Mary R. Davidsaver's Blog, page 17
September 16, 2016
Theme: Forgiveness
“I think it’s time to forgive your sister. It’s a fact of life that sometimes unforeseen circumstances prevent people with the best of intentions from keeping promises they make.” Dear Abby, Sunday, September 07, 2014.
“How can you just get over these things, darling?” she had asked him. “You’ve had so much strife but you’re always happy. How do you do it?”
“I choose to,” he said. “I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my dad did, or I can forgive and forget.”
“But it’s not that easy.”
He smiled that Frank smile. “Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things.” He laughed, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow. “I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount. That I did a very proper job of hating, too: very Teutonic! No”—his voice became sober—“we always have a choice. All of us.” The Light Between Oceansby M. L. Stedman
I picked these quotes about forgiveness because they reflect my own feelings. I especially like the idea of forgiving once. So simple and practical. So useful on a personal scale—for everyday living.
I’ve always felt it costs nothing to offer everyone a polite “Good morning” when passing on the sidewalk or bike path. I’ve chosen that course because it was easiest for me, no need to constantly dredge up past wrongs. It’s more of a matter of here and now.
I wanted to use something of this philosophy in my novel, to make a spirit of forgiveness relevant for my fictional families present and past.
I hope I’ve succeeded to some extent.
“How can you just get over these things, darling?” she had asked him. “You’ve had so much strife but you’re always happy. How do you do it?”
“I choose to,” he said. “I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my dad did, or I can forgive and forget.”
“But it’s not that easy.”
He smiled that Frank smile. “Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things.” He laughed, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow. “I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount. That I did a very proper job of hating, too: very Teutonic! No”—his voice became sober—“we always have a choice. All of us.” The Light Between Oceansby M. L. Stedman
I picked these quotes about forgiveness because they reflect my own feelings. I especially like the idea of forgiving once. So simple and practical. So useful on a personal scale—for everyday living.
I’ve always felt it costs nothing to offer everyone a polite “Good morning” when passing on the sidewalk or bike path. I’ve chosen that course because it was easiest for me, no need to constantly dredge up past wrongs. It’s more of a matter of here and now.
I wanted to use something of this philosophy in my novel, to make a spirit of forgiveness relevant for my fictional families present and past.
I hope I’ve succeeded to some extent.
September 9, 2016
First Book Sale
Jody, my neighbor, fellow See YA book club member, milkweed supplier, and all-around great person made my day yesterday afternoon.
She knocked on my back door and asked to buy a copy of my book.
All I did was mention that I'd picked up some boxes from the Midwest Writing Center.
I had to scramble to make change. To find a pen. To inscribe something on the first page that was totally inadequate at expressing my feelings.
Here is my memento.
Thank you Jody!
(Yes, I always have piles of paper everywhere.)
She knocked on my back door and asked to buy a copy of my book.
All I did was mention that I'd picked up some boxes from the Midwest Writing Center.
I had to scramble to make change. To find a pen. To inscribe something on the first page that was totally inadequate at expressing my feelings.
Here is my memento.
Thank you Jody!
(Yes, I always have piles of paper everywhere.)
September 2, 2016
Misty Urban, Editor
I have been fortunate to have many fine editors help me with my first book,
Clouds Over Bishop Hill
. Misty Urban provided line editing on the final leg of my journey to being published with MWC Press, an imprint of the Midwest Writing Center.
Misty took great care and ample time going over my words and sentences, while still being prompt on returning corrected copy.
Misty has a great eye for details, catching the small mistakes that many others, including myself, had missed for a long time. She also found a few “biggies” too. Uncovering those lapses, the kind that would really be embarrassing to explain to a reviewer or a reader, are the ones I’m most grateful for.
She introduced me to the Chicago style and we were able to work together to smoothly shape my manuscript into a coherent whole. I can recommend her editing work to anyone. It would be money and time wisely spent.
Misty took great care and ample time going over my words and sentences, while still being prompt on returning corrected copy.
Misty has a great eye for details, catching the small mistakes that many others, including myself, had missed for a long time. She also found a few “biggies” too. Uncovering those lapses, the kind that would really be embarrassing to explain to a reviewer or a reader, are the ones I’m most grateful for.
