Peggy Jaeger's Blog, page 285
May 4, 2016
The end of an era....
Today I’m taking a break from writing about writing because I want to share something other than my typical author thoughts.
Many of you know I live in a comparatively small New England town. The population hovers around 25,000 on a good day. I tell you this because living in such a place means you get to know the people who reside here. You see neighbors in church, friends out at local eateries, your kids attend the same schools. The sense of community here is rampant and at times it can feel as if you live in a fishbowl with everyone knowing everyone else’s business. Or thinking they do!
But….
When it comes to supporting the businesses of a small town, you see what the people around you are really made of. For 24 years YOUR KITCHEN STORE, owned and managed by Dean Eaton, has operated on the simple principles of giving you a good deal for a great item, giving back to local charities, and supporting all the other locally owned businesses in the area. Many times on the radio we have heard Dean say, “Buying locally supports the entire community through jobs, keeping the profits gained within the community, and helps keep local taxes contained.” When you buy locally you are confirming your commitment to champion your neighbors, because most local businesses are owned by people who actually live in the community. Probably on your street.
It was with a humongous sense of sadness that our community learned last week that YOUR KITCHEN STORE will be closing its doors at the end of this month. The reasons are simple: foot traffic is down and big box stores and the internet have taken over everyday retail sales. My heart is heavy with this knowledge for several reasons, not the least of which is that Dean’s store was my favorite store when I moved here 22 years ago and has never fallen off that first place pedestal. But I have other reasons for being so dismayed with its closing.
Dean told me the other day that the day after Thanksgiving 2015, 40% of all pre-holiday shopping was done on the internet that day. 40%. That number is astronomical and marketing analysts predict the 2016 holiday shopping season will see even higher online sales.
The advent of smart-phones, wifi everywhere, and a laptop in almost every home in America has turned us into a society that could truthfully do everything, gain every necessary item, and fulfill all our everyday needs without every leaving the confines of our homes. Yes, shopping via the internet is easy and welcome when you have a busy schedule that doesn’t allow you to actually go to a store and shop, I get that. Everyone gets that. And yes, those big name “convenience’ stores can be just that, convenient. But what I don’t think the average person realizes is how destructive shopping online can be, and is, to local community businesses who are trying so hard to compete in this new computer-ruled world. Or that the profits from all those convenient big stores don’t stay in the community. Yes, they provide jobs. No one argues with that, but the workers are merely part of a huge, impersonal team run by a corporation only concerned with profits. To even considering coming into a small town, many of those big stores are offered tax breaks that the average small business owner never is. Does that seem fair to you?
Locally owned and operated stores offer personal and knowledgeable service. I’ll be the first to admit I get a cheap thrill when I go into a store and the person behind the counter knows me, asks after my family, and gives me updates on their own. I get a real sense of community when I see these same business owners worshipping in local churches and synagogues, eating out with their families at local restaurants, and sponsoring local athletic teams. When I buy locally I am always confident the product I purchase comes with the business owner’s commitment to providing the best item or service at the best price he/she can. I am not fooled by the bigger stores offering coupons or one-day sales, just to lure me in, and then finding out the item I want is either not in stock, or the coupon doesn’t really fit what I want and need.
Integrity, honesty, decency, and fairness are all factors in a business that make me want to support it. In my town, I have found those qualities in each and every locally owned and operated business, bet it a kitchen store, a gas station, a restaurant, a farm stand, or a septic cleaning company.
I am beyond saddened that Dean is closing his store. He and his wonderful staff have helped me become the good cook ( no hubris here!) I am, by helping me find the perfect utensils I need, the best tasting sauces and mixes I want, and the perfect appliances necessary to create a master-chef meal. Dean has been a champion of all local charities, never refusing to donate an item or a gift card for a local fundraising auction, and he has shined a brilliant light on the National Organ Donation Organization and its needs for easily accessible and available organ and tissue donations to people who require them. The one and only good thing I see coming out of YOUR KITCHEN STORE closing its doors, is that now Dean will have more time to spend with his amazing and beautiful wife, Carol.
In closing, I’d just like to remind people how important and necessary it is to shop locally and support your community businesses and business owners with your patronage. We live in a fast, demanding, sometimes soul-sucking world right now. We need to slow down, take a breath, and support our neighbors and our towns through our spending habits and our advocacy for their businesses. Five of the best words in the English language are Locally Grown, Owned, and Operated.
Dean, you, your staff, and your store will be sorely missed in so many ways….
Many of you know I live in a comparatively small New England town. The population hovers around 25,000 on a good day. I tell you this because living in such a place means you get to know the people who reside here. You see neighbors in church, friends out at local eateries, your kids attend the same schools. The sense of community here is rampant and at times it can feel as if you live in a fishbowl with everyone knowing everyone else’s business. Or thinking they do!
But….
