one of the best things

fiction you say?

2009-06-04T17:25:00.002-04:00

boy i have been a terrible blogger. i apologize to the 2.5 people who were reading my blog on a regular basis. sorry mom and dawn.

i just haven't had much to say. i was not sure why but then i talked to someone about my job. he asked me what i did and i said i am a fiction writer in my heart and my career is a communications director, writing marketing material etc. he laughed and said, so you are a fiction writer as a career as well.

then it dawned on me. i am out of words. i am using words and sitting on the computer all day. so by the time it gets to my time to write for me, i am out. my butt hurts, my brain is bent, and my fingers are tired.

but i miss it.

i miss the pride, i miss the story and i miss the dream. i do not however miss the beating of my head against a wall :)

hopefully i can visit here more often and start telling you about the fiction i am writing for me.

friday's quote

2009-03-13T10:54:00.001-04:00

"always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing." abraham lincoln

the indian story

2009-02-09T17:37:00.003-05:00

last year my grand daughter told her mother this story about indians, evidently she was learning about them in pre-school. as her mother said this is the perfect reason you and your children don't really need television, they can be so entertaining on their own:

indians

eat cooked crabs

wear no clothes

speak spanish and the word "oputueeso" means "hand over the food"

they have no trampolines

live in tents with buttons with no doors you just punch the tent to get out and all the kids sleep in one room with bunk beds

they don't brush teeth so they don't have any

they take showers in a water fountain and use fish soap

and then go to bed at 7

they do breathing exercises to keep them from getting fat

and can only eat junk food in the fall

boys and girls wear any kind of make up they like

they go to indian school and learn about eating healthy fish

they draw with feathers cause they have no pens

all the kid indians smoke all day long except when they're sleeping and they don't die

for their birthday's kids get fish presents

and they have cheetah pets to take them places

for fun they play with ice but not the grown ups just the kids

when her mom asked her how she knew all of this she said "I saw them do it before. Sorry but I gotta get goin mommy." Then she wrote down on a piece of paper her "indian" address where I could write her a letter and send it to her tent.

think we might have another writer in the family?

friday's quote

2009-02-06T08:20:00.002-05:00

"i would rather be ashes than dust; i would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot; i would tarther be in a superb meteor, every atom of me in a magnificent glow than in a sleepy and permanent planet; the proper function of man is to live, not to exist; i shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them; i shall USE my time."

-jack london

asking questions

2009-02-05T07:52:00.002-05:00

if you were being interviewed by someone how would you answer? would you be truthful, really truthful or would you say what you thought you were supposed to in order to sell your book/art/music/product? i would answer honestly, it is all i know how to do, for better or worse.

when you write/paint/sculpt or whatever are you being truthful, really truthful or are you creating what you think will sell? are you hiding behind something to protect yourself? i am not sure why but i think i hide. we all know that the only way to be successful ( and i am not talking about financially, rather, successful where you beam at what you create because you gave it everything you had) is to give all of you, honestly, without pride, or fear, or preconception.

there are so many sayings out there now to make us feel good, to inspire us but if you really break them down they say simply, believe, believe, believe, and then "just do it" whatever is in your heart, do it. let everything else go and you will be where you always wanted to be, in the precise spot you were meant to be.

look at the competition

2009-02-04T06:07:00.003-05:00

the quest to get published, and then read, and then really noticed as an author is no different than the quest of a musician, an artist, a salesman or a marketing person. we are all in the same boat, we face intense competition, usually lack of influential contacts and certainly a lack of experience (since this is only gained by doing something for an extended period of time, facing new and different hurdles). i have made the mistake in my career of saying that writing is even more difficult than most of these things because there are so many people writing, trying to get published and because writing requires a commitment that painting, music, a sales pitch etc. do not. while this may be it doesn't matter. the desired end result is the same for each person and therefore the obstacles which face each individual is not the important thing, the important thing is how one gets around them. it is vital to understand your obstacles, and when you do, figure out how to beat them, what do you have that everyone else doesn't that will allow you to succeed? once you know this-- keep your eyes on the end result, glance around you regularly to mark your progress, and definitely learn from your mistakes and your successes along the way.

friday's quote

2009-01-16T07:01:00.002-05:00

"It is a crime to leave a man's hand empty." derek walcott-Omeros

i love this excerpt from walcott's book/poem. i think it is very true, but what i love so much is the simple beauty of the words he uses to explain something so true. when i first heard it i thought he was referring to leaving people without food to eat. then, i heard the author explain that in fact it refers to leaving a man without work to do. anyone can say that right, but can you say it like he did in the quote? that is the beauty of writing well, of using words efficiently, and powerfully. that is what moves people and gets them talking about a book and a writer.

where are you going?

2008-12-07T22:16:00.002-05:00

i think it is hard sometimes to see where we are going. where are our decisions really taking us? if we are lucky we make the right decisions most of the time, however, i think if we are the luckiest, we don't and then, we learn. to me a bad decision is more valuable than a good one:as long as we keep our minds and our hearts open.

it is not hard to hear a bad decision, it is the one screaming at you so loudly, from the bottom of your soul and won't stop. listen to it. take the time to decide what you are supposed to learn, redirect and move on. don't get lost in the decision, use it to grow, use it to learn and then, move on...

it is a good time to be refining our writing

2008-11-25T16:14:00.002-05:00

i just read this and am very glad i am still in the writing stages of book two. each piece of news i read about our economy makes my head shake even harder. i think we have no idea how far this goes and i wonder if we are ready for what could be coming. as much as i hate to support it we need to be spending, seriously, we really can't afford to sit home and be cautious any longer.

friday's quote

2008-11-14T16:27:00.001-05:00

Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.
Frank Sinatra

life in a cube

2008-11-11T21:45:00.002-05:00

so i have to admit, i have no time for the researching, reading blogs etc. now. i miss it and feel very out of touch. i think the career i was beginning to build is slipping away, until i pull my macbookpro out of its bag every lunch hour and begin to work on my novel. touching each key and watching every word form is like an escape. it is me holding on to the dream i have fostered, and the work i have done for the past three years.

i am making progress, with only 68,000 words left (approximately) until i am finished. that is a great feeling.

each day i find myself for one hour escaping to the dream i refuse to let die. i know i will get there eventually, and for now i am thankful i have a job, a home, a family and that we are not facing what so many in this world are right now.

bear with me

2008-11-03T20:55:00.002-05:00

i have gone to work full time so i am trying to get used to my schedule and work my writing back into it. i hope to be back in full swing by the end of the week.

friday's quote

2008-10-24T08:47:00.001-04:00

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances."-Martha Washington

something to think about in these days of turmoil...

take back the night

2008-10-22T07:26:00.004-04:00

i gave my reading last week at the domestic violence protest. the unimportant part, i did pretty good. i didn't get nervous or blow it in anyway. the important part, the courage of the women who stood up and talked about their experiences and what they had been through. i was really moved by their stories of perseverance. i was stunned to learn that in virginia alone 147 people a year die from domestic violence, of those 20 are children. it was shocking and upsetting.

the most infuriating part, the law, or lack thereof that protected the abusers in almost every case! each woman told stories of contacting the police about harassment, stalking or threats and each time the story was the same, the police told them they needed more proof. in several instances that resulted in the death of the woman and twice the children as well. one law they are trying to pass is to make it illegal to threaten to kill someone. i think this is a fantastic idea! in my opinion this is where is starts, and this is where the women should be allowed to seek protection. i know it would be hard to prove but there has to be a way to start the law that could help a lot of the women. i am definitely motivated to get involved in lobbying congress to change these laws to start protecting our women and children from abuse.

i believe in my heart though that the ultimate problem is our society is not doing enough to curb anger, rage, and violence. we need to be educating!!!!

friday's quote

2008-10-17T07:50:00.002-04:00

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."

(i am not sure who said this, but it wasn't me...)

writers conference

2008-10-14T12:19:00.003-04:00

this past weekend i attended the james river writers conference. i was so happy there, among people who are as interested in writing as i am. it was great to hear the lectures, and the caliber of people who spoke and participated in workshops was incredible. i also met with an agent which was incredibly nerve wracking but, she did tell me i can contact her and she will look over my new book, the one still in progress. she said the idea was marketable so yay for me! i have to tell you the few things that really stuck out for me:

1. one of the moderators kept saying the reason they are on the stage and not us (the audience) is because they refuse to quit when people told them no.

2. although the agents and editors hold my life in their hands they are at the end of the day, just as human, or only as human as me. (however you choose to look at it.)

3. Adriana Trigiani is the most hilarious person/author I have ever heard speak! check her out here

here i am again

2008-10-08T09:46:00.004-04:00

this is my newest round of articles. i am really happy with the way they turned out and with the great experience of talking to and interviewing each person. my articles are

stephanie grana

todd and mary anderson

charleita richardson

joe walton

congrats to all of them. they have definitely earned the honor!

newest article

2008-10-06T06:29:00.005-04:00

here is my latest article for Home Style magazine. it was a lot of fun writing about all of the "green" innovations people are implementing in richmond. i am really enjoying the article writing, it is nice to talk to real people sometimes, instead of just the characters of my novel dancing around in my head.

paper clips

2008-10-01T07:40:00.007-04:00

i was on this blog this morning and i remembered one of my favorite places in lucca. an office supply store, tucked away on a small side street that had the most gorgeous office supplies. they had notebooks in great colors, like lime green and fuschia with matching elastic closures on each corner. they had paperclips shaped like hands in primary colors of red, blue and yellow. their pen selection was great, filled with all kinds of comfort grips, and sleek designs. the little old lady standing behind the front counter was always so sweet, indulging my hour long gawking sessions, and whenever you needed something out of the ordinary she would send her son, who was in his forties, to the space next door to look through the mounds of stuff, and climb old rickety ladders to find exactly what you needed. heaven...

photo is from here

october 16

2008-09-30T07:31:00.002-04:00

on october 16th i will be reading an excerpt from my book at Take Back the Night, a peaceful domestic violence protest. i am so honored and excited about this! okay, i am extremely nervous too since i don't do well speaking in public but aside from the fear of making a complete a#@ of myself i am overjoyed. anyone have any tips for conquering public speaking fears?

friday's quote

2008-09-26T09:36:00.002-04:00

“Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people”

-Nido Qubein

i find myself doing the loser thing from time to time and it is so dangerous! and, it is always when i feel the worst about myself, my life and my accomplishments. when i look at what i have accomplished on my own scale comparing myself to my own goals, i am doing pretty well actually. that feels a lot better than comparing myself to nora ephron or tess gerritson or toni morrison, hmmm, think i have a problem with setting my sites a little high from the get go????!!!

busy

2008-09-23T08:41:00.003-04:00

i have been out of town, visiting friends in concord, mass. and working on several articles. i can't wait for them to come out and will post links to them here. they are near and dear to my heart on design, and on innovative things people are doing to lower their carbon footprint here in richmond (remember Home Style magazine?). very cool stuff! in the mix, i found these people, and feel so lucky they are in my community; now i just need them in my neighborhood...

friday's quote

2008-09-12T07:52:00.005-04:00

to someone i think might need it:

A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must....be undaunted when the going gets tough.
Ronald Reagan

Bear in mind, if you are going to amount to anything, that your success does not depend upon the brilliancy and the impetuosity with which you take hold, but upon the ever lasting and sanctified buldoggedness with which you hang on after you have taken hold.
Dr. A. B. Meldrum

“You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction.”
George Lorimer

it’s a very funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
William Somerset Maugham

i am currently working on

2008-09-11T16:26:00.003-04:00

i just started three short articles for this magazine. they should be cool since they are covering great interior spaces in richmond. i will post a link when it is done.

friday's quote

2008-08-29T08:54:00.001-04:00

"a word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."

-bill cosby

avett brothers

2008-08-27T07:21:00.002-04:00

so this is not what i normally would post but since i have been spending so much time on my computer, my new lovely apple macbook, i have been searching out music while i write. i found this band yesterday on this blog. i really like their laid back music, it is great to write to!

first book

2008-08-25T05:56:00.004-04:00

i just found this website via this blog. what a great organization. they are having a contest from now until september 15th to vote on the book that began your love of books, give them the details and then vote on the state you would like to see recieve 50,000 books. how cool is that! there is also a way to let all your friends and family know so they can vote too, that is here. so, go vote!

james river writers conference

2008-08-18T16:43:00.004-04:00

i have signed up to attend the james river writers conference october 10th & 11th. The conference looks great with well known authors attending. i signed up to meet an agent so i am working feverishly on my second novel to have it ready in time to meet and greet with an agent! i also became a member of james river writers so i am excited about becoming more involved with them.

if you are able to get to richmond you should think about attending...

friday's quote

2008-08-15T08:39:00.001-04:00

“I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.”

-woody allen

writing question

2008-08-14T09:20:00.002-04:00

i am working on my second novel, trying to make a tremendous amount of progress before the writers conference i am attending in october, i will post more about that later. i am having fun with this book as it is completely different than what i normally write. i struggled at first with "selling out" but actually i think it is so much fun to write what i normally wouldn't have.

i have a question about the story though, so chime in with your opinion...

when building suspense in a book, or perpetuating a mystery how long do you let it go before you let the reader in on what is happening and take them through the mystery with you? is it better to let the suspense build a long time or to include the reader in the action?

let me know what you think.

zen of writing

2008-08-12T11:43:00.001-04:00

on the blog zen of writing there is a great post about writing and about "having it all" in general. i can not express it any better so thought i would provide the link so you can read it yourself.

dirty secret

2008-08-11T07:20:00.004-04:00

i have to admit that i am terrible at crossword puzzles. i don't know why but this bothers me immensely. maybe it is because of my love of words that i am plagued by my inability to fill even half of the spaces in any given crossword, or maybe it is because, just like reading the newspaper over coffee, people look cool doing it, and since i can't we know where that leaves me...

last week this really got to me as i sat trying to do a new york times crossword, i decided i couldn't honestly be that stupid i must just not get the whole process, so i went in search for some tips and easier puzzles to learn on, here is what i found:

wikihow

ehow

daily crossword (this one is great, it changes the colors of the incorrect letters so you don't go on thinking you answered something you haven't)

good luck!

home again

2008-08-04T08:38:00.004-04:00

i have just started an article for a yearly report and some copywriting for the website for this organization. home again is really an incredible place in richmond, i am so excited to be working with them! i will put the link up to the website when it is finished and post the article when i am done so you can read about this great organization. we are really lucky to have them here.

friday's quote

2008-08-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

Albert Einsten

identity

2008-07-28T08:11:00.001-04:00

the truth is that accepting your identity is sometimes harder than finding it.

friday's quote

2008-07-25T08:34:00.001-04:00

"There is a giant asleep within every man. When the giant awakes, miracles happen."

Frederick Faust

pity party

2008-07-24T08:40:00.003-04:00

so i had a bit of a pity party yesterday about self publishing and the ridiculous stigma that is out there. then i had one about my whole career in writing. in my hours of subconcious thinking, while i slept, i was reminded of what i know is true. it is up to me to make the opportunities and if i am not making very many then i will not have very many. if you want to be whatever you want to be in life you have to work so hard and so diligent everyday, and in all honesty, i havent been doing that. so, like my darling friend says, the nathan bransford post referred to in an earlier post must have lit a fire underneath me, and i guess it has.

so off to work on my second novel and article queries...

hitting a wall

2008-07-22T07:21:00.002-04:00

i was so excited this week about getting my website going, joining james river writers, and getting my book in front of agents, while reigninting my daily schedule for writing my second novel, when i came upon this post at nathan bransford's blog and it knocked the wind out of my sails. what should i do? while i am not stuck on my first book needing to get traditionally published before i move on it would be nice to get more coverage for it, yet every which way i turn i run into the same dead ends. defeat, i tell you, were i a more realistic person i might be tempted to throw in the towel and do something that makes more sense for a living, something that avoids pain not seeks it out. maybe become a black belt in martial arts, it would be much less suffering...so, if you have a minute, glance at the post and give me your advice.

website

2008-07-21T07:28:00.002-04:00

my website should be finished and published this week! i am so excited about this as it has been a long time coming. i now have to weed through pictures of myself and pick ones that will make me look like a serious professional, not easy considering i am just a goofy girl. this is a serious downside for me, i hate looking at pictures of myself. i can see the sun spots, the random greys that my hair dye didn't cover, and my too gummy smile so then i wonder why in the world i have to have these pictures on the site, it is torture. alas, i must and so i close my eyes whenever i see the photos, pretend i am a supermodel and go on.

i did my site through network solutions, in case anyone is looking for somewhere to build a site. it was so easy, as easy as a blog really. thanks, to my friend david who recommended it.

friday's quote

2008-07-18T06:17:00.002-04:00

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." Erich Fromm

"It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all." Edward de Bono

i couldn't decide which one i liked better today...

back to work

2008-07-17T08:06:00.003-04:00

i am back to work now that my incredible granddaughter has gone home. she was here for two weeks. i always love to be with her and can not ever thank her enough for changing my perspective on life. it is so great to see the world through a child's eyes. it helps my creativity and reminds me that we are all born with talents that we should honor and nurture. i get so lost sometimes in day to day problems, in overwhelming decisions and the basics of paying bills, taking care of a house and family that i forget how simple it really is. then, my granddaughter appears, wraps her arms around me and for two weeks forces me to be creative, playing make believe and telling made up stories. i once again surprised myself with how creative my stories can be when i have to come up with them on the spot.

the audacity of hope

2008-07-03T08:13:00.002-04:00

i finished reading this book and have to say i loved the way obama writes. it is eloquent and effective. this book, while definitely expressing his views and beliefs, was written in such a way that you forget you are reading the kind of book that is usually dry and boring. i found myself inspired and informed, not only about obama's goals but also about the history of our country. the audacity of hope was engaging and definitely worth reading.

to be fair i want to read a book that explains mccain's positions and beliefs, can anyone recommend one?

friday's quote

2008-06-27T07:42:00.002-04:00

"None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

i wanted to share a review of my book i found on my birthday the other day, what a great present!

it came with five stars on amazon!!!

"The streets of Chicago are not the most forgiving of places. "One of the Best Things" follows Sunni as she tries to pursue her dream-only to have it snatched away from her, crushing her and making her perform unspeakable acts. At rock bottom, her only strands to climb back up lie in her mother and where she least expects help to come. "One of the Best Things" is a deftly written inspirational novel, a top pick for community library fiction collections."

Midwest Book Review

duh

2008-06-23T08:46:00.002-04:00

as i stood in front of the trash can, with the plastic tub for dirty dishes on it, i turn to the guy behind the counter and asked him where i should put my dirty plates. kindly, he and the gentleman standing next to him pointed to the plastic tub behind me without snickering or even rolling their eyes. duh. luckily i am used to asking stupid questions as i can sometimes be a bit preoccupied in the morning, however it was a very humbling moment, reminding me to try to be more tolerant of people who might be a bit preoccupied at other times during the day. (also a reminder to try to remember not to run out of milk so i dont leave the house without at least one cup of coffee in me...)

friday's quote

2008-06-20T07:05:00.002-04:00

"After a year in therapy, my psychiatrist said to me, 'Maybe life isn't for everyone.'"

"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others."

i think these quotes are so funny. does anyone know who said them? i found them here but with no credit given to the originator.

have a good weekend!

ira glass storytelling 2.

2008-06-16T17:30:00.002-04:00

even though ira glass talks about storytelling in reference to broadcasting i think it is applicable to writing articles, stories or novels. i think anyone creative can get the message here about getting rid of crap. definitely my mantra, especially today as i embark on a new project.

ira glass storytelling 1.

2008-06-10T07:09:00.002-04:00

as we all know i am a little behind the times so some of you may have seen this video. if you have it is a great reminder and if you havent i hope you enjoy it.i will put the other ones that continue the podcast on over the next two days.

rest your mind

2008-06-07T08:37:00.002-04:00

i want to do a post on our trip to honduras, tell you about the great dive shop, some funny stories and show some pics but my computer is locked away since our 115 year old floors are now being refinished. while this is an exciting process it is crippling me, i can't write, i can't send info, or access any, i can't invoice clients etc. and of course this is when all of the material is popping into my head, when i am writing brilliant stories as i clean walls, scrape paint and scrub floors. i have written several chapters in my second book and one short story. i have also written query letters to two different magazines and have started my new blog. it is incredible what my mind can do in a day, and i am absolutely brilliant in each thing i have done this week; in my mind anyway.
all of this has led me to the confirmation of what i always suspected was true but could never force myself to do it, let your mind rest, let it be quiet without demands for creativity or expectations. you will be a lot more creative and when you resume your work, whatever it may be, you will be much more productive.

essay contest

2008-06-04T07:44:00.003-04:00

want to win a beach house in oregon. it is easy, just write a great essay. here is the article and the info. the contest expires on june 30.

2008-06-02T07:10:00.002-04:00

i spent the weekend working on our new old house. while scraping 40 year old wallpaper off of the walls, i was thinking about short stories i could write. (i have abandoned the one i was writing, not because i thought it was going nowhere but because it was dragging on too long. if you think otherwise let me know.) i came up with a few ideas that could be pretty good, then i came up with a few that went nowhere, and then a few that were completely ridiculous and unbelievable, and then i read this at salon.com and was shown once again, that real life is always one upping even the best imagination...

friday's quote

2008-05-30T07:34:00.002-04:00

"Age puzzles me. I thought it was a quiet time. My seventies were interesting and fairly serene, but my eighties are passionate. I grow more intense as I age."
-Florida Scott Maxwell

my birthday is this month, which refers back to my epiphany that i am closing in on 40. while this was shocking to me at first i began to realize that most of the really fantastic people i know are over 50. they do have a lot more enthusiasm for life and are much more adventurous than the people under 40 that i know. this makes me really excited to turn 40. i also know that the older i get the better i feel in my own skin, although my skin doesn't feel better, in fact there is evidence of sagging, wrinkles and unwanted fat deposits. i become more of myself with every year and definitely more capable of looking people in the eye and saying, "hmmm, sorry but this is who i am, and on most days that is a pretty damn good thing to be."
so, with a little lipo under my upper arms, actually i am going to try weight lifting first, a lot of hair dye and daily thanks that my husbands eye sight is poor and he doesnt wear glasses to bed i say i am excited about getting older, especially since i can still get away with acting so young!

contrary

2008-05-28T06:39:00.003-04:00

contrary to what you have seen of late on this blog i am actually quite funny and while at times i act like a twelve year old, maybe not so desirable as a person pushes 40 ( a revelation we will be exploring tomorrow as i digest this information while trying not to have a breakdown), which to me is a blessing really. so here i am definitely showing the mature side of me, loving the fact that i could wear a bandanna every day without anyone staring at me, thinking i am a biker chick, or feeling self conscious. let me tell you i definitely discovered the joy of being myself with a bandanna and a two week absence of a bra. the lack of hot air burning my scalp as i try to get my hair to do something everyday is a serious blessing. so, besides being immature i am definitely in love with a simple life as far as beauty goes. (of course this is all true until i put on a dress, style my hair, put on my jewelry and some gorgeous shoes and i pretend i am a social lite, who of course my husband is immensely appreciative that he gets to take out in public, it is better than the 12 year old me...).

i'm back

2008-05-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

the last several weeks have been crazy for me, but i am back now. i was gone helping my sis get ready for her wedding, then moving into a new house, actually a very old house, but new to us. then cleaning the old house which was, actually still is, filthy! and then finally off to roatan, honduras for a much needed break with my husband and then a fantastic dive adventure with our best friends. i am home now, tan and ready to go...
on my trip i talked a lot with my best friend and she gave me some really great advice about my writing and a book to read which changed my perspective. i am going to be working on writing differently now. my sister has told me that i write so seriously all of the time. this is what my best friend was telling me as well. i am not a serious person, in fact i am often accused of acting very silly, so as the advice was given, write the words from who you are, and so i shall try...
here we go on another adventure...

friday's quote

2008-04-25T08:03:00.001-04:00

"There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher."
- Flannery O'Connor

new blog

2008-04-23T07:54:00.003-04:00

my friend from simplyolive sent me this blog, stuff white people like. it is hilarious and judging from his comments i am the only person left who didnt know about it. but in case you too are unaware here is the link.

earth day

2008-04-22T08:05:00.004-04:00

in honor of earth day...

give up this:

it takes over 5,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat. it takes 2 gallons to produce one pound of vegetables.

travel like this:

conserve this:

join this:

a local reuse group where you can get free stuff and spare our landfills.

do this as much as you can everyday and help change where we live.

first photo: umpaqua on flickr
second photo: my family
third photo: terrygray on flickr

monday's story continued

2008-04-21T09:39:00.002-04:00

the officer on the left raised his arm towards the door, as if to brace it in case she changed her mind about it opening. he was short and stocky, and balding. his skin was pale, and while it showed no real signs of his age she guessed he must be in his mid forties, he definitely dressed like an aging, balding man, who gave no thought to his appearance. his plaid dress shirt, hanging sloppily from his rotund belly looked at least twenty years old, a little threadbare around the elbow that was now placed against the door. she could see them both and they could see her, so she stopped opening the door, leaned her body into it so they would know they weren't welcome and asked if she could help them.

friday's quote

2008-04-18T07:37:00.001-04:00

"words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think." lord byron

e.e.

2008-04-17T08:08:00.002-04:00

i have always been a big fan of e.e. cummings. i liked him because of his rebellion against punctuation, and his attempt at making words a little more visual. for me he created vision with his
lack of capital letters, and the layout of his letters. when i tried to experiment with that in college my poetry professor had a fit! isn't that incredible, 36 years after his death and my college professor is still trying to insist we all write traditionally, limiting creativity and squelching ideas. is this why so much of our popular art, writing, music and movies are the same these days? the formula that is safe is the one that is rewarded?

visual writing

2008-04-15T06:38:00.005-04:00

my very best friend is a painter. she is an amazing painter. recently while she was visiting we visited galleries all over richmond. i started to feel jealous of her trade. i began feeling that she was luckier than me because she is a painter and not a writer. when i spoke to her about this she was astonished, after all, she is struggling too. the thing that was really getting to me though is that visual artists and musicians create something that people can see easily and make a decision. i can not hang my writing on the wall and have someone stand there and decide if they like it or not. in order to make a decision about my writing a person must commit time, time for a book or a short story. they can't walk down the street and look into a window and see my work, they have to sit somewhere and read, they have to buy my book BEFORE they know if they like it or not, a risk. with paintings, you can look for a long time and decide first, with music you can listen to the radio, or hear a sample on amazon or at the bookstore before you decide.
so all of this got me thinking about how cool it would be to write in visual art. can a book be done in a way that is artistic, more visual even? how would you do it?

art courtesy of dawn fetty at creativeendeavors.blogspot.com

monday's story continued

2008-04-14T05:23:00.002-04:00

as she pulled the paneled white door towards her body she could see the hallway, at first appearing empty, long black carpet runner spread out in front of her, leading to her neighbors door across the hallway. she moved her eyes up, to look straight ahead and then slightly to the left. they stood there, close together, dressed in everyday clothes, waiting for her to pull the door completely open. one of the officers stared at her from behind rectangular, metal framed glasses. she thought how rare it was to see someone wearing glasses, almost everyone wore contacts these days. behind the glasses she could see the beginnings of age, small lines leading from the corners of his eyes and then fragmenting towards his temples. she wondered if he squinted a lot. his eyes were solid brown, and a little small for his face. he stared back at her as she revealed more of herself and her apartment.

friday's quote

2008-04-11T11:11:00.000-04:00

The methods, even the ideas of successful writers contradict each other in a most heartening way, and the only element I find common to all successful writers is persistence-an overwhelming determination to succeed.
Sophy Burnham

book review

2008-04-09T08:29:00.002-04:00

I recently finished On Writing Well by william zinsser. i thought this book had a lot of great tips about all different kinds of non fiction writing. he covers everything from non fiction literature, to interviewing styles to business writing. the examples he gives of successful writing in each field are inspiring, in fact i have a list of people i want to read such as e.b. white, nora ephron (he talks about her talent as a humor writer), and v.s. pritchett to name a few. i learned a great deal about writing non fiction that evokes emotion, and interest. i am reading and writing non fiction in a different way now. his advice on the approaches to take while interviewing were, for me, invaluable.

"write with the respect for the english language at it's best-and for readers at their best." he writes in length about how we have strayed from this and fallen into a trap of breezy writing, writing down to readers and using slang words to express ourselves, cheating our readers of the moment, the details, and the setting.
i would strongly recommend this book as one of the best writing books i have read thus far!

friday's quote

2008-04-04T07:41:00.002-04:00

Zest. Gusto. How rarely one hears these words used. How rarely do we see people living, or for that matter, creating by them. Yet if I were asked to name the most important items in a writer’s make-up, the things that shape his material and rush him along the road to where he wants to go, I could only warn him to look to his zest, see to his gusto. Ray Bradbury

if we write from who we are, then our words have to be worth writing, worth reading because we are all worth knowing. perhaps it is the deviation from ourselves, changing our words, our styles, or our stories to please the masses that makes our books, in the end, less publishable or less sellable...

monday's story continued

2008-03-31T14:09:00.002-04:00

sorry about my absence lately. and the missing story today. i have been traveling and am now in negotiations over a house. i will let you know what happens and hopefully be back in full swing in the next few days. thanks for your patience!

