Goodreads Giveaway: The Healing Powers of HONEY, Revised & Updated

Courtesy Cal Orey

NEW YORK,USA, July 14, 2026 (PinionNewswire) —Cal Orey’s augmented book returns with new honeybee research, personal survival stories, a new foreword, climate-focused reporting and honey-based recipes

Kensington Publishing is announcing the sequel and updated edition of The Healing Powers of Honey: Revised and Updated by Cal Orey, an expanded release that explores honey, honeybees, food traditions, environmental change, recipes and personal storytelling.

[Giveaway Link on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/446428-the-healing-powers-of-honey-revised-and-updated-a-complete-guide-to-na ]

The sequel will be available worldwide on Aug. 25, 2026, through Kensington Publishing’s Citadel imprint. The book expands Orey’s long-running work on honey with new research, reporting and reflections on the role honey continues to hold in kitchens, food history and cultural traditions.

The updated book examines honey at a time when many readers are paying closer attention to shelf-stable foods, traditional ingredients and minimally processed alternatives to refined sugar. Orey also discusses honey’s long-standing reputation among some beekeepers and consumers as a durable pantry staple with deep historical and cultural significance.

A major focus of the sequel edition is the relationship between honeybees, environmental stress and the human food chain. Orey looks at how extreme weather, wildfires, shifting seasonal patterns and climate-related pressures may affect honeybee survival, pollination and foods that depend on bee-pollinated crops, including fruits, nuts and other agricultural products.

The augmented edition also includes a more personal narrative layer. Orey shares stories connected to rare blizzard conditions in Tahoe, a NASCAR-related life-threatening event, wildfire danger, a race against time and a near-death experience that influenced her renewed focus on resilience, food choices and Mediterranean-style living.

“This expanded edition allowed me to return to honey through the lens of food, survival, honeybees, climate, recipes and personal experience,” said Cal Orey. “The book reflects my continued interest in how one natural ingredient can connect history, culture, kitchens and the environment.”

The book also includes new honey-based recipes, including Hot Honey Glazed Turkey Loaf and Turmeric Honey Booster. Orey also explores food trends such as Manuka honey, hot honey and honey’s continued place in contemporary kitchens.

The sequel features a new foreword by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.

The Healing Powers of Honey: Revised and Updated blends food writing, honeybee reporting, recipes, research and first-person storytelling for readers interested in natural foods, honey traditions, environmental issues and the changing role of honey in modern life.

Health and Wellness Information Notice

This release is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, nutritional, dietary, therapeutic or health advice. The book discusses honey, honeybees, recipes, wellness traditions, research, food history and personal experiences for general educational purposes.

No statement in this release should be interpreted as a claim that honey, honeybees, recipes or any food product can diagnose, treat, cure, prevent or manage disease, viruses, infections, medical conditions or health conditions. Readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals before making health, dietary or wellness decisions.

About the Book

Title: The Healing Powers of Honey: Revised and Updated
Subtitle: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Remarkable Nectar
Author: Cal Orey
Foreword: Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth
Publisher: Kensington Publishing, Citadel
Series: Healing Powers #4
Publication Date: Aug. 25, 2026
ISBN: 9780806545721
Pages: 352
Category: Health & Fitness / Naturopathy
Book Page: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/shop/the-healing-powers-of-honey-revised-and-updated/?v=0b3b97fa6688 [Pre-Order to Secure a Copy; see formats and editions]

About Cal Orey

Cal Orey, M.A., is a journalist, author and on-air personality known for the Healing Powers series. She holds a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University and has written for national and international publications for more than three decades, with work focused on health, nutrition, food and science.

Media Contact

Cal Orey
Phone: 530-416-8376

Website: Cal Orey Homepage www.calorey.com

The post Kensington Publishing Announces Sequel of The Healing Powers of Honey first appeared on USA Today News. 

On the Streets: Homeless Pets and Their People

 On the Streets

Homeless Pets and Their People

By Cal Orey

“…A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity, and in poverty, in health, and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and snow drives fiercely, if only he may be by his master’s side. "

From coast to coast, in San Francisco or Atlanta, homelessness was a problem in the 20^th century and it is today. Both humans and their pets cope with weather changes or living without a home due to a natural disaster.  Here is a story that I wrote years ago but it is a timeless one that needs to be heard...

