I really liked going to the barber.  My two barders, Ed and Larry, had been partners since they got out of high school.  I started getting my haircut at Ed’s Barbershop back in 1981 on my first leave home after joining the Navy.  It was great to catch up on the local gossip and have a good laugh with the guys.  That’s all changed now.  Ed retired a few years back and left the business of cutting hair to Larry.  Earlier this year, Ed was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  He passed away shortly after his diagnosis.  Larry was with him when he passed away.  Larry had planned to retire this year anyway, but I think Ed’s death sealed the deal.  He hung up the shears for good right after Labor Day.  Here are five things about going to the barber:

1. At $12.00 a cut it was a great deal, though over the years, they had less and less work to do on my head for their fee.

2. You would think that retirees would get their hair cut during the week and leave Saturdays to us working guys.  Not a chance.

3. They always knew who was having a run-in with the law.  The police scanner was on continuously.

4. It’s more about friendship than just getting a good haircut.

5. I’m not getting a new barber.   They can’t be replaced in my eyes. 

I still keep my hair cut.  I do it myself now (with some help from my wife, though it’s tough allowing her to hold sharp tols near my head and neck).  But how hard can it be?  Take a look for yourself.  I have more hair growing out of my nose and ears than on top of my head.  And my new Wahl clippers make the job a breeze. 

I’m going to miss both those guys.  They’d known each other since elementary school.  How fortunate to have been friends and business partners for life.  Ed, God bless you.  Rest in peace my friend.  Larry, enjoy your retirement.  You and your family deserve it.

Pete PJ Grondin

www.pjgrondin.com      pjgron@pjgrondin.com

Murder Mystery/Suspense Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

My wife and I visited an estate sale last weekend.  It was an interesting view into the lives of the couple who once lived in the old, stately home.  The man enjoyed photography and building things.  He had aworkshop attached to the house with a great variety of tools, many quite old.  The woman was a homemaker, the kitchen loaded with standard kitchen appliances both small and large.  The sale had two items that took most customers by surprise.  First, the old couple had about a dozen felt canvas paintings . . . of young naked women.  They were most likely from the 1970s.  Second was a sign on the wall that said “X-rated VHS tapes – $2.00 or negotiate for the lot.  I had to do a double-take on that one.  I was curious, so I asked about them.  Apparently the couple owned a video store and the tapes were unsold inventory.  That’s her story and she stuck to it.  Here are five things about estate sales.

1. There is usually some good “stuff” for sale.
2. Most items are sold at a fraction of their original value
3. If you want these bargains, you’d better get there early.
4. Even though the prices are great to start, you can usually negotiate prices.
5. Sometimes it is tough to negotiate with someone who is selling their parents’ legacy “on the cheap.”

A small sample of the ‘goods’ that we purchased at the estate sale.

 

Estate sales are sad in some ways.  Many items only have real value to the deceased owners.  Their children have kept the really valuable stuff for themselves.  But that stuff is not always valued in dollars.  Sometimes it’s that old fishing pole that Grandpa let you use when you went fishing, or the special cup you  used when you and Dad had the morning cup of coffee Sunday mornings before the big game.  More often than not, it was a youthful picture of the younger couple your parents used to be; just how you want to remember them.

Pete Grondin                     A Lifetime of Deception, A Lifetime of Exposure, www.pjgrondin.com

I‘ve been fortunate to have worked in the nuclear power industry for over 28 years; eight-plus years in the US Navy, 20+ years in the commercial power industry.  I’ve learned a lot, earned a lot, and continue to enjoy the benefits of a great job.  In short, I’ve been blessed with God given ability and ambition, a sound mind, and no small amount of luck.  But work is a repetitive event.  You daily have to get up, prepare yourself for another day of ‘battle’ and when it becomes a battle just to go to the office, the factory, the store, or any other place of employment, then you have to question your motives.  So here are five things about work.

 1. The vast majority of people must work in order to provide the basics in life; food, clothing, and shelter.

 2. Deciding your career path at a young age is a difficult task, especially if you’re not sure of your interests. 

 3. Decisions that you make as a teenager can set a path for your life that may be difficult to change once you’re ‘locked’ into a career path.

 4. Careers that are steeped in social consciousness are not necessarily steeped in financial reward so make sure your convictions can be supported financially (see number 1). 

 5. Try to make a career of doing what you enjoy.  You may find that your work will be more enjoyable and more financially rewarding.

 My second career, writing murder mystery novels, is starting to gain momentum.  This is kind of scary because my first career is not yet over.  But I love creating stories.  It’s like I have a license to live in a fantasy world.  If I had to do it all over again, I would have started to write sooner.  There is one advantage to writing later in life.  I’ve met a lot of characters over the years.  Most of them I met at work.  Many of their personal traits and characteristics . . . well, just read one of my books.

