C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

AtoZBlogChallenge:F is for Fishing

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Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more on AtoZers on the Linky.
My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.

The Burmese have been fishing this way for centuries. The fisherman manages the paddle with one foot to position his boat over the fish, and when he’s ready, he drops that large net into the water. Fun to watch. He must have great leg muscles to do this for hours everyday.



Answers to E: What do you know about how Burma and its environment?

F 1. One recommendation by policy makers is to stop foreign investors from investing in Burma’s energy sector.

F 2. Burma has no Asian elephants in undeveloped areas. (They have between 1,300 and 5,000 Asian elephants. Also about 85 tigers.)

NOW what do you know about fishing in Burma?

T/F 1. The Burma Banks boasts marlin of up to 1,200 pounds. 

T/F 2. Burma has little or no licensing system like other countries in that region.

Answers tomorrow. 

AtoZBlogChallenge:E is for Environment

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Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more on AtoZers on the Linky.
My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.

While there are varying degrees of plastic debris in the country, there does seem to be at least an effort to clean up the pollution caused by disposable packaging. The government has banned non-recyclable plastic bags and there is something of a recycling and reusing program going on.

A Began Monastery Kid
No Shoes Allowed in any Monastery

Began’s cleanliness was the most impressive. Notice how shiny the tiles in this monastery are. They all were very clean and the streets had no litter.

A Little Garbage

Mandalay was a mess of garbage strewn gutters in the downtown area.  I found this image on the linked page because I lost the picture I’d taken when walking the streets of this city. And if you ever do walk the streets of Mandalay, never take your eyes from where you’re about to step. Sidewalks end without notice. They are caved in some places, and a misstep will land you in a lovely sewer a few feet below ground. At one major cave in, someone had cleverly placed a piece of cardboard over the hole. I called OSHA, but they didn’t answer.

Not to leave on a negative note, overall, Burma was far above many developing countries I’ve been to in terms of keeping their cities clean.

Don’t get me started on China.

Answers to D: What do you know about Dogs in Burma?

T 1. While there are tons of stray dogs in Burma, there’s not much to fear from them. (They’re usually intent on finding food and shelter. But there is rabies, and I read that the hemoglobin to ward off the disease if bitten is almost non-existent in Burma.)

T 2. Dogs in Burma (ergo anywhere in world where there is little to no care) can have sexually transmitted disease. (This even surprised one vet I read about.)

NOW what do you know about how Burma and its environment?

T/F 1. One recommendation by policy makers is to stop foreign investors from investing in Burma’s energy sector.

T/F 2. Burma has no Asian elephants in undeveloped areas.
Answers tomorrow. 

AtoZBlogChallenge:D is for Dogs

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Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more AtoZers on the Linky.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
Puppy abandoned at monastery. The monks will feed it.

Cats are not frequent in Burma. If you see one, you’d rather not because they are the saddest creatures. Dogs, on the other hand are everywhere. Most are feral. Some are not. They all look like the village dogs of old. There’s is a hard existence, and I imagine their life expectancy is about four years in the cities, maybe a bit more in the country or at monasteries.

Nothing like a lovely scratch and stretch. 
He waited for scraps near a restaurant.
A rare find in Burma. This was Sophie and she lived at a beautiful winery with lots of care and doting.

Answers to C: What do you know about Began, Burma?
T 1. The Burmese facial feature is called a cheroot. (So many people smoke these and smoke them frequently.)
T 2. Some Burmese cigars are rolled in dried banana leaves. (They’re cheap to make and they’ve got tons of banana leaves.)
NOW what do you know about Dogs in Burma?
T/F 1. While there are tons of stray dogs in Burma, there’s not much to fear from them. 
T/F 2. Dogs in Burma (ergo probably anywhere there’s little to no care) can have sexually transmitted disease.
Answers tomorrow. 

AtoZBlogChallenge:C is for Cigar Factory and Hats Off Corner Welcomes Alex Cavanaugh

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Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more AtoZers on the Linky.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy a bit of what I learned and see some of what I saw.  
I’d never seen tobacco like this.

The Cigar Factory seemed to be women’s work, and while they worked, some enjoyed a cigar. 

The woman wearing pink took a lot of smoking breaks.

See what I mean?

I don’t smoke, so the aroma in this building wasn’t all that great for me.

Answers to B: What do you know about Began, Burma?

F 1. Began is a landlocked city in the middle of Burma. (It’s on the Irrawaddy river.)
F 2. Began was founded in 1942. (It was founded in the 2nd century.)