There’s a memorable scene in the movie Down and Out in Beverly Hills where Nick Nolte, a homeless man, loses his little tan dog, Kerouac and soon after attempts to end his life by jumping into a wealthy businessman’s backyard swimming pool.

            In the hands of this actor, this is a very moving scene. Behind the absurd outcome, however, is the painful truth about down and out people and our society’s often cold and insensitive attitude toward the way the homeless pets and their people really feel.

            Many dog and cat owners—perhaps even you—may one day be just a paycheck or an illness away from becoming homeless. And when a story like this one shows the streets being a home to people and their sleeping bags, pets and shopping carts, you, like, like all pet people may wonder, “How do the homeless and their pets live?”

            I spent several days on the streets with the disenfranchised and my report, while sad, still serves to illustrate the patience and devotion the companion animal holds for his owner, no matter what the circumstances.

            In San Francisco during the Depression dogs kept company with the jobless and transient hobos. During the turbulent Sixties dogs freeloaded with the hippies on Haight Street and freeway ramps. And now, amid a recession, pets band together with the homeless in the Tenderloin and at Golden Gate Park. Regardless of the era or locale, it’s the pet, however, who sticks by his or her owner’s side—for better or worse.

            Statistics prove pets and their people who are homeless, ill or financially destitute are far too common on the streets of San Francisco today.  In the Bay Area, there were an estimated 46,000 homeless in 1988. How many own pets? No one knows for sure. But you can bet it’s a lot.

            Often it is the homeless person rather than society who is blamed when the inevitable doubt arises: “Did he create his plight?” And too frequently, the judgmental question is posed by the homeless themselves who more times than not, have lost their pride and self-worth.

MEET A HOMELESS MAN AND HIS DOGS

            Reno, a homeless person, for example, owns two dogs in San Francisco.  After a painful divorce, several years ago the anguished man grabbed his guitar and pup, left Colorado, and hit the road. For over five years, Reno has been broke and struggling on the streets of San Francisco with his “two girls”—Tramp, an Australian Shepherd/Bull Terrier and Puget Sound, a black Labrador retriever from Washington state.

            Often the 38-year-old unkempt man and his two canines can be found on Market Street where they panhandle for food. Some people call the homeless with dogs, like Reno, “scam artists.” Many turn their heads. And others are losing patience and won’t spare a dime. Dog or not.

            One recent afternoon, in between tears and flashing a snap shot of three dogs, Reno said in between tears he had lost Puget’s daughter, Bingo in an operation. He blamed the doctors for “killing his dog.” Not surprising, his anger and frustration carries over to The City’s Mayor, and the police who often harass the homeless and keep them from living at Civic Center Plaza.

            Reno’s feelings are common among homeless people. “Maybe, the only one that cares and gives support is their companion animal,” says Richard Avanzino, president of the San Francisco SPCA. “Because homeless people have this unique bond and special relationship, in many cases, the animals are better cared for than they take care of themselves. And that’s because the animal has stood by their side when society and the world and human beings have discarded them.”

            Why? Why do people (veterans, children, adults with disabilities, single parents, teenagers, part-time employees)—without housing, end up on the streets?

            Experts answer that the primary reason of homelessness is lack of affordable housing. Also other societal factors such as low-paying jobs, inaccessible health care, as well as personal disasters, drug abuse and alcoholism can cause homelessness.

            Despite the growing problem of homeless people and their pets, it continues. Slowly, pet owners coping with hard times are fighting back, and rediscovering their dignity, civil rights, and freedom.

A DOG-LOVING VETERAN AND HIS TROOP

            As a Vietnam veteran living in the Tenderloin, Ray Masterson was homeless for 20 years. With a likeness to John Steinbeck’s fictional character Pirate, a dog-loving man who owned five dogs in Tortilla Flat, he tells his story: “After I go out of the service it was hard to hold down a job, moving from one part of the country to the other. I’ve always had a dog when I’ve been without a home. It’s a fulfillment of being needed. It’s like having a family that I don’t have.”

