• Savvy Senior

    Savvy Senior: How to Protect Yourself Against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

    You can hear my interview with Savvy Senior’s Jim Miller HERE.

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Can you tell me about stomach aneurysms? My father died from one about 10 years ago and I’m wondering if that can increase my risk of developing one myself.

    Almost 60

    Dear Almost,

    While you don’t hear much about them, stomach aneurysms, also known as abdominal aortic aneurysms, are very dangerous and the 10th leading cause of death in men over 55. They also tend to run in families, so having had a parent with this condition makes you much more vulnerable yourself.

    An abdominal aortic aneurysm (or AAA) is a weak area in the lower portion of the aorta, which is the major artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood flows through the aorta, the weak area bulges like a balloon and can burst if it gets too big, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. In fact, nearly 80 percent of AAAs that rupture are fatal, but the good news is that more than nine out of 10 detected early are treatable.

  • New

    AudioFile Magazine Recommends ‘Reservation for Murder: A Kyle Callahan Mystery’

    Made my day! AudioFile Magazine recommended the audiobook edition of ‘Reservation for Murder: A Kyle Callahan Mystery‘.

    From the review:

    “This contemporary cozy mystery will please listeners who enjoy a well-constructed story delivered by a promising voice actor. The story takes place in idyllic Lambertville, New Jersey, in The Passion Inn, which is owned by a gay couple who have left the violence of New York City for a life in a community of art galleries, bistros, and charming shops. Then the couple discover that murders can happen alongside picturesque bridges and peaceful canals. Narrator Sean Rhead speaks authoritatively and animates the inn’s guests. The arrogant, deep voice of the first murder victim, a successful gay mystery writer, is especially well delivered. This title is Book 6 in the Kyle Callahan mystery series. It’s worth hearing as an LGBTQ literary work and a clever mystery.”

    You can listen to my interview with AudioFile Magazine founder and editor Robin Whitten HERE.

    And listen to my interview with narrator Sean Rhead HERE.

  • LGBTSR

    AudioFile Magazine Recommends ‘Reservation for Murder: A Kyle Callahan Mystery’

    Made my day! AudioFile Magazine recommended the audiobook edition of ‘Reservation for Murder: A Kyle Callahan Mystery‘.

    From the review:

    “This contemporary cozy mystery will please listeners who enjoy a well-constructed story delivered by a promising voice actor. The story takes place in idyllic Lambertville, New Jersey, in The Passion Inn, which is owned by a gay couple who have left the violence of New York City for a life in a community of art galleries, bistros, and charming shops. Then the couple discover that murders can happen alongside picturesque bridges and peaceful canals. Narrator Sean Rhead speaks authoritatively and animates the inn’s guests. The arrogant, deep voice of the first murder victim, a successful gay mystery writer, is especially well delivered. This title is Book 6 in the Kyle Callahan mystery series. It’s worth hearing as an LGBTQ literary work and a clever mystery.”

    You can listen to my interview with AudioFile Magazine founder and editor Robin Whitten HERE.

    And listen to my interview with narrator Sean Rhead HERE.

  • Savvy Senior

    Savvy Senior: How to Find Financial Assistance for Aging-in-Place Improvements

    By Jim Miller

    Dear Savvy Senior,

    Do you know of any financial assistance programs that can help seniors with home improvement projects? I would like to help my grandparents make a few modifications to their house so they can continue living there safely, but money is tight.

    Searching Grandson

    Dear Searching,

    Yes! There are a number of financial aid programs available that can help seniors with home modifications and improvement projects for aging-in-place, but what’s available to your grandparents will depend on their financial situation and where they live. Here are some different options to explore.

  • New

    Restaurant Review: Talula’s Garden Gets 5 Philly Yums (and a Best of 2021)

    By Mark McNease

    This review is crossposted from LGBTSr.com

    Restaurant reviews are based on a 5 Yum scale, 5 meaning put it on your must list, 1 meaning avoid at all costs. 

    Talula’s Garden
    210 West Washington Square
    Philadelphia, PA 19106
    (215) 592-7787
    Website: talulasgarde.com
    Spend Meter: $$$$
    Service: Excellent

    Imagine finding a new favorite boutique hotel in Philadelphia’s Center City. Then imagine discovering one of the city’s best restaurants barely a block away. It sounds improbable, but that’s exactly the situation we found ourselves in, waking up in that very hotel, having enjoyed what my husband Frank calls “the best meal of 2021.”

