Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Wayback Wednesday: Muscle Cars of the 1970s

Wayback Wednesday: 
Muscle Cars of the 1970s

Pixabay/Peter Benoit
Every one of my older brother’s friends owned a “muscle car” in high school, and it’s interesting to remember that none of them was the same. Each guy had his preference. So, what are muscle cars and how did they come about?

Pontiac was the first to coin the phrase “muscle car” in the 1960s as a descriptor for their GTO (often referred to as the “goat” by car enthusiasts). It wasn’t long before the moniker took hold to describe any souped-up vehicle. Ford and other manufacturers (as well as Pontiac’s parent company General Motors) jumped into the market with their own versions.

There doesn’t seem to be a precise definition of what qualifies as a muscle are, but the general agreement is that an American-made vehicle intermediately sized, featuring a coupe-style body, and powerful V8 engine. The most important component was the engine, with every manufacturer working to increase cubic inches (more cubic inches means a bigger engine, which means it can generate more horsepower).

According to one site, the appeal of the cars was that they offered the opportunity to own an
Pixabay/AddieG
affordable, yet robust vehicle that could be used for drag racing. Some of the early cars included the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, Pontiac Trans-Am, and Dodge Charger.

Interestingly, the first “official” muscle car, the Oldsmobile Rocket 88, came out in 1949, combining a lightweight body with a high-compression overhead valve V8. However, according to several sources, the origins hearken back to the 1920s when moonshiners and bootleggers modified their cars because “they needed the fastest possible vehicles to outrun police cars while improving their cargo capacity and handling.”

Courtesy GoldEagle.com
Prohibition was long gone by the 1940s, but the former bootleggers had developed a taste for fast cars, and began to compete with each other using drag strips in the 1950s. After the Rocket 88 came the Chrysler C-300 in 1955 with a 331-cubic-inch engine that put out 300 horsepower. Studebaker followed with its Golden Hawk, and AMC produced the Rambler Rebel in 1957.

The golden age of muscle cars that most historians agree began in the early 1960s fizzled after the U.S. oil crisis and change in federal regulations occurred in 1974. The available technology didn’t allow them to produce the big-block engines and meet federal emissions regulations seeing an end to these iconic vehicles.

___________________

Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?

Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/43tXBlp

Friday, June 2, 2023

Fiction Friday: New Releases!

June 2023 New Releases

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

A Green and Vibrant Hope by Valerie Comer -- Arleigh O’Neill gambles on starting her own flower farm with a tight budget on leased land…and loses when the river overflows its banks, demolishing the rented greenhouse, drowning her fields, and destroying her mobile home. She needs both a home and a job, but no one in Galena Landing seems to be hiring. Widowed farmer Mitchell Ackerman is at wit’s end with his two rambunctious sons, but his brother’s suggestion he hire Arleigh to nanny the boys is a nonstarter. He can’t afford to pay anyone, and besides, she annoys him with her hippie-flower-painted van and independent attitude. Arleigh thinks he’s arrogant. Mitchell thinks she’s frivolous. What will it take to get them to see into each other’s hearts and grasp a green and vibrant hope? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Love Like No Other by Tabitha Bouldin -- Alicia Gray wants one thing: to prove her capabilities as a doctor. Maybe then she can escape the feeling that her mother's abandonment was deserved. She's never felt worthy and grew up in foster home after foster home, always being told that if she did better, if she was more amenable, she'd find her place. When she came to Suamalie, the last thing she expected to find was a man whose grumpy personality conflicted so piercingly with her sunshine demeanor. Colin Tremblay was dishonorably discharged from his army medic position and sent home in disgrace after his twin brother stole from his clinic. Back on the islands, he's bounced from job to job, never finding anything that satisfies him. To make matters worse, his twin niece and nephew convince him to spend his summer overseeing their camp activities while working alongside Little Miss Sunshine herself. (Contemporary Romance from Celebrate Lit Publishing)

