K.B. Pellegrino's Blog, page 19

Audio Version of Sunnyside Road (Paradise Dissembling)

As an author, the publishing of my works is often mind-boggling. I am not a do-it-all kind of writer. Formatting copy for uploading to a printer, Amazon, or Audio is just a roadblock to me. Consider that the author must wade through the morass of publishing supports for all of the following: different types of editors, cover artists, cover graphic designers, inside print designers for two formats, indie printers and publishers, and finally, a narrator for an audio book. The learning curve is...

Song as Inspiration

Last night Joe and I attended what we thought would be a small gathering to hear 'A Little Night Music' scheduled at the Trinity Church in Springfield, MA. We knew of two of the four voices who were to sing. Their performance was followed by a Carillon Concert, which we could not attend as we had plans for dinner with friends.

Recently I reviewed a book called 'The Singing Book.' It inspired me then. As a non-singer, I realized how music unites us; music calls us together; music is able to create community. Last night, there was a larger crowd than I expected and I soon discovered the reason. The artists were Amanda Johnson, Holly Joy Pearson, Matthew Jaquith, and Larry Picard, who were accompanied by Michael Rheault. They performed show tune selections in ensemble and individually. Their voices were wonderful, professional, and lit up the exquisite altar of this nationally famous for its architecture church.

We and our friends around us felt community in the midst of a hot summer night. I personally was disappointed to miss David Maker, Carillonneur in concert, but am grateful for what I was able to enjoy.

In a city, on a hot night, in the middle of the week, musical artists created community ending with the song, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' Our hearts sang with them. Thank you.

K. B. Pellegrino

The artist in us all

I spent many hours this week viewing art books in my attempt to explore the variations in interpretation of the visual. Think about art, and not just visual art, but music, writing, crafts, and more. Think about Picasso vs DaVinci. Think about Elvis Presley and his rendition of ‘Hound Dog,’ not the first artist, but the one most remembered. The first artist was Willie Mae Thornton with a rhythm and blues hit. Elvis was the rock hit artist remembered to today. Think about all the great books a...

Continuing a series

Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone's series just couldn't die and it didn't; this despite the fact that Parker himself has passed away. In his stead follows Reed Farrel Coleman, a writer in his own right. Some characters should continue and Jesse Stone is one of those.

The question is whether Coleman is just a mimic of Parker's style of his own storyteller; and I am able to answer that, from my perspective he is authentic in his development of this novel with this story with this character. His writing is different, but the feeling of Jesse Stone as he works through the plot is entirely real. I don't always feel that way about a follow through author. Maybe it's because Coleman is a professional and his craftmanship shows.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author

Work and Self-esteem

A few friends and family members have changed jobs recently and some have gained full-time employment for the first time. The excitement of new employment, especially when it’s in the field that was your goal or in your dream job, is almost like starting the fall semester when in school. There is excitement. Further, there is payment for your work. For young college graduates, there is also some trepidation and the fear of: will I measure up; will I like it; will others like me; what is the d...

Ease of reading

I'm reminded again today that the print style of a novel most used today is different from the old 'who dunnits it' I read as a child. I decided to read Mary Higgins Clark's "Daddy's gone A Hunting" and found it at Barnes and Noble in close to a 4 X 7 size with 10-11 point print size. That's what I used to read as a teen. No problem then, I thought.

It's similar to my whole history of life. What I became used to then, and functioned well with is not what I most desire now. I like a larger book with larger type and like many, an ebook sometimes suits me when my eyes are most tired.

Today I realized how very spoiled I am. Some of the changes in life have lightened the load for me. I am left-handed and write almost upside down. This process requires me to turn the page to see what I have just written. Thank you, computer developer scientists for the computer I use. If I were to write longhand, well, being an author may not have been a wise choice for me.

The times they are a changing, and I have gone with changing also. Still, I can go back to the old ways. I read my book and enjoyed it.

K. B. Pellegrino

Writing Styles

Recently I submitted one of my mystery novels for review of my writing style to other known mystery novelists. Surprise, surprise, my style of writing closely matches the writing style of Mary Higgins Clark and Robert Parker. I spoke with the owner of the software company and he assured me that the number of variables used for comparison were numerous, too numerous to state, but could be summarized by ratings in four categories: Authorial Vocabulary; Expressive Complexity; Grammar; and Tonal Quality.

I am pleased to be in their company and fortunately have read several of their works. Writing style reviews are not the same as content style reviews, but may be helpful for a reader choosing to read a particular work.

I am pleased that the awesome power of computers has been put to work in an area of interest that I have. Since my review was based on mystery writing, I don't know what authors I would align with in other genres.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author

Chinese L Lanterns

I am vacationing at Cape Cod Bay in East Sandwich with my family. Chaos reigns. Thirty people at various times. Eating unusual foods is the common practice, although today we will enjoy the traditional surf- n – turf with lobster as the surf. Tomorrow is our July Thanksgiving turkey dinner cooked to order at Marshland’s on Rte 6A. Breakfasts are prepared by our several home grown short order cooks; some have great imaginations. Ice cream is the favorite dessert, although it is served in vario...

Compassion is Required

Today I heard several heartbreaking stories from friends and former relatives by marriage. In every case, drugs or alcohol was involved. All the stories ended in death. Each, untimely, and in these cases, medically unnecessary deaths, that left waves of sorrow for families and friends and certainly rippling sadness for all those in the know.

It does no good at this point to say: should have, could have. And when these sick people were suffering, well, how much compassion was offered to the ad...

Busy Busy Busy

What an exciting weekend I just survived. Starting with dinner with friends on Friday evening; on Saturday buying mulch from the local hardware store, tripping off to the bank, lovingly attending a family wedding shower for Ariel Jocelyn, welcoming a visitor, Attorney Louis Marcou, from Australia who shared our home as a B&B and joined us for the lobsterfest at the club; on Sunday gorging on breakfast at the Crepe House, joining about six hundred attendees at a fundraiser for a police lieuten...