Friday, December 20, 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

View my Guest Post on Scribbleweed

I was given the opportunity (thanks Kelley) to author a short guest post on writing what you know. You can see it here with the intro and pictures or read it below.



 “You make something from things that have happened and from things that exist and from all things that you know and all those you cannot know, and you make something through your invention that is truer than anything true and alive, and if you make it well enough, you give it immortality.”  Ernest Hemingway

As writers, we draw bits and pieces from real life experiences and people we know to enhance our fiction. The feel of sand between our toes, the sting of the scrape on our knee, or the taste of Grandma's fresh baked apple pie can be used to bring the reader along on the journey that is our story. Even if you haven’t had the exact experience, you’ve most likely had one that’s generated a specific feeling or emotion that can bring your story alive for the reader.

Perhaps you have inside knowledge from your job or occupation that can be entwined in your story. I’m currently using my background as a pharmacist to craft a story about the dangers of counterfeit drugs.

Whether you’ve written memoirs, have notes scribbled on bits of paper tucked away in your desk, or are a dedicated journal writer, you have a wealth of observations and descriptions that can be used in your writing. Your villain could wear the particularly odd clothes your Uncle Fred used to wear. Or your female protagonist, when under stress, could utter the same thing your mother used to say. 

The free-writing spontaneity of journaling provides great fodder for ideas and may bring out other memories stored in your subconscious. Something mundane you wrote about six months ago could be perfect for your work in progress today if you add a new setting, twist, character, or dilemma. 

We are all observers, interpreters, and recorders of life around us, it’s no wonder there are elements of our lives in the stories we write.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Witches






Nimble of flight
Masters of fright
Witches, Goblins, Ghouls.

Hovering high
Hearing her cry
Mortals, Humans, Fools.

Trembling earth
Not knowing its worth
Sorcerer, Ritual, Spell.

What is her fate?
Perhaps it’s too late.
Demon, Devil, Hell.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

My Summer Project - The Guest House

When we purchased our home ten years ago, there was a one bedroom guest house behind the main house. It was home to the grandmother for the previous owners. Our daughter moved into it as she was pregnant, had a two year old, and a husband in Iraq. She lived there for a year before Jason returned and they found an apartment close to his job. (We loved having them there, by the way!!)

Over the next eight years, the guest house was home to the outside patio furniture in the winter, exercise equipment, car parts, storage of whatnot, and a place for the kids, grandkids, and relatives to stay when they visited.

I decided this spring/summer a major redo was in order.

                                                                  BEFORE:




We removed the stove (it didn't work reliably) and the cabinets above it and donated the furniture to my brother in law. I moved the patio furniture outdoors, took out the old light fixtures, and PAINTED all the walls. I tried my hand at faux-painting one wall. Cris build and I painted new wood trim around the doors and installed new light fixtures. The carpet was gross (did I mention the car parts/an engine that were stored there?), so it came out. We had new laminate flooring installed that is kid and dog friendly. Then the fun part began! I picked out furniture, some new (a hide-a-bed sofa for the living room so there are two beds) and some at antique/resale stores, added artwork and other interesting stuff to make it homey. It was complete by the first of August!

                                                             AFTER:






Its available for anyone who wants to venture to Warren, Oregon for a visit! Y'all come now!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Check out Scribbleweed - a new blog by a writing friend



All Writers - check out my friend's new blog "Scribbleweed" http://www.scribbleweed.com/ 
The link is also on the sidebar as one of the blogs I follow.

Kelley is a writer of Young Adult fiction and a stay-at-home mom with a passion for writing and teaching. Her bio says, she is a YA fantasy novelist from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She is currently in the “somebody kill me” editing process of her debut novel, The Halcyon. When she isn’t banging her head on her keyboard she is most likely spending time with her family, hiking in a forest, or killing a plant in the garden. She is someone you should contact. Immediately. For no reason other than to say, “You’re not the only crazy writer out there!”"

Her first prompt is to write a 300 word flash fiction using all five senses. I'm working on mine now - how about you? Practicing our writing skills is a great boost!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Sunshine Award



The Sunshine Award is a lovely sunny flower that bloggers give to other “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere”.

sunshine award


Thanks to Dana Mason, the amazing author/blogger who passed the award to me. Check out her blog post here: http://danamasonromance.com/blog/

As with most awards, the Sunshine Award comes with a few simple rules:

(1) Thank the person who gave you the award in your blog post.
(2) Do the Q&A below
(3) Pass on the award to deserving and inspiring bloggers, inform them and link to their blogs.

Here are my answers to the questions:

Favorite Color:  Green – the color of all growing things. 


Favorite Animal: My kitties Bella and Maya. Maya just turned 19 last month and Bella will turn 20 in July. They are mere images of themselves in the earlier years, but precious and lovable even still.  

Favorite Number: Hum… How about 10. As in $10.00!

Favorite Non-alcoholic Drink: Hot tea (Earl Grey, if you please) and good ol’ water!

Facebook or Twitter: I just signed up for twitter and am still getting familiar with it. Looks like a lot of work to keep up with, but I’ll keep plugging away at it. I spend WAY TOO MUCH time on Facebook. 

Your Passion: My eight grandkids (the oldest and the youngest not in the picture)

my garden,

and my writing!


Giving or getting presents: With eight grandkids, there are a lot of presents to buy! It’s fun figuring out the best gift for each one. I love surprising my husband, too. And yep, I love receiving presents!
Favorite Day: Since I’m retired, EVERY day is a great day!

Favorite Flowers: Some of my favorite flowers are clematis, roses, delphiniums,  lupine, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, peonies, and dahlias, all of which are in my garden.

Finally, these are a few fantastic bloggers I’m tagging for this award. They have each taught me invaluable lessons and inspired me to keep writing.


Gabriela Pereira  http://diymfa.com/
Julie Larson  http://www.storystar.com/

 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Excited to share Dana Mason's new book release - "Precious Embrace" on July 11th


I got to be a beta reader for this book, her second in the series (Dangerous Embrace was the first) and I loved it. A great love story with an edge. Check it out!!


 “A new love, a missing child, a family found.”


Synopsis:
A second divorce and a new baby wasn’t the vision Alison Hayes had for her future. Now a single mother with two young boys, she wants to focus on her kids and what’s left of her stagnant career.
When Detective Johnny Rhay Bennett breezes into her life with his country-boy accent, she wants to run. She doesn’t need another man in her life, or another reason to make people talk. But when her worst nightmare becomes a reality, Johnny is the only person who can pull Ali out of her despair, forcing her to stay strong and not give up hope of finding her missing child.
~~~
Who falls in love after a one-night stand? Johnny Rhay doesn’t believe it’s possible until it happens to him. With Nashville in his rear-view mirror, he’s determined to convince Alison she loves him too, even if it means moving to the West Coast.
Ali’s not easy, and she’s living on just this side of bitter after her divorce, but Johnny doesn’t care. He’s up for the challenge. At least, he believes he’s up for it until baby Micah is stolen right out from under his nose. Now Johnny has to keep it together and get that sweet little boy home safe before his dreams of having a family vanish too.



Author info:

Dana Mason starting writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace is the first in a contemporary romance series about a group of friends from Northern California who learn just how short life can be when you don’t hold on to what’s important.

When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art’s Council and does what she can to support the art community.



Cover Designer: Okay Creations http://www.okaycreations.com/