Patrick O'Scheen's Blog, page 14

Happy Father’s Day

May your day be everything you dreamed it would be. Happy Father’s Day to you.

Project 100 posted today! #project100

105 people signed up to create a post on the prompt “UMWELT.” 17 actually completed the task and are listed for your pleasure at

My post is number A14- Patrick O’ScheenGO HAVE A PEEK! HOPE YOU ENJOY!

apparently has its own hash tag on twitter #Project100

Tea with the Dragon and Francis Guenette

The tea kettle hisses in the Dragon’s kitchen and a scaly claw reaches for the pot. Dragon sized trays are laden with delicious treasures and cups far too small and delicate for dragon form are set out in preparation. Soon it will be tea time and I am expecting a victim visitor…

With a loud roar I am pleased to announce my mouth watering guest Francis Guenette, author of Disappearing in Plain Sight, “a contemporary work of literary fiction with definite romantic overtones.” I have read this amazing work and am very excited to have Francis here at the dragon’s den for tea and a few questions so that you may gobble up her replies.

Dragon: Won’t you please take a seat…Tea is ready. Will you have Chamomile or Earl Grey?

Francis: I will definitely take the Earl Grey – I would not waste my time on a hot beverage that didn’t include at least some caffeine!

(A caffeine addict myself I can only smile in response. We sip a moment in silence… I watch Francis closely. Yes–to answer an age old question–dragons drink tea pinky out)

Dragon: Can you tell us a little about yourself and why you chose writing as a form of expression?

Francis: If you can’t sing or dance or paint – what’s left? I’ve always been a writer, and that has a lot to do with the fact that my mother was a writer. For a long time, I couldn’t see myself writing fiction because that was what my mom did. We couldn’t possibly occupy the same spot in the cosmic universe, or so it seemed for many years. I directed my desire to write along other paths – letters, journals, articles, essays and a thesis or two. But I was always a storyteller and somehow, somewhere along the road of a writing life, the stories took over.

(I don’t voice my worries about dragons that don’t sing, paint or dance…. We stare at one another for a moment while I empty my cup with a long slurping noise that makes Francis giggle.)

Dragon: In Disappearing in Plain Sight you introduce many characters. What is your inspiration for design? Do you incorporate aspects of people you know? Please tell us a little bit about Izzy, and how you wove the creation of her personality.

Francis: I think a writer can’t help but work out of personal experience, but it’s complicated. One of my characters in the Light Never Lies says that all the time (it’s complicated man, f—ing complicated). Have you heard of the process that Smashwords uses to get an e-book up on various platforms? They run the files through a meat grinder. I love the meat grinder analogy. I’ve got this lifetime of personal experiences – people, places, happenings – and it all gets smashed through a meat grinder and out pops a character or two.

Izzy is the epitome of f—ing complicated, man. From the beginning, she was always meant to be an introspective character, and that gave me a lot of scope with her. I wanted a strong female character that operated in the world wielding a considerable amount of personal power. Izzy’s smart and attractive and she has money – quite the combination, right? But, she is also subject to her own inner doubts and fears. I hope she comes off as strong but at the same time vulnerable and human .

(she forgot to add possibly delicious….)

Dragon: Would you like a scone with your tea? Chocolate or blueberry or a lady finger?

Francis: Chocolate for sure – you heard what I said about the caffeine, right?

(I wonder if Francis has stolen a lady finger while I was distracted pouring another cup… I have attempted to count how many she has but stopped at 10. Everything seems to be in order…)

Dragon:  Do you meticulously plan the events of the plot or let the characters control the creation? What do you see as your methodology?

Francis: I will tell you straight out that I love the word methodology. That’s the researcher in me. For years I wrote about and worked within the paradigm of narrative methodology – no doubt that had something to do with my shift over to writing fiction. I could only go on for so long saying things like we are all storied beings until I began to want to write a story. But, that’s a story in itself, definitely one for another day.

