A Quick Catch-Up (A Bonus Post, Sort of...)

Staked!: Sarah and Rebekah poured through the formatting errors last weekend and - hopefully - caught them all. I talked to Christine at Cal Graphics about the back cover error, and she checked her files. She doesn't think it's her error, but to save time going back and forth from Createspace to her, she asked me to send the exacct cover measurements, and she will redo it. Hopefully, we will then FINALLY have a book.

And now for all the story links I have forgotten to include with this week's posts...


An Extraordinary Life: Shorewood woman born for adventure

The problem was deciding which informtion to leave out.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/22/shorewood-woman-born-for-adventure/adnu0lc/


Service dogs help local men lead more independent lives

These guys were already pretty amazing, given their limitations, but their service dogs enhanced their capabilities even more.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/18/service-dogs-help-local-men-lead-more-independent-lives/amp3kd0/


Joliet hospital offers innovative treatment for liver cancer
By Jeanne Millsap

It doesn't cure the disease, but it helps in other ways.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/17/joliet-hospital-offers-innovative-treatment-for-liver-cancer/aab8ca9/


Joliet restaurant owner's homemade sangria at heart of fundraiser

Guy Turilo has shown his compassion for Guatemalan youth in many ways, including a adopting a child. Now, he's "stepping up to the plate" to do even more.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/18/joliet-restaurant-owners-homemade-sangria-at-heart-of-fundraiser/ar9mmf1/


Joliet teen gives back to the school that helped shape him

Three years ago, Micah McBride was a hyperactive kid that had no thoughts past fun. Now he's dedicated, focused, and goal-oriented.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/14/joliet-teen-gives-back-to-the-school-that-helped-shape-him/aucqtez/

Throwback Thursday: Someone Finally Asked It

Monday, September 13, 2010

Someone Finally Asked It

Bryony's basic storyline was outlined decades ago, so I find it interesting when certain elements mirror life today. For instance, from the very beginning, Melissa's mother, Darlene, was a single parent, who supported Melissa and her younger brother Brian through freelance writing assignments.

Someone asked me the other day if I modeled Darlene's character on me. I denied it, and that was the truth. At the time of the novel's conception, I was married with two small children and a third on the way. The possiblity of raising those children (and the three that followed them) as a single parent was the farthest thing from my mind. Heck, I had never given freelance writing a thought. I'm not sure I even knew thet option existed.

Besides, since I married my first husband rather young (two weeks after my twentieth birthday), my work history was slim: babysitting, office work, one fast food restaurant, and a summer internship at a newspaper. I was a happy stay-at-home mom and had no desire of ever being anything else.

However, since Darlene cared for her husband Frank before his death and later raised two children in the middle of Simons Woods, I wanted some lucrative work-at-home employment for her. At the time I began the story--1985--the only jobs I knew that could be performed at home were envelope stuffing and writing.

It seemed more likely that Frank, a former photojournalist, would fall love with Darlene the writer rather than Darlene the envelope stuffer. Also, having Munsonville's village board hire Darlene to create promotional literature for Simons Mansion gave her a good reason to relocate the family. I was well into the second round of edits before it occured to me that someone might think I modeled Darlene after myself.

Actually, I am none of the characters. All but one spring completely from my imagination. Only Ed Calkins is based on a real person and his imagination, brought to literary life, with his permission, by my imagination. I've heard sometimes authors base charcters on themselves, but for me, creating them only from the impressions that roll about my mind has been much more fun.

Ludovico Einaudi - A Fuoco

Not Reading, Not Writing

After a full, but relatively uneventful, weekend, I had a rather grueling Monday and didn't get home until late. In my world, that also translates into oversleeping, LOL (except as I'm rushing around, I'm really not "laughing out loud," grumble).

This morning, I shelved all the brilliant ideas I wanted to write and asked myself, "What is one good piece of writerly wisdom I could share briefly and succintly?"

