M.J. Compton's Blog, page 74

The Things in a Writer’s Mind

Twenty-six years ago, I was on my honeymoon in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State.

With 6.1 million acres, the Adirondacks comprise the largest park and the largest state-level protected area in the contiguous United States, and the largest National Historic Landmark (copied from Wikipedia, but it’s all true). This, not Manhattan ( 22.96 square miles ), is the true New York.

Lake Placid, where we honeymooned, has been the site of not one, but two Winter Olympics. The Adirondacks were also once the summer destination of such people as the Vanderbilts, Oppenheimers, Rockefellers and other wealthy folks who built their Great Camps looking to escape the heat of the cities.

Twenty-six years ago, my new husband and I did the same thing. So did a certain physician and his wife. I never learned their names, but I will never forget them. As we drove home on the serpentine roads, up hill and down, we passed lakes and small towns. When we came to White Lake, we stopped. The evening before, there had been a seaplane accident on the lake. The physician and his wife were both killed.

The plane was still in the lake. Suitcases had popped open, and the contents drifted on the water.  A straw sunhat with a gaily flowered band floated as if it had not a care in the world. That hat got to me in a way the other articles of clothing or the half-submerged plane did not. The doctor’s wife had planned to wear that hat while she puttered in her garden, while she relaxed on their boat, while she enjoyed cocktails on the porch with her neighbors. Now, it was just a piece of detritus bobbing in the ebb and flow of the waves.

Every once in a while, that memory comes back, sharp and poignant.

And that is one of things in this writer’s mind.

WIP Wednesday: Ryan Jo Summers

It’s Work-In-Progress Wednesday, and my guest today is Ryan Jo Summers

Welcome, Ryan Jo!

MJ: What are your top three dream destinations and why?

RJS:  Ireland, because I’ve been there a few times and it’s lovely. I want to see more of it. And my dad lives there. Alaska because it seems so beautiful, cooler then where I live and the wildlife. Italy because of the canals and food.

MJ: Name one thing most people don’t know about you.

RJS: I was born with no sense of smell, still that way. Also, I am ambidextrous.

MJ: What is your secret talent?

RJS:  Two– I draw cartoons, usually with dry humor captions. And most of my cats have started out as totally wild and unapproachable. Now they lay on my belly and purr like kittens. It just takes time and patience to sooth a savage beast.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

RJS:  Painting and drawing. I do the cartoons to give voice to my frustrations in life. Hence the dry humor and sarcasm. I love to paint ceramics, on canvas, on plain paper if need be. Objects d’ art that inspire me and remind me of places or things that mean something special. I also write poetry, not for publication, but to work through hard spots in life.

MJ: Other than writing, what would be your dream job?

RJS: I miss being a veterinary technician, and I miss working around animals, usually the homeless ones, working to get them good homes. If I could do anything without real life concerns, I’d return to maybe a shelter director or something in the animal welfare field again. Now, if I were really dreaming, a storm chaser sounds pretty good too.

MJ: Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

RJS: Water bottle.

MJ: If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

RJS:  Someone who is out on the water all day, in an exciting way. I miss being on the water and would love to magically be transported into the shoes of someone who is lucky enough to spend every day doing something they love out on the water.

MJ: What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

RJS: Coffee to start, loaded with milk and sugar. Check emails and social media. Then breakfast is normally eggs, (love eggs) a meat (bacon, sausage, etc..) and hash browns. I share the eggs and hash browns with my bird, Taz. He’s had so many eggs by now, I am surprised he hasn’t lain an egg himself. If I am running late, cereal is perfectly fine. Shared with Taz of course. Then shower, clean up the house a bit and off to work with more coffee. I can usually get between 5 to 8 hours in before it’s time for the day job.

MJ: Describe your ideal/dream writing space

RJS: I dream of a spacious room, with lots of windows for natural daylight and numerous plants. A tiled floor because it remains cooler then carpeting. Dolphin blue walls because a soft blue-gray is soothing and encourages the creativity that comes with being relaxed and comfortable. Framed pictures of all my book covers lining the walls. I have one now, soon to be more, but we can dream of multiple covers, right? A desk large enough to hold everything I need in all the nooks and crannies. And a couple dogs, preferably collies, to lay at my feet again. Probably another large fish aquarium to stare at when I need to rest my eyes from the computer screen and take that mental break we sometimes need.

MJ: That sounds lovely! Are you a plotter or a pantser?

