A Special Person and Six Winners of “The Bone Curse” ARC

As many of you know, my stepfather of twenty-eight years recently passed away. He was a wonderful man, one for whom the word “step” was a misnomer, since there was nothing “step” about him. As a father, he was all in.

After his passing, I spent two weeks in New Hampshire to help my mother. One of my tasks was to reactivate his iPad, iPhone, and Mac computer. They had been disabled from too many password attempts before I arrived.

(The fact that I’m the “tech” person in my family should frighten you all.)

After a loooong call with Joshua from Apple Support, to whom, were he in need, I’m pretty sure I’d now give my left kidney, I accessed my stepfather’s electronics. (Can we just take a moment here to acknowledge the fabulousness of my stepdad that, as an 85-year-old man, he navigated three Apple products, albeit not always adeptly?)

When I finally logged into his iCloud account, a bittersweet sadness cinched my heart. There, among the recent photographs, were images from our trip together last summer, when I had taken him and my mother to the UK to visit his ancestral homeland.

During that time, the two of us spent a day in Cardiff, Wales. I think the first picture is from the day before while we were still in London, but the second one he snapped of me as we walked down High Street in Cardiff. The third is a stop at the Doctor Who Experience. The fourth is us closing out the day with a pint in a pub overlooking Cardiff Bay.

I can still picture his excitement—and mine—on that wonderful day, not to mention his delight upon finding his common Welsh surname on storefronts and gift shop souvenirs.

Having these pictures is lovely.

Having these memories is priceless.

A day in Cardiff, Wales

Winners of The Bone Curse ARC giveaway

Shifting gears, I want to extend a big thank you to everyone who entered the ARC giveaway for my upcoming novel, The Bone Curse. Six winners were chosen randomly by Random.org.

Winners of the paperback ARC for U.S. entrants:

  • Luanne Castle
  • Jonathan Hagar
  • Sarah Wright

Winners of the ebook ARC for international entrants:

  • AC Flory
  • Jodie How
  • Carol Balawyder

Some of you I know, some of you I don’t, but to all of you I say congrats and I hope you enjoy the book. I’ll be sending emails out to you today.

To the rest of you, have a wonderful week ahead, and . . . give your loved ones an extra squeeze tonight.

Do you have a special day trip that stands out in your mind? Any tech horror stories in your past?

*     *     *

standing color cropped tiny for blog postsCarrie Rubin is a medical thriller author with a background in medicine and public health. For full bio and a list of her books, click here.

 

 

191 Responses to “A Special Person and Six Winners of “The Bone Curse” ARC”

  1. Sue Slaght

    Carrie I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. The photos bring a lump to my throat. What special memories with such a special man. My apologies for being so out of touch while we are here in Asia.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      I’m impressed you’re even checking in at all! You deserve a complete disconnect from the online world, but I know how challenging that can be, especially when we’re trying to maintain our brand.

      Thank you for your kind words. He was a special man who will be missed.

      Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you, I did, and memories are even better than photos. 😊 Congrats on your book release of “Password”! Always an exciting day.

      Like

  3. roughwighting

    This post is a warm, lovely, moving testament to your dad (no steps there) and your love for him. Thank you for sharing these personal photos that show a happy man who obviously thought you were quite special. You both were lucky to have each other.

    Like

  4. D.B. Moone

    Carrie, You were blessed to have had a dad that although he was your step-dad, he was your dad. I have a dad, a former step-dad, and a current step-dad but I can’t say I have a dad. I’ve always found it challenging to say the ‘right thing’ to someone who loses someone they love as dearly as you loved your dad, but I can relate as I’ve lost six family members that I loved in the last several years and my heart still aches. I know you’re heart is aching and it’s going to for some time, perhaps forever.

    I love the photos of you and your dad; they are priceless and a treasure that you will always have of this festive time the two of you shared. I chuckled when you said you were the tech in the family as that is the way it has always been with me. Lost your password? Not a problem, I can take care of that for you. I became known, lovingly, I hope, as the family hacker. I did what I could do, and if I couldn’t do it, I’d fake it. 🙂

    Thank you for sharing this experience with your readers and followers. Take care, Carrie.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you so much for your kind response. He was indeed a special man, and though I still referred to him as my stepdad, given he didn’t come into my life until after I was married and at that point calling him ‘dad’ seemed odd, he still showed me what it means to be a father. So happy I had that special time with him on the trip.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Dawn Quyle Landau

    Such meaningful, lasting memories you guys created. They will stay with you and comfort you, as you remember your step-dad. Oh the wonder of iCloud–– and the photos that show such joyful time together. Love and healing thoughts to you and your family. xo

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you. It’s a good reminder too to make sure someone has access to our passwords after we’re gone. Something we didn’t have to think about twenty years ago!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Kate Johnston

    Love the pictures of you and your *dad*. So wonderful to have those. I particularly like the photo of the pint glass that says BRAINS. It made me curious…was that the name of the beer? You know how they do that, put the beer names on the pints? Anyway, it struck me as interesting.

