(See my other food and location related posts) – While recently traveling through Tucson, Arizona we found the La Estrella Bakery. We are always looking for new bakeries or coffee roasters when we travel. There are two La Estrella locations in Tucson. We visited the one at 5266 S 12th AveTucson, AZ. This is a family owned Mexican bakery that has been in business since 1986.
The La Estrella Bakery doesn’t look like much from the outside, but they had a wonderful selection of baked good when we stopped by. It was almost noon on the day we stopped there so we were not expecting to have much of a selection. We were surprised!
We loved the variety of goodies available .
We each selected 3 or 4 items to have for breakfast and to enjoy on the rest of our drive.
We ended up with a box full of goodies.
It surprised us when we paid our bill that it all added up to just around $13. While I don’t expect to be traveling through Tucson very often, I would certainly take the time to stop at La Estrella again. Everything we tried was very good and fresh.
If you like pastries and are in Tucson, I recommend trying La Estrella!
(See my other Author Interviews) – A few weeks ago I read and then wrote a review of the mystery “If I Disappear”. After the review, I contacted the author, Eliza Jane Brazier, and have been able to interview her.
Myself: When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?
Brazier: I’ve definitely always been a story teller, making up stories in my head to entertain myself. I didn’t have a lot of faith in myself for many years, so I didn’t even consider that publication was possible until Twitter and blogs made information on how to get published more accessible. I then went all in and dedicated my free to time to learning the business and improving my writing. I’m still learning every day.
Myself: What is the first piece that you remember writing?
Brazier: Ha, I wrote this essay for school about a horse who was going to be slaughtered so it impaled itself on barbed wire fence to be ~free. I’ve been living that story ever since.
Myself: What is your academic and work background?
Brazier: How much time do you have? I mean, highlights? I studied Journalism, Tourism and Drama. I worked at Disneyland, Disney World, as a journalist, accountant and horseback riding instructor. And that was just last week.
Myself: You have enjoyed a variety of occupations. What part of the world do you currently live in?
Brazier: I am currently locked (literally) in Southern California.
Myself: I would think that there are far worse placed to be ‘locked in to’. I hope that you and your household are handling the quarantine we have all been under due to COVID. Do you think that living there has affected your writing?
Brazier: For sure. “If I Disappear” was inspired by a job I had in Northern California, and my next book is set in Los Angeles. And the one after that is set in Rancho Santa Fe.
Myself: Sounds like we will get a bit of a California tour through your novels. I have always thought that setting novels in places you know makes them more interesting. How do you relax? What are your hobbies?
Brazier: Murder Podcasts. Walking my dog. Road Trips with my dog. Talking about Murder Podcasts with my dog. My dog is my identity now. It’s easier that way.
Myself: I listen to many podcasts too, though most of mine are WWII history or Mac tech oriented. Do you have any podcasts you would like to recommend? What else would you like to share about yourself?
Brazier: Tip at restaurants. Stay home. Read a book. Wear a mask and don’t give up hope!
Myself: All of those are good suggestions. What’s the earliest book you remember reading for yourself?
Brazier:Jurassic Park. I was super into chaos theory and I probably had a crush on Ellie Sattler.
Myself: I remember reading that novel too. Michael Crichton did a masterful job with it. Did you read much growing up?
Brazier: Oh boy, yes. I almost put the library out of business.
Myself: What book that you read as a child stands out in your memory?
Brazier: This fictional(?) book about dolphins at a Sea World-type place. One of the dolphins murdered people. I think about that dolphin a lot.
Myself: No wonder you are writing mysteries. What have you read recently?
Brazier: I have been catching up other 2021 debits so, Lyn Liao Butler’s The Tiger Mom’s Tale, Olivia Blacke’s Killer Content, Elizabeth Everett’s A Lady’s Formula for Love, Alanna Martin’s Heart on a Leash, Libby Hubscher’s Meet Me in Paradise. All are excellent!
Myself: I’m glad you could make those recommendations. What is your favorite genre? book? character? author?
Brazier:Genre: probably thriller/commercial fiction. Book: Depends on the day but today let’s say, Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. Character: I can’t commit here either but today let’s say Beth Cassidy from Megan Abbott’s Dare Me. I just loved the epic quality of that book and its characters. Totally unique, uber intelligent and something only the author could pull off. Author: Michelle McNamara, author of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. I just have so much love and respect for that woman.
Myself: You have provided a great set of ‘favorites’. Where is your favorite place to read?
Brazier: In bed for sure. With my dog curled up beside me.
Myself: Do you prefer paper or eBooks? Do you listen to audiobooks?
Brazier: Paper. I get carpal tunnel and am distracted so easily, so I almost need a paper book in my lap. I haven’t really uncovered audiobooks yet but I love podcasts and road trips so it’s only a matter of time.
Myself: What books do you recommend to others? Give as gifts?
Brazier: Several years ago, I gave someone The Hours by Michael Cunningham in a Christmas gag gift exchange. Everyone else was giving out, like, penis pasta and I gave this book about, like, suicide and depression. I can be embarrassingly sincere.
Myself: I guess now your gifts would be your own novels. What makes you sit down and want to share your stories?
Brazier: I love books, so being able to contribute one of my own is such an honor, it’s shocking. I think I’m still in denial about it.
Myself: What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Brazier: Honestly, I just want to work. Whether it’s books or scripts or journalism, just keeping your head above water is a feat in this world.
Myself: Why do you write? What makes you sit down and want to share your stories?
Brazier: I definitely write as a form of therapy, but I publish as a job, so I have to be very aware of my objective when writing for publication.
Myself: Is there anyone who has influenced your writing?
Brazier: So many! Big ones are my SIL Kiersten White, who is a genius and a really good person, and Louise O’Neill who is also a genius, really good person and someone who had a huge impact on my feminist awakening and who made me feel that I could write in my own voice.
Myself: How did you pick the genres for your stories?
Brazier: I was naturally drawn to thrillers because that’s mainly what I read.
Myself: Where do your story ideas come from?
Brazier: Definitely from life. I will take an incident or a feeling and turn it into fiction as a way of reasserting control in situations where I didn’t have it.
Myself: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just to see where an idea takes you?
Brazier: A little of both. I try to have an idea where I’m going, but also stay open to any adjustments the characters insist on making.
Myself: Where do you do your writing? Why there?
Brazier: In bed or on a couch with my feet up. I have to feel comfortable and safe.
Myself: What is your schedule like when you are writing?
Brazier: I wake up at five or six and walk my dog, then I try to hit, like, 10 pages in a script and 1500 words in a book. Often there is a lot of crying involved.
Myself: How do you fit writing in to your daily schedule? (i.e. balance work, writing and family)
Brazier: I had a job running horse camps seven days a week when I wrote IID, and I would wake up two hours before work, write as much as could, then go to work and usually fall asleep as soon as I got home. When I don’t have time, social life is the first thing to go for me. Sadly.
Myself: That work experience fits well with your first novel. About how long does it take you to complete a first draft? How long do your revisions take?
Brazier: I write very fast so I take a month and a half on average to write a first draft. Revisions vary depending on how much I ’effed’ it up while drafting.
Myself: How much research do you put into a novel?
Brazier: More and more there is an emphasis on telling our own stories, so right now I try to only speak on subjects that I have personal experience with. I want to make sure I get it right and also that I am speaking to something I genuinely care about and have some understanding of.
Myself: What tools (software?) do you use in your writing?
Brazier: Word for books. Final Draft for scripts.
Myself: You have mentioned scripts a couple of times. Is there any of that work you would like to share?
Brazier: Nothing that has been made, but hopefully one day!
Myself: What are the hardest and easiest things about writing?
Brazier: Everything is the hardest, but that feeling of accomplishment you get when someone likes what you’ve written makes it worthwhile for me.
Myself: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Brazier: Most authors I know sell on their fifth to tenth ‘book.’ Go into this job knowing the first few books probably won’t sell, but being determined to get better each time.
Myself: What novels/works have you published?
Brazier: If I Disappear and one more from Berkley. A couple YA under my late husband’s name from Disney.
Myself: What are you currently working on?
Brazier: The pilot script for If I Disappear and edits for my book two—a brutal thriller about how much rich people suck.
Myself: What else would you like to share?
Brazier: You are all special and unique and your stories deserve to be heard
Myself: How should your fans follow you or get in touch?
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author/Illustrator Antonio Gil published the graphic novel “The Flutist of Arnhem: A Story of Operation Market Garden” in 2021 (May). Mr. Gil is a Spanish illustrator and comic author who specializes in military history. He has several publications to his credit.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence and mature language. The story is set in WWII during Operation Market Garden. The principal character is British paratrooper Harry Hewson.
John Newson, Harry’s estranged father, has been operating for years in Holland as an SOE agent. The Germans have captured or killed most of the agents in Holland. John has survived and has important information for the Allies.
Harry Hewson has landed with the British paratroopers in Holland. When the British authorities discover John has survived and has information a group is quickly formed to find him and get him home. Harry is drafted into the group. The graphic novel details their search for John Hewson.
I enjoyed the 2 hours I spent reading this 152-page graphic novel. I don’t read many graphic novels, I did enjoy this one though. It contains many facts about the battle as well as the fictional dramatization. I liked the images, though some were dark and hard to see. I do like the selected cover art. I give this graphic novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
If you are interested in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
• The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 510 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II-era in history.
• The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
• The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Akemi Dawn Bowman (https://www.akemidawnbowman.com) will publish the novel “The Infinity Courts” in 2021 (April). This is Ms. Bowman’s fifth publication. This novel is the first in her “Infinity Courts” series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains mild violence and mature language. The primary character for this young adult novel is 18 -year-old Nami Miyamoto.
Miyamoto is just graduating from High School when she dies. She awakens in a place referred to as Infinity. She finds that others who have passed before her are in conflict with Ophelia an AI. Ophelia has somehow traveled to Infinity and is attempting to take over. Ophelia was popular as a personal assistant (think Siri or Alexa) when Miyamoto was alive on Earth. Miyamoto had spent hours talking to Ophelia before she died.
