I Wish Every Day Was Christmas

Went shopping to a major clothing chain this morning and heard upbeat Christmas music playing throughout the store. When I first became aware of the piped-in music I heard the Gary Davis song “I Wish Every Day Was Christmas”. It’s a feel-good song highlighting all the heart-warming experiences we feel during that special time of the year and would now like to capture year-round. It’s a secular song and does not dwell on the spiritual and real message of Christmas. It’s a neat song but I was compelled to take it further.

Christmas is about Jesus Christ becoming man to dwell among us for purposes of redemption. December 25th is set aside to honor and celebrate that event. But it’s not just one day and it’s over. It’s one day leading to another, Easter, and to every day. There’s no need to wish every day is Christmas because every day is already Christmas fulfilled if we call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior. He’s ready 24/7, day in, day out, year after year to hear our call.

Robert Parlante

Christmas 2017

Christmas at Ikea

Every Christmas as an adult I am reminded of a favorite gift I received as a young boy. My gift request was an  Erector Set, a toy

construction system consisting of various metal beams with hole for assembly using nuts and bolts. I wanted the premium version with its myriad of pulleys, gears and wheels, and a small electric motor.

The gift had been wrapped for several days, sitting under the Christmas tree. Every time I passed by, it felt like it was calling my name. When no one was watching I would shake the gift. I thought it felt heavy enough to be the metal construction set. I was certain I could hear the jiggle of nuts and bolts. I was convinced I was going to receive the Erector Set.

I begged my parents to let me open the gift early. The answer was always NO! That was the only gift I was receiving that year. If opened early, there would be nothing to open on Christmas morning.

Every Christmas Eve we would go to my grandparents’ house for the ‘Festa dei sette pesci’ … the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional fasting meal where meats were not served. My parents said I could open the gift when we returned from my grandparents. I should have stopped there. I didn’t.

I was willing to sacrifice the cod, clams, mussels and calamari. Forget the scallops, fried smelts, and pasta with seafood. I pushed one more time to open the gift. My parents finally acquiesced. They were apparently tired of hearing from their pushy son. I sacrificed the meal of seven fishes and opened the gift.

It was the best dream gift I had ever received, and I immediately began skimming through the instructions to pick my first project. By the time my parents came home, I had assembled a Ferris wheel. Even they were impressed. “Potrebbe finire per possedere un carnevale un giorno!” my father had remarked. (translation: He may end up owning a carnival someday)

Well, I never ended up owning a carnival, nor did I have any desire to own one. I am not a huge fan of Ferris wheels. But to this day, it still begged the question: Did my preference for childhood toys predict my future? Sort of, but not exactly.

I ended up with three vocations in life: engineer, minister, writer.

Certainly, the Erector Set forecasted my engineering side. The toy had little to do with my minister side which is more the call of God on one's life, but my childhood experiences always manage to weave themselves into my writing like my first novel titled A Letter From Miss Wingate. So, two out of three is not bad.

Oh, there’s one more thing. I love assembling Ikea furniture! There are not many people who can say that! It’s not a whole lot different than an Erector Set with no verbal instructions … and only pictures to lead your way. And there are always parts or a bolt-fastener left over after the job is finished.

Share a thought with me. Pick either question or both:

1.  What your best or worst experience assembling something from Ikea?

2.  Was there a favorite toy in your life that predicted your future?

Robert Parlante

Christmas 2017

Christmas Greeting

Christmas 2017

Finding Emmeline

Here's a sample of Rebecca McNutt's review of "Finding Emmeline" posted on Goodreads.com.

The adventures of Martin continue in this thrilling and captivating novel, and so far this is my absolute favourite of Robert Parlante's books, as it's definitely one of the most exciting and family/friendship oriented of them all. Always his companion in his work is Martin's wife, proving that love and companionship has no boundaries, and Finding Emmeline is also an excellent detective story with a mysterious premise. I loved this book...

Thanks Rebecca for your great review.

