Big Announcement!

Release the pigeons, alert the news media, here it comes folks. I'm gleefully rubbing my hands together, eager to share my news. 

Okay, so we'll go without a drum roll but...

I hired an editor. I hired a professional editor to work with me on my women’s fiction manuscript, the baby I've incubated for years and years.

What’s the big deal, you ask? First thing, it means I’m taking myself seriously as a writer, not fooling around with this “l’il hobby” anymore. It means I’m standing up and owning the life I want. It means I mean it.

Her name is Becky and she lives in New England. Becky is a puller – meaning, she asks tough questions and she makes me answer them. She’s forcing me to reach deep down and clear out everything that makes no sense in an effort to get to the gem lying at the bottom of the dark well. And she swears. A lot. I'm looking forward to working with her.

So, I jumped in with both feet. It would be so much easier to scurry back into the closet and slam the door behind me and not try. But I can't do that. If I'm going to be a credible writer, the time is now. Point is, if I can do it, so can you.

What's holding you back?

Feedback

Sunday morning's come around again and here I am, crouched in front of my computer screen, eeking out words to speak to you.

We're writers, and as members of that fragile but strong as a strand of hair, we support one another in any way we can. Some time ago, I mentioned I'd given my women's fiction manuscript to a trusted friend for review and feedback. Doing that was an unusual (and brave) step for me. I don't put myself out there very often, not out of arrogance, but more out of fear.

What if it's too terrible to talk about? What if she rolled her eyes on every page? What if I've fallen into the traps that I so often tell other writers not to slip into - cliches, trite language, telling instead of showing? What if I'm simply not good enough to call myself a writer? Being naked and vulnerable is not something I do well. Being a Cancer, I tend to cover the mush up with armor and carry on as if the world weren't crumbling around me, all the while the mush is sloshing around inside. It was a hard three or four weeks waiting for word.

My friend came back to me with her comments. She also asked her editor to review the first five pages. Both of them said the same thing, independent of each other - needs a hook. There must be a reason for the reader to read on. The editor said she suspected something juicier was coming later on but as yet, she wasn't sure what it would be.

The hook, the compelling reason for the story. What will bring the reader into your world. I thought about it as I vacuumed, I pondered in the shower, driving to work, rehearsing words and thoughts over and over again until it might magically appear. I took my first character, Julie, down to the studs, made her talk to me. It's not there yet but I'm working on it.

Feedback is essential for a writer. The feedback I received from my friend and her editor was mindful that there is a person behind the words on the page. They're both pretty no nonsense but not without heart, and that was helpful for me.

How do you hook your reader? Do you ask a question? Do you make a compelling statement? What are your thoughts on the hook?

The Best Part of the Day

Another lovely spring morning arrives in the Ozarks. It's Sunday and the house is quiet, except for the clickety-clack of Ella's nails as she trots across the wood floors. No tv, no radio, not even the sound of a toilet flushing.

This is the best part of Sunday morning for me. Earlier, I took Ella out to do her duty, and I sipped hot coffee as I watched the sun peak through the slates in the wood fence, creeping across the grass in silvery ribbons. The burgeoning scent of honey suckle hung heavy on the air.

A new day, a new promise, new writing possibilities. I'm excited and frightened at the same time to be receiving notes from my beta reader, the only other women's fiction author in my romance writing group. Having looked forward to this for a while now, biting my nails and making up all kinds of possibilities of what she might say (good and bad), I'll be relieved when the word comes.

This manuscript is still the book of my heart, after all the years I've spent formulating it. It's the work I want to see my name on, lying on the New Releases table at Barnes & Noble. I feel strong about it and I hope my beta reader does too.

What are your plans for today?

What's the favorite part of the day for you?

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Cream Sauce

I wanted to post this yesterday (Sunday), but my computer didn't want to upload a photo. As you will see, the photo of my creation is at the bottom of the page. So, here we go, because, It's all about the food.

It's been sleety and cold in the Ozarks today, a good day to stay indoors. Earlier, I spied a box of frozen butternut squash ravioli sitting in my freezer, and I wondered why I hadn't drug it out by now and done something with it. So, here we go. The sauce recipe is virtually the same as on the box but I changed it up just a little bit.

Sage Cream Sauce:

3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped red onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teas. dried sage
1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 1/3 cup heavy cream
Salt and black pepper to taste
A spritz of red pepper flakes
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Frozen peas

And of course, the ravioli, cooked. It takes about 6 or 7 minutes on a gentle boil to cook them through but I didn't start until I had the sauce finished.

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the red onion til soft, about 4 minutes, add garlic and sauté another minute. Toss in the sage and sauté for about 30 seconds. Combine the chicken stock and heavy cream, stir in, increasing heat to high. Drop parmesan cheese in. Let sauce boil, stirring constantly with a whisk, 7 or 8 minutes, til mixture thickens and reduces by about half. Salt and pepper, toss red pepper flakes in. Add frozen peas and let them cook for 3 or 4 minutes, keeping them firm but not frozen.

Ladle ravioli on plate, pour sauce over and serve.


Mange!

The All You Can Dream Buffet, and other news.

Good morning, folks. Long time, no see. I'm having a terrific amount of trouble posting from my home computer and have had for about a month. So, today I'm working from a different computer.

