Saturday, January 31, 2015

Steward Setback Saturday: Why the IVA is not Buying "Bryony"


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Why the Irish Vampire Association is not Buying "Bryony"

A message from Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara:


Remember the IVA's demands for the books release?

Jugding by the book's exclusion from the best sellers' list, I think it's obvious that the IVA is not buying the book for equally obvious reasons. For those who are not IVA members, I'll explain the paradox.

The burden of secrecy with the IVA is greater than with any other secret society. An IVA member much also keep his/her membership unknown to other IVA members (unless you thing you're Ed Calkins).

I will not confirm or deny its existance, but imagine the difficultly conecting to an IVA meeting. Now imagine what owning a copy of  Bryony might do to raise suspicions among other secret members.

However, by outing the members' reason for not buying the book, perhaps I've freed members to do just that, as not having a copy could now be equally suspicous.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Week of January 25, 2015

It was a busy byline week for me, especially with losing Monday again. Next week, I'll be stepping aside and featuring the equally fine works of my freelance writers. I have to say, part of the fun of being an editor is matching story ideas with the writers that would most enjoy writing them.

At any rate, here are the feature covers from this past week:

Frankfort autistic man makes and sells art through Chicago non-profit

Mom has advocated for him since his diagnosis; his work is good; and the non-profit works is dedicated to helping mentally and developmentally disabled professional artists. A cool story all the way around, with video extras by our web editor Chris Lafortune.

http://httpwww.theherald-news.com/2015/01/13/frankfort-autistic-man-makes-and-sells-art-through-chicago-nonprofit-with-video/axtho1o/


An Extraordinary Life: Former head of Joliet Junior College culinary arts deparment was hardworking, dedicated

Believe it or not, the man's wife called The Herald-News, not the other way around. For me, it was interesting to see how the industry overall and the JJC culinary department in particular has evolved.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/20/an-extraordinary-life-former-head-of-joliet-junior-college-culinary-arts-department-was-hard-working-dedicated/aaux68q/


Medical staff at Joliet hospital supports one of its own

A night of bowling fun proves these health professionals know a deeper meaning of patient care. Plus, an interview with a really nice young man and cancer patient who definitely has his head on straight.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/24/medical-staff-at-joliet-hospital-supports-one-of-its-own/ao346u5/


New Lenox Historical Society to present program of historic New Lenox church

If you like history, church history, or New Lenox history, this is a story to read...and a program to attend. Side fun note for me, not included in the story. A former neighbor and friend of mine, as well as master carpeneter, Roy Stellwagon (deceased) was part of the original building committee, something I learned during the interviews.

http://httpwww.theherald-news.com/2015/01/24/new-lenox-historical-society-to-present-program-of-historic-new-lenox-church/aegmi6x/


Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason brings classic guitar work to Joliet

I received the press release from Mason's managment company, and I thought, "Oh, yes?!" Don't know who Dave Mason is? Odds are you've still heard is work. Read on!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/28/rock-and-roll-hall-of-famer-dave-mason-brings-classic-guitar-work-to-joliet/au6lblo/

Thursday, January 29, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: NOPE!

What I'd like to throwback is the day, about ninety minutes of it.

See, the thing about my new phone, is that the alarm doesn't stay set. It must be manually recalculated every day, something I learned from unpleasant experience.

And let's just say I don't always remember to do that, last night being one of them.

So for oversleeping ninety minutes, I am only thirty of them behind this morning.

Not bad for rushing through the morning on vampire speed. I'm sure I'll appreciate feeling rested, once I stop hyperventilating.

Have a great day, vampire fans! :)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Guest Post by Sir Frederick Chook: The Nurgatory Tale of Septimus Flong


The Nurgatory Tale of Septimus Flong by Sir Frederick Chook

First penned upon the 12th of November, 2014


Septimus Flong, the Dandy Nong,
Walked his octopus down Fisherman’s Prong,
Though common folk would point and joke
At this strange pet in its jewelled yoke

And at his coat of brilliant satin
And his pumps of antique pattern
And his stockings, striped in puce,
And his trews (in cut, quite loose.)

But Septimus, he did not care,
As he paused to powder his hair
And feed his companion a portion of quince
From a silver pot (a gift from a prince.)

O Dandy Nong! You are such a model
For all who tire of commonplace twaddle,
And desire a higher standard of pillock.
Long may you saunter our streets and hillocks.



 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sir Frederick Chook is a foppish, transcendentalistic historian who lives variously by his wits, hand to mouth, la vie bohème, and in Melbourne with his wife, Lady Tanah Merah.

When not reading Milton and eating Stilton, he writes, ponders, models, delves into dusty archives, and gads about town. He has dabbled in student radio and in national politics, and is presently studying the ways of the shirt-sleeved archivist. He is a longhair, aspiring to one day be a greybeard. He has, once or twice, been described as “as mad as a bicycle.”

FrillyShirt is a compilation of articles, essays, reviews, photographs, artworks, question-and-answers, promotions, travelogues, diatribes, spirit journeys, cartoons, ululations and celebrations by Sir Frederick, his friends and contributing readers. Irregularly regular features include Teacup in a Storm, an etiquette column, and How to be Lovely, advanced speculations on the aesthetics of the self.