NOW what do you know about cigars?

T/F 1. The Burmese facial feature is called a cheroot.
T/F 2. Some Burmese cigars are rolled in dried banana leaves.

Answers tomorrow. 🙂

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Alex Cavanaugh 




Curious About the Kargrandes?
What are the Kargrandes? This has been the ongoing question for the past twelve weeks. Ever since I launched the website http://whatarethekargrandes.com/ and started sending out Tweets with #whatarethekargrandes, people have been trying to guess. What are they? What role do they play in my book Dragon of the Stars, coming out April 7?
We’ll focus on their inspiration. One of the hints states that the Kargrandes are suited for a harsh environment. I needed a life form that could withstand extremes and adapt to new surroundings. Believe it or not, there is a real life creature like that – the Tardigrade. It can survive being frozen and boiled. It can live without water and has even survived space radiation. While not quite as tough, I did take inspiration from the Tardigrade, down to giving the Kargrandes a similar name.
What are the Kargrandes though? For more hints, visit http://whatarethekargrandes.com/. Otherwise, you’ll just have find out on April 7 when Dragon of the Stars is released!
Dragon of the Stars
By Alex J. Cavanaugh
Science Fiction – Space Opera/Adventure/Military
Print ISBN 9781939844064 EBook ISBN 9781939844057
The ship of legends…
The future is set for Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, poised to secure his own command and marriage to the queen’s daughter. But when the Alliance declares war on their world, Aden finds his plans in disarray and told he won’t make captain. One chance remains–the Dragon. Lost many years prior, the legendary ship’s unique weapon is Hyrath’s only hope. Can Aden find the Dragon, save his people, and prove he’s capable of commanding his own ship?
Pre-order:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo 
Chapters  
Amazon UK 
Goodreads  
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.
BLOG  IWSG  TWITTER    

AtoZBlogChallenge:B is Bagan and Bamboo

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Join in the fun! 
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more on AtoZers on the Linky.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy a bit of what I learned and see some of what I saw.  So here we go. . .

Began Beauty

Bagan is the land of a ten thousand stupas and temples. And I’d call it the Switzerland of Burma. It’s immaculate. Signs along the road read, A Non-Plastic Bag Area. And, for the most part, it is. 

Some Stupas of Bagan

Bamboo sprouts everywhere in Burma and at an alarming rate. It can grow 2-3′ in a single day. See how it shot up just while Wyn was telling us how fast bamboo grows.

My guide, Wyn, is telling how fast this stuff grows.
Rule #1 never plant bamboo in your garden. 

Answers to A: What do you know about Aung San Suu Kyi
T 1. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. 
T 2. She lived under house arrest from 1989 to 2010.
NOW what do you know about Began, Burma?
T/F 1. Began is a landlocked city in the middle of Burma.
T/F 2. Began was founded in 1942. 
Answers tomorrow. 🙂

Something that just came up yesterday!!!! Crystal Kites are now open around the U.S. SCBWI Golden Kite Award. If you’re a member, you can vote now. Good gravy, what a time for this to happen. 

AtoZBlogChallenge: A is for Aung San Suu Kyi and IWSG

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Join in the fun!
It only takes a minute to sign up or visit more on AtoZers on the Linky.

My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.  So here we go. . .

Aung San Suu Kyi (K is pronounced Ch) is also called The Lady, and she’s the person so many Burmese are pinning their hopes on. If there are elections next year, they want her name on the ballot. Unfortunately, that’s probably not going to happen. It would require that the constitution be re-written. The current government seems to have added something aimed especially at Aung San Suu Kyi. No one married to a foreigner can run for the presidency, and she’s married to a Brit. Nicely convenient for the current regime that’s holding onto power with both hands as long as possible.

She has recently said she thinks she can be of better service to her country in other capacities. Let’s see what that will be.

The Lady is a film about this woman’s life. I haven’t seen it, but I’m hoping to soon. Anyone else seen it? If so, what did you think?

True or False: What do you know about Aung San Suu Kyi

T/F 1. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. 
T/F 2. She lived under house arrest from 1989 to 2010.
Answers tomorrow. 🙂

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One thing about being in the AtoZ Challenge is that you have very little time for INSECURITY. During April, my motto is Get Over It and Do It Fast! I’ll pass that on as my IWSG advice today. Sign up. Be a part of a very supportive group. HERE.

