Mark My Madness

Have you ever lost an ability that meant the world to you? 

There I am! Crystal the Pistol--AKA, the unbeatable
Chicken!

Many years ago, I performed in a madrigal choir. (Imagine 600+ people auditioning for a coveted 25 spots. Yup. Now you know I'm epic. ;) We sang and danced and performed ALL over the place. In a typical week, we performed between 1 and 3 times (with 3 to 5 weekly rehearsals--above and beyond personal vocal lessons, and 2 other choirs). During the holidays we had 5 performances a week. It was amazing, and exhausting.

When the year ended, I ran off to college and auditioned for choir only to discover I could no longer sing.

No.

Longer.

Sing.

I mean yes, I could open my mouth and let out sound, but the vocal quality that had been praised as "the voice of an angel," that part was gone. 

Gone.

Damaged, overused, worn out.

It was like losing a leg or arm. 

I spent the next 5 YEARS believing this most treasured aspect of my life was dead. An eternity. I turned to composing music via piano while trying not to lament. Trying hard. One day, as a married woman and mother to a young child, I opened my mouth and discovered that all things can heal. Given time. Given effort.

I share that because today Mark Koopmans is here as part of his blog tour with a story much more dramatic than mine, one that resonates powerfully:

 

First, let's clear up last week's excitement.

Murees Dupé shared with us a THE AMARANTHINE, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.

Murees' Game:

1. I studied to be a vet.

2. I had to stick my hand up the rear end of a ewe as she was giving birth, to help turn the lamb that was in distress. 

3. In my student days I used to work with cattle that weighed over 800 kg each.

The lie: #1. Unfortunately, she didn’t study to be a vet. Her degree was in animal production and farm management. Can you believe she was afraid of cows before? Not so much anymore, though.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Cathrina Constantine!!!

Congrats, Cathrina! 

And now for this week's feature... 

Five years removed from his 1990 Juilliard graduation, Donald Braswell is set to be “the next Pavarotti.” Braswell’s successful career ends, however, not with a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall, but alone, lying in a dirty ditch. 

Following the hit-and-run accident that steals his voice and future, the “Texas Tenor” struggles with depression and despair—until the night his daughter, Aria, is born. Understanding this new and immediate life change, Braswell fights to relearn how to speak, sing—and share this gift of second chances with others. 

Working as a plasterer, a car salesman, and many jobs in-between, it takes thirteen years—and a musical miracle—for Braswell to battle back and sing on a professional stage. His dreams and ambitions collide with a tired and angry crowd when he auditions for America’s Got Talent. For his family, his faith 
and his entire future, can the Rocky Balboa of the operatic world find the courage and strength to win just one more fight?

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Mark Koopmans is originally from Ireland. After working in Holland, Spain, France and England, he won his U.S. “Green Card” in 1994, and is an American by choice since 2003. Koopmans began his writing  career with a feature for a regional magazine in California. Since then, he’s worked as a staff writer for newspapers in Florida and Texas. Koopmans is also a proficient blogger and is working on his next book, a novel. Koopmans lives in Virginia and is a married, stay-at-home dad to three active boys under the age of nine. He writes at night.

Mark gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win a signed paperback of REVIVAL. (US only)

You have until Tuesday, December 1 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on December 3.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. Growing up in Dublin, Mark (13) was often bored. One day he saw an old mattress that someone had dumped over the side of the bridge. (The old “canal” below was now a filled-in grassy trail.) Mark thought about it for a few minutes, then he climbed over the edge of the cement bridge, and jumped about twenty feet onto what was (soon discovered to be) a very thin mattress. (No bones were broken in the making of this paragraph, but someone had to drive Mark home!)

2. Mark once worked as a manager for Planet Hollywood and would control the video clips shown on the many screens dotted around the restaurant. On this very busy day, (we’re talking 1998) he decided to show an (unedited) scene from Braveheart. Walking around the floor, he enjoyed watching people watching the clip—until he realized the scene included a series of swear words that sounded like “truck”… and they were about to go out live on the expensive, loud speaker system. (Luckily, Mark made it back to the A/V room and hit delete… just in time!)