RJS: Both. I plot initially, testing the story for strength and building characters, setting, conflict, etc… the major highlights. Then once I have a direction and key points, it’s a lot of fly by the seat of my pants. I have been known to write myself into a corner, then I have to stop and reevaluate where I was going and how to get out of the corner.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

RJS: Not in the sense some people use it as an excuse for not writing. I have writer’s block, so I’m going to lark around for weeks or months until it goes away. That’s not writer’s block, that’s not being serious about being a writer. I believe we can get off track and a bit lost. Like I said earlier, I can write myself into corners and need to stop. For hours. Maybe a day at the most. We can, I know from personal experience, combat writer’s block by developing the discipline to show up every day and make an honest attempt to put words down on paper. Two words, two hundred, two thousand, it’s the effort that counted. Do they have to be sterling quality? Nope. Just the effort will break the block and we can now move forward. Writing is like any other creative endeavor, in that it takes a discipline and desire to just show up and try. Okay, I’ll get off my soap box now.

MJ: Name 3 things on your desk right now

RJS: My cat, Kryshnah. Sometimes it’s a cat or two or three. Often times it’s my macaw, Taz, helping out. So usually an animal of some sort. A blown glass egg paperweight my ex-father-in-law gave me years ago. It’s a lovely piece of glass, with bubbles and rainbow strings inside that reflect the light so well. He and I remained quite close despite the fact his son and I divorced a decade ago. I lost him earlier this year and the paperweight helps keep his memory alive. Two ceramics I’ve painted years ago, one a horse and one a Native American vase. A few pictures of pets I want to remember, some cats, a dog and a horse.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

RJS:  Yes, I would. I have a non-fiction inspirational novella I have had poor luck submitting for traditional publication. The rejections are encouraging but not accepting. So I know it has some value, but I am at a loss what to do with it. I have seriously considered having some beta readers take it, revise what might need altering and then self publish it myself. It will most likely be my only non-fiction work, at least as far as I plan now.

MJ: Synopses: love them or hate them?

RJS: Oh, hate them. I have a terrible time explaining what the book is about, whether it’s writing it down in a condensed query or synopsis or talking to someone in person. How much do you say to build interest without giving the whole story away or making someone bored? I struggle with finding that balance. I always second guess myself on synopses– should I mention that scene or not?

MJ: Now it’s time for the lightning round. Addams Family or The Munsters?

RJS:  Addams Family. I liked Cousin It. When my hair was long, I could do a good impersonation of Cousin It by draping my hair over my face, letting it hang to my chest, and placing my glasses over top the hair. A hat was a bonus. It was a quick, easy and cheap Halloween costume. Plus the other characters were interesting, like Lurch.

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St Patrick’s Day?

RJS: St Patrick’s Day, simply because of my links to Ireland. I don’t do anything really to celebrate it, no wearing of the green or dying one of my pets green. No special food or traditions. But I reflect on my time spent in Ireland and the stories I have heard of the many saints they treasure and a few statues I’ve seen of Saint Patrick.

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theatre

RJS: War Horse, back I think in 2009 or 2010. What a splendid movie. I cried at several scenes, even though I knew a lot of it was Hollywood magic. But I also know the true accounts of how horses were used and treated during the wars when they played an integral role. Dogs as well in many wars, and they still do. So I watched it from an entertainment point of view, just going to the movies, and from the factual and historical point of view.

MJ: Paper or e-books?

RJS: Paper. I love feel, especially of old books. I don’t even own a Kindle or Nook or e-reader devise. Very traditional.

MJ: Introvert or Extrovert?

RJS: Both. Mostly introvert. I am shy and quiet by nature. However, in the right setting, with the right people, I can come out of my shell and be extremely extroverted and outgoing. Not the norm, but it does happen.

MJ: Favorite Ethnic Food

RJS: Italian, I love the pastas and cheeses and herbs, with very little spice. Other than that, I am pretty much a meat-and-potatoes person or seafood of any type. Not a lot of variety or adventure for my palate.

MJ: Now for the fun part. Will you share the first sentences of your current Work In Progress?

RJS: This is from Part One and Part Two of a three part trilogy under one cover. It is the story of three high spirited and independent sisters, River, Storm and Raine, who find love in a small North Carolina coastal town. The entire volume is called ‘Winds of Destiny’.

