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Loree Lough: They Called Her Shoog & Giveaway

1/29/2012

 

This week we welcome Loree Lough to Author Memories.

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Loree Lough is an award-winning  author of 84 books with nearly 4 million copies in circulation. When she isn't at the keyboard, you might find Loree sketching or painting, in the garden messing with her roses, or hiking the trails near her teeny cabin in the Allegheny Mountains (perfecting "identify the critter tracks" skills). In a modest home shared with her real-life hero, daughters and grandkids routinely gather around "the longest dining room table in the Baltimore suburbs" to taste-test Loree's latest culinary concoctions (which explains her lifetime Weight Watchers membership).


They Called Her Shoog
by Loree Lough
Growing up, I lived in a neighborhood where ice skating, and St. Bernard-pulled sleds speeding through the streets were routine winter sights—at least, when the sun was up. After supper, moonlight illuminated elaborate snow forts, where kid-fierce snowball fights might have lasted until bedtime…if soggy mittens and wet socks hadn't driven us inside. 

Summers found us sprinkler hopping, hop-scotch scribbling, and riding bikes in the empty school parking lot. After dark, it took some serious concentration to win Statues and Hide-and-seek, because it wasn't easy, standing still and keeping quiet while swatting mosquitoes! 

The summer when I was ten, a pretty little redhead moved into the house on the corner. Her parents and older siblings called her Shoog…and it was Shoog who introduced us to a whole new way to spend our summer days: Picking apples in her grandfather's orchard.
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Shoog looked at lot like this little girl.
Every morning at precisely 7 a.m., Gramps pulled into Shoog's driveway, the smoke from his burled-wood pipe curling from the driver's door window as we clamored for a wall seat in the pickup's bed. (Getting stuck in the middle with nothing to hold onto but the hope you wouldn't end up in Skinny Jimmy's lap made for an adventuresome ride, indeed!) Once there, Gramps doled out flimsy bushels…and a growly reminder that for every full basket we delivered, we'd earn a dime.
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Bushels (bushel baskets)
Those first few days, we figured Shoog rode up front in the truck…that she never picked fruit because, well, she was Gramps' granddaughter. From her perch on the hood of the rusty old truck, she'd applaud and cheer as the dimes were doled out. And when Little Bobby (who was a head taller and outweighed us all by fifty pounds) bit into an apple and saw the other half of a worm he hadn't swallowed, it was Shoog who patted his back as he tried valiantly not to throw up.
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This looked so much like Gramps' truck, it's spooky!
Leave it to Web-toed Tommy to ask why Shoog never joined in the fun: "Because," Gramps quietly explained, "Shoog has leukemia." Kids being kids, we shrugged it off and went back to climbing trees and shaking apples from the branches. But on the way home that day, there wasn't the usual tomfoolery in the back of Gramps' truck. 

Back on familiar turf, we scattered to show our moms the shiny coins we'd earned. After wolfing down bologna or PB&J sandwiches, we took up our customary positions under the big tree in Marty's front yard, playing Telephone and I'm Thinking of a Number Between while listening for the tell-tale jingle of the ice cream man's bicycle. All except for Shoog, that is. While we lapped melting vanilla from our fingers, she was inside, resting up from the morning outing. 

It was a sweltering Friday in August when, while gnawing that last bite of chocolate from my frozen treat, I got a bright idea: If we all went home and searched for loose change in our sofas, we'd have enough to buy an ice cream for Shoog on Monday! The kids agreed, but their moms had other plans: Sammy got stuck mowing the lawn and it was Clara's turn to fold the laundry. Bed-making, dishwashing, furniture-dusting and sibling-sitting took precedence over cushion diving. Miraculously, we managed to get our chores finished and collect enough to buy a cold treat for our frail friend.

 On Monday, we assembled at the end of her driveway to wait for Gramps' truck, and struck an oath not to tell Shoog about the surprise we'd deliver to her front door when he brought us home again. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. It wasn't like Gramps to be late. Gary, the oldest and bravest of us knocked on Shoog's front door… 

…and some nice lady we'd never seen before said "Sorry, kids; Shoog died last night."

