Beth Camp's Blog, page 6

Remembering Cormack McCarthy

 I have never read one of Cormack McCarthy's books. Widely recognized as a powerful writer of dystopian fiction, I always put reading even one of his books off. OK, so he wrote deep stuff, and I respected his thoughtful efforts. I loved the movie adapted from his novel, No Country for Old Men. But, the shoe didn't seem to fit. Until this morning. David Brewer, of Writer's Digest fame, sent out a

IWSG June: Replace Writing????

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. For more about IWSG, see below!This month, the optional question is: If you ever did stop writing, what would youreplace it with? I can't imagine not writing. The seemingly simple challenge of writing is such a part of me, whether with keyboard or pen, or a mix of drawing and writing. On one level, writing is a

May is already nearly over?

Just about one more week, and we'll be looking back at May, wondering why the days passed by so fast. The daffodils here have already given way to those gorgeous purple irises. Yellow-headed blackbirds are still chasing those red-headed blackbirds around in our nearby ponds. And, we can go for a walk without bundling up in warm jackets.Any lessons learned from this month? My personal goals are

For your reading pleasure!

 If you love e-books, you can download Standing Stones from Amazon through this weekend. Yes, I want my Kindle copy! Click here.

Tales of Travel . . . to Egypt

Nearly twenty years ago, we travelled to Egypt. As independent travellers, we spent a month wandering the streets of Cairo, traveling up the Nile, and exploring the pyramids at Giza and Saqqara. Truly, unforgettable. So, when I wanted to write the next story in my art crime series, I thought of Cairo.Today, I have about 40,000 words, with another 25,000 more needed to complete The Lost

IWSG May: Inspiration?

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. For more about IWSG, see below!This month, the optional question is: When you are working on a story, what inspires you?This question is both easy and difficult, for we all have writing projects that stall from time to time.What inspires me generally speaking is unpredictable. I may be reading an article in

NaPoWriMo April 30: What does thirty days . . .

What does thirty daysof writing poetry mean?Of looking withinand without? Or remembering,reconnecting, dreamingwords, images, all tiedto that one constant: a senseof the voice within, a beating heart,a person alive to this moment.Like a painter just before the brushmakes a mark on the canvas,one word at a timebuilds a new understanding.And next? Now to read them alland wonder anew.Image by Roland

NaPoWriMo April 29: Old Books . . .

Old books, I have a few of these,collected over the years, one a history of an ancestor who settled New Yorkin 1643, then called New Sweden, another a faded booklet by Adrienne Rich, The Dream of a Common Language, Poems 1974-1977,a set of postcards of Frida Khalo's paintings, andher memoir: My Art, My Life;even a child's story, Little Sister Snow,written in 1909, a rare gift from my mother,back

NaPoWriMoApril 28: Look to the Sky . . .

Look to the sky in the morning.My grandfather's people did,for the day began with dawn,when they put on those worn boots,went out to the barn to feed the horsesand the dogs. Women made bread,took care of the chickens, cookedand cleaned, fed the work crew, stretching the food, turning the pot away from hungry eyesso no one could see how muchor little remained. Then to the fieldsand later, on

NaPoWriMo April 27: While the cat's away . . .

While the cat's away, or so they say,I should play, not stay still, lost in thought,but I never knew a cat who cared abouttomorrow, that long to-do list,or what to fix for dinner.My cat had the most amazing personality,he would climb up on my deskas if it were his second home,nuzzling me away from student papers,purring for attention. I guess that's a kindof play, just petting the cat, enjoying