Supposed to be…

Events will roll over us sometimes, changing our plans, creating a new direction.  For most of the past year Ed and I planned to be where we were supposed to be -  at a family reunion party – celebrating the 60th anniversary of his parents coming to America.  But recently, it looked like, this was not the most auspicious choice.  As soon as the thought took hold, that maybe we should miss this event, things happened.

These things were important, for Ed’s career, and our family.  While it is important to honor the history of what was, it’s also a choice to celebrate who we are today.   Ed’s an integral player, in a team of three, and he spent the week and weekend focusing on how best to reorganize a business model that directly affects many.  I hosted a family party in honor of our youngest daughter turning 20!

Our youngest lives out of town, arrived late the night before, and was barely awake when she hugged her dad goodbye, and he left.   Ed actually did some cool things for the weekend, and doesn’t relax well when there is a massive family party in our home.  So it worked out great!

The party was wild and disrupted my home with lots of friends and family for two whole days.  I savored the family energy, initiated 12 years ago, when Ed and I moved to Oregon.  It’s cool there were NEW things this weekend, including a baby, a mini-van, a pop-up camper, and a  promotion.  The baby and mini-van are for a niece, and nephew, the camper and promotion happened to two of my daughters.  Also cool, was the new men who have entered our family.  One bought the camper, another grilled the ribs for the party.  When you have daughters, men appear!

I also had personal fun, and spent an hour at a Writer’s Fair on Saturday afternoon, where some of my friends were attending authors.  I re-met the woman I will be sleeping with, at a conference, in October.  We’ve met before, couldn’t place the name with the face, but agreed to be part of 4 that would share one room.  We all laughed and discussed what we’ll wear, when we share a bed, for the weekend.

Later, at the 20th birthday party, after tons of food, my astrologer sister stated the current eclipse cycle in the stars is activating a former one, from 1991.  This is good because, what was in place then, is  finally coming to the forefront.  I know what that means for me, and yet, intention and planetary energies are not easy to define.

Ed is only two days older than Michael Jackson.  Gary, Indiana and East Cleveland, Ohio are in spitting distance on a global scale.  There was a potent stellium of planets 50 years ago, and I’ve come to understand the huge influence of choices.  Every time something happend in my life, initiated by Ed, there was always something about Wacko Jacko in the news.  Of course, he didn’t become Wacko Jacko until he turned 40, and during those years, Ed was a bit wacko too.

Now, with Michael Jackson’s demise from this earth, I can again celebrate the music that transformed my youth, and that of my daughters.  I listened to my daughters talk about their dad, since he wasn’t here this weekend, and their memories differ.  The two oldest remember their dad best from New Jersey, the younger two remember him best from Oregon.  And I remember the guy I fell in love with, whose parents were WWII refugees from Slovenia.

It’s really cool to be where I am “supposed to be”.

Journeys

A journey can begin without going anywhere, and instead, taking stock with what is.  Many, myself included, have recently had issues from our past, resurface.  One friend had a traumatic relationship, long over, and she moved on, created a wonderful life.  Yet seeing that person again, years later, triggered all sorts of insecurities that made no sense.   All of my daughters have made new decisions, or altered their perspectives, on issues they’ve resisted.

This shows how we are connected to energies of unrest and transformation taking place on a global scale.

For myself, I faced my professional skills and successes in the business world.  This was a potent issue for me because; being part of a dynamic team, working on fascinating projects, and getting a great paycheck, has an instant gratification scale.  Being self-disciplined while slogging through, alone, a total rewrite of a book, that is not under contract, lacks a tangible weekly reward for work completed.

The journey of living often gives us moments to reassess.   So I will.  I like having “pin money” I earned myself.  Maybe I’ll do Tarot readings for the characters of friends current books in process.  I’ve done that in the past and it was tons of fun and really helped them past “writers block” and enhanced their plot development.  I like sharing my talents.   Which is also why I like posting cool links I come across…

Kathie Snow has completely redesigned her website.  I love her articles because her common sense is powerful for anyone.   Elizabeth Boyle posted a link to Mary-Frances Makichen’s What’s Your Legacy post.  Minnette Meador’s StarSight books are available for half price.   Tess Gerritsen shared that books are still being “banned“.  The list of banned books is endless and this type of publicity usually increases sales. 

Deb Stover posted pictures of her granddaughter Bella and a comparrison photo of “Grandpa”.  There’s lots of cool posts and links at Synchronicity and that book proposal is now under contract.    I think Rob’s Indiana Jones book will also be available someday.

Lately, I’ve been called to share my personal insights on numbers, so if you have any number related questions, like you keep seeing certain numbers on clocks, license plates or wherever, feel free to ask and I’ll share what I’ve learned.

Happy Solstice

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, and today a new moon.  I gathered up all my crystals and gems to set in the noon sun for an hour.  I usually leave them out in the full moon all night but it’s been months since I’ve done that so hope the stronger sun energy has cleansed them.  I did a Feng Shui evaluation and adjustment of my kitchen last month which has made the meal/clean process simple and fun.   The details of living should be fun so we bring good energy to our work, and my work includes dancing with my muse, who likes to cha-cha when I’m trying to waltz.

