over time they add up. Look at Bridge Street. That happened not all at once, but through slow progress, one store at a time.

“I believe there are opportunities for entrepreneurs. Research shows there is leakage, people going out of town to shop for specialty items. If shops here had those goods and ser-vices they could do well.

“I’m optimistic about Highlands; it is one of the engines of economic growth in this town. I’m optimis-tic because of demographic trends. People from here who left to find work are now retiring, and many of them are coming home to Las Vegas. We have all the ingredients. The chal-lenge to policy makers is how to make it all work. How can we take a chance on our town to make a difference in the place where we live?”

SANTA FE, N.M. — Two foundations have joined forces to support expanding a New Mexico content-sharing service that focuses on rural news and issues.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and New Mexico Community Foundation are providing a matching grant totaling $45,000 to support and grow the Community News Exchange (CNEx), a news-sharing service in which 14 newspa-pers statewide are participating.

CNEx was launched in May by Tom McDonald, a career newspaper journalist who now owns and manages Gazette Media Services LLC of Las Vegas, N.M.

“I started this news exchange with an eye on small town, locally owned newspa-pers, figuring they could use some relevant content that doesn’t shortchange their read-ers,” McDonald said. “This is content that gives you a peek into what’s going on in the smaller communities of New Mexico, news that’s often off the beaten path.

“By partnering with New Mexico Com-munity Foundation and the Knight Founda-tion, we’ve got an opportunity to grow CNEx into a permanent service,” McDonald said.

Ten of the 14 newspapers now par-ticipating are weeklies in small towns and villages across New Mexico.

Each week, McDonald collects content from the participating newspapers, selects and edits stories of a broader interest into a set of news briefs and some “stand-alone” stories, then transmits the content to all the participating newspapers. He also distributes his weekly column, Dispatch New Mexico, which focuses on issues that are important to rural New Mexico.

According to an agreement between Gazette Media and NMCF, McDonald will continue the weekly transmissions, work to increase the number of newspapers in the exchange, cover rural and small town issues in the upcoming legislative session, and de-

velop CNEx into a self-sustaining long-term service.

The grant from the Knight Foundation is part of its Knight Community Informa-tion Challenge, which engages community and place-based foundations in supporting news and information projects.

New Mexico Community Foundation, based in Santa Fe, is a statewide grant-making and programmatic community foundation established in 1983. NMCF sup-ports community projects and underserved communities by pooling resources to sup-port New Mexico’s people, to strengthen the state’s nonprofits, and to grow philanthropy and endowments, especially in rural parts of the state.

“NMCF is excited about this partner-ship as it supports one of our goals of help-ing to bring resources to rural New Mexico. We were especially interested in the news-sharing aspect of this is project as there are more and more small-town independent newspapers that are struggling,” said Renee Villarreal, Director of Programs and Com-munity Outreach for New Mexico Com-munity Foundation. “But the ones that are surviving have some information to share that is pertinent to other rural communities around New Mexico.”

“We also feel it is important to connect rural isolated communities to news sources, as some do not have the reliable infrastruc-ture to depend on Internet sources,” she said.

New Mexico newspapers currently participating in the Community News Ex-change include: Cibola Beacon, Clovis Live-stock Market News, De Baca County News, Hidalgo County Herald, The Independent in Edgewood, Lincoln County News, Loving-ton Leader, Navajo Times, Rio Grande Sun in Española, Roswell Daily Record, Ruidoso Free Press, Silver City Daily Press, Union County Leader and The Taos News.

The Palomino Motel is a 1950s era travel stop that has been converted into accommodations for long-term stays with a few rooms still available for overnight.

Foundations back news-sharing serviceEntrepreneur and newspaper man Tom McDonald

creates opportunity and provides a much-needed serviceto small newspapers across the state

Continued from page 5

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 7

Title: Finding HomeAuthor: Sally OomsPublisher: Home Free PublishingGenre: NonfictionPrice: $14.95 (Paperback)

Sally Ooms has been a print journalist for 30 years—a

reporter, correspondent and editor for publications in Oregon, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri and Kansas. She has covered spot news, government, education issues, the

arts, mental and other health concerns, business, sports and local crises during times of war, and has written hundreds of feature articles and investigative reports. Among the publications she has worked for are: the Sacramento Bee, the Las Vegas Daily Optic, the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, New Mexico Business Weekly, Springs Magazine (Colorado Springs), the Kan-sas City Star and The Sun newspaper (Johnson County, KS).

