Friday, July 31, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 26 through July 31


Okay, busy morning today! Have to be in Plainfield 9-ish and work (and a walk) to get done before then. So I'll skip the editorializing and get right to the story links.

You can check out the health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars. Three of them can be found at the link below. http://www.theherald-news.com/lifestyle/

Also at the link are the community feature briefs I write/edit (no byline). The fourth calendar, Gotta Do It, runs each Sunday and often stays on the home page through the week.

And now (drum roll, LOL), the stories:

Out of the comfort zone
By Dawn Aulet

Meet a South Wilmington man who likes his "dirt bag" nickname - and read why. Oh, to have gotten a video of this dude! (But no such luck).

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/24/out-of-the-comfort-zone/ap17vmy/


An Extraordinary Life: Shorewood coach taught more than baseball

You have to watch the video extra to the end to fully understand the impact this man made on kids.

http://m.theherald-news.com/2015/07/20/an-extraordinary-life-shorewood-coach-taught-more-than-baseball/a6bbwfy/


Pets of the Week

Looking for that four-footed, furry companion? You just mind find him/her here!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/24/pets-of-the-week/a17nf4g/


Joliet area runners and experts offer tips for exercising outside
By Jeanne Millsap

It's more than dressing for the weather.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/17/joliet-area-runners-and-experts-offer-tips-for-exercising-outside/aiujehu/


Manhattan church organizes relief concert for Coal City residents

Headlining the event is Peter Mayer, friend of the pastor's.

http://httpwww.theherald-news.com/2015/07/29/manhattan-church-organizes-relief-concert-for-coal-city-residents/an76y7q/


Low-key fun for the entire family at YMCA in Plainfield

A non-threatening triathlon for beginners and those more experienced, children and adults.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/29/low-key-fun-for-the-entire-family-at-ymca-in-plainfield/abwz52g/

Thursday, July 30, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: "Oliver!" Recap...Finally!!!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

"Oliver!" Recap...Finally!!!

On September 8th, Christopher, Rebekah, Daniel, and me celebrated Timothy's birthday in a most unusual way. A few people chipped in to take him to see the 1968 musical Oliver! on the big screen and to meet three of its stars before the show: Mark Lester (Oliver), Shani Wallis (Nancy), and Ron Moody (Fagin).

And we didn't tell Timothy.

The fun began while Christopher stood outside smoking a cigarette with Timothy and Daniel keeping him company while Rebekah and I went inside to claim our reserved tickets. I saw a car pull up just a yard past them--a regular car, mind you, not a limo--and Ron Moody stepped out.

The boys, of course, were oblivious.

I rushed outside just in time to see Mark Lester help Ron up the curb, and I drew Timothy's attention to it. He grew excited at the coincidence, so I admitted that was the entire reason we were here. By then, Christopher and Daniel had turned around, but Mark and Ron had already entered the theater.

Because money was tight; because we had no working well and consequently spent much money on bottled water and laundromats; and because we were soon to be homeless, we decided to chip in evenly to buy just one poster with all three stars' photos on it, to the tune of fifty dollars (GROAN), and let Timothy be the one to keep it.

Then we waited patiently in line, until I got woozy and remembered I hadn't drunk much water that day (I take massive amounts of antihistamines and am prone to dehydration). It wouldn't do to pass out in line (not the way I prefer to attract attention), but the bar was nearby so Christopher bought me a three dollar water bottle, which I consumed in about three swallows.

For those of you that know Christopher, he had plenty to say about the cost, to the bartender and to anyone in line that couldn't avoid listening to it. If you don't know Christopher, I'll just skip to the next part.

Mark Lester was professionally polite, until I told him we were huge Melody fans, proving it by gesturing to Daniel and saying, "I like Daniel much more than I like geography."

He perked up at that point, said Melody was quite a good film and that he couldn't understand why it didn't do better at the box office. He chatted a bit more until I could feel the impatience of the line behind us. So we thanked him and moved on, but I couldn't help saying, "Please sir, I want some more...."

To which Mark pointed his finger at me with a grin and said, "Popcorn!"

Next stop was Shani Wallis. She was friendly polite and even more friendly after I introduced my children (She loved their names!) She stopped signing, disbelieving I was their mother.

Shani looked straight at me and asked, "How old are you?"

"Fifty-two," I replied.

She gaped, recovered, and then said, "How old do you think I am?"