RIVER’S JOURNEY:

            The old man was dying. He knew it without the solemn stares coming from the doctor and the nurses. Before he parted, he had one more bit of unfinished business left, one he should have attended to a long time ago. Looking now into the worried faces of his two friends and neighbors of the last thirty-two years, he smiled grimly. It was time.

“Call my son,” he requested simply, the underlying urgency belying his simple wish.

Muriel and Cordell Gallagher exchanged uneasy glances. It was Muriel who spoke first, clearing her throat. “And what of River?” she asked, reaching for Cordell’s hand.

“Call for her too. Nothing changes for her, but I need to discuss some things.” He blew out a shaky breath. “Then call for Calder.”

“As you wish, Frank,” Cordell promised, lifting an eyebrow. “If you are sure.”

“I’m sure.” Looking across the room at an abstract painting of reds and yellows, he murmured, musing aloud, “It will be hard to tell where this will lead.”

STORM’S WARNING:

             She knew they were following her, the two guys about fifty feet behind her. And she just bet she knew why they were on her now. She had not noticed them during her flight, but they most certainly were following her.

She needed to ditch them, and quick. She had worked too hard to gather this data, just to let two goons like them take it from her. If they thought she was just going to hand it over to them like a lollypop to bullies on the playground, they were in for a surprise.

What she needed was a distraction, a way to throw them off her backside, slip off to her gate and safely make the last leg of her journey. Once she made it home, she would be safe, along with her important data.

Now, as for the diversion, Storm looked around the groups and clusters of people as she slowly made her way to gate B-6. Suddenly a smile split her lips. Perfect, he would do nicely. Reaching into her carry-on bag, she approached the man as he exited the restroom and moved to the drinking fountain.

Touching his shoulder, she whispered, “Play along with me, there’s twenty bucks in it for you,” Flinging herself against the wall by the fountain, she took him along, pressing her lips to his.

And from a YA/NA novel, FLASHES OF LIGHTNING:

     Her name was Tabitha McGowan. Soon she would be turning seventeen. Looking in the mirror, waiting by the front door, she reflected on her reflection. Average without being boring. Or worse, mousey like some of the girls at school were. Compared to mousey, she supposed average was okay. Although gorgeous would have been nice. Like the cheerleaders. Like her sister.

     But had she always been like this? Even now, hovering on the edge between teenager and young woman, she had a sense there had been something more. Something else. She just didn’t know what. It was like getting two-thirds through a movie and having to walk out, not knowing the rest of story. Or maybe it was more like walking into a movie already two-thirds into the action, she decided. Either way, there was something missing. So she felt about her life, it had a big piece missing.

MJ: Wow! You’ve been one busy author! I understand you have a book coming out in September, Shimmers of Stardust.

MJ: Gorgeous cover! How will people know to find this release?

RJS: I’ll have it all over social media.

Website-www.ryanjosummers.com

Blog-http:summersrye.wordpress.com

Facebook-https:www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Jo-Summers-author-page/312875648810797

Twitter-ryanjosummers@ryanjosummers

Amazon Author Page-https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00ACOBJ90 

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6604705.Ryan_Jo_Summers 

MJ: Well, good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Getting Organized

I’m a klutz. I can’t seem to find an electronic/on-line/computer based organization system that works for my writing. Works for me.  Back when I worked in local TV, I had a Day-Runner, and that book managed my entire life–my broadcasting responsibilities, my children’s social lives, school-related stuff. Thank goodness I never lost that book. I would have been up the creek without a paddle. And you know which creek I mean, too.

So I started looking on-line for refills for my Day-Runner. And guess what? No one makes them anymore. Oh, you can buy calendar refills, telephone/address refills, and generic blank pages, but the forms I used to use to manage projects, finances, and a dozen other things no longer exist. I went into my local office supply store, and they went on line for me, too. Nada. Not from , , or Franklin Covey. FiloFax comes close.

Actually, I did find some amazing things–at Levenger. And you know what Levenger calls these lovely forms? Apps. I think that’s really funny. I’ve always loved Levenger product. Unfortunately, my wallet does not.

It seems the world has moved to electronics. Don’t they understand? Technology fails!

WIP Wednesday: Elizabeth Preston

Today’s Work-In-Progress Wednesday guest is Elizabeth Preston. Welcome Elizabeth!  Can you share a life memory you recall frequently and tell us why you think about it?

EP: I was in a swimming pool in Lake Taupo with my two sons. Lake Taupo is a huge lake in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. We were splashing around when my hubby ran out of our motel room and called out,” Get out of the pool. We’ve got to drive home (to Auckland) then hurrying up and pack to move to Australia.” We had 3 miserly weeks to pack up our home, rent it out, find schools for the boys in a new country and move permanently to Australia – because of his job. That move changed my life.

