On the water

I love being near, on, or in, water and many of my childhood summer events took place near lakes or pools. I was always early for swimming lessons and chose to handle the oars for rowing events on small inland lakes.

During nine of the years we lived in New Jersey, it was across the street from the swimming beach on Lake Lackawanna and we had a variety of water toys, including a 16′ power boat for skiing and tubing. This stayed with the house when we moved to Oregon. With larger lakes and rivers in the Pacific NW, we got a 26′ cabin cruiser for water adventures. This was great for seven years but the girls got older, and gas prices started to rise, so we said good-bye to the marina environment. Anyhow, by then I’d discovered kayaks.

Exploring those shallow and quiet spots where motor boats can’t go.

We had walked from our daughter’s downtown apartment to watch the 4th of July fireworks from one of the bridges over the Willamette River. Everyone else was watching the sky but I was mesmerized by these banana-shaped-one-man-canoes-and-a-single-paddle floating on the water for the firework show. From then on, no other watercraft had much appeal for me.

I signed Ed and I up for a paddling class. He was not thrilled but changed his mind halfway through the three-hour class. (By then I was already being recruited as a future instructor.) Paddling a kayak is more about balance in the seat and foot pressure on the pedals than rowing, in calm water. Rough water is a different experience and it’s in my future plans.

No whales here, but the winds were strong and the water was only calm near shore.

Those first few years, Ed and I loaded the kayaks onto the truck and explored a variety of inland lakes and rivers. We even paddled some coves on the Pacific but once Ed saw a whale surface and realized the marine life was larger than him, and his craft, his salt water days were done. (I never saw him paddle so fast for shore before or since!)

The past few years the kayaks have stayed home on this lake, as two daughters weddings and grandson activities have been enough of an adventure. There’s paddling events as Pine Hollow is a locally known camping and fishing resort.  When we are there, I’m usually on the water before ten in the morning and will paddle the perimeter in about an hour, or crisscross the lake. I may spend more hours on, or in, the water but that early paddle is my morning exercise/meditation.

That’s the peak of Mt. Hood, about 30 miles west.

A 12′ wilderness kayak is a bit bulky for me so, until I get other sizes and shapes to play with, I like to practice different strokes and maneuvering techniques. Sometimes I just float in the shade and admire the view.

The lake shore changes with the seasons as this is a reservoir of snow melt from the Cascades and the top fifteen feet of surface water are used for irrigation on surrounding farms. By the 4th of July, there are wide beaches all around the water. Marshes and small streams appear before they become shallow enough to cross without getting your feet wet. The surface water is warm and cold pockets are rare.

Mt. Jefferson is only visible from a northeast cove in May.

Mt. Jefferson, about 50 miles to the south, is only visible from the lake in the early spring when the water is at the highest level. That’s why I took my camera on board, to get that rare shot of Mt. Jeff.

You may think this lake doesn’t fulfill my desire for rough water, but it does. The lake is open for power boats from the end of May and through the beginning of September. During those months, half of the lake is a churning swirl of waves on the weekends. Other times, like this past Sunday, the winds are strong enough to kick up small white caps across the center of the lake.

And that’s why Ed headed for shore, so I could brave the waves and have spray splashing over the bow for a while. This isn’t white water rapids but you need to be alert and one-with-your-craft-and-paddle to avoid getting too wet.  The weather was very warm and the sun strong, but the winds were 20 knots with higher gusts and the spray was icy cold. I may have laughed my way across the lake, but it was really nice to reach shore.

And sometimes I wonder, was I a Naiad in another life or a turtle?

Summer Weather

Yes, I know that’s a ridiculous title for a blog post on May 3rd – but that’s our forecast for Portland, Oregon this week. 80′s and sunny. Consider that we only saw weather like that in August the past two years…

I’m going kayaking this weekend!

There’s been lots of writing and writer business in my life but none is ready for prime time at the moment…

Lots of busy-ness too. One daughter had 3 wisdom teeth removed and I was her primary caretaker because I not only am an extreme optimist regarding surgical procedures, but I also don’t take videos to post on YouTube.

