First Quarter Moon

My sister Rose plants her garden when the moon is waxing.  I think that growth energy today, of the moon and spring, was affecting my grandson Kiernan.   He’s 6 mos old, didn’t want to nap, crawled all over the house, laughing and playing.  Tons of fun to watch!  While I feel he’s growing too independent too fast, it’s easier on me that he now entertains himself.

This example of how life is always moving toward a new stage, was mirrored as I started collecting a few pictures, for a family reunion this summer.  My husband’s family is celebrating their 60th Anniversary of coming to America, as refugees from Slovenia.

As a writer, I love research and organizing the timelines of historical events.  When they are personal, it’s even more fun.   The stages of life, especially as children, happen so fast.  I don’t feel much older than when I was watching my own girls crawl on the floors, but they’re all on their own, working in careers.

This first quarter moon has affected me this week, I’ve been wading through all kinds of cool stuff but also, clarifying my objectives and goals for the summer, the year, the future.  So it’s a good thing I’m off in the morning to our weekend place, where no blogs will reach me or cool websites spiral me down a rabbit hole.

I have an extra focus, as I rest and play this weekend, to give thanks for breathing, living,  according to today’s example.  Elizabeth Molatore, showed her appreciation to those who saved her life.   The video of her reading the poem is in the right sidebar, second box.  I know her through Chrysalis Women Writers. Elizabeth fought to live for days, before her heart finally settled into a new rhythm.

Look at the moon, give thanks for the stages of life, now, not after a heart attack.

Song

Between Susan Boyle,  The Sound of Music in Antwerp Station and this years American Idol competition, I’m truly enjoying the connection with song – sung well!  I have a sensitive ear, and usually agree with Simon Cowell more than the other judges, but am glad I don’t have his job.

I sang relatively well, in younger years, as part of a large choir, in the back row because I was loud.  Choir directors loved having me in the group because I could keep my section on key, though one did inspect my mouth – and tell me it was deformed – and that’s why my voice is so heavy with too much vibrato.

Unlike Susan, I never dreamed of a professional singing career.  Like Susan, I knew my life dream at the age of 12.   Susan kept singing, I keep writing.  I haven’t hit a huge stage yet, but I’ve continued to work, learn, read and write, write, write, even though one writing teacher told me I should just give it up.

I wonder if anyone every told Susan that…

Reality TV

Our weekend property in Oregon has many similarities to the home we lived in, in New Jersey, while the girls were young.  It’s fun and nostalgic for them to visit us.  I’m still adjusting to this shift in our lives, and of visiting our girls, at their homes.

There’s no TV or internet access in our 5th wheel, and cell coverage is weak, so I learned about  Anthony Johnson’s – Solving Stonehenge when we got home.  This is my kind of research book and I will get and read it, but it’s currently only available in the UK, so I’ll have to wait.  Which means, I’ll focus on writing my stories and someday soon, connect with readers.  Dreams come true with action and work, not just hope.   Good stories need to be real.

Which leads to what’s called Reality TV, my personal favorite is Extreme Makeover because I’m all about building community and paying it forward.  Home and family, whatever that looks like to us as individuals, is the foundation we stand upon as we live life.   Some Reality TV shows are about competing for a prize, or a personal goal,  which is fine but if there’s no  benefit beyond money or sex, for one person, I don’t understand why anyone watches.  But Ed likes to flip channels.  Last night, he was most interested in, the TVLand awards.

The first honor that stood out to me was the awards to the Bundy Family, of “Married with Children”, as being an innovative show.   This was the show that wouldn’t die, on a network (FOX) that was considered the bastard child of television, at that time.    I love a good rebel story, a light nose punch on the acceptable norm, of societal correctness.

There were other honors and awards I thought were pretty cool.  But then, M*A*S*H was the focus, for its impact and value, for so many years.  This show was a combination of humor and drama, yet was also, the ultimate human reality show.  Alan Alda stated it clearly; what made the show powerful, to the actors and the audience, was the truth that real people lived these stories.  Rebels, misfits, conservatives, and the pompous politically correct, were melded into a family.  The conditions were extreme, and it was only a few years of their lives, yet embraced the heights and depths of humanity.

We need light entertainment too, laughs and tears, news and views, and TV gives us lots of that in sound bites, interspersed with product marketing.  I think TV is remaking itself, like all the industries in the country.  But it needs to consider its audience more.

An advertisement for a special antenna, to tap the new TV frequencies, tells viewers to check the company website for more information.  How will that work?  The viewer who can’t get TV signals, without this certain antenna, is expected to access the internet through a computer.  Time and money was assigned to this advertisement by educated people, yet no one considered how this ad could possibly reach a customer, interested in this product. But, it gave us a good laugh!

spiral down the stonehenge hole

The allergies are here, spring is in the air.  My primary defense is saline nasal spray.

