Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 22
November 6, 2017
Writing Around You Day Job by Connie Vines
It’s a 5:00 world, at least that is what the popular “Vogues” song from yesteryear (1965) tells us. In 2003, the song was reborn via the movie, “Big Fish”.
Up every morning just to keep a job
I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob
Sounds of the city pounding in my brain
While another day goes down the drain
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) but it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows
No-one owns a piece of my time
As most writers know, writing hours are made after you complete your day job. You time is also doled out in little snippets while watching your child’s water polo practice, Harp recital, or while boiling pasta for the evening meal.
For those of us who may find writing until 1:00 AM and having the alarm set for 5:00 AM a bit fatiguing. It seems we are keeping good company.
Some of these stories you may be familiar with, others may come as a surprise.
He may be a renowned author of over 50 novels, but Stephen King wasn't always a full-time writer — his time as a high school janitor helped inspire the novel Carrie. King originally threw the first draft of the story in the trash, but his wife Tabitha fished it out and told him to keep going because she wanted to know how it ended.
Before she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee worked as an airline reservations clerk in New York. She eventually quit when her friends helped support her financially so she could finally write full time.
He's a well-known author now, but before Nicholas Sparks wrote The Notebook, he worked odd jobs, including selling dental products over the phone.
She was a talented science-fiction writer and awarded the MacArthur Fellowship — but before her success as a writer, Octavia Butler worked as a potato chip inspector. She also worked as a dishwasher and a telemarketer, using these day jobs to support her writing. And they really were day jobs, because Butler would get up at 2 a.m. to do her writing before going in to work! Amazing.
She's known as a mystery novelist; Agatha Christie was once an assistant apothecary. She reportedly knew a lot about poisons, which was no doubt helpful as she created the characters of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Just goes to show that you never know what knowledge will come in handy later.
Bram Stoker wrote Dracula while working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, imagining Henry Irving, a famous actor and owner of the theater, playing the vampire himself.
So how about you? What is/was your day job(s)?
Does your day job get your creative ideas flowing?
I work in the field of education, students, staff, and events give me ideas—or at least creative thoughts.
Sometimes, after a long day. It will take me five minutes to write a sentence.
Five minutes of staring into space until the idea of writing an opening line about how long it took me to think of an opening line popped into my head.
In the grand scheme of things, five minutes isn't all that long. But for a writer, five minutes for nine words can add up.
Writing takes time. A whole lot of time.
I always imagined I'd write my first book in a vacation hideaway overlooking the beach or cabin in the Grand Tetons. Unfortunately, most first-time authors won't get to live out this literary fantasy.
In fact, circumstances will most likely be the opposite: writing during off-hours, scribbling notes in public, enjoying less sleep than you'd like and slowly losing your mind while trying to maintain personal relationships a full-time job and run a household.
Say you've finally found a quiet hour to yourself. You know you should write, but you're tired from work and are only on season four of “Game of Thrones.” What were once simple choices become tormenting tests of will power and resolution.
As George Orwell famously stated, “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.”
In his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” Stephen King shared a similar though more concise sentiment: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
So how do I stay on track to reach my deadline?
I’ve learned to say “no.”
I also participate online instead of driving to Orange County Romance Writers or L.A.R.A. monthly meetings; I sign-up for online classes. I miss interacting with other writers, and my plotting group, but talking isn’t going to write my novel.
This doesn't mean you have to say no to everything, but writing is always going to require compromise.
A large part of writing for me is preparing my environment. I like to have a cup of coffee by my side, music playing. I prefer to write from 8:00 to 11:30 PM every other day. On Fridays I write until 2:00 AM, Saturdays after the gym and running errands. I’ll write for a few hours, then spend time on other tasks, until about 8:00 PM I will write until 10 or 11:00. (though is writing until 2:00 this morning).
Sunday, unless I have a blog post due/or am on a deadline, I do not write. I may edit my week's work in the evening but that is the extent of my writing. This is family time for me.
Remember: If you keep waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect time, you’ll never get anything done.
Pencil in you time to write on your calendar, or task journal. Honor that time like you do all of your other commitments.
You may find your day job fits in quite nicely into your novel. After all, if you have life experience, no research in needed.
Happy Reading and Writing,
Connie
Up every morning just to keep a job
I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob
Sounds of the city pounding in my brain
While another day goes down the drain
(Yeah, yeah, yeah) but it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows
No-one owns a piece of my time
As most writers know, writing hours are made after you complete your day job. You time is also doled out in little snippets while watching your child’s water polo practice, Harp recital, or while boiling pasta for the evening meal.
