Happy Birthday Mark Twain: November 30, 1835 by Michael Rigg

Samuel L. Clemens a/k/a Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known to most people by his pen name, Mark Twain, was born on November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri, the sixth of seven children. At the age of four, Clemens and his family moved to the small frontier town of Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi. According to documentarian Ken Burns, Twain “. . . rose from a hardscrabble boyhood in the backwoods of Missouri to become . . .  America’s best-known and best-loved author.” 

In his nearly seventy-five years, Clemens was a man of many titles and occupations, including: printer’s apprentice, newspaper reporter, riverboat pilot, Confederate soldier (for two weeks), silver prospector, travel commentator, essayist, editor, publisher, and lecturer. His most well-known occupation was as an author. He wrote several books and novels, including:

Innocents Abroad (1869)

Roughing It (1872)

The Gilded Age (1873)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

The Prince and the Pauper (1881)

Life on the Mississippi (1883)

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889)

Following the Equator (1897)

Lapham’s Quarterly summed up Twain’s life thusly:

Mark Twain was born on November 30, 1835—two weeks after the perihelion of Halley’s Comet. “I came in with Halley’s Comet,” Mark Twain commented in 1909. “It is coming again next year. The Almighty has said, no doubt, ‘Now there are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.’” He died on April 21, 1910—one day after the comet had once again reached its perihelion.

(See, Mark Twain again follows Halley’s Comet. | Lapham’s Quarterly.)

Find a more detailed discussion of Twain’s life and legacy, see Biography - Mark Twain House. and Mark Twain - Ken Burns.

So, on November 30^th, raise a glass to Samuel Clemens and his writing alter ego, Mark Twain. As writers and readers, we owe much to him. For, as Ernest Hemingway is reported to have said, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.”

SHIFT 3: FROM POUND SIGN TO HASHTAG By Michael Rigg

From: Your Complete Guide to Hashtag Analytics | Sprout Social

As users of social media, we’ve all seen them. On most keyboards, it’s the symbol that results when you hit “Shift” and the Number 3: #. Some might still call it a “pound sign” or a “hash mark.” But those of us, even Boomers like me, who have made the bold leap into social media call them “hashtags.”

Hashtags made their debut in social media—on Twitter—in about 2007. In 2014, the Oxford English Dictionary adopted this definition of hashtag: “On social media websites and applications: a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign and used to identify messages relating to a specific topic. Also: a hash sign used in this way.” (See, hashtag, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary (oed.com))

In “plain English”:

A hashtag is a keyword or phrase preceded by the hash symbol (#), written within a post or comment to highlight it and facilitate a search for it. Essentially, by including hash marks in your post; it can be indexed by the social network so that it can be discoverable to everyone, even if they’re not your followers or fans.

(Source: What are Hashtags and How to Use Them on Social Media (wix.com))

That’s the “What.” Now the “Why” and “How.”

According to the Digital Marketing Institute:

Hashtags are important on social media as they enable your content to be found by the right people. Using relevant hashtags helps give context to your content and drives traffic so that you can boost views, likes, and shares. The key is finding the right hashtags that match your content and appeal to users.

(Source: How to Use Hashtags Effectively on Social Media | Digital Marketing Institute.)

There are various types of hashtags. Wix.com identifies three: (1) content hashtags, (2) trending hashtags, and (3) brand-specific hashtags. I believe that LinkedIn provides a better, more detailed, discussion, identifying five types of hashtags: (1) location hashtags, (2) branded hashtags, (3) industry hashtags, (4) community hashtags, and (5) descriptive hashtags. (See, (30) HASHTAG CATEGORIES TO INCREASE REACH | LinkedIn.)

Here is a summary of each:   

Location hashtags are powerful tools for reaching a local or regional audience. Whether you're promoting a local event, a business, or simply sharing experiences from a particular place, incorporating location-specific hashtags can significantly increase visibility. For instance, using hashtags like #NewYorkCity or #London allows your content to be discovered by users searching for content related to those locations. Remember to be specific with your location hashtags to target the right audience effectively.

