Preview Chapter 1 FREE
Little did Lizbeth suspect that transferring out of the rundown Army fire department dispatch office into the
high-tech one at the Air Force would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Literally. And it only gets hotter.
Click "Read Sample" on Amazon to read part of Chapter 1 free!
“Angel Hero is alive with feeling, both sexual and spiritual. By turns vivid and gritty, ethereal and romantic, this exquisite book tells a love story that evokes laughter, tears, and wonder in equal measure.”
Elaine Madison, Ph.D.
Professor of Literature, Hawaii Pacific University, playwright
“Exquisitely woven thriller…compelling…escalates from ‘just another ordinary day at the office’ to a shocking and terrifying crescendo as the psychopathic antagonist spreads fear and terror…this is ‘Ghost’ meets ‘Psycho’.”
Rick Smith, author, “How to Master Self-Hypnosis in a Weekend”
“Captivates from page one…brutal crime coupled with tender romance…deep spiritual connection with love of her life…convincing, emotionally satisfying.”
Rosemary Mild, mystery and memoir author
Lizbeth's essay discussing the devastating reality of her dear friend Vic's death as a result of gun violence is featured on Bullets into Bells. You can read the essay, Healing Violence Through Activism, on their website by clicking here. Read the entire story, as well as what it was like dealing with the sociopath that murdered Vic in cold blood, in Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story.
Latest Blog Posts
Letter to the Ghosts of Jaku’s Murderer’s Thumbs
What squashed you, Thumbs? Your bully of a boss, Jaku, certainly couldn’t have compressed you playing volleyball, because the only body part Jaku exercised was his mouth—his liar’s lips flapping fast as a hummingbird’s wings. Oh, wait a minute. I’d forgotten about his sticky fingers, which also grabbed wallets, keys and jewelry his coworkers forgot…
Read MoreIsland Fever, Kitties and Hope
Friends, there is so much to be grateful for as Christmas rolls around. Where did the year ever go? Things have been hectic as Barry and I searched Oahu for many moons, looking for affordable rentals that would accept our two precious kitties. Challenges have been accepted and overcome. Love has grown fuller and flourished.…
Read MoreExcerpts from my new mystery short story and my old memoir
Hip, hip, hurrah! An anthology titled “Island Fever” (I came up with the title 😊) is slated to be published on September 1, 2022. Eleven of us authors each agreed to write a mystery short story set in Hawai’i that includes some sort of fever. Several wrote about Covid, one about Dengue, and I wrote…
Read More150th Arbor Day: How to Help
The good news this month is that Friday, April 29th is the 150th Arbor Day, a day where communities across America (or individuals on their own) get together to make the world a better place for future generations by planting trees. Many other countries celebrate Arbor Day (though some do it on different dates). I…
Read MorePep Talks from Kindergarteners: Passing on the Torch for #WATWB
This month marks the 55th, and final, edition of the We Are the World Blogfest. Though at times it’s been hectic to get a post together to share some good news, I’ve always had fun with the task (that didn’t feel like one at all once I dived in). As well, reading the good news…
Read MoreTake 2 Sunny Days and Call Me Next Week – #WATWB
Ah, the great outdoors. Arguably, there’s little that ails us that a day in the forest can’t heal. I’ve long revered the healing powers of nature. The good news this week is that now the Canadian government is acknowledging the benefits of nature on human health, too. I’m pleased to inform you that some of…
Read MoreProtect Your Brain from Dementia Through Exercise – #WATWB
While on my monthly mission of searching for good news to share a la We Are The World BlogFest (#WATWB–their goal is to counteract the bad news in the feeds), I came across some news that gladdened my senior’s heart for two reasons. First, that the brain chemistry of folks on the far side of…
Read MoreChanging Human Poo into Organic Fertilizers, Green Energy, and More – #WATWB
I believe that saving the environment and the health of people and animals includes saying no to using toxic chemicals on animals, plants, and land rather than natural substances. So when I went searching for good news to share for this month’s We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB) the article below was a natural (excuse…
Read MoreBuild a Wall and the Wind Will Come – #WATWB
When my mom was growing up in rural Missouri, a person was considered “windy” when they talked too much. When it comes to helping the environment, however, harnessing the wind for energy (rather than coal-based fuel) is a great and fruitful thing. Witness the creativity of entrepreneur Joe Doucet, who tells us, “Anywhere there’s a…
Read MoreAngel Heros Abound! – #WATWB
Ever since a dear friend saved my life, I’ve carried a torch for him, and admired others who, like him, give unselfishly to help others.