For those of us who may find writing until 1:00 AM and having the alarm set for 5:00 AM a bit fatiguing. It seems we are keeping good company.
Some of these stories you may be familiar with, others may come as a surprise.
He may be a renowned author of over 50 novels, but Stephen King wasn't always a full-time writer — his time as a high school janitor helped inspire the novel Carrie. King originally threw the first draft of the story in the trash, but his wife Tabitha fished it out and told him to keep going because she wanted to know how it ended.
Before she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman, Harper Lee worked as an airline reservations clerk in New York. She eventually quit when her friends helped support her financially so she could finally write full time.
He's a well-known author now, but before Nicholas Sparks wrote The Notebook, he worked odd jobs, including selling dental products over the phone.
She was a talented science-fiction writer and awarded the MacArthur Fellowship — but before her success as a writer, Octavia Butler worked as a potato chip inspector. She also worked as a dishwasher and a telemarketer, using these day jobs to support her writing. And they really were day jobs, because Butler would get up at 2 a.m. to do her writing before going in to work! Amazing.
She's known as a mystery novelist; Agatha Christie was once an assistant apothecary. She reportedly knew a lot about poisons, which was no doubt helpful as she created the characters of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Just goes to show that you never know what knowledge will come in handy later.
Bram Stoker wrote Dracula while working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, imagining Henry Irving, a famous actor and owner of the theater, playing the vampire himself.
So how about you? What is/was your day job(s)?
Does your day job get your creative ideas flowing?
I work in the field of education, students, staff, and events give me ideas—or at least creative thoughts.
Sometimes, after a long day. It will take me five minutes to write a sentence.
Five minutes of staring into space until the idea of writing an opening line about how long it took me to think of an opening line popped into my head.
In the grand scheme of things, five minutes isn't all that long. But for a writer, five minutes for nine words can add up.
Writing takes time. A whole lot of time.
I always imagined I'd write my first book in a vacation hideaway overlooking the beach or cabin in the Grand Tetons. Unfortunately, most first-time authors won't get to live out this literary fantasy.
In fact, circumstances will most likely be the opposite: writing during off-hours, scribbling notes in public, enjoying less sleep than you'd like and slowly losing your mind while trying to maintain personal relationships a full-time job and run a household.
Say you've finally found a quiet hour to yourself. You know you should write, but you're tired from work and are only on season four of “Game of Thrones.” What were once simple choices become tormenting tests of will power and resolution.
As George Orwell famously stated, “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness.”
In his book “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft,” Stephen King shared a similar though more concise sentiment: “The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
So how do I stay on track to reach my deadline?
I’ve learned to say “no.”
I also participate online instead of driving to Orange County Romance Writers or L.A.R.A. monthly meetings; I sign-up for online classes. I miss interacting with other writers, and my plotting group, but talking isn’t going to write my novel.
This doesn't mean you have to say no to everything, but writing is always going to require compromise.
A large part of writing for me is preparing my environment. I like to have a cup of coffee by my side, music playing. I prefer to write from 8:00 to 11:30 PM every other day. On Fridays I write until 2:00 AM, Saturdays after the gym and running errands. I’ll write for a few hours, then spend time on other tasks, until about 8:00 PM I will write until 10 or 11:00. (though is writing until 2:00 this morning).
Sunday, unless I have a blog post due/or am on a deadline, I do not write. I may edit my week's work in the evening but that is the extent of my writing. This is family time for me.
Remember: If you keep waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect time, you’ll never get anything done.
Pencil in you time to write on your calendar, or task journal. Honor that time like you do all of your other commitments.
You may find your day job fits in quite nicely into your novel. After all, if you have life experience, no research in needed.
Happy Reading and Writing,
Connie
August 21, 2017
"Classic Ginger" Snippets Shortcomings with Ginger Simpson
This week, I'm sharing a snippet from my Young Adult, Shortcomings. There's a valuable message in this book about how to treat people with disabilities and deal with bullies. Hope you'll consider sharing a copy with family this holiday. Although the story deals with teens, the reading material is appropriate for all ages. The description says it all, and this would make a wonderful gift for any reader on your list. Happy Thanksgiving...I'm going back to my Magic Cookie Bars. :)
High School is hard enough without the cold stares from classmates that remind you every day how different you are.