When it comes to supporting the businesses of a small town, you see what the people around you are really made of. For 24 years YOUR KITCHEN STORE, owned and managed by Dean Eaton, has operated on the simple principles of giving you a good deal for a great item, giving back to local charities, and supporting all the other locally owned businesses in the area. Many times on the radio we have heard Dean say, “Buying locally supports the entire community through jobs, keeping the profits gained within the community, and helps keep local taxes contained.” When you buy locally you are confirming your commitment to champion your neighbors, because most local businesses are owned by people who actually live in the community. Probably on your street.
It was with a humongous sense of sadness that our community learned last week that YOUR KITCHEN STORE will be closing its doors at the end of this month. The reasons are simple: foot traffic is down and big box stores and the internet have taken over everyday retail sales. My heart is heavy with this knowledge for several reasons, not the least of which is that Dean’s store was my favorite store when I moved here 22 years ago and has never fallen off that first place pedestal. But I have other reasons for being so dismayed with its closing.
Dean told me the other day that the day after Thanksgiving 2015, 40% of all pre-holiday shopping was done on the internet that day. 40%. That number is astronomical and marketing analysts predict the 2016 holiday shopping season will see even higher online sales.
The advent of smart-phones, wifi everywhere, and a laptop in almost every home in America has turned us into a society that could truthfully do everything, gain every necessary item, and fulfill all our everyday needs without every leaving the confines of our homes. Yes, shopping via the internet is easy and welcome when you have a busy schedule that doesn’t allow you to actually go to a store and shop, I get that. Everyone gets that. And yes, those big name “convenience’ stores can be just that, convenient. But what I don’t think the average person realizes is how destructive shopping online can be, and is, to local community businesses who are trying so hard to compete in this new computer-ruled world. Or that the profits from all those convenient big stores don’t stay in the community. Yes, they provide jobs. No one argues with that, but the workers are merely part of a huge, impersonal team run by a corporation only concerned with profits. To even considering coming into a small town, many of those big stores are offered tax breaks that the average small business owner never is. Does that seem fair to you?
Locally owned and operated stores offer personal and knowledgeable service. I’ll be the first to admit I get a cheap thrill when I go into a store and the person behind the counter knows me, asks after my family, and gives me updates on their own. I get a real sense of community when I see these same business owners worshipping in local churches and synagogues, eating out with their families at local restaurants, and sponsoring local athletic teams. When I buy locally I am always confident the product I purchase comes with the business owner’s commitment to providing the best item or service at the best price he/she can. I am not fooled by the bigger stores offering coupons or one-day sales, just to lure me in, and then finding out the item I want is either not in stock, or the coupon doesn’t really fit what I want and need.
Integrity, honesty, decency, and fairness are all factors in a business that make me want to support it. In my town, I have found those qualities in each and every locally owned and operated business, bet it a kitchen store, a gas station, a restaurant, a farm stand, or a septic cleaning company.
I am beyond saddened that Dean is closing his store. He and his wonderful staff have helped me become the good cook ( no hubris here!) I am, by helping me find the perfect utensils I need, the best tasting sauces and mixes I want, and the perfect appliances necessary to create a master-chef meal. Dean has been a champion of all local charities, never refusing to donate an item or a gift card for a local fundraising auction, and he has shined a brilliant light on the National Organ Donation Organization and its needs for easily accessible and available organ and tissue donations to people who require them. The one and only good thing I see coming out of YOUR KITCHEN STORE closing its doors, is that now Dean will have more time to spend with his amazing and beautiful wife, Carol.
In closing, I’d just like to remind people how important and necessary it is to shop locally and support your community businesses and business owners with your patronage. We live in a fast, demanding, sometimes soul-sucking world right now. We need to slow down, take a breath, and support our neighbors and our towns through our spending habits and our advocacy for their businesses. Five of the best words in the English language are Locally Grown, Owned, and Operated.
Dean, you, your staff, and your store will be sorely missed in so many ways….
April 30, 2016
Happiness Is....
Does anyone remember this song? Or the original cartoon of two naked “hippies,” one holding a daisy and both smiling?
I know…it’s sad how I’m dating myself.
But this phrase hit home to me yesterday while I was at my last day of work. Two of my patients came in to pick up contacts at different times during the day and while I was dispensing them, both told me they had read my books and wanted to know when the next one(s) were coming out.
I’m not too embarrassed to tell you I did a happy little author-jig when they left my exam room!
It was such an ego boost to hear that. I didn’t ask if they enjoyed them ( really, what would I say if they told me they didn’t?!!)but, they both volunteered that they had, hence the question on when the next would be available.
I’m not lying when I tell you my fragile little ego – like the Grinch’s heart – grew three sizes yesterday!!
Just thought I’d share that happy moment….
I know…it’s sad how I’m dating myself.
But this phrase hit home to me yesterday while I was at my last day of work. Two of my patients came in to pick up contacts at different times during the day and while I was dispensing them, both told me they had read my books and wanted to know when the next one(s) were coming out.
