Paddy Eger's Blog - Posts Tagged "84-ribbons"
Blizzard of 1950
Marta, the main character in my novel 84 Ribbons and I both grew up in Bremerton. This is my story that could have just as well been hers. Enjoy!
On a wintry January day in 1950, the snow became a blizzard. I was in Mrs. Walgren’s third grade class, looking out the window, watching the world outside disappear into the flurry of fast-moving snow. Recess was cancelled as the temperature dropped to freezing in a matter of minutes. Our parents were called and told we’d not be dismissed until an adult picked us up from the classroom.
Mrs. Walgren passed out extra graham crackers and milk while we waited. Our Rainier Avenue neighbor, Orville Anderson came to walk his son Dennis and me home. He arrived, covered in snow, but his warm smile remained intact as we hurried into our winter coats with mittens-on-a-string, grabbed our hats and boots and headed out the door.
The snow blasted our faces with frozen needles, blowing sideways. The one o’clock afternoon light faded to the duskiness of the hour before dark. We kept our chins tucked into our coat collars, held hands and started home.
The roadway was invisible. When a car passed, its headlights were dim as a fading flashlight. Mr. Anderson guided us home without once sending us into the deep ditches along the way. He didn’t speak; his words would have been lost in the whirling, stinging snow. We held hands and kept moving.
The blizzard became a record-setter. Over twenty inches of snow arrived in one day, shutting down the Puget Sound region for days. The twenty-five to forty mile an hour winds created snowdrifts that froze and lingered for weeks. It was over forty years before another blizzard shut down the region.
Each time a wintry storm arrives, I think back to that blizzard and walking home as though we moved through the flurry of a well-shaken snow globe.
What wintry remembrances pop up when/if you've experienced a snow storm?
Please LIKE and SHARE my story with others and add your own recollections. Many people never experience the icy wonder/excitement/scariness of a freezing day of snowflakes.
On a wintry January day in 1950, the snow became a blizzard. I was in Mrs. Walgren’s third grade class, looking out the window, watching the world outside disappear into the flurry of fast-moving snow. Recess was cancelled as the temperature dropped to freezing in a matter of minutes. Our parents were called and told we’d not be dismissed until an adult picked us up from the classroom.
Mrs. Walgren passed out extra graham crackers and milk while we waited. Our Rainier Avenue neighbor, Orville Anderson came to walk his son Dennis and me home. He arrived, covered in snow, but his warm smile remained intact as we hurried into our winter coats with mittens-on-a-string, grabbed our hats and boots and headed out the door.
The snow blasted our faces with frozen needles, blowing sideways. The one o’clock afternoon light faded to the duskiness of the hour before dark. We kept our chins tucked into our coat collars, held hands and started home.
The roadway was invisible. When a car passed, its headlights were dim as a fading flashlight. Mr. Anderson guided us home without once sending us into the deep ditches along the way. He didn’t speak; his words would have been lost in the whirling, stinging snow. We held hands and kept moving.
The blizzard became a record-setter. Over twenty inches of snow arrived in one day, shutting down the Puget Sound region for days. The twenty-five to forty mile an hour winds created snowdrifts that froze and lingered for weeks. It was over forty years before another blizzard shut down the region.
Each time a wintry storm arrives, I think back to that blizzard and walking home as though we moved through the flurry of a well-shaken snow globe.
What wintry remembrances pop up when/if you've experienced a snow storm?
Please LIKE and SHARE my story with others and add your own recollections. Many people never experience the icy wonder/excitement/scariness of a freezing day of snowflakes.
Marta's Story Continues
Having the story of 84 Ribbons continue, is a mixed blessing. It gives me space to explore Marta's recovery from her ballet injury but it requires me to "grow the story" and not get too carried away.
When I 'met' Marta. she was a tiny whisper, an itch that wouldn't go away until I wrote about her. Of course I edited down her adventures to complete her book one, but I found she had more to say. That's where book two slid into my thinking. I couldn't leave her injured (but no one wants to carry around more than 350 pages!). When the Music Stops-Dance On, provided a way to continue her growing up struggles and give her a chance to dance in a new way. It also gave her time to date different guys, come to a closure with her diet pill problem and reconnect with her mother. It eased my mind since I didn't want readers to feel I hadn't completed my promise.
Next, Lynne stepped in and provided a way to share her dance and romantic adventures while giving me time to discover why Madame Cosper doesn't like Marta. That's remained an unsolved mystery to me. You may laugh, but Madame is not very communicative as a character; she keeps to herself and doesn't share her life even when I try poking my nose into her experiences. If it weren't for Herbert, she'd have stayed a mystery. Now, while writing book three, Letters to Follow, all the loose ends are getting tied up. Marta and Lynne and Steve and Madame will soon move on with their lives without my interruption and intervention.
Questions? Send me any questions about the trilogy, writing with stubborn characters or other questions that pop into your head related to my dancing stories. I'll answer you as directly as possible.
Paddy Eger
When I 'met' Marta. she was a tiny whisper, an itch that wouldn't go away until I wrote about her. Of course I edited down her adventures to complete her book one, but I found she had more to say. That's where book two slid into my thinking. I couldn't leave her injured (but no one wants to carry around more than 350 pages!). When the Music Stops-Dance On, provided a way to continue her growing up struggles and give her a chance to dance in a new way. It also gave her time to date different guys, come to a closure with her diet pill problem and reconnect with her mother. It eased my mind since I didn't want readers to feel I hadn't completed my promise.
Next, Lynne stepped in and provided a way to share her dance and romantic adventures while giving me time to discover why Madame Cosper doesn't like Marta. That's remained an unsolved mystery to me. You may laugh, but Madame is not very communicative as a character; she keeps to herself and doesn't share her life even when I try poking my nose into her experiences. If it weren't for Herbert, she'd have stayed a mystery. Now, while writing book three, Letters to Follow, all the loose ends are getting tied up. Marta and Lynne and Steve and Madame will soon move on with their lives without my interruption and intervention.
Questions? Send me any questions about the trilogy, writing with stubborn characters or other questions that pop into your head related to my dancing stories. I'll answer you as directly as possible.
Paddy Eger
Author Interview by Anna Swenda
Paddy Eger Author Interview
Posted on June 1, 2015 by Anna E
Summer has become synonymous with reading and author interviews it seems. I am so excited to finally be interviewing and including West Coast author Paddy Eger to the group!
PE– Paddy Eger AS– ME
AS- I am so excited to finally be interviewing you! Your book 84 Ribbons was one of my first books to read and review last summer. You set the bar quite high for the rest of my summer reading. I am thrilled to say, you have once again set that bar! You are also now my farthest author interview/guest blogger all of the way out on the West Coast! Thank you for taking the time to chat.
AS– Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have any thing in particular you like to have with you? Tea, specific music, candles, outside etc…
PE– I’m one of those people who sits at a desktop to work. I have my cup of tea nearby and sip it when I’m thinking about little problems or celebrating a well-written paragraph. Usually I prefer a quiet space, except when I’m writing about ballets my dancers are preparing to perform. Then I play the music and often find professional ballet companies YouTube videos to watch. That really inspires me!
AS– You are a Washington native. How do you think the environment influenced your writing?
PE– Since I live in rain country, it’s easy to spend my time writing. I like including weather and our landscape as part of my setting since I love the salt water, the mountains and our forests. For my ballet trilogy, I’ve based in here where I grew up.
In 84 Ribbons, book one of the ballet trilogy, I wanted Marta to step away from her comfort zone so I sent her to Billings, Montana. Of course, I had to explore that area so my geography was accurate. I even stayed on an older B&B to get the feel of living in a boarding house setting. I also drove around town and spotted a large house that could become Marta’s residence. I had fun drawing the floor plans of the various locations Marta visited.
In When the Music Stops, book two in my trilogy, I take Marta and her mom to my favorite ocean beach, Kalaloch. They share an important conversation there and I’m able to introduce readers to that stretch of Washington beach as well.
AS– Writing was not your first career, teaching was! How do you think that has impacted your writing? Was it a difficult transition?
PE– I’ve always loved words: their sounds, the way they feel on my tongue and how writers use those same 26 letters in such creative ways. Among my ‘wordy’ past times are reading, word searches and writing my impressions of the world around me. I was one of those test-takers who loves essays and groaned at being put into selecting True-False boxes.
I taught primary grades most of my career. Reading with kids, playing word games and also reading aloud to the class made me happy. I still work in classrooms helping students with writing so you see, I didn’t completely leave teaching.
AS– You do have educational work published. When did you realize that you might actually have a knack for writing fiction and go for it?
PE– For several years I lead training for classroom volunteers so I needed to create my curriculum. That was my first attempt to write a book. I enjoyed crafting the book so I went on to create accompanying materials. About that same time, I friend of mine, who is a well-known author, invited me to take her writing class. I needed a piece of fiction. Since I’d danced and still had interest in ballet, I decided to write about a young dancer who wanted to become a professional.
My writing was adequate, but I knew little about writing fiction so I slaved through the class. When a book agent met with me, she said she saw potential in my writing. That’s when I felt I might be able to create a short book. I was wrong. Turns out with over three hundred pages in my first book, I wasn’t done with my story. Once I realized I had more to say, I knew the writing bug had bitten me.
AS– What steps did you take to make it happen? Education, workshops, networking etc.
PE– My friend’s workshop got me started writing, but I knew I needed to learn more so I attended a local conference, Write On The Sound, joined a critique group and read articles and books on the craft of writing. I continue working to better my writing by attending classes and have added a second critique group. I write and read blogs and articles, network with writers and follow several writing information sources looking for ways to improve myself. It’s a full-time job!
AS– How much of Marta, Lynne, Bartley and the others, come from your own experiences in the dance world?
PE– I tried to give my female leads my love of classical music and ballet. Since I danced for seventeen years, I know many of the basics of ballet; class warm up sequencing, performance issues and understanding the late 1950s when I also danced. I never had the opportunity to dance professionally, but I knew the types of issues dancers’ faced then (and now) from people I spoke with and biographies I read. Professional dancers assure me I’m correct in addressing the issues I’ve taken on in my ballet stories.
AS– I just finished reading When the Music Stops but also read 84 Ribbons, which I LOVED. I know how hard it is to write a review on a sequel, but how difficult was it writing a sequel?
PE– Writing a sequel was easy since I wasn’t done telling Marta’s story when book one ended. I always knew my story’s arc; I just didn’t know all the details when I started book one. Marta’s story came to me as a title with a rough outline in one day. Characters started popping up (some uninvited) and wanted to be part of my story, so I let them in. I feel they added depth to Marta’s life.
AS– *SPOILER* Marta has a few love interests between the two books. How did you decide whom she ended up with? I really, really, liked Sam. I couldn’t tell you why, but I was disappointed that she doesn’t pick him! haha
PE– I liked Steve. He fell in love with Marta almost from the moment he met her. I know he was a pain at times, but I wanted him to end up with Marta. I liked their opposites: she barely finished high school while he was completing college when they met, he was spontaneous while she was guarded and cautious.
When I started book two, I didn’t know what other guys would step into her life. I had great fun writing Dennis (the jerk!) but knew that was not going to work! Then Sam appeared and I liked him a lot. The more time he appeared, the harder it was to dump him, but I promised Steve he’d prevail.
AS– The next installment follows Lynne across Europe. Have you ever had the chance to travel to some of her stops?
PE– Lynne story is totally based on places I visited on trips to Europe. Actually it was on one trip while I was writing 84 Ribbons that I decided Lynne needed a book and I started writing notes to myself about what I enjoyed in the small villages especially. As Marta’s brash sidekick, I wanted to share here story. She seems so upbeat and together when she’s in books one and two. In Letters to Follow-A Dancer’s Adventure, book three, we’ll open the curtain on her life and also tie up loose ends for Marta.
AS– What is the best advice you have been given as a writer thus far?
PE– Write, write, write. Sit down every day and write. Like all skills, you need to practice, practice, practice. Most of what you write will be questionable; some will be worth keeping. For now, save it all. Tidbits of ideas often lead to inspiration later on.
ALSO: Anna, I want to thank you for interviewing me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my books and main characters. After spending so much time together they feel real to me. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.
Thank you for writing reviews for both 84 Ribbons and When the Music Stops. Hearing what readers think of our stories help us develop our craft.
To learn more about Paddy and her writings, visit her website http://www.paddyeger.com. You can also find her on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
Posted on June 1, 2015 by Anna E
Summer has become synonymous with reading and author interviews it seems. I am so excited to finally be interviewing and including West Coast author Paddy Eger to the group!
PE– Paddy Eger AS– ME
AS- I am so excited to finally be interviewing you! Your book 84 Ribbons was one of my first books to read and review last summer. You set the bar quite high for the rest of my summer reading. I am thrilled to say, you have once again set that bar! You are also now my farthest author interview/guest blogger all of the way out on the West Coast! Thank you for taking the time to chat.
AS– Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have any thing in particular you like to have with you? Tea, specific music, candles, outside etc…
PE– I’m one of those people who sits at a desktop to work. I have my cup of tea nearby and sip it when I’m thinking about little problems or celebrating a well-written paragraph. Usually I prefer a quiet space, except when I’m writing about ballets my dancers are preparing to perform. Then I play the music and often find professional ballet companies YouTube videos to watch. That really inspires me!
AS– You are a Washington native. How do you think the environment influenced your writing?
PE– Since I live in rain country, it’s easy to spend my time writing. I like including weather and our landscape as part of my setting since I love the salt water, the mountains and our forests. For my ballet trilogy, I’ve based in here where I grew up.
In 84 Ribbons, book one of the ballet trilogy, I wanted Marta to step away from her comfort zone so I sent her to Billings, Montana. Of course, I had to explore that area so my geography was accurate. I even stayed on an older B&B to get the feel of living in a boarding house setting. I also drove around town and spotted a large house that could become Marta’s residence. I had fun drawing the floor plans of the various locations Marta visited.
In When the Music Stops, book two in my trilogy, I take Marta and her mom to my favorite ocean beach, Kalaloch. They share an important conversation there and I’m able to introduce readers to that stretch of Washington beach as well.
AS– Writing was not your first career, teaching was! How do you think that has impacted your writing? Was it a difficult transition?
PE– I’ve always loved words: their sounds, the way they feel on my tongue and how writers use those same 26 letters in such creative ways. Among my ‘wordy’ past times are reading, word searches and writing my impressions of the world around me. I was one of those test-takers who loves essays and groaned at being put into selecting True-False boxes.
I taught primary grades most of my career. Reading with kids, playing word games and also reading aloud to the class made me happy. I still work in classrooms helping students with writing so you see, I didn’t completely leave teaching.
AS– You do have educational work published. When did you realize that you might actually have a knack for writing fiction and go for it?
PE– For several years I lead training for classroom volunteers so I needed to create my curriculum. That was my first attempt to write a book. I enjoyed crafting the book so I went on to create accompanying materials. About that same time, I friend of mine, who is a well-known author, invited me to take her writing class. I needed a piece of fiction. Since I’d danced and still had interest in ballet, I decided to write about a young dancer who wanted to become a professional.
My writing was adequate, but I knew little about writing fiction so I slaved through the class. When a book agent met with me, she said she saw potential in my writing. That’s when I felt I might be able to create a short book. I was wrong. Turns out with over three hundred pages in my first book, I wasn’t done with my story. Once I realized I had more to say, I knew the writing bug had bitten me.
AS– What steps did you take to make it happen? Education, workshops, networking etc.
PE– My friend’s workshop got me started writing, but I knew I needed to learn more so I attended a local conference, Write On The Sound, joined a critique group and read articles and books on the craft of writing. I continue working to better my writing by attending classes and have added a second critique group. I write and read blogs and articles, network with writers and follow several writing information sources looking for ways to improve myself. It’s a full-time job!
AS– How much of Marta, Lynne, Bartley and the others, come from your own experiences in the dance world?
PE– I tried to give my female leads my love of classical music and ballet. Since I danced for seventeen years, I know many of the basics of ballet; class warm up sequencing, performance issues and understanding the late 1950s when I also danced. I never had the opportunity to dance professionally, but I knew the types of issues dancers’ faced then (and now) from people I spoke with and biographies I read. Professional dancers assure me I’m correct in addressing the issues I’ve taken on in my ballet stories.
AS– I just finished reading When the Music Stops but also read 84 Ribbons, which I LOVED. I know how hard it is to write a review on a sequel, but how difficult was it writing a sequel?
PE– Writing a sequel was easy since I wasn’t done telling Marta’s story when book one ended. I always knew my story’s arc; I just didn’t know all the details when I started book one. Marta’s story came to me as a title with a rough outline in one day. Characters started popping up (some uninvited) and wanted to be part of my story, so I let them in. I feel they added depth to Marta’s life.
AS– *SPOILER* Marta has a few love interests between the two books. How did you decide whom she ended up with? I really, really, liked Sam. I couldn’t tell you why, but I was disappointed that she doesn’t pick him! haha
PE– I liked Steve. He fell in love with Marta almost from the moment he met her. I know he was a pain at times, but I wanted him to end up with Marta. I liked their opposites: she barely finished high school while he was completing college when they met, he was spontaneous while she was guarded and cautious.
When I started book two, I didn’t know what other guys would step into her life. I had great fun writing Dennis (the jerk!) but knew that was not going to work! Then Sam appeared and I liked him a lot. The more time he appeared, the harder it was to dump him, but I promised Steve he’d prevail.
AS– The next installment follows Lynne across Europe. Have you ever had the chance to travel to some of her stops?
PE– Lynne story is totally based on places I visited on trips to Europe. Actually it was on one trip while I was writing 84 Ribbons that I decided Lynne needed a book and I started writing notes to myself about what I enjoyed in the small villages especially. As Marta’s brash sidekick, I wanted to share here story. She seems so upbeat and together when she’s in books one and two. In Letters to Follow-A Dancer’s Adventure, book three, we’ll open the curtain on her life and also tie up loose ends for Marta.
AS– What is the best advice you have been given as a writer thus far?
PE– Write, write, write. Sit down every day and write. Like all skills, you need to practice, practice, practice. Most of what you write will be questionable; some will be worth keeping. For now, save it all. Tidbits of ideas often lead to inspiration later on.
ALSO: Anna, I want to thank you for interviewing me. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about my books and main characters. After spending so much time together they feel real to me. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.
Thank you for writing reviews for both 84 Ribbons and When the Music Stops. Hearing what readers think of our stories help us develop our craft.
To learn more about Paddy and her writings, visit her website http://www.paddyeger.com. You can also find her on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
