Michael Embry's Blog, page 51

NaNoWriMo Halfway (Almost)

I'm at the midway point in the National Novel Writing Month. Fifteen days down, 15 days to go. With a goal of writing 50,000 words in November, that means I should have written 25,000. I'm at 22,509.

According to the NaNoWriMo website, a writer needs to average 1,667 words a day to reach 50,000. So far I'm averaging 1,500. And to finish with 50k, I have to average 1,719 a day for the remainder of the month.

I don't think I'll have difficulty reaching that number unless some unforeseen things happen. My young-adult novel is taking shape and the words are beginning to flow off my fingertips.

I'll give you another update after 21 days.
Until the next time…[image error]

Story Songs: Vincent (Starry Starry Night)

I'm not going to give any interpretations to Don McLean's  "Vincent," also known as "Starry Starry Night," a song about the tragic life of famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.
What I love about this song are the sentimental thoughts about this great artist and the word pictures that McLean so eloquently expresses.
Consider this:

"Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land."
and this:

"Flaming flowers that brightly blaze, Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand."
There are references to Van Gogh and his paintings throughout the song. This McLean website provides a history and inspiration for his timeless lyrics. 
"Vincent" reached No. 6 in the United States and No. 1 in the United Kingdom in 1972. 

McLean first gained fame with the unforgettable "American Pie," a No. 1 tune in 1972. He also penned other memorable songs such as "And I Love You So" and "Castles in the Air." His songs have been covered by such luminaries as Elvis Presley, Helen Reddy, Josh Groban, George Michael, and Perry Como.

Still an active performer, the 67-year-old McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

"Vincent" lyrics





31st Kentucky Book Fair Memories

The 31st Kentucky Book Fair is history. I had a wonderful time signing books, talking to KBF patrons, and chatting with other authors. My wife spent time purchasing books for Christmas gifts and attending most of the symposiums. She had a great time as well. 

Sales were down, according to the Frankfort State Journal, from $157,000 last year to $110,000. I'm not sure what accounted for the decline other than the beautiful weather (temps in the 70s) and other activities going on during the Frankfort's annual Candlight event.

The SJ listed the best-selling authors/artists as Mary McDonough, James Archambeault, Ryan Clark and Joe Cox, Stephan Pastis, Al Smith, Silas House, James Higdon, James B. Goode, Duffy Brown, and Wendell Berry. Nope, you don't see my name. Maybe next year.

I got to talk to McDonough for a few minutes. Her name doesn't ring a bell? She played Erin on widely popular TV show "The Waltons" back in the 1970s. Her book is "Lessons From the Mountain: What I Learned from Erin Walton."  Mary had a great time in Kentucky, selling tons of books from Augusta to Lexington to Frankfort. She's a a lovely and inspiring person and I recommend her book, especially to girls and young women.

Proceeds from the KBF go to school and public libraries as well as literacy programs across Kentucky. In the meantime, support your local library!
Until the next time…

Writing A Novel: After Seven Days

I've written every day so far in my first time participating in  National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to produce a minimum of 50,000 words in November.  So far I've written 10,913 words, an average of 1,559 a day. I should be averaging 1,667 but I'm not too far off.  Some days I write a little more than needed, some days a little less.

I must admit that writing this novel hasn't been that easy. Of course, it shouldn't be easy. And it's only a first draft. I hope by the end of the month that there will be usable parts that I can transform into a novel for young adults.

I wish I it was like being on a runaway train because I would at least be on track. Instead, it's been more like swaying all over a six-lane highway, unable to stay in a designated lane.

Perhaps as I progress along I will be able to steady my course and have a nice flow to the story. We'll see. I'll have another update at 14 days.
Until the next time…

Story Songs: Please Come to Boston

Dave Loggins wrote about the struggle of being a performer and trying to have a relationship in "Please Come to Boston." As we learn from the lyrics, it's next to impossible if neither side will compromise. 


In the song, the narrator makes stops in Boston, Denver and Los Angeles, and pleads with his significant other to join him on the road.

Boston:

"Please come to Boston for the spring timeI'm stayin' here with some friendsAnd they've got lots of room.You can sell your paintings on the sidewalkBy a cafe where I hope to be workin' soon."
Denver:

"Please come to Denver with the snow fall.We'll move up into the mountains so farThat we can't be found.And throw 'I love you' echoes down the canyonAnd then lie awake at night until they come back around."
And L.A.:

"Please come to L.A. to live foreverCalifornia life alone is just too hard to build.I live in a house that looks out over the ocean.And there's some stars that fell from the skyAnd livin' up on the hill."
But each time the lover says no to her "ramblin' boy" and asks "Boy, would come home to me?" And that is followed by:

"There ain't no gold andThere ain't nobody like me.'Cause I'm the number one fanOf the man from Tennessee."

No doubt many people have wanted to hit the road and seek fame and fortune but were held back for personal reasons. And, as Loggins wrote and expressed so well in his singing, some probably feel heartbreak from their decision to leave someone. It's a difficult decision many of us have made in our careers.

"Please Come to Boston" reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. Loggins, who was born in Mountain City, Tenn.,  was nominated for a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance for the song.

Loggins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1995. His cousin is singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins.

"Please Come to Boston" lyrics

Writing a Novel: One Day at a Time

I plan to do a lot of writing in November. Every day. Lots of words. And at the end of the month I plan to have the beginning, or first draft, of another novel. At least I hope so.

