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Listen Up! My Interview on the Queer Writers of Crime Podcast with Host Brad Shreve
Hear ye, hear ye! Podcaster and mystery author Brad Shreve released our interview this morning. It was a pleasure talking with him about my books, characters, writing, and a bit of life in general. Fasten your headphones!
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Mark McNease Mysteries Podcast #36: Paper Hearts: A Marshall James Thriller Short Story
It’s another Mark McNease Mysteries podcast, and this time I’m back at the mic, too! My short story, ‘Paper Hearts: A Marshall James Thriller,’ was released in February as part of the anthology Cupid Shot Me: Valentine Tales of Love, Mystery & Suspense.’ I subsequently released it as a standalone short story, and now … the audiobook. Fasten your headphones and enjoy this story on your phone, in your car, at your desk, anywhere you can just click and listen. And stay tuned for the third full book in the Marshall James series, ‘Final Audition,’ coming this fall.
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The Weekly Readlines March 30
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) offers news you can use every week. You can view the archives here.
Quote for the Week: “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachments by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.” – Judge Louis Brandeis 
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES First the good news: the FDA approved a second COVID booster shot for people over 50. Count me in. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson appears headed for confirmation, with a vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee set for April 4.
Will Smith made entertainment history in the worst way with a slap across Chris Rock’s face. Media frenzy and Facebook pontificating followed. Meanwhile, Ginni Thomas, the wife of a sitting Supreme Court Justice, was revealed to have enthusiastically pursued the overturning of an American election. Not only can you not make these things up, you wouldn’t want to.
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Featured Book: Unexpected Bravery: Women and Children of the Civil War, by A.J. Schenkman
This week’s Featured Book is a fascinating look into lives most of us don’t know anything about: women and children who enlisted to fight in the Civil War. Among them was Albert Cashier, a man we would now call transgender. Born female, Albert spent almost his entire life as a man, beginning in boyhood. His military bravery was so highly thought of that the people around him protected his secret even after many of them knew about it. And this is just one of over a dozen stories told through archival material, letters, and first-hand accounts, of people who may otherwise be forgotten. A completely satisfying read. You can listen to my recent One Thing or Another podcast with the author HERE.
About Women and Children of the Civil War
The American Civil War divided the United States from 1861-1865. During those years, over two million soldiers served in both the Union and Confederate Armies. What is little known is that not only the numerous children, some as young 12, enlisted on both sides, but also women who disguised themselves as men in an attempt to make a difference in the epic struggle to determine the future of the United States of America.
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The Weekly Readlines March 25: Ketanji Kills It, Putin’s War Crimes, and the Week in Headlines
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) offers news you can use once a week. You can view the archives here. And for your listening pleasure, this week’s podcast edition!
Quote for the Week: “Your heart’s strength is measured by how hard it holds on. Your self worth and faith is measured by finally letting go. However, your peace is measured by how long you don’t look back.” ― Shannon L. Alder BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES First the good news: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson survived the avalanche of dog whistles as Republicans tried to smear her with their “woke” and “critical race theory” crayons, employing words and concepts as tired and useless as they are. Absent another Supreme Court seat theft, she will be confirmed.
Ukraine continued to turn Putin’s wet dream into a bowel blockage. The trucker convoy got stalled by a single bicyclist in D.C. And Disney employees staged a walk out against Florida’s contribution to the Don’t Say Gay hate craze.
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Author Dave Hughes Offers Complimentary Short Story ‘Cruise Virgins’ for New Subscribers
I’ve been both a friend and fan of Dave Hughes for quite a few years now. He’s the founder of RetireFabulously.com, a recurring guest on my One Thing or Another Podcast, and now a fiction author with an upcoming release, Maybe Next Year:
“Bryan and Chris are high school juniors who have been inseparable best friends for three years. Now, they are discovering that their feelings for each other run much deeper than mere friendship.
Chris, whose open-minded family is completely supportive, is ready and able to live his life out and proud. For Bryan, whose father is the pastor of a very conservative mega-church in a Kansas City suburb, being gay simply isn’t an option. Bryan hopes that maybe next year when they leave Kansas to go to college together, he will be able to live more openly. In the meantime, they must learn how to navigate their conflicting family dynamics and boundaries if they are to fulfill their dream of spending the rest of their lives together.
