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Author Interview: 4 Questions for Teal L. Gray about “Reading the Unwritten”

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Multi-talented author releases her 4th book:

My buddy, Teal L. Gray, has a fascinating new book out called Reading the Unwritten which Amazon recently named a “Hot New Release” in the “ghosts and hauntings” category. This is a book that’s been in the work for several years, and Teal’s fans have eagerly awaited its release.

It’s hard to keep up with Teal because writing books is just one of her many talents. She’s also an award-winning quilter, ordained minister, and podcast host, among many other things. As the “Lavender Crow,” Teal developed a line of home grown nature products infused with holy water, salt, and oils from her sacred site travels. Her new book, Reading the Unwritten, focuses on another one of Teal’s talents: her incredible gifts of intuition.

Unlike most of my author pals, Teal and I actually met in-person, rather than online. (In fact, we met at a seance, but that’s a fun story for another day!) Right now, I’d like to share my interview with Teal, which is the latest in my 4 Question Author Interview series:

Teal L Gray, author

1. I love the cover of your new book, but please tell me more about the title. What exactly do you mean by “Reading the Unwritten“? 

Thank you so much Tui. I chose the cover photograph because it captures how I feel when receiving messages beyond the veil. I am partly here on solid ground, but also partly holding out my light to be interacted with by unseen messengers.

I have always referred to my gift of intuition as “reading the unwritten” because it is a story of my, or someone else’s future I am bringing into a possible reality in the Book of Life. I see it as if it has happened, but in reality, it is only an unwritten possibility depending on choices made by me or you.

We have free will, so we are always in charge of our life story and situations we find ourselves in depending on our decisions. Nothing is written in stone for us. The pen is guided by our choices in writing our life story.

2. Who is “Reading the Unwritten” for? What will readers get from reading this book?

I kept the book brief so the reader can be inspired by some of my favorite techniques and get onto creating their dream life without getting bogged down by a long read beforehand. It is for people curious about who they might be speaking to when communicating with the other side. You can never really be sure, unfortunately.

I hope to enlighten the reader to possible light and dark energies they may encounter when dealing with the paranormal and provide prayers and protections to help them safely navigate the unknown realm. Understanding this has transformed me from being frightened of my gifts, into a realization that the unknown visitor can just as likely be a helpful, even angelic, entity rather than a negative, deceptive one.

3. “Reading the Unwritten” isn’t your first book, but it is your first solo effort. What made you take this route?

Yes, this is my fourth book but first solo endeavor. I wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with the reader. I normally love to include other voices and opinions to a topic but felt this was best coming only from my thoughts and views on the subject. Navigating the paranormal realms and getting otherworldly guidance is complicated enough.

Teal L Gray, author

4. What can readers expect from you next?

I have several books coming out soon. One will be an expected subject coming from me if you follow my lectures, called Forget Me Not- Memento Mori a World View. It will include beliefs (Yes, I cover the history of Sin Eaters!) and burial practices used worldwide by major world religions throughout history.

This book discusses the intricacies of how grief blends with the beautiful memento mori jewelry and hair art pieces. I share stories and photos of my vast collection of items that include grave rubbings, as well as the sub-genre of the Dance of Death art and more. I cover world histories of cemeteries, graveyards, symbolism and the famous stone carvers behind those beautiful last markers of a life lived, and the history of the funeral carriages that take them on that last ride.

I also delve into interesting and sometimes gruesome strange burials, contraptions, and protections from vampires and attempts to keep from being buried alive. It ends with taking you through many new burial options available to make your life remembered as you wish.

I am also very excited to be venturing into new territory with fiction writing. My first novel is called The Mermaid Club which is a contemporary tale. My heroine’s marriage ends tragically, catapulting her on a path of self-discovery with a group of unlikely women who become her salvation and catalyst for real change.

The Mermaid Club is largely set in my beloved homestate of Texas. As a native Texan, I feel there is no better place on earth to get your inner strength and spirit back. So, we hit the winding road from her current home in Chicago, through part of historic Route 66, and bring her back to her birthplace in Austin, Texas where a whole new life and romance await her.

