1. What is Kapok? A food additive 2. Where will you find a kernel? Where else? In the army. 3. If you didn’t know a door as a door, what would you call it? The Opencloser 4. What’s the difference between a yolk and a yoke? Well, the first one has an “l” and the second one has an “e” 5. What does E R N I E do? Whatever Bert tells him to do 6. What is meant by sunny side up? Any country north of the equator 7. What could you wear on your head that would make people think you were awesome? Probably a headband that says “I’m Awesome!” 8. What is meant by cattywampus? It is a group of stray cats that live in one area, sort of like a on a campus. 9. What is an erf? The polite way to say you farted 10. What is a mouse potato? What isn’t a mouse potato?
Are you a perfectionist or can you take a step back and accept less than perfect?It totally depends on what I am doing. If it is something that should be done perfectly to say it is complete, then I have to stick with it. If it is something I am trying and making a real good attempt but just can’t seem to get there, then I can accept less than perfect. My mother taught me that if you are going to do something do it well or don’t do it at all. I agree that not trying to get it as close to perfect as possible can be considered wasting your time.
How often do you save online articles to your favourites list for reading ‘later’ and more importantly when do you then read them – as in when is your ‘later?’?I save online articles every so often but I don’t think I ever go back to them. Once in a while I will look through my favorites or my bookmarks and check the list out. It is fun to sometimes find something that I had forgotten about. It isn’t that I don’t have an interest to go back, I just don’t have enough time in my life to do what I want and go back to stuff that already happened.
When was the last time that you actively involved yourself in doing absolutely nothing for an hour and what did you do in that hour of nothing?I think it was maybe two weeks ago or so that I decided to go take a nap. For me, that is doing nothing. Don’t get me wrong, some days I fall asleep while trying to get my blog going and what-not but for the most part “doing nothing” means not being productive in one way or another.
When was the last time that you were engaged in a difficult conversation and if you can ‘what was it and how did you do?’I find myself to be engaged in difficult conversations often because I can’t let things just stay open-ended and vague. For instance, someone told me that someone we all know had COVID but didn’t tell anyone! So, I couldn’t “not tell anyone” so I told David. It was a hard decision to find the right time to talk about it because COVID is serious and we take it seriously. So, I said what I had to say and then let it sink in before talking about it further. After losing so much in the past few years I just don’t have time in my life to NOT have the difficult conversations.
Dominic bowed his head to hide his face. He didn’t want his mug showing up all over the news stations. If his parents found out he was one of the protestors they would never let him live it down. They were not the type to engage in such foolery. But Dominic knew, deep down, that fighting, for what you believe is right, is not foolery; foolery is looking the other way at something that is wrong. This was going to be a night like no other. Dominic planned on watching the looters, finding out their tricks and finding out where they kept all the merchandise they stole. He wanted to help bring these people down but watching and waiting seemed so passive. He strolled through the crowded streets just watching and waiting for it all to begin.
Congratulations to author A.J. McCarthy on the release of her latest novel. By the Book! Read on for an exclusive excerpt and a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card!
By the Book
Publication Date: November 12th, 2020
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller/ Suspense
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
A clue is left at a murder scene: a page from a paperback novel. The title of the book is Murder by the Dozen, and local author, T.L. McGinnis, cannot provide any leads. Detectives Josh Riddell and Clint Weller of the Ottawa Police Service are worried about what lies ahead. It soon becomes evident their worst fears have been realized, and a serial killer is using the novel as a guide. It’s impossible to foresee and safeguard all the potential victims, and time is running out. But who is the killer’s real target?
The figure glided to the bed on soft-soled feet. The face of the intended victim was at ease, lashes dark against her pale cheeks. The curve of her lips suggested a pleasant dream.
Jennifer Danvers slept the sleep of the dead, the intruder thought. The pun provoked a smile; a hand stifled a chuckle.
Jennifer’s face was familiar, chosen with great care, and it inspired a sense of excitement; the adventure had begun at last. It had taken months of planning and hour upon hour of research.
A few hiccups were expected along the way, but the killer didn’t question the likelihood of accomplishing the goal.
Despite a sense of elation, the hands were steady as the person leaned over the bed and wrapped latex-covered fingers around Jennifer’s throat. Her lovely blue eyes opened, startled, and her hands grabbed her assailant’s wrists as she struggled to free herself, to no avail.
Training and preparation were on the killer’s side.
“You should be honored.” The words were spoken with a smile, even as the fingers
increased their pressure, and terror-filled eyes pleaded for mercy. “You’re perfect. The most
perfect I’ve found. We’ll go down together in history.”
It was over within minutes, too quick for the killer’s satisfaction, and the young woman’s body slumped, lifeless, on the bed. The act completed, the murderer took a few moments to relish the sight of her: the slack mouth, the bulbous eyes staring back, as if in wonder.
Exhilaration flowed through the killer’s veins. So powerful, so clever, so much in control. A laugh escaped, a brief staccato burst.
“No one will ever suspect me. They never do. I’m invisible.” The words were addressed to the body on the bed, as if expecting a response. “I may not come across as being special, but I can do whatever I want to, and I’ll prove it. You’ve been an enormous help. Thank you.”
The corpse received a bright grin as a reward. “Oh, I can’t forget. I have a few things to take care of, haven’t I?”
From a pocket, a pair of tweezers were removed. Unzipping a bag pinned to the front of the person’s white coveralls, a small, red plastic heart was extracted. Jennifer’s mouth was opened, and the heart was lodged against her tonsils. Thin lips curved into a smile of admiration
before closing the victim’s mouth and blocking the heart from view. Next, the tweezers were used to pull a crisp piece of paper from the bag. The killer squatted, placed it beneath the bed, and pushed it under as far as possible, taking care not to bend or tear it.
A.J. McCarthy grew up with a love for reading, and that love became stronger with the years. Having built a career in finance, she decided to try her hand at writing. To her surprise, she discovered a new passion, and is enjoying the excitement and the challenges which accompanied that discovery.
She tries to blog when the inspiration strikes her, and she continues to write novels.
She lives with her husband north of Québec City, Canada, and is the mother of two wonderful daughters.
Stine Writing 
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