    The Morris House Hotel is a true gem nestled in the heart of the historic district. Its designation as a historical site means this beautiful, 18th century structure can’t be torn down. It sits like a jewel from another era amid hospital and office buildings, and there’s a quiet defiance to it: I’m old, I’m elegant, I’m not going away. Note: if a modern aesthetic and a streaming vibe are more to your liking, this hotel may not be for you. But if you enjoy a bit of a staid colonial feel decorated to suit the times it was built in, this is a must-try. You can see my full review and slideshow from our last trip HERE.

  • Restaurant Reviews

    Restaurant Review: Talula’s Garden Gets 5 Philly Yums (and a Best of 2021)

    By Mark McNease

    Restaurant reviews are based on a 5 Yum scale, 5 meaning put it on your must list, 1 meaning avoid at all costs. 

    Talula’s Garden
    210 West Washington Square
    Philadelphia, PA 19106
    (215) 592-7787
    Website: talulasgarde.com
    Spend Meter: $$$$
    Service: Excellent

    Imagine finding a new favorite boutique hotel in Philadelphia’s Center City. Then imagine discovering one of the city’s best restaurants barely a block away. It sounds improbable, but that’s exactly the situation we found ourselves in, waking up in that very hotel, having enjoyed what my husband Frank calls “the best meal of 2021.”

    The Morris House Hotel is a true gem nestled in the heart of the historic district. Its designation as a historical site means this beautiful, 18th century structure can’t be torn down. It sits like a jewel from another era amid hospital and office buildings, and there’s a quiet defiance to it: I’m old, I’m elegant, I’m not going away. Note: if a modern aesthetic and a streaming vibe are more to your liking, this hotel may not be for you. But if you enjoy a bit of a staid colonial feel decorated to suit the times it was built in, this is a must-try. You can see my full review and slideshow from our last trip HERE.

  • New

    ‘A House in the Woods’ Joins A Frightfully Good Halloween eBook Giveaway!

    Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s time for a frightfully good giveaway. My supernatural chiller, A House in the Woods, joins over 30 other authors in a BookFunnel group giveaway. Just sign up for an author’s email list and download one of these spine chillers to curl up with on a cool dark night. You can find us all HERE. Other participating authors include: Nadya Frank, Mark Posey, Jodi Burnett, Jack Rollins, and many more! You’ll receive an ePub, MOBI, or PDF file of your choice, so sign up and start reading! This giveaway runs from October 20 – 31.

    About ‘A House in the Woods’

    Laurel and Jeremy Calloway have longed for a new life away from the chaos and confusion of New York City. Driving along a country road in New Jersey with a young real estate agent in the back seat, they almost miss it: a small house in the woods for sale. Stopping to take a look at the property, they meet the house’s caretaker, Eileen, and within a few weeks they find themselves the very lucky owners of their ideal home. But is it the house of their dreams, or of their nightmares?

  • New

    Support Independent Bookstores and Read a Mark McNease Mystery at the Same Time

    A big thank you to Scott Sheldon, co-owner with Barbara de Wilde of the new Frenchtown Bookshop for letting me know my books are available at Bookshop.org. It’s the perfect way to find a book you can’t put down, while supporting independent bookstores with your purchases. Not only does the site offer a dizzying variety of books to choose from, you can also find a local bookstore with their store search feature. This is the place to order your next book online. Browse and behold!

    About Bookshop.org

    Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.

    We believe that bookstores are essential to a healthy culture. They’re where authors can connect with readers, where we discover new writers, where children get hooked on the thrill of reading that can last a lifetime. They’re also anchors for our downtowns and communities.

  • Podcasts,  The Twist Podcast

    The Twist Podcast #173: Holiday Trifecta, Who Killed Ronald McDonald, and the Emmy Goes to Us!

    Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we welcome the holiday season, mourn the death of Ronald McDonald, and humblebrag about our Emmy win. Plus headlines and our Twist Tops must-lists!

    Enjoy The Twist on Libsyn, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and TheTwistPodcast.com.

    Copyright 2021 MadeMark Publishing

    Join Mark’s email list for updates, podcasts, giveaways, and his monthly newsletter!

  • LGBTSR

    And the Emmy Goes to … Me!

    Show co-creator Rick Rose accepts the award

    Correction: the Emmy goes to us, everyone who has worked on the children’s TV program Into the Outdoors for the past 20 years. The show is dedicated to teaching kids about nature and the outdoors. I co-created it with my longtime friend a collaborator Rick Rose (the co-host of our weekly Twist Podcast), and it’s so nice to be included in the entry. My statue from 2001 will soon have a BFF to share shelf space with. – Mark/Editor