Wanna read a wonderful and free short story?

I know it's free and it must be wonderful because I wrote it. Actually there are two of them, one that ran in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine in 1983 and another from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine in 1988. The first is a story of lost love, the second a story of misplaced love.
OK, OK, they are mysteries, not romances, although the first might have become a bodice ripper if I hadn't insisted on a murder taking place.
The second is the first story in a series about PI Jack Eddy. The latest is in the June issue of AHMM. Don't rush out to buy it because the September issue is now on the stands.
So if you want to read these non-award winning gems you will find them on the navigation bar at www.dickstodghill.com
If you don't want to read them, well that's your tough luck and see if I care.

/me loves free reads!

Dick,

Thanks for the stories. They made me think of earlier times. I don't remember Myrna Loy and Ginger Rodgers from my own day, but they were two of Mom's favorites, as were Wallie and the Duke. "Second Chance" had a flavor that made me think of early TV and the live mystery dramas from those shows. Both good reads.

Ann

Dick, I wanted to read them, did so, and enjoyed them, whether you like it or not!

I did get a little sidetracked on your site, however. It was nice to read about Jackie and the limerick. That napkin makes a great keepsake.

Thank you for the free entertainment.

cdemu wrote:

/me loves free reads!

Well that's good to know because Baen give away free ebooks, so you won't mind your book-to-be-published being given away for free.

Haloo.
I didn't get it open.

Maybe I've been banned in Estonia, Harry.

I'm trying to get over the shock of finding that Ann doesn't have first-hand recollection of Myrna Loy and Ginger Rogers. Back in the 1930s most boys and young men loved the calm, cool and collected Myrna but went absolutely wild when Ginger Rogers was on the big screen. There was something about her that. . .oh, well.
This points out a problem with writing stories set in the past. I never worry about it but young people like Ann may not recognize a name from even 20 years ago. If they just have to know, let 'em look it up, that's the way I look at it.

I want to assure the world that the fact Freewebs is having problems and is shut down for emergency maintenance is in no way related to the posting of the two stories on my site. At least I hope it isn't.

Hee hee! Pretty hot stories, huh?

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Classics.

Dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOBdQykKQY

Singing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57tK6aQS_H0&feature=related

My mother and I would watch the afternoon movies on TV when I was growing up. She especially liked Myrna Loy; her friends said they resembled each other. Fred Astaire was another favorite, so I remember Ginger Rogers as his dance partner. She had a tendency to drool over Rex Harrison. I understood why.

Ann

A member of my church who still drives there in her Lincoln and reads the Daily Word each Sunday was a close friend of Ginger Rogers. She and her partner also danced in many movies of that era; when she left dancing she was a gossip columnist and hung out with the broadway and movie star elite on both coasts.

I know this because she is quite a benefactor of our little church and to help raise money, she presents "From Chocolate to Caviar" a film, dance and talk about her rise to near stardom, the people along the way she met (all famous of course) and challenges and triumphs of that life. I believe she is somewhere between 98 years and 100, and she is elegant. I was mesmerized by the whole show. She had wonderful pictures of her with Ginger Rogers at parties and in movies through the years. There were many other stars in her presentation.

If she's 98, DK, she was the same age as Ginger, who died in 1995.

I just checked and there is a Ginger Rogers website. Not only that, it has a paper doll of Ginger available. Gives a whole new meaning to the old song - "I'm gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own. . ." Don't think I will, though. She'd lack something that Ginger had.

I am really put out that Freewebs would pick today to have trouble. They say it's because they installed a new node yesterday, whatever that means. That's their story, but I think it's a Communist plot originating in North Korea just to keep the world from reading my free stories.

Don't know if this came out right - it's from 2006, so Maxine must be 99 by now. The article goes on to talk about her friendship with Ginger Rogers, Desi Arnez and others of that era. The whole article is pretty interesting because she has not slowed down a minute.

Local model and actress journey to Carnegie Hall

By ANDREA M. GALABINSKI (Contact)
12:00 a.m., Saturday, February 11, 2006

Grandmas still have it, at least these two grandmas. Bonita Springs model Marilu Henderson, 69, and retired dancer, TV and film star Maxine Carter, 93, were part of the entertainment at a Carnegie Hall benefit show Feb. 10.

GREAT READS, Dick, Thanks for sharing.

Yep, it's back up. Here's a link:

http://www.dickstodghill.com/freeshortstory.htm

I can recommend The Rough Old Stuff -- there are lots more good stories!

I don't know how you do this stuff, Shelagh. When you get a chance could you do the other one, please? It's just below the one you did on the navigation bar. I still think this is a plot and somebody is out to get me.

Here you go:

http://www.dickstodghill.com/freejackeddystory.htm

Thank you , Dick.
Great job as usual.

Thanks, Shelagh.