When I feel cloudy and congested, there’s nothing like getting a spark of interest from something cool.  Like learning about instructions left for the post-apocalypse humans, in eight languages, on a huge monument in Georgia, completed in 1981.

I was in Georgia in 2007.  I saw Stonehenge in England for the first time in 2008.  Only tonight did I learn, there’s a connection.  There’s always something cool to me on Graham Hancock’s site,  but tonight I spiraled through articles and links, and printed a bunch of stuff to read.   Ed and I have visited the Maryhill Stonehenge a few times and I have a picture of him casting shadows on those stones, as the cover for a planned novel.  Maybe it’s a nudge to get busy.

So here’s what I found:  These are called the Georgia Guidestones, surrounded by mystery and decades of drama.  I printed the article and the 50 page guidebook.     I’m a writer, we love research.  Once I had paper copy, I was free to search more.  Another “Stonehenge” is in Salem, NH and then…  OMG!  They are all over America, built from fridges, foam and automobiles.   (The word, cars, didn’t have the resonance I wanted.)   Some are credited to artists, others to eccentrics.  Some are raised in a day, others take decades.

For some reason, they all have astronomical significance, at the spring equinox.

Except, I’m not sure about the astrological alignment of Carhenge, but it’s predecessor, Cadillac Ranch, does remind me of Easter Island…

Live long and prosper

Today was glorious, sunny, warm and wonderfully lazy.  I didn’t intend to play hooky but after a long and dreary winter, I wasn’t in the mood to stay indoors.  I was on the deck, flipping through the AAA Vista magazine, and noticed a mention of a Labyrinth at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Clackamas.  Though I can’t  remember what the first was, this was the second connection this morning, to this.  So after lunch I hopped in the car and drove to the hospital.

I wandered around outside the buildings, marveling once again, how nice hospitals are today in comparison to what they were 30 years ago.  (I’ve had enough hospital time, in recent years, as a visitor.)   I like following a hunch, and felt pretty sure I’d find the Labyrinth in a certain area.  I didn’t, and walked around the huge complex, asked some people, and then kept walking.  When I found it, I realized it was right where my earlier hunch was leading me, if only I’d explored a little farther.

It’s cute, and in a peaceful healing garden with pretty landscaping and water features.  I walked carefully around the path all the way to the center, then in reverse to the beginning.  I paused and relaxed then went home.  It was nice.

This evening was just as lazy, burgers on the grill, Ed and a buddy attempting to shoot hoops after dinner.  Watched some amazing singers perform on American Idol.  Watched some clips on TED and then checked Graham Hancock’s latest.  I found this site years ago, after reading Fingerprints of the Gods, and love the daily posts of random news items from around the globe, collected in one spot.

Rita Levi Montalcini turned 100 today and is still an actively working scientist.  What a classy lady.

Venice is going to turn invasive alge, into a fuel source.  Antartica ice is growing despite global warming, and the African Government is limiting its people by only allowing information about basic healthcare and fundamental education.

The Einstein Quote of the Day:  Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving.

Readers

On Saturday I attended the Readers Luncheon sponsored by RCRW. This is our annual tribute to romance readers and also a fundraiser for literacy.  It’s our first year as benefactors for Portland Literacy Council, they are thrilled to be affiliated with so many people with a passion for reading!

We learned, after  PLC tutors have helped students learn to read well enough to take their GED, there is also a $100 cost for the test.  PLC has a scholarship program set up to cover that cost.

Lucy Monroe, as our keynote speaker, stated she’d personally sponsor 5 students GED costs.  I know more were pledged.  There will also be a donation, from this fundraiser, and maybe 10 or more…  So 15-20 people in the Portland, Oregon area, who have recently learned to read, will also be able to earn their GED, because a bunch of ladies at a luncheon, love reading romance novels.  How cool is that?  Any questions why I love being part of this?

Lucy began talking about the benefit of romance novels, to avid romance readers, which is sort of like preaching to the choir.

Then she reminded us, romance novels are not only inspirational, educational and entertaining stories, but are requested -and donated to- our armed forces, so they can focus on a good story with an uplifting ending.  Romance novels (the non-erotic ones) are donated to prisons.  Romance novels (the more erotic ones) are used by relationship and marriage counselors, as fun tools for couples in trauma, to have more fun.