Other topics that pop up include fun things in and around Melbourne, art, nature, history, politics and schnauzers. Sir Frederick’s favorite color is all of them. Enjoy his writing? Drop him a telegram at fredchook@frillyshirt.org.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Yesterday...and Chapter Length

I spent yesterday at Loyola with one of my sons, who had a biopsy. He's fine (pending results), but I deferred posting until last night...and then deferred again because it was so late when I returned home. Since the weekend was full of errands, appointments, and such, I have little fiction to report, except some fiction-writing did happen, in scattered increments.

Thus said, I have some thoughts on a subject that was mentioned at last Thursday's WriteOn Joliet meeting: chapter length. 


As writers, we're often exhorted to fashion our prose to keep the reader turning pages, and, really, what writer would not want the reader to keep reading?

However, that does not necessarily mean keeping chapters short, as if reading a book, especially YOUR book, was some drudgery the reader must endure in order to please you. If that's the case, then you might want to reevaulate your writing.

Chapters should be exactly as long as they need to be to make your point and to fit your story. Certain works might call for short brisk chapters. Other works might be a mix of long and short chapters. Still other chapters might be very long. However, in all examples, the writing must be tight and to the point.

You might think, "But is that possible in long chapters?" Absolutely! What is worse, a fast-food meal or a poor seven-course feast? You see the point.

If one wishes to keep readers lingering over a long chapter (novel, series, etc.), it must be as well-planned and well-written as a the most exquisite of banquets. 

There is nothing wrong with a fast pleasurable read. But there is also nothing wrong with a layered, complicated, multi-level world-building, the kind that keeps a reader fastened to your story, even if he only reads a page a night, as long as he's satisfied and can't wait to read the next page.

Most of us are familiar with a profound sentence or two that stops us in our tracks and makes us think. Most of us have experienced  that quick refreshing glass of water before rerturning to our tasks.

But we, as readers and writers, also need the long and drawn out and fully developed, that whole, "Pull up a chair before the fire and stay awhile," type of story, the kind that draws us into a world that is so real, we emerge a little dazed for having been there.

Trust me, there are readers who long to immerse themselves in such a book. And they will keep turning pages.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

Melted Butter

Not so simple back in the day...

I found this at http://cookbook.vcdesignconcept.com/19th_century/. This is the same place where I discovered the recipe for the flannel cakes from John Simons' youth.


MELTED BUTTER

Sometimes called drawn butter, melted butter is the foundation of most of the common sauces.

Have a covered sauce-pan for this purpose. One lined with porcelain will be best. 

Take a quarter of a pound of the best butter, cut it up, and mix with it about two tea-spoonfuls of flour. 

When it is thoroughly mixed, put it into the sauce-pan, and add to it four table-spoonfuls of cold water. 

Cover the sauce-pan, and set it in a large tin pan of boiling water. Shake it round continually (always moving it the same way) till it is entirely melted and begins to simmer. Then let it rest till it boils up.

TIPS:

If you set it on hot coals, or over the fire, it will be oily.

If the butter and flour is not well mixed it will be lumpy.

If you put too much water, it will be thin and poor. All these defects are to be carefully avoided.

In melting butter for sweet or pudding sauce, you may use milk instead of water.


Friday, January 23, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Week of January 18, 2015

In case you missed the stories I either wrote or edited (the "real" work I do, not the hanging out and about with vampires on weekends), here ya go!


Romeoville boy stars in new WTTW television show for kids

Here's a fun and imaginative way for kids to learn science...and the boy has some tips for child actors, too.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/09/romeoville-boy-stars-in-new-wttw-television-show-for-kids/ac78814/


An Extraordinary Life: Morris man was accomplished farrier and fabricator

This man did not grow up on a farm, but he loved horses so much, he set aside other occupations for the one in his heart.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/13/an-extraordinary-life-morris-man-was-accomplished-farrier-and-fabricator/au80epo/


Silver Cross Hospital physician explains winter health risks
By Jeanne Millsap

It's not just the snow and ice that can hurt. Read on!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/16/silver-cross-hospital-physician-explains-winter-health-risks/aggbg9o/


Joliet man publishes book so other addicts can find hope in God
By Jeanne Millsap

Ralph Carey wandered into WriteOn Joliet with a manuscript full of inspiration and encouragement he hoped to publish...and did

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/13/joliet-man-publishes-book-so-other-addicts-can-find-hope-in-god/a8lv5kq/


Two Plainfield boys dance with Chicago BullsKidz
By Sean Leary

These two 11-year-olds have such a commitment to their passion, even adults can learn from them.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/12/13/two-plainfield-boys-dance-with-chicago-bullskidz/auuzdzy/

Thursday, January 22, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: The Mission: Victorian Suits for Two Very Tall Men



Monday, September 26, 2011

The Mission: Victorian Suits for Two Very Tall Men

6'5" and 6'10" to be exact.

Today, the theatre department of a local college lent me all its Victorian clothing for any VampFest worker that still needs a costume. We stacked gorgeous dresses in a wide variety of hues and fabrics and a fair amount of non-period tuxedos (just in case)into the back of the van, but saw nothing that would fit our John Simons and Kellen Weschler.

In August, the Joliet Drama Guild performed, "Jeckyll & Hyde," so I had contacted the guild president, who put us in touch with its costume director, who is steering us to one of the actors. I messaging him tonight, hoping he can steer me in the direction of the perfect suits and top hats.

