Love and Sorrow in the Same Hour

      My family and I are dealing with the recent hospitalization of my father, which turned into a search for long-term care. He is a Vietnam Veteran with a purple heart, but finding a place for his care is turning out to be extraordinarily difficult. My father suffers from dementia as well as a number of physical health problems that keep him bedridden. The doctors recently suggested we consider hospice. 

     It is crazy how through all of this I have found my emotions fluctuating like a yo-yo, shattering at some bit of painful news and then swelling with love and appreciation in the same hour. Such has been the case for a few weeks now. It seems to me that the human heart was made both to break and to mend in order for humanity to effectively experience a vast range of emotions. We feel both pains and pleasures, developing in the process a true capacity for empathy. I love my dad while at the same time I feel deep sadness for his present circumstances. 

     Life gives us joy, and it gives us misery. It does so for everyone. And thank heaven, for it is what makes us human.

                                                

Glancing Back, Looking Forward to 2023

 A Decade of Change: Me in 2012 and again in 2022

        At the beginning of a new year, it is traditional to take a good, long look over my shoulder at things I both accomplished and survived in prior years. As I have stated in the past, I prefer to shine a spotlight on my books rather than on my personal life, but 2022 has been one event-filled year for me, so I don't mind sharing a few of the bigger moments. 

        My eldest son graduated in June with a Masters of Science in Software Engineering. Big accomplishment! My middle son was accepted into the mechanical engineering major program at his university. He is working hard to pass those difficult classes. My youngest son returned to school to pursue his degree. He is close to finishing. He also proposed to his girlfriend (now fiancée) on the steps of the Nashville Parthenon. How exciting! My father, unfortunately, suffered some health problems this past year including a case of Covid. He has since healed and is regaining his strength with the aid of physical therapy. 

        The biggest change in 2022 was my own. After three years of dating a wonderful man, I married him in August. My new husband is a kind, gentle, supportive, noble, fun-loving person who enjoys reading. Ours was a long-distance relationship (never an easy way to date) but he won me over by reading books to me over the phone. Not only does he read aloud, he does voices! Yes, I fell for a storyteller. Before the wedding, I spent two months packing up my house, then sold it, and finally moved across the country to live in a new city that has proven to be quite friendly. It certainly has been a year of big personal change and positive growth. 

         What about my writing goals? It is hard to believe a decade has gone by since I published my first book, Eena, The Dawn and Rescue. I love that story. It recounts the adventures of a young girl destined to rule a strange but fascinating nation. It was my debut novel as well as a unique learning opportunity. Since then, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about the writing process, and I have grown markedly as a novelist and poet.

         What began as a challenge to compose a single book became the catalyst for an unanticipated love of storytelling. Eena, The Dawn and Rescue was quickly followed by a second book that continued along the same storyline. Then came book three, followed by yet another. It still amazes me how I was able to write an entire six-book saga within a four-year period! Absolutely not my initial goal!

         After completing the Harrowbethian Saga, I branched out to try my hand at comprising original quotes, thoughts, and poetry for every day of the year. Smile Anyway was the result, and it turned out to be a bigger success than expected. The shocking surprise was finding my book quotes reprinted in news articles as well as in various other books. And not just a few! It has been a thrill to see my quotes scroll by on websites, reprinted in an Oxford Philosophy: Being Human course book and in seven different Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and even shared on a tv episode of Alone. What a treat! 

         With the success of Smile Anyway, I went on to write three additional quote/poetry/short-story books for my sons as high school graduation gifts: Making Wishes, Slaying Dragons, and Being Bold. Part of the gift included 50% of the royalties from the sale of every book. Not a bad way to help out struggling college students.

         As much as I love fantasy and science fiction, I have always admired the great novelists, my personal favorite being Victor Hugo. It stood to reason that I would challenge myself to write a stand-alone novel with both dramatic and tragic elements. Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher was the result of this endeavor. Composing Annabelle's story caused me many tearful moments; her story was not easy to tell. I doubt it can be read with a dry eye or a callous heart. The book was designed to stir up feelings of shock, anger, and dismay for the cruel and unjust situations so often overlooked in society. Writing Dandelions was an emotional trial as much as it was a writing challenge, which is why I wrote a lighthearted tale to accompany the novel. Secrets of a Noble Key Keeper is a short, fun fairy tale all ages will enjoy.

         Last year, I published my thirteenth book, entirely unique from my previous writings. The Tarishe Curse was originally meant to be a simple short story for a friend who loves All Hallows Eve. But as my friend asked questions about what happens next, I was obliged to come up with a new chapter every Halloween. After so many years of adding chapters, one by one, it became apparent that a book was ready and waiting to be completed. The hardest part was devising an ending that wrapped up the whole crazy ordeal! It took some creativity, but it gave me an idea for a backstory about one formidable character in the book. Something to look forward to in the future!

         Another thing I like to do every New Years is compare my starting numbers on social media with any growth. It motivates me to see improvement. Be it slow or small, progress is progress! Increases in followers, book sales, ratings & reviews, internet posts, and/or loyal readers is forward movement toward my goals.  

