Ginger Simpson's Blog, page 32
August 2, 2016
Take My Advice. I'm Not Using It.
I'm a little late posting this blog because this time of year, I am miserable with allergies. My eyes swell shut (no contact lenses for me this time of year), my sinuses are swollen, and my throat is always raw. I took some allergy meds last night, intending to get this post up before midnight...Yeah, not so much when I didn't wake up until almost 3 in the afternoon.
So, I went back to an old blog post I put up a couple of years ago on writing and here it is:
I found several good quotes from well-known authors that I have decided to share them here and how I’ve tried to (and often failed) follow the advice offered by these authors.
The first draft of everything is shit. -Ernest HemingwayYes, it certainly is. Sometimes the second and third drafts are just as bad. However, if as a writer, you’re totally hung up on making every word perfect, making every sentence a literary masterpiece, you’re going to do several things at once. You’re going to make yourself insane. You’re going to frustrate the daylights out of yourself. You’re going to become completely discouraged. And, ultimately, I can almost guarantee that you’re going to stop writing. Because if you’re so hung up making that first sentence/paragraph/page perfect, you’re never going to get past the first sentence/paragraph/page. The internal editor won’t let you. Suggestion: SHUT THE DAMN INTERNAL EDITOR OFF!
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that. – Stephen KingYES! One of the most difficult assignments I had as a graduate student in one of the creative writing classes I took was to write a short story mimicking another writer’s style and voice. Ask me to analyze that style and voice and I could take a story apart, dissect it, and put it back together. Ask me to change my writing style—damn you, Aaron Morales—and it was as if I’d been asked to give up a kidney. However, by mimicking another author’s voice and style, that lesson became a tool in my arsenal of writing weapons. I had to read a lot of short stories to find one author that I felt I could come close to writing like in a similar voice. I can honestly say I cursed Aaron Morales for this assignment, but when it was over, I had acquired another tool to use. And different writing styles are different tools. As I tell my freshmen composition classes, there are different styles and even voices to be used for different writings.
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. – Mark TwainAnd, substitute “damn” also for any word that ends in “ly”. “Very” and those adverbs that I am in love with do NOTHING to strengthen my writing. If anything, they make it weaker. This is a battle I fight all the time, but I hope that I am at last beginning to win this war.
Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. – Neil GaimanThis one is almost self-explanatory. What works for one person, may not work for the next. I had this bit of sage advice given to me once regarding something like this. “If one person says that something in the scene isn’t working, consider the source. If two people tell you the same thing in a scene isn’t working, might want to think about changing it. If three or more people tell you that thing isn’t working, you have to fix it.” As the author, you’re the only one who knows what will work with your characters. You know them inside and out (or you’d better). You’re the only one who can resolve the problem.
And, last but not least: Write drunk, edit sober. – Ernest HemingwayHemingway knew the only way to turn off the internal editor for him was to drown the damn thing in alcohol. For me, shutting off the internal editor means putting in the ear buds, cranking up the volume, putting fingers to the keyboard, and just start writing. When I’m working on a rough draft, I don’t even like to go back and read everything I wrote the day before…or the hour before. I’ll read just a page or two, just enough to get back into the flow of things. Even though Capote said this of Kerouac’s On The Road: “That’s not writing, it’s typing” there is something to be said for just “typing.”
Stay drunk on the idea of writing. Approach the editing process cold, stone sober.
So, I went back to an old blog post I put up a couple of years ago on writing and here it is:
I found several good quotes from well-known authors that I have decided to share them here and how I’ve tried to (and often failed) follow the advice offered by these authors.
The first draft of everything is shit. -Ernest HemingwayYes, it certainly is. Sometimes the second and third drafts are just as bad. However, if as a writer, you’re totally hung up on making every word perfect, making every sentence a literary masterpiece, you’re going to do several things at once. You’re going to make yourself insane. You’re going to frustrate the daylights out of yourself. You’re going to become completely discouraged. And, ultimately, I can almost guarantee that you’re going to stop writing. Because if you’re so hung up making that first sentence/paragraph/page perfect, you’re never going to get past the first sentence/paragraph/page. The internal editor won’t let you. Suggestion: SHUT THE DAMN INTERNAL EDITOR OFF!
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time — or the tools — to write. Simple as that. – Stephen KingYES! One of the most difficult assignments I had as a graduate student in one of the creative writing classes I took was to write a short story mimicking another writer’s style and voice. Ask me to analyze that style and voice and I could take a story apart, dissect it, and put it back together. Ask me to change my writing style—damn you, Aaron Morales—and it was as if I’d been asked to give up a kidney. However, by mimicking another author’s voice and style, that lesson became a tool in my arsenal of writing weapons. I had to read a lot of short stories to find one author that I felt I could come close to writing like in a similar voice. I can honestly say I cursed Aaron Morales for this assignment, but when it was over, I had acquired another tool to use. And different writing styles are different tools. As I tell my freshmen composition classes, there are different styles and even voices to be used for different writings.
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. – Mark TwainAnd, substitute “damn” also for any word that ends in “ly”. “Very” and those adverbs that I am in love with do NOTHING to strengthen my writing. If anything, they make it weaker. This is a battle I fight all the time, but I hope that I am at last beginning to win this war.
Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. – Neil GaimanThis one is almost self-explanatory. What works for one person, may not work for the next. I had this bit of sage advice given to me once regarding something like this. “If one person says that something in the scene isn’t working, consider the source. If two people tell you the same thing in a scene isn’t working, might want to think about changing it. If three or more people tell you that thing isn’t working, you have to fix it.” As the author, you’re the only one who knows what will work with your characters. You know them inside and out (or you’d better). You’re the only one who can resolve the problem.
And, last but not least: Write drunk, edit sober. – Ernest HemingwayHemingway knew the only way to turn off the internal editor for him was to drown the damn thing in alcohol. For me, shutting off the internal editor means putting in the ear buds, cranking up the volume, putting fingers to the keyboard, and just start writing. When I’m working on a rough draft, I don’t even like to go back and read everything I wrote the day before…or the hour before. I’ll read just a page or two, just enough to get back into the flow of things. Even though Capote said this of Kerouac’s On The Road: “That’s not writing, it’s typing” there is something to be said for just “typing.”
