Op Ed on Title IX and US Women in Olympics

Hi readers and writers,

Tomorrow, the LA Daily News will carry my Op Ed piece on Title IX's role in producing our stellar group of women going to the Olympics, the first time more women than men are going for the US team.

Check it out here: http://www.dailynews.com/blogs/ci_21167210/laura-hoopes-title-ix-is-bedrock-female-olympians

cheers,
Laura

Friday Fictioneers: Faucet Fancies

Hi readers and writers,

Here is my 100 word response to Madison Woods' photo prompt of this week.  If you'd like to try writing a response (it's fun!), you could go over to her blog, get inspired, and write your own 100 word piece to share and compare with the Friday Fictioneers.  Cheers, Laura

Ideas for improvement or general comments on Faucet Fancies are welcome!

“Bill, this faucet needs a new washer.  It keeps on dripping.”

“Who cares?  A little more water won’t hurt.  The strawberry plants could use more.”

“But it’s  desert and we’re wasting water and…”

Bill had folded his newspaper and left the room. 

I decided it was time to learn about drips myself, so I went to Home Depot.  A nice young man with a blond brush-cut told me what to do.  I bought a few different sizes just in case, and the wrench he recommended.

“Hey, I thought you said this dripped?”  Bill said the next morning.  

I just smirked.

Author Interview and Favorite Questions

Hi readers and writers,

Fascinating Authors just did an interview with me about Breaking Through the Spiral Ceiling that is posted here. (If the link is broken, paste this URL into your browser to see it: http://www.fascinatingauthors.com/interviews/fascinating-author-interviews-laura-l-mays-hoopes/).  I really enjoyed some of the questions and that made me wonder, either as readers of interviews or as authors being interviewed, what questions have you found most interesting?  I'll share some of mine in the comments in a few days.  If you've always wanted some kind of author insight, this is a chance to help me pick out questions for my next round of author interviews!

best,
Laura Hoopes

#Friday Fictioneers late, Grape Arbor Danger

Hi readers and writers,
I'm getting back into town from Arkansas and Texas, and so I'm posting my Friday Fictioneers piece late again.  See Madison Woods' blog for details and to see all the other photo responses.

I'd love any suggestions for improvement or responses to this posting.

Grape Arbor Danger

The grapevines climbed over the arbor.  Lucy looked around for Mark but didn’t see him.  It was an odd place to meet. 

Suddenly there were hands over her eyes.  “Guess who?”

“Mark?”

“No.” Something hit her over the head.  When she came to, her eyes were covered and her arms and legs were tied up.  The man picked her up and carried her for a few minutes, then dropped her.  She heard sounds of fighting, then crashing through the brush. 

Mark said,  “I’m so sorry, Lucy.  This is not your fight.” He cut the cords and took off the rag from her eyes.