Stephanie Verni's Blog, page 17

July 10, 2020

The Loss of George

[image error]Dr. George Friedman

*


This week, I learned much too late of the passing of my favorite professor and one of the best people I knew, George Friedman. He passed away in late February.


Every once in a while someone comes along and makes an impression on your life. That person, for me, came in the form of Dr. George Friedman, professor of English at Towson University. George, as I came to call him, was the singular inspiration for my first novel, Beneath the Mimosa Tree, which began as a short story in George’s class—Writing Creative Short Fiction—during my first master’s degree. When he returned a short story I wrote, and verbally told me he “thought I had a novel there”  and that “someday, I hope you write it.” I tucked his comment in the back of my mind for 20 years until I finally wrote the novel.


George had an infectious spirit. He was fun and funny and charming. He called everyone by their last names. “Ms. Parrillo…why did your character go into the bar that day?” He would question what you wrote and ask you why. He had us all read each others’ work and then we professionally and kindly critiqued them. I watched George carefully in action, and decided right there that if I ever became a teacher, I would want to operate in a similar manner as George: patient, kind, engaging, knowledgeable, creative, fun, and respectful. That was George. He may not have known it at the time, but I counted him as a mentor.


As I continue to strive to be the best teacher I can be, I always have George’s methodologies in the back of my mind.


George was also a huge sports fan—and of baseball—and he loved that I worked for the Orioles (and was gainfully employed by them while I was a student in his class), even though he was a Twins fan. He also knew my colleagues, Bill Stetka and Beth Plecker, and we would joke about how all four of us knew each other. When I served as the editor of the Cal Ripken Commemorative during Cal’s 2131 record-breaking season of surpassing Lou Gehrig’s record, George mailed the commemorative I sent him to my office and asked Bill and me to sign it.


I loved George.


In 2013, after years of losing touch because our lives became busy, I was signing books at the Baltimore Book Festival, and a woman saw my biographical sign that sat in front of my station and mentioned that I went to Towson. We struck up a conversation, and she told me that she was a professor there, as well. I asked her if she knew George, as we had lost touch over the years, and she said that she played cards with him once a week. I grabbed a copy of Beneath the Mimosa Tree, a book I dedicated to George, inscribed it to him, and she gave it to him.


A few weeks later, I received this reply from George, and it remains one of the nicest notes I’ve ever been lucky enough to get.


George, I will always remember you fondly, and you will be missed. I will do my best to carry on your infectious spirit as a teacher.


Xx


Stephanie,


I’m sure this wasn’t the right place to put this, but I tried stephanieverni.com and my computer wouldn’t send it to that location.


I wanted to tell you how flattered I was initially, when I read your inscription and acknowledgments.


Then I READ Beneath the Mimosa Tree and realized how little credit I deserved. It’s an AMAZING first novel–the characters are so flesh-and-blood, Michael and Annabelle are so endearing I found myself DELIGHTED at the end–even though I understood perfectly why Annabelle was so reluctant to go through with it ten years before.


I’m very proud of you, undeserving though I may be of your thanks, and I look forward to reading more.


Much love,

George Friedman


***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 10, 2020 08:40

July 8, 2020

The Madness of Writing a Novel (in my own words)

[image error]

✨HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU’RE IN THE ZONE?✨


I’ve hit my stride, finally. As we are approaching mid-July, I’ve made some pretty good progress with reading and writing. I’m about to hit 26,000 words on my work in progress, and my goal this week is to make it to at least 30,000 words. As well, I’ve finished one book about bookstores and I’m on to another. My pile of these books is pretty tall, so I have a lot to work toward. I’m also finishing the last week of the master’s course I’m teaching, so it’s been a little busy.

What do I mean when I ask how it feels to be in the zone? For me, it means that the characters are alive and well inside my head, and for the time being, I can’t shake them. Their stories need to come out on my blank pages. It’s almost as if I can’t type fast enough or hear all five of them at once. It’s kind of a maniacal feeling, a sort of frenzy of words. It must feel the same way for painters or musicians who have something they need to create. It’s tough to focus on anything else, because the characters have become so real to me at this point, that I’m stressing and worried about them. And, I am striving to give them the time they need to let their stories unfold.

