Music
In the novel I am currently working on, music plays a major role. I guess this is fitting since it has also played a major role in my life. I’m not a musician, nor do I have any musical talent, but writing prose requires a trained ear. When I write a sentence, I listen. This is not just true of dialogue, it’s also a rule with narrative. If there is no rhythm you will inadvertently pop the reader out of their “continuous dream”; what John Gardner describes as the goal of good fiction. Beyond sentence structure, in this next novel I reference songs of the 70’s heard in the narrator’s mind and providing an audio foundation to the story. My Texas gals have provided me with some of the noted songs since it was our era of musical development- So sincere thanks to Becky, Alison, Mary, Sassy, Diana, Jenny and Donna for the awesome and enthusiastic suggestions- August, 2023
Endings
Figuring out when and how to end a story - is not easy. But of course either is writing, but the process of writing fiction allows you to move along, develop characters, describe the pivotal and the mundane, but deciding how to end it is a whole ‘nother thing. Not to put too much of a mystery spin on it but it does come to you, eventually. Today it did for my second novel, and not what I expected. I will let it sit for awhile to make sure it is true to the story, but for right now I’m happy with it. August, 2023
Son of a Sailor
We introduced Jimmy Buffett’s music to our kids early on, and in fact his was one of their first concerts, to the side-eyed glances of the adult audience until they saw the kids signing his songs out loud, then thumbs-up. Now we grieve him like the loss of a family member. Our favorite songs: Marisela’s “Gypsies in the Palace”, Ivan’s “Jamaica Mistaica”, Kip’s “Little Miss Magic”, mine, “Come Monday,” which I’ve added to my novel. Reading all the wonderful tributes to this great man, I’m struck but not surprised, how people talked about his joy, his pure kindness and lust for and appreciation of life. Hence I’ve decided to adopt a new motto, “live like Jimmy.” May we all. September, 2023
Inspiration and Research
Returning to the place that inspired my next book served to check a number of memories, discover new details and the opportunity to immerse myself in my surroundings. Also answer critical questions: Was I accurately representing the area I was recreating in the novel? Was I expanding this stage respectfully? The research I undertook ranged from the examination of directional landmarks to determining the specific tree species and vegetation that grow in this particular part of central Montana. Also there were many observations on how the landscape surprised and inspired me - a stunning mix of mountains, gentle rolling hills, prairie grasslands, and persistent wandering rivers and creeks. I came away from this inspiration trip with pages of scribbled notes, questions that require further research, conceived plans for revisions and extensions of certain sections of my novel. Inspiration in fiction requires research and research requires inspiration in order to tell a story worth telling (worth writing). The two are bedfellows of the most essential nature. September, 2023
Passion: Riding and Writing
I believe we all have one guiding passion. It directs and leads us through life. Storytelling has always been mine-in all the various forms.
Cycling is my husband’s. We often laugh about how “riding and writing” sound alike and we have had a few instances where the two terms were misunderstood. OK here’s a humiliating example: I once received a solicitation call from the Santa Barbara Riding Academy which provides therapeutic horse riding lessons for disabled children. Great organization, but I thought they said “writing” and I immediately obligated myself to contribute.
Also “are you riding/writing today?” is a common question in our household and usually a “yes” for both. Luckily the question is understood between the two of us, but if someone else asks, you may see some expressions of confusion until we settle into who the question is being directed. Life is life because of passion. Be sure to make room for it in your daily life. November, 2023
Playlist
As I indicated in my “Music” post back in August, Music plays a significant role in my new novel. Accordingly, I will be including a link to a Spotify playlist in the book so the reader can, if they wish, listen to the song referenced as they begin each new chapter. The music is eclectic and diverse, moving along with the story. This playlist is now complete (Sans Neil Young…), sharing early should you have a road trip ahead of you for the holidays. Hope listening to the selections will pique your interest in reading the novel, due to be published in late spring/early summer of 2024. Search Spotify playlists for “Slices of Sky” and join the story. December, 2023.