Branded hashtags are unique to your brand and serve as a way to foster community engagement and brand loyalty. Creating a branded hashtag that reflects your brand's identity or a specific campaign can help unify your content and encourage user-generated content. For example, #JustDoIt by Nike or #ShareACoke by Coca-Cola are excellent examples of branded hashtags that have gained widespread recognition and participation. When implementing branded hashtags, ensure they are memorable, relevant, and easy to spell.

Industry hashtags are tailored to a specific niche or industry, allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals and target audiences interested in your field. These hashtags help position your content within a broader conversation and establish your authority in your industry. Whether you're in technology, fashion, food, or any other sector, identifying and using relevant industry hashtags can help amplify your reach and attract relevant followers and engagement.

Community hashtags bring people with shared interests or affiliations together, fostering a sense of belonging and facilitating conversations within a community. These hashtags can range from hobbies and interests to social causes and movements. Engaging with community hashtags not only expands your reach but also allows you to connect with individuals who share similar passions or values. By participating in community discussions and using relevant hashtags, you can increase your visibility and build meaningful relationships with your audience.

Descriptive hashtags provide context or describe the content of your posts, making them more discoverable to users searching for specific topics or themes. These hashtags complement other types of hashtags and help categorize your content based on its subject matter. Whether it's #TravelPhotography, #HealthyRecipes, or #MondayMotivation, descriptive hashtags allow you to target users interested in particular topics or activities. When crafting descriptive hashtags, aim for clarity and relevance to maximize their effectiveness.

For additional assistance on developing hashtags, see: Infographic: The 5 Steps of Keyword Research | Digital Marketing Institute.

So, there you have it. A very basic primer on the What, Why, and How of hashtags—Hashtags 101. Next time you blog, or post on social media, think about adding a one or more hashtags. Some practice tips on using hashtags: (1) keep your hashtags short, (2) don’t overuse hashtags, and (3) think strategically about your target audience.

 Now, go forth and experiment! With a little practice, knock-on-wood, your social media reach and presence should grow.

 

WHAT IS IT ABOUT APRIL? by Michael Rigg

Remember the soothsayer’s warning about the Ides of March? Well, history teaches us that we should be more wary about the Ides (and other days) of April, notwithstanding that old saw about April showers bringing May flowers. Consider this list: Abraham Lincoln murdered by John Wilkes Booth, the Titanic’s unplanned meeting with an iceberg, the 1927 Great Mississippi River Flood (the worst flood in U.S. history), the San Franciso earthquake, the Virginia Tech shooting, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and Columbine High School—which happened on April 20^th, the birthday of that little Austrian Corporal who caused such death and destruction in the Second World War. Each of these horrific events, and likely many others, occurred in April.

And you don’t need to take my word that April is a Disaster-O-Rama. For a more comprehensive listing of events and a comparison of April with other months, see the post: Does More Tragedy Happen In April? - GeekDad. I suspect that you might need a bit of bourbon as the spark of recognition, and perhaps fear, makes the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention.

But we can’t just stay under the covers for an entire month, can we? We have lives to lead. Books to write. Families to raise. So, despite what challenges April may bring, we must do our best to cope, to deal with each hurdle that presents itself. Right?

So, you think your April has been rough? This blog highlights a book one of the most challenging months of April ever to face us as Americans, a month that could have brought about the destruction of our nation—and of government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

In April 1865: The Month That Saved America, Jay Winik delivers a compelling narrative detailing the last days of the American Civil War and our first steps toward national reconciliation. Our experiment with disunion didn’t happen overnight. The cannonade against Fort Sumter in 1861—another April event—might have been the final spark, but, as Winik painstakingly details, threats of secession—from every geographic quarter, not just the South—haunted our nation almost immediately after John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence.

However we got there, four wars of civil war took their toll. Over 600,000 Americans—nearly one-twelfth of the Northern states’ population and one-fifth of the Southern states’ population—lay dead. Southern cities smoldered in ruin. An attempt to behead the government, including President Lincoln’s assassination and attacks on the Vice President and Secretary of State, had nearly succeeded. Bitterness from the brother-versus-brother conflict could have easily plunged our country into an ongoing Hatfield-McCoy nightmare. But that future didn’t come to pass. Why?

