Taxicab Tales – The Conman And The Cabby

 Posted by at 12:24 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 062026
 

In the past, I have shared a series of stories from my days publishing small town newspapers, from a job I had selling cars, about my time in the Army, and some tales of the offbeat adventures and misadventures I’ve gotten into in a series called Nick Happens. Now, I thought I would share some stories about a period in my life many years ago when I drove a taxicab in Tucson, Arizona. Oh, some of the things I witnessed back then! I’ve told more than one prospective author that if they really want to learn about human nature, they need to become a cop, a nurse, or a cab driver. You will see the best and worst of people in any of those jobs.

One afternoon, I got a call to pick up a Mr. Johnson in front of a Coco’s restaurant in Tucson. I pulled up and a very professional-looking man in a nice three-piece suit got in the back and asked me to take him to Kmart. When we got there, he told me to park off to the side, away from the front door, gave me a twenty-dollar bill, and asked me to wait for him. He was in the store for about 10, maybe 15 minutes and came back out. He told me to go to Fry’s grocery store, again told me to park off to the side, gave me another $20, and told me to wait for him. We went to three different stores, and it was the same thing at each store. Then he had me pull over at a curb and let him out, giving me a very healthy tip. We had been talking between stops, and he asked for my card and said he would call me for a ride again sometime.

I didn’t think much about it until a few days later, when I got a call to pick up Father Johnson at a Denny’s restaurant. When I pulled up, the same man got in my cab. This time he was wearing a clerical collar and asked me to take him to Walmart. We repeated the process from before, me parking off to the side, him giving me $20 and telling me to wait. From Walmart, we went to a Mervin’s department store at the Tucson Mall with the same scenario playing out. I don’t remember where all we went that day, but it was probably five or six different stores. Between stops he chatted, and I really liked the guy. He was intelligent, funny, and had a great personality. And as happened the first time, he told me to pull over at a random corner, give me a good tip and got out.

Fast forward another few days, and I got a call to pick up Dr. Johnson at a Burger King. Same man, but this time he was wearing hospital scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck, and we did the same routine. We stopped at several stores, he had me park away from the door, he went in and came out, and eventually had me stop at a corner and let him out, again tipping very well.

This went on for two or three weeks in different areas of the city, and by then I knew that one of two things was happening. Either the guy was some kind of a thief, or else he was crazy. I’d driven a taxicab long enough to know that it could be either one. He never carried anything into a store and he never carried anything back out. I always picked him up at a different restaurant and always let him out someplace whenever he decided it was time to call it a day.

I have to say that we had become pretty friendly, and one day I asked him, “So, what’s going on with you? Are you crazy, or are you a crook?” He asked what I meant, and I told him that obviously he was up to something shady, but I didn’t know what it was, or else he was living a fantasy life. That’s when he explained his scam to me.

He would do his homework in advance to know what brands each store carried. Thus prepared, he would go into a Kmart, for example, walk to the tool department and pick up a Black and Decker power saw. Then he would take it to the customer service department and say he had bought this for his brother-in-law’s birthday, but it turned out his brother-in-law was one of those guys who had to have a Craftsman, or whatever brand he knew they did not carry. The customer service clerk would tell them they don’t carry that, and he would ask if they could order one. They’d said no, it wasn’t one of their brands, and he’d say, well, he guessed he needed a refund, apologizing because his brother-in-law was such a jerk.

When they asked for a receipt, he would go through his wallet and hand the clerk his business card, saying he was Attorney So-and-So, Family Counselor So-and-So, or Dr. So-and-So, or whatever he was play-acting to be that day. Then he would say he guessed he was going to have to come back to the store with the receipt, but it wouldn’t be that day because he was due in court, in therapy session, in surgery, or whatever. He said nine times out of ten the minimum-wage clerk would see him as an authority figure and think that a doctor, a priest, or an attorney wasn’t going to be ripping them off, so they would just give him the refund as a courtesy.

On the rare occasions when they did say he had to come back with the receipt, he would take whatever the item was with him, say he would see them the next day, and go to a store that carried that brand, but not the brand he was looking for, asking for their refund. He told me that small power tools under $50, different types of swimming pool chlorine treatments (tablets, powders, etc.), and Similac baby formula, of which there were several different varieties, were his favorite targets. He only went to chain stores, never mom-and-pop places, and said he had never been challenged by a manager or any kind of store security in all the years he had been working the scam.

He also said that when he was dressed as a doctor he was routinely asked about some random pain or symptom the clerk had. He would ask for a few more details and then say, “It’s probably nothing, but if I were you, I would consult my family doctor just to be sure.” When he was playing Reverend, they would tell him about some family crisis or a son who is into drugs or something and he would tell them that he would light a candle for them and include them in his prayers. If he pretended to be an attorney, they would tell him about some legal issue they were facing. He would tell them that unfortunately he was booked solid for the next six months, but recommend that they contact legal aid for a referral to an attorney. Space doesn’t permit me to tell you all the stories he told me about his scams moving from town to town every two or three months, but if even half of them are true, he had quite a few adventures.

In those days, the scam was called refunding, and you probably couldn’t get it away with it today, with so many security procedures in place. But back in the so-called “good old days” he seemed to make a pretty good living doing what he was doing. In those days, if he scored three or four $50 refunds it was a pretty good day’s wage. He was just one of many characters from those days that have or will eventually wind up in one of my books.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Anxiety is a pathological liar.

I’ll Stick To Pepperoni

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 052026
 

Something I’ve noticed at both our last house in Alabama and our current place here in Arizona is that whenever we get a lot of rain, we have all kinds of mushrooms popping up in the yard. It seems like they’re everywhere.

Since you all know I don’t eat veggies, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I also don’t eat mushrooms. Google says that they are not technically vegetables because they don’t belong to the plant kingdom. Why not? They grow out of the ground, don’t they?

At any rate, I don’t eat them, but I was curious about the ones we have out in the yard. So yesterday I took some pictures and used Google Lens to identify them. Here’s what I learned – both of the different types of mushrooms I’m showing are either good to eat or very toxic. I guess to find out, you have to cut them in half and count the gills or some such nonsense. Mushrooms have gills? I thought only fish had gills.

Whatever, I just know that when I order pizza, I’ll continue to stick with just pepperoni. It’s safer that way.

Yesterday was another writing day for me, and I knocked out a 2,600-word chapter. As always with the Tinder Street series, there’s a lot of history involved that requires research to make sure I get things right. Yesterday’s research involved a killer tornado that ravaged much of the nation in 1953, as well as facial reconstructive surgery in that same time period. Sometimes I learn things I don’t really want to know, but it’s all to make sure the book turns out correct to the time period.

