Shop Online

20 Nov

Readers, reviewers, bloggers and shoppers!

Here’s my little shop on Zazzle.

Unique, one of a kind items for holiday gift giving!

Please forward to others. Sharing.

Click the Zazzle link.

ZAZZLE

ZAZZLE

Thanks for shopping!

Kim Troike

Caroline Clemens *pen

Notes From Author Caroline Clemens

27 Oct
Cedar Point At Night

Happy Halloween! Happy Thanksgiving! And Merry Christmas!

My favorite time of year is approaching-so, I’ll be putting up the tree, a new one I purchased locally last year with blue, white, silver and gold bulbs. I believe it represents a new place in Florida. Still learning the area and waiting for the final words to be spoken, “The pandemic is over, now celebrate!”

My daughters are graduating college in December and June with a B.S. degree in Finance and a B.S. in Health Management & Marketing. Yeah for them and me! I’m the sideline coach and major cheer section. I couldn’t be prouder. Now for the wonderment, as they set sail on a new life away from professors and high rent in downtown Atlanta. My son has his hands on batteries and decided he’s ready for online college. He’s interested in a degree from Full Sail while he works a full time job. Go honey go!

Quarry Hill Vineyard in Berlin Heights

I have so many things I want to do that I need a few more decades to accomplish them. First up is more books to write, query, and market to readers, Netflix, and other streamers. I made my first movie while on vacation to Ohio. I need to add music and titles. Why? Why not. It just kind of happened like magic. I call it September Storm. My pictures are from Cedar Point, Quarry Hill Vineyard in Berlin Heights and my backyard from where I grew up in Huron. I took five books with me on vacation. I’ve been on a reading binge & reviewing blitz trying to show my appreciation for authors who inspire me.

I plan to return to my novel writing January 2022. After all … I have all this experience I shouldn’t let go to waste. Face it 2020 & 2021 suck, news wise anyway and the loss of loved ones. I didn’t lose anyone. My parents both had Covid 19 and the shots at ages 89 & 93. But its a slugger of a flu, a pure wipe-out for some while others didn’t know they had it. As a nurse that tells me your immune system is at work, keeping you updated with antigens for the future.

My backyard where I grew up in Huron.

I’m a planner so here goes …

In 2022 I’d like to write the 3rd thriller novel in the #SouthernSurveillance series which is basically a fictitious story about spies on your phone/mass surveillance, a historical fiction 1830’s-1970’s based in Palmetto, Florida with bits of Georgia and Ohio in there (think pirates, high seas, traders, and locals), a summer beach romance that will become a series based upon some of my favorite spots near the ocean-delicious, sensual, and architecturally inclusive, and finally three children’s books, two of which are written and all three need illustrators.

I hope to get into Barnes & Noble stores, independent book stores, libraries and coffee shops for meet and greets with readers. My books are available everywhere online & yes, I’m self-published and do it alone. Cheers to book sales, readers and reviewers; I’ll drop a fishing line to Netflix and beyond. Maybe I’ll get to see one of my stories on the big screen!

Happy Holidays America,

Caroline Clemens

AKA Kim Troike

Touring the Tides

8 Sep

The lovely Don Cesar Hotel over on St. Pete’s Beach is wonderful. Take the time to go back in time and visit Florida’s past. You will be delighted and enlightened. I visited there recently on a beautiful day and enjoyed cocktails with a magnificent view followed by a delicious lunch. I forgot about everything going on this world including Covid. Enjoy my photos and go see what lies within that beautiful pink splendor by the sea!

The Don Cesar by Pearl Press Photos
Frozen Delight by Pearl Press Photos

Remember that saying by Maya Angelou, the one talking about how someone or something makes you feel? Yes, that one. I cannot remember the name of this delightful drink but I remember how I felt drinking it and gazing upon this lovely view above the bar. See below.

The View by Pearl Press Photos

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit The Don Cesar Hotel built back in the 1920’s and revitalized since then. It’s definitely a Florida treasure that will make you remember how you felt. Oh, and it has a certain Marilyn in its history and that would not be my mother.

