Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2023

Step into nostalgic comfort in Good Hart, Michigan with FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN by Viola Shipman. Your summer pace will slow as you relax by the shores of Lake Michigan with BFFs Becky and Q. When you tire of the lake, take a drive through the picturesque Tunnel of Trees. Then head to the Very Cherry General Store to send a postcard. Or better yet, pick up a bakery goody or a sandwich . While there, say hello to Mary, the feisty octogenarian owner. And you don’t want to miss the annual Cherry Festival and Cherry Pit Spittin’ Championship. Did I mention Mary won when she was 15, back when women had never entered such an unladylike activity? In these parts she’s known as Cherry Mary, and no one has broken her record since 1958. Up for a try?

Summary

Cherry Mary is the third-generation woman to own the general store, but she doesn’t have a daughter to pass it down to. Her son and grandson aren’t particularly interested, either. But Cherry Mary still holds onto a prediction given to her in childhood – that another woman is destined to join the female line of store owners. Mary repeatedly sees a vision of four women in the distance walking toward her over the lake, reinforcing the prediction. Or is it simply a mirage? Mary was told it will take a lifetime to be fulfilled.

Becky just turned 40, the same day her long-time relationship crashed and burned. She feels unfulfilled in life after always making safe choices. Becky and her friend Q go on a Michigan vacation reminiscent of childhood summers with Becky’s grandparents. Becky sees herself fitting in at this lakeshore community. Just as Cherry Mary takes her under her wing, Mary’s grandson Ollie shows up. He’s changed his mind about the quirky town and old-fashioned general store, and he feels threatened by Becky. He wants to protect his grandmother from this stranger “taking advantage” of her.

FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN is about love, friendship, family (by blood and by choice), destiny, and the choices we make. It’s a story with heart and soul. Be prepared. You’ll want to book a trip to Michigan after you read it!

I only review books I would give a 4 or 5 star rating, for well-written, enjoyable books I would recommend. Just keep in mind, if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea from the description, then move on to my next book review. Perhaps this book is too slow paced for you, but that’s part of its charm. The author does a fabulous job conveying a small lake town struggling to keep life simple in a crazy world. The slow-paced summer days, the quirky people in the community, the general store as the hub of community life, the small-town festival – it’s cherry pie Americana at its best.

Interesting fact

Viola Shipman is a pen-name. The books are written by Wade Rouse, but he writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor her. He writes stories that take place in Michigan, his home state. I had the joy of meeting Wade at an author event back in June through the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beyond the Book Jacket Speaker Series.

Check out review I did a few years back on another Viola Shipman book, The Heirloom Garden.

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@author.robin.shelley

March 29, 2022March 21, 2022

Immersive Van Gogh Cleveland Exhibit

Immersive Van Gogh Cleveland. What an experience! Have you gone? If not, you should!

Once again I’m behind in posting. I’ve been focused on editing my second novel. Now that it’s done, I’m finally catching up on some of my blog topics. We attended Immersive Van Gogh Cleveland at the end of last year, but it was so amazing, I still wanted to blog about it. And since you can still buy tickets (through May 2022 at this point), it’s worth a rave review.

Since it’s posted at the event that they welcome sharing through social media, you can see I’ve included some photos and video for you to enjoy. When you’re looking at them, keep in mind these pictures are filling all four walls of a very large room. The pictures and video can’t do it justice.

You don’t have to be an art connoisseur to appreciate this experience. It’s a new way to surround yourself with Van Gogh’s art with movement and music. We entered a large room. (If you pick a busy time, be prepared to sit on the floor because there aren’t many benches.) The room is dark except for the masterpieces of art projected on all four walls, moving and merging. The elements of each painting have been separated to give a 2D effect. Music fills the space matching the emotion of the paintings being viewed. I could have easily sat through the show several times since there is so much for the eyes to take in.

Some of the art included in the presentation are The Potato Eaters (1885), Starry Night (1889), Sunflowers (1888), and The Bedroom (1889), and so much more. Check out this website for more information, including other cities the exhibit is or will be in.

Click below for video clips! Go full screen. Enjoy!

August 18, 2021

Cedar Point – Amazing Park for Roller Coasters

If you like roller coasters and live anywhere near Ohio, you know of Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, right on the shores of Lake Erie. The second-oldest amusement park in North America, Cedar Point boasts 72 rides, including 18 roller coasters. Yes, 18! (according to the Cedar Point website)

I’ve always lived in NE Ohio, within a reasonable drive to Cedar Point, so I’ve been going there since I was small. (Funny side note: This is where we went on our honeymoon! We only had Sunday to do anything since my husband started a new job that Monday.*) Jump ahead few years and we took our kids. Once my kids were grown, it wasn’t a place I thought about much until recently. Because of Cedar Point’s Gold (season) Pass special for their 150th year, I bought passes for my husband and myself. I wanted to see the decade of changes I’d missed and try out roller coasters I hadn’t experienced yet. Add the idea of taking our granddaughters, now old enough to bring along for an occasional fun day, and it made buying the passes a no-brainer!