Teal L Gray, author

Learn more about Teal L. Gray:

BIO: Teal Gray is a best-selling author and native Texan. She is an ordained minister fascinated with world religions and their varying belief systems. Her sacred site travels and experiences are reflected in various ways in her books. Ever curious, she hopes to make your reading experience feel like you are on the trail of answers with her. Her books include: Shades of Angels, Spirited Tales, Scared Senseless, and Reading the Unwritten.

Books: Find Teal L. Gray’s books on Amazon

Website: TealGray.com

Before you go… Want to keep up with Tui Snider?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out every Sunday. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, book, david c. kravetz, indie, indie author, indie publishing, less beaten paths, memoir, offbeat, quirky, travel

Author Interview: 4 Questions with Offbeat Traveler, David C. Kravetz

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Planning a Road Trip? Check out David C. Kravetz!

Like me, David C. Kravetz loves road trips to offbeat and overlooked places. By sharing his playful travel and nature photos online, this self-proclaimed “selfie king” spreads cheer everywhere he goes. I truly admire David’s eagle eye for quirky goodness. Anyone who enjoys offbeat and overlooked road trips needs his “Less Beaten Paths” series.

If you’ve visited my site before, you may already be familiar with David C. Kravetz. He wrote an excellent guest post (All About Jackalopes), and I interviewed him when his first book, Unique Town Names, was released. David’s also featured on the #IndieBookmas Holiday Gift Guide, a shopping list that helps you find the perfect book for all the readers on your Xmas list.

David C. Kravetz is among the handful of writers I’ve met through Twitter whom I’ve also had the privilege to meet up with in person. It’s an honor to count him among my friends and I’m happy to share him with you as part of my 4 Question Author Interview series today:

1. Like me, you often write about quirky travel featuring offbeat and overlooked places. What makes these places so appealing? Why should we celebrate them?

To me, these places represent the ingenuity and creativity of people. They invite smiles and rolled eyes and even guffaws! Folks have been making quirky art since prehistoric times (ever seen the cave paintings in France?) Perhaps to some of these people, the creators of said art, there was some importance behind them.

As people started traveling on US Highways, the real birth of the “offbeat and quirky” roadside attractions gained steam as these people needed places to stop for food, drinks, and breaks from the road. It was a new opportunity to attract business. Just ask Wall Drug in South Dakota or the town of Bemidji, MN which is home to the giant Paul Bunyan and Babe, his big blue ox. Both of these have been drawing tourists and travelers since the 1930s and continue to do so nearly 90 years later.

2. Why did you start writing books?

Interesting question actually. For years I have been writing my Less Beaten Paths Travel Blog detailing all of the sites I have ventured into in my travels across the 50 U.S. states and many of the Canadian Provinces. Though most are quirky, not all are. I basically have written about National Parks, small and unique towns, art installations and, of course, the quirky and offbeat.

Since about 2008, many of my readers have asked for a book or books that include all of my travel stories so they have something they can take with them and refer to in their travels. So, in 2017, the first book was born and people were thrilled.

3. Please tell us about the books you’ve written so far.

As of this interview, I have three books. You can consider them part of an ever-expanding series of books, with each having its own theme. The Books are all titled “Less Beaten Paths of America” and then have sub-titles Unique Town Names (which is about towns with strange and colorful names), Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions (which has dozens of unique singular attractions such as big pink elephants, giant dinosaurs, car art installations and more), and finally, my third book is Beyond Description – More of the Strange and Unique (and features some of America’s best tourist destinations and tourist traps. It also features a special chapter about American artist Peter Toth, creator of the “Whispering Giants,” tall, hand-carved wooden statues of Native Americans).

In the future I plan on adding books about murals and wall art, National Parks and Monuments, Scrap Metal Giants and other Road Art, Unique Museums and Galleries, Offbeat Eateries and Diners, Geologic Wonder, America’s Highways and by-ways and more.

I should also point out that I do not write about any places I have not been to. All photography in the books is mine (except for a couple of instances). So, these can be considered my Travel Stories.

4. What can readers expect from you next?

I am already working on Book 4 which looks at murals, wall art, ghost signs and graffiti from all over the U.S. and Canada. In the past decade, this has become the new form of Art Gallery as many wall artists/graffiti artists have become world-renowned for their giant works of art on the sides of buildings and water walls.

The real challenge I have is that some of the places eventually become obsolete and, rather than write a book revision, I plan on keeping tabs and writing a book about the long-gone places and things I have been to but are no longer. They remain in the annals of the “Collector of Places.”

Learn more about David Kravetz:

BIO: David Kravetz, 63, resides in Lexington, KY and is the owner and creative mind behind Sumoflam Productions, where he works with dotcoms, writes blogs, and does nature and travel photography.

David is a freelance travelographer and focuses on the normal, the wacky, the wonderful and the quirky things of this wide world.  His popular travel blog is called Less Beaten Paths and has over 350 posts about offbeat and back roads travel. David also has sites that present photography of the world as he sees it.

Sumoflam, as he is known to thousands of friends and followers around the world, has a passion for traveling and has been to all 50 of the states in the United States, as well as five provinces in Canada, numerous states in Mexico, the Philippines, China and Korea.

He lived in Japan for 6 years and is fluent in Japanese. He is the father of five and has TEN grandchildren who call him Grampz. He has been married to his lovely wife Julianne for more than 40 years. He will admit that he truly Married Up!!

Books: Find David C. Kravetz on Amazon

Websites: LessBeatenPaths.com and Sumoflam.biz

Before you go… Want to keep up with Tui Snider?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter. It comes out every Sunday. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to:

  • Know where I speak next
  • Find out when my next books come out
  • Learn offbeat trivia
  • See unique cemetery & travel photos
  • Be in the loop for any other fun news!

FREEBIE: As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.”

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, texas, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: author, book, david c. kravetz, indie, indie author, indie publishing, less beaten paths, memoir, offbeat, quirky, travel

Cemetery Symbols: J is for Jesus …in Cowboy Boots!

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Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Jesus in Cowboy Boots?

I had such a hard time coming up with a good cemetery symbol for the letter J that I decided to re-post my entry for the 2013 A to Z blog challenge, in which my theme was Quirky Texas.

That was my first year, and I didn’t yet realize that A to Z posts are meant to be short and sweet. This is a fun one, though. Enjoy!

How to leave a comment on this post

Please comment about this post on Tui Snider’s Facebook. Leave your link in the comments, and I’ll drop by your blog, too. You can also tweet me at @TuiSnider. (My blog comments are broken, but I’m trying to get that fixed. *sigh*)

Quirky Statue in Paris, Texas

After mentioning Paris, Texas recently in the post A to Z Texas: E is for Eiffel Tower I’m bringing up that little burg again because it’s home to a quirky statue known locally as the, “Jesus in cowboy boots.”

This statue is actually the 20 foot tall grave marker honoring a man named Willet Babcock, who died in 1888. While impressive, it would hardly be the quirky tourist attraction that it has become were it not for the unusual footwear worn by the cross-bearing figure it depicts; instead of the bare feet or sandals one often associates with Biblical folk, this one wears cowboy boots.

Close-up: Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Close-up: Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Who was Willet Babcock?

Willet Babcock was a Civil War veteran who moved from Ithaca, New York to Paris, Texas where he became a prominent businessman with an interest in art and theater. Mr. Babcock’s love of the arts is evidenced by the fact that his furniture showroom in downtown Paris also housed the local opera house on its second floor.

Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Who Made Jesus in Cowboy Boots?

Babcock commissioned his impressive headstone from the Paris Marble Works in 1880, eight years before he was laid to rest on the south side of town in Evergreen Cemetery.