friday's quote

2008-03-28T10:39:00.002-04:00

If you really do put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. –Anonymous

it is the determination for greatness that creates a path directly to it. this i know for sure, to steal one of oprahs lines...

the onion-novelist strike

2008-03-18T07:00:00.003-04:00

this article on the onion website had me laughing out loud! it is soo good for writers' humility...
read it here.

monday's story continued

2008-03-17T08:24:00.004-04:00

bare flesh, covering bone thumped loudly and forcefully on her door. three times. her heart jumped as did her body, her blood quickened along with her breath. she gulped a small breath, held it and turned her pale head towards her front door. again, only louder, three times, bone on wood, strongly, determined. she breathed out, a large sigh, how long could she hide, not answering her door, as she never did? this time, the loud pounding changed pitch, it had to be the outside of a fist beating now on the door. they were determined. she unfolded her legs, slowly stood and made her way to the short hallway and then into the alcove which held her front door. she was shaking. her heart beat so loudly and quickly, pumping fear through every vein, every muscle, cutting off her oxygen, she reached. the cold metal of the curved brass door handle acted as a grounding force for her body. she gripped it tightly, looking for strength she could find nowhere in herself.

friday's quote

2008-03-14T07:18:00.001-04:00

to dream anything that you want to dream...That is the beauty of the human mind. to do anything that you want to do...That is strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits...that is the courage to succeed.
Bernard Edmonds
American Writer

the collector

2008-03-12T14:14:00.003-04:00

i finished this book over the weekend. i opened this book, read a few pages and was completely sucked in. john fowles, author of The French Lieutenants Woman, created a character, frederick, who will shock you with his coldness and scare you with his cunningness. i loved this book! i lost a little interest when the narrative switched to miranda, the victim but soon enough was brought back into the book as her emotions became more and more desperate. fowles' story of this young man, frederick, who becomes obsessed with and kidnaps a young woman, miranda, and keeps her as his prisoner is so real that i felt guilty for being so engrossed in the book, as if i was actually witnessing the crime.
i would highly recommend this book.

monday's story continued

2008-03-10T08:28:00.002-04:00

there was no way for her to experience the feeling of death her neighbor must have felt. however, she did think of what her last thoughts would be. her parents had both died years ago, her mother of a heart attack, her father a year later of loneliness. she was an only child. she was alone. her last thoughts would be of the life she never led, she imagined. they would be lonely and sad. there would be no fear, in her opinion, she was already partially dead in her lifestyle now. her dramatic visions were a picture of her with tears streaming down her face as she lie dying sad for what she had never done, and angry with herself for not being strong enough to overcome herself. what did the woman above her think about? she cried so much in the last few months, would she have had any tears left, or would she have died in fear of what was next. it must have been the latter, for the woman had seemed to live her life to the fullest, the tears were counteracted with laughter, she had friends, and boyfriends, she worked and lived outside of her home. it was all things she had envied her neighbor for but had never had the courage to overcome.

friday's quote

2008-03-07T08:52:00.003-05:00

i have been watching the political race very closely and i am very impassioned this year. so, from the incredibly wise mind of Thomas Jefferson:

"Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it."

"Let us restore ... harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things."

"I have come to a resolution myself as I hope every good citizen will, never again to purchase any article of foreign manufacture which can be had of American make, be the difference of price what it may."

fyi

2008-03-06T15:02:00.001-05:00

if you would like to recieve emails of my blog posts just email me and i will add you to the list of email subscribers.
oneofthebestthingsATyahoo.com

the write stuff

2008-03-06T06:50:00.004-05:00

this is my latest article for home style magazine here in richmond. i am really happy with the way it turned out, the pictures look great! and there is a link so finally all of you can read and see what i am doing here. read my story and check out the great pics here.

so this is what it is coming to

2008-03-04T08:33:00.002-05:00

i read this story this morning about this woman Margaret Jones who lied about her memoirs, Penguin publishes them, schedules her for a book tour, releases the book and then realizes a week before the tour and after release that the book is fabricated. this is on the heels of the memoirs of holocaust memoir. what is happening that publishing houses aren't checking their facts first? it also bugs me they will publish these books and promote them but there are plenty of amazing writers out there writing incredible books who are being ignored. hmmm foolish choices, do you think? maybe instead of looking for the instant best seller they should be investing in great writing and stories which can be best sellers on their own merit, not lies and fabrications.
i will keep checking on penguin's site to see what they say.

monday's story continued, except it's tuesday...

2008-03-04T07:30:00.002-05:00

as she sat breathless the beating of her heart became a thumping in her head, her lungs burned and the back of her throat started to move, a reflex to search for air. a message was moving through her body as it searched, breathe in, breathe in. she stared forward, fixed on the door in front of her, staring past the closed wood blinds, over the white porch railing, and into the street where the commotion was now growing. breathe in, she was transfixed on the sensation, she felt her heart slow, and then suddenly she gasped, the force of need overcoming the desire for experience. her body restored itself to normal working order, her stare was broken as was the bond with her neighbor above.

friday's quote

2008-02-29T07:26:00.002-05:00

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr.

could there be more truth in a single statement. i need this as my resolve slips sometimes in my battle with the italian bureaucracy. i know in the scope of life it isn't as major as what people are facing in darfur or the congo but it is a battle for some of my freedom, which happens to be quite important to me. i would like to think sometimes that it is a battle that can also help the people in lucca who are bogged down by these corrupt women in the questura but i know that i am only one small voice dealing with a country where people still fear they are being listened to, or spied upon, and evidently these fears are valid. i am learning that one small voice is simply not enough in this world. perhaps, i can begin to use my strong voice, i know it exists, and with that make a difference. i can also dream that same voice of strength can make differences in what really matters, genocide, mutilation, and murder. does it seem silly to say that i have always wanted my book and writing to do well so that my voice can carry more weight, so that i can say things people will listen to? i feel very strongly about the wrongs in our world, the obvious ones especially, i want to help make changes.

sorry for the seriousness, it just seems to be that type of day.