            Ray has owned several dogs while homeless: Corky, a Coyote/Dingo; Samson, a Husky/Wolf; Toker, a Pit Bull Terrier/Great Dane; and Bear, a Pit Bull Terrier/Chow Chow. “Corky was a real good panhandler,” he says and laughs out loud. “Bear took right to freight trains. Every animal I’ve has had their own personalities and quirks. I got Bear on the rebound because Corky had been run over by a tractor trailer up in Oregon. I worked my way around for about a month and somebody gave me Bear as a pup. As he grew bigger and stronger I got tired of carrying his food and water plus mine in a backpack—so I built him a pair of donkey saddle bags. He carried his own food and water for over a year.

            “Bear and I were homeless in The City for about nine months. We slept up in the churchyard mostly, where we had permission from the church. Bear wouldn’t let anybody near me,” explains Ray. Like a proud father, he points out Bear’s distinct facial features, and adds, that as a pup his dog’s face was full of fuzzy fur resembling a California Grizzly Bear.

            These days the 37-year-old war vet who’d spend his last five dollars on his dog, receives compensation from the government for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even though Ray’s off the streets for now, he’s busy at work as a homeless advocate.

So when society turns their back on people who are down and out it’s understandable why these folks go to man’s best friend for comfort. One man’s words---attributed to Senator George Vest in 1870—from his writing “Tribute To A Dog” says it best:

“…A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity, and in poverty, in health, and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and snow drives fiercely, if only he may be by his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all others desert, he remains.”  

Baby, It's Going to Be Hot Outside! Chill!

 By Cal OrEY, M.A.

So, is climate change and extreme weather connected? Yes, say experts. Currently, the nation and around the globe heatwaves are happening. Indeed, the events affect the health of humans, pets, honeybees and  our food chain and environment. Meanwhile, you're not powerless if the temperature is soaring wherever you are...

When the morning TV and Internet news flashes tales of nationwide climate strain, Tahoe feels oddly calm this summer with its crisp and clean mountain air. Still, old habits die hard: I plug in cool portable fans, stock the pantry with bottled water and no-cook goods, and check the pet supplies. Watching for 90-degree spikes, I sigh, confident I am ready for whatever weather arrives. 

As the author of The Healing Powers of Superfoods, I know too well what edibles are wholesome. But for the hotter days on the horizon this summer it's time to change it up. Think clean, lighter food, such as whole fruits, nuts, and whole grains that withstand unpowered conditions, and require zero refrigeration. Here are my six go-to heroes:

1.     Little Green Apples: Protected by a tough, natural peel, green apples handle unpowered storage in mountain cabins, provide crisp hydration and lower sugar content than tropical fruits and dried fruits.

2.     Prickly Pears: Whole pears withstand warm temperatures without spoiling or getting mushy, and provide dietary fiber and moisture.

3.     Lovely Lemons: Like apples, lemons share a thick protective skin. Whole lemons remain stable without refrigeration and can be squeezed into water to enhance hydration, electrolyte absorption, and flavor.

4.     Squirrel almonds and walnuts: Completely free of moisture and high sugar, raw lightly salted nuts supply stable, healthy fats, and essential magnesium to maintain muscle function without electricity (if the power goes dark).

5.     Sweet Oranges: Protected by thick skin like lemons, whole oranges provide immune boosting vitamin C and natural fluids without requiring a working fridge during a possible power shutoff.

6.     Crunchy Whole-grain Crackers: These favorites have a long shelf-life, delivering feel-good carbo energy when cooking is not an option. Top with albacore tuna or peanut butter.

A   BONUS:  You don't have to cook but this is the way I roll on occasion during hot summer nights.

The bottom line: Extreme heat can wreak havoc on our day-to-day lifestyle. Chill by staying informed: Monitor local radio and television including AccuWeather, for 4-1-1 info and updates on heat, air quality, and more.

Cool Down, Healthy Up for Extreme Heat Events: Reduce or reschedule some activities. Infants, older adults, and pets should stay in the coolest spots. Shun direct exposure to the sun. Use budget-friendly portable electric fans. Check on Others: For more heat health tips, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

BUZZWORTHY NEWS! Honey Sequel is Coming Aug. 25 (It Has a Long Shelf Life!)

 By Cal Orey 

Update: The Revised & Updated 2nd ed. of The Healing Powers of Honey (Kensington Publishing) is arriving Aug. 25!

Did you know? The Healing Powers of Honey (2011 paperback) was released in gift size (mass market format) Feb. 2018? And it is available in audio format, too!