Robert Parlante

November 2017

Never Alone

A few years ago, a good friend honored me with a gift desktop bronze sculpture by Scott Stearman. It depicts a man holding a book and kneeling on one knee. Jesus is standing behind with both hands laying on the man’s shoulder. The artistic piece is titled “Never Alone.”

I have had the sculpture for at least fifteen years in our guest bedroom. Recently, I moved the piece to my desktop in the living room. Now I see “Never Alone” multiple times each day. It’s now a continuous reminder of my standing in Christ as a believer.

Ephesians 2:19-21 reminds us of that standing:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (ESV)

Here’s a paraphrase (theodysseyonline.com)of those verses: Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.

You are never alone when you place your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Robert Parlante
November 2017

I Pledge Allegiance

Some years ago, a friend of ours lost her husband from dementia. He had spent years in a Veterans Administration nursing home. He had served in the military and was a feather-weight championship boxer. He was part of a diminishing group who fought hard, and even sacrificed, for our hard-earned freedoms.

I attended his memorial service, and it was one of the most touching I can recall. His grandchildren were all young adults who spoke eloquently about their relationship with their grandfather.

Particularly impressive was one of the grandkids who had moved back with his siblings into his grandparents’ home after the parents divorced. Now a young adult, he shared how his grandfather would have the young grandkids go out each morning for the raising of the American flag. They stood at attention as the flag moved up the pole, saluted and recited the pledge of allegiance. The experience had a lasting impression on the grandkids.

I respect people’s right to free speech protected under the U.S. Constitution. But every time I see our flag being disparaged, I recall this incident and the impact it had on my friend’s grandkids. It may feel old-fashioned or meaningless, especially when some flag protests feel legitimate.

Keep reminding yourself: Patriotism builds character, no matter how corny it may feel at times.

Robert Parlante

October 2017

Trading Lederhosen for a Kilt

Growing up, my parents always told me I was a “FBI” or full-blooded Italian. I’m a first-generation Italian-American on my father’s side and a second generation on my mother’s side. Both parents came from the same region in northern Italy, so both considered it was obvious I was 100% Italian heritage.

A recent television ad by ancestry.com got me thinking maybe there’s more to my genealogy story. Many readers have likely seen the ad where a male folk-dancer is wearing lederhosen Bavarian shorts, believing he was of German descent. After completing his DNA testing, he discovers he is predominantly Scottish and is now wearing a kilt, performing highland dances.

This got me thinking: What if I did my DNA testing and my genealogy turns out to be something drastically different? Will I have to trade my Italian lasagna for Greek spanakopita or Irish shepherd’s pie or French boeuf bourguignon?

For my birthday a few weeks ago, my family gave be a DNA testing kit. As much as I wanted to test, I started getting cold feet. What if I don’t like the results?

But ignoring the testing does not result in “better” DNA! I plunged ahead, spit into the vial (gross!) and sent it on its merry way.

The results are in. It turns out I am 80% Italian/Greek with the remaining 20% from different parts of west Europe. Was I disappointed? Not at all. While the results are interesting I concluded I was less interested in where I came from and what those before me went through. I am more interested in where I am going in the future because I can make choices, not so much about my DNA, but choices that leave something positive after I am gone.

For the record, my ethnicity region where my family roots are most present is predominately Umbria, Italy … land of Francis of Assisi and Perugia candies. That may be why I like dogs and Italian chocolate!

Robert Parlante
October 2017

What's in a Name?

A family member recently went to Washington DC to attend a concert by some group on tour. When I asked my wife, who was the group, she thought it was something like Princess Snowflake. The last time my family member attended a concert it included well-known rappers. Princess Snowflake is hardly a name for a rapper.

Princess Snowflake sounds like a character in a Disney animated movie.

The actual tour headliner was Alison Wonderland who is into electronic dance music (edm). She is an Australian DJ, a classical musician and a trained cellist. Her stage name has a certain ring to it, and is hard to forget.

This exposure to “edm” got me thinking about what’s in a name.

