The Red Pearl

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Listed at Barnes and Noble

The Time Travelers: A Christmas Story by Eunice Korczak

A print version of this book has been available from Blurb.com for a couple of years, and the digital version has been free at Smashwords for a week or so.

Now it is listed at Barnes and Noble for free. This is a big deal for me, since I have been a regular BN customer for years.

Before I had a Nook, I bought books from BN even though I had to drive about 100 miles to find a store. Traveling that far, I stocked up on reading material and usually came home with 8 or 10 books. And my husband would have his own bag of book purchases.

Then I received a Nook for Christmas two or three years ago and my trips to the BN store effectively ceased. Oh, stopped in when I went to the city for another reason, but buying books was no longer a priority. I had become an online customer and could shop and download anytime, even in the middle of the night.

So it was exciting to see my book listed at BN and fun to download it into my Nook.

Okay. I admit it. It doesn't take much to make me excited. But still . . .

Anusha is Restored to The Six

Anusha is Restored to The Six

Excerpt from The Quest for the Golden Flowers, which will be published this summer (2014):

The Quest for the Golden Flowers is the story of six children accidentally sucked into another realm where they must make a quest to recover magic golden flowers to save both their world and the magic realm. In this excerpt, the prophesied Six have already traveled far and met with many adventures.

The Six are Grayson, Grant, Will, Mady, Garrett, and Leyton.  Anusha is an Elvish princess who sneaks away to join The Six. Ardopla  and Parmaka are a pair of baby dragons who also have attached themselves to The Six. Griff is a young griffin the two younger children have adopted along the way.

All the kids have special powers gained through the discovery of the golden circles of power, rings with dragons etched on them. In this episode, Will uses his power of mind-speak, which he can broadcast into the minds of The Six, so they can communicate with each other and the animals without actually speaking.

Princess Anusha had been left behind to  die, but the Six found a way to rescue her.


The excerpt:

The Six remained in a line near the cliff, peering into the void. It seemed like forever. Then Leyton began hopping up and down. “I see something coming! I see something coming! Is it them?”

“I don’t see anything. It’s probably a distortion, an illusion. This is the Whorl Cavern, after all . . . Wait! I see something, too.”

“I do, too. It’s Ardopla!”

“I don’t see a passenger. Where’s Anusha?”

Everyone strained to see the approaching dragon. No one could see a passenger.

“Looks like Anusha couldn’t climb aboard with her broken leg. One of us should have gone along to help her get up on the dragon,” said Grayson.

“Yeah, but Ardopla got excited and took off too fast,” Grant said.

The dragon was coming in for a landing.

“Uh, oh!” The kids realized they were at the edge of the cliff where Ardopla would land. They scattered in all directions.

Ardopla skidded in and whammed into the transparent shield. The dwarfs who were still pounding on the other side of the barrier, panicked and ran screaming down the tunnel.

“~Ooof!~” Ardopla said into Will’s mind. “~Forgot about wall that we can’t see! Can you help princess down? Trouble getting on. Hurt leg more.~”

“Anusha’s here! She’s laying on the dragon’s back! I think she’s passed out from the pain. Let’s get her down. Looks like she tied herself on.” Will was already climbing aboard.

Everyone pitched in, even Parmaka and Griff, and Anusha soon was resting next to the fire with her head in Mady’s lap. With tears in her eyes, Mady gently brushed some stray hair away from Anusha’s closed eyes.

“This is not good. We need help,” said Grayson.

“~Need healer.~” Ardopla’s lovely dragon eyes were swirling in distress.

“~Do you know where to find a healer?~” asked Will.

“~No. Not here. Somewhere.~”

Screaming! Now what? The kids looked down the tunnel through the transparent shield toward the sound. The dwarfs were coming back, legs pumping, mouths open, screaming.

Chasing them were two of the biggest cats the kids had ever seen. Wow! The cu felicop of the foothills were huge, but these cats were tremendous; they must be the cu felimax!