Ed is on You Tube though – as the test pilot for a newly built airplane. You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn97mad7138

I’m going kayaking this weekend!

Spring Blossoming

Apple Blossom

Oregon Grape flower. Produces tiny blue berries, not for humans.

Flowers, trees and bushes are in bloom around my yard, as are the weeds, and pollen in many colors coats everything. Gentle rains have washed the air clearer, though has made the pollen stick like glue, and I’m a bit more alert today. There are plenty in my family who suffer with allergies to trees, grass, and anything airborne and I’m thrilled not to be one who needs meds just to breathe or see, but I was affected with the drowsies, the drippies, and the pollen mouth.

I finally got a burst of energy this week and was able to catch up on all types of tasks, including email, bills, and most of my writer activities. But alas, the strong spring sunshine through the windows and skylights has revealed I am rather lax on my dusting. Fortunately, it is cloudy today so that task can wait.

Cathy Lamb presented a wonderful workshop last Saturday and I hope it’s a sign of great workshops all year as that’s my job as VP of Programs for the RCRW chapter.  I’m over halfway through Cathy’s latest novel, “A Different Kind Of Normal” and anticipate it will get a 5 star review from me when I’m done. I was tempted by the title and I was sold with the first sentence, “My mother told me all about the witches in our family.” Hm, I’m wondering about this witch theme that is currently influencing my reading.

Aside from the pollen in my environment, and witches in my pleasure reading, I’ve also noticed a few business articles about ”The P’s of Marketing” in the world of books. As I am one of the co-founders of Author Marketing 101, I have an opinion on which “P’s” are the primary ones for published authors to know – Push, Pull, POP, and Persona. Yet others espouse the P’s to know are Publicity, Promotion, Public Relations; or, Product, Platform, Profiles, and Price.

Both are due during the first week of August!

Now all these “P’s” could generate a lot of spit but I’m keeping a perspective on the process of publishing and book purchases because the primary “P” that brings me pleasure is: PREGNANT.

My daughter is expecting a girl for her first baby, my niece is having her second son. This is a special picture as my niece was in Portland for work, and is now back in San Diego, and won’t be traveling until after the baby is old enough to travel as well.

There is only one buried old photo of me and a sister when we were pregnant at the same stage, but we did not have the same glow as these young mothers as it was my third child and her fifth.

As spring blossoms, so does the next generation. There will be projects, and presentations, and parties in the months to come, but I’m wondering if there will also be more witches.

A Discovery of Witches – A Novel

I always love when a book with a tantalizing title also has “A Novel” in tiny text on the cover. This is important to note as it means there’s truth between the pages, and the potential for emotional journeys and entertainment for the reader.

My sister recently read A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness and handed it to me as a “must read” with the qualification that Ms. Harkness is a historian with a variety of scholarly credentials and an award winning Wine Blog! That’s a triple score for me. I promised a friend she could read it after me so I started reading on Sunday morning, without even a glance at the blurb, and by the time I hit page 200 I had to pause and laugh because:

1. Nothing had really happened yet in the story

2. I was reading a vampire romance (I don’t!)

3. There’s all kinds of history and science references discussed – in a library (No Action!)

4. I was having the most enjoyable reading experience!

I finished this book on Tuesday afternoon, an hour before leaving for grandson activities. I’m a fast reader but I closed the book for a leisurely excursion with Ed on Sunday, and took care of all kinds of home/work tasks while in the flow of the story. This is a book that does not grab-you-by-the-throat-to-keep-turning-pages-in-nail-biting-need-to-find-out-what-happens-while-you-burn-dinner-can’t-sleep-  BUT it does tantalize in the opening paragraph and continues to do so, with every word.

It’s a book to savor, and I will many times, because as a writer I reread and review. Stories that improve with each reread – remain. And this is one I will reread soon, when I get it back from my friend, and before I lend it to my daughter.

The final chapters revealed that this stage of the story is over, in only 579 pages and with no surprise tornado, and all the characters wandered away to rest and regroup for when the next stage of the story will begin. Fortunately book 2 is already available, but it’s a trilogy and according to the author’s website the final part is still in process.  I’m content with book one.

Here’s what the story is about that makes it timely/or timeless:  forbidden love. Two species may not mingle. Witches and Vampires cannot be friends – or marry. This basic plot has been part of the human social order during my life whether it was illegal for blacks and whites to marry, or Jew-gentile, same sex partners, or even those forbidden marriages between Catholics & Christians! What makes A Discovery of Witches unique is it includes the forbidden marriage between science and magic.

I love characters who know their stuff when they discuss technology, philosophy, science, history, magic, and moon phases. I’m a really picky reader with lots of go-to authors so I will pass by many books unless someone I trust says, “You’ve gotta read this.”

I’m glad I did.

This story includes libraries, a family homestead, herbal teas, cookies, and a variety of great wines – all my comforts. I’d add most of the characters to my Christmas Card mailing list even though their addresses exist in the 4th dimension. Sigh.

A Novel can take decades to create and be read in a few hours or days by a reader. Yet when a classic plot is transformed to explore a social truth in a new way, the reader benefits from that point of view.

The story begins with an old book and I have a collection of old books from my dad. Now I’m fighting a sudden urge to go inhale their dusty scent and feel the energy of the covers. Now I also have this truth repeating in my head:

A Novel is only created in a Write Mind when Time has no hold on the story.

The Journey is the Story

My friend Elizabeth Boyle was in town on Monday and I got to the Powell’s event late enough that she was already speaking. I was quiet and slipped into a seat but she saw me, and exclaimed into the microphone, “Aunt Mary’s here!” then continued with her story of the disaster preceding the submission of her first book, and the hero that stepped forth to make a dream come true for his wife. I’ve heard this story but loved the reminder and revisit to an old favorite.

Later she explained to the audience that we met at a reader’s luncheon in 2003 and my 25 yr-old niece was with me, and kept calling me “Aunt Mary” even while I kept reminding her that I’m Terri Patrick in the world of romance books and authors. Well, “Lizbo” and I have had numerous encounters over these years and she is still my go-to author for rereads, and my must read, even though she’s a historical author and I’m a “new age” girl.

The above is her 20th novel and she never planned her interconnected books to become a series, but the characters she would encounter always were more interesting than she intended and needed their own stories. Also, the date of that first novel disaster and dramatic conclusion was April 1st. And here she was, on April 1st, celebrating the release of her 20th novel.

A few times, over the past ten years, Elizabeth would ask me, “When will I be attending the book signing for your novel?” And I’d just shrug because she was the catalyst for one of my sideline interests that is now called, Author Marketing 101. com. Elizabeth was one of the first authors who impressed me as being a delightful person with an engaging story beyond her books, that made me so fascinated with authors that I decided I was going to find a way to remain in this Romancelandia industry even if I never got a novel of my own published. Of course I also discovered that few authors, as individuals, are as interesting as Elizabeth Boyle.

I’m a really good business woman and the publishing industry is the most convoluted business I’ve ever encountered. The turbulence created by technology these past five years has been huge. And Ed has always been flying at Mach-2-with-his-hair-on-fire at the cutting edge of technology so I understand more about that innovation than many. And, as a result, I can shut it all off really well. When my sister commented on a recent news event I admitted I had no clue what she was talking about, but I did know that Amazon had bought Goodreads.

When Elizabeth had signed her books of the Powell’s stock of her 20th novel, and many of her her backlist books, I gave her, and her son, a ride in my car to the MaxTrain station a few blocks away.

None of us were sure where we were going.

My low slung sport car was a surprise as they are both used to minivans and that ass-on-the-pavement sensation can be a challenge if you have lower back issues. But as I stated, to the teenage Mr. Boyle who had to pretzel himself into the back seat, when you’re with “Aunt Mary” even a few blocks needs to be an adventure.

Family and Tribe

Recent activities with both my family and my tribe have been tons of fun and kept me very busy. This is evident in my home and office as there are piles everywhere. It’s as if my personal space reflects the messages of chaos that keep popping up in global news regarding weather, politics, finances, and disasters surrounding relationships within countries or private homes.

