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!
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)
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.
I loved coming back here to read all the wonderful comments! You have a great group of people on here, C. Lee!
Thank you!
Heather
It's great to put a face to the squad members I don't know.
I love the name – Muffin Commando Squad – great idea! Thanks for the good news and notes. Have a great week! 🙂
That's a wonderful story about James. It's sad that he felt so unsafe. But everything's going to be all right. Excellent. And speaking of excellent, that's a pretty nifty bunch of muffins you got there.
Thanks for sharing the good news! So much fun to read it, especially in a world where so many people only seem to share the bad. I loved the quotes, too. Fun!
There's so much bad stuff on the news and all around us, it's hard to always have a positive outlook, so good news is always wonderful. And wow on Heather's cover!! I love it! Loved the little tidbits from the Muffin Squad.
Love Heather's cover!!! Just the type of book I'd pick up. I've seen and heard all about James Robertson. He's amazing!!!
Thanks for the good news and the mention! The link to my last year's A to Z posts didn't copy over — the pinterest link is http://www.pinterest.com/yvonneventresca/writing-inspiration-atozchallenge-writing.
Yvonne
So many exciting happenings and book launches. I LOVE Heather G's cover, with all of the pretty violet hues.
Great news for Heather! And good to see your wonderful Muffin Squad and learn more about them. They're doing a great job.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
A Faraway View
Wow James Robertson is simply amazing. Hi to all the muffin commandos! 🙂
Congrats to Heather! Hope she has lots of success with her latest release. Also, great quote of the day! I tend to be one of those people who overthinks things, I must admit, haha…
i'm totally out of the loop about the Muffin Squad name?
It's wonderful how so many people pitched in to help James. It's a shame that these acts of kindness have put him in a potentially dangerous situation. I enjoyed learning more about your Muffin Commando Squad! You've really assembled a great team, Lee!
Julie
That's a great story about Mr. Robertson. Congrats to Heather. Glad you have your muffin commandos ready to go. Is there such a thing as a gingerbread muffin? For some reason I want one.
I'd probably be a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, because they're so yummy. Mixed berry with lemon sounds pretty good, too.
Love your good news! And yes, good news inspires me. I love our commando team!
I love muffins. By extension, I love your team. And good on that guy who walked his way to work. His efforts paid off in a big way! 🙂
YAY! for your lovely commandos!!! They are all amazing! #sighs You are making it so hard for me to pass this year's A to Z. #sniffles This will be the first year I miss it. With having to take the entire month of February off while my dad recovered from surgery, I just have soooo much work to get done.
Amazing cover for Heather's book. Wishing her and all writer's much success! What a heartwarming story of the Detroit man. I'm delighted to be part of the Muffin Commando Squad!
Love your good news story. And the quote from Tina Fey. And everything else 🙂 Have fun with A to Z!
"…but he never missed a day of work, and he was never late." Two qualities that are often sorely lacking in today's workforce… James is a good example to other employees.
That's a great squad you've assembled!
Love your "Commando Creed"! VERY creative!
I had actually heard about James and his situation; it's amazing what good people will do, and yay for him for never missing work and having such perseverance.
I heard about this man and he deserves the money and the recognition. I hope his employers recognize what a good man they have
HI, Lee,
Thanks for sharing James' story with us. I haven't read about him until now.
Congrats on your CHARMING team!
AND CONGRATS to Heather, too! All the best!!!!!
I heard about that guy walking so far to work each day. Just shows you that there are heroes persevering all around us:)
I love your commando squad! You've got a great group there!
I saw that story on the news about people donating money to buy him a car. Looks like he's got enough for a car and a sizable chunk to put away toward retirement!
I love the story about James. It's wonderful to hear about hard work and little encouragement really paying off in the end — sort of like our writerly publication journeys, right? Yay for James and to the rest of us who try so hard for so long.
Yay for the Muffin Commandos!! Congrats to Heather!!
I love, love, love the story about James! Great team on the Muffin squad!
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
A to Z Challenge
Hi Clem.
I read that story about James in today's paper in Oz, so his fame has spread far and wide. What a good news story when we need just that! Congrats to Heather. I think I'd like to read that book. No A-Z for me but I will enjoy reading some posts that catch my eye! 🙂
Wonderful story about James. Things like that help restore some faith in the human race. It was fun reading the muffin commando questions and answers. Congrats to Heather!
Your Muffin Commando mission is a joy to read. Patricia has me wanting some lemon cookies now. Faber-Castell makes some of the best quality writing and drawing utensils I've ever seen. Heather's book cover looks really nice and I remember reading a news story about James earlier this month; his good news reminds me of how many more people there are in our country who are in similar circumstances, putting themselves through a lot just to keep their head above water.
It also makes me think of how many people could benefit from learning about his work ethic and can-do attitude. I also agree with Susan Gourley/Kelley's comment….including all the way up to the part about your lovely commandos!
I love James' story because his hard work was rewarded. If only everyone was as responsible.
Your commandos are lovely and give such cute answers.
I can't wait to read Heather's book! And I'm doing A-Z as a different sort of Commando! 🙂
Thank you so much everyone!
I love the Muffin Commando Squad!
Great group of bloggers!
Thanks for sharing about my book! I'm so lucky to have such blog friends!
Heather
It's wonderful to read the good things that people are doing in the world.
The Muffin Commandoes sound like a lot of fun.
Congratulations, Heather, on your new book. The cover is gorgeous.
Now that's a man who is dedicated and hard-working. I'm happy to hear people have helped him out. Yay for Heather! I can't wait to read her new book. And hurrah for the Muffin Commandos! You have an awesome team. 🙂
Heather's cover is so pretty. 🙂
Loved finding out more about the A-Z Muffin Squad- some of them I know and some are new to me. Will stop by their sites!
I am so glad that James was given a new car that he loves. It is sad he had to move because he didn't feel safe, but I am glad he went to the authorities and they helped move him somewhere he feels better while he gets his future finances in order. What a dedicated guy to walk to work for 10 years. Wow!
~Jess
I like good news and you have shared some with us today. I hope the A-Z is lots of fun. I am not taking part but I will not doubt be reading lots of posts. I look forward to it.
I love the colors on Heather's cover! Very pretty.
I enjoyed your James Robertson. Lot of respect for someone willing to walk to work and never be late. Even at my peak time with walking 21 miles would take almost 5 hrs. Man, 10 hrs commute time and 8 hour work day? 6 hrs sleep? Man, that's determination. I think I would have invested in a bicycle. Wow.
Loved your introduction to your helpers!
Sia McKye Over Coffee
Hi Lee – that's great so many supported James. We had a guy here who was beat up .. but he was disabled … and a pensioner, while a hairdresser youngster set up up a donation site for him … he's now comfortable – people are just appalling, but so many more are just wonderful and caring …
Love your Muffin helpers … cheers Hilary
It's amazing how much support James got. We need more thing like this to happen. 🙂
I read about James a few weeks ago. What an awesome story.
I recall reading about James's story. I couldn't help admiring him for his choice to stick to his guns, work to earn his keep and walk to make it happen. Seeing so many people join together to see his situation improved is wonderful. The whole situation makes me smile 🙂
Congrats to Heather for her new release. Wishing her the very best!
And look out Team Muffin. Woot!
Congrats to Heather. Your muffin squad is wonderful – I love the name!
I saw the story about James. Always comforting to know that people do care.
I live in the Detroit area so have learned a lot about James and his life. There was just an article yesterday about how he moved to Troy and has a whole new life now. It's great to see how a little money from a lot of people can really impact on someone's life.
Congrats to Heather.
That was some dedication to walk 21 miles every day for work. Most people would use that as an excuse.
That was a wonderful share (good news) and I'm glad that James has some security now. It's wonderful how people really do respond when they see someone in need. Congratulations to Heather. I haven't done the A-Z challenge yet, although I'm always tempted. This year is out, because I'm marketing a book that's being published in June, and I won't have time to blog daily, but maybe next year. It does look like so much fun.
It's a challenge to write, promote and blog. I'm often chasing my tail trying to figure out just where I am in all of this. 🙂
I saw that story about James – nice to see a hard working man helped out by so many!
Your team is awesome!
Congrats to Heather – looking forward to the book!
James' story is heartwarming.
Nice squad!
Congrats to Heather.
That's awesome people helped out James.
You have a great bunch of muffins there.
And big congratulations to Heather! She rocks.