Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 11

Map ~ 5 minute fiction

[image error]She ran her fingers along the map. Tracing the journey she wished to take. Every night, when she slid under her sheets, she repeated the process. 

Light on, map out, tracing first by sight, then by memory. Two times, then she paused her eyes at the frame ontop her nightstand. 

She folded the map up, placed it back into the drawer, and clicked off the light. Laying back on her pillow she pictured the journey she would one day take. 

Handling BAD Book Reviews

We all love it when someone takes the time to write a nice book review. But when someone takes the time to leave a less than steller review…our feelings are not so grateful. I have come across the honest truth that there is not a lot of information on how to handle crappy book reviews. 

We know you can just ignore them and never look, but that’s kind of impossible, especially if you’re a newbie author or you don’t have a lot of books out. A huge author can most likely ignore them. I highly doubt that John Grisham looks at his reviews unless he’s maybe getting all one stars on a new release and his publisher calls them to say “Hey you know this is not looking good.” 

So I kind of wanted to talk about how to handle book reviews from my point of view. First off, there are days when I go to my 9 to 5 job, and I’m in not a great mood because I just received a bad book review. Often I stumble upon it in the morning before I leave for work. Most people don’t understand you’re having a bad day because you received a crappy book review. Most authors that I know do not work 9-5 jobs, so stumbled upon them at work is rare. 

Second, Goodreads will actually alert you if you try to comment on one of your reviews. The system can detect the number of stars and reminds you that is not a good idea to comment. Yes, it’s such a common thing that they have created an alert for it! 

So far, you have the option of ignoring, both impossible for me. You? 

What should you do? This is what I’ve done. I will look up reviews from my favorite books and view the lowest star reviews. This reminds me that everyone can have an opinion, and it happens to your most beloved books. 

Another option is to visit some celebrities Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts and read comments. Not all of them are nice. I’ve read some pretty horrible comments on Faith Hill’s social media posts, and I don’t see her replying. 

Yet another option is to comment on those who left a NICE review. On Goodreads and Amazon you can LIKE a review. I’ll go as far as to comment, thanking them in more detail.  

Remember, most of all, someone took the time to comment, good or bad, your book caused them to take time out. Focus on those good reviews, read them over and over. Print them out and post them up, anything to keep your mind from wandering back to that one bad review. 

If all else fails there are always French fries and wine!! 

Growing – a poem

[image error]Green flicker. 

Pushed up and out. 

Spreading wider in the shine. 

Grow to something more. 

Become what you will before the cold. 

Plant Based Dump Soup

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Much like the famous dump recipes that, while look delicious, but are horrible for you, this is my own soup recipe that is just as easy as those dump recipes.

Tomato Basil Dump Soup

1 can of marinara pasta sauce
1 can of white beans – rinsed
1 large or 2 small packages of fresh basil, chopped
1 package/box of Pacific Vegetable Broth
1 cup cooked rice of your choice
3 garlic cloves, through garlic press
Salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste

Literally dump everything in a big pot, bring your boil and serve.

For this and other recipes that are easy, check out Wattpad

My Peaceful Place

When you were a kid there was always a special place you loved the most. As an adult, when the setting is just right and you close your eyes, it brings you back in a second. The feeling of calmness, peace for your one special place.

[image error]Mine is my mom’s home. It was as a child, and to this day, I can close my eyes and feel the heaviness of love on my heart. Imagine with me, if you please….

Southern California, summer.

[image error]Box fan resting on brown pattern carpet, its noise humming through the air. A kitchen with two exits so one could run around in circles and never get caught.

Embossed golden tack strip transiting the linoleum to the carpet.

[image error]A squeaky screen door that slowed down just before it shut, so you had to physically pull it an inch to get the flimsy latch to clip.

Light from the sun in all the right places.

My own bedroom, with books I could not read and a Barbie wonderland of clothes, tiny hair brushes, and mismatched pairs of hot pink heels.

A bold yellow slip-n-slide stretching the length of the grass out back, with a peach tree at the end. Plastic blue pool with capsized Barbies. Wet feet leaving prints on the concrete.

Grape push-ups, jammies, and Mary Poppins for the hundredth time.