*Don’t worry. We took a real honeymoon later. We went to Disney for a week. (Hmmm. Seems like an amusement park trend going there.)

Season Passes

The Gold Passes were a great purchase! We have loved watching my granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) discover Cedar Point for the first time. This park has two areas with just kid rides. My husband and I have been enjoying time together exploring the park, riding old favorites, and finding new ones (to us).

FYI – Cedar Point has brought back their Gold Pass for the 2022 season. It’s $99 if you buy it through their website by September 6, 2021. If you attend twice, you’ve covered the season pass cost. Any additional days are free bonuses! This price includes parking and discounts on most food and merchandise. Click this link if you’re interested. Adding on the all-season cup refill is well worth it if you plan on returning over and over with a season pass.

The Best Coaster (My Opinion)

So why write about Cedar Point now? I have two words for you roller coaster enthusiasts – Steel Vengeance*. This coaster isn’t brand new (it opened in 2018), but this summer was my first time on it. I like coasters. I wouldn’t say I love them, until Steel Vengeance. It is the best coaster I’ve been on.

You may remember it as The Mean Streak. Cedar Point totally revamped the old coaster creating something unique and so much better. It’s the first ever hyper-hybrid coaster: hyper meaning it’s at least 200 feet tall and hybrid meaning it has wooden supports with steel track. Steel Vengeance is definitely impressive to look at, but come on, that’s not what patrons come for. It’s the ride experience!

The first hill is intimidating with a 200 foot fall at 90 degrees immediately followed by two more large hills. Riders have a seat belt but their legs are also clamped in with an unusual bar that fits snugly around each thigh. I felt secure on the twists, turns, and four inversions. At 74 miles per hour, it’s definitely fast which keeps the thrills coming in quick sequence. The almost 30 seconds of airtime – the most airtime on ANY roller coaster in the world (according to Cedar Point) – was absolutely a rush. The ride is smooth so I didn’t come off it with a whiplash or headache like some coasters. At 5,740 feet long the ride takes 2 minutes and 30 seconds, much longer than many coasters I’ve been on. It isn’t unusual to wait in line for 90 minutes for this one, but between the ride design and the length of the ride, I’d say it’s worth it.

*Note: Make sure you put everything in a locker before getting in line for Steel Vengeance. If you don’t, they will insist you put items in a last chance mini-sized locker inside the structure – including phones. Then you go through a metal detector. They really don’t want you to lose anything on this coaster. I’m sure it’s to protect the riders and the those in line below. It’s that intense of a ride!

Add Your Opinion

What’s your favorite coaster at Cedar Point? What are you favorite coasters at other parks? If you’re not a coaster fan, what kind of ride is your favorite?

After watching the video below, I have to say – video can’t capture the true thrill and speed of Steel Vengeance in person, but if you’d like an idea of the ride, I’ve attached the official Cedar Point video below. Enjoy!

May 3, 2021

Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe

I am impressed with T. I. Lowe’s latest book, Under the Magnolias, Lowe has progressed to the major league with this Southern story. Lowe’s earlier Carolina Coast series is sweet, but Under the Magnolias is a tough, gritty family story that will stick with you. If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, this is a must read. This heart-wrenching story will get you rooting for the kids living on a tobacco farm in South Carolina in the 1980s.

Austin Foster is forced to grow up at age 13 when her mother dies giving birth to twins. Austin is left the responsibilities of raising six siblings, running the house and helping her father, Dave Foster. Her father battles the darkness of a mental health issue while trying to make a living off his tobacco farm. When Vance Cumberland, the mayor’s son, shows interest in Austin, Continue reading “Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe”

August 4, 2020August 4, 2020

Friends and Fiction Author Chats

I want to share something with you that shouldn’t be kept a secret. Do you remember in my recent book review on The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe, I mentioned a Facebook group I came across during the pandemic? The Friends and Fiction FB group is sponsored by five women fiction authors: Mary Kay Andrews/Kathy Trocheck (Hello, Summer), Mary Alice Monroe (On Ocean Boulevard), Kristin Harmel (The Book of Lost Names), Patti Callahan Henry (Becoming Mrs. Lewis), and Kristy Woodson Harvey (Feels Like Falling). (The books listed are their most recent.)

During the pandemic these authors felt the need to connect with each other since they couldn’t get together in person. They started connecting through Zoom for a virtual happy hour – enjoying a drink while talking books. They realized how much they were missing in-person book tours and meeting their fans so they decided to open up their weekly chat to fans by making it a weekly live video on Facebook each Wednesday at 7 pm eastern. (You can also view it later at your leisure on the FB page.) In just a few months this Facebook group has already gained 14,000 members! What started as a “limited time event” looks like it’s here to stay.

Sometimes the live chats are the five of them discussing writing and books while other times they invite a special guest to join them. Past guests have included Delia Owens (Where the Crawdad Sings), Jasmine Guillory (Party of Two), Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Dance Away with Me), Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle (Close Up)), Lisa Wingate (The Book of Lost Friends), and Drew Copeland and Ken Block (members of the band Sister Hazel) to name a few. Upcoming interviews on the summer calendar include Elin Hilderbrand on Aug. 5 (TOMORROW!), Karin Slaughter on Aug. 12, Kristina McMorris on Aug. 19, the Friends and Fiction 5 on Aug. 26, and Etaf Rum on Sept. 2. The F&F5 are finalizing other author interviews for the fall.

“The authors quickly make fans feel like good friends just hanging out together.”

I look forward to watching the live video on Facebook every Wednesday. The authors quickly make fans feel like good friends just hanging out together. We can also submit questions for them and for their guest authors. An independent bookstore is highlighted each week as the authors encourage fans to support them, especially while these businesses are struggling during the pandemic.

Friends and Fiction is a closed FB group, but anyone can join. On Facebook type Friends and Fiction in the “search groups” bar. Just ask to join and soon you will have access to their past videos, their live videos on Wednesdays, and comments and recommendations from other fans/readers. (Also check out friendsandfiction.com.) I’m amazed that with all these ladies have on their plates they want to continue doing this, but I’m so glad they do. Come join us!

May 15, 2020

Don’t miss Stargirl premiere

Set your DVRs! If you’re a fan of the superhero phenomena both on TV and the big screen, you need to check out the new CW show, DC’s Stargirl, premiering May 19 at 8 PM. (Check your cable listing to verify date/time.)

Even if you’re not a superhero fan, keep reading to see why you should check it out.

I am so excited. Not only do I love these superhero shows/movies, but I have a personal connection to this one. Many of you know I taught English at Painesville’s Riverside High School for thirty years, but you might not know that ten of those years included teaching video production. Students learned the whole process from developing an idea to filming to editing. We created commercials for our school-televised morning announcements, we filmed and produced videos of school events for the local cable channel, and we developed our own film festival with student created movies complete with trophies and prize awards.

I was blessed to have Kyle Gallagher as a video student from his freshman through to his senior year. His passion for film started even before he entered my video class. He was already making movies when he was in my eighth grade English class. His talent grew through his perseverance, including through our school film festival which was partly his brainchild. His special FX skills went beyond mine, but I like to think I challenged him. And he challenged me since he was my student in the first few years I was developing the school video program.

I continued to watch his journey from a distance as he went to SCAD for film and as he started his career. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when he called with exciting news last year. He was moving to LA for a new job! Kyle’s title is VFX Artist on DC’s Stargirl, a new CW show. Kyle tells me he has also been doing VFX supervisor work and directing other projects.

One reviewer from TVLine said about DC’s Stargirl, “The visual effects work — from the personality-infused Cosmic Staff to S.T.R.I.P.E. the robot (who, yes, gets his own training montage) — is solid and sometimes stellar, without ever being splashy.”

I thought it might be fun to chronicle some of Kyle’s journey. In high school Kyle honed his special effects skills through a Star Wars spoof called School Duel. You can see his progression in the three shorts (links below). Impressive work for a high school student! After high school he did the Cleveland Awakens piece (link below). And now, he’s working on a CW network show!

Make sure to open each link in new tab so you don’t lose this page.

Link to School Duel I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bopKelOLZZg

Link to School Duel II part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qa0q6TEkOw

Link to School Duel II part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pTNY0O0hZw

Link to Cleveland Awakens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZmlOOibxs

So if you’re from the Painesville area, you too will feel the thrill of knowing a local kid has developed into a successful man in the entertainment industry. I am so proud of Kyle! And I’m so excited to see what the future holds for this talented young man!

(If you’d like to leave Kyle a message, comment below. I’ll make sure he sees it!)

September 4, 2019

Getting Organized – Recipes

One thing I realized as I was moving for the second time in two years – I have a lot of recipes! Do I use them? Not so much. Why? They are scattered everywhere! You know what I mean – recipes scribbled on tattered pieces of paper, ripped out of magazines, saved as photos on my phone, written on index cards in a recipe box, etc. Whenever I think, “Oh, I’d like to make ________ ,” I can never find my recipe. Then I go online to look up a recipe for it only to find it isn’t quite what I’m looking for or I’m tweaking it anyways. I’ve decided to put an end to all that! I’m getting organized!

Sure it will take some time, but when I’m done, it will be great! When I want to make a certain recipe, it will be at my fingertips. If I don’t know what I want to make or I’m bored with meals, I can flip through to find inspiration or that recipe I’d forgotten about. (By the way, the picture above is only a sample of the mess I’m facing.)

So next was to decide HOW to organize it all. Once before I made a recipe card template on the computer to type them all out. I thought I’d put them in my recipe box but also have them saved digitally so I wouldn’t lose them. That didn’t last long. It was just tedious to get everything to fit on that small of a format.

I’ve searched the internet for solutions. Everyone has their favorite. Although I haven’t found one yet that did everything I hoped it would, I discovered a free app called Pepperplate. I can add recipes on my computer using a full sized screen and keyboard but access them on either the computer or my phone app. I started using Pepperplate a few years ago, but I was just too busy to do much with it. Now I’m excited to try again.

Soon I will be able to share recipes with my daughter and future daughter-in-law. Next time they ask for a family recipe or a new idea, I can share it with them through Pepperplate. I can send it through email, Facebook or Twitter. I can print it out in several formats. If I want recipe cards, I can print those. Or I can print in a larger format to make a recipe book to give to family and friends. And I can pull up the recipe on my phone when I’m at the grocery store so I don’t forget an ingredient.

Have you organized your recipes? What format did you use? Did you use any tools or apps you like? Share! We’d all like to know! And if you haven’t organized them yet, it’s ok. That’s where most of us are!

February 5, 2019February 1, 2019

Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Hi shells! My last post was about the Arctic Blast that came through, and since I’m sure many of us are fighting the mid-winter blues, today let’s turn to warmer thoughts.

The shores of North Carolina have a lot to offer. Wonderful beaches, fun water sports, interesting wildlife, dazzling sunsets, warm weather, and an intriguing mailbox. Yes, a mailbox that is intriguing. On Bird Island near Sunset Beach but off the beaten path about a mile and a half walk from anywhere, this lonely mailbox pops out of the dunes. The lettering on the outside of the box simply says Kindred Spirit. As its location and purpose have become more well-known, it has become a destination for visitors of the area.

The peaceful walk along the shore may put you in a contemplative mood, readying you for what the mailbox provides. Open the box and you will find notebooks written in by many visitors. Strangers share private reflections on their lives and their loves, successes and failures, hopes and dreams, and mainly what they are thankful for. Many write in the notebooks left in the mailbox. Others bring their thoughts already written down to leave in the box. Visitors leave cards, photos, and items – from baby toys to old jewelry. Go ahead. Sit on the bench for a spell and read what others have written or contribute your own thoughts, stories, or poems.

Yes, please. I just convinced myself. I want to go. What a wonderful way to slow down in life and reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re going. It’s a place to relax, to think, to pray even. But how did it get there? No one knew until recently. Continue reading “Kindred Spirit Mailbox”

February 2, 2019February 1, 2019

Brrr!

What’s with this weather? I live in northeast Ohio near Lake Erie. Granted, I expect cold winters with snow, but this week we were colder than Alaska! Seriously. We were. Temperatures were below zero and the wind chill was -35 here. I love living in Ohio and being near the lake. I’ve endured living in the snow belt for many, many years, but I didn’t sign up for this kind of cold! Sorry, winter lovers.

While I tried to stay inside wrapped up in blankets as much as possible, I was amused by what others were doing out in this cold. I’m not talking the typical winter activities of building a snowman or going skiing or sledding. I’m talking about truly creative uses of this extreme cold. (By the way, whatever you do in this cold, don’t forget how dangerous it can be! Stay safe.)

So here’s one example: Have you ever tried to make your own snow? People have been throwing near boiling water from a pot into the air outside in these frigid temps. It immediately turns to snow. It’s awesome to watch! Search for it on YouTube. Just make sure it is truly cold enough if you try it. Safety here. It is HOT water.