I remembered a girl in my speech class last year, asking me why it’s so hard for her to focus on a textbook chapter, and so easy for her to whip through a 400 page romance.  There was no surprise to me, when Lucy asked how many of us had learned something important about life and love, from reading a romance novel, and everyone present, raised their hand.

As a romance novelist, I dedicate about a year, to a story which translates to a few hours of a readers time.  Maybe it will be a story that inspires a reader to learn to read, or read more.  Maybe it will help a soldier, smile.  Maybe it will be a story someone takes to a hospital as a distraction while she, or a friend, or family member, is enduring chemo and needs a compelling distraction.

When my husband was terrified during his scans and spinal surgery three years ago, I sat beside him and read out loud…   he is once again, an arrogant alpha male, master of his destiny…  almost good enough to be a romantic hero…

Word Choices

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Strunk & White and Marc Acito posted a great tribute on NPR.

To begin editing my work-in-process novel, I did a search/replace of wimpy, lazy and passive words, making them all CAPS.  There are other words I know automatically fly through my fingers, beyond my control, and I’m blind to reading them on the page.  Now, when I see -JUST- 10 times in a paragraph, it jumps out at me.   It’s been two years since I last touched this novel and returning to college, and blogging, has improved my style.  I’m less likely now, to back into my sentences with passive clauses. 

My apologies  to all my fellow storytellers who plan to (or have already) take advantage of the 2012 Doom Machine and base dramas on the annihilation of Mother Earth and all humanity.  It was insensitive of me to reveal, in my review of the movie Knowing, that Armageddon is old news.

The good news is, there’s plenty of story conflict still available from pirates, natural disasters, drug cartels and nasty next door neighbors.   Vampires may be losing some appeal but other magical creatures are transforming from nightmares into heroic molds.

Tomorrow I’m attending a Readers Luncheon, sponsored by our chapter.   While I won’t say romance is “THE” life changing force, I’ll admit it is one I find most fun.  I’ll return home with a pile of to-be-read books and am pretty confident most will be grammatically correct and none will end with Armageddon.

Bragging

Kiernan 6 mos old

Kiernan arrived this morning with ears on so I had to take a picture.

He loves his saucer, it bounces and he can turn all the way around to play with each toy.  The bottom section is great for catching all the loose toys, teether, binky, etc.

In other news, he almost has a tooth,  is almost sitting, almost crawling.  Which means he is  also getting independent already.   He wants to be in the crib, holding his bottle, instead of snuggled in grammy’s arms.  Sigh!

Fun stuff

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  Einstein

This is a great quote for a writer because we review, edit, revise constantly, to obtain different results.  Shifting a comma or changing a suffix will obtain different results to a sentence or tense.    I didn’t see the personal connection of this quote, to my process today, until now.

An author has to grab the reader in the opening sentences and pages.  The middle of a novel has to deliver and twist on all the promises from the opening, to the end – a grand climax.  It’s appropriate the word used for a great ending and the pinnacle of a sexual encounter, are the same.  Endorphins are good.  The challenge for authors is called, the sagging middle.   Not to be confused with midriff paunch.

The sagging middle is not my issue – the midriff paunch is.  I work on my abs on grammy days with Kiernan, who gets bigger and heavier, daily.  But today was a total writing day and the first two hours were OK, working on the first chapter.   Then, for some reason, I went to The End, and began working forward, scene by scene.   It was wonderful, productive, fascinating work.

I’m energized after the most contemplative and peaceful Easter season I’ve ever known.  I can even share the feeling, because my brother sent me two links this week that show what the amazing human can do when we are young and what we can do when older.  The objective is not to let life sag, in the middle.

Knowing – the movie

I love Nicholas Cage, I’ve seen a dozen or more of his movies (there’s 60), and enjoy how he can be these very individual characters, while still being, himself.   The latest, Knowing -  Movie Trailer, is interesting.   Mr. Cage is a scientist, a widowed father, and emotionally wounded.   It was sad to see him as a victim, but he was unbroken, so I was totally involved in his wounded hero role.  This is probably the only thing that kept me seated.

I didn’t know it was another Armageddon movie.  How old news is that?

Fresh from two quarters in screenwriting classes, with many movie buffs in the class, I watched this movie from a different perspective.  It was good, scenes, moods, music, pacing, and surprises.   Some of the set pieces (and issues) are blatant stereotypes.  Nick Cage is so good at keeping the focus on the personal journey of the character, well, I was willing to forgive some of the Hollywood tripe.  Until, he became defensive, that his son, Calab has some hearing distortions, but isn’t hearing impaired.  This was so out-of-character, for the type of father Mr. Cage was portraying, I wanted to smack him.  Which shows my truth, I can’t remember the character’s name, portrayed by Nickolas Cage.  LOL!