Congratulations, Yvonne Rising, winner of our drawing for a copy of A Game of Chess, the 23rd title in Karen Harbert’s Murder at the Dog Show series. I featured Karen in last week’s Author Spotlight. A finalist in the 2025  Dog Writers Association of America competition in two categories, Karen considers it one of her best books.

When the much-loved relative of a friend is killed in a so-called hunting accident, his family members are suspicious. Especially since the guy who pulled the trigger is now trying to pressure the widow into selling their valuable property to him. Young forensic examiner Sabrina gets involved and has to convince a rural county attorney to reopen the investigation, over the objections of a small-town sheriff.

We had 38 entries this time around. Stay tuned, a new contest starts soon.  Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

Thought For The Day – Medicine in the 21st century is not about healing people. A healed patient is a lost customer.

Writing Words And Killing Weeds

 Posted by at 12:11 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 042026
 

After my regular morning routine of feeding Alli and Declan the porch cat, posting the blog to Facebook, and answering emails, I spent some time making corrections to several chapters of my new Tinder Street book that Roberta had finished proofreading. It always amazes me that no matter how many sets of eyes look at a manuscript, there’s always something that gets missed.

In this case, it’s even more amazing because, while I said “sets of eyes,” Roberta has been blind since she was a little girl. She uses a text-to-speech program to listen and do her proofreading. In addition to a few little typos, she found one glaring mistake that the rest of us had all missed. In a recent chapter, I called a character by someone else’s name several times, and none of us caught it until Roberta did.

After I finished making her corrections, I wrote another 2,600-word chapter in the new book. When I finished that, Terry was outside working in a part of the yard where she wants to plant some fall flowers. I went out and used a sprayer to kill some obnoxious weeds that we have not been able to get rid of yet, and when I was done with that, I helped Terry with her project.

By then, the mosquitoes were feasting on us, and we decided to call it a day. Back inside, Terry made a delicious dinner of pork cutlets, smashed red potatoes with parmesan, and sauteed veggies fresh from her garden for her. When she’s been busy doing other things all day. I tell her I’m fine with something quick like a grilled sandwich, or even a cold sandwich. But Terry loves to cook, and who am I to stand in her way?

Today is your last chance to enter our Free Drawing for a copy of A Game of Chess, the 23rd title in Karen Harbert’s Murder at the Dog Show series. I featured Karen in last week’s Author Spotlight. A finalist in the 2025  Dog Writers Association of America competition in two categories, Karen considers it one of her best books.

When the much-loved relative of a friend is killed in a so-called hunting accident, his family members are suspicious. Especially since the guy who pulled the trigger is now trying to pressure the widow into selling their valuable property to him. Young forensic examiner Sabrina gets involved and has to convince a rural county attorney to reopen the investigation, over the objections of a small-town sheriff.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). If you enter the drawing under this page, it will automatically be deleted by the program. You have to enter under the drawing page. Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us. I don’t blame the meter reader. If I saw that, I would be looking for a new job.

Thought For The Day – Aim for a life full of “we saw so many cool places and had so many adventures together” instead of “we have so many cool things.”

He’s Getting So Big!

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 032026
 

Tiffany and Kenny came over yesterday afternoon, and shortly after they arrived, so did granddaughter Hailey, her husband Toby, and Tyler. The little guy turned 5 months old on the 1st of the month, and he is getting so big. And what a personality!

Just like I can’t pass up a dog without stopping to pet it, Terry can’t see a baby without holding it. Here she is with Tyler, and me making funny faces at him. Obviously, he was more interested in watching what Grandma Tiffany was doing as she was taking pictures than paying attention to that weird old guy sitting next to him.

Terry had a good time playing with him, and he even laughed at me a time or two, but I think they were just pity laughs. Eventually, he got tired and decided that it was time for a nap. That little boy is surrounded by love. ♥

I didn’t get as much writing done as I’d hoped to because I had to do a lot of research for this chapter. I managed to get half of it done and will finish the chapter today. Roberta also sent me back some chapters that she had edited and proofread, so I’ll be making her corrections today as well. Then, if time allows, I will knock out another chapter.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. his week’s prize is a copy of A Game of Chess, the 23rd title in Karen Harbert’s Murder at the Dog Show cozy mystery series. I featured Karen in this week’s Author Spotlight. A finalist in the 2025  Dog Writers Association of America competition in two categories, Karen considers it one of her best books.

When the much-loved relative of a friend is killed in a so-called hunting accident, his family members are suspicious. Especially since the guy who pulled the trigger is now trying to pressure the widow into selling their valuable property to him. Young forensic examiner Sabrina gets involved and has to convince a rural county attorney to reopen the investigation, over the objections of a small-town sheriff.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Unfortunately, I cannot change an entry, so if you put it on this page instead of the drawing page, it will be deleted automatically. Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us. Yeah, we all do, buddy.

Thought For The Day – What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.

She’s A Happy Lady

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 022026
 

As you can see from the smile on Miss Terry’s face, she’s a very happy lady. Why is she so happy? Well, she’s married to me. How could she not be happy?

Actually, the truth is it’s because she got to do two of her favorite things yesterday – using tools to fix something and playing in her garden.

Granddaughter Hailey and her husband Toby are moving to a place with more space for Hailey’s horses, and they need to use our cargo trailer to get the job done. I had some things stored in the trailer, so yesterday we unloaded them and put them in the Mercedes van for now. Some of the metal edging around the sides of the trailer’s tailgate had gotten banged up over the years and Terry decided to fix them before they get any worse. This involved using a power drill, screwdrivers, and a ball peen hammer to bang them back into shape and get them secured with screws. I worked hard being her gopher while she was doing that.

That done, we checked out the plants in her greenhouse and outdoor raised garden beds. Everything is going crazy in both places! She has enough poblano peppers and tomatillos to keep a Mexican restaurant going for a month, a huge butternut squash as well as some smaller ones, tons of tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow squash, two big watermelons and at least one smaller one, and check out these cucumbers.

Terry says this year has been a learning experience for growing plants outside in Arizona and growing them in the greenhouse. From what I’m seeing, I think she’s learned quite a bit.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. his week’s prize is a copy of A Game of Chess, the 23rd title in Karen Harbert’s Murder at the Dog Show cozy mystery series. I featured Karen in this week’s Author Spotlight. A finalist in the 2025  Dog Writers Association of America competition in two categories, Karen considers it one of her best books.