Kim Troike

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot

25 May

Interview Questions for Mayor Lori Lightfoot

Chicago and all that jazz …

Recently, I viewed her on television and thought she’d be a great person to interview, even though she has requested no white people. Well, that, challenges me. So here I am wanting to be listened to and reckoned with. (In my youth I traveled through Chicago every summer to Wisconsin to visit my grandmother who lived on an island. I remember a huge bridge and all the wonderful buildings and that we were halfway to our destination). Lori Lightfoot is in the news quite a lot lately due to her cities gun violence. I looked up an email for her and then it wouldn’t send. I’m posting the questions anyway.

1). Why did you become Mayor of Chicago? What was your background?

2). The gun violence is in the news every weekend. How do you sleep at night? (wine, yoga, music?) Obviously we don’t think you are the cause but rather the person who will bring peace. What are your plans to bring these numbers down?

3). You stood up against the teachers unions, something so powerful, especially in the Midwest. For me, this made you a god, very powerful. What else can you do that we haven’t seen yet?

4). You get a lot of flack from Twitter, but I suppose big names catch the criticism. What would you tell your 14-22 year old children on how to handle Twitter, Facebook, etc.?

5). Any future plans in politics? Will you run again and will you win?

6). To outsiders, Chicago has much going for it …like Wrigley Field, University of Chicago, the lake and waterfront, jazz, pizza, Oprah Winfrey, and, of course, Barack Obama. Do you think Barack Obama helped or hurt Chicago? Explain. And why didn’t he stay? He’s such a peaceful man. What could he do to help Chicago now?

7). You have a new superstar quarterback coming from Georgia. How will this help to influence the youth and spirit in Chicago?

Thank you! Wishing Chicago peace and quiet from the gun violence and a great recovery from the pandemic. I hope to inspire girls and women through interviews and learning about others pathways.

Kim Troike is a citizen journalist for Pearl Media and The Ivory Tide Press. She’s a writer using the pen name of Caroline Clemens for her nine novels. Her novel String the Cranberries touches lightly on the violence in south side Chicago. Picture credit to IStock Images.

Print Release of Magenta Fleurs

12 May

My print release is here! Ingram Sparks has it and I’m elated. You must know I’m a cost conscientious individual self-published writer looking for an audience. Where are you readers? Stuck at home, waiting for the go ahead to get back out in the world? How about you try an indie author today! Let me repeat-try an indie author today. What does that even mean? I’m not sure myself but because a top four or five publisher hasn’t discovered me yet, I think I fit in the indie, out there place, of undiscovered writers. I’ll even stay there when I find my reading group. Some people give me tips and I follow up by writing the best story I possibly can. If you found me then let’s play together in the sand, enjoy the ocean, maybe even listen to some great tunes. Let’s feel the reel world as it moves by on social media. Catch my drift?

My colors seem to be off, as in too bright a green and the magenta is purple. While I fix that let’s talk books. Fixed it. It’s always something in publishing. The digital was released in March of this year and my book club was going to read it, then a posting glitch knocked it off its platform and needless to say it was canceled. Woke and canceled-I felt the burn. Kind of like the past year and a half that we have all experienced. Seriously, politics and media have destroyed us or are we simply destroying ourselves through social media? Great question.

Anyhow let’s get back to the beach and a great read. If you buy and read please, please, leave a review. It helps others to know if they might like the book. I’ve looked forward and would like to write more books and maybe submit another screenplay. The starving artist is not a role in life I ever expected to take. That’s not me. I always showed up, did the work, became a highly trusted individual, made money, made lots of money (well to me it was and I saved it). But writing and being creative takes bits of your soul that you share with others then mix truths, plots, fiction and settings into this large bowl (your mind) and make a new masterpiece. That’s right you bake a cake! And who will love it? You never know until they try it.

Enjoy your summer. Let’s make this little cake go viral or universal. Tell your friends, pass it forward. I’m being greedy-I want readers so that I can write again and give you something extraordinaire. Streaming is big business and you never know maybe they’ll make a movie or TV show. That was NEVER my goal but I must admit I think about it now because I was never this close to it before. Do dreams come true? Silly you, of course they do. Women, let’s encourage each other and not tear each other down. We already have to compete with men and many of them remain at a high level. I mean did you watch the football draft and the guys getting $30 million for a contract. My body was salivating, head was shaking, smiling from ear to ear. I clapped for them but my mind raced in wonderment why GIRLS don’t have a glimpse of that luxurious cash endorsement. I aim to bring the battle closer and win once or twice!