(Also, not only is it a favorite with NewsMax, it was featured in Bookspan's Good Cook, One Spirit, and Children's Book-of-the-Month Club!) This book still pairs nicely with the Healing Powers series #6 The Healing Powers of Tea.

Healing Powers Series Author Booked for Seattle Return: Book Event at Barnes & Noble Downtown

 Recreating a Seattle-Tahoe healthy blend at home

News | Sep 28, 2025 (Tahoe Daily Tribune)

Cal Orey, M.A.

Update: B&N bookstore in downtown Seattle on November 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM. She will be sharing her latest work, The Healing Powers of Honey, Revised (Kensington Publishing), which is updated with new climate change research, heart‑healthy recipes, honeybee data, and home cures. The event will feature a local beekeeper connected to a bee industry association, adding a special touch to the discussion. This will be a significant return for Orey, who previously signed books at the same Seattle B&N in 2006 with the late geologist Jim Berkland who predicted the World Series earthquake.

Considering a return to the Pacific Northwest for my annual fall book signing and research trip, I’m reminiscing about a particularly memorable stay. One year, celebrating my birthday at my favorite Seattle hotel, the concierge thoughtfully arranged a comforting spread of artisanal tea and chocolates in my Puget Sound-view suite after I mentioned feeling a touch homesick. It was a perfect blend of Seattle charm and Tahoe comfort. This year, I’m contemplating recreating that Pacific Northwest ambiance at home.

To infuse your home with Seattle charm and Tahoe comfort, consider healthy elements that evoke blending nature with urban flair.

Cooking: Embrace seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Think fresh seafood (if available in Tahoe, otherwise focus on sustainable options), wild mushrooms,, and root vegetables. Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes include cedar plank salmon to hearty stews are the best dishes with fresh herbs. A well-stocked pantry with artisanal jams, and antioxidant-rich local honey is a must. 

Baking: Focus on rustic, comforting baked goods. Berry muffins (especially blackberry), apple crisps with oats fit the bill. Keep it healthy with spices. Incorporate nuts for healthy and hearty touch into your recipes.

Coffee: This is paramount to a Seattle vibe. Plus, a cup of Joe boasts perks including staying lean, heart health, and staving off diabetes 2. Invest in a good coffee maker (or two) and purchase Seattle roasts found online. A coffee bar area with oversized mugs, organic low-fat milk, and spices enhances the experience. 

Tea: While coffee is king in the Emerald City, a good selection of artisanal loose-leaf teas and tisanes are good for your mind, body, and spirit. Think of herbal blends for immune health. Go for robust black teas for heart health, and delicate green teas for keeping colds and viruses away this fall.

Tahoe Takeaways: My favorite choices for complementing a Tahoe home with a taste of Seattle, is to include art and picturesque coffee table books (with personal memories of Tahoe). Try panoramic postcards of the Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the background or serene landscapes of the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound. Get Seattle-based Theo dark chocolate at our local Whole Foods Market. Then, you, like me, can savor South Lake Tahoe while enjoying Seattle’s sophistication this autumn without leaving the creature comforts of home!

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, nutrition, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, Courage Wrapped in Fur trilogy: Soulmates with Paws, The Heart of a Siamese Cat, and Time-Traveling Tabby.  The new, revised 2nd ed. of The Healing Powers of Honey is available in August, 2026. Her website is http://www.calorey.com 

Healing Powers Series (Bundle 'Em for Sweet Summer Happiness)

  By Cal Orey

UPDATE: While HONEY (mass market and paperback) and VINEGAR (paperback) went back to press (again), HERBS & SPICES has made its way into hundreds of libraries worldwide; HONEY paperback/mass market format has maintained its Best Seller banner for weeks on Amazon and also currently Walmart website. Plus, ESSENTIAL OILS and SUPERFOODS went back to press for third printings. The timeless series continues to attract readers (all ages).

Summertime Special! (Gift Books: newsmax.com/honey newsmax.com/superfoods newsmax.com/oils   newsmax.com/herbs}

AUGUST ARRIVAL: The Revised 2nd Edition Is Almost Here!

30 Days and the NEW Book Launches!

Pre-Order and Secure a Copy

Drawing on the 21st century honey buzz, bestselling author Cal Orey reveals enlightening honey home remedies, straight from the book The Healing Powers of Honey: A Complete Guide to Nature's Remarkable Nectar! (Kensington). 