She introduced me to the Chicago style and we were able to work together to smoothly shape my manuscript into a coherent whole. I can recommend her editing work to anyone. It would be money and time wisely spent.
August 26, 2016
The Big Day!
The proof came last Friday. It made for an exciting day of celebration and I was only able to post a photo to my blog.
This Friday Clouds Over Bishop Hill went LIVE on Amazon.
It's a big day nearly six years in the making. I'm wearing my 2010 NaNoWriMo winner T-shirt in the photo. I've saved it all these years for exactly this day.
This Friday Clouds Over Bishop Hill went LIVE on Amazon.
It's a big day nearly six years in the making. I'm wearing my 2010 NaNoWriMo winner T-shirt in the photo. I've saved it all these years for exactly this day.
August 19, 2016
August 12, 2016
ISBN
Clouds Over Bishop Hill now has become a real entity with its own ID number: 978-0-9906190-3-1.
It was real before. Now, it is a little more so.
We are going through the process of uploading files to CreateSpace. I wish I could say all went well and there were no glitches, but there were a few.
There had to be few “somethings.” For us it was: having pages and pages of forms to fill out, proving citizenship, having a nice Midwestern thunderstorm roll through, and losing the modem connection in the middle of uploading.
But so far there have been no total disasters. The forms were filled out and accepted. I can now personally vouch that having a cell phone that can do tethered Wi-Fi is a wonderful sanity-saving thing.
The greatest delay came from the cover spine. It had to be made larger because of a different paper choice. Cream paper is fatter than white paper? Who knew.
Which is the point. We are all learning new things here.
But annoying or not, every step gets me closer to having a real book in hand.
And closer to the time to think more seriously about marketing plans.
There will be a book!
It was real before. Now, it is a little more so.
We are going through the process of uploading files to CreateSpace. I wish I could say all went well and there were no glitches, but there were a few.
There had to be few “somethings.” For us it was: having pages and pages of forms to fill out, proving citizenship, having a nice Midwestern thunderstorm roll through, and losing the modem connection in the middle of uploading.
But so far there have been no total disasters. The forms were filled out and accepted. I can now personally vouch that having a cell phone that can do tethered Wi-Fi is a wonderful sanity-saving thing.
The greatest delay came from the cover spine. It had to be made larger because of a different paper choice. Cream paper is fatter than white paper? Who knew.
Which is the point. We are all learning new things here.
But annoying or not, every step gets me closer to having a real book in hand.
And closer to the time to think more seriously about marketing plans.
There will be a book!
August 5, 2016
The New Website
My latest website took a little over four days to make. Two days to play around with the modular components and understand how they work. A half day to make a plan for the overall design of the elements I deemed important for my site. The rest to actually write some copy, capture my cover photo, and fit everything together into two columns.
I used Weebly Website Builder, a site my husband had directed me to. He hadn’t used it himself, but had heard it would be easy to use. His goal was for meto do it myself.
I was able to get it done. Pretty much on my own.
I got my columns set up. I would have preferred one column larger than the other, but couldn’t make it happen. That was probably for the best because two equal columns look really good on small screens like cell phones.
I was able to activate the links to my blog and my Facebook author page. (I had husband standing by to make sure I entered the right info.)
I needed the most assistance to get the cover photo. (I watched him do it and I sort of understood.)
Of all the websites I’ve designed, this one went the easiest and the fastest. I’m confident that my first updates will go just as smoothly.
I will find out fairly soon because I finished the last editorial review of the manuscript last night. It’s really going to happen. Clouds Over Bishop Hill will be out in the world soon and I will be out there trying to introduce it and myself to prospective readers. The new website will be an invaluable tool.
I used Weebly Website Builder, a site my husband had directed me to. He hadn’t used it himself, but had heard it would be easy to use. His goal was for meto do it myself.
I was able to get it done. Pretty much on my own.
I got my columns set up. I would have preferred one column larger than the other, but couldn’t make it happen. That was probably for the best because two equal columns look really good on small screens like cell phones.
I was able to activate the links to my blog and my Facebook author page. (I had husband standing by to make sure I entered the right info.)
I needed the most assistance to get the cover photo. (I watched him do it and I sort of understood.)
Of all the websites I’ve designed, this one went the easiest and the fastest. I’m confident that my first updates will go just as smoothly.