Magenta Fleurs would like to be the book in your hands this summer, at the beach, in your condo, at your grandparents house, or even out on a boat. Pour a glass of champagne, play some music and treat yourself. You deserve a wonderful life and it starts right here! Thank you for reading.

Magenta Fleurs is a tragic thriller, domestic crime drama and the parallel sequel to Three King Mackerel and a Mahi Mahi. It can be read alone or in any sequence. College students read Shakespeare’s To Be or Not To Be while 1984 hits the coast as Miss 007 paints a canvas in the swamp. What on earth is happening in south Georgia? Kristan settles into college meeting new friends and classmates but by December her life changes and she relies on strangers to assist her going forward. Her new guy friend from English Literature meets her friend Scarlet and they begin a romance, while a trip to a castle on an island produces an outcome no one saw coming at Thanksgiving. Twists and turns and reels keeps this writer and her storytelling provocative with literary fiction lovers enthralled.

Email the author @ carolineclemensauthor@gmail.com for comments.

Credit to Adrian Pasarin from Instagram for the delightful cover that reigns supreme!

Magenta Fleurs

16 Mar

Cover for Magenta Fleurs by Nova Design from SPC

Magenta Fleurs is out! Published for preorders it became open on March 12th. Thanks to D2D publishing with circulation to numerous venues across the net. Print and audio will be forthcoming!

Barnes&Noble

Each time I finish a novel I get thrilled about it and wonder how much readers will enjoy the plot and characters. My Book Club will be reading it this March/April so I’m super excited. Thank you to readers who give Indie Authors a chance! Gracias.

Magenta Fleurs is a tragic thriller women’s fiction read published via Draft2Digital. It is the parallel sequel to Three King Mackerel and a Mahi Mahi. Romeo and Juliet read Shakespeare’s To Be or Not To Be while 007 paints a 1984 canvas in the swamp. It can be read alone or after Three King. Get on it-be informed and entertained!

This is the very first time using this venue to publish. My previous works were either KDP or with help from an editor. Editing prices went up and I needed to accommodate my budget with do-it-yourself skills. I conformed. I figured I was worth it as this is my ninth or tenth novel. With experience comes improvement and excellence.

Caroline Clemens

The Ivory Tide Press

2 Nov

Do you like the sound of that? As an author of self-published novels I need a name for my publishing company. That way I’ll still keep theivorytide.com URL and website with WordPress. I have three books I’m promoting/marketing right now to bookstores and libraries. I’m hopeful.

I just finished up a How To Series on carolineclemens.com It’s a five part series with five blog posts on how to write a novel. If it’s on your bucket list or someone you know-then pass it forward. Donations are accepted. The information is from someone who has been there and done it. Namely me!

It would make the perfect Christmas gift or Holiday exchange for that creative person in your life or someone retiring. I have nine years experience doing it alone and I learned a great deal. It’s my way of giving back to the helpful people/writers along the way. Blogging made it happen. That is the number one ingredient to becoming a writer. Blogging. Thank you WordPress!

I’m presently writing my ninth book and hope to publish in February or March. It’s a tragic thriller. What? I know right! Sounds like I’m making up categories in the genre section but after I laid down the outline it made perfect sense. I hope you give indie authors a chance, review them, and pass their name on to friends and family. Also, buy local. I’m going to do that this week with a purchase of “Where The Crawdads Sing.” I must find out what all the fuss is about. With seven million purchases the good word is out. I joined a book club, my first ever and that’s our November read.

The Ivory Tide Press will be my publishing company and the blog theivorytide.com (among it’s podcast, museums, peace site, palmetto stars, newsy, and pearl life) will offer finished book reports, papers, essays, term papers and the like for pay. I will mostly do junior/senior high school and freshman/sophomore college students or anyone else in need of type written skills for hire. Email kimtroike@gmail.com if interested in or in need of papers written in English. Payment will be via donation per PayPal at Kim Troike with charges similar to what others obtain for these services.

Empty classroom with no students

I will use this pricing I found on essays. I can’t wait to work for you.