In the meantime, if anyone out there just happens to be sitting on Goliath-sized, Victorian menswear, please contact me at BryonySeries@gmail.com.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

It's the Little Things That are Important

So you've developed multi-layered characters and plot, showing that the reader forgets he's reading, engaging dialogue, and description that leaps off the page.

And yet, your story sucks. Why?

Relationships are usually not destroyed by occasional major blow-ups when the rest of the friendship is sound, but by a steady stream of annoying, grating, disrespectul, underhanded behaviors and jabs that eventually wear away the love and replace it with disgust and disinterest.

Something similiar makes readers toss aside a book, never to return. An occasional screw-up here and there won't lose your reader if the rest of your story is sound. But no reader wants to fight through page after page after page. Eventually, he will give up and find another book to read.

Here's a quick checklist

* Typos

* Grammar/punctuation mistakes

* Wordiness

* No variances in sentence structure

* Overly explanatory sentences dramatic scenes

* Brisk, flat, lazy sentences when a topic needs developing

* Overuse of adjectives and adverbs instead of strong verbs.

* Repetitive sentences that make it obvious youi're using a thesaurus.

* Over-explaining of what should be obvious.

* Deadwood and filler words

* Filler beats in place of scene construction because the writer read on someone's blog that these are better than dialogue tags.

I made this last one up, so I'll explain.


"I had a bad day today." John closed the door.

"What happened?" Susan set down her knitting.

John frowned. "My boss yelled at me."

Susan sighed. "Did you punch in late again?"

John flinched. "Don't start."

"You know its true," Susan rolled her eyes.


Whenever I encounter this in a book, I know the rest of the writing will be amaterish , too. As writers we can do better than this.


Monday, January 19, 2015

Weekend Recap, Some Challenges

A bit of this, a bit of that, looking back, looking ahead...

* Stayed at work late on Friday to catch up, somewhat, on briefs

*  Errands on Saturday, fiction afternoon into evening, more briefs Saturday night

*  Church on Sunday, taught a class in the afternoon, prepared for Monday that night

This week: Working off site on Wednesday as one of my sons is having a biopsy on Wednesday.

This weekend: I have a mish mash of errands/appointments until late afternoon, then hope to hang out in fictionland until the caffeine quits working.

Monday: my last vacation day.

My challenge: I've developed a dental issue of unknown origin. My mouth hurts. Can't take typical pain killers because of allergies and/or all the antihistamines I take. Need to find time to see my dentist before I have a real problem AND still get everything else done.

My stupidity: I tend to put off these things until everything else is done. That, coupled with my overall lack of transportion, makes it easier to say, "I'll address it tomorrow." I've said that all last week, and my mouth still hurts. I think tomorrow has come.

Damn it, LOL.

On the happy side, I did write 1000 words on Saturday for Before the Blood that really pleased me. :)


Sunday, January 18, 2015

Potato Dumplings


Potato Dumplings

6 medium-sized potatoes, boiled and peeled while hot
2 eggs, beaten
Dash of salt
1 cup flour
Additional flour
Melted butter
Fried minced onion

Roll potatoes on board with rolling pin. Then form into a heap, make a well in the middle, pour in eggs, salt, flour, knead together and roll, adding more flour so that the mixture may be quite stiff. Cut into 6 pieces, make dumplings and boil in boiling salted water. When done, halve, sprinkle with melted butter and fried minced onion.

Note from Denise M. Baran-Unland: “I remember being a preschooler and watching my grandmother make these in a kitchen that contained a coal stove. Grandma always let me roll my own, smaller dumpling, no small thrill when she ladled it onto my plate. Years later, my mother told me Grandma watched my dumpling grow grayer and grayer as I worked it. When I wasn’t watching, Grandma threw away my dumpling and prepared another to replace it. Of course, I was none the wiser.”


From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at www.bbbswillgrundy.org



Saturday, January 17, 2015

Steward Setback Saturday: An Endorsement from the IVA



Saturday, November 26, 2011

An Endorsement from the IVA

That's Irish Vampire Association to the uninitiated. In a recent email telegram, Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara and first official Irish vampire, sent the following message:  "I've got the whole IVA rooting for you. (Don't know what financial help that is)."

Well, money isn't everything, and it's nice to know the entire IVA is supporting Bryony's cause. Despite the impressiveness of that claim, however, you must know the IVA has a membership of just one (Calkins), and maybe two, since he claims the organization has dubbed me an honory member.

Still, despite its lack of a structured vampire mythology, Ireland has, nevertheless, made some important contributions to vampire lore. Read the following and judge for yourself:

www.darkecho.com/darkecho/horroronline/irish_vampire.html

Friday, January 16, 2015

Story Roundup: Features in the Herald News, Week of January 11

I'm on time again this week. I'm seeing a pattern...


