Turkey Tales

Here are two turkey (or turkel, as we call them) sightings around my house.

Turkey in the Snow

In December 2007, a big storm dropped a good foot and a half of snow. By late afternoon, the sky was clearing and two tom turkeys (all that chest hair) slogged to the bird feeder. We have several large pines in our yard which shelter the feeder. The snow wasn't as deep there and the turkeys pecked at the seeds.

The next time I looked, only one turkey was left. He turned toward the hill to climb up to the woods, stepping into snow that was up to his belly. He stopped. For several minutes, he struggled and strained against the snow, but couldn't make any progress. The light was fading, and I expected him to return along the path he and his friend had broken.

Instead, Mr. Turkey unfurled his wings (BIG wings) and flew up to a branch. Huge bird that he is, he made quite a sight, perched on that limb. As the night progressed, I looked out several times to check on him, but I couldn't see him in the darkness. I worried about him, even as I told myself turkeys are professional wild animals and can survive outside.

The next morning, I heard "Gobble, gobble, gobble," and sure enough, there he was, still sitting on that tree limb. He flapped his wings and flew down to the ground. A crust had formed on the snow overnight, so he was able to walk away, slipping and sliding and using his wings for balance.

A happy ending.

A Spring Turkey

Last May, as I sat in my front room, I heard clucking outside the open window. I jumped up to see the turkey (seeing a turkey is still a big deal) and sure enough, a hen stood on the front lawn.

She clucked again, and six tiny brown-and-yellow chicks (poults) ran out from under the rhododendron beside the house. From their small size, they must have hatched only a few days earlier.

Mama turkey clucked again and walked around the side of the house, her poults trailing in her wake. A resplendent tom, tail flaring in full courtship regalia, followed. The entire group climbed the hill behind my house and disappeared into the woods. I wonder where mama turkey built her nest. I hoped she used our woods, but I have no idea.

My husband took these two pictures from inside the house. Click on the images to see the poults better.

I never saw the poults again, but I do see the turkeys from time to time. They have no schedule, but they wander from yard to yard, climb the hill behind my house to the woods, and then climb down again, cross the street and head into the woods lower on the hill.

I'm glad we have turkels. And I hope they come around for a good many more years.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you all,
Linda

Turkeys I Have Known

I'm talking about the ones with feathers, not the non-feathered variety that plague us all everyday.

I live in a New England suburb. The area is mainly houses and lawns, with an occasional patch of woods like the one on the hill behind my house. We have the usual wildlife: squirrels, chipmunks, songbirds, rabbits, deer, raccoons and the occasional fox, opossum and groundhog. Up until a few years ago, we never had wild turkeys. Once, long ago, a domestic turkey, probably an escapee from someone's yard, wandered through for a few days, and for a year or two we had ring-necked pheasants, but no wild turkeys.

One day I looked out at my back yard, and there the turkeys were, pecking at the spilled seed under the bird feeder. They usually arrive in groups of females (hens) or males (toms) but not the two together. The only time we'll see them together is in the spring, when the toms display themselves for the hens. The traditional picture of a Thanksgiving turkey with his feathers fluffed up is a tom in courtship display. He'll ruffle his feathers that way in the spring to attract the hens' attention, but not in November. The hens also fan their tails, but their display is not nearly as striking.

How do you tell the sexes apart? Turkeys are all large brown birds with sharp beaks and big, spurred feet. The toms are generally larger than the hens and have bright, iridescent feathers. These distinctions are apparent in a mixed sex group, but for most of the year, the birds segregate into male or female only groups.

An undeniable difference is what my husband calls the tom's "chest hair"--a bundle of long coarse feathers that hangs loose from the tom's neck and swings as he walks. I would have called the feather bundle neckties, but chest hair works, too.

As for the noises they make, in most ways they sound like chickens. They all cackle and squawk. But the toms gobble, a rapid "gobble-gobble-gobble", which is why they're called gobblers.

I enjoy the turkeys. We call them turkels, to distinguish them from the turkey that will grace our dinner table on Thanksgiving. Watching them is still a treat. Most of the time all they do is stop for a snack at the bird feeder and a drink from the bird bath. But I do have two special stories about the turkeys that have visited my yard.

Next time: Turkey Tales.

Thank you all,
Linda
Top two pictures from Wikipedia, "chest hair" by my husband

"Pumpkinnapper" is up for Best Book at LASR- please vote for me!

Pumpkinnapper, my Regency Halloween comedy, is up for Best Book at LASR this weekend. Voting is Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 ONLY.

Here's the voting link: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm

and here's the 4 1/2 book review:

"It's a Regency era All Hallows Eve tale full of hilarity, a dashing hero and a darling heroine, a nuisance of a goose and possibly a spirit or two. What's not to like?"