MJ: I can’t imagine having only three weeks to uproot my entire life.  What are your top three dream destinations and why?

EP: 1) Alaska, because I love the novelty of the cold. It’s hot in Australia. 2) Canada, because I want to see a bear in the wilds – other than a Koala bear. 3) A little Scottish village, because I love little villages, especially ones with cute pubs and quaint sweet shops.

MJ: Name one thing most people don’t know about you.

EP: I was a monstrously, badly behaved six year old – for my parents anyway. I had numerable temper tantrums and sulked often. I still remember doing it. I was a brat at home and an angel out. Fortunately, I outgrew my bad behavoiur. My husband might disagree!

MJ: LOL! What’s your secret talent?

EP:  Growing big fat vegetables. I dream up scenes while I thin out the carrots and string up the beans.

MJ: That’s a useful talent to have. What is the top book on your TBR pile?

EP: Soul Mate Publishing writer Larynn Ford’s book Rescued.

MJ: Do you have any recurring dreams? If so, will you share one with us? 

EP: I’ve had the same dream twice lately. I’m locked in a car with a child who keeps poking me in the back. Both times I’ve woken up and found that my small dog has gotten up onto my bed and is asleep pressed tight against me.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

EP: I’d sew dog clothes.

MJ:  Other than writing, what would be your dream job?

EP:  Working in a zoo or a wildlife park.

MJ: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

EP:  I’m happy, happy, happy.

MJ: Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

EP: My dog.

MJ: If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

EP:  Angelina Jolie, and not just because of Brad Pitt. The girl does great charity work too.

MJ: Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

EP:  No. I always like the book better.

MJ: What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

EP:  One piece of toast with Vegemite and one cup of peppermint tea.

MJ: Describe your ideal/dream writing space

EP: I’m a log cabin person. I want the crisp morning, the hot coffee and the sun streaming in.

MJ: Briefly describe your writing day/process

EP: First up, read emails on the Soul Mate Publishing author loop. Next, comment on blogs. Then walk the dog and dream up the scene I’ll write that day. I only write for a couple of hours – got other life things I have to squeeze into the day too.

MJ: Name one writing-related website you use a lot.

EP: Fiction University

MJ: What book do you wish you could have written?

EP:  Either Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

MJ: Plotter or pantser?

EP:  Bit of both. I’m bored with my story is I plan too much and run a muck if I pants it completely. I use an outline.

MJ: What romance convention/cliche most sets your teeth on edge?

EP:  …and a tear rolled down her cheek.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

EP: Yes. When I can’t picture a scene, or a character then I read instead. Eventually the answer comes. 

MJ: Name three things on your desk right now.

EP: My lucky elephant from Thailand. A framed print-off of my ebook cover, my debut. A small pot of violets that my son gave me.

MJ: Love and true love – what is the difference and what do your characters believe about LOVE?

EP: Hunter and Alice believe that you risk your life for true love. Undying love is what they’ll give their children.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

EP: Absolutely. Some of the top sellers are self pubs.

MJ: Do you listen to music when you write? Explain.

EP: No. I prefer the sounds around me: birds, wind in the trees, builders working in the distance. I try to hear background noise and use it in my stories.

MJ: Do you collage your story before writing? Explain.

EP: If it is an historical story, then yes. I cut out pictures of clothing in the era, buildings, types of food, the insides of their kitchens.

MJ: Synopses: love them or hate them?

EP:  Synopses are fine. Two line hooks are harder.

MJ: Ready for the lightning round? Addams Family or Munsters?

EP: Addams Family. They remind me of my own.

MJ: Wine-red or white?

EP: Red, and Champagne

MJ: Oh yeah. Love that bubbly! Beer: Can or bottle?

EP: Neither

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

EP:  St Patrick’s Day because we get that one in Australia

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

EP: Captain Phillips.

MJ: Favorite TV show?

EP: Orange is the New Black.

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school (Marching band doesn’t count)?

EP: Elton John or Deep Purple. They can fight it out for top spot.

MJ: Coke or Pepsi:

EP: Both go well with rum

MJ: Introvert or extrovert?

EP: Introvert.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

EP: Japanese.

MJ: And now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Can you share the first few lines of your current work in progress?

EP: Of course!