Read More7 Things Cats Can Teach You About Joy – #WATWB
It may seem counter to every-surface-level-thing you know about a cat’s personality (generally speaking), but the good news this week is that cats have lots to teach us about how to be joyful, healthy and content in life! Yes, cats can be ornery, standoffish and demanding at times, but they truly shine when it comes…
Read MoreIn the Silence: Accessing the Inner Guru – #WATWB
The last blog, Finding my Way Inside and Out, tells of the recent struggles that led me to the following endeavors – and ultimately, paved the way for today’s good news. Check it out! In hopes of increasing my focus, I’ve started practicing meditation again. Most of the time, though, when I sit down, close…
Read MoreGot the Digestive and Depression Blues? Discover Healthy Eating – #WATWB
Lately, I suffered from indigestion (acerbated by too much junk food and too few fruits and vegetables) tying knots rather than placing butterflies in the stomach. Combined with depression, my indigestion turned into a gut-wrenching experience! So a few days ago, I went searching for some good news about something that had the potential to help…
Read MoreFinding Ways to Connect – #WATWB
As of late the world can seem a bit disconcerting, but in searching for some good news for May’s post, I came across an article, and then the website of one Kyra Peralte. Kyra’s an inspiring young woman who wished to connect and learn about other women’s experiences during this unusual time of isolation during…
Read MoreCelebrating Trees – #WATWB
Ah, trees. They provide us with food, oxygen, shade and so much more. Being a staunch champion of the environment, I love trees. I was excited when I realized that this month’s good news post would fall on Arbor Day. Through the years, my posts have reflected my love of trees. One of my favorites…
Read MoreHawaii’s Keiki (Children) Heroes Tackling the Pandemic #WATWB
While searching for good news for this month’s We Are The World Blogfest (WATWB), I came across some lovely quotes about children: “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States “When I approach a child, he inspires in me two…
Read MoreFood Rescues in Freezing Austin and Chicago: Two Stories for February’s #WATWB
I’ve heard it said that a crisis brings out the best in people, but not just any people. So which ones, you might well ask? Kind people, the ones who give a darn about those in need, like the couple in the Austin, Texas story, and the restaurateur in the windy city of Chicago. Here…
Read MoreAloha, Hawaiian Style—Helping Kids Learn No Matter What – #WATWB
Kuuleialoha Gaisoa, of Unlimited Construction Company on Kauai, was determined to help her working parents and their kids during the pandemic, so she created an exemplary on-site, safe school the kids could attend while their parents worked. She isn’t sure how long she’ll keep Unlimited School going, but she thinks it’ll be open at least…
Read MoreFree Online Mindfulness Lessons for Kids and Parents Courtesy of Actress Goldie Hawn — #WATWB
For this month’s We Are The World Blogfest (WATWB), I went looking for good news about helping the kids. Researchers say young people’s mental health is adversely affected by restrictions imposed by Covid19, that they are experiencing increased anxiety, stress, loneliness, and depression. Fortunately, I discovered an inspirational story about actress Goldie Hawn’s MindUp program. Not…
Read MoreTalking and Touching (Even Virtually) Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s – #WATWB
While searching for Good News for October’s We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB), I was heartened to read that engaging in social interactions helps combat Alzheimer’s in the elderly. When COVID hit early this year, “social distancing” was touted as the way to keep people safe. Personally, I thought that a more appropriate term was “physical distancing,” since…
Read MoreYoga Training for Health and Healing – #WATWB
On this last Friday in August, once again, it’s time to offer up a healthy dose of encouraging news, because it’s such great mental medicine. Thank you, #WATWB (We Are The World Blogfest) for creating this positive initiative. Searching for an inspiring monthly offering uplifts me and never fails to reveal good news. Good news…
Read MorePlanting Positivity – Hats Off, Masks On to India – #WATWB
When searching for Good News for July’s We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB), this story from India touched my heart. What an amazing display of ecological consciousness and effort, combined with deep-hearted giving and safe Covid 19 practices. Not only are 2 million people planting 20 million trees over an area bigger than Texas and…
Read MoreStrengthen Your Respiratory System with Yoga – #WATWB
During the 70s and 80s, teaching Hatha Yoga to community college students on Oahu made me a more limber, relaxed, and spiritually aware person. Together, the students and I practiced the asanas (yoga positions) while slowly breathing from the diaphragm, breathing in when extending the body backward, breathing out when folding forward, our lungs like…
Read MoreA Quick Cure for Anxiety and Depression – #WATWB