In this Q&A Sally candidly talks about her book and her personal engagement with the stories.

H: Talk about your book, “Finding Home.”SO: I have been a print journalist most of my adult life. I

spent four years interviewing people around the country about displacement from the place they called home and hearing how they recreated or regained them. I talked to them about what home means to them as well, and discovered a wealth of meanings in that word or concept.

H: Does the book follow a pattern, regional or otherwise? And why?

SO: The book is divided into about 10 types of displace-ment—from foster kids to veterans, immigrants to Native Ameri-cans, victims of natural disasters to homeless men and women.

SO: They all tell in their own voices how they climbed out of their adversities and “found home.” That often meant how they regained their center. Witnessing their determination and grit is what makes the book upbeat in general and downright inspira-tional at times.

H: How has your personal life experience shaped the way you wrote “Finding Home?”

Throughout my journalism career, displacement has arisen and been a huge issue for me. I gravitated toward, and received assignments, of that nature. For example, I have interviewed farm-ers who have been relocated from their land and written articles about mental hospital outpatients who were being taken advan-tage of by boarding house landlords.

At one point, I went to Oklahoma and interviewed Wilma

Mankiller who was then chief of the Cherokee Nation. She, of course, talked about the Trail of Tears and this led me to do re-search into forced relocations of other Native Americans.

As a Midwestern child, I spent time cowering in the base-ment wondering if my home would be ripped away. And, I was raised by a father who had lost his parents at an early age and had been tossed from family member to extended family member several times in his upbringing. I sympathized with his early-years predicament and learned the importance of family as home.

H: What was the writing process? Did you do it story by story or gather bunches of stories and then put them together?

SO: I began the book after I watched Katrina’s sad after-math and a tornado destroyed the entire Central Kansas town of Greensburg. I had first-hand knowledge of Greensburg because I traveled through it and sometimes stayed in it on my trip from New Mexico to see my mother in Kansas City.

So, I began investigation of my topic with people who were rebuilding their physical houses and communities. I discovered then that the word home contains a wealth of meanings, from the structure we inhabit to a place strictly in the heart. I decided that was what I wanted to talk to people about. Furthermore, I wanted to hear from people who are on in the fringes of society and have felt isolated or alienated from mainstream America. I saw so many groups of people that we dismiss, either because we do not understand their plights or, if we do, we are clueless as to how we might do anything to uplift them.

I found people who have been dislodged from their core, if you will, and regained their identify and the “place” where they can be their authentic selves.

I did all the things reporters are supposed to do in terms of researching my material. I read newspaper accounts, mined the Internet, read books on the issues related to various types of displacement. I told everyone I came into contact with what I was doing, always carrying my trusty pad with me. People would ask me what I was writing down. That is how I got a tip from a man in a Missouri motel breakfast room, a suggestion from a waiter in a Chicago hotel restaurant and a helpful comment from a fellow subway rider in San Francisco. I talked to people at the head of agencies that are helping people climb out of their difficulties. I heard from friends, relatives of friend and friends of friends.

I set up interviews and traveled to towns, cities and regions around the West, Southwest and Midwest and to Washington, D.C. More often than not, I would arrive at an appointment with a person I thought was crucial to be a part of the book and that person would say, “Sorry, I’m busy today,” or “I just don’t have the time.” They would then lead me to another person who actually turned out to be the perfect person to interview. So, there was a lot of serendipity in the process.

Writers’ Block Q&A With Sally Ooms

Continued on page 8

8 | October 1, 2013 | Happenstance Magazine

Writers’ Block Sally Ooms Continued from page 7

For example, the coordinator of the Youth Empowerment Project in New Orleans, turned me over to the man who really rolls up his sleeves and creates a home atmosphere for young people who have been incarcerated and have troubled homes. In addition, he had walked the walk himself, having experienced similar troubles in his own youth. He then interested one of the young people in talking with me about her experiences.

Another example would be when, after quite of few days of pursuing the head of a Navajo organization called Forgotten People, (he kindly took me around to chapter house meetings on the reservation to meet people but they only spoke Navajo), he introduced me to his mother and said she was the right person for me to interview. Her story is incredible—a tale that spanned her life as an adolescent sheepherder in remote New Mexico moun-tains, to her hard-won education and election to the Coconino County (Arizona) Board of Supervisors where she served for 30 years.