I planned to read TJ MacGregor’s The Seventh Sense as a reward, when I completed rewrites of my current story, but was compelled to read this thriller, this past weekend.  It’s always good for a writer to read an award winning and very prolific author, even if it isn’t a story I would normally choose.

For the first 106 pages I was able to keep an objective distance from the horrors and drama, and focused on T.J.’s craftsmanship as a novelist.   But then I was sucked into the story completely, even the characters that made my skin crawl were too compelling.  I savored scenes were I could feel the grass or ocean breezes, and was also transported within the psyche of rage, wandered the delights of dementia, and initiated into using skills obtained after death.

I’m not sure what reading thrillers will do to my own stories, but it was fascinating that while I was reading T.J.’s book, I learned from their blog, that she was in my neighborhood.  Alas, we have yet to meet.  But she’s written many books I have yet to read.

Checklists

Today I was reminded there are checklists for pilots, computer techs, nurses, gardeners, etc., and writers.

Jessa Slade posted “Learning is a lifelong challenge,…” and it reminded me how I state the same truth to more than writers.  Jessa and I were attendees at an awesome workshop on Saturday by Amy Danicic;  Plotting: Pantsers to Perfectionists. In the journey of fiction writing, many begin as pantsers and avoid plotting.  Others plot to the death and forget to write.  Those that learn to balance the two, have a chance for publication.  Other requirements are understanding story, good grammar , an exceptional love of the flavor of words, and the determination to not quit.

On Jane Porter’s Blog, guest writer Julie Brannagh listed a few success stories of those who had plenty of motivation to quit, but didn’t.  If the desire is nourished and the effort is made, eventually the keys to the kingdom of dreams can be found.  For Barb, one key may be correct formatting. For me, Amy’s workshop on Saturday was a checklist to plotting conflict.  This checklist, assigned to my novel-in-process, has made me shift the point-of-view character to the one with the most to lose.  Truly, this is a DUH!  Everyone knows that!  Except it’s a story I wrote a few years ago, from the perspective of the heroine, not realizing until today, the hero has a stronger drama.

The joy of writing begins now, the work ahead is long and arduous, but the characters are talking to me, the scenes are flowing in my head, and I really like the sparks that fly!   This is what a reader wants, a story that sparkles.  I know there are checklists and grammar rules, and the lifelong journey for a writer is to make those invisible, and focus on the connection between story and reader.

Creating Story

I’m inspired to pull up my boots and slog through the recreation of my novel.  It was put on hold a few years ago and pulled out a few months ago to use for my screenwriting class.  What inspired me?  A great book.

Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle is the 4th of The Bachelor Chronicles.   I adored this book, laughed, felt a personal connection, and could see all the layers of story beneath the words.  That’s what makes a great book, when timeless truths are rippling beneath the sass and adventures.

Slipping back and forth in time between 1814 and 1837, the doomed romance of Pippin and Dash is challenged through war, treason, distance, secrets, and alcoholism.  Dash’s long-hidden wounds and despair make him a less than appealing hero.  Pippin’s secrets and sacrifice are also weighty burdens to overcome.   Fortunately the love and passion is still there, and Pippin and Dash are trapped for weeks on ship which offers little chance to escape from the other.  Love wins in the end (or it wouldn’t be a romance) but the way issues are faced, and the transformations created, were delightful surprises and twists, and highly satisfying.

What really inspired me is, I pulled the first book of the series, This Rake of Mine, off my bookshelf, read through the first 50 pages, and marveled at how easily, as a reader, I was introduced to so much STORY and so many characters, now developed into books of their own, within 50 pages!   This is why she’s a “bestseller”.  A novelist has to master both the craft of story and the clarity of writing.

As happens, as I re-enter the work zone of writing a novel, agents Kristen and Nathan posted about their desire for new writers to learn the craft before submitting for (or dreaming of) publication.  Personally, I was a technical and business writer for years.  Few would consider applying for a job as a tech writer without a little training or classes, yet I know it is much easier than crafting a novel.

A good book inspires me to excel at my craft, and I will take a break and reward myself for the work I do, with a good book or two, that are already waiting on my To-Be-Read pile…

StarSight Vol. I and Vol. II

StarSight Vol. I & Vol II by Minnette Meador are a fantasy adventure of classic potential.  It includes a world map of locations (I love maps!), the writing is visual and grants a texture of this world for the reader to really sink into.

Volume I introduces a guider, Trenara, who has visions and a crystal staff that grants magical power through musical notes, sung with perfect pitch.   Trenara is mentor to Prince Joshan, and both are beloved by all.  We meet them, taking a favorite adventure through their world, which is on the verge of trauma (of course!).   Primary characters are introduced subtly, and past events that shape the story of the moment, are presented with a full spectrum of texture and emotion that is sometimes poetic, and weaves all the stories into a tapestry.