Love Somebody Like You by Carolyn Miller -- For Lexi Franklin, returning to Trinity Lakes feels a little like running home with her tail between her legs. But what's a girl to do, when her life has been turned upside down on the other side of the world? She needs a place to regain hope and healing - just didn't count on meeting a cowboy whose own battered heart might need nursing back to health too. Jackson Reilly has his own set of troubles, between caring for his ranch, his mom, and the black hole of finances. So when a pretty redhead with a sassy tongue offers some distraction - and a potential solution to one of his most pressing concerns - he's not going to say no. But as they spend time together, questions soon rise about their future, and whether faith can truly win over fears. Will Jackson be able to save his ranch, and his hopes and heart, before Lexi returns to Australia? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

General Historical:

To Calm a Storm by Heather Day Gilbert -- For years, Kadhrin has anticipated marrying her betrothed, Vikarr, who is now second in command only to the king. As she settles into married life, she becomes increasingly convinced that her husband would make a far better ruler than his distracted cousin, and she urges him to heed advisors calling for an overthrow. Vikarr is honored to marry such a noble bride, but he hasn't bargained for Kadhrin's boldness. Although pleased by the growing passion between them, he struggles to understand her motivations. As rumors of an insurrection build, Vikarr is torn between the captivating woman who has laid claim to his heart, his loyalty to his king, and his growing desire to seize the kingship so he can unify his country against looming threats. Caught up in a web of political intrigue and personal betrayal, Kadhrin and Vikarr must choose not only which war to wage, but also which side to stand on, even if it means sacrificing everything they hold dear. (General Historical, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Beneath a Peaceful Moon by Debby Lee -- Mary Wishram, an orphaned Yakima tribal member, aches for her brother who suffers in a POW camp in the Philippine Islands. Her Japanese friends languish in a relocation center. Determined to end the war by any means necessary, she employs her language skills to become a spy. She leaves Camp Pendleton for the South Pacific and faces escalating threats of peril to help bring her loved ones home. John Painted Horse, a proud Navajo, struggles with the loss of his father who died in WWI for a country that didn’t consider him a United States citizen. Though his home state doesn’t offer him the right to vote, he joins the Code Talker program at Camp Pendleton. Thrust into mounting danger in the South Pacific, he hopes to bring long overdue recognition and honor to his people, no matter the cost. Will these two wounded souls find healing from their past traumas and a deeper relationship with God, before it’s too late? Or will they lose their chance at love, and everything they hold dear? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)


Love Most Certain
by Penny Zeller -- Can newfound love heal a broken heart? Genevieve Amsel is recovering from a canceled engagement when her dear friend, Tillie, invites her to move to Ellis Creek for a fresh start. While she settles into life in the friendly Montana town, one thing is for certain: Genevieve will never fall in love again, no matter what marriage prospects come her way. Becoming the new postmaster in Ellis Creek is not for the faint of heart. Attempting to do his best to replace the popular Mr. Norman who recently retired, Oliver Bessell relocates from Bozeman and attempts to win the hearts of Ellis Creek residents, especially one in particular. Can he prove to Genevieve he's nothing like the man who broke her heart? Soon Oliver makes it his mission to encourage and brighten Genevieve's day by leaving her notes at the breakfast table at the boarding house where they both reside. And when a mysterious letter arrives at the post office, will the solving of the puzzle draw him and Genevieve closer? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Mystery:

Backstory by Susan Page Davis -- A hurricane lashes the Novel Inn, forcing guests to remain when they’d hoped to leave. Add an elderly neighbor, Kate’s ex-fiancĂ©, and a clandestine thief. When a guest is found dead in the Hercule Poirot Room, it’s time for the Gage siblings and the local police to go into action. (Mystery from Scrivenings Press)

Thriller/Suspense/Romantic:

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape by Loretta Edson -- The firefighter rescued her once…But can they outrun the dangers? A peaceful vacation is what Haley Gordon needs to put her troubles behind her. Instead, she finds herself fighting for her life against a raging forest fire. Forest Service firefighter Kendall Simpson vows to protect Haley—although he has questions about her story. But with the firestorm out of control and news of escaped convicts on the mountain, can Haley and Kendall trust each other enough to survive? (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

Hold for Release by Heidi Glick -- Carlotta Hartman's life is falling apart. Although Carlotta desperately wants a child, her journalist husband just wishes their marriage would go back to the way things used to be before infertility treatments took over their schedule. While volunteering at an animal shelter to fill the void, Carlotta stumbles upon dead animals and a human body. Days later, Jake confesses to an affair with a co-worker. Hurt and confused, Carlotta moves in with her sister. And then things go from bad to perilous. As Jake receives counsel from a pastor, he pledges to woo Carlotta again and piece together their shattered marriage. But as Carlotta rushes out of Jake' s arms, she runs straight into danger. Like the articles Jake writes and holds for release, a psychopath, bent on revenge, vows to hang onto Carlotta until the time is right. In the end, a secret from the past threatens to kill all hopes of a happy future.. (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic from HarborLight Books/Pelican)

Western Romance:

The Laws of Attraction by Mary Conneally If widowed town seamstress Nell Armstrong has to make one more pair of boring chaps for the cowboys in her tiny Wyoming town, she might lose her mind. So meeting Brand Nolte, a widower father struggling to raise three girls, seems like her dream come true. Brand has no idea how to dress the girls, and Nell finally has a chance to both create beautiful dresses and teach the girls to sew. But Nell is much more than a seamstress, and the unique legal and investigative skills and knowledge she picked up alongside her late lawman husband soon become critical when a wounded stagecoach-robbery survivor is brought to town. As danger closes in from all sides, Nell and Brand must discover why there seems to be a bull's-eye on their backs. (Western Romance from Bethany House/Baker)


Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

 
 
A Musician’s Heart Sandra Ardoin, How will two people with opposing visions for their futures find common ground? (Contemporary Romance)

 
 
Ben: Ben Mitchell/Titus Ray Mysteries, Books 1-3 Luana Ehrlich, Is Ben really in love with the daughter of a Turkish dissident? (Thriller/Suspense/Romantic)

 
 
Finding Her Frontier HomeLouise M. Gouge, A ranch out West could be the home she’s longed for. (Historical Romance)

 
 
The Keys to Gramercy Park Candice Sue Patterson, His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. (Historical Romance)

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Sarah Hanks

Talkshow Thursday: 
A Guest Post by Sarah Hanks

Did you know hundreds of women disguised themselves as men and fought in the Civil War? My novel A Battle Worth Fighting is the first in the Sister in Arms collection featuring such women. Fall Back and Find Me, releasing this Fall, will be the second. These are all stand-alone split-time novels. The contemporary storylines differ vastly, but the historical storylines all have the thread of the secret female Civil War soldier.

How did they do it? It’s amazing to think how many women got away with this on both sides of the conflict. Indeed, we don’t know the number of those who did mostly because of their stealth. How many women died in battle, their identities a secret they took with them to the grave? There are reports of women not being discovered until they gave birth in camp. As inconceivable as that is to us today, if we put ourselves into the culture of the 1860s it becomes a bit more understandable.

Women then didn’t wear pants, so no one expected such. The uniforms were ill-fitting, making it easy
Pixabay/Wendy Luby
for a woman to hide her figure. Ranks were full of boys lacking the deep timber of mature, masculine voices and too young to grow facial hair. Women blended in with them. Medical exams to enlist were cursory, often only checking for strong teeth and the existence of a trigger finger. Because camp latrines were filthy, no one thought much of a more private soldier excusing himself (or herself) to the woods to take care of business.