I watched it happen. I had my driving glasses on so I saw it all in great detail. There is much I could tell the police, if I wanted to. But I’ve never been one for involving the authorities. Don’t go thinking I’ll forget what I saw; I won’t. That accident will live inside my head forever, no matter how hard I try to push it out.

I’d parked myself in the rest area at the side of the road; it’s the perfect place to stop if you need a break from driving or if you want to take in the sights. From there, you get a view of the entire gorge, all the way down to the river.

It was no surprise then when I saw the little yellow Suzuki car hurtling along. Anyone wanting to drive from one side of Galston Gorge to the other had to follow that wiggly road and be seen by me.

MJ: Very nice! How can people purchase your current release?

EP:   http://www.amazon.com/Outcasts-Elizabeth-Preston-ebook/dp/B00LMNZD60/

MJ: And how can they follow you on social media?

EP: I have a blog – elizabethpreston.wordpress.com

MJ: Thanks again for joining me, and good luck with your writing!

Reading By the Season

I have what is admittedly a very odd habit. I read by the season.

I read a lot, so I tend to re-read favorite books, and part of that reading is by season.

Every January, I read Carla Neggers’ The Cabin. Winter in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York suits my January mood.

February brings me to One More Valentine by Anne Stuart. Lovely little time travel featuring the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. (And I even persuaded Anne to autograph it two years ago when she was in town.)

March-April-May-June don’t really have memorable books to them. But July? Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence is my mandatory summer reading. Some years, I will also re-read Toujours, Provence, but I don’t find it has the magic of Year. Wine, olives, warm weather . . . this is my bliss.

October is my next month to re-read a specific book. Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels, has been a favorite of mine since it first came out. I’m on my second copy. What can be more chilling that a ghost story set in October, right before Halloween?

And finally, my December favorite: Silver Linings by Maggie Osborne. The Christmas scene in the book gets to me, every time I read it.

WIP Wednesday: Brenda Stinnett

Today’s Work-In-Progress guest is Brenda Stinnett. Welcome Brenda!

MJ: Let’s jump right in. Do you have a life memory you think of often that you would be willing to share with us?

BRENDA: I remember when I was young and my mother would read stories to me at bedtime. I loved it because it was our special time and I didn’t have to share her with my older brother or sister.

MJ: Oh, nice! What are your top three dream destinations and why?

BRENDA: Tuscany, Italy, Cobh, Ireland, and Lourdes, France. I love Italy for the art & architecture, Ireland for its ghostly feel, and France for its spiritual healing.

MJ: Nice mixture. Name one thing most people don’t know about you.

BRENDA: When I was young, I was so terrified of water that baths scared me, I was afraid I’d go down the drain with the water.

MJ: Well, that is a scary thought. What’s your secret talent?

BRENDA: I’m pretty good at chess.

MJ: What’s the top book on your TBR pile?

BRENDA:  I’m determined to read Vanity Fair.

MJ: Do you have any recurring dreams? If so, will you share one with us?

BRENDA: Yes, I do have a recurring dream. Sometimes when I’m in strange situations, I dream that the ‘bad guys’ are after me and I’m running away from them.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

BRENDA: My creative outlet would be learning to play the guitar.

MJ: Other than writing, what would be your dream job?

BRENDA: I would love to be a marriage/family psychologist.

MJ: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

BRENDA:  “What You Gonna Do”

MJ: Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

BRENDA: My pink lipstick, no matter what I’m wearing, I have to have my pink lipstick.

MJ: If you could trade places with anyone for just one day, who would you be and why?

BRENDA: I would love to be Stephen King one day and just see what goes on in his mind.

MJ: Now that’s scary! Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

BRENDA: The Life of Pi. Somehow, I think I ‘got’ the book more when it was a movie, and I especially liked the special effects.

MJ: What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

BRENDA: I like pizza for breakfast, but most days I eat the eggs & bacon my husband loves.

MJ: Describe your ideal/dream writing space.

BRENDA: My dream writing space would be a lanai overlooking a warm, tropical beach.

MJ: Briefly describe your writing day/process.

BRENDA: I get up, eat breakfast, and write for a couple of hours, then go do other important family stuff, do my media stuff, write for another hour or two, and then do something fun, go to the show, Disney World, or read.

MJ: Name one writing-related website you use a lot.

BRENDA: Addicted to Ebooks.

MJ: What book do you wish you could have written?

BRENDA: The Language of Flowers. It’s Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s first novel, and it’s fabulous.