The kids were horrified. The dwarfs were mean, but no one deserved to be ripped apart by those huge glistening fangs. The boys all ran to the shield and screamed and hollered, jumping around, pounding on the shield to distract the cats. When the big cats growled and slavered against the shield, the dwarfs escaped down the tunnel, running as fast as their short legs would take them.

The cats tried and tried to get at the boys, but lost interest when they could find no way to get past the barrier. Turning away, they loped after the dwarfs. The kids stared after them.

“I hope they had enough of a start to get away from those monsters.”

Everyone nodded. The boys settled at the fire with Mady and the princess.

“What are we going to do? We need to get help. But who? And we’d have to take down the shield and travel the tunnels. Where do you think those cats went?” Garrett was worried.

“We have to get her out of here. There is no sense in waiting. If we meet up with the big cats or other monsters, we’ll just have to fight them,” said Leyton.

Ellensburg - My Sixth Grade Adventure

Ellensburg - My Sixth Grade Adventure

This also is from My Life Journal, a work in progress:

When I was in the sixth grade, my parents decided to go to Ellensburg, Washington to get jobs. I was not privy to what precipitated that decision but believe the financial situation had to be dire to make such a momentous decision. We three older children were uprooted from school and community and dragged off in the middle of the school year. (Clark wasn’t born yet.)

We left before Christmas, probably November, and I think we children were convinced we were going to spend the holidays with Auntie Eleanor’s family, not the entire winter. I know I didn’t anticipate attending school there. But Mom and Dad got jobs, enrolled us in school, and we settled in.

My Auntie Eleanor and Uncle Richard lived in Ellensburg in a very large old house. Although they had a lot of children to fill up that home, they graciously offered us a roof. In the lower level, the house had apartment facilities so the families could live separately.

Well, in theory the families lived separately. In practice, it was another story altogether. We kids shared bedrooms with our cousins and both sets of kids pretty much ran through the house at will. Their Grandpa Hudson also lived there. He usually made breakfast for the whole crew of kids. It was my first experience with corn meal mush - and did I ever make up for my late introduction to that delicacy! I think he made it every morning. I don’t know how many kids we were - people came and went - but when that many tuck up to the table, everyone grabs quickly and eats whether or not you like corn meal mush! Besides, we all knew Grandpa would not coddle; you ate it or went hungry.

Suppers we generally ate with our own families, but I recall some spillover from one kitchen to the other. I suppose it depended on what was being served and whether we thought we’d get caught.

Washington was quite an experience for a timid farm girl like me and the scene of a lot of firsts for me.

Several black children attended the school. It seemed like a lot of them, but I was awed as I’d never had contact with black children before, so there may not have been as many as I thought. One of the girls became my buddy. I don’t know, but I suspect she was assigned to show the country bumpkin the ropes. I remember little about her except she must have had a tough home life.

I was so impressed that she was allowed a provisional driver’s license. Remember, we were only sixth graders. She was living with her grandmother who apparently was ill. Since Grandma couldn’t drive and there was no one else to help out, my buddy needed a license. If Grandma needed to go to the hospital, the police would arrange transport, but it was the needs of daily living like groceries and clinic appointments that required a driver in the house. At the time, I didn’t realize how tough her life must have been; I only envied her the opportunity to drive legally.

In Ellensburg, I also first experienced truancy. For some forgotten reason, Jan, my cousin, and I decided to skip school one day. After getting ready for school, we simply went out to a shed in the back yard. Our parents suspected nothing. We had reading material and were content to just sit and read the day away. But who knew a day was so long?

About the time we were getting bored, my mother came out to hang laundry on the clothes lines that were actually attached to the shed on one side! Suddenly our day became much more interesting. My mom was just outside, just beyond the wall. We got the giggles; we kept shushing one another as we had to be very quiet. Turns out stifling giggles makes for an interesting afternoon. At the proper time, we appeared in the house and no one was the wiser. My mom didn’t find out until I told her after I had children of my own. I don’t know if Auntie Eleanor ever did find out.

Another first that happened in Ellensburg, I’m ashamed to admit and shouldn’t even mention it, but it had a great impact on me. I learned an important lesson, and I think there is a lesson in it for other kids, too.

