A Book, A REAL Book!

The Food We Were Raised On


Well here it is, the project I evasively mentioned here! The writing project I actually finished!!

I wrote this cookbook for my children.  A keepsake of sorts, but friends and family members who encouraged me throughout the process and helped with the endless edits thought it worthy of a larger audience. Since it is a collection of family recipes, photographs and the memories associated with them, I wondered how interesting it could possibly be to anyone beyond  family. But then I thought why not? Why not give my little cookbook an airing and see where the chips (hehehe) may fall.

When I finally held the finished product in my hands the sleepless nights, frustrations, multiple swear words and hours of editing seemed to melt from memory. A Book, a REAL Book...... I chanted like a three year old with giddy excitement!



Can you see the silly big grin stretching from ear to ear!   

The Food We Were Raised On can be found on the self-publishing site Blurb. 

Let me know what you think.

It's A Launch Party for Janice Horton's....Reaching for the Stars

                                           

Wish I Was Here!!!!!

The beautiful village of Mougins, France. My dream retreat for writing and all things creative. Strolling to the cafe overlooking the valley and the mountains in the distance. Drinking in the scenery while sipping a cool glass of wine and chatting with fellow Mougins residents. Sauntering down the narrow cobbled streets with artist galleries tucked away at every corner and in little alcoves; allowing inspiration and beauty engulf and replenish me.

Ahhh how I wish!!!!

 It's Launch Day for Janice Horton's

‘Wish I Was Here...’  and

She's Holding a Blog & Twitter Party!

Reaching for the Stars is now available on Amazon.UK or Amazon.Com for Kindle at the special launch price of just 95p or $1.40.  I have my copy!!!!

 

Peruse other Party Bloggers Wishfulness  Here!

Enjoy!!!



Ideas Come A Poppin

As I said in this earlier post I actually finished a project. Not my WIP but a Christmas project. What a thrilling feeling that is. I had come to a standstill with my current WIP and wondered if I had it in me, the ability to finish anything that is.

Like most I have been very busy with Christmas preparations. Not a time conducive to the flowing of creative ideas for a stalled WIP. But yesterday I actually got the urge to look at my WIP and add some notes. Ideas just sort of popped into my head. No prompting, forcing, mulling or stressing, just pop and there they were, ideas. These new ideas are now written on post-it notes and attached to printed pages of said WIP. I feel like I am getting back in the zone. My completed Christmas project has made me realize, I do actually have it in me to finish a work. I am so excited, I am feeling enthusiastic and my fingers are eager to get back to the keyboard with my fresh new ideas.

I hit a road block awhile back, stalled and in frustration stashed the offending WIP under the bed. I am not a descriptive writer; it does not come naturally to me. I am more of a character inter-action sort of writer. When reading I have a tendency to get bored and skip over long descriptives, anxious to get back to character action. Proof of the ‘You write what you read’ mantra. Still some descriptives are necessary. The story cannot be conversation from beginning to end, now can it!?!

I have learned so much from my recent BETA reading. A big thank you to Nicole Zoltack, Where Fantasy & Love Take Flight and Sherry Chaisson Auger, Sherry Auger for that. I have a better understanding of gauging chapters, what I need to develop and what might be best left alone. A big huge 'Thank You,' fellow blogger/writer friends.

And on that note I will say...have a wonderful Tuesday all!

Mother Nature Glistens

Last Saturday we got our first substantial snowfall. Like all first snowfalls it had a magical, mystical aura. The glistening white glow swathed the earth and instilled a calming silence. It truly is the Winter Wonderland of song and postcard.

We went to visit our daughter after the snowfall. The beauty on the drive was captivating. I was surprised and delighted to spot a flock of wild turkey, easily seen against the whiteness of the fields. Hawks could be seen perched on branches of trees dressed only in white. Deer braved hunters and moseyed out into the openness, making for a picture perfect winter scene! I was afraid to look away in case I missed some other wondrous sight.

Yes, the first snowfall is filled with enchantment. Mother Nature dressed in glorious spellbinding beauty.

