Easter

Written by Karen Harris 

Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  The Choral Alleluias of Easter morning shatter the quiet reflections of Lent. Well, to be completely honest, we have been rehearsing those Alleluias throughout Lent.  The solemnity of the Sunday services, and the beautiful, mournful music of Maundy Thursday and the Tenebrae of Good Friday overshadow our practices until the big moment at 8:30 on Easter Sunday.  As we climb the steps to the balcony, the service opens with brass and organ.  My daughter and I position ourselves behind the rest of the family seated in the last pew to sing close to them.  The high notes of the descants fairly fly from the balcony to the chancel and back.  The white and gold of our robes and stoles mirror the Easter lilies and horns.  

Between the services, we feast at the choir buffet.  We temper our desire to eat some of everything with memories of Easters past, and the dozy sensations during the second service.  If we stayed in the balcony, the nodding of our heads would go unnoticed, but, of course, we process to the chancel, where the entire congregation would catch us napping.  And, there is the lamb, marinating in the fridge, with new potatoes, asparagus, and more, awaiting us at home.  The 11:00 service is packed, every chair in the narthex is full and latecomers stand behind them.  Somehow, though this is our second time today, the hymns seem fresh and new, even the beloved and familiar “Halleluiah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.  Family, faith, music, and joy-what more could I ask for?

About the Author: Karen Harris is a writer and editor from San Francisco, now residing in Virginia Beach.   Her story “I Have A Dress” appeared in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  Her story “Comings and Goings” will appear in Volume II  which will be published in 2017.

Dead Drop

Today we have an excerpt from "Dead Drop" by Patrick Clark.

But first let's read his blurb. 

East Beach’s Private Investigator, Cole Draper is back at it.  There has been unusual drone activity in the neighborhood so he and his attractive new roommate investigate their suspicion that something illegal is happening.  What they discover needs to be stopped and Cole is determined to do that…whatever it takes.

Wow!  Don't you want more with that?

Well here's a bit more,  check out an excerpt from his story.

Author Interveiw: Skip McLamb

Have you met our author Skip McLamb?

No?

If you click on the AUTHOR INTERVIEW TAB you'll find an interview that we did with him as well as a few photos.

Each of the contributing authors submitted a question for this interview.  Which makes for an interesting interview.

So stop by and check out Skip's interview.  Here's just a sample of one of the many questions.

What is your favorite genre movie and is it the same genre that you like to read?

My favorite genre is Action/Adventure and the best movie in this genre is The Bourne Ultimatum.

Write By The Bay

Today we have an excerpt from "Write By The Bay" by Jayne Ormerod.

But first let's read her blurb. 

Carrie Hannover solves mysteries—in the literary sense. She’s a writer.  But when valuable jewels go missing from her landlady’s home, Carrie finds herself embroiled in a real mystery…one fraught with real danger.

Wow!  Don't you want more with that?

Well here's a bit more,  check out an excerpt from her story.

Author Interview: Jamie McAllister

Have you met our author Jamie McAllister?

No?

She's the author of "The Mermaid".  If you click on the AUTHOR INTERVIEW TAB you'll find an interview that we did with her as well as a few photos.

Each of the contributing authors submitted a question for this interview.  Which makes for an interesting interview.

So stop by and check out Jamie's interview.  Here's just a sample of one of the many questions.

What is your favorite genre movie and is it the same genre that you like to read?

I’m terrible at watching movies because I just don’t have the attention span for it. But when I do watch a movie, I like comedies. I also really enjoy super cheesy sci-fi flicks with awesome titles like Lavalantula, a movie about giant spiders that spew lava and terrorize towns. Those movies may not mean to be funny, but they make me laugh anyway. While I enjoy reading books that are funny, I tend to gravitate to mysteries. I enjoy all mysteries, from cozy/traditional to hard-boiled PI and true crime.

East Beach Sand Replenishment

Written by Patrick Clark

After many years of beach erosion due to hurricanes and nor’easters, East Beach is finally getting beach replenishment. Last summer (2015), East Beach had weathered to less than twenty feet at high tide. Thanks to federal funds that were freed due to Hurricane Sandy which decimated many beaches along the East Coast, seven miles of Chesapeake Bay beaches will be widened by sixty feet. The project is scheduled to be completed by May 2016. The East Beach portion is basically complete as of March 6^th.

A total of 1.2 million cubic yards of sand will come from the bottom of the nearby Thimble Shoal shipping channel. More good news is the agreement between the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the city of Norfolk to replenish the beach every nine years for the next half century.

So, there will be plenty of sandy beach for Norfolk residents and visitors to stick their toes in the sand and read a good book. Might I suggest one of the two By the Bay; East Beach Stories anthologies?

About the author: Patrick Clark is the author of “Boneyard” and "The Town Hall Incident" in By the Bay: East Beach Stories.  His story “Dead Drop” will be in Volume II, to be published in 2017.  For more information on Patrick and his other writings, please visit his website: www.patrick-clark.com.

The Big Reveal!

New Authors

New Stories

Same Great Setting

By The Bay 2: More East Beach Stories

Art Work by Gina Warren Buzby

Coming very soon!