3. Mark once kind of, er, bumped into (and woke up) Mohammad Ali, who was taking a nap while on a visit to a Cheesecake Factory Express in Chicago (now closed). Mark only hoped The Champ would forgive him and agree to take a picture with him—and he did!)

How about one more chance to win, eh?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you ever lost an ability that devastated you? Do you love redemption stories?

Salute! Cheer! Become Immortal?

Happy Veteran's Day, Diwali, Remembrance Day, etc!

A year ago, we visited my grandfather (98) and interviewed him about his WWII experiences as a pilot. He told us about a tropical storm in the Philippines where all he and his fellow soldiers could do was lay on the ground with ponchos over their heads for 3 days, army-crawling across the ground.

He lived off salted pork for months. (To this day, he despises pork.) That's the only ration he had consistently and they lived off just pork for more than 3 weeks at a time. Potatoes or carrots were a miracle.

He talked about flying blindly when his instruments went out and praying he would make it safely to the next stop, or the one time their gas tank was so dry that the only thing keeping them in the air was God.

One of my most memorable stories, one he's told time and time again through the years was how he sat on a hill in that very foreign country, wondering if he would ever have the opportunity to marry, to have a family. After relating that experience, he'd look around and say with a humble wag of the head, "And look at this amazing family!"

When offered free tickets to attend an honor ceremony in DC, he refused. "Everyone had to go to war. I can't be honored for doing something we were required to do." 

It's men and women like him whom I honor today.

 

Last week S.K. Anthony shared with us a STATIC, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win an eBook.

S.K.'s Game:

1. My nickname is Macaroni. And to live up to my name, I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen trying out different Mac and Cheese recipes. I must make only the very best ones . . . oh, the sacrifice I put my cheese-loving family through! 

2. I got arrested in Italy. My passport was once stolen while visiting and I had to travel around by myself without the tour group I’d gone with. I communicated the whole way in Spanish, between that and their Italian I got from Venice to Florence in trains then back to Rome, but then one thing led to another, miscommunication happened, and I ended up arrested. 

3. A few years back I wanted to invest in a MacBook Pro, but hubby said the price was too outrageous. We were on vacation at the time, and were on our way to the casino. I said, okay, if I win the money I’m getting it. I won $800 in one slot machine and $980 in another. Both were penny machines, and I didn’t play over $10 . . . so I got my beloved MacBook for free.

The lie: #2. She did go. Her passport did get stolen. She traveled around without a tour group and communicated in Spanish . . . didn’t get arrested. She has pics with two cops when she was filing the police report. On top of that, they wouldn’t let her come back to NY. In fact, they thought she was faking not being Italian, which did almost get her arrested for real.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...

Jules Smith!!!

Congrats, Jules! 

And now for this week's feature... 

Claire is sassy, human, and an outcast of society―who only wants to know where she belongs. 

Alex is arrogant, selfish, and an immortal warrior―who thinks he’s prepared for everything. 

Claire knows the world of immortals is where she belongs. As her guide and guardian, Alex finds it hard to resist Claire’s subtle charm. Can the two overcome their differences and embrace their passion for each other, or will the possibility of true love be lost to both forever?

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

Murees Dupé was born and still lives in South Africa. When she is not thinking up new stories, she is spending time with her family, playing with her three dogs and cat, watching TV, or overindulging on desserts.

Her favorite cheese is brie. The first time she tried brie she was a little apprehensive, because of the white exterior. It blew her mind. It was soft and silky, with a slight hint of mushroom. Delicious. 

Murees gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to win an eBook of THE AMARANTHINE.

You have until Tuesday, November 17 at 1 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on November 18.

TRUTH OR LIE

1. I studied to be a vet.

2. I had to stick my hand up the rear end of a ewe as she was giving birth, to help turn the lamb that was in distress. 

3. In my student days I used to work with cattle that weighed over 800 kg each.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Are you celebrating a holiday/hero today? Do you believe in true love?