Life on March 17, 2020

Here we are on St. Patrick's Day, in the middle of the season of Lent, living during a pandemic. Now that I have done all I can do in preparation for what might come, many thoughts bounce around my head. They are random in many ways, but also connect to the current times and spread of Covid-19. As a historian by training, and novelist, I have felt for weeks this virus would turn into a pandemic and spread. Unfortunately, what I believed would happen has (though I have been surrounded by those who don't think the virus is much of an issue).

One thought that reached my mind was of the Titantic. When it hit the iceberg, and a few feared it may go down, they prepared life boats. Not many people were willing to listen and get in at that time. After a bit more time passed, a few more saw the wisdom of getting in a life boat. By the time most people realized the ship was truly sinking, it was too late and they drowned. I'm in the first life boat. That's just who I am.

Secondly, I've been pondering how one of the priests at my church talked on Ash Wednesday about Lent being a time to grow closer to God, to remove from your life what is keeping you away from God. Now that I have chosen to eliminate all extra out of the house activities, and the world has slowed, I wonder if one of the positives to look for in this time of forced stillness is a space to be closer to the Creator.

Last night I pulled a book off my shelf I had read in college and kept. Now seems to the right time to read it again. The first chapter, in several ways, connected to and helped explain the spread of diseases and how pandemics occur, and have done so throughout history. The book is The Black Death: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe by Robert S. Gottfried. For years I have referenced ideas from it in conversations I have had, as many of the facts written among its pages awoken and expanded the thoughts of my young mind.

Take care of yourself. Use some of this stillness to reflect on what is important to you.

The Conrad Chronicles

With a joyous smile I finished writing the first draft of book 8 of The Conrad Chronicles today. When I started penning words this afternoon, I knew I was near the end of the book, but didn't realize I'd finish. Usually when I sit down to write with my cup of vanilla piece tea, I write one scene. Today I knocked out the last three and then jotted down notes so I begin writing book 9, which will be the finally book in the series.

Of course, I still need to get books 5 through 7 finished and published. The plan is to publish 5 this year, which will happen as it only needs formatting and one more proof reading after that. I shall have published in the Fall for sure, maybe sooner.

Happy reading!

A Poem For These Times

This morning I awoke with a heavy heart, feeling the anxiety and depression of those around me, and the world. As a historian by training, I feel saddened by where I sense we are going. Normally I don't write poetry, except for my annual Christmas poem, but at dawn, on this lovely blue sky, February day, this poem came to me. It is untitled at this point.

Dreams of Founders shattered,
Fears of the Innocent manifested
as they come to await a tragic end.
Sold out for evil gains,
a nation once full of promise and hope,
titters on the pinnacle of despair,
bracing for the fall into darkness
as faux leaders push
Democracy and the Republic
over the edge and grin wickedly as they die,
thinking themselves gods.

2 Years Since Konrad Reichenberger Disappeared

Two years ago today Konrad Charles Reichenberger went missing. He was last seen on January 13, 2018.

As a reminder Konrad was last seen in Alturas, California in the California Pines Hill Area.

Konrad is 6'2" tall, weighed 200 lbs when he disappeared, and is now 46 years old. He has tattoos on his right arm, brown hair that he usually has worn very short to almost shaved off, and usually has facial hair.

Please remember that Modoc County is a rural area. It is one of the poorer counties in California, and is filled with a lot of wilderness. In the area he disappeared from there has been illegal logging, as well as drug labs hidden in the forested areas. None of us are sure what has happened to Konrad other than he was last seen at his cabin home on January 13, 2018 and that he loved his dogs so much he would never have just left them without a solid reason or being forced to leave against his will. When he disappeared there was several feet of snow on the ground.

His family and friends really want to find him or at least find out what happened.

If you have any information on his disappearance please contact the Modoc County Sheriff's department at 530-233-4416.

If you can help spread the word he is still missing, that would be appreciated also.

Christmas Poem 2019

All my books are on sale

Right now if there are any titles of my books that you are desiring, they are on sale at Lulu.com. Today, Cyber Monday, Lulu is offering all books at 30% off, that includes mine. In addition, I have set all my novels for another 10-25% off. So if you haven't read, this is the best time to get them:

Stubby, the Magic Pencil
Unicorn's Milk
A Tale of Butts, The Story of a Couch (under pen name Echo Ryan)
Callings: Tales of the Conrads of Karna

or any of the The Conrad Chronicles:
Revolt
Realizations
Rejections
Rebirth

Just go to Lulu.com and type in Heather Hobson (or Echo Ryan) and my books will pop up.

Happy Reading!

Rebirth is now available on Amazon and by order through book stores

The fourth Conrad novel, Rebirth, is now available for sale on Amazon.com, at other websites, and by order through book stores. To order us my name, Heather Hobson, and the ISBN number 978-0359969364. The link on Amazon is Rebirth for sale on Amazon.com. Remember it is always cheaper to buy my books directly from Lulu.com.

Happy Reading!