The creative process can feel like utter madness. It can feel overwhelming and intricate; calming and explosive; urgent and methodical. Writing characters that have layers takes time to uncover. Ultimately, these characters are people, always loosely based on my experiences, people I know, stories I’ve heard, or the mere rumblings of my imagination.

As Dr. Seuss said, “Oh, the places you will go!” It’s always exciting to see where a work of fiction ends up…and more importantly, how we get there in the process.

Also, I’m loving this book by Veronica Henry so far. Deliciously bookish. 

***

[image error]

Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 08, 2020 07:44

June 29, 2020

A Recent Article in Shore Monthly About My Writing (yippee!)

 




***


I’m not sure why I’m slow in sharing this bit of publicity I received from Shore Monthly. As my two latest novels are set in Oxford, MD (Inn Significant) and St. Michaels, MD (Little Milestones) respectively, Shore Monthly ran an interview about my writing. The best part of the story is, a very talented former student of mine from Stevenson University, Ms. Dabrianna Green, wrote the piece. I was utterly flabbergasted when she told me she wanted to cover my newest novel, and I enjoyed a Saturday morning sitting in her office sharing stories of writing. She, too, is a writer, and is working on her first collection of work.


As Steven Wright used to say, “It’s a small world, but I wouldn’t want to paint it.”


Here is the link to the article in Shore Monthly. And I’m so thankful that Bri wrote the story, and Caroline Phillips took the photographs. Caroline is a photographer on the Eastern Shore, and her work is glorious.


Shore Monthly Article: Read Local, Dream Local: Stephanie Verni

Also included here are the two book trailers for each of the novels set on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Thanks for stopping by!


My goal always when writing novels is to tell you a story that’s relaxing to read that takes you away from today’s stresses and troubles. I also try my very best to give you a story that is relatable and realistic. I always have those two words in my head when I am writing something. These two novels complement each other and are like a series; read Inn Significant first, then move on to Little Milestones, as characters from the first novel roll into the second. I hope you enjoy them if you decide to read these tales of love, loss, understanding, moving on, and the love of family, especially grandmothers.


And, if you’re on Instagram, let’s connect! Happy to follow back and help other authors along the way. We need all the help we can get!


on Instagram at Stephanie.Verni

Finally, for authors out there who are TRYING to get publicity for your books, check out a recent Steph’s Scribe Podcast about HOW TO CREATE YOUR AUTHOR PRESS KIT! Details included…so have a listen!



https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/podcast-12-33120-2.09-pm.mp3

***


 




***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.


Inn Significant Trailer 720p
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 29, 2020 07:22

June 26, 2020

The Path to Writing Novel Number 5

[image error]***


At almost 17,000 words in, I can’t hold in my excitement for the challenge I have ahead of me. Writing this next novel is going to require some thought and some time to get it all in order. There are so many moving parts to this story that I grabbed a notebook and am connecting and dissecting each character in detailed character sketches. I’ve researched what a true empath is, as the character who is an empath is the main thread within the novel. I’ve used sticky notes and pencils, diagrams and plot point outlines. My initial board that I began a couple of months ago has now been moved into a notebook, where I am keeping copious notes and changes to what I have going on in this book.


Additionally, I’m pretty lucky to have a mother who is a voracious reader. She reads a book a week, on average. With her incredible knowledge as a reader, and as a former English teacher, she is the first person I turn to when I need assistance with a sticky plot or a character development that doesn’t make sense. Yesterday, for over two hours, we sat on her lovely back porch and dissected what is going on in my new piece of writing. She will, undoubtedly, get the biggest shout-out in this book for all her help walking through the characters with me. I’m so thankful for her willingness to help me work through my issues. There are five main characters in this novel, and they all interconnect, which can be tedious and must be written well so the book isn’t hokey. You all know I’m committed to bringing you the most realistic take on characters and story I can provide.


The ability to set the novel in Annapolis (my third one that will use this setting as the backdrop) gets me excited, too. I have to find ways to showcase Annapolis, while also making my characters believable in their dwellings because they will all interact in this place. All good stuff, I think, because it means I just get to explore and stroll downtown as much as possible. (The plus to any writer who uses real locations in their novels!)


