Paul Alan Fahey's Blog
August 31, 2017
MY MOTHER MAY BE IMAGINED, BUT THE BOOK IS REAL"??
Today we have a very special guest. My friend and colleague, Mara Purl. Mara is a writer, teacher, speaker, publisher, actress—well she does it all. And beautifully. I know you’ll love her post today.
Dear Friends,
Paul Alan Fahey has kindly invited me to write a guest post for today.
As some of you may have heard, a group of us have been working with Paul to bring out his latest book. From day one, this project has been a blessing to all of us involved, and we believe his new book will be a great joy for each of you to read.
Paul’s book is something so fresh and distinct, that he had to come up with a new genre to describe it: Hybrid Memoir. We’re launching both it, and the publishing press today, August 31st, in honor of Memoir Day.
The Press is called Mindprints Literary Press, and is a re-boot of the original publication Paul created and launched at Allan Hancock College. As you’ll see when you visit the new website www.MindprintsLiteraryPress.com, the slogan is a combination of the original one---“the best is yet to come”, introduced by words that represent our current thoughts. The website design is a collaboration between me and a marvelous team of young creative artists at Modern Alchemy in Los Angeles: Kevin Meyer, Sean Aranda, and Hanna Henry.
To honor the background, we have a History of the Press section on the home page, where you may see familiar magazine covers. Some of you were contributors to the original Mindprints. To honor you, you’ll find your names with links to your websites listed in the AUTHORS tab on our brand new website.
For now, the only title in the BOOKS tab is Paul’s, but we have plans to publish other titles. Those of you who gave Paul comments on his Advance Reader Copy will find your quotes in the ENDORSEMENTS section. The BLOG tab features Paul’s well-known blog, also posted on his own website and at GoodReads.
In the ASSOCIATES section you’ll see the core group of us who’ve worked on the project. Every one of us has donated some or all of our time and effort, because of our love and respect for Paul. This is truly a JOY project that we’re so thrilled to be sharing with you.
And now (drum roll) . . . to announce the book itself. The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew steps onto the publishing stage as the first great read of autumn. The manuscript, beautifully structured as both fiction and non-fiction segments—and in multiple forms including narrative, poetry, and script—the book is by turns delicate and muscular, with both the haunting realizations of hindsight, and the razor-sharp insights only the author’s rigorous honesty could provide.
The author’s process was intriguing and smart. He realized that, over the years, he’d written about his colorful, complex mother at several stages and in various ways; and that these could actually work if he were to create a “hybrid memoir.”
It’s a testimony to Paul’s professional and personal life that such accomplished colleagues stepped up immediately to work on preparing the book for publication, beginning with the brilliant writer, editor, playwright, and teacher Victoria Zackheim who edited the manuscript. Next, the wonderful publisher of Paul’s previous book Equality , Jessica Bell of Vineleaves Press stepped up to create the gorgeous cover for the book, working with ideas from Paul and me. My long-time colleague Jean Laidig did a stupendous job of proofing and layout design of this creative manuscript.
As we’d begun work on the book, we had to find its title, and its dual-universe theme led me to a title that expresses Paul’s realization that memory is at times accurate, and at times enhanced by our imagination, meaning that in this case, one mother is imagined; one is real. And the theme is carefully wrought throughout the book’s visuals, too. The front cover offers a fictional depiction of a female traveler; the back cover shows a photograph of the author’s mother on one of her trips with her son. The interior is set in two different, carefully chosen typefaces.
This is a “Soft Launch” – meaning that we’re still waiting for professional reviews, and still planning marketing pieces and events. But the timing was both right, and important, to have this first launch today, on Memoir Day.
We think you’ll enjoy the book, and agree with the slogan of the newly reestablished press:: What the mind can see, the hand can print … the best is yet to come.
Mara Purl
Dear Friends,
Paul Alan Fahey has kindly invited me to write a guest post for today.
As some of you may have heard, a group of us have been working with Paul to bring out his latest book. From day one, this project has been a blessing to all of us involved, and we believe his new book will be a great joy for each of you to read.
Paul’s book is something so fresh and distinct, that he had to come up with a new genre to describe it: Hybrid Memoir. We’re launching both it, and the publishing press today, August 31st, in honor of Memoir Day.
The Press is called Mindprints Literary Press, and is a re-boot of the original publication Paul created and launched at Allan Hancock College. As you’ll see when you visit the new website www.MindprintsLiteraryPress.com, the slogan is a combination of the original one---“the best is yet to come”, introduced by words that represent our current thoughts. The website design is a collaboration between me and a marvelous team of young creative artists at Modern Alchemy in Los Angeles: Kevin Meyer, Sean Aranda, and Hanna Henry.
To honor the background, we have a History of the Press section on the home page, where you may see familiar magazine covers. Some of you were contributors to the original Mindprints. To honor you, you’ll find your names with links to your websites listed in the AUTHORS tab on our brand new website.
For now, the only title in the BOOKS tab is Paul’s, but we have plans to publish other titles. Those of you who gave Paul comments on his Advance Reader Copy will find your quotes in the ENDORSEMENTS section. The BLOG tab features Paul’s well-known blog, also posted on his own website and at GoodReads.
In the ASSOCIATES section you’ll see the core group of us who’ve worked on the project. Every one of us has donated some or all of our time and effort, because of our love and respect for Paul. This is truly a JOY project that we’re so thrilled to be sharing with you.
And now (drum roll) . . . to announce the book itself. The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew steps onto the publishing stage as the first great read of autumn. The manuscript, beautifully structured as both fiction and non-fiction segments—and in multiple forms including narrative, poetry, and script—the book is by turns delicate and muscular, with both the haunting realizations of hindsight, and the razor-sharp insights only the author’s rigorous honesty could provide.
The author’s process was intriguing and smart. He realized that, over the years, he’d written about his colorful, complex mother at several stages and in various ways; and that these could actually work if he were to create a “hybrid memoir.”