I will find out fairly soon because I finished the last editorial review of the manuscript last night. It’s really going to happen. Clouds Over Bishop Hill will be out in the world soon and I will be out there trying to introduce it and myself to prospective readers. The new website will be an invaluable tool.
July 29, 2016
Swedish Meatballs
On many occasions, I have promised to bring meatballs to my book openings. I’ve had my Swedish mother-in-law’s recipe for some time now but hadn’t gotten around to actually making it.
My sister-in-law told me how those meatballs were a favorite treat and something she always requested for special occasions when she was growing up. They fell out of favor later in her life. Maybe when she realized what the secret ingredient was. The comment from her husband was along the line of “it’s not natural.”
I should have cooked up a batch before now, but I didn’t have all the spices and I couldn’t decide what meats to use for the actual meatball. I wanted something other than 100% beef. All this indecision and procrastination meant no meatballs … until now.
Last week I had to have something for a neighborhood party. So, nowwas the time for meatballs.
I do have to make a confession—I purchased frozen, ready-made Swedish meatballs. Yes, there are such things, but not as easily found as you might think. Fareway came through for me.
It was all good because I wanted to concentrate on the sauce anyway.
I gathered all the spices I would need and lined them up on my counter. It was so impressive that I had to take a photo.
All went well enough and most of my meatballs disappeared. I have made a start and have ideas of what to do next.
There will be meatballs!
My sister-in-law told me how those meatballs were a favorite treat and something she always requested for special occasions when she was growing up. They fell out of favor later in her life. Maybe when she realized what the secret ingredient was. The comment from her husband was along the line of “it’s not natural.”
I should have cooked up a batch before now, but I didn’t have all the spices and I couldn’t decide what meats to use for the actual meatball. I wanted something other than 100% beef. All this indecision and procrastination meant no meatballs … until now.
Last week I had to have something for a neighborhood party. So, nowwas the time for meatballs.
I do have to make a confession—I purchased frozen, ready-made Swedish meatballs. Yes, there are such things, but not as easily found as you might think. Fareway came through for me.
It was all good because I wanted to concentrate on the sauce anyway.
I gathered all the spices I would need and lined them up on my counter. It was so impressive that I had to take a photo.
All went well enough and most of my meatballs disappeared. I have made a start and have ideas of what to do next.
There will be meatballs!
July 22, 2016
Setting the Stage
I love it when a serendipitous moment comes along and I can say, “I got that right.” One of those moments came along this past week when I was sorting through emails. I gave a quick glance to an article entitled
Preface your book!
Bookbaby sends me stuff all the time, usually short articles pertaining to writing, publishing, and marketing. I can glean a useful tidbit every now and then.
This one really hit the spot.
According to this article:“A preface could be an introduction. Or it could be a prologue. It is whatever you need to set the stage so that the reader can hit the ground running from Chapter 1.”
This idea of setting the stage caught my attention, because I’ve started my book out with an augmented disclaimer. You know the standard blurb found in all works of fiction that state what follows comes from the author’s imagination. The confusing part that I wanted to explain in more detail comes from using some real names: Bishop Hill, a real place I lived in for over twenty years, and Olof Krans, an historical figure and painter. Both of these are key characters that I’ve taken liberties with for the sake of my novel and mustn’t be held to the same standards as non-fiction.
As a preface I’d consider what I’ve written as an introduction and an invitation.
AUTHOR’S NOTE This is a work of fiction. Bishop Hill, Illinois is a state historic site and a national historic landmark with innumerable real-life stories to tell. I chose the avenue of fiction to tell mine. I used my author’s imagination to create names, characters, businesses, organizations, and institutions wherever I could or otherwise used them fictitiously. Historical figures and events, past and present, along with geography were likewise subjected to my imagination and altered for this work of fiction. Any resemblance to real-life is wholly coincidental. A young Olof Krans did join the Bishop Hill Colony and later used his self-taught painting skills to document the Colony’s early prairie years. Those who want to learn more are encouraged to continue their journey by reading further or visiting the real Bishop Hill in Henry County, Illinois. There’s a wealth of information out there and many knowledgeable people to help you on your way.
This one really hit the spot.