The stock answer might be, "Read, because good writers are readers" or "Write. Just write. "Planning, plotting, and jotting are wonderful, but mean little unless one actually writes."

Lucrative advice, of course, advice I follow and would not refute. Yet, I have found some of my best writing occurs when I am actually engaged in neither of these.

All good art contains white space, the area where it seems like nothing is happening: no color, no lines, no shape, etc. But without the white space, the rest wouldn't be visible. If you haven't incorporated "white space" into your writing, and you're hitting a wall, try it. But what do I mean by "white space?"

I mean, take a break from reading. Take a break from writing. Tuck your story, a character, a plot twist, whatever, into the back of your subconsious and go about some other business. Don't forget about it. Just set it on the back burner to simmer, kind of like mixing the biscuits while the soup barely bubbles. You're still making soup, even if you're not constantly fiddling with it in the meantime. In fact, too much fiddling often produces bad soup.

Take your dog for a walk. Garden. Re-roof the house. Seriously. Like that old sappy saying about butterflies resting on your shoulder when you're not paying attention holds true, I think, for writerly muses.

Anyway, it won't hurt to try. Besides, you KNOW you should really clean out your car.

How I Spent the Weekend

I worked, yes, but overall, despite being on call, it was a relatively quiet weekend.

Friday night was probably the busiest. Three nights a week, I work out in the fitness center with Daniel. Yes, five years after pledging to start lifting weights, I'm finally doing it (I can hear the cheers in the background). Once upon a time, when I was lifting babies and toddlers all day, along with wearing them in slings, backpacks, etc., good muscle tone came naturally. Now that I'm advanced in age and don't engage in the above activities on any sort of regularity, and am prone to losing, rather than gaining, muscle mass, I need to be proactive. This is it. Also, those three nights are my "catch up with what's going on in Daniel's life," as we walk several times around the complex when I'm done, and we discuss stuff.

Before I switch to fiction, Friday nights are also the time I watch movies with Daniel, which he already has picked out and loaded before I ever get home. This past Friday I was lucky. Besides having a few extra duties given to me that morning on an already overly filled day ("O Lord, thank you for the opportunity to once again stretch my limits, tackle a challenge, and grow in skill and knowledge"), I had completed all my work through Tuesday's budget by 5:40 that afternoon. Most Friday nights, I don't leave work until far (far, far, far) later than that. Quite the nice bonus on a working weekend. I even sneaked in a little fiction before flopping into my sleeping bag.

On Saturday morning, Rebekah surprised me with coffee, quite the nice surprise considering she detests the smell of coffee. After completing the social media postings for two newspapers, I had several hours before my appointments in the afternoon. As long as the Saturday reporter needed nothing from me (which she never did), the time was my mine, so I worked on the chapter five portion of John's story in Before the Blood, a wonderful treat I was not expecting on a working weekend.

After running to the bank, I donned a skirt, hat, etc., and it was off to two appointments, both for upcomnig food stories. Then I headed back to The Herald-News, where I stayed for four hours, writing three stories. No, I didn't have to check in, but if I'd gone back to the apartment, said chapter five probably would have sucked me in. Timothy and Daniel walked over at 8:30, carrying a surprise dinner for me, to walk me back. Talk about fast food! I munched chicken strips all the way. (The baked potato had to wait until I was actually inside the apartment).

I then caught up on email, did some preliminary Sunday postings and went to sleep. I finished the postings before church and after church, enjoyed a wonderful and much needed fellowship hour with my pastor. I was then off to two interviews (a summer camp for foster kids, where I reconnected with one of the families from our former Higher Ark youth group, and a fundraising luau for dogs) before heading home, visiting with the kids, finishing some posts, catching up on email, discussing a story with one of my writers, and yes, even outling my next moves on chapter five, for next weekend. I won't be on call again until Labor Day, a nice reward for several weeks of nearly non-stop work.

Oh, yes, and amongst that weekend, I read and wrote a short critique on a 60,000 word, very enjoyable novel from one of the members of WriteOn Joliet.