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about people who, quite understandably, feel depression brought on by the effects of Covid 19. Forced into social distancing, some that live alone face endless loneliness. Many face a harrowing financial and family crisis, what with physical distancing, loss of jobs and/or income, suddenly having to juggle more tasks—homeschooling…
Read MoreAn Alternate Intro: Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story
Recently, in an online creative writing class taken through the University of Hawai’i, I wrote an alternate “About the Book” section for my true crime memoir, Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story, and posted it. I received such positive feedback from a classmate (footnote #1 – please see below) that I just had…
Read MoreGiving Care
Having discovered that April is poetry month, and thinking about how blessed I am to be here with Barry in our little cottage, and with our 3 outdoor rescue kitties, inspired me to write this poem and post it now. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Giving Careby Lizbeth Hartz…
Read MoreMay Love Spread More Quickly than the Virus – 2 Videos and 1 Essay – #WATWB
I awoke this week to a newsletter emailed from talented author Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, my former online teacher of “Writing the Spiritual Memoir.” Elizabeth’s uplifting essay and a prayer of gratitude video that she shared with me (suitable for all religions) moved me so much I’m sharing both, as well as a “Count on Me”…
Read More“Living Room Concert” on 3/29/2020 to Benefit Coronavirus Fighters – #WATWB
Talented musicians often come together to benefit those in need and this Sunday is no exception. The only difference is the coming together is virtual this time, in deference to the need for physical distancing in the wake of Covid 19. Elton John will be the host of this star-studded show which includes such talents…
Read More“Waggle Dancing” Bees: Scientists Decode More Than 1,500 Dance Moves – #WATWB
While searching for Good News to post for this month’s We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB), I came across a posting by the Global Good News Service at: https://globalgoodnews.com/science-news-a.html?art=15800208253382430. According to The Global Good News Service: “On 16 February 2020, Newsweek reported that “the meaning of more than 1,500 honey bee ‘waggle dances’ were ……
Read MoreJim Allison: Breakthrough – #WATWB
I’d been chomping at the bit to watch the documentary titled Jim Allison: Breakthrough since I first found out about Nobel Prize winner Allison in March of last year. Enthralled by this modern-day hero, I wrote a blogpost about him for the We Are The World Blogfest (WATWB) in April, 2019. In case you don’t…
Read MoreGoodbye, 2019! Hello, 2020.
Did you know our New Year’s celebration comes from the feast of the Roman god with two faces, Janus? One face looked into the past, and the other turned to the future. Romans made promises to Janus, and now we make promises to ourselves in the form of New Year’s Day resolutions. Speaking of resolutions,…
Read MoreWe Have Giveaway Winners!
Congratulations to our awesome contest winners! It was such fun seeing some of you compete and more fun learning something interesting about you. This was my way of saying thanks for being here and I thought it’d be a good way to get to know you a little better. I appreciate *all* of you! I…
Read MoreBreakthrough and Love #WATWB
In honor of the abundance of Thanksgiving, I’m offering two good news stories. My first offering is a follow-up announcement to a previous story. Seven months ago, in April of this year, I wrote a blogpost about 2018 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Jim Allison, an immunologist who discovered a cure for cancer. Back then, I…
Read MoreGratitude Giveaway / Facebook Contest
I wanted to do this Facebook contest to thank you all for being here, as well as to learn a little bit about you. In the spirit of aloha, gratitude and connection – THANK YOU – and good luck! *To enter:1) Like this Facebook post2) and comment on it: What are you secretly awesome at…
Read MoreComa Patients Helped by Mahamrityunjaya Mantra #WATWB
A scientific study conducted in an Indian hospital concluded that the powerful Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, chanted repeatedly to coma patients with severe brain trauma, increased their survival rate by more than twenty-five percent. How is this possible? According to an article titled Neurosurgeons Studying Impact of Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, only if we can think of life and…
Read MoreSwedish Activist Greta Thunberg: Fighting the Good Fight for Climate Change #WATWB
The good news about climate change is that it’s still not too late to reverse it if the people of the world all pull together. The best news about that is, we have incredible young activists marching, protesting and fighting to get people to do just that. Climate control is the top priority of the…
Read MoreAn Amazing Comeback for the Kākāpō Parrot – #WATWB