Night Train to Lisbon quotes

2008-02-27T11:12:00.003-05:00

dawn requested i post some of the quotes i was referring to in an earlier post about Night Train to Lisbon, here are a few:

"Disappointment is considered bad. A thoughtless prejudice. How if not through disappointment should we discover what we have expected & hoped for? And where if not in this discovery should self-knowledge lie."

"When was somebody himself? When he was as always? As he saw himself? Or ashe was when the white hot lava of thoughts and feelings buried all lies, masks, & self-deceptions? Often it was others who complained that somebody was no longer himself. Perhaps this is what it really meant: He's no longer as we would like him to be?"

(maybe this last quote would help the poor american idol contestant from last night who simon says is not singing as himself) yes, i am an american idol watcher...

monday's story continued

2008-02-25T11:28:00.002-05:00

this was why she knew what she knew, the woman was dead, she had to be dead. what had happened with this young man, far too young to her boyfriend, why was he there in her apartment? all she could hear now were footsteps back and forth through the apartment, then the sound of more sirens as other police, and emergency vehicles arrived. she stopped trying to peek out of the front window to see them. she was afraid to make a noise. it was better to be silent, keep them from her door as long as possible. while she felt badly for this woman she did not want to open the door to anyone. her life had been closed off long ago and now she could not bear to open it up for any reason. she knew better, she knew she should tell them what she saw, but the effort, the definite change which would be required was too much. so she sat, quietly breathing, not moving a muscle, transcending through her floor and into the apartment, trying to visualize what the police saw, what they said, and how her neighbor looked. her breath was slow, peaceful as she felt it enter her body through her nose, down her throat, into her lungs and finally into her stomach, giving every cell life. she exhaled and as her breath left her body she forced all of it out, until it hurt, and then sat there, not breathing in, trying to recreate the sensation the woman above her must have felt.

friday's quote

2008-02-22T07:16:00.002-05:00

"What we think, or what we know, or what we believe, is in the end, of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do."
john ruskin

book review

2008-02-20T14:28:00.003-05:00

i finished reading Night Train to Lisbon this past week. the book was very well written, incredibly thought provoking and satisfying. the author is a philosophy teacher which is quite evident in the theorizing of the main characters obsession, amadeau prado. the thoughts and ideas put forth in the book are incredible, i marked so many pages for future quotes, and for further thinking, you would have thought it was a text book. the philosophy is balanced well with believable characters, descriptive locations and a believable story. i would definitely recommend ordering this book (it isn't easy to find in every bookstore), reading it and contemplating the theories of amadeau prado.

monday's story continued

2008-02-18T09:36:00.002-05:00

the footsteps stopped and there was silence. they had walked to the area where she heard the struggle, and then the noises, the voice, the whimper. the silence stretched tightly through air, like an athletes muscle being stretched, it was painful but necessary. what had they found she wondered? she had seen the woman who lived upstairs over the year and a half she had lived in this building. the day she moved in the woman was walking into the building, an enthusiastic "hello" had burst from her lips as she moved to hold the door open. She had watched the woman's comings and goings from the window in her office, the same one she had seen the boy leave from. when she couldn't sleep at night she would sometimes here her the woman walking above her. she started creating a life for this woman whom she knew mostly from sound. she knew her habits, the woman always vacuumed on monday nights, and sometimes even her personal feelings hearing her fight on the phone ocassionally and then step onto her balcony crying. she had been attached to this woman, as attached as she was able to be to anyone.

monday's story continued

2008-02-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

her focus was snapped quickly away from the still silence above her to the street outside as several more police cars arrived. this time they walked into the building without having to be buzzed in, the doors must have been left open by the officers before. they went up the stairs, not running but walking quickly, as if they knew there was nothing they could do to change the current situation yet it was something that must be attended to. she heard nothing after that until the door of the apartment above her groaned loudly, surrendering to what must be the force of the officers refusing to accept the barrier it was forcing upon them. feet moved quickly above her, she breathed slowly, quietly as she tried to imagine what was happening above.

friday's quote

2008-02-01T08:08:00.001-05:00

"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark."

-Rabindranath Tagore

i need a very large dose of this these days!

monday's story continued

2008-01-28T08:58:00.000-05:00

the keypad on the door made a loud beeping noise as it unlocked the two front doors for the officers. she heard their strong footsteps as they entered the building, walked towards the staircase and were met by someone from the floor above her. she heard the sound leftover from their voices as they spoke and then the powerful, confident footsteps taking each stair, one at a time. she heard them reach the apartment above her, and the footsteps stopped. silence. her breathing stopped as she waited, hoping someone from the apartment above her would move across the floor, make their way to the front door and let the police in. this didn't happen. then she heard the rattling of the door, moving back and forth in its steadfast position as the officers pounded, making sure they were heard. once again silence, once again she found herself holding her breath, each second marked only by the beating of her heart, and the sound of whispers in her head, praying for a movement from inside the apartment above.

friday's quote

2008-01-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

"The beginning and end of all literary activity is the reproduction of the world that surrounds me by means of the world that is in me, all things being grasped, related, moulded and constructed in a personal form and an original manner." Goerte

razorpages

2008-01-22T17:18:00.000-05:00

i just joined this online group of independent authors at razorpages. there are a lot of good books here and even a contest right now. i think it can be a really great place for networking, check it out here.

monday's story continued

2008-01-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

she heard the sound of her breath, slowly entering her nose, moving through her lungs, into her stomach and then returning the way it had come. she had practiced this breathing for so many years it had become second nature to her, she knew how long each breath took and because of this she also knew she was waiting too long; once again failing herself. this would now become another point of proof to her existence, and her complete worthlessness. it proved what she already knew, what she had accepted years ago.
the lights appeared outside of the window; without sirens. the blue strobing color crept through the blind slats and into her living room. she watched them as they systematically turned. each movement a testament to her fear. they should be here because of her. she heard the footsteps of the officers on the porch, the same place the man had left from only minutes ago. they came to the entrance and pressed buttons, presumably waking everyone in the old brick building, until someone let them in.

