When America Was 200...
The year was 1976
My husband and I were 7 years-old, and these are our elementary school pictures.
(I'm the blond girl, he's the dark haired guy.)
Please note: the camera man asked us to NOT touch the bell.
I remember, because I really wanted to touch that bell...to know whether or not it rang.
But, being the good kid I was, I did NOT touch the bell.
Then there was my husband-
Notice how he man-handled the bell?
He ignored the NO TOUCH rule and happily reports that the clapper was gone and it wouldn't ring.
Some people crave solving mysteries in life. Some people prefer to follow the rules and satisfy their curiosity in a healthy way...like by reading a good book.
If you're one of those- check out this bell ringer of a story!
(I must admit, calling a story set in 1976 historical fiction makes me feel OLD!)
THE ATTIC OF SAND AND SECRETS by Medeia Sharif
Vendor links will be updated on Medeia’s site.
Middle Grade Historical and Fantasy, Featherweight Press, November 2014
Lily, a learning disabled girl, attempts to unravel the mystery of her abducted mother using supernatural clues from an ancient stranger, even when it means posing a danger to herself.
Learning-disabled Lily desires to prove herself, although her mind freezes when presented with big problems - such as her mother's abduction. With a French father and Egyptian mother, Lily worries that her mother hid her ethnicity from her French in-laws. However, there's something deeper going on. Lily finds a way into an attic that's normally locked and encounters a mysterious, moonlit Egyptian night world. There she finds Khadijah, an ancient stranger who guides her to finding clues about her mother's whereabouts. Lily becomes a sleuth in both the real world and magical desert, endangering herself as she gets closer to the kidnapper.
The book takes place in 1976.
Find Medeia – Multi-published YA and MG Author
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Have you added this book to your Goodreads list?
It's coming soon!!
I was tagged by the lovelyTara Tyler to list my Seven Deadly Book Sins!!
What are my 7 sins in literature. . .
Greed - What is your most inexpensive book?
Man's Search for Meaning. I spend the most money on that book because I am always giving away my copy and having to buy another. If life has you down, if you need direction- you NEED to own this book. Just don't ask to borrow my copy, you know you won't return it!
Wrath - Who's the author with whom you have a love/hate relationship with?
Stephen King. Love his books and articles on writing. Love most of his stories, but cannot, for the life of me, finish The Dark Tower series.
Gluttony - What book have you devoured over and over again with no shame?
Gone with the Wind
Sloth - What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?
Pride and Prejudice- I've read the first page a hundred times, never want to keep reading on.
Pride - What books do you talk about most in order to sound like an intellectual reader?
Shades of Grey- I like to roll my eyes and point out its flaws, even though I've never read it.
Lust - What attributes do you find attractive in a male or female character?
I just want personality. Just make me love you- that's not so hard, right?
Envy - What book would you like to receive most as a gift?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is on this year's Christmas list
Best intro ever! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie!
Deletelet's see, I don't buy it. I know you're secretly touching that bell! congrats to Medeia!! and whoa on your seven books. what a fun trivia!!
ReplyDeleteI most certainly did not touch the bell. If there was one thing I was as a kid- it was a scaredy-cat. I think I was put in the corner once, and honestly, it wasn't my fault!!
DeleteYou and your husband were adorable. I wouldn't have touched the bell, either. I love One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. A few years before Ken Kesey died Favorite Young Man and I got to hear him speak at a college. I thought he would talk about writing, but he barely mentioned it. He spoke for a long time about reasons that marijuana should be legalized. I enjoyed him. He seemed to be a happy man, although his son had been killed in an accident some years before. He spoke about that briefly, and then he was back to pot.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
What a bummer. I'd have wanted to know about his writing. Save the PSA for a pamphlet.
Deletelol I'd have to touch the bell too, screw the rules
ReplyDeleteIf he hadn't touched the bell, I never would have known it was clapper free. That sort of sounds like an STD, but you know what I mean.
DeleteHehehe! I would've followed the rules too, but I would want to know. :) Yay for Medeia! And today of the final day of Realms Faire, you are our wench to be drenched, Elizabeth! Huzzah! Enjoy your soaking wet day.
ReplyDeleteI feel so loved! Thanks Christine!!
DeleteYour husband was a rebel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring my upcoming book!
And here to drench the wench today.
My pleasure.
DeleteMy husband is rotten...it's a full time job keeping him under control.
I would have had the bell on top of my head.
ReplyDeleteYep...I was one of those kids. (I'm medicated now, thank you)
LOL. I like ornery kids. I was always passive and quiet, so kids with energy make me happy...I know they are living life to its fullest!
DeleteI'm here to 'drench-a-wench' as instructed by the Realms Faire hostess.
ReplyDeleteSo regard yourself duly drenched in special ((((((((((UBUNTU HUGZ))))))))))
Those pics are CUTE!!
Awww, UBUNTU HUGZ???!!! I feel so special!!
DeleteSo cute that your hubs and you can share memories like that. I wouldn't have touched the bell either. Never.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about Stephen King! I just did this meme and couldn't think of an author for that question, but it IS Stephen King. Great author - scared to death of his books.
Yep. I read King and there is no doubt- he is a master. It's just not my flavor. Sort of like lobster. I know it's excellent, but it's not something I like.
DeleteAwwwww what lovely photos! I just cracked up seeing your hubby touching the bell LOL!!!! he he he
ReplyDeleteHe didn't just touch that bell, he owned it! That's my guy.
DeleteConsider yourself drenched. Why do adults stick something interesting in front of a kid and then tell them not to touch it?
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Jeff! I always kept that in mind- when I decorated my tree when my kids were little, all the ornaments within their reach were kid friendly and they were allowed to touch.