Putting together the book was quite a journey. I began to see that it was best not to try and rule the material with an iron fist. There began to be a natural flow as to the people who were “right” to tell their stories. I gained confidence that they understood what contribution they were making to others in relating them.

I also recognized that there is a healing power for people when they tell their stories. I would see them move from the memories of devastation or hardship to pride in overcoming the problems. Pride in what they had accomplished. Gratitude for those who had assisted them.

H: In the process of writing the book, what resonated most with you?

SO: People ask me what I learned in creating the book. I think one of the things I learned is something that I perhaps already suspected: there is increasing connection between and among people, and this connecting is a powerful thing. It par-ticularly comes to the fore when there are hard times or collective predicaments to be tackled.

I have heard people read some accounts in the book and compare themselves to them. “I would never had been so brave,” or “I could never have overcome those circumstances.” But, I think they don’t understand the reserves that they—that we all— have to draw upon. If you have never been tested, as it were, you don’t know what enormous strengths you possess. Or recognize the value of partnering with others toward a common goal until a desperate need arises.

That is why I included the word “prevail” in the subtitle: How Americans Prevail. I saw, and hope others see, how Americans of all shapes, colors and persuasions are discovering what is mean-ingful to them and taking charge of their lives. They would all agree, I believe, that divisiveness is not the answer. They are living, breathing examples of how we cope, and then go beyond simply coping.

H: What kinds of reception are you getting from people who read the book?

SO: Readers have told me a variety of things in reaction to

“Finding Home.”One woman said she was going to be more patient with her

adult son who had a learning disability. Another person said she wanted to start a scholarship organization to help former foster kids get their college degrees. An ex-combat veteran told me the book was important. A retired boat captain says he will tell everyone he knows to read it because these are stories people will want to hear. An investment manager bought 10 copies, saying simply that he loved it. The formerly battered woman who was interviewed in the book came to a reading in Taos and publicly thanked me for writing the book and for including her in it. (That, of course, touched me deeply.) I have just completed a six and a half week book tour and will resume it this week. As I travel, I hear how timely the book is and how people have renewed hope in their countrymen and women as they read “Finding Home.” I feel very gratified to hear their comments.

I feel very privileged to have made the acquaintance of my interviewees as well. You can’t hear people’s struggles and follow their accounts through to their triumphs, both large and small, without developing a sense of intimacy with them.

This I think is one of the things I hope people take away, that they “meet” people they might never have come into contact with, that they find some commonality with them. They might say, “Gee, I never thought I would have anything in common with that person, but I might have done the same thing in their circum-stances. I might have found that same solution or taken a creative approach like that.”

So, I always hope for a reaction that is more than “There but for the grace of God go I.” Not that there is anything wrong with feeling that. I just want readers to move one step forward toward considering what home means to them and realizing that hope-lessness is not really stitched into our consciousness. I believe that hope is.

H: The image on the cover is interesting. Talk about what that means to you.

SO: Jerry Uelsmann is the creator of the photomontage on the cover. He is famous for this technique and taught it in the ‘70s and ‘80s at various schools and universities. His website is really worth checking out. Lots of interesting images. This one was on a postcard that I had sitting on my desk in front of me the whole time I was working on the book.

Once I decided that the issue of home was where I was going with the book, the image became even more linked in my mind with my topic. A huge root system arises from the ground sup-porting a house. The strength of the support system is symbolic for me of the wellspring within us that grows our sense of home.

I silently kept wishing that I could use the image for the cover. When I moved to San Francisco to get the book published, I found my terrific editor. I told him about my long-time desire to include it in the cover. He said, “Why don’t you e-mail the guy?”

Oh, hmm, now that seemed too simple a solution. However, I did e-mail him immediately, explaining the concept of the book. The next day I heard back that I could definitely use it. It’s funny

Continued on page 9

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 9

how we get these, “Oh that could never happen” thoughts in our heads and cling to them.

The overall design is by Stewart Cauley, a New York cover designer who suffered the loss of his own home and business because of Hurricane Sandy. The cover was held up several months because of his circumstances. The publicist and I found it ironic and sad that he had been working on the cover for “Find-ing Home” when he lost his own. He has now recovered. Perhaps fodder for a second book?