A second chance is always warranted, right? Good news! This week, we’ve found a great story to bring you about the encouraging comeback of the kākāpō parrot, a chubby, dancing (yes, you read that right), flightless bird that has been on the verge of extinction for quite some time. Due to various factors such as…
Read MoreAn Inheritance of Kindness – #WATWB
In a world that often seems cold, calculating and manipulative, a simple act of kindness can mean so much. Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot to brighten someone’s day with a kind word or gesture. After all, what does it cost us but a moment of time to smile at a passerby or ask after…
Read MoreFollow Your Dreams
Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions. –Edgar Cayce Did you ever dream about insignificant things that actually happened later? I once dreamed that a plastic planter hanging from a tree outside my window broke and the plant inside it splattered on the ground. The next morning, the planter fell. Sometimes, I wake up from…
Read MoreThe Good Drones – #WATWB
Despite their somewhat shady history, drones are quickly being proven by scientists to be incredibly useful at collecting particular types of data – and can actually be used to save lives. One such way is collecting data in storms. A recent article provides a fascinating insider’s view at how a group of U.S. researchers are…
Read MoreHow to Extricate Yourself When a Sociopath is Targeting You
Suddenly, it hits you. Something’s wrong. Why did you miss it? Because you’ve been mesmerized by the charming stranger who flattered his way into your life recently. Maybe you caught him in a lie. Maybe he insists your best friend isn’t good enough for you, and you stop hanging out with her. Maybe he brings…
Read MoreHow to Recognize a Sociopath
“This above all, to refuse to be a victim.” –Margaret Atwood, Surfacing So how do you recognize a sociopath? With great difficulty. If only they wore a scarlet “S” on their foreheads! Unfortunately, there’s no mark distinguishing these predators from normal people. How do you avoid being a victim and keep yourself safe? Learn what…
Read MoreTree-Planting Drones Reforesting the World in Record Time #WATWB
My good news this month is that science and technology have found a powerful new way to help remedy the world’s dire climate change situation. A huge contributing factor to global warming is deforestation. According to National Geographic, between 1990 and 2016 the world lost 502,000 square miles of forest due mainly to a combination…
Read MoreNarcissists and Sociopaths – A Facebook LIVE Event
I hope you’ll all join me for this upcoming LIVE event, especially those that have suffered at the hands of these challenging personalities. Narcissists and Sociopaths Thursday, May 16th7pm Eastern / 4pm PacificFacebook LIVE w/Lizbeth Hartz Like the Facebook page to be notified when the event begins. Join Lizbeth as she offers useful tips on how to handle…
Read MoreScientist Jim Allison wins 2018 Nobel Prize for Cancer Cure #WATWB
I bring you the story of 70-year-old Texan Jim Allison, a harmonica-playing scientist who theorized that the immune system could fight off cancer, in celebration of this 23rd anniversary of the We Are The World Blogfest. Although he faced skepticism from medical researchers and disbelief from pharmaceutical companies, he didn’t let that deter him from…
Read MoreTurning Ocean Trash into Prosthetic Limbs for Kids That Cost Only $45 #WATWB
In early April, 2018, Chris Moriarity was struck with inspiration for a project that would help with ocean pollution and also make prosthetic limbs. Although he and his wife Laura believed they could tackle both issues and come up with one solution, they had no idea how to proceed. Just two weeks later, they had…
Read MoreA Year after the Parkland Shootings
On Valentine’s Day 2018, Nicolas Cruz murdered 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Bonding together in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, the students confronted their grief and pain and turned it into activism. They organized the March for Our Lives (MFOL) movement. In March, hundreds of thousands of people gathered together…
Read MoreGood News About Love and Compassion #WATWB
In my search for good news about love, I came across an article on the website of Jim Hopper, PhD. that, as a caregiver, gives me great hope and pause for reflection. Titled Mindfulness and Meditation: Kindness, Compassion & Love, the article gives us a roadmap for cultivating these qualities. In discovering and practicing new…
Read MoreMy Last Valentine
Barry’s nickname, Ashtar the Magnificent, came about because of his psychic—he called it psycho—ability. I only had to be in the same room with him to feel better. I wrote briefly about falling in love with my partner Barry 13 years after Vic died (a coworker hunk I’d secretly been in love with), toward the…
Read MoreRevenge, Fear and Self-Preservation
Brian Smith, like most of the firemen at the department, feared Jaku. After swearing me to secrecy he told me that the firefighters laughed at Jaku’s stories to appease him, but they all knew better than to believe the outrageous sexually oriented lies he’d told about me. Brian said the guys knew Jaku lied whenever…