Sarah was busy on Friday night, so she and Rebekah reviewed the formatting issues on Staked! We have a back cover issue, so I'm sending a photo to Cal Graphics this morning to see if she can fix it. Then we'll upload the files AGAIN and order another proof.

Cross those fingers!

Lavender Lemonade

Lavender Lemonade

By Carleen Villasenor

First published in Villasenor’s Recipes from the Biblical Herb Garden. Used with author permission.

Lavender syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons fresh or dried lavender flowers

A small piece of lemon rind, all white removed

Lemonade:

½ lemon

2 tablespoons lavender syrup

Combine water and sugar and boil until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add lavender flowers and lemon rind. Steep for 20 minutes and strain. Refrigerate. For each drink, squeeze ½ lemon into glass, dropping lemon into glass after squeezing. Add 2 tablespoons lavender syrup. This has a very pleasing aroma and is highly perfume-like when fresh. The flavor of lavender is bitter to the end, quite opposite of the aroma, and nothing like its cousin mint.

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

 Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html


Also, in today's edition of The Herald-News:

Joliet woman wants to comfort pediatric cancer patients with gifts of jewelry

All in memory of her own daughter, who not only loved jewelry, but who also received a very special gift from a stranger.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/09/joliet-woman-wants-to-comfort-pediatric-cancer-parents-with-gifts-of-jewelry/apg8erg/

While You're Awaiting the Release of "Staked!"...

Here's another changeling story to entertain you.

http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/wjthomas/bl-wjthomas-welsh-llanfabon.htm

Almost There...

...with being prepared for Friday's new posting feature.

It's actually a variation on an old posting feature, and I (hope) to be ready for Post #1 next Friday.

I blame it on not enough hours in the day.

But seriously, folks. In actuality, I'm collecting sufficient material to make it a go.

Of course, if I had more hours in the day...



Joliet weather expert doubles as a mininster

That's the online headline. The heading and subheading in print read as "whirlwind for faith" and "Joliet man isn't foggy about his priorities." Yes, I wrote them. ;) In the Joliet area, the terms "Jeremy Hylka" and "weather updates" are almost synonymous. But there is another side to him. I've been wanting to write this story for a long time. He liked it. I think "amazing" was the term he used. Works for me.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/14/joliet-weather-expert-doubles-as-a-minister/acw3jw3/


Keeping it diverse, appealing
Joliet museum’s summer music series a success, fall series planned

Rarely does one lede with a quote, but sometimes it works. Apparently, it did here, because my editor left it.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/16/keeping-it-diverse-appealing/a1py26a/

Throwback Thursday: If You Think the Flu Is Bad...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

If You Think the Flu is Bad...

...try battling the bubonic plague, as did one of the vampires claimed to have done in Bryony.

According to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_plague, symptoms first occured two to five days after exposure and included:

* Chills
* General ill feeling (malaise)
* High fever
* Muscle pain
* Severe headache
* Seizures
* Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo. These may be found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the initial infection (bite or scratch). Pain may occur in the area before the swelling appears
* Heavy breathing
* Continuous blood vomiting
* Urination of blood
* Aching limbs
* Coughing
* Extreme pain. The pain is usually caused by the decaying or decomposing of the skin while the victim is still alive
* Extreme tiredness
* Gastrointestinal problems
* Lenticulae (black dots scattered throughout the body)
* Delirium
* Coma

Chicken soup, which helped Melissa when she was sick, won't fix this one. Which is worse, the bite of an infected rodent or the same from a vampire?

Denise M. Baran-Unland

Proof, Need Hope, Links

Anyone here old enough to remember this type of back and forth joke?

He: I bought a new house.

She: That's wonderful!

He: No, it isn't. It burned down last night.

She: That's terrible.

He: No, it isn't. The insurance company cut me a million dollar check.

She: That's wonderul.

He: No, it isn't. The bank won't cash it due to insufficient funds.