Along that line, I would very much like to travel back east and hear what creative things people are doing to rebuild their lives after the hurricane hit such a populous area. Also, I neglected the east and most of the south in this book except for Louisiana and Mississippi, strictly because I had more familiarity with the areas I went to. I lived and worked in most of the regions in the book, but I’d like to take up other home-related issues with people back east. I’ve done loads of phone radio interviews with stations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and more, so I’d like to follow up.

H: In the course of writing “Finding Home” did you learn something about yourself you didn’t know before?

SO: That I possess that same resilience that I admire in so many others. I just access it differently than I once did, partly because I have taken to heart the examples of the people I had the good fortune to listen to.

It is good that I am half stubborn German and half pig-head-ed Scot. These traits carry me through when I need them to. But only up to a certain point were these attributes useful in gather-ing the people for the book and during the process of putting it

all together. I had to abandon the “this-is-how-I want-it-to-be” approach to the project and give it over to the universe, in a sense. I had to trust that things unfold as they are supposed to and make room to allow for that in my psyche and my heart. Oh yeh, in my mind too. Did I mention the doubt demons? I think for any au-thor a book is a battle over preconceptions and what is expected.

I guess the short answer is: I learned more about who I am, and I feel more capable of living my calling.

H: When you asked people if they would share their stories through your book, what was the most consistent reaction?

SO: Most understood what I wanted. I would just ask a few questions about their lives and they would start talking. I didn’t have to prompt them much. As I say, I think most were glad to tell their stories.

They were sometimes reassured by the agencies I found them through. It was always a matter of trust but I told each one that they would be able to review their stories (a horrifying pursuit for a journalist, believe me. But necessary.)

Some Native Americans were concerned they would not be able to use their own stories after I published them, that I would have some right to them. I signed things saying that this would not be the case.

I solicited all the stories. The exception was one man who came up to me at a friend’s party in Colorado Springs and said to me, “You have to interview me. I’ve never felt at home anywhere.” Incidentally, he reverses himself in the telling of his story, but it was an interesting account because for him, like so many of us, what home means to us has evolved as we go along in life.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that if you’re happy you feel better; if you feel better

you live better. The reality is despite having more freedom, more education, more money, and more choices than ever before, research shows women are less happy today than women 40 years ago. “Having it all” isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be and in truth can get in the way of finding balance and peace.

In “Happy Women Live Better,” Valorie Burton reveals 13 happiness triggers. These are choices women can make that will boost joy “...in the midst of deadlines, children, marriage, dating, squeezing in a workout, or a girls’ night out.”

In an engaging way, Burton points out ways to increase happiness each day, regardless of circumstances. The book outlines strategies and provides conversation starters.

It’s a practical approach to having more fun, even when life seems routine, bouncing back from stress and adversity faster, and enjoying deeper satisfaction in marriage and friendships.

The author talks about everyday challenges and includes scriptural references to underscore her message.

Women today are under pressure – often self-im-posed – to be busier and more brilliant, only to become stressed and anxious. Even something as simple as Facebook can become a negative experience. As an example she points out the pitfall of comparing oneself to all the successful and “perfect” families revealed in Facebook posts. She writes that getting caught up in such comparisons is unrealistic, since generally people only post the best things about themselves.

This book is an easy read, and even though the tips should be self-evident, the truth is we can all use a reminder from time to time that it really is okay to be happy, and getting there with these happiness triggers is a good way to start.

Valorie Burton is a bestselling author, speaker, and life coach. She is the founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychol-ogy (CaPP) Institute and has served as a Certified Personal and Executive Coach to hundreds of clients in more than 40 states and ten countries. Learn more at www.valorieburton.com.

Writers’ Block Book Review: Happy Women Live Better

10 | October 1, 2013 | Happenstance Magazine

NewsUSA - Most of us can’t survive the winter without falling prey to at least one virus, infection or zealous set of cold germs. The phrase “winter wellness” sometimes seems like an oxymoron. After all, staying indoors in a closed air system makes people more susceptible to certain germs.

Winter’s affection for cold, dry air means germs will stay air-borne longer. Just like adding layers of hats and scarves, we must add layers of immune support to bolster our defenses.

