I just finished reading two books. (My husband would say "Hell that's no big surprise, you're always reading.) One was of the genre that I like - suspense and the other a historical. As a writer you always hear "read something you usually don't"- well this was it, plus my sister recommended it.
I've read a couple of Jeffery Deaver's books and like the pace that he usually writes in. EDGE is no exception. The suspense is reborn with more vigor at each new twist. There were several of these turnings and a couple took me by surprise especially the small one at the end which made me say "hmm cool". I was a bit disappointed in the real person the lifter, a person hired to extract information, was after and why. But what can you do, it's still well written. I won't go into any details because I don't want to give anything away.
MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER by Robin Oliveira is a historical with strong romantic elements. Mary is a midwife who wants desparately to be a surgeon. When Lincoln asks for 75,000 volunteers and Dorothea Dix advertises for nurses to help in the upcoming Civil War, Mary travels from Albany, New York to Washington hoping to get the training. It is her experiences, her fears and her feelings that transports you through the months of her struggle. I liked this book though the pace and subject matter is not what I would normaly read.
What I found interesting about it was how little was known about medicine, disease and the care for wounds. I was also surprised to find there was a National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Fredrick, Maryland and the Civil War exhibit in the National Museum of Medicine at Walter Reed. Ms. Oliveira obviously did her homework and it shows in the richness of her words .
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Excited
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’m kind of excited. There are several things happening this year. New things. New challenges.
First - In February, if my check got there in time, (yes, Dawn, I know checks are antiquated lol), I’ll be taking an online class about plotting through motivation by Campbell. Maybe it will make my synapses snap a little brighter. Maybe it’ll be a slap to the back of my head. It’s been awhile since I’ve taken one and I’m soooo looking forward to it. There are four stories waiting for me to get my act together, as I said in my previous posting. I’ll keep you informed unless I screw it up. :)
Second – I’ve registered for the RWA’s National Conference. It will be the second conference I ever attended. This one’s huge. This one’s a bit scary. I will be going as President so I’ll also be attending the Leadership seminar. I’m sometimes good at talking to people one on one or in small groups but put me in a large bunch and I become a mute with a brain seizure. I’m going to make this a challenge to improve myself – to go out there - say “hi”, introduce myself and to string more than two words together.
Third - If the above-mentioned workshop helps, then I will be pitching at least one story at this conference. Trying to make someone interested in your tale - your vision in just a couple of sentences can make you feel as if you’re under a hundred feet without an air tank. It is a tense time for anyone who writes. I am definitely no exception though I’ve done it a couple of times. It becomes another place where I can sharpen my skills. I’ll also be perfecting my spiel at the LIRW’s annual luncheon.
As the year gallops on I’m sure other ventures will present themselves. What kind of challenges have you set for yourself this year?
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’m kind of excited. There are several things happening this year. New things. New challenges.
First - In February, if my check got there in time, (yes, Dawn, I know checks are antiquated lol), I’ll be taking an online class about plotting through motivation by Campbell. Maybe it will make my synapses snap a little brighter. Maybe it’ll be a slap to the back of my head. It’s been awhile since I’ve taken one and I’m soooo looking forward to it. There are four stories waiting for me to get my act together, as I said in my previous posting. I’ll keep you informed unless I screw it up. :)
Second – I’ve registered for the RWA’s National Conference. It will be the second conference I ever attended. This one’s huge. This one’s a bit scary. I will be going as President so I’ll also be attending the Leadership seminar. I’m sometimes good at talking to people one on one or in small groups but put me in a large bunch and I become a mute with a brain seizure. I’m going to make this a challenge to improve myself – to go out there - say “hi”, introduce myself and to string more than two words together.
Third - If the above-mentioned workshop helps, then I will be pitching at least one story at this conference. Trying to make someone interested in your tale - your vision in just a couple of sentences can make you feel as if you’re under a hundred feet without an air tank. It is a tense time for anyone who writes. I am definitely no exception though I’ve done it a couple of times. It becomes another place where I can sharpen my skills. I’ll also be perfecting my spiel at the LIRW’s annual luncheon.
As the year gallops on I’m sure other ventures will present themselves. What kind of challenges have you set for yourself this year?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Confession Time
Ok time to fess up. I have not written anything, besides the interviews and a few blog posts, for nine months. Yes, nine months. Talk about your writers block, I’ve got a whole barricade –moat and all.