Stay drunk on the idea of writing. Approach the editing process cold, stone sober.
July 27, 2016
Dear Diary by Connie Vines
UPDATED blog post: Additional information about the "Gratitude Journal" and photos!
It wasn’t I until experienced a seven-hour power-outage during a rainstorm on Sunday that I really pondered the world before electricity.
With the rain and cloud-cover, it was very, very dark and icy cold. I could actually see the alignment of the five planets quite clearly. For those familiar with the southern California skyline, you know that we cannot see the constellations or planets unless we drive to Palm Springs, the mountains, or the high desert. So, combined with the exceptionally cold temperatures and wind chill factor, and an inability to prepare a meal inside my kitchen, I felt as if I plopped into the center of one of my historical novels.
This is what had me ponder the act of writing in a diary.
I hadn’t read a diary (except for research purposes in years).
As a teen or pre-teen, you probably received a diary as a birthday gift or a Christmas present. I know I did. The diary with a lock (which anyone, on a whim, could pick) and a key. At first, my entries were made daily, then weekly, then, seldom at all. Later, the diary evolved into journaling for a writing class, or jot down events, or milestone in my toddler’s life. Now I have a journal app on my iPad that I often use for notes and thoughts about my novels points.
None of scribbles in my journals were as emotionally purging or filled with day-to-day angst of a teenager’s life.
Why? I believe because my of my journaling was via the keyboard.
Scientific studies prove the act of pen to paper stirs creative thoughts.
While I have no real interest in keeping a detailed diary for myself
What about fictional characters? Do you ever have your fictional characters write a diary?
That is when I recalled my salad days are a writer.
When I starting writing fiction and non-fiction for the magazine market. I published in “Jr. Medical Detective” and “Humpty Dumpty”. In my article, “A Candle in the Dark” (still available as part of the Thomas Gale Education Series), my heroine, Sarah kept a diary. The story dealt with the Salem Witchcraft Trials. I found the diary to be a very effect plot device. It was also a good way to give the reader information without using a backstory to interrupt the flow of my story.
What are you feelings about diaries in a novel?
Are there diaries you’ve read you found of interest or diaries that change how you viewed the world?
Why is it a good idea to have a diary in your storyline?
Fictional characters are forced by their authors to carry the story (the process of the narrative). At the most basic level the diary gives you a first-person narrative without the protagonist knowing what is going to happen.
The use of diaries in novels of the past.
Pamela (1740) by Samuel Richardson is usually described as an epistolary novel. However, our heroine also writes a journal, and then sews it into her underwear for secrecy.
Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë has a skeletal framework of a diary: “I have just returned from a visit to my landlord. . .Yesterday afternoon set in misty and cold.” Mr. Lockwood will learn about true emotion day by day as he finds out and writes down the story of Heathcliff and the Earnshaws.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding is well known to be based on the plot of Pride and Prejudice.
The more I ponder the use of a diary in my next novel, the more I warm to the idea.
I have my favorite pen and I also have turquoise Martha Stewart premium journal I received as a gift for Christmas. While there isn’t a lock and key, there is an elastic band to keep the journal closed. There is also a fabric bookmark so that I may keep my place.
I can picture myself writing today's date, time, and my first entry. . .Dear Diary.
UPDATE:
For a self-growth I've also began keeping a Gratitude Journal.
I do not write in the Gratitude Journal on a daily basis. I write in the journal weekly, or when there is a moment I would like to remember or ponder as too why this event/ conversation was so meaningful to me.
I had jotted down the words, "Music is what feelings sound like."
Yes. This spoke to my soul; called to my very being.
This is why I play music that complements the story I am working on, or is the choice of my hero/heroine.
What music speaks to me. Immediately, I knew. The musical I had attended at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. "The Phantom of the Opera."
Do not the lyrics make you grateful that you can experience the depth of emotion of the tormented hero of the story (I am no fan of Raoul). However, it is the music that haunts and calls to you; leaving an imprint on your soul.Phantom for the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber.Music of the NightNight time sharpens, heightens each sensationDarkness stirs and wakes imaginationSilently the senses abandon their defensesHelpless to resist the notes I writeFor I compose the music of the night[Verse 2: Phantom]Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendorGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tenderTurn your face away from the garish light of dayTurn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling lightAnd listen to the music of the night[Verse 3: Phantom]Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreamsPurge your thoughts of the life you knew beforeClose your eyes, let your spirit start to soarAnd you live as you've never lived before[Verse 4: Phantom]Softly, deftly, music shall caress youHear it, feel it, secretly possess youOpen up your mind, let your fantasies unwindIn this darkness that you know you cannot fightThe darkness of the music of the night[Verse 5: Phantom]Let your mind start a journey to a strange new worldLeave all thoughts of the life you knew beforeLet your soul take you where you long to beOnly then can you belong to me[Verse 6: Phantom]Floating, falling, sweet intoxicationTouch me, trust me, savor each sensationLet the dream begin, let your darker side give inTo the power of the music that I writeThe power of the music of the night[Ending: Phantom]You alone can make my song take flightHelp me make the music of the night[Ending: Phantom]
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
What music has touched your soul?
If you are a novelist, what music speaks to you?
Happy Reading,
Connie
It wasn’t I until experienced a seven-hour power-outage during a rainstorm on Sunday that I really pondered the world before electricity.
With the rain and cloud-cover, it was very, very dark and icy cold. I could actually see the alignment of the five planets quite clearly. For those familiar with the southern California skyline, you know that we cannot see the constellations or planets unless we drive to Palm Springs, the mountains, or the high desert. So, combined with the exceptionally cold temperatures and wind chill factor, and an inability to prepare a meal inside my kitchen, I felt as if I plopped into the center of one of my historical novels.
This is what had me ponder the act of writing in a diary.
I hadn’t read a diary (except for research purposes in years).
