http://ping.fm/3Ot5Z Rosetta's brother Phil was a prankster and troublemaker and she got tired of being blamed for his antics.

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Super PACs and huge individual contributions are influencing elections

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BETWEEN THE COVERS - Yesterday I was on a panel with authors Sheila Lowe and Robert Fate. I also moderated. Thanks to Evelyn Moore of Sisters in Crime/LA for arranging it and Manhattan Beach Library for hosting the presentation.

I just learned that WHO'S GOT THE MONEY? should be on Amazon soon. In the meantime visit the new blog and please LIKE this post. As time goes on we'll be posting some funny true stories about our days representing prison-manufactured furniture - our inspiration for this comical fictional crime caper.
Who's Got the Money?
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Rosetta's daughter Phyllice comments about "Lessons she learned from Rosetta." Excerpt from CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? http://ping.fm/ugb4E

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Excerpt from GETTING EVEN, the prelude "long story" to the upcoming funny crime caper WHO'S GOT THE MONEY, now a Kindle edition.

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Imagine ten kids, a mom and dad in a one-bathroom apartment, and one brother wants to use the bathroom as a photography darkroom.

Jennifer has gone from being a well-paid female executive one minute to a desperate woman the next. Thinking her day can't possibly get any worse, she finds out how wrong she is when she goes home. The only way to set things straight is to get even, and she uses everything in her power to do just that. NOW ON KINDLE http://ping.fm/rLhYL

http://ping.fm/ZmxIo GETTING EVEN now available in Kindle

Rosetta's special gift was fostering a person's belief in what they could achieve.

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The latest installment on the blog LAUGH WITH ROSETTA. Jean was the gentlest person one could ever meet and was loved by all. http://ping.fm/9VOd9

http://ping.fm/OHHkF Rosetta's mother and sister flew to Florida in the 1940s when air travel was an adventure.

http://ping.fm/y6QvW The June issue of Writers' Tricks of the Trade is now available. Publishing platform problems solved! Thanks for your patience

http://ping.fm/Q0xQM "Getting Even" to be released July 1 followed by the rest of the story, "Who's Got the Money?" in mid-July. "Getting Even" is the prequel. "Who's Got the Money?" is a riotous crime caper.

http://ping.fm/YGZGK The family was huge in 1920. This photo was taken at a Halloween party with an incredible amount of people packed into the living room.

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Kindle promotion of CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? was a great success. Nearly 5,300 copies were downloaded over a two day period, and many more were purchased at only $2.99. Visit the blog to learn more. http://ping.fm/Y9WpD

I saw this in the L.A. Times this morning and had to scan it and post it. Wasn't able to find the link on their website. http://ping.fm/Aioz9

Last post for the day on my FREE Kindle books, and thank you so much to everyone who has downloaded copies. The promotion ends at midnight. I know you'll enjoy these books, and please recommend them to your friends.
CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO?
Rosetta died near her 97th birthday, but she would have been thrilled that so many will read her story.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 135 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Biographies & Memoirs > Memoirs
The MAFIA FUNERAL and Other Short Stories
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 130 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Short Stories

Today has been fun. Thank you everyone. CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? has maintained a steady #4 in FREE Kindle memoirs most of the day. My Mom would have been grinning ear-to-ear.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 839 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Biographies & Memoirs > Memoirs

I'm looking forward to your reviews.
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Whoo hoo! and mega thanks to everyone who has downloaded FREE Kindle copies of The MAFIA FUNERAL and Other Short Stories. IT IS currently #1 IN FREE SHORT STORIES. Here are the Stats right from the Amazon page:
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: 296 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Fiction > Short Stories
SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS. Free until midnight tonight and then it goes to the reasonable price of $2.99.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REVIEWS ON AMAZON. http://ping.fm/TydsK

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Remember you don't need to have a Kindle to read these. Free apps are available for PC, MAC, SmartPhones, etc.

http://ping.fm/JSgyZ The Kindle edition of this collection has moved up to 13 in FREE short stories today. Can We Come In and Laugh, Too? is now #4 in Free memoirs. Remember, you can download free until midnight today Only

http://ping.fm/c5pEp What could be more fun than almost being stuck on a Humvee trail in the middle of the desert in the dark and it begins to rain?

