Cathy Perkins's Blog, page 147

Why grown-ups should watch animated movies

I want to see “The Croods.” This new animated movie is at the very top of my movies-to-go-to list. Many of my friends think I’m goofy. My son-in-law would rather scrub his floor with a toothbrush than go to a “cartoon” film, but I don’t care, I get excited whenever a new Disney or Pixar or other animated movie comes out. I think all adults should get excited by them. And here’s why.We grown-ups are losing our sense of wonder. That’s not true for every individual person—we’re writers after all...

A Few Choice Words

I love poetry. I know this is probably hopelessly old fashioned. But I stand in awe of people who can evoke an emotion, tell a story, paint a picture in just a few choice words.

Me — it takes hundreds of pages and, as my editor likes to tell me, I repeat myself.

In my recent writing I’ve been trying to slow down and work on my word choices. But, alas, the deadlines seem to come so fast I don’t have time to find outstanding words. I have to settle for only good ones.

The thing about poetry — and...

New Beginnings

Here in central Louisiana fall blurs into spring with little more than a wink and a nod at winter. So it was no surprise when spring arrived this year early and with a fanfare of color. The Japanese magnolias were in full bloom by mid-January and the azaleas weren’t far behind. My dogwood tree is especially beautiful and my phlox are phloxing all over the place.

The majestic old live oak tree that holds court in my backyard is one of the few remaining mature trees on my street. I treasure its...

Hotter than 50 Shades of Grey

www.mohotta.com

Anyone who loves to ingest esophagus searing hot stuff has to be considered wacky. Who voluntarily puts themselves through tear-inducing misery of first and secondary degree burns to the salivary glands? That would be … me. Many think it as a male ritual thing, like opening beer bottles with our teeth, but you’d be surprised how many women love spice in more than just their romance novels.

Historically, spices were used to disguise the funk of “past-its-prime” foods. Cultures ar...

“You Win or You Die”

If you watch it, you know what GOT is — Game of Thrones. Season THREE!!!!! Yay!

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Here’s a trailer that gives a visual synopsis of the two seasons along with backstory by actors and creators. A perk…my favorite scene from season one is at 16:22.

Readers and writers alike have read, even studied this bestselling epic fantasy series that is sure to be a classic, but the screenwriting and acting have really brought GOT to life on the small screen.

RR Martin’s moral...

Three Authors and an Anthology

Earlier this week I related my experience “writing short” for an anthology. Today I’m excited to share the fruits of that labor with you. I brought along two good friends and anthology co-authors, Jody Vitek and Michele Prince, to tell you about “Love in the Land of Lakes.” This book was the brainchild of several authors from Midwest Fiction Writers–my home RWA chapter, and the largest in Minnesota.

In all, seventeen authors added stories to the anthology, and these little tales run the gamut...

“It Is A Truth Universally Acknowledged…”

A few weeks ago, Julia Quinn posted a quote on Facebook describing Darcy (yes, that Darcy) as having the social skill of an agoraphobic lobster. The quote it turned out was from a YouTube vlog called The Lizzie Bennett Diaries. Being a devout Austenite who reads Pride and Prejudice once a year, watches anything remotely connected with the book or its characters (see Bride and Prejudice, Lost In Austen, Bridget Jones Diary, etc..) and snatches up spin-offs and sequels as soon as they hit books...

Out Of My Comfort Zone

Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I talk and write too much (as in I use many words). It spills over into other areas too: according to my DH–and my family–I hang out too long at parties, I take too long to explain a movie plot, and I stay up too late at night at sleepovers (aka, conferences). So, it will come as a teensy bit of a shock that I agreed to write a story for an anthology that had to come in at 5,000 words.

On Friday, I’ll be introducing BIOTM readers to “Love in the...

Feeding my Creativity

The local music store hosted a Steinway & Sons Living Legends Piano exhibit recently. Included in the exhibit were three concert grand Steinways played by several music legends. I saw the announcement of the exhibit in the newspaper and thought it might be fun to go and see the piano that one of my all-time favorite piano players, Ramsey Lewis, used.

In reading the announcement, I realized I would be across the street from the music store later in the week, so decided I would stop by and view...

Last Chance Book Club

A very long time ago, a group of my girlfriends decided to create a reading group. This was well before Oprah Winfrey make book clubs popular. These women were all professionals. And they liked their literary fiction. And they invited me to join.

They were all more or less astonished when I declined. I love my girlfriends. And I love to read. So why not join a club with them?

Short answer: I bypass literary fiction. I find it terribly depressing. I am completely hooked on happily ever after.

I d...