ALEX CAVANAUGH

Good News, More Good News with the Muffin Commando Squad, AtoZ and Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Heather Gardner

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Good News

James Robertson’s car gave up the ghost ten years ago, and James had no way to replace it. Then Detroit cut its bus services and James had no way to get to work-no way except to walk. And he did, everyday-21 miles to and from. He got very little sleep, but he never missed a day of work, and he was never late. The good news is someone heard about it and now James has over $300,000. because people cared, because people admired this man. Read More

More Good News


Some of you may have heard about the #AtoZChallenge 2015, right? If you haven’t signed up yet, now’s your chance.  If you want to read a little about what make good THEMES, I’ve posted about them today.

And look who’s here to help your AtoZChallenge experience be the very best. The Muffin Commando Squad. Today you have a chance to meet four members of this amazing team. Please visit their sites and read their answers to all of the questions. Each of us will answer 3-4. Stay tuned for the rest of team!

MISSION STATMENT 
(Kind of 🙂
We’re the muffin commandos. 
As delicious as we can be.
Mixing it together to whip the A-Z. 
Fully baked, crispy crusts- we’ll make it to the end.

We’re the muffin commando, the net’s sweetest blend.

Q. What was your theme last year. Why did you choose it?

“ My theme was writing inspiration. I wanted a theme specific enough to interest me, but broad enough to help other writers. I have links to last year’s posts here and on Pinterest.”
Find out more about
Yvonne Ventresca, author of Pandemic

Q: What’s your latest book, short story, publication?
“LOYALTY (Mark of Nexus #3) is slated for March 7th release
the pre-order is available now!—with the series’ boxed set hot on its heels.”

Find out more about Carrie Butler

Q. You have to evacuate your home in three minutes. What would you take?
“My children, hubby, pocketbook and my favorite Graf von Faber-Castell pen.”

Find out more about Donna McDine, and her Award Winning Books

Q. If you really were a muffin, what kind of muffin would you be?
“There are so many different kinds of muffins. I have a cookbook devoted to them and cupcakes. I would be a mixed berry muffin with a hint of lemon (that’s because I LOVE lemon in dessert.)”

Find out more about  Patricia Lynne, author  of Snapshots (Patricia Josephine)

Hats Off Corner Welcomes Heather Gardner 
The cover is here! Ta da!

KOBO ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS B&N AMAZON































Quote for the Day: “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” Tina Fey

Does good news make you feel that some things are right in the world? Are you ready for April 1? Are these AtoZ team member top notch or what? Hope you’ll give Heather a hand with her new book.

TaDa! The AtoZ Challenge is Upon Us AND Hat’s Off Corner Welcomes Diane Salerni

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Please read and follow the sign-up instructions outlined below so you sign onto the list correctly!

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Challenge is posting every day in April except Sundays (we get those off for good behavior.) And since there are 26 days, that matches the 26 letters of the alphabet. On April 1, blog about something that begins with the letter “A.” April 2 is “B,” April 3 is “C,” and so on. You can use a theme for the month or go random – just as long as it matches the letter of the alphabet for the day.

The A to Z Challenge is a great way to get into the blogging habit and make new friends. For more details and its history, go HERE

We recommend short posts, turn off Word Verification, and visit five blogs (or more) a day beginning with the one after yours on the list.

Blogs must be on an open platform – no Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. – and comments enabled.

To streamline legitimate blogs from advertisement blogs, the Co-Hosts will be visiting each blog on this list throughout the Challenge. Blogs on the list showing no activity once the Challenge starts or miss five days in a row will be removed.

Please note your blog name and number in all correspondences. Remember that as blogs are removed, your number will change.

There are categories for those looking for like-minded blogs. Select ONE category code and enter it after your blog’s title/name. The code applies to your blog, not your theme for the Challenge and is purely optional. See the first few blogs on the list for examples. However, if your blog has adult content, you MUST mark it (AC) or it will be removed from the list. Codes are as follows:

ANIMALS: (AN)
ART: (AR)
BOOKS/REVIEWS: (BO)
CRAFTS: (CR)
CULINARY: (CU)
EDUCATION: (ED)
FASHION: (FA)
FILM/MOVIES: (FM)
GAMING: (GA)
GARDENING: (GR)
HISTORY: (HI)
HUMOR: (HU)
LIFESTYLE: (LI )
MEMOIR: (ME)
MUSIC: (MU)
MYTHOLOGY: (MY)
PERSONAL: (PR)
PHOTOGRAPHY: (PH)
POLITICS: (PO)
SCIENCE: (SC)
SOCIAL MEDIA: (SO)
SPORTS: (SP)
TRAVEL: (TR)
WRITING/STORYTELLING: (WR)
ADULT CONTENT: (AC)

Be sure to grab the badge and display it in your sidebar so we know you are participating and link to the A to Z Challenge Blog.

