Mindy Hardwick's Blog, page 38

Writing an Obituary

My Dad passed away last week. On Saturday, my Aunt called to ask if I would write the obituary. “I just can’t,” she said through tears. I agreed to do it.

My Dad was a journalist and a writer.  As a child, I went with him on a couple photo shoots and article assignments to various farms in Central Illinois. When I learned to drive, I loved going over to his office where he was a self-employed freelance writer and called himself, “The Wordsmith.” I think my Dad was happiest in those years he worked for himself. Years later, when I started my own writing business, I understood that happiness of being able to have a little more control over your work.

So, when I sat down to write his obituary, I immediately felt Dad at my shoulder. He had his regular glass of Scotch over ice, and I could hear him saying, “We’re going to have to cut the words here. Let’s get this right.”

And I had to push him away. “I got it!” I heard myself saying to my ghost Dad. “I can do it!”

Both my parents were journalists, and I spent an awful lot of time arguing with Mom over how high school papers should be written and edited.  I don’t remember having the same discussions with Dad, but apparently in the spirit world, he has gotten a little more vocal about how I should write things–especially his obituary.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about writing his obituary. But, once I started, I realized I was writing a character sketch, and those I am very good at writing. I called my Aunt for his early life details. I called my Mom for his working career details. Mom and I Googled the names of things such as the Hearst Scholarship and the name of the newspaper in Campaign-Urbana in the 1970′s.

But, when I sent the obituary to the funeral home, and my Aunt called me. “It’s going to be $650.”

I gasped. “Send it back to me,” I said. “I’ll edit it!”

I put my editors hat on and it was no different than any article or short story I’ve written that has to be edited to a word count. I tightened. I edited. I deleted. But I kept the essence the same. My Dad was a character and I wanted that character to shine through.

I emailed my brother and sister. “Obituaries seem to cost a lot these days.”

“We can help,” They both said.

And so I sent the obituary back to the funeral home, edited, but still with the same essence.

And although I don’t drink Scotch on ice, I raised my coffee to Dad and said, “I think we did it.”

I heard Dad say, “I knew you could.”

 

Charles (Chuck) T. Hardwick Jr. died on May 30, 2013. Chuck was born April 21, 1943 in Washington, D.C.  Chuck’s father was career Navy and Chuck lived in Gitmo Bay, Cuba, Yokosuka, Japan and Naples, Italy.  Chuck’s favorite childhood accomplishment was climbing Mt. Fuji and graduated from Fort Sherman High School in Naples, Italy.

Chuck graduated from the University of Missouri, School of Journalism on a Hearst Scholarship.  He served four years in the Air Force at Scott Air Force Base at Bellevue, Illinois and Westover at Chicopee, Massachusetts. Chuck worked as a reporter for the Wichita Eagle and Beacon Newspaper and the Courier in Champagne-Urbana where he specialized in covering the Chicago Board of Trade. He worked for the communications department for the University of Illinois, Department of Agriculture as well as in public relations at The Soybean Association in Creve Coeur, Missouri, and Ralston Purina in St Louis. Chuck loved his freelance writing business, The Word Smith, in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Chuck was a resident of Kirkwood for fifteen-years and a room mother at Keysor Elementary School for his youngest daughter. Often calling himself, Mr. Mom, Chuck could be found smoking his pipe and walking the family dog, Smudge, around Kirkwood high school.  Chuck loved to play board games with his children, pop black popcorn and watch mid-west summer storms roll in.

Chuck worked for nine years as a family court mediator at the Community Mediation Center in Norfolk. He enjoyed writing his memoirs and taking classes at the Muse Writers Center. Chuck always had a new kitchen gadget and enjoyed cooking in his various croc. pots.  His humor and resilient spirit will be missed by his family and friends.

Chuck is survived by his mother, Mildred May Barton of Norfolk, Virginia, his sister, Shannon E. Hardwick of Chesapeake, Virginia, his brother, James Hardwick of Virginia Beach, Virginia and three children: Melinda Hardwick, Thomas Hardwick, and Rebecca Hardwick. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Muse Writers Center, Norfolk, Virginia.

Hot Summer Night Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to Susan Frances who is the winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card on my blog for the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop!

The grand prize winners have been notified and will be announced soon!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by on the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop! See you in July for the Christmas in July Blog Hop. Sign ups are here.

Also, Books To Go Now is open and seeking Holiday Story Submissions. Find out all the details here.

 

Young Writer Submission Opportunity

Summer is here! If you’re a teen or young writer who is looking for a place to submit your creative writing, check out Amazing Kid On-Line Magazine.

Amazing Kid is looking for submissions from young writers ages 5-18:

Fiction Stories – (up to 2,000 words)
Non-Fiction articles:Cook Nook
– We accept kid-friendly, easy to follow and make recipes and we especially love to feature healthy recipes! You may also include a photograph of the completed recipe.