For many families, the flu vaccine is a viable option, but don’t take any chances. Fortify your body’s immune system by making smart dietary choices, too.

To keep your family healthy through the winter cold/flu sea-son, use the following advice to keep the sniffles at bay.

• Keep vitamins, minerals and supplements on hand. In ad-dition to vitamin C, zinc, echinacea and fish oil are all proven to strengthen immunity. If natural herbs and roots aren’t cutting it, use reliable flu medicine like products from Rexall. For over 100 years, Rexall products have been working to keep families healthy during cold/flu season. Rexall products are available at more than 10,000 Dollar General locations, making them affordable to all kinds of families. Learn more at www.dollargeneral.com.

• Stock kitchen with immune-system boosters. A healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to help the body fend off illness, but you have to know what you’re looking for. Green tea helps fight viruses, especially if combined with anti-inflammatories like ginger. The more vitamin C, the merrier, so get your daily

serving(s) of orange juice. Add cashews for healthy fats and extra antioxidants. Other edible flu-fighters include mushrooms, red peppers, sweet potatoes, garlic, whole grains and beans.

• Common sense is king. Common sense rules for hygiene are twice as important during cold weather. Be extra diligent about the basics – i.e., cover your mouth when sneezing or cough-ing, and carefully wash your hands often. Remember, the more tired or worn out you feel, the longer your immune system will take to respond. So, get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water.

Avoid flu, stick to winter-wellness routine

Boost immune systems with flu-fighters like vitamin C to avoid getting sick.

NewsUSA - Just as spring is a time for rebirth, autumn is also considered a transi-tional season. The weather turns brisk, the leaves on trees change from dull brown to a firestorm of color, and darkness settles in earlier.

For many it is a favorite time of year, but for others it can be a trigger to falling off the health and fitness wagon. After all, how can you be expected to ignore pump-kin spice lattes?

The key, say experts, is to set goals before the new year, not over a drink as the clock strikes midnight.

“Fall is a great time to start a fitness program because you’re going to create good habits for the holiday season and the upcoming winter months,” says Justin Price, owner of Biomechanics, a personal training and wellness coaching facility in San Diego, Calif.

The following tips will give you ideas on how to stay healthy through what is one of the most pleasant times of the year:

• Head for the hills. Fall is a great time to get outside and explore your own back-yard. So, grab a friend and find a local park to walk, run or bike on. If you’re lucky enough to live close to hills or mountains, autumn is a perfect time to go for a hike.

• Turn chores into a workout. Rak-ing leaves or gardening burns about 150 calories every 30 minutes, so if you find that you don’t have time for exercise, grab a rake or a hoe, and turn seasonal tasks into a fat-burning workout.

• Drink plenty of water. Without water, no living thing can survive, which means it is crucial to maintaining optimal health. While water has a myriad of health benefits, research has shown that in order for your body to function properly, it must

continuously work to maintain a proper pH, or chemical balance.

This, say experts, is why drinking alkaline ionized water such as Alkame Water (www.alkamewater.com) should be an essential part of anyone’s health plan. The mild alkalinity is recommended by doctors because it allows for more effec-tive hydration by supporting an optimal pH-balanced body. Additionally Alkame is a powerful source of antioxidants, which boost the immune system, while also improving aerobic capacity and enhancing energy levels.

• Try something new. Fall is the per-fect time to gain new physical skills, says Price. Always wanted to learn to in-line skate or ride a horse? Fall is a great time to explore an activity that you’ve always wanted to try.

Fall into healthy habits

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 11

A dispossessed, shapeshifting King sets out to reclaim his lost throne.

Along the way he meets strange monsters, vicious enemies both familiar and new,

beautiful women and new friends.

They met the first Illium after only an hour on the road. He was a fat, bloated creature, evidently having just fed

recently judging from the blood trickling down his chin and soak-ing the front of his tattered, dirty brown robes. He began riddling them in a sing-song voice without any prior warning:

“What is low, but not slow?What is stout yet soft?What is hairy yet fair?Add these three and you’ll come up with a creature most odd,Tell me I beg, else I’ll sup on your blood.”“That’s easy,” said Shenk. “It’s a dwarf woman he’s talkin’

about!”The Illium winced and nodded thrice, then he began dancing.

“One more,” he said. “One more, and I’ll let you pass or drain you of everything, including your gas.”