Have you ever wanted to write a novel or have your memoir written? I could do that “Memoir” or idea that’s in your head for a prepaid sum and written in English. Email kimtroike@gmail.com if interested.

By Kim Troike

Images Credit via Thinkstock Photos

#Writing #Publishing #Books #Reviews #WordPress #TheIvoryTidePress #Thriller #Tragedy #Essays #Papers #TermPapers #bookreports #christmas #holiday #christmasgift #writingskillsforhire #WheretheCrawdadsSing #memoirs #english #novelwriter #memoirwriter

Debate Style

30 Sep Soldiers Honored on Memeorial Day

*Opinion piece *Non partisan

The race to the 2020 White House for President could not be filled with anymore plot. There’s overloads of plot and subplots going on, it feels like we will never finish this book, I mean race. From mail in ballots, losing ballots in the creek, riots in Democratic cities, a failed impeachment, investigative reports of spying on an incoming president elect, and, finally, an economic destroyer named Covid-19 Pandemic, things could not be worse.

Except it seems worse and worse everyday. Remember when you learned that expression, “Can we just agree to disagree?” That and if you can’t say something nice then say nothing at all. Okay, not that one. We just haven’t had two opposing ideals duke it out so differently. Therefore, I chalk up the 1st American Presidential Debate to style. What it showed us is, yes, we are all different in our style, our speech, our energy and accomplishments. You could see the differences in professions come right out front and collide in the center.

Mr. Biden, ex Vice President, held his own, spoke into the camera (like a politician) and name called rather quickly. He has changed his ideas and does not support the Green New Deal. President Trump came out like a fighter, he is not going to let someone steal this election if he has anything to do with it. If the media reported his accomplishments then he wouldn’t have to instruct his voters about policy and deals.

Anyway you look at it 2020 is a mess. Our daily lives do not hold fighting, name calling, or destruction, only closures and job losses which have reached their peak. Who’s hurting? The schoolchildren and college students watching the adults fear and anger, with the cities burning, not really understanding all of it. Try dissecting a real heart in your kitchen apartment. It smells, you don’t know what you’re doing, and they call this teaching. The absurdity of it all. That class was dropped and the memory will be funny later on in life. I know when I was very young I didn’t know why Detroit was on fire or why the south had riots. But I know that the police helped to stop the fighting.

Why would anyone work for FREE (President Trump) for four years? I can’t figure that out. Why would someone stay in POLITICS (Mr. Biden) for 47 years? Not sure of that either. Then again, why would someone ENLIST (brave young male or female teen) and go to war? Maybe the answer is they all LOVE America very much.

The plot is in full climax mode and our book will hit the resolute button on November 3rd, or thereafter, likely by January 21st or so. Twenty twenty-one will be better than 2020, it has to right(?) and we will have a new President named Donald or Joe. Let’s let them govern and be the presidential branch of this beautiful USA. We deserve a wonderful sequel!

It’s okay to be different, in style, in manner, in vocation, and in what type of family you create. It’s even right to vote for the party you like. That’s your American right. Vote for who you want to represent you and your ideals. I think we all have a little bit to give and to help keep, America the beautiful, strong and in first place.

By Kim Troike

Photo Credit Google Pics

VOTE

Middle East Peace Treaty

19 Sep

The Abraham Accords Peace Agreement is diplomacy between United Arab Emirates and Israel. The treaty was signed in the United States at The White House. The conceptual idea is a forward approach, realizing the past has not worked, and so by titling it Abraham it merits that Arab and Jewish people have a commonality; why can’t all faiths, and nationalities coexist with mutual respect?

The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi from Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates joined with President Donald Trump of the United States of America as a witness signing this accord on September 15th, 2020. The measurement addresses 11 areas to afford peace by cooperation, coexisting, and friendly diplomatic relations for healthcare, science and technology, tourism, energy, environment, education, maritime, telecommunications, agriculture, water, and legalities.

Investing in agriculture will be a much better way going forward than conflict and weaponry. The countries teach hate instead of science, so who wants to visit a war torn area. Safety is at stake for everyone. Makes sense to try a new approach. After all why is it okay to do something, over and over, just because that’s the way we always did it before? Seems fair. Like schooling in the United States, people resist change but is sitting in a classroom six to eight hours a day right for everyone, or the only way? Only to go home and play video games for three more hours? College? Trade School?