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

Thank you all,
Linda

"Lady of the Stars" is a EPPIE Finalist!

Lady of the Stars, my Regency time travel, is a finalist in the Science Fiction Romance category in the EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection) 2010 EBook Competition. Complete finalist listing here.

The email arrived very early this morning. I just saw it. I'm bouncing around, and I'll probably bounce all day.

I've never finaled in a contest before. While I would love to win, I can be very happy with finaling.

Maybe I have a future in this business. Time for more bouncing!

Lady of the Stars blurb and excerpt here.

Thank you all,
Linda

CRR Blog Tour --LK Hunsaker and "Off The Moon"

Today I have the pleasure of hosting LK Hunsaker on her blog tour to promote the release of her latest book, Off The Moon. Off the Moon is a tale of love and caring against the background of popular music. Classic Romance Revival has sponsored the tour, and LK's full itinerary is available at http://www.classicromancerevival.com.

Don't forget to leave your comments! One person from each blog will be drawn to receive a signed, mailed copy of the short story LK has written as a bit of a prequel to Off The Moon, called Toward The Sky, plus there will be a signed print book drawing for anyone who comments on at least 8 blogs!

Hi LK, glad to have you here! Let the show begin!

Hi Linda! I’m glad to be here chatting with you and your readers! Thanks for having me!

Since I know you like humor, I thought we’d do something fun and a bit off-beat today. Character interviews are becoming popular in order to show extra insight into just who our stories are about. I’d like to do a few for the tour this month, but I’m avoiding my main characters and instead talking with minor characters about my main characters. Sound interesting? Let’s hope so. ;-)

A.K. Avoxx, a journalist following “Riveting” Ryan Reynauld’s highly successful pop music career, has cornered his brother Will leaving a supermarket in Bennington. He’s just picked up a few necessities for his family on his way home from work and isn’t known to talk much about Ryan, but we’ll see what we can get. Take it away, A.K.!

A.K.: Will? You’re Will Reynauld, right?

Will: (looks at the microphone and recorder) I’m on my way home. Excuse me.

A.K.: Only a few minutes? I’m from BlogHoppenings and would love to talk to you about your brother?

Will: Call his manager and get an appointment to talk with him. He’s easy enough to find and he has no trouble talking about himself.

A.K.: Ah, I did, quite the fun interview. He said he didn’t mind if I talked to you.

Will: Did he? That was nice of him.

A.K.: His exact words were, “You can try. Good luck.” I took that as permission.

Will: Uh huh. I have ice cream in the bag. My son has a sore throat, so if you don’t mind…

A.K.: He comes up here to visit a lot, from what I’ve heard. I’ve also heard the two of you are very close. You half raised him?

Will: Haven’t seen him in three months, if you consider that a lot. He keeps himself busy.

A.K.: So you’re not as close as it’s rumored?

Will: He’s my brother. And I respect his privacy.

A.K.: (laughs) Riveting Ryan doesn’t seem to need or want privacy. He pretty much tells all, doesn’t he? Not much we don’t know from his perspective. But I was hoping for something more … intimate, kind of the man behind the job. You lost your father some years ago, is that right? That much he doesn’t talk about. But I have heard you stepped in to help raise him. He was young…

Will: He was fourteen. I was twenty. He’s said that much already. And there are some things he does want private. He deserves that right like everyone else.

A.K.: You sure sound like a protective parent.

Will: (sets the bag of groceries in the trunk of his car and turns) We are close, yes. We talk often, as brothers. I’ve never tried to be his parent. He has Mom for that. Not that he needs parenting anymore. He’s doing well, as you can see. I’m afraid you’re not going to get any inside information from me, or from the rest of the family.

A.K.: So I should be knocking on neighbors’ doors to find more?

Will: (pauses) You can try. Good luck.

A.K.: You think they won’t talk?

Will: They don’t know anything you don’t already. He comes to visit us. Otherwise, he stays to himself while he’s here. Privacy.

A.K.: Ah, so there is a hidden, private side to Riveting Ryan none of us have heard about yet?

Will: Just a tip – he doesn’t like to be called that.

A.K.: Yes, I noticed he didn’t seem to appreciate it. Although it’s flattering, isn’t it? Referring to how riveted his audience is whenever he’s on stage? Or are the background stories true that it actually refers to something more … intimate? Regarding the flock of girls always on his heels?

Will: He is riveting on stage. Incredible showman on top of the music. Anything else, I won’t discuss. And I need to get home, so if you don’t mind…

A.K.: Of course, and thank you for your time. Could you give me a hint when you next expect him? It’d be nice to see him at home with his family.