Of course I will have something else to say in a month or two….but for now, I am enchanted with the beauty and peacefulness Mother Nature has showered on us.

I Did It!!! Yes I Did!

I apologise bloggie friends for my lack of presence lately….I hope to get around to your blogs over the next few days and catch up on the goings on in bloggerland! I have been so out of touch it feels like I have just emerged from the outer edges of the universe. But hey, I did it. Believe it or not I finished a project.

I was only lamenting a short while ago on the multiple unfinished projects stashed under the bed (here) …so to speak!

I know many of you who took on NaNo may be shaking your heads thinking, What is she going on about! For me this is a major achievement. I Finished a writing project.

The idea for this project began to formulate in my mind’s eye last summer. I outlined what I wanted to include and how I wanted it to look. I ran my idea past my friend Libby as we sipped wine at her kitchen table. I often have what I consider to be wonderful ideas until I voice them. More often than not they fall flat and with a splat! I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by Libby’s enthusiastic reaction. A thought just occurred to me ….could it have been the wine…..No! No! Banish that thought from your head. Banish it I say!

On my return to Wisconsin in September I began my project in earnest. The past month has been exhausting, frustrating and exhilarating. I enjoyed the process, the ups, the downs, the sleepless nights and the nights filled with dreams of being chased by words and pages. But when I pressed the publish button a feeling of lightness flooded over me. Accomplishment and lightness. I did it!

Memories of Winter Afternoons

If on cold winter afternoons when I arrived home from school the aroma of freshly baked scones filled the house I knew…. it was movie afternoon. I loved movie afternoons. The films were broadcast on “The Early Show” from 4:30PM to 6PM. If a film ran longer than 90 minutes, it was shown over two afternoons. Mom loved films and kept a watchful eye on the schedule.

Siobhan, Trisha and I settled ourselves on the sofa Mom covered earlier with a brown blanket. Then Mom joined us in the sitting room with a tray holding a pot of tea, four cups and scones stacked high on a plate, topped with melting butter and jam. Movie afternoons were the only time we were allowed to eat in the sitting room. A real treat.

Easter week, we watched films every afternoon. Mom, Siobhan, Trisha and I sat together sipping tea and savouring scones watching ‘Quo Vadis,’ ‘The Robe,’ ‘King of Kings’ and many others.

The smell of freshly baked scones always brings me back to those cozy winter afternoons in our sitting room.

Projects, Projects Everywhere!

Is it the first Wednesday of November already? That means it's time to add another installment to  Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group. It seems like the first Wednesday of October was only yesterday and I subjected bloggie friends to major whinging and whining about my writerly insecurities.

This month instead of whinging I will air my most shameful writerly secret. Here it is, I have way too many unfinished projects stashed under the bed. Five to be exact.  Yes, you read right....Five.  Are you tsking at me and shaking your head. 

I have a tendency to stumble and fall when trying to incorporate descriptives to a story. A weakness of mine. Or as with my latest unfinished project when I tried to write a love scene. I wrote the scene, but was very unhappy with it…so off I toddled to Eason’s/Borders and bought multiple books I felt confident were bursting at the seams with love scenes. My postman was also very busy delivering the many tomes I ordered online. Just as a side note…..my arms are a few inches longer from carting the many shop purchases home.  The postman's biceps also showed noticeable improvement! Now that I think of it, shouldn't he be thanking me?!?

So I read and read and read. This proved quite a helpful exercise, “but”….isn’t there always a “but?” I had this brainwave for Christmas presents. It is writing of sorts if you class creating a keepsake as writing. Which I am doing, because it makes me feel better! I really can’t go into detail as those on the receiving end of this project may be lurking. It is taking much longer than I thought it would. I need to have it completed within the next two weeks, so it will be printed in time. This is proving to be hair pulling pressure.

I decided to take my friend Jim Lawn’s advice and publish my project with Blurb. Jim published his, "The Book of Silence," in Blurb and was very pleased with the results.  "The Book of Silence," is filled with beautiful photographs taken in the Dungarvan locality.  Check out Jim’s Website and peruse his other works. 