MJ: Plotter or Pantser?

BRENDA: Definitely a pantser, even though I admire plotters tremendously.

MJ: What romance convention/cliche most sets your teeth on edge?

BRENDA: I think all romance conventions can be good if they are done originally.  I do think smart, snarky characters can be overdone.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

BRENDA: Yes I do, and I also believe in Santa!

MJ: Name 3 things on your desk right now.

BRENDA: A small quilt made by my sister talking about Faith, Hope, & Love, a calendar, and a clock.

MJ: Love and true love – what is the difference and what do your characters believe about love?

BRENDA: I think that all love can be true, but we just have to give it a chance. If love isn’t true, then it’s not really love. My characters all want to believe in love, but they are often afraid of confronting it, and sometimes find out that it wasn’t what they expected, but they will know real love when they find it.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

BRENDA: Yes, I have self-published my last book.

MJ: Do you listen to music when you write? Explain.

BRENDA: I love to listen to music when I write, but I have to have the rough draft already committed to paper before I can do this.

MJ: Do you collage your story before writing? Explain.

BRENDA: No, but it sounds wonderful. It sounds so creative and flowing, but I don’t do it.

MJ: Synopses: love them or hate them?

BRENDA: Yes and double-yes. I have to have a synopsis, but I find them difficult to write.

MJ: Thanks for the insight into your writing. Here’s the Lightning Round. Addams Family or Munsters?

BRENDA: Addams Family.

MJ:  Wine-red or white?

BRENDA: Red.

MJ: Beer-can or bottle?

BRENDA: Bottle.

MJ: Stephanie Plum or Eve Dallas?

BRENDA: Stephanie Plum.

MJ: Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day?

BRENDA: St. Patrick’s Day.

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

BRENDA: Jersey Boys.

MJ: Favorite TV show?

BRENDA: Big Bang Theory

MJ: Paper or e books?

BRENDA: Paper.

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school (Marching band doesn’t count)?

BRENDA: Rolling Stones

MJ: Coke or Pepsi?

BRENDA: Please, no contest, Coke

MJ: Introvert or extrovert?

BRENDA: Introvert.

MJ: Favorite ethnic food?

BRENDA: Mexican.

MJ: Now for the meat of the blog: Please share the first 5 to 10 sentences of your current WIP.

Escorted by a guard, her face frozen into a sculpture of ice, he watched Anna head toward his booth where nothing divided him and her but a wall and the Plexiglass window. The corridor, greasy gray, same as the cinder-block walls, echoed with each footstep she took.

When she finally reached him, he cut his eyes away, but then slowly drew his gaze back to her. He admired the way she pretended these were normal circumstances.

A folding chair awaited her, close, but not too near the window. She glanced at the guard, and he nodded.

“If you need anything, press the buzzer along the panel on the wall. I’ll be right over there, at the end of the corridor.”

MJ: Wow. Great opening. Do you have buy links for any current releases?

BRENDA: You can purchase Tenth Degree of the Paranormal on Amazon at amzn.to/1sBlyyu

MJ: Great cover! And how can readers find you?

BRENDA: My website:  http://brendastinnett.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrendaStinnett and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/brendastinnett

MJ: Thanks so much for joining me today. Good luck with your books!

 

Book Review: LEAN IN

Just finished reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.

The book is about women in the work place and how nothing has changed in several decades, how the home place also needs to change to enable women to get to the top. She makes a lot of valid points, but says nothing new. Hopefully a new voice taking up the rallying call will galvanize some change.

Granted, my “career” in the corporate world has come and gone (see bio link above), and I was lucky enough to work in a business that allowed for flexibility when it came to my children. I am also married to great man who was a very hands-on dad. When something came up, we would compare schedules and adjust things as needed. If that meant I worked mornings while he stayed home with a sick child, then he went in in the afternoon, we did it. He prefers working late anyway, so I would drop the children off at after school activities/classes (or car pool with other other parents to do this), then he would pick them up on his way home.

Sandberg is lucky (she doesn’t like that word, but what’s true is true) in that she works for innovative companies (Facebook, Google) that are changing the world starting with the workplace culture. Her maternity leave options were way different than mine were. I do recall telling the first woman general manager of my company that we needed access to personal products in the restrooms. A week later a machine was installed. And that was cutting edge at the time.

I think Sandberg’s relative youth bothers me, too, because she doesn’t always connect the dots, especially if the dots were drawn before she was cognizant. Example: why people are working more hours. She blames technology. I blame reduction in workforce, spreading more tasks to few people. The work still has to get done, even if you do lay-off your entire graphics department. DUH!

If I were a younger woman, I might find this book valuable. I found nothing new, some ignorance, and probably shouldn’t have read it because it mostly annoyed me.

Attitude is a decision.

 

WIP Wednesday: What I’m Working On

Due to a SNAFU, the scheduled author was unable to make it today, so here are the first several lines of my next werewolf book, tentatively titled, And Jericho Burned.

Toke Lobo

 

Summoned as if she were a disobedient child, Lucy Callahan stood with her sister before her crazy brother-in-law, her hands, teeth, and stomach muscles clenched. She tried to focus on her irritation with Michelle instead of the wariness Randy inspired.

“You can’t leave,” he said, slamming his fist on his dilapidated wooden desk. “Michelle needs her family.”

His voice was too big for his physical presence and had a mesmerizing effect on certain segments of the population, much like the Pied Piper and rodents or St. Patrick and snakes.

My Summer of the Living Beatles, Pt 2: SIR PAUL McCARTNEY

Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney kicked off his US tour in a city a few hours away from where I live. TV Stevie somehow managed to get tickets (the concert was sold out in 28 minutes or so). Yes, I saw the two living Beatles within 10 days of each other. Our seats were shockingly good–not on the floor, because I hate floor seats, being just under five feet tall. Crowds tend to trigger claustrophobia in me.

We arrived in Albany early enough to take our time finding a place to park (free, on the street, about 6 blocks from the venue) and to find a restaurant that would seat us without reservations for a light meal before the show. I love taking my time like that.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the story about the couple from Rochester, NY who held up signs: “He won’t marry me until he meets you,” and “I have the ring, and I’m 64.” (ABC Nightly News showed the story, although they had the concert location wrong.) It was a lot of fun seeing the whole thing–especially when the security guard kept trying to drag the couple off the stage–as it happened.

The whole concert was–incredible. Just seeing a legend perform would have been enough, but Sir Paul played for 3 hours. The ROI was in the black. Sir Paul looked good, sounded great. He connected with the audience in a way I’d never seen before, even in smaller venues. When women in the front rows screamed, he jumped back and said, “Don’t do that to me. Those days are gone!” He paid tribute to John Lennon and George Harrison. There were pyrotechnics during “Live and Let Die,” something I’ve never seen at a concert before.

Other Sir Paul quips:

“People have these signs, but I can’t really read them, because I’m trying to remember the words and the chords for the songs I’m playing.”

“People always applaud when I play a song from my new album, but when I play something really old, they whip out the cell phones and start recording.”

Now, I’m going to admit, I was never a huge, die-hard Beatles fan. A co-worker once quipped: “One was either a Beatles fan or a Rolling Stones fan.” I replied, “Neither. Dylan.”  That’s not to say I didn’t like their music, but I also didn’t consider them the be all, end all. In retrospect, they probably were tied with Dylan as Be-All, End-All. And I’m really, really glad I got to see Sir Paul perform live.

 

WIP Wednesday: Angela Archer

Today I am most pleased to welcome Angela Archer to WIP Wednesday here on Comptonplations.

Angela, what are your top three dream destinations and why?

ANGELA: Ireland, Bora Bora, and Alaska. I’ve always wanted to see Ireland to see the beauty of it. In all the pictures I see, it just looks like such beautiful countryside. Bora Bora, is my dream beach destination, or really any of the Islands of Tahiti. And, lastly, if I don’t do anything else on my bucket list, or go to any of the other places, one thing I will do someday is see the Northern Lights.

MJ: If you didn’t write, what would be your creative outlet?

ANGELA: I don’t know about creative, but my other stress outlet is riding my horse. I wish I had more time in the day to write and ride, but alas, time evades me most days. I also love cooking and baking–especially from scratch. I’m working on adding a bunch of yummy, healthy, homemade recipes on my blog.

MJ: If you ever need a taster . . . okay, other than writing, what would be your dream job?

ANGELA: When I was young I wanted to be a marine biologist and study whales. When I found out how much school that job required I reconsidered. I was never really one that loved school. I don’t know why, I just didn’t like it.

MJ: Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version of the story?

ANGELA: The Last of the Mohicans. I fell in love with the movie before I read the book. When I started the book, everything was different and I freaked out and stopped reading it. Probably not the best thing to do, but I just couldn’t wrap my head around all the changes.

