Photo by Pixabay “Mobile is not the future, it is the now. Meet your customers in the environment of their choice, not where it is convenient for you.” - Cyndie Shaffstall, Founder of Spider Trainers The world around us is in constant change, flux, evolving, and becoming; if we don’t adapt, we fall behind and become extinct like the dinosaurs, fossils in today's social environment. I remember in grade school, we communicated private matters to others in our class by folding and passing paper notes. Today, we think nothing of sending a text or an email. Before my time, my grandparents used to huddle around a radio for entertainment. I grew up sitting in front of a television screen. The kids today watch movies on iPads and cell phones. I remember as a kid, the excitement of going to the public library to check out a book to read. Today, one simply taps on a cell phone and instantly a digital book is available to read on the phone screen. We’ve come a long way from those simpler times. With cell phones and iPads, the world is at our fingertips. As a writer/author, I’ve drug my feet in embracing the move to mobile. I’ve held onto my desktop formatted author website as if by doing so, I wouldn’t have to make the dreaded move to mobile. But, I must face the reality that new and old readers are now using cell phones more than desktops or laptops to search the web, get news, shop, and read “books”. So, not to lag too far behind, I’ve launched my author website for mobile devices. The URL ( https://www.dalethele.com ) remains the same, but it can be viewed either on a mobile device or a tabletop or laptop. When you type in the URL, your device will determine which format (mobile or desktop) is best for viewing on your device. How about that for advanced technology? So, no matter if you prefer a desktop, laptop, notebook, or cell phone, you can view and shop my books directly from any digital device of your choosing. Most of my “books” are available in digital format (ebooks) or paperback (for us old-timers who still enjoy the feel of a real book in our hands). Should you prefer not to type in my website URL ( https://www.dalethele.com ) into your digital device, you now have the option of simply scanning this QR Code with your iPad or cell phone: I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Mr. Postman delivered my Conklin Limited Edition Golden Walnut ALL AMERICAN™ fountain pen with rose gold trim. Personally, I'd have preferred the optional gunmetal trim, but the retailer was out of stock. The pen I received is engraved as #209 out of 1898 total units made. The pen is outfitted with a smooth black extra fine JoWo nib, displaying the brand name and marked with special crescent-shaped breathing holes unique to Conklin®. The pen itself is heavy and bulky, and the cap is postable. It won't be one of my favorite go-to fountain pens but is a nice addition to my collection. Conklin All American™ Golden Walnut Fountain Pen Specifications Limited Edition of 1898 pieces Body Material: Golden Walnut Wood Trim: Rose Gold Nib: Stainless Steel #6 JoWo Nib Filling System: International Cartridge/Converter Length Capped: 5.7 in. / 144mm Length Uncapped: 5.0 in. / 126mm Length Posted: 6.6 in. / 168mm Cap Diameter: 0.7 in. / 17mm Barrel Diameter: 0.6 in. / 15mm Section Diameter: 0.4 in. / 11mm Luxury Gift Boxed Conklin is a US brand and is based out of Toledo, Ohio. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Gilded Vintage/Antique Mustache Cup and Saucer Set If you are one of the lucky men to have a handlebar or walrus mustache, you already know the challenges of maintaining a mustache: drinks dribbling into your stache, not to mention hair in one’s mouth while eating. These are just a few of the “advantages” of extra facial hair. Did you know that back in the late 1800s, a British potter by the name of Harvey Adams invented the first known mustache cup? The mustache cup (or moustache cup ) is a drinking cup with a semicircular ledge inside. The ledge, called a mustache guard, has a half-moon-shaped opening to allow the passage of liquids and serves as a guard to keep mustaches dry. It is generally acknowledged to have been invented in the 1870s by British potter Harvey Adams (1835–?). Wikipedia In this post, I’m sharing with you one of my vintage mustache cup and saucer sets. Gilded Vintage/Antique Mustache Cup Guard This particular set is made of crisp, clean white porcelain china and decorated with lots of gold gilding around the entire cup. The central, highly textured gold flower is highlighted with a fuchsia-colored background. The rest of the cup exterior is highlighted with gold gilding and gold accents on the interior portion of the cup. The saucer is made of the same bright white china and is decorated with splashes of gold gilding around the outer edge of the saucer. Both pieces are marked with the same