U.S. warns its citizens in Tanzania before anti-gay crackdown
by Nuzulack Dausen,Reuters
 
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - The United States has warned its citizens in Tanzania to be cautious after the commercial capital Dar es Salaam announced a crackdown on homosexuality, a criminal offense in the country.

In an alert on its website late on Saturday, the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania advised Americans to review their social media profiles and internet footprints.

"Remove or protect images and language that may run afoul of Tanzanian laws regarding homosexual practices and explicit sexual activity," it said.

The alert said any U.S. citizen who was detained or arrested should ensure the Tanzanian authorities informed the embassy.
Dar es Salaam's administrative chief Paul Makonda said on Wednesday that a special committee would seek to identify and punish homosexuals, prostitutes and online fraudsters in the city from this week.

The foreign ministry said Makonda was voicing his own opinion and the planned crackdown did not have national government support.

"The government of the United Republic of Tanzania would like to clarify that those are his own views and not the government position," the ministry said in a statement.

Last October, at least 12 men were arrested at a Dar es Salaam hotel in a raid on a gathering which authorities said was to promote same-sex relationships.

President John Magufuli has cracked down on homosexuality since winning power in 2015, and a conviction for having "carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature" could lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in jail.

Homosexuality remains taboo across much of Africa and gay people face discrimination or persecution, with rights groups often reluctant to speak publicly in defense of gay rights.

In 2016, Tanzania banned non-governmental organizations from distributing free lubricants to gays as part of efforts to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, even though some health experts warn that shutting down such outreach programs could put the wider population at higher risk of infection.

(Additional reporting and writing by George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Editing by Catherine Evans and Adrian Croft)

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I'm sorry people, but do they not realize this is the 21st Century?

Yes, I support gay rights.  My son is gay and I am proud of hm and happy that he has found a life partner.  As a Mom I just want my children to be happy.

Happy Reading
Lynn

I'll just post this up right here. It pretty much sums it all up.

One picture is worth a thousand words.

We are all equal, except for the pirate of course.

Happy Reading
Lynn

Holy Guacamole Batman!

I am seeing a MAJOR jump in action on my website. 
I just check the stats and page visits are by 267% in the past week.

WOW!  Thanks Fans!  You're the BEST!

Now if I can just turn those website visits into actual book sales.  Hmmmm

Happy Ready
Lynn

My new office is just about set up.  I still have a few things left to do.  I have so many office supplies.  I need a shelving unit or storage cabinet of sorts to store all of it in.  LOL

Thanks to my wonderful husband, our new house is beginning to look and feel like a home. Furniture is in, family pictures are up and of course you know y kitchen has been set up since day 2. LOL With the holidays coming I will need to start baking soon.

The area that we live in has a bit of wild life, mostly coyotes.  There are a lot of quail and jack rabbits and I hear we have bobcats.  I haven't seen a bobcats, thank God!  I have seen a lone coyote near our area and we have a flock of quail that like to stroll through our front yard occasionally.  Rabbits run around here and there. I have small dogs so I hope not to see a bobcat or coyote on our street or in our yard.

Our normally outside bird, Clyde, our Mullaccan cockatoo is now an inside bird.  It has taken him awhile to adjust.  I don't think he is is completely adjusted yet.  He is used to a 10' x 8' outside aviary when we lived in the Bay Area.  Here is a bit different.  Windy and cold in the Winter.  Clyde now has an inside cage in the "Man Cave".  LOL

Working on a new novel.  I know, I know, I have about 6 of them started already, but I like this idea.  Already into chapter 6.

time to get working on it.

Happy Reading
Lynn

Now that I have your attention.  LOL I know I have been abscent from the BLOG scene for a few months.  There actually have been a lot going on.

On a personal level, I lost my dearly loved Grandfather unexpectedly in January.  I needed to handle his estate and get his things in order, arrange the funeral, clean his house, sell his house.  The list goes on and on.  Anyone that has been put into the position I was asked to be in knows exactly how draining, emotional and time consuming it can be.  None the less, a promise is a promise.

After that was taken care of, hubby and I decided it was time to move after 28 years in the Bay Area.  We only stayed there because of my Grandparents.  Our kids kept telling us to move for the last 10 years or so, but we stayed because we both dearly loved my Grandparents. They were the best people I could ever know.  They played such a large part of my upbringing and forming my adulthood. I could never say enough good things about them.  They are dearly missed.  I think of them daily and miss them beyond words.

We would periodically discuss moving with our grown kids.  Neither one of the wanted our family home were we had raised them.  They said sell it. We drug our feet a little longer.  It was only when our son and his partner decided they were going to move to New Zealand did we decide to go ahead and make that jump.

So, we put the house up for sale and moved to Reno Nevada!

The Bay Area being pricey as it is, basically just for the ground (dirt) the house sits on, we were able to catch a great price for our home and get a larger one in Nevada. Now hubby has a MAN CAVE and I have my own office to write in.  I hope I will be able to focus more being that now I can close the door to the office and block out the world if need be.  LOL

On a Business note, while I have been focusing most of my attention on my first novel, Fears Revenge, as far as marketing, my 3rd novel, Gabrielle, lost has taken the lead in the market all on it's own.    So I have decided to change gears and focus more on Gabrielle, lost.

There are A LOT of things in the works for Gabrielle, lost. I will keep you posted as to its progress.

Happy Reading
Lynn

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I know I have been absent from my BLOG, but I will try to post as often as I can.  Life is very hectic right now, as I am sure some of you can relate. Since the passing of my Grandfather, my life has been mainly focused on family.  Now with his passing, my husband and I are moving away from the San Francisco Bay Area.  It is time.  We have spent the last 28 years here.  Raised our children here and enjoyed the weather.  Now that we are no longer the spur of the moment, young and partying group anymore.  It is time to move away from the crowds.

My husband and I were both born in small towns.  We even lived in the middle of nowhere Alaska for a few years.  We thoroughly enjoyed it. So maybe it is time to do it again?  Not sure of what lies in our immediate future, but I hope it will give me time to finish the 6+ projects (books) I have already started and need to finish.

I am still planning (hopping) to do another book signing tour next year (2019) So I need to get off my butt and finish a good book.

Now that Gabrielle, lost (my 3rd novel) have been recommended for a studio feature film, I need to focus a little more time on doing some marketing on that one.  Funny, I always thought that "Fears Revenge" was my best work so far.  LOL

Now that my 3rd novel is getting more attention, I have phone calls from everyone and their 4th cousin, 3 times removed Dog calling and wanted to partner with me on something or other.  LOL  I'm just thrilled that people are liking my books.

That's all for now.  I will try to post up things more often.

Happy Reading
Lynn

I know it has been a few months since my last post. 

As all my fans know I ended my 2017 Book Tour in November of 2017.  Then I took some time off to recuperate and spend time with my family for the Holidays. I fully intended on finishing one of the many novels I had already started working on for release this year. That plan unexpectedly, had to be put on hold.

In January of this year my beloved Grandfather took a really bad fall.  Since then my family and I had been on round the clock care giving duty.  Unfortunately, our dearly loved Grandfather passed away at the end of January.  Since then I have been completely engulfed in caring for his estate. All this in addition to caring for my Mother, who has stage II Alzheimer's.  It was her father that passed.

I am so grateful for all the love and best wishes from you all.  It was most welcomed.

I will be making a few appearances this year, as opportunities arise, but I will not be on tour until 2019. that is plan at this time anyway.

I will try to add to my blog more often to keep you all in the loop of the adventures of "Lynn and the Killer Estate" that may drive me insane yet.  LOL

Happy Reading Everyone.

Lynn

Mystery Book Signing Tour 1017 has come to and end.

As may of you know, this was my first ever book tour.  It was fast paced and hectic and so worth doing. I would do another one in a heartbeat, but I would prefer to have a P.R. person handling all the scheduling and details.  Whew!  That was rough, but thanks to my assistant, Sara, and my wonderful and very supportive husband, Dan, we made it to everyone of the scheduled stops on time and ready..

I want to send out a very BIG Thank You to all the Barnes and Nobles Bookstore managers and assistant managers for all your support and smiles.  You made my first book tour easy. 

I meet quite a few young authors as well as a few later in life authors, like myself.  I encourage you all to stay in touch and let me know when you have your work completed and wish to start advertising it.  I will gladly advertise your works on my blog.  Just contact me through this website on the Contacts page.

If you have a group or club that you would like me to speak at, please send me a message through my contacts page and either Sara or myself will contact you to arrange a date and time.

Happy Reading and Writing to you ALL!

Now, to get back to working on my next novel!

Lynn

The Great Valley Bookfest was a huge Event and a Huge Success!

If you did not get a chance to come out and visit the event this year, you definitely need to plan on doing it next year.