Our shortcomings don't define who we are, unless we let them. Cindy Johnson needs to learn that. Born with one leg shorter than the other, she has no self-esteem because of the cruel comments and cold stares she receives from her classmates. When Cory Neil, the football quarterback asks her to Homecoming, she's quite sure he's asked her on a dare and refuses. It takes more than just her mother's assurances that Cindy's beautiful before she realizes she may have made a mistake in turning him down.
http://amzn.com/B00J16ZA90
High School is hard enough without the cold stares from classmates that remind you every day how different you are.
Our shortcomings don't define who we are, unless we let them. Cindy Johnson needs to learn that. Born with one leg shorter than the other, she has no self-esteem because of the cruel comments and cold stares she receives from her classmates. When Cory Neil, the football quarterback asks her to Homecoming, she's quite sure he's asked her on a dare and refuses. It takes more than just her mother's assurances that Cindy's beautiful before she realizes she may have made a mistake in turning him down.
http://amzn.com/B00J16ZA90
August 20, 2017
Poodle Quotes
On Sundays I post an assortment of short little snippets, quotes or pictures (as listed on the side-bar of Dishin' It Out). Today is Poodle Sunday!
Ever consider what pets must think of us?
I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
Anne Tyler
American Novelist
Ever consider what pets must think of us?
I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth!
Anne Tyler
American Novelist
August 13, 2017
Sunday Snippet “Gumbo Ya Ya” (Soon to be Released) by Connie Vines
September 2017 is the release date of my anthology, Gumbo Ya Ya, by my publisher BWL Publishing. And, as always, BWL’s art director, Michelle Houston, has designed a spectacular book cover for me—with just enough heat to pepper every woman Gumbo!
Here’s a little teaser from, “A Slice of Scandal”, the third story in my Cajun anthology!
“Hey, now, ‘dis key lime pie’s like de one I sever at my restaurant. Simple to make and good to eat! Key limes perk up de mouth and makes you happy.”
Producer/Director, Julia Kincaid focused on her monitor and adjusted the mic of her headset. “Camera One, tighten that head shot.” She watched as the camera feathered over the chef to capture the best angle. The camera should have loved Chef Franklin. His height was average, his hair black, short and curly and his skin gook on a polished bronze color under the harsh camera lights, but the camera didn’t like Franklin. There was something about his eyes; like dark agate, forbidding and expressionless that was difficult to erase.
“Okay. Now hold it, while Chef Franklin pulls the second pie from the refrigerator. Follow him back to the island. Good.”
When the chef stood on his mark, Julia said, “Cue the music. Okay, Two, scan the audience. Back to Franklin.”
“It’s best to serve ‘dis chilled, a twist of key lime on the top. And, boy-oh, boy, does ‘dis taste goood!”
“Camera Two, pan the audience. . .focus on the pie. . .Camera One, close-up on the chef. . .Hold it.”
Julia heard the studio audience applause.
“Now, pull back. He cuts the pie. . . he puts it on the plate. . .now wait for the whipped cream and . . .okay. . .he’d got the fork. He’s taking a bite.”
The studio audience uttered a collective sigh.
“Let’s call it a day. . .” Julia said, pulling off her headset and allowing it to dangle around her neck. “Hey, Hey, what’s he doing, now?” she asked J.D., “This is where he says goodnight. What’s he doing?” Snagging the mic that was clipped at her waist she barked, “Someone cue Franklin. He’s off his mark.” It was times like this she questioned her sanity at trading a career in Hollywood daytime T.V. for that of the Good Eats Network in Orlando, Florida.
From her left, she heard J.D. groan. “Julia, Franklin’s spitting out the pie! Harvey’s gonna boil all of our carcasses in the stock pot for--”
Julia hopped down from the camera and took off at a full run toward Franklin, the sound of clanging pots and pans crashing to the floor barely registering.
Gone was the applause. People jumped to their feet. People screamed.
“He’s on the floor!” J.D. bellowed.
Julia could see that! Kneeling down beside Franklin, her fingers felt a faint pulse. “J.D. call the medics! Franklin must be having a heart attack.”
I hope you enjoyed this little snippet from my next release.
More anthology snippets to come!
Happy Reading,
Connie
Here’s a little teaser from, “A Slice of Scandal”, the third story in my Cajun anthology!
“Hey, now, ‘dis key lime pie’s like de one I sever at my restaurant. Simple to make and good to eat! Key limes perk up de mouth and makes you happy.”
Producer/Director, Julia Kincaid focused on her monitor and adjusted the mic of her headset. “Camera One, tighten that head shot.” She watched as the camera feathered over the chef to capture the best angle. The camera should have loved Chef Franklin. His height was average, his hair black, short and curly and his skin gook on a polished bronze color under the harsh camera lights, but the camera didn’t like Franklin. There was something about his eyes; like dark agate, forbidding and expressionless that was difficult to erase.