When the much-loved relative of a friend is killed in a so-called hunting accident, his family members are suspicious. Especially since the guy who pulled the trigger is now trying to pressure the widow into selling their valuable property to him. Young forensic examiner Sabrina gets involved and has to convince a rural county attorney to reopen the investigation, over the objections of a small-town sheriff.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Maybe you didn’t get what you wanted because you deserved more.

Drying Out

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Oct 012026
 

After days of rain, it looks like things are going to start drying out now. But nobody around here is complaining because we certainly needed it. As of now, Show Low is several inches above the average precipitation for this time of year. After several years of drought, we need a snowy winter to go along with it. The forest has been tinder dry forever, and the water levels in all of our lakes are very low.

Wait a minute. Did he say lakes in Arizona? Yes, we are in the White Mountains, and this isn’t the Arizona you probably think about. It looks more like Colorado, with the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world and beautiful lakes dotting the region. We even have a major ski area not far from us.

So, what have I been up to while it’s been raining so much? Writing every day. Obviously, I didn’t make my goal of finishing my new Tinder Street by the end of September, but it’s moving right along. Most days, I am getting in 2,500 to 3,500 words.

I printed out six more chapters for Terry, and she edited and proofed them yesterday. Today I will make her changes and then send them off to Judy and Roberta for them to go through. And as soon as I’m done with that, I’ll be writing another chapter or two.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is a copy of A Game of Chess, the 23rd title in Karen Harbert’s Murder at the Dog Show cozy mystery series. I featured Karen in this week’s Author Spotlight. A finalist in the 2025  Dog Writers Association of America competition in two categories, Karen considers it one of her best books.

When the much-loved relative of a friend is killed in a so-called hunting accident, his family members are suspicious. Especially since the guy who pulled the trigger is now trying to pressure the widow into selling their valuable property to him. Young forensic examiner Sabrina gets involved and has to convince a rural county attorney to reopen the investigation, over the objections of a small-town sheriff.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Perhaps living your best life simply means pausing long enough to notice how good it already is.

Author Spotlight – Karen Harbert

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 302026
 

In an effort to introduce my readers to other authors and their work, every week I run an Author Spotlight, sharing information about an author, their work, and how they go about writing their books.

Karen Harbert is a long-time breeder and exhibitor of Cardigan Welsh Corgis and her Murder at the Dog Show cozy mystery series sprang from her travel diary of dog show trips There were triumphs, there were disasters; such as the time she and a friend started a multi-day show circuit with five dogs in a sea of mud and had to find a place to clean them before the next show. Or the time that they turned van and trailer rubber-side-up on the way to the Oregon Death March. Karen says her friend challenged her to turn their adventures into fiction and the series was born.

Karen serves on the Board of Directors of the Dog Writers Association of America and has served as a judge for their annual writing contest. Her professional background was in management in mental health, child protective services, and other programs. She has traveled extensively in the US and Canada.

A conversation with Karen:

When did you decide to become an author and why?

In the 1980s a Canadian friend and I began trading vacation time back and forth across the continent, from San Diego to Toronto, ‘As far apart as we can get and still speak the same language,’ we joked. These trips were for dog show circuits and to show each other parts of our country. Unfortunately, he was the original absent-minded professor, and I started keeping a travel diary of our mini-disasters and near-misses. Eventually, friends talked me into turning our misadventures into fiction.

How long have you been writing, and what was your first book?

I began turning the travel diary into fiction in the 90s, sent the first two manuscripts around until I found an agent who then sent them out and brought in some nice rejection letters. I packed them away for several years until one day the science-fantasy author Jennifer Roberson was our house guest and she suggested publishing them independently on Amazon. I dusted them off, brought them up to date and published the first three in 2012. Then I bought myself a t-shirt that read, ‘Be Careful Or You’ll End Up In My Novel!’

The first two were Final Entry, and False Papers. A reader commented that they read like ‘first novels’ and she was right. By the time I wrote Death March, #3 in my series, I finally felt like I knew what I was doing, and when people ask where they should start reading the series, I usually point them to that one.

What genres do you write in?

Cozy mysteries with a hint of romance, and young adult adventures.

How many books do you have out?

There are 23 in the adult series, two in the young adult.

Are you trade published, independent, or a combo?

Independent.

What is your writing style? Panster or plotter or?

I take a hybrid approach. I have a clear idea of the plot line and try to collect as much information about the subject as possible before I start writing.

Do you write more than one book at a time?

Occasionally.

How much research is involved in your writing?

Many of the situations in my books arose from actual events in my life, for example, the motorhome breakdown in Death March or the car through the front of a beauty shop in Calculated Risk. Often a news article – troubled teen rehab facilities in Wagon Wheels, fake service dogs in the current novel in progress. Once I’ve identified a theme, I look for all available background information.

Where do you write? Do you have a home office, write in a coffee shop, or what?

I have a dedicated home office, but often in front of the TV in the evening.

Do you use any programs like ProWriting Aid, Grammarly, or ?

No. Absolutely not.

How do you promote your books?

Poorly. The primary theme of my series is murders connected to dog shows. Word of mouth among fellow dog fanciers, including the international canine community, has been my main promotion tool.

What are your writing goals, long and short term?

Short-term, to keep writing both series as long as I have new ideas, and new people who need killing. (I’ve started taking requests.) Long term, of course I hope my books will outlive me until artificial intelligence takes over all writing. (As an aside, AI still refers to Artificial Insemination among dog fanciers.)

Any advice to new authors or someone who wants to become an author?

Everyone has a story. I’ve said this to every person who has told me they wish they could write a book. A doctor or nurse? Look around your operating room or ward and describe it. An office, a veterinary clinic, a dog show? Create your scene, your background, with sounds and smells, birdsong or rap music, and then bring in your characters and your plot idea. Tell the story and then ask trusted friends to help you with honest critiques. The first book is hard, it’s like one of those awful dreams where you seem to be walking down the middle of Main Street naked. As you progress, storytelling becomes easier until it’s almost second nature.

Please add any other comments you think might be interesting or useful to readers.

I have gained skill in self-publishing over the years. I’m by no means expert, but I can often help with specific problems that I’ve had to overcome in the past.

Be sure to check out Karen’s website http://www.aelwydcwc.com/Aelwyd.htm She says it is the site she used when she was actively breeding. It’s a few years out of date, but she’s still proud of it.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are. – Taiha Lee

That’s Never Good

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 292026
 

As I’ve shared before, I have had an ongoing carburetor problem with the Chrysler convertible. Due to that and the fact that the front end is very loose, I made arrangements to take it to a highly rated garage that specializes in things like that.