When you call upon the name Princess Snowflake, I can’t help chuckle. It’s a fun name with political overtones and an unlikely name for a serious musician

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When you call upon the name Alison Wonderland my writer side kicks in. The “Alice in Wonderland” tie-in is clever and impressive. I hope my writing could be as unique.

But there’s more. Some name you call upon can have life changing experiences far beyond a fleeting laugh or a clever play of words.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

Have a blessed day, enjoy a good laugh,  and take time to hear the music.

Robert Parlante

September 2017

You Can't Go Home Again

“You Can’t Go Home Again” was a novel by Thomas Wolfe published posthumously in 1940. It’s a tale of a character trying to go back to his earlier roots to recapture fond memories and their positive impacts. While the goal was to relive the positive aspects of life, going back in time tempts us to recast personal history to remove the possible downside from some experiences.

My niece recently embarked on a road trip with a similar objective. She wanted more information about the house and the surrounding area where her father had lived. Her dad was the eldest of the three brothers in the family, with I being the youngest. We had lived in a coal mining town, and I had not seen our old house for decades. My maternal grandparents lived several homes away. My niece had lived in an urban neighborhood throughout her early childhood.

Here is what we learned from the road trip:

My niece’s early childhood two-family house was once pristine and was now in disrepair and uninviting. What should have been a time for fond memories was now a time for sadness.

My grandparents’ home was essentially the same except all vestiges of farming and homesteading were gone.

My home where I was born looked picture-perfect with the garden plots and fruit trees being replaced by well-manicured grass.

Life in the coal mining town had clearly changed. My parents lived through the Depression era and devoted all arable land to growing food. My early life revolved around planting and harvesting, neighborly support during the food preserving times and family nearby who watched over each other. As I scanned the picture of my childhood home, I saw warm memories but now they had faded into history.

It is a different time now compared to the past. One cannot go back in time to relive an old memory. Our best option is to place our trust in the Lord and create a new and heartwarming memory today.

Robert Parlante

September 2017

Retracing Our Steps

Received a call from my sweet niece who wanted more information about the house where her father had lived. Her dad was the eldest of the three brothers in the family, with I being the youngest. We had lived in a coal mining town, and I had not seen our old house for decades. My maternal grandparents lived several homes away. My niece wanted information about them as well.

Much likely changed over the decades, so whatever information I remembered was certainly not up-to-date. “Why all this interest in retracing one’s historical steps?” I had asked.

She related her experience when her twenty-three-year-old daughter had lost her life after battling multiple myeloma. The only thing what provided any measure of comfort was recalling old family memories, tales of family bonding and experiences that pulled a family together to fight the battles collectively cast before us. She prayed and meditated on those family memories throughout the final stages of her daughter’s life. My niece’s comfort and strength came from family even though our current family is vastly different than our childhood memories. Time tends to alter one’s memories, good or bad. She now wanted to revisit those memories and chronicle the comfort and strength from those times for the current and future generations.

Faced with a free weekend she came up with a plan. She would drive to each of the family homes in the coal-mining community and try to speak to the current occupants. It’s just a start, and it may end up futile with little new information. But there is still comfort in the process. She is not trying to change the course of the family history. She is not trying to understand all the ins and outs of life.

Proverbs 20:24 reminds us, “The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”

Our comfort does not come from understanding. Our comfort is rooted in the Lord overseeing our lives, and how he uses others, like our families to minister into our lives.

Robert Parlante

August 2017

Recycled Plastic Water Bottles

Recently started to attend a church where attendees dress up slightly more than I had been used to dressing for services. Once I gave up wearing suits to churches in the south I relished the idea of casual dress for church. But change was in the air.

I decided I needed a new pair of dress trousers. I purchased a pair of navy blue slacks which I thought would match the shirts in my closet. The only problem with them is that they were several inches too long. It was a minor detail given the label description – machine washable, no iron, permanent crease, wrinkle free, virtually indestructible!

Then I read the fine print – fabric was made from recycled plastic water bottles.

