There are eighteen days left in the year and twelve days to Christmas. I’m looking forward to the holiday and don’t know why. I miss the Christmas Santa left me a bike and a bride doll. I miss being awake all night helping Santa. But that was then and this is now. It will be a quiet Christmas.
Christmas Eve I’ll make Cioppino Stew/Soup, although I learned you can order it on Amazon. Christmas morning I’ll bake my Christmas bread. The smell will hold pleasant memories.
I’ve started talking to myself. When I can’t find my phone I’ll roam the house bemoaning and retracing my steps saying, “I washed my face, perhaps I left it the bathroom.” Or, “I sat outside doing Wordle, maybe the phone is on the patio coffee table.”
Eventually I find the damn thing!
I talk to myself about writing a sequel to Morningside Drive and ask, “Why are you doing this?
Writing is not easy and I sing Kermit’s song. I’m retired and should be sitting at the beach reading or lying on the couch watching movies. But I’m not. I’m either working on the sequel, Middle Seat Passenger, or promoting Morningside Drive. Why? I love it and events like the one below are fun.
On November 6th we will discuss the writing process, publishing, where plots originate and more.
Readers frequently ask where my ideas come from and how I come up with the descriptions. Don’t get nervous. I watch strangers and wonder about their lives.
Here’s an example. A nurse in my doctor’s office was always nasty. I thought she might be overworked or I had done something wrong. However her coworkers were pleasant. At times overly so. I concluded it was her style. Some people are difficult. That’s a fact!
My short story Acerbic (published in Florida Writer Association Let’s Talk.) captured that experience.
The story references a character’s pink eyebrows.
On a previous day, I had inadvertently applied a lip-liner to my brows and never discovered the faux-pa until I returned home. The detail fit the story.
Recently, I was in another doctor’s waiting room and thumbed through a current issue of Southern Living to discovered an article on must see places. Floyd in the Blue Ridge Mountains got a top billing.
My husband and I had stayed in Floyd and I used that visit describing a group of men having breakfast at the Early Birds Café in my novel Morningside Drive.
Their conversation was unforgettable and still makes me laugh. I hope you’ll enjoy it, because you can’t make this stuff up.
Chapter 2
Groundhog Day 2014
(page nine)
Jake, a robust man with a white beard and railroad cap made manly noises. I imagined him scratching his head and passing gas. It was not pretty. Luther wore suspenders. His thin curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Several other men’s stomachs lay beneath the tabletop, threatening to tear their pants. They discuss Obama Care and then moved on to love.
Luther cleared his throat and said, “What negative feelings do you bring to the relationship?”
A bell chimed when a patron opened the restaurant door preventing me from hearing his response.
“Are you talking about me throwing the remote at the television or Jane catching it?” Jake chuckled.
“You could’ve cracked the flat screen,” Lorie commented, refilling glasses with a water pitcher. “Jane catching it,” Luther scratched his stomach, “that would have pissed me off.”
. . .just saying,
I’ve done a lot of wondering about Luther, Jake, and Jane.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Soraya Cafe 156 E Granada, Ormond Beach The Daytona Beach News Journal
Cluster of Stars
*’ORMOND BEACH — The owners of the new Soraya Mediterranean Cafe received a surprise visit Friday (June 23, 2023) by Melanie Griffin, secretary of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, who dropped by to participate in an impromptu ribbon-cutting.
(Pictured above are Melanie Griffin, third from the right, secretary of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, congratulates the owners of the new Soraya Mediterranean Cafe at 156 E. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach, after participating in a ribbon-cutting Friday, June 23, 2023. Pictured from left: Ormond Beach Chamber CEO Debbie Cotton, Soraya co-owner Ayten Hooper, Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington,Griffin, Soraya co-owner Fay Sarshory and her cousin, Maryam Ghyabi-White.)
Sarshory said the cafe’s goal is to “expose locals to Persian and Turkish cultures beyond any political associations.”
Soraya Cafe offers Turkish and Persian desserts − including baklava, Turkish-baked rice pudding, and Persian homemade cakes − as well as Persian breakfast items, Turkish simit (similar to bagels), soups, salads and panini sandwiches. It also serves Turkish coffee and other espresso and tea drinks.
Soraya is Persian for “cluster of stars.” It’s also the name of the second wife of the last Shah of Iran. Queen Soraya enjoyed a brief career as an actress in the 1960s.
A photo of the late Queen Soraya, the second wife of the Shah of Iran, is on displayed along with interesting art
Sarshory is an Iranian native who, as a teen, fled with her family to the United States during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. She currently works as the broker/owner of Florida Property Experts in Ormond Beach. Hooper is a veteran restaurateur from Turkey
They met when Sarshory was a customer at Hooper’s Istanbul Turkish Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant on U.S. 1. became friends and talked about starting a coffee shop together. Hooper has since sold the eatery.
When the building that previously housed a quilt shop became available, Sarshory leased it and invited Hooper to become partners in opening Soraya Cafe.
Hooper is the creative touch behind the food. Sarahory the interior design.
I am a coffee lover who had never had Turkish coffee. We when to lunch there last week and I was pleasantly surprised by the coffee, yes. . .But also the pricing.
According to FOX 10; “The financial services company found that guests across the country paid an average of $3.08 for a cup of regular coffee, $5.14 for cold brew, $5.46 for lattes and $3.74 for tea during the first quarter of 2024.” https://a.co/d/0dPrSi3m I had the Turkish coffee. It is very strong and hot, served without sugar or cream, half and half, or milk. It was an experience. You drink the water after.
I loved the ambiance and beautiful china. My husband had chicken salad on a simit. I had quiche and a pear cake. All tasted delicious
Please join me on Wednesday, June 26th, at 2PM at Soraya Cafe. I will talk about the writing process and read passages from my debut novel, Morningside Drive. Reservations (386-265-0137) are required since space is limited. A light fare of Quiche and Baklava plus choice of hot or cold beverage will be served, cost $25.00.
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