So Blogger is still not allowing me to upload photos, an irritation on a morning that is otherwise (and so far, but it's early) going well.

Because if Blogger would cooperate, I'd show you the photo of what was waiting for me at the apartment door when I zipped home yesterday to feed the kittens: a box contained two proof copies of Staked!

Unfortunately, a not-so-quick flip through the book revealved numerous formatting mistakes, so I've already telegrammed Sarah Stegall, along with shooting up a fervent prayer she can make time to fix it. I'm feeling like we'll be releasing Staked! around 2025. (Be postive, vamp lady, be positive).

On the plus side, I'm over the full moon on the art. The light and dark contracts between the interior and exterior illustrations, the coloring on the front, the off-centerness of some of the inside drawings lends an eerie creepiness to a book that, on the surface, appears to have humorous moments.

Also, another cat, Hope, escaped from my son's Morris, Illinois apartment. She's a tortoise, microchipped et. al, and ours. No, I can't post a photo of her, either. Please message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com, if you'd like to see her photo, of if you have information on this sweet little kitty.

On a more postive note, below are the two feature stories that ran in yesterday and today's editions of The Herald-News:



Hardest thing is talking and writing
By Jeanne Millsap

Braidwood teens suffers same disorder as Harry Potter star

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/08/hardest-thing-is-writing-and-talking/aliwfy1/


Guarding your heart
Joliet hospital features class on heart-healthy recipes

Covered this event Monday and night and returned with some delicious recipes for kale and black beans and rice. I am such a peasant!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/09/joliet-hospital-features-class-on-heart-healthy-recipes/azav9e/

Deadwood (more than "was," were," and "just")

Just as there will be times you will want to use each of the above words, many early drafts contain far too many of these, diluting your writing.

Just as pruning a purple rose bush makes it blossom, trimming back words that add little to your story can make your stronger words really stand out.

Do I use these words in my stories? Of course. But when self-editing, consider eliminating - or at least paring back - the following:
(Note: Occasionally, these will feel natural in dialogue).

   *  said (the preferred dialogue tag, you still need less then half of what your probably used),

   * overuse of pronouns

   *  would be

   *  there was (Do you really want "there" to be the subject of your sentence? Can you write it differently?)

   *  still

   *  now

   *  very

   *  only

   *  whole

   * so

   *  up

   *  down

   *  finally

   *  really

   *  had had

   *  and
 
   *  but

   *  suddenly

   *  some

   *  even

   *  either

   *  any

   *  though

   *  own

   *  felt

   *  thought

   *  who is, who was, etc.

   *  a lot

   *  ever

   *  never

    *  too

   *  all

   *  alreayd

   *  out

  *   anyway

   *  got

   *  deep

   *  such a

   *  pretty

   *  kind of

   *  sort of

   *  a whole other

 

Forgiveness (and some "this and that")

The concept of forgiveness is an interesting one.

Through reading posts on an online prayer group to which I belong and conversations with other Christians, the newest "forgiveness buzz" goes something like this: "Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. It also does not mean excusing away or accepting the behavior."

I agree with the latter. although there is nothing wrong with looking at a larger picture and trying to view the offense from the perspective of standing in another's shoes, at least for the purpose of gaining understanding and empathy. But I completely and totally disagree with sentence number one.

It misses the point of forgiveness. It misses the point of wiping the slate clean.

Yes, I would agree some people are dangerous to our lives. We should remain wary of them. We should not let them back in. However, for most of us, in our daily interactions with others, these people are the exception. Starting fresh is a great opportunity for both the offender and the forgiver to do just that, without feeling imprisoned by past baggage.

Advantages? The offender is not held hostage to a past image in the forgiver's mind. The forgiver isn't plagued by irritation, anger, sadness, hatred, etc. at the memory, even, no, ESPECIALLY, when the offender is non-repentent. In many cases, no, these strong emotions don't disappear overnight.

