Stephanie Verni's Blog, page 68

Coping with the Loss of Downton Abbey

Oh, how we will miss you, Downton Abbey.

Yes, folks, it’s time to say goodbye. This evening marks the finale of six years of Downton Abbey on PBS in the United States. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do with my Sunday nights now. The weeks ahead just won’t feel the same without this program to cheer up the dreary Sunday evenings—it was always something to look forward to on the eve of the dreaded Monday morning. Now Mondays will seem even bleaker.

I should apologize. I’m supposed to be writing today to help us all cope with the end of this fantastic series, but I’m afraid I’m going to fail miserably at it. I’m having a hard time coping myself, as is my mother, my father, my friends, and even my husband. We have been with the show since the very first episode aired over six years ago. We have loved Mary and hated Mary; rooted for Edith and been stunned by Edith; had zero empathy for Thomas and now have lots of empathy for Thomas; have believed in Daisy and wanted to punch Daisy; and have cackled at Violet’s one-liners…and cackled some more at Violet’s one-liners with each passing episode.

Saying goodbye to this show is not going to be easy, namely because the writing has been so tremendous; we feel as if we are there, in the Abbey, among the wealthy and among the working class. We’ve been able to get to know the characters, and its loss will be much like closing a book we love: we will miss them tremendously when they are gone. It’s like losing a little part of yourself.

The cast of Downton Abbey. Photo: Radiotimes.com.

Julian Fellows has given us much joy. The acting, sets, cast, dialogue, costumes, and plot lines have been intriguing all the way through. Sure, we got a little tired of O’Brien and Thomas scheming and we rejoiced when finally Bates and Anna had no troubles surrounding them, but all the while, it gave us something to think about rather than our own lives. Who can forget Carson’s proposal to Mrs. Hughes? For that hour or hour-plus, I was able to forget about everything in my life and just focus on the happenings at the Abbey.

We will all be going through withdrawal. It’s hard to say goodbye to something we’ve enjoyed so much.

I guess the only way we have to cope with this period drama’s ending is to rejoice that we even got the privilege to enjoy it for a bit. I remember feeling the same way about “24” with Kiefer Sutherland. While that show affected me in a totally different way, it was a loss of good, quality television programming when it was over.

I suppose I will feel similarly tonight as Downton Abbey waves goodbye and in return we do the same. It will be a loss we must come to grips with.

They say things come into our lives for a reason–the reason for this show was simple: it thoroughly entertained us—and always gave us something to talk about.

Maybe that’s what I’ll miss most—the chats about Downton Abbey with family and friends.

Hopefully, tonight’s episode will give us one last wonderful conversation.

Made scones last night, have the Downton Abbey tea, and will stop and smell the roses one last time this evening. Sadness.
Filed under: On Life Tagged: 24, cast of Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey, Featured, Kiefer Sutherland, last epidode Downton Abbey, PBS Downton Abbey, tea and scones, television

Nobody Has Ever Loved Me As Much As I Loved Him—Friday Fiction

Photo credit: Mikethemadbiologist.com. Back Bay, Boston.

NOBODY HAS EVER LOVED ME AS MUCH AS I HAVE LOVED HIM

The light grows dim. I have been sitting in the dark for nearly four hours with only a flickering candle on the table. The storm has quelled a bit, but the winds rattled the house until midnight, the trees and bushes bending as the snow accumulated and the winds whistled. It’s four in the morning now, and I realize I’ve been sitting in this chair in the kitchen motionless practically all night long. There is an eerie stillness inside the house that mirrors the uncomfortable quiet of nature outside—serene and undisturbed .

Upstairs, he sleeps. He has the uncanny ability to sleep whenever and wherever he pleases—in airports, on trains, in cars, on the beach, or at a wedding. I’ve seen him nod off in the most peculiar of places, and when he crawls into bed at night, he experiences the most blissful of sleeps, sleeping all the way through until his body tells him it is time to wake up in the morning. There is no need for alarms or wake-up calls. He is restful, peaceful. My biological clock has never allowed me that privilege. I’ve always experienced fitful nights of sleep, replete with tossing and turning and moving about in a frantic, anxious way. Perhaps my utter restlessness has led me to this point, at this early hour of the morning, on this snowy day when Mother Nature has decided that we need just a little bit more of it so that we can experience the full taste of winter.