THEN	NOW
Ten years ago, 8 people considered my writing inspiring enough to call themselves a fan or follower on Goodreads.	Today, 250 people now follow me on Goodreads. Thank you!
Ten years ago, 40 people liked my most popular book quote on Goodreads out of thirty quotes posted at the time.	Today, my most popular quote on Goodreads has 409 likes out of the 1,678 original quotes posted. Wow! I guess I have a lot to say.
Ten years ago, I started with 3 Twitter followers.	Today, I have 2,295. Thank you too!
Six years ago, my author website had 13,552 visits.	Today, my author website has had 27,232 visits (and counting.) Nice!
Six years ago, 441 people followed my Facebook author page.	Today, 921 people follow my Facebook author page.
Six years ago, 397 followed my Instagram.	Today, 596 follow my Instagram page.
Six years ago, 41 followed me on Tumblr.	Today, 124 follow me on Tumbler. Slow and steady progress.

 

     As I have said many times, I am indeed grateful for my readers and supporters. Thank you for purchasing my books. Thank you for leaving kind reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other websites where my books are sold; it helps more than you know. Thank you for telling friends and acquaintances about my written works. I am grateful to live in a day and place where I have the privilege of educational opportunities, writing opportunities, and self-publishing opportunities. What a magnificent blessing! No matter how slow or fast the progress, I am accomplishing my goals, and that makes me happy.

Happy New Year 2023! 

I am looking forward to greater accomplishments.

Oh, and if you feel so inclined, follow me on my social sites:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RichelleEGoodrich/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/REGoodrich

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richellegoodrich/

Author Website – https://www.richellegoodrich.com

Author Blog - https://regoodrichnews.blogspot.com/

LibraryThing - https://www.librarything.com/profile/REGoodrich

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/regoodrich/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/regoodrich/

Tumblr - https://richellegoodrich.tumblr.com/

Goodreads Profile -https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5082833.Richelle_E_Goodrich

Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/Richelle-E.-Goodrich/e/B008A6A5W4/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_tkin_p1_i9

The Tarishe Curse Book Promo

Available NOW at Amazon.com in KINDLE, PAPERBACK, and HARDCOVER formats.

SUMMARY: A thrilling piece of fiction from the Queen of Werefolk's point of view. It is difficult enough for Duvalla and Kresh to protect their young family in a world of Hallows Eve creatures, but this feat proves near impossible when an old witch bent on vengeance against the werewolves casts a Tarishe curse that manipulates both heart and mind. The battle is not only with a sword but an internal struggle—a fight to love the ones that Duvalla has sworn under a spell to hate, and to hate the one who through evil enchantment manipulates her heart.

Cover Reveal for The Tarishe Curse

        This Halloween, look forward to werewolves, witches, warlocks, and other Hallows Eve creatures in my new book, The Tarishe Curse. This thrilling tale is set to be released on October 31st, 2022 only on Amazon.com. Learn about the Tarishe curse from the Queen of Werefolk's point of view. Follow her as she desperately seeks any means to undo the curse contrived by an old, malevolent witch. But before you get your hands on the book, be one of the first to enjoy this cover reveal!

       Did you know that the beginning chapter in The Tarishe Curse was originally written in 2012 as a short story? I wrote it for my friend, Cathie (Duvall) Hunt, who possesses a seriously spooky love for Halloween. I thought it would be fun to incorporate some Hallows Eve creatures into a haunting story as a treat for her. Fact: the first chapter of The Tarishe Curse is still that original short story in its completion. When Cathie asked me "What happens next?" I was stunned at first. No additional storyline existed in my mind; it wasn't meant to be a longer tale. But after some thought, I determined to write a new chapter every Halloween and post it online for readers to enjoy. Over the next few years posting annual chapters, the original eventually developed into something substantial. And now, eleven years later on this very Halloween 2022, The Tarishe Curse comes to an end in the form of a 300+ pages book available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book for kindle. 

Now... what about the cover? Glad you asked.

A little about the creation of this cover: Yes, I do my own artwork, and though I am certainly not a professional artist, I enjoy creating my book covers. As far as I'm concerned, writing books trumps cover art, but I do keep full control over the entire book this way. For The Tarishe Curse cover, I wanted specific details to be included. First and foremost, a full Tarishe moon. This red moon is a bewitching natural phenomenon in my fictional world mentioned early on in the book. Surrounding the village of Tarishe is a forest of thin aspen trees; this I also wanted on the cover, including an aura of dreary darkness. I think I nailed the ambiance.

For me, it didn't seem quite enough to have atmosphere only depicted on the cover, though it did an effective job of setting the mood for my book. But it felt... empty. What I wanted was to introduce the main character here with her ominous silver sword. I kept her features hidden on purpose, leaving her face as mysterious as her conflicting identity. Yes, you'll have to read the book to understand that reference. 