Here are common health ailments from A to Z and amazing at-home honey cures. These are tried-and-true folk remedies based on scientific studies, real-life stories, medical doctors, researchers, and beekeepers. But caution, consult your health-care practitioner before putting to work any honey cure.

1 ALLERGIES (Stop seasonal misery): Dealing with annoying sneezing, a runny nose, and coughing is no picnic, thanks to seasonal pollen. But honey may come to your rescue.

What Honey Rx to Use:  Try eating a tablespoon of locally produced honey. Proponents of honey tell me that your immune system will get used to the local pollen in it (it should be within a 50-mile radius from where you live).

Why You'll Bee Happy:  By taking the honey cure, you may lose your allergy symptoms. It's worth the effort and is less pricey than a visit to the doctor or an allergist. Honey may enhance the immune system to build up a better arsenal against airborne allergens--and help you breathe easier. Honeycomb may line the entire breathing tract.

2 ANXIETY (Beat the jitters monster): When anxiety hits (often worsened by stress during crowded airports, wildfires, poor air quality) you know it like when an earthquake strikes. Anxiety can wreak havoc on your nervous system and up your odds of experiencing heart disease, stress eating, and other health problems.

What Honey Rx to Use: If you're under pressure and feeling high anxiety or sense a stressful event is in the works, make a cup of chamomile tea. Put in 1 teaspoon of your favorite honey. Repeat twice a day as needed.

Why You'll Bee Happy:  Honey--all hundreds of varietals--is touted by folk medicine healers for its calming effects. The natural superfood can help sooth your nerves rather than put you in higher anxiety mode. The relief if provides may be due to its multiple vitamin B content--anti-stress vitamins.

3  COUGH (Outfox irritating hacking):  A cough is another unwelcome visitor and can make you feel terrible. Let's face it, cough medicine can be pricey, doesn't taste good, and may or may not do its job.

What Honey Rx to Use:  A teaspoon of buckwheat honey is recommended before bed. Or you can make syrup of 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Repeat each remedy as needed.

Why You'll Bee Happy:  A group of Penn State College of Medicine researchers discovered that honey may be the cure. The findings showed that buckwheat honey at bedtime was more powerful for curing a cough in children than a cough suppressant found in over-the-counter medications. It is believed that honey will act as a sedative to the nervous system.

4 ENERGY DRAIN (Beat low energy): Getting your cough under control is a good thing, but then what if your energy plummets?  Liquid gold may be the answer again.

What Honey Rx to Use: Each morning include a teaspoon of bee pollen in your breakfast. Go ahead and take it solo. Or try The Honey Association's Energy Drink recipe:  ¼ pint orange juice, ¼ pint natural yogurt, 2 tablespoons clear honey. Place all the ingredients in a liquidizer and blend until smooth. Pour into two tall glasses. Serves two people.

Why You'll Bee Happy: Honey is a source of natural unrefined sugars and carbohydrates, which are easily absorbed by the body. That means, you'll get a quick energy boost with long-lasting effects. Athletes include it in their daily diets. It was even used by runners at the Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

5 HEADACHE (Bye-bye, pain): Fatigue and headaches (not uncommon with omicron) are not to be taken with a grain of salt, because it can hurt oh, so bad. There are different types of headaches, and some kinds may benefit from the honey bee's gift.

What Honey Rx to Use:  One cup of tea with 1 teaspoon of honey (the darker the varietal the better) is the remedy. Repeat as needed. Also, drink plenty of water and relax.

Why You'll Bee Happy:  "The way honey might work for tension headaches," says New York Headache Center's Alex Mauskop, M.D., "is by treating hypoglycemia, which can cause tension and migraines." He adds that some antioxidants can help prevent headaches, as can magnesium and vitamin B. So turning to antioxidant-rich honey may be a sweet remedy.

6 INSOMNIA  (Find sweet dreams): Getting rid of a headache is a challenge, but not getting adequate shut-eye can have long-term effects, too.

What Rx to Use: Take 1 or 2 teaspoons of your favorite honey, especially before going to bed. Try sipping a cup of 2 percent low-fat milk with a dash of cinnamon. The tryptophan in milk will help to calm you.