"The All You Can Dream Buffet" by Barbara O'Neal, aka Barbara Samuel, arrived on my doorstep on Friday. I have to tell you I've been waiting with bated breath for this newest Barbara novel to come out, for like, a year. It's finally here now, and although I want to romp through it, devouring it in wild, airless gulps, I'm forcing myself to eat slowly, to savor every chapter, to weigh each one when I've finished, and tonight I'm on Chapter 18 and I can hardly wait to get to the next chapter.

To write like Barbara does, with such easy luminousity, such color and voice, that is what I hope to be able to do in my own work. I've taken some flak for writing what is called women's fiction - from people who don't understand what women's fiction is in the first place. And that's sad.

What is women's fiction? Well, it's not genre romance, let's get that out of the way first. Women's fiction can be described as stories about women, now they interact with one another, how they overcome hurdles the great game of life throws their way, how they love (and lose), their strengths, their weaknesses, how their hearts are broken in a million pieces by a husband, a lover, a child. How they overcome the cards they're dealt. It doesn't have to be War and Peace, folks. It just has to be real.

In my own writing life, I have to say, I've been so, so busy this first quarter of 2014. I've been editing and reviewing work for other writers, yes. And I've been receiving royalty checks for the book I co-wrote with Rick East (nice, so validating, so exciting when that check comes in the mail), and I've been working on the manuscript I've been working on for so long, my own women's fiction novel.


Speaking of which, my publisher friend, Sharon Kizziah-Holmes, sent my manuscript to one of her readers for review. I waited, and waited, and waited to hear whether it sucked or what. Didn't hear anything for so long, and I finally decided, it must be so terrible she can't bring herself to say it's terrible. Sitting on pins and needles is not fun, and I sat on those things for over two months. Talked to Sharon in the meantime, she'd heard nothing, and then, finally, her reader came through, just about the time I'd decided I'd better never quit my day job.

Sharon's reader liked it. Thought some parts were a bit slow but once she got engaged, she liked it.

She liked it!!!! She had good things to say, constructive things to say, and I'm digging it. It gives me reason to work harder because, quite frankly, readers are where it's at for all of us. Readers are integral to a writer's progress.

All in all, I'm happy and pleased with this review and I'm working on the comments, to make the book better, stronger, more credible. And I can do this. I got it.

How do you feel about your newest venture? Does it have wings? Can you make it fly? I so hope and pray I can make my book fly - what about you?

Advice to Writers

With the beginning of a new year, here are some thoughts for us as writers.


1. First drafts are okay. That’s why they’re called “drafts.” Give yourself permission to blow it all out on paper unbridled, and resist the temptation to edit as you go. Editing as you go is a clumsy dance, one that lends itself to stepping on toes and losing one’s partner at the twirl. Once the floodgates open, let the words flow. Clean up comes later.

2. Tell the truth. Don’t pussyfoot around it. One thing that drives me nuts is reading superficial nicey-nicey characters. Let’s face it – people have bad tempers, people swear, people do not always exhibit spotless character and sometimes, don’t even care. Don’t ever censor yourself. Let your character say the bad words, and experience the thrill/shame of bad behavior. And don’t worry about what others will think of what you’ve written. What kind of reading world would we be living in if every character was pearly white? Your story must have tension coming from somewhere, actually everywhere, or it’s a broad yawn.

3. Today is the day you must start, not next week, or after the first of the year. Okay, all you procrastinators out there, stop making excuses and plant butt in chair, apply fingers to keyboard. Simply put, the work will not get done until you do it.

4. Daydream. Absolutely, yes. Daydream much and often. The imagination is where great stories are born, where the wonderful tomes we treasure are nurtured and where they grow.

5. Read. Read everything – read your own genre, read a genre you’ve never read before or one you’ve never enjoyed. Read the classics. I remember reading my dad’s Zane Gray collection when I was something like twelve – typically, I would not pick up a western but I loved those books. I have to force myself to read non-fiction but at times, I do. For me, reading is a “getting away” time and non-fiction is generally matter of fact. While I don’t get that great vacation from life from non-fiction, I find I always learn something that I can relate back to my fiction roots.

6. Don’t bow to the haters. I don’t know why, when an author reaches some level of success, the haters come out to meet and greet. They might shrug at your book, insult the cover, or outrightly diss your work. Maybe they’re ashamed of themselves for not working as hard as you did. No idea, but don’t bow to their negativity. Let them sulk. You go on.

7. Artist Dates. Important. The well does and will go dry and when it does, the well must be replenished. As I’ve said before, take yourself out on an artist date – go to the movies, take your camera out and shoot pictures, try a new restaurant, visit an art gallery, or just go for a walk. You’ll be surprised how seamlessly your brain will bounce back into the world of stories.

8. Critique groups. Allowing others to caress your baby is important too. Now, not everyone is going to love you, believe me. There’s something to be said for developing thick skin. However, constructive comments from people who care about you and care about your future as a writer are essential to your work. Connect with writers’ groups in your area or online. The resources you discover will be tremendously beneficial.

9. Research the craft. The nuts and bolts of spelling, grammar and sentence structure are crucial. Beyond that, study the weightier nuances of writing, such as style, voice, pace. Study the publishing industry standards. You can speak directly to agents and editors now via the internet. Find out what they’re looking for and what they’ll reject. Be knowledgeable. With knowledge comes power and you need both in your writing life.

What advice would you give to writers this year?

Happy New Year!

Hello All.

I wish for each and every one of you who take the time to stop by my blog, a very happy, healthy, prosperous and joyfilled new year.

I've got plenty to talk about and I promise I'll be back in 2014 to let you all in on it.

Thank you!