What? I now have all kinds of mental images of dressing up in a water bottle getup, sloshing about with waterproof pants in the pouring rain and making crinkle sounds like I’m an empty water bottle being crushed in a closed fist.

But I then thought about where the discarded bottles had come from. What had they experienced on their journey to become a pair of trousers. Were they thrown to the side of the road, flung out of car window like trash? Were they crushed flat no longer resembling its former self?

But I also saw a greater message of a born-again life. Regardless of where we might have come from, placing our trust in our Savior can transform us into new creations. Like a pair of new trousers.

Robert Parlante

August 2017

Write Like a Movie

I never made the movie connection while writing my series of novels. One reader said my first novel, A Letter from Miss Wingate, read like she was watching a Hallmark movie. Interesting, I first thought. I never started writing the books with that intent in mind. With subsequent novels in the Patch Town series, I received similar feedback indicating the chapter endings propelled the reader forward. Readers used some well-known phrases to describe their reaction like “I couldn’t put the book down” or “the book was a real page turner.”

Every writer would appreciate that feedback despite its frequent usage in book reviews. My wife loves Hallmark movies, and by default, I have seen my share of them whether I like them or not.

Here are my three general observations from the myriad of TV Hallmark movies I have watched. I have tried to apply the principles to all my books.

1)  During the first twenty movie minutes, there are typically no commercial breaks. The primary goal is to get the viewer hooked and committed to stay with the programming to the end. From the writer’s perspective, the object of the first chapter is clear: hook in the reader and introduce the principal characters directly or indirectly by planting a seed of information about a character that could be fleshed out in a later chapter. As well, begin to develop the conflicts of the plot and sub-plots.

When viewing a Hallmark movie, you get the general premise of the main storyline(s) and the central conflict(s) within the twenty-minute commercial-free opening. Applying these observations to writing a novel, one must introduce characters and their relationship to each other, and the beginning of the storyline. Hook readers, provide some background, and do all this within the first few pages of the book.

There are more lessons to be learned by no commercial interruptions at this stage. Every word is precious and cannot be spent on extensive backstories that do not always propel the reader forward if too much is introduced too early
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Here’s the opening paragraph, chapter one, from “A Letter from Miss Wingate” to illustrate the points I’ve made.

The unopened letter stood in the middle of the kitchen island where Martin Gilmore had tossed it aside as an unexpected reminder of his past. Since its arrival, the letter felt like a throbbing thorn in his finger. Instead of being a reason to show mercy toward Miss Wingate, as his wife Sarah would likely have encouraged, it was more a reminder of what might have been had he never encountered Elizabeth Wingate.

Here is another example, the opening paragraph, chapter one, about a run-away wife from my book “Finding Emmeline.”
Anxiety rippled through Elsa Delgado’s heart with a damp chill as she tightly held her daughter Ava’s hand. The mother’s body heaved with each anxious breath as she nudged the eight-year-old child back away from the weighty rain drops dripping off the overhead stone archway. No matter how many times Elsa was a courier for the counterfeit documents, the task never got easier over the last eight years on the run from her abusive husband.

2)  The second observation while watching a Hallmark movie is what happens when the storyline is interrupted for a commercial break. A plot twist, new revelations or a cliffhanger usually proceeds a movie break to commercial. Think of the end of chapters as a commercial break, and always include a cliffhanger, major or minor.

Here is the end of chapter one for my book “The Reflection in the Mirror” as Martin deals with a run-away teen.

Martin hunched his shoulders, his equivalent of “whatever”. He was already tired from too many Simon battles.
“Are you regretting your decision to deal with Simon?” Linda whispered.

A ham sandwich war! A stolen protein bar! What’s next?
Martin prayed silently that all would go well on Monday when he registered Simon for school.

3)  The last element to consider while viewing a Hallmark movie is the final moments of the presentation. The love relationship you rooted for now faces imminent collapse. Everything looks doomed, and what you thought would be the ending is now jeopardized. But in the last moment, everything is resolved to your liking. The romance works through its differences. The whodunit is solved in the nick of time. Now apply that concept to your book ending,

Here is part of the closing for my book “Up from the Ashes.” There was an earlier proposal misstep, and now Martin tries to make it right! Ruthie is Martin’s daughter, and Kati is Linda’s daughter.