SciTech Kids

– Got science or technology? Are you the next Bill Gates, Sally Ride, or Madam Curie? Send us your science, engineering, or tech related articles! Are you an “early adopter” of new technology, way before most people know about it? We’d love you to write about it for our column or help us do tech product reviews!

Amazing Kids! Adventures

– Do you love traveling to new places, or doing fun, exciting activities (like visiting a theme park or a new museum, attending the premiere of a new kids’ movie, or kayaking down a river)? We’d love to hear about your experiences on your adventure! Kid-friendly photographs or short video clips (3 minutes or less) of your adventure are welcomed!

Global Village

– Help Amazing Kids! create cultural awareness and understanding among kids of the world by writing about the culture of your country, or of a country where you’ve visited. What are some of the traditions, such as holiday celebrations, music, dance, language, that are practiced in the country? Kid-friendly photographs or short video clips (3 minutes or less) are welcomed!

Find out all the submission information here.

Good luck!

 

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop Winner

Congratulations to PAM who won a signed, print  copy of my YA, WEAVING MAGIC in the Love In Bloom Giveaway Hop. Thanks to everyone for participating in the  Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop!

Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop

Summer is just around the corner….can you feel it? Okay, maybe not quite in the Pacific Northwest where summer doesn’t seem to really show up until after July 4th. But, summer is coming and to celebrate summer, I am participating in the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop!

Do you have a favorite summer memory? One of my favorite summer memories is dating a guy who I met on my parent’s sailboat during college. My boyfriend took me to see an old, and abandoned hotel on the shores of Lake Ontario called The Elmheart Hotel. I fell in love with that hotel and the old ballroom. I envisioned a restored hotel with dances, music, and wonderful food. However, before I finished college, the old hotel burned. (You can read more about the Elmheart Hotel here) 

But, this past Valentine’s Day, I was able to bring that hotel back to life in a sweet, contemporary short romance, VINTAGE VALENTINE.

Story Blurb: On Valentine’s Day, Hailey returns home to the Elmheart Hotel with her ten-year-old daughter. After years away, Hailey is happy to help celebrate her grandparent’s golden wedding anniversary. But, when Hailey finds former, high school boyfriend, Patrick, working as the hotel’s chef, she will have to find a way to tell Patrick the secret she has kept for ten years in this sweet contemporary romance short story.

You can find VINTAGE VALENTINE at Amazon here.

And…..I also brought back those days of sailing and romance back to life in my sweet, contemporary, sailor series. You can find more information about the Sailor Series at my website here.

Story Blurb: Smart and savvy Sabrina runs a small bed and breakfast in Western New York, and is doing everything she can to risk falling in love again. Meanwhile, sexy and successful Damon has the world at his doorstep–except for the one woman he’s never forgotten, Sabrina, his first love. When the town hosts a Sailing Regatta, Damon shows up at Sabrina’s Bed and Breakfast as one of the crew in the race. But, surrendering to love is not easy, and it will take a storm to show both Sabrina and Damon that some things are worth holding onto. Love’s Storms is the first short story in the sweet, contemporary sailor series.

Story Blurb: Cassie Richardson enjoys serving as President of the Sailing Club Foundation Board and overseeing the smooth running of operations. But, when former boyfriend, Eric Atkins, steps in to fill the role of Board Treasurer, things begin spiraling out of control. Soon, Cassie and Eric are tossed together in an auction and find themselves bidding on love. But will a bidding war be enough to overcome the past? Love’s Bid is the second short story in the Sailor Romance series. Love’s Bid is the second short story in the sweet, contemporary Sailor Series.

Story Blurb: Skipper Bill and Elizabeth have been friends forever. But, when Elizabeth is offered a job interview across the country, these two friends are going to need the help of a little mistletoe to find their holiday romance. Can mistletoe turn friendship to Christmas romance in this short holiday romance? Love’s Christmas Gift is the third story in the sweet, contemporary sailor series.

You can find all the Sailor Series Stories here.

Now, for the Hot Summer Nights Blog Hop!

I’d love to hear your summer memories! Leave me a comment with your email address and be entered a chance to win my blog’s prize in the hop which is a $10 Amazon Gift Card! (US or INT). No more than one comment per person.

Then, leave a comment on EACH blog in the hop (you can find the whole list here). Each comment gives you the opportunity to win ONE of the Grand Prizes:

Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire

2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon Gift Card

Winners of the Grand Prize will be drawn from all the names of people commenting in the hop and will be drawn at random and notified no later than May 31, 2013.

Children’s Book Week Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to Michelle Koerner who won the  Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop at this blog for one, signed PRINT limited edition of STAINED GLASS SUMMER. I hope your daughters enjoy the story!

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop

I am participating in Love In Bloom Giveaway Hop sponsored by Portrait of a Book and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  This blog hop is about the lighthearted/contemporary young adult romance and sweet, clean adult romance.

I write both young adult romance and sweet, contemporary adult romance. My sweet, contemporary adult romance novellas include LOVE’s CHRISTMAS GIFT:

STORY BLURB: Skipper Bill and Elizabeth have been friends forever. But, when Elizabeth is offered a job interview across the country, these two friends are going to need the help of a little mistletoe to find their holiday romance. Can mistletoe turn friendship to Christmas romance in this short holiday romance?