The power has flickered on and off for hours, and the streets of Back Bay appear picturesque under the lamplights. I see my bags sitting by the doorway. This isn’t the first time they’ve been packed; there have been countless other instances, but this time I’ve sworn that I will do it. I will not chicken out.

I wonder what my friends will say when I actually leave for good. I wonder if they will support me, think I’ve gone mad, or blame my decision on some sort of early mid-life crisis. After seven years together and only a verbal commitment without a marriage commitment, it is time for me to go. Perhaps I thought he’d change his mind, but really, from the beginning, he has always said marriage is not in the cards. I wanted to believe otherwise. I have wasted years of my life, and perhaps even given up the possibility to have a child holding on to this notion. He is not interested in formalizing our relationship. He says he is fine with the way it is. But what about me?

His ability to sleep while I agonize over it all heightens my anger. I only hope that when he wakes, I don’t get sucked back into his charming ways and believe for the five-hundredth time that he might come around.

The situation is impossible. It really is.

The truth is, nobody has ever loved me as much as I have loved him.

***

Readers of my blog know I love to write fiction. I try to write as many Friday Fiction pieces as I can. I use various prompts for these writing activities, and this week I used Brian Kiteley’s prompt called “Loveless” which asks writers to do the following:

Create a character around this sentence: Nobody has ever loved me as much as I have loved him. Resist the temptation this exercise offers for a completely self-indulgent character. Of course some self-indulgence will be fun. Think of this sentence as a kind of mathematical formula. Consider the possibility that whoever would say something like this is unreliable. – 500 words

My piece was almost on the money at 502 words.

It’s so much fun to let your imagination run wild. I hope you enjoyed it.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Brian Kiteley, Featured, fiction, Friday Fiction, loveless, short stories, short story, storytelling, writing, writing prompts

Some Quick Book Recommendations

I may not be writing and working on my next novel and collection of short stories as much as I should be, but I sure have read some pretty good books lately. It’s been nice to read other people’s works as opposed to worrying about my own stories right now. Books are piling up on my nightstand, and I’m hoping to read a lot of them this summer as I sit by the pool. It’s one of the great perks of being a professor–summers are made for catching up on writing and reading.

Of late, I can recommend three books that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag

This quirky fantasy was a fun, light, and creative read. I loved the quirkiness of each of the characters, the bit of magic thrown in, and the way the story neatly ties together, because guess what? Sometimes we like a neat little package that makes us happy.

The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman

I’m not going to lie about this one–I was on the fence for many chapters while reading this book. Hoffman’s prose is extremely detailed and descriptive, and the book is low on dialogue between the characters. However, that being said, the melding of history and fiction is always exciting, especially in this drama. I found myself constantly looking things up to see what was real and what wasn’t. The story is interesting, and is definitely creative. I enjoyed being taken back to Coney Island in 1911 to an unusual museum with a cast of characters that includes a conniving and manipulative professor, the professor’s daughter who doubles as a mermaid, and a Jewish boy who is conflicted about his father.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Jojo Moyes has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her ability to tell a meaningful story is masterful, and she sucks you into the plot right away. This bestselling book is being made into a movie that is slated for release this summer, so if you want to read the book before it hits theatres, I suggest you get to it right away. You’ll follow the romantic story of Louisa and Will…and you will need your tissues nearby as you read this tearjerker. But it’s all worth it. (I also highly recommend The Girl You Left Behind.)

Here’s the trailer for the movie that’s due this summer.

 

 

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Alice Hoffman, author, book recommendations, books, Featured, Jojo Moyes, Menna van Praag, reading, stories, storytelling, writing

The World Needs More Brooklyns and Abbeys

Last night, my family and I went to see Brooklyn in Annapolis. I’d heard great things about the movie, and as I host an Oscar Party every year, I thought it might be beneficial if I saw a couple of the films nominated so I could play an active role in actually caring about which one might win. Over the last several years, I’ve grown tired and weary of shoot-em-up-bang-em-up dramas, war films, and just overall incredibly troubling content, not to mention extreme violence and gratuitous sex scenes. In my blissful state driving home, after fully enjoying director John Crowley’s film, one thought kept going round and round in my head: the world needs more Brooklyns and Downton Abbeys.

Emory Cohen and Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn.

This isn’t to say either production is without its horrors, sadness, a wee bit of sex, or ties to history. In fact, that is what I love about both. As an adult who has become interested in learning more about history and appreciating historical context, I find both Brooklyn and Downton Abbey enjoyable in that regard. Understanding the time and place, the unfolding events of that period, and how people engaged with one another is vital to interpreting those years the best that we can. Taking historical work and putting it into a meaningful context, full of characters we both love and love to hate, is what gives dramas life.

Brooklyn allows us to get to know the 1950s period of time—and what Irish immigrants who were sent on boats to come over to our country “for a better life” were going through; once we become attached to a character, in this case, a young girl named Eilis (played by Saoirse Ronan), we want to know her story, how life in America changes her, and whether or not love will win out in the end with an Italian-American guy named Tony (played by Emory Cohen). The film is beautifully directed with great shots of Ireland and Brooklyn, along with a cast that offers winning performances.

The Season 6 cast of Downton Abbey.

Likewise, Downton Abbey’s run seems as if it’s been cut short to me, and I’m sure to many others. This is a great compliment to the show because we love it so much. Many of my friends and I are going to go through withdrawal when Julian Fellows closes the script on this sweeping drama. I’ve loved every moment of being connected to the Grantham family, their gorgeous Abbey, the plot, the characters’ plights, and, of course, Maggie Smith’s one-liners. This show has given viewers much joy; it has been something my family and I enjoy talking about, and we learn about that period of time, the distinction of the class system, and how really, in the end, despite wealth and power, we are all just people. Here in the United States, we are holding our breath until next weekend’s Christmas Special and finale of Downton Abbey, so please don’t tell us what happens. We want to be surprised. (I’ve done my very best to avoid all forms of social media so that I do not learn the outcome.)

The Grantham girls in their hats–the fashion is so fun to watch on this show.

And so the thought I leave you with tonight is this—we need more of this type of entertainment. Give us history lessons in an entertaining way. Let us learn about the people of the time, the pressures, the changes, and the battles they fought in a way that makes us care and want to know more—both from an historical perspective and from a human perspective.

I, for one, will be looking forward to what’s on the horizon.

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Brooklyn, Downton Abbey, England, entertainment, Featured, historical dramas, Ireland, Maggie Smith, New York, sweeping dramas

Steph’s Scribe’s Best Hollywood Glam Oscar Dresses

Oscar Night is one of my favorite evenings of the year. As movie buffs and fashion enthusiasts, my friends and I enjoy eating, drinking, gabbing, and watching the Oscars together. It’s been a tradition of ours for about 25 years now. By the sound of the emails I’ve been getting this week, I think it’s fair to say we are excited about this Sunday’s Academy Awards.

As a tribute to Oscar Fashion, Steph’s Scribe is featuring its favorite dresses from years gone by. Keeping in mind the theme of Classic Hollywood Glamour, here are our selections. Obviously, it’s a tall order to pick favorites because there have been so many exceptional gowns worn by exceptional talent. So, if we’ve missed one of your favorites, don’t despair. It only means it’s tough to pick only 10. And by the way, they are all so amazing, they are in no particular order and we leave it to you to pick your favorite.

Which one of these lovelies would you like to wear?

Reese Witherspoon in Vintage Christian Dior

 

Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta
Audrey Hepburn in dress adapted from the film “Roman Holiday” designed by studio designer Edith Head
Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani
Lupita Nyong’o in Prada
Salma Hayek in Carolina Herrera
Kate Winslet in Ben de Lisi
Sandra Bullock in Alexander McQueen
Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Aultier
Jennifer Aniston in Valentino
Filed under: On Life Tagged: Academy Awards, Awards shows, Best Dressed Oscars, Dresses, Featured, Hollywood Glamour, Oscar Gowns, Oscar night

The Way the Rain Smells

Blessings fall from the sky. Heaven is weeping. The earth is cold and damp this morning, long tired from winter’s weather beating down upon it. The grass is mushy and slippery, and my boot slides across a patch of it and into mud. Fortunately, they are no longer my favorite boots, worn well from years of stomping the streets, the pavement.

The rain smells sad, disappointed, and regretful. The sky is weeping uncontrollably, large droplets smashing against my window shield as I drive to work, causing me to put the wipers on high. I wonder who is crying, whose heart is breaking from up above, and when the tears will stop flowing.

I remember thinking that Heaven has the ability to cry and it comes in the form of rain, that it can become affected by the choices we make from decisions here on Earth. A little drizzle, and the sins are few. A steady rain reminds us to do all that is good. A downpour means it’s time to reflect and readjust.

Campus is drenched, and there are still piles of snow that linger. I park my car and grab my umbrella. The parking lot is filled with puddles that seem to dance as every drop hits them. My umbrella won’t open, and I feel the rain dampening my already wavy hair; it’s going to be even frizzier now. I can smell the pavement—not the way the pavement smells after a rain shower in the summer when the warmth of the sun heats it and steam floats above it, the smell of wet asphalt overtaking your senses, the stench of it sticking to your legs and clothes as you sat on it as a child, playing and not caring that your clothes were getting wet—but the way it smells when it’s fresh and new, like a flower’s fresh bud or the birth of a baby or the first touch from someone you love.

The coldness of the rain washes away the sorrow and pain, the stench of regret and what could have been. There is a sense of forgiveness and cleansing, the pitter-patter of it accenting the ability to do better, be better, and want better.

The rain smells like hope.

***

Today, I wrote along with my students. They had 7 prompts from which to choose, and I chose this one: What does the rain smell like? I figured that sometimes the teacher should participate in the exercise, and so I did. The extra bonus is that I can use it as a blog post.

Writing prompts can be so helpful. They just get you writing—and thinking.

I am looking forward to reading their prompts when they turn them in next week.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Featured, Heaven, rain, raining, Regret, sadness, sins, sorrow, summer rain, What the rain smells like

And Then Inspiration Comes: Start Writing | Hints and Tips for Writers and Bloggers

You want to write. Writing is in your blood. You bloggers know this is true. You novelists know this is true. Magazine writers, newspaper writers, nonfiction writers, script writers—it’s part of who you are; it makes up your very existence. You can’t imagine life without it.

And yet, some days it’s difficult to find inspiration.

Some weeks, it’s difficult to find inspiration.

Some years, well, you get the point.

The problem is, if it’s part of who you are, you can’t let inspiration fall by the wayside. You need constant inspiration. These little pieces of inspiration are vital to your success; they help you nurture your creative side, but that creative side yearns to be inspired.

So how do we find inspiration? When does the epiphany hit us and tell us what to do?

I wish I had a stock answer for you that would help make your life easier. I wish I could tell you that at exactly 9 p.m. your creative genius is going to wake up and tell you it has a brilliant idea for you and you will smile and shake its hand and be ready for a new adventure with your writing. But it doesn’t work that way. In fact, that’s exactly the word we are searching for: work. Inspiration takes work.

You become a seeker…someone who needs to seek out ideas and foster them and help them grow. You have a responsibility to nurture them and use your intelligence to make sense of it all.

And, fellow writers, while I may not have the answers—no one does—all I can do is share what’s been working for me lately. These few ideas have helped me get out of the weeds and blow up a project I was working on and start all over again with it.

 

Don’t do negative talk. The intrapersonal communication we have going on inside our head should be positive. We do not need to bash ourselves, speak negatively internally, or question our creativity. We are supposed to be our own biggest supporters, and in doing so, tell yourself you can do it. You can write something meaningful. You will come up with something good to write about…it will come soon. I recently showed my sports communication students a Ted Talk by Brett Ledbetter called Finding Your Inner Coach. While it is geared a bit toward athletics, there are good ideas from which we can all learn. One of his ideas involves your innermost thoughts. He asks the audience to consider this: what if you’re an athlete playing in a game and your innermost thoughts scrolled across a scoreboard for everyone to see? Would they be positive thoughts or negative thoughts?  Consider this notion with your writing. If your innermost thoughts were to scroll across the top of your blog or the Paperblog site, would they be positive ones or negative ones?
Find inspiration in the little things. Sometimes it’s just a phrase or sentence someone says to me; other times it’s a quote I see or the way a child holds her mother’s hand. Sometimes innocent things make me stop and wonder and yearn for simpler things. If someone tells you a story, you may be inclined to talk about it or research it for your blog or book. When I mentioned that the character I am writing in my new novel suffers from depression brought on by a traumatic event in her life, a friend of mine said she was glad I was tackling depression. We can’t deny there are stories all around us if we just open our eyes.
Let a photograph take you away. Sometimes when I see exotic photos, pictures of beautiful scenery or cities, or homes and home improvements that people post on Instagram or Pinterest, I am immediately drawn to a particular subject. Let that photograph take you places, expand your imagination, and give you wings to fly.
Don’t allow yourself to feel stifled. One of the criticisms I have received regarding my blog is that it “is not focused enough”—that I don’t just write about one subject area such as writing or decorating or relationships. I have intended my blog to be more of a lifestyle blog, despite the fact that I write books. I am a teacher who teaches writing; I also have a lot of interests. If I had to teach writing during the day and then only write about writing at night, I could possibly go insane. I want to write about things I am interested in—books, movies, writing, fashion, television shows, relationships, children, etc. By expanding your creativity and subject matter base, you may feel more liberated.
Find inspiration in other writer’s work. I just finished The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag. It was fun, creative, and a little magical. Presently, I am reading The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. Both of these books are well written and both authors have vivid imaginations. Reading books helps you consider your own storytelling and makes you want to write better. I am always energized after reading a book, dissecting the techniques used, and paying attention to style, diction, description and dialogue. As Jack Nicholson said in As Good As It Gets, “You make me want to be a better man.” As for me, other writers make me want to be a better writer.
Put yourself in the shoes of your readers. What would entertain them? Would a short blog post do for the day, or should it be longer? What type of novel are you ready to attack next, and what type of novel do you think your best friend would want to read? Asking yourself direct questions about your reader and their demographics may help pull you toward a subject matter.
Find the prettiest or most attractive journal you can and carry it with you always. There is nothing worse than finding inspiration and not knowing what to do with it. At the very least, you should write it down. Immediately. Before you forget—before that brilliant idea your creative genius helped you think up drifts back up into the sky looking for another creative genius to pass it off to. Cultivate your ideas. Foster them. They are yours, and you owe it to yourself to act upon them.
Keep up with current events, entertainment news, social media, and bestseller lists. Do your homework. What are the hottest topics? What’s trending? What seems to be most interesting to folks? Can you find an interesting story and then put your own spin on it? Can you make something that seems like old news become new again?

I hope I’ve helped a little bit. Maybe the biggest help of all is knowing we all go through it. We all have those moments where nothing is coming. And then—BOOM—the best idea comes to you and you’re off and running.

Or, you could adopt the Tina Fey attitude.

Whatever works.

After writing a textbook for the last couple of years and promoting Baseball Girl since last March, I had to take a break from writing for a bit (besides the blog) and refocus my energy. The novel I was working on wasn’t moving in the direction I wanted it to go. I paused for a long while. Today, I was inspired. It came from somewhere, and I am thankful. I wrote. I got two chapters written, and I’m loving where this story is going. Hearing from other writers is inspirational, but the real motivation for any project comes from a source that only you can hear…it comes from inside you. And it’s up to you to foster and nurture it.

 

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Alice Hoffman, bloggers, blogging, Creativity, Featured, inspiration, Jack Nicholson, Menna van Praag, Paperblog, tips for creativity, tips for inspiration, writers, writing, writing inspiration

Attacking Another (Smaller) Home Renovation Project

Our existing kitchen will be a work in progress in a matter of weeks.

 

This morning I met with our wonderful contractor, Rick Cole, and his son Justin, about what I hope will be the final round of our home improvements (my husband is hoping so, too). After finishing the basement and making it our recreation room, completing an exterior overhaul, constructing the addition of a large porch, and topping it all off with landscaping, one would think it’s over. However, the kitchen is the last part of the plan, and while its bones are actually quite good, we have a need for a little more storage and an additional serving area. Thus, here we go again.

As with the other projects we’ve pursued in this home, the ability to pin ideas from Pinterest helps make the project go so much more smoothly. I’ve been able to garner ideas from the site and then use it to show both our kitchen designer, Debbie Wilde at Kitchen Concepts in Annapolis, and Rick and Justin. So many great ideas have come from this process.

