Caroline Gerardo's Blog, page 51
May 2, 2011
#ROW80 Happy Dance Long Winded
I am driven. I never sleep. I wrote 16911 good words this week. I have my first draft done. Allow me to relish in printing a copy. There is the sound of crumpling as I put it in a nice brown paper wrapped box, and slam it on my dining room table. Feel the earthquake from California just now, it is a whopping fat sound.
Now for what I hate, giving some copies out, reading it in paper with a red pen, and laboring over each word. It is not like blogging where I type rip roaring fast and let it fly. BUT, However, and with cheer I say: I have an editor this time. I am a little afraid of him. He is British. He is handsome in a distracting way. God please, I think he is straight.
I also worked on a poem: Preponderance of Crows.
I had two flash fiction pieces in magazines this month of May.
Go look at Granny Magic on Sleet Magazine and Love Sonnet Gone Wrong - an answer to Negativesucks Magazine's word prompts.
Links:
http://negativesuck.moonfruit.com/#/wordprompt-6/4551014523
http://www.sleetmagazine.com/selected/Gerardo_v3n1.html
My other goals and duties:
Two interview requests.
I tweet 15 minutes a day. I enjoy reading the blogs and links. Is there a method to read while sleeping? @cgbarbeau myself the Blondie who is similar to Chatty Cathy (I bobbed the doll's hair, and other unpleasantness)
A trip next week up to Los Angeles for a radio interview.
I went to USC Saturday. I had a grand time at the book fair.
Saw the guys from my old writing group. @Porter_Anderson wrote a GREAT post about women dominating groups, classes and touchy feely sharing stuff.
The sharing does not work with men who are trained in a different sand box. I was in a 90% male writers group. They were sharp on time and disciplined about sharing online but drank in our hour together. I saw one buddy who met us for dinner at Little Next Door ( side commercial, adore their food organic and divine ) to lure me back.
I promise to return soon as this novel is a nice pdf and word doc for the editor hunk.
Putting my children first as my treasures.
My job at the bank has suddenly gotten busy.
I could not get my first chapter uploaded into bookcountry.
I spent thirty minutes re-trying.
I have cover photographs - that are ready, just need
to think about image - font -
In the story, Seth uses and builds slingshots.
The image is stuck in my brain for the cover.
Do I need a handsome young male cover to sell the story? Is it obscene to think of using my son? ( The character is a psycho). My Mother thinks it is funny.
What do you think? Make him blurry?
Say something.
Pets and garden still alive.
Now for what I hate, giving some copies out, reading it in paper with a red pen, and laboring over each word. It is not like blogging where I type rip roaring fast and let it fly. BUT, However, and with cheer I say: I have an editor this time. I am a little afraid of him. He is British. He is handsome in a distracting way. God please, I think he is straight.
I also worked on a poem: Preponderance of Crows.
I had two flash fiction pieces in magazines this month of May.
Go look at Granny Magic on Sleet Magazine and Love Sonnet Gone Wrong - an answer to Negativesucks Magazine's word prompts.
Links:
http://negativesuck.moonfruit.com/#/wordprompt-6/4551014523
http://www.sleetmagazine.com/selected/Gerardo_v3n1.html
My other goals and duties:
Two interview requests.
I tweet 15 minutes a day. I enjoy reading the blogs and links. Is there a method to read while sleeping? @cgbarbeau myself the Blondie who is similar to Chatty Cathy (I bobbed the doll's hair, and other unpleasantness)
A trip next week up to Los Angeles for a radio interview.
I went to USC Saturday. I had a grand time at the book fair.
Saw the guys from my old writing group. @Porter_Anderson wrote a GREAT post about women dominating groups, classes and touchy feely sharing stuff.
The sharing does not work with men who are trained in a different sand box. I was in a 90% male writers group. They were sharp on time and disciplined about sharing online but drank in our hour together. I saw one buddy who met us for dinner at Little Next Door ( side commercial, adore their food organic and divine ) to lure me back.
I promise to return soon as this novel is a nice pdf and word doc for the editor hunk.
Putting my children first as my treasures.
My job at the bank has suddenly gotten busy.
I could not get my first chapter uploaded into bookcountry.
I spent thirty minutes re-trying.