After adding her as a focus under the light of the Tarishe moon, I was pleased. So, without further delay... here is the final cover of The Tarishe Curse. Look for it on Amazon.com

Richelle E. Goodrich Copyright 2022

10 Things You Want to Know About The Tarishe Curse

The Tarishe Curse, written by Richelle E. Goodrich, began as a short story back in 2012. Chapters were added each Halloween until it eventually became a novel-length book. To prepare you for meeting the Hallows Eve creatures in this thrilling tale, here are ten things you want to know about The Tarishe Curse:

1. This book started out as a short story for a friend of the author who absolutely loves Halloween. The first chapter was originally meant to be the entirety of The Tarishe Curse.

2. The character, Catherine, was named after the author's friend to whom the book is dedicated.

3. The character, Duvalla, is also named after the same friend. Duvall was her maiden name.

4. Circumstances in the story are never exactly what they seem. Remember that.

5. Catherine the Huntress wields a terrible silver sword that drives fear into the hearts of werewolves.

6. There are vampires involved in the story too. Begrudgingly involved.

7. A full Tarishe Moon comes but once a year, as red as blood in color.

8. No curse can persist while a full Tarishe moon glows in the night sky.

9. Yes, there is a haunted mansion.

10. One character will survive this Hallows Eve tale to become the main character in a future book by Richelle E. Goodrich, already in its planning stages. It is not who you think.

You might enjoy other books by this author. Find them all on Amazon.com in paperback, kindle, and hardcover formats. Happy reading!

Books by Richelle E. Goodrich

Happy Father's Day

Dad, Richelle, Mom

     Over the years I've learned many things from my father. He has been there for me and my boys throughout our lives. I am grateful for his hard work, his generosity, and some lessons learned. Here are probably the top ten things I learned from him, last to first:

10. Coats belong in the closet. Salt and pepper belong on the table.
9. Everything should be celebrated afterwards with ice cream.
8. You don't pick the winning team in football based on their jersey colors.
7. YES, you can do anything, but NO, you're not better than anyone else.
6. Parents don't flap their jaws just to hear themselves talk.
5. John Wayne is king, ruler, chief, icon, superhero, and the last real man to have set foot on this earth.
4. The world is full of opinions; yours is the one that matters most.
3. There are a lot of idiot boys my age.
2. If you can't look yourself in the eye standing in front of the mirror, you better fix the reason why.
1. No matter what—you are loved. (Unless, of course, the salt and pepper don't make it to the table.)

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!!

Good Days, Good People, Good Deeds

   I was standing in line at the post office a few days ago with a package I had procrastinated mailing. It was filled with candy bars and board games for my son who now lives a couple states away. Six people were ahead of me in the line that passed through the open side of a set of glass doors. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw more individuals joining the line at my back.

   Only two postal employees stood behind the counter that afternoon, so I knew the wait would be a bit long. A trip to the post office is always a gamble: sometimes it’s a quick in-and-out visit, other times you pay your dues in tendered time.

   Not in a real hurry, I began observing those around me. People-watching has always been my fascination; I find human nature intriguing. As I stood there waiting for the line to move forward, it occurred to me that everyone kept quietly to themselves. The only real conversations were those between the two postal workers and the individuals being helped. I had to smile at the realization that despite the long line, calm and patience set the tone.

   One woman who had taken up five minutes at the counter turned and apologized to everyone, aware of so many of us waiting. It was a courteous thing to do, and I again observed no show of annoyance in anyone’s demeanor. No grumbles, groans, or toe tapping. Such kindness made me smile.

   My attention then jumped to an elderly lady, also at the front counter, who was picking up a package. Her expression was one of surprise when she discovered the size of the box—about half her height in length and width—yet she refused every offer of assistance from the attendant.

   “Oh thank you, but I think I can manage. My car is right outside.”

   When she turned to leave, hefting that big box, it was evident she would not be able to squeeze through the one open double-door, so I stepped out of line to hold the second door open for her. The dear lady took about three steps forward before she put the package down, apparently reconsidering her need for assistance. Just then, a young man stepped out of line and asked to carry the box for her, giving the elderly lady a reason to sigh a sound of relief.

   We all watched the young man lift the box with ease and carry it through the double doors. Someone else further down the line held the main door open for him so he could step outside. We stared out the picture window as he crossed the street to reach the woman’s car where he carefully fit the box into her trunk. It was a sweet scene when she gave him an earnest show of thanks.

   I returned to my place in line. The young man also returned to his place in line—no objections from anyone.

   Why do I mention these simple acts of service that took place during a few minutes at the local post office? Because they happen every day all around us. The patience. The smiles. The acknowledgements. The opened doors. The helping hands. The gratitude. These humble services are the most precious treasures we give to one another, and they are daily occurrences among us. I fear, though, we have learned to overlook these quiet blessings, instead taking note of things loud, obnoxious, and harsh. Why concentrate on the negative when there is so much positive at work everywhere? Open your eyes and notice it. Then pay the kindness forward.

   No matter how bleak or negative the media paints the world, there is still an abundance of good—good days, good people, and good deeds. Choose to see these simple acts of kindness. Be part of what still defines us as humanity.