We had rain most of Sunday night, and yesterday morning the clouds were hanging low, but at least it wasn’t raining. I fired up the old car, and with Terry following me, we headed for Performance Auto and 4×4 Center. It was only two miles from our place and should have been an easy drive. Well, that didn’t happen.

The car stalled out at every stop sign, but I was able to start it again and keep it going until the next stop sign. But when I would take off, it had no power at all. Then, as I was getting ready to pull onto the Deuce of Clubs, the main street in Show Low, the engine died again, and this time it wouldn’t start. Just to add to the fun, it had started to rain again. That’s never good. ☹

Terry was right behind me with her flashers on, but a couple of dunces behind her decided they had to sit and blow their horns, even though I was waving for them to go around. Fortunately, a very nice gentleman and his son saw our predicament and pushed the car out of the intersection and into a parking place.

My first thought was that maybe I was out of gas, even though the gauge said full. With a 74-year-old car, you never know what’s going to work and not work. I got into Terry’s Subaru with her, and we drove back to the house, picked up two gas cans, and went and filled them. Back at the Chrysler, it turned out the fuel gauge must be pretty accurate because I only got about two gallons poured into the tank before it was full.

Okay, time to go to plan B. Always have a plan B. It doesn’t hurt to also have a plan C, just in case. We drove to Performance Auto and told them what was going on, and they recommended we go to Excel Towing, right next door. We did, and one of their drivers named Drew told me to hop into his flatbed truck, and we went and got the car.

By then it was raining hard, and I was walking in ankle-deep water in the street, but Drew got the Chrysler loaded up and off we went to Performance Auto, just a mile away. He unloaded the car, and I gave the guys at the shop the keys and told them I didn’t want it back until it was running well and the steering was fixed. Thanks, Drew, Roy Meeks, and Excel Towing, for your fast service when we were in a bind.

I’m not really frustrated with all of this. I knew it needed some work when I bought it, but again, the car and I are both antiques, so we’ve both got some miles and some age on us.

It rained most of the day and all night, and it’s going to rain all day again today, too. The weather forecast says by the time this clears out sometime Wednesday, we should get a total of anywhere from 2 to 4 inches. No problem, I’ll stay inside and write. Which is what I did yesterday afternoon, knocking out another 3,200 words in my new Tinder Street book. Hopefully, I can get that many or more done today.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – The longer you stay on the wrong train, the more expensive it is to get back home.

Wake Up, Nick!

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 282026
 

I’m not sure what was going on with me yesterday, but for some reason, I just couldn’t stay awake. I slept well the night before, and we slept in Sunday morning. But when we got up, I felt like I could lie right back down and fall asleep again. I did my usual morning routines of taking Alli out, feeding her, feeding Declan the porch cat, posting my blog to Facebook, and I answered a few emails. We each had a toasted muffin for breakfast, and by then, I could hardly hold my head up. Terry told me to sit in my recliner and take a nap.

I slept until somewhere in the early afternoon, and even then, when I woke up, my head still felt foggy. Most days when I get up, I’m ready to get busy, but this happens to me about once a month, and I’m not sure why.

At any rate, I took Alli out and spent some time throwing a ball with her, as well as picking up deposits she had left in the backyard. Back inside, I was feeling a little more alert, and I dealt with the rest of the emails I had left from the morning.

Then I spent a couple of hours working on building the family tree readers of the Tinder Street series have been asking for. I’ve got a lot of work to do on that yet, but I’ll get there. I hope to post them in the newest book in the series, The Forgotten Years, when it comes out. I will also post them online so readers can access them that way.

Meanwhile, Terry had been taking care of paying all of our month-end bills, which had proven difficult because she pays them online and the internet was flaky all day long. Even so, she managed to get it done, with a bit of frustration.

We had a simple dinner, grilling a couple of cheeseburgers with a side of potato chips. Then it was TV time for a while before calling it a night. Not exactly the busiest day we’ve ever had, or the most productive day I’ve ever had.

Congratulations MerrieAnn Martin, winner of our drawing for an autographed copy of Philly Warrant Unit. We had 46 entries this time around. Stay tuned, a new contest starts soon! Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us. I’m sure more than one cop who has pulled over a drunk driver has had this greeting, “Hey Occifer.”

Thought For The Day – Your garden isn’t growing because every time a flower grows, you cut it to prove to someone that you’re a gardener.

Well, That Didn’t Work

 Posted by at 12:14 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 272026
 

In yesterday’s blog, I said I taken the oil bath air cleaner off the Chrysler, let it soak in solvent, flushed it well, and let it dry, hoping that would help the engine breath better and ease the stalling problem I’ve had. Yesterday we reinstalled it, filled it with oil, and I took it for a quick ride just up to the Elks Club and back. And nothing has changed. At every stop sign, the engine stalled. It always started right back up, but it’s still running very rich. 🙁

I have an appointment to take it to a shop that specializes in old cars, hot rods, and four-wheel drives on Monday. While son-in-law Kenny is a master mechanic, he works on modern vehicles, not antique cars owned by antiques like me. The shop he recommended is well known and respected by everybody in the region.

Terry and I had talked about going to the car show yesterday, but neither one of us felt motivated enough to do it. Instead, we hung around the house, she did some laundry and piddling, as she calls it, and I wrote another chapter in my new Tinder Street book.

When I say “wrote,” I really mean I dictated it. I had a scare, because just as I finished the chapter, I noticed that the battery in my Plaud Note Pro had died. I was sure I had lost everything I had just done, but I plugged it in to recharge and fortunately, when it was finished and I set it on my phone to transfer the data to the Plaud app, it was all there.

Just about the time I was charging the Plaud, Tiffany and Kenny came over to bring us two dozen eggs from their chickens. It’s always great spending time with them, and Kenny and I like bantering back and forth. They stayed a couple of hours, and after they left, we had a light dinner of cheese and crackers, and hummus for Terry, watched a little bit of television and the news, and then it was time to write the blog and get ready for bed.

Today is your last chance to enter our Free Drawing for an autographed copy of Philly Warrant Unit by lifelong friends Tristin Kilgallon and Mark Fusett, who grew up on the same block in Philadelphia. I recently featured Tristin in an Author Spotlight. Though life led them down different paths, their bond endured, and years later, they found themselves working side by side in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit, a specialized team tasked with locating and apprehending wanted fugitives in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

Their book isn’t a traditional cover-to-cover read. It’s a powerful collection of short stories, true accounts that reflect the intensity, tragedy, danger, and dark humor that come with the job. Some of the stories will make you hold your breath, while others might break your heart, or make you laugh out loud. But you can be sure that all of them will give you an authentic look at a world rarely seen by the public. Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, true crime, or just want a raw, unfiltered look at the streets of Philadelphia through the eyes of two men who lived it, this book is for you.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Keep every stone they throw at you. You’ve got castles to build.