Shenk giggled. Kila winked at him, letting him know with that simple gesture that she’d answer the next riddle if he couldn’t.

As the riddle-vampire capered and spun backwards som-ersaults his fingernails grew into claws. Then he stopped after a singularly graceful pirouette and began his riddle:

“What is blind yet sees all?What is fiery yet burns with cold?What, most of all gives even the dead pause, yet is favored by

those of a certain dark persuasion?”Kila held up a hand for silence and then gave the King a tell-

ing look. He drew his sword out and readied it for use, just in case she guessed wrong.

“I’d say that the answer is a snowstorm with lightning in its clouds.”

The Illium’s sole answer was to swear loudly and stagger away disappointed.

As they set camp that night after coming within sight of Mount Cleon, a dull gray-covered bulge in the land about a mile away, Kila took Shenk’s effusive praise in stride by kissing him on the cheek, causing him to blush furiously. She took a pack of cards with outlandish monsters painted on their faces from her knap-sack and began dealing them out to the three men.

The King smiled, familiar with the game. “Rooks and Vul-tures,” he said simply.

Kila nodded and began to explain. “The object of the game is to guess a salient feature of the top card in your opponent’s hand –you hold them in a vertical pile by the way, instead of in a fan like

most card games. If you guess right, you get to keep guessing until you’re wrong and then you have to guess the creature’s identity after four guesses. If you’re correct you get to keep the card. Play starts with a drawing of one card each, and displaying them face up, the creature with the most limbs – many of the cards were of vicious seas creatures, insects and dragons with appendages above and beyond the standard four – allows the player to start first and guess at the cards of whomever they choose.

They played the game for several hours to much enjoyment for penny stakes. Kila, an old pro, won most of the games handily.

The sun rose in a blinding flash the next morning and the four companions ate a heavy breakfast, not knowing if they were eating their last meal, and started out for the dreaded mountain. They were expecting trouble from the outset. They were not disap-pointed.

****It happened just as they began to climb the sloping, slate sides

of the mountain. There was a sudden whooshing sound and then the ground seemed to yawn like a pair of monstrous jaws and swallowed poor Shenk whole.

“Be on your guard!” the King shouted. He drew his sword and, panting with rage at the sudden vanishing of his friend, cast a baleful glance in the direction of a light that had appeared about halfway up the mountain. It was a single lantern, illuminating a simple, wooden door banded with a queer, bluish iron.

It seemed they were expected. They managed to ascend the rest of the way to the door without further mishaps, although none of them let their guard down. Yarp growled apprehensively as the King touched the door with the toe of his boot. It opened easily without a sound on well-oiled hinges.

They entered the foyer of a clearly extensive fortress. Vast marble pillars held up a domed ceiling. Silken hangings obscured many doorways. The floor, black obsidian shot through with streaks of inlaid gold was carpeted in thick, red velvet rugs. A strange creature waited for them in front of one the doorways. At first the King thought he was looking at a goblin, but it was too tall so he decided it must be part human.

The creature sniveled pitifully before saying in a reedy, quavering voice, “Come with me please. The Master is waiting for you.” It was only as the goblinoid began to move that the King no-ticed it was bound about the hands and feet in fine silver chains. It had the scars of many beatings and whippings on his emaciated frame. It wasn’t much, but the King thought the creature might be an ally, if only they could break through the forced indoctrination and offer a chance at freedom from his abusive master.

–Changeling King is a creative fantasy by Sergio Hartshorne. To read previous episodes go to www.vandermeerbooks.com and click on the Happenstance archive button.

The Changeling King Episode 8: Riddles, Games and Traps

Episode 16When we last saw Pella

she was being taken to her cabin byBox, her ANAI, for treatment of a stunnerinjury to her knee. Romani is in sickbay,

Bart is acting oddly and Pella has a lot on her mind.

The ship was eerily quiet. That had never bothered me be-fore, but now I was restless and unable to sleep. Shifts had

changed and I should be getting my rest, but I had too much on my mind. I was walking aimlessly through the ship’s passageways.

Romani was more or less on the mend and we were on our way to Chandor. Bart was sulky. I didn’t know why and didn’t care.

