Reviewing a Book

Good morning all,

Over the years I've reveiwed books, but it's been a while. Bonnie Bruno, a writer from one of my listserves, put out a call to review her new book, "Weird & Wacky, Strange & Slimy." After reading the first two pages, I'm going to enjoy this fun read for children.

Once, a company contacted me to review a book. This would lead to me reviewing other books, they said. I stated one negative thing (in a nice way) about it and never heard from them again. Reviewing is a touchy thing, especially if you are honest. You can be nice but honest.

Okay, I must get back to watering my garden, and also working on my own story.

Until next time . . .

A New Season in the Wind

Good morning to all!

The wind is blowing here in Southern Oregon, and I sense fall in the air. We've been here a year now, and I'm eyeballing the leaves to see the first signs of yellowing leaves. I see a hint on the edges of green.

My company, children and grandchildren, left four days ago, and after feeling blue, I'm ready to get back to a routine of work. Just my husband and me.

I've thought and thought about what to blog on my first day back after a month. Whew that was a long break and I feel badly about that. But. I did loads of laundry, cooked, and cleaned up after nine of us the last two weeks they all were here (we started out with two granddaughters and the rest of the family came in batches). I had much help and still it was a lot of work, but I loved it. Every single minute of my time with my daughter and her family was good. I am blessed!

I think I'll touch upon projects undone and a new project I want to slowly work on.

My first novel-in-progress, the one that I've worked on for over ten years, has an interested editor. I've worked on that for the editor and have only twenty pages left of changes she'd like to see. The first twenty pages I'll look over one more time before I send them to her as she requested, but not before I've got that last twenty done. Just in case she likes what she sees and requests a full.

The other project I need to work on is my contemporary middle grade novel that is only a first draft. I haven't looked at it in months and it's time. Once I get the first one out, I plan to begin the revisions of this second book.

The third project is much more difficult to tackle. It has to do with my son's life and death at age 25. I've got reams of journals he's left and want to read them and sort out how to begin his story. I think I'm ready. I think! I want to help other parents who've lost children to suicide, but needed time to heal enough to read what I know Joshua left for me. What I think he would want me to write about. It's been five and a half years. I need prayer for that project.

Anyhow, it is a new season blowing in the wind, and I'm ready for it.

Until next time . . .

Busy Summer!

Hi readers,

I'm sorry to not have had a post in a long while. I'm having a wonderful drove of company and am busy playing with my grandchildren.

I have been working, though, with my granddaughters helping me make my story much more kid friendly. What brilliant writers they are!

Until next time . . .

Summer Memories in the Making

Summer is finally here, and best of all; we are having six weeks of company from our daughter’s family.

Our daughter's family will come in twos and threes until all seven of them are in our home. Visiting right now is two of our granddaughters. So far, we’ve worked in the vegetable garden; walked through a ghost town; made meals together; slept outside on the lawn (until the dog’s constant barking at raccoons drove us inside); and swam in the neighbor’s creek.

As my teen granddaughter picked blackberries at the creek, she said, “Nana, you’ll have to write about this.”

Yes, yes, I will. Life is fodder for writing.

My teen granddaughter knows I have a passion for blackberries. I make a big deal about picking them and cooking on-top-of-the-stove cobbler. She knew; picking these berries was unique. Not only were these berries the first of the season, but where she picked them rated pretty special. In the creek in waist deep water, she held onto a maple tree branch with one hand and reached for the berries that hung over the side of the bank. She encouraged me to come over from where I sat on the other side.

When I did, she made sure she shared the fruit with me. It was indeed a sweet moment.

Until next time . . . I hope you are able to make summertime memories.

Show Don’t Tell: Silent Pictures

Recently, I watched a friend’s silent video of what was happening at the moment inside her store during business hours. A young woman inside the store approached an older woman and they spoke. The young woman twirled her car keys. Soon, she slumped her shoulders, and she looked around and chewed her gum. The words casual and bored came to mind. The older woman at one point turned her back and smiled at something the young lady said. That smile reminded me of one I reserved for when my children have said something a little off the wall.

The two carried on more conversation, and I noticed they favored each other in appearance. Hmm, this is showing me a new clue. Then, the young woman kissed the older one on the cheek. Aha! Could they be related?

When I asked my friend about it later, and had described the young woman, my friend said yes indeed they were mother and daughter.

That whole silent movie scene taught me a bunch about “show don’t tell.” I had a wonderful lesson, for free I might add, and one that caught me by surprise in my otherwise busy schedule. A nice writer’s realization.

If you are like me and tend to go into too much telling, turn off the sound on a movie and you’ll see what I mean. I plan to watch something from time to time without sound, just to keep my bearings about this whole overdoing of “show don’t tell” in my writing.

By the way, don't forget to people watch from afar. That's another wonderful way to learn from body language.

I hope you’re enjoying your first days of summer. And keep an eye out for ideas during next winter's writing, so keep a note pad and pen handy.

Until next time . . ., blessings to my readers.