Read MoreLiar Liar: How a Sociopath Lies to Manipulate and Control
It happened in October of ’83, a few weeks after I transferred from the Army Fire Department into the alarm room on Whaler Air Force Base. I’d just finished my initial two weeks of dispatching training on day shift, and was working the midnight shift solo. I’d turned the lights down low to keep an…
Read MoreCan Hundreds of Thousands of Tweets Help Save a Saudi Teen’s Life? #WATWB
Barricaded in an airport hotel room in Bangkok on January 5th, her passport seized by Saudi authorities, 18-year-old Saudi teen Rahaf al-Qunun desperately wrote her first-ever tweet in Arabic, “I’m the girl who ran away to Thailand. I’m now in real danger because the Saudi embassy is trying to force me to return. I’m afraid.…
Read MoreFour New Year’s Resolutions from Seth
I’m a longtime follower of the teachings of the entity called Seth, channeled through writer Jane Roberts, his words transcribed by her husband Rob Butts. I continue to embrace Seth’s core teachings that consciousness creates matter; that each individual creates his or her own reality through their thoughts, beliefs and expectations; and that the “point of…
Read MoreFive Fabulous Folks Who Created Positive Changes in 2018 #WATWB
On 23 December 2018, while digging for positive news stories, I uncovered an inspirational story reported by CNN’s Impact Your World. Throughout the year, CNN brings us stories of average people who’ve discovered extraordinary ways to help others. Although their backgrounds and circumstances are different, their motives are the same: to create positive change and…
Read MoreHolidays Are Happy, Right? Kindness as Comfort for Grief
The chubby man’s mirrored goggles reflected sunlight as he skillfully performed an underwater flip in the Nuuanu YMCA pool, barely stirring the surface of the water at the east end of his swimming lane. His yellow fins and flaccid arms propelled him swiftly toward me. I hoped he’d be friendly. Swimming pool rules dictated you…
Read MoreThe Good News About Science; Outsmarting Fake News #WATWB
I came across a hopeful article in the New York Times saying that science can provide accurate news to counteract the fake news threatening to engulf us. Good news indeed! We are increasingly assaulted by “alternative truths.” Climate change is a myth, according to many, despite plentiful evidence to the contrary. The mass shootings in…
Read MoreWhen Your Gut Tells You Something’s Wrong with a Coworker, Listen
The meanness of Jaku embarrassing his friend so readily, pricked me like a pin jabbed into my heart. Ouch! What kind of friendship allowed for this? Why did the two hang out? Was it a case of opposites attract? That pinprick was my first, faint inkling that something was wrong with Jaku, the man that…
Read MoreA Glimmer of Hope in the Aftermath of Gun Violence #WATWB
Welcome to the 18th installment of the #WATWB (We are the World Blogfest.) We participants in the monthly posting (last Friday of the month) strive to link to an inspiring story that shows love, humanity, hope, and/or brotherhood. Our talented cohosts for this month are: Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Uppal, Shilpa Garg, Mary Giese and Roshan…
Read MoreHow One Woman and Her Nonprofit Are Saving Our Forests #WATWB
We are the World Bloghop seeks to share uplifting, good news with the world on the final Friday of each month. Special thanks to our fabulous co-hosts for September: Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Uppal, Shilpa Garg, Sylvia Stein,and Peter Nena. Searching for good news today to post for the We Are The World Blogpost (WATWB), I…
Read MoreGrateful for the Kindness of Three Strangers
On time (for a change) this morning, I tried to head to my Tai Chi class. But my car battery was deader than one of the geckos my three cats chase in the back yard. My magnificent significant other, Barry, gave me a jump so I could drive to class. But we noticed something odd—my…
Read MoreIngenious Way to Keep Dementia Patients Hydrated (#WATWB)
What with Hurricane Lane wreaking havoc on Hawai’i’s weather, I forgot today was the day to post good news for We Are the World Blogfest. So I was scanning good news and came across this one that’s near and dear to my heart, because I help look after a hundred something lady with dementia. It’s…
Read MoreDoctors’ Orders: Pass the Fresh Produce and Pass on the Pills WATWB#
All too often, the negativity and hatred expressed in social media and the news assault our senses. Since focusing on hatred only begets more hatred, We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB) urges us to banish the darkness by lighting lamps. In that spirit, we focus on love and positivity. Many an oasis of love and…
Read MoreBook Club Discussion Questions for My Memoir, Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story
On June 2nd, Sisters in Crime (SinC) Hawai’i prez Vicki White shared this message from the national SinC organization with members like me: “It’s time to gather submissions for the July Book Club Central Booklist. This month’s theme is Mystery from Sea to Shining Sea (mysteries set in different states).” Since my murder mystery memoir…
Read MoreToby Cat Walks Into Our Hearts #WATWB