Can We Come in And Laugh, Too? is currently #3 in the Memoir category in the Kindle free store and The Mafia Funeral and Other Short Stories is 51 in the free Kindle short story category. The promotion ends tomorrow at midnight, so get your copy of each while they are free and tell your friends. Visit http://ping.fm/S3Zze for the flyer and an excerpt from The MAFIAL FUNERAL and Other Short Stories. Amazon reviews greatly appreciated.

http://ping.fm/pBiUF One of the stories in The MAFIA FUNERAL and Other Short Stories: "RIP OFF"
The first time Stephen met Annie Forrester, a wealthy old woman who lived in his building, his life was at a low ebb. From that day forward everything changed.
Then he got greedy!

http://ping.fm/jZUiQ Sometimes you hear newscasts or programs that really fire you up. That happened this morning on Meet The Press. Here is the link to my rant on my blog.

http://ping.fm/yyDlf Here is a funny "war story" for Memorial Day. Enjoy!

If you've ever wondered whether to use its or it's when the wiggly line appears, the answer is simple. Please share this with your friends. Comments welcome. http://ping.fm/EJPHV

http://ping.fm/qGbj5 Checked out the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A. today and loved it!

http://ping.fm/uKJ67 Typewriters make a comeback!

http://ping.fm/IRMT5 Rosetta could always make you believe in yourself.

Love intriguing short stories? Check out The MAFIA FUNERAL and Other Short Stories - Kindle and Paperback. http://ping.fm/Pr92O From the book:
Rip Off........................................25
Just when Stephen Rollins' future seems bleak, a wealthy old woman named Annie comes into his life and everything turns around. Not satisfied, he becomes greedy.

http://ping.fm/cw5RV Traffic in L.A. is a way of life!

http://ping.fm/HHW2Q The May issue of "Writers' Tricks of the Trade" eZine will publish on May 15.

http://ping.fm/gjMGC Follow Laugh With Rosetta for your daily dose of "feel good."

http://ping.fm/aKimj Let the fun begin. Why should this suddenly become a contested Act?

Two of my new books are free in the Kindle edition Friday April 27 only. http://ping.fm/tZnNA

All about Kindle Select - What is it and does it work?
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Hey you writers out there. If you get a bad review don't go into panic mode.

http://ping.fm/2Jehr As you will see, it hasn't changed much since then.

http://ping.fm/C0I82 One more day left to get your free Kindle edition. #4 in Free Memoir on Amazon today in U.S., # 3 in UK. Don't miss the laughs and nostalgia.

THANKS EVERYONE! 4:00 ON 4.19.12 AND CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO IS #7 IN FREE KINDLE MEMOIRS, 946 OVERALL. GET YOUR SHARE OF LAUGHTER. FREE UNTIL MIDNIGHT APRIL 20 AND AGAIN ALL DAY ON APRIL 27. AFTER THAT, $2.99. http://ping.fm/4HjA0

We all need a good laugh. FREE today and tomorrow on Kindle "Can We Come In and Laugh, Too?" http://ping.fm/Tilew http://ping.fm/KKQiY

http://ping.fm/fASz6 May we all be able to dance like this at 90 years old!

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www.youtube.com
My mom Rosetta loved dancing and laughing her whole long life. Here she is dancing on her 90th birthday back in 1999 with her grandsons Jason and Scott. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all be that spry at 90? If you enjoyed this and laughed along, please click LIKE. Better yet, click SHARE and let your Facebook friends enjoy it. The Kindle edition of Rosetta's memoir "Can We Come In and Laugh, Too?" will be FREE on April 19 and 20 so be sure to download your copy and tell your friends.