As it turned out there had never been an official order for agents to vet Hermes’ personnel. It had all been a ruse by Durec to get aboard the ship. Thanks to Box, or more specifically, thanks to SPIN, her plan fell apart. No doubt she was still in pursuit, but her launch time had been delayed by her failed attempt. We would arrive on Chandor far ahead of Raptor. With the information I had from Fitz I hoped to find Trish Soames and get her away from Tauk and off the planet long before Durec showed up. How I was going to do this was not altogether clear. Fitz had provided me with contacts and resources. What I did with that information was up to me.

I found myself at the sickbay door, drawn there no doubt by a deep need to be reassured Romani was indeed all right. I knocked softly before I touched the activation panel and stepped into the room. Sickbay was designed purely for function, industrial looking and cold, meant to serve a need, nothing more. Many of the Hermes’ crew were skilled enough in emergency aide to help a shipmate. Sickbay was for more serious injuries and the chief medic was Anagor, who also served as navigator. The first two days following the attack Romani had lain comatose, hooked up to life sustaining machines that did things I didn’t understand. After the third day these devices were removed because Romani, although not yet awake, was breathing on his own. Nourishment came by way of injections that Anagor said met his nutritional requirements. Early Winter suggested Romani would get more out of it if the injections contained generous amounts of ale.

Even I laughed at that. We had to laugh about something. Ro-mani had been out for nearly two weeks and we were approaching Chandor.

Monitors above the bed silently tracked his heartbeat, which was steady, and all other life functions, which seemed normal. At least there were no alarms flashing.

I hadn’t realized how much Romani had come to mean to me. He kept me steady. He’d bailed me out of more than one tough spot and never refused some side trip I wanted to take to follow up on the latest rumor about my mother. He protected me. It riled

me, I didn’t need protection, but he did it anyway. He’d been the one who insisted I get a protection ANAI, even paying for part of it. A bonus he’d called it. Now here he was, flat on his back and no evidence he would ever be any different. I was putting them all in danger. All these people were headed for an unknown and perhaps hostile situation, all because of me.

I swallowed back a sob and started to turn away.“Pella? What are you doing in my cabin, gel?”“Romani! You’re awake.”“And asking you agin, what are you doing in my cabin?”I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “It’s sickbay, you’re in sickbay.”Just then the door slid open and Anagor walked in. “It’s good

to see you awake, my friend. How are you feeling?”“Sickybay? What the…?” Romani’s brow furrowed in a

puzzled frown. “How did you know I was awake?”“I’ve been monitoring you.” Romani started firing questions and struggled to get out of

bed, but it was clear he was too weak. Anagor forced him lie back down while I brought him up to speed about what had happened. He sputtered a lot and it took a while to convince him he didn’t have to get up right that minute to check on the ship, but he finally gave in and settled back.

“Everything is under control,” Anagor assured him. “You can move to your quarters at the next shift change. As medic I insist. I want you to take it slow.”

Romani didn’t put up much of a fight, an indicator he wasn’t feeling all that great.

Realizing he needed his rest, I left sickbay and headed to my cabin with a lighter step and new resolve. As soon as I could I was going to separate myself from Hermes. I did not wish to endanger people who had already done so much for me. Between Box and me, we could figure out how to reach and rescue my mother. I wished I felt more confident about that. At the moment my gut was clutched into a gigantic and growing knot.

When I reached my quarters I found Bart Casey sitting on the floor by my door looking rather grim. The knot got bigger.

“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?” I asked as I entered my cabin and motioned him to follow.

“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping too?”“I was restless. Took a walk.”“Yeah, well, so did I.”Bart looked away from me, and back again. “Does that thing

have to be in here?”It was then I realized he’d been looking at Box who stood in

his usual resting spot in one corner.“He’s sleeping.”“He’s not sleeping. He never sleeps.”“When did you start having a thing against ANAIs?”His jaw tightened. “I don’t. It’s just that he doesn’t seem like

an ANAI, more like a real person.”“A real person? What are you talking about?”

Thunder Prime: Hunter’s Light

12 | October 1, 2013 | Happenstance Magazine

A Thunder Prime, Hunter’s Light Primer

Bart turned away and ran his finger through his hair. “Can you just tell him to leave, so we can talk?”