All too often, social media and news are filled with hate and negativity. So how do you banish the darkness they bring? You don’t focus on them. Instead, you light lamps, hoping to bring love and positivity forward instead. This is the 13th installment of We Are the World Blogfest (#WATWB). Our fabulous cohosts for…
Read MoreMarch for Our Lives #WATWB
Social media and news in recent times has been filled with hate and negativity. Just as you cannot fight darkness, only light lamps, Hate and Negativity cannot be fought. You need to bring Love and Positivity forward instead. I bring to you the We Are the World Blogfest, along with these fabulous co-hosts:Belinda Witzenhausen, Sylvia…
Read MoreA 911 STORY THAT WILL PLUCK YOUR HEARTSTRINGS #WATWB
Social media and news in recent times has been filled with hate and negativity. Just as you cannot fight darkness, only light lamps, Hate and Negativity cannot be fought. You need to bring Love and Positivity forward instead. I bring to you the We Are the World Blogfest. Thank you to this month’s co-hosts Shilpa Garg, Peter…
Read MoreMilitary vets deliver supplies across Puerto Rico #WATWB
Special thanks to the We Are The World Blogpost cohosts this month, Shilpa Garg, Simon Falk, Lynn Hallbrooks, Eric Lahti, Damyanti Biswas and Guilie Castillo. It lifts me up to be part of this journey. Puts me in mind of the old song “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative…” But now on to the main…
Read MoreA Blind Runner and His Very Good Boy#WATWB
Social media and news in recent times has been filled with hate and negativity. Just as you cannot fight darkness, only light lamps, Hate and Negativity cannot be fought. You need to bring Love and Positivity forward instead. I bring to you the We Are the World Blogfest, along with these fabulous co-hosts: Special thanks…
Read MoreLowes, Generators, and Heroes: We Are The World Blogpost #WATWB September 29, 2017
Aloha nui loa from Hawai’i, worldwide friends. Like you, I believe that when we let our love lights shine, we banish the tortuous shadows of hate and negativity. In this spirit, I offer you links to a news article, which shone a light in the darkness for me. Here’s hoping it will banish some of…
Read MoreSurprise! A New Format (Podcast or Radio play)
I just signed up for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. On September 6th, I’ll be posting about an experience I had in a recent online Writing Boot Camp class taught by the fine folks at Creative Nonfiction, when my excellent teacher Rhonda challenged us to write in a new genre.
Read MoreTwo Incendiary Firefighting Memoirs
Dennis Smith’s Report from Engine Co. 82 and Lizbeth Hartz’ Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story are both memoirs about firefighters. One big difference is the setting: Smith’s in New York City, Hartz’s on a military base in Hawai’i. How accurate is Angel Hero? Every detail is true except for names, dates, and places—a necessary…
Read MoreOnly Love, Part 2
“What is love” was the most searched phrase in Google in 2012. Psychologists say you need to marry self-esteem with a mature, positive love in order to prevent erotic Eros from burning itself out. In Liz’s experience in this story (and in my memoir Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story), that’s about right.…
Read MoreOnly Love, Part 3
This third installment of my short story, “Only Love” is partly truth (the part that’s taken from my memoir Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story) and partly fiction. *** Vic the blue-eyed Adonis considers me safe because I’ve got a boyfriend, so I don’t mention my breakup with Billy. The grapevine has it…
Read MoreOnly Love, Part 4
Liz and Vic are still “talking story” about Vic’s conflict with Molly. Liz longs to speak her truth, but that old Devil fear squelches her voice (just like He did in my true crime romance memoir, Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story.) “Getting even doesn’t sound like you, Vic. It sounds more…
Read MoreOnly Love, Part 5
Here’s the final episode of my short story “Only Love.” Although the ending’s fictional, under better circumstances, it could have been, should have been what happened. ***** Hesitantly, Vic says, “Uh…if you ever need it…,” he pats his shoulder, “…my shoulder is…well, it’s strong enough for you to lean on.” “Thanks.” I swallow hard, long…
Read MoreDr. Christopher T. Gregory, Chiropractor Extraordinaire, is Back!
Recently, I was delighted to discover that Dr. Christopher Gregory, the only chiropractor I have gone to for the past 27 years except for a few adjustments from his brother Charles, is back in practice at his Piikoi office after recovering from a long illness. Now adjusting on Tues, Thurs and Saturday afternoons, Dr. Chris’s…
Read MoreHonoring our Heroes on Memorial Day
The National Memorial Day Concert is an American tradition honoring the military service of our men and women in uniform, their families, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Did you watch the 90-minute concert live on Sunday, May 28th, 8:00 p.m. ET? If you missed it, it’s not too late…
Read MoreHear ye! Hear ye! A Mystery Anthology Is Born!