Joliet funeral director to use replica of Lincoln's casket for educational program

Chuck Lyons has been a birthday party clown and has run for county coroner. Now he's combining his fascination for the Civil War with his work role to offer a different glimpse into the sixteenth president.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/06/joliet-funeral-director-to-use-replica-of-lincolns-casket-for-educational-program/adba6rb/


An Extraordinary Life: Frankfort college professor was mentor to many

Charity for Erich Spengler started at home, but it didn't end there. It spanned continents and saved lives.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/06/an-extraordinary-life-frankfort-college-professor-was-mentor-to-many/apl2ocq/


Interim pastor breathes life in Joliet Lutheran church

She's only twenty-eight and following on the legacy of an established pastor, but Bekki Lohrmann already knows the meaning - and can effect - true ministry.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/13/interim-pastor-breathes-enthusiasm-into-joliet-lutheran-church/af8ohrq/


Manhanttan Township Historical Society to host hobby display

Amongst the stamp and coin collections will be old photography, corn husk dolls, and even a chainmail-making demonstration.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/06/manhattan-township-historical-society-to-host-local-hobby-display-on-jan-17/avmjhz9/

Thursday, January 15, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Cream Tartar Whey (or what I didn't give Timothy during his recent flu bout)



Thursday, March 31, 2011

Cream Tartar Whey

is supposed to be an excellent dish for those with a fever, according to Miss Beecher's domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy.Judging from the piles of empty bottles of sports drinks in front of the television, I don't think any of the feverish in my household would agree, but here's the recipe if you know someone more adventurous.
 Warm a pint of fresh milk, when scalding hot, stir in a teaspoon of cream of tartar, and if this does not turn it, add more, till it does. Strain it, and sweeten with loaf sugar. Excuse me while I make the rounds of thermometers, fever reducers, and cough syrup.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

How Long Should a Chapter Be?

Writers often ask that question. I asked that question when I first began writing Bryony. Online searches (at least in 2008) weren't very helpful. "As long as it needs to be," was the most common response.

Sigh.

So I set a guideline for myself: 3000 words. If a chapter was significantly less than 3000 words, I re-examined it. Now I am not saying all chapters need to be 3000 words; that was just MY guideline (and for the novels in the BryonySeries, it still is).

Here are the questions I would ask myself if the chapter ended up with less (or even significantly more, which none of those early chapters did) in that first novel:

*  Is it sufficiently developed? Are the points I wanted to make, well-made, of did they require fleshing out?

*  Does it contain enough information to stand on its own as a chapter?  Would it be better served as part of the preceding or subsequent chapter?

*  In the case of long chapters: Does it need to be broken up? 

If a short or long chapter passed this test, it stayed. Otherwise, I started cutting into the prose.

Ultimately, it's not the length of a chapter that makes or breaks it, but the purpose for the chapter. In Before the Blood, I have some chapters that don't reach 2000 words. The largest just top the scale at 12,000, and, no, breaking it up would not work.

If you've said what you needed to be said, then the chapter length, be it short or long, is perfect.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Joy vs. Misery

On New Calendar Christmas morning (December 25) over a cup of coffee, our pastor (who is 82 going on 40) made a comment about how his Christmas wish is for us to always choose joy over misery.

One member of our small church, who has been in therapy for years for depression, said, "Nooo, we're not getting into this."

But Fr. Boris continued," People often don't realize that they have a choice," and then he quoted, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life."

(Deuteronomy 30:19)

Then I said, "I think people often don't realize they have a choice because they confuse joy with happiness."

And Fr. Boris looked at me and grinned.

I have a writely friend who calls me an eternal optimist, to which I respond that I simply refuse to be miserable. While it's true that circumstances have occured in life that have, indeed, robbed me of that joy, those circumstances hae never done so without my permission, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Once I realize it, my first job, before I work on the problem, is to fix my attitude on the inside. A joyful spirit is a better problem-solver than a miserable one.

Joy is not happiness. And misery is not unhappiness.

Happiness is transitory, an elated feeling when something goes well in our lives or when others connect well with us. The opposite is true about unhappiness. Joy and misery are independent of life circumstances or our relationships.

I once read that if one travels downward in an ocean, one will eventually reach a place of complete serenity, where any turbulance that may be above cannot reach it. I believe all of us have, inside, a similar place we can cultivate, a place of serenity and, yes, joy.

Looking at life through rose-colored glasses is not wise, but neither should we view it through lenses of smoky gray. Rather, I choose spectacles of faith and the confidence they are backed with a guarantee of love from its Maker.

We cannot always choose our circumstances and whether or not so and so likes us. We can not prevent all troubles, all unhappiness. But we can build a strong ship that will sail navigate them.

And these are my Monday morning musings as I embark upon another work week...

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Meatloaf...With a Twist


Melissa and Brian are stunned when their mother announces they will be traveling to Detroit for their grandmother’s memorial service. Brian, however, is more astonished at Melissa’s increased appetite, especially when she asks for extra helpings of this extra-special meatloaf.


Meatloaf
By Janet Cooney

2 pounds ground meat
1 egg
½ cup bread crumbs
8 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon horseradish (not creamed)
Ketchup

Mix together meat, egg, and bread crumbs. Divide mixture in half and shape into two, large hamburger patties. Place one on an ungreased baking sheet (any size will do) and make a well in it. Mix cream cheese, mustard and horseradish and pour into well. Top with remaining patty. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. When meatloaf comes out of the oven, pour ketchup over the top and serve. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.


From "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org


Friday, January 9, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News

A light week for published stories, a good week for catching up on briefs and planning ahead.