friday's quote

2008-01-18T08:59:00.000-05:00

"Our national tendency is to inflate and thereby sound important. ...But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components." William Zinsser, On Writing Well

when i read this i tried to imagine my brain as a room, inside was all of this furniture, and clutter. i imagine myself in the room staring blankly trying to make sense of all of it. then realizing it must go. i open the door out of this room and start pushing things out of it, the everything must go attitude takes over and voila, before you know it the room is empty. this of course wont work, although i feel this way a lot, so slowly i imagine putting in a very simple couch, a small table, a lamp and a painting full of color that takes me out of myself. this is it. now my room is clean and clear and yet it expresses who i am better than the former room did. in this clarity i not only find calm and clarity but i find myself, i see my words, and my direction very clearly.

this is my symbolism for clarity and clean components in my life and in my writing.

story

2008-01-14T09:18:00.000-05:00

her long legs held her, close to the window, still in the darkness of the early morning. she knew she had seen something; something that would make a difference. quickly she moved to her desk, ran her fingers over the keyboard to awaken the sleeping computer,and sat in her worn wooden chair. she was comfortable here, it was her life, her artery to the world around her. she needed to record what she had seen before she forgot it.
as the light from the computer screen lit the room, she settled in and began to type every detail she could recollect making sure to leave nothing out. when she was finished she rose from her desk, feeling as though she had done what was necessary, but knowing it wasnt enough. she walked to her small living room, sat cross legged on the canvas covered couch and stared at the wall. what would come next? she knew what to do but could she?

friday's quote

2008-01-11T15:03:00.000-05:00

"Given that we can only live a small part of what there is in us-what happens with the rest?"
from Night Train to Lisbon

something to think about. have a wonderful weekend.

The ParentPreneur Edge

2008-01-09T08:19:00.000-05:00

when i was living in lucca i met an author, julie lenzer kirk. when i returned to america i picked up her book, The ParentPreneur Edge, and read it. i have to say it was a great book for any level of entrepeneur, giving fantastic advice, marketing ideas, and management ideas. julie prepares the reader for all stages of owning your own business with great antecdotes along the way.
usually i am not one to read business books, i find them boring and hard to get through. julie's writing style made the book not only easy to read but enjoyable. she interjects a lot of entertaining stories and anecdotes about being a parent and how it relates to raising your business.
i wouldnt read this book without a paper and pen close by, you will be flooded with great ideas you wont want to forget.

story experiment

2008-01-07T07:07:00.000-05:00

he had long skinny legs, masked slightly by the baggy black jeans hanging low on his body, and a black knit cap, which seemed unnecessary since he had a fur lined hood on his metallic puffy jacket. he was darting out the front door, across the large gray porch and into a waiting convertible. the car had pulled up in front of the building, lights on, top up and oddly, the left turn signal flashing red, boldly. she tried to see every detail but the smoke billowing from the tailpipe made it difficult. she moved her hands quickly from between the two slats on her white wood blinds hoping they could not see her watching them through the dark of the morning.

new year's goal

2008-01-01T17:31:00.000-05:00

i dont like new years resolutions. they dont work for me. however, i am very goal oriented so making new goals works for me. nonsensical, i agree,they are the same you say, but for me they are different. i make specific goals to make specific progress to move forward in my career.

today i have written month by month detailed goals for my book and my writing. one of them is for a change to my blog.

every monday i will do a short story, a mini mini story that will build a bigger story. i want to do this as an experiment in improv and to improve my writing skills. so check back every monday afternoon for the new addition to my ongoing story.

image courtesy of: cepolina.com

friday's quote

2007-12-28T11:03:00.001-05:00

i have been very affected by the death of Benazir Bhutto. i am deeply saddened by it. the struggle to keep from going off the "these militants just need to be nuked" deep end, i try to find reasons, explanations or rationale. this is something that most people i know say is futile. i am not trying to make excuses only to understand so there might be change...

"no man consciously chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for the happiness that he seeks."
mary wollstonecraft shelley

friday's quote

2007-12-21T07:27:00.000-05:00

And, if your friend does evil to you, say to him, "I forgive you for what you did to me, but how can I forgive you for what you did-to yourself?"
Friedrich Nietzsche

i was so excited to find this quote, it is perfect for my second novel!

follow up

2007-12-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

i realized i forgot to tell everyone what happened at the book signing.

basically, i once again proved i am an idiot. i mean that of course in the nicest possible way. i did make a bit of an ass of myself: however, i have learned some things.
1. i need to attend some book signings, then i will know what to expect when i do one myself.
2. get over my fear of public speaking, then when i am asked to speak about my book, unexpectedly, i wont look like an idiot because i cant.
3. voice projection is a must, this way, when i do muster up the courage to say something, be it ever so stupid, people can hear me.
4. bring someone with you who can help, my "helper" for this signing was invaluable!
5. lose the insecurity, it feels good to just be yourself when you are doing this, instead of the worry that people are going to find out you are really a dork and have no business being there...i mean i did write the book so that is something right?!

i was reaffirmed in what i believe most, always, always, always, have the intelligence to laugh at yourself, no matter how big of an idiot you are. otherwise, i think i would have gone into deep hiding somewhere under a large bridge, and lived out my days thumping my head against the wall, asking what the hell i was thinking, why wasnt i prepared...

2007-12-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

happy 60th birthday mom!
have a great day!!

literacy

2007-12-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

i heard a statistic this weekend: 72% of highschool graduates in the U.S. can not read their diploma.
WHAT?????
honestly, what does that say about our education program, our expectations, our parenting, and for gods sake our pride??? i dont understand how this is happening, what do we think is going to happen to our country in the future? are we so apathetic in this country that we cant even be motivated to make sure our children can read before they graduate from elementary school, let alone highschool?
if anyone has any suggestions about how to influence change please let me know. i will be searching for solutions...

friday quote

2007-12-14T08:16:00.000-05:00

your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
-lewis l. dunnington