It’s a testimony to Paul’s professional and personal life that such accomplished colleagues stepped up immediately to work on preparing the book for publication, beginning with the brilliant writer, editor, playwright, and teacher Victoria Zackheim who edited the manuscript. Next, the wonderful publisher of Paul’s previous book Equality , Jessica Bell of Vineleaves Press stepped up to create the gorgeous cover for the book, working with ideas from Paul and me. My long-time colleague Jean Laidig did a stupendous job of proofing and layout design of this creative manuscript.
As we’d begun work on the book, we had to find its title, and its dual-universe theme led me to a title that expresses Paul’s realization that memory is at times accurate, and at times enhanced by our imagination, meaning that in this case, one mother is imagined; one is real. And the theme is carefully wrought throughout the book’s visuals, too. The front cover offers a fictional depiction of a female traveler; the back cover shows a photograph of the author’s mother on one of her trips with her son. The interior is set in two different, carefully chosen typefaces.
This is a “Soft Launch” – meaning that we’re still waiting for professional reviews, and still planning marketing pieces and events. But the timing was both right, and important, to have this first launch today, on Memoir Day.
We think you’ll enjoy the book, and agree with the slogan of the newly reestablished press:: What the mind can see, the hand can print … the best is yet to come.
Mara Purl
July 12, 2017
The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
Hi, I'm back and with some great news. I'm just about to launch a memoir about my mom on August 31 from Mindprints Literary Press. This is "I Love Memoir Day," so it's right on target.
Here's a short description and excerpt from:
The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
by Paul Alan Fahey
What is memory? How much of what we remember actually happened? How much is wishful thinking, added to and embellished over the years? These are questions you’ll be asking yourself while reading The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
In the tradition of Patrick Dennis, Truman Capote, and Tennessee Williams’ memory play, The Glass Menagerie, Paul Alan Fahey’s memoir recounts a son’s loving yet often maddening relationship with his mother over four decades. Told in a hybrid mix of memoir, short fiction, and poetry, the author tells of their nomadic existence in the 1950s; his mother’s four month visit in Africa while he completed his teaching contract; and the last decade of her life.
“I remember Mother’s lime green dress, billowing in the dusty heat, as she stepped down from the Ethiopian Airlines jet, her hair recently died a reddish-blonde. I can see her standing at customs, smiling to airport officials, while I tried to explain in my best pigeon Amharic, which usually impressed foreigners and fractured locals, that this was my mother come to visit, all the way from California.
Waiting for her luggage, Mother opened her purse and pulled out a knife, fork, and spoon embossed with the airline’s logo of a lion about to pounce on an unsuspecting tourist. She smiled, then dropped the silverware into the pocket of her tote. “Amazing what you can carry in these things, honey.”
I nodded and began to bite my nails, a habit I’d thought I’d outgrown in grade school.
*
I'll be posting more information about my new book as we get closer to the launch date. I'm working closely with two great writer friends, Mara Purl and Victoria Zackheim, and a wonderful publishing team at Mindprints Literary Press. What could be better?
Oh, here's what folks are saying about The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
PRAISE FOR PAUL ALAN FAHEY’S
The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
"A web of memories as delicate as the perfume of a flower, and yet as strong as the currents in the sea. It is joyous, funny and sad, and speaks not only of love but of infinite understanding.”
Anne Perry, International Best-Selling Historical Novelist and author of three acclaimed Mystery Series: Thomas & Charlotte Pitt; Monk; WWI
"Paul Fahey’s mother, Mary Eileen Smith, comes off as part Auntie Mame, part Joan “Mommie Dearest” Crawford, and part Mama Rose. She has a wickedly funny wit, sharp survival skills, and great poignancy and vulnerability. Fahey captures all of this in this unusual memoir that combines the art of fiction with the even deeper art of remembrance."
Perry Brass, author of King of Angels, and The Manly Pursuit of Desire and Love
"In his unique hybrid memoir, Paul Fahey artfully blends the lines between reality and memory. Part tribute, part confession and all parts sincere, the author lovingly recalls an often transient childhood with a strong, independent mother from whom he no doubt inherited his tenacity. Thinly-veiled short stories combined with snippets of their evolving relationship underscore the immutable truth of a complex mother-son relationship. In the end, The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew is an earnest examination into human resilience, the power of love and ultimately, the gifts of forgiveness and self-acceptance."
Eldonna Edwards , Author of best-selling memoir Lost in Transplantation and the forthcoming novel This I Know
"This is as much an autobiography of the author as it is the story of his mother, and as such is an intimate and revealing view of all that influenced him. Included are some fascinating short stories that in many ways parallel both his and his mother’s life together. Fascinating reading."
Marilyn Meredith, author of Deputy Tempe Crabtree Mysteries
"Fahey’s strong writing and quirky characters unite to create a beguiling coming-of-age tale set in 1950’s San Francisco."
Sue McGinty, author of Bella Kowalski California Central Coast Mysteries
I hope you'll stay tuned because, "The Best is Yet to Come!"
Warmly,
Paul
Here's a short description and excerpt from:
The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
by Paul Alan Fahey
What is memory? How much of what we remember actually happened? How much is wishful thinking, added to and embellished over the years? These are questions you’ll be asking yourself while reading The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
In the tradition of Patrick Dennis, Truman Capote, and Tennessee Williams’ memory play, The Glass Menagerie, Paul Alan Fahey’s memoir recounts a son’s loving yet often maddening relationship with his mother over four decades. Told in a hybrid mix of memoir, short fiction, and poetry, the author tells of their nomadic existence in the 1950s; his mother’s four month visit in Africa while he completed his teaching contract; and the last decade of her life.
“I remember Mother’s lime green dress, billowing in the dusty heat, as she stepped down from the Ethiopian Airlines jet, her hair recently died a reddish-blonde. I can see her standing at customs, smiling to airport officials, while I tried to explain in my best pigeon Amharic, which usually impressed foreigners and fractured locals, that this was my mother come to visit, all the way from California.
Waiting for her luggage, Mother opened her purse and pulled out a knife, fork, and spoon embossed with the airline’s logo of a lion about to pounce on an unsuspecting tourist. She smiled, then dropped the silverware into the pocket of her tote. “Amazing what you can carry in these things, honey.”
I nodded and began to bite my nails, a habit I’d thought I’d outgrown in grade school.