All the authors were located in one giant circus like tent.  I had the absolute pleasure to personally meet and talk with so many of them.  It was almost overwhelming, but in a fun way. My assistant wouldn't let me leave the table for very long as there were so many people stopping by to look at my books and talk with me personally.  It was WONDERFUL!

The event wasn't just for authors, there were many other vendors there as well.  Everything from the local school district to BBQ and food trucks. 

There was a a kids costume parade.  Cooking competitions, Superheros  a talking robot trash can.  There was a really long extended bounce house for the kids.

I don't even thing I can describe everything this event had to offer.  You should go to their website and check it out and plan on being there next year.  I will be!

My assistant has been on vacation lately, so we will have some pictures up in the next few days.

Happy Reading
Lynn

Sorry I haven't posted on my BLOG in a while.  I caught that nasty virus that has been going around this area.  It totally kicked my arse.

So, I had to cancel my book signing that I had planned for the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Antioch, CA for today.  The manager was so nice about it.  I felt so bad.  I hate canceling or even being late when I am expected somewhere, but, alas, it was out of my hands.

Please check back often as the manager has allowed me to reschedule for a future date.

And don't forget to come visit me at the Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca, CA on Saturday, October 14th.

Happy Reading
Lynn

Check out my new trailer for my latest novel "Feathers in the Wind"

Here is a new Book Trailer for Fears Revenge.  Hope you enjoy it. 

Let me know what you think.

Viking skeleton’s DNA test proves historians wrong

New York Post
September 8, 2017
By Natalie O'Neill  
  
The remains of a powerful viking — long thought to be a man — was in fact a real-life Xena Warrior Princess, a study released Friday reveals.
 
The lady war boss was buried in the mid-10th century along with deadly weapons and two horses, leading archaeologists and historians to assume she was a man, according to the findings, published in in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
 
Wrong.
 
“It’s actually a woman, somewhere over the age of 30 and fairly tall, too, measuring around [5’6″] tall,” archaeologist Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson of Uppsala University, who conducted the study, told The Local.
 
And she was likely in charge.
 
“Aside from the complete warrior equipment buried along with her – a sword, an axe, a spear, armor-piercing arrows, a battle knife, shields, and two horses – she had a board game in her lap, or more of a war-planning game used to try out battle tactics and strategies, which indicates she was a powerful military leader,” Hedenstierna-Jonson said. “She’s most likely planned, led and taken part in battles.”
 
The discovery marks the first genetic proof that women were Viking warriors, according to science publication Phys.org.
 
The viking grave was first found and excavated by Swedish archeologist Hjalmar Stolpe in the late 1800s.
 
But a few years ago, osteologist Anna Kjellström of Stockholm University, noticed its skeleton had fine cheekbones and feminine hip bones, researches said.
 
They conducted DNA-analysis and confirmed it was a female.
 
“This image of the male warrior in a patriarchal society was reinforced by research traditions and contemporary preconceptions. Hence, the biological sex of the individual was taken for granted,” Hedenstierna-Jonson and other researchers wrote in the report.
 
The research was lead by the Stockholm and Uppsala Universities.
 ___________________________________________________________________________________________

I found this article fascinating and thought I would pass it along.  Kinda makes you rethink all those romance books with Vikings doesn't it?  LOL

Happy Reading
Lynn

Good morning blog readers. 

First of all important news.

The location of the Great Valley Bookfest has been changed (Date and times are the same).  It is now taking place at:

Great Valley Elementary School
4223 McDougald Blvd
Stockton, CA 95206

Exhibitor will showcase a fun-filled festival for all, great food and beverages as they meet authors, savor cooking demos, attend live performances, and browse diverse vendor displays, Gourmet food trucks and workshops, a variety of vendors, reading and writing in public schools, many activities for teachers and students, a bookmark design contest and plenty more.

Hope to see you all there.

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 My day started off with a bang!  Or rather, a loud tractor breaking up concrete in front of my house at 7:30am.  Argh!

It's that point in the morning where you are somewhat awake but not quite ready to climb out of bed.  Then a guy in a cowboy hat rings your doorbell twice (dogs barking uncontrollably each time).  The first ring you just let it go hoping whoever it is will go away. Then he rings it again.  So you drag yourself out of bed, put on a robe and answer the door.  Only to find a guy standing there asking you to move your truck so he can get to work.

First of all, it's not my truck, but my husbands and he has the key and he is at work. So sorry buddy, you should have told us a day in advance.  So the guy proceeds to maneuver his huge tractor around my husbands truck and breaks up the concrete gutter.  Took him all of 3 minutes and he was gone.  But not before my wonderful neighbor across the street came out and told him a few things.  It's great when you have neighbors that always have your back.  I'll have to make him and his wife some cookies or something.