“Okay. Now hold it, while Chef Franklin pulls the second pie from the refrigerator. Follow him back to the island. Good.”
When the chef stood on his mark, Julia said, “Cue the music. Okay, Two, scan the audience. Back to Franklin.”
“It’s best to serve ‘dis chilled, a twist of key lime on the top. And, boy-oh, boy, does ‘dis taste goood!”
“Camera Two, pan the audience. . .focus on the pie. . .Camera One, close-up on the chef. . .Hold it.”
Julia heard the studio audience applause.
“Now, pull back. He cuts the pie. . . he puts it on the plate. . .now wait for the whipped cream and . . .okay. . .he’d got the fork. He’s taking a bite.”
The studio audience uttered a collective sigh.
“Let’s call it a day. . .” Julia said, pulling off her headset and allowing it to dangle around her neck. “Hey, Hey, what’s he doing, now?” she asked J.D., “This is where he says goodnight. What’s he doing?” Snagging the mic that was clipped at her waist she barked, “Someone cue Franklin. He’s off his mark.” It was times like this she questioned her sanity at trading a career in Hollywood daytime T.V. for that of the Good Eats Network in Orlando, Florida.
From her left, she heard J.D. groan. “Julia, Franklin’s spitting out the pie! Harvey’s gonna boil all of our carcasses in the stock pot for--”
Julia hopped down from the camera and took off at a full run toward Franklin, the sound of clanging pots and pans crashing to the floor barely registering.
Gone was the applause. People jumped to their feet. People screamed.
“He’s on the floor!” J.D. bellowed.
Julia could see that! Kneeling down beside Franklin, her fingers felt a faint pulse. “J.D. call the medics! Franklin must be having a heart attack.”
I hope you enjoyed this little snippet from my next release.
More anthology snippets to come!
Happy Reading,
Connie
August 10, 2017
A Poodle, a Wedding Anniversary, and a Opossum By Connie Vines
I had an article about the craft of writing written and ready to post. I decided, instead, to share that post on a later date..
Why?
For those of you who follow my Twitter, Instagram, author Facebook page, or website, you know I often share stories about my little poodle-mix puppy, Chanel.
Please, no groaning from those of you who prefer cats.
Chanel, is lively, friendly, and poodle-like in her powers of reasoning.
She is also serious about her friendships.
Well, before the SoCal winter rains, there was a young opossum who would walk along the block wall several nights a week at 2:00 A.M. I know this because this is the time I usually finish writing and get ready for bed. Chanel dance in a circle requesting to step outside. She would run over to the wall and bark, causing the little white-faced opossum to dart away.
I would pick her up, instructing her to leave “Harvey” alone. (Yes, I know he is a wild animal and does not possess a name.) Chanel, however, knows every ‘thing’, be it a person, toy (bouncy-ball, Side-kick, blue bouncy-ball), animal, or ‘food’, has a name.
So, this opossum was dubbed Harvey.
Harvey didn’t return during the rains, or afterwards. Then, magically, one night a larger, more attractive, and braver “Harvey’ returned.
This time he sat on the wall and waited for Chanel to bark at him. I’d pick her up, bid “Harvey” good evening. While the two of them stared at each other for a few moments. We’d go in and Harvey would leave.
Where does “Harvey” live? I believe he lives in the yard next door (the owner is a bit of a zealous ‘collector’), or perhaps in the shrubby in a nearby park. I’m not too sure if he has a family.
It has never gone past the ‘flirting’ stage with Chanel. And ‘Harvey’ never ventures into our yard when we are about.
Today, all of that changed.
Today was my wedding anniversary. My husband and I went to local home-style diner for an early dinner. We bid Chanel bye and promised to bring her home a mini-hamburger patty. No. Sorry. No riding in the car this time.
When we got back to the car, packed left-overs and doggie meal in hand, my husband voice his concern about something handing from his side bumper.
I bent over to examine it. While my husband kept saying he would yank the piece of the plant out from the bumper, I objected.
It wasn’t a plant.
It had an odd texture. It was a pale color. It was a snake, no. A rat. . .oh, no!
It was the hook of a opossum’s tail.
“Harvey!”
“Harvey?” my husband questioned.
“Yes. See, that’s Harvey’s tail.” The tail went limp, they turned back into a hook.
“This could only happen to you.” was my husband’s only response.
“Harvey just wanted to join us for our anniversary dinner.”
My husband stifled a chuckle. “I doubt that very much.”