“If I could get you to smile…” (Jackson Browne, 1977)
The first reader of the manuscript for my new novel commented that he had cried (a lot). Well, yes parts were certainly sad and it was validating to hear he was touched, but sadness wasn’t all, was it? If it was then I would have failed. As a writer of fiction I try to tap into all the emotions genuine to the particular story. Telling a story is not like a brief encounter that may leave you with one singular, take away emotion - it's a long-term, invested relationship with the reader. As with relationships, stories “should” engender many emotions through the progression of the story-it is not a linear path…since, well life is not a linear path. January, 2024.
Creatives
Hang out with creatives. They are luckily all around us though sometimes not attached to a “traditional” creative title-but you’ll know them. We don’t have to match in genre, outlook or skill to benefit from their perspectives and learn from them. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is wrapping up this weekend. Always a draw to our town and fun to see celebrities being celebrated. I don’t attend much but always try to see some of the panels. This year I attended the Writer’s Panel and Women’s Panel and for both, entered not knowing who was speaking nor the films they were representing. Kinda fun that way. All Oscar nominated so though I was naïve, both were a joy to sit through. In particular the Women’s Panel, which included a musical composer, a songwriter and a make-up artist-something I know very little about. Yet I was able to draw from their energy and creativity. Love what you do and always be in learning mode. February, 2024
Petals and Prickles
Daffodils are some of the first flowers of spring. I had a coworker friend who sold them each year to raise money for the American Cancer Society and I planted the bulbs here in my front yard. Our gate guarding cacti are prolific and so over the many years, many “arms” were in need of planting in our yard, as we had to find more and more space for these offshoots. Now this pairing hits me as symbolic; the flower and the spikes. I lost my fundraising friend to cancer a few years ago and yet I survived my own bout 11 years ago. A reminder: life stories have both petals and prickles, and good literature reflects that truth. March, 2024
Shyness
I’m working with my good friend Karen Prechtel-Thomsen on her memoir. Not to be confined by definitions such as memoir, because it’s also a self-help/move-on/grow/learn and unlearn book. One of her chapters is on “Unlearning” a concept for which she recently did a large-scale presentation. Reading that section corresponded with my own reading of a reflection from Susan Cain on the eternal lessons of "Charlotte's Web." On E.B. White, she said that he was a shy, gentle and very private man, who was more comfortable with animals than people. Susan reminds us in her reflection that Charlotte's Web would not, could not; exist, without beings like this.
It's a funny thing because upon my own reflection, my shyness held back my willingness to pursue and publicly talk about writing for so many years. As a kid my shyness was at times paralyzing in social situations, and if honest, in about any situation. On writing, I held a belief for a long time that because I was shy I couldn't be a writer, which if you look at many admired writers this is something that makes no sense - something I have had to unlearn. I now respect and shall I say, cherish my introversion and shyness. And, I now refer to it as my superpower of observation. April, 2024
First Novels and …Second
I’m in the middle of reading this captivating novel. So captivating that I wanted to know more about the author; what else he had written because I wanted to buy his other books. There are none. He wrote this one in 2016 and through his LinkedIn profile (which I now follow), I discovered he’s a profession grant writer. This prompted questions and my own personal reflections. Was this story with him a long time? Did he have to get it down and then moved on back to his “regular” life? Does he have another novel in him-oh please I hope so! The first question is from my experience - Millie was with me for a very long time, in another form, but with me. It took me an even longer time to reverse-adapt it into novel form. And then longer to leave my other professional life and write full time. My second novel feels more like a straight shot, and more unrestrained. A new path and a different experience than the first. How stories get on paper is an individual journey for each writer, each path its own unique story. May, 2024
Trees…
of which I know very little. That’s the wonderful thing about novels you don’t have to know about the subject matter, actually best many times that you don’t. Good writing allows you to learn, explore unknown subjects, people, and places. This novel, Harry’s Trees is one of the best novels I have EVER read. Jon Cohen takes you into the world of trees through the telling of life altering tragedies. Each sentence is a masterpiece and together…a beautiful forest. It is a story you will not want to put down even when your eyes become unfocused and beg for sleep. Thanks to Cohen you will look to your neighbors of bark, leaves and root systems with a new earned respect and latent humility for having passed them by without offering the bow they deserve. And YOU deserve to read this incredible novel and experience the magic. June, 2024
Strawberry Moon
I finished my novel in June, the month of the incredible Strawberry Moon. On reflection, this year has certainly been transformative with this month signifying my one-year anniversary of stepping into “retirement,” and focusing on personal aspirations.