Deletelol on Shades of Grey. It's a wonderful day for thy soaking, so that all may celebrate Medeia's new book.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful day for a soaking!! I shall don my best rain gear.
DeleteAt 7, I wouldn't have touched the bell and would probably get diarrhea worrying I accidentally touched it. Yep, I was THAT kid.
ReplyDeleteMe too Cherdo!!! I still get a stomach ache when there is stress in the air and I have to worry about stepping out of the lines.
DeleteDrench on you, wench. LOL about Stephen King. Exactly the same for me. I can't get into that tower series at all. I gave up on the Wolves of whatever
ReplyDeleteI didn't make it through the first book. I liked the intro better than the story. I need to check out his wife's books. I bet I'd like those- and you know, I hear she's the genius beta behind his success.
DeleteThanks for the drenching!
Congrats to Medeia!
ReplyDeleteI think I would've had to touch that bell. I'm the person who can't not touch the wind chimes and the like in stores. LOL!
My husband turns on all the singing Christmas toys he comes across- he still can't keep his hands to himself!
DeleteOh your husband the rule breaker!
ReplyDeleteI bet that photographer was like "If I have to tell ONE MORE KID NOT TO TOUCH THE BELL!!!!!"
I can practically feel how you want to touch the bell in that picture.
I think the photographer was getting aggravated. He scared the crap out of me. It was my turn and he practically yelled- don't touch the bell. My mom was lucky I wasn't crying in that shot!
DeleteLove the your intro to Medeia's book, Elizabeth! Too funny. That would be my husband (and my boys)—breaking the rules. Maybe it's a boy thing?
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Medeia!! :)
Please excuse the typos! (I guess my fingers were quicker than my mind.) Should read, "Love your intro to Medeia's book." LOL.
DeleteI think it is a boy thing. Even in the comments- all the guys are admitting to being rule breakers.
DeleteI'm typo prone. I get all excited about commenting and often leave out words and spell everything wrong. It's all good...I get it.
I had a similar tag and I need to post mine.
ReplyDeleteLove Alex's cover.
What an amazing intro. Thank you so much for posting your '76 pictures. Mine would have been baby pictures. :)
Go ahead and brag about how much younger you are Medeia...lucky I love you no matter what ;)
DeleteCongrats to Medeia!
ReplyDeleteLOL— your husband . . . loved this intro! And hey, I'm with you on Lust ;)
You Had Me at Hello—Guest Post
I'll be reading that book again soon :)
DeleteCongrats to Medeia. You are such a cutie 7 year old - have you really known your husband since you were 7?
ReplyDeleteI didn't really know him until Jr. High, but he was only a grade above me and so full of energy and orneriness that I knew of him since forever. He didn't notice me until I got boobs.
DeleteWhen someone says, "Don't touch that," that's the first thing you want to do, of course! So what did the photographer say when he grabbed the bell? Inquiring minds want to know! And, by the way, how SWEET that you went to the same school as the boy you'd eventually marry!
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't remember what the guy said- he probably didn't pay attention. He has a single focus sort of personality.
DeleteThose are great pics of you and your husband! I was only 4 in 76 so all I remember was the most delicious red white and blue ice cream with stars in it. Congrats to Medeia!
ReplyDeleteI also remember there were lots of parades, with balloons- got to love balloons!
DeleteYou and your hubby are SO CUTE! Men are rule breakers because they don't care about others opinions of them. Women want to be liked. Medeia is the awesomest and I wish her much success! I not only can't take the Dark Towers series (yuck!), but I just can't get through King books anymore. Too slow and way too much telling. 50 Shades is a pet peeve of mine too. I hope the movie bombs, but I doubt it will... Have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a little more man-thinking! It must be liberating!
DeleteI honestly don't know how that movie will NOT be a porn. I mean the things that people who have read the book liked the best was some pretty hard core stuff. How do you translate that? IDK. Guess never having read the book, I'll just have to wait and see. Though I have no intention of watching the movie either. Too many good movies and books to keep me busy!
I know that everyone else is thinking about who did and didn't touch the bell.... and what this says about a person. BUT, what I am thinking is this: You and your husband went to the same grade school???? You have known your husband since grade school???? How precious is that (are rare, these days!)... so stinkin' cute.
ReplyDeleteWhen I tell you he's the first guy I ever kissed, will you be more impressed?
DeleteOh, I was like you; I would have never touched the bell but then secretly wondered about it. It would have annoyed me not to know. Because I was a goody-goody, but I was nosy. Oh, what a terrible combination.
ReplyDeleteYou and your husband knew each other even when you were 7? Man, if that isn't the most adorable form of true love, I don't know what is.
That's me! Nosy, but ruled by rules.
DeleteYes, I've known him forever....but only liked him every now and then in our youth. He's always known how to push my buttons and make me want to push him down steps. Few people know how to make me lose my temper, but he mastered it long ago.
I would have not touched the bell, like you - I prefer to stick to all the proper rules. ;)
ReplyDeleteLove the pics of you & your hubby. :D
We may never know the hidden truths, but we keep our life uncomplicated.
DeleteThe two of you look adorable :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanessa!
DeleteHey, Elizabeth! Did you see the cover of Life Magazine? Gone With the Wind! I swooned. I need to reread that soon.
ReplyDeleteN o, but I will be checking it out now. I have a closet full of GWTW stuff. Once I have my own "writer office", I'm going to surround myself with it. Thanks for the heads up- off to find Life now.
DeleteHe touched the bell - "Boys will be boys."
ReplyDeleteCongrats again, to Medeia.
He's definitely a boy!
Delete