But with renewing our forgiveness each time that poison appears, they do lessen and lose their power over us. They may also lose their power over the offender if he is sincere is wishing forgiveness, giving them the chance to make amends, to grow in a new direction, to open up everyone to the possiblity of love.

In fact, for me, the lack of feeling those negative emotions is my benchmark to know when I've arrived at full forgiveness. Horrible memories don't drudge up horrible emotions. I can accept the past as past, revel in the present opportunities, and look forward to the future with much hope.

Something to think about...


*  Proof copy for Staked! has been shipped. I'm on call again this weekend - but not again until September - so my plan is read to read through - and hopefully APPROVE - said "proof" copy. Amazon says the book will arrive by Thursday, and Amazon is known to be early. Guess what my bedtime reading will be this week?

* Chapter 5 in Before the Blood is well underway, thanks to twelve (or so) hours in front of the computer, a glorious day, overall. I'd show you a visual testimony, but the $%Q@$ photo won't upload. The rest of the chapter is outlined, but with, again, my being on call this weekend - and with three in person interviews scheduled (one on Saturday afternoon and two on Sunday - what is WRONG with me?), I'm not hoping for more than an occasional glance and peck.

If you need proof of my busyness, the following stories (with the exception of Zonta, which appeared yesterday), here are the stories appearing in today's edition of The Herald-News.


Joliet Zonta Club celebrates 40 years

During the course of the interview with Dr. Patricia Miller, she asked if I would consider membership and invited me to email my biography to her. Interesting, and quite the honor, indeed!

If you're unfamiliar with Zonta, read on!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/01/joliet-zonta-club-celebrates-40-years/adto6vv/


Army medic becomes Morris civil servant

She attributes her desire to serve to her grandmother, a Morris minister.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/18/army-medic-becomes-morris-civil-servant/axlbqim/


An Extraordinary Life: He really saw them as his kids

Morris resident Chuck Farinella coached minority kids at a Maywood school during an age of race riots when other teachers left for easier assignments...but his coaching didn't stop off the field.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/18/an-extraordinary-life-he-really-saw-them-as-his-kids/avtmipz/


Mokena non-profit tranis service dogs, seeks more volunteers

I already knew from previous stories that the cost of acquiring of service dog ranges from 10 to 20 thousand dollars. The burden to fundraise that amount is on the recipient. Kudos to this group for  training and give these dogs away for free!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/09/mokena-nonprofit-trains-service-dogs-seeks-more-volunteers/a4jjt1a/


Pets of the Week

If you live in the Joliet area and are seeking a canine or feline companion, check out these guys and gals below.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/19/pets-of-the-week-for-july-21/az71rft/

Needy an Easy, Yummy Dinner for Tonight?

Lasagna #1

By Kat King

1 or 2 bags frozen ravioli, breaded or not, cheese, meat, or a combination

1 16 ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained

2 jars favorite spaghetti sauce or homemade sauce (for a quick meal, we like the Classico Spinach and Cheese)

1 pound bulk Italian sausage

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown the Italian sausage in a medium size skillet over medium heat. When cooked, add ¾ of the roasted red peppers (more or less depending on how many bags of ravioli). Spread 1 cup sauce on the bottom of the pan. In a 9x13 pan, lay out 1 layer of the frozen ravioli. Pour the meat and pepper combo over the ravioli. Cover well with sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Make a salad and garlic bread, and you have a yummy dinner in about 30 minutes. Yield: 8 generous 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

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html

If You (Or someone You Know) Needs an Ed Calkinsish Baby Name...

...here's a list with some interesting pickins.'

http://www.fantasy-ireland.com/Irish-baby-boy-names.html#axzz37vNse6RN

Free Parking

When I first started this blog four years ago, I shared links to short stories I considered absolutely amazing, insofar as I could find those links online, thinking (mistakenly) that as the weekend approacheth, people had more time for reading.

While I'd love to organize those links into one easy spot for people to find - and let me tell you, there's some great old stories out there to be discovered - I'd like to keep that readerly spirit by posting other works.