As a teen or pre-teen, you probably received a diary as a birthday gift or a Christmas present. I know I did. The diary with a lock (which anyone, on a whim, could pick) and a key. At first, my entries were made daily, then weekly, then, seldom at all. Later, the diary evolved into journaling for a writing class, or jot down events, or milestone in my toddler’s life. Now I have a journal app on my iPad that I often use for notes and thoughts about my novels points.
None of scribbles in my journals were as emotionally purging or filled with day-to-day angst of a teenager’s life.
Why? I believe because my of my journaling was via the keyboard.
Scientific studies prove the act of pen to paper stirs creative thoughts.
While I have no real interest in keeping a detailed diary for myself
What about fictional characters? Do you ever have your fictional characters write a diary?
That is when I recalled my salad days are a writer.
When I starting writing fiction and non-fiction for the magazine market. I published in “Jr. Medical Detective” and “Humpty Dumpty”. In my article, “A Candle in the Dark” (still available as part of the Thomas Gale Education Series), my heroine, Sarah kept a diary. The story dealt with the Salem Witchcraft Trials. I found the diary to be a very effect plot device. It was also a good way to give the reader information without using a backstory to interrupt the flow of my story.
What are you feelings about diaries in a novel?
Are there diaries you’ve read you found of interest or diaries that change how you viewed the world?
Why is it a good idea to have a diary in your storyline?
Fictional characters are forced by their authors to carry the story (the process of the narrative). At the most basic level the diary gives you a first-person narrative without the protagonist knowing what is going to happen.
The use of diaries in novels of the past.
Pamela (1740) by Samuel Richardson is usually described as an epistolary novel. However, our heroine also writes a journal, and then sews it into her underwear for secrecy.
Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Brontë has a skeletal framework of a diary: “I have just returned from a visit to my landlord. . .Yesterday afternoon set in misty and cold.” Mr. Lockwood will learn about true emotion day by day as he finds out and writes down the story of Heathcliff and the Earnshaws.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding is well known to be based on the plot of Pride and Prejudice.
The more I ponder the use of a diary in my next novel, the more I warm to the idea.
I have my favorite pen and I also have turquoise Martha Stewart premium journal I received as a gift for Christmas. While there isn’t a lock and key, there is an elastic band to keep the journal closed. There is also a fabric bookmark so that I may keep my place.
I can picture myself writing today's date, time, and my first entry. . .Dear Diary.
UPDATE:
For a self-growth I've also began keeping a Gratitude Journal.
I do not write in the Gratitude Journal on a daily basis. I write in the journal weekly, or when there is a moment I would like to remember or ponder as too why this event/ conversation was so meaningful to me.
I had jotted down the words, "Music is what feelings sound like."
Yes. This spoke to my soul; called to my very being.
This is why I play music that complements the story I am working on, or is the choice of my hero/heroine.
What music speaks to me. Immediately, I knew. The musical I had attended at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. "The Phantom of the Opera."
Do not the lyrics make you grateful that you can experience the depth of emotion of the tormented hero of the story (I am no fan of Raoul). However, it is the music that haunts and calls to you; leaving an imprint on your soul.Phantom for the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber.Music of the NightNight time sharpens, heightens each sensationDarkness stirs and wakes imaginationSilently the senses abandon their defensesHelpless to resist the notes I writeFor I compose the music of the night[Verse 2: Phantom]Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendorGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tenderTurn your face away from the garish light of dayTurn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling lightAnd listen to the music of the night[Verse 3: Phantom]Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreamsPurge your thoughts of the life you knew beforeClose your eyes, let your spirit start to soarAnd you live as you've never lived before[Verse 4: Phantom]Softly, deftly, music shall caress youHear it, feel it, secretly possess youOpen up your mind, let your fantasies unwindIn this darkness that you know you cannot fightThe darkness of the music of the night[Verse 5: Phantom]Let your mind start a journey to a strange new worldLeave all thoughts of the life you knew beforeLet your soul take you where you long to beOnly then can you belong to me[Verse 6: Phantom]Floating, falling, sweet intoxicationTouch me, trust me, savor each sensationLet the dream begin, let your darker side give inTo the power of the music that I writeThe power of the music of the night[Ending: Phantom]You alone can make my song take flightHelp me make the music of the night[Ending: Phantom]
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
What music has touched your soul?
If you are a novelist, what music speaks to you?
Happy Reading,
Connie
July 25, 2016
Vacationing Vicariously
One week away from starting our vacation and I have moved from counting days to counting hours. Well, maybe not that anxious to get going, but darn close. Hubster, myself, and two of our closest friends will be heading out to Montana and Glacier National Park and then we will spend several days in Wyoming after Glacier. (Hopefully, we'll still all be friends after this trip, too.)
Because there are going to be three people in this group who have to take a blue-billion photos everywhere we go, I’ve set up a Facebook page to share these photos. Right now, there isn’t much on the page, other than a profile picture and one photo of me and friend’s hubby scrubbing the camper down. (Yeah, dragging a dirty camper all over the country isn’t something I want to do.)
Anyway, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/Vicarious-Wyoming-Vacation-1655321401454175/
Check there often because I know we’ll have lots to share. That’s the joys of having a semi-retired hubby and fully retired friends. We don’t have to have a schedule, so we can take all the time we want and all the pictures imaginable.
Because there are going to be three people in this group who have to take a blue-billion photos everywhere we go, I’ve set up a Facebook page to share these photos. Right now, there isn’t much on the page, other than a profile picture and one photo of me and friend’s hubby scrubbing the camper down. (Yeah, dragging a dirty camper all over the country isn’t something I want to do.)
Anyway, here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/Vicarious-Wyoming-Vacation-1655321401454175/
Check there often because I know we’ll have lots to share. That’s the joys of having a semi-retired hubby and fully retired friends. We don’t have to have a schedule, so we can take all the time we want and all the pictures imaginable.
July 21, 2016
Sheep Crossing????
During our vacation in South Dakota, I saw a sign I'd never seen before
In Tennessee, I've seen plenty of deer crossing signs, and in Arizona, I watched for Elk, but this was a first for me.
It's not uncommon to see these surefooted animals on the rocks near Deadwood, South Dakota Their agility is amazing, but not so great as that of the Mountain Goat. How do you tell the difference?