According to Winik:

April 1865 was incontestably one of America’s finest hours: for it was not the deranged spirit of an assassin that defined the country at the war’s end, but the conciliatory spirit of the leaders who led as much as in peace as in war, warriors and politicians who, by their example, their exhortation, and their deeds, overcame their personal rancor, their heartache, and spoke as citizens of not two lands but one, thereby bringing the country together. True, much hard work remained. But much, too, had already been accomplished.

As is often the case, books like April 1865: The Month That Saved America, provide perspective and lessons beyond the historical situation discussed. Some might argue that we, today, face another crisis of national identity and unity. I’ll let you reach your own judgment on that point. But I’ll leave you with this disturbing question: One-hundred years hence, will a college history professor write a book called April 2024: The Month that Doomed America?

I hope not. Mirroring Winik’s basic premise, I pray that our current batch of leaders and politicians may “. . . by their example, their exhortation, and their deeds, overcame their personal rancor, [and] their heartache,” to recall that we are citizens of a single nation, with a single flag, and a common commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Oh my! This is supposed to be a blog about mystery writing by the sea. Why are we even thinking about the calamities of April and the potential destruction of our way of life? It’s the story. April 1865: The Month That Saved America is both great history and a great story. And, April 1865 unfolded, no one knew how it would end. Once you read this book, I think you will agree that it reads like a novel, full of twists-and-turns and cliff hangers. Fiction or non-fiction, a great narrative is a thing to behold. Fiction speculates about what characters—people invented in the writer’s imagination—will do in response to circumstances. Non-fiction tells us how real people reacted.

Here's wishing you a happy and uneventful remainder of April. Those May flowers will be with us soon, I hope.  

 

MARDI GRAS – WIMPS NEED NOT APPLY by Michael Rigg

Krewe of ALLA Parade 2023. 

I write short stories and novels set in two disparate locations: Virginia (mostly Hampton Roads) and New Orleans. I live in Virginia Beach, so local research in/around Hampton Roads is relatively easy. But New Orleans? While the Internet’s great, there’s nothing like visiting the proverbial “scene of the crime.” Computer-based research gives you a one-dimensional view; you can read about events, look at maps, and view photos and videos. New Orleans is not a one-dimensional place. The Big Easy involves all five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. And there’s only one way to experience the mix—be there.

LOCARD’S EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE by Michael Rigg

Edmond Locard (1877-1966)

No doubt, you’ve seen or heard the saying, “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” It’s a shorthand way of telling humans to minimize their impact on nature. If you see something, leave it for someone else to see and enjoy. If you eat a Milky Way, don’t throw away the wrapper. Take it with you.

What a wonderful sentiment. What an exceptional goal. But to those of us who write mysteries, especially those involving crimes, it’s sheer, absolute, and utter nonsense. Pure baloney. Leave only footprints? Give me a break.

Those of us “in the know,” accept the “Gospel According to Dr. Locard.” Developed by Dr. Edmond Locard (1877 – 1966), Locard’s Exchange Principle, which forms the foundation of forensic science, holds that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something to the crime scene and will leave with something from it. At its core, the concept is that every contact leaves a trace and that with contact between two items, there will always be an exchange. To quote Dr. Locard, “It is impossible for a criminal to act, especially considering the intensity of a crime without leaving traces of this presence.”    

Think about it. It makes sense.

Wherever a criminal (or even a totally innocent, law-abiding citizen) goes, he will leave something behind. At the same time, he will also take something back with him. Our criminal (or law-abiding citizen) can leave all sorts of evidence, like fingerprints, footprints, hair, skin, blood, bodily fluids, pieces of clothing—and more. By coming into contact with others, or things, at the location in question, our criminal (or law-abiding citizen) takes part of that location with him when he leaves, whether it’s dirt, hair, or other types of trace evidence.

During an investigation in 1912, a Frenchwoman named Marie Latelle was found dead in her parents’ home. Her boyfriend, Emile Gourbin, claimed he had been playing cards with friends on the night of the murder. Absent evidence to the contrary, police concluded Gourbin was telling the truth.