I have some thoughts on it, but it is not yet, ahem, fleshed out. So today, this is just a resting post.

In the meantime, check out some local musical talent:


They'll knock your socks off

Rialto Idol and Rialto Idol Junior come into their own

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/16/theyll-knock-your-socks-off/akuljh0/


Saying 'thank you' in a big way

For these musicians, a card just won't do.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/09/saying-thank-you-in-a-big-way/a5wq5b4/

And If You're Seeking Something Both Uplifting and Inspirational...

This former Shorewood resident will perform a free EP release concert at Minooka Bible Church Next week.

Noteworthy to writers: She's an indie artist that just ran a successful Kickstarter campaign.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/10/past-shorewood-resident-and-contemporary-christian-artist-does-more-than-entertain/aaez67h/ 

Throwback Thursday: Cleaning up the Dirt

Monday, September 20, 2010

Cleaning up the Dirt

We have a very tiny mission church in our home. A couple of weeks ago, as our priest was packing up, he glanced toward the kitchen. “Did you get new cabinets?” he asked. “They look brighter.”

“No,” I said, handing him his first mug of coffee for the day. Our denomination has a tradition of fasting from midnight, so making coffee after services is considered a great work of mercy. “Rebekah (my sixteen-year-old daughter) polished them when I had surgery.”

I thought about those cabinets Saturday when I began tackling Bryony’s third round of edits. The story is structurally sound, but it does have some smudges and stains that dull its sheen. A good editor doesn’t mind looking over your shoulder to say, “Hey, you missed a spot here, here, and over there.”

Some of those in my closest circle—the ones that read Bryony's crudest drafts--worry that editing means content changing. I think they will be pleasantly surprised at the finished product. I doubt they will notice the changes. The inherent story is the same, but smoother and, like my cabinets, brighter.

Full Stomachs, Happy Smiles

By far, stopping by this temple was the best part of my weekend.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/14/full-stomachs-happy-smiles/aq4f8x8/

Horrible Histories:Victorian boy's birthday. Shouty Man:Victorian Maid. ...

One Easy Trick to Jump-Start Your Muse

Or, at least, this is one easy trick that works for me: read your notes, previous chapters, etc. before you go to sleep at night or even before that delicious weekend nap. In college, I used to do this before exams and found I performed far better and with greater ease than when I did not do this. In fact, a little studying right before bedtime was more effective than hours of cramming.

Now, I don't necessarily wake up full of ideas, but impressions of the story, chapter, dialogue, character - whatever I was hoping to tackle - remain. When I do sit down to actually write, ideas flow better.

At any rate, it doesn't hurt to try.


Three area runners find different motivations
By Jeanne Millsap

Talk about having "get up and go!"

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/06/30/three-area-runners-find-different-motivations/agimmch/


Therapy dog at children's advocacy center brings comfort to all

Jackson does seem to get most of the attention, but if you haven't met his sister, read on!

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/07/01/therapy-dog-at-childrens-advocacy-center-brings-comfort-to-all/aounmg7/


An Extraordinary Life: Faithful, frugal, focused

With a bit of fun and adventure mixed in. That, too, was Ray Egly

http://www.theherald-news.com/2014/06/30/an-extraordinary-life-faithful-frugal-focused/a12c019/

The Beatles - Across The Universe-HQ

With the Popularity of Kale Comes...

 Kale Fritters

1 head kale

2 onions, minced

Minced bacon

2 eggs

1 cup bread crumbs

¼ teaspoon mace

Salt and pepper, to taste

Bacon fat

Boil kale until tender, then chop fine, add onions fried with bacon, eggs, bread crumbs, mace, salt and pepper. Mix and make fritters and fry in bacon fat.

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

Order the cookbook at www.bryonyseries.com/Dalton_s_Dry_Goods.html

First appeared in the "Bohemian-American Cookbook" by Marie Rosicky, published by the Automatic Printing Company (www.autoprintomaha.com).