But things are not always what they seem. Like this picture of our family at the wedding on 6/21/2011. It looks like feminine overload and those must be some pretty brave men to be in the mix. Yet the ratio is 11 females to 7 males (even though 3 are under the age of 8) and 5 of those women do not live in Oregon.

That bride and groom just moved into their first home this weekend and it is fun for me when a daughter allows me to unleash my cleaning and organizing energy in their life. It’s rare, but weddings and home purchases are those times. Now that stage of my life is complete. They are all grown, own homes, have dynamic lives with their own families.

During this recent chaos, I paused when an email newsletter arrived earlier this month and the words “Family” and “Tribe” caught my attention and kept niggling at me even though it was a week before I read Sara Wiseman’s post about the spring equinox being a time for self realization beyond our family or tribe. I’ve met Sara a few times though have not read her books but that applies to many I’ve met within my “writer tribe.”

Sara’s distinction of “family” being a karmic connection and “tribe” being the chosen family we want to create is not true for me. I do agree that “us” energy is a great way to avoid the internal work of becoming a “self.” Everyone from Oprah to Abraham-Hicks and a lot of religions have a core message of self awareness and soul improvement. But my family is more than karmic connections, they are my choice and part of the “self” I have created.

My tribe is writers and storytellers. The core group are romance novelists which is feminine energy on steroids, representing every hormonal and menopausal phase, gathered in one room for a few hours every month. I do not consider them “the family I want to create” for myself. My tribe is a great distraction and network of support during times of personal and family stress.

Members of my tribe represent “karmic connections” for my self improvement and soul awareness. I understand that words need to be defined to represent concepts that are current for the message to reach an audience. I accept that my perception of family and tribe relates to past years when family was my sisters and our daughters were the tribe.

Even defining “family” as the personal relationships and “tribe” as the public ones has little to do with karmic connections, or inner self work, as all of the above apply.

So while Sara’s message of inner work and separation of the self from the tribe and family is valid, I propose the reverse is true as well.  A healthy relationship with the self is good but then it is a time for self realization within our connections to family and tribe, however they are defined.

Of course, I am a mom of four individual women, and I am part of generations of opinionated women, so I’m never offended if my advice is ignored. And there is a full moon tonight.

And the universe shifts

I had a plan. For that day when I was a published novelist. It was in that distant future. Until then, I was on this journey called life. Life. It’s research for a novelist. It’s the road not taken by humans with a plan.

When I signed the contract to publish my contemporary romance novel – my  universe shifted and I noted the time so my astrologer sister would have accurate data regarding my transition from aspiring to published. The actual published-books-to-sell is months in the future, and I haven’t seen any editorial requirements yet, but I have moved into the inner circle of “Authordom” and am having fun.

The new breed of Digital-First Boutique Publishers has fascinated me as I’ve watched friends begin their careers in this way, so I had lots of inside information regarding business models, contracts, and more. I loved the enthusiasm to publish my novel that I received from the senior editor at Soul Mate Publishing, and it was only six weeks from first contact to signed contract. But I had other choices and even though it “felt right” this is a business decision and I had some reservations as well. Ultimately, it came down to “the books.”

I read many excerpts, of the books in my genre, currently available by a few of these Boutique publishers. Only the SMP books impressed me as ones I want to read. This made it a pleasure to sign a contract. The website could use some improvements but it’s the books that make the difference.

Now that I’m within the author loop, and following the author blogs, I’m both pleased and intimidated. The author news is all about being Top Picks, winning awards, getting 5 Star reviews, and connecting with readers in India. This means my publisher lives up to its marketing of “high quality romantic fiction for readers around the world” and I’m one of these authors who will deliver such.

The intimidating factor is now I am stepping into the starring role of the story of my life. I know I can be professional in spite of negativity and challenges, and I can persevere through rejections. But there’s an invisibility aspect to being an aspiring novelist that does not prepare a writer for getting applause and appreciation from fans, or for earning industry awards. I will soon have to receive compliments and gratitude for my writing and stories – with a gracious spirit – and own the success that I’ve earned.

This wasn’t part of my plan. But now, it’s part of my journey.