Perhaps just as important of a question is why did they do it? What would possess a woman to run towards battle? The reasons are as varied as the women themselves. Some women, like Bernie in A Battle Worth Fighting, couldn’t stand to be parted from a husband or loved one. They followed their person into war. Some women, like Willow in Fall Back and Find Me, were running from someone or something. The war for them was an escape. As we’ll see in Henrietta’s story (to come), money was a powerful motivator for some. Financial opportunities were limited for women. Transforming oneself into a man opened up a plethora of new options, including steady pay from the army plus a hefty sign-on bonus. What would you do if your family was starving? Would you take the risk?

Pixabay/David Mark
No matter why a woman chose to enlist, there were risks involved. Besides the obvious of risking her life in battle, a woman risked her reputation if caught. Rumors abounded that women who chose to be soldiers did so because they were prostitutes. Also, she ran the risk of being jailed. Each regiment handled these cases differently as there were no official rules. Some arrested the woman. Some put her in a dress and sent her home. Some allowed her to stay on as a laundress or cook.

We can learn a lot from these brave women. Follow me on social media to learn more fascinating historical facts, among other things. I’m @authorsarahhanks on both Facebook and Instagram. Also, feel free to visit my website for several freebies.

A Battle Worth Fighting

Two strong women, centuries apart, fight for the men they love in this inspirational split-time novel.


Sahara Dawn married a man she didn't fully love, only to find, over a decade later, she can't breathe without him. The problem is, he seems to have given up on their marriage, having taken a job across the country, and is in no apparent hurry to return to his wife. Desperate to make things right and inspired by a distant relative who fought as a female soldier in the Civil War, Sahara leaves everything familiar behind, learns a new trade, and sets off to win back Jaxon's heart. But is she too late?

Bernice Reisenfeld loves the life she and her husband Hermann have built together on their sheep farm in rural South Carolina. But when the Civil War breaks out, everything changes. Despite her desperate pleas for Hermann to stay out of the conflict, he enlists. After growing up with a grandfather embittered by war, she can't stand to see her husband succumb to the same fate. Dressing up like a man, she enlists as well, determined to find Hermann and bring him home. Only she finds far more than she bargained for. Will she make it home with her marriage and her heart intact?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/45ESRve

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Wayback Wednesday: 1970s Fashion

Wayback Wednesday: 1970s Fashion

Although mostly remembered for its big hair and bell-bottom pants, the 70s saw a gamut of fashion styles during the decade. In fact, fashion during the times was so varied, Vogue reported, “There are no rules in the fashion game now.”

In the early 70s, the “hippie” look of the 1960s carried over and women work frayed jeans, bell bottom pants (including “elephant bells”), midi skirts, maxi dresses, tie-dye, peasant blouses, and ponchos. Accessories included chokers, headbands, scarves, and jewelry made of wood, stones, feathers, and beads. (Don’t look now, I think that’s coming back!) Pastel colors were very popular, especially baby blue, yellow, mauve, and peach, the latter being my husband-to-be’s go-to choice. Men’s outfits were generally bright colors and textured in corduroy, paisley, wool, or crushed velvet for special occasions. And don’t forget the plaid!

Women who didn’t like the hippie style wore clothing inspired by the 1940s movie star glamour and
included cloche hats or turbans, pearl earrings and necklaces, feather boas, and black-veiled hats. Some actually search for vintage clothing from the 30s and 40s. Intriguingly, sweaters played a large part in early 1970s fashion from sweater coats, sweater dresses, floor-length sweaters, and even sweater suits (just because you can doesn’t mean you should!). Some were even trimmed with faux fur. Shawl-collared, belted cardigans were popular.

Then the mid-1970s hit and the Hippie look fell out. Casual became the watchword with fitted T-shirts being popular, often with elaborate designs, slogans, or sports logos. As women flocked to the workforce business styles became more tailored with blazers, midi skirts, fitted blouses, and high heels. If you remember John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Live, you know what men’s fashions looked like by 1975.