Lockport teen self-publishes a novel, hosts reading on Jan. 10

Wish I could go to this. :(

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/11/20/lockport-teen-self-publishes-a-novel-hosts-reading-on-jan-10/ad9bqcd/


Joliet College Student finds life direction through reality show
By Jeanne Millsap

I've written about Claire Halbur many times over the years and thought the story needed a fresh perspective. Jeanne did an outstanding job.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/06/joliet-college-student-finds-life-direction-through-reality-show/avqqenb/


New Bolingbrook venue to host whiskey dinner
By Dawn Aulet

A new twist on the popular wine-pairing dinners

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/01/06/new-bolingbrook-venue-to-host-whiskey-dinner/a8vlebw/

Thursday, January 8, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: A Rather Longish Post on Phobias and Cat Bites


Monday, November 28, 2011

NaNoWriMo Whatever Day It Is and Giving Thanks

Okay, since I've delayed the official Herald News story,  here's the incident that (sort of) kicked me out of the National Novel Writing Month.

I love antiques, and my house is full of them. One particularly heavy dresser, with heavy drawers that stick, belonged to my maternal grandmother. On November 9th at  8:15 p.m. exactly (I know because I had just looked at my computer clock and realized I was fifteen minutes later feeding the cats), I decided to grab some cozy flannels and set up for a shower while the kitties were eating.

As I was shoving the resisting drawer back into place, my calico, Faith, decided at that moment to leap across the room and grab onto the draw to peer inside. I slammed her paw flush into the drawer, leaving her dangling. I never heard an animal scream as she did. I quickly pulled on the drawer, and as I did, Faith, in pain and fright, sank her teeth into my thumb.

Owwww! PAIN!

The drawer popped; Faith dashed away; and I knew I was in trouble. I flew down the stairs and into the bathroom and started washing out the wound in hot, soapy water, forcing the pinholes to bleed. Faith stood at the top of the ladder crying, crying, crying. My thumb was already reddening and swelling, but it seemed impossible infection could be developing so soon. The redness, I told myself, was because I have chronic hives; the warmth I felt was due to the fact I was running my hand under hot water; the swelling and tenderness was trauma to the thumb bone.

I comforted Faith and then showered and climbed into bed, but the status of my thumb bothered me. I remembered the past cellulitis incidents of my children and how rapidly a soft tissue infection could spread. I recalled a neighbor who, after noting a slightly red hair follicule, took a short nap and awakened to a swollen face; he died en route to the hospital. I switched on the light and examined my hand. The thumb was definitely red and swollen. I turned the computer back on and typed in "cat bites."

I learned one could adopt a "wait and see" approach with some dog bites, depending on their severity, but cat bites must always be considered a medical emergency. The combination of their long, sharp fangs and the particular type of bacteria they carry in their mouths meant a bite from them literally injected that bacteria directly into soft tissue. I was already sleepy from the drowsy antihistamines I take at bedtime, so I needed a ride.

Ron had to be at the warehouse in three hours, so waking him up was the worst option. Timothy was already in bed and had to be at work at seven o'clock in the morning. Christopher had been dragging all day and was nearly asleep, but he works from home and had nothing pressing to do the next morning. Sooo, after enduring all of his "you're paranoid" and "this can wait until tomorrow" comments, we were off to the ER.

Confession time. I don't know if it's because I have allergies, chronic hives, and asthma (and have experienced the unpleasant consequences of those afflictions), but I have a medical phobia. I am not afraid of hospitals or needles, but of the substances I have to swallow--or have injected into me--in the name of healing. I fear nasty side effects and allergic reactions. I FEAR them. However, I feared worse what might happen to me should I not treat this a cat bite, so here I was in this unhappy predicament.

The ER trip was straightforward, as I feared it would be. One tetnus shot (My last one was in the summer of 1986) and my choice of two antibiotics. Because I'm allergic to penicllin (big surprise), the protocol is one antibiotic from each of two lists. The nurse rattled off two medicines I'd never had--doxycycline and clindamycin--which meant, if I became allergic to either one, I wouldn't know which one.

Sigh. Decisions.

Let's back up. Just two weeks ago, my daughter and web administrator Sarah Stegall had four wisdom teeth removed. Preoperatively and during the post-op period, she took low doses of prescribed clindamycin. On day nine of her treatment, she emailed me a photo of a pimply-looking rash over her shoulders and chest and asked me if it was subcutaneous emphysema. I called her.

"Subcutaneous emphysema? Do you know what that is?"

"No," she said, "but a friend had it after having wisdom teeth pulled."

"That's not Subcutaneous emphysema, but I am concerned about the rash."

Sarah was not. "It doesn't itch."

"Doesn't matter. Have you ever had a rash like this?"

"No. I woke up with it today."

"I'll call you back."

I researched clindamycin reactions and found it can, indeed, produce a distinct pustular rash. I emailed Sarah and told her to show her pharmacist. She agreed to do it later. I awakened the next morning to frantic texts from Sarah. She was in the ER, rash spreading, throat tightening, in pain with two dry sockets and waging war with the doc on call, who claimed it was impossible to have an allergic reaction to a major antibiotic. Abridged ending 9minus the unprintable comments I had about the doc): antibiotic stopped, new pain meds initiated, and an ER trip to the dentist for socket packing. Fast forward to cat bite.

"Can I take Bactrim?" I'd had drug for the first time last year for a leg abcess (another long story), and I had tolerated it "okay."

That eliminated the doxycycline, but the nurse insisted I still needed the clindamycin. I told her about Sarah's reaction and my phobia.

"Have you ever tried Flagyl? We could use that one instead."

I didn't like that option either because that was another unproven drug for me. SIGH! Yes, I know there's only one way to prove it.

"Well," I said slowly. Rebekah did well with clindamycin. I'll try it."