We had gone to a store, what we called a dime store back then. (How times have changed! Those are now dollar stores!) Well, I was enthralled by some stupid colorful pennants with “Ellensburg” printed on them. I think they were constructed of felt. I wanted one so badly but it was foolishness, certainly not a necessity and my mom would tell me so. I had no money of my own. An idea struck. Never before in my life had I considered such a thing. After looking around and noting that I was not being observed, I just took the pennant and concealed it in my pocket.

My heart was pounding and breathing was suddenly difficult. You’d think that would have been enough, and I’d have replaced the thing where I had found it, but no. I took that thing home. But then, what was I going to do with it? I couldn’t hang it on the wall to enjoy it as Mom knew I didn’t have money to buy it and would ask where and how I had acquired it. Well, maybe I could put it in with my keepsakes - ah, no - Mom would find it and the same questions would arise. By this time my conscience was bothering me, too; I felt so guilty and like such a bad, bad person. I finally just concealed it in the garbage so no one would see it and it would get taken away.

I’ve never stolen anything since. I learned my lesson. Do you think I learned it from never having a chance to enjoy my booty? Well, probably that was part of it, but I hated the feeling of being scared of getting caught, and even more I hated the feeling of guilt that stayed with me for years. I was a criminal! I did wrong, and I did it deliberately. And I could not go to my mom to tell her and ask for absolution. No, she would have been so ashamed of me. Even now as I write this I wonder if she is looking down from heaven and reading over my shoulder. If so, I’m sorry Mom, really sorry.

Living in Ellensburg was fun. I liked the big houseful of people. Always there was someone to visit with. Often in the evenings, Jude (another cousin) would come to play pinochle with my parents and the other adults. I loved to watch. I knew how to play pinochle, of course. I learned that before I started school. But they played with a double deck and at least six people! So that was interesting. But also Jude was a source of never-ending interest. She was older than me and I looked at her as a role model. I loved watching her and listening to her, especially when she laughed. I loved her and wanted to be as sophisticated as she.

Other evenings, we entertained ourselves on Dead Man’s Hill. Yep, that’s what they called it, though I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the official name. It was not far, we could walk to it carrying our sleds. The story was that someone had been killed sliding down that hill. Don’t know if there was any truth to the story, but it was an exciting hill - it was steep, it was slippery, and we moved down it awfully fast. I don’t know if I remember correctly, but in my mind we were racing between big rocks. Could be wrong. But I know one thing for sure. The story, the name Dead Man’s Hill, lent extra excitement - the thrill of fear.

We stayed in Ellensburg only that one winter. When spring was due, we went home to the farm - to plant and start the farming struggle, oops, I mean cycle, all over again.

For us young ‘uns, it meant back to our school mates. Attending a different school was an eye-opener for me. I thought all kids were taught the same things and on the same schedule. Not true, school in Washington was just a repeat of things I had already learned. For example, in Minnesota just before we left in late fall, we were just starting to learn about fractions. In Washington we didn’t start fractions until my family was ready to go back home in the spring.

So I missed the basics of fractions altogether. And I had trouble with fractions all through school. Oh, I could work with them, but I always felt unsure.

I missed the foundation of fractions, but during our stay in Washington I learned a lot of things - about children of other races, about playing hooky (our name for truancy), about stealing, and about family.

I also learned that leaving people you love is difficult, but coming home feels good.

Coming Back From the Dead

Coming Back From the Dead

Following is an excerpt from My Life Journal, a work in progress:

Reincarnation is not supported by Christianity, but some world religions do believe we are reincarnated after death. Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, and Mark Twain believed so. I wonder what they wanted to come back as. Each excelled in some way. Did they want to excel in a different way?

Do you think you will come back again?

Whatever your beliefs may be, speculating on what form people would be assigned if they come back is fun.

I know people who would make a perfect mad dog. Winston Churchill would have had to reincarnate as a bull dog as he so resembled one, a nice doggy if rather ugly. Or perhaps he was a bull dog who came back as a person.

Some would be a sweet, purring kitten. Or maybe an irritating cat who is all over you and won’t leave you alone.

How about the person who definitely will return as a snorting, pawing bull? And perhaps be more pleasant in that guise.

We’ve all been confined in a car or elevator with the person who will definitely make his next appearance in black with a white stripe down his back.

A gossipy, garrulous person would be a macaw or maybe a parrot, repeating all that they hear. That person who nods at everything you say, perhaps a woodpecker, a downy or a redheaded, or if that red hair is spiked, a pileated woodpecker.

And that slimy person? What else? A snake. We even call those types snakes (behind their backs, of course).

Using that criteria, the sly person would be a fox and the romantically forward person a wolf. And one who snaps at you could be either a fox or a wolf. Or a snapping turtle.

And the chauvinist, will he become a pig? Nah, he should come back as a female in a land that holds females as breeding stock and slaves without rights -- and live a long life. That would be real justice.

That prissy person with lips forever pursed in disapproval? A fish, of course! Maybe a bottom feeder.

Go ahead, start speculating. I know you want to.

After deciding what others will be, look at yourself. What form would you like to come back as if you were reincarnated? What would be your choice? Similarly, what form do you think you have earned while in this life?

In my next life, I’d like to be a rich and famous author who can afford a housekeeper, butler, and gardener.

If I must come back as an animal, I’d like to be something beautiful and free. But considering the story of my birth, I’ll probably come back as a monkey. Please though, may I be spared the indignity of a red behind?

And what were you in a former life?

I have said many times that I was Woman Chief in a former life. She was a Gros Ventre girl who was captured and adopted into the Crow tribe. She adjusted and became not only a full-fledged member of the Crow tribe but a warrior chief. In a twist of irony, she was killed by a group of warriors from her Gros Ventre people. And unfortunately, not honorably in battle, but in a wicked betrayal and murder.

When I first heard about her, I just knew her story. Why do I feel such an affinity for that woman and know her story, although only one or two paragraphs have ever been recorded about her?

I’ve had other experiences of deja vu, where from experience, I could not possibly know what I know. There is a theory of a knowledge pool left by our ancestors (in the sense that all people before us are ancestors). This knowledge pool surfs the air currents, and like radio receivers, we subconsciously pick up the signals when the conditions are right.

Perhaps you are aware of the old soul/new soul theory, as well. This one claims that if you don’t get it right the first time around, you will be sent back into the world again and again until you finally do get it right. If you have been reborn several times, you have an old soul and may subconsciously recall things, making you “smarter” than a newer soul, and explaining intuition and deja vu.

These beliefs, of course, are not supported by the Christian religion either, but one can speculate. Why do I get migraines? Was I killed violently with a blow to the head in a former life? Why have I had this inexplicable pain in my arm since I was a child? Did I suffer a compound fracture in another life? Why do I have this irrational fear of fire? Was I trapped in a burning building in an earlier life?

How did I know a particular fact as if pulling it from a hat? Could it be that I have lived many lives? Have I messed it up many times and been sent back time and again to get it right? Being a bumbler, it actually seems possible.

I may not believe these ideas, but I think it only fair to warn you, treat me nice or I’ll come back as your colonoscopy doctor and it won’t be pretty.

The Time Travelers: A Christmas Story

This is an excerpt from The Time Travelers: A Christmas Story. The Time Travelers is a preteen story about five kids who accidentally travel back in time to see Grandma as a kid. The print book is available at Blurb.com (Eunice Korczak)  The digital version is free at Smashwords.com (Eunice Korczak)

“Open your eyes,” said a grown-up voice.

Everyone froze at the sound.  Whose voice was that? One by one each kid opened only one eye.  Then suddenly all eyes were open, peering through the Straws-and-Connectors construction. 

One by one, mouths fell open.  This didn’t look like Grandma’s library!

Leyton, the irrepressible, never quiet and shy Leyton, whispered very quietly, “Will, who is that lady?”

With a stunned look on his face, Will whispered back, “I don’t know, Leyton, but I don’t think we’re in Greenbush anymore.”