Thanks to Travolta, the Disco style took fashion through the late portion of the decade with its wide-lapeled three-piece suits and flared pants. Women wore jersey wrap dresses, tube tops, sequined shirts, shorts, and high-slit skirts set off with boots or chunky heels. As the 1970s came to an end, clothing became baggier and more revealing. Cowl-neck shirts, sundresses over T-shirts, pantsuits, and strapless tops became the rage. Colors shied away from pastels to earth tones with brown, tan, and gray being the most seen. Sportswear for men became the alternative to Disco attire. Tracksuits, jumpsuits, puffer vests, and low-top sneakers were the rage.

What is your favorite 1970s look?


________________________

Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?


Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

Pre-order link: https://amzn.to/45uf9Qj

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Steven Rogers!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Steven Rogers!

Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy this fun interview with award-winning author Steven Rogers.

What was your inspiration for the story?

While on a plane heading to Israel, I asked myself a question—What would happen if I was an alcoholic, recently released from rehab, and I had to take the trip? I dug a notebook out of my backpack and outlined my character Ben Cahill (although his name was George Reed until the third draft of the book) and wrote the first two pages of Into the Room. While touring Israel, I journaled in Ben’s voice. When I returned home, I decided to tell his story.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Obviously, there was the trip to Israel. Although writing a book about the visit was not the original intention, the entire journey turned into an impromptu research project. In addition, I researched the chemistry and psychology of alcoholism. I did this through reading, conversations with individuals in recovery, and drawing on firsthand experiences.

Pixabay/acperez1

The tidbit I had to include was our visit to the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. The account in the story reflects my own experience, especially the part where Ben sits on a wall and reads John 20, verses 10 through 18. It was a life-changing moment for me, one I still look back on during my devotional times.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to write a book about the character Ruth. In the story, she is at peace with her life and offers kind wisdom and support to Ben. Toward the end of Into the Room, the reader learns about her previously rebellious lifestyle and challenges overcoming personal tragedy. I would enjoy exploring those events and her relationship with God more deeply.

How do you come up with storylines?

I constantly ponder “I wonder what would happen if…” For example, standing on a crowded boardwalk on the beach last summer I thought “I wonder what would happen if this platform collapsed right now.” For every fifty or so times, I get a short story or novel idea. I am still considering this one— “I wonder what would have happened if Judas did not hang himself? Would he have been redeemed? Would he have returned to God’s service?”

I also observe people. When I am sitting in a public place, I frequently invent backstories for those around me. This sometimes leads to characters I either include in my stories or write stories about. For example, I have an unpublished short story resulting from watching an elderly man play shuffleboard on a cruise ship. Turns out he had quite the background.

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process?

Whenever I write something, I know the beginning and the end before I start. I have a vague idea of the events occurring in between. As I write, the plot develops and characters grow, sometimes surprising me with their insistence on being part of the story. An example from Into the Room is the character Daniel. He was originally intended to appear sparingly, but he kept showing up in scenes.

I typically write in the afternoon either in my home office or at the local library. My favorite part of the writing process is the first edit. Once the story is down, I love adding imagery, digging deeper into plotlines/characters, and making the words more readable.

What is one thing you wish you could do?

I have always wanted to be a guy who was “handy” and able to fix things. While I am competent within limits, I have always envied people who are true “do-it-yourselfers.” Often my characters have these skills, allowing me to live vicariously through them.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?

By starting the next short story or novel!