Martin stood before Linda for a moment before he bent down on one knee. Linda’s eyes were instantly moist with tears.
“Linda, my life began to change that day the Lord ushered you up my driveway and into my life. I have fallen in love with you and would like you to be my wife.
“I promise to do everything in my power to make my love for you a growing part of our life together. Every day, I will try to strengthen our love and our marriage to the best of my ability. I will stand by you no matter what we encounter in life, and I will keep myself for you alone.”
Tears were streaming down Linda’s face. Her right hand reached across to Kati, who was fighting back tears.
Ruthie came into the room, carrying a dozen red roses. She handed the flowers to Martin, who then placed the bouquet in Linda’s arms.
“Linda Petersen, will you marry me?”

[You must read the book for her answer!]

Writing a novel should never be formulaic. These suggestions are given as a general guideline to stimulate your creativity and seek new ways to express your inner story.

Robert Parlante
August 2017
Posted August 1 2017 by Marlena Smith's writers blog

Choosing Friends

I spent most of my career working for a pharmaceutical company. One observation I made relates to the recruitment of subordinates. People tend to do one of two things when hiring someone who will report to them. They recruit someone likely to be a “yes-person”. Or, they hire a less qualified person fearing the recruit would be smarter than the boss and take over his or her management role.

The second scenario is the opposite where one hires a person as qualified or more qualified and not a “yes-person”. People who recruit the best and smartest associates end up with more successful lives because smart people challenge and draw out the best in each of us

Proverbs 27:17 speaks to the similar point: Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

A piece of light-weight wood like balsa cannot sharpen a metal knife. If one persisted in that effort, the knife would eventually get dull through normal use and not be effective since it cannot be sharpened by weak wood. There is a life principle in this Proverbs verse outside of recruiting workers.

Select friends who are honest, challenge you to be better and encourage you to persevere when facing difficulties … in other words, select friends who sharpen you to be the best you can be. It doesn’t mean you cannot associate with those who do not meet the standard. Just don’t expect the same results in the natural. Pray for him or her. Let the Lord to do his work.

You can also apply the principle to your spiritual walk, as well. If you hang with strong believers, you will reap the benefits of that friendship. If you walk with the unrighteous … well, we all know the answer to that!

Robert Parlante

July 2017

FaceTime in Person

Just got back from visiting family in New Jersey. Had a great time, traveling with two of our grand-kids from North Carolina, meeting up with a grandson doing an internship in Manhattan, and visiting with three grand-kids who live in New Jersey. I typically keep in touch with them with an occasional text or Facebook post, but it is not the same as being face-to-face, in person. They are all growing older, have their own life views, and they freely express their opinions. I couldn’t be more proud of my nine grand-kids and my one grandson-in-law.

Speaking of getting older. It is hard keeping up with young adults. They have energy and can handle electronics with abundant skill and know-how. I wish some of that knowledge and energy would rub off on me by osmosis. While I was gearing up for a good night sleep because my energy level was approaching a new low, they are going bowling at midnight! The first night home following our trip I almost slept 10 hours straight!

Despite their crazy activities, I am proud of all our grandkids and grandson-in-law. Apple’s FaceTime is fine, but it is more productive to be face-to-face with your children and grandkids.

Robert Parlante

June 2017

Jersey and Lucy

Our second-to-youngest grandson had a great idea while watching dogs, Jersey and Lucy, playing roughhouse in the family room__ “How about you and I take a trip to Tokyo, Japan this summer?” he had asked.

“Tokyo? Are you kidding. One of my neighbors just broke her leg while touring Russia. Another friend required emergency surgery in Germany while he was cruising the Rhine River. I’ve reached a stage in life where I’m happy to just tour the USA and Canada!”

