One book leads to another...

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

IWSG December 2022 Roses in December

 


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the December newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are:  Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!   Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is: It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?


December is such a busy month I try not to have any writing goals – per se. But naturally, there are lists to make, misplace, and find the day before Christmas when they are no longer useful. There are holiday cards – and letters! Does anyone write those lengthy chronicles of everything that happened in your neck of the woods for the last year? I receive one every year and thoroughly enjoy reading about life on the outskirts of Saskatchewan. My one and only response was promptly returned, stamped ADDRESS UNKNOWN. Hmm… [Dear Sam, bless your heart, if by some wrinkle in time (get it?) you’re reading this, keep the letters coming and call me. The number is still the same.] But, honestly,

“How did it get so late so soon?” ~ Dr. Seuss


While there’s no shortage of inspiration this time of year, it helps to have an empty First Thing (next year) basket handy for ideas you can’t yet get to ;-) So far, there’s only one message in my basket:

 


 

Have you ever gone caroling? Do you decorate much for the holidays?

 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 



Wednesday, November 2, 2022

IWSG Nov 2022 Commas, Crosswords, and Bookstalls

 



Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the November newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are: Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, Diane Burton , and Yours truly, me – diedre Knight!    Feel free to hop around and say hello to everyone!

The optional question for this month is: November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

The optional question brings to mind a quote:

“I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”  ~ W. Somerset Maugham

I admire anyone for whom inspiration strikes on a regular basis. More so those who can readily seize the moment – at the moment – that it hits. Wistful sigh. Between work, kids, and caring for elderly family members, I’ve never felt like I had the time required for a commitment as monumental as achieving a specific word count in a month seems. Now that things have slowed down considerably, I like to think there’s still time to try it one day. How about you? Are you feverishly typing to meet your daily word count? If so, is this your first time?

What I find most intriguing about the challenge is not so much the emphasis on daily word count but how much every word counts. For the next 30 days, “Less is more” will be the last thing on your mind, and you can even forget about commas – for now, as you’re encouraged to write your heart out every day without a care or much of a clue as to where you might end up. Instead, you chase an idea like you would a kite with a tail made of words and an endless supply of string. I can’t think of anything more stimulating!

End each day mid-sentence,”

Before you know it, it’ll be time to think about commas again, and perhaps a host of other grammar issues. Think of it as cleaning the bugs off the windshield after a long drive, but don’t even think of trying this alone! We writers just aren’t good at seeing our own faults, and editors love their jobs ;-)

 


Notable events in November:

The first UK newspaper crossword puzzle appeared in the Sunday Express in 1924 – Closely followed by the first Book of Crossword Puzzles, which was printed by Simon and Schuster (also in 1924), and came with a pencil. As you might guess, it was an instant success. How are you at working crossword puzzles? Care to try one here?

What began as a humble railway bookstall opened in 1792 by Henry Walton Smith and his wife, Anna, would more than stand the test of time. Spanning over 200 years in continuous operation, the success of WH Smith bookstalls can easily be attributed to the enduring entrepreneurial flair employed by multiple generations of the same enterprising family. In 1905 when William Henry Smith faced steep rent increases at most of his railway stations, he opened 150 new shops on busy “high” streets, ensuring that when the rails were no longer popular, his stores would still be in business. In 1966 yet another Smith created a Standard Book Numbering system for their “circulating library,” which soon became the international standard or ISBN. The last family member left the board in 1996.

Have an inspiring month!






Wednesday, October 5, 2022

IWSG October 2022 Cliffhangers


 Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share the views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the October newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are: Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!    Stop on by and say Hello!

The optional question for this month is: What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre?

As a reader, I love an unassuming (beat-up shoes and a stain on his shirt) hero with a taste for Red Vines, methodically plodding through impossible plot twists and deceptive clues that lead him to conclude that the ghost of the mansion didn’t kill the widow, the cable guy did.

As a writer, what I love most about paranormal is the absolute unpredictability. I can be curious or evil. Or curiously evil. I can save the day or end the world, and if I truly believed that, I wouldn’t be so flippant ;-) Likewise, teens and young adults, I suppose, who also seem to grasp this genre. Except, they’ve clicked the unpredictability level all the way up to Cliffhanger endings. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I love a good “page-turner,” but to be left hanging without the promise of a sequel or a “Tune in again next week, folks,” is a fresh form of literary torture ;-)

In the Children’s books category, I strive for simplicity in powerful messaging, particularly on issues involving family, friendship, courage, and kindness. And hope. Hope does for children what sunshine does for gardens.