I also have to research a disability for this story. This is something I’ve never tackled before.


To sum up the current trajectory of this novel, I know this will be the most challenging of all the fictional stories I’ve written to date.


And that’s probably what has me most excited about the project. I’m already engrossed in this challenge.


[image error]


***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 26, 2020 13:16

June 18, 2020

Reviewing a Movie for Romantics That’s Not a Hallmark Channel Creation

[image error]***


Readers of my blog, by now you are probably quite aware that I’m a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic and that I’m endlessly addicted to Hallmark Channel. I also write romance, so I decided to share a film with you that I just watched and thoroughly enjoyed.


The movie is from 2015, and I knew nothing about it prior to two days ago. A one-time CRAZY movie buff, over the last several years I’ve pulled away from films and have been sucked into various shows made for television, and some of my favorites have included the following: Game of Thrones (the best television I’ve ever seen; in fact, one of the best things I’ve ever seen on TV or in film); 24; Call the Midwife; Jack Ryan; Doc Martin; World on Fire; Catastrophe; Grantchester; Person of Interest; Outer Banks (yes, I know…); and many other PBS and BBC shows, too many to name.


During COVID-19, I’ve also been exercising every day, and when there’s bad weather, I head inside and either ride my recumbent bike or walk on the treadmill, which leaves open time to watch movies while I work out.


I’ve never seen Blake Lively in a film, and as I was scrolling, I came upon a movie that looked intriguing: The Age of Adaline. This romantic fantasy stars Lively in the lead role, with with Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford, and Ellen Burstyn as well. The story is set mostly in San Fransisco when Adaline loses her husband in a tragic accident in 1937, and then 10 months later, she, herself, is in a car accident and “dies.” At the time of her death, a comet hits the earth (this sounds crazy, I know, but it is woven into the plot seamlessly), and stops her from aging. She awakens, comes back to life, and realizes that something has happened to her and has changed her. After a series of incidents that revolve around her not growing older, she must resort to changing her identity, and in the process, she becomes the suspect of false identity. Soon, the FBI is after her, causing her to constantly change her name and locations to dodge becoming a “specimen of science” for the government.


[image error]If it sounds a little confusing, it’s really not at all. The main thing to remember is the timing of the comet, Adaline as your main character who doesn’t age, and the relationships that develop around her. It’s a wonderfully built script and a totally unique approach to telling stories of life and relationships than we see in our sweet, yet totally predictable Hallmark movies.


Lively is terrific in her role. A classic beauty perfect for the part, she maintains the era of the 1930s in her demeanor through the way she speaks and the way she dresses. If you’re forgetting the name of the supporting male character, Michiel Huisman, he played Daario Noharis in Game of Thrones (the second actor who played Daario, and he was charming in that role, as well). As the love interest, Huisman is flawless as the besotted gentleman who falls hopelessly in love with Adaline. But don’t worry—there’s a wicked twist that you don’t see coming that could prevent their relationship from advancing.


Set among dark tones and landscapes, the film has a feel of agelessness to it, of a woman born into an era but forced to play along with new ones, and of a woman still rooted in her sense of decorum and restraint that fostered her character in the 1930s and 1940s. As someone who often feels as if I were born in the wrong era, this film spoke to me on so many levels, and the romance in it was done just right, along with the cloud of mystery and fantasy that houses the plot.


If you haven’t see in, give it a whirl and let me know if you liked it.


***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 18, 2020 08:12

June 16, 2020

Booking Remote Book Club Visits

[image error]***


As many of us are still in the “working remotely” phase of this pandemic, I’ve decided to promote virtual book club visits to help promote reading and our sanity! I’m currently booked for a book club in July and have a lot of openings for book clubs who might want to read my books and discuss them. As an author, one of my favorite things to do is to meet new people through book club discussions.


As I have five books on the market, I’m happy to visit your book club virtually. I’m getting good at this, especially since the back half of the semester I just taught was online—and my summer graduate course is remote, as well. While it may not be ideal to do a remote book chat, it’s the next best thing to being there (hey, wasn’t that an advertising slogan at one point? Do you remember?)


If you are interested in booking a book club visit, you can reach out to me at stephanie.verni@gmail.com. I’m happy to do my best to work it into my schedule.


Below is information about my books, along with book trailers for the four novels. Let me know if I can help!


I can also offer insight into the foray of writing novels, and can share what’s happening with my newest work in progress (we call them a WIP). I’m over 10,000 words into it and am making some headway on this new piece of fiction. For beginning writers or aspiring novelists, I’m happy to walk through the process of developing a novel with you, as well.


Thanks for your support. Writing is a true love of mine. I can’t imagine my life feeling complete without the aspect of storytelling in it.


xx,


Stephanie


BOOKS FOR BOOK CLUBS

[image error]


LITTLE MILESTONES
(published October 2019)

After receiving divorce papers from her husband on her birthday, Olivia Bruno decides to leave her job in New York City as an event planner to live with her grandmother, Nan, in St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where she spent a lot of time as a child. Securing a job in town at a local bookstore, Olivia begins to pick up the pieces of her life by connecting with her grandmother’s friends and other townspeople she meets along the way, including Milly Foster, who lives in nearby Oxford and runs an inn called Inn Significant, and Miles Channing, a local writer. Nan has lived in the town all of her life and has some stories of her own. Together, Nan and Olivia navigate their lives and appreciate the power of family, friendships, forgiveness, and listening to your heart. As well, Nan and Olivia find out that perhaps life is made up of little milestones.



 


THE POSTCARD AND OTHER SHORT STORIES & POETRY (2018)

[image error]In this collection, which includes 22 short stories, you will read about tales of love, heartbreak, middle-aged meltdowns, gossips and unkind women, abusive relationships, a last-ditch message in a bottle, witches and brooms, baseball, and living with a grandmother, among others. Written over a span of twenty years, The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry will warm your heart and leave you feeling as if you’ve made a few new friends among the pages.


 


To read an excerpt, click here.


To order on Amazon, click here.


To order on Barnes & Noble, click here.



INN SIGNIFICANT   ( 2017 )

[image error]


Two years after receiving the horrifying news of her husband Gil’s death, Milly Foster continues to struggle to find her way out of a state of depression. As a last-ditch effort and means of intervention, Milly’s parents convince her to run their successful Inn during their absence as they help a friend establish a new bed and breakfast in Ireland. Milly reluctantly agrees; when she arrives at the picturesque, waterfront Inn Significant, her colleague, John, discovers a journal written by her late grandmother that contains a secret her grandmother kept from the family. Reading her grandmother’s words, and being able to identify with her Nana’s own feelings of loss, sparks the beginning of Milly’s climb out of the darkness and back to the land of the living.



To read an excerpt, click here.


Available via Amazon by clicking here.


Available via Barnes & Noble by clicking here.


Finalist – National Indie Excellence Awards


Praise for Inn Significant from Readers’ Favorite


Inn Significant: A Novel by Stephanie Lynn Verni is a beautiful story that looks at the heart of depression. Milly Foster lost the will to live the moment she learned about her husband’s tragic death. And that was two years ago. Asking her to look after their business while they are away to help a friend in a startup bed and breakfast in Ireland, her parents couldn’t imagine what this would do to her. While at the inn, Milly’s colleague, John, discovers a diary that belonged to her grandma. Read on to find out how an old journey changes everything in the life of a woman who is just as ready for the grave as a corpse, sending her on a personal odyssey to find answers to her own pain.


At the beginning of the story, we meet the protagonist, a grief-stricken woman who has just learned about the death of her husband. Only one thought occupies her mind: “I don’t want the paramedics. I don’t want my mother. I want Gil!” The drama, the emotional intensity of the story is evidenced by the opening pages and readers who love emotionally charged stories will be gripped by the heart from the very start. Stephanie Lynn Verni’s writing is exceptional and I enjoyed the way it captures the powerful emotions, especially those of the protagonist. Milly’s journey towards healing is realistic, one that readers can connect with easily. What made this story stand out for me was the depth of the characters and the gorgeous writing. It was hard for me to let Milly alone, even if I found her headstrong and stubborn from the start. As the story progresses, she learns to shift her gaze onto reality and matures far more quickly than I could have imagined. Inn Significant: A Novel is entertaining, inspiring, and outright delightful, one of the stories I won’t hesitate to recommend to readers seeking a fun read.