Will gives him a raised-eyebrow glance and turns away, escaping into his car.

--------

Questions or insights? Leave them in the comments and I’ll get back with you! All who comment on this blog have a chance to win a so-far-unpublished short story related to Off The Moon. It will be printed, signed, and mailed at the end of the month so be sure your blog host can contact you. If you comment on at least eight of my blogs from the tour this month, you’re eligible to win a signed print copy of Off The Moon when it’s released.

Also, be sure to check my blog this month for Off The Moon related interviews. [http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com]

Find my website for more info, plus a free download of the beginnings of each of my novels:

http://www.lkhunsaker.com

Off The Moon

LK Hunsaker

"Riveting" Ryan Reynauld is immersed in a world of music, parties, and temporary companionship. Having risen to the top of the pop charts, his biggest concern is objecting to the way his music is produced. That is, until he finds a young woman standing on a window ledge. Against the advice of family and friends, and through media attacks and fan protests, Ryan determines to care for her himself, making a promise that threatens to destroy his career.

Convincing the skittish girl she can learn to trust again comes with a steep price. Sometimes the path to recovery begins by allowing your world to implode.

Elucidate Publishing

November 2009

Print ISBN 978-0-9825299-0-4

Ebook ISBN 978-0-9825299-1-1

As an added bonus, here's a preorder link that includes free shipping within the US until my release date (discounted outside the US):

http://www.elucidatepublishing.net/books.html

Thanks again, Linda!

You're very welcome, LK. Come back anytime.

Linda

Next up: Subplot – Another Rescue, hosted by Sandra Kay, Nov. 9

http://www.sandrakayauthor.blogspot.com/

Titles

I can think up some weird titles.

The title of Lady of the Stars, my Regency time travel novella, is not too crazy. But what about Pumpkinnapper, my Regency Halloween comedy?

What's a pumpkinnapper, you ask? Here's the one line blurb: Pumpkin thieves, a youthful love rekindled and a jealous goose. Oh, my!

As further examples of my penchant for weird titles, here are some of the titles of my posts:

Oh, No, Not Another Author Blog!-- My very first post. Probably shows it.
How I Started--Writing, That Is--My beginnings as a writer. Yawn.
To Blog Or Not To Blog, That Is The Question (My Apologies to the Bard)-- Blogging takes a lot of time. Does it help sell books? You got me.
And How Did You Become An Author? Success out of failure. Or maybe I'm just too stupid to give up.

And then we have my blog's Shameless Promotion series--subtitled Linda's Adventures in Promotion Land:
Shameless Promotion
Shameless Promotion II
Shameless Promotion, Again
More Shameless Promotion (Does She Ever Stop?)
Shameless Promotion. Again??!!!
Shameless Promotion - It Never Ends

And the titles I like the best, from my group blog, Happily Ever After:

Gorgeous Men in Tight Breeches & Ruffled Shirts
Gorgeous Men in Tight Breeches and Ruffled Shirts II

This series is my ode to Regency gentlemen's clothing. (What did you think it was?) I have to write a few more posts in the same vein. We can never have too many gorgeous men in our lives. **grins**

Do titles catch your interest? What do you like in a title?

Thank you all,
Linda

Pumpkinnapper Reviews

This post will list all my Pumpkinnapper reviews. I'll update it as new ones come in.

Classic Romance Revival Reviews: 5 wings

"From its amusing, explosive opening in Lindsell, England in 1816, Linda Banche’s delicious Pumpkinnapper kept me enthralled."

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1549

Long And Short Romance (LASR) Reviews: 4 1/2 books

"It's a Regency era All Hallows Eve tale full of hilarity, a dashing hero and a darling heroine, a nuisance of a goose and possibly a spirit or two. What's not to like?"

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

Penelope's Romance Reviews: A-
"I totally enjoyed this funny, extremely well-written and well-characterized story."

http://penelopesromancereviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/quickie-reviews.html

Night Owl Reviews - 3 1/2 Hearts (contains spoilers)
"The Pumpkinnapper is a fun quick story with a dash of supernatural thrown in to keep things lively."

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=4847

Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf (4.0 out of 5.0)

"This was a wonderfully sweet quick read! I really enjoyed it!"

http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

Seriously Reviewed/ Sweetly Reviewed (Story: 7.5, Presentation: 9, Total: 16.5 out of 20)

"Goose me again! Too cute!!! I laughed so hard I thought I was going to embarrass myself in my living room :)"

http://seriouslyreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

http://sweetlyreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

You gotta read Reviews – (You Want to Read)

“I really enjoyed this short story. …It has a great plot. Romance, suspense and a bit of comedy all rolled into one story.”

http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-pumpkinnapper-by-linda-banche.html

Thank you all,

Linda