"Fifty-two," I quickly answered.

Shani said, "I'm eighty."

Eighty! The woman is a complete knock out!

I blurted out, "I want to be you," and I meant it.

Shani kissed Christopher and chatted to the kids. I stepped back as a man approached me from the side. He introduced himself as her husband and manager, so I introduced myself as a freelance writer. Long story short, he asked if I'd write a story about Shani, and we traded phone numbers. And yes, I've been researching possible venues. Hoping!

Finally, we made it to Ron Moody. He had a hard time grasping that we really had come to the theater to celebrate Timothy's birthday. When he finally understood that HE was my son's twenty-third birthday present, he started singing Happy Birthday to him.

I couldn't grab my phone fast enough. So I interupted Ron and asked him to start over. He stopped in mid-note, really surprised at such a daring question. But he did start over, and my phone promptly stopped recording.

REALLY???

Christopher quickly took out his phone, and we recorded most of it. The movie was almost--and they key word is "almost"--anticlimatic. To see it again in such context was really amazing and certainly a most wonderful way to  spend the last semi-family outing before we no longer had a home.

A physical home, that is. The home we have in our hearts...well, that, my friends, is everlasting.

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Dialogue Tags, More Than "Said" and Beats

First, a few reminders:

When attrbuting dialogue, use "said." It fades in the background. Except in RARE cases, mixing it up with "responded," "asked," "anwered," "shouted," "exclaimed," "commented," "remarked," "replied," etc. is clumsy, draws more attention to the dialogue tag, and pulls the reader out of the story.


1) Use "said" to clarify who is speaking, but use sparingly. "Beats" (action instead of tag) enlivens the story and cuts down on tag use.

Example:


"God's entrusted you with a precious package," Algernon said, and Adele knew he hadn't meant the food. "Be equal to the responsibility."

Galien nodded soberly. "I'll do my best."


2) But tags can also indicate action while speaking. A beat, on the other hand, indicates action between the dialogue.

Example:

"It's far from ideal, especially in her condition," Algernon said as he and Galien spread out blankets in thick layers. "But it wouldn't do to have you at the parsonage, you understand."

"It's far from ideal, especially in her condition," Algernon and Galien spread out blankets in thick layers. "But it wouldn't do to have you at the parsonage, you understand."

In the first sentence, Algernon is arranging the blankets WHILE he is speaking. In the second. Algernon speaks, arranges the blankets, and then speaks again. Using the tag (or beat) clarifies what is happening in the scene.


3) Tags and beats can also draw out a dramatic moment. Beats are the preferred choice, IF the pause is an action. But if no action is occurring, a tag can do the same thing.

Example:

"You needn't fear me," the doctor said. "I'm here to preserve your secret." He sucked long and hard and then blew out a thoughtful cloud. "For a price."

"I could expose you or stake you," the man calmly continued. "I haven't quite decided which."

(All examples from Before the Blood, various chapters).

Happy writing!



Monday, July 27, 2015

Don't Look, Don't Look, Don't Look

So why does the muse spring to life at the END of the weekend?

Don't get me wrong. Although it was a busy weekend as the weekend editor, I did make weave Before the Blood amongst the duties. The muse was awake; progress was made.

This morning, as I'm sipping coffee and posting (officially for two newspapers and unofficially for BryonySeries), the urge to open up the chapter and re-read the parts I wrote is irresistable.

Sure, I could exercise self-restraint and not look until later.

But when is later? I have a full day today, a list of errands that resembles War and Peace to run after work, the features budget and phone calls to make tonight, plus things to do at home.

When is later? Tomorrow? In a week?

I think, just one quick peek.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

House Salad by Timothy Baran


When Melissa and her family arrived in Munsonville, they stopped for lunch at Sue’s Diner on Main Street, a dingy, squat-looking gray building with surprisingly good food.

They ordered shepherd’s pie, the diner’s special salad, and freshly baked garlic bread. Then her mother saw Joe Roberts, the project manager for Simons Mansion, talking with someone at another table. ("Bryony," Chapter 10: When Good Dreams Go Bad)


House Salad
By Timothy Baran

A handful of Romaine lettuce, chopped
½ of a tomato, small diced
½ of a peeled cucumber eight cucumber pieces-sliced thin, the rest small diced
Broccoli
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Poppy seeds
1 lemon, juice only (You may not need the whole lemon)
Pepper
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
  
   Put greens on plate. Thinly slice part of the cucumber into 8 pieces; small dice the rest. In a bowl mix, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seed, and pepper. Add sliced cucumbers and gently shake the bowl so that the cucumbers become LIGHTLY coated, then place them around the rim of the plate, standing up and leaning against the salad. Grate broccoli heads. In a bowl, mix tomatoes, cucumbers, grated broccoli, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. After it is well mixed place in the center of the salad. LIGHTLY toss with oil and vinegar. Yield: 1 salad.

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


Saturday, July 25, 2015

Steward Setback Saturday: The Play is Written


Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Play is Written

Dear Momi: (Mistress of my Immortality)

Ok, here's the scary part. This play was supposed to be four pages long, but the charactors kept banging at the keybroad and MS Word tells me its now twenty-two pages long. Much of it you'll be censoring (I'm sure), but I'm going to try and paste it now .....damn, it didn't work.
I'll try again next week. Use it anyway you wish. By the way, I'm casting now for actors/actresses for my epic alternative epilogue to Bryony:

Bullet Holes and Barbie Doll Heads: If Melissa had Married Ed Calkins Act one

Ruthlessly yours,
Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara

Friday, July 24, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 5 through July 24

Yep, I did it again: fell behind in posting features.

But I took on some extra duties through the week and weekend to help out, so that took time. And I'm shooting more video, which I love, And as I'm posting these stories, I realize I've written most of them .Any remaining moments in the day went to the other elements of my life: God, family, friends, my novel, and a little "me" time.

Sooooooo....

You can check out the health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars. Three of them can be found at the link below. http://www.theherald-news.com/lifestyle/

Also at the link are the community feature briefs I write/edit (no byline). The fourth calendar, Gotta Do It, runs each Sunday and often stays on the home page through the week.

This time, I'm only posting the latest Pets of the Week.


Check back with www.theherald-news.com each day for new event listings. And now, without further ado....(TA DA!): the stories!


New Lenox women energeized to help veterans after finding her grandfather's diary
By Christine Johnson 
With video extras

Her grandfather was only seventeen when he served in World War II, and he wrote from that persepective.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/02/new-lenox-woman-energized-to-help-veterans-after-finding-her-grandfathers-diary/at6cd6n/


An Extraordinary Life: Former Minooka woman's niche was helping others

Despite her own health woes, this woman made it her business to ease the health woes of others.

http://ww.theherald-news.com/2015/06/29/an-extraordinary-life-former-minooka-womans-niche-was-helping-others/alh6u3u/


Twelve-year-old girl with hydrocephalous raises money and awareness
With video extras

Adults should have half the courage, strength, and dedication this young lady has.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/02/twelve-year-old-joliet-girl-with-hydrocephalus-raises-money-and-awareness/avn5oul/


Romeoville pastor and chaplain takes sabbatical for self-ministering

Now that she's helped her church through crisis and betrayal, this pastor is taking a time-out for healing.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/07/romeoville-pastor-and-chaplain-takes-sabbatical-for-self-ministering/aohibty/


M&R Rush brings high-energy show back to Joliet after 30 years
By Kevin Beese

After missing fame and fortune by an inch, the "it" band around the Joliet-area throttled back. Now with a different midset, M&R Rush is rocking stages once again.

http://httwww.theherald-news.com/2015/05/21/mr-rush-brings-high-energy-show-back-to-joliet-after-30-years/aqrymt3/


Former New Lenox resident drums for band with presence in the Smithsonian
By Dawn Aulet

In doing so, he's making a certain era come alive for modern audiences.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/09/former-new-lenox-resident-drums-for-band-with-a-presence-in-the-smithsonian/avfi2bm/


An Extraordinary Life: Joliet woman had strong, caring heart

That strength came from love and the overcoming of personal tragedies.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/06/an-extraordinary-life-joliet-woman-had-a-strong-caring-heart/a4cuv4f/?page=1


New Lenox man converts to orthodoxy to find history and majesty in ancient faith
With video extra

And that led his brother and mother into a deeper relationship with God.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/14/new-lenox-converts-to-orthodoxy-to-find-history-and-majesty-in-ancient-faith/a3wjoey/


The fine art society of Carillon Lakes in Crest Hill opens annual art fair to the public
With video extra

This weekend: Come see the work this senior group does and help support a local youth art program.