BASEBALL GIRL  ( 2015)

[image error]


Francesca Milli’s father passes away when she’s a freshman in college and nineteen years old; she is devastated and copes with his death by securing a job working for the Bay City Blackbirds, a big-league team, as she attempts to carry on their traditions and mutual love for the game of baseball. The residual effect of loving and losing her dad has made her cautious, until two men enter her life: a ballplayer and a sports writer. With the encouragement of her mother and two friends, she begins to work through her grief. A dedicated employee, she successfully navigates her career, and becomes a director in the front office. However, Francesca realizes that she can’t partition herself off from the world, and in time, understands that sometimes loving someone does involve taking a risk.



To read an excerpt, click here.


Available at Amazon.com by clicking here.


Available at Barnes & Noble.com by clicking here.


Honorable Mention for Sports Fiction – Readers’ Favorite


Praise for Baseball Girl from Readers’ Favorite


Stephanie L. Verni’s contemporary fiction novel, Baseball Girl, is a marvelous novel that blends the coming of age, romance and sports fiction genres. The author’s long-term association with the Baltimore Orioles makes the novel feel like the real thing. Verni takes the reader into the inner workings of the front office of a baseball team, and it’s a fascinating look at the hard work, dedication, and stamina needed to be part of that world. While Francesca is no longer a young adult, the interwoven tales of her childhood through to her late twenties, combined with the ongoing trauma of her loss which keeps her locked up inside and unwilling to risk emotional attachments, make this story one of the more compelling coming of age tales I’ve read. Baseball Girl has a strong romantic thread, but the lack of any overtly sexual or erotic themes makes this novel eminently suitable for young adult readers as well as the target adult audience. Verni’s strong and competent Francesca is the perfect role model for young women, especially if they just happen to love sports. Baseball Girl is an awesome read, and it’s most highly recommended.



BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE   ( 2012 )

[image error]Annabelle Marco and Michael Contelli are both only children of Italian-Americans. Next door neighbors since they were both five years old, they both receive their parents’ constant attention and are regularly subjected to their meddlesome behavior. In high school and then in college, as their relationship moves from friendship to love, Annabelle finds herself battling her parents, his parents, and even Michael. She feels smothered by them all and seeks independence through an unplanned and unexpected decision that she comes to regret and that ultimately alters the course of her life, Michael’s life, and the lives of both of their parents.


Set in Annapolis, Maryland, New York City, and London, England, in the 1980s and 1990s, Beneath the Mimosa Tree examines both Annabelle’s and Michael’s journeys over the span of ten years as we hear their alternating voices tell the story of self-discoveries, the nature of well-meaning families, and the sense of renewal that can take place when forgiveness is permitted.


Thank you to those stores that have graciously agreed to sell my debut novel, “Beneath the Mimosa Tree.” I’ve attached links to each below, along with a video trailer about the novel’s story line.



To read an excerpt, click here.


Available at Amazon by clicking here.


Available at Barnes & Noble by clicking here.


Finalist – Indie Excellence Awards


Bronze Medal Winner (tops in its category) – Readers’ Favorite Awards


Praise for Beneath the Mimosa Tree from Readers’ Favorite


Annabelle Marco and Michael Contelli have been next door neighbors in Annapolis, Maryland, since they both were five years old. In their senior year of high school under the mimosa tree in Michael’s back yard, they realized their attraction to each other. By the end of their college years, Annabelle and Michael are ready to marry. And, oh, aren’t their parents excited about this! However, Annabelle deserts Michael on the eve of their Caribbean wedding as she feels the pushiness of her parents and Michael’s. Both sets of parents obviously are furious with Annabelle, and Michael goes off to London alone and stays there for ten years, marrying the wrong girl for a short and dismal time. Now he is coming back to Annapolis and Annabelle has just ended a disastrous affair with an alcoholic. Will Annabelle be able to apologize to Michael for what she did ten years before and will he accept her apology and be able to love her as he once did?


“Beneath the Mimosa Tree” is a lovely, well-written and well-edited story of childhood sweethearts. Annabelle and Michael, their parents, Annabelle’s grandmother Vivi and all their supportive friends in the United States and London are totally believable. The special charm of this story is that Annabelle and Michael have much to overcome and take their time doing so. They don’t just make up and jump right into bed together. The story’s true-to-life plot flows smoothly to the book’s conclusion and “Under the Mimosa Tree” is a story to read and cherish.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 16, 2020 07:46

June 11, 2020

Podcast 18: Blogging 101

[image error]***


I’ve been asked questions about blogging recently, and so this podcast is for those of you who are thinking of setting up a blog and includes all the basic preliminary questions that should be considered before making the commitment.


You have to begin at the beginning…which is to say…why will you blog and what do you hope to achieve with it?


This podcast is not about creating a money-making blog. This one centers on creating a platform for which you will share your ideas and creativity.


So, if you’re in the market and are shopping for reasons to create a blog, this is where you can begin.


xx


Stephanie


 


[image error]



https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/podcast-18-61120-11.54-am.mp3

***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 11, 2020 09:08

June 1, 2020

Early This Morning

[image error]*✨EARLY THIS MORNING ✨ I was awakened by the sound of knocking on our house. After looking around and finding nothing, I couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m still not sure what it was. A freak of nature. A bird. A phantom ghost. Who knows. But I got up, made myself a cup of coffee and began to tackle the long, laundry list of items I have to accomplish today.
.
Today is also my daughter’s virtual high school graduation, followed by her actual graduation that will take place on Wednesday. People keep asking my husband and me how we are feeling about “almost” being empty nesters. I tease and say it’s great, but I’m not so sure I mean it.
.
Yesterday, we had both sets of grandparents over for a luncheon to celebrate Ellie’s graduation. It felt like old times. As you all have experienced as well, this is indeed a very strange time to have to navigate the realms of education. With her prom, graduation, senior dance showcase, scheduled trips to New York and Hersheypark with her dance team all cancelled, it’s been a disappointing spring, for sure. Likewise, the realities around teaching and college for the fall semester for my son, daughter, and me are giving us all a bit of anxiety of the unknown.
.
I don’t know why I’m sharing all of this on this absolutely stunning Monday morning, but there are several things that have me down: aging, the maturing of our children, the state of our nation, the worry about disease, the chronic, painful condition of my spine, and the general anxieties I feel today have me having to work overtime to stay optimistic.
.
I’ll beat these troubling thoughts. It just may take a day or two.
.
xx[image error]Working outside on my garden over the last week is therapeutic. Takes your mind off things and nature is healing.

***

[image error]

Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.

 



 

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on June 01, 2020 06:12

May 27, 2020

Podcast 17: The MFA Journey as a Writer (and a teacher of writing)

[image error]***


As I promised last week, Podcast 17 discusses the MFA from my perspective (and how it helped me in many ways). I know a lot of writers wonder if they should tackle one. In this podcast, I break down my journey to earning my MFA in my forties.


I hope this is helpful, and please let me know if there is anything else I can help answer regarding an online MFA.


Keep writing!


xx


[image error]



https://stephsscribe.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/podcast-17-52720-4.02-pm.mp3
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 27, 2020 13:15

May 22, 2020

Two Exercises for Teaching Description and Using The Five Senses in Writing

[image error]Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

One of the biggest losses I’m feeling from completing the semester at home is the inability to execute my favorite “Five Senses” activity in the classroom with my writing students. It’s one of my favorite days in the classroom, where I play music and ask students to sit and write based on prompts pertaining to their five senses.


