Pamela Schloesser Canepa's Blog, page 61

#WeekendCoffeeShare. In Careful Measures

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Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.wordpress.com!  You may have whatever you like, me, I’ll only have half a cup.  I’m trying to be healthy by cutting my coffee intake, you know, to help myself fall asleep at night and keep calm during the day and to relax when I want to.  Last week I had a screenplay deadline just because I wanted to do something new.  The end of last week involved catching up on editing that I’d missed and trying to de-stress.  No matter what, I could not turn my brain off.  This week, I tried some adjustments.  In true Bridget Jones fashion, (Minus the musings over men and the quirky, partying friends) I’ve recorded my self-analysis daily.  Here’s how it went:

Day 1, Sunday:  Drank- 1/2 cup.  Felt: Normal, but I went to church and had forgotten my offering on my dresser. 

Weekend Coffee Share. Delayed Rush

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Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.com.  I normally would be drinking coffee right now, but I’m putting it off since I want to maximize my relaxation today.  I really need to relax, (spoken with a nervous tick in my eye).

Do you know what middle-schoolers are like in the springtime?  You do?  Okay, multiply that by twenty.  Add in a dash of test anxiety and total relief when it’s all over.  I mean, nobody wants to learn anything right after taking an hour and a half test.  That describes my week.

Add  to that my participation in a screenplay contest that required me to learn a whole new format for my story ideas.  Formatting in Word?  Not my forte.  I am thinking short stories are more for me.  But I did it!  I finished and sent it off.  Now we wait for feedback.  I don’t expect to win anything.    At any rate, I’ll be editing a novel in the meantime, so I guess these two months will go by quite quickly.  I have a crick in my neck and a tick in my eye.  Hence, the reason I am delaying my coffee.  No, you go right ahead.  I really don’t mind.

I can delay my coffee need; I have an appointment at noon for ninety minutes in a float tank!  I remember how much better my stressed shoulders felt after the last time.  Except, last time, I kept coming back to my thoughts and observations.  I had a cup of coffee before I went.  I don’t need to be so alert.  Maybe I just need to slip a way for a little while…

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It’s worth a try.  I feel like a mermaid in the tank, and while it’s not as stylish and roomy as the one pictured here (plus the fact that my face is above water), I love the feeling of floating.  Either way, it’ll be good for relaxing my body.  I’m sure, when I’m done, I’ll head right for the coffee shop on the corner.

That’s my life lately.  I still have half of my editing to do on Undercurrents in Time.  Have you read Detours in Time yet?  The sequel is coming…

In the meantime, I’ve listened to Lana del Rey a lot lately.  Do you have any suggestions for inspiring music?  I always like something new.

Have a great week!  How are things in your corner of the world?  Please send your suggestions for music to inspire and help me kick back.  Not the kind to put me to sleep, but to take me away from the day’s frustrations and checklists of what is undone.  It’ll all wait.

Thanks to Allison for keeping the #WeekendCoffeeShare going.  Visit her and see other coffee shares or even submit your own at Eclectic Alli

A Matter of Taste and Sensibility? #FFfAW #amwriting

Photo credit, @Goroyboy.

Four ghosts approached a charming, Southern mansion.

“I’m not comfortable with this assignment,” Marv said.

A younger ghost, Jeb, responded, “Really, Marv? My family farmed cotton and it was our livelihood.  I think it’s wonderful.”

“Oh, yeah?  Who actually picked it?”

Jeb shrugged.

“Won’t asking reassignment delay moving on from the “in-between?”  Kat asked.

“Kat, I’ve been ‘in-between’ for a hundred and fifty years.  You get used to it.  Time flies.  This is a matter of principle.  So this is all okay with you?”  Marv gestured to the wreath.

“Well, I’m not sure.  My ancestors were slaves in cotton fields.”

The others looked surprised.

She continued, “I also had ancestors who were farmers and plantation owners.  I’m a product of both sides.  Bygones should be bygones.  Maybe we’re here for that reason.”

“You’re so modern, Miss High and Mighty,” Marv said.  “Okay, What do you think Eskel?”

Eskel tapped his chin, deep in thought.  “I say we move on.  Cotton wreath?”  He chuckled.  “We’re bound to be assigned to someone with better decorative taste.”

copyright, 2018 by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

~174 words (without photo credit and title).

*The opinions expressed in this flash fiction are not necessarily the opinions of this author.  Wait, I think I represented every possible opinion.  Did I miss any?  In fact, it was hard to stay within the 150 words +/- 25 rule!  For a description of this writing challenge or to view other entries, visit Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers April 16th   

 

 

“Detours in Time” by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

See the latest review of Detours in Time!

Marcha's Two-Cents Worth

“Back to the Future” is one of my favorite movies of all time, and this book had various similarities. Who isn’t fascinated with the concept of time travel and its various paradoxes? The characters in this story were vivid and engaging, a middle-aged professor named Milt and his younger female friend, Tabitha, whose nickname is Pinkie. Their time base is 1997. and they venture forward to 2047, and then back to 2018 due to a mishap while they were time-shifting. While it was supposed to be mostly a pleasure trip of exploration, much as we would visit a foreign country, naturally it turns into more.

Milt’s curiosity as a scientist drives him to unearth information about his future as well as Pinkie’s, which has a strong impact on his outlook and motivation. The view of the future was well-done, with interesting political and scientific developments that influenced the popular culture…

View original post 199 more words

Weekend Coffee Share. Writerly Bits

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Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.wordpress.com.  How shall I “spit out the butt ends of my days and ways?”  That’s my nod to T.S. Eliot, by the way, from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  But I digress..

I just got my manuscript back for the sequel to Detours in Time!  I’ll be madly busy for at least a month now.  It’s okay!  I live for this.  I also have the cover planned out.  Woohoo!  It’s a beauty.  I can’t wait to show you all.

Not only will I have that to do, but I entered a screenplay contest, just as a learning experience.  The contest includes feedback, so I feel as if I can grow from this and improve my writing in another genre that could open up a whole new world of doors for my writing journey….This contest starts the day after my son’s twenty-second birthday.  So there will be some celebrating in the next week as well!  Yes, I am so grateful he made it this far, and grateful the 21st birthday only had to happen once.

Work is also a very busy place right now as we gear up for state testing.  Lesson plans have to be tailored since one test will start next week, and classes will be a little shorter.  Yet, we are still getting them ready for the English test that is the week after.  Added to that mix is the sudden case of Spring fever all the kids seem to have.  Uggghhh!  Wait, did I tell you all yet how much I love a challenge?  Okay, it’s a little stressful, but I do have a massage scheduled this weekend, and I am considering another salt-water float for a few weeks from now.  I have big goals, but one of them is to maintain balance, I promise.  Deep breaths.

In the #dogstagram world, my canine Bixby almost has 1,000 followers.  Find him at @bixby_fluffikins if so moved!  Yes, I have been networking there.  Sometimes it’s the perfect escape when I put my feet up after work.  I have my own Instagram for my life and writing journey, but it is receiving maybe weekly attention.  It will get a burst of energy when I publish my sequel.  All that, and I still read books, though not as quickly as I used to.  I just posted yesterday about an interesting read called Auroria, a book I highly recommend.  Here is the link to the blog post, which is now part of a regular series on my blog posted at very irregular intervals: Books You May not Know of….

So I just now realized my post title is a reference to Bridget Jones.  Did anyone catch that?  ;’)  I am just full of the Literature references.  All of this makes my weekend feel very Lit!  (Sorry, teen slang reference).

I hope you all have a great weekend and next week is wonderful as well!  How are things in your world?

Books You May Not Know of, but Ought to Try! A Magical Setting in Ga.

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My next installment of “Books You May Not Know of….but Ought to Try” is Auraria by Tim Westover.

Blurb:

Water spirits, moon maidens, haunted pianos, headless revenants, and an invincible terrapin that lives under the mountains. None of these distract James Holtzclaw from his employer’s mission: to turn the fading gold-rush town of Auraria, GA, into a first-class resort and drown its fortunes below a man-made lake. But when Auraria’s peculiar people and problematic ghosts collide with his own rival ambitions, Holtzclaw must decide what he will save and what will be washed away. Taking its inspiration from a real Georgia ghost town, Auraria is steeped in the folklore of the Southern Appalachians, where the tensions of natural, supernatural and artificial are still alive.

To be honest, I don’t think this is a self-published novel.  It is very well-done, but I would not have heard of the author if it weren’t for Kindle’s book recommendations.  I truly am thankful for that program, as I love to read wide.  Looking further, I see that it is doing well on the charts, and it has 186 reviews averaging four stars.

This book took me outside of myself.  It is at once historical and fantastical.  You can imagine the main character in this situation 100 years ago, faced with the decision of turning a charming Southern town on its head or leaving them to live in their own idyllic ways.  Only, add magical singing beings, sheepfruit, (what IS that anyway?  I’d like to see it), and ghosts, and you have a joyride of a story based on a true Georgia ghost town.  Don’t expect to understand it all right away.  The author has created an alternate world in this town.  Personally, I’d love to visit!  Read this book for a quick, imaginative get away.

Holiday. #FFfAW

Photo credit (c) Dorothy

Everyone was boarding the boat early, except for these two.  They weren’t discussing anything.  The young man looked at ease, the girl, a little bit nervous.

The young man watching them briefly felt a twinge of envy.  They had each other and were sure to be embarking on a journey that would never be forgotten.  He had no one.  His friend had found the love of his life and was going away on a one-month honeymoon across the ocean.  Yes, this feeling was envy, but also a slight insecurity that his best friend was being stolen away, wouldn’t have as much time for him, and would completely change in his evolution from individual to husband.

“You all aren’t changing your minds, are you?”  he called.

His friend turned and smiled.  “No, no way!  Bailey’s just never been on a long boat trip.  Tell her it’ll be okay.”

With that, the young man walked up and hugged them both, praying they’d get back safely.

*163 words

Visit  Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers  for other responses to this week’s photo prompt or to join the challenge, which ends today.  The story word limit is 100 – 150 words (+ – 25 words).   Thanks for reading!

Ghosts in the Garden. #amwriting #FridayFictioneers

PHOTO PROMPT © Fatima Fakier Deria

Ghosts in the Garden. (c) 2018 by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

“Jimi Hendrix is on the left, and that’s Mother Theresa next to him.”  Grandma arranged a plate of cookies.

“Are these for me?”  her grandson asked hopefully.

“No, silly.  I have to serve them.  How often do I get such prestigious guests?”

He sighed.  “Interesting combination of guests.”  She always had such a great imagination.  It just seemed to be getting wilder every day.

“Indeed it is.  Do you know what they all have in common?”

“What?”

“They love the same brand of peanut butter.” She smiled down at her platter of peanut butter cookies.

**99 words

Ghosts in the Garden is written on this day of miracles, Easter Sunday, in response to the weekly prompt  challenge presented at Rochelle-Wisoff-Fields- Addicted to Purple

Weekend Coffee Share, The Bucket List

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Welcome to the #WeekendCoffeeShare, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.wordpress.com.  I’m departing from the usual catch-me-up conversation, and I’d like you to just dream with me.  It was Holy Week this week and I attended a somber Maundy Thursday service, then had a diagnostic appointment and a funeral memorial to attend Friday for my neighbor who was only 63.  Everything turned out fine at the appointment, though, and the memorial was heartwarming.  Still, it gets a person thinking about their own mortality.  I have added to my bucket list, and likely will keep doing so.  Even if I never get to these, I have gotten to some!  So, sit with me, sip your favorite latte, tea, or other appropriate social drink, and lets dream as if we’ll live forever!

*Some I have done.  Okay, very few.

Do Not Pass. #amwriting #FridayFictioneers

PHOTO PROMPT © Björn Rudberg

The boys were now both eighteen, and they celebrated with a trip to the Canadian Rockies.

“We’ve got to go to Edmund’s Pass!” Roma exclaimed.  “A friend in the forum told me about it.”

Billy rolled his eyes.  The forums.  Still, he had agreed to go.  Until he saw the sign and the overgrown dirt road.

“Come on, Billy!  There’s been a UFO landing there.  Let’s see it for ourselves.”

“By foot?  Hmm.  Forums,”  Billy chuckled, shaking his head.

“You’re only young once,” Roma stated, his eyes lit up.

“Onward!’  Billy raised his arm fearlessly.

Roma beamed and moved forward.

*100 words

*Friday Fictioneers is a weekly photo prompt challenge to write a Flash fiction piece of 100 words or less with beginning, middle, and end.  It is hosted at https://rochellewisoff.com/  Visit this week’s challenge and view the other offerings at  Rochelle Wisoff !