Thanks to our mothers' real version of Telephone, we learned that her real name was Grace, and that if she'd lived, Grace would have turned eleven that following Friday. Diagnosed with the horrible disease at the tender age of eight, she remained her sweet, uncomplaining self, no matter what tests or treatments the doctors threw at her, inspiring the nickname that stuck.

Tiny and quiet and delicate, Shoog made a bigger and more lasting impression on me than just about anyone I can name. To this day, I wish I'd thought of a way to get closer to her while I had the chance, that I'd come up with the "let's buy her a treat" at the start of summer, that after returning home from a day in her grandfather's orchard, I'd rushed through my chores for no reason other than to spend a little time with her.

They called her Shoog…but her birth name was well-chosen, for she epitomized grace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Feb 5th
to be entered in a draw for one book in Loree's First Responder series.
Winner's choice of:
Book 1 - From Ashes To Honor
or
Book 2 - Honor Redeemed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Honor Redeemed, Abingdon Press, Feb 2012

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Honor Mackenzie works as hard to guard the dark secrets of her past as she does training search and rescue (SAR) dogs. As for prize winning reporter Matt Phillips? Well, not even his former SAR work is as important as protecting his motherless twin sons.

Then a jumbo jet crashes onto a major highway at rush hour, and puts them face to face at the grisly scene--and forces Matt and Honor to reconsider the reasons they've been avoiding love. Even amid their blossoming relationship, it's hard for Honor to let go of haunting memories. Matt is still struggling with those issues when he hears that Honor has disappeared during a dangerous rescue effort.
                                                                                        
He leads the search team, desperate to find her before a blizzard moves in. But even if he does, will they find their way back to one another...or go back to living alone?

The First Responder Series:

Book 1 - From Ashes to Honor, Aug 2011
Book 2 - Honor Redeemed, Feb 2012
Book 3 - A Man of Honor, release date TBA

You can find Loree online at these sites:

http://www.loreelough.com
http://theloughdown.blogspot.com

Christian Fiction Online Magazine:
Loree is a featured columnist ("Loree's Lough Down").

Some final words from Loree:
I'm not just shootin' the PR breeze when I direct folks to the "Giving Back" tab at my web site (http://www.loreelough.com); I really do want them to share in the satisfied after-effects that last far longer than any contributions--whether roll-up-your-sleeves volunteer hours or dollars and cents--if not to one of the worthwhile organizations listed, then at a charity that's close to their hearts!
Marianne link
1/29/2012 10:33:51 am

What a heart warming, yet sad story. You have a way of bringing the essence of the story to your readers. Thank you for sharing this, and for the opportunity to win

Loree Lough link
1/29/2012 02:13:11 pm

Thanks, Marianne, for the kind words. I'm glad the story touched you!

Keep in touch,
Loree

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT link
1/29/2012 11:44:05 am

Loree - This touched my heart. Certain events from childhood really make impressions, and Shoog did that not only to you, but to us who read about her, too. She sounds like she was an amazing little girl. Thanks for sharing this with us, and thanks for hosting Loree, Anita!

Loree Lough link
1/29/2012 02:15:07 pm

Yes, Jeannie, Anita is one generous lady, all right!

You're so right about Shoog...a memorable girl, though none of us had much time with her.

Make it a good week!
Loree

Anita Mae
1/31/2012 08:17:02 pm

You're very welcome, Jeannie.

Loree Lough link
1/29/2012 02:16:57 pm

Just wanted to take a moment to thank Anita for sharing her blog space with me and giving me this opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with "old" pals!

Aren't we all blessed to know this amazing woman!

May the week ahead be filled with all good things,
Loree

Anita Mae
1/31/2012 08:18:13 pm

Yep, Loree. Thanks. LOL

Ann Lee Miller link
1/30/2012 05:15:01 am

Thanks so much for the chance to win!

Jo
1/31/2012 10:26:25 pm

What a touching story! Shoog sounded like a amazing little girl and the story really touched me.Thank you for entering me in the giveaway. This sounds like a wonderful series.

Wilma Metcalf
1/31/2012 11:24:32 pm

Thanks for sharing Shoog's touching story with us.
She sounds like an amazing little girl.
Would love to win one of your books.