I am not meticulous about a single thing in my life – so, no to the meticulous planning question. I do plan, though. I believe in all kinds of creative ways to outline – calendars, maps, flowcharts, brainstorms, word webs, and sticky notes all over the place. But I also believe the best laid plans have lots of wiggle room. Once the characters get moving anything can happen. Not to say that all of their shenanigans will make it to the final draft, but I am sometimes amazed what my characters end up dictating.

(her characters are not huge red and scaly…imagine what problems dragons can cause! A small puff of smoke strays from my nostrils and thankfully Francis is polite enough to pretend she didn’t notice!)

Dragon:  Lisa Marie is a teen with definite problems and one of the main characters in the story. The way she solves her problems is rather unique. Can you tell us how the title, Disappearing in Plain Sight, relates to Lisa Marie’s situation? What made you choose the title?

Francis: The title comes out of what I think is a core experience for many people.  The circumstances of life (the past, others, situations) can make a person feel disappeared. No one sees that person for who he or she truly is. Each of the characters in the book has a unique take on this phenomenon. Lisa-Marie has tried to be seen, and things haven’t worked out well for her. One of the major themes in the book revolves around the fact that Izzy (a counselor who works with young people for a living and is exceptionally gifted at that work) fails to see Lisa-Marie (a young person who has problems). The interlocking triangles that led up to that state of affairs and the consequences that lead away from it, provide a lot of fuel for the story.

Dragon:  Caleb is idolized by all the characters in the story. Have you ever considered resurrecting this dead hero to examine his faults?

Francis:  Caleb is iconic, and since the reader only has access to him through the memories of the other characters, the question is begged – do the characters remember Caleb as he was or do they remember him the way they need him to have been? Another theme of the story is how people begin to put into perspective the death of someone who has been a pivotal force in their lives. So each of the characters tell stories about Caleb, and these stories end up to be the stories that will allow them to move on.

To resurrect Caleb, would be to destroy him for the reader. He is who he needs to be for all of us – that shining memory of something lost that can never be recaptured and yet something of that shine lives on in our own lives. To use a fishing analogy – Caleb is the one who got away.

(We will need to catch that one…and eat him.)

Dragon:  The man that invades their summer has his own agenda. Is there anything you would like to share about this character?

Francis: The Reverend Daniel Patterson – just call me Dan – is a Catholic priest who has struggles and yet he appears to remain unaware of the true nature of those struggles. The antithesis to Izzy’s introspection, he is a person who does not find value in looking deeply into his own motives or behaviors. At the same time, he’s a happy sort of hail fellow well met guy. This type of character gave me a lot of leeway, but the danger with Dan was to paint him all one way or the other. He has blind spots, but so do the rest of the characters.

(humans with blind spots…how tasty!)

Dragon: Francis, I would love to thank you for joining me at tea and I’m sorry that it’s time to say a fond goodbye with a roar.  Can you offer us a glimpse into the future for your work? I understand that there is a sequel underway! Can I ask you one more thing—- Please finish the second book soon!

Francis: The sequel to Disappearing in Plain Sight – The Light Never Lies – should (with any kind of luck, stars aligning perfectly, and the moon in the seventh house and all of that) be available in the spring of 2014. There will be new challenges for all the characters. Izzy will have new clients to deal with, and there will be a greater emphasis on family. Lisa-Marie and Justin will be back, and of course she is not over him. There will be a few more interlocking triangles and some fascinating realignments for the reader to grapple with.

(I will let her go…this time. I want to read her next book!!!)

Please have a look at Disappearing in Plain Sight.  The Dragon says: YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPPOINTED!

(on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, Kobo and iTunes Stores)

You can locate Francis Guenette  at her WordPress blog!

The Glahee Gypsy Seer -from Chronicles of Marithe Book2

image via http://bellydanceuniverse.com

When Mirandra had begun to have the dreams, she dismissed them as fantasy. Those blessed with the gift executed their brand of magic without being asleep. However, it was not an unusual thing for a Seer to dream of wild things. Insanity often plagued the weaker minded females of the Glahee, overcome by the Sight. She only had begun to be afraid when one dream was repeated. Several nights she struggled in anguish, waking in an almost fevered tremor. There was only one way to reassure herself that the dream was meaningless, and Mirandra intended to confront the vision head on.