There’s argument over whether the statue depicts Jesus carrying a cross, or whether it’s actually supposed to be a mourning angel leaning against a cross. Some folks claim the face is too feminine looking to be Jesus. While I could tell that he or she did not wear a beard, I couldn’t decide for myself whether the face was masculine or feminine, since the statue was heavily backlit during my visit. Next time I go, I will try to get a better look (and take photos to show you here.)

Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Mysteries Surround Jesus in Cowboy Boots

More rumors surround the statue, as well. For one thing, unlike most of the other 40,000 graves in Evergreen Cemetery, Babcock’s faces towards the west instead of the east.

This might not seem like a big deal in our day and age; everyone has a GPS now, right? Seriously though, back in the 1800’s, the direction your body was laid to rest mattered to people. Facing west was weird because it breaks with the old Christian tradition of burying people facing east (so they will be facing the right direction when Jesus returns to earth.)

Modern viewers have also been taken aback by the upside down torches engraved on the base of the monument. Some have even interpreted the torches and the monument direction to mean that Mr. Babcock and his wife were atheists.

While I am also puzzled by the direction the Babcock monument faces, I do know that inverted torches are a Christian symbol (which I will explain in my A to Z post for the letter T!) I’ve seen that motif in other historical cemeteries such as Kensal Green: A Historic Victorian Graveyard in London and subsequently researched the symbolism.

Upside down torch: Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Upside down torch: Jesus in Cowboy Boots in Paris, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

Each April, people from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can.

Visit other A to Z bloggers:

Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge, and check out the other participants!

A2Z-BADGE2015

Want to stay in touch?

For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below:

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Tui Snider - Travel Guide to the Unexpected Side
Click here to read m latest book:
Unexpected Texas by Tui Snider
Click here to read Unexpected Texas
Unexpected Texas by Tui Snider
Click here to read Paranormal Texas
Paranormal Texas by Tui Snider

Filed Under: Historic Cemeteries, Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: #atozchallenge, cemetery, graveyard, history, iPhone photography, Jesus, Jesus in cowboy boots, offbeat, Paris Texas, photo essay, quirky, symbols, Texas

Venice Enchants – Even During Flood Season

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High Tide in Venice Italy

Venice is known for seasonal flooding called Acqua Alta. This “high water” is especially strong when wintry high tides coincide with a Mediterranean wind called a scirocco.

Normally, I would avoid traveling to a city during a flood, but Venice is different. Acqua Alta is something Venetians have dealt with for centuries, and visiting the city during this time makes you feel like part of some ancient rhythm.

As you can see in the photo below, they sell rubber boots for travelers who show up unprepared. I like how they made that W, too. Does anyone know if that’s a common European way, or was the sign maker just having fun with their own handwritten font?

Rubber boots for sale in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)
Rubber boots for sale in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

I included the photo at the top of this because it looks as if the knights are huddling together to stay warm, or to keep from falling into the knee deep water that has filled Saint Mark’s Square!

The last shot in this trio shows you what the walkways look like in Venice during Acqua Alta.

Sure, it’s chilly and wet, but Venice still enchants during Acqua Alta. I would love to go back and experience it again!

Venice, Italy during Acqua Alta (photo by Tui Snider)
Venice, Italy during Acqua Alta (photo by Tui Snider)

Follow me on Instagram – I follow back!

I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer. If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you. Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back (unless you are a scammy spamster, of course!)

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: acqua alta, author, flood, Italy, offbeat, photographer, Quirky Travel, Tui Snider, Venice, World Travel

X is for Xanthic Sky & Rainbow

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Yellow sky with rainbow (photo by Tui Snider)
Yellow sky with rainbow (photo by Tui Snider)

Phronistery is Phun for Word Nerds

While hunting for words that start with the letter X, I came across a nifty site: Phronistery. It’s a website dedicated to unusual words. It’s well-organized and gives concise definitions. Fun! I’ve bookmarked it ‘cuz I’m a word nerd and I bet a bunch of you all are, too. :D