Mountain Goats are a stark white color with smaller horns while the Bighorn sheep, especially the rams, are named because of their large, curling gray horns. The ewes also have horns, but much smaller ones.
Although these animals are part of the 'cloven hoof' group, the Bighorns and Mountain goats have fatter or wider hooves with softer pads on the bottom that help grip the rocks. Other cloven-hoofed animals would ultimately slip because of the rigidity of their hooves.
Even though the goats and sheep are superb climbers, falls have been documented, and other have been killed by vehicles.
The herd was released into a "burn area in February 2015, and except for a few strays, have remained in the area. Twenty-Six animals were released, and at least thirteen lambs have joined the family. The newest crop is likely to be born in mid-May.
Note: All the photos were borrowed from Google Images.
In Tennessee, I've seen plenty of deer crossing signs, and in Arizona, I watched for Elk, but this was a first for me.
It's not uncommon to see these surefooted animals on the rocks near Deadwood, South Dakota Their agility is amazing, but not so great as that of the Mountain Goat. How do you tell the difference?
Mountain Goats are a stark white color with smaller horns while the Bighorn sheep, especially the rams, are named because of their large, curling gray horns. The ewes also have horns, but much smaller ones.Although these animals are part of the 'cloven hoof' group, the Bighorns and Mountain goats have fatter or wider hooves with softer pads on the bottom that help grip the rocks. Other cloven-hoofed animals would ultimately slip because of the rigidity of their hooves.
Even though the goats and sheep are superb climbers, falls have been documented, and other have been killed by vehicles.
The herd was released into a "burn area in February 2015, and except for a few strays, have remained in the area. Twenty-Six animals were released, and at least thirteen lambs have joined the family. The newest crop is likely to be born in mid-May.
Note: All the photos were borrowed from Google Images.
July 20, 2016
A Woman's Signature Fragrance--a Lasting Impression by Connie Vines
In my current anthology, Gumbo Ya Ya for women who like romance Cajun, one of my main characters is a perfumer. Since I have past experience as a fragrance in an exclusive perfumery, I thought I’d share some helpful times when selecting a signature fragrance.
Perfume Terminology (or ABCs)
Absolutes
Pure, natural extracts and oils from flowers and other vegetable materials. Very expensive for a small amount. Example: pure rose oil.
tuberose from Morocco
Note
An odoriferous element in the perfume or cologne. When we smell a composed fragrance, we smell different notes within it. When the first scent — or top note — dissipates, we smell the middle note, also known as the bouquet. As that fades, we are left with the basic note, which is the third element of a composed fragrance. It’s like a symphony.
*test by spraying a small amount of fragrance on your forearm. It takes 20 minutes before the alcohol evaporates and you smell the ‘true’ scent.
Secret Number One: Don’t commit to a scent until you smell the final note.
my fragrance testing kit
What exactly is Eau de Cologne?
Eau de Cologne is three to five percent oil in a mixture of alcohol and water. It tends to be lighter and refreshing, typically with a citrus oil component.
Eau de Toilette
Containing about the same amount of perfume oil or a little more — somewhere between four and eight percent — than Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette is mixed with alcohol instead of water.
Eau de Parfum
A higher percentage of perfume oil — roughly 15 to 18 — mixed with alcohol makes up Eau de Parfum. It is more expensive than Eau de Cologne and Eau de Toilette.
Perfume
Perfume is 15 to 30 percent perfume oil mixed with alcohol. Because it contains such a high percentage of perfume oil, it is far more expensive than Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette, or Eau de Parfum.
I Wear Eau de Parfum and Perfume.
Fragrance Families for Women
fragrance family chart
Fragrances are classified according to predominant scent characteristics. Four basic families make up most feminine fragrances. Floral/Sweet, Citrus/Fruity/Fresh, Oriental/Spicy, and Woody/Chypre. Within those families, there are sub-groups. Aromatic Fougère, a masculine scent family, used to be its own category, but was recategorized as a sub-category in the 2010 change. It has notes of lavender, fresh herbs, and moss.
At the perfumery I tested each client’s pH level and selected fragrances from each family for the pH level. Without knowing your pH level you will need try several scents from each family to see what scent appeals to you.
Secret Number Two: Floral and Sweet for daytime, and perhaps an Oriental/Spicy scent for date night. In cooler weather, stronger scents can be worn without overwhelming everyone around you. Conversely, lighter scents are better in warmer weather. Think of how summer smells like fresh cut grass and scoops of vanilla ice cream. December smells like evergreens and gingerbread. You can evoke those same wonderful emotions and memories with your own aroma.
Citrus/Fruity/Fresh
Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits. Apricot, apple, peach, etc. Clean, light, and invigorating.
Oriental/Spicy
Warm vanilla, spices and incense resins. Reminiscent of the Far East. Also ambery and musky. Kind of mysterious!
Woody/Chypre
Scents like bergamot, oakmoss, labdanum, and patchouli. Mossy and very earthy smelling.
Choosing The Perfect Perfume
Perfumes and colognes are made up of many different accords to produce a harmonious scent. Because our body chemistry is unique to us, the same perfume will smell slightly different (or completely different) depending on who is wearing it.
Further, it will smell different in the bottle or sprayed on a card than it will on your skin.
Secret Number Three: Spray it on a card first. After five or ten minutes, smell it again. See if it still speaks to you. Then and only then, spray it on your skin. Remember with will take 20 minutes before the fragrance will be true to you pH level.
Secret Number Four: Never spray more than 4 fragrances at a time for testing.
Have you ever noticed how perfumeries have tiny jars of coffee beans scattered here and there? Take a sniff. It serves the same purpose as sorbet between dinner courses and cleanses your palate — or olfactory perception — in between scents.
How To Wear Your Perfume
Never spray on your wrists and then rub your wrists together, never tip the perfume bottle onto your skin because your body oil spoils the properties of the fragrance oils.
Apply the fragrance to the base of you skull because the warmth of your body and the movement of your hair creates release of the scent. Or one spray of scent to your abdomen. Do not spray on the front of you neck as even high priced Paris perfumes have properties that, over time, can create a slight discoloration on your skin. Remember, your fragrance will last all day. There is no reason to spray the perfume into the air and walk beneath it. If my room needs to be scented, I light a candle!