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

First off, I still consider myself a new writer. However, to those starting out I offer three pieces of advice: (1) write the story you want to write. There is no way every reader will like your work—make sure you do, (2) practice, practice, practice. Working on the craft is the only way to improve, and (3) never write anything you would be embarrassed to have your mother read. Following this rule does not mean you are unrealistic in your writing. This approach forces a writer to creatively describe difficult, violent, or intimate situations.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

Photo: Steven Rogers
I love this question! I am going to pick two. The first is The Reluctant Pitcher by Matt Christopher. I remember my father taking me to my hometown library and this book “flipped the toggle switch,” creating a lifelong love of reading fiction. The second is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. For a young boy, the story was magical. In addition, I found an old beat-up hardcover at a yard sale when I was about ten. It was the first book I ever bought using my own money and I still have the copy on my shelf.

What books are on your nightstand right now?

For reading—Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, and The City Below by James Carroll. For devotional times—The Cloud on Unknowing (author unknown) and Praying our Days by Frank T. Griswold.

What is your next project?

I am currently finishing a sequel to Into the Room. The working title is A Year in the Room. After A Year in the Room, I will tell one more story about Ben Cahill. I see his journey as a trilogy.

Into the Room: An Excerpt

There’s nothing worse than Holy Rollers on a roll.

Yet here I am, on a bus bursting with Christians, all of them using their outdoor voices, enthusiastically talking about the upcoming pilgrimage. The excitement is lost on me. To take a pilgrimage, there needs to be a purpose and, as far as I’m concerned, this trip is simply filling time.

Also, and I think this is true, to take a pilgrimage, you need to know who you are and what you want to become. I’m confident I couldn’t give a sincere answer to either of those questions. However, in a moment of honesty, I’d confess that it would be nice to know who I am.

Who am I?

My name is Ben Cahill, and I’m taking this trip because I have no place to live, unless I camp on my brother’s couch and, well, at forty-two I’m a little beyond that stage. The trip leader, the guy everyone calls Pastor Marcus, got me in at the last minute after Nick, that’s my brother, pulled some strings and talked me onto the roster. Nick’s half a Holy Roller himself.

Unfortunately, no matter how far away I go, I can’t get away from myself.

I was, until recently, a highly regarded commercial real estate developer, arguably the best dealmaker in the city of Richmond, Virginia, and wealthy. Most of the fortune is gone. I told the lawyers Sarah deserved all of it, that all I wanted was some seed money and the old Camry. I got $50,000 and, after paying for this trip, there’s $46,000 left.

Sarah is my soon-to-be ex-wife, an angel on earth who, for some reason, still loves me. However, I believe she will never, under any circumstances, take me back. A woman can forgive almost all transgressions except one—there is no exoneration when she thinks her children are in danger, no grace granted for subsequent good behavior.

We have two children. One is a beautiful little girl, eight-year-old Olivia, and the other is a strong-willed, determined thirteen-year-old boy named Zach. Zach has become his mother’s and his sister’s protector.

Three weeks ago, I graduated from the Seasons of Hope rehabilitation facility. My time at the Outhouse, as we called the place, was wasted; on the way home, I drank myself into oblivion.

Even now, with all the mess I’ve created, all I want is a bottle of Absolut, a short glass, and some ice.

But, really, it’s all under control. I’ve just got to get back to work, back to my routine. I’ve just got to get through this trip.

On to Israel.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3LiJKa1

Monday, May 22, 2023

Movie Monday: Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Movie Monday: 
Murder on the Orient Express

WikiImages
We’re still in the 1970s, and today we’re going to look at the 1974 version of Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express. With a budget of just under $1.5 million, the film was a resounding box-office success, earning over $35 million. The producers’ choice of directors, Sidney Lumet, was no doubt a calculated move. He is reportedly one of the most prolific filmmakers in the modern era, directing more than one move a year on average since his debut in 1957. Actors loved working for him, and critics could count on a well-executed film. Although fourteen of his movies were nominated for Academy Awards, and Lumet himself was nominated for five, he never won an individual Oscar. Late in life, he received an Academy Honorary Award. Intriguingly, he directed Murder in between Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon.

