Good morning everyone:
I haven't been able to post on blog for awhile (see 'A Life') but I'm very happy and honoured to share with you my first interview. A wonderfully talented Canadian writer (sassy, funny, brilliant crime writer) Jill Edmondson was kind enough to ask me about writing.
Please take a moment and check it out at her blog site: jilledmondson.blogspot.com/2012/02/interv…
Cheers!
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
A Life
This is my first post since the passing of my sister, a woman who will be missed by many.
She left this life from her own bed, in the farmhouse she had lived in for the last 30 years, surrounded by her loved ones. As I sat by her bedside on that last day, I reflected on the life she had lived. She gave of herself and the more she gave, the more she grew, the more she loved.
She and her husband were married at a very young age and according to stats, the chances of staying together were slim. They were married for 44 years. Her life wasn't always easy but she never gave up on others or herself. She was a strong woman, no pushover, who set goals and worked diligently to accomplish them. She loved her children, adored her grandchildren, supported her widowed mother, and reached out quietly, behind the scenes to others in need.
She had fun - loved to go to yard sales and browse for bargains she didn't need - for together with her husbandd, their hard work had won a financially stable life. She travelled, made friends in the Carolinas who stayed in contact with her until the day she passed. Her laughter was contagious.
I could go on but I won't. I needed to write this so I can continue on with my blog.
Love you forever, sister of mine.
She left this life from her own bed, in the farmhouse she had lived in for the last 30 years, surrounded by her loved ones. As I sat by her bedside on that last day, I reflected on the life she had lived. She gave of herself and the more she gave, the more she grew, the more she loved.
She and her husband were married at a very young age and according to stats, the chances of staying together were slim. They were married for 44 years. Her life wasn't always easy but she never gave up on others or herself. She was a strong woman, no pushover, who set goals and worked diligently to accomplish them. She loved her children, adored her grandchildren, supported her widowed mother, and reached out quietly, behind the scenes to others in need.
She had fun - loved to go to yard sales and browse for bargains she didn't need - for together with her husbandd, their hard work had won a financially stable life. She travelled, made friends in the Carolinas who stayed in contact with her until the day she passed. Her laughter was contagious.
I could go on but I won't. I needed to write this so I can continue on with my blog.
Love you forever, sister of mine.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Getting Started
I am new to writing and I hope I'm not be too presumptious to tackle the nasties that accompany writing. Anyway, having one book up on Amazon, I'm no longer a newbie and will take the plunge. We writers have to pay our dues.
What I mean by that is we have to go through the nasties and take our tumbles into the various traps all writers tumble into at one time or another, the chief of which, in my own experience, is self-doubt. The talk runs something like this: will the plot hold water? are the characters real? what will the readers think if I do this or that? Have I done enough research?
You get the picture. So, I circumvent my way around the first hurtle by ignorning the self-doubt and pushing on. Then comes the second one - this has been done before, it's not original enough, it will put readers to sleep which is fine if they happen to be insomoniacs. This is the point where I test the waters with writer friends and my trusted readers. What do you think, I ask, will it hold water? And, trust is the ultimate word here, they always come back with the truth whether it hurts or not. If its okay, I push on, if not I begin to re-twig.
I believe I am not alone in this. I've read enough blogs to know other writers go through the same thing - a few variations, no doubt, but you get the picture. So, if you are a new writer (I'm on my second book) I feel for you. There's a lot of work to be done. But knowing it is half the battle so, go on, go for it, for one thing I know, many people attempt to write and the majority (believe it or not) start but don't finish.
Perserve new writers and you will get there. I tell myself this every time I sit in front of the blank page. Good luck with your project.
What I mean by that is we have to go through the nasties and take our tumbles into the various traps all writers tumble into at one time or another, the chief of which, in my own experience, is self-doubt. The talk runs something like this: will the plot hold water? are the characters real? what will the readers think if I do this or that? Have I done enough research?
You get the picture. So, I circumvent my way around the first hurtle by ignorning the self-doubt and pushing on. Then comes the second one - this has been done before, it's not original enough, it will put readers to sleep which is fine if they happen to be insomoniacs. This is the point where I test the waters with writer friends and my trusted readers. What do you think, I ask, will it hold water? And, trust is the ultimate word here, they always come back with the truth whether it hurts or not. If its okay, I push on, if not I begin to re-twig.