It’s officially the holiday season! Any plans for Halloween? Most of our local stores skipped right over it and put out Thanksgiving decorations. I’ve even seen a few Christmas trees.

Did you know Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” is buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, about a stone’s throw from the setting of the 1820 short story. Besides Mr. Irving – and the Rockefellers, there are a ton of notable people interred there, including Paul Leicester Ford. The great-grandson of Noah Webster (yes, of Miriam-Webster), Ford was a famed novelist and biographer until his untimely death at the hands of his own brother. Ford’s only child, a daughter, was born one month after his passing.

As is customary for a non-profit institution owned collectively by its lot owners, visiting hours at Sleepy Hollow cemetery are strictly enforced, and visitors are requested to act as if they are attending a funeral or visiting one of their own. I think the request is fair.

I know a lot of people do, but I can’t imagine visiting a cemetery on a Halloween tour. Can you? Have you?

What do you think of the recent “Cliffhanger” trend in YA paranormal novels?

Have an inspiring month!

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

IWSG Sept 2022 Doing it Again

 


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the September newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts this month are: Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

Did anyone (besides me) not know that revising your work after publication is acceptable in some cases?! You can cover your astonishment by resting your chin in your hand. It worked for me.

Yet, I digress.

According to Mental Floss.com at least five of the most iconic authors  have revised and republished their work, including Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), George Elliot (Middlemarch), and Joan Lindsay (Picnic at Hanging Rock) to name a few.

I know what you’re thinking: “She’s doing it again. That name-dropping thing.”  Why, yes. It’s what I do ;-)

As to this month’s Optional Question:  “What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?”

I could never write in the medical thriller genre. I would never even try. Why? Much as I enjoy a good medical mystery, they also scare me half to death. Besides, can you imagine the amount of research it would take to sound like you know what you’re talking about? I mean, what if an actual doctor or nurse decided to read your book? Fiction (as opposed to reality) has to make sense, right?

Truth is, most medical thriller authors do have a degree in the medical field, and almost no one ever plans to write a book about the profession. Writing is usually an afterthought and typically an aside.

For instance, Tess Gerritsen, a general physician, began writing her first book while on maternity leave. An avid reader, her first novels were romantic thrillers. Her breakout medical thriller “Harvest” was inspired by a conversation with a retired detective and was followed by three more New York Times bestselling novels before her first crime thriller “The Surgeon” led to a television series called Rizzoli and Isles. 

At least a couple thrillers by Robin Cook depict fictional accounts of his experiences as a medical intern.

Patricia Cornwell may not have a medical degree (she does have a B.A. in English), but she was a technical writer for the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia for six years in addition to volunteering with the Richmond Police Department – and this was before her “Scarpetta” series was ever published. Cornwell is also known as a capable cartoonist and a talented athlete on the tennis court. Whew!

Do you know who else doesn’t have a medical degree? Me. And I’m okay with that ;-)

What genre would be the worst for you to write in? What genre would be the easiest for you to write in?

Be happy. Write well.

 

“Make the most of yourself. For that is all there is of you.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson




Wednesday, August 3, 2022

IWSG August 2022 Original Hooks and Generous Lines

 


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share the views and literary news from our perspective writing desks as we record our journeys. Check out the August newsletter here

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery! 

This month’s optional question is: When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

Unless it is a sequel or part of a series, I'm not thinking of the reader when I set out to write a new story. Yet. My routine is writing, editing, revising, repeating, then revealing. Reader reviews will come soon enough. And they don’t mind letting us know ;-)

One sweet reader I call Goldilocks contacted me regarding the ending to Cotton’s Place before she’d finished reading the book, “Blue’s not gonna die, is he?” Bless her heart. I’ll never tell. But does Goldilocks dictate the ending? Are we writing the story or am I? Do I care what she thinks? You bet I do. And I’m elated that since she likes this character so much, there’s a good chance she’ll love the ones she hasn’t met yet ;-)

Last month was a bit crazy, so I’ve got some catching up on visiting to do this month. See ya around!

Oh! One more thing:

Q: Why, even on the hottest of days, do writers always feel chilly?

A: They are surrounded by drafts.

  


Wednesday, July 6, 2022

IWSG July 2022 Choice Worlds

 




Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing journeys. Check out the July newsletter here.  Perusing the many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet -  join us!

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!

This month’s optional question is:  If you could live in any book world which one would you choose?

Only one? My first choice (operative word being “world”) would be “Camino Island” by John Grisham. I’d want to be a part of the compelling storyline; peopled with authentic characters I wouldn’t mind knowing, in an ideal coastal setting featuring a charming avantgarde with a dream job. What’s not to like? When the story ended, as they’ve a tendency to do, I’d stay on in a room with a breathtaking view of unyielding storms propelled upon the mainland by an indifferent sea. I’d hang around long enough to watch sea turtles hatch on the beach, along with a couple hundred other spectators.

Before long, I’d have to return to the Sonoran Desert where a 3-day old character named Quinn Quicksilver appeared swaddled in a blanket at dawn one day on a desolate stretch of Arizona highway. Quinn’s story doesn’t involve living in a world so much as an epic journey through one in route to an uncertain future while in search of his unknown past. Who doesn’t enjoy a good adventure now and again?

Can’t wait to read other responses to this month’s optional question!

Until again, be happy, write well!

 


Wednesday, June 1, 2022

IWSG - June 2022 A Place at the Table


Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing journeys. Check out the June newsletter here.  Perusing the many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet -  join us!

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!

This month’s optional question is:  When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

Actually, I think I’ve finished the final chapter of my last WIP. But that’s the problem, I only think so.  I think it’s time for fresh eyes. Do you ever feel that way?

It’s fairly breezy here in the woods as I write. At times it’s as if an onery angel is determined to smother the splendor of spring in celebratory yellowcake dust.  I hope we don’t have another pollen squall while I’m out here. Moreover, I hope I remember to save my post before slamming my laptop closed if we do. But, isn’t technology fantastic? I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of page numbers after once having to chase loose papers, snatched away by a gust of wind and strewn all over the yard. Gone are the days of using writing utensils as flyswatters, in case they land in the dog’s water bowl 😊 My only concern today is having to plug in my laptop before I’m ready to go inside, and what will become of the little black ant that ambled across my keyboard letters A through D before slipping under the F? Might words like fluffy, flaffler, and carfuffle be the death of him?

In an article in last week’s issue of Publishing Trends, I read (among other topics, of course) that women readers and (more to the point) women writers over the age of 45 are being dismissed by the very industry we support and rely on. I’m just going to pretend I didn’t read that and that the unacceptable practice is gone like trash after collection day. Chances are it will be. Especially considering recent campaigns aimed at streamlining the page-to-screen pipeline whereby authors are increasingly the people Hollywood wants to be friends with. Granted, not everyone has jumped on the bandwagon…yet. But it’s nice to imagine a time when authors have a significant place at the (screen) publishing table.

It's Audiobook appreciation Month! Have you created one yet? I’m not yet convinced, but I’m getting there. Do you check out free audio samples before choosing what to read next?

Don’t miss the full Strawberry moon on the 14th

Until again, be happy, and write well!

  

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

IWSG May - Highs and Lows





Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!

We’re glad you’re here! It's the First Wednesday of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a blog hop featuring all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to share the fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating writing journeys. Check out the May newsletter here.  Perusing the many tips and resources offered here is definitely worthwhile and highly rewarding, so pull up a comfy chair, or better yet -  join us!

Our awesome co-hosts for this month's posting of the IWSG are:  Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!

This month’s optional question is:  May 4 question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?

I am happiest when I’m writing. I’m even happy when stuck at a pivotal crossroads; one make-or-break decision away from almost home (The End) or following a path to the second half of a burgeoning novel. Either way is fine with me ;-)

Rejection is always a bummer. But scams are worse. They leave you feeling lower than dirt. Question everything, and be safe out there folks.

It’s Children’s Book Week! Have you one you’d like to mention? Do you have a childhood favorite?

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Don’t forget to call your mom on Sunday ;-)

Have an A-May-zing month of May! 

It's a Beautiful Day

Saturday, April 30, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - Z

 


A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

Z

Zimmerman House


One of only two Usonian homes (the other is right down the street) in Manchester, New Hampshire, this home was designed almost entirely with the personal tastes of the homeowners in mind. By 1952 Frank Lloyd Wright had established his signature Usonian style in homes intended for middle-class families with modest requirements and was expanding the use of reinforced concrete in residential applications such as flooring.


For the Zimmerman couple, Wright’s attention to detail extended to include exterior garden design, interior furnishings, a small music stage, and to some extent, dishware.


The Zimmermans willed the home to the Currier Museum, which has maintained the grounds since 1988 and hosts tours for about 5000 visitors per year. Howard Mansfield was one such visitor.


 

An unusual home, undeniably. What do you think? Would you take a tour?

Many thanks to everyone who stopped by! You kept me at it ;-)

Friday, April 29, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - Y

 



A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

Y

Yountville Town Center



When it came time for an upgrade, the architects at Siegel and Strain knew just how to design a building that would seamlessly blend old and new, nature and architecture in the heart of Napa Valley’s wine country. As a result, the Yountville Town Center received the 2010 “Savings by Design” award of honor, AIA California’s highest award.


If I were to spend a day strolling this 1.5 square mile town, I’d hope to catch an event going on at the center, wouldn’t you? 

Thursday, April 28, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - X

 


A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

X

San Xavier Del Bac

 


Founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino, this Spanish catholic mission was named for Francis Xavier, a Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus in Europe. The original church served the mission and the O’odham people along the Santa Cruz River until about 1770 when it was destroyed by Apache raids.

The (new) mission that still stands today was commissioned with funds borrowed from a Sonoran rancher and constructed largely by native O’odham workers under the guidance of architect Ignacio Gaona between 1783 and 1797.

Following Mexican Independence in 1821, the Mexican government banned all Spanish-born priests. Once the last Franciscan departed in 1837, operations at the mission began to deteriorate.

The mission might have succumbed to decay by 1853 if not for the Gadsden Purchase which included San Zavier as part of the United States and the new Arizona Territory. The Diocese of Tucson was then formed, putting in place a priest and establishing services once again.

One of the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the US, the San Zavier Mission is considered to be perhaps the best and oldest civilized structure in Arizona.

I’ve been to the mission many times and highly recommend a visit. Would you go? Have you been?

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - W

 


A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

W

Wayfarer’s Chapel


The design of this place of worship may seem familiar, even similar to the one I showcased for the letter “H,” but there’s more to it than that, as this chapel was designed by architect Lloyd Wright (son of famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright).

While in keeping with his father’s love of glass, Wright departed from the traditional use of masonry in order, he said, “to achieve a delicate enclosure that allows the surrounding landscape to define the sacred space.” Placing his unique design on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean further compliments an already breathtaking effect.

Also known as “The Glass Church,” it is a popular choice for weddings and movie and television series settings. In addition, the American a cappella group, Pentatonix recorded a music video there in 2020.


If ever there was a perfect place to find – or lose yourself, this has to be it. Can you imagine the view from the pews? Would you visit? Have you been?


 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - V

 


A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

V

Villa Savoye - France


Commissioned by the Savoye (pronounced Savwa) family as a country retreat just outside of Paris, France, architects Le Corbusier and (his cousin) Pierre Jeanneret had free range to design this modernist villa.

The Villa Savoye is undoubtedly Le Corbusier’s most notable project from the 30s and had an enormous influence on international modernism. His use of Pilotis (stilts), interior and exterior ramps instead of stairs, garden roof and terrace, horizontal ribbon windows, and an open floor plan devoid of load-bearing walls were all part of the “Five Point” architectural aesthetic that led to the house being affectionately referred to as a “Box in the Air” by the architect himself.

Interestingly, the building was registered as an official French Historical Monument (1965) while Le Corbusier was still alive.


It might be fun to tour this place. Would you go? Have you been? What do you think of the design?

Monday, April 25, 2022

A to Z Blogging Challenge - U

 


A to Z April (2022) Blogging Challenge

 

Hello, dear readers!

I’d like to thank you all in advance for stopping by, and I hope that at least a few on my list of remarkable buildings pique your interest as they did mine.

“Design is not a coincidence or a formula; it is a result of human reflection and vision in response to a specific challenge.” ~ Unknown

 

U

Unity Temple – Oak Park, Illinois


When the original Unity Church was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1905, noted American architect and loyal parishioner Frank Lloyd Wright was awarded the commission for a new building.

In keeping with his philosophy of organic architecture and a woefully tight budget, Wright submitted a design that defied nearly every concept of traditional church architecture.

Concrete, he reasoned, was both plentiful and affordable and allowed for repetition of a series of un-treated concrete forms that, to the busy street outside, would represent impenetrable protection of the sanctuary within.

Instead of a steeple or spire, Wright’s vision included the use of natural lighting; leaded glass skylights intended to impart “a sense of a happy cloudless day… “and a continuous band of clerestory windows that minimized street noise while providing further light.


The project was deemed another of a long list of masterpieces by the architect. And because the design is so unique, bearing no resemblance to other churches along Lake Street, parish commissioners decided to change the name to Unity Temple.

 

I bet the sanctuary truly is something to see. Would you visit? Have you been?