Emilie Richards's Blog, page 23

Sunday Inspiration: Practice the Pause

Pause before judging.Pause before assuming.Pause before accusing.Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.-Lori Deschene, Buddhist author

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Emilie Answers Her Own Questions

Last week I asked you ten questions about what you love most in a book.

Thank you to all who took the time to answer. The blog is still available for those who wanted to take the quiz and just didn’t get around to it last week. So are the answers, all of which are fun to read. Do you agree with them? See what you think.

I promised some answers of my own, as a reader–not a novelist today–so I’ll plunge right in by saying I can’t give a definitive answer to some of the questions because I’m sitting right on the fence.

What’s more important to me a carefully crafted sentence or a carefully crafted plot. In the same vein, do I care more about characters or plot?

Of course these questions were a set-up to see if what was really important to you was immediately clear.  Personally I won’t read an author whose sentences are filled with grammatical errors or poorly crafted, and those flaws show up quickly. On the other hand, some bestselling novelists rely on the simplest sentence constructions along with lots of repetition. This is not poor craftsmanship but part of their style, and if the plot is gripping enough, the book will take off like a rocket because it’s easy to read.

So if a story is told well right from the beginning, simplicity doesn’t keep me from turning the page.

Truth is? Some readers prefer simplicity–and not because they’re simple people. They want story, and they don’t want to dig for it through long descriptions or beautiful sentences that take re-reading to decipher.

The question of style leads right to character, which often develops slowly. Note I said “often” not “always.” I’ve seen bestselling authors who simply list their characters’ attributes in the first chapter, a kind of shorthand that assures their readers these characters are good people, with qualities to admire. Then the author plows into the story, often an exciting one with lots happening.

As a reader I don’t enjoy this. I want both the character and plot to unfold at a more leisurely pace. I want to sink into a story and feel like I’m with friends, real friends, the kind who have flaws and strengths, people whose problems I agree to witness in subsequent chapters.

So sentences over plot? To start a story, yes. But once it’s clear an author can write, story is key.

And characters versus plot? As so many readers answered last week, I’m on the 50 yard line on that one. An exciting story peopled by one-dimensional characters is very much like reading a Wikipedia synopsis and almost always forgettable by the end. Well developed characters, with amazing backgrounds, thoughts and memories who do nothing of importance make for a boring book. Of course only rarely is a book either/or, and I find myself reading more character-oriented stories than plot-driven ones. In fact I also find myself writing my books that way. I may have the important elements of a plot in mind before I even sit down to put words on paper, but the first thing I do is figure out whose story I’m telling and flesh those people out to help me set the plot in motion.

The final question of last week’s survey interests me:  At this juncture in history are you more interested in books with feel-good stories, or grittier tales that make you think long after “The End?”

I’ll confess I’m staying away from gritty right now. On my Kindle thrillers are taking a back seat to well-written traditional mysteries. Warm-hearted women’s fiction with interesting twists is finding a place in my line-up, too.

In the end, as a reader, I’m looking for well-written stories with believable characters and a minimum of angst and violence. I would probably have answered differently pre-pandemic, but this, along with so many other things, changed.

No matter what you’re reading or whom, I hope you’re finding books that meet your expectations and make your days a little shorter and happier.

 

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Sunday Inspiration: One Smile!

“One smile,
Can start a friendship.
One word,
Can end a fight.
One look,
Can save a relationship.
One person can change your life.”

-Celtic Christian Tradition

Did you see this story in the media last week about a pizza delivery man in Tipton, Indiana, who was so loved by his customers that they raised $18,000 so they could purchase a car for him? Robert Peters was known as “Mr. Smiles” because “every time you see him, he has a smile on his face.”

Robert Peters and his generous customers show what a difference a warm smile, a caring word, and a generous act can make in people’s lives. Truly inspiring!

Who has made a difference in your life recently? Who was the last person who made you smile?

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Just For Fun: What Do You Love Most About A Book?