DARK PARADISE, Mysteries in the Land of Aloha, a compilation of 17 Hawaiian mystery short stories (one of them my short story Palm It Off On Murder), has been in the planning stages for two years. I’m thrilled to announce that, on Monday, April 3, the Facebook page DARK PARADISE goes live. Editor of the…
Read MoreJ is for the Jupiter Mount: Reflecting an Attractive Personality
Mounts are significant in the study of palms because the influence of mounts causes different lines to form and develop. Named after the planets, mounts reveal their special features. Interestingly, the planet which is more prominent in the horoscope is also prominent in the palm.1 I’d like to thank the talented professionals from which much…
Read MoreJoin Us For A Cup Of Java And Mystery
JOIN US – for the Sisters in Crime book signing. Meet the authors, hear their stories and get a copy of their latest books-signed. For the 1st 5 books purchased, each day, we’ll buy you a cup of coffee. The authors: Dawn Casey on the left, Vicki White (new SINC President) in front of the…
Read MoreLeft Coast Crime Conference 2017: Honolulu Havoc
I’m happy to say I’ll be attending and presenting at the “Honolulu Havoc”, the Left Coast Crime Conference in Honolulu on March 16-19. I’m excited to be meeting some fabulous new authors and look forward to reconnecting with old friends from the Sisters in Crime Honolulu Branch, who worked so very hard to make this conference happen. To…
Read MoreIn Memorium of My Beautiful Mother Ruby
My mother lost consciousness one year ago tomorrow. Somehow I’ve made it to one day short of 365 days—she had a massive stroke on Jan 17th, 2016—without hearing her soft, soulful voice (except for occasionally listening to a saved voicemail phone message my brother Mike sent me). Mike and I phoned her every day, me…
Read MoreA Hodgepodge of Poems from the Heart
A Medley of Poetry While wrestling today with what to write for Susannah Conway’s Blogging from the Heart assignment, the idea to write poetry pounced on me. So I pulled out some old poetry and spiffed it up, and scribbled down some new. And then, as is my wont, I edited and reedited, and now…
Read MoreHawai’i Changes the Law on First-Degree Murder Again – Part 1
While attending a Sisters (and Misters) in Crime meeting during May of this year, the topic of first-degree murder in Hawai’i raised its grisly head. Actually, I raised it. My intentions were good. I wanted my fellow SINCs (Sisters in Crime) to get their facts straight when they wrote about murder. Since I’m the only…
Read MoreHawai’i Changes the Law on First-Degree Murder Again – Part 2
On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, two months after my Sisters in Crime Meeting at Makiki Library, the law changed yet again. That’s when Governor David Ige signed a bill into law that broadens the offense of first-degree murder once more. From 2013 to 2016, the offense has been limited to rare cases in which there…
Read MoreKwill Publishing Company Launches Angel Hero July 22nd!!!
Hallelujah! Hip, hip, hooray! Today is Publication Day for Angel Hero, a true tale of crime and courage and love that lives past the grave. I’m sitting at my computer in this vintage redwood house in the green hills above the University of Hawaii, listening to songs I wrote honoring a firefighter I grew to…
Read MoreUpcoming publication of my book Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story
Dear readers, I’m announcing the upcoming publication of the third edition of my e-book Angel Hero, Murder in Hawai’i, A True Story. This new version will launch on 22 July. Also (drumroll) a demo of my song Angel Hero is being recorded in Nashville (using the lyrics I recently updated) by talented Azalea Music Group.…
Read MoreFabulous Kirkus Review for Angel Hero!
In December, I received a terrific review for my book Angel Hero from Kirkus (whoo hoo!) Here’s the link in case you want to go there directly: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lizbeth-hartz/angel-hero/, but I’ll also publish it below. In their review, Kirkus designated Angel Hero a novel and gave it a wonderful review. However, this second edition is actually…
Read MoreWriting a Fictionalized Memoir, Part 1
An author friend of mine, Laurie Hanan, got me a gig speaking at a local library recently. Because my book Angel Hero is a fictionalized memoir, the librarian asked me to talk about writing one. I worked long and hard on my 15-20 minute speech before I came up with this version, which I’ll post…
Read MoreWriting a Fictionalized Memoir, Part 2
The word memoir comes from the French word memoria, meaning reminiscence. A memoir is a nonfiction, or factual, collection of memories an individual writes about that took place in his or her personal life. It is a subcategory of an autobiography but with a narrower focus. A few definitions: an autobiography is nonfiction, written by…
Read MoreWriting a Fictionalized Memoir, Part 3
For writers who do not invent dialogue, or make up events, or combine characters, but who do fictionalize details, a third category is necessary. If the writer tells the truth about events that actually occurred, uses genuine dialogue, and only changes details such as dates, names of places and people and their appearances, an appropriate…
Read MoreWriting a Fictionalized Memoir, Part 4
Before writing a memoir, you should pinpoint your reasons for writing. Want to publish for an audience beyond family and friends? Then you need to understand where your work fits in. Will there be a market for a book like yours? Can you present your experiences in such a way as to appeal to a…