“I’m not as energetic as I used to be!” I added as my primary defense. I much prefer sitting at my lap top pounding out another chapter to my books in progress.

The grandson was quick to point out Jersey and Lucy still running about the family room snapping playfully at each other. Jersey, at eleven-years-old, is the matriarch of the family dog clan: Jersey, Remy, Shilah, Lucy, Luna and Daisy. Lucy is younger, never stops moving, and her tail never stops wagging.

“Jersey and Lucy remind me of you and me,” the grandson said. “Look how Lucy energizes Jersey who was slowing down and content to just sit quietly and watch the world go by.”

The grandson had a point. Jersey had more energy recently. Her renewal reminded me of another observation that applies to senior adults. So many older adults gravitate to senior housing developments where most people are about the same age. I see the value of that living arrangement especially when the person is alone or deals with chronic issues. But I also see value watching younger families taking evening strolls past our home with infants in strollers and youngsters in tow. As the people stop and chat, both young and old derive benefit from the encounter.

I suspect that people live longer, are happier, and healthier when we live in a community with people of different ages and backgrounds.

When we get older we need a Lucy in our lives to strengthen our way forward.

Robert Parlante

June 2017

It's Okay Not To Like Everything!

Recently heard a sermon by our pastor as part of a series on the biblical concepts of Zion. I was blessed by the series, but I was also struck by a passing comment he had made. He said there appears to be two basic variations of the Christian church today at opposite poles from each other__ the “Rock Concert” and the “Lecture Hall”. Most churches gravitate toward one of these two poles. As well, there are many fine churches somewhere in the middle.

How does one define a rock concert church or a lecture hall church? I can only define these from my personal experience having looked for a new church home at various points of my life, in different states, or visited other churches for a variety of other reasons and special events.

In the rock concert church, at its worse, the music tends to be raucous and overwhelming the service. Does loud and clappy make church worship more meaningful? I know of one church that decided to cancel its sermon during the worship time because churchgoers had gotten into the rock-style music. They did not want to break the moment. That church no longer exists, and I can only speculate why.

Lecture hall churches tend to be exactly what its namesake implies. Think of school with large crowd of students listening to a lecturer drone on about some topic. It’s usually the time I need a caffeine-powered drink to keep me awake. Music in this type of church is not typically emphasized or may be minimized.

While it’s easy to criticize either church/worship style there are positives as well. In the best definition of a lecture hall church where the Word of God is being preached, the Holy Spirit can use that Word to penetrate any human barrier and minister to any need. There are many testimonies of people being called to serve after hearing a dry and minimal sermon.

There is a place for engaging music, too. There are many contemporary musicians, Hillsong being one of them, that attract younger people. If modern music legitimately draws a person to the cross of salvation, we should be expressing our thanksgiving to the Lord. There is plenty of room at the foot of the cross for all kinds of music. And yes, it’s okay not to like everything.

Where do you come down on these two opposite styles?

Robert Parlante

June 2017

Class, Let's Go For A Walk

For the first three years of my education I attended a three-room school house in a coal mining town located in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. Room 0ne was for grades 1 to 5. Room Two was grades 6 to 8. Room Three was high school. Miss Colcovage was the teacher of the five grades in room one, with five rows of desks representing each of the five grades.

The education was quite progressive. Each row was a grade, but if you were a capable reader you might be placed in another row for the portion of teaching for that subject. When Miss Colcovage was teaching one row, the other four rows of students worked independent and were self-directed. (One of reasons I can study/read/write in a noisy environment was being educated in a noisy environment. I’m just used to all the ambient noise.)

One of my fondest memory of Miss Colcovage was when she would decide to take the entire five classes on a nature walk through the woodland area. This usually happened on a warm sunny day. When we got back to the classroom after traipsing through the woods we would have to write our reaction to the nature walk. One could never see this decision to take a walk in the legalistic school environment of today. Permission slips, parent helpers, safety issues are just a few the things to consider today. And they should be. We live in a different world.