Enjoy your perfumes. Purchase a small collector bottle or s sample before committing to a fragrance.
Signature fragrances chance as a woman matures. I wear Chanel no 5.
What fragrance do you adore?
My signature fragrance
Coming Soon!
See you next week,Connie
Perfume Terminology (or ABCs)
Absolutes
Pure, natural extracts and oils from flowers and other vegetable materials. Very expensive for a small amount. Example: pure rose oil.
tuberose from MoroccoNote
An odoriferous element in the perfume or cologne. When we smell a composed fragrance, we smell different notes within it. When the first scent — or top note — dissipates, we smell the middle note, also known as the bouquet. As that fades, we are left with the basic note, which is the third element of a composed fragrance. It’s like a symphony.
*test by spraying a small amount of fragrance on your forearm. It takes 20 minutes before the alcohol evaporates and you smell the ‘true’ scent.
Secret Number One: Don’t commit to a scent until you smell the final note.
my fragrance testing kitWhat exactly is Eau de Cologne?
Eau de Cologne is three to five percent oil in a mixture of alcohol and water. It tends to be lighter and refreshing, typically with a citrus oil component.
Eau de Toilette
Containing about the same amount of perfume oil or a little more — somewhere between four and eight percent — than Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette is mixed with alcohol instead of water.
Eau de Parfum
A higher percentage of perfume oil — roughly 15 to 18 — mixed with alcohol makes up Eau de Parfum. It is more expensive than Eau de Cologne and Eau de Toilette.
Perfume
Perfume is 15 to 30 percent perfume oil mixed with alcohol. Because it contains such a high percentage of perfume oil, it is far more expensive than Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette, or Eau de Parfum.
I Wear Eau de Parfum and Perfume.
Fragrance Families for Women
fragrance family chartFragrances are classified according to predominant scent characteristics. Four basic families make up most feminine fragrances. Floral/Sweet, Citrus/Fruity/Fresh, Oriental/Spicy, and Woody/Chypre. Within those families, there are sub-groups. Aromatic Fougère, a masculine scent family, used to be its own category, but was recategorized as a sub-category in the 2010 change. It has notes of lavender, fresh herbs, and moss.
At the perfumery I tested each client’s pH level and selected fragrances from each family for the pH level. Without knowing your pH level you will need try several scents from each family to see what scent appeals to you.
Secret Number Two: Floral and Sweet for daytime, and perhaps an Oriental/Spicy scent for date night. In cooler weather, stronger scents can be worn without overwhelming everyone around you. Conversely, lighter scents are better in warmer weather. Think of how summer smells like fresh cut grass and scoops of vanilla ice cream. December smells like evergreens and gingerbread. You can evoke those same wonderful emotions and memories with your own aroma.
Citrus/Fruity/Fresh
Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits. Apricot, apple, peach, etc. Clean, light, and invigorating.
Oriental/Spicy
Warm vanilla, spices and incense resins. Reminiscent of the Far East. Also ambery and musky. Kind of mysterious!
Woody/Chypre
Scents like bergamot, oakmoss, labdanum, and patchouli. Mossy and very earthy smelling.
Choosing The Perfect Perfume
Perfumes and colognes are made up of many different accords to produce a harmonious scent. Because our body chemistry is unique to us, the same perfume will smell slightly different (or completely different) depending on who is wearing it.
Further, it will smell different in the bottle or sprayed on a card than it will on your skin.
Secret Number Three: Spray it on a card first. After five or ten minutes, smell it again. See if it still speaks to you. Then and only then, spray it on your skin. Remember with will take 20 minutes before the fragrance will be true to you pH level.
Secret Number Four: Never spray more than 4 fragrances at a time for testing.
Have you ever noticed how perfumeries have tiny jars of coffee beans scattered here and there? Take a sniff. It serves the same purpose as sorbet between dinner courses and cleanses your palate — or olfactory perception — in between scents.
How To Wear Your Perfume
Never spray on your wrists and then rub your wrists together, never tip the perfume bottle onto your skin because your body oil spoils the properties of the fragrance oils.
Apply the fragrance to the base of you skull because the warmth of your body and the movement of your hair creates release of the scent. Or one spray of scent to your abdomen. Do not spray on the front of you neck as even high priced Paris perfumes have properties that, over time, can create a slight discoloration on your skin. Remember, your fragrance will last all day. There is no reason to spray the perfume into the air and walk beneath it. If my room needs to be scented, I light a candle!
Enjoy your perfumes. Purchase a small collector bottle or s sample before committing to a fragrance.
Signature fragrances chance as a woman matures. I wear Chanel no 5.
What fragrance do you adore?
My signature fragrance
Coming Soon!
See you next week,Connie
July 18, 2016
Tomorrow
I forgot to put up a blog post last week. I don’t know where my head was, but apparently it was not firmly attached to my neck and shoulders.
This week, I’m in Tennessee at our little homestead. I’m amazed at the amount of writing I get done here because there aren’t the distractions which seem to be joined at the hip with my “real” life. Unfortunately, real life interferes here, too.
my writing space at the TN homestead
Yesterday, I visited with a friend who is undergoing chemo for two types of cancer. My friend is a strong woman, she’s not going to give in, and I have seen too often that prayers and faith smaller than a mustard seed can and do move mountains. I would ask for your prayers for this friend.
However, all of this got me to thinking about how often I hear of friends who have been diagnosed with cancer. Are we just getting better at catching it before it becomes a death sentence, or is there something in our modern lifestyle that is contributing to all these shattering announcements of cancer? I don’t know. I just know I have more people on my prayer list undergoing chemo than I have ever had before.
Hug your friends. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Cherish those people in your life you call friends and family. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
This week, I’m in Tennessee at our little homestead. I’m amazed at the amount of writing I get done here because there aren’t the distractions which seem to be joined at the hip with my “real” life. Unfortunately, real life interferes here, too.
my writing space at the TN homesteadYesterday, I visited with a friend who is undergoing chemo for two types of cancer. My friend is a strong woman, she’s not going to give in, and I have seen too often that prayers and faith smaller than a mustard seed can and do move mountains. I would ask for your prayers for this friend.
