Book Gardens
I’m never without a book. Sometimes it hides in my purse; sometimes in my tote. I like the idea that my books are flowers carried in my pocket.
19
10, 2016
17
10, 2016
Who reads Romance?
I read a blog recently where certain elements of the blogger’s stories were listed with the question, Are you my reader? That got me to thinking about who reads romance.
According to Maya Rodale, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that romance readers are single women in possession of cats and in want of a man.”
I’m a long time romance reader and neither truth applies to me.
She adds, “Other “true” facts about the romance reader: They’re “nice people with bad taste in books”, uneducated, bored, stupid, “lack romance in their lives.” Or if we want to be really specific, they’re “middle aged women who are bored in their marriages and want to fantasize about hard, chiseled men.” Or maybe they’re “younger women who are using them as emotional porn.”
None of those characteristics apply to me either.
So who reads romance?
Romance Writers of America did a survey and created the graph below to identify romance novel readers. These demographics are a closer match to who I am as a romance reader.
If you’re a romance reader, do the stats fit you?
BTW, if you’re interested, you can read the rest of Ms. Rodale’s humorous post on romance reader myths and truths here.
14
10, 2016
Chicken Slide
Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
The past few weeks have been difficult on Miller Farm.
Chicken Wrangler Sara’s sprained ankle ended up having a fracture. This has the daily routine a bit of a challenge.
Then we had a situation arise that has required tremendous emotional energy. I found myself going into survival mode – making it from one day to the next.
One morning I was letting the chickens out and wishing I could crawl back in bed. Most of the chickens had run out of the coop when I saw one hen sliding down the ramp.
I had to smile in spite of all that is happening.
I can always count on the chickens to provide humor when it is needed most.
12
10, 2016
Words and Fall Leaves
I like this quote from Ruth Ozeki, American-Canadian novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest, and the wonderful graphic Edie Melson created from her words.
This time of year I watch from my office window as leaves in the Rio Grande National Forest fall, scattering and covering the forest floor. Inside, sitting at my computer, I peck away at the computer keys and the words appear on the screen like those falling leaves.
Soon snow will cover the leaves on the forest floor or the wind will scatter them over the ridge. Hopefully, my words will fall into place and become a completed book.
10
10, 2016
What are your chances of success?
Looking at this graphic you can clearly see what a world of difference attitude and action can make in success. The I wish I could circle gives you only a 30% opportunity for succeeding while the I am circle gives you a 90% chance of success. Thanks to The UnNovelist.com for the motivation.
Which circle describes where you are with your latest project?
Me, I’m at 90% and determined to get this story finished and to the editor before the holidays.
5
10, 2016
Progress and Change
I don’t know about where you live, but here in the Rocky Mountain Forest things are changing. While I’m not looking forward to the winter, I do look forward to the change.
Can you feel the change of season where you are? Are you ready and willing for the change?
I hope so because I truly believe Mr. Shaw’s words. Without acceptance of change (and I mean more than the weather), we do not move forward.
3
10, 2016
Elmore Leonard’s Rules for Good Writing
SOURCE for image: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/20/living/elmore-leonard-author-interview/
Elmore Leonard (1925-2013) began writing Westerns in the 1950s. From those, he went on to specialized in crime novels and suspense thrillers.
Because of his trademark rhythm and pace, many of his short stories became films. You might recognize Get Shorty (1995, John Travolta and Gene Hackman); Jackie Brown (1997, Pam Grier,) and Out of Sight (1999, George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez).
He also wrote scripts for television.
That’s how I became acquainted with the writer’s work through U. S. Marshal Raylan Givens, star of the television series Justified.Trigger-happy Marshal Raylan exemplifies the author’s use of the Western theme inside crime fiction.
The character first appeared in Leonard’s novel PRONTO (1993), again in RIDING THE RAP (1995), and RAYLAN (2012). He resurfaced as the main character of the short story “Fire in the Hole” (2012) which screenwriters used as the basis for the television series.
If you’ve watched the series, you’ll remember Raylan’s Stetson Open Road. It’s said that Leonard was particularly keen that the producers of the TV show get Raylan’s hat right, an indication of the hat’s importance in Raylan’s characterization.
Btw, Leonard won the 2010 Peabody Award for Justified.
As a writer, Leonard was skilled at gritty, realistic dialogue and a master of the tight scene. He gave the reader immediate access to a character’s thoughts, what we call deep POV today.
The thing that impresses me most about Mr. Leonard is, unlike most genre writers, he is taken seriously by the literary crowd.
In his 2007 book, he offered 10 tricks for good writing:
- Never open a book with weather.
- Avoid prologues.
- Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue.
- Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said”…he admonished gravely.
- Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose.
- Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose.”
- Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
- Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
- Don’t go into great detail describing places and things.
- Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
He then summed those ten rules into one:
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.
Personally, I like his summation best. What about you?
28
09, 2016
Act-Dream-Believe
When I stand at water’s edge and look out into the ocean, I feel tiny and insignificant. Then I think of Anatole France‘s quote and believe I can be or do anything, everything.
Don’t you?
26
09, 2016
They Steal Our Hearts and then …
We lose them.
If you’ve owned a dog, you know what I mean. You invest time, energy, money, and love. They fill your heart to overflowing, yours day with laughter. Then one day your beloved pet journeys over the Rainbow Bridge.
From the moment you pick up that fluffy little ball of fur, your head recognizes a dog’s life span just isn’t the same as yours. Yet, for some reason your hearts refuse to acknowledge what your head knows and when the time comes your heart cracks into a bazillion pieces.
I know. Mine did when we lost our beloved Toby this summer.
Toby was our fourth Old English sheepdog. Obadiah, Micah, and Rhinestone met him on the bridge. So did Lucky, Azariah, Bernie, and Scuttles, our little mixed breed babies.
Toby left behind two very, very sad and lonely humans, and his four-legged pal, Buster.
Even though losing is pet is part of owning a pet, the goodbyes never get easy. The separation is hard no matter how many times you go through it.
We coped in different ways with each loss. This time we have a memorial stone (from a friend who loved Toby as much as we did) to place in Toby’s favorite spot on the front porch.
Our grieve is the same as when we lose a human loved one or friend. Time will heal the sadness we hear, we know. That doesn’t stop the tears.
We move on one day at a time. Some days are better than others.
On those not so good days, we focus on the fun times: the long walks, the snuggles, the tug-of-wars, all the comical things Old English are known for…
And, quietly hope that one day another Old English sheepdog puppy will appear to steal our heart, and we can start the journey all over again.
23
09, 2016
Turkey – 1, Chicken Wrangler Sara – 0
A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
I believe I mentioned in last week’s post that turkeys are not very smart. This is only half true. They are smart enough to figure out how to get out of their pen but not smart enough to get back in.
This would not be a problem except that once the sun sets, they like to be in the coop with the chicks. Sunday night, one of the turkeys was on the wrong side of the fence and was quite distressed. I felt sorry for it and tried to catch it and return it to the proper pen.
The chickens like to burrow in the dust and leave holes throughout the chicken yard. These holes are hard to see when the sun sets. One is in a particularly treacherous location, and I have thought many times that I should fill it in.
This has not yet happened.
Sunday night, I found the hole while I was trying to catch the wayward turkey. I stepped in it and sprained my ankle. I heard the pop as I fell to the ground. I knew I was in trouble.
Beekeeper Brian returned the wayward turkey to the coop and then took Monday off work to take me to the doctor. The X-ray showed no break so I’m using crutches this week in the hopes that I can go without them next week. The kids at school are being very helpful.
At least I have a good story to tell when people ask what happened. And I will definitely enjoy the turkey next Thanksgiving.