I’m not too embarrassed to tell you I did a happy little author-jig when they left my exam room!
It was such an ego boost to hear that. I didn’t ask if they enjoyed them ( really, what would I say if they told me they didn’t?!!)but, they both volunteered that they had, hence the question on when the next would be available.
I’m not lying when I tell you my fragile little ego – like the Grinch’s heart – grew three sizes yesterday!!
Just thought I’d share that happy moment….
April 29, 2016
Almost Showtime…
I bet you were thinking this was going to be another blog entry about Keene DANCING WITH THE STARS. Wrong! The showtime I’m referring to in the title is my own showtime – or more specific – my new writing schedule.
Today is my last day of work AGAIN!!! and from 5 pm tonight onward I get to live my dream AGAIN!!! of being a full-time writer. You all know I retired last year, and within 4 months got asked to “fill in” because the girl that took over my job…well, let’s just say she didn’t work out. Because I had designated 2016 as the year of “yes” (Thank you, Shonda Rimes and insert the sarcastic tone right here) I felt I couldn’t say no to my old employer because, 1. it was the year of saying yes and not the knee-jerk no’s I always gave; 2. I didn’t want my former patients to suffer, 3. this is, after all my husband’s business and it didn’t feel right to say no, and 4. it was only supposed to be for a few weeks until they found a replacement.
Fast forward 4 MONTHS – yeah! 4 -freakin’-months – and I finally said “no more.” It was a little more forceful than that, and may have been peppered with an expletive or two…or ten… but today I am done. Finito. Basta. No more.
So, starting bright and early tomorrow morning ( and by that, I mean the middle of the night because I still suffer from that damn chronic insomnia) I get to spend the days, all the glorious days, writing once again. And thank you, Jesus, it’ just in time because I’ve got three deadlines for this year all lined up with actual DATES!! Heaven help me.
If you don’t hear from me for a while, don’t worry. I’m fine. Just chained – intentionally – to my desk, my fingers splayed across the laptop keys, my brow grooved into two lines resembling caterpillars on my forehead, deep, deep, in writing mode.
The zone is calling and 5 pm can not get here soon enough…
Today is my last day of work AGAIN!!! and from 5 pm tonight onward I get to live my dream AGAIN!!! of being a full-time writer. You all know I retired last year, and within 4 months got asked to “fill in” because the girl that took over my job…well, let’s just say she didn’t work out. Because I had designated 2016 as the year of “yes” (Thank you, Shonda Rimes and insert the sarcastic tone right here) I felt I couldn’t say no to my old employer because, 1. it was the year of saying yes and not the knee-jerk no’s I always gave; 2. I didn’t want my former patients to suffer, 3. this is, after all my husband’s business and it didn’t feel right to say no, and 4. it was only supposed to be for a few weeks until they found a replacement.
Fast forward 4 MONTHS – yeah! 4 -freakin’-months – and I finally said “no more.” It was a little more forceful than that, and may have been peppered with an expletive or two…or ten… but today I am done. Finito. Basta. No more.
So, starting bright and early tomorrow morning ( and by that, I mean the middle of the night because I still suffer from that damn chronic insomnia) I get to spend the days, all the glorious days, writing once again. And thank you, Jesus, it’ just in time because I’ve got three deadlines for this year all lined up with actual DATES!! Heaven help me.
If you don’t hear from me for a while, don’t worry. I’m fine. Just chained – intentionally – to my desk, my fingers splayed across the laptop keys, my brow grooved into two lines resembling caterpillars on my forehead, deep, deep, in writing mode.
The zone is calling and 5 pm can not get here soon enough…
April 24, 2016
New Stars Crowned
And so, like so many before them, another week has closed in my life. But this wasn’t an ordinary write-until-I-drop week. This week I took a pseudo-break from writing and reveled in my participation in my town’s Project Graduation fundraiser DANCING WITH THE KEENE STARS…
and I’ve never been filled with so many lingering, joyous, and charged emotions.
I’ll start with the lingering ones. I am, despite what I show to the world, not the most people-loving person. I tend to judge people for how they behave and the things they say( still working on that, daily!), I find myself more times than not nervous and anxiety plagued about saying the wrong thing, and I just would rather be writing than socializing. I could so very easily – if given the chance – be a hermit.
But…..
This cast of DWTS was such a diverse, open, and fun-loving group of people I found myself sucked into their revelry and good spirits every single time I was with them, and all my unleashed misanthropic tendencies went the way of the dinosaur, leaving me with a such a sense of camaraderie and fellowship that I truly WANTED to spend more time with them. Their sense of selflessness and goodwill was overpowering and made me feel hopeful that our little community will continue to thrive and move forward on that good old fashioned Yankee ethic of neighbor helping neighbor. Selfless devotion to a worthwhile cause filled this group of people with purpose and made me a better human just being around them.