http://httpwww.theherald-news.com/2015/07/14/the-fine-art-society-of-carillon-lakes-in-crest-hill-opens-annual-art-fair-to-the-public/aoizzy7/


Morris senior is puzzle whiz
With video extra

To him, there's nothing puzzling about how to do it.

http://textalerts.theherald-news.com/2015/07/16/morris-senior-is-a-whiz-at-puzzles/a1uggrt/


An Extraordinary Life: Joliet man embraced reovery and the community
With video extra

Likie Hezekiah in the Bible, God granted Michael Pinnick fifteen more years. Read to see how he spent it.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/17/an-extraordinary-life-joliet-man-embraced-recovery-and-the-community/avfk3mf/


Joliet-area mental health experts discuss mental illness in teens
By Jeanne Millsap

Know the difference between moodiness caused by fluctuating hormones and a serious problem that needs addressing.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/10/joliet-area-mental-health-experts-discuss-mental-illness-in-teens/a889b3l/'


Catholic baseball camp in New Lenox teaches skills and faith
With video extras

Bats, balls and mitts aren't enough for this camp. One also needed rosary beads, a pentient heart, and the Eucharist.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/21/catholic-baseball-camp-in-new-lenox-teaches-skills-faith/avkg1gv/?page=1


Plainfield-based band to play Vans Warped Tour

A local teen pop artist I'd showcased in the past is all grown up and is taking his career to the next levels. BTW, Vans Warped Tour is Saturday in Tinley Park. Details in story.

http://seoplus.theherald-news.com/2015/07/22/plainfield-based-band-to-play-vans-warped-tour-on-saturday/aw5j5ox/

Thursday, July 23, 2015

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: First Martyr Stephen and Witnessing to the Truth


Tuesday, December 27, 2011

First Martyr Stephen and Witnessing to the Truth

Children in trouble often hear, "Now tell me the truth!" St. Paul in his letter to the the Philippians encourages believers to dwell on "whatever is true." On the other hand, Michael Caine in the movie The Prestige insists people want to be fooled, and Pontius Pilate asks Jesus, "What is truth?"

And while we, generally, insist we want "just the facts, ma'am," and even in court are exhorted to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," in truth, we often prefer to hear, and tell, a pretty half-lie ('cuz everyone know outright lies are wrong) than to deal with the repercussions of speaking and acting in complete truth, and that's even assuming we've taken the time to seek out only truth.

Of course, some people wield truth as a weapon, ("Hell, yeah! That dress makes you look fat!") while others flee from staring naked stark truth in the eye (perhaps for reasons of guilt, shame, etc.), even though Jesus tells us truth will set us free, since doing so often requires an uncomfortable "manning up" to meet a particular challenge, when a turning of the head or a closing of the eyes would be sooooooo much easier.

This is particularly evident in Bryony, where the Reverend Sandy D. Costa, in her forward, points out that Melissa "cannot look at her nocturnal friends out of her peripheral vision for then she sees them as they truly are," and that she "makes a solemn vow before she looks at John Simons from all angles." Even Henry admits its less riskier to live half a life, even if its beastly and predatory, than to assume the responsibility of being honestly dead.

Today, in the Eastern Christian churches (yesterday in the Western churches) we celebrate the feast day of protomartyr Stephen, one of the original seven deacons of the early church and one who much preferred to be stoned than compromise one word of the truth to which he had been entrusted.

Certainly, his courage at upholding the truth is commendable at worst and inspirational at best, especially during a time when hard news is often watered down and sprinkled with a reporter's opinions, rendering it viritually indistinguishable from a blog, opinion is flaunted as fact, and diversity (merely for diversity's sake and not in any quest for truth) in thinking is extolled.

"Truth, like gold, is to be obtained, not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold." Leo Tolstoy.

May we all be lovers, pursuers, doers, and hearers of truth...and may we all have the courage to remove prejudices from our minds and hearts to be open to truth and all the opportunities it brings.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

My Current Struggle With World-Building

My imagination and I have met our match.

The battle is over world-building.

In my previous nonvels (Bryony, Visage, and Staked!) and, yes, even for most of Before the Blood (thus far), the worlds I built were established worlds.

Munsonville is celebrating its centennial when Melissa arrives in 1975 in Bryony. Detroit, where she and her family visit twice, is obviously real, as is Jenson, where Grandma Marchellis is in a nursing home. Grovers Park, Melissa's hometown, is an established suburb.