EXCERPT FROM THE MAFIA FUNERAL AND OTHER SHORT STORIES--
Upon arriving at the church, he stared in astonishment at the forty black limousines lining the street in front, even extending around the block, waiting to transport mourners to the cemetery. A man dressed in a somber black suit, black shirt and black tie, shouted, “Jerry, over here,” as he sat stopped in traffic. The man approached the car, beckoning to him.
“Uh, you, you’re Jerry, right? Pull over here.” He crooked his finger toward the curb.
As he said that, one of the limos pulled forward and one backed up, creating a space just big enough for the bright yellow convertible to be fourth in line. Jerry inched the convertible into the spot like a daisy sprouting in a sea of black, then called out to the man, “How did you know it was me?”
After a few grunts that passed as a laugh, the man said, “Yellow convertible driven by a guy with auburn hair? Not that hard to miss, my friend. You’re part of the procession.” Then the mountain of a man squinted, taking in the whole scenario. “Hmmm. Wish I had a camera to take a picture of this for the guys back in Cleveland. Ya gotta admit, it’s gonna be a pretty funny lookin’ procession with that yellow rag top of yours and all the black limos.”
Off-duty cops leaned against their motorcycles, killing time until they took their positions as the official escorts. Regal palms swayed in the gentle California breeze. Jerry gulped and ran around the car to let Susan out.
As they entered the church, Angie greeted them, then told the priest that Jerry was one of the pallbearers. Inexplicably, the priest narrowed his eyes to glare at them. As Angie walked them to their pew, he explained in hushed tones that the priest was very upset because five of the six pallbearers were Jewish. The priest had insisted the pallbearers should be Catholic. However, he said, he’d made it clear to the old man in no uncertain terms that these five were his brother’s best friends and religion had nothing to do with it. When the priest protested again, he’d played hardball. The corners of his mouth drew into a wry smile. “I told him that we’d helped build his church and we could take our support elsewhere.”
He patted Jerry on the shoulder. “I added that friends are friends, whatever their religion, and insisted he show respect. The old guy hasn’t said two words to me since.”
Looking around the church, it quickly became obvious that the limos belonged to several “out of town” mourners. Jerry and his wife recognized some very high-profile mobsters from photos they had seen in newspapers through the years. The five Jewish pallbearers and their spouses huddled on the left side of the church, right next to Angie and his friends. To genuflect or not? They whispered among themselves, then finally decided to honor the customs of the church. The priest, now standing at the pulpit, glared laser beams in their direction. Like a scene in a funny movie, the eulogy began.
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Is blaming Las Vegas for the recent $822,000 GSA spending spree another way of shifting blame? Read my take on it in today's Las Vegas examiner.com http://ping.fm/9S5Ol

Back from the Left Coast Crime Conference. Read all about it. http://ping.fm/0DHip

Mystery fans and writers, are you ready for Left Coast Crime? http://ping.fm/LY6r4

Bicycle Dreams, an exciting documentary about bicycle racing that has won a multitude of awards will screen at Clark County Library in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 22. http://ping.fm/DTphV

I was the guest author on the radio show Crime Time with Vito Collucci, P.I. on Sunday night, March 18. http://ping.fm/uScDE We had a great time chatting away after his Stupid Criminals introductory feature. The two incidents he talked about were the kind where you say, “That just can’t be real.” They were so funny, they set the tone for the show. Just click the link to listen to the show. It will open with a commercial, a bit of news and then Crime Time. It takes a short time for the recording to buffer and load, so be patient. It’s worth it. MORGAN ST. JAMES

http://ping.fm/4ydoj Why is choosing and describing the right location so important for writers?

The information-packed 39 page March issue of Writers' Tricks of the Trade eZine is now available. Visit the blog to get your copy. Just click the flipbook to open an enlarged copy of the full eZine. http://ping.fm/p13Pg

http://ping.fm/a7vld Smashwords and PayPal settle censorship attempt through negotiation

Are using nouns as verbs? What is this new trend in books, movies and TV? http://ping.fm/pl46A

Do you agree with this take on American Idol? http://ping.fm/7MXuE

Whoopee! I was interviewed on a blog site in the UK. http://ping.fm/tOji4

I'm guest blogging today with Bob Sanchez about creative non-fiction. Perfect timing since I hope to have Confessions of a Cougar out by late this year and it's a perfect example of a true story with a little bit of embellishment. http://ping.fm/NjK53

http://ping.fm/eLnuN Did you proofread your work---more than once?

http://ping.fm/aLl7L Guest blogging today at Writers of Southern Nevada

http://ping.fm/t2SgQ Today's column is about the need for writers to develop their personality, but it really applies to anyone in the public eye.

Panel of four all-star authors to present tips for writing short stories. http://ping.fm/6k2Yk

The new Las Vegas Mob Museum is a smash hit - no pun intended. Read Part I of the series: http://ping.fm/iKT3n

http://ping.fm/kod0M Last night it was my pleasure to host a talk and book signing by "Vegas Rag Doll" author Wendy Mazaros. Check out the photos.