For more information we recommend you follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts:

Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
Nicole Ayers @ The Madlab Post
Author Stephen Tremp
Heather M. Gardner
AJ @ Naturally Sweet
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Matthew MacNish @ The QQQE
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
S. L. Hennessy @ Pensuasion
C. Lee McKenzie @ The Write Game
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
Susan Gourley @ Susan Says
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
Lisa Buie-Collard, Author

We also have a Facebook Page
Email address is [email protected]
Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge and Twitter id is @AprilA2Z

Sign up below and join us for a month of alphabet fun!

Hats Off Corner. 

I’m really excited to host Dianne Salerni here today. Her books have fantastic covers and some powerful story lines. I love the combination of old myths with the modern day slant.

In The Eighth Day, 13-year-old Jax Aubrey discovered a secret day of the week hidden between Wednesday and Thursday and a mysterious girl living in the house next door who existed only on that day.  Jax learned that he and his guardian, Riley, and the girl, Evangeline, were descendants of people out of legend, tasked with maintaining the Eighth Day Spell and keeping the world safe from the dangerous and powerful Kin race imprisoned in that day.

Now, in The Inquisitor’s Mark, the adventure continues … and Jax has a terrible choice to make.

After the battle on The Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, Jax, Riley, and Evangeline have gone into hiding from rogue Transitioners and evil Kin lords who want to gain control over the Eighth Day.

So when Finn Ambrose, a mysterious stranger, contacts Jax claiming to be his uncle, Jax’s defenses go up—especially when Finn tells Jax that he’s holding Jax’s best friend, Billy, hostage. To rescue Billy and keep Riley and Evangeline out of danger, Jax sneaks off to New York City on his own. Once there, he discovers a surprising truth: Finn is his uncle and Jax is closely related to the Dulacs—a notoriously corrupt and dangerous Transitioner clan who want Riley dead and Evangeline as their prisoner. And family or not, these people will stop at nothing to get what they want.

“Combining modern intrigue and ancient magic, this second volume in what continues to be an inspired series does not disappoint. Jax is an endearing mix of heroic and awkward as he struggles with his new identity. An exciting blend of Arthurian legend and organized crime.”  ~Kirkus Reviews

Eighth Day (paperback release date January 6, 2015)

Inquisitor’s Mark (release date January 27, 2015)

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My Quote for the Day: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

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Are you A to Zing in 2015? Hope so. Don’t Dianne’s books look interesting?  I hope you’ll stop by and give her books a boost. She’s a talented writer.

Surviving the AtoZ April Challenge and Hat’s Off Corner with Medeia Sharif

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I survived last year and the year before. Let’s see if I can do it again this year. 

I’m a new AtoZ Team Member this year, so I’m figuring out what I’m supposed to do or not do as a member of this group. Today I’ve posted on Blogging from A to Z. 

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Hat’s Off Corner 

Medeia  is one prolific writer. Here’s her latest book. Be sure to enter her GIVEAWAY!

52 LIKES, Evernight Teen, 2015
Purchase from Amazon, Evernight Teen (vendor links will be updated on the author’s site)

After a brutal rape and near-murder, Valerie wants to get past feelings of victimhood from both the assault and her history of being bullied. She’s plagued by not knowing the identity of her rapist and by the nasty rumors in school about that night. Valerie follows clues from ghostly entities, past victims of the rapist-murderer, contacting her through a social media site—why do all of their eerie photos have 52 likes under them? Their messages are leading her to the mystery man, although he’ll put up a fight to remain hidden.

Find Medeia – YA and MG Author

Blog   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads   |   Instagram   |   Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Quote for the Day: 

I learned early on that if you don’t want your memos to get ou in trouble someday, just don’t write any. Dick Cheney.

Are you thinking about a theme for the AtoZ April Challenge 2015? Did you sign up for a copy of Medeia’s book? Write any memos lately?

I’m off to southern California for a few days, so I may not get around to say hi to everyone right away. Sorry. Have to take care of more of my mom’s estate business. I’ll be back to “normal” one of these days.