Read MoreA Local Hero in This Land of Aloha
“Here’s to all the strong ones who don’t care if they win, the kind I’ll never see again” ~ Steve Winwood lyrics from his song, “Slowdown, Sundown” In my book Angel Hero, I tell the story of Vic, a real-life hero who lived on Oahu. Vic, a courageous firefighter and dear friend I had the…
Read MoreFirst Chapter, Angel Hero, as Poetry
Thanks to the feedback from readers who said they liked the Angel Hero prologue poem I posted on Halloween, I am posting the next two poems. These touch on the events of the first part of Chapter One. First Part Chapter 1, Setting the Scene Minutes before midnight, couldn’t see much, moon hid…
Read MoreBook Story Poem
During these past couple of weeks, on a whim, I wrote three story poems that relay the events at the beginning of my memoir, Angel Hero. The inspiration to attempt this came from famous fantasy writer Ray Bradbury, one of my favorite authors. Like Ray, I believe that writers should only write about what they…
Read MoreResurrection Song, Second Version
In 2004, when I was writing song lyrics, I had the good fortune to hook up with talented singer/songwriter Shelley Miller. On a shoestring, without the aid of a recording studio, she transformed my lyrics into a medium-tempo folk song, created the music, and sang my Resurrection song beautifully. In less than two weeks, she…
Read MoreAngel Heroes Song, third version
I wrote the lyrics of the song Angel Heroes (music and arrangement by gifted local musician John Valentine, demoed by Azalea studios in Nashville in 2005, and CD cover by my friend Phyllis Ha) as a tribute to my formerly dearest friend and present angel hero Vic Lazzarini, the protagonist of my memoir Angel Hero. …
Read MoreHow To Keep Your Writing Cooking
MG McClintock, author of “Bastard Sons of Ireland,” tells amusing anecdotes about famous authors’ rituals to keep themselves writing. Benjamin Franklin soaked in the bathtub. Truman Capote wrote lying down. Maya Angelou used legal pads, sherry, cards, a Bible and thesaurus while lounging in a hotel room. Shakespeare picked up his pen, turned around, rolled…
Read MoreMystery Writer Woes
“Know how your story will end before you begin to write it…think over various solutions to your character’s problem, remembering that she has to solve the mystery herself.” Joan Lowery Nixon Sounds good, Joan, but I’m clueless about how the mystery novel I’m trying to plot will end, or even what it’s about. So I…
Read MorePresent Moment, Wonderful Moment
Yesterday, the impulse to unclutter grabbed hold of me. I sorted through stuff Barry and I hadn’t used for five years or more, and made piles of unwanted books and magazines, frayed clothes, and chipped kitchenware. I discarded torn, stained, or broken items and donated usable items to charities. Winnowing through my files, I discovered…
Read MoreResurrection Song (first version of two)
This version of “Resurrection” was born after I told a talented young singer/musician, Megan Petrie, the story of Vic, Jaku, and me. I often talked to her when she made me smoothies in a health food store I was fond of visiting in Haleiwa Town on Oahu’s north shore. Even though Megan was busy getting…
Read MoreFrom Book to Blog
Killer, not filler, posts are the ones I strive for. That’s why only one or two posts make it into my blog most months. It takes tons of time to find a fitting topic, write a draft, let it set, edit it, and write and edit some more. As I often do when seeking a…
Read MoreAfter Birthing a Book Blues
Forty five years ago, in spite of shaking in my shy shoes beneath the bright lights shining on my high school stage, I enjoyed donning different identities and acting out bit parts in theater productions. But on the first morning after the last curtain call, the post-production blues invariably set in. The magic vanished, daily…
Read MoreVirtually Grounded
On May 21st, I beamed as I read a recent five-star review for my book Angel Hero on Amazon. “Darkly Disturbing but Spiritually Uplifting,” wrote Hypnotist 101. “An exquisitely woven thriller, this excellent and compelling novel uses first-person narrative to great effect.” Hypnotist 101’s book about publishing on Amazon had helped me, so I’d praised…
Read MoreBook Author Butterflies, Part 1
On May 7, eleven other writers and I took turns standing behind a podium in front of some fifty folks seated around tables in a large room. We read from our poems, short stories, novels or narratives for five minutes max. The excerpt my writer’s group had helped me select sizzled with suspense. In the…
Read MoreBook Author Butterflies, Part 2
“I’m reading an excerpt from Chapter 9 of Angel Hero.” I hoped my voice wasn’t shaking. “Dark clouds extinguished the starlight and spewed out rain as my borrowed Ford with bald tires skidded along an unlit stretch of highway. “Everything’s going to be fine,” I whispered, and chanted “Om” again and again. “A flash of…
Read MorePublishing Day and Finding Your Writer’s Voice
Hip hip hoorah! My first book, Angel Hero, a true crime and love memoir, goes live today on Amazon. Special thanks to my publisher, Mighty Quill Press, a private label publishing company that made my dream of finding a publisher come true. This small press looks for authors with fresh, engaging voices making the transition…
Read MoreThe song Angel Hero is available for purchase or streaming on Amazon Music.