Recent Posts
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Girl on Fire: Dispatchers deserve recognition, too
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, April 17, 2014] What I love about having a column is being able to describe what so many people do in the community to make it a better place. This includes local fire departments and rescue teams, usually. But, this week is dedicated to a group of people who […]
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Girl on Fire: Progress made to equal rights
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, April 3, 2014] Last week, I found a story written by an employee of Al Jazeera America, an international broadcaster headquartered in Qatar, titled “Former President Jimmy Carter’s call to action.” Carter gave a speech about his new book, “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power,” during […]
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Top Ten Classic movies
For those who love the classics — the long, detailed and sometimes drawn-out stories — here’s a list for you. Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen (1940, 2005) The Count of Monte Cristo, written by Alexandre Dumas (2002) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, written by Lewis Carroll (1951, 2010) War […]
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Top Ten Biography movies
Biographies are always an interesting genre since what is written is based in truth. Here are several books turned into movies of the same or different names, the author who wrote the book and the year or years it was turned into a film. The Pianist, written by Wladyslaw Szpilman (1950, 2002) All the President’s […]
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Girl on Fire: Chivalry isn’t totally dead
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, March 6, 2014] A few weeks ago, I bought a latte from Adams Street Espresso and went to work writing police and fire reports. I wasn’t paying attention, and hit my full cup of coffee. It toppled, coffee dribbled out and then the lid released itself from the cup […]
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Girl on Fire: How meth has slowly changed the firefighting game
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, February 20, 2014] Sitting in a classroom full of firefighters from across the state of Iowa, I watched as John Ticer, special agent with Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, flipped through a PowerPoint slideshow explaining the recipe and how to make methamphetamine. Ticer taught Meth Lab Awareness, a class available […]
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Author Interview: Rhys A. Jones
Author: Rhys A. Jones Famous for: The Obsidian Pebble, etc. After having the opportunity to review British author Rhys A. Jones’ young adult novel The Obsidian Pebble, I was also given the opportunity to interview the man behind the book, thanks to Robert Wood of Standoutbooks. Enjoy the interview! OR: You are from the UK. […]
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Girl on Fire: A trip to sunny Phoenix in the dead of winter
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, February 6, 2014] Over the weekend I took a short vacation in Phoenix, Ariz., a nice break from the snow and bitter Iowa cold. While I was there, I saw Russel Finehout, my boyfriend, and my aunt and uncle, who winter there. My flight from Des Moines to Chicago […]
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Girl on Fire: A little down home delicacy
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, January 30, 2014] The smell of grease and seasoned flour wafted through the air at Elks Lodge on West Montgomery Street. Tables were filling up with couples and families out for dinner. I bartended and served meals and Eric Shawler, Dick Hammond and Monica Fastenow were sitting at the […]
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Book Review: The Obsidian Pebble by Rhys A. Jones
Title: The Obsidian Pebble Author: Rhys A. Jones Published: 2013 re-release Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Pages: 257 From: Standoutbooks These days, anyone and everyone can get published–writing about things like werewolves and vampires, true love and broken hearts. Look at 50 Shades of Grey, a spin off of Twilight, or any of those Harlequin bodice […]
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