A Routine Friday

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 262026
 

About the time we were getting ready for bed Thursday night, we began to hear thunder rumbling and then rain coming down. Within an hour or so the thunder had stopped, but the rain continued on and off all night long.

The sky was still very overcast when we woke up yesterday morning, and it was noticeably cooler. I think that we have put the hot months behind us for a while. At least I hope so.

After my morning routine of taking Alli outside to go potty and throwing a ball for her for a while, then feeding her and Declan the porch cat, I gave myself my weekly Mounjaro injection, posted the blog to Facebook, and went through my email. Another part of my Friday routine is cleaning the toilets, and when I was done with that and took the trash out, I had other fish to fry, as they say.

The day before, I had taken the wire mesh oil bath air filter off the old Chrysler and soaked it overnight in a pail of degreaser. Judging by how dirty the liquid was when I took the air filter out yesterday, it probably had not been cleaned in decades. I flushed it thoroughly with a garden hose and then soaked it in clean water for a couple of hours. After that, I flushed it again with the hose, and I will let it completely dry for a day or two before I reinstall it. Hopefully it will help with some of the running and stalling issues I’ve been having, although continued research has led me to suspect there might be more involved than that.

With all of that out of the way, I wrote another 2,600-word chapter in my new Tinder Street book. This weekend is the Run to the Pines car show, a big event that has gone on here for at least 30 years that I know of. While the show is today and tomorrow, yesterday afternoon all of the cars that are here for the show, as well as a lot of other locals with their classic cars and hot rods, made a parade through downtown Show Low and then out to Pinetop-Lakeside, where the show will be held. I had hoped to have the Chrysler running well enough to take part in the parade, but I didn’t make it. When Terry reminded me in the afternoon that the parade was going to be starting soon, I was deep into the chapter I was working on and told her I thought I would just continue writing. Maybe today or tomorrow we’ll run out to the show and drool over some of the beautiful old rides.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Philly Warrant Unit by lifelong friends Tristin Kilgallon and Mark Fusett, who grew up on the same block in Philadelphia. I recently featured Tristin in an Author Spotlight. Though life led them down different paths, their bond endured, and years later, they found themselves working side by side in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit, a specialized team tasked with locating and apprehending wanted fugitives in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

Their book isn’t a traditional cover-to-cover read. It’s a powerful collection of short stories, true accounts that reflect the intensity, tragedy, danger, and dark humor that come with the job. Some of the stories will make you hold your breath, while others might break your heart, or make you laugh out loud. But you can be sure that all of them will give you an authentic look at a world rarely seen by the public. Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, true crime, or just want a raw, unfiltered look at the streets of Philadelphia through the eyes of two men who lived it, this book is for you.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us. I don’t care about the haircut, but I don’t think I would want to dine next to somebody with that expression on their face.

Thought For The Day – No one ever dares you to do something good.

Not Just Melons

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 252026
 

In yesterday’s blog, I told you about the two big golden watermelons we discovered growing on the ground next to one of Terry’s raised garden beds. But there’s a lot more than melons coming up thanks to her green thumb. When we lived in Alabama, she bought some blackberry and blueberry plants, and a fig plant. They were in big pots on the front porch of our place there, and when we moved here, we brought them with us.

They’ve been on the back deck for a long time here. We weren’t too sure if it had been worth the effort. A couple of them, one of the blackberries and the fig, both looked like they were dead, but Terry kept nurturing them along. Now, suddenly, we have blackberries growing on two bush we had given up any hope for and even some figs on the dwarf fig. She’s a miracle worker, that lady of mine.

Yesterday, Terry made shrimp and grits for dinner, and Kenny and Tiffany came over to help us devour them. Kenny always says that if he’s in prison waiting for execution and they ask him what he wants for his last meal, it’s going to be Terry’s shrimp and grits. Yeah, they’re really that good. She also made lemon posett (pudding)  for dessert, topped with blueberries. It was my first time for that, and I loved it. So did the kids. Nobody ever goes hungry when Terry’s in her kitchen. 😊

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Philly Warrant Unit by lifelong friends Tristin Kilgallon and Mark Fusett, who grew up on the same block in Philadelphia. I recently featured Tristin in an Author Spotlight. Though life led them down different paths, their bond endured, and years later, they found themselves working side by side in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit, a specialized team tasked with locating and apprehending wanted fugitives in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

Their book isn’t a traditional cover-to-cover read. It’s a powerful collection of short stories, true accounts that reflect the intensity, tragedy, danger, and dark humor that come with the job. Some of the stories will make you hold your breath, while others might break your heart, or make you laugh out loud. But you can be sure that all of them will give you an authentic look at a world rarely seen by the public. Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, true crime, or just want a raw, unfiltered look at the streets of Philadelphia through the eyes of two men who lived it, this book is for you.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Always point your beak into the wind. That way your feathers don’t get ruffled.

Mowing And Melons

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 242026
 

We’ve got a cooling trend going on here in the White Mountains of Arizona, and Terry and I have been taking advantage of it to get a lot of yard work done. Terry has been weeding along the fence line where she wants to plant some more wildflowers, pruning plants in the greenhouse, and making everything look tidy.

For the last two days, I have been mowing the grass in our backyard, which is nearly an acre. I have a self-propelled push lawnmower, which helps, but surprisingly, it still makes my back and hips hurt a lot. I told Terry I may have to invest in a cheap riding lawnmower, although that seems like a waste of money for such a small area.

This whole region is full of rocks, and every time I mow, I find more rocks. I keep moving the larger ones to circle the things we have planted, but by the next time I mow, it seems like more of them show up. I’m not sure where they come from.

Speaking of not knowing where things come from, Terry planted two golden watermelon plants in one of her raised garden beds back in June that she started from seed in the greenhouse. The plants have gone wild, spilling out of the garden bed and across the ground, but we weren’t seeing any fruit on them.