Xanthic Means…

…yellow! The word “xanthic” means “yellow,” so today’s post features a trio of pictures I snapped after a dramatic hail storm we had last month. I live in Tornado Alley, so I do more than just marvel at the sight of a pretty sky. Green skies, for instance, can indicate that a tornado is near. *shudder* So as lovely as the xanthic sunset and rainbow was, it made me a uneasy, too! Around here, beauty can be a little scary sometimes…

Phew! We’re nearly the A to Z Finish Line

How’s the A to Z blog challenge going for all y’all? For me, it’s been intense, fun, and intensely fun. *thunk* (That’s me collapsing in a happy heap.)

Win a Copy of Unexpected Texas

There’s still time to win a copy of my Amazon Best Selling travel guide Unexpected Texas, too. For details, pop over to U is for Unexpected Texas. This could be your lucky day!

Yellow sky after hail storm (photo by Tui Snider)
Yellow sky after hail storm (photo by Tui Snider)

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer, which is why my theme for the 2014 A to Z blog challenge is Instagram Travel Photos. If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you. Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back!

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

Yellow sky with rainbow (photo by Tui Snider)
Yellow sky with rainbow (photo by Tui Snider)

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

Each April, people from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can.

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

I’d like to thank everyone who commented on my blog during the A to Z Challenge last year, because it convinced me to take the self-publishing plunge. On March 2, 2014, I released Unexpected Texas as a paperback and eBook and it quickly became an Amazon Best Seller!

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Check out the other participants of the A to Z Challenge 

A2Z-BADGE-0002014-small_zps8300775c

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: #atozchallenge, A to Z challenge, iPhone photography, offbeat, photo essay, photographer, quirky, rainbow, sunset, Texas, Tui Snider, weather

W is for World’s Smallest Skyscraper

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World's Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls, TX (photo by Tui Snider)
World’s Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

The World’s Smallest Skyscraper

Built in 1919, the Newby-McMahon Building in downtown Wichita Falls (701 La Salle, Wichita Falls, TX) is more commonly referred to as “the world’s smallest skyscraper.”

J.D. McMahon was an engineer and oilman from Philadelphia who proposed adding a high-rise section to the original building to that it could house more office space.

McMahon quickly raised $200,000 (a fortune for that time) to construct an office building according to plans he drew up. At a glance, it appeared that the finished building would stand 48 stories high, and McMahon never said otherwise. Unfortunately for the investors, no one noticed the teeny little decimal points in the blueprints; this meant the building would actually stand 480 inches tall, not 480 feet, as everyone assumed.

McMahon constructed the building using his own crew, and it didn’t take long for investors to realize they had been conned. When they attempted to sue McMahon, however, the judge threw the case out because McMahon had followed the plans the investors had signed off on to the letter.

In the end, McMahon split town with a big chunk of cash before construction was completed, and the city was left with an embarrassing reminder of the importance of reading the fine print.

This odd little building is still standing and has been designated a Texas Historic Landmark. When I visited, it was undergoing renovation and was not open for touring. Even so, it is worth driving by if you happen to be in town. [The previous description is an abbreviated excerpt from my quirky travel guide Unexpected Texas]

World's Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls, TX (photo by Tui Snider)
World’s Smallest Skyscraper in Wichita Falls, TX (photo by Tui Snider)

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer, which is why my theme for the 2014 A to Z blog challenge is Instagram Travel Photos. If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you. Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back!

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

Each April, people from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can.

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

I’d like to thank everyone who commented on my blog during the A to Z Challenge last year, because it convinced me to take the self-publishing plunge. On March 2, 2014, I released Unexpected Texas as a paperback and eBook and it quickly became an Amazon Best Seller!

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Check out the other participants of the A to Z Challenge 

Filed Under: Travel Photo Essays Tagged With: #atozchallenge, A to Z challenge, iPhone photography, offbeat, photo essay, photographer, quirky, road trip, Texas road trip, travel, Tui Snider, Wichita Falls, world's smallest skyscraper

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