I read a really interesting article in the US version of The Guardian this week. In a nutshell, after a year of isolation at home, many authors are struggling to write–for good reasons.

While I did finish The House Guests at the beginning of the pandemic, and just finished my third novella for a new anthology featuring characters from my Shenandoah Album series, I’m one of the strugglers. Concentration is an issue for many of us, as is no refill in sight for our well of creativity. All the things that fill that well, conversations overheard, smells, travel? Gone for the moment.

Instead of writing, I’ve enjoyed reading new authors, many of whom I never had the chance to read before. I told you which books from 2020 I especially liked here.

I’m keeping a list for 2021, too, but I find this year I’m jettisoning books and authors fairly quickly because I don’t like them enough to finish. So many books and so little time is my new motto. But the process of dumping a book for something better brings to mind an important question. What makes a book worth reading?

I love the Read Along With Emilie Richards Facebook Group because I can see first hand what authors readers who probably like my books also enjoy. We don’t always agree, but I value their opinions.

Today, for fun, let’s explore what makes a book worth reading for you. And even more? What makes a book worth keeping?

Here are a few questions to get us started. Comment with your answer if you’re in the mood. There are no right or wrong responses, of course. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my writing career is how different readers are from each other. That’s true for professionals, too. I’ve been the gatekeeper for a group of published novelists who discuss books together for decades now. And the only thing I can say with certainty is that we rarely agree on a book. Some will like it, some will think it’s okay, and others will pick it apart, sentence by sentence.

So give these questions some thought, but mostly let us know what makes a book come alive for you.

What’s more important to you? Carefully crafted sentences or carefully crafted stories?If you had to choose between a novelist who creates great characters or one who creates great plots (you can’t have both for this question) which would you choose?What do the authors you most love have in common?How are the authors you most love different from each other?Which is more important to you, setting or clever dialogue?Do you want a book to move quickly or slowly?How much detail is too much detail in a story?If characters espouse values so different from your own, do you stop reading or continue so you can learn more?Does theme matter or isn’t it a priority?At this juncture in history are you more interested in books with feel-good stories, or grittier tales that make you think long after “The End?”

You don’t have to answer any or all the questions. I just think it’s fun to think a little about what we love and don’t in the novels and authors we choose. I’ll give you my answer next week or soon. And yes, I’ll have to give some of these questions a lot of thought.

Have fun!

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Sunday Inspiration: Two Philosophies

“ For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.”

–Neil Degrasse Tyson, author and scientist

Tyson is a favorite contemporary scientist for many of  us– watch his Cosmos TV program for a weekly fix. He’s especially prominent this week educating people about the latest US lunar landing on Thursday. Did you see it?

I agree with Tyson that science goes hand in hand with ethics and spirituality since science helps reveal our deep connections with the world and it’s creatures (including us). Once we can sense and feel those connections then empathy and compassion naturally. I agree with him that science goes hand in hand with ethics and spirituality, since science helps reveal our deep connections with the universe and it’s creatures (including us). Once we can sense and feel those connections, then empathy and compassion naturally follow.

Who is your favorite scientist? And when was the last time somebody asked you that question? We should ask more often.

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Sunday Inspiration: Don’t Forget To Say I Love You

Happy Valentine’s Day!

If you’ve read One Mountain Away, the first book of my Goddesses Anonymous series, you know that Charlotte, the main character, looks back on her life and the mistakes she’s made.

I stumbled across this passage and decided to post it  for Sunday Inspiration just before Valentine’s Day. Not because the quote is sentimental or effusive, which we often expect. Because I think what Charlotte says here in her First Day Journal is so important to remember as we approach the holiday.

When Ethan and I lived together, I was always in charge of coffee and Taylor’s school day while he cooked. Ethan’s culinary skills vanished at noon, but his breakfasts were extraordinary.

I’m sorry now that I didn’t eat more, that I worried about my weight or my schedule too much to sit across from him at the breakfast table enjoying his omelets or waffles. That whether Taylor’s hair was perfectly combed or her homework in the right section of her backpack mattered more to me than gratitude.

I ‘m sorry now that before we walked out the door to start our days, I so often forgot to tell them both how much I loved them.

Today’s inspiration is simple.  Forget the things that don’t matter, and remember to notice and celebrate the things that do.  Most important let’s never cease telling the people we love how much we love them.  Not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day we’re together.

Charlotte was given a second chance to make things right.  If you need a second chance, could this be the day to make it happen?

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Giveaway and Price Cut

Have I Got Deals For You!The Giveaway:

I don’t spend a lot of time on promotion here, but that’s what today’s blog is about. I wanted to be sure that those of you who are not yet on my mailing list (monthly newsletter) have a chance to enter my latest giveaway and to learn about a price reduction on one of my eBooks in February.

Why does an author do a giveaway? Well, lots of reasons, all which revolve around helping readers find our books.

My latest giveaway is for an Amazon Fire HD8, as well as all three books in my Homecoming series loaded into it. Not sure what an Amazon Fire does? Click the link to learn everything you need to know.

A giveaway is my thank you to the loyal readers who have signed up for my monthly newsletter, where they learn more about what I’m doing and what’s coming out soon. While I can only give away one prize this month, I do giveaways often, and there’s another Amazon Fire in reserve to give away later this year.

As I said (you caught this, right?) the giveaway is for my newsletter subscribers, but you can sign up now and still be eligible to win. Sign up here, and remember if you decide later that you need a break, you can easily unsubscribe.

All the giveaway rules are on this page. Page down to “Limited Time Giveaway” and follow the rules.

I received a number of lovely “almost entries” that forgot to mention their favorite book of mine in the message box. So be sure you read all the rules and tell me your favorite. I’m keeping track for fun and I’ll tell you the results.

BTW, if you mentioned a number of books when you entered, you’re fine. I just counted the first book you mentioned. If you didn’t mention any?

Try again.

The giveaway ends on March 15th. No purchase is necessary, of course. If you need a refresher on my book titles, you’ll find them here.

The Price Cut:

In honor of Mardi Gras, and only for the month of February, we’ve reduced the price of The Unmasking to $.99–everywhere except Smashwords. You’ll find all the bookstore links to The Unmasking right here. If you’ve wanted to read it, or you need a shot of New Orleans carnival celebrations? Now’s the moment.

And speaking of New Orleans Mardi Gras. While there won’t be parades this year because of the pandemic, there are now “house” floats. Here’s a great article, complete with photos. You really can’t keep the good people of The City That Care Forgot down for long.

I wonder how Justin and Bethany decorated their house?

Enjoy!

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Sunday Inspiration: Dare to Declare

“Dare to declare who you are.
It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech.
The path is not long, but the way is deep.
You must not only walk there, you must be prepared to leap.”
-Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th century Christian composer and mystic whose music and meditations still echo in our hearts today. These words ring true for me because they speak to the power of language, especially when we use words that define and declare who we are.

Such words may be, “I am intelligent! I am strong! I am beautiful! I am creative! I am compassionate!”

Sometimes we need to say the words to believe them, and perhaps we need to say them over and over. But the words must come from our depths, and they are given birth only with courage and daring.

How do we each declare who we are? Do words really matter? I think so. Do you?

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The Seeds You Plant

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson.

We’re fast coming up on a year of quarantine.  My husband and I have been vigilant about taking precautions. I’ve made masks for family and friends and always wear mine when I’m out of the house and among people—which I try to avoid. We’ve cooked and eaten good food, tried to exercise every day, and tried—but not always managed—to get a good night’s sleep.

But, you know—and you do—isolation is getting old. Right? Very old. I am beyond lucky to be isolating with the man I love, but both of us are always looking for new things to do. Some of my old favorites still entertain me. I’m reading more, sewing more, and cooking a lot more. I’m slowly working on an anthology with novellas about women from my Shenandoah Album novels. We bought a state  park pass and are using it frequently for long walks. I’m spending  untold hours on websites trying to get a vaccine appointment in my own or nearby counties—so far unsuccessfully. That’s become a hobby in itself.