Oh sure I’ve come up with ideas for stories, four in fact with heroines and heroes and main premises. But they sit with their luggage at a closed station waiting for a train to take them their destination. They’ve been there for so long they’ve set up housekeeping. They may be getting a bit too comfortable. When I knock on the door, they don’t answer. Little do they know I could destroy them with a stroke of my pen, but I won’t. They’re smug with that knowledge.
It started, as I said, about nine months ago with big holes in the body of the stories and it has progressed to halting any ideas for my blog. If I do get something down it sounds like crap to me. Being President of a writing group, I feel like a charlatan because besides guiding the group with the help of the Board, I feel I should be writing pages upon pages of spellbinding words. It doesn't happen. As I listen, during the critique period of our meetings, to the great work some of these members have written, I feel inferior almost to the point that if I do conjure up something to read they’d find a hundred faults with it.
I’m also the moderator of our Book in a Week group where I’m suppose to help members meet their writing goals. This should be real interesting (insert sarcasm). But maybe, just maybe, some of those words of wisdom, those hearty cheers will catapult boulders through my wall. I think they will.
Did I tell you this so you could say wow is she screwed up? No, I wanted to show those of you who are out there having problems that you’re not alone. You have to want it and work for it if you want change to come. This little confession has had, for me, a slight cathartic effect. Maybe you could start there - write down all your fears, then rip them up, burn them, get them out of the way. Try taking an online course, that’s what I’m going to do. It will force you to think and write. So would an all day workshop. You can sign up for a conference where there’ll be agents and editors. That will give you a deadline because you’ll need something to pitch. I’ll be doing that at the LIRW annual luncheon and at the RWA conference.
Try different things. There’s no magical cure all except to keep at it.
Oh sure I’ve come up with ideas for stories, four in fact with heroines and heroes and main premises. But they sit with their luggage at a closed station waiting for a train to take them their destination. They’ve been there for so long they’ve set up housekeeping. They may be getting a bit too comfortable. When I knock on the door, they don’t answer. Little do they know I could destroy them with a stroke of my pen, but I won’t. They’re smug with that knowledge.
It started, as I said, about nine months ago with big holes in the body of the stories and it has progressed to halting any ideas for my blog. If I do get something down it sounds like crap to me. Being President of a writing group, I feel like a charlatan because besides guiding the group with the help of the Board, I feel I should be writing pages upon pages of spellbinding words. It doesn't happen. As I listen, during the critique period of our meetings, to the great work some of these members have written, I feel inferior almost to the point that if I do conjure up something to read they’d find a hundred faults with it.
I’m also the moderator of our Book in a Week group where I’m suppose to help members meet their writing goals. This should be real interesting (insert sarcasm). But maybe, just maybe, some of those words of wisdom, those hearty cheers will catapult boulders through my wall. I think they will.
Did I tell you this so you could say wow is she screwed up? No, I wanted to show those of you who are out there having problems that you’re not alone. You have to want it and work for it if you want change to come. This little confession has had, for me, a slight cathartic effect. Maybe you could start there - write down all your fears, then rip them up, burn them, get them out of the way. Try taking an online course, that’s what I’m going to do. It will force you to think and write. So would an all day workshop. You can sign up for a conference where there’ll be agents and editors. That will give you a deadline because you’ll need something to pitch. I’ll be doing that at the LIRW annual luncheon and at the RWA conference.
Try different things. There’s no magical cure all except to keep at it.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Simple Words
My wish to you . . .
May the new year be gentle and give you what you need.
(It may not be what you want but if you have what you need, you'll get by.)
Hugs ~ Donna
May the new year be gentle and give you what you need.
(It may not be what you want but if you have what you need, you'll get by.)
Hugs ~ Donna
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Tree Nazi
Christmas traditons are always fun, like putting up the tree. As we were begining to decorate ours my mother called. I figured I'd talk to her a bit while my daughter and husband put on the lights. No big deal, right? When I got off the phone I came out to see one bare tree. Jeepers they couldn't even do that, I thought. Now I'm angry. My daughter is annoyed at me for grumbling and says she'll put on the damn lights, (my husband is safely tucked away in the family room). Are we having fun yet?
"No I'll do it", I tell her.
"Well I'll help", she replies.
She goes on to tell me that I'm soooo picky when it comes to hiding the wires from the lights no one wants to do it without me supervising.
"If you want to know someone who's really picky you should see your grandmother", I said. "Where do you think I get it from?"
Ah tradition, handed down from one generation to the next!
By the way, they let me do the garland by myself. It's more calmer that way.
"No I'll do it", I tell her.
"Well I'll help", she replies.
She goes on to tell me that I'm soooo picky when it comes to hiding the wires from the lights no one wants to do it without me supervising.
"If you want to know someone who's really picky you should see your grandmother", I said. "Where do you think I get it from?"
Ah tradition, handed down from one generation to the next!
By the way, they let me do the garland by myself. It's more calmer that way.
A Blessed Day
I don't know when exactly it started but you hear most people wish others a Happy Holiday instead of Merry Christmas even when Hanukkah has long past. I've been doing it too. I know there's other religions but this time of the year, this day of December 25 is for Christians. Why can't the words Merry Christmas be taken for what it really means: wishing that person a wonderful day with family and friends, peace, and the strengthening of faith whatever it might be.
Merry Christmas everyone!
hugs~Donna
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Hank Phillippi Ryan +
The Long Island chapter of Sisters in Crime had a talk given by Hank Phillippi Ryan which I attended yesterday. She's an investigative reporter at Boston's NBC affiliate. She's won 26 Emmys and 10 Edward R. Murrow awards, plus many others. And she gives a great talk. Over the past year I've been in quasi contact with her through The Red Jungle Writers blog, so I was excited to finally meet her. Of course, just like at Michele's book signing, I didn't speak too much because my brain kind of comes to a halt when in a group. But she's warm, personable and funny. Definitely someone you could sit down with over a cup of coffee. Though I might feel a bit awkward at times for she doesn't cuss. As she explained if it isn't part of your regular vocabulary then the chances of slipping while on the air is practically nil. Makes sense, right? I never thought of that. It's a nice little tidbit to know.
Some items she covered in her How to Write a Better Novel were: explore your world - research, interviews, visiting -what are it's boundaries; choosing your sound bites - dialogue; visual - make your story as visual as can be- always push it, and don't panic - realize you have a problem, face it and keep going. It's never as bad as you think. Good advice.
It was nice to get out and be with other people. I got to start doing more of this. : )
Ok now for the +. It's my rant for the week.
New Jersey will be holding it's third black bear hunt starting tomorrow and it will go on for six days. They say there's approximately 3,500 bears of which about 300-700 will be taken depending on who you read or which news report you listen to. Over 5,000 permits have been issued for this hunt. Some hunters have been baiting certain areas for weeks trying to better their odds. Some sportsman!
All of this is happening because bears have increasingly been in contact with humans. They're in backyards, disrupting garbage cans, interacting with pets sometimes seriously, etc. Ok, I can understand the resident's concerns and not all of residents share them BUT we as humans destroy and/or take over habitat with a disregard to the consequences and then complain when something happens. We took over their neighborhood. We pushed them into smaller areas because of our developement. Then we get upset when they try to survive. What did we think was going to happen? We disrupt the balance of nature. This is not just a single incident. We do this to all the animals, all of nature because we think we're better, superior, deserving, entitled. In my own personal opinion - Bull____! The key here is balance and that includes controlling our own population. I could go on but I think you get the idea.
Some items she covered in her How to Write a Better Novel were: explore your world - research, interviews, visiting -what are it's boundaries; choosing your sound bites - dialogue; visual - make your story as visual as can be- always push it, and don't panic - realize you have a problem, face it and keep going. It's never as bad as you think. Good advice.
It was nice to get out and be with other people. I got to start doing more of this. : )
Ok now for the +. It's my rant for the week.
New Jersey will be holding it's third black bear hunt starting tomorrow and it will go on for six days. They say there's approximately 3,500 bears of which about 300-700 will be taken depending on who you read or which news report you listen to. Over 5,000 permits have been issued for this hunt. Some hunters have been baiting certain areas for weeks trying to better their odds. Some sportsman!
All of this is happening because bears have increasingly been in contact with humans. They're in backyards, disrupting garbage cans, interacting with pets sometimes seriously, etc. Ok, I can understand the resident's concerns and not all of residents share them BUT we as humans destroy and/or take over habitat with a disregard to the consequences and then complain when something happens. We took over their neighborhood. We pushed them into smaller areas because of our developement. Then we get upset when they try to survive. What did we think was going to happen? We disrupt the balance of nature. This is not just a single incident. We do this to all the animals, all of nature because we think we're better, superior, deserving, entitled. In my own personal opinion - Bull____! The key here is balance and that includes controlling our own population. I could go on but I think you get the idea.
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