*
I'll be posting more information about my new book as we get closer to the launch date. I'm working closely with two great writer friends, Mara Purl and Victoria Zackheim, and a wonderful publishing team at Mindprints Literary Press. What could be better?
Oh, here's what folks are saying about The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
PRAISE FOR PAUL ALAN FAHEY’S
The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew
"A web of memories as delicate as the perfume of a flower, and yet as strong as the currents in the sea. It is joyous, funny and sad, and speaks not only of love but of infinite understanding.”
Anne Perry, International Best-Selling Historical Novelist and author of three acclaimed Mystery Series: Thomas & Charlotte Pitt; Monk; WWI
"Paul Fahey’s mother, Mary Eileen Smith, comes off as part Auntie Mame, part Joan “Mommie Dearest” Crawford, and part Mama Rose. She has a wickedly funny wit, sharp survival skills, and great poignancy and vulnerability. Fahey captures all of this in this unusual memoir that combines the art of fiction with the even deeper art of remembrance."
Perry Brass, author of King of Angels, and The Manly Pursuit of Desire and Love
"In his unique hybrid memoir, Paul Fahey artfully blends the lines between reality and memory. Part tribute, part confession and all parts sincere, the author lovingly recalls an often transient childhood with a strong, independent mother from whom he no doubt inherited his tenacity. Thinly-veiled short stories combined with snippets of their evolving relationship underscore the immutable truth of a complex mother-son relationship. In the end, The Mother I Imagined, The Mom I Knew is an earnest examination into human resilience, the power of love and ultimately, the gifts of forgiveness and self-acceptance."
Eldonna Edwards , Author of best-selling memoir Lost in Transplantation and the forthcoming novel This I Know
"This is as much an autobiography of the author as it is the story of his mother, and as such is an intimate and revealing view of all that influenced him. Included are some fascinating short stories that in many ways parallel both his and his mother’s life together. Fascinating reading."
Marilyn Meredith, author of Deputy Tempe Crabtree Mysteries
"Fahey’s strong writing and quirky characters unite to create a beguiling coming-of-age tale set in 1950’s San Francisco."
Sue McGinty, author of Bella Kowalski California Central Coast Mysteries
I hope you'll stay tuned because, "The Best is Yet to Come!"
Warmly,
Paul
May 20, 2017
All Things Hitch
Hi, Everyone,
i've been busy today working on--or maybe I should say reworking--a short piece for Medium.com.
One of the perks of growing up in the 1950s was sitting in a theater and watching Alfred Hitchcock make screen history with hit after hit.
First off here's the link to my post on Medium.com: https://medium.com/@paulalanfahey/hit...
I thought I'd add a few of my favorite Hitchcock bios here that might be of interest to you. I know I return time and again not only to his films but to the wonderful books that analyze his work.
Here's a short list of some of my favorites.
1) Hitchcock/Truffaut
I think this one is my favorite. I bought the book in 1967 when everyone was talking about it. H/T was revised in 1984 and is a running conversation between Francois Truffaut and Hitchcock; the book highlights his films from the silent era to his last film, Family Plot. Truffaut explores camera techniques, storylines, and intimate details about Hitchcock's filmography. Definitely one of the best books ever on Hitchcock. Recently the actual film of the running conversation was released on DVD. Another don't miss.
2) The Hitchcock Story by Ken Mogg
In the late 1990's, I wrote a short piece for Ken Mogg's international journal on Alfred Hitchcock. The article's focus was the first staging of the original screenplay of Rope by Arthur Laurents at our local community college. The book contains complete synopses of his films along with sophisticated and compelling commentary.
3) Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
Concentrating completely on one of Hitchcock's most talked-about films, Mr. Rebello delves deeply into Psycho from the true story that was the basis of the Robert Block novel to the planning, shooting, production, post-production, publicity, and release phases. In fact it was the basis of the film, Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Helen Mirren as his wife and collaborator, Alma.
4) I promised this would be a short list but I must add one more: Psycho by Janet Leigh.
If you were a Janet Leigh fan as I was--or just an admirer of her work in the film as Marion Crane--this was a book you just had to have in your library. Talk about an inside story. Ms. Leigh gives you a front row seat in the filming of the famous shower scene and with her easy-going style of writing--and she was a good writer of memoir--this book is completely irresistible.
Okay, till we meet again, remember . . .
The best is yet to come.
Warmly,
Paul
i've been busy today working on--or maybe I should say reworking--a short piece for Medium.com.
One of the perks of growing up in the 1950s was sitting in a theater and watching Alfred Hitchcock make screen history with hit after hit.
First off here's the link to my post on Medium.com: https://medium.com/@paulalanfahey/hit...
I thought I'd add a few of my favorite Hitchcock bios here that might be of interest to you. I know I return time and again not only to his films but to the wonderful books that analyze his work.
Here's a short list of some of my favorites.
1) Hitchcock/Truffaut
I think this one is my favorite. I bought the book in 1967 when everyone was talking about it. H/T was revised in 1984 and is a running conversation between Francois Truffaut and Hitchcock; the book highlights his films from the silent era to his last film, Family Plot. Truffaut explores camera techniques, storylines, and intimate details about Hitchcock's filmography. Definitely one of the best books ever on Hitchcock. Recently the actual film of the running conversation was released on DVD. Another don't miss.
2) The Hitchcock Story by Ken Mogg
In the late 1990's, I wrote a short piece for Ken Mogg's international journal on Alfred Hitchcock. The article's focus was the first staging of the original screenplay of Rope by Arthur Laurents at our local community college. The book contains complete synopses of his films along with sophisticated and compelling commentary. 3) Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
Concentrating completely on one of Hitchcock's most talked-about films, Mr. Rebello delves deeply into Psycho from the true story that was the basis of the Robert Block novel to the planning, shooting, production, post-production, publicity, and release phases. In fact it was the basis of the film, Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Helen Mirren as his wife and collaborator, Alma.4) I promised this would be a short list but I must add one more: Psycho by Janet Leigh.
