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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
As always, please be considerate of your fellow Fictioneers and keep your stories to 100 words. (Title is not included in the word count.) Many thanks.
PHOTO PROMPT © Randy Mazie
For those who celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Another rerun this week. For those who have written for this prompt (and you know who you are) feel free to post a repeat as well. This is my story from July 12, 2013 . Time flies, doesn’t it? Thanks to all who have hung with me for the past 6 years. I’d list them, but I’d be sure to leave someone out. Hard to believe this is the last Friday Fictioneers post for 2018! A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Shalom, Rochelle
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
BRIGHT BLESSED DAY, DARK SACRED NIGHT
Life in 1907 New Orleans made Rebecca Karnofsy question the “land of the free”. As in Russia, they were still persecuted. Scapegoats.
After circling her hands around the candles, she recited the Sabbath prayer, ending with, “Omayn and Gut Shabbos.”
“Gut Shabbos.” Louis’ smile eclipsed his midnight-brown face.
“A fine boy.” Bernie patted his head. “Already he’s repaid my loan.”
One of the Karnofsky boys sniffed. “He just bought a dumb old horn.”
Eyes wider than wide, Louis jumped up from his chair. “Someday dis whole wonderful world gon’ hear my trumpet an’ know my name is Louis Daniel Armstrong!”
Young Louis Armstrong with his mother and sister.
Amen.
****
ANNOUNCING:
My Coffee Table book A STONE FOR THE JOURNEY is now available on Amazon KINDLE or Paperback. Hardcover is available at Barnes & Noble.com
The print version is also available on Amazon.co.uk. Amazon Australia and India have the Kindle version only. I’m not crazy about the formatting job they did on the Kindle, but it’s all there. 😉
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Oh how the mighty are risen. Season’s greetings, Rochelle. By the way, did you mean to set the start date for this week’s Fictioneers collection to Friday? Does that make it the Sunday Fictioneers?
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Dear Neil,
Well this is certainly embarrassing. At least the prompt photo is there, right? 😉 I apologize for that. The link is up and ready to go. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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All good now, thanks
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Seems like the wee link thingy has the wrong date, m’lady!
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But then, I guess, we have all the time in the world…
Cool tale of very cool dude.
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Dear CE,
The wee linky thing is up and running now. Mia culpa. Usually I check the night before to make sure everything is ready to go. Too much holiday fun with my kids, I guess. It’s up and running now. (At least I got to be first this time. 😉 ) Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very cute little tale. Loved this. And Season;s greetings, dear Rochelle. What’s happenede, the thingy isn’t working? Here’s my story link https://neelwritesblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/neelwrites-ofpastlives-fridayfictioneers-flash-fiction-shortstory-100words-27-12-2018/
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Dear Neel,
I’m pleased you liked my story. Seasons greetings to you , dear friend. Please forgive my error in the link. It’s up and functional now. (at least this time I got to link first) Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another great “roots” story. It shows what some kindness could do. He did go on to change the word of music and perhaps in some ways the world itself and it is possible it would never have happened without the Karnofsy family.
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Dear Trent,
I can’t imagine this wonderful world without Satchmo. 😉 If only more people would practice such kindness. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Lady Victoria W(missing T)F,
What a great rerun. Thanks for playing one of my favorite songs. It is indeed a wonderful world. Or was, until I saw that photo of a MIME in the InLinkz panel of this week’s Hollywood Squares block of writers. It’s a good thing I hadn’t eaten breakfast or I might have lost it.
That was baaaad,
Billy D. Gruff
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Dear Billy D. Gruff,
Louie made the world more wonderful by his talent, didn’t he? Obviously you don’t know true beauty when you see it on the inLinkz. (Harumph!) You baaaaaad boy. Thanks for stopping by. Now go away.
Shalom,
Lady Victoria W(where’s my T)F
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Great story. As a boy, Louis learned to play trumpet in the Colored Waif’s Home. He left New Orleans and made it big in King Oliver’s band, but refused to play in New Orleans because it did not allow integrated bands. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1965, he triumphantly played with an integrated band in the city’s Jazz Museum. I consider Louis to be the link between Roy Hargrove and Buddy Bolden. Definitely one of the greatest American musicians of all time.