Have a Great Day Everyone!

Lynn

By Newsner  August 2017

Elizabeth Cochran Seaman was born on May 5, 1864, but if you don't recognize that name, she's better known as the journalist Nellie Bly.

She grew up in Pennsylvania and as a young teenager she already wanted to work and have a career.

Elizabeth's dad died when she was young, and after his death, Elizabeth helped support her mother and her 14 siblings.
Elizabeth didn't like the idea that women could only benefit society by working at home, so, she decided to make a difference out in the world instead.

After reading a column in the Pittsburgh Dispatch called "What Girls Are Good For," Elizabeth got so upset that she wrote a letter to the editor.

The editor, George Madden, in turn, was so impressed by Elizabeth's submission that he asked her to write an article for the newspaper.

She did, and after Madden read it, he offered Elizabeth a permanent job and gave her a pen named: Nellie Bly.

As Nellie Bly, she wrote about women's issues and women's rights, which was unusual because back then, articles intended for women were normally about fashion, society, and gardening tips.

Elizabeth often wrote investigative pieces where she went undercover to places like sweatshops to expose the poor conditions that women worked in.

But after a while, Elizabeth's editors moved her to the women's pages and she decided to leave Pittsburgh for bigger opportunities in New York, writes Biography.

Life in the big city started out difficult. Elizabeth went four months without work. But then, she managed to get a job at the New York World newspaper. One of her first assignments was to go undercover at an infamous mental hospital.
Almost no one who was admitted to the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island left and there wasn't really any other way of finding out what conditions inside were like.

Although the infamous hospital's employees had long been rumored to be abusive, no one dared testify to that effect.
So, with the promise of being released after 10 days, Elizabeth took on the hardest assignment of her life.
But even though she knew it would be awful, Elizabeth could never have imagined how bad it would actually be.
The hospital housed twice as many patients as it had room for. Meals consisted of dried uncooked bread, spoiled meat, watery broth, and dirty water. And there were rats everywhere.

Elizabeth pretended to be mentally ill, but she described the conditions at the hospital as being so bad that it was enough to make a person actually insane.

In addition, Elizabeth met several women who weren't at all mentally ill, but were just poor or unable to speak English.
Patients were abused, beaten, tied up, and forced to endure being doused with ice water in place of showers.
Doctors refused to believe patients who complained about the abuse, and those who did complain were punished.
Women who were actually metally ill weren't given the care they needed.
As promised, a lawyer came for Elizabeth 10 days later.

After Elizabeth's groundbreaking book on her time at Blackwell's Island, "Ten Days in a Mad-House," was published, the government enacted the changes she recommended and the patients' situation improved significantly.

Elizabeth, herself became famous around the country. She continued to write important articles, and thanks to her celebrity, her articles helped change society. She continued to write about poverty, politics and other issues that women previously had no opinion about.

Elizabeth inspired many young women before dying of a stroke in 1922 at the age of 57.
Two years earlier, she experienced the joy of seeing women finally get the right to vote.

Elizabeth accompished a lot in her short life.  
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Wonderful story. Full of intrigue and history.  Thought I would share it with you all.

Happy Ready
Lynn
 

Today we tried a new place, for us anyway, for lunch.  While we were out running some errands, my Mom wanted something to eat.  A burger, is her usual request.  We did not want to eat her usual request. Burgers get a little tiring after a while.  Even a chicken or turkey burger.

So my daughter has been bugging us to go try this place in San Leandro.  Which isn't to far from our home in Hayward.  So we headed off in that direction.

Parking lot was full, but we were able to get a spot not to far from the front door.  Nice older gentleman sitting on a bench near the front door greeted us warmly, as he was waiting for his daughter to meet him for lunch.  We asked him oif the place was any good as we were just trying it for the first time.

He assured us that the food was good and we would love it. So we walked into the front door of Mel's Diner.

The 50's decor was fabulous! The music nostalgic and the smells from the kitchen reminded you of the show "Happy Days".  If your old enough the remember that show.  The decor is based on the movie American Graffiti.  The movie was actually filmed at the original Mel's Diner in San Francisco, which is just across the bay.

We were shown to a table and handed our menu's.  The menus are full of delicious items that are reminiscent of the good old foods of the 50's.  Burger, Shakes, Omelettes, Fried Chicken, Prime Rib (which surprised me) and tons more!  It took us a good 20 minutes to decide on what to order.

