April 2021 Coffee Share-No Foolin’

Good morning, Everyone.

It’s April, no foolin’. The few crocuses (croci) the squirrels did not find brightened up the drabness here. The proverbial April Showers poured in last night on the south shore of Long Island, and the nights will dip close to the freezing mark . 

Pour your coffee. Let’s catch up.

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you I am in Florida for the Easter holiday, visiting my mom. We are completing her legal affairs early next week, which made it a great excuse to see her. The weather is downright balmy, another perk. We traveled with masks, hand sanitizer, and alcohol wipes every step of the way. My daughter’s family drove in from South Carolina, so we are destined for a noisy fun weekend. A dolphin and her baby swim by my mom’s back window each morning. Her condo has the International Waterway in the backyard. I hope to snap a worthwhile picture. We will attempt Easter Bread, blowing out and coloring eggs, and baking the traditional bunny cake. Last time I baked the two layer sitting bunny covered in white frosting and surrounded by jellybeans, my granddaughter chose a red velvet cake mix. It looked like a massacre when we cut into it. Although the sight did not stop anyone from devouring the cake, I am insisting on a yellow or chocolate cake mix this year. 

 If we were having coffee together, I would say this is another first without Dad—First Easter. It still weighs heavily. I cleared out his closet and drawers in the Long Island home this week. Slowly, his physical presence fades. Dad was not much of a clotheshorse. He wore t-shirts, polo shirts, and chino slacks (there was something about jeans he never liked), bathing suits all year long and very worn shoes. Mom asked me to bring the bundles to a local community center. There, a line of people waited for a share of vegetables, baked goods and non-perishable foods. Needs never end. 

If we were having coffee together, I would announce that the manuscript is ready for readers! Once again, the title needed a makeover. It is now Street Dreams: The Heart of Homes and Alleys. While I was on a title quest, daily Bread got an uplift. It will soon be Daily Bread: The Heart of Artists and Family. 

I spent a lot of time and word wrangling to come up with the log line (pitch) for Street Dreams.

Lily has to do EVERYTHING but must find a way to get permission to sing at the NY Highlanders Baseball game even though the baby is sick, real Mama became somber Mama, her big sisters and the visiting nurse boss her to do more chores and errands with thumb-sucking Gigi tagging along, and there is trouble in the Lower East Side Little Italy neighborhood including the Black Hand kidnapping children. 

I think it still needs work. Thoughts?

If any children’s book reviewers, librarians, teachers and/or interested readers and writers would like a first peek, PLEASE email me at storiesserved@gmail.com. I welcome suggestions. If you like it, perhaps you can offer a happy blurb whereby your comments will be immortalized in the front matter of the book and, perhaps, the back cover. 

Time to start this glorious day. The kids are up and jumping on Nonny, and Pop Pop is not as fun as it sounds. 

Sending Everyone all the hopes and joy of this beautiful season of renewal. 

That’s it, Everyone. Thank you to Natalie the Explorer for keeping Weekend Coffee Share up and running.

Have a good week. Make it Funtastic.

Attention Teachers and Librarians

Schedule your virtual and live Book Club Events and Creative Writing Workshops.

Download FREE Curriculum Connections

If you had purchased a paperback or ebook Daily Bread and/or Becoming America’s Food Stories—Thank you!

Take a picture of you with Daily Bread and/or Becoming America’s Food Stories, and I’ll send you Reader’s Swag and add you to the Becoming America’s Stories Readers slideshow, coming soon! Kid pics are welcomed with parent or guardian permission. Don’t forget to leave a rating and quick comment on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

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