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Dear Josh,
Leave it to you to know the in’s and out’s of Louis Armstrong. 😉 I didn’t know that about him. Thank you. Glad you liked my story, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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“I see trees of green, red roses too; they all are sayin’ I love you! And I think to myself, What a wonderful world.”
Thanks again, Rochelle, for another little snippet of history .
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Dear Linda,
This is an old favorite of mine. When I found out about his Jewish connection I had to write it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I didn’t know about his Jewish connection either. So interesting.
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What a great comeback… but I wonder how much has changed… it seems to come back every now and then…
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Dear Bjorn
Of course that comeback is fiction. I don’t know if he ever really said that to the Karnofsky boys, but I’d like to think he did. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Another wonderfully written story about an amazing person who fought through adversity to make a difference. I enjoyed the video … “If lots more of us love each other we’d solve lots more problems and there this world would be better.” A wonderful message for the new year. Hope you and your family have a blessed new year!
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Dear Brenda,
I wish we could look beyond our differences and see our similarities. A happy new year to you and yours. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Of course we’re so happy to have him
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Happy to have him and sad to have lost him.
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Congrats on the book!!
I adore this short story — how lucky we all are to have had Louis Armstrong! His combination of strength, courage, hope, and appropriate melancholy always spoke to me.
Here’s my contribution for this prompt (did leave it with the linky-thinky but you know me, I do redundancy)
https://naamayehuda.com/2018/12/26/a-kids-rock/
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
We were lucky to have Louis Armstrong. What a sweet spirit he had and a smile that spread light to all around him. And when I learned of his Jewish connection…;) Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We’re all connected, if we only look well enough 🙂
Shabbat Shalom,
Na’ama
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Wonderful, Rochelle. I grew up listening to Louis Armstrong. That was music you never forget. Thanks for bringing this part of history back to the forefront where it belongs.
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Dear Eric,
He was a huge part of my growing up years, too. And you know me and history. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A true classic Rochelle. Sadly missed, there doesn;t seem to be this kind of talent around anymore.
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Dear Di,
He was a classic. I agree…not many left. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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🙂
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A fitting tale for the season. Louis sure could play a tune, couldn’t he? Cheers.
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Dear Lish,
Louis did spread joy, I think. Thank you and Happy New Year. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Lookit you, number one in the Hollywood Squares!
I love how you do this. Someone believed in him as much as he did. Yay Louis… And the world would be a lot less wonderful if he had not had this
Lotsa love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Perhaps I should postpone the Hollywood Squares every week so I can be first. 😉 Thank you for the kind comments re my story. How could you not love Louie?
Shalom and hugs,
Rochelle
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I know, right?
I know no one who doesn’t love Louis.
😀
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What an amazing inspirational story once again Rochelle. Loved it, and the video too.
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Many thanks for a wonderful comment, Anurag. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful, inspiring story for another new beginning. Admire the way you write. Congrats on the new book, Rochelle.i will gift it to myself as a new year’s present. A
Happy and healthy New year to you too.🙂
Regards,
Moon
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Dear Moon,
Thank you for such lovely comments. I hope you enjoy my new book, too. 😉
Shalom and Happy New Year to you, too.
Rochelle
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What confidence and what prophecy Louis Daniel Armstrong. Nice tale from real life.
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Many thanks, Abhijit.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And the whole world did! Nice one 🙂
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Thank you, Ali. 😀
Shalom and happy new year,
Rochelle
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Nicely written. Shows family is not always blood relatives.
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Dear Stu,
A friend of mine is fond of saying ‘family is someone who has a place at your table.’ Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah, what a grand tale this is. What a warming thought, that one persecuted group of people were there to support someone else from another persecuted group – separate but together despite all the world was determined to throw at them. And how that loan would pay off for Louis and for the world. Loved your title, Rochelle, so very fitting.
Hope you’ve had a quiet few days yourself and thanks for the great choice of photo – repeat or not, it’s an inspiring one 🙂 All the very best for a healthy and happy 2019 and thank you for leaving such a lovely comment on Dale’s Advent post for Word Shamble. I was reading alone when I read it, but still it made me blush with pleasure. Thank you again
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Dear Lynn,
If we all pulled together what a wonderful world it would be, wouldn’t it? Louis did use that loan wisely and weren’t we all blessed because of it? Thank you for the lovely comment and the New Year’s wishes. I hope yours is a good one, to. As for the comment on Dale’s advent post, I meant every word.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved Louis’ voice and he was such a talented musician, an innovator too. I read a book a while back set in New Orleans (The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestin) that had a young Louis helping to solve some rather unpleasant murders. It might not have been realistic but it was intriguing! Thank you for your lovely words, Rochelle. Every one cherished, I assure you
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So that’s how he got started! Yet another interesting bit of history from you. Thanks for staying the course for all this time – I wasn’t around here in 2013.
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Dear Liz,
I might not be 100% accurate but that’s why we call it fiction. 😉 I truly can’t believe I’m into my 7th year of facilitator. It’s one of my joys in life. Thank you for hanging with me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I visited New Orleans and remember the statue of Louis Armstrong in a park there. Happy memories of that, and of a wonderful performer. Well done, Rochelle.
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Dear Sandra,
He was a wonderful performer. Thank you and best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fabulous Rochelle! And indeed we all do know his name and his magnificent music.
And congrats on the new book!! 😍
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Dear Laurie,
It’s pretty amazing when you see his humble roots that he became such a household name. Whether you cared for his music or not, you knew his name. 😉 Thank you on all counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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it’s a wonderful world indeed. something to think about at this time of the year. season’s greetings to you and to the rest of the family.
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Dear Plaridel,
It seemed a good one to repost for the season. 😉 Happy New Year to you and yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fascinating story, made me google and found about his seventy-seven page hand-written document he entitled, “Louis Armstrong + the Jewish Family in New Orleans, La, the Year of 1907.
“When I would be on the Junk wagon with Alex Karnofsky . . . I had a little Tin Horn — the kind the people celebrates with. — I would blow this long tin horn without the Top on it, Just — hold my fingers close together. Blow it, as a call for old Rags — Bones — Bottles or Anything that the people and kids had to sell. The kids would bring bottles and receive pennies from Alex.”
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mp/9460447.0009.105/–louis-armstrongs-karnofsky-document-the-reaffirmation?rgn=main;view=fulltext
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Dear Subroto,
I take it as a compliment that my story caused you to Google. Thank you and than you for sharing the article. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a treat – I’m a huge fan of Louis- he’s a mighty force for good will. I have a cd of Louis & Ella Fitzgerald singing together which is nearly worn out as I play it so much.
Best wishes for 2019 Rochelle.
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Dear Francine,
Your comment makes me smile. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Number 1 this time Rochelle, great work, what a wonderful world we live in, thanks for this one and Seasons greetings to you and a Happy New Year
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Dear Shrawley,
It’s only through a blunder that I’m first on the hit parade. It seems that I scheduled the list to live Friday instead of Wednesday. Oops. Fortunately there were only three who caught it before I woke up to correct it. You see, I schedule it all to go live at 2:30 AM my time. Before I retired three years ago that was my wake up time on Wednesdays. There you have it. Thank you for reading and commenting. And a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Just got some Louis Armstrong music as gifts. A very distictive sound.
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Dear Andrea,
He did have a unique sound. Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I feel privileged to share some of the same heroes with you.. Thanks for hosting!!
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Dear Violet,
Thank you for such a lovely comment/compliment. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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…from humble beginnings. Delightful Rochelle.
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Many thanks for such a lovely comment, Keith.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, thank you for the lovely story. I never paid much attention to “It’s a Wonderful World” when it was first being played but now I totally get it. These days imo that song could bring a tear to a glass eye. I am late to the table with my responses this time and may even get a really late post up tomorrow. I got off a jet plane two days ago and I am still a little bug-eyed. I just wanted to say thank you so much for all you do and for welcoming me into a group which has consistently amazed, inspired and taught me stuff. Happy New Year, Rochelle, and many more of them, Jilly.
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Dear Jilly,
How very kind of you to take the time to read and leave such a comment on my story after all of the traveling. I”m sure you’re fried. We were in the car for 8 hours Thursday coming back from our son’s place and we collapsed for the evening. Your comments re Friday Fictioneers is the reason I’m compelled to keep it going. (Besides the fact that I’m a comment junkie. 😉 )
Thank you and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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Humble beginnings are often ridiculed.
It’s been 3 years since I started writing in FF.
My writing has grown.
Thanks for being there and all your encouragement, Rochelle.
Blessed New Year!💐💐💐
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Dear Sabina,
Like anything, practice makes perfect…or at least closer to it. 😉 Your writing has grown. May that continue. Thank you for reading and commenting on my story. A blessed New Year to you and your beautiful family.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wish you the same Rochelle!
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Love this song and the magical lyrics. Loved the story
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Dear Priya,
I agree about the song. What a sweet one and the man who wrote and sang it. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Foist of all, Happy New Year.
And yes, it is a wonderful world!
I just got back from visiting my kids in Florida and saw that you stole a picture from my family album.
Goasts of winters past, egad.
Mine father never looked better.
All my best.
I couldn’t resist writing one for the road based on my own picture.
Much love,
Randy
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Dear Randy,
As I recall, the photo was generously donated way back when. Todah Rabbah. It makes my world a little more wonderful to see you here. You should never resist. I hope you had a good visit with your kids…not the goat kind I hope. 😉
Shalom and a Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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thanks for visiting my blog
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thanks for visiting mine.
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I didn’t know about the story of Louis Armstrong…thanks for enlightening me! Good storytelling as always, Rochell!
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Dear Anshu,
Louis Armstrong was a a treasure. Happy to share. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love his music. Lovely read.
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Dear Lisa,
He is missed but what a legacy. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOVE this story, my friend!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Thank you so much, Ronda. I’ll take LOVE anytime.
Shalom and Happy New Year, my friend. (And to Jemma, too).
Rochelle
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Happy New Year and congrats on the book!
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Thank you, Dawn. (Hope you’ll get yourself a copy of the new book 😉 – the stories aren’t just reruns of what’s in the other three books.)
Shalom and Happy New Year,
Rochelle
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So are they short stories? I thought it was mostly drawings, at first.
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Equal number of both, Dawn. For ever short story there’s an illustration. Here’s a little more info if you’re up for it. 😉 https://rochellewisoff.com/2018/11/29/going-for-a-read/
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I thought it was a book that would be better as an actual book, rather than a e-book. Until two weeks ago I haven’t really worked since my fall on Oct. 3, 2017. As you might imagine, money has been tight. I’m working now, in a job I think I am going to really like, but it is not full time, so we will see. Anyway…so…more info than I am sure you were looking for but, well, there it is. lol
Happy New Year Rochelle!
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It’s okay, Dawn. I do understand. I’m not crazy about the Kindle version. I downloaded it and the formatting is wonky IMHO although if you play with it you can see the artwork without it being warped. I haven’t seen the paperback and. at present, Amazon is selling it for the hardcover price. Barnes and Noble the hardcover. I can sell it for less, although I do have to charge shipping. And I autograph it. 😉 No rush. But I know you enjoyed the trilogy and this is a nice companion to it. IN any event I’m glad you’re doing better and have a job you like. Hopefully that will work into full time.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And even as I wrote I went to Amazon and saw that they have all three versions available. I think the site’s under construction. I wonder if they won’t sell the paperback for a lower price. We’ll see. 😉 Of course I’ll keep everyone posted. 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
Louis’s enthusiasm is infectious! I love the way you describe his body language.
Happy New Year!
Best wishes,
Magarisa
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Dear Magarisa,
Thank you for such a lovely compliment. Happy New Year!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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