Well nothing ever happened. No poison ivy encounters. No law suits were filed. The minimum 180 days of school was not a factor in the decision-making. And I loved every minute going on a nature walk because it sparked ideas about unknown places, new people groups and horizons not confined to my small coal mining town. It takes a special teacher to cast that vision in a child.

On warm sunny days, I can still hear Miss Colcovage say, “Class, let’s go for a walk!”

We need more of this spontaneity in our lives. There are risks to our exuberance. We live in a world of laws and regulations. I started writing back in those early days. That spontaneity led to a desire to be a writer/novelist because the walks made me see another layer of life beyond the obvious.

But dreams don’t become fulfilled that easily. Life happens. The clock keeps ticking. Responsibility is thrust upon us.

Miss Colcovage’s mantra was: don’t give up. The embers of desire to write never went out. With a little fanning the embers turned back to flames. Books were written. Road traveled. Goals met decades later. Because of a sweet teacher who said, “Class, let’s go for a walk!”

Robert Parlante

May 2017

He Said/She Said

After four books and four different editors I have learned a few things about “talking heads”. When your fiction is overloaded with dialogue that relies on he or she said or John or Mary said, we end up with people talking to each other with minimal forward movement of the story. It gets worse, because we are so dependent upon the verb “said” we look for substitutes. Like he exclaimed or she questioned. There are websites that give you hundreds of alternate words for said.

Here’s what works for me: I try not to use the word said or any of its substitutes. The reader knows generally who is speaking in the story. If the dialogue is a question, there is no need to clarify the dialogue with an added, “he questioned.” Many times, you do not even need a “said tag” because it is obvious who is speaking. Furthermore, “said tags” are a lazy way to describe character emotion. For example, if the character is angry, you could write “he bellowed”. Forget the tag and describe the anger and how it affects the character. Some readers may understand the “bellow tag” completely different than you intended.

When you do not use “said” and its substitutes the writer then could provide action beats that describe the inner thoughts of the character. You can add depth to your characterization by providing sensory information, the smells, sounds, etc.

Action beats should propel the story forward.

Try writing a few pages without the word “said” or it substitutes! You may be surprised how well it turns out.

Robert Parlante

Chickens, Eggs and Goats

Passed a sign yesterday as I drove along a country road to meet friends for lunch. Along the winding road I encountered a crudely paint (more like shabby chic) sign advertising chickens, eggs and goats for sale. Brought back memories of growing up in the country.

My family raised chicken and one of my household chore was collecting eggs. I hated the job because every time I tried to collect eggs I was attacked by our resident rooster for disturbing his domain. That unfriendly relationship left an indelible mark on my psyche. Recently, I was buying some plants in an old-fashioned hardware store. They have a resident rooster prancing about the store which I was not aware of. When the rooster crowed, I froze. After all these years, I still had an immediate urge to run or kick the rooster away when he charges me.

I have no extensive experience with goats. I do recall once trying to milk one when my father took me to visit a friend who owned a large family farm.

I’m not wild about goat cheese for no reason. I more likely associate cheese with something more familiar like Laughing Cow.

I checked out the web for information about owning a goat. I visited sites that gave 10 reasons to own a goat and 20 reasons not to own a goat. None convinced me one way or the other. But one did appeal to me. Goats can clear land like a mini-bulldozer. Apparently three or four goats can clear an acre of overgrown grass and shrubs in no time!

Have any experience with goats? I’d love to hear from you.

Robert Parlante

May 2017

The Reflection in the Mirror - Book Reviews

Check out Rebecca McNutt's review of "The Reflection in the Mirror" on the Goodreads website:

A gripping story of the fragments of a dysfunctional family coming together even through dire times of addiction and trouble, The Reflection in the Mirror is anything but typical and ultimately a story of love and redemption. Readers get a powerful glimpse into the muddled lives of various interesting characters, including a confused sixteen-year-old runaway, a dad who has found God, and Linda, who understands the baggage of the past that her fiancée carries. "The Reflection in the Mirror" is very impressive and exciting, sometimes sad and other times full of joy, and it's definitely a book that I would recommend.


