Eva Pasco's Blog, page 8

Eva’s Byte #485 – A Change of Scenery

A welcome change it was during my sister and her family’s annual summer visit to the East Coast. One of our traditions is that of boarding a ferry to undertake a 30-mile, lighthouse sightseeing cruise on Narragansett Bay.

Cruising at speeds of 30 knots in between ten Rhode Island lighthouses, the ferry would slow down to a crawl for close-ups of each structure, and for views of mansions and yachts in Newport Harbor along the 95-minute narrated tour.

Although overcast, gusty, and blustery on the upper deck at the expense of catching the full narration, there’s nothing like experiencing what the ocean has to dish out.

In the capacity of a writer, I’m cruising at a slow crawl for drafting my Contemporary work in progress. Simultaneously conducting research and incorporating what I need in a storytelling fashion, I’ve finished drafting the prologue at 545 words. I’m in the process of composing Chapter 1 (218 words thus far).

*May each of us take time to enjoy any scenery which serves as a beacon for inspiration.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #484 – Mettle to the Pedal

During the past week, one of life’s hairpin turns mandated I step up my A-game. Catapulted from the comfort zone of my office in the capacity of a writer, I literally hit the road for them thar hills by way of the interstate. Previously avoided due to traffic congestion in the aftermath of a bridge closure and lane conversion, I put my mettle to the pedal behind the wheel.

Piece of cake! Until the eastbound return trip during rush hour which entailed a 30-minute delay.

Not my first A-game rodeo by any means, it just goes to show you what an adrenaline rush under fire can accomplish.

Now, to put my mettle to the pedal in fabricating my next work in progress, put on hold during a crisis that’s stabilized, and a visit from family. I’ve come up with names for the characters who’ve made themselves known and began drafting the prologue (177 words thus far).

*For every strike, may our resilience enable us to get back in the game.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #483 – Laying the Foundation

Actually, I’ve just started digging to lay the foundation for my next Work in Progress in the genre of Contemporary. Always in need of a premise on which to build upon—one has inveigled its way into my psyche to till my imagination.

In keeping with a Rhode Island setting, this time around I’m favoring the coastal town of Warren, spanning 16 miles of shoreline. Its working waterfront is one of the oldest in New England. The downtown area hosts local art and antique shops, restaurants, and the George Hail Library.

Small-town charm affords me plenty of leeway for blending my own “facades” somewhere along Main Street and Warren’s side roads.

No stranger to my neighboring town of Warren, I’ll be driving around and taking notes, while mentally mapping the layout of my story.

The next stones to overturn pertain to aspects of the human condition with regard to my premise. Meanwhile, I’m counting on the two characters emerging in my mind’s eye to nudge me in the right/write direction.

*May each of us lay our creative foundations without cutting corners.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #482 – Submitted for Publication

After three rounds of editing, and another go-around for good measure, I’ve submitted my manuscript in the genre of Contemporary Fiction for publication to Erika M. Szabo of Golden Box Books Publishing. A shout-out to Erika for her courtesy, professionalism, expediency, and creative flair for formatting and cover design.

http://www.goldenboxbooks.com

Soon to be released:

Aileen’s Guesthouse by Eva Pasco

(Charlestown, Rhode Island) - Overlooking Horseshoe Point, at the end of Sea Lea Avenue in the picturesque village of Quonochontaug, you’ll find Aileen’s Guesthouse. There, a smattering of Quonnie’s locals and lodgers cross paths. Whether through cultivated connection or random encounter, these folks have more in common than first meets the eye.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Hope you’ll consider crossing the threshold into Aileen’s Guesthouse when it’s available.

Eva’s Authors Den Page:
http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #481 – Splitting Hairs

In the capacity of a writer approaching the light at the end of the tunnel for publication, I’m at the third and final stage of reading through my manuscript. Far be it from me to notice, post-publication, a missing end punctuation mark or some other pesky oversight. Hope not!

So, I’m splitting hairs checking and rechecking dicey areas, such as:

One word or two?

For instance: backyard or back yard?

According to grammarians, backyard (one word) may be used as a noun, or used to function as an adjective.

Back yard (two words) can be used in the role of a noun when referring to “the back part of a yard”.

While both spellings are acceptable, backyard is preferable in both contexts.

Yes, back-yard (hyphenated) in the adjectival sense also exists, but it seems to be less prevalent.

So, I am proceeding accordingly as I split hairs roving my eyes from the prologue to epilogue.

On a note of farewell: goodbye or good-bye?

