#a ouderkirk

[thepedanticbohemian]

Just a tiny FYI. I began #amquerying THE OUDERKIRK HOUSE. RUTH O'NEILL is many things. A loner, feminist, B&B chef, crippled by anxiety, sarcasm personified. She's also a forensic psychic medium—a special consultant to law enforcement. She helps find missing, and murdered children for the FBI, and Pacific Northwest police. She discovers 26 graves searching a forest outside Shelton, WA. All bodies are under 6-years-old, mutilated, and murdered. Ruth's led law enforcement to the isolated body dump site of legendary KNIFE AND HATCHET MAN. Active since 1990, and thus far, there are no leads. Knife and Hatchet's first victim was 6-year-old NAOMI O'NEILL, Ruth's twin sister. Naomi appears to Ruth in nightmarish visions. Overwhelmed, Ruth's anxiety disorder is defying her medications. When she feels at her breaking point, the Sheriff's department asks Ruth to do one of her readings on a supposedly haunted church rectory, the Ouderkirk house. Ouderkirk, in Dutch, means, beside the old church; the first church built by Dutch Calvinists on Whidbey Island in the 1870s. Ruth must partner with a psychic-hating Sheriff's Deputy, Sergeant GENE HARLOWE. The two are assigned a 1968 cold case of murders, rape, and kidnapping. Sparks fly between Ruth and Gene, too bad it's all the wrong kind. Ruth's instincts tell her there's a connection between the vastly different crimes—the Ouderkirk house, and Knife and Hatchet. Drawn together in a slow burn, Ruth and Gene must solve both cases before a child murderer kills again.

[shadowland]

k.d. lang being gifted with flowers from a fan in the audience at Jones Beach Theater in 1996, photographed by Patti Ouderkirk

[jdgo51]

February 8, 2025

Sustaining Rain

John B. Ouderkirk (Tennessee, USA)

"[The Lord] will provide rain for your land at the right time — early rain and late rain — so you can stock up your grain, wine, and oil." - Deuteronomy 11:14 (CEB)

"In Tennessee, it rains a lot in the early months of spring. In 2023, it was excessive! Every greeting seemed to include some comment about the rain.

As I sat one morning looking out the window at the rain falling on the massive oak, maple, and hickory trees behind our home, I intentionally switched my negative thoughts of “another rainy day” to thanking God for watering creation. I imagined that the rain was replenishing the great underground reservoir that would be available to sustain those massive trees in the dry months of summer, which would surely come.

When we’re in the good times of our lives — when success, good health, many friends, and prosperity seem to be unending — we tend to take them for granted. We feel entitled to them.

But blessings are like the precious rain. We’d be wise to cherish those joys and successes as gifts from our heavenly Father, storing them up as a reservoir that we can draw upon when the disappointments and disasters of life strike. Then when we face turmoil, we can rejoice, knowing God’s love for all creation will sustain us."' God does take great care of you.

Today's Prayer

"Loving God, thank you for sending sunshine to brighten our days and rain to sustain all your beautiful creation." Amen.

Deuteronomy 11:8-15

"8 So keep every part of the commandment that I am giving you today so that you stay strong to enter and take possession of the land that you are crossing over to possess, 9 and so that you might prolong your life on the fertile land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants—a land full of milk and honey. 10 The land you are about to enter and possess is definitely not like the land of Egypt, where you came from, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it by hand like a vegetable garden. 11 No, the land you are entering to possess is a land of hills and valleys, where your drinking water will be rain from heaven. 12 It’s a land that the LORD cares for: the LORD’s eyes are on it constantly from the first of the year until the very end of the year. 13 Now, if you completely obey God’s commandments that I am giving you right now, by loving the LORD your God and by serving him with all your heart and all your being, 14 then he will provide rain for your land at the right time—early rain and late rain—so you can stock up your grain, wine, and oil. 15 He will also make your fields lush for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied." The rain will come at the very time we need it. Even if it seems delayed, God does know what He is doing. Just love the Lord with everything that you have and be safe with Him. Bless you! Joe

[racebannon]

KINK IS announces 3rd printing

I am honored that I got to be part of creating this book from Unbound Edition Press with Jörg Fockele, Beatrice Stonebanks, Lola Milo, Adam Ouderkirk, and Patrick Davis while we work on the associated documentary film project. Many thanks to Margaret Cho for writing the Foreword and continuing to be a part of the documentary film project, and to Cory Firestine, Unbound's in-house editor, who helped wrangle so many moving parts to the book.

"The groundbreaking anthology Kink Is, An Anthology of Surprisingly Relatable True Stories About Sex, Power, and Joy has once again surpassed expectations, selling out its second printing and announcing its third. The bold and unapologetic work, which explores the intersections of power, identity, and self-expression through the lens of kink, has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide.

This third printing milestone underscores the anthology’s growing influence as a cultural touchstone and its ability to spark meaningful dialogue around themes of consent, empowerment, and liberation."

[thepedanticbohemian]

As a member of the National Writers Union for about 30 years, I'm striking, too. Solidarity among artists is supremely important. So, THE OUDERKIRK HOUSE query process is going on so far as completing my packet. Nothing else until the strike is over. Writing outside the agent-hunt is perfectly fine. However, actively querying...not so much.

The current WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are great evidence of how foreign unionization has become to American workers. Currently, only about 10% of the workforce belongs to a union. In the 50s and 60s, that number was more like 30%.

No wonder well-meaning people are confused about picketing, scabbing, and bargaining. Most Americans, particularly those under 40, have no experience with unions.

The good news is the unions will tell you exactly how they want you to support them. Please listen.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"SPED AWAY WITH DETECTIVE CLINGING TO RUNNING BOARD," Toronto Star. October 21, 1943. Page 33. ---- 'Didn't Know He Was Police Keith Ouderkirk Asserts - Gets Month in Jail ---- 4 JAPS SENTENCED ---- "A" Police Court, at City Hall; Magistrate Browne.

For driving in a dangerous manner, Keith Onderkirk was sentenced to one month and his per- mit to drive suspended for one year. He pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Browne in A police court at city hall today.

"On Sept. 20 I saw accused in a parked car at King and Sumach Sts.," Det. J. Ledlie testified, "When I spoke to him he started up the motor and backed up. I got on the running board. Accused closed the window on my arm and proceeded ahead at a fast rate. He told me to jump, but he was going too fast. He slowed down to 20 miles per hour and I did jump.

"Det. C. Martin was following and we gave chase. Accused drove up Sumach St. at a fast rate to Gerrard, and to a lane where he jumped from the car and escaped over a fence." said Det. Ledlie.

"I did not know he was a police officer," declared accused.

"You might have killed some person," asserted Magistrate Browne.

Pair Tried to Sell Clothing Appearing for sentence on a charge of receiving clothing owned by M. Grafstein, knowing same to have been stolen, James Oliver and Gerald Koeshner, teen-age youths, were each given three months definite and three indefinite.

Det.-Sergt. James Carter told the court last week that he arrested the two trying to sell the stolen goods in a second-hand store.

The youths claimed they found it In a vacant house.

M. Grafstein said the clothes were stolen from his store Oct. 6. Stole Radio Parts - 40 Days "Each of you will go to jail for 40 days, to date from Oct. 6.," said Magistrate Browne to Hisahi Fuluda, Charles Kadota, Histatoshi Moriyama and Yukio Watanabe, four Canadian-born Japanese, up for sentence on charges of stealing radio parts and two motors from their employers.

Bruce McKay pleaded guilty of stealing a watch from W. Boyd, and a coat from J. Stewart, his landlord. and was sentenced to four months.

Det. James Ledlie said McKay was visiting Mr. Boyd. "He took the watch and sold it for $2."

"More Force Than Necessary" Convicted of assaulting George Whitworth in a Queen St. E. hotel Rudolph Kleurets, a waiter was fined $50 or 30 days.

Complainant said he entered the hotel and was thrown out, "Accused jumped on me and broke my ankle, I was in a hospital 10 days," he said.

Accused asserted Whitworth was drunk. "I asked him to leave. He called me names. I put him out and he returned and started to fight and he was put out," he said. Whitworth denied being drunk and said he took a street car to the hospital.

"I am satisfied complainant was not drunk and that more force than necessary was used," said his worship.

One year definite and three months indefinite was the sentence given E. Fleming, who admitted stealing a motor car from an auto firm.

"On Oct 6 accused concealed self in a Victoria St. garage," said Detective Art Keay. "He took a car and after driving around the city picked up a juvenile and went to North Bay, where the auto upset. The juvenile was injured and the car damaged to the extent of $600," related the officer.

DON'T TOUCH FLOWERS --- C Police Court, at City Hall, Magistrate Prentice. "Keep away from flowers," Magistrate Prentice told Jean Sanberg when she was found guilty of damaging flower beds at Centre Island. She was placed on suspended sentence on condition that she doesn't return to gather any more blooms there.

Special Constable Roberts said the girl was gathering large bunches of flowers from the beds. "I didn't spoil the shrubs, but I took some flowers," Miss Sanberg said.

"There is too much housebreaking going on." said Magistrate Prentice, sentencing Gerrard Dennis to the Ontario reformatory for two years less a day. "You weren't out very long" said his worship to Dennis, noting accused had been sentenced in 1941 to 12 months definite and had served earlier penalties for housebreaking.

ESCAPED, CAME BACK ---- "D" Police Court, at City Hall: Magistrate Pritchard. Michael Trela pleaded guilty to having liquor without a permit and was fined $100 or three months. "On Oct. 4. at 7.40 am I saw a car going east on Front St. at 45 miles an hour," P.C. Merritt told the court. "When I stopped his car, accused told me he was going out of town for a few days. I saw a bag in the back and asked him if he had any objections to my inspecting it. He told me he had none. He brought the bag out the car and attempted to spill its contents on the road. I stopped him in time." Witness said the bag contained fix 12-ounce bottles and five 25-ounce bottles of liquor.

"I took the man into custody and while talking to two policemen." said the constable "the accused broke away, but he returned to a police station of his own free will. A charge of transporting liquor in the car was withdrawn.

HAD CIGARETTE CASE --- 'B' Police Court at City Hall, Magistrate Gullen. Pleading guilty to breaking and entering a Searth Rd. residence, with intent to steal, breaking into a South Drive home and stealing jewelry and a mantel radio, and a third count of theft of a cigarette case and some cigars, the property of Dr. William A. Dafoe, William Brown was remanded to Oct. 28 for sentence.

P.S. Weir testified he had arrested accused on Oct. 5 on the drive-way of Col. Deacon's property on Elm Ave. In accused's possession was a cigarette lighter and two packages of cigarettes. Dr. Dafoe identified the cigarette case as his property, taken from his car. He said the case had belonged to his late brother, Dr. Alan Roy Dafoe, physician to the Dionne quintuplets, who died this summer. "It has his initials, A.R.D., on it."

Mrs. Ethel McKay, South Drive, identified jewelry produced by Crown Counsel Charles Hamm as her property.

Detective Sergeant Herbert Gadd stated accused had been arrested after a chase in which several warning shots had been fired. Accused had been drinking, but was not drunk, he said. He had been caught when he fell down embankment and knocked himself out on Col. Deacon's property.

"I am 32 and have a had record," said accused. "All I ask is a a break - I don't mean to be let go free, but a break, for I have always received severe sentences. My downfall in drink. The police know that."

'CONSPIRACY' HINTED --- County Police Court at County Building, Magistrate Keith. "There would appear to be some conspiracy among employees to defeat the work of the police," remarked Crown Counsel Gardhouse after Fred Gilchrist, an employee of Research Enterprises, who was charged with speeding told the court his car was in the parking lot at a time when he was at work. Constable E Cook, Leaside police, maintained he saw a car being the same number plates and answering its general description.

"There have been at least four cases of the same kind before this court, and I don't think the officers could be mistaken so often," continued Mr. Gardhouse.

"We will adjourn this for a week," his worship decided, after accused said he would get the guard at the gate to come down and testify.

[vmonteiro23a]

Joey Ramone of Ramones during Lollapalooza 1996 at Downing Stadium, Randall's Island in New York City, July 10, 1996. Photo by Patti Ouderkirk

Joey Ramone of Ramones during Lollapalooza 1996 at Downing Stadium, Randall’s Island in New York City, July 10, 1996. Photo by Patti Ouderkirk

[thepedanticbohemian]

Getting There...

I'm enjoying listening to Dean Koontz's Ticktock--one of my comps in my query letter (the competition or comparable works to my own, THE OURDERKIRK HOUSE). I'll be listening to the other two comps later this week. They're Stephen King's The Outsider, and Peter Straub's If You Could See Me Now. I love these authors and they have had a strong influence on what and how I write.

I have finished my 3-Act outline. I have crafted my 1-page query letter. All that's left are the 1-page synopsis and creating new doc files with the first 3 chapters, and the first 50 pages.

The outline--and I'm a confirmed pantser all my life--only took 3 days, with lots of procrastinating involved. So, I'm not as afraid of the 1-page synopsis now.

Still observing the Writers' Strike, though. So I'm taking my time getting my query/submission packet together. Once there's a resolution for us, I'm hitting the ground running.

[racebannon]

KINK IS Podcast Interview

Beatrice Stonebanks and I, as representatives of our co-authors, Jörg Fockele, Adam Ouderkirk, and Lola Milo, were interviewed by co-author Patrick Davis on the Unbound Edition Press podcast, Authors Unbound, about our new book, KINK IS: An Anthology of Surprisingly Relatable True Stories About Sex, Power, and Joy.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3v6j0H6aUSswE36XcEuuZe?si=2d3e35c24ef649c8

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authors-unbound/id1650629531

If you listen on other podcast platforms, it's available on many of them.

Find book ordering information along with how you can complete a survey to contribute to our next book or donate to our related documentary project at https://kinkismysuperpower.com/

[thepedanticbohemian]

🏚

My current novel, THE OUDERKIRK HOUSE, ends up being a haunted house suspense story. It rains hell upon my MC, Ruth, a forensic psychic medium. She didn't want the shitty gig in the first place. Is saddled with a jackass psychic-hating deputy. And demon, angel, ghost? Who really knows, but they will not stop stalking Ruth in hideous ways.

horror themed writing ask game

🧭 - what would your character do if they got lost in another dimension/world/universe/timeline? do they try to go home? do they even want to?

🏚 - what would your character do if their house was haunted? are they haunting their house? does the house reflect their state of mind, or does the house love/hate them and vice versa?

🪞 - what would your character do if faced with an evil doppelganger? would they run away, fight? is the doppelganger a reflection of their inner fears?

☄️ - what would your character do in an apocalyptic event?

🌃 - what would your character do if they were trapped in a labyrinthine city that's alive?

🔮 - if your character had a dream they or a loved one was going to die a horrible death (that is probably inevitable), what would they do?

📼 - if your character found a cursed videotape, would they play it? how would they get rid of the curse? can they?

⚰️ - if your character lost a loved one, what would they do? would they grieve and move on? try to bring them back? cling to their remains?

🔦 - would your character go investigate that spooky noise? the local ghost story? cryptid? that rash of murders in town?

🩸 - if confronted with a monster, would they romance them, befriend them, fight them, run away, kill them? something else?

🏕 - if there was a camp or woods infamous for a string of murders or disappearances, would your character still go camping there? or are they there to investigate? why are they investigating? (documentary, former survivor, etc.)

🕰 - what would your character do if they were stuck in a time loop?

🪚 - what would happen if you put two of your characters in a saw trap maze together?

[eadlinhastings]

— with @a-ouderkirk​

“Vem cá,” Addy chamou o primeiro cara que estava passando ao seu lado, segurando-o pelo braço. “É, você mesmo,” ela acenou com a cabeça para confirmar o que havia dito. Como se ainda pudesse ser confundível mesmo que ela estivesse com a mão no seu braço. Outro cara bem alto, notou se deixando distrair pela imagem do outro por um minuto, mordendo a borda do copo plástico. “Assunto seríssimo. Par ideal level shit, sabe?” Eadlin estava tentando manter-se séria diante da próxima pergunta, que certamente era algo incrivelmente besta. Ela tomou um gole do seu copo quase vazio. ”Você é time Taylor ou time Katy? E se você não sabe do que eu estou falando... Temos um problema, Houston.”

[ohmy-hella]

@a-ouderkirk​

ella não sabia ao certo como tudo tivera chegado naquele ponto em específico, mas se existia um conhecimento seria de que aquele filósofo estava realmente certo quando o assunto era o reality show da mtv: 'só sei que nada sei'. nunca sequer pensou que estaria na atual situação, nem mesmo imaginava que teria que participar de um jogo tão dinâmico e que exigisse a necessidade de tanto psicológico, ela só desejava os cinquenta mil dólares para que pagasse suas dívidas e começasse a pensar finalmente em sua vida, mas estava óbvio que ela tivera se envolvido, até demais, em situações que nem mesmo se sentia apta a estar iniciando, era assustador ter que reviver sentimentos afetivos e ainda mais assustador pensar que sofreria da mesma forma, um começo espetacular, mesmo que ainda duvidoso, mas com uma continuidade... dramática. agora diria que tudo aquilo seria entendido como sentimentos não curados, no fim, obviamente tivera sofrido e provavelmente feito outras pessoas sofrerem, pelo que compreendeu com o que conseguiu observar, será que todos a odiavam profundamente? mesmo que uma parte muito pequena também se encontrasse ferida pelo que ouvira logo ao seu lado, talvez tivesse sido sua culpa também, ter se deixado prosseguir. um manear de cabeça denunciou o quão inquieta estava com a situação que tivera acontecido na noite anterior, várias pessoas pareciam ter sido afetadas e tivera sido por sua culpa, mesmo que nunca quisesse ter magoado ninguém. no entanto, felizmente ela não parecia mais estar dentro de um clipe do my chemical romance, sua maquiagem já tivera sido limpa, ou melhor, um banho demorado e extra-quente que tivera sido minimamente revigorante para o corpo da ex-morcego destruída, seus pensamentos foram cortados quando percebeu que arthur estava finalmente sozinho, com passos um tanto quanto cuidadosos, ela se aproximou e direcionou um pequeno sorriso na direção alheia, ella sentira seu coração palpitando pelo moreno muitas vezes, não seria diferente agora. "hey... hm, como você está?" ella murmurou, sentando-se e enlaçando as próprias mãos junto a um dos joelhos, tocando o anel que estava em seu dedo, relembrando-a que talvez não fosse tão bom assim perguntar como tivera sido a noite passada. "você quer conversar?" obviamente ela também entenderia caso ele apenas a ignorasse, muitas pessoas pareciam estar se ignorando, a própria tivera feito ao ver addy e arthur juntos segundos após o próprio desafio, sentira uma pontada no próprio coração quando vira, felizmente não estava infartando. 

[thepedanticbohemian]

Write what you know

When the college I was attending for journalism refused to give me life credit for 10-years-worth of clippings in my portfolio from actually working as a journalist at newspapers, magazines, and also as a foreign correspondent for Reuters Wire Services, I was pissed. I mean Hulk Big Mad.

I walked straight from the chair's office to admissions. I switched my major to Criminal Justice and crafted my own minor in pathophysiology and psychology because forensics wasn't a thing yet. I'd always dreamed of serving in the FBI...or writing about it. I couldn't pass the FBI PT--like how my Navy career ended by failing PT three times. I did finish an internship as a death investigator for a Coroner's Office in Illinois (the most interesting job I've ever done).

Since I write crime fiction suspense thrillers it ended well. I write heavily forensic and medical prose. My published novel, OVER THE RIVER, THROUGH THE WOODS, deals with an incurable brain disease and the repercussions on the married couple going through it. THE OUDERKIRK HOUSE is about both a 3-decade-long search for a child serial killer and a multiple murder cold case from 1968. The manuscript relies heavily on forensics, ballistics, and the whole spectrum of evidence.

If you feel ill-equipped, READ. Lots. As Stephen King is fond of saying, you'll never be a writer if you aren't a reader.

Research is my favorite part of my writing. The more I research, the deeper and more meaningful my characters and scenes.

[thepedanticbohemian]

The Ouderkirk House: I just fell across a grave.

Shocking Angels: Brent Snelling wedged his penis and testicles into the g-string's nude ball sack with the purple, gold, and green ostrich feathers attached.

Black & Blue: Miranda felt movement. Momentum. She opened her eyes but saw nothing. It was pitch black. (Sorry, three words alone wouldn't make sense. So, this is my opening paragraph.)

I don't have a lot of followers yet, but here are a few of my favorites:

@toribookworm22 @mr-writes @obviousknife @tabswrites @dark-haired-hamlet @tabswrites @writer-of-random-fics

First line tag game

I was tagged by @author-a-holmes and @thewriteflame – thank you, you guys! Here’s the current opener to my wip Cemetery Sisters. :) 

Rules: Share the first sentence of your one of you stories. If you want to, share more than one!

Every Tuesday Sienna woke up and rolled under the bed, like the ghosts couldn’t find her there.

No pressure tags for @toribookworm22 @artdecosupernova-writing @reneesbooks @the-stray-storyteller @rbbess110 @mr-writes @did-i-do-this-write @outpost51 and anyone else who’s got a line or two up their sleeve…

[angclinc]

A necessidade de experimentar e sentir-se viva era o que motivava a morena — e uma característica que dificilmente permitiria que ela passasse tantos dias parada. Então, encontrar Angeline com o olhar preso ao céu azulado, acomodada sobre a rede, não era algo exatamente usual. Ao menos não com a recorrência dos últimos dias. No entanto, aquela época do ano costumava deixá-la pensativa. E a saudade era suficiente para que se visse perdida em lembranças. A Beaumont soltou um suspiro longo, secretamente desejando poder pedir os conselhos do avô uma última vez.

@a-ouderkirk