Sandi Coughlin
2/1/2012 01:22:27 am

What a very sad story. I can't imagine how it felt to lose a friend like Shoog.
Please enter me into the drawing.
[email protected]

DebH
2/2/2012 01:27:16 am

i echo the sentiments of everyone else. what a memorable story. i think Shoog's family would be blessed to know that even though she was here but a short while, she made a long lasting impression and effect on people. the story brings tears to my eyes just thinking about you not being able to give her that one surprise treat. makes me wonder about how many missed opportunities occur because we put off things til "later" or we don't think of things right away.

thank you so much for sharing. and yes, Anita is a big blessing!!

Anita Mae
2/2/2012 06:20:25 am

And that sentiment is mutual, Deb. :)

Amanda link
2/3/2012 12:37:03 am

What a memory ~ and what a way to have your life touched, Loree. It's wonderful that you shared your memory of Shoog with us ~ so we can perhaps pass a smile to that stranger for no other reason than being a blessing to someone else. We never know what that other person may be going through.

Thank you for the opportunity to win, and thank you Anita, for having Loree here!
:)

Anita Mae
2/3/2012 03:00:21 am

You're very welcome, Amanda.

karenk
2/3/2012 12:56:53 am

a great posting....thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story :)

Linda link
2/3/2012 06:56:14 am

Your story of Shoog reminds me of a young girl when I was in 7th grade who had leukemia (I had just moved there about six months earlier). So long that I don't remember her name. We'd write her and we'd write back, as she was in treatment but we never knew where. She, too, was always pumped and talking about the cute Doctors, etc. She was the sweetest girl. Never complained. And then she passed away. What a delight and uplifting messages she always had for us. Thanks for sharing. It brought back sad, yet sweet memories.

Please include me in your giveaway. Sounds like a power-action story.

Rebecca
2/3/2012 08:47:42 am

Your story about Shoog really touched me. It's a lesson that we need to remember - never wait to show someone how much you care for them. Thanks for the reminder.

Your book sounds wonderful. Please include me in contest too. Thank you.
Rebecca
rrgreene62(at)gmail.com

Sherri Wilson Johnson link
2/3/2012 01:57:34 pm

This sounds like an amazing story! I would love to read it and any of your stories. Please enter me in the drawing.

Susan F. link
2/3/2012 03:04:34 pm

Thanks for sharing about Shoog. Your book series sounds exciting and I can't wait to start reading it. Please put my name in your drawing.

Lori
2/4/2012 12:00:51 am

I enjoyed Loree's story about Shoog - it is a heart-warming story yet sad. I think Loree and the other children gave her a lot of joy when she was present during the apple picking time - to be able to get out of the house and away from her health problems was just what she needed even if she could not help. The fact that she would giggle or encourage the others means she had a connection to all of you. Those days in the apple orchard were probably her brightest and most cherished days and you all probably held a special place in her heart. Even when we think we have no impact on another's life, we really do make a difference just being there and laughing and enjoy life. Thank you for sharing it and thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of your new book!

God Bless,
Lori

Anne Payne link
2/4/2012 12:48:42 am

What a beautiful memory in spite of the sadness! I'm sure Shoog received much happiness that summer watching all of you pick apples :)

This brings back so many childhood memories of the freedoms we had to be children and the time spent being creative instead of sitting in front of video games. Of course we didn't have video games, but you know what I mean :)

Thank you for sharing this, Loree! Thank you, Anita for hosting.

Rick estep
2/4/2012 02:48:20 pm

Always looking for some great books for my church library.

Jessica Nelson link
2/5/2012 05:20:14 am

That story brought tears to my eyes. How hard that must've been for you, and what a sweet little girl she was.

Holy Magnuson link
2/5/2012 11:25:35 am

Thanks for sharing Shoog's story.

Anita Mae
2/6/2012 08:56:42 am

Hey everyone, I've used random.org to help me choose a winner of Loree's giveaway and that person is...

Amanda!

Congrats, Amanda. Remember, you get to pick either Book 1 or Book 2 in Loree's First Responder series. Loree will be in touch with you soon concerning your postal details.

Thank you everyone for finding your way here amidst the tugs of everyday life.

And thank you, Loree, for spending the week here at Author Memories and giving away one of your books. :)


Comments are closed.
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