I know I got off track but maybe 2020 has a bright spot. Maybe a pandemic is the ultimate instigator for change in our lives. And who better to acknowledge change and push for it? Conservative President Donald Trump. He’s been nominated twice in the last two weeks for a Nobel Peace Prize, specifically for this peace treaty, which his son in law speaks so eloquently about.

By not waiting for the holdup to Middle East Peace, Trump and Kushner, took a bold approach and said let’s get other countries to join in and cooperate with each other. It’s time. Like most Americans I don’t profess to know much about the Middle East, except for oil, ISIS and terrorism, but I do wish for their people to be united, free, and happy to grow and prosper in the times ahead. Peacefully. *Short news analysis with opinion.

By Kim Troike

News Analysis With Opinion

Thinkstock Photo Credit

Whitehouse.Gov

NBCNEWS.COM

To MASK or Not To MASK

7 Aug

A globe entangled in barbed wire

Covid-19 or “Chinese Virus” as named from the derived location of such virus has consumed us. On social media and the news, the world, and especially the USA, life seems to be coming to an end. “Turn it off” my husband says. I’m a writer and I want to be as informed as possible. Politics is an idea, the idea of looking out, being fair and voting for your area and elected official to office, to improve upon an already wonderful, though imperfect at times country would be icing on the cake. To mask or not to mask has become the “to be or not to be” Shakespearean question.

Back in March with the uncertainty of it all had most people wanting to do the right thing. Staying at home, homeschooling, masking, hand washing, and social distancing were a small problem compared to the projected 2 million deaths predicted by the CDC. One watched in fear as Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx predicted this outcome. It was on every news station. We all paid attention. Everyone became campers in their own home huddled by a huge fear. We were back in 1918 when the Spanish Flu killed millions. The news said it escaped from a Chines Wuhan lab and they knew about it. We were now in the dystopian novel many writers had already written and the movie was now being filmed. When would the guns come out? More fear. Can you hear your heart beat? Hold your kids close! The grocery stores were cleaned out in those first two weeks. In the south we know that process-happens every year with the forecast of a snow. It could be a dusting on the pines, or ice covered landscape that shuts everything down for a week. Dusting or disaster we never know until it hits.

The world watched as Italy suffered greatly, with American states New York and New Jersey, too. More fear. President Trump selected the CDC and NIH officials to join him with Vice President Pence to give televised updates. Some information is better than no information. I believe they truly wanted to help American citizens entering a pandemic. One would think the CDC should know best about disease, diagnoses and outcomes. America always steps in to help for the greater good. Very sweet people indeed. I saw many people volunteering with food drives. Officials wanted tests. Remote work became the thing. Imagine that. Home school would now be in vogue. Sports was cancelled. Netflix soared. Booze sales went bonkers, guns too. And many people found that freshman fifteen again. Fin.

After two months when the dust began to settle, the economy which had shattered record highs a month earlier, tanked. Wall Street plundered. New York and New Jersey had the majority of deaths and were truly overwhelmed. Someone didn’t receive the memo not to return old folks sick with the virus to others. But the CDC got it wrong with the projected deaths. We relied on them over the years in Atlanta with expert advice. I personally don’t always agree with them on vaccinations/immunizations and possible connections to autism. They are the experts, they handled Ebola, etc. We are thankful their visuals did not come true in number of deaths for this pandemic. Seriously. New York was given tremendous help from the president with a ship in port and a makeshift hospital with all the ventilators one would need. Only a business man would have pulled this off so effortlessly. I knew as a nurse that 40K vents would not be used because that would require personnel beyond belief. So many people talking that don’t know what they are talking about. It would require 10-20K nurses. Not doable.