MJ: What do you normally eat for breakfast, of do you skip it and get straight to work?

ANGELA: I’ve been trying to live a more healthier life and lose a few pounds, and since to do that you should eat a breakfast, I eat one. Usually, a banana, Greek vanilla yogurt, and raspberries.

MJ: Plotter or pantser?

ANGELA: I’m a plotter. I have an insane outlining process. I don’t just write a few sentences, I do paragraphs about each chapter and scene. If I don’t, I get lost with what to do next and then weeks go by and I haven’t touched my manuscript because I’m stuck.

MJ: Do you believe in writer’s block?

ANGELA: I believe in writer’s block with my own personal writing. Every author is different, though so while I might get stuck or write myself into a corner, or head down a direction I didn’t plan that sends me slamming my head into the wall or my desk, other writers might not ever experience that. To those lucky enough to never have it, I bow down to their awesomeness.

MJ: Name three things on your desk right now.

ANGELA: Haha. Seriously? A Jessie doll from Toy Story, stencils, markers, and paper, and a bowl of my homemade potato salad. What? I’m hungry, and I have a 21 month old and a 7 year old.

MJ: Would you consider self-publishing?

ANGELA: Yes, I would. I’ve gone back and forth with it, though. As with everything I believe there are pros and cons with traditional publishing and self publishing. Each writer is different and has different goals for their work. If a certain writer thinks self publishing is the better route for them, then I say bravo for doing what is right for them. I have a few friends who are self published and their books are doing really good.

MJ: Do you listen to music when you write? Explain.

ANGELA: I listen to instrumental music, it helps me immensely. While I prefer Celtic music, really any instrumental music works, and I really love soundtracks. A few good ones are The Last of the Mohicans, Braveheart, Secretariat, and Harry Potter.

MJ: Thanks for sharing that! Now, for the lightning round. Beer-can or bottle?

ANGELA: Bottle

MJ: Last movie you saw in a theater?

ANGELA: How to Train Your Dragon 2

MJ: Favorite TV show?

ANGELA:  Game of Thrones

MJ: Paper or e-books?

ANGELA: Paper.

MJ: Favorite band when you were in high school (Marching band doesn’t count).

ANGELA: Def Leppard (And they are still my all time favorite ever!)

MJ: Would you be willing to share the first five to ten sentences of your current work in progress?

ANGELA:  Of course! This is from When the Black Roses Grow, a Historical Romance set in 1692 during the

Salem Witch Trials.

The gentle breeze blew the soft flower petals against my chest. Laying

against my black, cotton dress and clutched in my arms, the bouquet

fluttered from side to side as my feet crunched through the twigs and

rocks along the dirt path. Of course, the flowers were nothing more than

the wild vegetation that bloomed around my home, not like the pretty

sprays of flora most set upon the crosses of their departed loved ones.

Nice flowers weren’t allowed in this part of the cemetery.

I tiptoed down the path past other mourners crying over different

headstones or huddled in the arms of another while they prayed—their

whispers the same echoed prayers I’ve heard dozens of times. Tightening

my grip on the stems, and tucking my chin deeper toward my chest, I

lifted my hand to my face to block my eyes and continued down through

the maze of overgrown weeds, debris, and the broken, rotten wood gate.

A few of the mourners watched me, knowing where I traveled to, and

judging me for my betrayal to God, the Church, and to everyone in Salem.

How dare I mourn my loss. How dare I visit her, my mother—the condemned

witch.

Along the outskirts of town, near the peddlers road, and buried in the

plot of land furthest from the church, the damned and cursed lay in

shallow graves, unmarked, unless a family member willing to bear the

burden of the shame bestowed them with one. Outlined by overgrown brush

that never received care, this cursed part of the cemetery was rarely

visited.

In all honesty, I shouldn’t have traveled here.

MJ: Oh, my! You’ve certainly hooked my attention here. Where can readers purchase your current release?

ANGELA: The Woman on the Painted Horse is available on Amazon. (Click the title for the link.)

MJ: And where can readers follow you?

ANGELA:  I have a website– http://www.angelachristinaarcher.com/,

a blog–http://authorangelachristinaarcher.wordpress.com/

a Face Book page–https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Christina-Archer/121833387901997?ref_type=bookmark

plus I’m on Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorACArcher and

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8073551.Angela_Christina_Archer

MJ: Thanks a lot for stopping by today. Good luck with your writing and your sales!