While the actual building in the kitchen hasn’t take place yet, I’m sharing the process of going from “idea” to “implementation” for the kitchen. In keeping with our cottage style home, I’ve posted the inspiration photo along with the existing space as is and described what will be done to it. I will post photos later during and after the process.

What’s most fun about these projects is seeing how your choices go from concept (showroom or store or internet) to implementation as they become a part of your home. I’m excited to see the new personality of the kitchen and dining area come to life.

Inspiration Photo #1: Base with Hutch As Coffee Bar/Serving Area

INSPIRATION PHOTO—We want to have a base cabinet with hutch for entertaining. Since we have one space that is kitchen and dining (and do not have a separate dining room), we wanted to make the space feel charming and elegant. In doing so, a piece similar to this is what we will incorporate. Inspiration photo by Home Bunch.

 

OUR EXISTING SPACE—The piece will be built in this existing area where this black cabinet is. This cabinet will be relocated to the spot next to the French doors that lead to the porch.
OUR EXISTING SPACE—The black glass cabinet will move to the area where the ladder shelf is and the ladder shelf will relocate to the family room or basement. Not sure yet…
OUR EXISTING SPACE—The view from the porch looking into the dining area. I cannot wait for spring…and maybe to seeing that cabinet in another color.

Inspiration Photo #2: Pantry with Microwave

INSPIRATION PHOTO—Where there is an existing self-standing green cabinet (see below, left), a pantry will be built with a cut out for the microwave. As a petite (okay, short) person, I hate that the microwave is currently over the stove. I have burned myself on countless occasions.
OUR SPACE—As you can see here, the microwave is over the oven; it is not ideal. The microwave will be replaced with a stainless steel hood.

Inspiration Photo #3: Countertops

INSPIRATION PHOTO—The current dark, Formica countertops will be replaced with LG Minuet Quartz that looks a lot like marble and is pictured here. After pinning picture upon picture of white countertops with white cabinets, I think it’s safe to assume that this is the “feel” we are going for in the kitchen. The walls are a light grey (City Loft by Sherwin Williams), and we love the hue of it. We used Atlas Stone in Severn, Maryland, for the countertops.
OUR SPACE—The countertops will be LG Minuet with a stainless steel undermount sink.

Inspiration Photo #4: Turquoise Cabinet

INSPIRATION PHOTO—This turquoise cabinet was featured in a magazine and I’ve loved it ever since. The hutch in the corner of the dining area is red. However, during spring break I plan to turn the red hutch into a magnificent shade of turquoise. Another chalk paint project perhaps? Nevertheless, I absolutely love this color and it reminds me of a beach house.
OUR SPACE—While the red hutch is very pretty, I think turning into a pretty turquoise is going to look great in the room. With colors such as grey, white, and black to anchor the room, a pop of turquoise may be just what the Kitchen Renovation Doctor ordered. The green hutch will be painted white and be relocated to our upstairs hallway to serve as additional storage for towels, blankets, sheets, and accessories.

INSPIRATION PHOTO #5—Backsplash

INSPIRATION PHOTO—As you can see, we like the French cottage style. That means we (okay, my husband lets me do it) have a lot of chandeliers in our home. While I love the look of subway tiles, I wanted to pick up the crystals of the chandeliers in the backsplash. Photo from Houzz.
WHAT WE’VE PICKED—We selected this crystal and glass backsplash from Lowe’s. The smaller tiles appeal to us, and we love the mixture of pieces in it. (My kids are holding it up for the photo…thanks, loves).

So…I figured I’ve documented the other projects we’ve done, why not document this too. Looking forward to the improvements, though not at all looking forward to the mess.

It’ll be fine…I’ll let you know how it all turns out.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: chalk paint, Cottage Style, countertops, Featured, house renovation, kitchen renovation, lg minuet quartz, renovation, turquoise, white kitchen

Box Stores and the Internet Killing the Local Bookstores? Not So Fast.

Longfellow Books, Portland, Maine. Photo: BuzzFeed

There is good news today, and as soon as I saw the piece in The New York Times by Francis X. Clines, I knew I wanted to write a post about it. In the editorial notebook of the paper entitled Indie Bookstores Are Back, With a Passion, we read there is hope for smaller bookstores that offer a sense of community and social activity along with an extensive collection of books as a retailer. So the encouraging news is this: there is room for indie bookstores in a world of full of internet purchases and large retailers.

In 2008, sales of e-books skyrocketed and the publishing industry went into a bit of a panic as they wondered whether print books will survive or if they will go the way of CDs. However, over the last few years, publishers have seen sales level a bit. Readers have more choices now than ever before of how to read a book—they can purchase the hardback or paperback, download it from the internet to their Kindle, Nook, iPad or computer, or listen to it as an audio file or CD.

As someone who worked in the field of publishing for a baseball team whereby everything we produced at that time was in print, I admit to being a lover of the book or magazine made of paper. I like to hold books in my hand (although these days, I do “read” a lot of books on CD during my 45-minute commute to work each day). However, for me, nothing can replace a bound book and the ability to turn the pages, see the words in print, and yes, inhale the smell of a book. Some of you dedicated e-reader lovers will beg to differ, and that’s okay.

But what’s even more okay is the notion that bookstores are alive and well and are experiencing a comeback in our communities. As more and more people become less social as they stick their noses into their cellphones, it is hopeful to hear that communities are supporting their local bookstores in search of camaraderie and personal connection. Folks want to frequent a place that offers warmth, friendly interpersonal connections, a place to sit and chat or read over a cup of coffee, and even a venue to attend a book talk, poetry reading, or social event. And, most importantly, these bookstores offer a local place where customers can buy a book.

Book lovers should be thrilled this morning (as should authors and communication professionals!) that we are seeing a need for places that offer human interaction. Even I have romanticized about one day owning a charming bookstore. I can visualize it now—it would be dreamy with a vintage coffee bar, rows and rows of books from the floor to the ceiling, comfortable sofas and chairs, tables for discussions and work, and lots and lots of crystal chandeliers.

The Ninth Street Book Shop, Wilmington, Delaware. Photo: The Examiner

Indie bookstores offer so much; they are a celebration of creativity, a gathering place for people to talk and connect, a collection of knowledge waiting for you to open it, and a little place where imagination can soar. Welcoming these retailers into our neighborhoods should be something we do with open arms.

The word on the street is we are doing just that.

Yours truly promoting Beneath the Mimosa Tree at Maryland’s largest independent bookstore, Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley.

 

 

 

 

Filed under: On Life Tagged: books, bookstores, community bookstores, e-reader, Featured, indie bookstores, local bookstores, reading, small bookstores, The New York Times

Opening The Door to Love or Closing the Door to Love

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In celebration of Valentine’s Day this weekend, instead of a little Friday Fiction, I’m featuring two poems I wrote. I don’t write poetry as much as I did when I was younger, but every once in a while I’m moved to write something. The first poem is about opening up to love in Dr. Seuss rhyming style, and the second is about closing the door to love and being brokenhearted in prose style. I figured I’d cover both bases. Hope yours is rather more like the former and less like the latter.  Happy Valentine’s Weekend…

If Only You Dare | by S. Verni

Love can grow from the smallest of things

From date nights and kissing to wedding rings.

It sneaks up behind you when you won’t know

That it’s time to give it one more go.

The heartbreak you weathered doesn’t stand a chance

When standing before you is a taste of romance.

For when love is ready, you must be prepared

To face it head on; there’s no time to be scared.

And when it greets you at your front door,

You cannot remember the old scars you bore.

Face it willingly, without any shame,

There’s still time for you and the romance game.

Open your heart and throw away your cares

Love is waiting for you, if only you dare.

Heart Art | Keith Haring

I Loved You All At Once | By S. Verni

I loved you all at once—

Then nothing.

Like a hallowed pumpkin,

Or a house without walls,

Emptiness echoes in barren halls.

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I loved you all at once—

Thrashing lava,

Hot to the core—blazing;

Fire in the souls ignite,

Killing me softly with each passing night.

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I loved you all at once—

Powerfully charged,

Yet what was hot can still grow cold,

Withering in pain,

Swearing to never love again.

Filed under: On Life Tagged: Featured, heartbreak poem, hearts, Keith Haring, Love poems, poems, Poetry, valentine poetry, Valentine's Day