A new Slant on things...or Slainte....

Autumn has almost faded into oblivion for us here in the Upper Midwest and thoughts turn to Winter, hot chocolate and a roaring fire.  It's an excellent time to read a good book, too.  Whether you have a digital eReader or just your computer, a good one is "Seven Doors of Time" by Karin Ficke Cook...herself.

Inside the pages of this little marvel are seven stories - all different.  There is even a scary paranormal one!  But the story I am focusing on right now is called, "19th Floor - Mid-Century Modern" which is a contemporary story about high school memories, lost loves and cruel deceptions.

Often our past catches up with us and in this instance that's exactly what happens to the main characters in this offbeat love story.  It takes place in the hometown of a single business woman from the Midwest who has done well for herself as an attorney but she's failed miserably at love.  Certain events interfere with her so called "happiness" and not only does she feel stirred by past memories, but also by a strange "new" man in her life.  But just who is he?

We have such interesting characters in this story and you'll fall in love with every one of them - except for one.  But you will have to read the book to find out.  Come along to Kylemore Abbey in County Galway, in Connemara, Ireland.  And jaunt up to County Mayo at Westport.  This is almost a travel log in itself.  You will certainly never be bored!
 

 The photos of Ireland are ones I took when I was there last.  I didn't have a digital camera at the time and these are all from 35-mm film.  Next time I hope to use a decent digital - unless I can't part with my 35-mm SLR....you know purists!

Unfortunately the International Girls School is now closed, but you can still tour through the house and grounds as you always could.  This is a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it as part of your western Ireland vacation.

There is nothing better than to watch the Atlantic Ocean waves crash against the rocky shoreline, creating foam as the water recedes and fills tidal pools with the tiniest of sea creatures in their own microcosm.  It makes one feel very small indeed!

The house on the right is where I will be living after November 15th.  This is Saint Katharine's Senior Apartments, formerly St. Katharine's School, in Davenport, Iowa - where I attended High School.  Part of the complex has been repurposed for senior housing and my flat will be on the ground floor in what used to be the Library - what a perfect place for me to live.  And I am also working on another book - this one is a romance mystery about the historic house and school.  It will be quite factual in detail, but the story is, of course, purely fiction.

Whether you love history, crime, mystery or romance (or the occasional time travel), "Seven Doors of Time" has the gamut.  Check out this link, www.smashwords.com/books/view/66076 ( hopefully it works okay) and you can see a little bit of the first story, "The Fault Lies Beneath" - which is an environmental story about earthquakes - among other things!

 And finally.......

Find yourself along a lazy Irish road where the only traffic jam is a herd of sheep going somewhere!  If you want to get around them, all you have to do is yell out the window, 'mint sauce' and they'll scatter!!