Not deterred, Dr. Locard looked at Marie’s corpse and questioned Gourbin’s alibi. Locard found clear evidence that Marie had been strangled. He then scraped underneath Gourbin’s fingernails and examined the results under a microscope. Locard noticed a pink dust among the samples, which he calculated must be ladies’ makeup. In that era, makeup was not mass produced. Locard located a chemist who developed a custom powder for Marie. It matched the fingernail scrapings. Ultimately, Gourbin confessed to the murder. He had tricked his friends into believing his alibi by setting the clock in the game room ahead. But he couldn’t trick Locard. When he strangled his girlfriend, he took some of her—skin cells with traces of makeup—with him.

Pretty convincing, right? Most likely, we can all think of “modern day” cases that were solved as a result of Locard’s Exchange Principle. What’s your favorite example?

So, trust me. No matter how hard you try or how well-intentioned you may be, wherever you go you’ll never just leave footprints and you’ll always take away more than just memories. Mystery writers depend on it. 

MEMORIES OF REMEMBRANCE DAY by Michael Rigg

A few years ago, I made several business trips to London and other parts of the United Kingdom. One trip to London occurred in November, right after a very historic U.S. Presidential election (if I remember correctly) and as the U.K. began to commemorate what the nation refers to as Remembrance Day. My visit that November was brief, but I’ve though often about what I saw and the emotions I experienced.

Beginning with the guns of August in 1914 and finally ending at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the First World War—the Great War—exacted a horrific toll on human life—more than any previous conflict. The carnage was so vast, involving soldiers and civilians from so many different nations, that historians cannot agree on exactly how many people lost their lives.

 A study conducted on behalf of the Carnegie Endowment estimated that more than 9.7 million military personnel from more than two dozen nations lost their lives. Adding to the tragedy, more than 6.8 million civilians died from war-related maladies such as starvation and disease. In all, about 16.5 million people perished during the “War to End All Wars.”

Great Britain and Ireland, with a combined population of 46.1 million, mobilized 6.1 million army and navy personnel. More than 750,000 military and 600,000 civilians—a total of 1.35 million—died.

After the conflict ended, the United States designated November 11^th, the day hostilities ceased in World War I, as Armistice Day. Later that special observance morphed into a more general celebration of those who have served in uniform—Veterans Day.

In Great Britain, November 11^th is referred to as Remembrance Day. And the Sunday nearest November 11^th is referred to as Remembrance Sunday. Originally a response to World War I, Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday now honor those who have fallen in battle in the defense of their nation—similar to Memorial Day in the U.S. Red paper poppies serve as a visual—and visceral—symbol of “remembrance” to the British.

Along with the cost in human life, the First World War decimated the landscape of Western Europe, which had seen bloody back-and-forth offensives and the murderous stalemate of trench warfare. Yet a singular sight gave one man hope. John McCrae, a military doctor from Canada, viewed the battlegrounds and penned a poem, In Flanders Fields:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Based largely on the imagery of McCrae’s poem, efforts by various individuals resulted in the red poppy becoming an iconic emblem of Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday bring with them parades, speeches, and sermons. But what was most remarkable to me were the rows and rows of red poppies attached to crosses, Stars of David, and other artifacts that were then placed in church yards and parks throughout the city. I remember the fields of honor at Westminster Abby the most. Many of the poppy-adorned artifacts contained pictures or other tributes to the fallen and were viewed in thoughtful, silent reverence by thousands. 

The photograph above gives a hint of the emotional impact of visiting this solemn place, where, to paraphrase, the poppies still blow “. . . Between the crosses, row on row.”

 

 

YO ADRIAN! ANY IGGLES FAN OUT THERE? By Michael Rigg

An earlier Blog entry discussed baseball-themed movies. With the onset of September and echoes of autumn in the air, the topic switches to football—not the round-ball kind, either. Today’s blog wants to know, what’s your favorite football (the American version) novel or movie?

As the Philly-centric title suggests, the starting point for our discussion is the 2006 film, Invincible, featuring Mark Wahlberg and Greg Kinnear. The movie is based on the true story of Vince Papale, who played with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1978. Wahlberg plays Vince. Greg Kinnear is Coach Dick Vermeil.

Desperate to turn the Eagles into winners, new head coach Dick Vermeil (Kinnear) will try just about anything. He announces that the Eagles will host open tryouts for anyone, and everyone, who thinks they have the stuff to be a professional football player. Urged by his family and friends, thirty-year-old unemployed teacher Vince Papale, who plays a mean game of sandlot football and whose girlfriend just left him because he was a "loser," gives it a go. Vermeil, impressed by Papale's performance, invites him to training camp. As training camp ends, the final roster spot is down to Papale and a veteran. Against his assistants' advice, Vermeil hands the final spot to Papale.

As Papale's career with the Eagles begins, the team loses all six preseason games and their regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Papale plays poorly against the Cowboys, and Vermeil faces pressure from the fans and media. In the midst of Papale’s attempt to make the team, he meets, and falls in love with, Janet.

During the home opener against the New York Giants, Papale opens the game by solo-tackling the kickoff returner inside the fifteen-yard line. After an up-and-down game, Papale gets downfield during an Eagles' fourth quarter punt to tackle the returner, forcing a fumble that he recovers and takes into the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Eagles their first win in Papale's career. Eagles’ fans go wild with joy. It’s a victory for an everyday guy—the typical “Iggles” fan. Papale plays for the team for three seasons and eventually marries Janet, while Vermeil subsequently succeeds in turning the Eagles into a winning team, culminating in an appearance in Super Bowl XV.

So, do you have a favorite football-themed novel or movie? What is it? In addition to Invincible, here are some candidates, in alphabetical order:

·       Any Given Sunday

·       Brian’s Song

·       Draft Day
·       Everybody’s All-American
·       Heaven Can Wait
·       Leatherheads
·       Remember the Titans
·       Rudy
·       The Blind Side
·       The Longest Yard
·       The Replacements
·       The Waterboy
·       We Are Marshall

And, no doubt, there are many more. Tell us your favorite—and why it is your favorite. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

WHAT WE'RE READING THIS SUMMER! by the Sand In Our Shorts Gang

It’s July, it’s hot, (in the northern hemisphere at least) and it’s time to grab a good book to read at the beach, the lake, the pool, or in the front porch swing! The Sand-in-our-Shorts writers are here sharing their summer reads with you. Their picks might be your next vacation read— check it out!

Michael Rigg:

I’m not much of a beach reader. Sun and sand and sweat don’t create an inviting atmosphere for reading. (And sunscreen makes the pages stick together.)  But sitting at a beach house in Sandbridge pouring over a novel, with the roar of the ocean as background? Well, that’s a horse of a different color. Especially if there’s air conditioning involved. Next on my summer

RESEARCH: A CRITICAL PART OF WRITING. BUT NO ONE SAYS IT HAS TO BE BORING! By Michael Rigg

Harriet Robin 
New Orleans School of Cooking 

Any fiction writer worth their salt will acknowledge that research is a key component of our craft. We write stories that, in the long run, are not entirely true. That’s why it’s called fiction. We ask our readers to suspend belief, at least while they read what we write, and pray they will accept our premise: “what if…” But to engage the reader, to keep them turning pages, our fiction must be plausible.

In sum, fiction—the ultimate untruth—must, of necessity, be based in truth, and supported by facts. Our written untruth must be believable. Thorough research is how we attain this believable untruth. Research is the lifeblood of good fiction. If it doesn’t ring true, the reader will soon be bored and more likely to put our novel down and, worse, add us to their “do not read” list.

WHAT'S IN OUR BEACH BAGS? by The Sand in our Shorts Gang

Who would have thought? It's been almost a year since we started the SAND IN OUR SHORTS blog! What fun! 

When we started out, the original group of contributing authors worked together on an article, "What's in Our Beach Bags?"  We never published it.  We'll, here we are a year into this adventure, and on the cusp of another summer. So we thought, "Why not publish it now?" And here we go! A special mid-week post! 

As we all get ready to head to the beach for a little R&R (that's Reading and Relaxation, which is what writers do), we asked each what they have in their beach bag. Here are their answers:

Michael Rigg:

My beach bag has lots of sunscreen (I like the spray-on kind)—with as many SPFs as you can get—a big-brimmed straw hat, sunglasses, binoculars, and a small cooler with cold soda and water. Maybe I’ll throw in a bag of munchies, if there’s enough room. I’ll also need to bring an umbrella because I’m not supposed to get too much sun. I don’t do well reading in the sun, but I’ll bring a copy of Virginia is for Mysteries III to impress everyone around me! The final thing in my bag is a beach towel. Oh, and my iPhone. Along with my umbrella (which probably won’t fit in my bag), I’ll have a nice folding chair. Maybe instead of a beach bag, I need one of those beach carts with the humongous wheels.

 

Jayne Ormerod:

I've got a lot of sand in the bottom of my beach bag. Lots and lots of sand. Could almost start my own private beach in my backyard. That's testament to frequent trips to the beach to watch the sailboat races, enjoyment of which is augmented while sipping a glass of wine at sunset. This requires that I also keep wine glass stakes in my beach bag. They are posts that are shoved into the sand close to my chair. They have a little knob at the top in which to slip the stem of my wine glass, holding it upright throughout the evening and thus preventing spillage. Wine spillage is a class-one felony at my beach. Cheers!

WRITERS UNITE: REJECT REJECTION! By Michael Rigg

Rejection Has Many Facets

 A well-known and respected periodical, which shall remain nameless,   provides a simple online mechanism for writers to submit their short   works of fiction for consideration. No need to suffer through thirty-   nine steps of instructions. And it provides an equally simple   mechanism  for tracking those submissions. Beyond a shadow of     doubt, the submission and tracking process are straightforward, not an     elastic affair with ever-changing rules. 

That simplicity belies something notorious, something to leave a hopeful author spellbound by the negativity and unable to cope. That something lies in the terms this well-known and respected periodical uses to describe the status of your submission.

Received. That’s understandable enough. They have received your magnum opus, the lifeboat to which your fragile ego clings, hoping soon to read the joyful status: Accepted. (I assume that’s what it is. None of my submissions have been chosen for publication—yet.)

But then, there’s that word they use to describe stories not selected for publication: REJECTED.

Rejection—it’s something most, perhaps all, writers have experienced. What a horrible word, rejection—in any form. What a mean-spirited, ghastly thing, rejection, a word, many-faceted, each aspect more horrific that the last.  

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary (Cambridge English Dictionary: Definitions & Meanings), rejection refers to:  

-the act of refusing to accept, use, or believe someone or something;

-a letter, etc. that tells you that you have been unsuccessful in getting a job, a place on a course of study, etc.; or

-the act of not giving someone the love and attention they want and expect.

With one hurtful word, the writer’s repulsed, like a lice-ridden enemy hoard scaling the castle walls. Like a seething bacterial infection struck down by the miracle of penicillin. Despondency reigns, emotions ripped apart, like a torn curtain. That damnable magazine and its editor. They aren’t giving us the love and attention we want and expect. Barbarians all, those who inflict rejection on us!   

I confess. I don’t understand why the editor of this esteemed periodical insists on being such a psycho, a saboteur of young and innocent writers who put their faith and trust in this publishing powerhouse that their hard work will be recognized and rewarded.

But the solution is simple, elegant perhaps. Were I a secret agent, able to enter quietly through a rear window into the periodical’s inner sanctum, I’d scurry about in a surreptitious frenzy and plant this idea:

Replace the word rejected with the word DECLINED. 

What a pleasant way to be told ‘No.’ “We received your submission, reviewed it with glee, and decline to publish it at this time. Warmest regards and best wishes for a successful writing career.” Certainly, it’s kinder and gentler that the current “Eff Off, you unworthy, spineless mendicant. Your story stinks and we REJECTED it, just as we reject YOU.” 

So please, kind editor, switch to using Declined. Where you lead, other editors (and agents) will follow! After all, wouldn’t you agree that Rejected is for the birds?

THROW ME SOMETHIN’ MISTER! IT’S MARDI GRAS! By Michael Rigg

2022 Mardi Gras: Krewe of King Arthur
Locked & Loaded & Ready to Roll!

If all goes according to plan, when this post publishes in the wee hours of Saturday, February 11, 2023, I’ll be in New Orleans winding down from participating in two Mardi Gras parades yesterday (Friday) and preparing for a third, tomorrow (Sunday). And getting psyched about watching several more, as they thunder down Canal Street all day Saturday.   

I write stories set, mostly, in either the Virginia Beach/Tidewater area or New Orleans. So, this is a research trip! (I’m still trying to convince my tax accountant that these junkets should be a business deduction, though. What a stick-in-the-mud, right?)

Using Tidewater seems self-explanatory. That’s where I live. “But why New Orleans?” you ask. “Why not?” I respond. What an interesting place—the Crescent City, the City That Care Forgot, the Big Easy. “NOLA,” has a lot of nicknames. My personal favorite (and one I think I invented) is “The Chameleon City.” New Orleans presents a different identity and soul to each person it touches. It’s like a “shape-shifter,” only not as foreboding, and with much better food. 

And what a more hands-on way for a writer to learn about New Orleans than participate in its world-renowned Mardi Gras festivities?  

“But I thought Mardi Gras, “Fat Tuesday,” was just one day,” you assert. And you’d be technically correct.  Carnival season starts each year on January 6^th, the “Twelfth Night” after Christmas.  But Fat Tuesday—the last day of the Carnival season—varies from year to year, because it depends on the start of Lent—Ash Wednesday—which is calculated based on when Easter occurs. 

Regardless of the exact date of Fat Tuesday, New Orleans and the surrounding area have been celebrating Mardi Gras since January 6^th.  By the time Fat Tuesday rolls around, there’s already been a “whole lot of partying going on.”

Mardi Gras is rich with history and tradition. For example, purple, green, and gold are the colors most associated with Mardi Gras in New Orleans. As the story goes, Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the colors and assigned a meaning to them in 1892.  Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. If you want to learn more about Mardi Gras, its history, traditions, and, most importantly, the parade schedules, check out this website: Mardi Gras New Orleans.

Few would argue that parades are the beating heart of Mardi Gras. And people in New Orleans know how to parade! Parades usually center around a “Krewe,” such as the Krewe of ALLA (www.kreweofalla.net) or the Krewe of King Arthur (www.kreweofkingarthur.com). Some people belong to more that one Krewe. There are walking parades (like the Krewe of Cork, www.kreweofcork.com), “float” parades (the vast majority), and even parades where the members ride on streetcars (like the Phunny Phorty Phellows, www.phunnyphortyphellows).  All told, there are over ninety different parades in the New Orleans area from January 6^th until Fat Tuesday.

The majority of the parades occur during the last two weeks before Fat Tuesday. Parades are massive affairs, from Krewes with a few hundred members to “Super Krewes,” usually any Krewe with over one-thousand members. This year, for example, Krewe of ALLA has eighteen floats carrying 500 riders. Krewe of King Arthur has seventy-one floats with 2,400 riders.  (For more on Krewe size, and for comprehensive information about Mardi Gras in general, check out Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide.)

And that doesn’t count for the number of high school and college bands and marching units or the many “adult” walking/dancing groups, like the Muff-a-lottas (www.muffalottas.com), the 610 Stompers (www.610stompers.com), or the Pussyfooters (where you have to be at least thirty years of age to join, www.pussyfooters.com ), interspersed between the floats.   

Don’t worry that you can’t be here. You can still experience the thrill of Mardi Gras parades from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy.  Beginning Friday, Feb. 10 through Fat Tuesday, on Feb. 21, The Times-Picayune newspaper and its online affiliate, NOLA.com, will livestream every parade that rolls by its St. Charles Avenue newsroom (about thirty-two parades) via   nola.com, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.  There are even Mardi Gras trackers (using GPS) you can download. Check out Mardi Gras Parade Tracker and Download WDSU Parade Tracker for iPhone, Android.

Wish me luck! Two down, one to go. And “Send me a comment, Mister!” Let me know what kind of Mardi Gras experiences you’ve had.