Why You'll Bee Happy:  It's a magic trick, according to The Honey Revolution author Ron Fessenden, M.D., providing needed glycogen to the liver so the brain doesn't go in search of extra fuel in the earl A.M. hours when you should be in Dreamland. "Consuming honey before bedtime also reduces the release of  adrenaline, a catecholamine that raises blood pressure and heart rate," adds the honey guru.

7 SORE THROAT (Take the sting away): Not sleeping is miserable, but a sore throat can drag you down, too, where don't feel like walking or talking. Honey has been used as a home for centuries to help soothe one of the symptoms associated with a common cold or virus--namely, a killer sore throat.

What Honey Rx to Use:  For relief of symptoms, take a spoonful of your buckwheat honey, as often as you need, to relieve irritation. In between, sip a cup of tea with honey. Also, try pure honeycomb and honey sticks. Don't forget all-natural honey-lemon lozenges, which also coat the throat for quick relief.

Why You'll Bee Happy: One, honey will coat your sore throat, the symptom of the cause. Two, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties will help heal the culprit causing your pain.

8 WAIST WHITTLER (Blast belly fat the stuff leftover from winter): Twitches to tummy bulge... if you have a bulging tummy, you'd probably consider a sore throat is easier to get rid of. But wait; there are things you can do to get a flat tummy.

What Honey Rx to Use:  Both morning and night, drink an 8-ounce glass or mug of tea (dandelion or parsley boasts diuretic effects), with a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Team this potion with grazing and watch your fat and sugar intake.

Why You'll Bee Happy: Honey and apple cider vinegar contain the bloat-busting mineral potassium. Also, turning to honey will help you to eat fewer sugary treats and enjoy a flatter stomach.

          So go ahead and use the type of honey advised or your own preference; all-natural, raw honey, dark varietals are recommended for best results. (Warning: To avoid infant botulism, do not fee honey to an infant.)

The Sequel from the Great Sell-Out: Honey Book Author Returns to B&N

 By Cal Orey

On March 17, Saint Patrick's Day, I took a leap of faith and drove over the mountain in the sierras to attend a Barnes and Noble book signing in Reno --after shoveling snow in the morning.

Yes, the roads were icy, roads not groomed, a bit crowded on the way out of Lake Tahoe (drivers coming into town despite reports advising to no drive) and sci-fi spooky. 

Regrets of not doing a will for the Siamese kitty Zen in my life hit while driving on the winding road--both ways. An adventure without The Rock to rescue us. Images of the author's spinout in the film Misery came to mind. But no, I did not crash and slide off into a ravine. (I even packed blankets, survival food, and water just in case!)

Due to the highly contagious canine flu (foreshadow of COVID-19 pandemic), my Aussie couldn't be kenneled and got his first shot. As we wait for the booster shot the dog was in tow to Reno. A bit of another challenge once it began to snow. Feeling like characters in the Contagion movie the trek was made... had to keep my canine in a bubble, sort of. This made me nervous. I didn't want to leave the dog in the car or home alone. (It was cold, canine flu was an issue, it didn't seem humane, me selling books and my dog left to suffer.)

Another challenge? Stephen King's signing was one week prior. Now that was intimidating. Hundreds of books sold out in 15 minutes or so I heard.

On the upside, the box of TEA books sold out thanks to the manager's advertising--a few days ahead without me--the author. The bookstore manager called me. "I don't know how to say this." she paused, "but your box of books all sold out. This has never happened before."  So, I was on a mission to replenish the store with more books since the weekend was nearing.  

But taking the dog and sibling in the snow flurry bothered me. Pet sitters weren't an option; the kennel of choice was not opening doors until the shot took effect. Stuck. What's a dog-loving, hardworking author to do? I traveled over the mountain, with the dog, and stayed for an hour...but if the books sold on their own I sensed more would sell. The challenging elements lost--snow and dog won.  

Headed back to Tahoe, another storm was on its way, more rain than white powder, before Spring arrived. Once back home, I made a fire, brewed a fresh cup of tea (or two), cuddled on the sofa with puppy awaiting one more flu shot booster. Another day in the life of the Healing Powers Series author. The motto: Everything happens for a reason. (Years later, The Healing Powers of Honey earned the #1 Top Rated book label on Amazon...and a revised second editions was the reward!)

UPDATE: September 19, 2026 I will be returning to the Reno Barnes & Noble bookstore for an event