    Congrats to all the winners. I can’t wait to read the book myself!

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Yes, Brains is a brewery in Wales, so he wanted to try one of their ales. When in Wales, drink their ales!

      Thanks, Kate. 😊

      Like

  8. S.K. Nicholls

    My heart aches, and at the same time feels so much joy for the time you spent together. I always wanted my dad to come down and visit me in FL but his health had gotten so bad he would not travel. He was seriously too scared to get too far from his doctor…lol Like we don’t have doctors in FL.

    On another note. Last night I accidentally deleted chapter five in my WIP. It wasn’t saved yet anywhere. I stayed up until 3 am rewriting it as best I could from memory. Laughed and cried the whole way thru. Not sure if it’s better or worse or about the same, but it’s done.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      First off, thank you about my stepdad. We grew closer these past two years since I made so many trips to NH to help my mom. I loved talking to him.

      Second off, so sorry about your chapter! How frustrating that must have been. I would have thrown a little hissy fit, I think. 😄

  9. kaytisweetlandrasmussen83

    This was such a personal and tender post Carrie, bringing back my own father’s passing. I can see that you are genius in recapturing all the information off your father’s devices. A huge task I’m sure. I regularly straighten out my 92 year old husband’s iPad. The miracle is that we have access to them all. Photos are so special when they recall happy times together. Sorry for your loss, but so glad you had him for so long.
    I’m really looking forward to your new book.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you. He was very special to everyone in my family. I love that you’re keeping on top of your husband’s iPad! I have to help my husband out with his too (and his phone). 😁

      Like

  11. Ally Bean

    I’m sorry for your loss. It’s difficult when the positive influences in your life are gone, but your memories together will be with you forever.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      For sure. He and I bonded even more after my mother’s health issues–thanks to my recent trips to NH–and our special day in Cardiff just sealed the deal.

      Like

  12. NancyTex

    Carrie, I’m so very sorry for your loss. He sounds like a very special human being, and a great dad. xoxo

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you. He was. And I’m sorry for your travel troubles. Saw your tweet this morning. Ugh, 3 1/2 hours on the tarmac, only to not take off anyway. Then again, as you say, there are worse places to be stuck than sunny, warm Jamaica!

      Liked by 1 person

      • NancyTex

        Well that and the fact it was an engine issue. One engine wouldn’t turn on. Watching multiple mechanics take a crack at fixing it, which included banging on the engine casing with a large wrench, I was WISHING for a cancellation. 😜

        Like

  13. Exile on Pain Street

    All good wishes to you and your family. Glad he lived to a ripe old age and was able to enjoy life to its fullest. We should all be so lucky. Imagine the digital footprints being left behind on a daily basis for our families to discover after we’re gone.

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Yes, he was active until the very moment he passed suddenly. I’m sure he would have preferred it that way.

      As for the digital footprints we leave, it’s a whole new world, that’s for sure.

      Like

  14. Annika Perry

    Carrie, the warmth and friendship with your step-dad shine out in this tender post…family is a lot more than blood relatives and your relationship proves that. What a special trip to Cardiff for you all and I had to smile at the one of him with a Dalek. I had to interview one during my journalism training course…not easy! Well done for getting there with the computer and what touching memories to greet you…bittersweet indeed. When my father-in-law passed we scoured the house for the password but just had to give up on his computer…a pity as I know he stored his photos and stories on there. I don’t think any of us were thinking straight to try and get help into it. Hugs xxxx

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      I suppose it’s a good reminder to us all to have our passwords where a loved one can find them. That’s something we didn’t have to think about 20 years ago.

      Too funny you had to interview a Dalek. That made me smile. And thank you for the Twitter share!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Diane Henders

    What wonderful memories – I wish you the comfort of those and all the other special times you shared with your stepdad.

    And I can hardly wait to read The Bone Curse! I’ll stay tuned for its release date. 🙂

    Like

  17. joey

    What a delight to discover those photos. Would it be odd to say you look a bit alike? Maybe it’s just all the happiness 🙂
    I also have a stepdad who was nothing step, and have been a stepmom to kids I would never call step.
    Looking forward to the new book!

    Like

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you. We definitely need a new word. “Step” doesn’t do it justice. But considering he came into my life after I was a married adult (albeit a young one), “Dad” didn’t seem right either.

      I’ll take looking like him, even if there isn’t a drop of Welsh in me!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Carrie Rubin

      Thank you. I worry for my mother, but she has a good support system. Plus, she’s a tough cookie, so she’ll be good.

      Like

  20. Curt Mekemson

    Beautiful memories, Carrie. And it was wonderful that you were able to take one last trip with him. Being a stepdad with two great kids, I understand how special the relationship can be. –Curt

    Liked by 1 person

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