Arizona Authors Association: April 2023

Monday, April 24, 2023

New release: Desert Report - Book 3 in the Desert series -by June A Reynolds

Find this book on Amazon HERE

Once again, June A. Reynolds is offering a look at the desert southwest. This time the book focuses on the people and what they do in the desert in the past, present, and the future. The days of the Wild West may be over and gone, but the culture of the west can be found if you look hard enough for it. This book can make a good armchair adventure or can be taken with you as part of your travels in the desert lands.

June A. Reynolds was born and lived most of her life in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. She married a Desert Rat from Tucson, so for the past ten years she has spent time in Arizona. She finds the contrast of the desert to the rainy forest very interesting and yet, there are many things that both parts of the west have in common.

Monday, April 17, 2023

New release: Wild Call to Boulder Field - by Robert Ronning

Find this book on Amazon HERE

Troubled Park Ranger, Wade Conrad, heartbroken when his Golden Retriever goes missing, seeks wilderness solace on the Arizona Trail. But the beauty of nature offers little peace on the first night at camp when he hears strange calls and finds a small white terrier cowering in a burrow. Ranger and his rescue, a "Westie," soon run into an accident-prone young bicyclist who claims to carry out creative protests to save wildlife.

Trail conditions soon become desperate when the Westie vanishes in a deep canyon. Wade fears a wild predator has been stalking them on the trail all along. Spurred on by powerful emotions and determined to find the little dog, Wade follows the calls of a mysterious coyote to a vast boulder field. To save his terrier companion, Wade must reach deep within himself and far beyond the typical barriers between man and wildlife.

One Amazon reviewer wrote, “If you love dogs and wildlife, you will love this story.”

About the author:

From Washington State, Robert had an early career in the theatre and earned a Ph.D. in communication arts. He taught performance of literature at City University of New York. He directed two plays Off-Broadway: a comedy about George Bernard Shaw and a concert docudrama on Albert Einstein at Lincoln Center. Theatre study lured him to London, where he lived off and on for several years. His writing has appeared in academic as well as popular publications, including Channels in Communications, Scene4 Magazine, Quarterly Journal of Speech, and locally in Tucson’s DesertLeaf magazine. Drawn to activist literature, he considers his proudest achievements rescuing and assisting the rescue of lost dogs. To find out more about Robert, visit his website HERE

Monday, April 10, 2023

Writers and sleep - by Vijaya Schartz

Every time the subject of sleep emerges in a conversation, I get different opinions. Sources differ about what’s not enough, what’s right, or what’s too much.

Recent studies on children have demonstrated that shortening sleep by 40 minutes adds significant stress to a child’s day. Adults who don’t sleep enough are also stressed… and stress affects the mood and the immune system.

I used to sleep 8 hours or more each night. Then I was told it was too much, so I reduced my sleep to the standard 7 hours. Soon, I realized it wasn’t enough. My body craved more.

Sleep quality is also a factor. Thanks to Yoga, Meditation, and Tai-Chi, as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m in dreamland. Eliminating noise and light also contributed to better sleep.

Still. 7 hours weren’t enough. I realized I needed 7.5 hours minimum to feel refreshed and ready to face the new day.

I now understand that despite varying medical guidelines, each person is different and has different needs. It also depends on how much coffee you drink. I only have one large mug in the morning, and no caffeine during the day.

Screen time can also affect the quality of your sleep, so turn off the TV, the cell phone, or the kindle ½ hour before bed time. Warm milk also helps.

I used to be a night owl. But over the years, I discovered that I was more productive and inspired to write in the morning. So, I had to discipline myself to go to bed earlier.

Don’t tell me I sleep too much for an adult. I sleep just the right amount to be healthy, happy, and inspired. That’s what works for me.

So, don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Everyone should find their own balance in life. Sleep, work, recreation. That’s the secret of happiness. Cats already figured it out.