We have all heard about writer's block, but how does one break out of it? Tips and an amusing video. http://ping.fm/sttJI

Do you ever wonder if some of the authors who have created private detectives were every one themselves? G. B. Pool was. Read on. http://ping.fm/B967L

Martha Cheves just reviewed the latest Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas. She said she's been a fan of the zany twins since reading the first book, A Corpse in the Soup and declared this one kept her on her toes as an amateur sleuth. Read on.,..http://ping.fm/UZZZD

I'm guest blogging over at Maryann Miller's "It's Not All Gravy" blog so pop over and see what I had to say. http://tinyurl.com/guestblog2-22-12

Guest blogger Maryann Miller reveals how mismatched towels relate to her writing on Writers' Tricks of the Trade. http://tinyurl.com/maryannmiller

http://ping.fm/hIKk2 More about the upcoming Las Vegas Writers Conference

On Wednesday author Maryann Miller will visit the Writers Tricks of the Trade blog with her humorous personal experience article, It All Started With a Towel. http://ping.fm/OZLWU

http://ping.fm/6bXcr Location is as important to an author as it is to a real estate agent. I'll be moderating a panel of savvy authors for the Left Coast Crime conference called Location, Location, Location

http://ping.fm/g6FsX Readers and writers, do you get bugged when a location is all wrong in a novel?

http://ping.fm/4reft The difference between ho hum and WOW.

http://ping.fm/eVIQJ A very interesting interview with Las Vegas author Terry Marshall.

http://ping.fm/CDLSA What I discovered while listening to an audio book.

http://ping.fm/ekw1t If you have an idea for a novel or story, this is the time to begin.

http://ping.fm/rFvzM TV Summit Conference coming to Los Angeles this weekend

http://ping.fm/6VQ82 If you read the first article I cite, you would think no one but drunks, gamblers and hookers lived in Nevada. Ugh. I really like the style of the reporter who stuck to the news.

http://ping.fm/WOlC9 In challenging economic times, writers aren't the only ones who benefit from being able to reinvent themselves.

Once you have a great idea you need to find the right niche. http://ping.fm/rqKET

http://ping.fm/YpJRt Everything you wanted to know about digital publishing will be at this conference

Writers' Tricks of the Trade, today's post: http://ping.fm/OWc3i

http://ping.fm/cBcsM Download my new book "THE MAFIA FUNERAL AND OTHER SHORT STORIES " FREE today and tomorrow ONLY at Amazon. Many of the stories have won awards, and title story was inspired by a comical real life Mafia Funeral. Happy reading. I would greatly appreciate it if you post a review on AMAZON, even if it is only a line or two.

http://ping.fm/tSIPu Watch out for glitches that can ruin credibility.

Kindle owner: Get the Kindle edition of my new book, The MAFIA FUNERAL and Other Short Stories free on Saturday and Sunday only. See details. http://ping.fm/o2RC6

Thinking of self-publishing? Do your homework. http://ping.fm/Xr7EC

http://ping.fm/XmedU The copy for this column was written last week. Tonight President Obama touched on some of these rarely mentioned points.

http://ping.fm/ZL0OV Link to New Book Review where my Writers' Tricks of the Trade is named.

Writers' Tricks of the Trade named to New Reader Review Best Books for Writers in 2012 list. Whoopee! http://ping.fm/TelzK

http://ping.fm/SKAqz Information about the Webinar series I'm presenting for Savvy Authors during the month of March

What makes a book cover sizzle or fizzle? http://ping.fm/2l8wc

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Writers' Tricks of the Trade - Be careful about overusing inner thoughts http://ping.fm/rL6Ei

http://ping.fm/ANOYz Looking back at the articles I write for Examiner.com, I thought you might enjoy reading this one. My sister and I barely escaped a stampede of peacocks!

http://ping.fm/rS92I Gregory Hinton is the creator and producer of Out West, which he first developed with the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. Out West is a historic program series designed to illuminate the contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community to the history and culture of the American West.

http://ping.fm/g7ySn Gibson Guitar opens exclusive performance showroom in Las Vegas Fox 5 TV Studio

bit.ly/xs2CX1 Today's Las Vegas Spotlight interview with former CSI turned author, Steve Scarborough. Part II next week.

Oh, the accursed cliche! Today's Writers' Tricks of the Trade hits it spot on. http://ping.fm/8PWty

Some things to consider with the current rush to self-publish Ebooks. http://ping.fm/EbAQY