Book Signing

Hey friends, come out Thursday evening, April 21 at 5 pm to closing at 7 pm at Turn the Page Books and More in downtown Huntington, Indiana. I'll sign my newest novel, Length of Days - Search for Freedom, the 3rd in the Length of Days trilogy, along with my other six novels. See you there.

Length of Days - Search for Freedom, Excerpt from Chapter 27

Excerpt from Chapter 27

Length of Days – Search for Freedom

Copyright 2016 Doris Gaines Rapp

“Ivy,” I gasped, “you don’t suspect the physician of anything do you? How could she have caused a train wreck?”

“I don’t like to think about it either, Christy,” Jason stated. “But, our main concern is for our safety. We’re soaked. We’ll have to find dry clothes as soon as possible.”

“We can’t all go into the stores,” Ivy stated emphatically. “Oliver, I am sure your poster is all over town. It pops up on mass communication screens every fifteen minutes. But, no one will recognize me. The village is right over there, past the bridge.” She turned in the direction of town. “I’ll go buy all of us some clothes. You might have to wear wet shoes. If I bought six pairs of shoes, it would be too obvious that we just walked out of the river.”

“Okay,” I agreed. But, inside I was scared, for myself and for my loved ones. If I couldn’t trust Dr. Raddin, I doubted my ability to know who to trust.

Ivy looked around the side of the bridge abutment again. “It looks like the building on the left side of the street, just over the bridge, is empty. Make your way there, one or two at a time. I’ll bring the clothes there.”

“All right,” both of my grandparents responded in unison.

When Ivy left, I suddenly felt cold, vulnerable. Maybe my helplessness was because she had taken the sidearm that protected us all with her. I had seen pictures of guns in the books I had read, but had never seen one in person. Could the very idea of a firearm make me feel safe?

Jason took my hand and massaged the soft spot between my thumb and index finger. I felt some warmth return and began to feel safe again. Holding my hand tightly, he stretched up tall and looked past the bridge. “It looks safe—but then, we thought the train would be safe too.”

Grand-père squared his shoulders and reached out for Grand-mère’s hand. “Connie, hold your head up high. Walk with dignity and not like your drawers are soaked.”

We all laughed as they started up the little hill to the pavement. I counted to twenty. Jason kissed me and, with my hand still in his, we walked up the little embankment to the street above.

Order full novel from Amazon.com. In paperback and eBook.

Length of Days - Search for Freedom (selection from Chapter 17) (order full book from Amazon.com):

“Jason,” I said and took his hand. “Please, don’t leave.”
“Christy—“
“I know. I really do—but—” I couldn’t stop tears from welling up. “I can’t be alone, not tonight.”
Jason caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Christy, I love you. I can’t just—“
I understood what he was saying. We had been traveling together for months, but we had rarely been alone. In the night glow of my hotel room, it was so different. It was quiet enough I could hear his breathing and still enough to catch the faint fragrance of his aftershave. If I listened with my heart, I could hear the thump-thump of his pulse as well. I said nothing else. Jason turned to go to his own room, paused but said nothing. I watched as he went over to the light switch and turned it off. The room was dark except for the light that filtered in through the drapes. He didn’t leave. In the darkened room I saw him remove his jacket and tie and lay them across a chair. I could still hear his breathing and the thud of each shoe as it hit the floor. The sheets swished as he raised them and got into bed still partially dressed. We were nested spoons in the silver chest as he wrapped his arms around me and held me close with warm and gentle hands. “Good night, Sweetheart,” he whispered.
I felt safe and loved. Where a moment ago I was unable to shake off the trauma, anxiety and panic of Grand-père’s abduction, with Jason close, I was able to close my eyes and quickly fall asleep.

A Peek into the Future: "Length of Days - Search for Freedom"

It's 2113 and the ruling elite are going to "elect" a new president by right-of-succession. The newly established 1787-Constitutionalists Party candidate has been kidnapped. Length of Days - Search for Freedom is as timely as it gets!

As I write this, it is 2016 on the eve of the Wisconsin primary. This entire election season has been full of fun, frustration, fantasy, and future possibilities. In my novel, Length of Days - Search for Freedom, we might see what our country could be like in one-hundred years - vastly different and yet more of the same.

Read Length of Days - Search for Freedom in paperback or eBook and make sure our future is something we truly want to pass on to our children. It is available on Amazon in paperback and eBook.. Order it, read it, share this post with everyone you know!

I Give Thanks for You

Last evening, I had a wonderful time at Barnes and Noble in Fort Wayne, Indiana with my favorite author, Richard Paul Evans. If you are a writer, speaker, friend, family member or spouse, his message is clear: Be Honest. He spoke for about thirty-five minutes, and then signed his newest book, Mistletoe Inn. Taking time to ask about my back surgery, my brace and walker were clear giveaways, he shared that he too has had back issues that required surgery.

As a writer and psychologist I know his openness is what sells his books and he create millions of friends/readers with his friendly manner. If you are struggling with co-workers, family or friends due to honesty, remember six things:

• 1.    Be honest with people, in down-to-earth but not vulnerable ways. Don’t seek sympathy … seek commonality and empathy toward others.
• 2.    Don’t open up about things in your life that can later be used as ammunition against you. Share how God has helped you rise above your shortcomings and limitations.
• 3.    Don’t use an “Ain’t it awful” attitude, but an “I am blessed,” triumphant attitude.
• 4.    We are never triumphant over others, but triumphant over our own illnesses, injuries and failings.
• 5.   We’re never triumphant over others, but over our own stumbling blocks, because we know too well we are not perfect.
• 6.   Only God is perfect.

If you have a chance to hear someone speaks who inspires you, take the time out of your busy life to listen. This is the month for giving thanks. Don’t waste an opportunity to share with others all those people, events and things in your life that are a blessing to you. Your family and children will never really know you unless you tell them what brings you joy and challenge.

I give thanks for all those who read my blog. You are a blessing to me and I ask for blessings for you as well.

News at Eleven - A Novel, Goodreads Giveaway

Great start everyone! Many of you have already signed up to try to win one of the ten copies of News of Eleven – A Novel. You will love it.

During my rehab following my back surgery, it happened to be CNA week. I gave a copy of News at Eleven – A Novel to each of the CNAs in appreciation for their wonderful care during the six weeks I was there. Several asked if there would be other books in the series, so … yes there will be!

It started as a novella for Glo Magazine, serialized in Jan – April 2015. The first couple of chapters in the novel are that novella. The remaining chapters are the-rest-of-the-story.

Please be patient. I am currently writing the third in the Length of Days trilogy. I will have the second News at Eleven out next year. Again, thank you for your interest in my novel. Good Luck!

Author Fair - Allen County Public Library 2015

See you at the Allen County Public Library at the Author Fair. I will be on Panel #2 - "Write On! Steps to Fabulous Fiction." 

Life is fun! Are you enjoying life? I'm not saying life is easy. Suck it up, Buttercup. I'm still recovering from spine surgery: complete with back brace, physical therapy, walker, cane, and the fact it takes all morning and all my energy to take a shower, wash my hair and dry it. But, I am so blessed and I take time to notice each blessing. If you are waiting for a perfect day to begin being happy, you are cheating yourself out of all those wonderful moments that make up a giving life. Oh, you just want to receive? Then you will never be happy. Happiness can never be a goal. It is the byproduct of the way we live our lives. Begin living today.