Everything changes when Bryan is outed. His father will stop at nothing to force Bryan to “leave the homosexual lifestyle,” requiring Bryan and Chris to make some very difficult choices.”
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The Weekly Readlines March 4
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) offers news you can use every Saturday morning. You can view the archives here. And now you can listen to the podcast edition HERE! pleasure!
CLICK FOR THE PODCAST EDITION!
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES First the good news: President Biden united NATO and the West against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and high school students across Florida staged a walk out over the ever-so-hateful Don’t Say Gay bill.
Texas unleashed the state against trans kids and their parents, while millions of children were plunged into poverty with the expiration of the expanded child tax credit killed by Joe Manchin. Not to be outdone in the race to the bottom, the Wyoming Senate defunded the Gender Studies program at the state university, since women belong in the kitchen and the maternity ward.
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Steve Hayes’ Tired Old Queen at the Movies: Classic Movie Review – Sidney Poitier in ‘Paris Blues’ (VIDEO)
CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEW : All of us at STEVE HAYES: Tired Old Queen at the Movies honor the work and memory of the great SIDNEY POITIER. He joins Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Diahann Carroll in 1960’s swinging Paris in Martin Ritt’s romantic PARIS BLUES. Shot on location with a terrific score by Duke Ellington and an amazing appearance by Louis Armstrong. It’s sexy, nostalgic, and romantic – just like Paris.
PARIS BLUES, DVD https://amzn.to/3pm5qbb
“Great Summit / PARIS BLUES Tracks”: Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington CD https://amzn.to/3JVyL3S
PARIS BLUES original 1961 27×41 one sheet movie poster PAUL NEWMAN/SIDNEY POITIER/LOUIS ARMSTRONG https://amzn.to/3hkmQ3D
“The Measure of a Man : A Memoir” by Sidney Poitier https://amzn.to/3584pg8 “This Life” by Sidney Poitier https://amzn.to/3HlR6FK -
Savvy Senior: Can COVID-19 Cause Shingles?
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
How effective is the shingles vaccine and what is the CDC recommendation for getting it? My older brother and sister, both in their fifties, got COVID a few months back followed by shingles. Do you know if there is a connection between these viruses, and would the shingles vaccine have protected them?
Scared of Shingles
Dear Scared,
Great question! Many healthcare professionals across the country have been urging their older patients to get the shingles vaccine (in addition to the COVID-19 vaccinations) during the pandemic because getting COVID-19 can increase your chances of developing shingles. And the more severe case of COVID you get, the greater your risk for shingles.
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Subscriber Delivery Moves to Saturday!
As my retirement from full-time work fast approaches, my options grow. I’ve been sending out The Weekly Readlines and content updates on Wednesday morning because it’s been one of my days off. With more choices available soon, I’m moving the delivery to Saturdays. You can enjoy the news roundup, soon to include a podcast edition for those who like to listen, and any content updates. I’ll also be expanding the content, with a lot more time to do it! SUBSCRIBE HERE. See you Saturday – Mark
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Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory (February 16 – 21)
Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory makes the past ever-present with daily rundowns of historic events and people.
Ronni Sanlo
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Q Audiobooks: Where to Find Free Audiobook Codes
Welcome to the return of Q Audiobooks, a regular feature offering audiobooks of interest for the LGBTQ+ listener.
As someone who has published 12 audiobooks, I understand the attraction of providing free download codes for audiobook fans and the authors and narrators who keep them listening. I’ve given away well over 1,000 audiobook codes over the ten years I’ve been making audiobook editions available for my books, and I have two sites to recommend. I’ve used both of them to great effect, and if you search “LGBTQ” you’ll even find a lot of the audiobooks in your favorite not-so-mainstream genres. Codes are specific to each book and can only be redeemed at ACX/Audible links provided when you get the code (US or UK), or on the Authors Direct app if you’re getting a code from Findaway Voices.