The basic premise of the movie,  an alien race – I think its supposed to be the Pleadians – transmitted a message about disasters, in numbers, to a young girl.  Unfortunately her message was written on a piece of paper (and a door), that was to be locked into a time capsule for 50 years, opened only days before the final codes would transpire.   What was the point?   Advanced civilizations are so stupid they send message we’ll never get?  Unless, in the final moment, the right guy sets his drink on the few numbers, that will mean something to him, only to warn a select few there is no hope.

The biblical or moral points, of this story, are overly simplistic, barely good for a laugh.  The esoteric ending is exclusive, and demeaning, to the whole of humanity.   The final implosion, of earth from a solar flare, wasn’t very creative either.

I’m not sure what this movie is trying to sell.  Toyotas?  Trucks?  Smooth black river rocks?  The message that humans do not need to clean up their own mess on Mother Earth because the sun, is going to emit a huge solar flare, and do it for us?  Advanced species are so stupid they hide their messages in concrete for decades?

Fortunately, when we arrived home – after this movie date – Ed started channel surfing and found “My Cousin Vinnie” was just starting.   This is a story I will happily sit through, even with commercials.  Oh yeah!  Characters who make choices, control their own destiny, have goals, listen to others, benefit others, say “Thank you”.

People who learn, care, survive and transform, even in Mississippi mud…

Romances

“What is a Romance Novel”, was the topic, for my informative speech to my classmates, last year.   (I loved speech class because; 1. they listened, 2. no interrupting, 3. the questions showed they paid attention.)  It was fun to watch their expressions change from smug to surprised, as I showed the many faces of romance categories, through covers.  Jaws dropped when I shared the revenue numbers, and publishers income percentage, from these mid list novels.

A romance novel is defined as:  A compelling story, includes a dramatic romantic relationship, and has an uplifting ending.  For example:  The movie, “Die Hard” with Bruce Willis, has a classic romantic plot from the hero’s point of view.  His objective is to repair his relationship with his wife.  All the other stuff is the conflict that he has to overcome before he and his wife can leave, arm-in-arm, to celebrate.

The relationship game of a romance is different from other sporting competitions because of the focus on emotions.  There’s strategy, physical contact, and well matched opponents, but both hero and heroine have to win, in the end, with the uplifting emotional – aw!

My favorite historical romance author, is also a friend.  I read few historicals, but always hers.  I know it will be a delightful romp through Regency England with all the sights, smells, textures and pageantry – and the occasional reminder – of a chamber pot.

Confessions of A Little Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle is set in 1814, amid wardrobe trunks and carriages, at a huge country estate, with an army of servants and delectable banquets.  Tally is the irrepressible minx, Larken the mysterious stranger, and the game begins for the reader, to see how these two will achieve that wonder of love together.  This is how it will end, or the author has broken the trust, with the reader.

What Elizabeth does so well, with her style and voice, is engage the reader so closely into a delicate reveal of who these two are – in this romantic journey – and how they impact each other through the many layers of transformation, separately and together.  Once the reader is emotionally invested in Tally and Larken’s flaws and dreams, the story and drama broadens with the clarity these two have, of this fragile thing called life, in their time.

There’s a war, sinister forces close in the shadows, and a conundrum between loyalty to king and country or a former friend. Plagues and death in childbirth are common, which enhances the desire for a passion filled life, as long as you live, because it might be really short.

The awareness to savor the fun of play, is as important a message today, as Tally and Larken learn it in Regency England.  As the story ends, some of the players lost, some are dead, one is fleeing for his life, spies, war, death and shadows are still lurking, but Tally and Larken enjoy a romantic tryst in the sunlight.  Aw!

For other reviews that discuss the story, check out Amazon.com.

Next month it will be “a Scandalous Red Dress”.

Shedding the Chrysalis

This is the phrase my brother Rick used, for how he felt, regarding his 60th birthday.  He’s retired, but working to keep his certifications current, while waiting until his wife is eligible to retire.  Their children are grown, Rick feels no need for putting down roots, and is living a very simple lifestyle.   He’s not pleased at the prospect of growing old, but prefers it to the alternative of being dead.  I think there are more options.

Since it was a granny day today, I flipped through the magazine pile on my kitchen table.  Susy Welch has published a new decision strategy called 10-10-10.  I haven’t read the book but the write up about it states, to look at how the decision you are considering will affect your life in 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years – and then decide.

We had a similar rule, that Mom taught us to use, before getting into an argument about something.   Mom’s advice was, if you can see this may have an impact on your life, five years from now, get in there and fight to win.  Otherwise, state your truths, agree to disagree, and let it go.  Unfortunately, there have been a few times when I looked back and realized, I should have taken a stronger stand, five years ago. 