“Now at least we know where he sleeps during the day.”
So, we drove home via the city streets, so not to ‘over heat’ Harvey. When we arrived home, Harvey had pulled his tail back up into the wheel well, waiting for us to leave.
Do you have an interesting anniversary story to share?
Happy Reading,
Connie
P.S.
Yes, Harvey did return several days later to visit an 'concerned' Chanel (she been looking for him every night).
Harvey appeared a little road-weary--not quite as tidy and his face appeared a little dirty, and moving like he had a few sore muscles, but otherwise, his usual Opossum self.
August 6, 2017
Inspirational Sunday Quote
Sunday Inspiration Quote:
August 1, 2017
My Make Believe Worlds by Roseanne Dowell (Replay Day)
I live in a make believe world. Okay, not literally, but vicariously through my characters. I decide where they live, name their towns, and sometimes I let them live in a real city/town. I prefer small towns, maybe because I’ve always wanted to live in one. I especially like towns with Victorian houses and apparently so do my characters, because I use them a lot. I often say I must have lived during the Victorian area, probably as a mean old nanny. I’m sure I wasn’t the lady of the house, and by house I mean mansion. Queen Anne homes are my favorite. I love the round turrets, all the gingerbread, and wrap around porches. It was always my dream to buy one and restore it. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be and I’m past the point of wanting one now. Back to my make believe world. I say I decide where they live, but that's not entirely true. Mostly my characters make that decision.I’d also like to say I choose my characters, but truthfully, they choose me. Sometimes I even get to name them, but if they don’t like the name, well believe me; they misbehave until I change it. And, yes, that’s happened several times. Just because I like a name doesn’t mean they do. The last time it happened it wasn’t even a main character. She was only in the story for a short time, but boy was she stubborn. She refused to talk to me and anything I wrote was garbage, better known as dreck in the writing world. As some of you know, I write many different of genres, from Women’s Fiction to Romance to Mystery and even Paranormal. Most of my books are a combination of romance and another genre. As a reader, I’ve always favored mystery and romance, so it only made sense to combine them. Mine are classified as cozy mysteries. I also love ghost stories – not evil mean ghosts though. One such story is Shadows in the Attic and another Time to Love Again.
In Shadows, two ghosts are discovered – yep you guessed it – in an attic. During a renovation, Anna Hughes and her boyfriend uncover a hidden room complete with furniture. Two shadows hover over a trunk, beckoning to Anna. Of course she's the only one who can see the ghosts. At least she is until her sexy contractor arrives on the scene.
Fifty-eight year old, Rose Asbury is a recluse in Time to Love Again, not that she care. She just wants to be left alone. Enter the man next door who insists on speaking to her causing feelings she doesn’t want. Then her sister’s ghost shows up and well….you’ll have to read it to see what happens.
. I’ve always been fascinated by ESP, hence my story Entangled Minds –
Rebecca Brennan experiences strange, realistic visions and dreams and she’s determined to find who shares her mind. Her search leads – where else – to a small town filled with Victorian homes filled with interesting people and puts her life in danger.
My character’s range from their mid twenties to middle age and even into their seventies. Yes, seniors need love, too. Geriatric Rebels is a favorite. A humorous story about seventy year old Elsa Logan and seventy-two year old Mike Powell. Their middle of the night escapades soon turns into a loving relationship and the discovery of deception and fraud. It’s fun working with different characters, and I especially like when they add a bit of humor. I really form an attachment to them. Once a character chooses me, I make a character worksheet to discover everything about them, not just what they look like. I love creating my characters, discovering their careers, anything from housewife, authors, teachers, floral designers and interior designers. Sometimes their careers play a part in the story, sometimes not. The character in my work in progress (WIP in the writer’s world) is from a previous story, Aunt Beatrice Lulu. It’s the third book in the Family Affair Series titled It Is What It Is.
Aunt Beatrice Lulu first appeared in All in the Family but not as the main character. Callie Johnson returns to her hometown to take over the police chief’s job. Aunt Beatrice Lulu decides to play matchmaker. What ensues is a string of unsuitable suitors.
Of course that didn’t sit well with her and she insisted on her own story – All’s Well That Ends Well – Known for being a busy body, Beatrice Lulu Eberhardt lives up to her name and then some. Too many things happening for Beatrice Lulu to ignore and she’s bound and determined to figure things out on her own, usually dragging her sister along for the ride. This time, she might have bitten off more than she can chew.So there you have a bit of my make believe worlds. You can find all of my books at Amazon.