Peter J. Grondin 

A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

www.pjgrondin.com      pjgron@pjgrondin.com

Being busy has its advantages.  You don’t spend too much time in front of the Boob Tube, you don’t have time to worry about life.  And you sure don’t have time to whine about every little thing.  And you don’t necessarily get a lot done, I mean really finished.  I’ve recently learned that being busy does not equate to being productive.  Here are five things about being busy:

1. I tend to not watch the clock at work so sometimes I leave work late.
2. I tend to lose track of time at home and usually get to bed much later than I plan. 
3. I work at lots of things.  Examples are writing (starting on my fourth novel), home remodeling, woodworking, not to mention the other daily stuff.
4. It seems that, as soon as I get started on one thing, I’m being pulled in a different direction.
5. As busy as I am, I’m not real organized and therefore not as productive as I know I can be.

One of my goals for the remainder of the year is to stay busy AND be more productive.  I’m selling books at a decent clip but not at a national bestseller’s clip.  I need to improve that.  At my real job, I plan to make some changes that will limit the amount of time I spend on e-mail and voice mail.  And I’m going to try like the dickens to set and stick to deadlines.  I’ll always be busy but the key is to make that busy time count.  Productivity is the key.  Time to get focused.

Pete PJ Grondin 

Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

www.pjgrondin.com

pjgron@pjgrondin.com

There are events that cause your body and mind to experience an explosion of positive feelings.  Among them are your wedding, the birth of your children, sex, a well cooked steak, or the taste of your favorite meal.  You might argue with some of these and you may have examples of your own, but you get the picture.  I just experienced a feeling that ranks among these, though not quite as explosive as some.  I just finished proofing my third novel at the printers.  I’ll have copies of A Lifetime of Exposure in my hands in a couple weeks.  So here are five things that I experienced whilef writing and publishing this novel.

1. This particular story was a bit difficult to write.  The subject matter is a tough one for some people.
2. I wanted to make sure it remained a murder mystery and not turn into erotica or low grade porn. 
3. The cover turned out better than I expected.  I’m glad I took the extra time to make changes at the last minute.
4. The McKinney Brothers are great protagonists. They have a lot of options left for adventures in the future.
5. The chill I got seeing the proofs will definitely not measure up to the feeling I know I’m going to get when the final product is delivered, but it was really cool. 

Don’t forget your copy of A Lifetime of Exposure.  It is available now for advance copy purchases.  If you order now, they’ll be in the mail by July 15, 2009.  Visit my website at www.pjgrondin.com to read the back cover information about this outstanding story.  You’ll be blown away.

Pete Grondin  Author of A Lifetime of Exposure and A Lifetime of Deception

I love spring, especially when the rain lets up and everything is green.  The trees are full and everyone seems to come to life.  And the Harleys are rumbling into town.  So I wanted to say five things about Bike Week in Sandusky.

1. Bikers have changed over the years.  They used to look mean.  Now they’re just people riding bikes.
2. Harleys are loud.
3. Some of these bikes are nothing short of true art. 
4. My daughter waits tables at a local restaurant so we love to see the bikers rolling into town.  They’re great tippers.  Thanks dudes and dudettes.
5. They may be loud and they may be proud, but I love these folks and everything they bring to our city.

Yes, the days of Hell’s Angels are gone.  Now we have the law firm of Sweeney, Helper, and Jones riding into town for bike week.  How times have changed.  Incidentally, when I went to school in Apopka Florida, I was a biker of sorts.  Our “club” won the Apopka High School tricycle race every year.  We were the Zell’s Angels (for Zellwood, Florida where we all lived).  We rode proud at a top speed of maybe 25 mph (it was a very special tricycle).  Man, those were the days.

Zells Angels Member Pete Grondin

Club member Dee Dee Rice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete Grondin – Author of A Lifetime of Deception Available at Amazon.com and www.pjgrondin.com

The Murder Mystery Gazette is a newsletter from PD House Books.  It provides information about my books, any specials, an upcoming appearances.  It’s runs from two to five pages.  It is one of my methods to provide my readers with up-to-date information on where my newest books stand and any special deals being run by the publisher, PD House Books.  So here are five things about the Spring 2009 Murder Mystery Gazette:

1. The lead story announces the imminent release of A Lifetime of Exposure, PJ Grondin’s next McKinney Brothers Myrder Mystery.

2. The most exciting highlight is the monthly special, also called the PD House Buyer Referral Program where you can earn free books by referring customers to PD House Books. 

3. The third exciting article is the announcement of the start of the fourth McKinney Brothers Manuscript, A Lifetime of Terror.  It is scheduled for release in the summer of 2010.

4.  The fourth feature in the Spring 2009 Murder Mystery Gazette is the list of PJ Grondin’s 2009 appearances.  Be sure to look for a scheduled appearance in your area.