Ditto for those same locations in Visage, as well as the touristy Shelby. In fact, Jenson College of the Liberal Arts predates even Munsonville.

In Staked!, we finally spend time in Thornton, but even this city is well-developed by the time we get to it. Even Ed Calkins' underworld, totally invented, is already conjured, at least in his mind.

But in my third novelish part of Before the Blood, I'm literally building a community from the beginnuing. When two main-ish characters arrive, only a handful of people are living there and only for a year, at best.

By the time this part of the book will have ended, just nine chapters away, but a full-fledged, incomplete novel, the village will be established, bustling (for a village), well-populated, and very changed. As I'm writing it, I'm learning that world-building is something one does over time. A world is not just the physical place, but it's culture, it's people.

Pacing, I think, is,a nd will be, extremely important. I am currently working on chapter five, so I'm nearly halfway through it (with all the chapers begun in note form), but I'm often returning to previous chapters and reworking them.

Soooooo...

How quickly do I add and eliminate characters?

How much detail do I throw at the reader and how quickly? How do I reinforce huge amounts of information without being repetitive? What can the reader absorb?

Where do I slow it down so the reader can catch his breath?

But also, where do I speed through chunks of time so the reader isn't bored?

The geography changes as the village grows and develops, so I'm constantly rethinking the view. Some characters quickly come and go, yet the reader needs to become attached to them.

Aaaand I have to invent all these people - and their children - and their backstories, where significant. Most of them should have some backstory, since most of them came from somewhere else and arrived in this place for a reason.

So, I'm challenged.

But it is such a delicious challenge and a delightful way to pass time.

Monday, July 20, 2015

It's My Life


So coming back to actually WRITING a blog after a few weeks of Christian memory lane, I've realized there's not much else to tell. I probably live one of the most (to outsiders) boringest life on the planet.

I pray, exercise, list to music spend time with family and a few close friends, write and edit features, clean house, run errands when I have a vehicle, and write fiction. That's really it.

In true writerly fashion, I "show" vs. "tell" those things, which is where the real satisfaction lies.

As for the writing itself, it's an interesting life because I get to hear all the interesting things real (and imaginary) people are doing and then share those stories with those that wish to read them.

The End

Friday, July 3, 2015

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Week of June 28, 2015


In theory, this is a day off...as soon as I get some work done, LOL!

Below is a recap of my non-fiction activities this week. All the feature briefs, along with the event calendars - health, faith, and arts and entertainment - can be found at the link below. http://www.theherald-news.com/lifestyle/ The fourth, Gotta Do It, runs each Sunday.

Check back with www.theherald-news.com each day for new event listings.

And now, the main stories:


Joliet motivational speaker wants seniors to embrace new experiences
By Dawn Aulet

Think certain opportunities have passed you by? Rufus Stephens wants you to think again. Everything you've done up to this point has been training for the next project, Stephens feels.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/06/25/joliet-motivational-speaker-wants-seniors-to-embrace-new-experiences/amu1itl/


An Extraordinary Life: Pastor emeritus of Joliet church lived the joy of his faith

One of those joys was taking kids to camp, where they could sit under the stars and bask in the glory of God's creation.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/06/23/an-extraordinary-life-pastor-emeritus-of-joliet-church-lived-the-joy-of-his-faith/aqjei84/


Pets of the Week

I had inadvertantly written "Pests of the Week," which a reporter caught and fixed. But for those that have pets...or wish they had pets...

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/06/25/pets-of-the-week/aw8fusn/


Joliet treatment and recovery center has success with holistic approach
By Sean Leary

Learn not only what Stepping Stones has done for one man, read what this man now does for Stepping Stones.

http://www.jolietheraldnews.com/2015/06/19/joliet-treatment-and-recovery-center-has-success-with-holistic-approach/affwpbn/


Lockport woman runs ministry to provide inner city youth with basic needs.
By Allison Selk

How basic? How about a drive to collect 1000 pillows? Find out why this is so important to this woman.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/07/01/lockport-woman-runs-ministry-to-provide-inner-city-youth-with-basic-needs/au03whz/


Youth with special needs becomes superheroes at a Lemont camp

To watch students who are confined to wheelchairs soar across a stage was powerful.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/06/24/youth-with-special-needs-become-superheroes-at-a-lemont-camp/apteliq/