I'm participating for the first time in National Novel Writing Month, or commonly referred to as NaNoWriMo. I've signed up on the website and I'm practically chomping at the bit to get started. All I have to do is produce a minimum of 50,000 words.

NaNoWriMo is promoted as "thirty days and nights of literary abandon" -- simply a way to let the creative juices flow for an entire month. Thousands of writers from around the world take part in the exercise, from school children to old folks.

While I have a lot on my plate in November, I think it's important to set aside time for writing. I do write every day, but it's not always creative writing.

On my previous five novels, I wrote daily on each one until I completed the first draft. Then I went back and did numerous rewrites to make them suitable for publication.

If you've never taken part in NaNoWriMo, I encourage you to take part, even as a personal challenge to yourself to see if you can do it. You can join virtual groups that offer encouragement and there are apps to help you keep your word count.

Don't be intimidated by the thought of writing each day for a month.  As a marathoner takes one step at a time, you simply need to approach it one day at a time. And we know that time flies, especially when you're having fun, so the 30 days will be over before you know it. 

Good luck and I hope to see you at the finish line!
Until the next time…

Story Songs: Your Wildest Dreams

   The Moody Blues reflected on lost love in "Your Wildest Dreams."
   Lead singer/guitarist Justin Hayward penned the song, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard charts in 1986.
   The narrator recalls youthful times, possibly a first or teenage love, and how circumstances in life pulled them in different directions. And he reminisces:
"I wonder where you are
I wonder if you
Think about me
Once upon a time
In your wildest dreams"
   We learn that the singer is gravitates to music and away from the person he cares about, a decision in which he expresses some regret because they had something special between them:
"Once upon a time
Once beneath the stars
The universe was ours
Love was all we knew
And all I knew was you
I wonder if you know
I wonder if you think about it"
   And in the final verse, he again reveals that he thinks about her but wonders if she thinks about him:

"I remember skies
Mirrored in your eyes
I wonder where you are
I wonder if you
Think about me"
Do you ever wonder if those you cared about in your past still think about you?
The music video was named Video of the Year by Billboard magazine. The legendary Moodies recorded a sequel to the song two years later, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," also written by Hayward.

"Your Wildest Dreams" lyrics


A Place of Remembrance

While on vacation this past week, I made a stop at the Flight 93 Memorial, near Stoystown, in rural southern Pennsylvania.  For those who don't remember that fateful flight on Sept. 11, 2001, the forty courageous people prevented al-Qaeda terrorists from crashing a United Airlines jet into the nation's capitol.

The memorial is a work in progress but already reaches into the hearts and souls of those who stop and pay their respects. It is quiet and solemn, a place for contemplation and reflection about that infamous day in American history.

Along the walkway to the Wall of Names are benches to view the field where the jet fell from the sky. There are places where visitors have left small flags, trinkets, coins and other small items to show their gratitude.

The Wall of Names includes the names of the flight crew and passengers. And from that point is a gate that leads to the final resting place for these courageous victims that only family members can visit.

As part of the ongoing work, more than 13,000 trees are being planted on 40 groves to honor the fallen heroes. A visitor and learning center is part of the second phase that is expected to be completed in two years. The final phase will include a Tower of Voices with 40 wind chimes.

For those interested in donating to the project, visit the Flight 93 National Memorial website.
Until the next time…

Behind the Scene

Self-publishing puts an author in the driver's seat. But that doesn't mean he/she is carrying the whole load.
Sure, the writer produces the words that make the book, but you have to consider some other parts such as who turns the manuscript into a book? Who delivers it to stores and/or websites? And who provides royalty payments?
While those folks are often unseen and unheard, they work behind the scenes to keep the proverbial ball rolling for the author.
As those who follow my blog already know, I self-published for the first time when "Laments" was released in August. I hired an editor, cover design, and formatter to get the manuscript in shape and ready for the market.  I probably could have done those things myself, and many authors do, but I wanted input from others, much like I get through a traditional publisher.
I've done some marketing and promotion for the book -- much like I've done for previous books -- but I still rely on companies such as CreateSpace, Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble to serve it up to the public and provide me with royalties through their accounting departments.
I hope you can see, that while I've self-published, it's taken the assistance and support of others to make it all happen. 
Until the next time…

Story Songs: Fast Car

Singer-songwriter and social activist Tracy Chapman sang about the seemingly endless cycle of poverty as it relates to a young woman in "Fast Car."
The song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988. A year  later she received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

The song begins with the woman wanting to flee her sad surroundings and start a new life with her lover: 

"Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove"
We learn that the girl's mother left the family because of her alcoholic father but that she decided to drop out of school and take care of him. She expresses hopes and dreams of finding a new life:

"City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone"
But that doesn't happen as she finds work at a grocery store, he doesn't have a job, and they end up living in a shelter. And then we discover that she's back in the situation her mother experienced with her dad:

"You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I'd always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere"
And in the end she says:

"You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way"
The song is so powerful because Chapman focused on one person and the struggles she faced to escape poverty. And true to reality, it is extremely difficult to break that cycle.
Chapman followed "Fast Car" with other noteworthy songs such as "Talkin 'bout a Revolution," "Baby Can I Hold You," and "Give Me One Reason."

"Fast Car" lyrics