Now Ophelia is trying to rule Infinity with a population of androids. The people there are becoming their unwilling servants. Miyamoto becomes part of a resistance group. She has taken on an Android-like appearance enabling her to move among Ophelia’s minions.
I enjoyed the 10+ hours I spent reading this 480-page young adult novel. The book follows the typical teen thrown into an apocalyptic environment of many young adult novels. There are a few good plot twists and of course some romance. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author Fred L. Walker published the book “From Texas to Rome: Fighting World War II and the Italian Campaign with the 36th Infantry Division” in 2020 (originally published in 1969). This is his only publication.
I received a copy of this book for being a Docent at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin, Texas. The Museum documents the history of Texas voluntary military forces. In particular, it covers the Texas National Guard.
When activated in WWI and WWII the Texas National Guard became the 36th Infantry Division. A large part of the Museum is dedicated to the story of the 36th Infantry Division. Major General Walker commanded the 36th from September 1941 to July 1944. I categorize this book as ‘PG’ because of violence.
General Walker kept a journal during his time with the 36th. His journal evolved into this book. Many of the entries deal with the day-to-day minutia of command. Others assess the officers of the 36th as well as those of the higher level of command. As I have read elsewhere, Walker did not think a lot of Lieutenant General Clark. Clark was the commander of the United States Fifth Army of which the 36th was assigned.
The training of the 36th takes up a large part of the book. Walker does not begin to address combat operations until page 211.
I enjoyed the 14 hours I spent reading this 456-page WWII history. The book was a little slow at times but overall it was very readable. I do like the selected cover art. I give this book a 4 out of 5.
If you are interested in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 510 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II-era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
Operation Jericho was carried out by RAF Mosquito bombers on February 18, 1944. The mission was to attack the Amiens Prison in German-occupied France. The goal was to free a large number of Resistance members who were imprisoned. More than 250 prisoners escaped, though nerly 66% were soon recaptured.
This animation was created by The Operations Room and uploaded to YouTube in January of 2021.
If you are interested in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 510 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II-era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
While recently driving back from Nevada, we took a detour through Tulsa, Oklahoma. We came across Merritt’s Bakery while we were there. It doesn’t look fancy from the outside, but inside there were a variety of goodies awaiting us.
There are three Merritt’s locations in the Tulsa area. The one shown above is the Midtown location at 3202 E. 15th St., Tulsa,Oklahoma. Merritt’s came into being in 1979 when Larry and Bobbie Merritt bought The Cake Box.
As you can see from the image above, Merritt’s has a lot of bakery items to offer.
We selected a few items for breakfast and took advantage of a small seating area inside the bakery to sit and enjoy. Other items went with us to snack on while we drove home. There was a very nice selection and everything we tried was excellent.
As you can see from the image above, we picked out several tasty items. If you visit their ‘Gallery‘ page you will find a long list of goodies for order.
Tulsa is probably not a city we will travel through often. We definitely will remember Merritt’s though. Anytime we are in the locale we will arrange to stop.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – Author James Wyllie published the book “Nazi Wives: The Women at the Top of Hitler’s Germany” in 2020. This is Mr. Wyllie’s this publication.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. The book tells the story of the wives of key Nazi leaders. This includes Hess, Goering, Himmler, Bormann, Goebbels, Heydrich, and Ribbentrop. It also touches on Hitler’s women, Eva Braun and Geli Raubal.
The book gives a more ‘human’ look to the Nazi leaders and their families. It covers the mistresses/girlfriends of the leaders in addition to their wives.
I enjoyed the 9 hours I spent reading this 281-page WWII history. I was not surprised to find that all of the women were believers in the Nazi cause. I think that the chosen cover art is appropriate. I give this book a 4 out of 5.
If you are interested in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 510 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II-era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) – British Military Historian & Author Martin King published the book “The Battle of the Bulge: The Allies’ Greatest Conflict on the Western Front” in 2019. He has published ten books on military history.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The book gives a detailed account of the action during the Battle of the Bulge.
The winter of 1944-5 saw the largest land battle of WWII. To the Germans, this was known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive. The action began on December 16, 1944, and ended on January 25, 1945. This book includes several first-hand accounts of the events. Not only are these from the Allied forces, but from the German and civilian survivors as well.
I enjoyed the 5.5 hours I spent reading this 256-page WWII history. Unlike too many historical accounts, this book was very readable. I also like the chosen cover art for the book. I give this book a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
If you are interested in the WWII era of history, you may find these three pages of interest.
The “World War II Resources” page is a constantly growing collection of more than 510 links to museums, memorials, websites, Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, and other sources with information on the World War II-era in history.
The “World War II Timeline” page expands almost daily and shows events leading up to WWII, as well as during the war. Events are broken down into the Pacific and European Theaters by date.
The About WWII page is a collection of links to posts that I have made over the years that are relevant to WWII.
John's Notes 