THE FIRST EXERCISE

The exercise requires students to reach into a brown paper bag that I bring into the room and “touch” something that I’ve placed inside it. In the past, I’ve put pinecones, Silly Putty, or sand in it. After they touch it, they have to write what comes to mind from touching what’s in the bag. I also bring in something for them to taste (blindfolded) in another paper bag. They must write what the taste reminds them of in their prompt. As well, there is a scent they must smell from yet a third paper bag. For sight and sound, I ask them to view and listen to two things, then write what comes to mind. For sight, it might be an image of a vacation spot, a forest, or a crooked street. For sound, it may be “The Wedding March” or something that reminds them of being somewhere when that music was played. I allow students the entire hour and fifteen minutes to just get lost in writing.


As a teacher, part of what I try to do is make students less afraid of writing…of worrying about every little thing they put on paper. Of always striving to write something perfectly and get it right. I want them to use their imaginations. To think beyond what’s expected. To be quirky and random and be uniquely themselves.


[image error]Photo by Idy Tanndy
ANOTHER EXERCISE

During my MFA program, we had to do something similar. When looking through my files today for something I needed, I came across the assignment where I was required to write things that come to my mind regarding the five senses. These are personal and pertain to us. We were to brainstorm and then write about it.


HOW TO DO THIS EXERCISE

List things regarding the five senses that evoke a memory or something significant in your life. Write them down. This was my list that I compiled.


Olfactory (smell)



The smell of baby powder in the crevice of a baby’s neck
The smell of garlic and onion sautéing in olive oil
The smell of asphalt on a hot summer day after rain
The smell of hot dogs at the ballpark

Tactile (touch)



The feel of pussy willows in the garden
The softness of an earlobe
The feel of a stiff, new pair of leather boots

Auditory (hearing/sound)



The hum of the highway off in the distance
The sound of honking horns on Madison Avenue from the apartment above
The constant beeping of a video game on a long trip
The sound of rain clinking on metal gutters
The crack of a baseball bat
Student applause in the classroom after persuasive speeches
The ringing of church bells at Midnight Mass

Gustatory (taste)



The sting of biting into a pepperoncini
The taste of sour milk first thing in the morning
The tingle of Boardwalk Fries with salt and vinegar
The burn of sushi sashimi with wasabi
Licking chocolate frosting off a wooden spoon

Visual (sight)



The New York skyline at night
A sleeping child damp with perspiration
The morning dew on the garden
A kid wearing “My mom is hotter than your mom” tee-shirt
My grandfather in a white, ribbed, sleeveless tank
360 degree mirrors as you try on clothes

NEXT: Take one of those from the above list and roll it into a prompt.

My prompt ended up being used in my second novel, Baseball Girl. I’m sharing that below.


[image error]Camden Yards, the real Blackbirds Park from Baseball Girl. Photo by David McBee
FROM BASEBALL GIRL | Copyright 2015/Stephanie Verni

She was clenching the tote bag she held on her lap so severely that her knuckles were white. The woman next to her with silver hair and blood red fingernails leaned in and said, “It’s going to be fine, you know. Once we’re up, the rain and storms will be below us.”


“I hope you’re right,” Francesca said.


They were on the runway, waiting for clearance. At any minute, the big bird was going to ascend toward Heaven. She just hoped she wasn’t going to be its next customer.


In the end, the woman had been right. She was so tired from the long week that once they were up above the clouds and the flight was smooth, she actually dozed off for a few seconds. Never a romantic, or a dreamer, when she closed her eyes, a sense of calm came over her as she pictured seeing Joe on the field. She smiled to herself. For a few moments, she allowed herself to imagine him in his uniform, jogging in from the outfield, greeting her with his warm, beaming smile. Francesca also couldn’t wait to feel the Florida sunshine on her face knowing chills would run up her spine when she heard the sound she loved so much ever since she was a small child: the crack of a baseball bat.


It was spring training—and she was about to be a part of it all.


***


Anyone can do this exercise…and it’s a great way to start writing again…or to help get you out of a rut. The Five Senses Exercise can prompt a lot of creative scenarios, and I’d encourage you to give it a try.


xx


Stephanie


***


[image error]


Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She is the author of 5 works of fiction and the co-author of one academic textbook on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are set in beautiful Maryland locations and examine the realities of the human heart. Connect with her on Instagram at  stephanie.verni  or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at  Stephanie Verni, Author.





 

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 22, 2020 10:51