“He’s sleeping!”“Okay, let’s go for a walk then. You seem to be wandering around all over

the place anyway.”I felt my temper rise, but kept it under control. Something had been eating

at Bart since we left Launch Beta. If he was ready to talk about it, I was ready to listen. I made for the door and didn’t wait to see if he was following me. We walked in silence for several minutes. Whatever Bart had been so anxious to talk about seemed to have left his brain. He remained silent for so long I was ready to turn around and go back when he said, “I love you, Pella. I’ve loved you since the day I saw you at Safe Haven and you looked like you’d been punched in the gut.”

I stopped in my tracks and swallowed hard. He turned to me but before he could speak I tried to stop him. I didn’t want to hear whatever he had to say.

“Don’t, Bart...”“Let me finish. I’ve wanted to tell you this a hundred times. I want to pro-

tect you. I want to help you. I want to be there for you, but you push me away.”I again tried to interrupt, but he took my arm and urged me to continue

walking beside him. “Don’t know that I could say all this if I was looking right at you.” His

mouth twisted in a way that was more like a grimace than a grin.“The ANAI, every time I could step in and help you, he’s there first, always

to the rescue. I know, I know, that’s what he’s programmed to do, but I thought if I could just be there for you, you would notice and start to think of me as more than a friend.”

He stopped then and turned toward me.“Bart…”“Please don’t say anything.” He raised his hand and touched the spiky tips

of my short hair. A smile that twisted my heart curved his mouth. “I even love the mess you made of your hair when you chopped off. It took some getting used to, but now I can’t imagine you any other way.”

His finger trailed down the side of my face setting my body aflame. He traced my lower lip with a light touch of his thumb. I swallowed. I did not like the feelings that were coursing through me.

He dropped his hand to his side and stepped back. “I just wanted you to know. That’s all. I just wanted you to know.” He turned and walk away.

I was shaking all over. I wanted to shout no a thousand times. I didn’t want his love. Didn’t he get it that my father’s betrayal was a chasm that couldn’t be crossed? Didn’t he get it that my focus remained on getting my mother back, if indeed she was on Chandor? I wasn’t even sure I had any love in me to give to another person. Why was he doing this now? I was tempted to go after him and ask that very question. Instead I turned on my heel and returned to my cabin. When I walked in it was to the welcome scent of hot Alzersian tea. It could only have been prepared for me by Box. Just how much had he heard?

The ship’s com came on as I took my first sip.“Approaching Chandor. All duty personnel to command array.”I wasn’t on duty so I wakened Box and told him what I wanted him to do.

Pella makes plans for what’s next when she landson Chandor. Is it destined to end in disaster

or will she find her what she’s looking forbefore Ardis Durec finds her?More to come in Episode 17

In “Thunder Prime, Fog Island,” Pella So-ames was a left on her own at age 12 when her mother disappeared from their home and her father commits an act of betrayal. It is now 14 years later and Pella is in search of answers.

CharactersPella Soames – Daughter of Trish Soames and Henry KyperBart Casey – A friend from another time and perhaps something moreAlman Romani – Chief Pilot, Hermes, Pella’s home and livelihoodBox – Pella’s protection Adapted Need Artificial Intelligence (ANAI) unitArdis Durec – Blackmarketeer and Pella’s nemesisSPIN – Seeker Pod Intelligence Node, built by Box especially for PellaJa’lu and Gol’du – Huqzzls from Chandor, true earther in appearance but carrying the DNA of their Chandorian heritageChant – Also of Chandor, and prized because she is a female, the daughter of a Chandorian overlordEarly Winter – Hermes crew member and no friend to PellaApple Polar – Hermes crew member, a hapless young man taken in by Chief Pilot RomaniKobi Arbruster – A Malchorian and Sec-ond Pilot for Thunder Prime TransportFitz – A mysterious Brolotagan who pro-vides Pella with invaluable resourcesAnagor – Malchorian, Hermes navigator and chief medic

PlacesEarth, 2510 – An altered world where poverty prevails and hope for the future is placed in The LawChandor – A mineral-rich but hostile planet settled by humans who altered their DNA to accommodate to the planet’s conditions

www.vandermeerbooks.com | October 1, 2013 | 13

Last Rose of Summer – This fading beauty is from a miniature rose bush purchased in the spring from the Las Vegas First Business Alliance flower sale. Here’s hoping it survives the winter and comes back next year more beautiful than ever.

PHOTO: SHARON VANDER MEER