And in today's edition of The Herald-News:

Joliet cardiologist houses family fleeing from Syria

More than once, Joliet cardiologist Dr. Mazen M. Kawji wondered why he had bought such a large house in Burr Ridge for himself, his wife and their four children, now 11 to 22. Never had Kawji envisioned sharing that house with six more people, all Syrian refugees, all relatives...

www.theherald-news.com/2014/06/12/joliet-cardiologist-houses-family-fleeing-syria/axcqdlc/ 

Abolishing Story Round Up in Favor For...

...posting the link everyday at the bottom of the post (or in the comments section, if it's a video link).

What will replace it?

Ah, you'll just have to wait and see.

Do I know? Yes.

And it will be good. Promise.

Switched: Getting Stoked for "Staked!"

Sooooooo I'm three weeks behind in story postings agani. Really, how difficult can it be for me to save a link a day? (Well-deserved head thunk).

Sooooo, since I'm n call anway this weekend, I've left myself a BIG note to remind myself to do it, tomorrow.

Sooooo, for today, I'm switching out Saturday - historically, in the life of this blog (four years) dedicated to Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, and all things Irish - with the story links.

Soooooo, to help you get stoked for Staked! (proof copies will be ordered today), check out this link:

www.shee-eire.com/magic&mythology/fairylore/main.htm 

Throwback Thursday: Jack the Cleaning Man

First published Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Jack the Cleaning Man

Years ago, when my father owned an architectural firm, he hired a man named Jack, who had a janitorial service, to clean the building my father owned. Occasionally, Jack brought his school-age sons to help him.

Now, I never met Jack, but my imagination worked overtime. I loved the concept of how Jack might have mentored those boys while they worked side by side with their father. The type of work performed was irrelevant. I believe those boys, even while emptying garbage cans and pushing a vacuum cleaner, assimilated their father’s work ethic and learned the value of a job done well.

Those impressions went into the character of Steve Barnes. As a plain maintenance man in the backwards fishing village of Munsonville, Steve lacked the sophistication that Melissa and Brian’s cosmopolitan father, Frank Marchellis, once had. Steve does not try to compete with Frank, but neither is that necessary.

His consistent presence, interest in the children’s lives, and sharing of interests, brings a certain stability to the children’s live which, perhaps, even Brian never fully realized.

ABBA - SUPER TROUPER - HQ - LYRICS

Clearing Up the Info Dump Misconceptions

In previous posts I explained the difference between showing vs. telling, why both are important, and some tips when to use which.

After reading posts on the WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page about info dumping. I decided to add an expanded explanation here.

First of all, what info dumping is not:

It is not exposition exposititon, narrative, or telling:
 
   Writers use these to summarize information the reader needs to know to move the story forward, bridge scenes, and even to create some emotional distance after very emotional scenes. Some authors use more, some use less, but good authors use it effectively.

Second, what info dumping is:

Info dumping is a collection of facts that are literally just poured out on the reader.

   Have you ever walked into a home of a person that had many knicknacks or collectible items? Such a person will display them artfully around the room, perhaps in groupings on tables, on a wall of shelves, or in a variety of display cases? This makes the room attractive and pleasant to visit. That's what skillful presentation of the facts does for a story. It seamlessly weaves the details of the plot and the characters and the backstories through scenes, flashbacks, internal monologue, etc.

   Now picture that same collector taking boxes of those items and turning them upside in the center of the room. Not so pleasing anymore. Harder to admire each individual piece. More difficult to enjoy the collection. That's what info dumping does to a story.

   Another example. Think of how proud we feel when a superior feels we're capable enough to handle a promotion, a special project, etc. It's different from feeling we experience when a boss makes us do all the dirty tasks he or she doesn't want to tackle.

   Delegation makes us feel like we're part of the team. No one wants work dumped on them, and neither do readers. They want you to take them by the hand and lead them to uncover the world you created just for them.

That's artistry.