“I loved what I did but I love this more,” was how I recently explained to a former colleague my move from brand protection to full time writing. The writing experience for this second novel was so vastly different than the first for many reasons that are hard to compare: with the first I was reverse-adapting from screenplay to novel and balancing that with work. But with this one, I got very comfortable, very quickly, in my writing shoes starting in prose and ending in that format – with the spending of more uninterrupted time to allow the story to unfold and the characters to be in the lead. All of this amounted to my taking more chances, resulted in feeling very confident about those choices. So friends… be looking for an announcement soon on availability of Slices of Sky, publishing this month! July, 2024
Arrival
Trying to take it all in – now that the book is in the world. It’s an ambivalent celebration that ranges from childlike excitement to adolescent fear. And, so, so many steps to get here (not all of them pleasurable), but certainly most are: the writing - when it flows, finding a rhythm to the sentences and the story, meeting each of the characters, hearing and seeing them and letting them develop the plot (get out of the way!), the surprises that emerge in story, allowing instinct to prevail in deciding on form and letting the music play! Also recognizing the value of tough love in the editing stage with its turbulence yet ultimately seeing it smooth out with the right person in place providing the necessary cuts, corrections and suggestions. And, then the production phase with its unique challenges that made me remind myself over and over again “it's the writing that’s hard” these other things are just obstacles to overcome. Now on to the promotion and appearances, and seeing Slices on shelves and in reader’s hands. August, 2024
Gray Skies
One month since publish! It’s been a fulfilling time letting this book fly into the world and hearing from readers that have now completed the novel. I am humbled and encouraged.
I’ve had some interesting book talks and enjoyed exploring the characters, themes, narrators, locations, music etc. I’ve also been asked some questions I didn’t anticipate like why the spine window image of the book is grayed. When we were designing the book cover, my son also posed that same question. But in considering the suggestion to lighten it up, I felt doing so would be insincere. Insincere in the respect that there is sadness and gray in the story, as there is in life. I also felt it tied well to the Willa Cather quote I included in the book: “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.” We learn through our pain in those dark days - as we do in the days of blue skies and billowy white clouds… August, 2024
It's the small things/
Chapter 33 Slices of Sky
There is a section of the book that is there because my husband suggested I expand it to more effectively convey the sense of community. It is now one of my favorite parts of the novel. It is not a description of kindness shouted out for spectacle sake but more the revealing of the nature of intentional kindness in the most natural of ways e.g. “Sometimes kindness comes on hangers.” Post script: I just returned from my uncle’s celebration of life. Listening to the stories of how he did “small” things that made a difference, e.g. showed up at an athletic event, sat on a teenager’s bed and talked about why they had acted out and what they had learned, helped his single-mother sister get her sons ready for little league. These are the things that matter - that show who truly you are - that are the memories you cherish when you lose someone – a good reminder, small? No, not really. Thank you Uncle Charlie. October, 2024
Elevator pitches
I’m apparently not alone-I’ve struggled penning a short, insightful summary of my latest novel for use at signings and when people ask what the story is about. I have found comfort and camaraderie with other writers about how this task is so hard and even harder…to be satisfied with the results. Crazy, right?! You wrote a book but can’t write three short lines. I recently revised my pitch with something so obvious but yet had alluded me. “A story told through music…” now begins my spiel and will hopefully help me through the rest of this short, concise elevator pitch. November, 2024