It was time, though, for something new. So this week Proman and I bought a Greenstalk planter. Greenstalk planters are vertical planters, with 30 deep pockets distributed over 5 levels. Each pocket holds one larger plant—think tomatoes, beans, eggplant, beans—or three smaller ones like carrots, lettuce, chard. We will water from the top and the water is then distributed into each pocket through a special irrigation system.

Greenstalk isn’t the only vertical planter available. We wanted a Garden Tower, but the most ingenious part of that system, earthworms that fertilize from compost you feed them, made it impossible. We travel north in the summer and no one would be here to feed the worms, which I would quickly regard as pets. So Greenstalk was our best choice.

What is it about growing anything that’s so appealing? We live in a housing community that maintains our yards. The rules also prohibit growing anything that would produce food outside our lanai. Still, inside our lanai we have a Meyer lemon tree, various potted herbs and flowers, and three “City Pickers” filled with tomatoes, chard, bok choy, lettuce and eggplant. I would fill the swimming pool with compost for a real garden, but my life  partner has a problem with that.

I’ll immediately go on record. Growing in containers can be iffy. I harvested four lemons from my tree, beautiful and juicy but FOUR. So far, likely because of unseasonably cool nights, the City Pickers have produced only two small eggplants and a couple of handfuls of tomatoes. We grew enough bok choy for one meal, the  lettuce is spindly and odd, and the chard will not feed a family of leprechauns.

Of course, that didn’t stop us from buying the Greenstalk to supplement. Last Wednesday, in preparation for its arrival, we went to the nursery to buy the 5 cubic feet of good organic soil we needed and wowza! Between the soil, the earthworm castings, the organic liquid fertilizer and a few seeds (I’d already ordered $40+ by mail) the total was  mind blowing.

No, we aren’t gardening to save money. Absolutely not.

So why did we buy the new planter? Not because of record successes with the ones we already have. Not because food isn’t readily available locally. Not because we want to show our  organic gardener chops.

We bought it because planting seeds and watching them sprout, grow strong and tall, and at last, produce is really what life’s all about.

We plant seeds everywhere, everyday. Most often we don’t know what we’ll reap or when, but we plant in good faith. We raise children, tackle difficult jobs, join committees, churches and clubs, make friends and all the time we’re dropping seeds in whatever ground we have, perhaps for someone else to enjoy the results in a year or a decade.

The Greenstalk, though? Planting seeds in 30 pockets and watching them sprout? That’s the reminder I need right now. Because good things happen when we plant and wait, even if we’re impatient to see results. After all I won’t get a tomato from the Greenstalk for months, but I’ll know they’re on their way.

As our crop progresses I’ll take you on a photo journey here, so you can share in our harvest.

I hope your patience is rewarded soon, that all the seeds you’ve helped to plant during these difficult months flower and thrive, and that soon, all of us will be outside in the sunshine.

Together!

 

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Sunday Inspiration: The Swing Vote

“We need each other.
Each of us is responsible for what happens on this earth.
We are each absolutely essential, each totally irreplaceable.
Each of us is the swing vote in the bitter election battle now being waged
between our best and our worst possibilities.”
-Leonard Peltier, Activist

You thought the presidential election was tough? How about the struggle between who we are and who we are meant to be? No holds barred. No prisoners taken. No tweets deleted.

This moral battle is at the heart of all the religions of the world, but it is also evident in every novel I’ve ever read — and written.

I see this eternal wrestling match unfolding every day of my own life as I make decisions that take me down the path of either becoming my best self or a lesser version. Those critical decisions are my own, but without those around me to challenge and comfort me, how can I decide?

Each of us has the swing vote waiting to be cast. Which way will we go?

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