At last year’s event, I was a dancer. This year I got to sit back and be a judge. Which role did I prefer? If you had asked me a week ago I would have said judge, every time. But after watching the faces of the dancers, hearing the roaring approval of the audience, and witnessing the ego-growth of each and every participant, I can truthfully say it’s a toss-up. Being a judge was heaps of fun, not to mention much less physical and arduous work, both of which we all know I loathe. ( Sloth, thy name is Margaret-Mary.) After witnessing the joy on the faces of each dancer as they finished a magnificent routine and understanding their sense of individual accomplishment, I realized I wanted to feel that, too. I am so very proud of every dancer, Star and Partner alike, and hope they are as equally proud of themselves.
As I write this, day is dawning through my window and I know the DWTS cast and crew were out last night after the event, partying, dancing, and expelling huge sighs of relief that it was all over. When they wake this morning, a little tired, a little sore, they will relive each dance step, wonder how they could have made it just a little better, and nit-pick every move that wasn’t dance-perfect. This is normal for a morning after. I hope, though, as the day wears on, and the facebook and text congratulations pour in, they will also start to comprehend what a monumental feat they all accomplished. No, they didn’t cure cancer; didn’t drive out poverty; didn’t feed the world. What they did do was devote countless hours of their time, energy, and thoughts to benefiting the graduating high school seniors of our community in order to make their official send-off into the next phase of their lives a fun, safe, and memory-precious night of celebration through an alcohol-free party chockful of activities.
So today, I am emotionally charged with positive feelings of pride, joy, friendship, and love for my community and its members.
And I know these feelings are lasting ones…..
Dancing with The Keene Stars 2017 is already under production, and I pray I am asked to participate again. There is no way I will say no!!!
Share this:
and I’ve never been filled with so many lingering, joyous, and charged emotions.
I’ll start with the lingering ones. I am, despite what I show to the world, not the most people-loving person. I tend to judge people for how they behave and the things they say( still working on that, daily!), I find myself more times than not nervous and anxiety plagued about saying the wrong thing, and I just would rather be writing than socializing. I could so very easily – if given the chance – be a hermit.
But…..
This cast of DWTS was such a diverse, open, and fun-loving group of people I found myself sucked into their revelry and good spirits every single time I was with them, and all my unleashed misanthropic tendencies went the way of the dinosaur, leaving me with a such a sense of camaraderie and fellowship that I truly WANTED to spend more time with them. Their sense of selflessness and goodwill was overpowering and made me feel hopeful that our little community will continue to thrive and move forward on that good old fashioned Yankee ethic of neighbor helping neighbor. Selfless devotion to a worthwhile cause filled this group of people with purpose and made me a better human just being around them.
At last year’s event, I was a dancer. This year I got to sit back and be a judge. Which role did I prefer? If you had asked me a week ago I would have said judge, every time. But after watching the faces of the dancers, hearing the roaring approval of the audience, and witnessing the ego-growth of each and every participant, I can truthfully say it’s a toss-up. Being a judge was heaps of fun, not to mention much less physical and arduous work, both of which we all know I loathe. ( Sloth, thy name is Margaret-Mary.) After witnessing the joy on the faces of each dancer as they finished a magnificent routine and understanding their sense of individual accomplishment, I realized I wanted to feel that, too. I am so very proud of every dancer, Star and Partner alike, and hope they are as equally proud of themselves.
As I write this, day is dawning through my window and I know the DWTS cast and crew were out last night after the event, partying, dancing, and expelling huge sighs of relief that it was all over. When they wake this morning, a little tired, a little sore, they will relive each dance step, wonder how they could have made it just a little better, and nit-pick every move that wasn’t dance-perfect. This is normal for a morning after. I hope, though, as the day wears on, and the facebook and text congratulations pour in, they will also start to comprehend what a monumental feat they all accomplished. No, they didn’t cure cancer; didn’t drive out poverty; didn’t feed the world. What they did do was devote countless hours of their time, energy, and thoughts to benefiting the graduating high school seniors of our community in order to make their official send-off into the next phase of their lives a fun, safe, and memory-precious night of celebration through an alcohol-free party chockful of activities.
So today, I am emotionally charged with positive feelings of pride, joy, friendship, and love for my community and its members.
And I know these feelings are lasting ones…..
Dancing with The Keene Stars 2017 is already under production, and I pray I am asked to participate again. There is no way I will say no!!!
Share this:
April 21, 2016
The Challenge to push....
This week I’m participating in Keene Dancing with the Stars again, just as I did last year.
Many of you know this already, but what you may not know is why I chose to participate again this year.
Last year I was a STAR,which meant I was the featured community name, the person friends, family, and neighbors came to see compete and for whom they voted.
I didn’t win, but there was no expectation I would and I didn’t agree to dance for that reason anyway. I agreed for 2 reasons: 1. DWTS – Keene version, is a fundraiser for Project Graduation for KHS, which is an all-night, alcohol-free party sponsored by the community for the graduating seniors of the high school. The party keeps them contained, safe, and free from alcohol and drug use for the night, and, 2. I was at a point in my life where I realized I was stagnating, not trying anything new, and not growing. And I needed to.