I believe I am not alone in this. I've read enough blogs to know other writers go through the same thing - a few variations, no doubt, but you get the picture. So, if you are a new writer (I'm on my second book) I feel for you. There's a lot of work to be done. But knowing it is half the battle so, go on, go for it, for one thing I know, many people attempt to write and the majority (believe it or not) start but don't finish.
Perserve new writers and you will get there. I tell myself this every time I sit in front of the blank page. Good luck with your project.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Hopes for the New Year
As always, the New Year has found us. According to some, it won't next year as everything comes to an end in December - good news though, it's on a Friday so we all get the weekend off!
Now, on to more serious matters - our hopes for the New Year. Hope is mysterious. She (I don't know why I want to assign the feminine, feel free to choose the masculine) hides well, buries herself under the cares and worries that each one of us carries every day. And it seems, when everything closes in on us, she buries herself deeper and won't come out with any amount of coaxing.
However, when we turn our back on her, get busy with facing what we don't want to face but need to face, up she comes from those hidden depths. She fills us with visions of glorious sunrises, meaningful encounters with those we love and who love us, leads us to others we don't yet know. Compassion joins with her and our eyes our opened to those less fortunate than us, who bear greater burdens and yet deep in their hearts, hope struggles to free itself.
Our hopes, like ourselves, are unique but I suspect we do have a lot of common hopes as we journey into 2012. May all our buried dreams, hopes and loves surface this New Year. And, if you are so moved, weigh in with your hopes on the blog.
Happy New Year!!!
Now, on to more serious matters - our hopes for the New Year. Hope is mysterious. She (I don't know why I want to assign the feminine, feel free to choose the masculine) hides well, buries herself under the cares and worries that each one of us carries every day. And it seems, when everything closes in on us, she buries herself deeper and won't come out with any amount of coaxing.
However, when we turn our back on her, get busy with facing what we don't want to face but need to face, up she comes from those hidden depths. She fills us with visions of glorious sunrises, meaningful encounters with those we love and who love us, leads us to others we don't yet know. Compassion joins with her and our eyes our opened to those less fortunate than us, who bear greater burdens and yet deep in their hearts, hope struggles to free itself.
Our hopes, like ourselves, are unique but I suspect we do have a lot of common hopes as we journey into 2012. May all our buried dreams, hopes and loves surface this New Year. And, if you are so moved, weigh in with your hopes on the blog.
Happy New Year!!!
Friday, 30 December 2011
Happy New Year
As 2012 hurtles ever closer, I can't help looking back on 2011. It's been a watershed year for our family. Our oldest granddaughter went off to University this fall with high marks and renewable scholarships and we couldn't help but be proud. Our son, who lived in New York city for the past fourteen years (research/taught at Columbia University) was seduced back to Canada this September (oddly enough by an American enviromental company). He's in another province but we see him more frequently now although he's in New York over the holidays as that is where his significant other lives.
Our daughter has ventured into her own fashion design business and we are hoping she gets it up and off the ground as she is very talented. Our second youngest granddaughter is travelling to Guatemala in February in class trip. We are excited for her and a bit apprehensive as well.
And myself, I took the plunge this year and wrote a book. I had written short stories for the kids over the years (great fans) but was caught up in career, family life and the like. It was only on retirement that I turned my focus to writing.
Coming to this profession in the last half of my life is a blessing for I'm past the qualms that go with it is good or not? I trust readers to tell me that although I have yet to be reviewed and am trying to be patient.
So dear friends, that's been my life over the past year. I hope all the best for you in the New Year, may the goddess of good fortune sprinkle on you.
Our daughter has ventured into her own fashion design business and we are hoping she gets it up and off the ground as she is very talented. Our second youngest granddaughter is travelling to Guatemala in February in class trip. We are excited for her and a bit apprehensive as well.
And myself, I took the plunge this year and wrote a book. I had written short stories for the kids over the years (great fans) but was caught up in career, family life and the like. It was only on retirement that I turned my focus to writing.