Robert Parlante

Finding Emmeline - More Reviews

Here is Rebecca McNutt review of Finding Emmeline" on the Goodreads web site.

The adventures of Martin continue in this thrilling and captivating novel, and so far this is my absolute favourite of Robert Parlante's books, as it's definitely one of the most exciting and family/friendship oriented of them all. Always his companion in his work is Martin's wife, proving that love and companionship has no boundaries, and Finding Emmeline is also an excellent detective story with a mysterious premise. I loved this book and I really appreciate the author sending me a copy. :)

Robert Parlante

Finding Emmeline Book Review

Here is the latest review of "Finding Emmeline" posted on Amazon. Thank you reader for your review. Happy you enjoyed the read:

I have read and enjoyed the three Patch Town series books, and now Finding Emmeline, the first book in the Brain Box Detective Club series. This book tells the story of finding and rescuing Emmeline Quinn and her eight year old daughter from the bondage imposed by Emmeline’s landlord and employer, Charles Hobbs. Along the way there is adventure and danger, set in the backdrop of the beautiful Pocono Mountain region of northeastern Pennsylvania.

A central theme in each of Mr. Parlante’s books is that we only become truly free when we forgive those who have hurt us. The main character of the books, Martin Gilmore, works hard to overcome past anger and grow beyond it through forgiveness, but as we all know, this is not an easy task.

I find that I have become attached to the characters in the Patch Town/Brain Box Detective books. They are simple, everyday people that struggle with the very recognizable difficulties of daily life. Martin has lots of anxieties, but manages to love. He has overcome past difficulties with being able to hold onto a job. Though devastated by the loss of his first wife, he was able to find Linda and her daughter Kati, and begin to build a new life. The adventure added to each book makes it fun to spend time with these very tangible people.

Robert Parlante

CALLONME!

Pulled up behind a SUV in the Home Depot parking lot and I was struck by the vanity license plate on the vehicle. It said “Callonme”, and in my instant reverie, I immediately began channeling Carole King singing “You’ve Got a Friend.”

“When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand … you just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running.”

The song was written by Carole King, and she recorded it for her album titled Tapestry, one of the bestselling in all recording history.

While still silently humming the song, a contractor type person showed up and unlocked the vehicle and got in.

"Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you’ve got to do is call, and I’ll be there. You’ve got a friend.”

But a reality check soon overcame my fixation with music decades old. Instead of a Scripture text being the immediate thing to come to mind, I thought of Carole King. Maybe having recently seen the stage musical of her life and music, titled “Beautiful”, may have had much to do with that focus. But look at how much more it could have been

There is Psalm 50:15 – Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.

Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Psalm 91:15 – When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

Keep Colossians 3:2 in mind when you feel your focus going awry. “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Robert Parlante

The Seven Last Words of Christ

Last week I had the opportunity to hear a string quartet presentation of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Last Seven Words of Christ on the Cross. The musical piece is a series of sonatas for each of the seven phrases uttered by Christ during his final hours. During the chamber music presentation, various audio clips of various preachers preceded the different sonatas. Words by Evangelist Billy Graham and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. were among the excerpts.

As the sonatas approach the end, the final comments by Christ were particularly compelling – “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

At the close of the sonatas all you hear is a single musical note being plucked on a string instrument. Initially, it sounded like a rapidly beating heart dealing with the agony of crucifixion. The heart beats slowed, and the time between beats begins to grow longer, then more intermittent, and culminating with a final single, solitary beat.

Stillness followed. It was over. Christ was dead. It was a somber moment intensified by the moving Haydn music, even in its silence. I found myself wanting to gasp for more air.

On Good Friday, we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But as believers, we know it’s not over. Yes, Christ died, but there’s more to the story! On that day, we also wait with anticipation for greater things.

There is Resurrection Sunday. There is personal redemption for those who believe and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Even in silence, the voice of Jesus Christ and his work on the cross can still speak volumes.

Robert Parlante

Good Friday 2017