If you were a Janet Leigh fan as I was--or just an admirer of her work in the film as Marion Crane--this was a book you just had to have in your library. Talk about an inside story. Ms. Leigh gives you a front row seat in the filming of the famous shower scene and with her easy-going style of writing--and she was a good writer of memoir--this book is completely irresistible. Okay, till we meet again, remember . . .
The best is yet to come.
Warmly,
Paul
May 16, 2017
What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?
Hi, I wrote this post once and must have done something with my elbows and deleted it. Oh, well ... here we go again.
Lately I've been involved with more nonfiction projects. And to be honest, I'm enjoying my writing life more. My current anthology, Equality, came out on MLK Day this year
. It was such a joy working with these twenty-four wonderful and accomplished writers and the Vine Leaves Press publisher, staff, and editors I didn't want the process to end.
It seems today in America and around the globe, democracies are being threatened left and right. Every day in the U.S. it's some new horrific event that brings this issue home. Today, May 16th was no exception. As I've said before and never get tired of saying, "Equality is more important NOW than ever." If you've been following me you'll know I've written several posts about the book's subject and included excerpts from the book's essays. What did you think about what you've read?
Let me ask you the question this way: What do YOU think about when YOU think of equality? I'd sure like to know.
So until we meet again,
The best is yet to come (hopefully).
Warmly,
Paul
Lately I've been involved with more nonfiction projects. And to be honest, I'm enjoying my writing life more. My current anthology, Equality, came out on MLK Day this year
. It was such a joy working with these twenty-four wonderful and accomplished writers and the Vine Leaves Press publisher, staff, and editors I didn't want the process to end. It seems today in America and around the globe, democracies are being threatened left and right. Every day in the U.S. it's some new horrific event that brings this issue home. Today, May 16th was no exception. As I've said before and never get tired of saying, "Equality is more important NOW than ever." If you've been following me you'll know I've written several posts about the book's subject and included excerpts from the book's essays. What did you think about what you've read?
Let me ask you the question this way: What do YOU think about when YOU think of equality? I'd sure like to know.
So until we meet again,
The best is yet to come (hopefully).
Warmly,
Paul
April 5, 2017
Where I Am Right Now
Hi, everyone, this is not a happy post. But I think a hopeful one. Maybe one I shouldn't be writing but I think I need to. Lately I've been having problems with my cognitive functioning. My greatest fear--and I bet for most writers--is the inability to think clearly.
I've been on a lot of medication the past seven months and I think it's finally taking its toll. Most of my symptoms have to do with verbal skills and short term memory. I have difficulty with word retrieval. I talk around words but never quite get to the right word I want to say. This doesn't happen in my writing--thank God--but in my speech it's almost all the time. So much so that I'm often brought to tears when I can't understand what someone says to me or try to express myself verbally or when I can't remember what I just did or...
Okay you get the idea. Trust me, I'm not writing to get anyone's sympathy. I'm just writing from where I am at the moment. Sharing what's going on. But please keep reading: There's a silver lining coming up. I promise.
A few years back I wrote a short story, Words ,
that was published by JMS Books and is now free on Kindle. In the story I wrote about my greatest fear--the loss of cognitive functioning. Words tells a somewhat autobiographical story of a relationship that spans a lifetime. Two men meet, fall in love, weather infidelites, survive the AIDS epidemic at its worst, and somehow make it into their Golden Years--old age and its accompanying infirmities.
I guess what I'm wondering is this: Is life imitating art here? Maybe. But, believe me, I'm not that conceited to think of my writing as art, but as a fun thing I really enjoy doing. And I'll continue to do it as long as I can.
Okay now the silver lining I promised. I have a new story brewing; it has several, yet similar themes: The unreliability of two people in love; the ones we love aren't always who we think they are; can we ever really know "the other?" And the story will be told in the epistolary style: in letters and journal entries, etc. Trust me. This is going to happen. My mum always said I had tunnel vision. Once I started something I followed thru to the end. So...
Hopefully, the best is yet to come. Thanks for reading.
Warmly,
Paul
P.S. And if you'd care to comment I'd love that too.
I've been on a lot of medication the past seven months and I think it's finally taking its toll. Most of my symptoms have to do with verbal skills and short term memory. I have difficulty with word retrieval. I talk around words but never quite get to the right word I want to say. This doesn't happen in my writing--thank God--but in my speech it's almost all the time. So much so that I'm often brought to tears when I can't understand what someone says to me or try to express myself verbally or when I can't remember what I just did or...
Okay you get the idea. Trust me, I'm not writing to get anyone's sympathy. I'm just writing from where I am at the moment. Sharing what's going on. But please keep reading: There's a silver lining coming up. I promise.
A few years back I wrote a short story, Words ,
that was published by JMS Books and is now free on Kindle. In the story I wrote about my greatest fear--the loss of cognitive functioning. Words tells a somewhat autobiographical story of a relationship that spans a lifetime. Two men meet, fall in love, weather infidelites, survive the AIDS epidemic at its worst, and somehow make it into their Golden Years--old age and its accompanying infirmities. I guess what I'm wondering is this: Is life imitating art here? Maybe. But, believe me, I'm not that conceited to think of my writing as art, but as a fun thing I really enjoy doing. And I'll continue to do it as long as I can.
Okay now the silver lining I promised. I have a new story brewing; it has several, yet similar themes: The unreliability of two people in love; the ones we love aren't always who we think they are; can we ever really know "the other?" And the story will be told in the epistolary style: in letters and journal entries, etc. Trust me. This is going to happen. My mum always said I had tunnel vision. Once I started something I followed thru to the end. So...
Hopefully, the best is yet to come. Thanks for reading.
Warmly,
Paul
P.S. And if you'd care to comment I'd love that too.
March 21, 2017
The Story Behind the Story
Hi, and welcome to my Tuesday blog. Notice I'm trying to be a bit more regular with my posts. One can always hope. :)
I thought this week I'd talk a little about how one of my novellas, Garden Reach
came about.
Like many writers who tend to write short pieces, I struggled for years to write longer short stories. Finally I figured out a way to stretch my fiction.
I discuss this process in my writing book, The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction
just in case you might want to read further.
But let's get back to Garden Reach and how this novella came about. First I expanded a 55 Fiction piece to a 100-word summary.