*May each of us writers polish and perfect our works in progress with an eye out for the reader.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #480 – Round Two

Not a knock-down-drag-out fight!

It’s round two for editing my finished draft in the genre of Contemporary. Nearly three years in the making right after I’d published Etta’s Fishing Ground on October 11, 1921, my latest writing endeavor is coming to fruition.

A pantser all the way from beginning to end, part of my lengthy writing process entails fine tuning every nuance along the way because it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!

The method to my madness makes the editing process fly through the air with the greatest of ease. I’m basically trimming the fat, and tweaking here and there.

I won’t be ready to submit for publication until I’ve given the document at least one more round of editing.

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready for this cat to go!

*Blue suede shoes notwithstanding, may each of us put our best foot forward in any creative undertaking.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #479 – A First Time for Everything

Although the movement to go braless gained momentum in the 1960s, this conventional child of the Sixties never did—until the other day.

There’s a first time for everything!

While out and about, a mishap occurred. I’d become unhinged. Rather than conduct the rest of my business in a half-hearted, lopsided manner, I discreetly gave the offender the slip inside my vehicle, with no one the wiser.

Spurn, baby! Spurn!

Then, getting over myself, I cruised the aisles of the supermarket in blissful anonymity.

NEWS FLASH: In the capacity of a writer, I finished drafting my Contemporary work in progress. I’m in the process of editing.

*May each of us defy conventions which no longer fit our mindset.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #478 – Taking the Heat

In my native state of Rhode Island, the morning of July 18th initiated four consecutive days with temperatures reaching 90 degrees or higher—the longest heat wave in forty years!

Coinciding with this occurrence:

One – On Thursday morning, two days after the sun baked the interior of my idle vehicle, I discovered the air conditioning wasn’t working. Nevertheless, I continued fiddling with the control features while motoring. Normally, setting the temperature gauge on “low” with the fan at full blast, I’d have created a meat locker.

Two- There was construction along my route, considerably slowing progress as well as “turning up the heat” inside the cabin.

Three – Arriving home, I placed a call to the dealership, only to be informed about a nationwide cyberattack which had forced them to shut down their software systems. Up and running since then, I’ve scheduled a service appointment.

In the capacity of a writer, I’m sprinting toward the finish line of my Contemporary work in progress. The draft of chapter 59 is coming to a close in a heartbeat (1905 words thus far). Then, on to the epilogue.

*May each of us have courage to take the heat for not compromising our convictions.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #477 – Chowdahheads

Far from signifying “a person regarded as stupid” which is the definition of chowderhead, this hardy New Englander/native Rhode Islander is broaching a clammy subject:

Chowdaheads—folks, like myself, who step right up to the window of a clam shack to order a cup or bowl of chowdah, a rich soup containing clams, potatoes, and onions.

And, I ask: what’s a serving of chowdah without a side of clamcakes?

In the Ocean State, there are three kinds of chowdah:

Rhode Island - our traditional clear-based broth, served mostly along the south coast.

Manhattan - tomato-based broth

New England - milk or cream-based broth (my favorite)

In the capacity of a writer, I’m rounding the bend to the finish line for drafting chapter 59 (1400 words thus far) and closing, along my Contemporary work in progress.

*As summer approaches, may each of us step right up to indulge our every whim.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco

Eva’s Byte #476 – The Stories We Tell

“…A story must have some points of contact with the reader to make him feel at home in it. Only then can he accept wonders.” John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

An excerpt from my Contemporary work in progress which takes place in my native state of Rhode Island along the south coast in Charlestown:

The Stantons showed up at The Breach Café on Friday evening. Aileen and Gert acknowledged the presence of friends and neighbors inside the popular spot. In anticipation of Saturday’s summery weather forecast, the adults volleyed back and forth.
“Plannin’ on skipperin’ the sloop over to Block Island tomorrow.”
“Now, that’s gettin’ away from the missus!”
“I’m goin’ with him!”
In his own egocentric world, sitting opposite his mother and sister at the table, Reid felt proud of himself for behaving like a big boy. He pecked at a clamcake and slurped clear-broth chowder from a spoon to his heart’s content. Without being told, he swallowed his food and used a napkin to wipe his mouth before speaking. “Yummy!”
What the patrons didn’t know wouldn’t compromise their false lull of complacency in the guise of Indian summer weather.

Approaching the light at the end of the tunnel for publication, I’ve completed the draft of chapter 58 (1888 words). I’ve begun drafting chapter 59 (400 words thus far).

*May each of the stories we tell make the reader feel right at home along its heartfelt journey.

My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.

Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco