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  Just a quick note to let you know about a few things. First, if you haven't checked out  LOST WAGES - a Las Vegas adventure , get your copy free today. You can also pick up  A PINT OF PROBLEMS  if you haven't done so yet. I've got some more work coming your way, so get ready for some stories to curl up with as winter descends across the country. We've had ice in October, Snow on the mountaintops while wildfires raged on the other side. We've had hurricanes and lots of rain, and a time changing Halloween coming up under a full Moon. I can't think of a better time to snuggle up under a blanket, turn on some good tunes and settle back with a great drink and fun reads. I hope you get a chance to escape this weekend. Cheers, Chris Check out more authors  HERE  and  HERE  to fill up your reader.

    So it begins.   I love the memes that talk about the time change back in spring.   There was a Full Moon.   And a Friday the 13 th .   They’re hoping this weekend it’s a reset.   Full Moon again.  Time Change. Samhain.   Everything back to normal.   Sigh. If wishes were Meme’s, we’d all be laughing.   I think we’re going to have a new normal that shifts the way we live, and I don’t know if I’m going to be happy about it.   Just a lot going on right now.   Unless you’re an author.   Then not so much.   My author friends warned me that election time is tough on writers.   You want to rant about politics, but no one is reading.   Not books, not op-ed’s.   Cereal boxes are being read.  Maybe.   That’s the next horde item for our winter shutdown.   No one is reading books either.   I thought maybe I was immune this month.   I’ve had some great days so far.   Until today.   Everything tanked.   The last two days of any month are slow no matter what.   Add to it the election, and a change

    He promised he would love her forever. Now he's praying for the end of time.   When an old friend asks for help, Sheriff Ben Logan can't say no.   The memory of what might have been won't let him.   What if helping her cost a piece of his soul?   Is it a price he's willing to pay?   Find out in book 5 of the brand new urban fantasy series for fans of Longmire mysteries and modern western thrillers set in the world of magic.   Get your copy today.

  TEMPORARY MERC SERIES   Temporary Merc Reprobate Rogue Ganymeade Europa Io Ceres     Sci-Fi Comedy   All Jacked Up – The Dipole Series Good Eats Café – The Dipole Series Whiskey Bent – The Dipole Series Love Machine – The Dipole Series Lunar Hustle - The Dipole Series The Dipole Shield  - The Dipole Series Planet 9  - The Dipole Series Planet 10 – The Dipole Series Half Cocked – The Dipole Series Berserker Brigade – The Dipole Series Apogee – The Dipole Series Apex – The Dipole Series       AL AND MARV SERIES     Space Junk       Sci Fi Western   Backwoods Station – Keeping House Backwoods Station – Bootleg Backwoods Station – Martian Roulette     Sci Fi Dystopian- Alien Invasion Phalanx - Invasion Earth Pyrrhic - Invasion Earth Beachhead  - Invasion Earth Bridgehead - Invasion Earth Lodgement – Invasion Earth Ultima Thule – Invasion Earth Infiltrate – Invasion Earth Dustoff

  Hey it’s Chris,   Who had ice storm in Oklahoma while a hurricane made landfall in Louisiana for October?   What a week for happenings!   Snow. Ice. Hurricane. Wildfire. Full Moon. Time Change and Halloween, all in one fell swoop.   What a crazy time.   Or what a great time to get something good to read and stay inside for a bit.   Make a big pot of chili, put on some cool tunes and kick back with a good story that will take your mind off of it all.   That’s not an ostrich solution, it’s a hunker down and hold tight solution.   It’s easy where I am today.   Skies are gray and misty, the kind of drizzle that soaks everything but raindrops never fall.   I think it chased me down from the mountains.   Speaking of which, it was cold and fun and beautiful, and except for minor bouts with traffic, peaceful.   I thought heading into the hinterlands of Southern MO would run up against an anti-mask mandate, but 99% of the people we saw masked up.   In the theme park, on the streets, and going