However, all of this got me to thinking about how often I hear of friends who have been diagnosed with cancer. Are we just getting better at catching it before it becomes a death sentence, or is there something in our modern lifestyle that is contributing to all these shattering announcements of cancer? I don’t know. I just know I have more people on my prayer list undergoing chemo than I have ever had before.
Hug your friends. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Cherish those people in your life you call friends and family. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
July 14, 2016
Wild Bill Hickok as told in "Destination Deadwood"
I was so lucky to get literature during my vacation about some of
the most legendary folks in South Dakota so today I'm going to talk about Wild Bill Hickok. He was noted as one of the most popular inhabitants of Deadwood, perhaps because it was the place he died.
He came to Deadwood from Abilene when he was hired to uphold the law. His undoing came when he accidentally shot and killed his deputy. Remorse drove him to poker, and he was eventually asked by concerned citizens to move on.
Wild Bill joined Buffalo Bill Cody's wild west show because of his excellent horsemanship and being a superb marksman, but failed miserably as an actor because of stage fright.
Discovery of Gold in the Black Hills brought him to Deadwood after Cody let him go. He traveled with his good friend, Colorado Charlie Utter with the aim of striking it rich. Hickok's goal was not to be, and he's buried in Mt. Moriah cemetery overlooking the city.
As I said, Hickok came to Deadwood in June of 1876 in order to strike it rich. Newly married, his beloved Agnes awaited his return to Cheyenne, however on Augst 2, 1876, he walked into Saloon #10 in Deadwood, sat with his back to the door and never saw a loser named, Jack McCall, come within three feet and whip out his 45 and pull the trigger supposedly because the gambler killed his brother but was not held accountable. McCall was hanged in 1877. Wild Bill wa not used to sitting with his back to the door, but on this particular day, no one was willing to switch seats with him.
Ever since Wild Bill was shot while playing poker, the hand he held, black aces and eights is known as "the deadman's hand." I think if I drew those two pair plus the nine of diamonds as he did, I'd be a little more than nervous.
The original headstone carved by his friend Charlie Utter read,
"Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more."
Interesting facts:
Wild Bill owed a $50.00 drink tab to Saloon No.10 at the time of his murder.
the most legendary folks in South Dakota so today I'm going to talk about Wild Bill Hickok. He was noted as one of the most popular inhabitants of Deadwood, perhaps because it was the place he died.He came to Deadwood from Abilene when he was hired to uphold the law. His undoing came when he accidentally shot and killed his deputy. Remorse drove him to poker, and he was eventually asked by concerned citizens to move on.
Wild Bill joined Buffalo Bill Cody's wild west show because of his excellent horsemanship and being a superb marksman, but failed miserably as an actor because of stage fright.
Discovery of Gold in the Black Hills brought him to Deadwood after Cody let him go. He traveled with his good friend, Colorado Charlie Utter with the aim of striking it rich. Hickok's goal was not to be, and he's buried in Mt. Moriah cemetery overlooking the city.
As I said, Hickok came to Deadwood in June of 1876 in order to strike it rich. Newly married, his beloved Agnes awaited his return to Cheyenne, however on Augst 2, 1876, he walked into Saloon #10 in Deadwood, sat with his back to the door and never saw a loser named, Jack McCall, come within three feet and whip out his 45 and pull the trigger supposedly because the gambler killed his brother but was not held accountable. McCall was hanged in 1877. Wild Bill wa not used to sitting with his back to the door, but on this particular day, no one was willing to switch seats with him.
Ever since Wild Bill was shot while playing poker, the hand he held, black aces and eights is known as "the deadman's hand." I think if I drew those two pair plus the nine of diamonds as he did, I'd be a little more than nervous.
The original headstone carved by his friend Charlie Utter read,
"Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more."
Interesting facts:
Wild Bill owed a $50.00 drink tab to Saloon No.10 at the time of his murder.
July 13, 2016
The Writing Process by Connie Vines
The Writing Process
I was tagged in a recent Blog Hop by a fellow board member of the
GothRom Chapter of Romance Writers, and I'd though I'd share the the topic: The Writing Process with everyone visiting "Dishin' It Out' today.
1. What am I working on right now?
I work on multiple projects at once. Is this a good thing? Probably not—but I do it anyway. I’ve almost completed my novella, Bell, Book & Gargoyle (the 2nd in my Sassy & Fun Fantasy Series) while revising anthology: Gumbo Ya Ya (for who like romance Cajun). And I’m outlining Rand, Book 3 and Cochise, Book 4 in my Rodeo Romance Series.
2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?
I write in multiple genres and each of genres have a different “tone and focus”—in other words, a different ‘voice’. My YA novel, Whisper upon the Water (Dream Award Winner, Nat’l Book Award nominee), is told in the 1st person. The novel is complex; not only a coming-of-age but a transformation of society as a whole (Tay is Apache, Nde). My heroine begins as a girl on the verge of womanhood, a member of her band, speaking her native tongue. She is kidnapped, held hostage, and escapes. Taken to a Native American boarding school, she learns a new language, skills, and encounters prejudice but also kindness. Later, she must make a very difficult choice. Her decision will impact her life, as well as the lives of others. The novel is written for YA level and is reading selection for the G.A.T.E. program in numerous SoCal schools, but the subject matter is not light, however, it is historical accurate.
In my Rodeo Romance Series: Lynx, Book 1, is a contemporary western romance and set in Montana and Texas. This book is lively. Rachel is spirited and Lynx is hot and sexy—but both have had hardships in life. My secondary characters add elements of comedy and unexpected plot twists. (Winner of the Award of Excellence, Finalist: H.O.L.T. Medallion, Orange Rose and Rocky Mt. Gold). Brede, Book 2, is a western romantic suspense, set in New Mexico (99 cents this month on Amazon). Since the novel is romantic suspense, I do not wish create a spoiler in this blog. I will say everyone one loves old Caldwell, the ornery old cook, and his cohorts. Brede is strong-willed and caring; Amberlynn is beautiful and in mortal danger. Rand, Book 3, is told in the 1st person: ChickLit meets the Wild West and goes Hollywood. Lights, Camera, and a boot-full of Action! I am having, fun, fun with this novel! While, once again, in Cochise, Book 4, I draw upon my personal background and experiences--every wonder what goes on in planning a Pow-wow? This novel will also address social issues.