It seemed like it was just a few days ago I was out there looking and did not see anything, but yesterday Terry found big two melons hiding among the leaves and a lot of much smaller ones that are just getting started. If you’ve never tried golden watermelon, you really need to. They are smaller than the more familiar watermelons we see at the grocery store and even sweeter-tasting. I’m really looking forward to when it’s time to harvest them.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is a copy of Philly Warrant Unit by lifelong friends Tristin Kilgallon and Mark Fusetti,who grew up on the same block in Philadelphia. I recently featured Tristin in an Author Spotlight. Though life led them down different paths, their bond endured, and years later, they found themselves working side by side in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit, a specialized team tasked with locating and apprehending wanted fugitives in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

Their book isn’t a traditional cover-to-cover read. It’s a powerful collection of short stories, true accounts that reflect the intensity, tragedy, danger, and dark humor that come with the job. Some of the stories will make you hold your breath, while others might break your heart, or make you laugh out loud. But you can be sure that all of them will give you an authentic look at a world rarely seen by the public. Whether you’re interested in law enforcement, true crime, or just want a raw, unfiltered look at the streets of Philadelphia through the eyes of two men who lived it, this book is for you.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

Thought For The Day – I have the body of a god. Unfortunately, it’s Buddha.

Author Spotlight – Derek Borne

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 232026
 

In an effort to introduce my readers to other authors and their work, every week I run an Author Spotlight, sharing information about an author, their work, and how they go about writing their books.

Derek Borne is a Canadian author of science fiction novels. When he’s not writing, he’s spending time with his lovely wife and their super fluffy kitty Libby. Other times, he’s eating pizza, belting out Broadway show tunes, playing guitar, eating pizza, watching anything to do with Marvel superheroes, and making movie references daily. Oh, and eating pizza.

And for added emphasis…pizza.

A conversation with Derek:

When did you decide to become an author and why?

Back in 2017, that’s when I decided to publish through Amazon. I’d already had a superhero-spy series finished beforehand, but decided to rewrite it, hire an editor, and finally put my stories out into the world.

How long have you been writing, and what was your first book?

I’ve loved writing since I was young, and even wrote my first superhero novel at 14, The Ultimate Agent: Book 1. It’s like 007 meets Marvel, but family friendly.

What genres do you write in?

I love Sci-Fi, since you can do almost anything you want within it. I do love to keep things fun and humorous for ages 10 and up, and the big kids at heart, like myself.

How many books do you have out?

Currently, I have 13, with books 14 and 15 in the works. For those who love audiobooks, the first two in my Dino-Rift series are on Audible.

Are you trade published, independent, or a combo?

I’m indie, and love being indie.

What is your writing style? Panster or plotter or?

I started out as a pantser, but as I get older, I’m finding I need to plot more. I always know where I want to go, but I need a little more planning to figure it all out.

Do you write more than one book at a time?

I’ve tried, but ultimately failed. Eventually, one of the books wins out and I have to see it all the way to completion.

How much research is involved in your writing?

Depends on the subject, and how many complex ideas I want to put in it. For the Dino-Rift series, I had a blast researching everything having to do with dinosaurs. Even to the point where I watched videos of elephants giving birth in order to make a scene with a mammoth feel more real. Unfortunately, YouTube continued to curate animal birth videos into my algorithm… It’s fixed now, thankfully.

Where do you write? Do you have a home office, write in a coffee shop, or what?

I write at home at my dining room table and sometimes sneak in some writing when I’m at work on the slow days.

Do you use any programs like ProWriting Aid, Grammarly, or ?

I stick to Microsoft Word and only use Grammarly when I need a tiny polish before moving on to sending it off to my editor.

How do you promote your books?

I’m on Facebook and TikTok and should be using Instagram more. Recently, I’ve been doing more signings at local malls with bookstores that carry my books via consignment.

What are your writing goals, long and short term?

As for now, I’d love to get 20 books under my belt. When I reach that summit, we’ll see where the writing winds take me.

Any advice to new authors or someone who wants to become an author?

Be real, be genuine, and write for yourself. If you get wrapped up in the “this isn’t going to sell unless it has X, Y & Z,” you will lose your joy very easily. Write. For. Yourself.

You can follow Derek on his Amazon authors’ page and find links to his website, newsletter, and more at https://linktr.ee/DerekBorneAuthor

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at 15 to write several novels. – May Sarton

Taxicab Tales – Lust In The Back Seat

 Posted by at 12:01 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 222026
 

In the past, I have shared a series of stories from my days publishing small town newspapers, from a job I had selling cars, about my time in the Army, and some tales of the offbeat adventures and misadventures I’ve gotten into in a series called Nick Happens. Now, I thought I would share some stories about a period in my life many years ago when I drove a taxicab in Tucson, Arizona. Oh, some of the things I witnessed back then! I’ve told more than one prospective author that if they really want to learn about human nature, they need to become a cop, a nurse, or a cab driver. You will see the best and worst of people in any of those jobs.

Anybody who’s driven a taxicab for very long quickly learns that just when you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t. I got a call to a bar on the west side of Tucson, and when I arrived, my fares were a very large (well over 300 lbs. each) couple. They got in the cab, and in a voice I can only describe as Tiny Tim on helium, the woman gave me an address on the far east side of town. She also told me that her name was Carmen and the gentleman’s name was Rodney, and they had been high school sweethearts who had just reconnected after many years apart. I told them that was very cool and congratulated them on the reunion. She said, “The reunion is just getting started. Drive fast, cab driver.”

It was late at night and traffic was light, but I had only gone a couple of blocks east on Speedway Boulevard when, from the back seat, I heard the sounds of moaning and groaning. Then Carmen asked breathlessly, “Cabdriver, are we there yet?””No, ma’am, we’re just getting started,” I told her.
“So are we,” she said. “Drive faster.”

The sounds from the back seat got louder, and the windows started to fog up after the first mile. Our route was about eight miles, and under normal driving conditions, would take about 15 minutes. Because it was late, there wasn’t much traffic, so the only thing slowing us down was the occasional stoplight. But it sure seemed like there were a lot of them that night.

Soon, that high squeaky voice from the back seat again asked, “Cab driver, are we there yet?”
“No, ma’am, I’m going as fast as I can without getting in an accident or getting stopped by the cops.”
“I’ll pay the ticket. Step on it.”
She might have paid the ticket, but I wasn’t going to get the points on my license, and I darn sure didn’t want to get in an accident. I went as fast as I safely could while not getting into trouble.

On we went past past Country Club Boulevard, past Alvernon Way, past Craycroft. I’m not a voyeur, but I heard sounds that night that I’m still trying to forget. When we passed Wilmot, my squeaky-voiced bundle of passion in the backseat said, “Cab driver, please tell me we’re there.”
“Almost, ma’am!” I shouted, in as much panic as she was, I think. “Don’t worry, we’re going to make it.”
“I know we’re going to make it,” she replied. “It’s just a question of where. Step on it.”

