Cheryl Snell's Blog, page 70

Quiz

Ten questions, each with a choice of three answers. Pick the answer that best suits you. a = 1 point; b = 2 points; c = 3 points; d = 4 points. Tally your points at the end to see which Sanity Profile is yours.

One: Do you carry a notebook and pen everywhere so you can always be sure to have a place to write down your thoughts and ideas?

a) Meh. I'll probably remember.
b) I try to, but it's not a problem if I don't.
c) That's just good planning.
d) Of course. Doesn't everybody?

Two: Who do you let ...

A Rose by any other name...

This article,excerpted from Rediff reminds me of the first time I met my husband's nephews--one called himself Given Name Surname, while his brother used the more traditional Surname, Given Name.

"Last name first, First name last, Middle initial," said the inspector. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Sir, I am having a little trouble with the last name, first name business. I don't think I have a last name, what should I do?"

"Very simple, son. What's your father's name?"

"A M Natesh, sir."

"Well,...

Food in Novels

I love scenes that revolve around food in novels, don't you? They can communicate the pleasure of a party for one ("For lunch, I may say, I ate and greatly enjoyed the following: anchovy paste on hot buttered toast, then baked beans and kidney beans with chopped celery, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil... ), or a banquet("The burnished gold of the crusts, the fragrance of sugar and cinnamon they exuded, were but preludes to the delights released from the interior when the knife broke the ...

WP article

An interesting article from WP Magazine today, about how the reporter's uncle became a Hare Krishna monk.

Along the Grand Trunk Road

Slideshow and stories courtesy NPR.

Sashtiabdhapoorthi

According to Wiki, that household go-to guru, Sashtiabdhapoorthi is a Sanskrit name for a sixtieth birthday. Since the Hindu calendar follows a 60-year cycle, it marks the completion of one in a person's life. There are ceremonies, prayers and special foods, of course, and the birthday boy and his wife renew their wedding vows. The wife receives a second gold wedding necklace, to be worn with the original. It's considered to be her shastiabhapoorthi, too.

On this day, all the celestial bodies...

Review

It was my privilege to have been reviewed recently by Dr. Matthew Biberman, a Shakespeare scholar, professor and poet, and the author of this wonderful memoir.

He made an observation about my work that intriqued me:
"Outside or within the eddy that is the mortal there is always the immortal. That conflation is Cheryl's true subject."

Read the full review here.

Wisdom

"Have regrets. They are fuel. On the page they flare into desire," Geoff Dyer tells us. What have you used from your own life as fuel for writing? And did it flare into desire? Desire for what? What was the end result? Tell me yours (in the comment box) and I'll tell you mine.

Playlist

Ever wonder what's on your characters' iPods? Click the title for Odessa,one of Sam's current faves.

I think music ranks right up there with fragrance in evoking memories. It becomes an important part of scene-setting, and I incorporate many instances in Shiva's Arms. For instance, on page 20, I imagined that this song could have been playing when Ram first met Alice. Those hippies!

But Ram has his own favorites, vestiges of the ...

in the spirit of Mother's Day

To celebrate the holiday, here is the Golu scene from Shiva's Arms, when Amma and Alice first connect--

"It was late when Alice wandered downstairs. She expected that Amma would have gone to bed, but she was still at her task, busy with the display. She motioned to Alice to help her set up the rest of the dolls. There were brass and sandalwood gods and Malibu Barbies, an American bride doll and Japanese geishas collected one at a time, each one with a history.

"We will make kolam on the porch t...