My stories are different, because I am different. My stories take place in places I have lived, or where I have vacationed. I know my subject matter--my father rodeoed while in high school; I have been involved in Native America culture and education programs; my husband is a Louisiana country boy; and, finally, I live in SoCal—of course I have met several Hollywood television stars (and facilitated workshops), actors are often spotted at local SoCal tourist spots, and preform in local theater.
3. Why do I write what I do?
The story calls to me, it is really that simple. I have a feeling of time and place. Then I begin hearing snatches of dialogue (like when you are sitting in a coffee shop and you over hear snippets of conversation). The story invades my life (well it does, just ask my husband). At the moment, I’m listening to Zydeco music and I have gumbo in my crockpot. He’s complaining (only half kiddingly) that I brought bayou weather to our house (92 degrees, 50% humidity with full cloud cover and rain at 3 PM). I am compelled to complete the story. Native American culture says, “The story comes to the Story Teller to bring it to life.” And this is what I, as are all writers, tellers of stories.
The French Quarter, New Orleans4. How does my writing process work?
For short stories, novellas and anthologies, I utilize the basic W-plot with extra twists and pivotal points. When I am writing a novel, or a novel series, I plot in acts and work with three chapters at a time (1-3, 4-6, etc.). With the exception of short stories, I compile detailed backgrounds, motivation, and personality traits. I also conduct interviews, research, and immerse myself in the ‘culture/environment I am creating. It is then I begin the first draft of my novel. This will change as my characters begin to take over the book. Any writer will agree with me, under no circumstances can you force you characters to act against his/her will. You can, however, place huge obstacles in the way and see what happens.
Hollywood, CA
Is my first draft perfect? No. Is my third draft publishable? It’s probably close. At this point in the writing process, I have writer friend (usually Geeta Kakade) read my novel. She will give her opinion and suggestions—which I may, or may not follow. Writing, after all, is subjective—as is a reader’s preference for one novel over another.
Coming Soon
To read the first chapter teasers or to purchase one (or all ) of my novels please follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/...
Remember to watch my book trailers!
Thank you for stopping by.
Connie Vines
I was tagged in a recent Blog Hop by a fellow board member of the
GothRom Chapter of Romance Writers, and I'd though I'd share the the topic: The Writing Process with everyone visiting "Dishin' It Out' today. 1. What am I working on right now?
I work on multiple projects at once. Is this a good thing? Probably not—but I do it anyway. I’ve almost completed my novella, Bell, Book & Gargoyle (the 2nd in my Sassy & Fun Fantasy Series) while revising anthology: Gumbo Ya Ya (for who like romance Cajun). And I’m outlining Rand, Book 3 and Cochise, Book 4 in my Rodeo Romance Series.
2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?
I write in multiple genres and each of genres have a different “tone and focus”—in other words, a different ‘voice’. My YA novel, Whisper upon the Water (Dream Award Winner, Nat’l Book Award nominee), is told in the 1st person. The novel is complex; not only a coming-of-age but a transformation of society as a whole (Tay is Apache, Nde). My heroine begins as a girl on the verge of womanhood, a member of her band, speaking her native tongue. She is kidnapped, held hostage, and escapes. Taken to a Native American boarding school, she learns a new language, skills, and encounters prejudice but also kindness. Later, she must make a very difficult choice. Her decision will impact her life, as well as the lives of others. The novel is written for YA level and is reading selection for the G.A.T.E. program in numerous SoCal schools, but the subject matter is not light, however, it is historical accurate.
In my Rodeo Romance Series: Lynx, Book 1, is a contemporary western romance and set in Montana and Texas. This book is lively. Rachel is spirited and Lynx is hot and sexy—but both have had hardships in life. My secondary characters add elements of comedy and unexpected plot twists. (Winner of the Award of Excellence, Finalist: H.O.L.T. Medallion, Orange Rose and Rocky Mt. Gold). Brede, Book 2, is a western romantic suspense, set in New Mexico (99 cents this month on Amazon). Since the novel is romantic suspense, I do not wish create a spoiler in this blog. I will say everyone one loves old Caldwell, the ornery old cook, and his cohorts. Brede is strong-willed and caring; Amberlynn is beautiful and in mortal danger. Rand, Book 3, is told in the 1st person: ChickLit meets the Wild West and goes Hollywood. Lights, Camera, and a boot-full of Action! I am having, fun, fun with this novel! While, once again, in Cochise, Book 4, I draw upon my personal background and experiences--every wonder what goes on in planning a Pow-wow? This novel will also address social issues.
My stories are different, because I am different. My stories take place in places I have lived, or where I have vacationed. I know my subject matter--my father rodeoed while in high school; I have been involved in Native America culture and education programs; my husband is a Louisiana country boy; and, finally, I live in SoCal—of course I have met several Hollywood television stars (and facilitated workshops), actors are often spotted at local SoCal tourist spots, and preform in local theater.
3. Why do I write what I do?
The story calls to me, it is really that simple. I have a feeling of time and place. Then I begin hearing snatches of dialogue (like when you are sitting in a coffee shop and you over hear snippets of conversation). The story invades my life (well it does, just ask my husband). At the moment, I’m listening to Zydeco music and I have gumbo in my crockpot. He’s complaining (only half kiddingly) that I brought bayou weather to our house (92 degrees, 50% humidity with full cloud cover and rain at 3 PM). I am compelled to complete the story. Native American culture says, “The story comes to the Story Teller to bring it to life.” And this is what I, as are all writers, tellers of stories.
The French Quarter, New Orleans4. How does my writing process work?For short stories, novellas and anthologies, I utilize the basic W-plot with extra twists and pivotal points. When I am writing a novel, or a novel series, I plot in acts and work with three chapters at a time (1-3, 4-6, etc.). With the exception of short stories, I compile detailed backgrounds, motivation, and personality traits. I also conduct interviews, research, and immerse myself in the ‘culture/environment I am creating. It is then I begin the first draft of my novel. This will change as my characters begin to take over the book. Any writer will agree with me, under no circumstances can you force you characters to act against his/her will. You can, however, place huge obstacles in the way and see what happens.
Hollywood, CAIs my first draft perfect? No. Is my third draft publishable? It’s probably close. At this point in the writing process, I have writer friend (usually Geeta Kakade) read my novel. She will give her opinion and suggestions—which I may, or may not follow. Writing, after all, is subjective—as is a reader’s preference for one novel over another.
Coming Soon
To read the first chapter teasers or to purchase one (or all ) of my novels please follow this link:
http://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/...
Remember to watch my book trailers!
Thank you for stopping by.
Connie Vines
July 7, 2016
Surprise!
I'll be back mid-august, but since I have sporadic Internet, I'll be scarce. In the meantime, don't abandon me. I'll be sharing my cross country adventures when I return.
July 6, 2016
Hootsuite and Social Media for Authors by Connie Vines
And the debate rages on in the Social Media world!
Hootsuite vs. Buffer—What is the Best Social Media Management App for 2016?
As we (or at least I) have discovered that managing a (my) “mini-social media empire” can be a bit of a mess.
So what makes up Connie’s mini-social media empire? you ask.
• Website (www.novelsbyconnievines.com)
• A Weblog (http://connievines.blogspot.com/)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/connie_vines)
• Author Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorConnie...)
• Good Reads Page (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)
• Cold Coffee Press (http://www.coldcoffeepress.com/connie...)
• Google + (https://plus.google.com/1104885733942...)
• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gothicnovel...)
• Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/novelsbycon...)
Is there more? Of course. I guest blog at additional sites for book promo and name recognition (for myself and BWL). I also have my book trailers, podcasts (under construction), promos via CTR, RST, Manic Readers, etc.
Obviously, I was happy to discover that specialized tools have been developed to aid in management. Of course, Twitter, is still one of the most powerful media tools. Hootsuite and Buffer are two applications that are designed to present a neat interface with social media.
While Hootsuite and Buffer both have similar primary functions; they allow you to manage posts to social media websites by cross-posting at a specific time, thus allowing you to hit the key ‘read time’ of followers/trenders. Both offer tools to interpret data such as views, click-through links (other customizable tasks are available at additional cost).
My Hootsuite Feed - There is also a scheduling window that will pop-up.
Buffer’s main focus is on Twitter. While Twitter is a great social media there is a 160-character limit. Buffer’s claim is for smaller business with less of a focus on profits.
I use the FREE Hootsuite account which allows me to manage up to 3 Social networks. Since I am able to advance schedule both my social media announcements via Hootsuite and blog posts via Blogger, it’s frees up my 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM time for my writing.
Positive reviews for Hootsuite 2016 can be found at: www.webmasterwarriors.com/hootsuite-r...
Hootsuite Alternatives:
Buffer
SproutSocial
Viralheat
TweetDeck
Sprinklr
SocialPilot
SocialOomph
SendSocial Media
I have zero personal knowledge of these programs. However, Tweetdeck looks promising and is FREE. However, since I already use Twitter, I don’t really see the point of this program.
Writers, are there other social media programs that work for you?
The Standard Twitter Feed
Readers, what is your personal favorite way of connecting with authors? Is there a social network you really, really like? Snapchat? Vine? Wanelo? Slack? Blab?
Please post comments. I’ll try out the new social media app that readers like and use on a daily (or nearly daily) basis.
Happy Reading and Writing,
Connie Vines
Hootsuite vs. Buffer—What is the Best Social Media Management App for 2016?
As we (or at least I) have discovered that managing a (my) “mini-social media empire” can be a bit of a mess.
So what makes up Connie’s mini-social media empire? you ask.
• Website (www.novelsbyconnievines.com)
• A Weblog (http://connievines.blogspot.com/)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/connie_vines)
• Author Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorConnie...)
• Good Reads Page (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)
• Cold Coffee Press (http://www.coldcoffeepress.com/connie...)
• Google + (https://plus.google.com/1104885733942...)
• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gothicnovel...)
• Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/novelsbycon...)
Is there more? Of course. I guest blog at additional sites for book promo and name recognition (for myself and BWL). I also have my book trailers, podcasts (under construction), promos via CTR, RST, Manic Readers, etc.
Obviously, I was happy to discover that specialized tools have been developed to aid in management. Of course, Twitter, is still one of the most powerful media tools. Hootsuite and Buffer are two applications that are designed to present a neat interface with social media.
While Hootsuite and Buffer both have similar primary functions; they allow you to manage posts to social media websites by cross-posting at a specific time, thus allowing you to hit the key ‘read time’ of followers/trenders. Both offer tools to interpret data such as views, click-through links (other customizable tasks are available at additional cost).
My Hootsuite Feed - There is also a scheduling window that will pop-up.Buffer’s main focus is on Twitter. While Twitter is a great social media there is a 160-character limit. Buffer’s claim is for smaller business with less of a focus on profits.
I use the FREE Hootsuite account which allows me to manage up to 3 Social networks. Since I am able to advance schedule both my social media announcements via Hootsuite and blog posts via Blogger, it’s frees up my 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM time for my writing.
Positive reviews for Hootsuite 2016 can be found at: www.webmasterwarriors.com/hootsuite-r...
Hootsuite Alternatives:
Buffer
SproutSocial
Viralheat
TweetDeck
Sprinklr
SocialPilot
SocialOomph
SendSocial Media
I have zero personal knowledge of these programs. However, Tweetdeck looks promising and is FREE. However, since I already use Twitter, I don’t really see the point of this program.
Writers, are there other social media programs that work for you?
The Standard Twitter FeedReaders, what is your personal favorite way of connecting with authors? Is there a social network you really, really like? Snapchat? Vine? Wanelo? Slack? Blab?
Please post comments. I’ll try out the new social media app that readers like and use on a daily (or nearly daily) basis.
Happy Reading and Writing,
Connie Vines