unintelligible gold mark on the bottom. It’s hard to tell how old this set is. It could be the turn of the century Victorian, or possibly early to mid-century German made for export. [according to the USA Etsy seller] The condition of this lovely vintage pair is excellent. There are no nicks, chips, cracks, hairlines, stains, or discoloration. The gold gilding is intact around the outer edges of the cup. The saucer is also in excellent condition. Gilded Vintage/Antique Mustache Cup and Saucer Set Cup Dimensions - 3-3/8” tall - 3-1/2" diameter (at the rim) - 4-1/2" across the rim when including the handle - 2" diameter (at the base) - 10 oz. capacity Saucer Dimensions - 6-1/4" diameter - 3-1/2" diameter (at the base) - 1" tall So concludes this little ditty about one of my vintage mustache cup and saucer sets. I must add that the built-in mustache guard helps to keep liquids from dribbling and soaking my stache. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Book titles are important to a book. First, the title identifies the manuscript. Two, the title helps to intrigue readers to purchase the book. Remember the saying, “ Don’t judge a book by its cover ”? Be honest, when considering a new book, we make assumptions about its worth by its title and the cover image. Don’t deny it, we’re all guilty. Third, the title plays a significant role in the marketing of the book. So, just where do book titles come from? It’s not like they just suddenly appear out of thin air by magic. A book title usually originates from one of two places, either a book title generator or the author makes up a title. In my case, I make up a title. Book title generators are not my thing, I’ve yet to find suggestions from a title generator that have any true connection with my book manuscripts. Since I come up with my own titles, I focus on creating something short. A short title is much easier to remember than a long rambling title like: The Unremarkable Life and Times of Thaddeus P Pumpernickel. Yes, the title is fun, but will you remember the title two days from now? Probably not the entire title, but portions of it, maybe. Considering the parts you do remember, can you put those bits and pieces into the correct order? See what I mean by the benefits of a short title? When selecting a title, I prefer a two to three-word title. Words that relate to the story, maybe something symbolic. Take, for instance, one of my earliest short stories entitled: HARVEST MOON . The story isn’t about an autumn moon, but what happens in the light of a particular full fall moon. https://www.dalethele.com/harvestmoon MASKED IDENTITIES , one of my novellas has nothing to do with masked people, but rather how we put on airs and don’t project our true selves to others. The theme is presented in dual stories. The outer story is a contemporary tale of a faltering relationship between a college girl and a boy. The interior story is a Victorian tale between two young men. Although the circumstances between the two stories are different, there are similarities between the characters in both stories. https://www.dalethele.com/maskedid When I began to formulate the concept for the 6-book SHANE DAVISON CHRONICLE SERIES , I decided the titles would be two-word titles, even though at the time, I didn't have any idea what the six book titles would be. I decided I’d title each book as I wrote them. https://www.dalethele.com/chronicles The first novel in the series entitled CLIPPED WINGS , aligns perfectly with what happens to the protagonist. Also, the phrase “ clipped wings ” actually pops up quite naturally in dialogue toward the end of the book. The title isn't all that unique in that when writing this post I found 52 listings for books titled: CLIPPED WINGS on Amazon. https://www.dalethele.com/clippedwings The second novel of the series, BLURRED LINES , is also the title of Robin Thicke’s highly controversial recorded song. Neither the song nor my novel share similarities, except for the title. This title was selected for the novel because the story blurs the lines between the undefinable gray area which muddles factual reality versus the reliable black-and-white concepts that can be logically explained. https://www.dalethele.com/blurredlines The third novel of the series, CHASING UNICORNS (which will be released in the spring of 2023) isn’t a tale of hunting down unicorns in some mythological world. However, when one Googles “ chasing unicorns ”, one will get a wildly varied list of definitions. In the case of this novel, the chase is to pursue an unattainable object or impossible goal (unicorn). Yet, when one Googles the singular word “ unicorn ”, up pops numerous symbolic uses for the word. The title isn’t all that unique as it’s been used to title a lengthy list of books and a couple of commercial movies too. https://www.dalethele.com/chasingunicorns I can hear you ask, Why