Blood pressure device on table

Governors were given a daunting task, rely on who they could trust, experts, themselves, or both. Twenty-twenty has such a nice ring to it but my goodness it’s been an evil year. Printing money helps, I suppose, but then arguments arise as to who deserves it or not. Do college students deserve to make more per hour than last year’s summer job? Do older retired folks with paid off mortgages deserve money they won’t even go out and spend? Do corporations with high profits deserve money? Do rich artists deserve payouts? I thought it was the service workers living month to month that suffered the most. Could they even eat was the question? I haven’t heard one sports player complain about anything this year nor the singers or actors. I guess they are set. If they did receive funds I hope they gave it to the starving artist, restaurant, bar workers, low paying jobs etc. I bet governors wouldn’t close so many businesses if their own salaries dried up. The worst was a 7K fine and a week in jail for a hairdresser! Are you kidding me? The system already takes from these individuals in taxes, licenses, and fees. It’s a wonder they stay in business. I should know I’m a cosmetologist and I opened a salon suite last year quickly losing 5K in rent with little walk in business. I was done. There was a time in May when people smiled, came together (social distancing from afar) and looked forward to summer knowing it wouldn’t last. But the spectrum of people’s fears, choices, and character would surface and it became very ugly.

Just so you know I am not a scientist or government official. I’m educated and informed and like to question what is directed towards me. Especially because I’m a registered nurse. Twenty four years at the bedside, as a manager, and in the ICU open heart teaches you many things about people and medicine. What May and June should have done is clear up this Covid-19. Instead lawlessness came out in the form of BLM protestors after a terrible incident. Was everyone feeling pent up?

I guess you could call 2020 “The Perfect Storm” or terrible tragic storm. Like we needed one more thing to fight about. Let’s see … war brings peace and rioting cures racism. Of course, we all despise the knee to neck on George Floyd, killing him over eight minutes and wanting justice yesterday. Cameras catch many things. Besides the addiction we have to our phones and information at our fingertips, we have these videos to help us circumvent injustices. That may be a great thing. A great thing for Steve Jobs.

 

Classroom with empty wooden desks

Empty classroom with no students

Now we have opposing ideas about back to school, business openings, etc. More fear. I am not afraid. Why? Maybe because I am a nurse and I’ve been exposed to numerous infections, viruses, etc., over the years. If two million or even 500K deaths had occurred, you can bet I’d be worried. You cannot pin every Covid-19 virus to a death. People die every year, let’s make sure they were comfortable and not in pain. You should talk with a nurse, everyone knows a nurse, and he or she can comfort you and keep you safe. Do your best-that’s it. Then don’t worry. The numbers are not there. I have twin daughters-one got it and the other tested negative. They live together. You see. America is a country that bends to many under the rule of law. We must pay our taxes, obtain a driver’s license, put our kids in school, and obey the laws to peacefully coexist. Other than that we have many freedoms which we must keep, to pursue happiness and keep America great. Fight back in a peaceful way.

My suggestions are that we wear a mask voluntarily, social distance during cold and flu seasons or until we achieve herd immunity thru antibodies or a vaccine. And that immunocompromised folks don them as they know when they need them. Usually they have been told by a physician if this is the case. Schools should open, recommended by the CDC, and not place undo amount of fear in these kids. More disinfectant and cleansing is a good idea anyway. I think children spend way too much time sitting down at a desk all day. In person school and homeschooling should be the norm. Possibly school choice might be progressive and great! If you never try this you don’t know. Art, music, sports and useful skills are equally important to math and science, etc. Remember we are all different. Let’s celebrate that and showcase our uniqueness. All students should receive an associate degree from high school ready for business or a job, and two years of college should net you a BS degree in your specialty. Everyone saves money and time. What a concept! These progressive ideas may move us forward to be less stressed, feel more at peace, and have time for sports, true talents, and happier kids!

My recommendations based upon an American citizens view from a healthcare background who has three children: age 60 and over with medical conditions wear a mask and social distance as desired; school choice of in-person, home-school, or use government $$ for your choice; open up sports and venues socially distancing and/or mask use for three months. Discontinue mask and social distancing for all except elderly with underlying health issues. No fines. Let’s not be afraid to live joyfully. Your body is making antibodies, antibodies are a good thing, you are stronger!

Caroline Clemens

Novelist, poet, nurse, and mother to my three exceptional children. Am living my best life. Ha ha. Writer and citizen journalist from Atlanta discovering the world one day at a time. This opinion article was sent to the New York times, Washington Post, and USA Today.  Marketing my novels and currently writing a parallel (tragedy thriller) sequel to thriller “Three King Mackerel and Mahi Mahi” titled Magenta Fleurs, both set in the south.

Three images by I-Stock Photos.