I have cover photographs - that are ready, just need
to think about image - font -
In the story, Seth uses and builds slingshots.The image is stuck in my brain for the cover.
Do I need a handsome young male cover to sell the story? Is it obscene to think of using my son? ( The character is a psycho). My Mother thinks it is funny.
What do you think? Make him blurry?
Say something.
Pets and garden still alive.
May 1, 2011
Caroline Gerardo NegativeSuck Magazine May 2011
http://negativesuck.moonfruit.com/#/wordprompt-6/4551014523
Love Sonnet Gone WrongLizzy your letters do not reveal about being homeless, living in a Chrysler station wagon with no seat belts.
I too deserve a Moorish Portuguese castle.
Was time different then, moments between a woman and a man were something other worldly?
Naked I wait as a noblewoman in an Etruscan painting,
laying upon Carrera marble in Bal a Versailles and gauze.
A mind wanders back to that city of stone.
In the days after the floods, as young lovers we waded in the muddy waters taking the ancient furniture of strangers to the third floor.
He told me, "Strip down your clothes."
Then he kissed me softy.
I did not care about the douse in cholera water. We survived.
With only scurf upon your skin for protection, let the artist heat the wax of encaustic and smooth it over me, for it will open my tristful pours.
I memorized a Rumi poem for him.
"I impetrate you to hear the ruby speak in his native tongue." He kept his head down looking at his fingers on the Xbox controller for Black Ops.
"Fire up ovens of boiling sweat burning desire and cool slowly the pigments added." He did not divagate.
"Use minerals from Madagascar and places you know nothing of." Still he has no answer.
"Break into someone's house when they are away on vacation. Pretend the children belong to you. Tell them many lies about the future." That one got his attention.
"Shut up I am playing."
Becoming his Telni in Devdasi tradition, ask for more every day.
Then one day he is done with you. He might call you on his cell phone to say, "I don't want you anymore."
Do not call to Saint Sebastian to stop the bleeding to shore up the holes in your heart.
He fails to listen carefully.
Send a chorus of attorneys.
They know nothing of sonnets only billable hours.
The finest doctor thinks you loony.
They blame it on lead, radiation and chemo therapy from cadmium.
Drinking mithridate from a Riedel decanter will not tear out the poison heart of diamond.
Only it will grow harder.
Love Sonnet Gone WrongLizzy your letters do not reveal about being homeless, living in a Chrysler station wagon with no seat belts.
I too deserve a Moorish Portuguese castle.
Was time different then, moments between a woman and a man were something other worldly?
Naked I wait as a noblewoman in an Etruscan painting,
laying upon Carrera marble in Bal a Versailles and gauze.
A mind wanders back to that city of stone.
In the days after the floods, as young lovers we waded in the muddy waters taking the ancient furniture of strangers to the third floor.
He told me, "Strip down your clothes."
Then he kissed me softy.
I did not care about the douse in cholera water. We survived.
With only scurf upon your skin for protection, let the artist heat the wax of encaustic and smooth it over me, for it will open my tristful pours.
I memorized a Rumi poem for him.
"I impetrate you to hear the ruby speak in his native tongue." He kept his head down looking at his fingers on the Xbox controller for Black Ops.
"Fire up ovens of boiling sweat burning desire and cool slowly the pigments added." He did not divagate.
"Use minerals from Madagascar and places you know nothing of." Still he has no answer.
"Break into someone's house when they are away on vacation. Pretend the children belong to you. Tell them many lies about the future." That one got his attention.
"Shut up I am playing."
Becoming his Telni in Devdasi tradition, ask for more every day.
Then one day he is done with you. He might call you on his cell phone to say, "I don't want you anymore."
Do not call to Saint Sebastian to stop the bleeding to shore up the holes in your heart.
He fails to listen carefully.
Send a chorus of attorneys.
They know nothing of sonnets only billable hours.
The finest doctor thinks you loony.
They blame it on lead, radiation and chemo therapy from cadmium.
Drinking mithridate from a Riedel decanter will not tear out the poison heart of diamond.
Only it will grow harder.
April 30, 2011
Derek Haines Vandalism of Words
My Friday night read, Derek Haines Vandalism of Words.
The writing is witty, poetic and true.
Derek says, "When asked to describe my writing style, I would think carefully, wait a few seconds, and then answer, I have no idea!"
I recommend this book.
I'm not a whiskey drinker on ice, but his bittersweet view might need a belt when you are done.
The writing is witty, poetic and true.
Derek says, "When asked to describe my writing style, I would think carefully, wait a few seconds, and then answer, I have no idea!"
I recommend this book.
I'm not a whiskey drinker on ice, but his bittersweet view might need a belt when you are done.
April 29, 2011
My Shadow and the Snake
Exerpt from "LUCKY" my next novel. The first draft is ninety nine percent complete. Tomorrow I will post a little more.Amy got into her car butt first after the amniocenteses.
"The baby is fifty-three weeks. I know you do not want to know the sex, so I will find screen shots on the ultrasound that do not show the genitalia."
"Thank you."
"Your weight gain is a little below target. At your advanced age, well excuse me, I meant to say this as a complement. You are taking excellent care of yourself."
"I'm walking and swimming a little."
"Just take it easy. Your blood pressure is high."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know what miracle you imagine Amy."
"I pray I have made the right choice." She moves her hair behind her ears. She unties the gown and puts her jeans with the stretch waist back on.
"Have you told the father we matched the hair follicle with the last amnio?"
"I told months ago, he claims it is impossible because of his vasectomy. He abandoned us."
"Just making sure you have someone to see you through this."
"My Mother is going to be there for the delivery."
"That is good. Keep taking your vitamins.We will see you next week."
Amy smiled at the receptionist. The woman has the telephone hand set in between her shoulder and her ear. She looks up and nods in thank you for the muffin from Starbucks. The linoleum squares in the office neatly lead past the magazines in the lobby. Amy opens the door and holds it gently. This keeps the door from slamming to disturb the other patients who wait to have their urine sample, weigh in and routine checks.
She starts the car. The seatbelt is rough over her stomach. She thinks of events of the past weeks. She has not heard from him for three weeks. The last time was his disguised aggressive justification email. He is too busy to think. He chatted about how at this point in his life he appreciates what is beautiful in his daily new life: a new girlfriend, his glorious appointment and the press. He does not understand the ramifications of his actions, and does not care. Closed in an eggshell, the cover is made of plexi-glass, mostly the world is inside his head.
"It is best for both of us if you don't contact me." Seth never responds well to emotion.
She stops at the light. The car in front of her is a Maserati in a big hurry to jump the crosswalk. It lurches ahead and then back. She does not understand why.
When the light turns green, she pulls forward to see the snake. She gets out of her vehicle. She remembers there is a baseball bat in the trunk. With the bat in her hand she examines the serpent. It is a gopher snake. It will never again meander in the mustard weeds. She moves it to the curbside with the bat.
Another car sounds it's horn. An older man rolls down the window.
"Did you club it with the bat?"
"No. Roadkill."
She starts to tear up.
April 27, 2011
ROW80 Writing On Target
Winter Meadow so I won't get spring fever...
Copyright Caroline Gerardo 2011Happy with myself. Although I want to get the tomatoes in the ground, I achieved my writing goals. I have days to finish Lucky. Played with the Penguin site Bookcountry, that took much longer than I expected. I read about twenty different authors. I will go back and review all. I could not figure out how to drop down and finish to send. I did finally get the hang of it. When I have my first draft done, and pdf. sent to editor, I will upload some chapters.
The novel has violence. I wonder how that will be read.
I highly recommend the Bookcountry website for authors, publishing executives and readers. I predict it will be HUGE. I also expect there to be drama on the website as authors vie for attention. There's a good thriller in that story in and of itself. The soft wear is a little cumbersome but go try it out.
Goal unchanged. Going to finish this week. Will continue to run plugs for other authors. Have a flash story in my head about a snake.
Carson has a game tonight. Honey our golden retriever is in the pool right now. It is eighty degrees. I am not succumbing to spring fever.
Copyright Caroline Gerardo 2011Happy with myself. Although I want to get the tomatoes in the ground, I achieved my writing goals. I have days to finish Lucky. Played with the Penguin site Bookcountry, that took much longer than I expected. I read about twenty different authors. I will go back and review all. I could not figure out how to drop down and finish to send. I did finally get the hang of it. When I have my first draft done, and pdf. sent to editor, I will upload some chapters.The novel has violence. I wonder how that will be read.
I highly recommend the Bookcountry website for authors, publishing executives and readers. I predict it will be HUGE. I also expect there to be drama on the website as authors vie for attention. There's a good thriller in that story in and of itself. The soft wear is a little cumbersome but go try it out.
Goal unchanged. Going to finish this week. Will continue to run plugs for other authors. Have a flash story in my head about a snake.
Carson has a game tonight. Honey our golden retriever is in the pool right now. It is eighty degrees. I am not succumbing to spring fever.
April 26, 2011
Buy Norb Vonnegut's New Book
I just ordered Norb Vonnegut's The Gods of Greenwich. Published by Minotaur. It is described as a financial thriller.
This is Norb's second novel.
Norb "found" me on twitter.
I am having fun with my fifteen minutes a day on twitter, met some great authors. I pray no one takes offense to my Lucy like sense of humor. I was limiting tweets to six words, but letting that loose when I become chatty.
Buy Norb's books they have received great reviews.
Financial Thriller, I like his coin of the genre.
This is Norb's second novel.
Norb "found" me on twitter.
I am having fun with my fifteen minutes a day on twitter, met some great authors. I pray no one takes offense to my Lucy like sense of humor. I was limiting tweets to six words, but letting that loose when I become chatty.
Buy Norb's books they have received great reviews.
Financial Thriller, I like his coin of the genre.
April 24, 2011
Ghazal for Rumi
"Ray Incantation"Caroline Gerardo Copyright April 22, 2011GHAZAL for Rumi Love Poems On RainPhotograph underwater, a Bay of Biscayne.
Your email was intended to cause me pain.
Pretend your label, University at Duquesne.
Millions of "I" words your important domain.
An assault upon my weak cheek, a coup de main.
Salt water flows equaling my poor cystic veins.
Tell girlies your fabrications until you wane.
Memories of you, the great pharoah, I retain.
Come clean without fear of the rain.
Despite the horror, I ask, maintain.
Caroline Gerardo Author: ROW80
Caroline Gerardo copyright April 24 2011Caroline Gerardo Author: ROW80: I am over my target. I feel happy to report 9230 words this week. Good words. The novel is 93% of my first draft. Working title - LUCKY. Seth is a psycho who stalks a girl, kills another by accident, promotes bum fights for money, lies, takes drugs to dull the pain and becomes a huge success.
The word count is 146223 and needs cutting. I hate editing.
4 plugs for indie authors
1 poem
I finished short flash piece, not certain on title.
The story is about a song writer recluse.
I need to add images.
I exercised every day.
Job was busy and happy got some deals.
All pets and children still alive and kicking.
I am not making big Easter dinner fuss- #writing.
Didn't complete reading books, they are calling but saving as
reading is not on my list for this coming week either.
Goal:
4000 on the novel Lucky
3 plugs for indie authors
Finish flash piece with an image and post.
Exercise 5 days.
Get deals at work closed for a paycheck.
Need to follow back with four magazines that requested the book last week.
Pray, meditate and smile every day.
New writing group Thursday night.
Sunday Photography Interview Greg Laychak Poetry Challenge
Before the revolution, she was a Hungarian film star. Joan travelled to Hollywood thinking her career might take off. Instead, she opened a dance studio in Herkimer, married and had no children. She once climbed Mount Marcy. Her guild pension covers the expenses of Adirondac Assisted Living Board and Care. With her new hip, she foxtrots every morning.
Sunday Photography Interview: Greg Laychak & Poetry Challenge link here:
http://onestoppoetry.com/2011/04/sunday-photography-interview-greg-laychak-poetry-challenge.html#comment-10355copyright Caroline Gerardo
Sunday Photography Interview: Greg Laychak & Poetry Challenge link here:
http://onestoppoetry.com/2011/04/sunday-photography-interview-greg-laychak-poetry-challenge.html#comment-10355copyright Caroline Gerardo
April 22, 2011
Swan
I just received Swan in hardcover. I am excited to read Mary Oliver's landscapes, emotions, and poetry.