use titles that have been used before? Why not come up with something that hasn’t already been used? According to Bowker (the authorized agent issuing ISBN numbers for published books in the USA), over 2,700 new book titles are registered DAILY in just the United States. Do the math (I know I’m asking a lot of you) that’s a whole mess of titles and the odds of title repetition is inevitable. I don’t intentionally search out titles of published books; I come up with my own titles. If someone else used that same title, I don’t sweat it. Just because authors may share the same book titles, our stories are unique to each author. Thank goodness, book titles can’t be patented, otherwise, it might take years to conjure up a book title that no one had registered. So, to answer the original question, Where do book titles come from? I can’t answer for other authors, I can only answer for myself. I come up with my own short titles, which are symbolic of the nature of my stories. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

This is a unique footed hexagon Mustache cup and a fluted saucer with extensive gold plate trim, unmarked but the seller believed it is of German origins. The cup and saucer set was made in the era when large mustaches were in vogue - 1860 to 1919 - to protect the drinker's mustache. This is a right-handed cup. The background color is yellow with a hint of lime green to it. The design depicts white clover-like flowers, and possibly raspberries. All the leaves and stems are gold. The set is made of thin semi-translucent porcelain china (light does shine through both pieces when held up to the light). This is one of my favorite sets to admire, but being so slight in weight, it's not practical for frequent use. Reserved for special moments. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Clear Shinobi Fountain Pen This fountain pen is one of the more expensive pens in my collection. I commissioned Shawn Newton, a fountain pen maker (since 2012) based in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to make this pen for me in 2016. The pen is a desk pen hand-turned of translucent acrylic. It’s called a “desk pen” because it doesn’t have a pocket clip and one side of the pen is flat so the pen doesn’t roll off the desk surface. The nib is a Jowo #6 stainless steel Extra Fine point and arrived with a standard ink converter. I prefer filling the pen with an eyedropper as it holds a ton more ink than with the converter. The cap doesn’t post, which if it did, would make the pen awkward in the hand, not to mention extremely top-heavy. This is one of my favorite pens, in that it was made to my exact specification by a truly talented USA fountain pen maker. Additional information about Newtons Pens I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Vintage 70s Otagiri Stoneware “Airplane” Mustache Mug This is a vintage stoneware mustache mug made by Otagiri Japan. (Otagiri Mercantile Company, headquartered in San Francisco, was a Japanese-American manufacturer of stoneware ceramics that started in 1946. The stoneware was produced by a small group of artists who hand painted and glazed an array of forms and decorations.) This is my everyday coffee or hot tea mug. It holds approximately 8 ounces. The handle comfortably fits my fingers and is nicely balanced. The Etsy seller believes the mug is from the 70s. One side has a classic biplane while the other has a hot air balloon. Classic biplane design Hot air balloon design It's in great shape with no chips, miner staining, and a fine hairline crack on the mustache guard that looks like a manufacturer flaw (you must look very hard to see it). Mustache guard The mug measures 3 1/2" tall and 3 1/4" across. There are no manufacturing markings etched or stamped on the bottom. I begin each morning with this mug filled with my morning coffee. In the evening, before bed, I wrap up my day with this mug filled with steamy Sleepytime Tea, accompanied by a fantastic book. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Conklin "Word Gauge" Fountain Pen First established in 1898 in Toledo, Ohio, by founder Roy Conklin, the Conklin Pen company began manufacturing in the golden era of fountain pens and was regarded as one of the most significant and innovative manufacturers of fountain pens. The Conklin brand is valued by collectors and admired by fountain pen enthusiasts throughout the world. The company ceased operations in 1948. In 2019 an experienced pen producer in the U.S. purchased the Conklin brand. New materials and technology are now used to produce these original Conklin designs so highly valued by collectors and pen enthusiasts throughout the world. Conklin "Word Gauge" Fountain Pen The Word Gauge series was introduced in 1932. There was the limited edition piston-fill pen with a large yellow translucent view window that was engraved with an exclusive “Word Gauge” - numbered gradations indicating approximately how many words could be written with the remaining ink. Of course, the actual number of words remaining to me written would vary depending on the nib size and the length of words written. Handcrafted in Italy from solid bars of resin, they were available in a rich traditional ebony Italian resin and lustrous pearlescent Italian blue resin. Both of my limited 1932 edition models are traditional black. The limited edition version originally sold for $295.00. Today’s price varies on the condition of the remaining limited edition “Word Gauge’ from the 1932 run. Engraved on the barrel are 'Word Gauge' and 'Made in Italy'. Color: Black with Yellow ink window Dimensions: 5.375 inches long when closed; 6.5 inches long when the cap is posted Fountain Pen: Closed 5.53 inches – Posted 6.88 inches – Weight 25 gms Nib Material: Stainless Steel Nib: Fine Filling Mechanism: Piston Transparent yellow ink reservoir with 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 or 5000 words marks The “Word Gauge” is an intriguing fountain pen with a unique word count ink window. However, the thick size of the pen body makes the pen awkward to write for extended periods of time. I prefer a thin, lightweight pen for long writing periods. As for the pen predicting the number of words which can be written with the remaining ink in the pen—well, in my opinion, it’s not reliable. However, I do like the ink window so to see how much ink remains in the pen. Many fountain pens provide ink windows, so one can see when the available ink is running low. In my case, I handwrite my rough draft with fountain pens. I keep several pens inked. When one pen runs out of ink, I grab another fully filled pen and continue writing without interrupting my train of thought. German made stainless steel FINE nib As a side note: the new owners of Conklin do manufacture contemporary versions of the “Word Gauge” fountain pen. They are currently marketed under the style name of: “Heritage Word Gauge”. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Large Pottery Stein-Style Mustache Mug This extra-large mustache mug is made from fired stoneware clay and holds 16 oz of liquid. This mug keeps the mustache dry with the help of the interior mustache guard. The guard allows one to drink a foamy latte or a beer with foam without messing up one's mustache. Made from stoneware clay and it's dishwasher, microwave, and food safe. The handle is large for an easy grip, even for someone with large hands. The outer glaze is a variation of teal to light turquoise and the inside is a butter-yellow glaze. Built in mustache guard The original mustache cups and mugs were developed in the Victorian era to protect the waxed mustache and not stain the hair, especially for white or gray mustaches. I don't wax my stache daily so a mustache mug helps to keep my stache dry and prevents unwanted dribbles. Made in the USA around 2018 This mug is a contemporary model, made in the USA around 2018. It's approximately 5” tall x 5.5" wide, with a large handle that is 3" in diameter. I like the looks of this mug, but it's extremely large and cumbersome, not to mention quite hefty. Unfortunately this mug isn't used often, it's more for “show” rather than for use. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Image by Alex G. Ramos from Pixabay It’s been many, many moons since I was in middle school, so why do I write as if I’m still in junior high? The answer may surprise you. According to The Literacy Project , “the average American reads at a 7th to 8th grade level”. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states “half of U.S. adults can’t read a book written at the 8th grade level.” With such alarming statistics, I don’t want to alienate potential readers by writing my stories on a level above readers’ capabilities. The intent of my writing is to entertain and maybe toss in a little education into the mix. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that all my readers read on an elementary school level, far from it. And, I don’t want a reputation of being a “high brow” writer. Heaven forbid I use words, phrases and symbolism that only a literary scholar can decipher. I write to entertain and transform my reader out of their reality for a short period. So, how is a reading level determined? A reading ease score can be found by utilizing the most widely used reading and comprehensive reading scoring system: the Flesch Reading Ease Score and the Flesch Kinkaid Grade Level . An author or writer can obtain a reading score through the use of many online editing programs. My preferred editor is ProWritingAid . It produces a multi-layered assessment of my writing as well as a Flesch Reading Ease score. By-the-way, the Flesch Reading score for this post is 61.8, easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students. So, the next time you read one of my short stories, novellas, novels, or even a blog post like this one, keep in mind that I’m not writing down to anyone’s level. I’m writing on a level that most readers can read comfortably. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Additional Reading Sources Lisa Marchand, “What is readability and why should content editors care about it?” Center for Plain Language, March 22, 2017 https://centerforplainlanguage.org/what-is-readability/ What's the Latest US Literacy Rate https://www.wyliecomm.com/2021/08/whats-the-latest-u-s-literacy-rate/ Valerie Strauss, “Hiding in plain sight: The adult literacy crisis,” Washington Post, Nov. 1, 2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/11/01/hiding-in-plain-sight-the-adult-literacy-crisis/ Reading the numbers: 130 million American adults have low literacy skills https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Image by Zoltan Matuska from Pixabay It’s no secret that writers can be pretty particular about their writing tools. Some might call it an obsession or fetish, but the pens, pencils, notebooks, and other implements authors have used to create their most famous works can be endlessly fascinating. I must admit, I, too, have my own peculiarities regarding writing tools. Take notes, and save your pennies to purchase these writing instruments for yourself (even if you aren’t a writer) In this post, we’re looking at pencils and two famous authors who used two particular pencils. Vladimir Nabokov Vladimir Nabokov preferred the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 for outlining his novels on index cards. The Blackwing 602 is a pencil noted for its soft, dark graphite, unique flat square ferrule, and replaceable eraser. It was manufactured by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company from 1934–1988, then by the Faber-Castell pencil company from 1988–1994, and by Sanford from 1994–1998. The pencil initially sold for 50 cents each. After it was discontinued, single original pencils were found on eBay for over $40, with some older (and rarer) ones sold for over $100. Originals are becoming increasingly rare. As of 2012, a different pencil using the same name began being manufactured by Palomino. I don’t have the disposable income to purchase and own the original Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602 pencil, but I have the second best: the Palomino Blackwing 602 . That’s not to say that I write a lot in pencil; I prefer writing my rough drafts with fountain pens. But, a pencil does come in handy from time to time, and to write with a similar pencil as Nabokov or Steinbeck adds a bit of nostalgia and reverence. Also see: https://blackwingpages.wordpress.com/no-ordinary-pencil/ https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2017/10/18/pencil-review-the-original-palomino-blackwing John Steinbeck John Steinbeck was a pencil addict Steinbeck started his writing sessions with 24 pencils. He adored the famous Blackwing pencil but also favored the Mongol 480 No. 2 3/8 F . It’s been said he used 300 pencils to write East of Eden and 60 for The Grapes of Wrath and Cannery Row . I own a few Eberhard Faber Mongol 480 pencils, not the original vintage pencils, but the newer manufactured model. My pencils may not be the exact pencils that Steinbeck used, but to experience the similar sensation with a similar pencil is worth the extra cost of the pencil. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

CHASING UNICORNS , book #3 of the Shane Davison Chronicles Series was released on March 9, 2023, in both Kindle and Paperback. Three days later, the novel hits Amazon’s Best Selling List. All three of the first Shane Davison Chronicles Series novels have been Amazon Best Sellers. Shane settles into the “normal” life he’s always craved, unaware his reality is about to turn messy and complicated; split between his own budding romance while being supportive of a co-worker’s gay teen son Dexter. Homophobia lies, and misunderstandings lead Dexter into a dark place, a dimension Shane may be powerless to save the teen. All the while, Shane has his hands full with his new beau, Michael. A relationship that on the surface seems to be going swimmingly, but underneath the sunny veneer, lurks chilling secrets. Inspired by actual events. CHASING UNICORNS video book trailer: Learn more about the SHANE DAVISON CHRONICLES SERIES: https://www.dalethele.com/chronicles Details about CHASING UNICORNS: https://www.dalethele.com/chasingunicorns CHASING UNICORNS is now available to purchase in Kindle or Paperback from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRZTG538/ CHASING UNICORNS is rated: ADULT - profanity, adult situations, drug use, smoking, drinking, dysfunctional family situations, violence, homophobia I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .