Make Me Think Monday Archives - Page 29 of 34

23 06, 2014

Wedding Dress x 3

By judythemorgan|2014-06-23T06:00:46-05:00June 23rd, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

June is the considered the most popular month for weddings. But why? There are three reasons according to the blog on Bridetide:

Our agrarian culture of the past chose wedding dates based upon the peak harvest times. If you married in June, a possible summer pregnancy would still be early enough in the season that a wife could assist with manual work during that year’s harvest period. Following the spring birth, the recovered bride would be able assist in the next year’s harvest.
At one time in our culture regular bathing was a once-a-year event usually during the last part of May or beginning of June. Scheduling a wedding during June meant the couple would have had their “annual bath” and was probably the most presentable than any other time of the year.
Couples schedule their weddings in June to honor Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. Many believe marrying in June meant their marriage would be showered with luck and good wishes from the gods above.

My parents scheduled a June wedding back in 1938; possibly for reason #3. This Wednesday, on June 25, they would have been married seventy-six years. Here’s what my mother looked like on her wedding day.

It was (is) a lovely dress made from imported Alençon lace. A wedding dress with a unique story to tell.

Twenty-five years after my mother and father’s June wedding, I wore the same dress. Young and anxious to start our life together, we chose May 30 for our wedding day. The reason – we’d have an extra day off work. Back then, May 30 was the Memorial Day holiday. We honeymooned near our hometown over the weekend and both returned to classes and our jobs at the University of Texas Library on Monday.

Twenty-four years later, our daughter aka Chicken Wrangler Sara wore her grandmother’s dress at her wedding. Sara chose the second most popular month for weddings – August.

Three times a firstborn daughter has worn the beautiful hand stitched dress.

My mother’s mother stitched the dress for her daughter. Mother was only four feet eleven inches tall so grandmother altered the dress for me to wear, then I altered the dress for my daughter, who was a couple of inches taller than I am.

In the twenty plus years between weddings, the dress remained tucked safely in a cedar chest. I still keep it inside the small cedar chest, which was originally my mother’s hope chest.

Will a firstborn daughter wear the dress again? Who knows? My daughter’s firstborn daughter will be graduating next year. Maybe we’ll be altering the dress for her someday.

If not, the dress will continue to live in the little hope chest. And, probably, one day appear in one of the love stories I write.

9 06, 2014

A Polite Question

By judythemorgan|2014-06-09T06:00:31-05:00June 9th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

I’m sure you know what question I mean.

You’ve probably heard it many times yourself…

“What do you do?”

I wear so many hats – wife, mother, sister, daughter, cousin. It’s hard to zero in on only one to answer the question.

Then I enjoy so many things – playing Pickleball, reading, walking with my dogs, gardening. How do I zero in on a single answer about what I do?

I could answer with one of the many professions I’ve held over the years – teacher, administrator, DAC, antiques shop owner, volunteer. I enjoyed every job I’ve had. It’s crazy to relay all those in answer to a polite, rhetorical question.

I’ve thought about how to answer and discovered that in everything I am or do, there is one common thread. That thread is storytelling.

Like all of us, I share personal stories in social conversations, but I also make up characters and write their stories. Stories, which, in turn, become published, adding the category of author to my numerous professions.

Stop and think about it. We are all storytellers.

As a teacher, I told stories to help my students learn. As an antiques dealer, I told stories about the antiques I sold, and as a volunteer, I tell stories to make others feel comfortable.

Mostly the stories we share are anecdotal. But, it’s important to note that I also make up characters and their stories and I love what I do.

So when someone asks me the question, my answer is “I’m a storyteller,” which, in most instances, provides an opportunity to mention my published books.

I would love it if everyone I told I was a storyteller or those reading this blog went to FB and liked my author page, or bought a copy of my book, but the truth is, doing those things wouldn’t change my answer or what I do.

I’ll always tell stories, no matter what the format.

I am a

I’m grateful my stories take written form in bookstores and in libraries. At the same time, I recognize when I’m old and in a rest home, I might not be up to writing.

I am hopeful, however, that I will be entertaining my fat, happy great-grandkids with verbal tales about my scandalous past.

The medium may change, but my storytelling will always be the same. For you see, there’s always a story to tell. And, remember, I have Irish genes so the stories don’t have to be totally truthful.

So what about you, how do you answer when someone asks what you do?

2 06, 2014

Expecting an Exciting Summer

By judythemorgan|2014-06-02T06:00:54-05:00June 2nd, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|4 Comments

This little guy popped out of the ground last week, bringing hope that spring and summer will arrive.