“We were traveling in time, not space,” whispered Garrett.  “We should still be in Greenbush, just in a different time.”  Being closest to the exit, he crawled out of the straws-and-connectors structure, and tugged on his pockets as though looking in them for some courage.  He must have found some. He looked at the lady and rattled off questions, “Who are you?  Are we in Greenbush?  Is it still 2011?”

The rest of the kids tumbled out as the woman watched, and Grant wondered if they looked as ridiculous as a bunch of circus clowns tumbling from an under-sized car.  Like Will, she had a rather stunned look on her face, so maybe she was more surprised than amused.

The woman didn’t look unfriendly, though, just a little disbelieving.  “Aren’t you children a mite young to be time-travelers?”  When no one had the courage to answer that strange question, she went on.  “I’m the Widow Malarkey.  No, this isn’t in Greenbush, but it’s near the town.  Are you from Greenbush?  And why did you ask about 2011? Are you traveling from that year?  Did you have trouble?  No one travels such short time periods.  It’s dangerous. Now, I’ve answered your questions, and it’s time for you to answer mine.”

With some trepidation, Grant stepped forward and said, “Yeah, we’re from 2011.  I guess you could say we had a spot of trouble, since we were just playing and didn’t expect to move through time in a toy construction.”

“Nah uh!” blurted Leyton. “I was driving, and I knew we’d go to a time when Grandma was a kid.”  Then he pulled his mouth to one side and asked the woman, “Are we in a time when Grandma was a kid?”

Grant rolled his eyes, “But Leyton, but we were going in our imaginations, not really going through time.”

“Uh, Grant, I think we really went through time, though,” said Will.

The Little Dragon Named Blingolee

The Little Dragon Named Blingolee

I wrote this little story for my granddaughter several years ago:



So the little dragon named Blingolee crept into Mady's house to see if she was the most beautiful granddaughter.

Quietly, quietly she sneaked up the stairs, awakening no one - not Mom, not Dad, not the brothers. She approached the bedroom door, carefully turned the knob, and eased the door open a crack.

Well, the only thing visible on the bed was a lump under the blankets, not even a pink nose was peeking out! Blingo sighed. What in the world should she do?

"Hmm. I came this far, risking waking the entire family. Should I chance a little more boldness and sneak to the bedside?"

After deliberating for a couple of minutes, she decided to go for it. Easing the door wide open, she stepped carefully into the room, stopped for a minute to watch the breathing lump on the bed. Determining that the lump was still asleep and breathing quietly and evenly, Blingo approached the bed.

Holding her breath, Blingo slowly and carefully lifted the blankets away from Mady's face. Oh, she was so beautiful!

"But pretty is as pretty does," said Blingo. "I wonder if this girl is as pretty inside as she is outside." 

When Mady opened one eye and peered out from her bedding, Blingo realized she had spoken aloud. "Oh, oh, now I'm in trouble," she said, again speaking out loud.

Rubbing her eyes, Mady asked, "Why are you in trouble?"

"We are not to allow humans to see us, and you have just looked upon me," replied Blingo.

"Well," said Mady, "I cannot lie because that is not right."

Blingo's eyes looked sad, but she agreed, "No, good girls do not lie."

"Don't look sad, Little Dragon. No one will ask if I've seen a dragon, so I will not get you in trouble."

"That is very good of you," said Blingo, "but can you really keep a secret? Many little girls cannot."
"Oh, I can," said Mady. "I would not want to get anyone in trouble. Besides, I said I would keep your secret as long as no one asks, so if I told then I would have lied about keeping it -- and I do not lie."

Blingo smiled and said, "Your Grandma Eunice was right. You are her most beautiful granddaughter - both outside and inside!" Then she grinned, "Of course, you are her ONLY granddaughter."

Blingo and Mady both laughed.

Blingo stole quietly out of the house and Mady turned over and went back to sleep.

No one ever asked, so Mady never told her secret and Blingo didn't get in trouble, but she no longer took such risks just to satisfy curiosity.

And though she looked, Blingo never found another granddaughter quite as lovely as Mady.