The primary dilemma Trenara faces is turning Joshan into a Messiah, not what she wants to do, and something a ten-year-old boy has little desire to attain.  Even though Joshan magically ages ten years in one night, and has the support of some delightfully crusty characters in Haiden, Vanderliden and the rebel Sark, the ancient evil is already in power and creating havoc through the world.  Through battles, deceit and despair, the “good” win in the end and Joshan has become both Emperor and Messiah for his people.  BUT!  The evil is not defeated….

StarSight II begins as if turning the page in time.  (I had a two week lapse until getting Vol. II.  I recommend getting them both at the same time!)   The victorious and magical team begin the journey to meet and defeat the evil Sirdar, by starting at the Isle of Mathisma, the sanctum of all knowledge and home base of the crystal of power.

As is Vol. I, the stories are vibrant with color and song, unique magic and interweaving stories.  But where Vol. II excels is delving deeper into the darkness festering, even within the empire of light.  There are scary things where the “good” has dwelled for thousands of years.  As the keepers of the magic implode under darker powers, scarier visions take hold of the heroes boldly going where they fear to tread.  The story evolves and explodes.   Not only does the reader begin to doubt the “good”, but are shown the “evil” as potentially preferred.

Past stories weave the tapestry, and dig deeper into magic, tamper with judging which is good or evil, and a potential twist that could show all the battles as having been – for naught.  As a reader, I couldn’t put it down, couldn’t figure out which way the tides would turn, began to feel sympathy for Sirdar (evil) and was horrified at some of the good choices.   Characters on the good side in Vol I, are revealed as not, in Vol II.  Fortunately, the battles are dealt with in quick slices of horror and gore, then the reader is plowed through the carnage, as the story continues…

I read more on philosophies, science, human history and cultures, than current fantasy novels.  This is why these two of Minnette’s books generated a personal connection with me.   In her world building, and the challenges characters face, I could see many mirrors to different spiritual and cultural touches, for humanity.  Yet no one “power” reigned supreme once all the “good” people united with dignity and a common goal.

The ending was fulfilling, surprising and really sealed my fate.  I have no choice but to begin at the beginning, and read this series again.  It is that good.

Happy reading!

A nice day

How often do we have a day, where everything just sort of flows?  That was today, for me.  Beautiful weather and a happy grandson crawling around my house, playing with his toys.  I had productive hours putting together the genealogy of the characters for my novel.  Dinner was tasty, and clean up quick, followed by two hours wandering car lots while Ed debated the merits of upgrading our truck, with polite salesmen.

Days like these, where everything just sort of flows, should be treasured.  They are the proof to hold on to – that – life is not always a struggle, full of conflict and drama.  It’s a choice, to see the simplicity that can be.  This showed up in some of the internet cruising I did tonight.  Take a fun ride with me…

From the Graham Hancock site posts I learned tidal energy can be tapped, a jellyfish appeared as a Crop Circle and the latest Dalai Lama is learning to be a teenager.  Personally, I think the last bit is more interesting.  I like kids having a chance to be kids.  Maybe this potential religious leader will be able to relate more to his generation, they are the future of his country.

In other news:  Trish posted the June astrological forecasts for writers.  I’ve only followed these posts a few months and see validity in the dates she targets.  My Mercury retrograde is happily over…

Elizabeth Boyle is recovering from P-Nome-E-Ah and got a wonderful request for books from a library in NC. I love libraries too, and am sure donations of books would be welcome from those of us that are not bestselling novelists.  Recycling books, to library shelves, is a great way to share the wealth of stories, that enrich lives.

Another Nice Day post was from literary agent Kristen, who liked a book was bought for big money, because of what it’s not.   As a savvy reader, who puts many books back on the shelves, this was refreshing.

The best part of today, was taking a Facebook quiz my youngest posted, to see how well I know my daughter.  I didn’t get a perfect score but did score higher than the guy who has been significant in her life the past few years.  Ha!

On Screen

The 2009 Star Trek has revived Gene Roddenberry’s vision with the latest visual effects, new flavors to iconic characters and a new signature world.   I really like the shifts to these characters, that differs from the original characterizations.  There’s potential for a whole new brand of Trekkies!  I clearly remember the Captain Pike story from the TV show, which was supposed to be the pilot episode, and now wonder what the new story may be.  How fun!

We saw Angels and Demons two weeks ago and enjoyed how well the movie represented the book.  While the movie does take creative license with a few major story points, merges a few others (and totally drops some biggies!), the movie is good.  Seeing the actual statues and chapels, especially having been in Rome last summer, is a huge plus!

I haven’t followed the Hollywood industry news but assume it’s in a state of flux comparable to the music and book industries.  In recent years there seemed little more than badly done remakes, but these two movies give me hope.  They are good stories, presented well, with good writers and talented actors.  The key may be, since the original stories were so good, the bar was raised pretty high.  Which raised the level of excellence required.

“Good enough” -  is not.

These two movies, in my opinion, are great.  Go.  Watch.  Enjoy!