That leads me to the other article I found interesting, Wisdom of the Elders, that shows other alternatives between getting old or being dead.

My brother Rick at 60, is healthier physically, mentally and spiritually, than many men, at any age.  He’s “shed the chrysalis” of his life to transform into something new, and vibrant, in his own past, more than once.  This time is different, he’s not shedding the old because he’s found something new.  Now he knows he’s complete with the “old”, and not sure what the “new” may look like, yet knows it’s something only he can create – because it is – his life.

It’s a little over two years since our parents estate was settled in entirety.  Rick retired and entered a very adventurous year, then settled into his current job and lifestyle.  I simply shed the chrysalis of 4-door sedans and mini-vans.  Yesterday I had Ed take a picture of me and my 3-yr-old car.

Tiberon mean Shark in Spanish, I don’t know what it means in Korean, but this sporty car was manufactured in Kentucky, USA.  This Shark gets 33 mpg on highways and 28 when running errands.  I love having the speed and control, as needed, or on back country roads!

The grandsons love it too!

I am very fortunate to know, I wanna-be, a romance novelist.    I’ll explain what that means to me, tomorrow, as I share Elizabeth Boyle’s lastest delight for her readers!

Enjoy!

This is a must see from the Antwerp Train Station - it was posted on two of my fav blogs.

Double click on the video, then again, you’ll want to see this in full screen.  Turn up the sound!   Ed and I were in Salzburg this past July and took the Sound of Music Tour.  Loved it.

Interactive Books?

The world of publishing is fascinating to me.  My first impression, as a business professional, was that the business model of publishing was so random and improbable, it didn’t compute!  After all these years with insider information, I still don’t understand, how it works, but am content to know it needs people like me, writers. 

I got my first peak inside the hallowed halls in the mid 1990′s, as a member of NJRW.  This is one of the largest chapters of RWA, and where a newbie, unpublished writer (me), could easily find herself chatting with agents and editors from New York.  This was my first taste of the “higher echelon” in the publishing world and I was too new to be intimidated or inspired.  Sure, they dressed better than I did, but they were all friendly, knowledgeable and loved talking the business.

I first heard about ebooks and electronic publishing when I joined WW after we moved to Oregon.  My day job was in front of a computer screen, so I was not interested in the concept of ebooks.  I was learning how to write narrative non-fiction but wasn’t finding the joy, in the literary world, that I tasted in the romance world.  After 9/11/01, I returned to romance and the joy of creating story.

Though I’ve focused on writing memoir these past three years, (and returning to college) I remained connected to the romance/publishing world.    Today I read  that Harlequin Books is partnering with Big Fish Games.  Harlequin is going to publish books based on Big Fish games and Big Fish is going to create games based on Harlequin Presents books.  How cool is that?   Interactive, graphic, stories.  A step beyond the ebook or the new video trailers used to promo novels.

Granted, these are not ‘my type’ of stories/games, I play Spider Solitare and prefer hardcover books.  But I have grandsons now, have purused the Manga shelves in bookstores, and did a workshop last spring on graphic novels – very different than ‘comic books’!

I’m positive the wonder and connection of sitting by the fire with a dynamic story, turning pages, will be in my grandson’s futures.  (Busy towns became deserted the day after the latest Harry Potter book hit the stands.)  I love all forms of story and know it is the one-on-one connection between author and reader that transports the imagination.   However that looks, or whatever format new readers begin the journey, doesn’t matter.

The opportunity for international stories in my grandson’s future is amazing.

Where’s the Sun?

It’s been damp and dreary so far this spring – and I’m really desperate for sunny days!  Fortunately, 5 1/2 month-old, Kiernan is a delight 3 days a week.  Scroll down to “Picture Day” to see our darling.

If you’re a writer, T. J. MacGregor has posted the April astrological blurbs.

For Historical Romance lovers, Elizabeth Boyle’s latest hit the stands yesterday, another book will be out next month, and they’re connected stories.

My writing routine is starting to stabilize, though I did get distracted helping a daughter with her credit issues today.  <Sigh.>  Now that my memoir is done, I’m researching and querying agents and spending most of my web surfing time on that.  Which is fun for me, but not unearthing anything fun to share.

I did read that Mitch Albom has a new non-fiction book scheduled to be out in September.   He wrote Tuesday’s with Morrie and my daughter’s say my memoir, of their grandparents, begins where “Morrie” ends, but is a lot more fun.  Hmm…  I wonder if his agent wants another client.