I whipped into the apartment complex near Kolb Road and asked which building they wanted, and she said, “Just stop here by those hedges.”
One of them threw a $100 bill over the seat, and the last I saw of them, they were making their way to the hedges. She was pulling her dress up above her more-than-ample rear end, and he was waddling with his pants down around his ankles. There are some sights that even a $100 bill cannot erase from the mind of a poor, hardworking cabbie.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – I love that you know so much and so little at the same time.

Smart Critters

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 212026
 

In Saturday’s blog I showed you a picture of a big buck deer that was standing in our yard looking in the window at Terry Friday night. He came back with a bunch of his friends on Saturday night, and our porch camera got video of at least two big bucks, maybe three, and a couple of does.

We could see one of the bucks shaking his head and batting something around, but we weren’t sure what it was until yesterday. That’s when we discovered that he had been smacking Terry’s bird feeder with his antlers, getting it to rock back and forth so he could empty the feed. It had been completely full, but there wasn’t a bit left. To top it off, they ate all the flowers off her rose bushes! They’re smart critters. I’ll give them that.

We decided to beat them at their own game, so we moved the bird feeder to the backyard, which is enclosed by a 6-foot high fence. Or maybe they beat me at their game, because I also went to Tractor Supply and bought 50 pounds of deer pellets. I put some out in a big plastic tub yesterday evening. I also bought an SD card for the porch camera and hopefully can get some better video this time around.

While I was out running errands yesterday, Terry was prepping a rack of ribs and then put them on the Pit Boss smoker. My gosh, they were delicious! Since Terry doesn’t care much for ribs, there’s enough left over for my dinner tonight, while she has something with vegetables in it again. Yuck!

Congratulations Patty Richardson, winner of our drawing for an autographed copy of Storm Tide, the first book in author MJ Witt’s MacKay’s Justice series. After years of chasing America’s most dangerous fugitives, US Marshal Will MacKay seeks solace in the rugged Highlands of Scotland to reconnect with his ancestral roots. But when a notorious fugitive escapes custody and kills a fellow marshal in the process, MacKay is thrust back into action. The chase takes a chilling turn as he uncovers the fugitive’s ties to a deadly terrorist plot orchestrated by radical Scottish nationalists.

In a land steeped in legend and blood, MacKay will face the ultimate test – loyalty to his badge or loyalty to his heritage.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us. Our longtime friend Diane Melde sent me this sign about a couple of critters I don’t want to run into.

Thought For The Day – If you want to keep something concealed from your enemy, don’t disclose it to your friend.

A Long Way To Go

 Posted by at 12:21 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 202026
 

As I said in yesterday’s blog, I adjusted the carburetor on my old Chrysler, and it was idling much better but still dying when I stopped. When I put the air filter back on it wouldn’t start at all. A couple of blog readers told me they believed adjustment I had made was okay when there was no air restriction, but with the air cleaner back on, it was choking the engine.

So yesterday I took the air cleaner back off, and the car started right up. I did some more adjusting and got it to run a little better with the filter on, but son-in-law Kenny thinks the oil bath air filter element is dirty and needs to be cleaned. That’ll be my next project.

After that, we’ll tackle the steering, which is pretty loose. It may just need an adjustment to the steering gearbox, or it may need a rebuild. I don’t know yet. I guess for a 74-year-old car, you can’t expect it to be perfect, right?

Besides tinkering with the car yesterday, I took Alli for a walk because we both needed some exercise. She’s a big dog, and when she sees another critter, she wants to run up and play with it. That made for a couple of unfortunate incidents. One of my neighbors and my granddaughter both recommended getting a gentle leash, which fits over the dog’s snout but still allows it to breathe and eat and drink, but makes them much more manageable than a harness or a collar leash. I bought one a while back, and the difference is amazing. Alli doesn’t like it when I first put it on, but then she settles down and doesn’t try to pull at all.

After our walk, I proofread and corrected the last chapter I wrote, did some research on a couple of items in the time period when the book takes place (1950-1954) and did some more experimenting with trying to create a family tree for all of the characters in the Tinder Street series. This was just an experiment to see what it would look like, with just the Wirtz family and their spouses. I’ve got a long way to go on it.

Today is your last chance to enter our Free Drawing for an autographed copy of Storm Tide, the first book in author MJ Witt’s MacKay’s Justice series. After years of chasing America’s most dangerous fugitives, US Marshal Will MacKay seeks solace in the rugged Highlands of Scotland to reconnect with his ancestral roots. But when a notorious fugitive escapes custody and kills a fellow marshal in the process, MacKay is thrust back into action. The chase takes a chilling turn as he uncovers the fugitive’s ties to a deadly terrorist plot orchestrated by radical Scottish nationalists.

In a land steeped in legend and blood, MacKay will face the ultimate test – loyalty to his badge or loyalty to his heritage.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn this evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

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Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – A fresh start isn’t always a new place. Sometimes it’s a new mindset

I Found Out

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 192026
 

I said in yesterday’s blog that I was going to try to adjust the carburetor in my 1952 Chrysler and asked what could go wrong. Well, I found out.

I took the oil bath air cleaner off the top of the carburetor and adjusted the idle and the richness as much as I could, and I have to say that it smoothed out pretty well. In fact, I drove it over to Kenny and Tiffany’s house, and he was impressed with how much better it was running.

However, on the return trip home, at every stoplight or stop sign, the engine died, and I had to restart it. It started just fine every time, but when I got home and replaced the air filter, the car wouldn’t start at all and smelled like it was flooded. After waiting 2 or 3 hours, I went out and hit the key again, and it tried to pop off but wouldn’t do it. I knew it was too good to be true.

Not wanting to drain the battery or make things worse, Terry and I pushed the car into the garage, no easy feat with a car built in the days when they used real steel. But we got it done.

Then I took Alli out on the back deck and used the Oneisall 7 in 1 pet grooming system to try to get some of the hair off of her that she is constantly shedding. She wasn’t wild about that idea, but she let me do it. It seemed like I got enough hair to make two cocker spaniels and a miniature collie, but a few hours later, Terry was pulling tufts of hair off of her in the house.

Speaking of dog hair, our granddaughter Hailey is a dog groomer. If you think that’s an easy job, check out this video on Facebook of her at work yesterday. https://www.facebook.com/nick.russell.507027

When I finished with Alli, I came inside and wrote another 2,500-word chapter in my new Tinder Street book. So much is happening that I can’t keep up with what all those characters are doing!