The View at Monday Morning, After a Three-Day Weekend

(Almost) ready for the week! The tone around the four-square rooms that comprise Casa de Baran-Unland is that we all could have used ONE MORE DAY! (Isn't that always the case?).

Actually, I don't think any of us fully realized how pressing the last few years actually were until we had an opportunity to just...stop. We had that opportunity this weekend, and we are so incredibly thankful for it.

No emergencies.

No "one more thing" that needed addressing.

No family squabbles.

No "other foot dropping."

No unexpected drop-ins.

No, nothing.

Thursday, I stayed up late writing fiction. Friday, I woke up early to write fiction, fell back asleep at nine o'clock and then work up four hours later, ready to hit it. Took a break seven thirty-ish when Christopher, Jennifer and the boys (Ronnie, Caleb, and Micah) came 'round, and then it was off to the Knights of Columbus for fireworks. My "adopted" son Gerald was there, too, and it was awesome catching up.

BTW, Some of us walked to the KC, and it's truly magical to walk in the dark, especially on the Fourth of July, with music and headphones. Oh, yeah, and then we stopped for ice cream. Sort of.

Stayed up for many more hours writing fiction. Woke up ten-ish Saturday morning and wrote until I sleep overtook me. Broke the pace this weekend only for showers and quick meals at the computer. Reset the day on Sunday, caught up on email (hundreds of them), a few chores, a birthday celebration (Amber's and Rebekah's half) and, well, here we are.

The only damper? Can't order a proof copy of Staked! until I get paid at the end of the week. Definitely a bummer.

I'm on call this weekend, so I won't be returning to the prequel for two more weeks. However, I have a list of assorted BryonySeries chores that I can accomplish, easily laid aside for breaking news, chores like getting back to the art for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the Missing Tombstone and Bertrand and the Lucky Six-Leaf Clover.

Ah, you thought I'd forgotten about them, didn't you?

Recipe for Success: One Good Quote

For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. A lot of people never get past this phase; they quit. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. — Ira Glass

KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS

Clip from the movie "1776"

Throwback Thursday: Brian's Toast

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Brian's Toast

A minor "truth is stranger than fiction" element in Bryony is the way Melissa's younger brother makes toast. First, he methodically trims off the crusts around the perimeter of the bread, and then he carefully butters both sides. Brian, Melissa had said, could eat an entire loaf of bread this way, one piece at a time.

I remember the evening I wrote this passage, nearly two decades ago. My now twenty-year-old son was crawling around the floor; the three, older children were "remodeling" the backyard clubhouse with the kids across the street. An old, electric typewriter sat on a small, bedside table. I knelt before it and typed out this scene while trying to keep an eye on the baby.

Ten years and two children later, my then seven year old son began making toast in a similar fashion. No one had ever read this passge; indeed, no one in the family even knew the manuscript, in pieces and stages, existed. I had never met anyone who prepared toast this way.. As far as I knew, my mind invented it. Yet, like Brian, Daniel could eat an entire loaf of bread this way, one piece at a time.

Daniel, now fifteen, is less messy, but he still makes the best toast of anyone I know.

vampire cats (marlin manson-this is halloween)

No Writing Hints Today, Just a Spot of Good News

Time-crunching week made all the more time-crunching yesterday (grumble, groan, grumble).

HOWEVER, Createspace FINALLY approved the cover for Staked! 

The plan today (well, it was the plan for yesterday, too) is to check for errors. I'm debating between simply using the online proof and ordering an actualy hard copy.

With Bryony, I did order a hard copy, found some editing errors, corrected them, and then approved the book. Of course (as it always happens), I still found some errors (not many, but some) in the final copy.

Knowing this and being on a holiday deadline with Visage (remember the holiday edition), I skipped ordering the hard copy and used only the online proof. Of course again, I found errors, which I corrected before we approved the official edition. Of course still more, the official edition has - you guessed it - some copy and two formatting errors.

So is there a benefit to delaying publication by adding the extra delay or a hard copy? To order or not to order: that is the burning question this morning.