It’s about time.

Snowstorms in May were a major shock though our visiting grandchildren thought it was wonderful!

My sister and her daughter from Texas decided to pack their long johns when they came to see us over Memorial weekend after the grandkids left.

Unfortunately, they needed the extra layer. It was cold and rainy the whole weekend.

That didn’t stop my hiking niece and husband from climbing up to 10,000 feet on Sentinel Peak.

Summer folk are returning to town. It’s amazing to watch the RV parks filling and summer homes coming to life.

Last week the exterior painting of our house was finally been completed. Soon, the mountains of dirt from the excavating for the garage addition will become tiered landscaping. Now that will be a much-welcomed sight.

The summer will bring family and friends escaping the heat where they live. Another thing I can wait to have happen. Nothing’s more fun than sitting on the porch visiting.

And, most exciting, I have a book releasing in June.

Details on official release date coming soon…

We’re off to a tremendous start for the season. So how’s your summer shaping up?

26 05, 2014

What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend?

By judythemorgan|2014-05-26T06:00:25-05:00May 26th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

I’m guessing you are doing or did one or more of these things…

• Spent time with family and friends munching on hot dogs and hamburgers

• Celebrated the unofficial beginning of summer by bringing out the white clothes and shoes

• Shopped or attended a sporting event

• Spent time at the beach, taking in the waves

Memorial Day weekend is for all of those things, but more.

Today is the federal holiday established so we could pause and remember fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins who never came home.

If somehow you forgot the origins, you are not alone–too many of us do.

But it’s not too late to celebrate and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today is not over and it is the official designated Memorial Day 2014.

I suggest two ways to honor those who have served:

Read some of many poems written to honor relatives or friends who died serving their country by typing Memorial Day 2014 Poems in your search engine.
Listen to this incredible tribute by Wisconsin Legionnaire William Berg, who played Taps for his post since before World War II. Mr. Berg passed away in July 2013 at the age of 94.

One last word to all those who serve by going off or staying behind at home: my personal heartfelt thank you. I’m sincerely grateful to all of you.

12 05, 2014

Paper or screen – how do you read?

By judythemorgan|2014-05-12T06:00:21-05:00May 12th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Recently I had the most relaxing experience. I came away with blackened fingertips and oodles of coupons.

Can you guess what I was doing?

I read the Sunday paper leisurely on Monday morning. An event that was once a routine part of my Sundays until we moved to the mountains.

We don’t have Sunday newspaper delivery in our neck of the woods. Our local newspaper arrives once a week in our mailbox and reading it doesn’t take long. It’s called the South Fork Tines and my high school newspaper was thicker.

Sunday papers are available at the local convenience store, but that necessitates a trip down the mountain. We haven’t developed the habit.

I doubt we will. We can always get the news via television or internet.

I picked up the one-inch thick edition of the Pueblo Chieftain, Colorado’s oldest daily newspaper, at the local hotel where I do my water aerobics three mornings a week.

The Chieftain isn’t nearly as large as the Houston Chronicle was, but the edition was filled with ads, coupon pamphlets, and the Sunday funnies section.

Oh, how I miss those funnies. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed the experience so much.

Reading on-line just doesn’t convey the same feelings or give the texture of the newsprint in my hand. Yes, I get the same information from other sources, but not the tactile sensations.

I fear my pleasure of reading print newspapers is disappearing. And, not because of availability where I live.

Look around you. You’ll see what I see. Readers staring at screens on phones and tablets.

Michael Bourne observed the phenomena when he rode the subway into the New York City and wrote about it in his article, “Screens on the Subway: The Rolling Library Is Going Digital.”

“A decade ago, none of the devices my R train companions were so avidly viewing even existed. Back then, if you didn’t want to read on your morning subway commute, you stared off into space… Now, more and more often, those idle moments – on subway cars, on airplanes, in dentist’s offices – are being filled by games and movies and social media. By screens.”

I still read print: paperback books, magazines and newspapers. I also read on my phone (handy when I’m forced to wait unexpectedly), on my Kindle, and on my iPad. I sometimes stare at a screen to play games or check social media.

But holding those objects is just not the same as reading the Sunday paper spread out at the breakfast table with a nice cup of tea.

How about you? Do you read from printed papers or is most of your reading following the trend and done via screens?

5 05, 2014

Your fiction reading choice – literary or commercial?

By judythemorgan|2014-05-05T06:00:29-05:00May 5th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

As an author, I’m frequently asked what I write. You’d think the answer would be easy. It’s not.

My dilemma about how to answer comes because I write a blend of literary and commercial fiction.

But that answer won’t make sense to many because the nuances of publishing vocabulary can be hard to understand. Plus, readers don’t necessarily think about literary vs commercial when making their choices of what to read.

Usually I answer I write commercial fiction, which provides an opportunity to explain the difference between commercial and literary.

Then I explain…

In literary fiction, the story arc is character-driven. The story itself is episodic about personal growth or destruction as the character comes to understand his/her situation.

Think of books like To Kill A Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Brave New World, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or the book I mentioned in my recent blog on book clubs titled The Namesake.

Commercial fiction, on the other hand, is plot-driven. The arc is the rising and falling action of an active plot and dynamic opening hook. External obstacles lead to interior changes for the character.

Another name for commercial fiction is genre fiction, which means the book category is based on content. Commercial fiction genres include crime, fantasy, horror, mystery or detective, science fiction, western, inspirational, or romance. But each of those categories has subcategories and authors can blend categories.

Consider genre authors like Stephen King, John Grisham, J.R.R. Tolkien, Susan Wiggs, or Francine Rivers

Stories themselves may actually be a cross between literary and commercial.

You see, commercial stories can contain great character development and literary stories can have a functional plot.

And, authors often blend a literary style or voice in their writing with deep character exploration, intriguing hooks, and entertaining plots.

I repeat distinctions and nuances in fiction types can be complicated.

The true classification of a novel lies in the purpose of the story. Is the point to tell a tale (commercial) or learn something about a character or the human condition (literary)?

One classification isn’t superior to the other. Both types of fiction have their place in literature.

The thing to remember is it’s all about the story and what you, the reader, like.

YOUR TURN:

Thinking about the last book you read or the book you’re reading now, would you classify your selection as literary or fiction or one of the crossover blends?

23 04, 2014

Little Free Libraries and Sightseeing

By judythemorgan|2014-04-23T06:00:23-05:00April 23rd, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

The temperature here in the San Luis Valley is warming. There’s no danger of running into bad weather going through the mountain passes, which means it’s time to take mini-breaks from writing and explore.

Last weekend, we loaded the four-legged boys into the Pilot and headed over Poncha Pass to Salida, a small town on the edge of the Arkansas River.

: SOURCE: http://activerain.trulia.com/blogsview/3366308/salida-colorado-real-estate–six-unique-neighborhoods-areas-to-live.html

If you’re into rafting, Salida is the place to go. Rafting tours range from mild to wild class 5 rapids. There’s kayaking and, of course, trout fishing and bicycling.

It’s still a little cold for water sports so we walked around the city streets visiting shops and stopped for lunch at a coffee shop.

Afterward we went down to the City Park and walked our four-legged boys along the river paths.

You can see the rapid chute in the background. We can’t wait to come back to take a rafting tour.

The best part of the visit was finding a little free library as we wandered around the streets looking at the wonderful old houses.

Read all about the 5,276th Little Free Library at the corner of Airport Road and Silver Spruce here.

I was so excited, then so sad I hadn’t thought to bring along any of my books to add to the library.

This wasn’t the first little free library I’d seen. There’s one two houses down from my cousin’s house in Austin.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, you can read all about the movement to erect little libraries in communities here.

I love the idea of “take a book, return a book.” Unfortunately, there’s no little library here in my small town. If my house weren’t so far off in the woods, I’d build one and share my stash of books.

We do have the Feelin’ Good Coffeehouse & Café. Inside, there’s a large bookcase with books spilling over on the floor where you can take a book from the shelf and leave one.The bonus is you get great coffee and food!

21 04, 2014

Easter Bonnets and Parades

By judythemorgan|2022-04-02T10:31:37-05:00April 21st, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Did you wear a new hat to church yesterday?

No?

I’m not surprised. There wasn’t a single Easter bonnet at my church yesterday either.

The tradition seems to have all but disappeared. However, I’m guessing many of us have pictures like this buried in old photo albums.

For years, my two siblings and I posed in our Easter finery after Sunday lunch.

Once upon a time, it was very important to have not only a new bonnet, but a new dress for Easter Sunday too.

Why?

It’s said the early church converts wore white garments on Sunday to identify themselves with Christ. The white symbolized purity and newness of life and became a powerful and tangible way to signify the life-altering spiritual transformation that had taken place.

In that tradition, we wore new outfits to church on Easter. Often, at least in our family, that new dress was our single Sunday dress and only worn to church.

The popularity of wearing an Easter bonnet is attributed to Irving Berlin’s song titled In Your Easter Bonnet from the 1948 movie Easter Parade

Yes, Virginia, there was truly an Easter parade in New York City from St. Patrick’s Cathedral down Fifth Avenue.

The event began spontaneously in the 1870s and increased in popularity through the 1950s. An after-church cultural event primarily for the well-to-do who, decked out in new and fashionable clothing, strolled from their own church to others to see and be seen.

The official parade’s popularity declined significantly as people came to view the frolic in finery as an ostentatious display of wealth and beauty. Although if you happen to be on Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday next year, you might see some Easter parade strollers minus the parade falderal of bygone days.

14 04, 2014

Conferences and Book Signings

By judythemorgan|2014-04-14T06:00:55-05:00April 14th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

I recently attended a writer’s conference in Tempe, Arizona.

Toby stayed close to the suitcase as I packed. Just in case, he was getting to tag along.

Once I arrived, I learned Tempe Desert Palms is a pet friendly hotel. My four-legged boys and hubby could have come along. Tempe was bright with sunshine and warm temperatures. They would have enjoyed a break from the still cool days in Colorado. Next time.

Truthfully, I’m not sure I would have seen much of them even if they’d come with me.

This was my first conference in a while. I spent my time visiting with friends, fellow Romance Writers of America authors, and making new friends. And, I had a ball.

The conference workshops were informative. Two sessions by Mary Buckham were outstanding! If you ever have a chance to hear Mary speak, run don’t walk to sign up. She’s an awesome teacher.

My friend Christy Craig was keynote. Her story from high school dropout to New York Times best selling author is awe-inspiring. The food was great – brisket for the conference luncheon, not chicken. What a treat!

However, the very best part of the Desert Dreams 2014 Conference was the book signing on Saturday night.

I was pleasantly surprised that setting up my book table wasn’t near as much trouble as setting up sales booths at antiques shows. My husband would have liked that part too.

For an hour and a half, readers stopped to chat and shared fascinating stories about their military ties or precious insights into their personal love stories.

That was my favorite part of the book signing…hearing stories of loved ones who served or were serving in the military. Talking to folks was always my favorite part of antiques shows too.

Before the evening ended, I switched to my reader’s hat and visited with some of my favorite authors at their displays. Yes, I brought home more books.

How about you? Have you attended a book signing?

7 04, 2014

Reader Book Reviews – An Author’s Conundrum

By judythemorgan|2014-04-07T06:00:39-05:00April 7th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

I’m a writer.

I’m a reader.

Frankly, I’m not sure you can be one without the other.

When I finish reading a book, I write a review. Why do I take the time and go to all the trouble?

The popularity of eReaders combined with the ease of independent epublishing has generated a flooded marketplace of book choices.

That ocean of available works is so huge knowing which book to select is difficult and book-buying budgets are often limited.

Personally, I check reviews before I purchase a book. Consequently when I read a good one, I want to share the news.

As an author I also recognize that reviews posted on eRetailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble or iBooks are critical for sales whether you’re a new or established author.

Yes, I know there are authors who defraud the on-line review systems and reviewers who use their power to target and destroy. Thank goodness, those types are in the minority.

I’m not saying don’t post a bad review if you don’t like a selection. Most authors welcome an honest evaluation of their work if it’s in the form of constructive criticism, not trashing.

Finding reviewers to post reviews presents a major conundrum for authors.

The validity of a review by family and friends can be questioned. Think about it are you going to tell the world Uncle Joe wrote a terrible book?

That’s why on-line retailers build checks and balances into their systems.

Within the publishing industry, there are review writing services — professional reviewers who are paid to write book or movie reviews. Those services can be very expensive.

Small publishing houses and indie authors can’t afford to use those services instead they rely on readers spreading the news.

I’m not exactly sure why coaxing a reader to write a review is so hard. Maybe it brings back painful memories of those dreaded book reports we had to do when we were in school.

Whatever the reason readers don’t write reviews, I wish more understood reviews help an author and the process to post a review is easy. Reviews don’t have to be lengthy or formal.

Next time you finish a book, can I suggest you post a review.

Should you want to give writing reviews a try, contact me I’ll be delighted to send an ARC (pre-publication) copy of my next release or a book from my bookshelf list

as long as

you promise to post an honest review and include a statement that I provided a complimentary copy of the book for you to review.