Do you have any waiting to be finished projects stashed under the bed.  How many? Do tell….

Penmanship and the Green Stick Fracture

My  fourth grade year in St. Gertrude’s Catholic School, Chicago, was memorable  to say the least. It was the year I won a city wide penmanship contest.

I removed the silver cap from my speckled, cobalt blue fountain pen and wrote the required two page story in my very best handwriting. I filled the pages with word swirls of perfect portion. The lines of each letter flawless, clear and fluid. I began each word with the pen poised on the page and didn’t lift the nib until the word was finished. The blue ink seamles, not a blot or break throughout the word. I loved writing with my silver capped,  speckled, cobalt fountain pen. It felt so comfortable, an extension of my hand. The words seemed to write themselves.

People who have been subjected to my handwriting may be shocked to learn this little titbit. My penmanship did not live up to this early perfection for very long. You see before I received my award for said contest I had a little accident.

The weather had turned wintery as it tends to do in Chicago.  St. Gertrude’s  winter policy required students to change their outdoor shoes/boots in the lower entrance area before proceeding up the steps to the classrooms. This was to avoid tracking wet and snow on the very highly polished floors. Have you ever noticed the love Nuns have for highly polished floors? Anyway, I changed my shoes and headed up the first flight of steps. Someone who hadn’t changed their shoes left a thin skin of ice on the top step for me to slip on. And slip on it I did, fallling down the full flight of steps. My right hand took the brunt of the fall. It hit every single step on the way down in an effort to protect my face.

 Half an hour later my mother and I were sitting in the doctor's examination room. X-rays were taken and I was diagnosed with a ‘Green Stick Fracture.’ I was in a cast for the next 6 weeks. The glory days of perfect penmanship were over!

What brought this long ago story of woe to mind. Husband, who was on a train trip returned home last night with a present. A beautiful ruby red fountain pen. I uncapped the pen and put the nib to paper. It felt perfect in my hand. The ink glided across the page with an ease that reminded me of my silver capped, speckled cobalt fountain pen. Sadly my penmanship never again reached the dizzy heights of perfection. The‘Green Stick Fracture’ did not heal properly.

We went back to the doctor 6 weeks later to have the cast removed. On examination the doctor informed my mother the wrist had not fused properly. He wanted to break it again and reset it. My mother looked at him as if he had two heads, she grabbed our coats, hustled me out of his office, loudly pronouncing him to be a quack! A reaction that was perfectly justifiable. 

That is another story.......this story is about the pen. 
I will leave it at that. J

Congratulations Niamh!!!!!

Niamh Boyce has a poem published in the Boyne Berries 10 collection.  *YAY* Niamh!!!!

Niamh's poem is a retelling of the myth of Oisin and the original Niamh. It is from Niamh's point of view. I just happen to love this Irish myth.  This is a beautifully produced edition, with poems, prose, photographs and original art work. 

You can purchase this beautifully produced edition, with poems, prose, photographs and original art work HERE.

A sample of the wonderful artwork included by Elena Duff

Congratulations Niamh and well done. Another publishing accolade for this very talented writer.

Niamh embarked on a writing break, Monday, 10/17.  She is plotting and outlining a new novel.  Don't let that stop your paying a visit to her blog, Words A Day, which is filled with wonderful, thought provoking gems. 

Pop over to Words A Day without delay and enjoy Niamh's beautiful blog and talent. 

And a Big Loud Bualadh Bos! 

 

Congratulations Theresa

A big *Congratulations* to my friend Theresa Milstein.  Her short story "Allured" is included in the YA "Fangtales" anthology.

Editorial Review and Product Description:

An anthology of vampire tales specifically with teen readers in mind, this gripping read has both new and established authors who will take readers on a mind-bending adventure of dark horror.

Fangtales can be purchased at Barnes and Noble and/or Amazon

Don't delay....get your copy NOW!

Oh and stop over at Theresa's  at Theresa's Tales of Teaching Tribulations and Typing Teen Texts to say Hi and don't forget to make a note of  her blog tour shcedule. 

A big huge ginormous obnoxiously loud bualadh bos Theresa!!!!