I have signed up for NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month. For the month of November, I will be attempting to write my mystery/romance novel. (I have been providing snipets of it on my blog under Hillside/Nate/Anna). I don't have the title yet; I'm hoping it will become evident as I write the story.
The synopsis is:
NATE vows to never love again after his marriage proposal is rudely rebuked. Now, 10 years later, he is drawn to a 100- year old portrait of a beautiful young girl named ANNA. She speaks to him through his dreams. As he rushes to free her from the spell trapping her, he discovers his self confidence, his ability to love again, and his one true soul mate.
I may be absent from the site while I push forward to write 50,000 words of this story in November.
If something strikes my fancy, and I think its worth sharing, I'll let you know.
I'll be back soon. In the mean time, please look back at some of the posts/stories/prompts/poetry I have written. If you see something you are particularly taken with, please let me know! Thanks for following along!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Nate and his mother Elizabeth
“Your lunch is ready Mother,” Nate said walking in from the kitchen. Elizabeth sat in a high backed upholstered chair at her oak writing desk in the corner of the living room. The small ornate antique desk had been passed down for several generations, and his mother had used it as her writing desk for as far back as he could remember.
“Lunch?” she said. “But, I’m not a bit hungry.”
“It’s past noon. I came in from the gardens just to fix us something to eat.”
“In a minute. I’ll just sit here for awhile longer, Nate.”
Nate shook his head. “I’ll leave your sandwich on the kitchen table. Don’t forget it’s there.”
Nate knew she often sat at her desk when she felt confused. It seemed to comfort her to sort through the cubicles and drawers. He didn’t know what she was looking for, she didn’t seem to either. But daily, she carefully took everything out, sorted through it and put it back in place.
He had asked if he could help her find something. She would smile sadly as if lost in an old memory and say, “No, it’s just keeping a secret from me,” and go back to sorting through a stack of papers.
Alzheimer’s disease had robbed her of many of her skills and precious memories. He had watched the roles reverse over the last five years to the point where he was doing all the household chores and meal preparation. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could care for her on his own in their cottage.
“Lunch?” she said. “But, I’m not a bit hungry.”
“It’s past noon. I came in from the gardens just to fix us something to eat.”
“In a minute. I’ll just sit here for awhile longer, Nate.”
Nate shook his head. “I’ll leave your sandwich on the kitchen table. Don’t forget it’s there.”
Nate knew she often sat at her desk when she felt confused. It seemed to comfort her to sort through the cubicles and drawers. He didn’t know what she was looking for, she didn’t seem to either. But daily, she carefully took everything out, sorted through it and put it back in place.
He had asked if he could help her find something. She would smile sadly as if lost in an old memory and say, “No, it’s just keeping a secret from me,” and go back to sorting through a stack of papers.
Alzheimer’s disease had robbed her of many of her skills and precious memories. He had watched the roles reverse over the last five years to the point where he was doing all the household chores and meal preparation. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could care for her on his own in their cottage.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Nate and Anna meet
Nate was exhausted from his busy day at work, so the moment his head touched the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep. In his dream he was in the meadow at Hillside Museum working to clear the walking trail. He looked up to see her standing at the end of the path, ethereal in her flowing purple cape.
“I told you I would come,” she said. “Didn’t you believe me?”
She sounded just as he imagined. He moved toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. “No, I didn’t believe you. I don’t believe any of this. Why are you here?”
“You are my soul mate, my one love throughout time. Together we are complete,” she replied.
Nate touched her cheek and felt the start of a memory, just out of reach.
He closed his eyes trying to pull it forward, then felt the touch of her lips on his and breathed the scent of lilacs. An image from the past flickered in his mind, then disappeared.
“You are my chosen one,” she said. “And I need your help.”
"I can't even help myself," he said grimly, pulling himself back. "What makes you think I can help you?"
“I told you I would come,” she said. “Didn’t you believe me?”
She sounded just as he imagined. He moved toward her, his eyes never leaving her face. “No, I didn’t believe you. I don’t believe any of this. Why are you here?”
“You are my soul mate, my one love throughout time. Together we are complete,” she replied.
Nate touched her cheek and felt the start of a memory, just out of reach.
He closed his eyes trying to pull it forward, then felt the touch of her lips on his and breathed the scent of lilacs. An image from the past flickered in his mind, then disappeared.
“You are my chosen one,” she said. “And I need your help.”
"I can't even help myself," he said grimly, pulling himself back. "What makes you think I can help you?"
Thursday, October 14, 2010
storyfix.com
I have this site on my list of favorites and read it every time he posts something new. The author is down to earth and informative (and from Portland, Oregon). I think I saw him on Dayners site. His latest post is a good one and it is worth looking at to reconfirm what basic elements need to be in your story (the six core competencies of successful writing/storytelling). Then for a real treat, click on the short video at the end of his post. It is simply wonderful how the creator of the video has taken a reminder that usually shown in a negative light and made it a positive. Make sure you have the sound on!
http://storyfix.com/
http://storyfix.com/
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Nate and Anna
Something drew him back to stand in front of the portrait tonight. His mind had wandered all day thinking about her. She was just a girl in a picture. But he swore he heard her in his mind. No, he was sure of it. What was she trying to tell him?
Her skin looked so soft. He reached out to touch the portrait. For just an instant he could feel the velvety softness of her cheek, and the wetness of her tears. Soft lilac breath blew across his face.
“What the..?” He jerked his hand back and stared at her face. This was madness.
She had felt his touch as his hand caressed her cheek. It was heaven, even if it was for only a moment. She had to find a way to convince him they were soul mates, lovers through out time, meant to be together.
“I’ll come to you in your dreams tonight,” she said in a whisper. “Then you will know I must be yours.”
Her skin looked so soft. He reached out to touch the portrait. For just an instant he could feel the velvety softness of her cheek, and the wetness of her tears. Soft lilac breath blew across his face.
“What the..?” He jerked his hand back and stared at her face. This was madness.
She had felt his touch as his hand caressed her cheek. It was heaven, even if it was for only a moment. She had to find a way to convince him they were soul mates, lovers through out time, meant to be together.
“I’ll come to you in your dreams tonight,” she said in a whisper. “Then you will know I must be yours.”
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Addie's Poem "Pencils"
My 9 year old granddaughter Addie has written her first poem and has given me permission to post it on my blog. I am so proud of her!
PENCILS
pencils
you can
you can
write a
paper
that is
1,000
words long
it will
never
satisfy
your pencil
he will want
to write
more
and
more
you will
never satisfy your pencil
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Birthday Wine Country Tour
Took a drive to wine country on Saturday. Stopped at a few wineries to do a bit of tasting and chatting with the wine makers. Came home with a some really great bottles of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer from Montinore Estate (http://www.montinore.com/) and Pinot Noir from Patton Valley Winery (http://www.pattonvalley.com/) in Gaston, Oregon.
We also visited Anne Amie Winery in Carlton, Oregon (http://www.anneamie.com/) where we enjoyed awesome views from their terrace. This is the view driving up the hill to the winery.
And this is a view from the winery looking west. That is the coast range in the distance.
We asked another visitor to take this picture of Cris and I celebrating my birthday on the terrace at Anne Amie Winery. It was a beautiful afternoon and I didn't feel a day older!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Alone at Night
This is my response to Ann Linquist's challenge to write using "Standing in the kitchen, late at night" as the beginning sentence.
Standing in the kitchen
Standing in the kitchen
Late at night
Awakened from sleep
By a beam of light
Motion sensor, all knowing
In the dark it sees
The dance of branches
In the Cypress trees
Its light shadow shows
Upon my wall
Just above my bed
Like a wake up call
On and off it goes
All night long
While the wind careens
And bellows its song
Not a deer or raccoon
Nor person there
Just the show-off wind
Playing power games without care
House safe and secured
For the rest of the night
I’ll try once more for sleep
Knowing everything is alright
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