LOVE’s CHRISTMAS GIFT is available here.

And VINTAGE VALENTINE

STORY BLURB: Hailey has returned home to the Elmheart Hotel with her ten-year-old daughter. After years away, Hailey is happy to be back and celebrating her grandparent’s golden wedding anniversary. But, when Hailey finds former, high school boyfriend, Patrick, working as the hotel’s chef, she will have to find a way to tell Patrick the secret she has kept for ten years.

VINTAGE VALENTINE is available as an ebook novella here.

Now..the GIVEAWAY for  Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop, I’m giving away one, signed, print copy of my young adult romance, WEAVING MAGIC.

STORY BLURB: He loves magic. She loves romance. But the biggest illusion is the one Shantel and Christopher perform together.  Sixteen- year- old Christopher fights to stay sober while fifteen-year-old Shantel struggles in the aftermath of her mother’s death and seeks refuge in a fantasy world. But the unacknowledged roots of their problems refuse to stay buried and soon, the two are headed toward a deadly magic trick. Can Shantel and Christopher move beyond magical illusions to find love?

To be entered to win a signed, print copy of WEAVING MAGIC, leave me a comment with your email address below. US addresses only. One comment per person please.

Good luck!

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop

I’m very happy to participate in the Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop sponsored by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy & Mymcbooks.

What is Children’s Book Week?

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

To celebrate Children’s Book Week and participate in the Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop, I’m giving away one, limited edition, print, signed copy of STAINED GLASS SUMMER! (US entries only). All you have to do is leave me a comment with your email address. One comment per entrant please.

Story Blurb: Twelve-year-old Jasmine adores her photographer Father and wants to be an artist just like him. But when Dad abandons the family, Jasmine is sent to spend the summer with her Uncle on a Pacific Northwest Island. Soon, Jasmine is learning stained glass from island glass artist, Opal, and thinking she might just be developing a crush on Island boy, Cole. But, it’s not until Jasmine finds herself mentoring another young artist that she can truly let go of her Father and call herself an artist by her own terms.

You can find a free study guide for STAINED GLASS SUMMER on my website here.

Also, on my website is a FREE PDF companion short story, ELF SHOES. You can download ELF SHOES here.

STORY BLURB: Fourteen-year-old Alexa loves to volunteer as an elf at the Island Santa Workshop but this year her costume elf shoes feel a little too tight. When childhood playmate, sixteen-year-old Samson, turns up to play Santa, Alexa finds herself trying to convince Samson to see her as more than just one of the “boys.” Can first love be found this holiday season at Santa’s Workshop? ELF SHOES is a companion short story to STAINED GLASS SUMMER. Alexa is Jasmine’s friend in STAINED GLASS SUMMER.

Creative Projects

Last weekend, I popped over to the estate sale which I blogged about here.

It was amazing. The woman had been a dressmaker and she had an entire building filled with boxes of old scrap fabric material. Good scrap material. I walked away with a large box of scrap fabrics, thread in many colors, and a lot of muslin.

But what to do with that scrap material?

Lucky for me, at about the same time, I signed up to take one of Mixed Media Artist, Carla Sonheim’s, class, A Journal and A Purse. (I interviewed Carla on this blog here, and blogged about her book, The Art of Silly, here)

Carla’s class was all about making a journal and a purse from scrap pieces of fabric–right up my alley with all of my estate sale treasures.

I’ve posted my journal and purse made from that wonderful box of scrap material below! I have a lot more scrap material, so I might be making a few more of these and giving them away as blog prizes in blog hops!

Also, if you are a sewer, check out this fabulous project, Dress A Girl Around the World. A group of students at Cascade High School in Everett are participating and the Everett Herald wrote a great article about the project here.

But you don’t have to be in high school to participate! And the patterns are simple and posted on the Dress A Girl Around the World website here. So, if you have some old pillow cases lying around and a sewing machine…get busy! I know the next estate sale I visit, I will be looking for pillow cases!

Markets Seeking Children’s and YA Submissions

Happy Friday! A couple markets seeking children’s and YA submissions:

Owl Kid Books

Owlkids Books is currently looking for graphic novels, activity, non-fiction, and picture book manuscripts. For submissions of works longer than just a few pages, please only send a query letter and a few sample pages, not the entire work. Please describe your writing background and credentials in an accompanying cover letter. We are unable to comment editorially on the manuscript unless we are considering it for publication.

Submissions must be mailed. Owl Kid Books is a Canadian publisher and SASE’s to the States should include International Postage Coupons.

Submission details can be found here.

Blink Young Adult

A new imprint of young adult books from Zondervan. The imprint will target the general trade market for ages 12-25 and includes many genres (contemporary, paranormal, romance, mystery, fantasy). The Blink books are “hopeful, ethical, and convey real life issues, not dark.” Authors can upload at the online community of Harper Colllins, Authonomy.com