So, this year, when I was asked to be a judge (and not a dancer, thank you, Jesus!) I immediately said “yes” for the same reasons and one more: I needed to continue on that path of challenging myself to learn and experience new things, and to try and gain some insight into myself and what motivates me to do the things I do and write the things I write.
A little esoteric, you ask? Yeah, maybe. But here’s what I mean: as a writer – and a writer of romance, to be exact – I could continue on very nicely and just keep writing my stories of families, love, and happily-ever-afters. No worries there, because I will, BUT I need to challenge myself to discover new avenues of ideas to write about, and to do that, I need to meet new and different people, learn new and exciting things, and have new and diverse experiences, all of which will lead to me being a better writer and ultimately, a better person.
So, if you are sitting around wondering what to do this weekend, please consider attending this worthwhile event. You’ll have some fun, see some friends, and more than anything, know you will have contributed to the health and safety of an amazing group of high school seniors.
Many of you know this already, but what you may not know is why I chose to participate again this year.
Last year I was a STAR,which meant I was the featured community name, the person friends, family, and neighbors came to see compete and for whom they voted.
I didn’t win, but there was no expectation I would and I didn’t agree to dance for that reason anyway. I agreed for 2 reasons: 1. DWTS – Keene version, is a fundraiser for Project Graduation for KHS, which is an all-night, alcohol-free party sponsored by the community for the graduating seniors of the high school. The party keeps them contained, safe, and free from alcohol and drug use for the night, and, 2. I was at a point in my life where I realized I was stagnating, not trying anything new, and not growing. And I needed to.
So, this year, when I was asked to be a judge (and not a dancer, thank you, Jesus!) I immediately said “yes” for the same reasons and one more: I needed to continue on that path of challenging myself to learn and experience new things, and to try and gain some insight into myself and what motivates me to do the things I do and write the things I write.
A little esoteric, you ask? Yeah, maybe. But here’s what I mean: as a writer – and a writer of romance, to be exact – I could continue on very nicely and just keep writing my stories of families, love, and happily-ever-afters. No worries there, because I will, BUT I need to challenge myself to discover new avenues of ideas to write about, and to do that, I need to meet new and different people, learn new and exciting things, and have new and diverse experiences, all of which will lead to me being a better writer and ultimately, a better person.
So, if you are sitting around wondering what to do this weekend, please consider attending this worthwhile event. You’ll have some fun, see some friends, and more than anything, know you will have contributed to the health and safety of an amazing group of high school seniors.
April 19, 2016
My spirit is willing, but my feet are weak…
One year ago this week I was a STAR in my town’s project graduation fundraiser DANCING WITH THE KEENE STARS. I documented my journey on this blog and many of you responded so favorably I wanted to share this year’s journey with you as well.
This year, I am back but as a judge, not a STAR. I have a whole different set of emotions and thoughts running through me this time. Last year I was nervous, apprehensive and terrified I was going to fall during the dance. I was also very uncomfortable having all eyes on me as I danced because, #1. I hate having all eyes on me for anything, and, #2 my weight was awful, which made # 1 even more terrifying!
This year, as a judge, I am terrified of one thing and one thing only: giving criticism.
Now, this is a fundraiser for a worthwhile cause. Project graduation is an all night alcohol-free party the high school throws on graduation night so the graduates won’t go out and get trashed, and potentially die from drunk driving. There has been precedent for this kind of behavior, hence the party. Also, all the stars have volunteered to dance, so with that you have to realize there is a vast amount of good will on their part, no? I remember vividly what it was like to be in the “spotlight” last year and grew more and more shakey everytime my partner and I finished a dance and were then “judged.” Now, the panel of judges was wonderful – there is no other word for it. Never a harsh comment, always encouraging words, and plenty of smiles and laughs. Even though I was totally out of my element, the judges made me feel like I was a true DANCING QUEEN. For those of you who came of age in the 1980’s, you will get that reference!
This is the kind of judge I want to be!!!! The problem: I have severe impulse control issues and very frequently any thought I am in the process of thinking pops out of my mouth uncensored. Do you know how horrible this is??? The last thing I want to do is make a comment that could potentially hurt someone’s feels – someone who is bravely and valiantly doing their best to entertain and raise money for a worthy cause.
So, what am I going to do as the big night approaches? #1 PRAY. Often and at an hourly rate! #2 Take a breath before opening my mouth. Truly, this is an effective maneuver for curbing impulse control issues. Your mamma taught you to think before you speak, and she wasn’t wrong. #3 empathize. As a past Star I know all about the nerves, tremors, and fears each present STAR is going through, so I can freely state my job is to offer comfort and encouragement, nothing more. #4 enjoy the moment. This show is truly one of the most fun shows to be a part of and an audience member watching. And when it is all said and done, the money raised will keep our graduates safe and entertained, and let them know the entire community is behind them and looking out for their welfare.