I think the Stones said it best.   You can’t always get what you want.   But if you try sometimes…   You know the rest.   Or you should.   Sometimes what we want isn’t exactly what we need.   I thought Fall fell here, but it’s headed up to 80 degrees every day this week.   We’re promised a cool down by Saturday which coincides with a trip I’m taking to the Ozarks.   The weathermen are predicting snow.   Just an inch or two, so nothing too dramatic. A pretty dusting and maybe a few moments of muted silence as the flakes coat everything with a fine layer of microscopic ice.   I’d love it if I could lock myself to a table by a window and crank out a few words.   Alas, I am going for adventure and fun times.   There are plans for an indoor waterpark and an outdoor amusement park.  There are hopes for a pipe rail ride down the side of a mountain, weather dependent.   And I had suggested a thirty mile trip north to a snowboard/ski facility that uses fake snow and along hillside for tubing, b

  Rusks     2-1/4 cups flour     1/2 teaspoon salt     2 tablespoons maple or brown sugar     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1/4 teaspoon nutmeg     3/4 teaspoon cinnamon     1 egg     1/3 to 2/3 cup water     2 tablespoons shortening Sift together flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon; add beaten egg and melted shortening to water and add.  Mix well and turn out on floured board.  Divide into small pieces; with floured hands shape into rolls; place on greased shallow pan close together;  allow to stand 10 to 15 minutes before baking;  brush with milk and sprinkle with a little maple or brown sugar.  Bake in moderate oven 20 to 30 minutes. For hot cross buns, with sharp knife make deep cross cuts; brush with butter, sprinkle with sugar and bake.

  Lunch or Sandwich Rolls     4 cups flour     1 teaspoon salt     6 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 tablespoon shortening     1-1/2 cups milk Sift together flour, salt and baking powder; rub in shortening;  add milk, and mix with spoon to smooth dough easy to handle on floured board.  Turn out dough; knead quickly a few times to impart smoothness; divide into small pieces; form each by hand into short, rather thick tapering rolls; place on greased pans and allow to stand in warm place 15 to 20 minutes;  brush with milk.  Bake in very hot oven.  When almostbaked brush again with melted butter.  Bake 10 minutes longer and servehot.  If a glazed finish is desired, before taking from oven brush with yolk of egg which has been mixed with a little water.  These rolls makeexcellent sandwiches, using for fillings either lettuce and mayonnaise, sliced or chopped ham, chopped seasoned cucumbers, egg and mayonnaise with very little chopped onion and parsley, or other filling desired.

  Potato Rolls     4 cups flour     1 teaspoon salt     1 tablespoon sugar     7 teaspoons Baking Powder     2 medium-sized cold, boiled potatoes     water or milk Sift thoroughly together flour, salt, sugar and baking powder;  rub inpotatoes or add after putting through ricer;  add sufficient liquid to mix smoothly into soft dough.  This will require about one and one-half cups.  Divide into small pieces; knead each and shape into small rolls; place on greased pan and brush with melted shortening and allow to stand in warm place 15 to 20 minutes.  Bake in hot oven and when nearly done, brush again with melted shortening.

  Nut and Raisin Rolls     2-1/2 cups flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1/2 teaspoon salt     1 tablespoon sugar     5 tablespoons shortening     1 egg     2/3 cup milk     butter     raisins     chopped nuts     1/2 cup sugar Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together.  Add melted shortening and beaten egg to milk and add to dry ingredients, mixing well.  Turn out on floured board and knead lightly.  Roll out very thin. Spread with butter and sprinkle with raisins, chopped nuts and small amount of granulated sugar.  Cut into about 4-inch squares.  Roll up each as for jelly roll.  Press edges together.  Brush over with yolk of egg mixed with a little cold water and sprinkle with nuts and sugar, and allow to stand in greased pan about 15 minutes.  Bake in moderate oven from 20 to 25 minutes.

Coffee Cake     2 cups flour     1/2 teaspoon salt     3 tablespoons sugar     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     2 tablespoons shortening     2/3 cup milk Mix and sift dry ingredients;  add melted shortening and enough milk to make very stiff batter.  Spread 1/2-inch thick in greased pan; add top mixture.  Bake about 30 minutes in moderate oven. TOP MIXTURE     2 tablespoons flour     1 tablespoon cinnamon     3 tablespoons sugar     3 tablespoons shortening Mix dry ingredients; rub in shortening and spread thickly over top of dough before baking.

  Rye Rolls     4 cups rye flour     1 teaspoon salt     6 teaspoons Baking Powder     1-1/2 cups milk     1 tablespoon shortening Sift together dry ingredients;  add milk and melted shortening.  Knead on floured board; shape into rolls.  Put into greased pans and allow to stand in warm place 20 minutes.  Bake in moderate oven 25 to 30 minutes.

  Cinnamon Buns     2-1/4 cups flour     1 teaspoon salt     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     2 tablespoons shortening     1 egg     1/2 cup water     1/2 cup sugar     2 teaspoons cinnamon     4 tablespoons seeded raisins Sift 2 tablespoons of measured sugar with flour, salt and baking powder; rub shortening in lightly; add beaten egg to water and add slowly.  Roll out 1/4-inch thick on floured board;  brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and raisins.  Roll as for jelly roll; cut into1-1/2-inch pieces;  place with cut edges up on greased pan; sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.  Bake in moderate oven 30 to 35 minutes;  remove from pan at once.

  Prune or Date Bread     1 cup prunes or dates     2-1/2 cups graham flour or 1 cup flour and 1-1/2 cups graham flour     1/4 cup sugar     1 teaspoon salt     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 cup milk     1 tablespoon melted shortening Stone and chop fruit (prunes must be soaked several hours and drained). Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder; add milk and beat well;  add fruit and shortening.  Put into greased bread pan; allow to stand 20 to 25 minutes in warm place.  Bake in moderate oven one hour.

  House Rolls     4 cups flour     1 teaspoon salt     6 teaspoons Baking Powder     2-4 tablespoons shortening     1-1/2 cups milk Sift flour, salt and baking powder together.  Add melted shortening to milk and add slowly to dry ingredients stirring until smooth.  Knead on floured board and roll one-half inch thick.  Cut with biscuit cutter. Crease each circle with back of knife one side of center.  Butter small section and fold larger part well over small.  Place one inch apart in greased pan.  Allow to stand 15 minutes in warm place.  Brush with melted butter and bake in hot oven 15 to 20 minutes.

Brown Sugar Buns     2 cups flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1/2 teaspoon salt     1 tablespoon shortening     1/2 cup milk     1 tablespoon butter     1 cup brown sugar Sift together flour, baking powder and salt;  add shortening and rub in very lightly;  add milk slowly to make a soft dough; roll out 1/4-inch thick.  Have butter soft and spread over dough; cover with brown sugar. Roll same as jelly roll; cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces and place with cut edges up on well greased pan.  Bake in moderate oven about 30 minutes; remove from pan at once.

  Baked Veal with Tomato Sauce     1 thin veal cutlet     1 teaspoon drippings     1 teaspoon chopped onion     1 teaspoon chopped parsley     1/2 cup bread crumbs     1/2 teaspoon salt     1/8 teaspoon pepper Trim edge of cutlet and spread on board or platter.  Fry onion in drippings until tender; add bread crumbs and parsley mixed with enough water to hold them together; spread on cutlet and roll; tie in three or four places.  Dust with salt, pepper and flour.  Place in pan; add 1/2 cuphot water.  Roast in hot oven 35 to 45 minutes, adding water if needed. Remove to hot platter; pour tomato sauce around meat and garnish with parsley.

  Baking Powder Bread     4 cups flour     1 teaspoon salt     1 tablespoon sugar     7 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 medium-sized, cold boiled potato milk (water may be used) Sift together flour, salt, sugar and baking powder, rub in potato;  add sufficient milk to mix smoothly into stiff batter.  Turn at once into greased loaf pan, smooth top with knife dipped in melted butter, and allow to stand in warm place about 30 minutes.  Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) about one hour.  When done take from pan, moisten top with few drops cold water and allow to cool before putting away.

  Corn Bread     1 cup corn meal     1 cup flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     3 tablespoons sugar     1 teaspoon salt     1-1/2 cups milk     2 tablespoons melted shortening     1 egg Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk, shortening and beaten egg; beat well and pour into greased shallow pan.  Bake in hot oven about 25 minutes.

  Spider Corn Bread     1 egg     1-3/4 cups milk     1 cup corn meal     1/3 cup flour     2 tablespoons sugar     1 teaspoon salt     2 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 tablespoon shortening Beat egg and add one cup milk; stir in corn meal, flour, sugar, salt and baking powder which have been sifted together; turn into frying pan in which shortening has been melted;  pour on remainder of milk but do not stir.  Bake about 25 minutes in hot oven.  There should be a line of creamy custard through the bread.  Cut into triangles and serve.

  Peanut Butter Bread     2 cups flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 teaspoon salt     1/2 cup sugar     2/3 cup peanut butter     1 cup milk Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together.  Add milk to peanut butter, blend well and add to dry ingredients; beat thoroughly.  Bake in greased loaf pan in slow oven 45 to 50 minutes.  This is best when a day old.  It makes delicious sandwiches cut in thin slices and filled with either cream cheese or lettuce and mayonnaise.

  Graham Bread     1-1/2 cups flour     1-1/2 cups graham flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 teaspoon salt     1 tablespoon melted shortening     1 egg     1-1/2 cups liquid (1/2 water and 1/2 milk)     2 tablespoons sugar or molasses Mix flour, graham flour, baking powder and salt together; add beaten egg, shortening and sugar or molasses to liquid;  stir into dry mixture and beat well;  add more milk if necessary to make a drop batter.  Put into greased loaf pan, smooth with knife dipped in cold water.  Bake about one hour in moderate oven.

  Corn and Rice Pone     2 cups corn meal     5 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 teaspoon salt     3 eggs     2-1/4 cups milk     4 tablespoons melted shortening     1 cup boiled rice Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk and shortening to beaten eggs; stir into dry mixture;  mix in rice and pour into shallow greased pans. Bake in hot oven about 30 minutes.

  Nut and Raisin Bread     1-1/2 cups flour     2 cups graham flour     1/2 cup corn meal     1/2 cup brown sugar     1 teaspoon salt     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     3/4 cup chopped nuts     1 cup ground raisins     2 cups milk     1/2 cup molasses     1/4 teaspoon soda Sift dry ingredients together.  Add nuts and raisins; add milk and mix well, then add molasses and soda which have been mixed together.  Bake in two small greased loaf pans in moderate oven about 45 minutes.

  Almond Butter Bread     2 cups flour     4 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 teaspoon salt     1/2 cup sugar     2/3 cup Almond butter     1 cup milk Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together.  Add milk to almond butter, blend well and add to dry ingredients; beat thoroughly.  Bake in greased loaf pan in slow oven 45 to 50 minutes.  This is best when a day old.  It makes delicious sandwiches cut in thin slices and filled with either cream cheese or lettuce and mayonnaise.

 Boston Brown Bread     1 cup entire wheat or graham flour     1 cup corn meal     1 cup rye meal or ground rolled oats     5 teaspoons Baking Powder     1 teaspoon salt     3/4 cup molasses     1-1/3 cups milk Mix thoroughly dry ingredients; add molasses to milk, and add to dry ingredients;  Beat thoroughly and put into greased molds 2/3 full.  Steam 3-1/2 hours; remove covers and bake until top is dry.

Are you the problem or the solution?   I’m an expert at identifying problems. Put me in traffic and I can tell you what every other driver is doing wrong. Plant me in a mall and I can point out foot traffic problems, why folks aren’t going into stores and a thousand other data points that any business can use to improve their numbers. I’m especially good at city problems. Why people are moving away, why downtowns are dying, why tax revenue is falling. I can find and point out problems like an expert. Take Pine Bluff for instance. Five years ago, one of the historic buildings crumbled and fell onto Main Street and blocked it for three years. I wrote a letter to the then Mayor on how to fix it. I wrote a second letter to the newly elected mayor to go over my points again. I wrote letters to the Chamber of Commerce about how to stop the population exodus. I wrote editorials on how to save the city. And nothing happened. The building blocked the street. People