[image error]Badminton in the front yard, running through sprinklers on the side yard. Towels and sheets hung on the line by the lemon and lime tree. Sun faded Big Wheel.

This was and remains my happy place, even if only reachable by memory. 

Writing Ideas

[image error]I’m often asked “how do you get so many ideas for stories? Where do they come from?” 

They come from… being absent-minded. I know it sounds embarrassing. But it’s the truth. 

When I’m staring out the window (looking at clouds or wondering where the mailman is at), gardening, even showering…TMI?). Anytime my mind as the ability to wander, and doesn’t have 582 other things going on, ideas hit me like lightening bolts. 

Literally, my face turns to shock! Because that is how it takes a hold of me. Eyes wide, mouth drops into the shape of an O. 

Then I must decide, do I write it all out now, save for later? How much is it going to nag at me to be written? Is it a picture book, young adult, adult, chapter book, middle grade, a poem, or a magazine story? 

So go on, be absent-minded! 

Virtual Traveling

[image error]When I was about eleven years old, in Mrs. Morgan’s class, I had to pick a place to do a social studies report on. Part of that involved requesting travel guides from the place we selected. I picked the United States Virgin Islands (I was obsessed with beach life at the time).

In class we worked on our letter (the days of snail mail) and send it off. The letter explained that we were doing a report and would love if they could send us free travel information so we could cut out pictures and learn about the life there.

[image error]You would not believe the look on my face and my surprise when the U.S. Virgin Islands actually mailed me back a whole fat envelope with a letter personalized to me! (I have always and still do love getting mail, today, at 37, I still think…Is that the mailman? Did the mailman come yet? I wonder if there is anything good in there? I even love junk mail!)[image error]

Okay, so back to my childhood. I was so impressed by the fact that if you asked for something from a state they would send you a jumbo envelope full of stuff. Part of what impressed me the most was that is was not just some simple little white envelope, but an envelope that required more than one stamp!! (Even now, writing this, I’m excited thinking back on it!!!!)

[image error]So what did an eleven year old girl spend her weekend doing? Well, computers and the internet were not a thing then. The information to request travel guides was in two places. The back of non-fiction library books in the geography section or my father’s AAA tourism books. If you think I was excited about writing letters to request these things, wait until I found out that I could go with my father to AAA and request a map and travel book from any place I wanted, for free (I didn’t have to use my allowance!) Imagine a little girl asking her father when he is going to AAA and can I please add some states to your list?! My book shelf soon filled with chubby little AAA books, Montana, Wyoming, Florida, California, etc. Next to those were the road maps.

Those AAA books kept me occupied while I waited the 4-6 weeks for my envelopes to arrive in the mail. Now I must report that I lied in every letter I wrote to the different states. I figured without a good excuse they would not mail me anything. So, in each letter I told them I was doing a report for school and would love if they could mail me a travel guide and map. [image error]

Most places were nice enough to send me stuff, some never sent anything (I know, I kept a check list), some sent a postcard back saying if I sent money they would send it (nope, sorry I need my allowance). Yet, none were as stuffed full as the U.S. Virgin Islands. (I thought that maybe word got out through the travel places and that I could not possibly have this many reports for school and thus why some places never sent me anything).

[image error]Why am I rambling on about all this??? Well, I still love sending away for free travel guides. As a child I loved to dream about the places I would travel within the United States once I was old enough. (Although I did get to pick a few places for the father-daughter road trips). As I got older I used the travel guides to pin-point where I wanted to live, because I was determined NOT to stay in Washington. And now, I use them to help my writing. To get some “place” to my stories. For now, I can go anywhere for free in my stories. And until I can actually go there, I will at least make my stories as authentic as possible.

Excuse me, I think I just heard the mailman!

Forever my Bayouzzzii

[image error]Saying Bayou was the sweetest and most wonderful dog in the world is like calling the most delicious peach pie “good.” It just does not give it the justice it deserves.

[image error]Bayou and I had only been apart once, for three days. From the day he came home on January 22, 2010 until he passed on July 6th…only three days that we were ever apart. THREE DAYS! He was 4 months shy of his 8th birthday.

[image error]As I write this, in sections, between crying, I can’t leave my house. Physically stuck. The thought of getting in my car and driving sends me into panic. I shake.

[image error]Everyone who met Bayou loved him, even those who hated dogs. He was blessed with nicknames and love from anyone he met. I’ve been overwhelmingly blessed, as has Bayou’s memory to receive such amazing comments from family and friends since his passing. However, some of the most heartfelt comments have been from complete strangers. It goes to show that the dog community is strong. And how wonderful Bayou was to impress so many.

[image error]Bayou was the most calm dog ever; his sole was an 80 year old from day one. He loved naps and just a little bit of play or walks was all he needed. When he was a puppy I would leave the cartoon network on and he would stare at it from his playpen.

[image error] Bayou loved people more than other dogs. When I first started taking him to the dog park he would go up to the people and could care less about other dogs. He also never left my side at the dog park. If I didn’t walk around he would sit there and do nothing! Once or twice he ran off from me at the dog park, only to realize that I was not near him. This sent him into a panic as his head and eyes darted around looking for me, finding me, and dashing over.

[image error]The most notable thing Bayou did was forget he was on the couch. He would get halfway off, then stop. He could be there for 10 minutes, half off, half on before he finally slid off the rest of the way.

[image error]It was not his fault he was bombarded with health issues. It was unfair to say the least, from allergies to bladder stones. Bayou had a major surgery and several biopsies over the last 3 years. He kept the vet’s office in good financial standing. And made a point to bark until someone came in to give him the once over. Everyone remembered his name and thought of him enough to ask how he was even when I brought my other dog in.

[image error]There is not doubt he was a big boy. He loved to lay next the the toilet in the bathroom, but the bathrooms have always been small. Thus whenever he wanted to leave he could never turn around. So he backed up like a bus…beep beep beep. Every time, it was hilarious. Sometimes I think he could turn around, but he knew it caused laughter.

[image error]He had an excellent sloppy sit. He loved to smell people’s lips and ears. He couldn’t jump on people (or even put his paws up on the counter). So he bounced near people when he was excited. His is how he got the nickname Bouncer.

[image error]Bayou hated the heat, and he loved the snow. He loved his crate. He loved clean blankets. After washing them I would say, look Bayou it’s all clean, and he would immediately lay on it. He loved the vacuum, as long as it was vacuuming him.

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Ransom aka The Menace is wandering the house, sniffing around for Bayou. He sits in Bayou’s bed and stares at me. There is nothing I can say to help him understand his brother is not coming back. He lays down, then paces, then lays again. After a bit, he comes to me and nibbles my arm. I know what he is asking, but there is nothing I can do.

[image error]As many of you know, Bayou was on bladder stone specific food, and Apoquel. I hated to give him either. Is this what caused his life to end short? Hard to say. I have continuous reasons to think it was this crap. Regardless…please watch your dog for the following. Suddenly becoming picky about foods, waking at night to potty suddenly, and wanting only cold water to drink. Bayou had these signs, outside of that he was acting and using the restroom like normal. His April well check with the vet was “perfect health.”

[image error]I hope Bayou’s heaven is a buffet of pizza crusts, berries, broccoli and carrots. I hope they know to throw the ball at you, verses for you to fetch. I hope it snows year around for you to hop in. I hope there is an endless toss of popcorn into your mouth. I hope you have fresh bedding every night at 9pm. I hope you know I miss you and I was never going to be ready for you to go. If I could have saved you, I would have.

Why I Write Middle Grade

Please check out my guest post blog on the reasons why I love writing middle grade. 

http://www.katejfoster.com/general-blog/mg-month-why-i-write-middle-grade-by-savannah-hendricks

Homemade Curtain Tie-backs

For those wanting to opt out of spending $20+ for curtain tie-back material,

[image error]I have a solution for you!

I purchased these for less then $2 each at Lowe’s.

[image error]I painted them with leftover paint. And used an empty upside down kleenex box so I could paint it and let it dry without setting it down someplace.

[image error] Then I used these hollow thread screws. Drill a hole slightly smaller than the size. And carefully screw them into the wall. I put a little glue inside for extra support since it was only drywall supporting it.

[image error]Then screwed the painted and dried holders into place.

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