Sometime around 11 pm, Terry looked out one of our front windows and startled when she saw this massive buck just a few feet away, staring at her. What a beautiful creature! It’s so cool to see deer and elk and other wildlife right from our front window.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Storm Tide, the first book in author MJ Witt’s MacKay’s Justice series. After years of chasing America’s most dangerous fugitives, US Marshal Will MacKay seeks solace in the rugged Highlands of Scotland to reconnect with his ancestral roots. But when a notorious fugitive escapes custody and kills a fellow marshal in the process, MacKay is thrust back into action. The chase takes a chilling turn as he uncovers the fugitive’s ties to a deadly terrorist plot orchestrated by radical Scottish nationalists.

In a land steeped in legend and blood, MacKay will face the ultimate test – loyalty to his badge or loyalty to his heritage.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Sometimes your value isn’t seen until your absence is felt.

My Old Yellow Car

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 182026
 

Years ago, country singer Dan Seals released a song called My Old Yellow Car. Anyone who grew up poor and drove beaters when they were young could relate to it. I know I sure could. My first car wasn’t yellow, but the rest of it rang pretty true.

These days, I have an old yellow car, but it’s a lot better than the one described in the song. The other day, my historic license plate came for it, and it looks good hanging on the back bumper.

And like the old yellow car in Dan Seals’ song, mine comes with a story of its own. The gentleman I bought it from in Texas told me that he purchased it from an elderly man in Ohio. He said that when he and his wife flew to Ohio to look at the car before buying it, they went on a test ride and it ran out of gas. Fortunately, they happened to be right in front of a gas station, and a couple of kind young gentlemen pushed it up to the gas pumps for them.

The potential buyer and his wife went inside the gas station to get out of the heat or to get something to drink, I’m not sure which. Someone came in and asked, “Who’s with the old guy in the yellow convertible out there?” They said they were, and the person said, “Well, he’s slumped over the wheel, and I think he’s dead.”

An off-duty police officer was at the gas station, and they managed to get the old gentleman out of the car and start CPR. Unfortunately, he was gone. Someone asked if I thought the car might be haunted. With the way my luck goes, I wouldn’t doubt it. Somebody else suggested it might give me fodder for a new mystery book. I think Stephen King beat me to that.

Son-in-law Kenny went to the doctor the other day, and they still haven’t released him for anything but light duty at work. They stopped over to visit with us on the way home, and Kenny showed me where the adjustment screws are to try to get the Chrysler’s carburetor smoothed out, because it’s set way too rich and running rough. I may see what I can accomplish with that today. What could possibly go wrong?

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Storm Tide, the first book in author MJ Witt’s MacKay’s Justice series. After years of chasing America’s most dangerous fugitives, US Marshal Will MacKay seeks solace in the rugged Highlands of Scotland to reconnect with his ancestral roots. But when a notorious fugitive escapes custody and kills a fellow marshal in the process, MacKay is thrust back into action. The chase takes a chilling turn as he uncovers the fugitive’s ties to a deadly terrorist plot orchestrated by radical Scottish nationalists.

In a land steeped in legend and blood, MacKay will face the ultimate test – loyalty to his badge or loyalty to his heritage.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – You can win over a wise man with reason, but you can’t win over a fool with proof.

September Q&A

 Posted by at 12:03 am  Nick's Blog
Sep 172026
 

I’m back with more questions from blog readers. While I try to answer all questions individually, I also share some here occasionally.

Q. I have a question about the classic car you bought. It was made long before the days of unleaded gasoline. Do you have to add some kind of an additive to the tank to protect the engine?

A. A 1952 car will run on unleaded gasoline, but it can be hard on the valve seats. Fortunately, there are lead additives available, and it’s recommended to add a container of the additive whenever filling the tank with unleaded gas.

Q. We have been wanting to upgrade our old gas-powered Class A motorhome. With the prices of diesel today, do you think now is a good time to consider a diesel pusher? I’m hoping the prices on a new or late-model unit might be lower, and eventually diesel has to come down, right?

A. From what I’m hearing from RV owners who are trying to sell diesel motorhomes, for people who have diesel pickups and are trying to sell or make a trade, the demand for them is so low that today might indeed be a good time to go shopping. As for the price of diesel coming down, I’m sure it will eventually, but I don’t think it will ever drop to the price level it was before the war with Iran started. It seems that whenever prices skyrocket, when they do come down, they stay higher than they were previously.

Q. As an author myself, I was very interested in your news that Amazon is now offering AI interpretations of books in different languages. You said you were going to give it a try. How hard was it to set them up, and have you seen any results as of yet?

A. There was nothing to setting things up. You just click a button to choose the language you want to have your book converted to. On the 13th and 14th, I set all of my books up to the different languages available, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. In three days’ time, I’ve earned another $100 in royalties from foreign language sales. It’s not life-changing money, but every little bit helps.

Q. I know you are working on the next Tinder Street book. Please, please tell me you found some way to include a family tree? I love the series, but there are so many different characters that I can’t keep track of who’s who.

A. After a lot of experimentation and trial and error, I think I’ve found a way to include a family tree. I’m working on it now between writing chapters of the new book

Q. I live and breathe mystery and crime novels, and last year I went to the Bouchercon 2025 Mystery Convention in New Orleans. It was fantastic and I already have my reservations for this year’s conference in Calgary in October. You’re one of my favorite writers, and I really hope you will be there because I would love to meet you. Any chance I’ll see you there?

A. No, I’m afraid not. Between a couple of birthdays in October, including my own, and some other family events, as well as the issues with Terry’s mother’s health, I’ll be staying close to home.

It’s Thursday, so it’s time for a new Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Storm Tide, the first book in author MJ Witt’s MacKay’s Justice series. After years of chasing America’s most dangerous fugitives, US Marshal Will MacKay seeks solace in the rugged Highlands of Scotland to reconnect with his ancestral roots. But when a notorious fugitive escapes custody and kills a fellow marshal in the process, MacKay is thrust back into action. The chase takes a chilling turn as he uncovers the fugitive’s ties to a deadly terrorist plot orchestrated by radical Scottish nationalists.

In a land steeped in legend and blood, William MacKay will face the ultimate test – loyalty to his badge or loyalty to his heritage.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 30 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

***

Did you know that you can find all of my books and sign up for my free author’s newsletter on my website at www.nickrussellbooks.com?

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Maybe the reason we love our dogs so much is because the only time they break our hearts is when they are no longer with us.

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