Coming to this profession in the last half of my life is a blessing for I'm past the qualms that go with it is good or not? I trust readers to tell me that although I have yet to be reviewed and am trying to be patient.
So dear friends, that's been my life over the past year. I hope all the best for you in the New Year, may the goddess of good fortune sprinkle on you.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Cracklin' Rosie
I haven't been able to post for awhile and am happy to be able to do so this morning as I couldn't wait to share the good news with all of you.
Our daughter bought a surprise gift for her youngest daughter, Caroline, who this past summer was crushed when their twelve year old Golden Retriever, Jack, died of cancer. She asked for a blue picture frame for Christmas. 'It has to be blue, Mom, because it's for Jack's picture and he was a boy'.
I wish I convey to you in words the expression on Caroline's face when she opened a box and out peeked the beautiful, black button eyes, of a female Havernese who Caroline promptly named 'Rosie'. Havernese dogs were originally bred in Havana, Cuba as circus dogs. They are small, agile dogs with a personality as large as an elephant.
Rosie jumps, runs, throws her toys in the air, hides under the chair where no one can reach her when she's naughty, curls up in your lap and falls alseep faster than you can wink, and loves to kiss! The breed doesn't 'yip' a lot like some other small dogs but it's hard to gauge as Rosie was the runt of the litter but you should see her now. One of my fellow blogger friends says they resemble the Bichon Frish.
Rosie has given great joy to all of us this Christmas and I just had to share it with you.
I hope your holidays were happy and healthy. What gave you the most joy this Christmas. Drop by and let us know. Cheers, Hank.
Our daughter bought a surprise gift for her youngest daughter, Caroline, who this past summer was crushed when their twelve year old Golden Retriever, Jack, died of cancer. She asked for a blue picture frame for Christmas. 'It has to be blue, Mom, because it's for Jack's picture and he was a boy'.
I wish I convey to you in words the expression on Caroline's face when she opened a box and out peeked the beautiful, black button eyes, of a female Havernese who Caroline promptly named 'Rosie'. Havernese dogs were originally bred in Havana, Cuba as circus dogs. They are small, agile dogs with a personality as large as an elephant.
Rosie jumps, runs, throws her toys in the air, hides under the chair where no one can reach her when she's naughty, curls up in your lap and falls alseep faster than you can wink, and loves to kiss! The breed doesn't 'yip' a lot like some other small dogs but it's hard to gauge as Rosie was the runt of the litter but you should see her now. One of my fellow blogger friends says they resemble the Bichon Frish.
Rosie has given great joy to all of us this Christmas and I just had to share it with you.
I hope your holidays were happy and healthy. What gave you the most joy this Christmas. Drop by and let us know. Cheers, Hank.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Writing Sprint
I'm going to do a mini writing marathon today - due to start in twenty minutes. I haven't posted on the blog for a bit so thought I'd warm up with this post. I'm getting close to finishing my book, however, the closer I get, the further away the finish seems. Little things start to niggle. Is my time line accurate, are the character's names consistent, will the plot stand up under the reader's scrutiny?
My subconscious starts throwing up hints that all may not be well with the manuscript and it usually throws these hints up in the middle of the night. I lay there thinking about the few changes I should make, fall back to sleep, and forget them in the morning. I know its fruitless to keep a notepad on the nightstand for jotting the ideas. I tried that and what made sense in the middle of the night lost its glow in the cold light of day.
So today I've decided to write to the finish, not edit, not fret (yeah, okay maybe that's a bit unrealistic) and push on to the end. I'm hopeful of finishing but what do I know, it's my first time out of the gate! Anyone know the secret to getting your muse to share your writing chair?
My subconscious starts throwing up hints that all may not be well with the manuscript and it usually throws these hints up in the middle of the night. I lay there thinking about the few changes I should make, fall back to sleep, and forget them in the morning. I know its fruitless to keep a notepad on the nightstand for jotting the ideas. I tried that and what made sense in the middle of the night lost its glow in the cold light of day.
So today I've decided to write to the finish, not edit, not fret (yeah, okay maybe that's a bit unrealistic) and push on to the end. I'm hopeful of finishing but what do I know, it's my first time out of the gate! Anyone know the secret to getting your muse to share your writing chair?
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