From: The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction, published by JMS Books.
* * * *
"Artistic License" (55 words)
He loved his Evelyn almost as much as he wanted her dead. He pictured her strolling a foggy cliff, the strangler closing in, the Pacific splashing the jagged rocks below. But she wasn’t central to the plot. A minor character. So he put her aside. He knew one day she would return in another story.
* * * *
"Artistic License" (expanded to a 100-word story summary)
Recently widowed, Evelyn Richards is having an anxiety attack. A storm rages outside. Her thoughts drift to Lilah, the woman who manages the Victorian residence. It feels good to start over, be part of a family again.
After her nap, Evelyn wakes to music. Lilah’s phonograph.
Dionne telling her to reach out.
The storm’s over.
Dinner with the other residents.
Next morning, she senses something wrong, searches through the mansion, discovers boxes of women’s clothing.
She goes outside.
In the garden, Mildred, holding a sharp object, walks toward her. Evelyn falls, clutches her chest, thinking, they said it was anxiety.
* * * *
The above summary’s a bit sketchy and most likely made more sense to me then than it will to you now, but it helped clarify why I was so obsessed with the character. By the time I finished the summary, I knew what the character wanted—a second chance and new friends—and a bit more about the wild and windy setting.
Here’s the opening scene of the expanded story, Garden Reach published as an e-book by JMS Books, that depicts Evelyn in her new surroundings, states the theme of second chances, provides backstory, and shows our heroine’s heightened emotional state. The full story clocks in at about 5,000 words.
Garden Reach
Evelyn woke from her afternoon nap to Lilah’s phonograph and the sounds of early Burt Bacharach sweeping up the grand staircase. The singer, Dionne Warwick, was center stage, extolling the virtues of wives who were also lovers. Evelyn heard the waves hitting the rocks below, felt the force of the wind against the glass. At her living room window, she looked down and studied the garden. After years of neglect, it was nothing but a green wildness twisting and smothering its way to the ragged cliffs overlooking the Pacific.
At first, Evelyn’s new home, Garden Reach, had symbolized a fresh start, new friends, and companionship. Was it the name of the newly restored Victorian mansion, so full of hope and promise that had initially attracted her to Lilah’s advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle and this isolated area on the Northern California coast? Maybe.
Garden Reach
Now avail lux 1 & 2 bedrm suites, magnif renov
estate overlkng Pacific. Spect vus! 80 mi
N of SF. Bird watchrs’ paradise, pvt bch.
Just $750K. Senior wmn only.
Interested parties please contact Lilah Sarkees at…
Now, two months later, Evelyn was having second and third thoughts, wondering if it was possible so late in life to adjust to new surroundings.
* * * *
I hope you've enjoyed reading about my writing process.
Until the next time.
The best is yet to come.
Paul
I thought this week I'd talk a little about how one of my novellas, Garden Reach
came about. Like many writers who tend to write short pieces, I struggled for years to write longer short stories. Finally I figured out a way to stretch my fiction.
I discuss this process in my writing book, The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction
just in case you might want to read further. But let's get back to Garden Reach and how this novella came about. First I expanded a 55 Fiction piece to a 100-word summary.
From: The Short and Long Of It: Expand, Adapt, and Publish Your Short Fiction, published by JMS Books.
* * * *
"Artistic License" (55 words)
He loved his Evelyn almost as much as he wanted her dead. He pictured her strolling a foggy cliff, the strangler closing in, the Pacific splashing the jagged rocks below. But she wasn’t central to the plot. A minor character. So he put her aside. He knew one day she would return in another story.
* * * *
"Artistic License" (expanded to a 100-word story summary)
Recently widowed, Evelyn Richards is having an anxiety attack. A storm rages outside. Her thoughts drift to Lilah, the woman who manages the Victorian residence. It feels good to start over, be part of a family again.
After her nap, Evelyn wakes to music. Lilah’s phonograph.
Dionne telling her to reach out.
The storm’s over.
Dinner with the other residents.
Next morning, she senses something wrong, searches through the mansion, discovers boxes of women’s clothing.
She goes outside.
In the garden, Mildred, holding a sharp object, walks toward her. Evelyn falls, clutches her chest, thinking, they said it was anxiety.
* * * *
The above summary’s a bit sketchy and most likely made more sense to me then than it will to you now, but it helped clarify why I was so obsessed with the character. By the time I finished the summary, I knew what the character wanted—a second chance and new friends—and a bit more about the wild and windy setting.
Here’s the opening scene of the expanded story, Garden Reach published as an e-book by JMS Books, that depicts Evelyn in her new surroundings, states the theme of second chances, provides backstory, and shows our heroine’s heightened emotional state. The full story clocks in at about 5,000 words.
Garden Reach
Evelyn woke from her afternoon nap to Lilah’s phonograph and the sounds of early Burt Bacharach sweeping up the grand staircase. The singer, Dionne Warwick, was center stage, extolling the virtues of wives who were also lovers. Evelyn heard the waves hitting the rocks below, felt the force of the wind against the glass. At her living room window, she looked down and studied the garden. After years of neglect, it was nothing but a green wildness twisting and smothering its way to the ragged cliffs overlooking the Pacific.
At first, Evelyn’s new home, Garden Reach, had symbolized a fresh start, new friends, and companionship. Was it the name of the newly restored Victorian mansion, so full of hope and promise that had initially attracted her to Lilah’s advertisement in the San Francisco Chronicle and this isolated area on the Northern California coast? Maybe.
Garden Reach
Now avail lux 1 & 2 bedrm suites, magnif renov
estate overlkng Pacific. Spect vus! 80 mi
N of SF. Bird watchrs’ paradise, pvt bch.
Just $750K. Senior wmn only.
Interested parties please contact Lilah Sarkees at…
Now, two months later, Evelyn was having second and third thoughts, wondering if it was possible so late in life to adjust to new surroundings.
* * * *
I hope you've enjoyed reading about my writing process.
Until the next time.
The best is yet to come.