The nurse brought in the clindamcyin first and suggested I wait half an hour before taking the Bactrim. That way, if I had a negative reaction to the clindamycin, I'd have it in the ER.

Well, I did fine with the Clindamycin, and then the Bactrim, so I was sent home with the next morning's dose and told to expect the hand, which was now as swollen as the thumb, to get worse before it got better. I was also instructed to elevate the hand as much as possible, although typing was not prohibited. Just what a features writer on deadline wants to hear.

By next afternoon, I was running a low grade fever, and the infection was traveling up my arm. The plan was to now temporarily stop the Bactrim and initiate ER IV anitbioitic treatments with a powerful cephalosporin used to treat bacterial meningitis. In theory, so I wouldn't have to be stuck each night for the next five nights was to leave the port in my arm. However, I ended up blowing every vein, so the result was a painful arm by day and a new stick each night.

On Monday night, after the last treatment, and as I was stepping out of the shower, I noticed a familiar-looking rash over my chest and shoulders. It was Day Five of the clindamycin. I called the ER (It was 10:30 at night), rattled off my dilemna, and mentioned my next dose was due in an hour. I was to resume the Bactrim in the morning.The nurse consulted with a doc and told me to stop the antibiotic and see my primary tomorrow.

I did, hoping I had enough germ-busting drugs in my system to skip choice number two from list number two, but I wasn't that lucky. She wrote a one-week prescription for Flagyl. From the very does, swallowed at home in a flurry of anxiety, and, within ten minutes, I felt a tightening of my body from head to toe.
\
Now, let me explain that I experienced a similar reaction to an abundance of epinephrine when I had the pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor; again, another long story), so I dismissed (sort of) the reaction to my anxiety. I also had the same reaction to H2 agonists last year when a doc prescribed them as a secondary drug for the hives, but that drug also produced a rapid heartbeat, which did not happen with the Flagyl.

Do you see why I have a drug phobia?

Sooooo, since tachycardia was absent, I chalked up the reaction to nerves. The next morning, I hardly felt the squeezing, but the following night, it was back. The following morning's dose was fine and so on, until Friday night when, five minutes after I swallowed my Flagyl, I experienced a pressure so strong, I had difficulty swallowing and typing; my muscles painfully ached. That's when I realized my morning reaction might be milder because I was full of all the antihistamines from the previous night.

Shaking all over, I called my doctor, and she told me to stop the medicine and complete the Bactrim. As a precaution, she suggested I add Benadryl to my anithistamine cocktail, but since I take so many and with "off label" dosees, I decided to monitor my symptoms and go to the ER, if necessary. I was fine.

I did, noticing the Bactrim also caused the same symptoms, just milder, so it's definitely a drug I will use with caution in the future.

So what does this all have with National Writing Month? Well, these allergic reactions and infection treatments took a huge bite (so to speak) out of my already tight schedule, as I frantically rushed to complete the assignments already on deadline.

I did, however, establish a habit of working on the prequel for one hour a day. Basically, I go through every chapter, flesh out the outline in place (not quite to the first draft stage yet), and make lists of the topics needing further research. I have worked my way through nearly a third of the prequel so far and that is one-third farther along than I was October 31.

I also, for the first time, had no assignments bleeding into the four-day Thanksgiving weekend. This meant I made a nice dent into the beginning editing of Visage, of which I am highly pleased.

Finally, I found some wonderful support and understanding in the person of Tommy Connolly, Bryony's media researcher and developer, who recently appeared on Animal Planet's Extreme Animal Phobia series to treat his bat phobia.

Every day, he sent a nice Facebook, "How's the paw," message and encouraged me in my courageous facing of the medicines. While I'm not quite at the stage of saying, "Wow, I'm so glad this happened. Look at all the good that came from it," I'm certainly thankful and appreciative of those things, just the same.

And Faith? Well, she was a little shy the following morning, but we cuddled and made up. Seriously, if she would have slammed my hand in the drawer, I probably would've bitten her, too.

Harder.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Some Good Opening and Pickup Lines

It's pretty obvious to every writer (or it should be) that you want to keep the reader turning pages. Many times, we as writers focus on ending chapters with a punch, to keep the reader thinking, "I'll read just one more chapter and THEN I'll put the book down."

But it's equally as important to consider those first lines in a new chapter, where the story picks up. Not every chapter should simply continue where the last left off. A good story has ebb and flow, a dance, so to speak, a weavjng in and out of certain plottings, with the writer deciding that pace and intensity.

And those first few lines have to captivate the reader's interest.

As some examples, here are the beginning lines from the chapters I've completed so far in Before the Blood.



“Hurry, sir, oh please, hurry!”

He paused again, then reluctantly shut the accounts book. The third floor east wing was the last place he intended to step, but he supposed he must, if only to silence her persistent grating cry. So, the infant could die? So the mother could die? Well, what was that to him?

(Before the Blood, Prologue



The man in the long frock coat and extra-wide cravat had stared at her with peculiar steadiness all night, almost as if goading her to notice him. His defiant confidence intrigued her and caused those sneaky peeks to see if he was still watching.



(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 1: One Magical Christmas)



Down,

           down,

                     down,

                              down

(Before the Blood,John’s Story, Chapter 2: Tasting Immortality)



John never practiced while his father was in the house, and only rarely when he was in town, but John bided his time, waiting for Abbott's departure for a long bank meeting, or even longer business trip, when he could seize the drawing room and fill it with compositions in progress. 