5. The last point about the Murder Mystery Gazette is that it may become a bi-monthly newsletter. 

In the future, the newsletter will have three basic sections; 1. News on the status of past, current, and future novels, 2. A deal of the month section, and 3. a listing of appearances, many with pictures from past events.  I’m excited about the future of the Murder Mystery Gazette and the information that I’ll be able to send directly to you.  I hope this newsletter will benefit you as you look forward to more McKinney Brothers adventures.

Pete ‘PJ’ Grondin   Author of A Lifetime of Vengeance, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Exposure

www.pjgrondin.com, pjgron@pjgrondin.com, www.booksofexcellence.com  

http://www.pjgrondin.com/2009NewsletterSpring.pdf

ps – Don’t forget to visit the Shameless Shorts Project ands read short stories from up and coming authors.  www.tenparinc.com/ssc/ssc_review.htm

There’s something nice about relaxing on the couch with a good book.  I love the feel, the look, and I guess I like turning the pages.  Now, I’ve never had a Kindle or a Kindle 2.  But they seem to be catching on.  The eBook craze in general is catching on.  Here are five things about the Kindle and eBooks:

1.      The eBook craze is growing, there’s no denying it. 

2.      It is opening the door to many independent authors who are putting their books out there for the masses, some at very high prices, some at bargain basement prices. 

3.      It’s hard to argue with the economics of an eBook.  There’s not much financial risk for the author or the reader, if you shop smart.

4.      Prices for eBooks on Kindle and other eBook delivery systems are as varied as the topics of the eBooks themselves.

5.      I think this trend will continue for a long while.  The printed book may become less of a feature in our society in the not too distant future.

I have to admit, I have two novels available in Kindle format.  They are A Lifetime of Vengeance for $.99 and A Lifetime of Deception for $3.79.  They are both murder mysteries packed with action, thrills, family conflict, and, of course, murder.  You’ll love the twisting plots of each story.  I plan to have other eBook formats available in the very near future.  Also, my next novel, A Lifetime of Exposure will be out on Kindle immediately after my final draft is complete, sometime this summer.  So in short, cheap, affordable, murder mysteries are my contribution to the eBook – Kindle craze.  You won’t find readers protesting my prices.  So come on folks, what do you say?  Order your copy of A Lifetime of Vengeance and A Lifetime of Deception today.  That’s my shameless self promotional plug.

Pete Grondin  Author of A Lifetime of Vengeance,  A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Exposure

www.pjgrondin.com   pjgron@pjgrondin.com  

Ohio is my home state.  My wife and I were both born in Sandusky.  I have lived about half my life here.  I spent most of my youth between Michigan, Ohio, and Florida.  While I like something about each, Ohio remains my home.  I feel most comfortable here. 

So, here are five things about Ohio:

1.      If you like a change of seasons, or even a change in weather every fifteen minutes or so, you’d love Ohio.

2.      The roads in Ohio are probably the worst in the nation, except maybe Pennsylvania.

3.      People in Ohio are typically friendlier that people in many other parts of the country, but that is a generalization and just my perception.

4.      Even though there are no casinos in Ohio, only a short drive puts you in a casino in any number of states.  Or you can lose all your money to the lottery at any convenience store.  How convenient is that?

5.      There is a great diversity of culture in this great state and we’re usually pretty tolerant of most things.  That is a good thing.

While I like living in Ohio, I wish global warming would hurry along because this has been a long winter.  I’m ready for some seventy degree weather.  I guess we’ll take a trip to South Carolina this spring.  That’ll help tide us over to the summer.  Go Tribe!

Pete Grondin  Author of A Lifetime of Deception and A Lifetime of Exposure (Summer 2009)

www.pjgrondin.com     pjgron@pjgrondin.com    

 

Injuries come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are minor, some are serious, some even life-threatening.  My recent injury, a ruptured, lower, left biceps tendon, is probably in the serious category, but definitely not life-threatening, unless I do something stupid while I am recovering.  So, what follows are five things about my experience from this serious injury.

1.      It happened so fast that it took me by surprise.

2.      There wasn’t much physical pain when it happened.

3.      As soon as it happened, I knew I would require surgery to reattach the biceps tendon.

4.      It is nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep while wearing the splint, but if I don’t wear it, I risk causing more damage to my injured arm (in the category of doing something stupid).

5.      It is the latest reminder that I’m getting older, maybe not much wiser.

I shouldn’t have tried to lift a four foot by eight foot tongue and groove OSB Floor board by myself.  They are heavy and awkward.  My wife even said, if I waited fifteen minutes, she’d help me move the boards.  Heck, why wait when I can hurt myself all by myself.  I probably won’t live this one down for a while.  But I do hope I learn something.  And for all you aging, macho men out there, learn from my mistake; wait for help.  It’s easier and the job will go faster.  So what’s my total recovery time for this injury?  About six weeks for the initial repair, then months of rehab and strengthening.  And the remodeling job was going so well.  Damn. 

Pete Grondin – Author of A Lifetime of Deception