Paul
February 15, 2017
A Video Trailer and an Excerpt from Equality
Hi, Everyone,
I'm back again with our new trailer for the anthology, Equality
. Hope you like it. Following the trailer is an excerpt of the book's introduction.
https://youtu.be/ptDjcuL_8hM
And the good news is the e book for Equality is only $2.99 at B and N and Amazon. What a deal, huh? Just saying.
INTRODUCTION
"In the United States and around the globe, we continually observe how easily a click of a mouse or a few strokes on a keypad can send a torrent of hate into the universe.
As recent examples, witness the racial unrest in the U.S., specifically in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland; in the determined, frustrated efforts of women and minorities to gain equal pay and opportunity; in immigrants’ fight for due process and human rights; and in the outright bigotry and hatred espoused by one of the candidates embroiled in the recent 2016 U.S. presidential race.
We see this seemingly never-ending struggle to be treated fairly and equally whenever we pick up a newspaper or watch the evening news. The multi-faceted issue of equality is ubiquitous and incredibly relevant.
But what does equality really mean? More important, what does it mean to you?
Webster’s defines equality as “the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.” Extend that and you have issues of equality across a spectrum: racial, social, political, religious, marital, and gender.
Equality in the home, equality in the workplace, and equality in all things legal.
In Equality twenty-five of our best writers, teachers, and activists including Dennis Palumbo, Felice Picano, David Congalton, Michael Nava, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Anne R. Allen, Barbara Abercrombie, and Victoria Zackheim, examine their views on equality in all its definitions, permutations, and possibilities, yet always in deeply personal and intimate ways. Each essay in this book is a unique exploration of what equality means to them."
I hope this little snippet and trailer have intrigued you.
What do you think about when you think of equality?
I'd love to know. Feel free to comment and let's get a dialogue going.
The best is yet to come!
Paul
I'm back again with our new trailer for the anthology, Equality
. Hope you like it. Following the trailer is an excerpt of the book's introduction.https://youtu.be/ptDjcuL_8hM
And the good news is the e book for Equality is only $2.99 at B and N and Amazon. What a deal, huh? Just saying.
INTRODUCTION
"In the United States and around the globe, we continually observe how easily a click of a mouse or a few strokes on a keypad can send a torrent of hate into the universe.
As recent examples, witness the racial unrest in the U.S., specifically in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland; in the determined, frustrated efforts of women and minorities to gain equal pay and opportunity; in immigrants’ fight for due process and human rights; and in the outright bigotry and hatred espoused by one of the candidates embroiled in the recent 2016 U.S. presidential race.
We see this seemingly never-ending struggle to be treated fairly and equally whenever we pick up a newspaper or watch the evening news. The multi-faceted issue of equality is ubiquitous and incredibly relevant.
But what does equality really mean? More important, what does it mean to you?
Webster’s defines equality as “the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.” Extend that and you have issues of equality across a spectrum: racial, social, political, religious, marital, and gender.
Equality in the home, equality in the workplace, and equality in all things legal.
In Equality twenty-five of our best writers, teachers, and activists including Dennis Palumbo, Felice Picano, David Congalton, Michael Nava, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Anne R. Allen, Barbara Abercrombie, and Victoria Zackheim, examine their views on equality in all its definitions, permutations, and possibilities, yet always in deeply personal and intimate ways. Each essay in this book is a unique exploration of what equality means to them."
I hope this little snippet and trailer have intrigued you.
What do you think about when you think of equality?
I'd love to know. Feel free to comment and let's get a dialogue going.
The best is yet to come!
Paul
February 10, 2017
What Does Equality Really Mean?
That's a good question, isn't it? More importantly what does it mean to you?
Let's find out what some of our top writers have to say on the subject.
I promised I'd continue to share short excerpts from our new anthology, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?
First up is Victoria Zackheim, author, playwright, screenwriter, teacher, and anthologist. Her essay raises some very important questions about the future. What will equality look like for our younger generation?
From "Stirring Frustration Stew" by Victoria Zackheim
"As much as I’d like to write about equality in a positive way, I’m finding it difficult, and every example slides into the murky depths of my Frustration Stew.
At the time of this writing, my five grandchildren range in age from three to thirteen. My daughter’s twin girls are thirteen, and I often wonder what equality will look like when they reach adulthood. Compared to the men, will they receive equal pay for equal work? My son’s twins, a boy and a girl, are six. Will they be treated with the same consideration and fairness when they apply to universities, or launch careers?"
Good questions raised here about equality. What do you think?
Next up is Barbara Jacksha, writer and editor. Barbara creates an Equality Test and examines how she treats others and wants to be treated in return.
From "Everyday Equality" by Barbara Jacksha
"I began to wonder whether I really championed equality on the small, everyday levels as well as the grand—the subconscious and conscious levels. I thought I did but wanted to know for sure.
So I decided to observe my thoughts and feelings, attitudes and behaviours, to see if they reflected my belief that I see and treat people equally. As is true for most people, my perception of self can be a very slippery thing, coloured by a host of factors including a strong desire to see myself as a loving, compassionate person.
The first few days of my Equality Test were smooth and easy, and I thought, all right I’m doing pretty well at this whole equality thing."
But was she? How would you do on Ms. Jacksha's Equality Test?
One more snippet on the lighter side and I'll let you go.
Rob Byrnes takes a look at equality from a slightly skewed and humorous angle. His acerbic and sophisticated wit has never been more engaging.
From "On Equality" by Rob Byrnes
"When I discuss matters of equality, it's important that my audience look not just at me, but also within themselves. Ignore what you see in my professional author photo: White. Male. Still roguishly good-looking even as I age gracefully.
And ignore your assumptions: Cisgendered. Protestant, but from a respectable denomination having nothing to do with mass hysteria or snake handling. Recipient of a decent biweekly paycheck who lives in a cosmopolitan urban environment.
Ignore the surface and try to look inside me. Because there are things you will never see when you’re skimming the surface.
For one example, you can't see my disability. And, yes, I consider occasional moderate arthritis pain to be disabling. Oh, sure, it's not a "sexy" disability, like being blind or deaf or having a missing arm or leg or head, but sometimes that shit really hurts.
For another example, you can’t see that I'm gay.
I'll let you catch your breath.