In Shadows, two ghosts are discovered – yep you guessed it – in an attic. During a renovation, Anna Hughes and her boyfriend uncover a hidden room complete with furniture. Two shadows hover over a trunk, beckoning to Anna. Of course she's the only one who can see the ghosts. At least she is until her sexy contractor arrives on the scene.
Fifty-eight year old, Rose Asbury is a recluse in Time to Love Again, not that she care. She just wants to be left alone. Enter the man next door who insists on speaking to her causing feelings she doesn’t want. Then her sister’s ghost shows up and well….you’ll have to read it to see what happens.. I’ve always been fascinated by ESP, hence my story Entangled Minds –
Rebecca Brennan experiences strange, realistic visions and dreams and she’s determined to find who shares her mind. Her search leads – where else – to a small town filled with Victorian homes filled with interesting people and puts her life in danger.
My character’s range from their mid twenties to middle age and even into their seventies. Yes, seniors need love, too. Geriatric Rebels is a favorite. A humorous story about seventy year old Elsa Logan and seventy-two year old Mike Powell. Their middle of the night escapades soon turns into a loving relationship and the discovery of deception and fraud. It’s fun working with different characters, and I especially like when they add a bit of humor. I really form an attachment to them. Once a character chooses me, I make a character worksheet to discover everything about them, not just what they look like. I love creating my characters, discovering their careers, anything from housewife, authors, teachers, floral designers and interior designers. Sometimes their careers play a part in the story, sometimes not. The character in my work in progress (WIP in the writer’s world) is from a previous story, Aunt Beatrice Lulu. It’s the third book in the Family Affair Series titled It Is What It Is.
Aunt Beatrice Lulu first appeared in All in the Family but not as the main character. Callie Johnson returns to her hometown to take over the police chief’s job. Aunt Beatrice Lulu decides to play matchmaker. What ensues is a string of unsuitable suitors. 
Of course that didn’t sit well with her and she insisted on her own story – All’s Well That Ends Well – Known for being a busy body, Beatrice Lulu Eberhardt lives up to her name and then some. Too many things happening for Beatrice Lulu to ignore and she’s bound and determined to figure things out on her own, usually dragging her sister along for the ride. This time, she might have bitten off more than she can chew.So there you have a bit of my make believe worlds. You can find all of my books at Amazon.July 30, 2017
Connie's Kitchen by Connie Vines
Happy Sunday!
This Sunday I'd like to share a scone recipe I prepare as a special treat for a family brunch. Or, I must confess, for an afternoon accompaniment to a cup of hot tea--just for me :-). I am not a purest. I will freeze and rewarm scones in a toaster oven or my upper open/warmer of my stove. I do not, however, recommend reheating any type of bread in a microwave.
Real English Scones
YIELD
12 scones
2 cups flour, preferably cake flour
4 teaspoons baking powder (not soda)
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, room temp
1 egg, lightly beaten
milk, enough to add up to 3/4 cup with the egg added
1 egg, extra
(If you prefer a sweet scone you may add a bit of sugar to the recipe or dried fruit).
Directions
Heat oven to 400 deg F.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Add butter and rub in with fingers until it resembles crumbs.
Beat egg lightly, pour into a measuring cup, and add milk -- you can use buttermilk instead -- to make up 3/4 cup liquid.
Add liquid slowly to dry ingredients while mixing. You should have a soft dough, but not wet or very sticky.
Sprinkle flour on a wooden board or working surface. Turn dough out on that. Pat out lightly with fingers until about 1 1/2 inch flat, or a little less.
Press out rounds about 2 1/2 inches across.
Gather excess dough and repeat process.
Beat extra egg well.
Put the scones on a greased tin, use a pastry brush and brush with the beaten egg.
Bake for about 13 minutes until well risen and golden.
To serve, best use them quickly. Coffee shops keep making up batches, so as to serve them almost hot from the oven.
To eat, break open while hot or warm, and eat with cream and different jams.
Do you have a favorite Scone recipe?Please share.
Do you have Scone Tales--misadventures in backing, you'd lie to share?
Remember, scones are the perfect snack while reading one of my novels!
Connie
This Sunday I'd like to share a scone recipe I prepare as a special treat for a family brunch. Or, I must confess, for an afternoon accompaniment to a cup of hot tea--just for me :-). I am not a purest. I will freeze and rewarm scones in a toaster oven or my upper open/warmer of my stove. I do not, however, recommend reheating any type of bread in a microwave.