The sounds of early morning in the streets of Kareth usually brought happy thoughts of Baya, breakfast, and Lase. However, this morning Mirandra dreaded seeing her brother. She feared he would prescribe her dreams to some sort of betrayal. Mirandra sighed heavily as she sat at the open air table between their tiny shelters waiting for Lase to emerge. The morning was cold, but her shivers would not have been abated by heat.

Hahahahaha Happy Birthday to Me! 6/14/2013

Every year seems to pass so quickly. I think I’m not so very old and then poof—its happy birthday time all over again.

I have committed to writing 50 books before I pass into forever, but maybe it will actually be 106… All of my stripes are still in place and quite clearly I am in possession of a very fine pink tongue.

To all my loved ones, thanks for the many great years and for the ones yet to come! Happy Birthday to ME Ow!!!

----A Day in a Writer’s Life------

Reblogged from She Said What?:

Editor's Note - I have a special treat for you today Peeps! My friend Patrick has agreed to grace this blog with his words. I hope you will make him all feel welcome. He is an incredibly talented writer and a great guy. After you have read his work follow the links through to his blog and click the follow button.

Read more… 686 more words

I made a little visit to Steph`s blog. Here's what it looked like. Hope you enjoy

I can’t believe it!

Steve let me write on his blog!!! Yes, hard to believe. You can hop on over and take a look at Steve’s Imagineering It was fun to write. Hope you enjoy.

Saturdays

Most of you already know that I am fairly new to blogging. Someone said I should use the medium to practice writing. I availed myself of the opportunity to present my photography, drawings, and minor musings and I scratched my itch, creating a rather egocentric look at the world of blogging while I made an attempt to understand the difference between widgets and gizmos.

A good old-fashioned scratch.

Maturing only slightly as a blogger, I have enjoyed guest posting on the sites of a few friends patient enough to host me.

Today I examined my perspectives and realized, that –while I was communicating from my innermost heart–I was partially missing the picture.

Now, there is nothing wrong with looking inward. However there is a vast world if one adjusts the lens.

With your indulgence, I would like to do something different on future Saturdays. I would like to reach out and give back a little of the camaraderie I have felt by opening Saturday to a different perspective — other posts, guest posts, interviews, outside ideas and possibly book reviews.

Next Saturday I will be very proud to be hosting a conversation with a lady who has amazing talent both at blogging and writing fiction. I hope you all will be looking forward to this event as much as I am.

————Patrick

A Vast Array of Emotion

How very amazing it is to see colors! I supposed that in subtle shades of grey this view would still be wondrous, yet the ability to discern the myriad of hues makes it breath taking.

I sit here and think that’s its just an ordinary sunset. so many are colorful. I wonder if I should lose the sense of awe I feel looking up at the sky at the end of this day.

Although I am exposed to violence in my everyday life through various media, I find that I still feel sadness when a child is injured, or an innocent hurt. I even shed a tear at the murder of someone that I never had the grace to know in this life —theirs cut short by some savage act of one of our species. The prevailing belief is that we become desensitized by exposure— that we no longer view atrocities with the same magnitude of emotional distress.

I guess not everyone is the same. I have no intention of losing this part of myself—to move so far away from who I am that I can no longer empathize. I will always appreciate a sunset in all of its glorious spectacle and cry tear at the world’s injustices.

I find no shame in who I am or the awe I feel looking up at the sky.

Fog

Sometimes when things seem unclear, paths uncertain, even what appears to be clearly marked fades in the distance. I feel this way about the future sometimes, but I always try to remember that there is beauty everywhere. Uncertainty, like mist, need not dampen the spirits.

Fog is always temporary, usually lifting to reveal sunshine.