The waitresses and waiter, checked in on us quite often to make sure we had everything we needed. Other people sitting around us noticed it was our first time there and struck up a conversation with us about a few of their dishes.  They also assured us that we would love the food.

We finally decided and placed our order. We sat around looking at all the memorabilia hanging on the walls and listening to the old music.  Time flew by.  Next thing we knew, they were delivering our food on small platter sized plates.  My Mom had the ordered the Club Sandwich and fries.  Let me tell you, this was no regular Club Sandwich.  This was real sliced turkey breast piled with bacon, cheese and all the normal fix-in's.  Most places use turkey lunch meat, Mel's does not.  I had the Chicken Fried Steak and eggs (I was in the mood for breakfast since I had not eaten yet and it was almost 1:00 in he afternoon.

Eggs cook perfectly, crispy (but not burnt) hashbrowns and a golden brown chicken fried steak in a crispy brown crust covered in a out of this world breakfast gravy.  I could eat a bowl of the gravy all by itself!  I wouldn't though, that would be bad, right?  LOL

If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and are looking for a great place to eat with that comfortable welcoming atmosphere, step into Mel's Diner in San Leandro (or one of their other locations) and enjoy!

The book signing in Roseville started off badly, but got quickly better.

Due to our GPS telling us wrong information, I arrived there a few minutes late.  Which anyone that knows me, knows I hate to be late. So I felt bad walking into the store. That feeling quickly changed.

There were people actually waiting for me to arrive!  I couldn't believe it!  That just made my day!  The whole day was like that.  people stopping by and talking about my books, and buying them.  LOL  They actually stayed and talked awhile, even taking the seat next to me.  It was great!

The people in Roseville are so friendly and easy to talk to.  I may have gotten there late, but I stayed a lot later than scheduled due to the wonder folks and great time we were having.  Needless to say, book sales were pretty good as well.  LOL

That day will be hard to beat!

Next stop on the Mystery Book Tour:

Saturday - Aug 19th           Barnes and Noble Bookstore
2:00 - 4:00pm                      6825 Camino Arroyo
                                              Gilroy, CA  95020
                                              (408) 846-5777

If you live in the area or will be in the area, stop on by and check out my latest book "Feathers in the Wind".

Happy Reading
Lynn

Like I said in my last post "Times flies when you're having fun."  This week has gone by so fast.

As many of my dedicated readers know, I care for my Mother (who has stage II Alzheimer's) and my Grandfather, who will be 101 years old next month.  So my days are pretty busy now.  I haven't had much time to write.  LOL

I have been mulling a few ideas around in my head for a new episode of "Mika's Time"  I will let you know when that is posted up on my web site.  I still have 2 novels partially completed "City Girl" and "The House on Dusty Hill".  I promise I will finish those eventually.

In the mean time, On with the book signing tour!  Next stop is tomorrow,

Saturday - Aug 5th              Barnes and Noble Bookstore
1:00 - 3:00pm                      1256 Galleria Blvd
                                               Roseville, CA 95678
                                               (916) 788-4320


A little unknown fact for all of my fans.  There are four ( yes 4! ) production companies in Los Angeles that are reviewing my first novel "Fear's Revenge" for a possible Movie!!!!  How great is that? 

I am not holding my breath, but to even catch the attention of movie producers tells me I did something right!  I was also contacted by a distribution company that tells me that there are multiple traditional publishing companies bidding on the same book.  "Fears Revenge"  and that I need to get an agent. 

So I guess I better start the hunt for an agent again.  maybe now since one of my novels it catching attention I might have a better chance than I did a few years ago at getting one.  LOL

Hope to see you tomorrow at my book signing in Roseville, CA

Happy Reading
Lynn

Had a blast yesterday at the Barnes and Noble in Merced, CA. It was hot as H@ll down in the Central Valley tho. Now I remember why we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area years ago. To escape the heat!

The staff at the book store had me all set up. Even got me a cookie from their cafe. That was nice. Of course the cookie monster, my husband, got it.

Pictures should be up in a few days.

The day went by so fast. I ended up staying an extra hour. To much fun. Met a lot of really great people. So friendly down there.

Next stop on the tour,

Saturday - Aug 5th              Barnes and Noble Bookstore
1:00 - 3:00pm                      1256 Galleria Blvd
                                               Roseville, CA 95678
                                               (916) 788-4320

Hope to see you there.
Lynn