So, I am off to rehearsals and dance routines.
If you are looking for something fun, worthwhile, and entertaining to do on either Friday or Saturday night, come see KEENE’S DANCING WITH THE STARS. Ticket info is here: DWTS
This year, I am back but as a judge, not a STAR. I have a whole different set of emotions and thoughts running through me this time. Last year I was nervous, apprehensive and terrified I was going to fall during the dance. I was also very uncomfortable having all eyes on me as I danced because, #1. I hate having all eyes on me for anything, and, #2 my weight was awful, which made # 1 even more terrifying!
This year, as a judge, I am terrified of one thing and one thing only: giving criticism.
Now, this is a fundraiser for a worthwhile cause. Project graduation is an all night alcohol-free party the high school throws on graduation night so the graduates won’t go out and get trashed, and potentially die from drunk driving. There has been precedent for this kind of behavior, hence the party. Also, all the stars have volunteered to dance, so with that you have to realize there is a vast amount of good will on their part, no? I remember vividly what it was like to be in the “spotlight” last year and grew more and more shakey everytime my partner and I finished a dance and were then “judged.” Now, the panel of judges was wonderful – there is no other word for it. Never a harsh comment, always encouraging words, and plenty of smiles and laughs. Even though I was totally out of my element, the judges made me feel like I was a true DANCING QUEEN. For those of you who came of age in the 1980’s, you will get that reference!
This is the kind of judge I want to be!!!! The problem: I have severe impulse control issues and very frequently any thought I am in the process of thinking pops out of my mouth uncensored. Do you know how horrible this is??? The last thing I want to do is make a comment that could potentially hurt someone’s feels – someone who is bravely and valiantly doing their best to entertain and raise money for a worthy cause.
So, what am I going to do as the big night approaches? #1 PRAY. Often and at an hourly rate! #2 Take a breath before opening my mouth. Truly, this is an effective maneuver for curbing impulse control issues. Your mamma taught you to think before you speak, and she wasn’t wrong. #3 empathize. As a past Star I know all about the nerves, tremors, and fears each present STAR is going through, so I can freely state my job is to offer comfort and encouragement, nothing more. #4 enjoy the moment. This show is truly one of the most fun shows to be a part of and an audience member watching. And when it is all said and done, the money raised will keep our graduates safe and entertained, and let them know the entire community is behind them and looking out for their welfare.
So, I am off to rehearsals and dance routines.
If you are looking for something fun, worthwhile, and entertaining to do on either Friday or Saturday night, come see KEENE’S DANCING WITH THE STARS. Ticket info is here: DWTS
April 16, 2016
I am a list-o-holic and there is no support group for me!
I love lists. I love to make them, find them, re-work them, and add to them. Part of the reason I make so many lists is because I have so many things to remember, if I don't list them I'll forget more than half of them. That's not a factor of my age or menopause, either. I've always been that way..forgetful, that is.
I make laundry lists, grocery lists, lists for what I need to pack for a trip, to-d0 lists, character trait lists. You name it, I've got a list for it.
A few years back Real Simple magazine published a piece on 9 lists you can never recall just right: like the names of the 7 dwarfs, the 7 deadly sins, the names of the 8 planets, the 5 oceans of the Earth, etc. It was a great list and I have a copy of it on my desk. Why, you ask? Well,because I love lists! It's that simple. And the list is a great reference tool, plus a fun game to play with people who think they know everything and so often don't. Yeah, I know that's a little mean but....I don't care!
I once wrote a character who was so obsessed with lists she had panic attacks when she couldn't find them ( this was before I wrote romance.) A few of my so-call friends at that time said she was an autobiographical character. Notice I said, "at the time."
Anyway, are you a list person? If so, what list can't you live without? Or are you that person that I envy the kind that can go tot he grocery store without a list and get everything you need without forgetting anything? If so, just know we will never be friends....
How good a memory so you have? Let's see: Name the following and I'll let you know if you got it right - and please don't cheat by looking it up!!
What are the 7 deadly sins?
What are Santa's 8 reindeer named?
What are the names of the 7 continents of the world today?
Ready?....GO!
I make laundry lists, grocery lists, lists for what I need to pack for a trip, to-d0 lists, character trait lists. You name it, I've got a list for it.
A few years back Real Simple magazine published a piece on 9 lists you can never recall just right: like the names of the 7 dwarfs, the 7 deadly sins, the names of the 8 planets, the 5 oceans of the Earth, etc. It was a great list and I have a copy of it on my desk. Why, you ask? Well,because I love lists! It's that simple. And the list is a great reference tool, plus a fun game to play with people who think they know everything and so often don't. Yeah, I know that's a little mean but....I don't care!
I once wrote a character who was so obsessed with lists she had panic attacks when she couldn't find them ( this was before I wrote romance.) A few of my so-call friends at that time said she was an autobiographical character. Notice I said, "at the time."
Anyway, are you a list person? If so, what list can't you live without? Or are you that person that I envy the kind that can go tot he grocery store without a list and get everything you need without forgetting anything? If so, just know we will never be friends....
How good a memory so you have? Let's see: Name the following and I'll let you know if you got it right - and please don't cheat by looking it up!!
What are the 7 deadly sins?
What are Santa's 8 reindeer named?
What are the names of the 7 continents of the world today?
Ready?....GO!
March 31, 2016
Truth in Fiction…good or bad?
Yesterday I visited my lovely and talented Wild Rose Press sistah Angela Hayes with a blog piece about reality. Well, it was my reality, really. I wrote a piece about the birth of my daughter, the accident I’d had on the day she was due and how I used that little piece of reality to drive the plot of my new book The Voices of Angels.
This got me to thinking…how much personal information is too much when you’re using it as a springboard to your fiction?
Case in point. Using one of my books again, First Impressions, I wrote a simply heartwrenching scene about the death of a much-loved family pet. It took me three days to write because every time I sat down to do it, I started bawling. My editor even wrote me after reading it to tell me she thought it might be too emotional for readers and might turn them off to reading the rest of the book. She thought I might want to temper it a little. I had to give that some serious, serious pondering and consideration time. In the end, I left the scene written as I had originally for two reasons. 1.) I knew that any reader who had a pet could and would sympathize with the feelings the heroine was experiencing from the death, and 2.) my own 18-year-old cat had recently died, so I knew every emotion I wrote was real and raw. Just this week I had someone I know who’s read the book tell me they were bawling their eyes out on a beach on vacation when they read that part. I asked how did they really feel about the scene. Did it turn them off? Make them not want to read ahead? And was told “I kept imagining my own cat dying. The scene was so real! I felt every emotion Clarissa did. I finished the book that night!”
Manna from heaven to a writer.
Now, I’d never use something grossly personal about myself or someone I know in my writing – too much potential embarrassment, not to mention lawsuits, could come of doing that. But there have been things have had happened in my life that I will slip into a scene or a plot. I think in some way doing this lends more credibility to the work. Truth in fiction stories always seem to grab me by the throat and not let go until I finish the book.
So, writer friends….how much is too much reality for your fiction? Truth in fiction…good, or bad? Let’s discuss….
Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//
Share this:
This got me to thinking…how much personal information is too much when you’re using it as a springboard to your fiction?
Case in point. Using one of my books again, First Impressions, I wrote a simply heartwrenching scene about the death of a much-loved family pet. It took me three days to write because every time I sat down to do it, I started bawling. My editor even wrote me after reading it to tell me she thought it might be too emotional for readers and might turn them off to reading the rest of the book. She thought I might want to temper it a little. I had to give that some serious, serious pondering and consideration time. In the end, I left the scene written as I had originally for two reasons. 1.) I knew that any reader who had a pet could and would sympathize with the feelings the heroine was experiencing from the death, and 2.) my own 18-year-old cat had recently died, so I knew every emotion I wrote was real and raw. Just this week I had someone I know who’s read the book tell me they were bawling their eyes out on a beach on vacation when they read that part. I asked how did they really feel about the scene. Did it turn them off? Make them not want to read ahead? And was told “I kept imagining my own cat dying. The scene was so real! I felt every emotion Clarissa did. I finished the book that night!”
Manna from heaven to a writer.
Now, I’d never use something grossly personal about myself or someone I know in my writing – too much potential embarrassment, not to mention lawsuits, could come of doing that. But there have been things have had happened in my life that I will slip into a scene or a plot. I think in some way doing this lends more credibility to the work. Truth in fiction stories always seem to grab me by the throat and not let go until I finish the book.
So, writer friends….how much is too much reality for your fiction? Truth in fiction…good, or bad? Let’s discuss….
Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//
Share this:
March 25, 2016
A funny little thing about dialogue...
So my new editor ( and don’t I still love saying that!!) sent me an email asking me to change a few things in my next book. No worries. Her suggestions make a ton of sense and I know I can pull them all off successfully. One of the things she asked me to do was turn up the sensuality level a little. Usually, this wouldn’t be an issue for me. I can write sensual. I like writing sensual. It pleases me to write sensual.
Here’s my problem. Without giving away the plot, the hero is someone totally forbidden to the heroine, or so she thinks. These two would never have sex. EVER, EVAH!!! Not until the revelation scene would she even consider it. So. How can I turn up the heat level without, you know, them doing sensual and sexual…. things?
Well, the best way I’ve found is to amp up the dialogue between them. Flirty, innuendo-filled speech will certainly spice up a scene or two, no? Especially when my girl is so conflicted about the whole thing. She is trying to fight her mounting feelings for the guy because she really truly believes he is forbidden fruit in every sense of the term. You will see why when you read the book!! No spoilers here AT ALL!! Words have a great deal of power and our spoken words to one another can do wonders for a scene.
Hidden meanings, hidden agendas, using terms in a different way in which they are supposed to be used can all increase the tension and the sensuality in a scene.
So, today I wrote 27 pages of mostly dialogue. I won’t use it all, heavens knows. But most of it is pretty good and serves the purpose it was intended for. At least I think so. Hope my editor does, as well.
Until this new one is released into the book reading world, here’s my newest for your enjoyment!
THE VOICES OF ANGELS
The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.
Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.
Available here:
Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook
Find me:
Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//
Here’s my problem. Without giving away the plot, the hero is someone totally forbidden to the heroine, or so she thinks. These two would never have sex. EVER, EVAH!!! Not until the revelation scene would she even consider it. So. How can I turn up the heat level without, you know, them doing sensual and sexual…. things?
Well, the best way I’ve found is to amp up the dialogue between them. Flirty, innuendo-filled speech will certainly spice up a scene or two, no? Especially when my girl is so conflicted about the whole thing. She is trying to fight her mounting feelings for the guy because she really truly believes he is forbidden fruit in every sense of the term. You will see why when you read the book!! No spoilers here AT ALL!! Words have a great deal of power and our spoken words to one another can do wonders for a scene.
Hidden meanings, hidden agendas, using terms in a different way in which they are supposed to be used can all increase the tension and the sensuality in a scene.
So, today I wrote 27 pages of mostly dialogue. I won’t use it all, heavens knows. But most of it is pretty good and serves the purpose it was intended for. At least I think so. Hope my editor does, as well.
Until this new one is released into the book reading world, here’s my newest for your enjoyment!
THE VOICES OF ANGELS
The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.
Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.
Available here:
Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook
Find me:
Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//
March 23, 2016
What I meant to say…..
In my never-ending desire to improve the way I write, I’m reading a fabulous little gem titled How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell.
Now, I’m known for good dialogue. I make it a daily habit to listen to the conversations going on around me, and yes, that means I’m nosey! But it’s not just for nosiness’ sake.
Every conversation I eavesdrop on teaches me something new about syntax, style, word choice, personality, and character. I use all of that info into creating the best character dialogue I can.
Recently, I spent over two hours on three lines of dialogue between two characters. I wrote it every which way I could think of, making it more complex with each word I eliminated, and finally deciding it was perfect as stood.
The next day I changed it all around and you know what – it was even better!
Scott Bell’s book is filled with motes of dialogue genius like this: “Every word, every phrase that comes out of a character’s mouth is uttered because the character hopes it will further a purpose. The character has, in short, an agenda.”
WOW!
I truly have never looked at it that way. I mean, I knew it was true, and hoped I could pull it off on the page, but seeing it so succinctly and eloquently put has turned this little gem into literary gold for me!
Knowing what dialogue is supposed to convey in the scene you are writing is another important facet to think about. None of us wants to be accused of writing tired coffee-talk dialogue. You know: the kind where you write,” Hey, what’s new?” “Nothing. You?” “Same old same old.” “Yeah.”
Can you spell BORING??!! Dialogue should amp up the scene, convey what you want the characters to convey, and make the reader want to read further.
So to my writing friends out there – and you know who you are – how are you at dialogue? Good? Lousy? Always looking to improve? What are the ways you can guarantee your dialogue does what it’s supposed to? let’s discuss…..
Now, I’m known for good dialogue. I make it a daily habit to listen to the conversations going on around me, and yes, that means I’m nosey! But it’s not just for nosiness’ sake.
Every conversation I eavesdrop on teaches me something new about syntax, style, word choice, personality, and character. I use all of that info into creating the best character dialogue I can.
Recently, I spent over two hours on three lines of dialogue between two characters. I wrote it every which way I could think of, making it more complex with each word I eliminated, and finally deciding it was perfect as stood.
The next day I changed it all around and you know what – it was even better!
Scott Bell’s book is filled with motes of dialogue genius like this: “Every word, every phrase that comes out of a character’s mouth is uttered because the character hopes it will further a purpose. The character has, in short, an agenda.”
WOW!
I truly have never looked at it that way. I mean, I knew it was true, and hoped I could pull it off on the page, but seeing it so succinctly and eloquently put has turned this little gem into literary gold for me!
Knowing what dialogue is supposed to convey in the scene you are writing is another important facet to think about. None of us wants to be accused of writing tired coffee-talk dialogue. You know: the kind where you write,” Hey, what’s new?” “Nothing. You?” “Same old same old.” “Yeah.”
Can you spell BORING??!! Dialogue should amp up the scene, convey what you want the characters to convey, and make the reader want to read further.
So to my writing friends out there – and you know who you are – how are you at dialogue? Good? Lousy? Always looking to improve? What are the ways you can guarantee your dialogue does what it’s supposed to? let’s discuss…..