What? Was it the colour-coordination that gave me away? The cufflink fetish?"
Please let me know if you're enjoying these little excerpts. I plan to keep doing them. For me in today's global and diverse world, equality is more important than ever. Do you agree?
The best is yet to come. Believe it!
All my best,
Paul
Let's find out what some of our top writers have to say on the subject.
I promised I'd continue to share short excerpts from our new anthology, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?
First up is Victoria Zackheim, author, playwright, screenwriter, teacher, and anthologist. Her essay raises some very important questions about the future. What will equality look like for our younger generation?
From "Stirring Frustration Stew" by Victoria Zackheim
"As much as I’d like to write about equality in a positive way, I’m finding it difficult, and every example slides into the murky depths of my Frustration Stew.
At the time of this writing, my five grandchildren range in age from three to thirteen. My daughter’s twin girls are thirteen, and I often wonder what equality will look like when they reach adulthood. Compared to the men, will they receive equal pay for equal work? My son’s twins, a boy and a girl, are six. Will they be treated with the same consideration and fairness when they apply to universities, or launch careers?"
Good questions raised here about equality. What do you think?
Next up is Barbara Jacksha, writer and editor. Barbara creates an Equality Test and examines how she treats others and wants to be treated in return.
From "Everyday Equality" by Barbara Jacksha
"I began to wonder whether I really championed equality on the small, everyday levels as well as the grand—the subconscious and conscious levels. I thought I did but wanted to know for sure.
So I decided to observe my thoughts and feelings, attitudes and behaviours, to see if they reflected my belief that I see and treat people equally. As is true for most people, my perception of self can be a very slippery thing, coloured by a host of factors including a strong desire to see myself as a loving, compassionate person.
The first few days of my Equality Test were smooth and easy, and I thought, all right I’m doing pretty well at this whole equality thing."
But was she? How would you do on Ms. Jacksha's Equality Test?
One more snippet on the lighter side and I'll let you go.
Rob Byrnes takes a look at equality from a slightly skewed and humorous angle. His acerbic and sophisticated wit has never been more engaging.
From "On Equality" by Rob Byrnes
"When I discuss matters of equality, it's important that my audience look not just at me, but also within themselves. Ignore what you see in my professional author photo: White. Male. Still roguishly good-looking even as I age gracefully.
And ignore your assumptions: Cisgendered. Protestant, but from a respectable denomination having nothing to do with mass hysteria or snake handling. Recipient of a decent biweekly paycheck who lives in a cosmopolitan urban environment.
Ignore the surface and try to look inside me. Because there are things you will never see when you’re skimming the surface.
For one example, you can't see my disability. And, yes, I consider occasional moderate arthritis pain to be disabling. Oh, sure, it's not a "sexy" disability, like being blind or deaf or having a missing arm or leg or head, but sometimes that shit really hurts.
For another example, you can’t see that I'm gay.
I'll let you catch your breath.
What? Was it the colour-coordination that gave me away? The cufflink fetish?"
Please let me know if you're enjoying these little excerpts. I plan to keep doing them. For me in today's global and diverse world, equality is more important than ever. Do you agree?
The best is yet to come. Believe it!
All my best,
Paul
February 6, 2017
A Closer Look at Equality
Hi, and welcome back to my Goodreads short blog. Last month I talked about my new anthology, Equality
. I hope you had a chance to read that excerpt on Medium. If not, check out my previous post on January 7th titled, "Equality: Now More Than Ever."
Writing a book, at least for me and many of my writer pals, is the fun part. Granted it's not an easy ride all the way. There are plenty of false starts, dead ends, and other troublesome road signs ahead. But once we get started, our engines are revved and we're passionate about our storyline, theme, and characters; we can't wait to share them with our readers.
Now here's the hard part. Promotion. Trust me, this can be fun as well, but mostly it's hard work and takes a lot of time and effort, and often time away from our next writing project.
So what I've decided to do is present little excerpts from our anthology for the next few months. My hope is these little gems will pique your interest and you'll want to read more about the topic. And you know what? The ebook is available in Kindle and Nook formats for only $2.99, and in paperback as well. Now that's a deal, isn't it?
Okay, let's let the writers speak for themselves. Up first is a short sample from the essay titled "Inequality" by Felice Picano, a respected and well known writer of many books of poetry, memoir, fiction, and nonfiction.
Felice was also a contributor to my previous anthology: The Other Man
. And I couldn't wait to get him back for Equality.
From "Inequality" by Felice Picano:
"Equality is a word that has always seemed to be by definition its opposite or negative value—inequality. Like effable and estimable and eluctable and tractable and well, you know all those words are best, or only, known by their opposite.
Semantic joking aside, probably the first thing any child learns in life is that things that actually exist are for the most part unequal—especially the child itself."
Interesting, no?
Here's another snippet from writer Eldonna Edwards. Eldonna is a journaling workshop facilitator, and author of two popular journaling books and a memoir.
Eldonna's essay titled "Body Language: The Naked Truth" is an intimate exploration of individuality and the equality of the human spirit.
From "Body Language: The Naked Truth" by Eldonna Edwards:
"When I stand at the head of my massage table, especially with a new client, I have no idea if they might be gay or straight, liberal or conservative, carnivore or vegetarian, devoutly religious or religiously atheist. Along with their clothes, people shed any measure of social status or political leanings. They are not equal in size or colour or shape or age, but each human being comes to the massage table with the same desire: to be treated with kindness and respect. My goal is to meet them heart to heart rather than through the membrane of our divisive labels. I endeavor to apply the same philosophy outside my massage practice and being human, I sometimes fail. So why is it so difficult to live genuine loving-kindness in the “real” world?"
Good question, Eldonna, and one most of us are asking ourselves on a pretty regular basis today given the current socio-political climate in America.
Like what you've read?
I sure hope so.
I'll be back again soon with more words on equality. Now more than ever is a time to have a discussion on this very important topic. I look forward to reading your comments on this post.
The best is yet to come.