The cast is star-studded and included Sean Connery, Albert Finney, Ingrid Berman, Lauren Bacall, Jacqueline Bisset, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark, and Michael York. Connery was the first actor approached and said yes immediately. He would ultimately make five films with Lumet. Lumet wanted Bergman to play Princess Dragomiroff, but she chose instead, the smaller role of Greta Ohlsson. Obviously, a good choice because she won Best Supporting Actress.

Exterior filming was mostly done in France, and the scenes of the train going through Central Europe
Pixabay/Jorg Vieli
were filmed in the Jura Mountains on the Swiss-French border. There were concerns about the lack of snow proceeding the scheduled shooting of the snowbound train, therefore snow was trucked in (at quite a large expense). Ironically, heavy snowfall occurred the night before the scheduled filming making the extra snow unnecessary, and stranding the snow-laden backup vehicles.

Christie only liked two of the film adaptations of her novels, and Murder was one of them, the other being Witness for the Prosecution. She passed away fourteen months after the movie’s release. Roger Ebert was effusive with his praise, specifically saying, “What I liked best about this movie is its style, both the deliberately old-fashioned visual strategies used by director Sidney Lumet, and the cheerful overacting of the dozen or more suspects.”

A classic that’s not to be missed.

____________________

Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?


Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/45uf9Qj

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Wayback Wednesday: 1974

Wayback Wednesday: 1974

Pixabay/
Public Domain Pictures

The 1970s doesn’t feel like long ago until you do the math and discover that decade commenced over fifty years ago. I’m a child of the 70s and have enjoyed walking down Memory Lane while researching and writing Dial S for Second Chances, a story about high school sweethearts who reconnect at their 45th reunion.

Turbulence from the 60s carried over into the 70s as demonstrations continued about the Vietnam War, racial injustices, and women’s rights. Globally, there were lots of coups, civil wars, and political upheavals, some of which broke into armed conflict. However, the WWII post-war economic boom continued, giving people greater financial freedom. The Watergate scandal shocked the American nation and President Nixon resigned in disgrace.

Perhaps as a way to get the public’s minds off current events, 1974 filmmakers produced quite a few
comedies such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Front Page. Disaster films were also popular and that same year and audiences were reportedly traumatized by the “Sensurround” effects of Earthquake.

One-hit-wonder Bo Davison released “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero,” but many musical groups hit their stride in 1974 with such popular songs as “Already Gone” by the Eagles, “I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton, “I Love You” by Olivia Newton John, and “You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt.

Interestingly, 1974 also saw The Partridge Family and The Brady Bunch go off the air to be replaced by Happy Days with Richie Cunningham and The Fonz, and Little House on the Prairie. Both shows hearkened back to simpler times. James Garner continued his success in television with The Rockford Files and Angie Dickinson made a splash with Police Woman.

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Several prominent figures passed away in 1974: the controversial pilot turned activist Charles Lindbergh, jazz pianist and band leader Duke Ellington, vocalist Cass Elliot of “The Mamas and the Papas,” Ed Sullivan whose television show was the longest-running variety show in US broadcasting history, and Jack Benny who rose from modest vaudeville success with his violin to worldwide fame on radio, television, and film.

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Dial S for Second Chances

Can years of hurt and misunderstanding be transformed into a second chance at love?


Jade Williams agrees to be on the high school reunion committee because the-one-that-got-away is out of the country and won’t be home in time to attend the festivities. Now, he’s not only home, but joined the committee. Is it too late to back out or can she set aside forty-five years of regret and pretend she isn’t to blame for her broken heart?

One of the downsides of being rich means fielding requests for money and favors. But when an old high school buddy contacts Derek Milligan to be on the reunion committee as just one of the gang, no strings attached, he can’t resist. At the first meeting, he’s dismayed to find himself sitting next to his former high school sweetheart. He should be angry. Instead, he’s attracted. Can he risk his heart a second time?

Reunion festivities include calling into to WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love with fake relationship problems. When both use their real situation, the stakes are raised higher than either imagined.

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