(Before the Blood. John’s Story. Chapter 3: Keys to Heaven)



"You fired Helsby!"

(Before the Blood John’s Story. Chapter 4: Maid to Order)




John woke well before dawn. Quickly and quietly, he washed, dressed, and then strode to the kitchen for a quick breakfast of bread and milk while the coffee boiled before heading to the barn and hitching a horse.

As he rode out to the Widow Holloway's farm, last night's conversation with Papa Everett swathed him like early morning mist on the verdure, a filmy presence he could not shake.

(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 5: Post-Graduate Studies)





If John had been any other young man, he would have rejoiced at the circumstances to which he had returned home. 

(Before the Blood John’s Story Chapter 6: Shedding the Cocoon)




"Come in!"

The heavy door opened, and the ruddy face of Alfred Jackson poked into the room. Virgil Gundersmith, in checks and white cowboy hat, stopped fiddling, but Ebenezer "Benny" Brown, sequins sparking in the lamplight, coolly kept each ball orbiting above his head.

(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 7: Music Halls and Garbage Cans)




It took over five years, but John's feverish reworking of elaborate compositions to include melodic refrains, monitoring audience response, and rewriting pieces after midnight for the next day's practice finally produced results.

(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 8: One for the Memory Books)




Although Falconer Cremmins was a hard man, and possibly a conniving murderous one, as  unproven rumors of arson spread throughout Queens, he also proved to be witless at business. In the year after Dana Hewes' death, attendance steadily dwindled at the music hall until Cremmins was forced to close its doors. 

(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 9: The Contract)




Shivering, John pulled the musty quilt over his head, but instead of soothing him back into sleep, the pattering rain reminded him that he had drunk far too much, far too many hours ago. With a groan, John kicked off the covers and staggered down hall to the communal water closet.

(Before the Blood, John’s Story, Chapter 10: Crossing the Rubicon)



War.

It's all Metta knew. It's all Metta had ever known.

(Before the Blood Kellen’s Story Chapter 1: Ashes)



In later years, Kellen Weschler would tell it like this: The only door that ever opened to him was the womb, and even that was to spit him out into a cruel world where everything good, bad, and indifferent was denied him.

(Before the Blood Kellens Story Chapter 2 Forbidden Fruit)




Kellen married Catarin in May, enlarged the family hut in June, and baptized his first son, Allecke, in July.



Ten months later, the Wechslers welcomed their first daughter, Marige, into the world. Three more sons (Jurgen, Otto, Hilmar) and three more daughters (Eugell, Alheit, and Leveke) arrived one after the other. During that time, death also claimed Marige, Otto, and Eugell. After that, Kellen stopped noting the children's appearance or disappearance and let Catarin do the naming and tracking. 

(Before the Blood, Kellen's Story, Chapter 3: The Vision)




"Kellen!"

He ignored the voice and kept sharpening the blade. 

(Before the Blood, Kellen's Story, Chapter 4: Beaten Down)



"Wailing, wailing. Everywhere, wailing."

(Before the Blood, Kellen's Story, Chapter 5: Black Death)



"Come on, Kellen, we'll be late for the theater."


"In a minute, Margaret!"

(Before the Blood, Kellens Story, Chapter 6: Angel or Demon?)



Monday, January 5, 2015

Nice One, God!

So the original forecast for Christmas Day (December 25, not the upcoming January 7), was several feet of snow.

For some, this is welcome. For others, less so. This year, we belonged to the latter camp. We currently own two old and creaky blazers, with Timothy's being the newer and more reliable one. He has a second job now, abotu thirty miles away, and he did fine in yesterday's snow and cold.

Still...

Forty miles one way in crummy weather in a crummy vehicle during a time when other holiday drivers are on the road and back again and then another fifteen to twenty miiles in the opposite direction wasn't anyone's good time.

On Thanksgiving Day, we were the only ones that showed up to Divine Liturgy (our church has a small elderly population). We arrived about fiftteen minutes late (Timothy had worked late and overslept; plus our pastor had bumped up liturgy time), and our priest had already begun the complicated ninety-minute service, alone. Timothy said after he and Daniel had vested and made it onto the altar, Fr. Boris only turned to them and said, "We are on page so and so, if you care for join me."

Ouch!

The only other person to arrive was our cantor, about ten minutes after that. What if Christmas Day was a no-show repeat? (And thankfully, it wasn't).

Furthermore, our January 7 celebration will be in Mendota this year. Joshua, Amber, Ezekiel, and Jessica won't be joining us because of work schedules. Because of Joshua's health issues and the fact he just returned to work after being off for two years, they couldn't afford to buy either a tree (Ours had seen better years, and he had discareded it) or presents (We didn't buy any presents either).To not see them during Christmas was unthinkable.

So after Divine Liturgy, we want to spend the rest of the day with them. As the manager of a local pizzeria, Joshua is allowed to make free pizzas for himself anytime he wishes. Consequently, our dinner plans for Christmas was pizza at Joshua's. And we didn't need recalcitrant weather to get in our way.

We felt those were good reasons why God should hold back the snow. And so we prayed. And He did. And we had one of the loveliest Christmases ever.

Yes, we made Divine Liturgy and a wonderful Christmas dinner at Joshua's apartment. We even had one bonus, but that's for another post. The humor, however, was on Christmas Eve.