Warmly,
Paul
. I hope you had a chance to read that excerpt on Medium. If not, check out my previous post on January 7th titled, "Equality: Now More Than Ever." Writing a book, at least for me and many of my writer pals, is the fun part. Granted it's not an easy ride all the way. There are plenty of false starts, dead ends, and other troublesome road signs ahead. But once we get started, our engines are revved and we're passionate about our storyline, theme, and characters; we can't wait to share them with our readers.
Now here's the hard part. Promotion. Trust me, this can be fun as well, but mostly it's hard work and takes a lot of time and effort, and often time away from our next writing project.
So what I've decided to do is present little excerpts from our anthology for the next few months. My hope is these little gems will pique your interest and you'll want to read more about the topic. And you know what? The ebook is available in Kindle and Nook formats for only $2.99, and in paperback as well. Now that's a deal, isn't it?
Okay, let's let the writers speak for themselves. Up first is a short sample from the essay titled "Inequality" by Felice Picano, a respected and well known writer of many books of poetry, memoir, fiction, and nonfiction.
Felice was also a contributor to my previous anthology: The Other Man
. And I couldn't wait to get him back for Equality.From "Inequality" by Felice Picano:
"Equality is a word that has always seemed to be by definition its opposite or negative value—inequality. Like effable and estimable and eluctable and tractable and well, you know all those words are best, or only, known by their opposite.
Semantic joking aside, probably the first thing any child learns in life is that things that actually exist are for the most part unequal—especially the child itself."
Interesting, no?
Here's another snippet from writer Eldonna Edwards. Eldonna is a journaling workshop facilitator, and author of two popular journaling books and a memoir.
Eldonna's essay titled "Body Language: The Naked Truth" is an intimate exploration of individuality and the equality of the human spirit.
From "Body Language: The Naked Truth" by Eldonna Edwards:
"When I stand at the head of my massage table, especially with a new client, I have no idea if they might be gay or straight, liberal or conservative, carnivore or vegetarian, devoutly religious or religiously atheist. Along with their clothes, people shed any measure of social status or political leanings. They are not equal in size or colour or shape or age, but each human being comes to the massage table with the same desire: to be treated with kindness and respect. My goal is to meet them heart to heart rather than through the membrane of our divisive labels. I endeavor to apply the same philosophy outside my massage practice and being human, I sometimes fail. So why is it so difficult to live genuine loving-kindness in the “real” world?"
Good question, Eldonna, and one most of us are asking ourselves on a pretty regular basis today given the current socio-political climate in America.
Like what you've read?
I sure hope so.
I'll be back again soon with more words on equality. Now more than ever is a time to have a discussion on this very important topic. I look forward to reading your comments on this post.
The best is yet to come.
Warmly,
Paul
January 7, 2017
Equality: Now More Than Ever!
Hi, and welcome to my short GR blog. It's been a while but I have plenty to say.
When theater critic, Charles Isherwood, at the New York Times writes on New Year's Day, January 1, 2017, the following:
"The recent election season has illustrated, in sometimes lurid colors, that not all Americans feel that all Americans are equal, and that misogyny, racism and homophobia continue to exist, hiding in plain sight or not."
And when the edit team at Lambda Literary review reports that "the white supremacist Milo Yiannopoulos, notorious for his misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and racist rants, announced he had signed a $250,000 book deal with the Simon and Schuster imprint Threshold Editions"...
it's time to speak up. And that's just what we did.
On MLK Day, this month, Vine Leaves Press in Melbourne, Australia, will release our latest anthology, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think Of Equality?
In Equality, twenty-five authors tackle the theme of Equality and run with it in surprising directions. These thought provoking, funny, and compelling essays probe a concept professed to be the very foundation of our
democracy—a concept that may be even more vital today than in the past.
(And believe me, it is.)
Contributing authors are Barbara Abercrombie, Anne R. Allen, Christopher Bram, ‘Nathan Burgoine,
Rob Byrnes, David Congalton, Larry Duplechan, Eldonna Edwards, Jewelle Gomez, Lisa Horan,
Catherine Ryan Hyde, Barbara Jacksha, Michael McMahon, Jeff Mann, Michael Nava, Dennis Palumbo,
Anne Perry, Felice Picano, Mara Purl, Susan Reynolds, Jeffrey Ricker, Michael Rupured, Baxter Clare
Trautman, and Victoria Zackheim.
Shortly, I'll be posting to Medium.com a short excerpt of my essay from the book. I hope you'll take a look.
Equality. We need it now more than ever.
The best is yet to come. Believe it.
Warmly,
Paul
Editor, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?
When theater critic, Charles Isherwood, at the New York Times writes on New Year's Day, January 1, 2017, the following:
"The recent election season has illustrated, in sometimes lurid colors, that not all Americans feel that all Americans are equal, and that misogyny, racism and homophobia continue to exist, hiding in plain sight or not."
And when the edit team at Lambda Literary review reports that "the white supremacist Milo Yiannopoulos, notorious for his misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and racist rants, announced he had signed a $250,000 book deal with the Simon and Schuster imprint Threshold Editions"...
it's time to speak up. And that's just what we did.
On MLK Day, this month, Vine Leaves Press in Melbourne, Australia, will release our latest anthology, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think Of Equality?
In Equality, twenty-five authors tackle the theme of Equality and run with it in surprising directions. These thought provoking, funny, and compelling essays probe a concept professed to be the very foundation of our
democracy—a concept that may be even more vital today than in the past.
(And believe me, it is.)
Contributing authors are Barbara Abercrombie, Anne R. Allen, Christopher Bram, ‘Nathan Burgoine,
Rob Byrnes, David Congalton, Larry Duplechan, Eldonna Edwards, Jewelle Gomez, Lisa Horan,
Catherine Ryan Hyde, Barbara Jacksha, Michael McMahon, Jeff Mann, Michael Nava, Dennis Palumbo,
Anne Perry, Felice Picano, Mara Purl, Susan Reynolds, Jeffrey Ricker, Michael Rupured, Baxter Clare
Trautman, and Victoria Zackheim.
Shortly, I'll be posting to Medium.com a short excerpt of my essay from the book. I hope you'll take a look.
Equality. We need it now more than ever.
The best is yet to come. Believe it.
Warmly,
Paul
Editor, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?
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