War Story Wednesday - Debut: Fireworks

I'd like to propose a Wednesday meme, called "War Story Wednesday." All cops have "war stories." The public has them, too, regarding their own experiences with law enforcement.

One of my war stories won a "One Minute Writer" prompt of the day, regarding a police encounter. I'll use it to kick off "War Story Wednesday." An officer shared this experience with me when we had a moment to chat during one of the busiest tours of the year. It occurred in the late 1980s.

One Fourth of July, a fellow officer responded to a fireworks complaint - a resident said the guy next door was shooting off fireworks in his backyard. The officer found a man barbecuing in the buff. She asked him if he'd like to cover himself up. He said, "No." She explained the fireworks complaint, but he said, "Do you see any fireworks here?"

Before the officer turned to leave, she said, “Don’t burn your meat on the barbecue.”

I'm suggesting that others who would like to share a war story to join me on Wednesdays, by either posting on your own blog, or entering it in the comments section. I will update the post to include links. A story can be one you experienced, witnessed, heard from another cop, a legend, etc. These gems may be humorous, sad, uplifting, heartwarming ~ a spectrum of emotions.

Titles or no titles, short or long ~ let's share some great tales.

If you'd like to read some police war stories, check out:

Police link

Officer.com

Truecopstories.com (don't miss the Featured True Cop Story, "Big Fat Turkey")

Spread the word ~ on Facebook, Twitter, etc. My Twitter name is @katcop13.

Guest Post at Flash Fiction Chronicles

I'm thrilled to have a guest post over at Flash Fiction Chronicles. Please stop by if you have a moment. It's entitled, "Whodunit: Mystery Writing Advice from the Masters." Thanks to Gay Degani for inviting me.

Happy Monday! May you have a spectacular week as summer winds down.

"Thank-a-Cop-Thursday"

"Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," or #tacop as it is known on Twitter, is the brainchild of Mike Ellis, a Customer Relationship Manager for Emergency Communications Network. You can find Mike on Twitter @EmergCommNetwrk. Mike explains how #tacop came into existence on ConnectedCOPS.net.

So, why not join in and thank a cop on Twitter today ~ or any day.

Thanks, Mike, for recognizing law enforcement officers in the U.S. and around the world, and the fine job they do each and every day.

I was honored that Mike included me in his debut #tacop; he thanked me for my years of service. I tweeted back a kind thank you. He even included it in his explanation post!

Not on Twitter yet? Not sure what it's all about, or how to start? Check out this "Guide to Twitter - The Ultimate Guide for Everything Twitter."

LOLITA by Vladimir Nabokov

On August 18, 1958, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov was published in the United States by G.P. Putnam & Sons. The controversial novel is included on Time's 100 best English language Novels from 1923 to 2005, and is fourth in Modern Library's 1998 list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century.

Nabokov wrote the novel from 1949 to 1955; it was published in France in 1955. It was banned in Paris from 1956-1958.

The review that appeared in September 1958 in The Atlantic Monthly can be found here.

The novel sold 100,000 copies in the first three weeks, the first novel to do so since Gone With the Wind.

Nabokov wrote the screenplay that Stanley Kubrick directed in 1962, starring James Mason as Humbert Humbert. Adrian Lyne directed an adaptation in 1997, starring Jeremy Irons.

Nabokov, who was born in 1899 in St. Petersburg, Russia, died in Switzerland in 1977.

Twitter Fiction on Nanoism

I am pleased to announce that one of my twitter-fiction stories was accepted and is now appearing on Nanoism.net ("A paying twitterzine/litmag for thoughtful nanofiction"). Titles for these stories are neither required or accepted.

The editor, Ben White, has also tweeted the story @nanoism, along with my bio.

It is based upon my police experience on the Crime Stoppers tips line.

Check it out ~ and let me know what you think!

Artwork source here.

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

I took this photo last month in the Explorer's Aviary of Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida.

For more Straight Out of the Camera, visit Murrieta365.

NPR's Audience Picks: Top 100 "Killer Thrillers"

The results are in ~ NPR's audience vote of Top 100 "Killer Thrillers."

Which are some of your faves? I took part in this ballot after my blogmate on Women of Mystery, Cathi Stoler, brought the poll to our attention. The list was narrowed down to 182 titles from 600, and you could vote for your top ten.

My opinion is similar to the readers who voted ~ every one of my picks made the list.

If you're looking for a suspenseful novel during your next trip to the library or book store, or ordering it straight from your e-reader, this is an exciting list of titles to review.

Don't forget to check Project Gutenberg to look for some of the free e-books available, such as #10, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or #11, Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

Speaking of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, have you seen him discussing Sherlock Holmes on a YouTube video?

Are there some books that you've been meaning to read and haven't gotten around to it yet? Maybe now's the time!

Happy reading!