Real English Scones
YIELD
12 scones
2 cups flour, preferably cake flour
4 teaspoons baking powder (not soda)
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, room temp
1 egg, lightly beaten
milk, enough to add up to 3/4 cup with the egg added
1 egg, extra
(If you prefer a sweet scone you may add a bit of sugar to the recipe or dried fruit).
Directions
Heat oven to 400 deg F.
Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Add butter and rub in with fingers until it resembles crumbs.
Beat egg lightly, pour into a measuring cup, and add milk -- you can use buttermilk instead -- to make up 3/4 cup liquid.
Add liquid slowly to dry ingredients while mixing. You should have a soft dough, but not wet or very sticky.
Sprinkle flour on a wooden board or working surface. Turn dough out on that. Pat out lightly with fingers until about 1 1/2 inch flat, or a little less.
Press out rounds about 2 1/2 inches across.
Gather excess dough and repeat process.
Beat extra egg well.
Put the scones on a greased tin, use a pastry brush and brush with the beaten egg.
Bake for about 13 minutes until well risen and golden.
To serve, best use them quickly. Coffee shops keep making up batches, so as to serve them almost hot from the oven.
To eat, break open while hot or warm, and eat with cream and different jams.
Do you have a favorite Scone recipe?Please share.
Do you have Scone Tales--misadventures in backing, you'd lie to share?
Remember, scones are the perfect snack while reading one of my novels!
Connie
July 25, 2017
Learning to Lie - by Roseanne Dowell "Replay Day"
From my blog a while back, we know ideas are all around us - From our workplace to our neighbors. From getting stuck in traffic to grocery shopping and thumbing through magazines to reading the classified, so let’s put it all together.
You overhear a conversation in a restaurant. The woman is crying. You can’t hear the whole conversation. But, your writer mind begins
to ask questions - Is she breaking up with her date? Is he breaking up with her?
Or maybe those are happy tears? It’s not necessary to know the truth. Your writer’s mind starts working and you imagine what you want. You begin to formulate a story about it. You begin to build a character in your mind. You can see her clearly. Can even hear his/her voice.
You don’t even need to describe the characters in your story as the same description of the people you see. In fact, if it’s someone you know, its better not to. We don’t want to write about our cranky aunt and have her recognize herself through description. Change her into the complete opposite of what she looks like. Age her, make her younger, but what ever you do don’t use her description. You should create your own characters. Certainly, I use people I know. In fact, I have a list of friends and relatives with character traits - make a list of your own. I add special character traits, like my husband and son have a habit of touching everything on the table and moving it from place to place while you’re having a conversation. (Truthfully, it drives me up a wall and I often grab their hands to stop them – they don’t even realize they're doing it) But that’s a trait to add, it makes your characters believable. We all have habits. Some people twirl their hair, some chew on nails. Write them down; use them in your stories.
So, back to our original character, maybe this lady has jet black hair. Your character may have gray hair or blonde. Short, long, straight, curly it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you create her. Maybe she’s young, old, middle-aged. Again, it doesn’t matter. What matters is to visualize your character in your mind. And make notes!!! As I said previously I use index cards. I list the name of my character, age, color of their hair, height, character traits, who in their family they look like (especially if it’s important).
List everything you can to know your character better, even if you aren’t going to use it in the story. The more you know about your characters the better and more believable they will be. Nothing is worse than reading about a blonde who suddenly has dark hair half way through the story. And be careful with names too. I wrote a story using the character’s name, Daniel Stephens. Half way through I changed it to Stephen Daniels. Fortunately, I always ask people to read my stories before I submit them and someone caught it. I also use character work sheets; they include everything from my character’s descriptions to their favorite foods and colors. A lot of the information I never use, but it helps me know my character better. By time I’m done, I feel like she/he’s my best friend (or enemy).
And, of course, the senses, not just what we see, but what we taste, smell, touch, and hear. These senses help your story come alive. Take notes on them too. Become observant. Touch that wood, feel the smooth finish, or the rough texture of a statue. Listen to the sounds around you. Not the everyday sounds of traffic, although those are important too and sometimes we become so used to them that we don’t notice them. But out of the ordinary sounds. Listen to the birds early in the morning or the children playing in a park.These sounds and senses help make your story come alive. Use them.
All of these things combined contribute to good story ideas. Sometimes we come up with an idea from something we touch or smell. Something soft and smooth or maybe a bakery provokes a memory from the past. Use it.Maybe it’s a restaurant, a deli, or even a car dealership. Take notes on all the places you visit. Settings are often as important as our characters. Write down these settings, keep a notebook. If a particular restaurant strikes your fancy, take notes. Who knows you may use it someday. I wrote a scene in a restaurant we visited on vacation. It was a quaint little place and I really liked
it, so I jotted down some notes and it didn’t take long for me to use it. I visited another restaurant with friends and loved the place. It was a typical tearoom type restaurant, definitely for women. It was also an antique store and quilt shop. I just used it in a novel. Even hospitals or doctor’s office, you never know when you’ll have call to use such a setting. Beauty shops and health spas, too. Take notes every place you visit.Which brings me to the last point, find a writing buddy! Someone you can exchange stories with or someone whose judgment you know and trust. Someone you can brainstorm with and toss ideas around. Sometimes we get stuck and just
need to discuss the story. They may give us ideas but just talking about it with someone, sometimes gives you the idea on your own. I strongly suggest finding someone who writes. Only a writer can understand your frustration of a blocked mind or enjoy the feeling of an acceptance. And only another writer is honest enough to tell you what's wrong and right with your story. Often times, family and friends are afraid to criticize your work, afraid they’ll hurt your feelings. You want someone honest enough to tell you the strong points in the story as well as the weak points. Trust me, sometimes these critiques hurt, after all you worked for hours to put these words to paper and you love this story, it’s a part of you.
I often ask three people to read my stories. If two of the three comment on the same thing, I know it needs to be changed. If only one comments on it and the others think its fine, then I leave it. But the end decision is mine to make. It is my story, after all.
But you want it to be the best you can do. So DO keep an open mind. If you ask for someone’s opinion, respect it. You don’t have to take all of their advice. I once had an editor tell me to cut a whole scene. A scene I felt was critical to the story. I had several writer friends read the story. After they were done, I asked if they thought I should cut the scene. They all said no, it was too important to the story. Alas, I didn’t get the story published at that time, but it remained intact, and I’ve submitted it elsewhere and it was accepted.
July 23, 2017
What Do I Read?
What do I read? This is the topic for this month's Round Robin discussion.
In my case, the questions should be, "What don't I read?
I read anything and everything within my line of sight. If you show be a book, magazine article, odds are, I will ask if I can 'see' (meaning hold it so I can see the print). If it is interesting, I will probably walk away absorbed. Later, I will return the item. I will apologize and offer you something (pen, pencil, bookmark, perhaps a cookie).
However, this is not what Robin had in mind, I assume, when this topic was posted :-).
I never read a novel in the genre I'm currently writing. This is because I read for enjoyment. When I am working on a historical novel, I'm researching--therefore working. This is way I do not read historical fiction during that time frame.
Right now I'm working on a contemporary novel and a fantasy novella. So, I'll probably re-read Jane Eyre, or some historical time period via the Internet. Victorian era, is likely or my personal fave, Ancient Egypt.
I enjoy print books and ebooks. I can't quite get into the audio books. I do have an old Kindle that does text-to-voice. It is a robotic sound, but I do not find it distracting. If I wish for sound effects, I'll turn in a movie or television show. I do enjoy Podcasts--though this probably doesn't fall under the topic of reading :-).
I did peek at Dr. Bob's post and amended mine. Dr. Bob doesn't write romance because of the 'romantic myth'.
I plot by the rules of "The Hero's Journey". (Dr. Joseph Campbell). I can't say I believe in the Cinderella and the happily ever after, in a true sense, either. What I do like is the 'magical' emotional world of a romance. The need for emotional fulfillment is what a romance novel offers (though mine often deal with social issues). When a woman works full-time while raising her family, married or unmarried, she is often emotionally worn-out. Reading a romance or gentle fantasy novel (unlike an action/suspense/horror novel) will refill her emotional cup (fill and emotional void). Providing her with the emotional re-charge to face the world the next day/ after a 30-lunch, etc.
Positive thoughts.
Sometimes we need to believe the world is/will be a kinder place, a simpler place, or a place with beautiful book covers (had to toss in my personal pet-peeve), to get us through a rough-spot, or give us a moment of inner piece.
I believe reading fiction provides a recharge. Life can be so draining, physically and emotionally.
What harm is there in enjoying a happily-ever-after? After all, you have spent several hours with your new-found friends, and you wish them well.
Happy Reading,
Connie
Please Blog Hop down the list and read what these wonderful authors have to say!
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Anne de Gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Fiona Mcgier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Dr. Bob http://wp.me/p3Xihq-11v
Kay Sisk http://www.kaysisk.com/blog
Skay Taylor http://www.askyetaylor.com/blogging_by_the_sea/view/542
Rachel Kosinki http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Anne de gruchy https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/b...https://annedegruchy.co.uk/category/blog/