Our photographer was checking out the weather forecast, as he was flying out on Christmas Day. He announced that it appeared the bad weather would miss us and then added, "They're calling for snow in Hawaii."

Nice one, God!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Pear-Mascarpone French Toast


Looking for a nice brunch idea?

Try this twist on French toast, which my oldest daughter submitted for the BryonySeries cookbook.


Pear-Mascarpone French Toast
By Sarah Stegall

2 medium pears
5 tablespoons butter
8 ounces Mascarpone cheese
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons fresh minced gingerroot
1 teaspoon cinnamon
8 slices French bread, two inches thick
6 eggs
1 cup milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Peel and dice pears. In a saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Cook pears over medium heat until tender, just a few minutes is needed. Cool completely. In a bowl, beat cheese, then add ginger, sugar, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, and pears. Cut a pocket into the bread slices and fill with ¼ cup of pear-cheese mixture. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and the remaining cinnamon. Carefully dip the bread so you don’t squeeze out the filling. Melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Cook stuffed bread until golden brown on both sides. Yield: 4 servings.



From Memories in the Kitchen: "Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'"

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. www.bbbswillgrundy.org



Friday, January 2, 2015

An On-Time Story Round-Up

One of the things I wanted to do as an editor was working with other writers as other editors had worked with me. A year ago, I didn't have a freelance budget; I was hired to write and edit, which was fine with me, because I love to write.

Several months into the job, I did receive a small freelance budget. After my assistant left, that budget was temporarily expanded, since her leaving happened at the same time we were entering the holidays and my vacation time, and I needed to absorb many of her duties, which include monitoring the general newsroom mailbox and writing briefs, which have no byline.

Truth be told, I love this part of the work, so although my byline is still present, and I'm still writing, that byline is less than in the past. Also, in the coming year, my editor has asked me to run stories from the general news write one to two times a week.

As I get caught up, I'm hoping to return to "all local" on the features pages, but that may be an unrealistic hope. In the meantime, I've been able to expand local coverage through the briefs (I'm all about local) and assign more stories. So, like many things in life, I'm meeting my goals, although not all at once and not in a linear fashion.

That said, here are the cover stories I wrote and/or edited this week:


Plainfield teen has more than 4000 hours of volunteer work
By Brittany Keeperman

This girl is amazing...and she has written a how-to program for those that either volunteer or work with volunteers. Now a busy college student, she says making time for volunteering is all about prioritizing. Incidentally, the writer is a former teen writer from the time I taught journalism to Joliet Area Christian Cooperative - and one of the former homeschooled "Teen Scene" writers for The Herald News from those classes. She's now completing a journalism degree. What fun it was for me to edit her work again and look back with pride at how far she's come.

http://httpwww.theherald-news.com/2014/10/29/plainfield-teen-has-more-than-4-000-hours-of-volunteer-work/ac44no6/


An Extraordinary Life: Joliet man valued love and service

This story was number one on our web analytics for last Monday. Read and see why.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/12/23/an-extraordinary-life-joliet-man-valued-love-and-service/a7up2sw/?page=1


Joliet dental hygienist and dentist work together to provide care to low-income patients
By Jeanne Millsap

A random meeting provided the idea for a non-profit...and help to someone that truly needed it.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/12/23/joliet-dental-hygienist-and-dentist-work-to-provide-care-to-low-income-patients/a3kf8cd/?page=1


Joliet-based Christian rock band recording old hymns with a new sound
By Jeanne Millsap

When I first interviewed this band in early 1999, they were trying to make a big splash in the teen Christian music scene and anticipated being relevant for only ten years. Now that members are nearing forty - and still recording and touring - see how they've grown with the ministry, and what they've planned for the future.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/12/23/joliet-based-christian-rock-band-recording-old-hymns-with-a-new-sound/a7cyzt1/?page=1


Choral with history in Plainfield begins youth chorus

Now the third to fifth graders can get involved with the fun.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/12/30/choral-with-history-in-plainfield-area-begins-youth-chorus/apz6bk3/?page=1

Thursday, January 1, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Writing Goals for the New Year


Monday, January 2, 2012


Writing Goals for the New Year

I have not set any New Year's resolutions for a long time, perhaps, because I'm continually setting and refining goals all year long.

However, having survived twenty-four particularly challenging months, with no relief yet in sight, January 1 seemed an appropriate opportunity to refocus, refine, and construct a writing plan for the ensuing three hundred and sixty-six days.

*  Scrap the notion that "fun" composition should be reserved for when I have time. If the past two years have proved anything, it's that I will never have time, if I don't consciously schedule time. Sounds simple, but when you're facing multiple deadlines, looming household tasks, crushing financial obligations, and two teens still requiring schooling, seizing even that lone hour feels, in the moment, anyway, feels cheap and irresponsible.

*  Immerse myself in literature of past centuries to develop a writing voice reflecting different eras and cultures, which I feel is important for Bryony's prequel. Good excuse for checking out books I've deferred for when "there's time."

* Assume additional editing and assessment projects to help cultivate the composition talents of other writers, even as I seek out and learn from the critiques of more polished authors, reporters, essayists, and bloggers.

*  And, most importantly, have fun! Sometimes, I'm so lost wading through haystacks of details and ticking minutes, I forget to enjoy the process.

What resolutions have you set for 2012?