According to this article:“A preface could be an introduction. Or it could be a prologue. It is whatever you need to set the stage so that the reader can hit the ground running from Chapter 1.”
This idea of setting the stage caught my attention, because I’ve started my book out with an augmented disclaimer. You know the standard blurb found in all works of fiction that state what follows comes from the author’s imagination. The confusing part that I wanted to explain in more detail comes from using some real names: Bishop Hill, a real place I lived in for over twenty years, and Olof Krans, an historical figure and painter. Both of these are key characters that I’ve taken liberties with for the sake of my novel and mustn’t be held to the same standards as non-fiction.
As a preface I’d consider what I’ve written as an introduction and an invitation.
AUTHOR’S NOTE This is a work of fiction. Bishop Hill, Illinois is a state historic site and a national historic landmark with innumerable real-life stories to tell. I chose the avenue of fiction to tell mine. I used my author’s imagination to create names, characters, businesses, organizations, and institutions wherever I could or otherwise used them fictitiously. Historical figures and events, past and present, along with geography were likewise subjected to my imagination and altered for this work of fiction. Any resemblance to real-life is wholly coincidental. A young Olof Krans did join the Bishop Hill Colony and later used his self-taught painting skills to document the Colony’s early prairie years. Those who want to learn more are encouraged to continue their journey by reading further or visiting the real Bishop Hill in Henry County, Illinois. There’s a wealth of information out there and many knowledgeable people to help you on your way.
July 16, 2016
The Bio
I’m not by nature a fast writer. I’m slow at picking out the right words and spend too much time rearranging them. Not a good thing for a first draft of anything. It makes editing time consuming as well. But this slowness allows me to measure when I’m improving. The one sure sign that I’ve gotten better at trying to write in some new area or style is when I notice I’m writing faster than my usual pace.
There’s only one thing that I’ll never be fast at … writing about myself.
I must have an author’s bio for the novel. So I will start out by turning to the source of info I already have: my writing resume.
I had to put one together for my application for The Great River Writer’s Retreat in 2013. It has been a valuable tool ever since.
By digging up and listing when and where I wrote feature articles and news items—I proved I had a history of writing and publishing. By listing all the organizations I’d written press releases for—I proved I could do an important step in marketing. By listing my awards—I proved that I had been recognized.
So even though I’ve moved to a new city and have been very single-minded in the pursuit of my novel, I do have a background as a writer that I can fall back on.
Having said that, I went in a different direction for this bio.
I wanted this one to be personal and a reflection on my life choices. More about family and how I got here than a list of what I did here and there along the way.
This is what I came up with to introduce myself to the new readers of my novel:
Mary Davidsaver was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She had no choice but to attend school in Iowa City because generations of family craftsmen helped build the county courthouse, the dormitories, and the student union. That tradition of craftsmanship had her living in Bishop Hill, an Illinois state historic site and a national historic landmark, first as a silversmith and then as a writer, for twenty-four years. She and her husband have returned to Iowa.
I could have added a little something about crossing the Mississippi River to find better sweetcorn … but I didn’t.
There’s only one thing that I’ll never be fast at … writing about myself.
I must have an author’s bio for the novel. So I will start out by turning to the source of info I already have: my writing resume.
I had to put one together for my application for The Great River Writer’s Retreat in 2013. It has been a valuable tool ever since.
By digging up and listing when and where I wrote feature articles and news items—I proved I had a history of writing and publishing. By listing all the organizations I’d written press releases for—I proved I could do an important step in marketing. By listing my awards—I proved that I had been recognized.
So even though I’ve moved to a new city and have been very single-minded in the pursuit of my novel, I do have a background as a writer that I can fall back on.
Having said that, I went in a different direction for this bio.
I wanted this one to be personal and a reflection on my life choices. More about family and how I got here than a list of what I did here and there along the way.
This is what I came up with to introduce myself to the new readers of my novel:
Mary Davidsaver was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. She had no choice but to attend school in Iowa City because generations of family craftsmen helped build the county courthouse, the dormitories, and the student union. That tradition of craftsmanship had her living in Bishop Hill, an Illinois state historic site and a national historic landmark, first as a silversmith and then as a writer, for twenty-four years. She and her husband have returned to Iowa.
I could have added a little something about crossing the Mississippi River to find better sweetcorn … but I didn’t.