Another creative example I saw this year is a new fad. Have you heard of the frozen pants challenge? Well, I guess it’s not new new, but it was new to me. People are soaking their pants in water and taking them outside (not while wearing them, duh). As the pants begin to freeze, they sculpt them to make them look like someone is wearing them – posing them in different positions and in interesting locations. Some have taken it to the next level with freezing police uniforms, karate uniforms, and complete tuxedos. I loved the pants family – it included the dad jeans, mom jeans, and two children-sized jeans. I didn’t want to use a photo without permission on my blog, so you’ll just have to check it out yourself. It’ll give you something to do since you’re already on the internet. Gotta love the search bar!

By the way, it’s supposed to be 50 degrees on Monday. I’m sure somebody will have on their shorts and flip flops.

February 1, 2019

How ya doin’?

Image by Lynn Greyling – CCO Public Domain

Hello to all my shells! That’s you – all of my blog followers. It’s how I refer to all of you. With my last name being Shelley, it just works. When I was teaching video production to high school students, I called my personal production company Shells in the Sand. So now, as my media platform has changed to blogging and writing novels, you have become part of my shell world. I love it because each shell is a unique and beautiful work of art, just like each of you. Thanks for hanging with me, and welcome to my new shells! Nine new shells joined us this week! Thank you to everyone for spreading the word and sharing my blog with your friends and family.

My last post was about new year’s resolutions and how we all struggle to keep them. I shared with you my take on it for this year. I developed my vision for the year and my mission – a plan of attack by taking small steps each month. Now that it’s February 1st, it’s time for me to look back at January and see how I did.

I’m pleased with my progress so far. I admit I didn’t exactly complete the plan for the month, but I took care of some other “to do” items that still lead to the end vision. My goal for January was to create a list of 50 potential agents for my book and to revise my query letter. I do have the agent list ready, but I didn’t get to the query letter. I already have a good one prepared, but it never hurts to make it better. That’s on my “to do” list for next week. Looking at February’s goals, my plan is to start sending query letters to agents (at least 10 per month). I also planned to write/revise a long and short summary of the novel for agents who may request it. Here’s where I’m ahead a bit. In January, I decided to do another revision of the novel. As I went through page by page, I also took notes that will become the summaries. All I have to do is revise them this month. So in January I didn’t get to the query letter, but I did get a lot done on February’s summaries.

That’s what I like about doing my resolution this way. There’s flexibility. It takes the pressure off . It gives me breathing room. It isn’t so black and white – either I succeeded or I failed. Instead, I continue to simply make progress toward the vision.

So how ya doin’ with your goals? Take time to look at how you did in January and what you want to do in February. And if you didn’t develop a vision and a mission, it’s not too late. Check out my blog from January to help get you jump started. Make it a productive 2019! You can do it!

October 24, 2018October 24, 2018

What are your favorite movies?

An interesting question was posted on Facebook the other day. It said something like this: What movies have you watched more than five times and still enjoy watching? I’m a big movie fan so this got me thinking.

I first thought, what movie was my favorite as a child? Keep in mind that when I was a child, it was a big deal to go the movies. We didn’t have DVDs or Blu-Ray to watch our favorite movies over and over again. We couldn’t DVR shows on TV to watch again or watch later at our convenience. We couldn’t even pause a show to go to the bathroom. We ran for it during commercials and did our thing as quickly as we could so we wouldn’t miss when the show returned. Our choices were to either watch what was on TV when it aired (from four available channels) or go to the movie theater. And that was always a special occasion. So my favorite movie as a child was The Three Lives of Thomasina, a non-animated Disney movie. If memory serves me right, it was told from the perspective of the girl’s cat. It was a sweet, feel good movie. I’m sure if we had VHS back then, I would have worn out the tape.

As an adult, it’s so hard to pick my top five or even my top ten favorite movies.Some movies are amazing because of the story telling and sometimes the brilliant twists. (If I had to bet on it, I’d bet most authors are movie lovers. It’s just another way to tell a great story but with the use of other tools. Often when I’m writing, I find myself visualizing my story in a movie format. It helps make the story and characters come alive for me.) Other favorite movies are because of the cinematography. Other times it’s a character or situation that resonates with me. Then there’s the addition of the music, the location, the lighting….Usually it’s a combination of reasons.

Even though I’m a big fan of movies, somehow I’m not a big fan of the movies picked by critics. I just like certain movies because I like them. It’s a personal thing. So listed below are some of my favorites (in no particular order), although if you asked me next week, some of my choices would probably be different. I’m sure there’s some I’ve missed, those movies that will come to mind as soon as I post this. If you haven’t seen some of these, check them out! Let me know what you think. And, tell me, what are your favorite movies?